Big Ideas

From Rodrigo Duterte, to Narendra Modi, to Donald Trump, strongman leaders around the world are harnessing big tech to consolidate their power. Social media is also being used to energise and organise resistance movements, but is the bad increasingly outweighing the good?The 2025 Southeast Asia Oration Media Freedom and Democracy in Southeast Asia was held at the University of Melbourne, in partnership with Asialink, the Asia Institute, and the ASEAN Australia Centre.SpeakersMaria Ressa Filippino journalist, co-founder and CEO of online news site Rappler, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, author, How to Stand Up to a DictatorLaura Tingle Global Affairs Editor, ABCNicholas Coppel Former Australian Ambassador Myanmar, author, Myanmar's Digital Coup, President of the Australia Myanmar InstituteDr Ken Setiawan Senior Lecturer in Indonesian Studies at the Asia Institute, University of MelbourneProfessor Michael Wesley (host) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement), University of Melbourne

Dr. Elizabeth (Ella) Finkel, a seasoned science journalist and author, discusses the urgent need for scientific literacy in today’s misinformation-heavy world. She dives into how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped societal trust in science and the fierce debates surrounding the virus's origins. Finkel critiques the politicization of medical evidence, using ivermectin as a case study, and emphasizes the importance of scientific skepticism. With insights on human evolution and the role of DNA in reshaping our understanding, she advocates for clear communication of scientific uncertainty.

The Beatles shook the world to its core in the 1960's and, to this day, new generations continue to fall in love with their songs and their story. At the heart of this phenomenon lies the dynamic between John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Few other musical partnerships have been rooted in such a deep, intense and complicated personal relationship. Ian Leslie uses the songs they wrote to trace the shared journey of these two compelling men before, during, and after The Beatles.This talk is provided by the York Festival of Ideas. The Festival is led by the University of York, UKSpeakerIan LeslieAuthor of John and Paul: A love story in songs (Faber, 2025)John Robinson (host)Emeritus Professor in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York

The world feels more dangerous and unpredictable, but with Australia wedged between our traditional ally, America, and our biggest trading partner, China, does our most expensive ever defence project make us more secure, or less?The 2025 Laurie Carmichael Lecture, Australian Sovereignty and the Path to Peace, was recorded on Wednesday 10 September 2025, with thanks to the Australia Institute's Carmichael Centre for Future Work and RMIT University.SpeakersDoug Cameron ALP Senator for New South Wales, 2007 to 2019, trade unionist

In a powerful discussion, Professor Gareth Evans, a former Australian foreign minister and expert in peace initiatives, explores the urgency of global peace with Dr. Yassmin Khadra, a Palestinian human rights advocate, and Bishop Daniel Abot, a South Sudanese peacemaker. They tackle the harsh realities of war and genocide, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the importance of global institutions like the UN. They also emphasize Australia's potential role in advocating for peace, justice, and support for affected communities, urging listeners to take action.

Dr. Jane Goodall, the legendary primatologist and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, shares her journey from a novice to a world-renowned researcher of chimpanzees. She discusses the hopeful role of trees in combating climate change and how forests can regenerate with community support. Jane also reflects on the disconnect between humans and nature revealed by the pandemic, emphasizing that individual choices can lead to meaningful change. With her trademark optimism, she highlights youth empowerment programs and innovative solutions as essential for a sustainable future.

Jessica Russ-Smith, a Wiradjuri Womble woman and Associate Professor, joins Michelle Lazarus, a Professor at Monash University, to explore the dual nature of AI as a potential coloniser or a tool for decolonisation. They discuss how AI mirrors human biases, the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty, and advocate for locally developed, life-centred AI that prioritizes community over individual gain. The conversation also highlights the hidden human costs of AI, emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks and community involvement in its evolution.

Join Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State, and Philip Zelikow, esteemed diplomat and historian, as they tackle the fractures in global cooperation. Rice discusses how nation-centric goals hinder collaboration, while Zelikow emphasizes the need for democracies to unify on frontier technologies, especially AI. They analyze Germany's strategic shift in defense, the role of Ukraine in fostering cooperation, and propose strategies to enhance U.S. appeal to international students amidst rising polarization.

American music journalist Liz Pelly interrogates the ways Spotify and other streaming giants are reshaping music, not just for listeners, but also for the people who make it.This conversation was recorded on 28 August 2025 in partnership with The Wheeler Centre and Now or Never Festival. Discover more talks and bold conversations by following The Wheeler Centre wherever you get your podcasts or at wheelercentre.com.SpeakersLiz Pelly Music critic, author, Mood machine: The rise of Spotify and the costs of the perfect playlistLauren Taylor Senior programs and podcasts manager at The Wheeler Centre, and host of Breaking and Entering on community radio Triple R

Australian Indigenous art is celebrated around the world – but how much is understood about its pivotal role in Indigenous culture, country, politics and law? For the Yolngu people of north-east Arnhem Land, art is more than just aesthetic, it is a means of cultural diplomacy, and a respectful assertion of power in its diverse forms, from sovereignty to influence, authority and control, to energy, strength and pride.This episode brings together two significant exhibitions of Indigenous art on now, Yolngu Power: the art of Yirrkala, and 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art.This conversation was recorded at the Art Gallery of New South Wales on 30 July 2025. SpeakersMarcia Langton Co-curator (with Judith Ryan) of the exhibition 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art, Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne (until 22 November 2025) Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies, Associate Provost and Distinguished Professor, University of Melbourne   Clare Wright Author, Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions: How the People of Yirrkala Changed the Course of Australian Democracy and more Professor of History and Professor of Public Engagement at La Trobe University Anna Clark (host) Author, Making Australian History, Private Lives, Public History, the History Wars  Professor of history, Australian Centre for Public History, University of Technology Sydney Further information:Yolngu power: the art of Yirrkala Art Gallery of New South Wales (until 6 October 2025)65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne (until 22 November 2025)