The Conversation Hour

Melbourne book publisher Black Inc has caused a stir after it sent a request to its authors to allow for their writing to be used in the training of artificial intelligence.  

On average, for every $1 a man earns, a woman earns 78 cents.

In this episode we explore new data that has shown a promising reduction in young people vaping. 

A new album featuring the likes of Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Damon Albarn has just been released. But there is no actual music on the album. "Is This What We Want?" is a protest album which represents the impact on musicians of having AI use their work. As concerns grow about artists rights in the face of AI we ask you what authenticity in music means to you. We also hear a new development in brain cancer treatment and later in the hour we ask you whether you would want to have coffee with your younger self.

From Andrew Gaze to Kieren Perkins, we hear from some of Australia’s most influential sporting identities about what role men should play in combating sexism in sport. We also look at why there are concerns for the survival of the hooded plover seabird and hear about a freshly launched initiative that aids people in rural communities with allergies. 

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at the trauma associated with a home invasion and how we are best placed to manage the impact it can have. Also, as health apps increase in popularity we explore some research out of Flinders University that looks at where they are helpful and when they can be harmful. The new series of White Lotus has us ‘set jetting’ and why renting a frock for that do could be a better option than buying. 

The Queen Vic market is something of an institution in Melbourne and according to some functions as a type of social glue, beyond a place to get your fruit and veg – but as fruiters strike what would a Melbourne without the market look like? Also in this edition of The Conversation Hour we hear about a new resource launched by PANDA that seeks to support women from culturally diverse backgrounds experiencing perinatal anxiety and depression. And a list of the 100 highest paid athletes has been revealed, and they are all men. 

With new medium to high density apartments potentially being built in your area, are you worried that parking will get worse? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we delve into what density housing means for where you park. Plus we learn about the Council to Homeless Persons new blueprint for the Victorian Government to end homelessness. And we also examine what the role Pope Francis has played setting social values across the globe.

While VAD laws were introduced into Victoria in 2017 a so called 'gag clause' has prevented doctors from initiating conversation with their patients about the option of voluntary assisted dying, essentially the doctors could only discuss with their patient if the patient specifically asked them about it. This law however is now set to be lifted and Melbourne GP Dr Nick Carr joined Richelle Hunt to discuss the significance of this change. Also in this edition of the Conversation Hour we talk what the price of a haircut can tell us about the economy and discuss actor Pamela Anderson's road to becoming an icon.

Animal rescuers claim that new Victorian government cat management policies will result in an increase in the number of cats that are euthanized in pounds, in this edition of The Conversation we ask how effective have cat curfews been to mitigate the number of cats that do end up in pounds. Also, why are job seekers getting ghosted by recruiters and what does best practice look like when it comes to comprehensive gender affirming care.