Uncommon Sense Triple R FM Podcasts

Amy's first ever interview for Uncommon Sense was with Peter Wohlleben on his debut book, The Hidden Life of Trees. Now. the German forester, conservationist, and best-selling author returns to discuss his latest book, 'The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us If We Let Them.' Amy and Peter delve into a wide-range of themes from the book…

The NGV’s Cathy Leahy, Senior Curator of Prints & Drawings and Conservator of Paintings Caitlin Breare join Amy to discuss the exhibition, Rembrandt: True to Life, featuring the work of 17th century Dutch master, Rembrandt van Rijn. They give us insights into Rembrandt's fascinating life, his print-making, oil paintings, and drawing practice, as we…

Indigenous leader and 'Voice' advocate Thomas Mayo and award-winning journalist Kerry O'Brien sit down with Amy for a special in-depth conversation about the proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, which Australians will vote on in a referendum later this year. Thomas and Kerry explain the history behind the Voice and wh…

Ecologist, natural historian, and environmental photographer Dr Alison Pouliot returns to discuss her fascinating new book, Underground Lovers: Encounters with Fungi. Alison takes us into the fungi kingdom and shares her vast knowledge and global experiences of fungi with us. She talks about the conservation of fungi, indigenous uses of fungi, the …

World renowned forest scientist Professor David Lindenmayer discusses the breaking news that the Andrews Labor state government has announced that Victoria will end native forest logging and native forest timber production by January 2024 – 6 years ahead of schedule. David talks about the decades long campaign to end native forest logging in Victor…

Solomon Islander journalist Dorothy Wickham speaks from Honiara about what life is really like for people in Solomon Islands. Dorothy expands on the themes of her essay, The View From Solomon Islands: Our Priority Is Running Water, Not Geopolitics. She explains the serious political realities and domestic concerns of Solomon Islanders as their coun…

Former Leader of the Australian Greens, environmentalist, and giant of the conservation movement Bob Brown speaks in-depth with Amy Mullins. In a wide-ranging conversation, Bob reflects on his life of activism, protest, and deep personal connection with nature including the giant native trees of Tasmania, as depicted in an inspiring documentary, TH…

It's Piano Day across the world on Wednesday 29th March 2023. Composer and contemporary classical pianist Sophie Hutchings and FLOAT Founder and Piano Day organiser Sofia Ilyas delve into their love for the piano and contemporary piano music in its many forms. An annual worldwide celebration of the piano, Piano Day is held on the 88th day of the ye…

Historian Dr Emma Shortis and veteran political journalist Brian Toohey delve into the multi-faceted problems with the AUKUS alliance, Australia's $368 billion nuclear submarines announcement, and former PM Paul Keating's significant intervention in the debate at the National Press Club. They draw out and explore the big picture strategic issues Ke…

Professor Michelle Arrow, Elizabeth Reid AO, and Sara Dowse discuss a new book of essays called, 'Women and Whitlam: Revisiting the Revolution.' In 1973, Elizabeth Reid was appointed Women's Advisor to the Prime Minister, a first for Australia and the world. From 1974-1977, Sara Dowse was the inaugural head of the Women's Affairs section of the Dep…

Australian Alix Biggs speaks to Amy while sheltering from a major air raid conducted by Russia in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Alix explains what life is like on the ground for everyday Ukrainians subject to regular air raid offensives with missiles and drones. She shares how Ukrainians perceive the war and the level of military and humanitarian suppor…

Why is philosophy so male-dominated? Did female philosophers exist in ancient times? (Yes.) Dr Dawn LaValle Norman talks about the presence and role of women in Ancient philosophical dialogues and how it relates to her project, The Diotima Prize. This playwriting competition seeks to address the lack of women featured in philosophical dialogues. Da…

Dr Geoff Raby AO was Australia’s Ambassador to China between 2007 and 2011, and has donated 174 contemporary Chinese art works to La Trobe University. Raby arrived in Beijing in the 1980s where he first encountered the emerging contemporary art scene and soon became an avid collector. Dr Damian Smith, art historian, curator, and art critic, speaks …

Tania Wolff, President of the Law Institute of Victoria and Lizzie O'Shea, Chair of Digital Rights Watch sit down with Amy to delve into the Victorian government's proposed digital health record with no opt-out provision – the Health Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023, which passed the lower house last week. Additional concerns a…

Dr Richard Denniss tells us what the real causes of inflation and rising interest rates are and he takes us through the failures of federal and state COVID-19 policy. Why is there silence and a policy impasse? Richard is Executive Director of The Australia Institute. Broadcast 28 February 2023.By Amy Mullins

Musicologist Dr David Larkin explores Richard Strauss's epic tone poem, An Alpine Symphony (1915) and shows how music can represent and evoke nature and the sublime. With musical excerpts, David shares how Strauss depicts a waterfall, a flowery meadow with cows, a sunrise, a thunderstorm, a hiker reaching an alpine summit, an experience of the subl…

Acclaimed London-based writer Marina Benjamin speaks in-depth about her latest memoir, A Little Give: the unsung, unseen, undone work of women. Marina talks about these interlinked essays and verse, in which she examines in her own life the tasks once termed, ‘women’s work’. From cooking and cleaning to caring for an ageing relative, Marina shows t…

Luke Henriques-Gomes, the Guardian Australia's social affairs and inequality editor, speaks in-depth about what have learned from the Robodebt Royal Commission hearings between December 2022 and February 14, in particular the evidence from top public servants and the responsible ministers at the time. He tells us what we’ve learned so far and what …

Activist and campaigner Judy Ryan discusses her new book, You Talk We Die: The Battle For Victoria’s First Safe Injecting Facility. Judy, alongside fellow residents, successfully campaigned for the first safe injecting facility in the state after witnessing decades of tragic and frequent cases of lethal overdoses from drugs in the Richmond and Abbo…

Kinsfolk Farm duo Bridie Cotter and Tom Gaunt speak with Amy about their regenerative and organic farming practices in Moriac and their new pocket card guide to kitchen gardening, Home Harvest (Hardie Grant Books). They share a few tips and tricks to help you build your own thriving kitchen garden, as comprehensively featured in their beautiful car…

Professor Chris Wallace returns to speak in-depth about her new book, 'Political Lives: Australian Prime Ministers and Their Biographers.' Chris tells Australian political history anew through her account of prime ministers, their biographies and their biographers – examining their motivations and relationships. Chris tells of the biographical negl…

Kendrah Morgan, Head Curator at the Heide Museum of Modern Art speaks in-depth about the first survey exhibition in Australia of modernist sculptor Barbara Hepworth's (1903–1975) work. Inspired by the landscape and human form, Hepworth was one of the leading British artists of her generation and the first woman sculptor to achieve international rec…

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. They also discuss the breaking developments of the January 6 Com…

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 o…

World-leading epidemiologist and biosecurity expert Professor Raina Macintyre talks in-depth about her new book on pandemics and biosecurity, Dark Winter. Raina delves into 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 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 t…

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 a…

Dr Kevin Bonham, psephologist, polling analyst, and political commentator, drops by to discuss the problem with Group Voting Tickets and preference harvesting, how this affects who gets elected and distorts voter intention, and why we should vote below the line in the Upper House. Kevin also gives us an update on the Victorian state election pollin…

Jordan Crook, Nature Conservation Campaigner at the Victorian National Parks Association, evaluates the Victorian Government's record on some key environmental policy areas and issues ahead of the election and updates us on the latest campaigning wins for native forests. *Note: This is by no means a comprehensive look at all environmental policies …

Russia and international security expert Dr Matthew Sussex gives us clarity on what's 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 I…

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 "ad…

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 cav…

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 clos…

From the archives: Former Vice-President of the Geelong Football Club Bob Gartland and Geelong Gallery Director Jason Smith discuss the history of Aussie rules football and the second oldest continuous sporting organisation in the world – the Geelong Football Club. They explore the inextricable link between the Geelong Football Club and the city of…

ABC radio host and former Triple R broadcaster Jacinta Parsons joins Amy for an in-depth discussion about her new book, 'A Question of Age: Women, ageing and the forever self.' Jacinta asks, how do we adjust our perceptions of getting older? What does it mean to age as a woman? And what is our currency now? Jacinta's previous book is called, 'Unsee…

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…

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.…

What's really causing inflation in Australia and will jacking up interest rates fix it? Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director of The Australia Institute explains Australia's current economic woes and demystifies the confusion and arguments around the role of the RBA, rising interest rates, increasing inflation, Stage 3 tax cuts, and low wages grow…

World-leading forest scientist Professor David Lindenmayer AO joins Amy to discuss his book, The Great Forest: The Rare Beauty of the Victorian Central Highlands. David will also discuss his most recent scientific research on the mountain ash forests and the ongoing problems with native forest logging in Victoria. Professor David Lindenmayer is a w…

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 …

British musician and environmentalist Nick Mulvey joins Amy for a special in-depth conversation about his latest album, New Mythology. Nick explains how he's "always trying to explore the planetary through the personal" with his music. From his early years as a founding member of Portico Quartet to his solo career, Nick shares the many spiritual, c…

Nick Feik, former Editor of The Monthly, delves into the latest in federal politics with an incisive analysis of all the developments and questions arising from former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's ministerial power grab, including the complicity of those who knew, the role of the Governor-General, and much more. Broadcast on 23 August 2022.…

Highly regarded geopolitical thinker and former Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani talks about his essay, 'Australia's Choice: Can It Be A Bridge To Asia?', which is published in Australian Foreign Affairs Magazine (July 2022). Kishore explains how Australia needs to face up to the geopolitical reality of the 21st century – that China will beco…

Best-selling British author Johann Hari chats in-depth with Amy live on Uncommon Sense for part two of their conversation on his book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention. Johann discusses the crisis of attention in both children and adults, how 'big tech' saps our ability to focus, as well as the insidious environmental factors that affect o…

Acclaimed historian Henry Reynolds discusses his award-winning book, 'Forgotten War' – on the frontier wars between First Nations people and white colonists. Frontier violence was commonplace in Australia during the 19th century, but can it be characterised as a war? Henry Reynolds explains. Originally published in 2014, it has been re-released by …

Fiona Patten MLC, Reason Party Leader and representative for the Northern Metropolitan Region in the upper house of Victoria's state parliament, joins Amy to discuss state politics and policy, as well as the upcoming state election. Fiona explains her new bill which seeks to ensure that all publicly funded hospitals (including religious ones that r…

Dr Chris Wallace discusses the latest in federal politics, including the recent revelations that former Prime Minister Scott Morrison formally appointed himself to five Ministerial roles in secret. Chris delves into the detail of what happened and the historical and contemporary significance of this unprecedented action by an Australian Prime Minis…

Dr Kylie Soanes, conservation biologist at the University of Melbourne delves into the State of the Environment Report, finally released by the federal government. With the report declaring that urban environments are in the best condition – rated as "good and neutral" – Kylie discusses whether this assessment reflects the reality of nature in our …

Professor Andrew Walter talks about the latest in UK politics, including the demise of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the final round of the Tory leadership contest between Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Andrew also discusses some of the other leadership contenders who have since left the field but are making their mark on the Tory party, includin…

Epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter discusses the state of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other viruses of concern this winter, including the flu. Nancy talks about the experiences of people who choose to wear a mask, those with Long COVID, and those seeking timely anti-viral treatments. Nancy also explains the critical and simple things we can…