Absolutely Revolting

Who were the Luddites? And why should we care about them today? In the age of AI and technological innovation on steroids, the history of technological protest is more relevant than ever.  Join Francis and Liam as they speak with Professor Jeannie Paterson, and find out how smashing machine parts shaped the way we work now, and what it might mean as we consider our future AI overlords...   About Jeannie Paterson Jeannie Paterson, is a Professor of Law and the Director of the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics at the University of Melbourne.   Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades. History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1974 the Equal Pay decision set the wheels in motion, but more than 50 years later, we're still a long way from gender pay parity.  This week on Absolutely Revolting, Liam and Francis are joined by Marilyn Lake, Leah Ruppanner, and Lisa Heap, to look at how far we've come, how far we still have to go, and how we get there.    About Marilyn Lake Marilyn is an Honorary Professorial Fellow in History at the University of Melbourne and the author of 15 books, including Getting Equal: The History of Australian Feminism. About Leah Ruppanner Leah Ruppanner is a Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab and the Gender Equity Initiative at the University of Melbourne. She was awarded the top in field for Gender Studies (2022 and 2023) and Sociology (2023) for all of Australia. Her book, Drained offers a new way to understand the mental load and is forthcoming this year. About Lisa Heap Dr Lisa Heap is a labour lawyer and researcher with a research focus on gender and inequalities at work, work health and safety and the regulation of work. She holds degrees in political science/industrial relations, law and applied human rights. She has advised several New Zealand and Australian unions and appeared in pay equity cases before tribunals in both countries.    Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades. History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode two of Absolutely Revolting, we're crossing the continent to learn about the Russian Revolution with Dr Natasha Wilson. We'll go inside the bloody end of an empire, as the Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Monarchy, in a story that inspired, but was anything but a Disney movie.  About Natasha Wilson Dr Natasha Wilson is a historian of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. She received her PhD in History from School of Slavonic and East European Studies at University College London in 2021 where her research was funded by the SSEES Foundation Scholarship. She is currently completing a book manuscript entitled The Young Socialists: Left-wing Dissent in the Soviet Union from the Brezhnev years to Perestroika.   Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades. History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Peter McPhee joins Liam and Francis to share all the grisly details of the French Revolution. We'll consider exactly what that idea of 'revolution' means, whether it's political, social, or technological, and think about how these major moments of change, and how they set the tone for today. Liam also gets the chance to share his love of historically inspired musicals.  About Peter McPhee Professor Peter McPhee is a globally renowned expert on French history and the French revolution – and will be familiar to any listeners who have studied the French revolution in high school in Australia, with his works being widely used to teach the subject. He has played a major role in the life of Melbourne University, including being appointed its first Provost in 2007, but even more notably for his role as an educator for many generations of young historians.   Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades. History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades. History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.