Best Quentin Mitchell Podcasts (2026)

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On the art of music writing — with writers who rock! 54:35

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17h ago54:35

54:35

You've got half an hour with Lou Reed/ Nick Cave/ Courtney Love: what do you ask them? Three of Australia's best music writers share their craft, and reveal what it's like to sit down with some of music's biggest names. This event was recorded on 2 November 2024 at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Original broadcast on January 23, 2025. Speakers Stuart…

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Can storytellers change the world? Tim Winton and Rachel Perkins join Natasha Mitchell 53:46

27m ago53:46

53:46

Two of Australia’s most influential and legendary storytellers, author Tim Winton and filmmaker Rachel Perkins, join Natasha Mitchell at WOMADelaide’s Planet Talks to discuss the power of stories and the role of artists to create change in the world. Original broadcast on April 2, 2025. SpeakersRachel PerkinsMulti-award-winning filmmaker, and found…

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History of populist rage in America 54:35

1d ago54:35

54:35

Populism is part of American political history. It has been and still is the dominant vocabulary of dissent. But the current resurrection of authoritarian politics in the US is different. While the two parties could absorb populist movements in the past, this time populism has absorbed the party. Presented at the American Academy in Berlin Original…

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Meditation and mindfulness in the digital age 54:30

10m ago54:30

54:30

How many times have you checked your phone today? How many tabs are open in your web browser? Do you feel in control of your attention? In the digital age, attention is now a commodity. Can practices like meditation and mindfulness help us feel more free to focus on what really matters? This event was hosted at the Brunswick Ballroom by the Sophia …

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The secrets of wildlife documentaries 54:35

5h ago54:35

54:35

Satyajit Das presents a provocative examination of the use and abuse of images of wild animals, and how they shape our relationships with the natural world. These pictures can create an impression of abundance and untouched ecosystems, and lull us into a false sense of security, at a time when the natural world faces ecological calamity. The Attenb…

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What Christmas is as We Grow Older by Charles Dickens - Read by Michael Fenton Stevens 12:10

13h ago12:10

12:10

Merry Christmas you lovely listeners! Here's a little gift for you. Our very own Michael Fenton Stevens reading Charles Dickens' What Christmas is as We Grow Older. To support this podcast, get all episodes ad-free and a bonus episode every Wednesday of "My Time Capsule The Debrief', please sign up here - https://mytimecapsule.supercast.com. All mo…

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The Knowledge Gene — an incredible story of the origins of human creativity 54:06

1d ago54:06

54:06

Prepare to have your mind blown with a sweeping saga that connects human evolution, brains, genes, art, music, creativity, knowledge, dyslexia, autism, Indigenous memory systems, and more. A big, beautiful and biological saga about how to learn like a human again. Joining Natasha Mitchell are Australian Senior Memory Champion, scientist and author …

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Sarah Churchwell asks — Will American democracy survive the Dark Enlightenment? 54:33

2d ago54:33

54:33

Historian Sarah Churchwell takes you on a gripping and confronting journey into America's recent past to explain its extraordinary present, starting with dark story at the heart of that American classic Gone with the Wind. Knowledge lies at the heart of a healthy democracy, and its many custodians include libraries, universities, cultural instituti…

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2025 Grammy winner Ruthie Foster talks about her life and music 53:58

11d ago53:58

53:58

After five nominations, Ruthie Foster has taken home the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album - affirming her status as an American music legend. In this intimate conversation, she shares what made her want to be a singer; the roles of her grandmother and mother in her life; why faith is so important to her and why she wants to sing …

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My Christmas Time Capsule - Best Of - Part 3 1:12:04

11d ago1:12:04

1:12:04

A collection of some of the best stories from our My Christmas Time Capsule episodes from Christmas's past! Part 3 features Aled Jones, Joe Wilkinson, Lisa Riley, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Anneka Rice, Griff Rhys Jones, Joe Pasquale, Rachel Paris & Marcus Brigstocke, Charlie Higson, Alex Horne, Gary Wilmot and Rick Wakeman . Follow My Time Capsule on Instag…

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My Christmas Time Capsule - Best Of - Part 2 1:16:18

6d ago1:16:18

1:16:18

A collection of some of the best stories from our My Christmas Time Capsule episodes from Christmas's past! Part 2 features Jason Manford, Fern Britton, Les Dennis, Lucy Porter, Arthur Smith, Tony Hawks, Mark Watson, JIm Howick, Ken Bruce and Bonnie Langford Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Facebook: @MyTCpod…

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Childless on purpose — the fertility crisis and the big decision 53:53

7d ago53:53

53:53

When you enter your childbearing years, it can feel like everyone from the treasurer, your mum, and probably your Instagram reels really wants you to have a kid. But is it the right decision? Few women escape this conundrum of modern family-making, and unfortunately there is no easy or simple answer. But in this talk presented by the Sydney Opera H…

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Surfer Tim Baker and doctor Peter Goldsworthy on living well with cancer 54:34

8d ago54:34

54:34

Meet two men who will change the way you think about an experience most of us fear but will be touched by in some way. In Patting the Shark, surfing writer Dr Tim Baker describes his wild ride to reclaim a sense of control and agency after a cancer diagnosis. Celebrated author and GP Peter Goldsworthy’s memoir The Cancer Finishing School started ou…

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Understand your microbiome 54:34

9d ago54:34

54:34

Are fermented foods really good for us? Do antibiotics destroy our gut flora? And have you heard about poo transplants? Our gut is teeming with trillions of microbial cells, and we are learning more all the time about how this affects everything from our digestion, to immunity, to mental health. So crack open your kombucha, because these leading re…

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Doctor Who at 60 — still as attractive as ever 53:59

10d ago53:59

53:59

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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My Christmas Time Capsule - Best Of - Part 1 1:02:29

11d ago1:02:29

1:02:29

A collection of some of the best stories from our My Christmas Time Capsule episodes from Christmas's past! Part 1 features Stephen Fry, Jan Ravens, Andrew Hunter Murray, Emma Kennedy, John O'Farrel, Joe Pasquale, Cheryl Baker, Ted Robbins, Ellie White and Michael Simkins. Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Fac…

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Ep. 549 - Logan Mersh - From A Knock at the Door with Alan Davies and Nikki Amuka-Bird 45:22

13d ago45:22

45:22

Logan Mersh is an actor right at the beginning of his career who impressed Mike so much, he had to ask him on the podcast! He recently stared in A Knock at the Door with Alan Davies and Nikki Amuka-Bird, one of the new Play For Todays on Channel 5. In his first year out of drama school he got rave reviews playing The Man in Walking With Molly at th…

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The role of spirituality and religion in mental health care 54:36

14d ago54:36

54:36

The connection between body and mind is well established. But mental health expert Daniel Fung also includes the soul in this 'ecosystem' that shapes your overall wellbeing. He envisions a future for mental health services, that is person-centred, holistic and consciously uses digital tools and social media. Beautiful minds, Loving hearts: Asian Me…

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A song for every feeling? Pub Choir's Astrid Jorgensen with Natasha Mitchell 1:04:17

15d ago1:04:17

1:04:17

From innocently conning controversial radio duo Kyle and Jackie O as a kid, time in a Zambian convent as a teen, to nearly becoming an air traffic controller before finding her real passion - helping others find their voice - Astrid Jorgensen has quite a story to tell. Her new memoir is called Average At Best. She is anything but. She is anything b…

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Victoria's new treaty with First Peoples — a turning point for Australia? 42:51

16d ago42:51

42:51

Australia now has its first treaty with this country's first peoples. After nearly a decade of formal consultation and negotiation, the Victorian Statewide Treaty has become law, and will come into effect from early December. This address outlines the long road to achieving the treaty, why it's important, and what comes next. The 25th Dr Charles Pe…

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Pay attention — writer Emily Maguire finds promiscuous curiosity and cultural receptivity in the creative process 54:35

17d ago54:35

54:35

Humans are by nature creative, but how do we turn a spark of inspiration into something more tangible? Author Emily Maguire draws inspiration from some of the world's most creative minds — from Lin Manuel Miranda, to Susan Sontag, to explore the ingredients of a truly creative life. The 2025 Colin Roderick Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Foundation…

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Ep. 548 - Bill Fellows - Stu Carpenter in Coronation Street & George Cartrick in Ted Lasso 1:36:28

18d ago1:36:28

1:36:28

Bill Fellows is best known for playing Stu Carpenter in Coronation Street for three years and as ex-manager and pundit George Cartrick in Ted Lasso, for which he won a Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance By an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Other TV appearances include This Time with Alan Partridge with Steve Coogan, Gold Digger sta…

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Ep. 547 - Eli Hart - BBC New Comedy Award 2025 winner 1:11:37

21d ago1:11:37

1:11:37

Eli Hart has just won the 2025 BBC New Comedy Award. He was also a finalist in the Komedia New Comedy Award 2025 and the Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year 2024. Alongside stand-up, Eli is an award-winning writer and director, with short films selected by numerous respected film festivals, including his film, Regulars, which he wrote and dir…

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Can science keep dementia at bay and keep your brain sharper − for longer? 54:36

21d ago54:36

54:36

As we grow older, changes to our bodies and minds are inevitable. But what if science could help us age better? Our experts on Big Ideas uncover the latest science behind healthy brain aging. What's possible in the fight against cognitive decline and dementia? How might you live a longer, healthier, and more meaningful life? Presented by Sydney Ide…

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Acclaimed author Christos Tsiolkas on fence-sitting in a time of fracture 53:54

30d ago53:54

53:54

When acclaimed Australia author Christos Tsiolkas was invited to give the 2025 Ray Mathew Lecture at the National Library of Australia, he had in mind what he wanted to say, as difficult as it was. Then he got a rage-filled message from a longtime friend. How did Christos respond? Is fence-sitting an indulgence in an ethically troubled, divisive, d…

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The stories we tell about cricket — with Paul Giles and Gideon Haigh 1:09:58

23d ago1:09:58

1:09:58

From The Don to Warny, the Gabba to the G, from its legacy of British colonialism, to the Asian powerhouse nations of today — cricket is not just a sport, but also a reflection of the societies who play it. Drawing on a wealth of writing about the sport, including novels, biographies, and media reporting, this lecture explores the cultural and hist…

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Judge Navi Pillay on the fight for human rights, justice and accountability 54:36

24d ago54:36

54:36

Born in apartheid South Africa, she became the country's first female high court judge. She sat on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and helped to establish sexual violence and rape as war crimes in international law. At a time of global conflict and instability, the work and achievements of Navi Pillay are a reminder of what can be a…

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Ep. 546 - Michael Elwyn - Actor from House of Dragon, Robin Hood and The Audience with Hellen Mirren 1:05:51

25d ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Michael Elwyn is an Actor and Director best known for roles such as playing Marion’s father the BBC’s Robin Hood, Lord Simon Staunton in House of Dragon (the Game of Thrones prequel), Ken in Stella on Sky One and Charles Moore in Coronation Street, the Resident Chair of 'Stillwaters'. He is an accomplished stage actor and more recently, director. O…

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The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens - Part 3 1:01:36

28d ago1:01:36

1:01:36

A early Christmas gift... Our very own Michael Fenton Stevens reading Part 3 of The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens. Merry Christmas! Parts 1 & 2 also out now. Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Facebook: @MyTCpod . Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter/X: @fentonstevens & Instagram @mikefentonstevens . Pr…

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The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens - Part 2 1:14:02

28d ago1:14:02

1:14:02

A early Christmas gift... Our very own Michael Fenton Stevens reading Part 2 of The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens. Merry Christmas! Parts 1 & 3 also out now. Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Facebook: @MyTCpod . Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter/X: @fentonstevens & Instagram @mikefentonstevens . Pr…

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Musician Holly Rankin on why young Australians feel that politics isn't delivering for them 53:51

28d ago53:51

53:51

Young Australians are losing faith that our politics, our civic institutions and the mainstream media are working for them. Why is this? And how can our democracy adapt to win back the trust and engagement of new generations? The 2025 Speaker's Lecture was recorded at Parliament House on 27 October 2025. Speakers Holly Rankin - Musician and recordi…

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What are universities for today? The usefulness of "useless" knowledge 54:36

29d ago54:36

54:36

Are our universities facing an existential crisis by trying to be too many things? Places for learning, research, the production of new knowledge, the production of job-ready graduates, and profit-making enterprises? Does everything they do have to produce a tangible, measurable, practical, or profitable outcome? Should they also foster intellectua…

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Jane Caro — why Australia is failing our school system 59:27

1M ago59:27

59:27

We often hear about "failing schools", but what if it is us, the Australian community, who are failing them? Public school advocate Jane Caro argues that Australia's pursuit of school choice, and the tax payer funding that enables it, has come at a huge cost to the school system, to children's education, and to our broader society. The 2025 Dymphna…

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Coming Out and Inviting In — with Zoe Terakes, Nina Oyama, Mon Schafter, Atari Metcalf, Ji Wallace 54:35

1M ago54:35

54:35

Join ABC's Mon Schafter and four incredible speakers as they share honest, powerful stories about revealing their identities on their own terms. From fear to freedom, isolation to community - this is a conversation about truth, courage, and connection. Held in recognition of 40 years of ACON, it celebrates every journey of coming out and shines a l…

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Ep. 545 - Robin Ince Unedited - now 25 minutes longer! 1:21:30

1M ago1:21:30

1:21:30

An unedited version of our chat with Robin Ince from Ep 66, now 25 minutes longer! Robin Ince is an award-winning British comedian, writer, and broadcaster best known for co-hosting the hugely popular BBC Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage alongside physicist Brian Cox, a show that has won multiple awards and built a global following. Ince is …

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An early Christmas gift... The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens 55:36

1M ago55:36

55:36

An early Christmas present from us! Our very own Michael Fenton Stevens reading Part 1 of The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens. Merry Christmas! Follow My Time Capsule on Instagram: @mytimecapsulepodcast & Twitter/X & Facebook: @MyTCpod . Follow Michael Fenton Stevens on Twitter/X: @fentonstevens & Instagram @mikefentonstevens . Produced and edite…

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Searching for convivencia — philosopher AC Grayling makes peace in the culture wars 54:36

1M ago54:36

54:36

If you're a feminist, or pro-civil or gay rights, does that make you "woke"? And if you're not, does that mean you should be cancelled, or abused online, or lose your job? So many of our public debates nowadays are divided along these lines, but is there a better way? This event was recorded at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival. To explore more M…

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The Sophia Club live philosophy — what are friends for? 1:10:05

1M ago1:10:05

1:10:05

Friends are different from family. We choose them and they choose us. Philosophers long wondered about what makes friendship such a distinctive relationship in our lives. Is being a good friend a kind of moral virtue? Can friends help us find our true selves? What about the dark and difficult side of friendship — toxic friends and frenemies? How is…