The Conversation Hour

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

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

A new women's health study from Monash University has looked at the impact of decreasing libido on women midlife. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we speak with researcher on what factors might underpin poor sexual wellbeing, how it impacts their lives and why we need to start talking about it.But first,  the state of caravan parks in Victoria, a debrief on AC/DC, and we check in with OzHarvest for our day of ABC Gives.

AC/DC are in Melbourne and folk are excited. In this edition of The Conversation we hear your AC/DC stories and reflect on what their set list might look like.Also in this edition, the health of local theatre in Victoria plus, violent youth offenders will be tried in adult courts, but how far will it really go in curbing youth crime.

New research has looked at the experience of autistic people playing team sport and has revealed that while there is a desire to increase their participation, barriers are preventing it. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what those barriers are and how to create more inclusive team environments.Also in this edition, why people are protesting Shein in Paris, how our  bee populations are faring, plus what were you wearing in 1975?

Has football become too long and too confusing? And will the new wildcard make it even more complicated? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we ask if you are struggling to keep up and why it has become increasingly complex.Also in this edition , we talk the importance of archiving history ahead of Remembrance Day, how you can do your bit for citizen science, plus should Vault move to Mildura?

Bryan Lipmann  has been named the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria and in this edition of The Conversation Hour he speaks with Justin Smith about his work advocating for homeless older people. Also in this edition former premier of Victoria Steve Bracks, shares his reflections on the Whitlam dismissal in the lead up to the 50th anniversary, plus we also talk music memoirs and why local content quotas on streaming platforms matter.

In a housing crisis the idea of holiday home has become something of a dirty word, and comes with a presumption of privilege. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what role the holiday home has played in Australia culture and whether it is really fair to assume they are only for the wealthy.Also in this edition, how the plastics industry made the burden of recycling a consumer issue, are we more vulnerable to advertising at Christmas time plus, how good are you at recognising a face in a crowd.

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we learn about the 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report, talk the come back of Race Around the World and ask do magazines for teenagers still matter? 

A couple of months ago the car company introduced a so called 'semi-autonomous' driving feature upgrade here in Australia. They call it 'supervised' self-driving. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how this feature works what sort of policy needs to be introduced to make sure it is safe.Also in this edition, we celebrate 50 years of Bohemian Rhapsody, how to use your own body weight to get fit, plus what does it mean to coexist safely with crocodiles.

As tech companies launch live translation features, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how much it influence our motivation to learn new languages and discuss how much we can really rely on the accuracy of the translations.Also in this edition a new study that looks at the experiences of young people caring for parents with early onset dementia, plus is it becoming just too expensive to be a bridesmaid?

A new Aged Care Act is coming in November.In this special edition of The Conversation we explore how the act will affect you and the people you love. 

A recent report by the University College London's Institute of Education has looked at the role of sport in improves the academic performance of young people. In this edition in The Conversation Hour we discuss what makes a good PE teacher and the importance of the role in schools.Also in this program, an exploration of the breakup album off the back of Lily Allen's much talked about album West End Girl, and just how prevalent is hostile architecture in Victoria.

The Victorian government has announced it's reopening Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what role schools can play in preventing at risk young people entering the justice system. Research suggests that students who have been suspended or expelled from school are likely to go on to have contact with the criminal justice system. So, should we be investing in schools and not jails?Also in this edition, why San Remo locals are worried about the wombat population, plus how farmers are using celebrities  to ensure the survival of their industry. 

Have you noticed that on some cars it is hard to tell the indicator is on or the brake lights are working? As more care designers are getting creative with the lights, from the shape to the way they move in this edition of the Conversation Hour we ask whether lights on a car should be off limits and purely for safety.Also in this edition, a new study that looks how fast our brain decides on the food we consume, plus the Australian Masters Games have wrapped for another year and find out about a sport that derives from Victoria that made its debut this year.

There are new guidelines on what to eat and drink if you have chronic constipation, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we speak with a gastroenterologist about the new guidelines as well as how to reduce stigma about the condition. Also in this edition, we talk citizen science, why wool is a good fibre for sportswear plus dating in later life.

In recent years public discussions about the impact of menopause has been having a bit of a moment, In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at the rise of so called 'menowashing' and the dangers of commercial interests spreading misinformation and harmful advice in how to manage it.Also in this edition, it's dyslexia awareness month, we look at why there are calls to abandon the term and what needs to happen to better support reading and writing in schools.

With home births and free births in the headlines today, in this edition of The Conversation Hour, we discuss the important differentiation between two, the homebirth guidelines,  and also why some women decide to give birth at home.Also in this episode, new research from The Electrical Trades Union has found that one in eight electrical apprentices have been shocked while on the job, so what needs to change to ensure the safety of trade apprentices.

As rates of homeschooling rise,  in this edition of The Conversation Hour,  we look at why there has been an upward trend and delve into what has been termed the 'accidental home schooler.'Also in this edition, was Barbie responsible for the rise in fast fashion? What does a climate resilient health system look like?Plus, the power of art to connect.  

The WNBL season kicked off on the weekend and in this edition of The Conversation we take a look at what engagement with the game was like and how it will fare this season.Also in this episode there are calls to end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 to speed up the shift EV, will it work? Why environmental conservationists are concerned by the state government decision to continue to list deer as a protected species. Plus, how did a crocodile end up in a luxury resort hotel pool?

You try and keep your diet healthy, but are you sometimes lured by those two for one chocolate bar deals on the supermarket shelf? And as the cost of living goes up, do those savings feel even more enticing? Well, the UK has recently banned muti-buy and and get one free specials on unhealthy foods, and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore whether this is something we should be doing here.Also in this episode, the legacy of Ace Frehley from Kiss, how to identify if you have social anxiety and the future of political cartoons .Plus we take you to mountain cattleman get together.

Football Victoria says it's had a substantial jump in participation, and is calling for urgent investment to support its growing popularity. In this edition of the Conversation Hour we discuss concerns about the current state of  its facilities and what's need to support clubs into the future.Also in this edition, we talk 50 years of music therapy, unpack the changes to carry on luggage,  plus take you to a sheep shearing competition. 

If you are in the eye of the storm of your child wanting their first mobile, what sorts of things do you need to consider? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss the big changes that can occur in a child's life around this time and why negotiation is key.Also in this episode, should GPs be able to initiate conversations with their patients about voluntary assisted dying? The Victorian Government is moving to lift some restrictions on the State's Assisted Dying scheme which include allowing doctors to bring it up as an option, so if this does happen what sort of support and training should medical professionals have to better equip them to have these conversations.Plus, we cross to Hollywood where Naomi Watts has been immortalised on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

From having a scrounge in your local second hand shop to learning how to prospect, as the price of gold goes up we speak with a geologist and gold prospector about the rise of prospecting.Also in this edition, is it time to abandon the ATAR? Plus, should significant local residential architecture be turned into house museums?

From carefully curated books on the bedside table to designer cushions on the couch, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how selling real estate has changed and ask whether we have lost the ability to envisage how we might like a place to look without all the trimmings.Also in this edition, are hot chips the ultimate treat? Plus, what is the  purpose of marriage is in modern day life?

Music venues play an import role in sustaining music culture and creating community, but as the cost of living rises, and discretionary spending decreases how do we ensure the music venues survive? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we venture to Europe to hear about some innovative initiatives there and ask if the same models could be applied in Australia.Also in this edition, John Lennon would have been 85 today, we discuss his enduring influence and legacy. Plus, a medical students mission to improve aged care in rural areas.

So, you might have heard the young folk say "6 7". It's become a popular term that has recently flooded TikTok, and is said to have it's origins in the height of basketball players. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore just how much sport influences our everyday language and the meaning we derive from it.Also in this edition, do you feel ethically compromised using delivery drivers? Do pets experience grief? Plus the rise of E-sports in Australia.

Is a suburban op shop the right place to donate forty years of memorabilia from Neighbours? In this edition of the Conversation Hour we discus whether three van loads of props, while well meaning, is in reality a beneficial contribution.Also in this edition, what needs to happen to improve retention of women in the construction industry, what happens if you inherit a pet from a deceased family member plus we take you to the Elmore Filed Days.

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore the impacts of missing school on young people when managing a chronic illness and what supports need to be in place.Also in this edition, the emergence of 'risky' playgrounds and how they help kids, plus how possible would it be for your local sports club to say no to any form of advertising or sponsorship harmful industries.

"The Life of a Showgirl" is Taylor Swift's 12th studio album and in this edition of The Conversation Hour we capture all the excitement and anticipation in the lead up to the release.Also in this edition, you may have heard the term AI slop but what is it, and why is it inundating our social media feeds? We also talk music nostalgia and meet a NFL and superfan ahead of the grand final this weekend.

The TGA has this week announced it has  significant concerns about the reliability of SPF testing undertaken by Princeton Consumer Research Corp. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we speak with a former employee of the lab who shares his concerns about the alleged incorrect testing practices.Also in this edition we pay tribute to animal rights campaigner and chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall, delve into why our friendships might be in trouble, plus how to  prevent plantar fasciitis?

In this very special edition of The Conversation Hour, Jacinta Parsons (filling in for Richelle) visits the Royal Melbourne Show. 

The Grand Final is almost upon us, and there is a lot of talk about how the players are gearing up. But what does it take to be an AFL umpire and do they experience the same pressures and emotions around the big event.Also in this edition, how do clubs identify talent ahead of the draft, plus we get the lowdown on who has been nominated for an ARIAs this year.

Australian sleepwear brand Peter Alexandar has recently launched a ‘Macca's' collection  which includes items for children. In this edition of The Conversation Hour, we ask for your thoughts on whether it is an appropriate collaboration, and whether it constitutes a form of fast-food advertising to young people. Also in this edition, is it time we finally give romance fiction its recognition ? Plus, later in the hour the eSafety Commissioner's  teen social media ban may include Roblox, but how will the ban actually work in practice

Late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live will be back on air next Tuesday — following his suspension for comments made about the murder of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss how the suspension will impact the program and what his first show back might look like.Also in this edition, is it time to do away with the front fence?

With the Brownlow medal on tonight in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what it actually means to be the best fairest. Should it be judged on the scoreboard or is it more about player behaviour? Does your local club celebrate the best and fairest and if so how do you decide who gets a trophy and who doesn't? Also in this edition,  this week is national pain week, and we look at how chronic pain impacts young people and how we can better support families.  Plus we discuss a new online platform assisting people with disordered eating. 

It's going to be a big weekend of footy and many are gearing up for the Cats vs Hawks tonight. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss whether the prelims eclipse the Grand Final in terms of anticipation and build up.Also, in this edition, the impact of household mould on health plus, how much do you listen to your inner voice. 

As the federal government climate target is handed down today, you may not automatically think what role the music industry has in reaching these targets, but as artists such as Billie Eilish advocate for 'green touring' in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore whether the music industry needs to incentivse a a more environmentally friendly events.Also, in this edition, late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live has been suspended for comments he made about the murder of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk — we look at the future of comedy in the current political climate.Plus, as Trump is treated to a glittering royal banquet at Windsor Castle just how far can soft power diplomacy go in securing good international relations. And as the World Athletics Championships are in full swing we get some running tips.

The St Kilda PCYC (Police and Citizens Youth Club) looks set to close, much to the disappointment of its members and the local community. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore the what role youth clubs play in keeping young people socially connected.Also, later in the hour, the future of the abandoned Moe Hospital and why some are calling for it to turned into social housing,  why a new report into the proposed Macquarie stadium recommends it should not proceed, plus why 'third spaces' are becoming a bit of a thing.

In this episode, we unpack new research that finds dads are less likely to initiate these discussions with their kids.

Are footballers and athletes paid too much and is it resulting in them feeling disconnected? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore the question of whether it is a case of too much too soon and what mechanisms need to be put in place to better support young players. Also in this edition, the much overlooked art of clothing alterations, plus the skills you learn by chatting with strangers.

From the biggest Netflix film of all time to winning song of the year at the MTV music awards, people can't seem to get enough of Korean art and culture.