Ideas at the House

Superficial charm, a tendency to be bored easily, a lack of empathy and remorse, coupled with a grandiose sense of self-worth: these are the hallmarks of the psychopath. After a look at the world around us, some investigative journalism that took him to prisons and CEO offices, Jon Ronson came to the conclusion that not only do these qualities characterise some of the most successful people in all spheres of life, perhaps there is at least a bit of the psychopath in us all.Jon Ronson is a journalist, documentary filmmaker and nonfiction author whose work includes 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' and 'The Psychopath Test.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The roles of governments and corporations in the future of the internet, and their use and abuse of data, have been put under the global spotlight. In the wake of Manning, Snowden and Wikileaks, we finally have the scope to properly debate the need for government transparency and the trade-off between privacy and security.Watch our expert panel discuss the implications of the war on whistleblowers for the main actors, and the consequences if that war is lost for the rest of us.US Journalist and activist Alexa O'Brien and Australian commentator Robert Manne are joined by video conference with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, Guardian Journalist Glenn Greenwald and Chelsea Manning's Lawyer David Coombs on stage at the Sydney Opera House (moderated by Bernard Keane of Crikey). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As political change sweeps the streets, parliaments and presidential palaces of the Arab world, Shereen El Feki has been looking at the upheaval inside the family home -- specifically, in the bedroom, and the sexual lives of Arab men and women. Sex is entwined in religion and tradition, politics and economics, making it the perfect lens for examining the region's complex social landscape.Shereen El Feki is an award-winning journalist with The Economist, and a broadcaster and writer who began her career in medical science before becoming the vice-chair of the UN's Global Commission on HIV and the Law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Holloway is a former Bishop of Edinburgh and acclaimed writer-commentator of books such as 'Goodness Morality.' Dubbed the 'barmy bishop' by UK tabloids and denounced by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Holloway was never a typical churchman, troubled by questions posed by life in the church.Holloway joins Ideas at the House to discuss his life and times both inside and outside the priesthood, as documented in his recent best-selling memoir, 'Leaving Alexandria.' Listen to Holloway share an intimate knowledge of the Church's workings, philosophies, and a fresh perspective on the topic of faith and doubt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Declared a 'prophet' by TIME magazine, John Ralston Saul's critically acclaimed works have been translated into 22 languages in 30 countries, displaying a growing impact on world political and economic thought. A long-term champion of freedom of expression, watch John Ralston Saul in intimate conversation on the state of the world today; from economic stability, unemployment and poverty to inequality, racism, terrorism and fundamentalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She's been called the voice of her generation. The future of journalism. A style icon. A muse. Oh, and she's still in high school.Tavi Gevinson has gone from bedroom blogger to founder and editor-in-chief of website and print series, Rookie, in just a few years. Rookie attracted over one million views within a week of launching, and has featured contributors such as Lena Dunham, Thom Yorke, Joss Whedon, Malcolm Gladwell, and Sarah Silverman.Watch this inspiring talk as Tavi discusses adversity, the creative process, her outlook on life, and the value of being a 'fangirl.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our economy is based on a model of constant growth - growth in production, growth in consumption, and growth in population. Economic growth has provided rising standards of living in the West, and has seen millions in China and India lifted out of poverty. But this model was disrupted in many countries by the global financial crisis. Will things settle down with growth resuming, or will our economies bump up against a wall of finite resources? And if they do, what will this mean the global balance of power?Richard Heinberg is an American journalist, educator, and author of 10 books, including 'The End of Growth.' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in 2011 and the beginning of the Arab Spring, Mona Eltahawy reflects on the hunger for freedom and democracy unleashed within Arab populations living under dictatorship. This is considered alongside questions about whether  Saudi Arabia's oil makes western support for freedom and democracy melt away, and whether the west can't afford to prefer Arab democrats to Arab dictators. Mona Eltahawy is an award-winning columnist and international public speaker, renowned for her commentary on the 'Arab Spring'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For over two decades, Michael Pollan has been opening our eyes to what we put in our body through books like 'Food Rules,' 'In Defense of Food,' and 'The Omnivore's Dilemma.' In this conversation with Rebecca Huntley, Pollan explores the ethical bonds that connect our bodies, farms and food to reveal what our food system has become and just how badly we need to fix it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From our systems of government to our most intimate relationships, the idea that we determine our own thoughts and actions is fundamental. But neuroscience and psychology have begun to unravel the illusion of free will. What does this mean for our cherished notions of political and social freedom and our focus on individual choice and responsibility? Join philospher and neuroscientist Sam Harris, one of the celebrated "four horsemen of new atheism," as he tried to convince you that free will is a delusion, and that accepting the delusion is important for society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.