Glenn A Baker, is leading a riverboat tour exploring the rich musical heritage of the Mississippi from New Orleans to Memphis and Nashville. The gospel music of the black churches was critical in developing a huge range of musical styles in what Glenn A dubs the "Cradle of Music Creativity".

The role of Indigenous Australians and other first people is often disregarded by the white researchers who needed their help. Thankfully, the tide is slowly turning.

Matthew Flinders Cat, Trim napped and mapped his way around Australia. The adventures of perhaps the most famous cat of all.

Double agents, nerve gas, assassination plots, tit for tat with Russia, are we living in a John le Carré novel or is this the start of a new Cold War? Professor Graeme Gill from the University of Sydney shares his thoughts.

With the nature of work changing is it time to consider the option of paying every adult a Universal Basic Income?The payment would be for everyone regardless of their means or employment status.

Can We Trust Bridges? We take for granted the large infrastructure projects being built around us but can it all come tumbling down like the bridge in Florida?

Is there a gold standard - a best practice for government and communities to follow when responding to natural disasters? Dr George Carayannopoulos has analysed the emergency responses to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and the 2011 Queensland floods in his new book Disaster Management in Australia.

Bioethicist Professor Margo Somerville has some interesting reading to recommend.

Punishment or redemption? What should we expect from the Australian jail system? Fergus Hayne argues the case for a compassionate approach.

The UN goal is for universal access to clean water and sanitation. But the latest report shows that for 844,000 people globally that's just a dream.