If You're Listening
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The world is on fire. There's a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 15, 2022 • 36min
AUSTRALIA | S06 E4 - The decade when climate change became a culture war
The podcast explores how the understanding of climate change in Australia shifted over the years due to misinformation and influential individuals. It touches on controversial speeches, the battle over land rights, the recognition of Indigenous land rights, the delay in ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, and the rise of climate skepticism.
Mar 8, 2022 • 36min
AUSTRALIA | S06 E3 - How long will the world want our coal?
Australia continues to export coal as long as there are buyers. Guests discuss coal's future and its role in supplying power and steel in India. The podcast explores Australia's historical coal trade with Japan and the challenges faced by the mining industry. It also delves into coal demands from India and China, as well as the journey of coal mining in India. The episode highlights challenges and ambitions in Australian coal mining projects, including concerns about indigenous sites and environmental impact. Additionally, it discusses a protest at a Westpac event and the concept of stranded asset risk.
Mar 1, 2022 • 35min
AUSTRALIA | S06 E2 - How we became addicted to coal
Australia’s second-oldest city, Newcastle, was built around a single resource - coal.Since then, Australia has come to rely on coal for its prosperity. Our industries grew around the cheap energy it provided, and our global trade balance relies on its export.But now, that has to end. The question is - what will happen to Australia, and its coal communities - when it does?Guests:Professor John Maynard, Emeritus Professor, Indigenous Education and Research, University of NewcastleDr Judith Brett - Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe University, author of the Quarterly Essay The Coal CurseJulie Baird - Director of Newcastle MuseumStephen Galilee - CEO of the NSW Minerals CouncilScott Hamilton, Australia-German Energy Transition Hub & former energy policy advisor to federal and Victorian governmentsWendy Farmer - Voices of the ValleyDarren Chester - Federal Nationals Member for Gippsland
Feb 22, 2022 • 35min
AUSTRALIA | S06 E1 - The legacy of our first decisions on climate change
Dr Grae, a climate change expert, discusses the legacy of Australia's first decisions on climate change. Topics include the origins of carbon dioxide causing global warming, challenges faced by climate scientists, predicting climate change consequences, convincing the public, and political decisions on emissions.
Feb 16, 2022 • 0sec
INTRODUCING Season Six | Australia, If You're Listening
The sixth season of If You’re Listening tells the story of Australia’s turbulent history with climate change, and what that means for the future.As we approach a federal election where climate and energy is a key battleground, this 8 episode series will examine how Australia wasted decades fighting change, instead of capitalising on it.Episode 1 launches on February 23.
Jul 5, 2021 • 33min
CHINA | S05 06 - Are the 'drums of war' beating over Taiwan?
International relations expert and analyst Katherine Wei joins the podcast to discuss the drums of war over Taiwan. The episode explores China's territorial claims, the historical context of Taiwan's relationship with China, the One China Policy, and Australia's approach to Taiwan. The conversation addresses the complex political situation and the implications of a potential war between the United States and China.
9 snips
Jun 28, 2021 • 32min
CHINA | S05 05 - Chinese students: Commodity or opportunity?
Dr Fran Martin, associate Professor & Reader, discusses the challenges faced by Chinese students in Australia, including isolation, discrimination, and financial exploitation by universities. The podcast explores the impact of government censorship on students' opinions, the misconceptions surrounding China, and the rise in racism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jun 21, 2021 • 28min
CHINA | S05 04 - Huawei and the new technology cold war
From humble beginnings in a tiny town whose name means "deep drainage ditch", electrical engineer Ren Zhengfei grew his company Huawei into a global technology giant, delivering competitive telecommunications equipment at low prices.But when Australia accused Huawei of being a security risk, a snowball began to roll which led to arrests, hostages being taken, and pure white hot fury in Beijing.This is the story of how a decision made in the midst of a Prime Ministerial spill may lead to a new technology cold war.Guests:Sue-Lin Wong, China correspondent, The Economist and co-author of The Beijing Bureau: 25 Australian Correspondents Reporting China's RiseMalcolm Turnbull, former Australian Prime Minister
Jun 14, 2021 • 30min
CHINA | S05 03 - The iron chain between Australia and China
When China rolled out their trade sanctions regime against Australia to try and punish us for a litany of perceived insults, the trade of one commodity was conspicuously left untouched.China's desperate need to stimulate economic growth through construction has left them with an insatiable appetite for Australian iron ore.In this episode, we look at the incredible things they've built using our most valuable resource, and what might happen if they decide to stop buying it.Guests:Dinny McMahon, author of China's Great Wall of Debt: Shadow Banks, Ghost Cities, Massive Loans and the End of the Chinese MiracleDr Feng Chongyi, Associate Professor in China Studies, University of Technology, SydneyKevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister
Jun 10, 2021 • 17min
CHINA | S05 Bonus episode - The story behind Bob Hawke’s mysterious Tiananmen Cable
In 1989, five days after tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square in Beijing and brutally ended weeks of protests, the then prime minister Bob Hawke gave a horrifying description of what Australia thought happened.But where did the account come from? And what did it get wrong?Over the past three months China, If You're Listening investigated the source of this description and found it was a previously undisclosed diplomatic cable from the Australian Embassy in Beijing, which subsequently had key details retracted.This is a bonus episode, produced with our friends at The Signal — a daily ABC News podcast.Guests:Blanche d'Alpuget, biographer and wife of late former prime minister Bob HawkeRichard Rigby, Emeritus Professor of the College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, CanberraCraig Emerson, former advisor to Bob Hawke, and cabinet minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments
