Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Big Ideas
Society & CultureNewsPolitics

Big Ideas

ABC Australia

Your front row seat to big thinkers at the best live events, forums, and festivals. Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it.

We love hearing from you about the show or events you are planning. Get in touch!
Email: Bigideas@abc.net.au
SMS line for ABC Radio National: 0418 226 576

Airs Monday to Thursday 8pm, repeated Tuesday to Friday 12pm, on ABC Radio National.

Play
Open in
  • 65 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 55 min
  • English

Episodes 65

NewestOldestLongest
All5Unplayed5In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • July 23 · 54 min

    On how fear destroys your relationships — and why love can heal fear

    It's the greatest power you all have as human beings — a healing power: to make others feel safe and welcome. It's so powerful because it puts a stop to their fears. The way to do this is learning to regulate your own fear responses. It's crucial to any relationship, but nowhere more so than in the therapy room. Fear makes or breaks successful therapy. Recorded at the York Festival of Ideas and presented by the Complex Trauma Institute. The festival is led by the University of York, UK. Speake

  • July 22 · 1 hr 1 min

    Angertainment — is it too late to escape the rage bait machine, and why are its roots ancient and evolutionary? With Ed Coper

    Is it too late to escape the rage bait machine? And why are its roots ancient and evolutionary? Leading strategist Ed Coper has used all the tricks of the trade to change hearts and minds. He's run some of Australia's and the world's most effective campaigns, advised change-makers like Sir Richard Branson, Shakira, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai and other Nobel Laureates. Now Ed is ringing an alarm bell in a new book called Angertainment: How Social Media Outrage Ruined Everything. This event

  • July 21 · 54 min

    Globalisation and geopolitics – the forces that will make or break Asia

    Globalisation has powered the extraordinary economic rise of Asia. But the same components that built this success — open trade, deep supply chains, interdependence — are now fuelling the rivalries threatening to pull the region apart. Globalisation and geopolitics are now moving in different directions, and it will define the future of Asia and the role Australia plays in the region.   Speakers  Professor Nick Bisley  Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Professor of International Relations at La

  • July 20 · 53 min

    Calling out wrongdoing can come at a cost — here's how Australia can strengthen its whistleblowing laws

    From Robodebt to the banks, KPMG to the NDIS, whistleblowers have exposed egregious cases of corruption and misconduct. But it's often come at great personal cost, including risks to personal safety, liberty, relationships and reputations. So how could Australia's whistleblower protections be strengthened so that more people speak up when they witness wrongdoing? This event was recorded at the Centre for Ideas at the University of New South Wales on 16 June 2026. Speakers: Kieran Pender Assoc

  • July 16 · 54 min

    Ex-chief scientist Alan Finkel's three laws of Artificial Intelligence

    The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants AI in Australia's interests, and has announced steps to regulate the technology. So can Australia get the balance right between the opportunities offered by AI, and the risks? Australia's former Chief Scientist Alan Finkel, a serial tech entrepreneur, has some ideas — and argues governments have been asleep at the wheel on AI regulation. This event was recorded at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival on 7 June 2026. Speakers: Professor Alan Finkel Founder

Showing 61–65 of 65 episodes