What is progress, and true sustainability? Can the rational be separated from the spiritual? What can we learn from indigenous knowledge? Paul Barclay speaks to Tyson Yunkaporta, author of "Sand Talk", which provides an entree into indigenous thinking, and an insight into how this knowledge is formed and passed on. "Yarning", according to Tyson, is central. Ghosts, too, loom large in Tyson’s world. He describe how he was once attacked by a ghost as writer’s retreat.

In his final 2020 Boyer lecture, Andrew Forrest argues that economic opportunity, not welfare, is the most important way to overcome Indigenous disadvantage.  He's advocating for access to finance, an end to modern slavery and early childhood programs to overcome learning deficits in vulnerable children.

Then we hear from Indigenous film-maker Rachel Perkins. In her 2019 Boyer lecture she urged Australian governments to adopt the recommendations of the Uluru Statement as the first step towards closing the gap.

In the Boyer lectures businessman and philanthropist Dr Andrew Forrest AO calls for an urgent move to green hydrogen on a global scale and an end to over-fishing and plastic pollution in our oceans.

2020 has been dominated by global health crises and social justice protests. The lasting effect is yet to be seen. Social movements can take generations and centuries even; it is not the result of one action or one event. But there are certain factors that determine whether a movement succeeds or fails – like a very diverse basis of participants, strict discipline and a variety of surprising tactics.

As the world embarks on a vast vaccination campaign, that we hope will bring the global pandemic under control, the other crisis facing us continues unabated: the climate emergency. Paul Barclay talks to three writers about the magnitude of the challenge, and the ‘elements of summer’ – like water, and fire - which are central to the climate change story.

Close relationships with family and friends are the best way of buffering yourself against the stresses that life puts you under. In fact, it turns out that friendships have a bigger effect on your quality of life and your ability to resist and recover from illness, than almost any conventional medicine. Robin Dunbar explains the secrets behind a good friendship: how it starts and how it lasts.

The right to vote is likely the most important right and means for change in a democracy. But the electoral process in the US puts up obstacles that make it hard for minority groups to cast their vote: increased paperwork and cost or absurd ID requirements. Stacey Abrams calls for robust voter protections in the US, an elevation of identity politics and engagement in the census.

Joe Biden has wasted no time in implementing his agenda for change, rejoining WHO, the Paris Climate Agreement and listening to public health experts on the best way to tackle Covid. Biden’s biographer describes how Biden’s life and personality has shaped his approach to politics. And reducing the risk of another pandemic by shutting down the illegal wildlife trade.

Don Watson is an historian who left academe to write satire for comedians such as Max Gilles. He has subsequently written many books, as well as Prime Ministerial speeches, screenplays, travel writing, biography, and a musical production of Manning Clark's 'History of Australia'.  He is fascinated by America and its people, politics, and presidents. Don speaks to Paul Barclay

Dr Joelle Gergis and her team spent ten years investigating the history of Australia’s climate using every piece of data they could find : official records, tree rings, ice cores, corals, indigenous stories and computer models. She reveals how the pattern of natural variability has been altered by climate change.And we look into the geology of ancient reefs for clues as to how ancient life forms survived climate extremes like the Ice Age.