Best David Langton Podcasts (2025)

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Yolngu power — art, culture, country, law — with Marcia Langton and Clare Wright 54:33

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23m ago54:33

54:33

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 sovereign…

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Nobel scientist Jennifer Doudna with Natasha Mitchell — the gene editing revolution, radical ethics, and what's next? [Archive episode] 54:33

2h ago54:33

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Join a full house at the Sydney Opera House with Nobel winning scientist Jennifer Doudna and Big Ideas' presenter Natasha Mitchell to discuss the huge social, ethical, and scientific implications of the CRISPR gene editing revolution her groundbreaking discovery with Emmanuelle Charpentier and colleagues kicked off. From curative therapies to gene …

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Helen Vatsikopoulos — when the stories of migrants in Australia are silenced it's bad for all of us 54:34

1d ago54:34

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Stories help us to understand what is happening in the world and how it impacts us. Stories help us to relate to the experience of 'the Other' and their suffering building an emotional understanding. Journalist and academic Helen Vatiskopoulos describes the power of stories to share information to the masses and the problems that arise when the nar…

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The power of essays 55:04

2d ago55:04

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

6d ago54:35

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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

7d ago54:30

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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

8d ago54:34

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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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Jimmy Barnes – tells it all 54:35

9d ago54:35

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

13d ago54:30

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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

14d ago58:38

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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

15d ago54:29

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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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Are the reading wars really over? 54:35

16d ago54:35

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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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Is our university system broken? 54:05

20d ago54:05

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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

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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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From Shark Tank to Smart Home Game-Changer 32:39

22d ago32:39

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The kitchen is the home's heart—but also its greatest fire risk. In this IoT Leaders episode, Nick Earle explores how technology can make cooking safer without changing how people cook. Unattended stoves remain the top cause of house fires, but smart retrofits and better standards promise a shift from reactive to proactive safety. Akshita Iyer expl…

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

22d ago55:03

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

23d ago54:00

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

27d ago53:44

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

28d ago53:48

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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

29d ago49:42

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

1M ago54:34

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

1M ago53:54

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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

1M ago53:54

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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

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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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Anna Funder — Bears out there, writing in the age of bots and broligarchs 1:00:46

1M ago1:00:46

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Without permission, or payment, artificial intelligence has stolen the published words of thousands of Australian writers, and it seems that they have little power to stop it. What does this mean for the future of human creativity? Anna Funder's speech was recorded live at the 2025 Sydney Writers Festival. The panel discussion, Can Australian liter…

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The remarkable life of Marie Curie and the women scientists she inspired — with Dava Sobel 52:55

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Marie Curie is arguably the most famous scientist in history, for her breakthroughs in the field of radioactivity. But Curie also redefined what was possible for women in science, inspiring generations to follow her. Dava Sobel's 2025 For Future Reference Lecture A woman's word (about science) was recorded at the State Library of Victoria. Speakers…

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Wellness influencers will outlive us all! The Science Smackdown Debate at World Science Festival Brisbane 53:31

1M ago53:31

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It's Team Wellness Warriors versus Team Medical Miracles. Hear the arguments and you decide! The wellness industry is booming. It's worth billions and its influencers are all over social media spruiking miracle pills and mystery remedies, crystal healing and cancer cures. Some are even steaming their vaginas (hellooooo Gywneth Paltrow!). Have they …

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How to live an experimental life 49:45

1M ago49:45

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The American essayist, philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said that all life is an experiment, and the more experiments you make, the better. So can experimenting with your career, your health, where you live or who you love, improve your life, by helping you to make better decisions? This event Test and learn: living an experimental…

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Dugongs — up close and personal 54:37

1M ago54:37

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Their closest relative is the elephant; they eat about 60 kg of sea grass per day; and there are only three dugongs in captivity in the world. One in the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. Big Ideas deep dives into the mysterious world of dugongs — with fascinating stories and surprising insights. Presented at the World Science Festival Brisbane in the Quee…

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Do you know the size of your material footprint? 54:35

2M ago54:35

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In your daily life you use more material than you think: metals, stones, wood, ceramics – the list goes on. We have sufficient resources to support growth, but not enough to support greed. A circular economy could support a more sustainable resource management. Presented by Planet Ark's Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) Speaker Janez Potočn…

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Sarah Wilson reckons with our civilisational collapse 53:34

2M ago53:34

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If you knew the world as we know it was on the verge of collapse, would that change the way you live your life? Author, activist and podcaster Sarah Wilson has found many reasons to believe our post-industrial civilisation is nearing its end. So how does she live with this confronting reality? This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Melbourne Wr…

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eSIM Orchestration: The Next Wave of IoT 47:44

2M ago47:44

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The next wave of IoT connectivity is here. Enter eSIM orchestration. In this episode, Eseye Executive Chairman Nick Earle is joined for a third time by Matt Hatton, Founding Partner and Analyst of Transforma Insights, to explore the market forces driving this shift. The rise of eSIM technology specifications like SGP.32 offers more flexibility, but…

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Mike Burgess — Espionage is a growing and costly threat to Australia 44:35

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Foreign spies attempt to infiltrate media organisations, break into restricted laboratories, target public servants on sites such as LinkedIn, approach academics at conferences … the list goes on. On Big Ideas, you have the rare opportunity to hear Mike Burgess give an unfiltered look at the threats of espionage and reveal for the first time the tr…

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Plummeting vaccination rates threaten public health 54:35

2M ago54:35

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For the ﬁrst time in human history, we have the scientific know-how to vaccinate against most of the infectious diseases that killed our ancestors. But an explosion of pseudoscience and disinformation makes people hesitate to accept the shot. And so once contained diseases like measles is on the rise again. Hear why we have to act now, or risk losi…

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Not drowning waving, a modern media tale — with Geraldine Doogue

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The decline of the mainstream media has forced many outlets to try new things to keep audiences engaged and informed. So what works, and what is the industry's future? The ABC's 2025 Andrew Olle Lecture was recorded in Sydney on Friday 25 July 2025. Speakers Geraldine Doogue - Host (with Hamish Macdonald), Global Roaming, ABC Radio National…

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From Con the Fruiterer to East West 101 — the changing face of Australian TV 57:05

2M ago57:05

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Australia is a multicultural country, but up until recently, when you turned on the telly, you wouldn't know it. So what role has TV played in Australia's diverse communities, on screen, behind the scenes and in the living rooms across this country, over the past 70 years? This event was recorded at Sydney's Gleebooks on Friday 11 July 2025. Speake…

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FAT is not an F-word! The radical practice of fat joy 56:56

2M ago56:56

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Join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell with three women embracing the radical practice of finding joy in big bodies. Fat bodies are often stigmatised, stereotyped, shamed, medicalised, and politicised. Even the word F.A.T gets denigrated. But there is another way. Reckoning with eating disorders and society's limitations, Dani, Evie, and Kalpana are …

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How animals use natural medicine to heal themselves 44:03

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Meet apes that swallow leaves to dislodge worms and sparrows that use cigarette butts to repel parasites. Many animals use medicine to treat themselves — something that for a long time has been thought to be the exclusive domain of humans. Now scientists are turning to the medical knowledge of the animal kingdom to improve agriculture, create bette…

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The dark side of collaboration — when thinking together goes wrong 58:45

2M ago58:45

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At face value, collaboration sounds like a good thing: collaboration in the classroom, with colleagues, or between nations. But throughout history, collaboration was not always considered a virtuous act, and those who were identified as collaborators were shunned, humiliated or worse. This talk explores how people justify their involvement in wrong…

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Adam Liaw on what spaghetti bolognese tells us about Australian life 54:36

2M ago54:36

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Food is essential to human life, but are we taking it for granted? Popular chef, writer and broadcaster Adam Liaw is an advocate for good food for everyone. He takes us on a journey through the history and science of food, and its place in our societies, economies and cultures throughout time, arguing that food should play a central role in governm…

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Mao and Stalin — did they lead the way for tyrannical leaders like Trump? 54:00

2M ago54:00

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Books on tyrants, dictators, and authoritarian leaders are suddenly bestsellers again as we all try to make sense of the tilt towards tyrannical leadership around the world, the mass compliance it commands, and its use of terror, fear, and often violence, to govern. Two of Australia's leading scholars on China and the Soviet Union, Linda Jaivin (au…

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One land, two laws, it’s black and white — with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss 55:11

2M ago55:11

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At a time when governments are retreating from promises of progress for First Nations people, what can be achieved through legal and human rights mechanisms? The 2025 Mabo Oration was recorded at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre on 30 May 2025, with thanks to the Queensland Human Rights Commission and QPAC. Speakers Katie KissAboriginal and Torres…

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Doctor Who turns 60 — why the world still loves you 54:29

2M ago54:29

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Doctor Who has acted as a mirror to more than six decades of social, technological and cultural change. It's been able to evolve and adapt more radically than any other fiction. Why we are so addicted to fiction, and why does this wonderful wandering time traveller mean so much to so many. This talk was provided by the York Festival of Ideas. The F…

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Is AI our modern-day Frankenstein? Jeanette Winterson and Toby Walsh 53:01

2M ago53:01

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Acclaimed British author Jeanette Winterson argues that 200 years ago, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, was a message in a bottle, a prophesy, of today's AI revolution. This conversation was recorded at the Sydney Writers' Festival, in partnership with the University of New South Wales's Centre for Ideas on 21 May 2025. Speakers Jeanette WintersonAutho…

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ABC's CITIZEN JURY — Would you live inside a modern power station? These people will, and want to be heard 54:04

2M ago54:04

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Citizen Jury is ABC Radio National's experiment in citizen-led democracy. The ingredients? A gnarly issue + a jury of citizens = conversations + ideas for solutions + a public event to share them. Join Big Ideas presenter Natasha Mitchell in Dubbo, NSW for our first Citizen Jury. We all want electricity at the flick of a switch, but who bears the b…

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Radical economics — what can we learn from the life of John Maynard Keynes 53:59

2M ago53:59

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John Maynard Keynes was an economist whose dreams went beyond balance sheets and into political ideas and cultural movements. He advised world leaders during world wars, witnessed the great depression first hand and counted himself as one of the Bloomsbury group, a set of London's most influential writers and intellectuals like Virginia Woolf. This…

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Life behind the lens — with photojournalists Lorrie Graham, Rick Stevens and Mike Bowers 54:41

2M ago54:41

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Photojournalism can define a moment, a movement, an era or even a whole generation. It can lift a weary spirit, move opinions, or change the way we view the world. Three of Australia's best photojournalists tell the stories behind some of Australia's most iconic photographs, and reflect on the profession's past, present and future. This event was r…

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Can citizen juries put the people back in democracy? 1:01:11

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Australia faces many big challenges, but is our democracy up to the job of solving these, or are we experiencing a decision deadlock? One process that could help governments meet the moment is known as citizen jury or assembly, where a cross section of ordinary people deliberate together over a thorny policy issue, then provide advice. How do these…

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Join Jodi Edwards and her Sea Kin on a journey that flows like salt water — you won't see the sea in the same way 53:11

3M ago53:11

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We bathe in the amniotic fluid our mother's womb. Our cells are full of water. For Walbanja woman, artist, educator and researcher Dr Jodi Edwards, this ocean-within intimately connects her to the ocean she grew up with on Sea Country. From saving the Sea kin to sensing the Gaia imperative — join Jodi with Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell, and also …

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Connecting Everything, Inside Volvo's Massive IoT Strategy 39:10

3M ago39:10

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Most industrial IoT deployments struggle with the same challenge: dozens of pilot projects that never reach production scale. Volvo Group broke this cycle with a strategic transformation connecting hundreds of millions of assets across 140 factories worldwide. The secret wasn't just technology — it was organizational change that unified scattered e…