When was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and asked, ‘am I racist?’. We like to think of ourselves as progressive and politically aware, but what if we’re more racist than we think?   No matter our intentions or beliefs, the society we live in presents whiteness as the desirable norm. This means that on many levels, we often do too, and we routinely act in ways that reinforce this. If we don’t look at racism as something that goes beyond our individual beliefs, we make it harder for ourselves to disrupt a racist status quo. As both individuals and as a society, we have an engrained fear of being labelled racist or even starting conversations about race, but perhaps addressing this fear head on is exactly what we need to do to achieve equality.  For more information, visit unsw.to/CheyenneBardos This talk was a part of Fresh Blood, an event of short talks in the 2022 Festival of Dangerous Ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, western conservation work has thought the best way to save our seas was to remove people from the equation. This can make sense, as humans have had a profoundly negative impact on our seas and in some cases removing the cause of the problem is enough to generate a solution.  But the oceans are now struggling to sustain themselves and we have pushed ecosystems too far for them to recover on their own. We need to acknowledge that we have been part of the problem, but that we can also be part of the solution.  Time is fast running out. Can we turn our godlike ability to destroy, into an ability to create and restore our oceans?  For more information, visit unsw.to/AaronEger. This talk was a part of Fresh Blood, an event of short talks in the 2022 Festival of Dangerous Ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we introduce laws and policies to protect our children from drugs, are we actually doing more harm than good?   Historically, the ‘protection of children’ has been more about adult fears than child wellbeing. But even today, our ideas about protecting children are still quite paternalistic, exclusionary, dishonest and sometimes even dangerous. It's easy enough to stick our heads in the sand and imagine that we can wish away children’s drug use. It’s harder, but far more rewarding, to look at things from the point of view of our children.   Isn’t it time we stopped framing our rules around ideas of right and wrong, and started thinking in terms of what would really keep more children safe? Won’t someone please think of the children?  For more information, visit unsw.to/IsabelleVolpe. This talk was a part of Fresh Blood, an event of short talks in the 2022 Festival of Dangerous Ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If we are going to save the planet, Tema Milstein says we need to start hugging trees. Westernised humans tend to believe they are separate from nature, which shapes thinking and actions toward the environment. But seeing the world with humans at its centre has massive ramifications – from climate crisis to mass extinction. What stands in the way of more of us remembering we are embedded in the natural world and its intricate networks? And how do we override anthropocentrism, and start seeing ourselves as one with the flowers? For more information, visit unsw.to/TemaMilsteinFODI This talk was a part of Unthinkable, an event of short talks in the 2022 Festival of Dangerous Ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bittersweet melancholy, fiery rage, effervescent joy – emotions are a quintessential human experience. But from ancient times to today, social norms have limited our capacity to feel. Whether it's by being told to smile, having anger punished, or being called hysterical, women have been refused a full emotional spectrum. And toxic masculinity leaves men faring no better. In her latest book Hysterical, Pragya Agarwal dives deep into the history and science of gendered and racialised emotions. Are there really innate differences between male and female emotions? What impact does this idea have, and how has it been used to justify the subjugation of women? Together we'll imagine how to build communities that allow us to feel emotions in their fullness, beyond gender. Presented in partnership with Sydney Opera House. For more information visit unsw.to/Hysterical.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Heritage List has 1,154 sites on it. Every year, new locations are added, but sites are seldom removed. We have an uncanny capacity to collect things – in our homes, in museums, on heritage lists… but we rarely stop to question what it means for something to be elevated to heritage status and whether that classification should be permanent. While the protection of natural environments and artefacts from forgotten civilisations are of the utmost cultural significance, perhaps we should better interrogate the motives of the gate keepers to what is considered worthy. Are we destined to continue growing these bloated heritage lists until they lose all meaning, or can we learn to let go to make room for the new?  For more information, visit unsw.to/LucasLixinskiFODI This talk was a part of Unthinkable, an event of short talks in the 2022 Festival of Dangerous Ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Floods, fires, drought and disasters are already displacing more people globally than conflict. The climate emergency is destroying crops, homes and infrastructure and as the world heats over the coming decades whole cities may become unliveable, forcing populations to move in their tens of millions. How can we manage this unprecedented human movement to achieve productive, sustainable societies this century? Proposals range from the already real to the politically radical – such as global free movement, ‘caretaker states’, repurposed cities, and migration authorities with real power. Will we choose to invest in productive, pragmatic plans for the coming climate and demographic changes, or find ourselves forced to improvise in an acute crisis? Join award-winning science writer and the author of Nomad Century: How Climate Migration Will Reshape Our World Gaia Vince, for a keynote talk, followed by a conversation with Guardian Australia’s immigration reporter Ben Doherty and Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law Jane McAdam about how climate migration will reshape our world. This event is presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law and Adelaide Writers’ Week.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This podcast contains some coarse language. --- 2022 was a bad year for gender equality.  It was the year Roe v Wade was overturned and anti-trans legislation and hate surged in the United States of America, the year women were jailed and killed in Iran for their clothing, and the year that female students in Afghanistan were banned from attending university by the Taliban.    At a time when women's rights are under attack in so many places, it's more important than ever to think globally and stand in solidarity with women around the world. Feminism isn't just about the rights of women in the Western world – it's a global movement that fights for the rights and equality of women everywhere. And on International Women's Day, we have the chance to come together and stand in solidarity with women all over the globe.    In this special event with Mona Eltahawy, hear from one of the world's most prominent feminists and a fierce advocate for women's rights. Eltahawy's writing has sparked vital conversations about the ways in which young women are leading the charge for change, and the challenges and issues that women face around the world. She takes a no-holds-barred approach to tackling some of the most pressing issues facing women today, including sexual violence, reproductive rights, and the patriarchy.  This event was chaired by the Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Anti-racism, Education, International Aid, and Animal Welfare, Senator Mehreen Faruqi. Mehreen has been an unflinching voice on social, environmental and racial justice, pushing to dismantle the systems of power, privilege and patriarchy that allow these injustices to continue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good theatre holds a mirror up to society, forcing audiences to shine a light on the darkest corners and recesses of society. In these tumultuous times, it’s easy to wonder where is our world headed, and how we might navigate the new obstacles that arise when we get there?  Fortunately, British playwright Sir David Hare, is no stranger to pondering these mind bending questions. During his illustrious career he has written over 30 plays often examining the machinations of British politics and institutions, and its these plays that have seen him named, “the premier political dramatist writing in English” by The Washington Post.   So how has writing shaped Sir David Hare’s vision for where society is headed? And how might creativity unlock a way to adapt to what the future holds? In discussion with theatre producer Jo Dyer, David Hare speaks about his remarkable career as a playwright, and his creative plans for the future. This event is presented by the UNSW Centre for Ideas and supported by the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and Adelaide Writers’ Week.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The human brain is the most complicated computer in the world, but we tend to take it for granted. By linking neuroscience and computer technologies, engineers and scientists are creating neural implants to unlock better pain management strategies, accessibility tools for people living with disabilities, and potential human enhancements. As we move into the most connected and information rich age in human history, how can we ensure that we keep our focus on this kind of big picture science so that those most vulnerable are receiving the help they need? Neuroscientist Felix Aplin has some answers.  For more information, visit unsw.to/FelixAplinFODI This talk was a part of Unthinkable, an event of short talks in the 2022 Festival of Dangerous Ideas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.