On a warming planet, heatwaves are proving increasingly deadly. But in the cities where most of us live, shade can be hard to come by. In ancient times, shade was prioritised for urban comfort, but in the age of the air-conditioner its value is often overlooked. 

• Guest: Sam Bloch, journalist and author of Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource
• Producer: Jack Schmidt

Gisele Pelicot became a feminist hero when she waived her right to anonymity after being drugged and raped by her husband and at least fifty other men. She famously said the shame should be on those men, not on the women they rape. This week one of the convicted men is appealing, arguing he didn’t know that she hadn’t given her consent. So what does sexual consent look like? Are we living in a society that builds in 'cultural scaffolding of rape'? And how do we build healthy sexual and loving relationships?

• Guest: Manon Garcia, Junior Professor of Philosophy at Freie Universität Berlin and author of Living With Men: Reflections on the Pelicot Trial, published by Polity
• Producer: Catherine Zengerer

Warning: This interview may contain details that may be distressing for some listeners.

Sexual assault support lines:

• 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
• Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
• Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
• Victims of Crime Helpline: 1800 819 817
• Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578

Sir Mark Oliphant hasn't had a billion-dollar movie made about him, but — according to the author Roland Perry — maybe he should have. Oliphant was an Australian physicist who played a crucial role in convincing Oppenheimer and the Americans that a nuclear bomb was possible, and necessary. Without Oliphant, Perry says, it's possible the Germans would have built the bomb first.

• Guest: Roland Perry, author of more than 40 books
• Producer: Alex Tighe

In June Israel launched a surprise 12 day long attack on Iran. The US joined in, damaging much of their nuclear infrastructure and large parts of Tehran. Now England, Germany and France have weighed in, re-imposing sanctions they had lifted under Obama's 2015 nuclear deal. But rather than inspiring an internal revolt against the theocratic regime,  the bombings and trade restrictions are only serving to push Iran towards China, which has a strong interest in Iran's oil. And China can offer Iran a lucrative trade in weapons. 

• Guest: Sina Toosi, senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy. Author of an article for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists called “Why Europe’s snapback gamble against Iran will backfire"
• Producer: Catherine Zengerer

New Zealand has an ambitious mission to become predator-free by 2050, aiming to eradicate all invasive species—such as rats, stoats, and possums—that threaten its unique wildlife. This conservation effort seeks to protect and restore the country’s fragile ecosystems, preserving its natural heritage for future generations

• GUEST: Brent Beavan, manager of the Predator Free 2050 program at New Zealand's Department of Conservation. 
• PRODUCER: Ali Benton 

Two years on from Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th, Israel and Gaza are irrevocably changed. Journalist Irris Makler reflects on the profound sorrow of Israelis and Palestinians, the political fate of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the promise of current peace negotiations. 

Two years on from Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th, Israel and Gaza are irrevocably changed. Journalist Irris Makler reflects on the profound sorrow of Israelis and Palestinians, the political fate of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and the promise of current peace negotiations. 

• Guest: Irris Makler, veteran Jerusalem correspondent for ABC, SBS

US President Donald Trump is determined to deploy the National Guard in more American cities to support deportation efforts, but a Trump-appointed judge in Oregon has blocked deployment in Portland. 

'Plant hunting required cunning, resilience, and a seemingly unshakeable sense of entitlement to the resources of other nations.' An account of the hunt for a particular 'lost orchid'. 

• GUEST: Sarah Bilston, author of 'The Lost Orchid: A Story of Victorian Plunder and Obsession' (Harvard University Press, May 2025) 
• Producer: Ann Arnold

*This story originally aired on 08 May 2025.

Dutch historian and writer Rutger Bregman is good at making wealthy people uncomfortable. In 2019, he called out the billionaires at Davos for their tax avoidance. His new book Moral Ambition calls on the world's best and brightest to quit their meaningless corporate jobs and start working on the world's biggest problems - from disease prevention, to climate change.

• Guest: Rutger Bregman, historian and author of Moral Ambition: Stop wasting your talent and start making a difference, Bloomsbury

*This story originally aired on 08 May 2025.

Rope weaves together the fascinating story of one of humanity’s oldest inventions — a simple twist of fibres that literally held the world together. From hauling stones for the pyramids to anchoring ships on daring voyages, rope has been the silent hero behind some of history’s greatest achievements.

• GUEST Tim Queeney, Author, “Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibres Became the Backbone of Civilisation".
• PRODUCER: Ali Benton