Speaking with...

We can make conscious decisions about how we live together in closer proximity that allow for both cultural diversity and a shared sense of community. Ján Jakub Naništa/Unsplash This is a podcast discussing topics raised in our series, Australian Cities in the Asian Century. These articles draw on research, just published in a special issue of Geographical Research, into how Australian cities are being influenced by the rise of China and associated flows of people, ideas and capital between China and Australia. Migration and population growth are hot-button issues in Australian politics at the moment. State and federal election campaigns have and will focus on them for probably years to come, and it’s not just a local phenomenon: by 2030 it’s estimated 60% of the world’s population will live in cities. Most of the time discussions about the impacts are focused on external pressures – things like road congestion and infrastructure investment – but as more and more people are living in high-density housing, issues of cultural diversity and how we live together in such close proximity are just as important. How do we make sure we can live comfortably and respect each other? And how could policy change the sense of ownership we have over ever smaller personal spaces? Dallas Rogers speaks with Christina Ho and Edgar Liu about the changing ways we’re living in Australian cities, and how little attention has been given to what’s happening inside the apartment buildings of our cities. Music Free Music Archive: Ketsa - Catching Feathers Dallas Rogers recently received funding from The Henry Halloran Trust, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), Urban Growth NSW, Landcom, University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, and Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA).

According to Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, everybody lies to preserve social relations. www.shutterstock.com, CC BYHow much do you really know about your friends? Your co-workers? Your community and your country? The fact is that much of what we think we know about the people around us is likely to be skewed, because people tend to lie. We lie in conversation, on social media, and in surveys. But there exists an online trove of data that allows us to paint a much more accurate picture of who we really are. That’s the argument of US data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, author of the book Everybody Lies and our guest on today’s episode of Speaking with. Stephens-Davidowitz says he uses data from the internet – what he calls “the traces of information that billions of people leave on Google, social media, dating, and even pornography sites” to tell us the surprising and sometimes disturbing truth about who we really are. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz spoke with David Tuffley, a senior lecturer in applied ethics and sociotechnical studies at Griffith University, to talk about what he learned. Edited by Dilpreet Kaur. Recorded by Michael Lund. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz is in Australia to speak at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on this Sunday, November 4. He was also a speaker at Griffith University’s Integrity 20’18 event on October 24-26. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking with podcast on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. You can find more podcast episodes from The Conversation here. Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria

Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia is a compilation of 52 essays from First Nations authors, some of whom have never been published before. Rounak Amini/AAPAnita Heiss is one of the most prolific writers documenting Aboriginal experiences in Australia today through non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry and children’s literature. Her memoir, Am I Black Enough for You?, was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards. Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia. Black Inc. Books For her latest book, Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, Heiss traded the role of writer for editor. The anthology includes 52 essays from First Nations writers spanning the breadth of society, from rural to urban, young to old, coastal regions to the country’s interior, well known authors to emerging writers. There’s even an essay by an opera singer, Don Bemrose, about his experience as what she calls a “double minority” – he’s both Aboriginal and gay. The result is a collection of stories that speaks to the strength of Aboriginal identity in Australia today, as well as the diversity of voices in the long marginalised Aboriginal literary community. For this episode of Speaking With, Professor Jacinta Elston, pro vice-chancellor (Indigenous) at Monash University, spoke with Heiss about the process of making the selections for the anthology, the main themes explored in the essays and how she envisions the book being used as a reference tool in classrooms across the country. Edited by Maggy Liu. Anita Heiss is speaking at the Brisbane Writers Festival on Sunday, 9 September. Read more: Love in the time of racism: ‘Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms’ explores the politics of romance Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. You can find more podcast episodes from The Conversation here. Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Jacinta Elston does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Governments can use nudges to influence our choices ShutterstockWhat can governments do to stop increasing obesity rates, help people save or get them to file their tax returns on time? The default answer used to be some kind of tax or penalty. Just make people pay more and they’ll do the right thing, right? But what if you could encourage certain behaviour without forcing the issue? That’s where nudges come in. These are small changes in design or presentation, like putting healthy food near the cash register, or sending reminders out around tax time. For this episode of Speaking with, The Conversation’s Josh Nicholas chats with Cass Sunstein, a Harvard professor who worked as a “regulatory czar” for years in the Obama administration. Sunstein literally wrote the book on nudges along with Richard Thaler, who won the 2017 economics Nobel Prize. The book is called Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth and happiness. Read more: The promise and perils of giving the public a policy 'nudge' As the controversial My Health Record has shown, behavioural science is now considered a standard part of the public policy toolkit. My Health Record was created to be “opt out”, in order to “nudge” people into remaining in the system. This takes advantage of a bias we have towards the default setting: many of us won’t expend the effort to opt out. Many governments – including Australia’s – now have professional “nudge units” stocked with behavioural scientists, working on problems such as tax avoidance and organ donation. Today on Speaking with, Professor Sunstein talks about nudges and public policy, when and where they work and how policymakers should use them. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria

A white supremacist holding a US flag over his face during a Unite the Right rally in Washington in August. Michael Reynolds/EPAThe rise of the radical right-wing movement in the US has become closely linked to Donald Trump’s presidency and the mainstreaming of ideas about race that were not so long ago found only on the furthest fringes of society. David Neiwert’s new book, Alt-America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump, charts the key political and social moments that have shaped these movements. He has spent more than two decades immersing himself in the strange, disturbing world of radical right-wing groups in the US, which are characterised by conspiracy theories unhinged from reality and a growing tendency to espouse violence against liberals as a solution to the world’s problems. Alt-America: The Rise of the Radical Right in the Age of Trump. Verso Books While many of the ideas championed by these groups are similar those propagated by the Ku Klux Klan of the past, the new radical right-wing groups have benefited from the internet and social media. This allows them to easily communicate their perceived grievances to a new generation of followers, predominantly young men. In some ways, this provides for a degree of anonymity, as well. Some of the more violent, racist and often misogynist views are promulgated by these groups online with little personal social cost. What is most concerning, and what Neiwert demonstrates in detail throughout the book, is the way in which the mainstream news media, in particular Fox News, has become a forum for mainstreaming some of these ideas about racial superiority, fuelling political division and partisanship. With the election of Trump, these once marginalised groups now have a clear figurehead – one who promotes their wild, and sometimes dangerous, conspiracy theories to the world. Neiwert’s book delves deep into the anxieties these people feel about their status in a changing and complex world. Issues like immigration, changing race relations, women’s rights and economic stagnation have all fuelled a desire to find someone to blame. When this is mixed with a pervasive gun culture, the result is a highly volatile mix of anger, paranoia and violence. Investigative journalist David Neiwert. Author provided The consequences have been deeply disturbing. Political rallies that end in frenzied screams of “lock her up”, alt-right rallies that result in death, and the growing toll of mass shootings that are disproportionately carried out by offenders influenced by the alt-right are a sign that something fundamentally twisted and nasty is colonising mainstream American politics. Edited by Maggy Liu. David Neiwert is appearing at the Word Christchurch Festival on Thursday, 30 August; the Antitode Festival in Sydney on Sunday, 2 September; and the Brisbane Writers Festival on Saturday, 8 September. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. See also: Trump’s First Year in Office: Bizarre and Sometimes Alarming Booksellers, the alt-right and Milos Yiannopolous The seeds of the alt-right, America’s emergent, right-wing populist movement Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Kumuda Simpson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

We're used to hearing cries of "NIMBYism" and "money-hungry developers" on both sides of planning debates, but there's actually more subtlety to interactions around urban planning that are worth exploring and understanding. Joel Carrett/AAPOne of the most common complaints about community involvement in the urban planning process is “NIMBYism” – the “not in my backyard” cry from local residents, which developers and potential residents of medium-to-high-density apartments see as an impediment to healthy urban development and affordable housing. At the same time, local residents often see the planning process as freezing them out of having any real say in development that can affect local amenities, transport and neighbourhood character. Recent changes to planning legislation in New South Wales make community participation plans a mandatory part of the process, in an effort to put consultation at the centre of urban planning. But how do you balance these two competing, seemingly antagonistic groups? Dallas Rogers speaks with Cameron McAuliffe, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography and Urban Studies at Western Sydney University, about how urban planning can leverage the natural conflict between groups with very different demands to reach better solutions, why the NIMBY slur is often misplaced and how local resident action groups are working beyond the current urban planning system to achieve their goals. This podcast reports on data in the research paper “Tracing resident antagonisms in urban development: agonistic pluralism and participatory planning”, to be published in Geographical Research. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive: Ketsa - Catching feathers Dallas Rogers recently received funding from Western Sydney University, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), Urban Growth NSW, University of Sydney, and Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. The Henry Halloran Trust funded the research reported on in this podcast.

The Death of Stalin is about the chaotic political drama that followed the Russian leader's demise in 1953. Madman FilmsWe’re living in something of a golden age for political satire. Politics and satire can even feel, at times, almost indistinguishable. But politics and comedy have never been that far apart. Charlie Chaplin’s 1941 film The Great Dictator ridiculed Adolf Hitler. More recently The Thick of It mocked the UK political class and Veep satirised US politics with very funny and scarily prescient results. Those latter two were written by Armando Iannucci, a Scottish writer and director who has been described as the hardman of political satire. His new film, The Death of Stalin, stars the likes of Steve Buscemi and Jason Isaacs and is about the chaotic political drama that followed the Russian leader’s demise in 1953. A scene from The Death of Stalin. Madman films For this episode of Speaking With, I spoke to Armando Iannucci, who warns that we should beware any politician who can’t take a joke. And, by the way, there’s a bit of swearing in this interview, so consider this a language warning. The Death of Stalin will be in cinemas March 29 across Australia. Read more: No laughing matter: Armando Iannucci's The Death of Stalin reveals the anxieties of team Putin Stephen Harrington does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

AndrewLeigh.com, Author providedRandomised controlled trials are the gold standard in medical research. Researchers divide participants into two groups using the equivalent of flipping a coin, with one group getting a new treatment and a control group getting either the standard treatment or a placebo. It’s the best way to prove that a new treatment works. But the benefits of randomised trials aren’t limited to medical applications. Big businesses – like Amazon, Google, Facebook and even media organisations – are increasingly using randomised trials to test designs and processes that increase their engagement with users and customers. Every time you Google something you’re probably participating in a randomised trial. And that world of randomisation is the subject of Andrew Leigh’s new book, Randomistas: How radical researchers changed our world. Leigh is the current federal member for Fenner, and Labor’s shadow assistant treasurer. But prior to his political life he was a professor of economics at Australian National University. He spoke with the University of Melbourne’s Fiona Fidler about how we should be using randomised trials more to drive decisions and policy in public life and why we might be missing out on better results in social policy because we’re afraid to test our assertions. Andrew Leigh’s Randomistas: How radical researchers changed our world is out now from Black Inc books. His podcast on living a health, happy and ethical life, The Good Life, is available on Apple Podcasts or wherever you stream your podcasts. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Fiona Fidler receives funding from the Australian Research Council and IARPA.

Is sleepwalking a legitimate defence for murder? Are victims of family violence protected against the premeditated killing of their abuser? Professor David Field has worked as a public prosecutor, a criminal defence lawyer and as the solicitor for prosecutions in Queensland, a post he occupied for nine years. He spoke to William Isdale about some extraordinary crimes that have resulted in changes to the criminal law, and the precedents these cases have then established. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio CBC Digital Archive: 1990: Supreme Court accepts battered wife syndrome defence The New York Times:‘Dingo’s Got My Baby’ Trial by Media Retro Report ABC: Stafford lawyer calls for Holland murder inquiry ABC: Azaria case closes after 32yrs ABC Radio National: Battered woman defence SBS: Is the provocation defence allowing killers to get off lightly? Global Newspaper: Ivan Milat Inside the mind of a serial killer Channel TEN: Sydney’s 5:00PM newscast PBS: The Brain with David Eagleman Music Law and Order theme by Mike Post Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Murder Mystery Royalty Free Swing & Mystery Music David Field’s book Crimes That Shaped The Law contains true stories of crimes that have resulted in changes to the criminal law. In many of these cases, a miscarriage of justice precipitated reform. William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Social researcher Hugh Mackay and The Conversation's FactCheck Editor Lucinda Beaman. “I’ve found 2017 a really disturbing year.” That’s the summary from writer, thinker and social researcher Hugh Mackay. Mackay spoke in December with The Conversation’s FactCheck Editor Lucinda Beaman at the Sydney launch of The Conversation 2017 Year Book: 50 standout articles from Australia’s top thinkers. Among the essays featured in the book is Mackay’s enormously popular and thought-provoking article titled The state of the nation starts in your street. The discussion, which you can hear in full on The Conversation’s Speaking With podcast above, touched on issues ranging from the rise of Donald Trump and what it means for Australian politics, to social dislocation and distrust in our institutions – and in each other. Mackay said: “We’re now seeing many long term trends coming to fruition”. “What is happening to Australian society is that we are edging in that same direction [as America]: more inequality, a growing number of people who feel as though the political narrative – such as it is – has got nothing to do with them,” he said. “Fragmentation is the theme of 2017,” he said, citing concerns about loneliness and disconnected communities. As for what we can do differently in 2018? Part of the solution, Mackay said, is getting off the screens and connecting with people in our local neighbourhoods. “We don’t have to be prime minister, we don’t have to be in government, we don’t have to be the lord mayor of Sydney to produce changes that could transform our way of life and mental health,” he said. “We’re like most species on the planet in our deep need of each other, our deep need to feel connected, to feel as though we belong to herds and tribes, neighbourhoods groups and communities.” “So the first thing I would say is let’s recognise that this strange collection of people that I live with in my apartment block or in my street are my neighbours and the neighbourhood.” “We’re all friendly with our friends and we all know how to be nice to people we like. The great thing about neighbourhoods is they’re full of people we may like or dislike, very different from us,” he said. “It’s very good for our moral development to have to learn how to rub along with people you didn’t choose.” When you move into a neighbourhood, he said, “you have imposed upon yourself a moral obligation to engage with whatever that community turns out to be. Because in a crisis, you’re going to need each other.” “If you know that someone in your street or in your apartment block is living alone and you don’t see much of them, make sure you’ve made contact. Just knock on the door and say ‘G'day, I’m Hugh, I’m not going to bother you but I’m here’,” he said. “It’s a good time of year to be saying ‘what can we do?’. Because it’s the season when it doesn’t seem deeply weird to organise a street party, or to invite the neighbours in.” Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria

Simple living in a complex time – is a return to frugality the key to happiness? Xurxo Martínez/flickr, CC BY-NC-SAThey say the best things in life are free – or at least, Emrys Westacott seems to think so. For those who have the choice, the rejection of extravagance is deemed highly virtuous. Many of the great thinkers of history have advocated the moral value of frugal living, but in our culture of excess the temptation to indulge can be difficult to overcome. William Isdale spoke with Emrys Westacott, a Professor of Philosophy at Alfred University, New York, about how a return to simple living could bring greater happiness in our increasingly complex world – though there’s a case to be made for the cultural value of extravagance, too. Emrys Westacott is the author of The Wisdom of Frugality: Why Less Is More - More or Less, a philosophically informed reflection on the benefits of frugal living. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio William Hemblton: Hotel Carpe Diem Advertisement Telstra: The Magic of Technology Freesound: dobroide - 20060824.forest03.wav Freesound: InspectorJ - Stream, Water, C.wav Freesound: eastierp - frogs in a pond Freesound: Arctura - AMBIENT LOOP - Perfectly Clear - Wilderness Hillside - FILTERED.mp3 Freesound: pcaeldries - FireBurning_v2.wav Lr33s_ag: All of Donald Trump’s Billions Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: U.S. Army Blues - Main Stem Free Music Archive: U.S. Army Blues - Not On The Bus Free Music Archive: Jason Shaw - Running Waters Free Music Archive: Gillicuddy - Adventure, Darling Free Music Archive: Gardner Chamber Orchestra - Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola, K. 364 Emrys Westacott received a summer stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2010 to support the writing of his last book, 'The Wisdom of Frugality.'William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Flickr: Pedro Szekely, CC BY-SADuring Xi Jinping’s opening address at the Communist Party’s 19th National Party Congress last week, the Chinese president outlined his vision of a “new era” for China – one that will see “China moving closer to centre stage”. China’s economic and foreign policies have significant implications for Australia. More than 30% of our exports go to China, more than 1 million Chinese tourists visit Australia every year, and about 30% of international students in Australia are Chinese, contributing billions to the economy. It is obvious that Australia needs to maintain a strong relationship with China as it transitions to a “new era”. But the relationship is often complicated by the perception that Australia needs to choose between our military ally, the US, and our biggest trading partner, China. William Isdale spoke with Bates Gill, professor of Asia-Pacific strategic studies at Macquarie University, about Australia’s complex relationship with China and how we must adapt to meet China’s evolving needs. Gill recently co-authored a book, China Matters: Getting it Right for Australia, which explores the importance of the relationship between the two countries. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcast on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio The New York Times - Environmental Cost of China’s Growth Senator Marco Rubio speaking on the U.S. Senate floor ABC - Australia’s relationship with China explained CGTN - Australia welcomes wave of Chinese travelers seeking new experiences CNN - Anti-Japanese protests rage in China Al Jazeera/Counting The Cost - Australia and China: Turning the page PBS Newshour - Sudden Chinese currency devaluation ABC News - Bloody Riots in China Leave 156 Dead Al Jazeera - Chinese troops out in force in Xinjiang ABC - Australia in firing line if US and China go to war Music Harvest of Tea Music by: 我是愛音樂的徐夢圓 Performed by: 辰小弦 Wysteria by: Blue Dot Sessions Loco Lobo - Rice Fields Crop Loco Lobo - Little Robots Army William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

A canine commuter catches up on some sleep on the Paris Metro. Kevin O'Mara/Flickr, CC BY-NC-NDWe’re a nation of pet lovers: 60% of Australian households have some kind of pet. And with dogs in 39% of those homes, it’s only natural that we’re starting to see dogs sitting happily alongside human diners at places like cafes and pubs. But while we have one of the highest levels of pet ownership in the world, our rights and infrastructure planning don’t seem to be built around this reality. No Australian cities allow dogs on public transport – something that’s commonplace in many cities in Europe – and many tenants find that looking for a rental property with a pet is virtually impossible. Dallas Rogers speaks with Emma Power, urban cultural geography senior research fellow at Western Sydney University, and Jennifer Kent, urban planning research fellow at the University of Sydney, about why a nation of pet lovers doesn’t seem very interested in planning for pets. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional audio: Domain.com.au: Jimmy Thomson – No barbecue ban but pets on notice as strata regulators lay down the law Music: Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions – Outside the Terminal Dallas Rogers has received funding from The Henry Halloran Trust, AHURI, Urban Growth, the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University.

John Gerrard says a developed city like Sydney could not cope with an epidemic of the scale of the recent Ebola outbreak. UNMEER/Martine Perret/Flickr, CC BY-NDThe Spanish Flu of 1918 is estimated to have infected around 500 million, and killed between 20 and 40 million, people around the world - all within the space of a year. It is perhaps the deadliest pandemic in human history. We have seen nothing as devastating since, but outbreaks such as influenza, HIV/AIDS, Zika and Ebola highlight that infectious diseases are a constant threat. William Isdale spoke with Dr. John Gerrard about predicting the next major infectious disease threat, and how we can prevent a pandemic from establishing itself in Australia. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio Next News - Return of Ebola 9 News: A Perth mother of three dying after being struck down by a tick CNN News: There will be a pandemic BBC News: Ebola Virus: Film reveals scenes of horror in Liberia The Daily Conversation: Ebola explained CNN News: The Situation Room - MRSA BBC News: Antibiotic resistance Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Union Hall Melody Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Janitor William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

New York residents protest against AirBnB at a City Hall hearing into the impact of short-term rentals in 2015. Shannon Stapleton/ReutersAirbnb has turned sharing our homes and living spaces with strangers from a fringe idea into a multi-million dollar business. It’s changed the way many of us travel. But its growth has turned many suburbs and apartment buildings that are zoned for residential use into hotels, with temporary residents who have no long-term investment in the neighbourhoods they inhabit. In cities like Sydney, Barcelona and Lisbon, where housing costs and vacancy are increasingly outpacing the wealth of citizens, Airbnb puts more power in the hands of landlords and threatens to push up prices for everyday tenants. The University of Sydney’s Dallas Rogers speaks with Nicole Gurran, professor in urban and regional planning at the University of Sydney, about what different cities around the world are doing to regulate Airbnb, what the benefits and costs are of the “sharing economy” model in accommodation, and what data actually exists for researchers and policymakers in this growing industry. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional audio TED: Joe Gebbia - How Airbnb designs for trust Domain.com.au: How Airbnb is leaving property owners exposed Music Free Music Archive: Ketsa – Catching Feathers Dallas Rogers has received funding from The Henry Halloran Trust, AHURI, Urban Growth, the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University.

The Danish Choir “Gangstativerne”, singing at a conference launching the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity Between Generations in 2012. DG EMPL/ flickr, CC BY-NCDue to advances in medicine, hygiene and nutrition we are now living longer than ever before. In our region, the percentage of people over the age of 60 doubled in just 20 years - something that took 120 years in Europe and the United States. And while there are definitely losses as we age – fine motor skills and a higher probability of conditions like dementia – there’s evidence that for many people brain development continues healthily into their eighties. So how do we leverage the knowledge and social capital that older people accrue over their lives and help them to feel engaged, supported and energised during what has traditionally been characterised as a time of decline? The University of Melbourne’s Will Isdale spoke with Nancy Pachana, Professor of Clinical Geropsychology at the University of Queensland and author of the book Ageing: A Very Short Introduction, about what we can do to plan for a healthy, engaged senior population. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Land rezoning, sales, and planning approvals are just a few of the ways 'grey gifts' can decide who benefits from government decisions. Dean Lewins/AAPThe role of declared gifts and donations has driven a lot of discussion around government corruption in recent years. But what about the clique of developers, banks and superannuation companies who reap the benefits of policies and approvals that preserve monopolies? How do we decide who the winners and losers are in society, without even going into the more obvious acts of money changing hands for sweetheart deals between friends? Cameron Murray is a lecturer in economics at the University of Queensland and the co-author (with Paul Frijters) of the Game of Mates. The book explores the murky world of “grey gifts”: favours and promises given to bureaucrats and politicians in order to secure favourable decisions and judgements. The University of Melbourne’s William Isdale spoke with Murray on how these arrangements occur, who benefits, and who ultimately foots the bill. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Antibiotics Staphylex, used to treat the infection Golden Staph. TONY PHILLIPS/ AAPSince the discovery of antibiotics in the mid-20th century, millions of lives have been saved from bacterial infections. But the over-prescription of these drugs has led to some types of bacteria becoming resistant to treatment. It’s estimated at least two million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the United States each year. These “superbugs” can spread rapidly and stopping them is increasingly challenging as new antibiotics need to be developed to treat them. William Isdale spoke to Dr Mark Blaskovich about the the overuse of antibiotics and the risks superbugs pose to communities. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio New study raising alarms about ‘superbugs’, CNN ‘Nightmare’ drug-resistant bacteria found in U.S., CNN Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: Johnny_Ripper - Gaël William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Could genetic engineering one day allow parents to have designer babies? Tatiana Vdb/flickr, CC BYWhat if humans are genetically unfit to overcome challenges like climate change and the growing inequality that looks set to define our future? Julian Savulescu, visiting professor at Monash University and Uehiro professor of Practical Ethics at Oxford University, argues that modifying the biological traits of humans should be part of the solution to secure a safe and desirable future. The University of Melbourne’s William Isdale spoke to Julian Savulescu about what aspects of humanity could be altered by genetic modifications and why it might one day actually be considered unethical to withhold genetic enhancements that could have an overwhelmingly positive effect on a child’s life. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on Apple Podcasts, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio VPro Extra - The Perfect Human Being: Julian Savulescu on human enhancement Channel Four Television Corporation - Science and the Swastika VPro Extra - The Perfect Human Being: Michael Sandel on the values of being a human being Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: Kai Engel - Pacific Garbage Patch Free Music Archive: Circus Marcus - La tapa del domingo William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Editing DNA has the potential to treat disease by repairing or removing defective genes. Kyle Lawson/flickr, CC BY-NC-NDCRISPR, or clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, is a technology that is able to alter DNA. While this sounds like the realms of science fiction, right now scientists are investigating its potential to eliminate genetic diseases in humans by repairing or replacing defective genes. The University of Melbourne’s William Isdale spoke with Professor Peter Koopman from the University of Queensland about his research into CRISPR and the possibilities it could offer to future generations, as well as those suffering from genetic conditions right now. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio CBS - CRISPR How CRISPR lets us edit our DNA | Jennifer Doudna Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: Johnny_Ripper - Gaël William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Medical workers move a woman, who is suspected of having Ebola, upon her arrival at Meioxeiro Hospital, in Vigo, northwestern Spain, 28 October 2015. SALVADOR SAS (EPA)/ AAPHumans have had to deal with infectious diseases for centuries. Ancient Greeks and Egyptians suffered from smallpox, leprosy and tuberculosis. And when an outbreak occurs, it can be devastating. Pandemics like the Black Plague, Spanish Flu and HIV have killed millions of people around the world. While improved sanitation and a better understanding of how infections spread has helped halt some pandemics, we are never truly safe. Recent outbreaks of Ebola in Western Africa and the Zika virus in the Americas show how vulnerable we are. William Isdale speaks with Melbourne University Professor and Nobel prize winner Peter Doherty about how infectious diseases start and spread, and what can be done by governments, health organisations and individuals to minimise the threat of a pandemic. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio Ebola outbreak: Deadliest on record - BBC News Bird flu returns to Europe On this day 8th April 2003 SARS deadly virus Hong Kong H7N9 Outbreak Thousands of Birds Culled Over H7N9 Discovery Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: Johnny_Ripper - Gaël William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Russian line guard march prior to a military parade in Moscow. Yuri Kochetkov/EPATony Kevin first went to the Soviet Union in 1969. He was 25 years old and working in the Australian Embassy in Moscow at the peak of the Cold War. Embassy staff were told to be aware that every discussion was probably being recorded, and that they should avoid any interactions with locals. Forty-eight years later he returned to Russia and found a very different country from the one he left. In his new book, Return to Moscow, Kevin describes the changes in Russian society since the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of Vladimir Putin. The political and societal differences are stark. William Isdale spoke to Kevin about his new book, his memories of living in Russia and why he thinks so much distrust and fear of the nation still exists in the West. Tony Kevin’s Return to Moscow is out now from UWA Publishing. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional music Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Imagine a world where artificial intelligence is in control and humans are brink of extinction. What went wrong? What could we have done? ShutterstockThis is the first episode of a special Speaking With podcast series titled No Problem Too Big, where a panel of artists and researchers speculate on the end of the world as though it has already happened. It’s not the world we grew up in. Not since artificial intelligence. The machines have taken control. Three fearless researchers gather in the post-apocalyptic twilight: a computer scientist, a mechanical engineer and a sci-fi author. Together, they consider the implications of military robots and autonomous everything, and discover that the most horrifying post-apocalyptic scenario might look something like unrequited robot love. Joanne Anderton is an award-winning author of speculative fiction stories for anyone who likes their worlds a little different. More information about Joanne and her novels can be found here. No Problem Too Big is created and hosted by Adam Hulbert, who lectures in media and sonic arts at the University of New South Wales. It is produced with the support of The Conversation and University of New South Wales. Sound design by Adam Hulbert. Theme music by Phonkubot. Additional music: Beast/Decay/Mist by Haunted Me (via Free Music Archive) Humming Ghost by Haunted Me (via Free Music Archive) Additional audio: Stephen Hawking interview, BBC News Adam Hulbert is affiliated with The University of New South Wales

Mia Woodruff at the November 2016 launch of the Herston Biofabrication Institute, a collaboration between QUT and the Metro North Hospital and Health Service. AAP3D printing is fundamentally changing the way we make many objects – from construction materials to toys and even food. And being able to 3D-scan the environment, even our own bodies, means that tools and prosthetics that were once mass-produced can now be custom-made for the people they’re designed to help, at a low cost. What if one of the most essential items in the hospital of the future is a 3D printer? William Isdale speaks with Queensland University of Technology’s Mia Woodruff about the work she and her team are doing to explore the use of 3D-printed bio-gels and scaffolds in healing cartilage and bone injuries, and looking to a future where biological functions for those currently on organ donor lists might be fulfilled by bio-compatible machines created in a lab. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio Fox News, Scientists trying to create human heart with 3D printer Associated Press, Obama announces new manufacturing hubs New China TV, Man recovers after 3D-printed prosthetic skull replacement My Angel Foundation, The Power of Yes - organ donation myths vs facts 730, ABC News – Why are Australia’s organ donation rates so low? Music Free Music Archive: Scott Holmes - Fall and Rise Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - When The Guests Have Left Free Music Archive: Psychadelik Pedestrian - Pacific Free Music Archive: Kai Engel - February Free Music Archive: Johnny_Ripper - Gaël William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Parisians gather at the Bataclan nightclub on November 13, 2016, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of terror attacks that took 130 lives across Paris. Philippe Wojazer/ReutersSince the start of 2015, more than 230 people have died in France as the result of terror attacks. Christopher Dickey in a cafe in Paris’ Latin Quarter with Colleen Murrell. Colleen Murrell, Author provided The three major attacks – the shootings at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the co-ordinated assaults on the night of November 13, 2015, (including the storming of the Bataclan Theatre), and the piloting of a truck down the Promenade des Anglais in Nice on Bastille Day 2016 – have left the French rattled and led to an increase in security across the country. Colleen Murrell, senior journalism lecturer and researcher at Monash University, speaks with The Daily Beast’s Paris-based world news editor, Christopher Dickey, about what it’s like to live in and report on Paris in the wake of these attacks. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio BBC News coverage, November 13th 2015 Music Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: Johnny_Ripper - Gaël Colleen Murrell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Peter Green joins the millions of Christmas Island red crabs in their migration. Greg Miles, Author providedEvery year tens of millions of Christmas Island red crabs migrate from the island’s dense forest to the cliffs to spawn. It’s a phenomenon that literally stops traffic and draws tourists from around the world to the tiny Australian territory. But while there are still tens of millions of red crabs on the island, in recent years their numbers have dipped by around a third as they compete for space with (and struggle to fend off) a recently introduced pest: the yellow crazy ant. The ants are having a significant impact on the island’s biodiversity, which relies on the red crab to maintain the forest understorey and keep the forest floor clean. So what can be done to save Christmas Island’s biodiversity from yellow crazy ant supercolonies? For the past few years a team of scientists have been hatching a plan to introduce a parasitical wasp to the island to cut the ant’s food supply. And in December they got the ball rolling on the delicate process of tipping the scales back in the crabs’ favour. La Trobe University’s Matt Smith speaks with Peter Green, Head of the Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution at La Trobe, about the impact of the yellow crazy ant and how his team’s plan to save the Christmas Island red crab is working in the first few months of its implementation. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive: Ars Sonor - The Spring Drone Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions - Wisteria Free Music Archive: Dave Depper - Coming Into Focus Free Music Archive: Dave Depper - Wholesome 7 Peter Green receives funding from the Department of Environment and Energy.

The former state secretary of the Builders Labourers Federation, Jack Mundey, in front of the Sirius building. Dean Lewins/AAPSydney’s iconic Sirius building was scheduled for demolition by the New South Wales government in 2015. The building – a prominent Australian example of brutalist architecture – contains 79 apartments for public housing tenants, and residents are furious that they are being moved on to make way for 250 luxury apartments at the gateway of the city. But this isn’t the first time a NSW government has targeted the Millers Point and Rocks areas for redevelopment. When the Askin government proposed development of the area in the late 1960s, residents’ groups formed an alliance with the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF). Through a series of co-ordinated strikes (or “green bans”), they worked to guarantee affordable housing and community spaces for generations of working-class and union families. Following in the BLF’s footsteps, the CFMEU and Unions NSW put a green ban on the Sirius site from September 2016. Dallas Rogers speaks with Nicole Cook, lecturer at the University of Wollongong, about what we can learn from the alliance between residents and unions in the 1970s and the lasting impact the green bans had on planning policy. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive – Blue Dot Sessions, Outside the Terminal Free Music Archive – The Kyoto Connection, Close to the Abyss Additional Audio William Woods (YouTube) – Lifetime resident Barney Gardner addresses crowd outside NSW Parliament House Tanya Plibersek – Millers Point Public Housing ABC Radio National – Blue Print for Living, Iconic Buildings: Sirius Building Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority – The Rocks: Jack Mundey and the Victory Forced Out – The Documentary (Preview): Pru Goward interview Pat Fiske – Rocking the Foundations (interviews with Nita McCrae and Owen Magee) Dallas Rogers receives funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to produce short academic interviews for SoundMinds Radio (http://www.soundminds.com.au/author/dallas/). Segments of this interview were played on community radio in January 2017.

SerialBy now almost everyone has heard – or heard of – This American Life’s blockbuster podcast series Serial. The first series, originally published in 2014, covered the incarceration and possible wrongful conviction of Adnan Syed for the murder of schoolgirl Hae Min Lee in Baltimore. In June this year Syed was granted a new trial for the murder, based at least partially on the renewed scrutiny of the case by the Serial team. So what does it take to make a podcast that has had over 243 million downloads over two series? What decisions have to be made about pacing, music, how to represent the real-life characters involved and the impact it will have on its subjects’ lives? And in a Trump-led post-truth world, what role can podcasting play to inform public conversations? The University of Wollongong’s Dr Siobhan McHugh (who was recently a consulting producer on Fairfax’s successful Phoebe’s Fall podcast) talks to Julie Snyder, Serial’s Executive Producer and co-creator, about the process of making a serialised audio documentary and its impact on its listeners, creators and subjects. Siobhan McHugh was consulting producer for the podcast Phoebe's Fall, from The Age newsroom, Melbourne, mentioned in the interview. She is the recipient of an Australian Research Council grant to make a radio documentary series about the relationships behind the production of Aboriginal art. She is the founding editor of RadioDoc Review, an online journal that critiques audio documentaries and podcasts (http://ro.uow.edu.au/rdr).

Chinese Australians have been in Australia for more than a century, but they are invisible in our records. Shutterstock/The ConversationWe tend to think of Australia as having a largely European population in the years dominated by the White Australia policy. But the truth is Chinese-Australians have been contributing to our national character since the 1850s. Women – and women from non-European backgrounds in particular – have often been excluded from both research and our historical records thanks to patriarchal attitudes to women’s work. And the hidden histories of Chinese-Australian women during the era of the White Australia policy – many of whom are still alive today – have a lot to tell us about the realities of migration and Australian culture. Dallas Rogers speaks with the University of Western Sydney’s Alanna Kamp about her research on the forgotten lives of Chinese-Australian women in the 20th century, the silence in our census records about their experiences, and why it matters for our understanding of Australia’s national identity. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Audioblocks - Che Thang Theme Audioblocks - China Town Audioblocks - Spooky Tension Gong Free Music Archive - “When the Guests Have Left” by Blue Dot Sessions Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

The super rich are a symbol of growing wealth inequality. ShutterstockThe “1%” – the super elite who hold a disproportionate amount of global wealth – have been the subject of reality TV, protests, media speculation and best-selling books in recent years. Private jets, multi-million-dollar apartments and cars worth the value of most people’s homes: these are the symbols we associate with them, but is there really a defining culture of the super rich? And are the extremely wealthy to blame for growing inequality? Or do our own aspirations make us complicit in their dominance of politics and commerce? Dallas Rogers speaks with Ilan Wiesel from the University of Melbourne and the City University of Hong Kong’s Ray Forrest about the impact the super rich have on our cities and culture. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional audio CNBC: “Secret Lives of the Super Rich - Gil Dezer” Music Audioblocks - “New Frontiers” Audioblocks - “eCommerce (remix)” Free Music Archive - Ars Sonor, “The Spring Drone” Free Music Archive - Ars Sonor, “Runsten” Audioblocks – “Technology Circuits” Dallas Rogers receives funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to produce short academic interviews for SoundMinds Radio (http://www.soundminds.com.au/author/dallas/). Segments of this interview were played on community radio in July 2016.

Ben Goldacre says that greater transparency on research findings could increase the public's faith in essential medicines. ShutterstockWe are living in a time where we have greater access to lifesaving medicines and treatments than ever before. But we’re also seeing a surge in the rejection of the medical research and the scientific community in general, with anti-vaccination activists and climate change sceptics building followings and taking seats in government. How do we bridge the divide to those who have lost trust in science? Dr Ben Goldacre – epidemiologist, columnist and author of the books Bad Pharma and Bad Science – believes that greater transparency around the data used in research and better communication of results is the answer. And he thinks the public can understand a lot more about scientific research than either the media or academia gives them credit for. The University of New South Wales’ Dr Darren Saunders spoke to Dr Goldacre about his first forays into writing about science for The Guardian, his current project exploring reporting practices in medical journals and why he believes science communication is the answer. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions, Wisteria Free Music Archive - Dave Depper, “Wholesome 7” Darren Saunders receives funding from NHMRC, US Dept. of Defense, and MNDRIA.

What can life on Antarctica tell us about future colonies on Mars or other planets? www.shutterstock.comLast month, a team of scientists emerged from a year-long experiment to test what survival might look like for the first colonists on Mars. But while setting up a human colony on Mars seems like a journey into the unknown, the research community in the Antarctic is already encountering – and in some cases solving – many of the same problems we might face on new worlds. And those problems are not all environmental. Dallas Rogers speaks with Western Sydney University Associate Professor Juan Francisco Salazar about his use of documentary film to study the way humans interact with each other and their environment in Antarctica, and what it might mean for colonising new planets. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcast on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio FreeSound - Morosopher, “Rumbling wind & ice skating” FreeSound - Cobratronik, “Wind Arctic Cold” Music Footage Firm Ltd - “Space Technology” Footage Firm Ltd - “Flying” Footage Firm Ltd - “Ambient Bell Music” Footage Firm Ltd - “Alien Communication Horror” Footage Firm Ltd - Ambient Swirl Footage Firm Ltd - “Universe Tune 60s” Dallas Rogers receives funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to produce short academic interviews for SoundMinds Radio (http://www.soundminds.com.au/author/dallas/). Segments of this interview were played on community radio in February 2016.

Recent studies have revealed an emerging understanding of the benefits of birthing relationships through the childbearing process. ShutterstockRecent studies have revealed an emerging understanding of the benefits of birthing relationships through the childbearing process. Creating a healthy mental state through pregnancy, birth and postnatal care can have an important and tangible effect on the health of both child and mother. Midwifery, one of the oldest professions in the world, has been increasingly overshadowed by technological development and obstetricians. But the benefits a midwife can provide through comfort, empowerment and understanding are something that can’t (yet) be emulated by medical science. Dallas Rogers spoke with Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery and Higher Degree Research Director in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University, about encouraging a healthy pregnancy through relationships and empowerment, while also balancing this with traditional medical care. Dr Jacqueline Nelson, sociologist at the University of Technology Sydney and Dallas’ wife, also contributes her personal journey through her current pregnancy. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music from: Free Music Archive Using air bubbles as lenses I see the outside. I suspect the world is not what it seems by Cherly KaCherly Free Music Archive Gnossienne Nº1 by Trans Alp Free Music Archive Atlantic State of Mind (A Long Winter) by mGee Free Music Archive Conscience by New Air Dallas Rogers receives funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to produce short academic interviews for SoundMinds Radio (http://www.soundminds.com.au/author/dallas/). Segments of this interview were played on community radio in January 2016

Battle On Saturday, Australians will finally go to the polls to decide who will lead the country after one of the longest election campaigns in recent history. But no matter which major party wins government, they look set to be sharing power – particularly in the Senate – with a range of new faces from the likes of Nick Xenophon’s and Jacqui Lambie’s political parties. So, which seats should we be following with interest on election night? And how have the major parties gone at selling their policies? University of Western Australia political analyst Natalie Mast sits down again with “Poll Bludger” William Bowe to talk about how the campaign has played out and what the polls are telling us about the likely result. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio: ABC - Lateline, “‘Poll Position’: Senator Nick Xenophon” Sydney Morning Herald, “Liberal launch, instability scare” Associated Press, “European Union referendum results announcement” NSW Nationals Party, “Not this time, Tony” Liberal Party of Australia (via Sydney Morning Herald), Campaign ad Australian Labor Party, “Chloe Shorten interviews Bill” Music Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions Wisteria Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions, When the guests have left Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions, Bouncing Free Music Archive - Circus Marcus, “La tapa del dominigo” Free Music Archive - Dave Depper, “Wholesome 7” Natalie Mast is the Chair of The Conversation's Editorial Board.

original In May 2015 the mayor of the City of Blacktown, Stephen Bali, denounced the SBS documentary series Struggle Street – produced in the Blacktown suburb of Mount Druitt – labelling it as “public funded poverty porn” and staging a creative protest which saw a dozen garbage trucks blockade the broadcaster’s head offices. The second series of Struggle Street will be filmed in Queensland and Victoria in 2016, and there has already been significant backlash to the announced plans. While poverty porn is a term used to describe media that appears to exploit impoverished communities and individuals for entertainment, supporters of shows such as Struggle Street argue that the genre can generate sympathy, engagement and ultimately have a positive effect on the community. Dallas Rogers spoke with Deb Warr, Associate Professor from the McCaughey Centre for Community Wellbeing at the University of Melbourne, about the role the media plays in creating narratives around poverty and the importance of varied methods of engagement with impoverished communities. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional audio: ABC Lateline SBS accused of ‘poverty porn’ over documentary series Newsnight Is Channel 4’s Benefits Street ‘poverty porn’? Four Corners Growing Up Poor Benefits Street S01E01 Welcome to James Turner Street Benefits Street Theme Tune The Sydney Morning Herald Mt Druitt community leaders hurt after Struggle Street documentary Music from: Free Music Archive Headlights/Mountain Road by Blue Dot Sessions Free Music Archive Wisteria by Blue Dot Sessions Free Music Archive Werdenfelser Trompeten Landler by Strassmeir Dachaur Bauernkapelle Free Music Archive Paper Napkin by Blue Dot Sessions Dallas Rogers receives funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to produce short academic interviews for SoundMinds Radio (http://www.soundminds.com.au/author/dallas/). Segments of this interview were played on community radio in January 2016

AAP/Tracey NearmyIn this podcast, University of Western Australia political analyst Natalie Mast speaks with “Poll Bludger” William Bowe about the election campaign so far. The conversation focuses on the latest polling and whether there is evidence of a nationwide swing large enough to unseat the Coalition government. They touch on the possible impact state issues – particularly in Western Australia and South Australia – will have on the election. William also speaks about his recent modelling of possible outcomes for the Senate. The upper house is not only facing a double-dissolution election but a new method of voting. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio: Channel Ten, 1998 Australian Federal election coverage Channel Ten, Eyewitness Newsbyte 26 April 2016 Liberal Party of Australia, Our Plan for a Strong New Economy Youtube user: Voltscomissar, Adam Bandt victory speech in full. Re-elected MHR for Melbourne. Australian Electoral Commission, Senate voting education campaign Music Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions Wisteria Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions, When the guests have left Free Music Archive - Jon Luc Hefferman, “Analog” Free Music Archive - Circus Marcus, “La tapa del dominigo” Free Music Archive - Circus Marcus, “La tapa del sábado” Free Music Archive - Superbus, “Dramatic” Free Music Archive - Dave Depper, “Wholesome 7” Free Music Archive - Dave Depper, “Swagger 2” Natalie Mast is chair of The Conversation's editorial board.

Smaller class sizes do not make a difference the quality of education. from www.shutterstock.comDo we actually know what works when it comes to improving the quality of education in schools? A new four-part ABC documentary series, Revolution School, looks at what the research tells us about what works in education – and what doesn’t. It tells the story of how a typical suburban high school in Victoria, Kambrya College, managed to turn around from rock bottom to being in the top 25% of study scores in the state. Smaller class sizes, private schooling, homework and discipline do not make a difference to the quality of education, explains education expert John Hattie – “what really matters is interaction with teachers, clinical teaching, constantly measuring each student’s knowledge and responding to their individual needs”. Maxine McKew speaks with John Hattie about what we need to be doing to improve the quality of education in Australian schools – and the kind of debates we really should be having. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Featured Music: Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions, Wisteria Maxine McKew does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

original The writs have been issued, the stage has been set: Australians are about to go to an election. You can almost smell the sausages sizzling at local primary schools and scout halls, and it’s only a matter of time until the how-to-vote cards start to make their way into our hands and letterboxes. When we talk about the fundamental elements of representative democracy, we tend to defer to grand themes such as accessibility, representation, prevention against corruption, and equality. But democracy in Australia (and in other parts of the world) is as much about where we vote, when we vote and how long we have to vote as those more lofty concepts. And what about that humble sausage in bread? William Isdale speaks with professor Graeme Orr about the festival of elections, the heritage of voting in Australia and what might be lost in the culture of our democracy if we are all able to vote securely from our mobile phones at some stage in the near future. Orr’s book, Ritual and Rhythm in Electoral Systems, is out now. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio: Channel Ten, Election 2013 | Sausage steals the sizzle Channel Ten, Election Day 2013 | Labor concedes defeat | Part 1 Channel Ten, Election Day 2013 | A new Prime Minister SBS, Leaders vote on election day 2013 SBS, World News - Election Day 2010 Film Australia - Australian Biography Series, Neville Bonner - Change Channel Nine, Paul Keating’s 1993 Election Victory Speech ABC, Australia Votes 2013 Music: Free Music Archive - The Degs, “Here they come” Free Music Archive - Dave Depper, “Swagger 2” Free Music Archive - Circus Marcus, “La tapa del dominigo” Free Music Archive - Circus Marcus, “La tapa del sábado” Free Music Archive - Kai Engel, “February” Free Music Archive - Kevin MacLeod, “Master of the feast’ Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions, "Micro” Free Music Archive - Blue Dot Sessions, “Bouncing” Free Music Archive - Psychadelik Pedestrian, “Pacific” Free Music Archive, Dave Depper, “Wholesome 7” William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

RTR I MJ The terror attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, changed the way we think about politics, society and safety as the world entered the 21st century. But as the world learned the identities of the attackers, the response affected one community much more acutely: Muslims. The media coverage of the 2001 attack and other subsequent incidents in our region, including the Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney’s Martin Place in December 2014, increased the feeling among many in the Muslim community that they are not welcome or safe in the Australian cities that they call home. So, in this increasingly tense climate, how does it feel to navigate the city as a young Muslim? Dallas Rogers spoke with Western Sydney University PhD candidate Rhonda Itaoui about her research examining the Islamophobia young Muslims experience in Australia. She also explores her own experiences as a young Muslim woman and the success of campaigns like #illridewithyou in countering Islamophobia. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional Audio: Emily Eaton, BayFM, voiceover for the text message conversation Sarah Long, BayFM, voiceover for the text message conversation ABC News The Sydney siege as it unfolded 9 NEWS Social Media Campaign supporting Muslims goes viral The Verdict Mark Latham targets western Sydney Music from: Free Music Archive Cylinder Seven by Chris Zabriskie Free Music Archive La tapa del miércoles by Circus Marcus Free Music Archive Bumble by Podington Bear Free Music Archive Pacific by Psychadelik Pedestrian Free Music Archive Impact Prelude by Kevin MacLeod Dallas Rogers receives funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to produce short academic interviews for SoundMinds Radio (http://www.soundminds.com.au/author/dallas/). Segments of this interview were played on community radio on 01/12/2015

In late 2015, the Greater Sydney Commission was established to oversee metropolitan planning and development in Sydney. The commission is intended to function as a partnership between state and local governments, with both the power to create overarching planning proposals and the mandate to work with local governments on local planning controls. NSW Premier Mike Baird has tasked the commission with delivering 680,000 new homes by 2031, with the aim of tackling the city’s unfolding housing affordability crisis. In December, Lucy Turnbull was announced as the inaugural chief commissioner for the Greater Sydney Commission. In addition to a successful career in commercial law and investment banking, Turnbull has a history in local government – in 2003 she became the first female lord mayor of Sydney – and is the author of the 1999 book Sydney: Biography of a City. Since 2010 she has been the deputy chair of the Coalition of Australian Governments’ City Expert Advisory Panel. Dallas Rogers spoke with Lucy Turnbull on the establishment of the Greater Sydney Commission, its structure, plans and mandate from the premier, as well as criticism from some urban planning experts that the commission is an undemocratic “top-down” approach to development. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music from Free Music Archive: Liquor Files - Treacle by Blue Dot Sessions. Further reading: “Participatory, technocratic and neoliberal planning: an untenable planning governance ménage à trois” by Laura Schatz and Dallas Rogers in Australian Planner. “Monitory Democracy as Citizen-driven Participatory Planning: The Urban Politics of Redwatch in Sydney” by Dallas Rogers in Urban Policy and Research. Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Australia's policies on asylum seekers have been criticised by many countries at the UN's Human Rights Council. Department of ImmigrationAustralia’s refugee and border protection policies have been in the spotlight again this week as riots broke out at the Christmas Island detention centre following the unexplained death of an escaped asylum seeker. The incident happened just prior to a review of Australia’s human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council. Many countries criticised Australia’s tough stance on asylum seekers, and called on the government to end its policy of boat turnbacks, mandatory detention and offshore processing. These are the latest episodes in Australia’s long and turbulent history with immigration. From the White Australia policy to Vietnamese refugees to the current turning back of boats, the treatment of migrants and refugees has long been controversial and divisive in Australia. Dallas Rogers spoke with Shanthi Robertson and Ien Ang about national identities and the role migrants, refugees and borders will play in Australia during the so-called Asian century. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music from Free Music Archive: Night Owl by Broke For Free, 2044 by Alasdair Cooper, Dream (instrumental) by Chan Wai Fat, and Lo Ka Ping. Additional audio: BBC News, RN Breakfast (ABC Radio National), Q&A (ABC TV), RT News, Reuters, Department of Immigration and Border Protection, ABC Lateline, The Australian Government. Dallas Rogers receives funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation to produce short academic interviews for SoundMinds Radio (www.soundminds.com.au). Shorter segments of these interviews were played on community radio on 03/11/2015.

Despite having a higher than average rate of viable donors, Australia’s organ donation rate is lower than much of the developed world. from www.shutterstock.comRoughly 1,600 people are currently on waiting lists to receive an organ transplant in Australia. But for many, the wait will be unsuccessful due to the low number of donors. Australia was once a world leader in organ donations, but today its organ donation rate is lower than much of the developed world. The country ranks 20th in the world for donations, despite having a higher than average rate of potential donors, and sits below world leaders such as Spain, Belgium, France and the USA. Australia’s approach has been to focus on signing up more people to be donors and on encouraging families to consent to donation after the death of a relative. But if Australia wants to be world-leading, that’s not enough. William Isdale spoke with Aric Bendorf about what needs to change if Australia is to, once again, become a leader in organ donation. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Kai Engel - The Idea Additional audio: Sunrise (Channel 7), Organ and Tissue Authority, The World Today (ABC Radio National) William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Supermassive black holes, containing as much mass as millions or billions of suns, exist at the centre of all galaxies, including our own Milky Way. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, CC BY-SABlack holes are incredibly strange phenomena: a collapsed star packed into a tiny region of space. Their gravitational force is so strong that not even light can escape. So it is not surprising that, for a long time, black holes were not thought to actually exist – they were only a theoretical possibility. But today, not only do we realise that black holes are relatively common in the universe, we also know that there are black holes lurking in the centre of all galaxies – including our own Milky Way Galaxy. These black holes, called supermassive black holes, can pack the mass of millions or billions of suns into a region smaller than our solar system. Tanya Hill spoke to Meg Urry, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Yale University and currently the President of the American Astronomical Society, about distant galaxies and the supermassive black holes that can be found in their centre. This podcast includes excerpts from Museum Victoria’s Black Holes: Journey into the Unknown, narrated by Geoffrey Rush. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Kai Engel - The Scope Additional audio: Museum Victoria, Fox News (US), BBC Worldwide, Sky News (Australia) Tanya Hill does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Liberal candidate Andrew Hastie has campaigned strongly on local issues. Richard Wainwright/AAPThis Saturday’s Canning byelection has turned from being a poll on Tony Abbott to being a test of both new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten. Political analyst Natalie Mast spoke with “Poll Bludger” William Bowe about what Monday’s leadership spill will mean for the vote in Canning. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Blue Dot Sessions: Castro Additional audio: Channel 7 News, ABC News Natalie Mast is Chair of the Editorial Board of The Conversation.

Who ya gonna call? The World Health Organization has been criticised for its poor response to last year's Ebola outbreak. Ahmed Jallanzo/AAPThe recent Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa occurred in three of the poorest and least resourced countries in the world. And as Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia all struggled with the epidemic, it was clear a global response was needed to contain the disease. But the response, led by the World Health Organization, has been widely criticised for being too slow and inadequate, and over 11,000 people have died from the epidemic. While there is relief that the outbreak now seems contained, how will the world respond to the next global health crisis? William Isdale spoke with Lawrence Gostin about the lessons we can learn from the Ebola epidemic and the future of global health. This interview was made by possible by the Australian Centre for Health Law Research at the Queensland University of Technology. Professor Gostin was in Brisbane as a guest of the Centre. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Kai Engel - The Scope Additional audio: ABS News (US), BBC News, CNN, ABC News (Australia) William Isdale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Noami Klein speaking in Sydney. Christopher Wright, Author providedIn her latest book, This Changes Everything (2014), the Canadian writer and activist Naomi Klein tackles the issue of climate change through a familiar prism: capitalism. She argues that unrestrained capitalism is the root of the problem and that the global response to climate change has, thus far, been shaped by wealth and power. Christopher Wright spoke to Naomi Klein on the eve of her appearance at the Sydney Festival of Dangerous Ideas about the impact of capitalism on the climate, and how grassroots movements – not market-based approaches – hold the key to tackling the all-pervading problem of climate change. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Broke For Free Additional audio: AFP, NBC News, ABC News Christopher Wright is a member of the Academy of Management The academy is a funding partner of The Conversation US. Christopher Wright has received funding from the Australian Research Council. Christopher Wright is an Academy of Management scholar.

Congested roads and overcrowded public transport services are common problems in many of our cities. Dam Himbeechts/AAP As anyone who travels to work would probably realise, Australia’s transport infrastructure needs urgent upgrades. As our cities continue to grow, it is virtually impossible to escape the tangle of peak-hour congestion. But with governments focused on reducing deficits, only one or two transport infrastructure projects are likely to be implemented. So how are decisions about which infrastructure to build made? And how much of a say do the people who actually use the transport system have in which projects are prioritised? Dallas Rogers spoke with Crystal Legacy about the politics of transport infrastructure, and the role urban planning can play in democratising the process of funding and implementing projects. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Blue Dot Sessions: Union Hall, Transfusion by Anitek, Run the Tape by Asthmatic Astronaut (CC BY-NC) Additional audio: The Today Show (Channel 9), Channel 10 News, ABC News, Nine News, Channel 7 News, GreenLeftTV (Sydney Protests Against the WestConnex Project) Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

It will be many years before life returns to normal in the Langtang valley, one of the regions worst-affected by the earthquakes in Nepal. Scott Mattoon/flickr, CC BY-SAHayley Saul and Emma Waterton were doing anthropological field work in the Langtang valley in Nepal when the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit on April 25 this year, killing more than 9,000 people. At the time of the quake, they were with several local guides from the village of Langtang, now dubbed “the worst affected” area in Nepal. Saul and Waterton were recording local oral histories. They were interested in how these local stories were written into the Himalayan landscape. It was their guides’ knowledge of the landscape, their humble acts of bravery and kindness that saved Saul and Waterton’s lives many times over two tough days, and enabled them to reach safety. Saul and Waterton would witness many acts of courage and heroism after the earthquake, which was often not reported by the overseas media that tended to focus on the quake’s impact on tourists and climbers on Everest. Dallas Rogers spoke to them about their research in Nepal, the earthquake, their rescue over two days, and the everyday Nepalese hero. Since returning to Australia, Saul and Waterton have been fundraising to assist the displaced villagers of Langtang in collaboration with Community Action Nepal. You can read about their story and find out more about their relief efforts here: Langtang Survivors. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Gallery Six, OCP, Edoardo Romani Capelo (Free Music Archive) Additional news audio: BBC News, ABC News, CBS News. Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised economic growth and good times ahead for India, but faces many challenges. Jane Dempster/AAPRecent IMF and World Bank forecasts show that India’s economy could take over from China as the world’s fastest growing economy in the next two years. The two organisations’ tick of approval for the Modi government’s development agenda comes just over a year after Narendra Modi lead the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a landslide win in the 2014 Indian elections, securing 282 seats and gaining majority control of the lower house – something that no other single party has done since 1984. The election result was unthinkable a few years ago. Under the previous Congress party government, India had seven years of GDP growth of around 8% or more, and India was seen as the next emerging economic power after China. But the growth faltered and a series of major corruption scandals destroyed the credibility of the Congress government. By the time of the 2014 elections, Indians, who had become accustomed to economic growth and its flow-on benefits, seemed desperate for change and the expectations on Narendra Modi are enormous, with both businesses and the electorate hoping that he can replicate his successes as chief minister of the state of Gujarat. But despite the economic growth, Modi faces a number of challenges to deliver on his promise of good times ahead for India. Inadequate infrastructure, massive skill shortages and high levels of illiteracy will all hinder efforts to generate the millions of jobs needed to cater for the influx of young people entering the workforce. The Conversation spoke with Anthony D'Costa about the economic challenges facing the Modi government and India. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Vinod Prasanna, Free Music Archive/Sunny Jain’s Red Baraat Festival, Free Music Archive/Blue Dot Sessions: Castro (CC BY-NC) Additional news audio: BBC News, ABC Lateline, Bloomberg TV, CNBC, Al Jazeera, Press TV, and ABC News 24.

Australian cities are increasingly building up rather than building out. AAP/Joel CarrettAustralia’s growing population has put enormous pressure on the housing market within the major cities, which have expanded further and further out. But new settlements on the urban fringe require governments to invest in costly new infrastructure, and states such as Victoria and New South Wales have started to build up, rather than build out. This effort to combat urban sprawl has lead to a rapid growth in the number of high density housing being built closer to existing infrastructure. This presents unique challenges: noisy neighbours, smaller living areas, more shared spaces, and increased burdens on existing infrastructure. Dallas Rogers spoke with Hazel Easthope about the benefits and challenges of high density housing, and the mix of design, build and social considerations needed to create sustainable urban living environments. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Podington Bear: Daydream (CC BY-NC) Additional audio: Today Tonight (Channel 7), ABC News, and Sky News Australia Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Captain America was one of several nationalistic superheroes created during the Second World War era. © MarvelSuperhero films are big business. Avengers: Age of Ultron recently passed US$1 billion in box office sales. The first Avengers film is currently third in all-time box office rankings. The popularity and success of Batman, Ironman and the Avengers have contributed to a revival of the American superhero on the big screen. And though the latest films may seem like modern superhero narratives, the themes that make them relevant today stretch back to the 1930s and 40s, and the environment that gave rise to the first superheroes: the great depression, an undercurrent of fascism in America, and the looming Second World War. Dallas Rogers speaks with Jason Dittmer on the continued relevance of superheroes in both popular and political culture, and the influence of fascism and geopolitical forces on the superhero narrative. Jason Dittmer is the author of Captain America and the Nationalist Superhero: Metaphors, Narratives, and Geopolitics. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Music: Free Music Archive/Podington Bear: Fathomless (CC BY-NC) and Blue Dot Sessions: Modul Kalimba (CC BY-NC) See also: After Avengers: Age of Ultron, we really don’t need another hero Up, up and away? The future of the comic book movie Dallas Rogers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.