In conversation with Emeritus Professor James Flynn from the Joint Department of Politics at Otago University, New Zealand. We discuss his new book entitled A Book Too Risky To Publish: Free Speech and Universities. We discuss the history of right-wing control of universities during McCarthyism, and the totalitarian persecution that social democrat and liberal academics faced under the pretence of fighting Communism. We also discuss the Flynn Effect and his debates with intelligence researcher Charles Murray in relation to racial differences in IQ. Finally, we discuss his view that fields such as Women's Studies and Black Studies are too ideologically driven, and why he believes neither the far left nor the far right truly believes in freedom of speech.
In conversation with Professor Kenneth Freeman who is an Australian astronomer and astrophysicist. Prof. Freeman is currently Duffield Professor of Astronomy in the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at ANU. His research interests are in the formation and dynamics of galaxies and globular clusters, and he was one of the first researchers to point out that spiral galaxies contain a large fraction of dark matter. We discuss dark matter and his new book co-authored with David L. Block entitled God and Galileo: What a 400-Year-Old Letter Teaches Us about Faith and Science which is an exegesis on the dominance of atheism within science today. We also discuss how Professor Freeman reconciles his scientific work with his Christian faith.
In conversation with Professor Dennis Altman author of Homosexual: Oppression & Liberation (1972) which was considered the first serious analysis to emerge from the gay liberation movement. We discuss his memoir Unrequited Love: Diary of an Accidental Activist and we examine how his views in regards to sexuality were influenced by Freudian psychoanalytic ideas, as well as his family connection to Freud. We also discuss the role of cancel culture and free speech in universities, his experiences within the queer community, and his views on transgenderism.
In conversation with Professor Thalia Anthony who has expertise in the areas of criminal law and procedure, with a particular specialisation in Indigenous criminalisation and Indigenous community justice mechanisms. We discuss the history of 'blackbirding' in Australia, the case for reparations, as well criminal justice system reformation in relation to Indigenous people and the definition of systemic racism. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the names of people who are deceased are mentioned in this interview.
In conversation with Dr Anthony Dillon who is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Institute of Positive Psychology & Education at ACU. His teaching and research interests include alternative conceptualisations of mental health, statistics and psychometrics, applied psychology, and Indigenous health. Dr Dillon identifies as a part-Aboriginal Australian, and we discuss his criticisms of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the research from The Australian Institute of Criminology, which shows that Indigenous people are now less likely to die in prison custody than non-Indigenous people.
In conversation with Professor Gigi Foster from University of New South Wales School of Economics and co-host of the ABC Radio National talk-radio show and podcast series The Economists. We discuss ideas such as a statistical life and quality-adjusted life years in regards to the COVID19 pandemic, and her view that the closure of borders and severe lockdowns in Australia were a mistake, even if the worst case scenario of 150,000 deaths were to eventuate.
In conversation with Joe Huston who is the chief financial officer (CFO) of GiveDirectly; a non-profit that sends direct cash transfers to the world's poorest. We discuss GiveDirectly's work in East Africa as well as the effectiveness of unconditional cash transfers versus traditional in-kind donations. We also discuss the case for basic universal income (UBI) and if UBI is potentially the future even for people in first world countries.
In conversation with Dr Sue Heward-Belle, who is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney and is recognised as a leader in domestic and family violence research. In Australia, on average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. We discuss Dr Heward-Belle's research on males who perpetrate domestic and family violence.
In conversation with Benjamin Gilmour who is a paramedic, author and film maker. We discuss his frontline experiences with COVID19, as well as his latest memoir, The Gap, which recounts his experiences as a paramedic in the summer of 2008 in Sydney. This remains etched into his memory for the worst reasons.
In conversation with Rachel Menzies, a psychologist at the University of Sydney whose research focusses on the association between death anxiety and psychopathology. We discuss the role of death anxiety during the COVID19 pandemic, Terror Management Theory and the psychological benefits of contemplating daily your inevitable demise.
In conversation with Laureate Professor Peter Doherty who shared the 1996 Nobel Prize in medicine for his discoveries about transplantations and 'killer' T cell immunity. We discuss the COVID19 pandemic in terms of how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells, the case against trying to develop herd immunity as well as the likelihood and timeline for vaccine development.
In this episode we are in conversation with Peter Hylands, an accomplished publisher, film producer, writer and conservationist. For many years Peter and his wife Andrea have been engaging viewers and readers around the globe via their new media broadcasting company Creative Cowboy. Peter and Andrea make crucial, unique content about art and culture and nature, frequently working with first nations people and in some of the remotest places on earth.
In conversation with Prof. Peter Singer in regards to the 10th anniversary edition of his book The Life You Can Save and his foundation of the same name. We discuss his views on moral philosophy, his Foundation's aim to promote highly effective charities in their work, attempting to help alleviate suffering in the world's poorest countries, the psychology of giving, and whether true altruism actually exists.
In conversation with Associate Professor of Islamic studies and the founding director of the Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation (CISAC) at CSU, Mehmet Ozalp, in regards to the history of Islam's Golden Age and the contribution of Islamic philosophy to Western culture, the challenges Islam faces in developing its own modernity in the 21st century as well as how to best interpret some of the more controversial passages of the Koran.
In conversation with Professor Stephen Croucher about the aftermath of the Christchurch shootings, the rise of White Supremacist groups in Europe, and the psychology and politics of hate.
In conversation with Jessica Trisko Darden (Ph.D), who is Assistant Professor of International Affairs with the School of International Service at American University, an inaugural Jeane Kirkpatrick Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and a former Miss Earth (2007). As co-author of Insurgent Women: Female Combatants in Civil Wars (Georgetown, 2019), she discusses the role of female combatants in ISIS, The Kurdistan Workers' Party or PKK, and other rebel groups, as well as the complexities involved in the potential repatriation of the women of ISIS.
In conversation 2016 winner of Patrick White award for literature Carmel Bird, where we discuss her work Fair Game which examines the story of the first convict women who were settled in Van Diemen's land, her own experiences of grief and loss and the significance in her life of the Mamestra brassicae, or white moth.
In conversation Rev. Dr Chris Mulherin, the Executive Director of Christians in Science and Technology (ISCAST), we discuss the intersection between theology and the philosophy of science, what he believes the New Atheists get wrong, as well as why politicians should stop demanding scientific 'proof' of climate change.
In conversation with world renowned geneticist Professor Jenny Graves in regards to her work in sex determination, her infamous assertion that the Y chromosome is disappearing, as well as the evolution of the 'gay' gene and the genetics of transgenderism.
Moral philosopher Dr Dean Cocking discusses his book Evil Online, which examines the evil that is perpetrated everyday by normal people, primarily on social media. We discuss his theory of a 'moral fog', Hannah Arendt's idea of the banality of evil, and how social media echo chambers facilitate a kind of moral confusion and lynch mob mentality.