The Conversation Hour

What did your school holidays look like when you where a kid? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at how the social media ban for under 16s will change what kids do during the holiday and if they could start to look something like the holidays of previous generations. Also in this edition, has annotating books become a thing on BookTok? Music festivals are in full swing over summer, but what is it to work as crew for the big acts and festivals and does there need to be better supports in place for music crew? Plus, navigating gendered marketing toys this Christmas.

It's been a big day for year 12 students, as they receive their ATAR score, but is it actually ok to ask what someone got? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what the best way to approach the conversation is, and what the best approach is if you are a student who doesn't want to discuss it. Also in this edition, why there has been an increase in sharks around Byron Bay, the rise of women on steroids. Plus, what are the best albums of 2025

A rare dinosaur skeleton will be going to auction in London. Nicknamed Spike, inspired by its pointy skull, it has been described as a "colourful bird-like beast." In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss the ethics of investing in dinosaur fossils and whether they should just stay in the domain of museums and the scientific community. Also in this edition, Fanny Lumsden talks auditioning local acts for her new tour, how the social media ban for under 16s will impact boarding school students. Plus, have we seen any progress in preventing youth homelessness?

Well, Christmas is almost upon us and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we hear your unique Christmas traditions and catch up with the co-founder of Elf on a Shelf. Also in this edition, who is up for a nomination at this year's Golden Globes, how much does body language matter in how we communicate plus we take you to parliament to hear The Victorian government's historic apology to Aboriginal Victorians.

A Government spokesperson has told The Conversation Hour that they are addressing duplication by bringing the work of VicHealth into the larger Department of Health. In this edition of the program we discuss whether VicHealth needs to maintain a certain level of independence and what this move means for preventive health more broadly. And later in the hour, the complex relationship women have with facial hair.

A recent study has exposed a gap in the amount of time allocated to teaching primary school students how to type and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss why learning to type still matters and what is best practice in teaching it. Also in this edition, the danger posed by potholes to Victoria's motorcycle community, the extraordinary lengths one man has gone to raise awareness of the destruction of our natural habitat our mental health. Plus, why we still love Lady Gaga.

Today marks International Day of People with a Disability and in this edition of the Conversation Hour we discuss the prevalence of discrimination in the workplace towards blind and low vision people and how to combat discriminatory attittudes and practices. Also in this edition, we celebrate 80 years of The Country Hour, discuss what is behind the Prada buying Versace, plus US hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar heads to Ballarat on Saturday, we compile your tips on what he should see and do.

New research indicates that nightclubs could be doing more to prevent sexual harm in their venues. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we talk through what sorts of of things venues could be doing to decrease the risk. Also in this edition, keeping pets safe in high density housing, just how much will the metro tunnel reshape the way we travel in the years ahead plus, we speak to a linguist why MUTT could catch on as a nickname for the tunnel.

The Metro Tunnell is go and in this special edition of The Conversation Hour we broadcast live from Town Hall Station. We speak with architects, train drivers, station masters and public transport researchers and you on this momentous day for Melbourne.

Two schools in Berwick went into lockdown yesterday, Department of Education spokesperson said the incident involved a "young student who behaved in a dangerous matter". In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss whether lockdown drills are necessary in Victorian schools and how to do the without perpetuating a sense of fear and anxiety in young people. Also in this edition, why this year's cherry season has been delayed, why uniforms matter in attracting women into trade plus is Robert Irwin the perfect male role model.

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at where things are currently at with banning single use plastics and discuss the impact it continues to have on marine life. Also in this edition, Stranger Things returns for its final season we talk how to write the perfect ending. The Tik Tok awards were last night, so what role they play in bolstering cultural capital of the platform? And we catch up with former professional basketball player and coach Brendan Joyce about his life and career.

: Melbourne has a new staff-free 7-Eleven, which is essentially comprised of vending machines. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss if this is the way of future for retail and what underpins the move. Also on the show, actor Chris Hemsworth has released a film that documents a road trip with his dad who has early-onset Alzheimers, we speak with the dementia community on how the documentary has been received. We also get the latest on what is being done to mitigate B6 toxicity and get the latest on the Optus outage.

Over the past couple of months a group of 65 plus citizen scientists have hit the streets of Melbourne, mapping their experiences to capture how to make our suburbs more livable for our older population. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what they discovered the work they are doing with researchers in the field to improve our streets and cities. Also in this edition, Stahl House is up for sale, the LA mid-century modernist icon perched in the Hollywood Hills has been the set of innumerable film and tv productions, so what's next for one of Hollywood's most famous homes? Later in the program we also delve into the notion of 'full service schools' an educational model that aims to minimise inequality in the schooling system. Plus, how to safe guard your brain against buying things you don't actually really need or want during the Black Friday sales

A Rail, Tram and Bus Union survey has found 73 per cent of female transport workers have experienced health issues as a result of poor toilet facilities. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we hear about the experiences of a heavy haulage driver on the road and speak with the union about what they would like to see changed to better support women on the road. Also in this edition, why parents are increasingly accompanying their kids to schoolies, why public school principals are reporting poor wellbeing plus we pay tribute to Skye Gyngell, the first Australian female chef to win a Michelin star.

There is Sabrina Carpenter using a fork as a cigarette holder in a music video, pop star Rosalía giving Charli xcx a cigarette bouquet for her birthday, and Jeremy Allen White from The Bear being papped in the streets smoking, not to mention the rise of 'cigfluencer' on Instagram with all its snaps of famous folk having a puff. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss how much smoking in celebrity culture impacts young people and and how to effectively communicate the harms. Also in this edition, we talk farmers markets, elite women's sport stadiums and is Wicked: For Good actually all that good?

The Ashes start tomorrow and with Christmas just around the corner perhaps you are considering digging out your backyard cricket set. But is the back lawn really still a thing? While it might feel like a part of the Australian cultural landscape, some argue that they are not as environmentally sound as you might think. Also in this edition, is thrifting actually all that sustainable? How a not-for profit is transforming unused land to educate secondary school students about food systems. Plus, it was a big night for Melbourne music at the ARIAS with Amyl and the Sniffers dominating the night, we get the lowdown on the event.

This morning our 774 ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast host Sharnelle Vella shared the joyous news that she is expecting a baby girl in March. She reflected that it had not been an easy journey revealing her struggle with infertility and spoke of her years of IVF treatments and unexpected endometriosis diagnosis. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss just how significant infertility can be on all aspects of day to day life and how we can better support women through it. Also in this edition, we talk the health impacts of ultra processed foods, the broader implications of job cuts to the CSIRO, why there needs to be greater awareness about the dangers lilies and some other flowers pose to cats. Plus, we talk to the proud mum of the Amyl and the Sniffers bassist ahead of tonight's ARIAS.

32 years ago today Nirvana played an unplugged gig for MTV in New York and it marked a pivotal moment for the band. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore why the performance was so significant and hear your stories about what Nirvana meant to you. Also in this edition, First term MP Jess Wilson has been elected to lead the Victorian Liberal Party, becoming the first woman to lead the Coalition in the state's history. She's 35, so what will so what will having a millennial leader mean for the success of the State Liberal Party? Plus, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown called out a photographer for telling her to smile, we discuss why we need to stop telling women to smile.

In this edition of the Conversation Hour we talk of Solo Mothers by Choice day, which generally describes single mums who have used assisted reproductive technology. One of the key focuses of the day is advocating for for equal treatment in law, policy and society. We discuss what area of law reform the community would like to see as well as the growing sense of connection fostered by the community. We start the program today with a debrief on what went down at the cancelled Amyl and the Sniffers Fed square gig and what their donation meant to live music venues. Plus, what will changes to protective service officers mean for your safety.

It's been a big week for rock in Melbourne — in this edition of The Conversation Hour we ask you when you discovered the genre. Also in this edition, intimacy coordinators have been making headlines this week , we discuss how their role in the industry is evolving. Plus, how much do rom-coms shape our relationships?