Best Australian Design Radio Podcasts (2025)

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Ep 164 GAME, PLAY: Conflict, Cards and Creativity with Urusaro Rwagaju 48:36

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4h ago48:36

48:36

In this episode we talk to Urusaro Rwagaju as we get a taste of the physical craft of Game Design. Saro is a design strategist, award-winning vocalist & songwriter, and the creative lead at the Museum of Sticks and Stones. Her work explores how creativity, dialogue, play, and design can bring people together to foster social cohesion and build comm…

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The power of essays 55:04

21m ago55:04

55:04

For 85 years, Meanjin has published the essays of Australian writers. The magazine's founding editor, Clem Christesen, wanted Meanjin's writers 'to reveal and clarify our life by showing it to us though a vision different from ours and deeper." In the wake of the news the magazine is closing, Big Ideas explores and celebrates the essay in all its f…

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Brain Rot: Will AI turn us off human relationships? 29:35

8m ago29:35

29:35

Whether it’s social media, the omnipresent smartphone or AI companions, in recent decades the way we relate to each other has been completely up-ended. In episode two of Brain Rot, we explore the potential implications that tech poses to human relationships. Worldwide estimates suggest there are around one billion users of AI companions — people us…

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Fleeced — unravelling the history of wool and war 54:35

2h ago54:35

54:35

It's water and fireproof, versatile, warm and tough wearing. Wool not only expanded the British Empire, and created prosperity in the colonies, it also changed the nature of war and warfare. But wool's fortunes didn't last forever. This is the story of the rise and fall of wool. This conversation was recorded at the National Library of Australia on…

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What's up with dieting Doc? Rethinking the obesity obsession in healthcare 54:30

19m ago54:30

54:30

Has your doctor ever told you to go on a diet? Does that conversation put you off going to them in the first place, even if you need treatment for something not related to your weight? Has being in a larger body ever meant you can't access surgery or IVF? Some are pushing for a weight-inclusive approach to healthcare, which de-centres obesity, and …

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Doing business ethically in turbulent times — with Helen Clark 54:34

2d ago54:34

54:34

In a world where rules are increasingly being broken, what role should business play in upholding human rights, international and domestic law, and environmental protection? And what are the rules and responsibilities of business to ensure supply chains, hiring practices, workplace safety, environment and social governance practices abide by global…

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05 | The Home Front: Lessons from afar 48:27

11m ago48:27

48:27

Around the globe, architects and designers are reimagining housing with bold, inventive solutions - from sprawling multi use compounds in Indonesia to compact cooperative models in Europe. These global experiments offer fresh perspectives on affordability, sustainability and community. But could they work in Australia? In this episode, we explore w…

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Jimmy Barnes – tells it all 54:35

23h ago54:35

54:35

Rock star and maverick Jimmy Barnes celebrates heritage, family, friends, music and the adventure of a grand life on stage. Get up close to the lead singer of Cold Chisel, author of Working Class Man and Working Class Boy. Learn how terrible experiences of family violence, but also a close bond to his brother shaped him into the performer he is now…

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Brain Rot: Is your phone destroying your attention span? 29:35

7d ago29:35

29:35

Everyone seems to have a hunch that their phone is destroying their attention span, but is there any science to back it up? In episode one of Brain Rot, we’re doing our best to focus on the topic of attention for a full 25 minutes — and find out what's actually happening in your brain every time your phone buzzes or dings. Is brain rot a real thing…

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Hanna Rosin on what’s happened to the end of men in Trump’s America 54:30

19m ago54:30

54:30

Thirteen years ago, US political journalist Hanna Roisin wrote a book called The End of Men: and the Rise of Women. Since then, there's been President Donald Trump x 2, the manosphere, the broligarchy, and more. So what happened? This event was recorded at the 2025 Women in Media Conference on 15 August 2025. Speakers Hanna Rosin — Senior Editor, T…

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Nuked or not? The politics and power play over nuclear energy as a climate fix 58:38

34m ago58:38

58:38

Nuclear power is banned in Australia, and has been for decades, whilst some countries tilt towards nuclear energy again. Should or could Australia? The politics and power play over nuclear in the Sunburnt country, why the Coalition failed with the nuclear card at the last federal election, and what next? Join Big Ideas host and science journalist N…

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Heart-to-heart with John Wamsley and David Lindenmayer — why these trailblazing environmentalists won't back off 54:29

1d ago54:29

54:29

Meet two men on a lifelong mission. They've ruffled a lot of feathers along the way. Some revere them, others revile them. John Wamsley set up Australia's first wildlife sanctuary, but he's perhaps best known as the "cat-hat-man" (sorry, cat lovers!). World renowned forest ecologist David Lindenmeyer has copped heat from Australia's forestry indust…

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04 | The Home Front: Money money money 41:52

12d ago41:52

41:52

We all know that house prices have gone through the roof, but what’s driving them, and what can actually be done? In this episode, we dig into the money behind the housing crisis, from tax policy and global market shifts to government targets and the growing role of intergenerational wealth. We explore how renters and homeowners alike are feeling t…

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Are the reading wars really over? 54:35

2d ago54:35

54:35

It's estimated that one third of Australian school children can't read proficiently, and debates about the best way to teach reading have raged for years. Now, for the first time, explicit instruction is official policy in all states and territories - so can it turn things around? This speech was recorded at the Advancing Effective Education Summit…

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Why revenge feels good — and what it costs 32:21

3d ago32:21

32:21

Revenge feels sweet... At least for a moment. James Kimmel Jr knows that better than most. As a lawyer, he made a career out of helping clients get payback. But the drive for revenge started to eat away at him, threatening to destroy his work life and relationships. Coming back from the brink, he started to wonder — why are we drawn to payback? Wha…

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Is our university system broken? 54:05

5d ago54:05

54:05

Students are dropping out, academics are burning out, so is enough being done to save higher education? It's a multibillion-dollar sector, employing and educating millions, with expectations it can deliver the solutions and the workers Australia needs. But Emeritus Professor Graeme Turner says universities are in serious trouble. This conversation …

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The radicalisation of boys — Jess Hill, George Megalogenis, Thomas Mayo with Natasha Mitchell at Byron Writers Festival 1:05:15

6d ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Some boys are being radicalised by misogynist online subcultures like the 'Manosphere' and the 'incel' (involuntarily celibate) scene. Parents are anxious and boys are confused. What's happening, why, and what can be done? Join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell and guests at the 2025 Byron Writers Festival for an insightful exploration with three inf…

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The AI Con — unpacking the artificial intelligence hype machine 55:03

13d ago55:03

55:03

Is the world really in the midst of an AI revolution, or is it all just clever marketing, powered by immense amounts of money, capital and hype? This episode arms you to spot AI hype in all its guises, expose the exploitation and power-grabs it aims to hide, and push back against it at work and daily life. The conversation with Emily M Bender was r…

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03 | The Home Front: One roof, many lives 40:26

18d ago40:26

40:26

What if Australia’s housing crisis wasn’t just a problem — but a chance to build something better? Australia’s homes are doing more than sheltering families — they’re accommodating multigenerational households, solo dwellers, single parents, and shared living arrangements. But is our housing stock too rigid to reflect this diversity? Is it failing …

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Barry Jones and Kerry O'Brien — on complexity, politics and love 54:00

8d ago54:00

54:00

Barry Jones and Kerry O'Brien - Two titans of Australian political and social commentary share insights into how to think well, how to act well and how to make sense of politics, history, the fragility of civilisation, science and love. Presented at the Byron Writers Festival Speakers Barry JonesFormer science minister, Labor member of the Victoria…

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Task paralysis and procrastination - why it's so hard to get sh*t done 30:47

20d ago30:47

30:47

Five years of unpaid taxes. Homework handed in on the last day of an extension. Some people are champion procrastinators. Why? And what does task paralysis (sometimes called ADHD paralysis) have to do with it? Today: the personality traits that make you more prone to procrastination, the types of tasks we're most likely to put off, and what to do i…

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Tradwives — cosy cottage core fantasy, or something more sinister? With Megan Agnew, Rosie Waterland, Beverley Wang and Nakkiah Lui 53:44

12d ago53:44

53:44

They cook, make babies, and look impossibly perfect while doing it.Tradwives are using social media to redefine femininity and womanhood… or are they just setting it waaaayyy back? The Tradwives Club was recorded at the All About Women festival at Sydney Opera House. Speakers Megan Agnew — Senior Features Writer (New York), The Times of London Rosi…

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Ep 163 GAME, PLAY: An Introduction to Gamification with Dr Zac Fitz-Walter 35:45

12d ago35:45

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In this episode we talk to Dr Zac Fitz-Walter on all things Gamification. Zac has a PhD in user experience, gamification, and motivational science. He’s the co-founder of the Make It Toolkit, co-runs a game and design studio called Eat More Pixels, and lectures in university Game Design courses. Join us as we discuss the evolution of gamification, …

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My Sister and Other Lovers — Esther Freud with Natasha Mitchell at Byron Writers Festival 53:48

13d ago53:48

53:48

Esther Freud’s first semi-autobiographical novel Hideous Kinky became a film starring Kate Winslet and told the wild story of two little girls living in Morocco with their bohemian mother. More than 30 years on, those girls are back and growing up fast in her sequel, My Sister and Other Lovers. Esther joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the By…

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When dreams speak truth — exploring the relationship between our realities and the subconscious 49:42

14d ago49:42

49:42

What happens when the harsh realities of our daily lives — death, war, illness, hardship — invade that most private of realms — our sleep? Four poets and writers explore how things show up in dreams that otherwise can't be expressed, and how they've used the subconscious to inspire their creative work. This conversation was recorded at the Addi Roa…

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02 | The Home Front : Lessons in living 40:22

27d ago40:22

40:22

We look at how Australians have lived together in the past — and what those lessons might offer us today. From the tightly packed worker’s cottages of the early 1900s, where strong community bonds helped people get by, to the bold experiments in communal and cooperative living during the 1970s, Australians have long found creative ways to share spa…

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The US was meant to pivot to Asia — has Donald Trump changed course? 54:34

15d ago54:34

54:34

With Donald Trump mediating conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, what has become of the United States' strategy in the Asia Pacific region? The event Asia Disrupted: Trump's First Six Months was recorded at La Trobe Asia on 1 August 2025. Speakers Daniel Flitton — Managing Editor, The Interpreter The Lowy Institute Dr Lupita Wijaya — Research f…

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Cruel intentions: how toxic tabloids and celebrity culture changed the way we talk about mental health 29:38

30d ago29:38

29:38

If you opened up a magazine in the 2000s, you'd likely be met by countless images of celebrities on their worst days. And the conversation accompanying those images? Pretty toxic. We've come a long way in how we talk about mental health since then, but how did we get here? What changed? Today, we reflect on the cruelty of tabloid culture and how th…

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Alison Lester and Jane Godwin on how children’s books change lives 53:54

20d ago53:54

53:54

Even years later, children's books can hold a special place in our hearts, and they also teach, comfort, inspire, and grow young minds, and set kids up for life. Two of Australia's best loved children's authors explore the importance of storytelling for children, and reflect on the books that have changed their lives. This talk was recorded at the …

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From devil horns to deep listening — Maxine Beneba Clark, Debra Dank, Damon Young on the power of communication 53:54

20d ago53:54

53:54

From finding the right language to connect to Country, making the world a more poetic place for kids, to a Vulcan salute between two lovers — communication makes the world go round. Three brilliantly creative communicators join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the 2025 Byron Writers Festival to consider ways we communicate and how we can do it be…

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How a picnic started the fall of the Iron Curtain 54:36

1M ago54:36

54:36

A brass band, goulash cooking in giant pots over open flames, people dancing around a bonfire — a pan-European picnic at the border between Hungary and Austria in 1989 was the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Suddenly hundreds of East Germans stormed the border into the West and freedom. It's a moment in history where the power of ordinary peo…

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01 | The Home Front: Owning the Dream 40:27

1M ago40:27

40:27

What if Australia’s housing crisis wasn’t just a problem — but a chance to build something better? In the Home Front, we unpack the historical, cultural, and political forces that shaped our national obsession with home ownership. From post-war prosperity to suburban ideals, we explore how the dream took root. Hosted by Professor of Architecture (U…