The Conversation Hour

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at where things are currently at with banning single use plastics and discuss the impact it continues to have on marine life.Also in this edition, Stranger Things returns for its final season we talk how to write the perfect ending. The Tik Tok awards were last night, so what role they play in bolstering cultural capital of the platform? And we catch up with former professional basketball player and coach Brendan Joyce about his life and career.

Melbourne has a new staff-free 7-Eleven, which is essentially comprised of vending machines.  In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss if this is the way of future for retail and what underpins the move. Also on the show, actor Chris Hemsworth has released a film that documents a road trip with his dad who has early-onset Alzheimers, we speak with the dementia community on how the documentary has been received.We also get the latest on what is being done to mitigate B6 toxicity and get the latest on the Optus outage. 

Over the past couple of months a group of 65 plus citizen scientists have hit the streets of Melbourne, mapping their experiences to capture how to make our suburbs more livable for our older population. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what they discovered the work they are doing with researchers in the field to improve our streets and cities.Also in this edition, Stahl House is up for sale, the LA mid-century modernist icon perched in the Hollywood Hills has been the set of innumerable film and tv productions, so what's next for one of Hollywood's most famous homes? Later in the program we also delve into the notion of 'full service schools' an educational model that aims to minimise inequality in the schooling system. Plus, how to safe guard your brain against buying things you don't actually really need or want during the Black Friday sales

A Rail, Tram and Bus Union survey has found 73 per cent of female transport workers have experienced health issues as a result of poor toilet facilities. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we hear about the experiences of a heavy haulage driver on the road and speak with the union about what they would like to see changed to better support women on the road.Also in this edition, why parents are increasingly accompanying their kids to schoolies, why public school principals are reporting poor wellbeing plus we pay tribute to Skye Gyngell, the first Australian female chef to win a Michelin star.

There is Sabrina Carpenter using a fork as a cigarette holder in a music video, pop star Rosalía giving Charli xcx a cigarette bouquet for her birthday, and Jeremy Allen White from The Bear being papped in the streets smoking, not to mention the rise of 'cigfluencer' on Instagram with all its snaps of famous folk having a puff. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss how much smoking in celebrity culture impacts young people and and how to effectively communicate the harms. Also in this edition, we talk farmers markets, elite women's sport stadiums and is Wicked: For Good actually all that good?

The Ashes start tomorrow and with Christmas just around the corner perhaps you are considering digging out your backyard cricket set. But is the back lawn really still a thing? While it might feel like a part of the  Australian cultural landscape,  some argue that they are not as environmentally sound as you might think.Also in this edition, is thrifting actually all that sustainable? How a not-for profit is transforming unused land to educate secondary school students about food systems.Plus, it was a big night for Melbourne music at the ARIAS with Amyl and the Sniffers dominating the night, we get the lowdown on the event. 

This morning our 774 ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast host Sharnelle Vella shared the joyous news that she is expecting a baby girl in March. She reflected that it had not been an easy journey revealing her struggle with infertility and spoke of her years of IVF treatments and unexpected endometriosis diagnosis. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss just how significant infertility can be on all aspects of day to day life and how we can better support women through it.Also in this edition, we talk the health impacts of ultra processed foods, the broader implications of job cuts to the CSIRO, why there needs to be greater awareness about the dangers lilies and some other flowers pose to cats. Plus, we talk to the proud mum of the Amyl and the Sniffers bassist ahead of tonight's ARIAS.

32 years ago today Nirvana played an unplugged gig for MTV in New York and it marked a pivotal moment for the band. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore why the performance was so significant and hear your stories about what Nirvana meant to you.Also in this edition, First term MP Jess Wilson has been elected to lead the Victorian Liberal Party, becoming the first woman to lead the Coalition in the state's history.She's 35, so what will so what will having a millennial leader mean for the success of the State Liberal Party?Plus, Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown called out a photographer for telling her to smile, we discuss why we need to stop telling women to smile.

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?