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On this special bonus summer episode of The Culture, we’re talking the best of films in 2021. It was a great year for movies, and there’s plenty of stuff to catch up on if you didn’t have the time to hit the cinema as much as you would have liked.Joining host Osman Faruqi is film critic and the co-host of the Total Reboot podcast, Alexei Toliopoulos. Guest: Alexei Toliopoulos, film critic and co-host of podcast Total Reboot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Twenty five years ago Paul Kelly, one of Australia’s greatest songwriters, released ‘How To Make Gravy’, a song that has since become a staple at many family Christmas gatherings.‘How to Make Gravy’ is full of anecdotes and snapshots about summer in Australia: the hot weather, Christmas roasts, dancing, and of course, family reunions. It’s a song that perfectly encapsulates what this time of year is supposed to be about.Paul Kelly joined The Culture to talk about ‘How To Make Gravy’, the inspiration behind the song, how much it mirrors Paul’s own family Christmases, and why it seems to become more and more popular every year. Guest: Paul KellySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capitol riots, the Delta strain, sexual assault allegations rocking Parliament, the war in Gaza, the Olympics, COP26 and humanity’s last chance, the world’s longest lockdown, freedom days, and now Omicron and the start of a federal election campaign.Today, we look back at the news events that defined 2021 - in sound.Original music and composition in this episode by Alex Gow. Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For more than ten years hundreds of people seeking asylum in Australia have been detained on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.The Australian government has made it clear that none of them will be resettled here.But now a group of refugee advocates have a new plan to help them - involving a third country: Canada.Today, one of those advocates, assistant professor Dr Laura Beth Bugg, on the campaign to free refugees from Manus Island and find them a permanent home.    Guest: Assistant professor and co-director of Ads Up Canada, Dr Laura Beth Bugg. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Gladys Berejiklian spectacularly resigned as Premier of NSW, most people expected that would be the end of her political career.But then she was publicly encouraged by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to make a comeback - to run for federal parliament.Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe on the real reason Scott Morrison wanted to enlist Gladys Berejiklian, and what it reveals about the Prime Minister’s weakening authority in his home state.Guest: National Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Mike Seccombe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covid-19 pandemic has been one of the most disruptive and devastating events in recent history.But it also led to a series of incredible scientific breakthroughs, including the fastest ever development of a new vaccine. Now, the technology behind the Covid-19 vaccine, which has already saved millions of lives, is being adapted to find solutions for previously incurable diseases.Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton, on the woman who spent decades advocating for the unproven technology behind the vaccine, and how it helped save humanity.Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper, Rick Morton.Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has largely fallen behind the rest of the world when it comes to action on climate change. Even our closest allies regularly criticise our government’s slow approach to tackling the issue. While polls show a majority of Australians actually want to phase out our reliance on fossil fuels and move to renewables, there are some who are uncertain on how this future looks. Today, social researcher Rebecca Huntley on what ordinary Australians really think about climate change, and how the fossil fuel lobby has influenced their hearts and minds. Guest: Social researcher and contributor to The Monthly, Rebecca Huntley. Background reading: The fossil-fuel industry’s grip on Australian hearts and minds in The Monthly. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Mark McKenna, professor of history at the University of Sydney, will be reading his piece from the latest edition of The Monthly.It's called 'The Stunted Country', and in it, he argues that there can be no possibility of an Australian republic without constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians.Guest: Mark McKenna, professor of history at the University of Sydney.Background reading: The stunted country in The Monthly. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wes Anderson is back with this 10th feature film, ‘The French Dispatch’, his take on a fictional magazine reporting from France to an American audience in the 1960s and 70s.The movie has all the hallmarks we’ve come to expect from Wes Anderson, including a massive cast, a very specific sense of colour, and a lot of whimsy. To talk about the film, and the work of Wes Anderson more broadly, we’re joined by Flick Ford, film critic and the host of RRR's film show Primal Screen. Guest: Flick Ford, film critic and the host of Triple R’s movie show Primal Screen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2021 comes to an end, most of us are winding down. But in Canberra, the contest is just beginning. With an election on the horizon, both the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese have started pitching for votes. Today, columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno on what we’ll see as both leaders fight for their political future. Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper, Paul Bongiorno. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.