As womens’ roles have changed so too have ideas about mothering , its appeal and challenges. Historian Carla Pascoe Leahy charts the way different generations of Australian mothers have responded to their role. From the stay-at-home mums of the post-war era to the contemporary mother trying to balance career and family, becoming a mother has always been a watershed moment in a woman's life..

Like other animals birds have adapted to living in cities. Lorikeets, powerful owls, cockatoos , brush turkeys and white ibis are just some of the birds who've learned to live in the suburbs. And to befriend the humans who feed them. Our understanding of urban birds is greatly enhanced by the citizen scientists who observe and record their numbers and behaviour in backyards and neighbourhoods.

Soon after entering the White House,  President Biden told the world: America is back. That sentence drew a line under his predecessor and summed up his intention to restore America to its leading position in global affairs. And there’s lots to do as he navigates the pandemic, the climate emergency and intense competition with China and Russia. Biden’s National Security Advisor outlines the Biden plan.

The world has entered a post-American era. Some call it the ‘Asian century’. US global leadership is in decline, and Asia is now in the ascendancy. China, in particular, is asserting itself as a global power. So believes Michael Pembroke, who argues in his book, Play By the Rules, that after leading the creation of the post Second World War rules based order, US moral authority has since been diminishing.

Sir Henry Parkes’ vison for Federation has taken a beating over the last two years. The Father of the Federation has fought for over a decade to convince Australia that a Commonwealth is stronger than a collection of colonies – or states. Big Ideas reflects on the life of Henry Parkes – and what motivated him to help forge Australia into nationhood.

Australia is a federation. But the COVID-sponsored resurgence of the states illustrated how little notice we typically take of our federal contract. On Big Ideas, we look at the history of the Australian Commonwealth and in particular at Western Australia, a state that has often been deemed ‘the Cinderella state of the Australian Federation’.

For all our sophistication, deep down , humans are highly evolved social animals And basic instincts continue to shape behaviour in the modern world. In daily life, on social media, in the groups we join,  we find our tribe , defend our tribe and seek social status within the tribe.

It’s our greatest strength and our greatest weakness.

The reputation of Australia’s elite Special Air Service, the SAS, has been seriously undermined by disturbing allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan. The allegations shocked the nation, and led to an Australian Federal Police investigation, and the Brereton inquiry into war crimes. Paul Barclay speaks to ABC journalist and author, Mark Willacy, whose Gold Walkley award winning 4 Corners program included video footage of an illegal killing.

It’s a dream for many young Australians to be a sports star. You win games. Win medals. You’re a hero to the fans. AFL star Adam Goodes had ticked all the boxes when he came up against career-destroying racist abuse. His experience has forced clubs to confront racist attitudes and take affirmative action.

Cruel mass production or happy cows on Old MacDonald’s farm - people often have a distorted idea of how agriculture works. It’s a business, yes. And often the price of food doesn’t cover the costs of production, resulting in the exploitation of workers and the environment. But farmers are also in the front line of protecting soil quality and improving water recourses. Our relationship with food impacts farming in 

Australia.