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This week, Geraldine and Eliza discuss an article by former Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor about how personal greed is shaping politics.

Also this week, the Solomons deal with China and the war in Ukraine are distracting Eliza from week 3 of the election campaign.

And are we losing focus? Or are we just tired after a long haul with the pandemic.

Don't forget to sign up to Plenary Matters on your podcast app for Geraldine's second season on the big council shaping the future of the Catholic Church.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation on Facebook at LDC Podcast or email [email protected]

Tony Windsor – Saturday Paper - Rorters, rooters and the country’s lost decade

Howard Jacobson’s Mother’s Boy

What’s wrong with diplomacy? Kerry Brown

Stolen Focus - Johann Hari

Slow Horses – Apple TV

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (Binge)

Happy Easter LDC!

This week: Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is under pressure as week one of the campaign comes to a close.

Eryn Jean Norvill's masterful performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

And reflecting on the power of the selfie.

Thanks for listening!

Join the conversation on Facebook at LDC Podcast or email [email protected]

Eliza and Geraldine are back, after a big adventure in the SA countryside and a stint with the lurgy.

This week, they discuss the Flinders Ranges and the challenges of the Aussie bush.

While Geraldine was in isolation she caught up on a lot of reading about the war in Ukraine and Putin's leadership.

And gearing up for the campaign sprint.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page LDC Podcast or email [email protected]

LINKS

The Intellectual Catastrophe of Vladimir Putin - Paul Berman, Foreign Affairs

More on the Maidan Revolution – written in 2019

Leadership at War: How Putin and Zelensky Have Defined the Ukrainian Conflict – Margaret McMillan - Foreign Affairs

Zelensky on Dancing with the Stars

Squiz Shortcut on Volodymyr Zelensky

Deutsche Welle's Konstantin Eggert interviews Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin

The American Wife – Curtis Sittenfeld

THIS TIME WITH CORRECT AUDIO

It's been grim news of late. Geraldine and Eliza try to make sense of what's happening in Ukraine and what history can tell us about the outcome of the current war.

Shane - the King of Spin

Urban warfare descends on Ukranian cities - RN Saturday Extra

Germany dramatically boosts defence spend to counter Russia - RN Saturday Extra

Some background on Russia's intervention in the Syrian war

Why is Kyiv being likened to the next Grozny?

Geraldine and Eliza are mulling over this question after reading Nick Bryant's great article called "The Repairman" in the Monthly magazine.

Bryant charts Albanese's political life and the discipline he's displayed in the role of opposition leader. But will it be enough? And is there a risk that he plays it so 'safe' that the electorate doesn't know what he stands for?

Also this week ... war looms in Ukraine ... and Geraldine considers the repercussions for Europe.

And important movements in the podcasting world.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email [email protected]

'The Repairman' - Nick Bryant The Monthly

Emily Maitlis & Jon Sopel leave the BBC for podcasting

Maitlis interviews Prince Andrew for Newsnight

Mike Cannon-Brookes' takeover bid for AGL

Geraldine has been mulling over the debate about women & society's expectations of their behaviour since the Grace Tame famously gave the Prime Minister the angry 'side-eye'.

Geradline finally realised what had been making her uncomfortable: the notion that getting angry will somehow be cathartic & freeing. She believes the opposite - that anger is a dead weight that stops you from progressing.

So this week, Eliza and Geraldine weigh in - about women's right to be angry, about the inequalities that still exist in the system, and how different generations of women feel about this conversation.

Also this week, will there be a war in Europe?

And why Boris Johnson has ceded his moral authority.

Thanks for listening! Get in touch via the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email [email protected]

The Reason Putin Would Risk War - The Atlantic, Anne Applebaum

The reaction to Grace Tame leads to a question: Why are so many of us uncomfortable with the face of an angry woman? Virginia Trioli, ABC

Women are set to deliver political shocks - John Black, AFR

It's the first week back of Parliament in an election year, so hold onto your hats, because it's going to be a wild ride.

In this episode, Eliza asks Geraldine to what extent the Prime Minister's character - and that of the aspiring leader Anthony Albanese - might influence people's votes?

Also this week, Geraldine reads Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout and enjoys the Summer of Soul.

Thanks for listening! Get in touch via the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email [email protected]

(Reloading this as version 1 had a lot of glitches)

Welcome back to the first podcast of 2022!

A fair bit has occured since Eliza and Geraldine last sat down for a chat. The Omicron variant of COVID is raging and scratched a bit of sheen off Eliza's earlier optimism.

Two giants of the 20th century died over the Christmas break: South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and American journalist & author Desmond Tutu.

And Geraldine has explored regional Australia and the stories that underpin our national consciousness.

Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

Joan Didion obit

The Central Park Jogger Case - Joan Didion

The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion

The Coming Storm - BBC Radio 4

Desmond Tutu obit

The Power of the Dog

Munich: The Edge of War

See ya later 2021, come on down 2022!

Thanks so much for your company this year!

Here are the links to our conversation:

FMG's CEO steps down

Robyn Denholm at Tesla

The White Lotus

The Beatles: Get Back

Us – TV (ABC)

9/12 podcast – Pineapple Street studios

Journo podcast – Nick Bryant and the Judith Neilson Insitute

The Living Sea of Waking Dreams by Richard Flanagan

Beware Prophecies of Civil War – The Atlantic - Fintan O’Toole

Jamie Raskin’s Year of Grief and Purpose, Washington Post

A Person of the Year: Jamie Raskin – The New Yorker

Late in the episode, which is full of the usual politics chat, Eliza makes a big revelation: she's grown tired of the "Renegades" podcast.

It features former President Barack Obama & rocker Bruce Springsteen talking American culture, masculinity and of course ... music! What's not to love?

But it's long and meandering and ends up leaving her a bit blerg.

Also this week, Hilary Clinton warns the world not to forget Russia as focus shifts to China.

And the countdown to Christmas is on.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at LDC Podcast or email [email protected]