Uncommon Sense

Acclaimed historian Professor Frank Bongiorno returns for an in-depth conversation about his epic new book, Dreamers and Schemers. It's the first full political history of Australia, presenting a social and cultural history of our political life from pre-colonial Aboriginal political and governance systems to the current day. Frank is a Professor of History at ANU and is the President of the Australian Historical Association. Regulars historian Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT University and...

Regulars historian Dr Emma Shortis and Professor Andrew Walter sit down with Amy to reflect on the major political trends and developments of 2022 in the US, UK, and global geopolitical flashpoints like, US and China tensions over Taiwan, Russia’s war against Ukraine, AUKUS, and more. Dr Emma Shortis is a Research Fellow at the EU Centre of Excellence at RMIT and Dr Andrew Walter is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne.

Historian Dr Meg Foster from the University of Cambridge talks about the fascinating hidden history of Australia's other bushrangers in her book, Boundary Crossers. Meg talks about the bushrangers who didn’t fit into Australia’s national mythology, like African American man Black Douglas, who was seen as the terror of the Victorian goldfields, Sam Poo – Australia’s only Chinese bushranger, and Captain Thunderbolt’s partner, Aboriginal woman Mary Ann Bugg. Professor Raina Macintyre talks...

Professor Raina Macintyre talks about her new book on pandemics and biosecurity, Dark Winter: An Insider's Guide to Pandemics and Biosecurity. A world-leading epidemiologist and biosecurity expert Raina MacIntyre discusses the dangers of information warfare during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, as well as the history of biological attacks, lab accidents and epidemics, synthetic biology, and gain of function research. She reveals a pattern of denial, silence and cover-up around unnatural...

Chris Wallace, from the Faculty of Business, Government, and Law at the University of Canberra, reflects on federal politics in 2022, after the last sitting of federal parliament came to a close. Chris discusses the passing of legislation on the federal anti-corruption body (NACC) and the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill, plus the censure of former PM Scott Morrison after the release of the Bell report into his secret Ministries arrangement. Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Director and CEO of the...

Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Director and CEO of the Burnet Institute, speaks directly and in-depth about the scientific reality of COVID-19 for everyone in Australia right now. Now in our fourth wave this year and with cases in the past week estimated at between 500,000 to 1 million (5 to 10 times the reported cases), what are the consequences of the unmitigated spread of COVID-19? What makes COVID truly exceptional? How do we stop transmission, and what are the risks of repeated...

Dr Kevin Bonham, psephologist, polling analyst, and political commentator, drops by to discuss the Victorian state election polling figures thus far, the problem with Group Voting Tickets and preference harvesting, and why we should vote below the line in the Upper House. Writer, broadcaster, and musician, Sian Prior joins Amy to discuss her book, Childless, A Story of Freedom and Longing. It's about Sian's seven-year-long quest to become a mother, and how that failure affected every part of...

Writer, broadcaster, and musician, Sian Prior joins Amy to discuss her book, Childless, A Story of Freedom and Longing. It's about Sian's seven-year-long quest to become a mother, and how that failure affected every part of her emotional life. Sian explores how society could better support those who are childless not by choice, which has become an issue for a rising number of Australians. Content Warning: Please note that the interview with Sian Prior talks about miscarriage, IVF...

Historian Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT's EU Centre of Excellence stops by to talk about the latest in US politics, including the mid-term election results and the summit season currently underway and attended by world leaders. Acclaimed novelist, poet, and musician Gregory Day joins Amy to speak in-depth about his latest book, Words Are Eagles: Selected Writings on the Nature and Language of Place. Gregory's book is a collection of essays on the wonders of the natural world and the ways that...

Russia and international security expert Dr Matthew Sussex gives us clarity on what is happening in Russia's war against Ukraine, the "worldview" of President Putin, the effect of Russia's withdrawal from Kherson on the war strategy of both sides, plus their use of munitions, drones, and more. Matthew is an Associate Professor at the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Defence Research, Australian Defence College.

Professor Chris Wallace from the Faculty of Business, Government, and Law at the University of Canberra, talks about the latest in federal politics, including the Robodebt Royal Commission, Labor's IR Bill, the October budget, and much more. Journalist and filmmaker Karl Malakunas speaks in-depth about the volunteer environmental defenders risking their lives on the island of Palawan (Philippines) to save some of the most biodiverse forests and oceans in the world from illegal logging and...

Journalist and filmmaker Karl Malakunas speaks in-depth about the volunteer environmental defenders risking their lives on the island of Palawan (Philippines) to save some of the most biodiverse forests and oceans in the world from illegal logging and fishing. The story of the Palawan NGO Network Inc's (PNNI) brave members and supporters is featured in Karl's award-winning enviro-thriller documentary, Delikado. Karl is also Asia-Pacific Deputy Editor-In-Chief for Agence France-Presse. For...

Barkandji researcher and storyteller Zena Cumpston talks about indigenous plant use and the deep cultural significance of plants for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Zena also speaks in-depth about the ongoing effects of colonisation in institutions like universities and the ways in which Aboriginal knowledge has been treated as an "add-on" to the scientific study of plants and the management of Country. She outlines how and why this needs to change. Zena's new book, co-authored...

Amy is joined by Thai cave rescue diver, retired veterinary surgeon, and 2019 Australian of the Year Craig Challen. Craig speaks of his fascinating experiences as a technical cave diver setting records and travelling around the world diving with his mate Dr Richard 'Harry' Harris. Craig also shares how their involvement in the famous Tham Luang cave rescue in northern Thailand has extended the cave diving community's ability to conduct rescues. Craig outlines the ways Ancient Stoic...

Broadcaster and guest columnist for The Politics Jonathan Green talks all things federal politics. Award-winning climate scientist and writer Dr Joëlle Gergis, delves into her new book, Humanity's Moment: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope. Joëlle is an Australian Lead Author of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report and an advisor to the Climate Council. Dr Andrew Walter, Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne, stops...

Award-winning climate scientist and writer Dr Joëlle Gergis, delves into her new book, Humanity's Moment: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope. Joëlle is an Australian Lead Author of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report and an advisor to the Climate Council.

Historians Professor Michelle Arrow and Professor Frank Bongiorno speak about the disturbing new history wars, which have seen several of Australia's national cultural institutions suffer severe cumulative federal funding cuts over decades with damaging effects. For example, the National Library of Australia has taken an unprecedented step and closed access to its manuscript collections for seven months to repair a leaking roof. This will have enormous effects on the work of academics,...

To mark the Geelong Football Club's 2022 AFL premiership win, we re-aired a special interview with former Vice-President of the Geelong Football Club Bob Gartland and Geelong Gallery Director Jason Smith. They discuss the history of Aussie rules football and the second oldest continuous sporting organisation in the world – the Geelong Football Club. Bob and Jason explore the inextricable link between the Geelong Football Club and the city of Geelong, and talk about Bob’s massive historical...

Historian Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT stops by to discuss the latest in US politics and some of the major developments events in geopolitics. Cinematic legend and icon Jean-Luc Godard died at age 91 recently, so it was apt that Dr Andrew McGregor returned to delve deeply into the life and legacy of the revolutionary auteur. Andrew and Amy discuss the nouvelle vague movement that originated in the late 1950s into the 1960s in France and Godard's prominent place within it. They explore the...

Cinematic legend and icon Jean-Luc Godard died at age 91 recently, so it was apt that Dr Andrew McGregor returned to delve deeply into the life and legacy of the revolutionary auteur. Andrew and Amy discuss the nouvelle vague movement that originated in the late 1950s into the 1960s in France and Godard's prominent place within it. They explore the innovative film-making techniques and artistic genius that distinguished Godard's work from others and transformed cinema forever. They also...