Future Perfect

Content warning: this episode contains discussion of gendered violence. If you find any of this distressing, you can seek support via 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.

Dylan is joined by Dr Stephanie Wescott, Lecturer in the School of Education, Culture and Society at Monash University, to discuss the interventions that could address young men and boys being susceptible to the manosphere and its ties to violence against women, as explored in her ongoing research for ANROWS. (1:10)

Jana Favero, Deputy CEO and Head of Systematic Change at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, discusses the ASRC’s new campaign to foster support and inclusion for asylum seekers and refugees in Australia. (16:56)

Author and journalist George Megalogenis looks ahead to next year’s federal election amid a shifting political landscape in the country, as explored in his new Quarterly Essay Minority Report: The New Shape of Australian Politics. (30:15)

Plus, Emily Naismith and Ben Birchall, hosts of podcast Ingredipedia, drop by to talk about the show’s new miniseries ‘Zombie Snacks’, which brings nostalgic Australian snacks back from the dead. (52:29)

And finally, Grammy Award-winning artist Annie Clark aka St. Vincent returns to Future Perfect to chat about what has shaped her live shows for the tour of her album ‘All Born Screaming’, ahead of her shows in Melbourne for Always Live Victoria. (1:12:04)

Dylan is joined by Jeff Sparrow to walk us through what Donald Trump’s election win could mean for politics in Australia. (1:02)

Psychologist, author and educator Dr Chris Cheers chats all things loneliness ahead of his appearance at the in-conversation event Solving Loneliness Together at Federation Square in Melbourne on November 20. (19:04)

Lisa Given, Professor of Information Sciences and Director of Social Change at RMIT University, unpacks the federal government’s plan to impose a ‘Digital Duty of Care’ to regulate social media companies, and the precedent for this legislation internationally. (34:22)

Plus, Esther Anatolitis, editor of Meanjin, and Jenny Hocking, Emeritus Professor at Monash University, chat about the release of Essays that Changed Australia, an anthology from Meanjin spanning its 84-year history. (46:24)

Dylan is joined by Cam Walker, campaigns coordinator at Friends of the Earth, to unpack what the re-election of Donald Trump could mean for global climate and environmental policy amid the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference. (0:56)

Clinton Fernandes, Professor of International and Political Studies at the University of New South Wales, takes us through the geopolitical implications of Trump’s return for Australia and the world. (17:00)

Carody Culver, editor of Griffith Review, and author Tom Doig discuss the latest issue Leaps of Faith, and Tom’s research on doomsday ‘preppers’. (42:01)

Plus, psych-folk musician Patrick Ryan aka Cantrips drops by to chat about his new single ‘Snake Skin’, his label Dune Castle Records and his DJing journey. (1:07:01)

Dylan is joined by Dave Nichols, Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne, to dive into the history of The Age after the newspaper marked 170 years of publication, and pay tribute to Melbourne musician Ollie Olsen following his recent passing. (1:07)

Journalist Antony Loewenstein unpacks his new podcast series The Palestine Laboratory, based on his 2023 book of the same name that investigated Israel’s use of Palestine as a testing ground for its weapons and surveillance technology. (20:42)

Clare Corbould, Associate Professor of History at Deakin University, visits to break down the current state of play in the US presidential election, and the role of race and gender in the Trump and Harris media campaigns. (41:39)

Plus, Jacqui Baker, Lecturer at Murdoch University, provides insight into what we can expect from Indonesia’s newly elected president Prabowo Subianto, and the direction in which the country’s politics are trending. (1:06:41)

And finally, Melbourne musician, DJ and producer Harvey Sutherland drops by to chat about the artistic process behind his new single ‘Hummingbird’ and his upcoming show at Strawberry Fields Festival in November. (1:22:36)

Dylan is joined by Benita Kolovos, Victorian state correspondent for Guardian Australia, to bring us up to date on what’s going on in the race for Melbourne’s next Lord Mayor ahead of the Melbourne City Council election this month, and the current leadership tension within the Victorian Liberal Party. (1:03)

Lawyer and author Josh Bornstein visits to discuss his new book Working for the Brand which analyses how corporations came to hold so much power over their employees, as well as exploring cancel culture and the regulation of speech on university campuses. (16:59)

Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor at ANU, unpacks the latest developments in the violence in the Middle East and the options for de-escalation and preventing further casualties. (40:16)

Plus, author and visual artist Laura J Carroll drops by to chat about her new graphic novel Making the Shrine which dives into the fascinating and complicated history of Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. (57:43)

And finally, journalist and filmmaker Marc Fennell takes us through the implosion of the Australian-founded music streaming service Guvera, as explored in his new two-part documentary for SBS Red Flag: Music’s Failed Revolution, airing from October 15. (1:13:51)

Dylan is joined by Paul Strangio, Emeritus Professor of Politics at Monash University, to discuss Anthony Albanese’s Prime Ministership and the key issues ahead of early next year’s election. (0:57)

Writer, Triple R broadcaster and Yorta Yorta man Daniel James visits to unpack his recent piece for The Monthly that covered his visit to Alice Springs and the social issues and government failures facing the area. (21:21)

Financial journalist Alan Kohler dives into the ongoing issues informing Australia’s housing crisis, as analysed in his new book The Great Divide which revises his 2023 Quarterly Essay. (38:50)

Plus, historian and author Dr Deborah Lee Talbot discusses the impacts of cruise company P&O ceasing their operations in 2025, and the role that cruise lines have played in soft diplomacy between Australia and Papa New Guinea. (54:30)

And finally, N’fa Jones, African Australian hip hop artist and member of Cool Out Sun, drops by to chat about the creation of the group’s new album A LION IS A LION and upcoming shows. (1:04:44)

Dylan is joined by Cam Walker, campaigns coordinator at Friends of the Earth, to talk through the decommissioning of aging oil and gas infrastructure in the Bass Strait and ahead of a Victorian Parliamentary inquiry, and the impact of the upcoming US election on global climate action. (0:59)

Rebecca Johnston Ryan, Director and Principal Lawyer of Night Service at Fitzroy Legal Service, drops by to discuss the 2024 edition of their Law Handbook and the importance of community access to free legal advice and justice. (14:35)

Clinton Fernandes, Professor of International and Political Studies at the University of New South Wales, and Deb Salvagno, Founder of East Timor Women Australia, visit to chat about the 25th anniversary of East Timor's independence ahead of a symposium and exhibition ‘Tais, Culture & Resilience’ in Melbourne to mark the occasion (29:24)

Plus, Emma Sharp, General Manager of Stupid Old Studios, and comedian Matt Stewart drop in to chat about the Cheerful Earful comedy podcast festival in Melbourne October 4-6. (56:37)

And finally, Sydney musician Isobel Knight checks in on her music journey over recent years ahead of a string of Melbourne shows and the screening of her tour film Lost Dog on September 18. (1:12:11)

Dylan is joined by American author and political analyst Thomas Frank to break down what we can expect in the lead-up to the US election, and what he experienced attending the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. (0:57)

Psychiatrist and author Dr Mark Cross unpacks his new book Mental State, outlining a range of systemic problems in how we currently treat and manage mental ill health across the nation, and some possible solutions. (33:15)

Kirsty Bishop-Fox, sustainability educator and environmental advocate, drops by to discuss how we can all reduce our environmental footprint and previews the Zero Waste Festival at Fed Square. (56:25)

Plus, electronic and avant-garde musician Ash Wednesday chats about his new album AfterMATH composed for the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ, and his relationship with music living with Multiple Sclerosis. (1:11:37)

Guest host Ben Harrington is joined by Dr Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, to make sense of the recent controversy around the federal government’s original move not to include questions about gender diversity and sexual orientation in the 2026 census, and why having this data on a national scale is so important. (1:01)

Nicole Gurran, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Sydney, takes us inside the recently released final report from the People’s Commission into the Housing Crisis, and the recommendations that the report proposes to address spiralling housing prices and homelessness in Australia. (13:22)

Plus, New Zealand psychedelic groover Joe Ghatt joins in to chat about his second album ‘Caper’ and his experiences as a solo artist ahead of a gig in Melbourne at the Northcote Social Club on September 2. (33:55)

Content warning: this episode contains discussion of sexual assault and violence. If you find any of this distressing, you can seek support via 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 and the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.

Dylan is joined by author and food journalist Dani Valent to take a further look at the issues tackled in her new piece for The Age, which shines a light on sexual abuse and assault in the hospitality industry. (1:22)

Dr Melinda Hildebrandt, Policy Fellow at the Mitchell Institute, unpacks concerns in the tertiary sector following the federal government’s proposal earlier this year of a cap on international student enrolments, and how the government could introduce the cap while protecting university funding. (14:28)

Author & federal MP Dr Andrew Leigh digs into his new book The Shortest History of Economics, and the insights that this history can offer on the evolution of human societies. (32:20)

Plus, comedian Josh Earl drops by to talk about his return to the stage with his comedy show Four Burners this week at the Butterfly Club, and the art of finding humour in a modern dilemma. (48:15)

And finally, musician St. Vincent checks in ahead of her upcoming Victorian tour to chat about her new album All Born Screaming, playing in Australia and much more. (1:00:46)