At 13, Kate Reid already knew exactly where she was headed: a career in Formula 1 and a life lived at full throttle. But after earning a degree in aerospace engineering and taking up a coveted position at one of the top F1 teams in the UK, she discovered that the reality didn’t match what she’d dreamed. So, she made a swerve no one expected: to forge a career in pastry. 

With her Melbourne-born bakery Lune Croissanterie now famous worldwide, Reid sits down to reflect on her unique path, from initially pursuing aerospace engineering at RMIT University, to following her lifelong passion for F1 racing, to finding fame as the mastermind behind ‘the best croissant in the world’ (The New York Times). 

Join Reid as she discusses perfection, obsession and making her own kind of success story, with host Alice Zaslavsky.  

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Hear Omar El Akkad discuss his searing work, 'One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This' with host Tasneem Chopra.

Sparked by his viral tweet during the bombardment of Gaza – viewed over 10 million times – Omar El Akkad’s 'One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This' lays bare the fractures he has seen in the West’s empty promises of freedom and justice. 

In this timely session, the Egyptian-Canadian novelist and journalist reflects on how events like the Black Lives Matter protests, the escalating climate crisis and the violence in the Middle East have reshaped his understanding of migration, power and inequality and forced him to confront what it means to live in a West that has betrayed its fundamental values.  

Praised by Richard Flanagan as ‘a howl from the heart of our age’, El Akkad’s book explores exactly how the West has failed and offers hope for a way forward.

Originally presented on Wednesday 22 October 2025 by The Wheeler Centre.

The official bookseller was Amplify Bookstore.

Featured music is 'City Phases' by John Abbot.

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Hear from Atlantic culture critic and Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer Sophie Gilbert as she discusses her new book 'Girl on Girl' with host Kate Jinx. They dive into the pop cultural forces of the late 1990s and Y2K era that shaped and warped women's relationships with themselves and other women.

Casting her eye across pop culture of the past 30 years, she tackles everything from Madonna, the Spice Girls and the Kardashians, to MySpace, the #GirlBoss movement and The Simple Life. In this new book, Gilbert reveals the cultural forces that shaped a generation and laid the groundwork for the misogyny of today.

In this conversation, Gilbert discusses how millennial pop culture twisted feminism into objectification, the insidious power of media narratives and the pervasive influence of porn, and her own experience of growing up during these defining decades.

Originally recorded on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at The Wheeler Centre.

The official bookseller was The Sun Bookshop.

Featured music is 'No One There' by Ava Low.

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After arriving in Australia as a refugee, Jelena Dokic shot to fame when she made the semi-finals of Wimbledon at just 17 years of age. But off the court, there were even greater challenges: from her struggles with mental health to surviving the abuse of her tennis coach father.   

In this special live recording of Australian Story, Dokic opens up to Leigh Sales about the details of her extraordinary life, from escaping war-torn Yugoslavia to becoming a Grand Slam finalist. She reflects on her past, from overcoming child abuse and domestic violence and explores the impact it had on her mental health. Despite the obstacles she faced, Jelena found a way to not only survive, but thrive – transforming her pain into power and purpose. She discovered her voice, built a successful career after tennis and ultimately found happiness. 

Hear Dokic speak with grace and honesty about her hard-won wisdom and the strength it takes to rise above hardship.

This event recorded on Thursday 18 September 2025 at The Edge, Federation Square. It was presented in partnership with the ABC.

The official bookseller was Readings.

Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

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An exclusive Wheeler Centre live-recorded podcast featuring best-selling American author Eric Puchner, as he lifts the curtain on his latest novel 'Dream State', in conversation with host Ronnie Scott.

Selected by Oprah for her book club in 2025 and an instant New York Times bestseller, 'Dream State' tells the story of Charlie, a gifted anaesthesiologist; his best friend Garrett, a brooding, introverted nerd; and medical school drop-out Cece, whose engagement to Charlie seems certain – until she meets Garrett. 

A love triangle plays out across generations in this panoramic and deeply human tale of family, loss and the fragile dreams that shape our lives.

Hear from Puchner as he discusses this work of exceptional literary depth in this exclusive podcast recording.

This podcast was originally recorded on Monday 6 October 2025 by The Wheeler Centre.

Featured music is ‘Diffuser’ by Shiruky.

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Get your fix of honest and original media analysis from two insiders who’ve broken plenty of news and been broken by it, too.

In this special live recording of We Used to be Journos, hosts Antoinette Lattouf and Jan Fran sit down to reveal the way the media works, from questionable editorial decisions that shape the weekly news to the stories that masquerade as unbiased reporting. They unpack some recent headlines and reveal how the media sausage gets made – so you know what you’re being fed. 

In this fearless assessment of the Australian media landscape they have a low tolerance for spin and absolutely no time for BS. You’ll never look at the news in the same way again.

Originally presented on Saturday 20 September 2025 by The Wheeler Centre, in partnership with Ette Media.

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In the age of algorithms, music is under constant pressure to respond to mood, brand and data.

Hear from music journalist and cultural critic Liz Pelly with host Lauren Taylor in this sharp and insightful exploration into how streaming platforms have transformed our relationship with music. Pelly unpacks the shift from art to algorithm-driven content, where music is reduced to a commodified experience and listeners to mere data points.

Drawing from years of investigative reporting culminating in her bold exposé 'Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist', Pelly uncovers how the economics of streaming are reshaping the music industry and what this seismic change means for artists, listeners and cultural production at large.

The conversation explores ways to reclaim that human connection in music and fight for a more meaningful future in the age of corporate playlists and mood marketing.

This event was recorded on Thursday 28 August 2025 at The Wheeler Centre. It was presented in partnership with Now or Never.

The official bookseller was The Paperback Bookshop.

Featured music is 'Traveling Again' by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist.

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Beloved author David Nicholls takes to the stage with host Beverley Wang, to discuss his latest novel 'You Are Here'.

This talk was originally presented on Tuesday 20 May 2025 by The Wheeler Centre.

In 'You Are Here', David Nicholls weaves the stories of these two seemingly disconnected characters, bringing them together in a powerful, emotionally rich narrative brimming with his trademark blend of warmth, wit and insight into the human condition.

Hear from one of today’s most cherished writers as he shares the inspiration behind his latest literary triumph and discusses the universal themes that will make it a story for our times.

The official bookseller was the Sun Bookshop.

Featured music is ‘Traveling Again’ by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist.

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Each year at the Melbourne International Film Festival, a panel of guests gather to dissect the highs and lows of the zeitgeist.

Host Michael Sun, essayist and regular writer for the Guardian, is joined by actor and writer Maria Angelico, Chicago–based New York Magazine Vulture culture critic Angelica Jade Bastién and visiting Los Angeles Times film critic Amy Nicholson to discuss the most overrated, underrated and personal favourite moments in movies, TV, podcasts and books of the past 12 months. Hear hot takes, heated discussions and great recommendations to enjoy post-festival. 

Featured music is ‘Golden Hour’ by Sarah the Illstrumentalist.

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What can ageing teach us? For broadcast and writer Jacinta Parsons, the answer is – perhaps everything.  

Inspired by many conversations with women across the country, A Wisdom of Age captures the brewing tone of revolution that sits in the hearts of women who are ready to tell a new kind of story about the experience of growing older.  Set against the backdrop of an intimate two-course dinner at Montalto, Parsons reflects on her own experience of ageing, alongside the powerful stories of the remarkable women she’s encountered – each offering unique tales of resilience, wisdom and grace – and the lessons they’ve imparted.  

She joins host Hilary Harper for an honest, thought-provoking and energising conversation about ageing with love and the spirit of rebellion.

This event was recorded on Friday June 6th 2025. It was presented in partnership with Montalto.

The official bookseller was Farrells.

Featured music is 'Lucy’s Trail (Don’t Give Up)' by Sarah the Illstrumentalist.

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