Best Fossil Free Now Podcasts (2025)

1
Inside Politics: Will the Coalition split or stay together? 16:00

20h ago16:00

16:00

It was high drama this week with the Nationals telling the Liberals they wanted a political divorce. But by Thursday, the separation – like a marriage on the rocks – was placed on hold while further conversations took place. So what happened? And what’s going to be better for both parties, and the political health of the nation? To discuss the dram…

1
If it bleeds it leads – Bruce Shapiro on documenting the violence of modern life 54:39

18m ago54:39

54:39

From wars with global consequences to violent crimes in the suburbs, trauma underpins so much of the news cycle. It’s something award-winning journalist Bruce Shapiro came to understand intimately when, as a young crime reporter, he was stabbed. It changed his whole perspective on his profession, dedicating a large part of his career to the questio…

1
The Enhanced Games: The 'steroid' Olympics are coming 15:51

1d ago15:51

15:51

For decades, global sporting events like the Olympics and the Tour de France have been rocked by doping scandals that elicited a collective gasp. If the odd athlete used performance enhancing drugs, how was this a fair test of athletic greatness? But there’s a new event that will turn all of that on its head, where athletes will compete while inten…

1
Live to 150? David Sinclair on why we age — and why he thinks we don't have to 1:07:03

10m ago1:07:03

1:07:03

What if we could turn back time on our biological clock and slow down — even reverse — aging? High profile Harvard scientist David Sinclair is co-author of the New York Times bestseller Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To. His lab’s work is as ambitious as it is controversial. He wants to radically change the way we live our lives — and p…

1
The Donald Trump deal you might have missed 21:12

2d ago21:12

21:12

We know, we know, Donald Trump has gone gangbusters in the Middle east, inking hundreds of millions of dollars worth of deals left, right and centre. But hidden within all the details about Trump’s whirlwind trip - the Qatari jet, his bromance with the Saudi crown prince - is one deal that you might have missed. Today, international and political e…

1
Australia and the spectre of war — from Vietnam to today 1:00:04

20m ago1:00:04

1:00:04

It's been 60 years since then Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies sent Australians to fight in the Vietnam War. Since that time, the defence force has been involved in many armed conflicts and peace keeping missions around the world — but with varying degrees of public support. So how have successive Australian governments managed public conse…

1
Neo-Nazis in Australia want to form a political party. Can they? 15:05

3d ago15:05

15:05

From afar, many of us saw the odd agitator pop up on the federal election campaign trail, where they yelled at politicians, or others, like an indigenous elder on Anzac Day. They looked like the actions of random ratbags. But watching on was crime reporter, Sherryn Groch, who discovered something unusual. A small but sophisticated group of people, …

1
Australia votes — what message should we take from this election result? 54:57

9h ago54:57

54:57

If democracy is the will of the people, what does this federal election result say about Australia? In his election night victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australians had voted for Australian values, claiming these were fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. But is this right message we should take from the election resul…

1
Coming soon - the 40/20 NRL podcast 0:47

14h ago0:47

0:47

40/20 is a brand new NRL podcast from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. During this year's State of Origin and Finals series we'll be breaking down the biggest stories from across the game with the best journalists and NRL insiders from around the country. We'll be giving you press pass access as we breakdown the latest news, controversy and p…

1
Pricey pets - why are vet bills skyrocketing? 15:41

4d ago15:41

15:41

It is one of life’s agonising scenarios; your puppy gets hit by a car. Or your cat develops a tumour. Of course, you want the best care. But what if you’re being quoted $10,000? Or more? And why do prices vary so much from vet to vet? Today, senior reporter Henrietta Cook and national science reporter Liam Mannix on why veterinary bills have skyroc…

1
What are you wearing? Why we aren’t buying Australian made fashion 54:11

4d ago54:11

54:11

Australians are now the biggest consumers per capita of clothes in the world. But just three per cent of clothing is made here in Australia. So is it time for a fashion rethink? This event was held at the Melbourne Museum as part of Melbourne Fashion Festival's Fashion Talks program on 4 March 2025. Speakers Tara MosesChief Operating Officer, RM Wi…

1
Inside Politics: Anthony Albanese's exclusive interview on 'progressive patriotism' and his thumping mandate 27:05

8d ago27:05

27:05

Newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins chief political correspondent David Crowe and federal political reporter Paul Sakkal for an exclusive interview on Inside Politics. They chat about the new Labor cabinet, Albanese's thumping mandate, plans for the term ahead and a new phrase the prime minister is trying out - progressive patriotis…

1
Is Indonesia’s 'fresh democracy' under threat? 20:06

8d ago20:06

20:06

In this time of political and economic chaos, we arguably need our allies more than ever. So let’s cut to Tuesday evening, when prime minister Anthony Albanese flew to Indonesia, to meet its president, Prabowo Subianto. It was notable; Albanese’s first overseas trip since being re-elected. But recent waves of protests against Subianto have erupted …

1
Mark Zuckerberg claims corporations are culturally neutered — are they? Men, women, work, and the manosphere 54:03

5d ago54:03

54:03

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg has said “a lot of the corporate world has become culturally neutered” and that it needs more “masculine energy”? Has it and does it? At Meta, he recently shut down initiatives that promote equity and diversity in his workplace. In the USA, so has Ford, Mcdonalds, Walmart, and the Trump administration. But in Australia, less …

1
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs' sex-trafficking trial has begun: What we now know 21:52

10d ago21:52

21:52

For years, Sean “Diddy” Combs was a music mogul unlike any other; once described as a “zeitgeist-dominating colossus” who helped hip hop become a global cultural force. But peppered throughout his years of living to extraordinary excess, were allegations of violence, and misconduct. He managed to escape much time in custody, until September, when h…

1
History lessons — historians Orlando Figes, Bettany Hughes, Matthew Longo and Dava Sobel with Annabelle Quince 55:53

6d ago55:53

55:53

Democracies in retreat, attacks on science, border disputes, death and destruction. It can feel like we are living in unprecedented times - but here's the thing: world history has a habit of repeating itself. So what lessons does history teach us about this moment in which we find ourselves? Do we humans learn anything from the past, or are we dest…

1
How much say does the new Pope have in Australians’ lives? 18:25

11d ago18:25

18:25

The Pope may seem like a distant figure. But the newest one has wasted no time making waves. It’s not just the social media posts riffing on what vibe a Pope who originally hails from the south side of Chicago might bring to the Vatican. Because, even before Pope Leo the 14th slid the Papal ring on his finger on Friday, he launched something of an …

1
Chatting with 2025 Grammy winner Ruthie Foster 53:49

7d ago53:49

53:49

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 …

1
Why this top restaurant critic is finally revealing her face 22:44

12d ago22:44

22:44

For nearly 20 years, Besha Rodell has used all kinds of schemes to hide who she is. And it worked. As a renowned, anonymous food critic for The New York Times, the LA Times and our mastheads, she has stripped away the artifice and marketing from restaurants’ offering, in order to judge their real value, and in doing so, she’s reached the top of her…

1
Inside Politics: New Labor faces, the divisive Tim Wilson and David Crowe’s farewell 24:25

15d ago24:25

24:25

It will go down as one of the most resounding victories in Australian political history. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese out-performed the expectations of just about everyone last weekend, decimating the Liberal party to the extent where even its leader lost his own seat. So, what next for Labor? As the caucus gathers in Canberra on Friday, we look…

1
Vladimir Putin’s Russia — with exiled journalist and author Mikhail Zygar 52:17

11d ago52:17

52:17

The exiled founder of Russia's only independent television news channel, Mikhail Zygar, takes us inside Vladimir Putin's Russia, with a firsthand account of how the President has successfully silenced the media, opposition and Kremlin critics, to cement his hold on power. The 2025 AN Smith Lecture: Journalism against autocracy: Putin, Trump and the…

1
Women were once ‘essential’ to the Liberal Party: What happened? 18:06

16d ago18:06

18:06

Since the Liberal Party’s election wipeout, Liberals, and their media allies, have turned to sources of conservative wisdom, including Margaret Thatcher, in search of guidance. But, as our political and international editor, Peter Hartcher, writes: “I haven’t seen any of them citing Thatcher’s 1975 observation: ‘In politics if you want anything sai…

1
Rituals, rats, and reeded vertebrae! The mysteries of Machu Picchu and Ancient Peru revealed 53:24

12d ago53:24

53:24

A story of continents crashing and cleaving apart, the making of a civilisation, the language of the dead, and ... a mummified rat makes a cameo too. The Incan empire was vast and sophisticated. It built the stunning citadel in the clouds of Machu Picchu in the Andes mountains. But within a century its people were catastrophically wiped out by the …

1
Did the Greens become election ‘roadkill’? 16:53

17d ago16:53

16:53

This election was always going to be the test for the Greens. For the first time, there were more young people voting than baby boomers, and the previous election had shown there was strong support for the party from younger voters. And, the thinking had for so long been that any election after a Labor government’s first time, would be the party’s …

1
Mental ill-health and the power of words 53:28

13d ago53:28

53:28

The language used to talk about mental ill-health can play a key role in reducing or enforcing stigma. And it's constantly evolving. But what terms should be used and when? And by whom? The wrong word can not only deeply hurt a person's feelings. It can end careers, destroy relationships, cut access to support systems. This special World Mental Hea…

1
Inside the Dutton camp: A leader’s downfall 18:42

18d ago18:42

18:42

Peter Dutton was full of bravado at the final question time before the election, but hiding in plain sight was a campaign about to go off the rails. Today, political reporters Matthew Knott and Natassia Chrysanthos give the inside story on the demise of the Dutton campaign, and the recriminations that now follow. Read their full story here. Subscri…

1
Worried about the future? A mosquito could help you to live in the present 54:05

14d ago54:05

54:05

What can a mosquito teach us about time? Noone likes a mosquito bite — but for a brief moment when it stings you, you know you are alive. Humans are temporal beings, but across cultures, our concepts of time are vastly different. This event explores what we can learn from science, philosophy and Indigenous perspectives that can alter experiences of…

1
Chifley, Hawke, Rudd - Albanese beat them all. But what’s next? 19:51

19d ago19:51

19:51

Anthony Albanese has defied the so-called “Incumbency curse” and made history with his astonishing landslide over the weekend. But, as they say in politics: That’s nice. What’s next? Might he finally tackle big reform? Perhaps try and solve our housing crisis, which has been generations in the making? And what else might he have in his sights? Toda…

1
A Labor ‘landslide’ and disaster for Dutton 24:49

20d ago24:49

24:49

Well, that was quick, about two and a half hours after the polls had closed, the election had already been called for the incumbent Labor government. But as the night went on, Anthony Albanese’s win was looking like a landslide, and Labor increased its majority in parliament. For the opposition, it was disastrous, its leader Peter Dutton has lost h…

1
Inside Politics Bonus: Inside the challenge for a Liberal Party jewel 17:37

22d ago17:37

17:37

Today we bring you a special episode recorded in the south-west Victorian electorate of Wannon. The seat encompasses tourist towns from Lorne along the Great Ocean Road, to Warrnambool. And who better to tell the evolving story of Wannon than our associate editor and special writer Tony Wright. He was born in Heywood, grew up on sheep and cattle pr…

1
Inside Politics: The seats we'll be watching on Saturday 22:48

22d ago22:48

22:48

Well, it’s finally here. Saturday is election day, and by Saturday night we will have some idea of who is going to govern Australia for the next three years, during this volatile and pivotal moment in global history. Today, we talk about the seats to watch on election night, the ones that will determine the outcome of the poll. And we will also zoo…

1
Australia votes— are our political parties on the nose? 54:05

18d ago54:05

54:05

This election has been described as a boring campaign, but with some fascinating contests. So just what is going on in the minds of voters as Australia heads to the polls this weekend? This event was recorded at the Sorrento Writers Festival on 27 May 2025. Speakers Frank BongiornoProfessor of History, Australian National UniversityPresident, Counc…

1
‘Have you met Dot yet?’: The AI chatbot luring kids in 20:57

23d ago20:57

20:57

Have your kids met Dot yet? You might not think so; Dot is an AI companion. But these companions are becoming ubiquitous - sought after to provide everything from solace to friendship. And even love. “The vibe”, said Dot’s creator Jason Yuan, “is, you turn to Dot when you don’t know where to go, or what to do or say.” But reports are surfacing of d…

1
Key moments as Erin Patterson's mushroom murder trial begins 14:18

23d ago14:18

14:18

We bring you this bonus episode today, on Wednesday April 30th, after the first day of what’s become known as the mushroom trial. This is the case that centres around a quiet country lunch that resulted in three people dead, and another fighting for life, after the food they ate contained - as a jury was told - death cap mushrooms. To tell us what …

1
Has the world lost the plot? John Lyons, Greg Sheridan, Emma Shortis, Josh Taylor with Natasha Mitchell 56:11

19d ago56:11

56:11

Are we living through a key turning point in world history? How do we make sense of this present moment, and what's on the horizon?Trump's trade wars, long-held alliances dismantled, the deadly conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the rise and rise of AI, the tech oligarch takeover, China's military build-up, NATO's demise, and much more. It's a confusin…

1
Do we need a minister for men? 22:00

24d ago22:00

22:00

It’s never happened in Australia. But should we have a federal Minister for Men? Dan Repacholi, a Federal Labor MP, who is currently campaigning for re-relection, says it’s a “no-brainer”. He knows how taboo it is. That to promote the idea risks him being labeled anti-woman. But tragedies and struggles in Repacholi’s electorate - and his own experi…

1
The painting that changed Australia — the story of Blue Poles 56:03

20d ago56:03

56:03

It's been called a coming-of-age story for a nation. The Whitlam Government's purchase of Jackson Pollock's Blue Poles in 1973 helped to bring down the government. So how did this abstract expressionist masterpiece become the most famous, most controversial artwork in Australia? Then: how does political portraiture affect how we feel about politici…

1
Inside Politics: Why the environment is MIA in this election 21:19

24d ago21:19

21:19

Salmon farming is not something most voters consider when they go to the polls on election day. But for Tasmanian voters, it is a huge and often divisive issue. This debate about the environmental effects of salmon farming is playing out in an election where any other discussion of the environment is pretty much non-existent. Which is curious becau…

1
What Welcome to Country really means 16:28

25d ago16:28

16:28

For decades, modern-day Welcome to Country ceremonies have been an established ritual in Australia, performed by Indigenous elders, far and wide. But on Anzac Day last Friday, during the hush of the dawn service remembering war veterans, Bunurong and Gunditjmara elder Mark Brown was booed, and jeered at, while performing the ceremony in Melbourne. …

1
Are Donald Trump and US politics bringing global health to its knees? 54:04

21d ago54:04

54:04

Until recently, the USA provided about 30% of global health funding. It was dominant in supplying HIV/AIDS medication and funded a major part of medical research. Much of this has now stopped with Donald Trump restricting gender affirming care, withdrawing from the WHO and holding funds from USAID - and the list goes on. What are the impacts on pan…

1
S22,E01: 04/28/25 (Foamboy, Zack Keim, Panda Bear, The Innocence Mission, Dyan, Dean Wareham, cagedancr.) 50:09

21d ago50:09

50:09

Season 22 Episode 2 Edibles - Foamboy Washington DC - Zack Keim Better Days - Zack Keim Praise - Panda Bear Ends Meet - Panda Bear Midwinter Swimmers - The Innocence Mission John Williams - The Innocence Mission Pray to Me - Dyan What Fiction Is For - Dyan You Were the Ones I Had to Betray - Dean Wareham The Cloud is Coming - Dean Wareham Fine Day …

1
K’gari dingoes: The danger that can’t be tamed 21:07

26d ago21:07

21:07

K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is one of Australia’s natural wonders and every year, almost half a million people enjoy its wild and sprawling environment. But as visitor numbers swell, the question of how tourists coexist with some of the island’s oldest residents, the dingo, becomes more important. Twenty four years after a nine-year-ol…

1
Inside Politics: How does polling work and will it be right this time? 23:10

29d ago23:10

23:10

This week we are doing a special podcast about our complicated relationship with political polls. As journalists, we like them because, maybe, they can tell us something about what voters are really thinking. But we are a bit wary of them too. Especially after the federal election in 2019, where the polls were wrong. That caused a massive rethink i…

1
Sir Simon Schama — On antisemitism 49:51

25d ago49:51

49:51

Acclaimed British historian Sir Simon Schama reflects on the history of antisemitism, the Holocaust and contemporary culture. He says that for millennia Jewish people have been "the other of convenience. We are the dark mirror in which the wish fulfilment of other societies takes it out on people who are said to represent its opposite." Presented a…

1
Putin's new 'offer' for Ukraine 16:32

30d ago16:32

16:32

Six days ago, American president Donald Trump signalled, with frustration, that he was prepared to walk away from trying to broker a peace deal with Russia over Ukraine, and leave the country to its fate. And then, yesterday, we got the news. Russian president Vladimir Putin had a new offer. Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher,…

1
How do we make cancer treatment worth it, work better, and less harmful? 57:41

26d ago57:41

57:41

Cancer is common and chemo and radiotherapies can save or extend our lives. But sometimes they don't, or they stop working, or they come with disabling long-term side effects. In a state of desperation, some of us seek out unproven alternatives which might even put us at greater risk of cancer. Join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell and guests to fin…

1
The Australian women being involuntarily sectioned 21:08

1M ago21:08

21:08

It wasn’t uncommon, in the 19th century, for women to be given the diagnosis of ‘hysteria’ and admitted to mental health asylums if they didn’t do what their husband said, or, if they swore, or had sex outside of marriage. But did you know that women are still being involuntarily sectioned in Australia? Today, investigative reporter Aisha Dow on wh…

1
Pankaj Mishra — the world after Gaza 53:35

27d ago53:35

53:35

For the past 18 months, Israel's war in Gaza has polarised the world. The Indian author and essayist Pankaj Mishra reckons with the conflict through the lens of colonialism, morality and history. This event was recorded at the University of NSW Centre for Ideas on 27 February 2025. Speakers Pankaj MishraAuthor, The World After Gaza, From the Ruins …

1
Inside Politics: The battle of the teals in Kooyong and Bradfield 20:55

1M ago20:55

20:55

The threat teal independents pose in this election - to the dominance of the two-party system, to the stability of our parliament and to the Liberal Party’s base - is very real. Today, we focus on two of these seats: Bradfield in Sydney and Kooyong in Melbourne where the teals and the Libs are neck and neck. City reporter for The Age Rachael Dexter…

1
'Just as political as Conclave’: Choosing the next Pope 17:37

1M ago17:37

17:37

Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, has died at the age 88. Francis, who had led the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics since 2013, had been in increasingly poor health and pain. We are re-publishing this episode, recorded in February, with former religion editor at The Age, Barney Zwartz, on Pope Francis' mixed legacy and the impact he…

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