Neil Mitchell Asks Why

It's a question I often ask my guests on this podcast... and it's a good one to reflect on as the year comes to an end.  In this final episode of 2025, I revisit some of the most memorable answers, and offer my own to-do list if I was in charge.      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I sit down with Blanche D’Alpuget; An award winning writer, mother and second wife of Bob Hawke. ‘Fridays with Blanche’ by Derek Rielly is available now at all good book retailers.  This episode contains discussions about sensitive issues, including suicide and mental health. If anything we talk about is difficult for you, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I speak to sisters Cate & Bronte Campbell, two of the best swimmers Australia has ever produced, with a combined 7 Olympic gold medals between them.  We talk about what really happens inside the Olympic village, why elite sport & fear go hand-in-hand & why nothing else compares to winning gold.  You can hear Cate & Bronte on their new podcast 'Campbell's & Co' launching this summer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I speak to Dr. Tim Sharp, AKA Dr. Happy, about why money really won't buy you happiness and how to really find it. Dr. Tim Sharp is the Chief Happiness Officer at The Happiness Institute. This episode contains discussions about sensitive issues, including suicide and mental health. If anything we talk about is difficult for you, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back in 2017, I was lucky enough to record one of the last sit down interviews with legendary racing driver Allan Moffat. Here is that interview again in memory of Allan, after his death this weekend aged 86. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I speak to Professor. Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist of the AI Institute UNSW, to discuss his most recent book; The Shortest History of AI.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I sit down with Professor Owen White, a neurologist developing tech to better diagnose, manage and prevent concussion in sport.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I chat to comedy legend Ben Elton about his writing process, The Beatles, comedians & why you can’t satirise Donald Trump.  Ben Elton's autobiography 'What Have I Done?' is available at all good book retailers now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I chat to former opposition leader Bill Shorten about his career in politics, the challenges facing our Universities and why the country 'needs to move up a gear'.  Bill Shorten is now Vice Chancellor at the University of Canberra.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I sit down with Professor Lisa Given to discuss how changes to the way we search for information and use social media will impact us all. Lisa is a Professor of Information Sciences and Director of the Centre for Human-AI Information Environments at RMIT University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.