Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast

Australian writer Lech Blaine shares the stranger-than-fiction story of his childhood, growing up in a loving foster family in rural Queensland, haunted by two fanatical Christian kidnappers. 

What does successful public policy look like in Australia in 2024? Can parliaments overcome petty partisanship, narrow self-interest and the populism of our times to serve Australians into the future? John Brumby AO and Cheryl Kernot discuss the pursuit of better government. 

In 1962, Sidney Nolan made two journeys that had a huge impact on his life and work - to Auschwitz and Africa. The paintings from his trip to Africa invoke both his fears for humanity and the extinction of Africa's wildlife. The works were exhibited back in 1963, but a new book brings them all back together again.

Guest: Andrew Turley, author of Nolan's Africa (Miegunyah Press)

Plans around the country for public truth-telling forums are falling away.  Professor Marcia Langton analyses what's going on.

In the recent US election, Donald Trump made significant gains amongst young male voters aged 18-29. Some 56% of this cohort voted for Trump, compared with 41% in 2020. Journalist Jamie Tahsin, who has spent years investigating a part of the Internet known as the "manosphere", believes Mr Trump's media appearances with various young male online influencers boosted his campaign. And his 18 year old son Barron may have been a useful advisor. 

Ian Dunt fears for the security of Europe and the future of NATO as Donald Trump prepares to return to White House. 

Scientists have been fascinated by the lifespan of the Greenland shark which can live for centuries.

Now new research may have found the key to why it's the longest living vertebrate on Earth. 

Guest: Dr. Brynn Devine, Arctic Fisheries Scientist at Oceans North

Journalist, writer and podcaster Jon Ronson has spent years doing stories about psychopaths, conspiracy theorists and the behaviour of the mob, who love to indulge in a social media pile-on. He's a cultural critic of both the left and the right who questions the culture wars on both sides. He reflects on how conspiracy theorists have found their way into such positions of power, and why people love to follow them.

Guest: Jon Ronson, writer, film-maker podcaster. He is touring Australia and New Zealand with his show Jon Ronson's Psychopath Night. 

The Greens have dropped their demand for a climate trigger to be incorporated into the Federal Government's stalled environmental protection reforms, in the interests of getting the legislation through the Senate this year. And the Government has reached agreement with the Opposition on political donations. Guest: Laura Tingle, Chief Political Correspondent, 7.30   

From requesting cross bows to fight invaders in Norfolk, to a southern Italian cosmetic recipe for removing hair dye: a British Library exhibition reveals the worlds of women in the Middle Ages.

Guest: Professor Diane Watt