Uncommon Sense

Dr Richard Denniss talks about his newly updated book, Econobabble: How to Decode Political Spin and Economic Nonsense. Econobabble is the incomprehensible economic jargon politicians and commentators use to dress up their self-interest as the national interest, to make the absurd seem inevitable or the inequitable seem fair. Richard is the Chief Economist at The Australia Institute. Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) campaigner Chris Schuringa discusses the Save Errinundra campaign and the latest developments in the quest to prevent native forest logging in East Gippsland’s forests. Art historian and author Janine Burke explores the themes from her new book My Forests: Travels with Trees, which looks at trees in art, myth, history and everyday life

Dr Richard Denniss talks about his newly updated book, Econobabble: How to Decode Political Spin and Economic Nonsense. Econobabble is the incomprehensible economic jargon politicians and commentators use to dress up their self-interest as the national interest, to make the absurd seem inevitable or the inequitable seem fair. Richard is the Chief Economist at The Australia Institute

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse sits down with Amy to explore and answer the question, What Is Life? This is considered in Paul's recent book, What Is Life? Understand biology in five steps. Paul is director and CEO of the Francis Crick Institute in London. His contributions to cell biology and cancer research were recognised with a knighthood in 1999, and his discovery of cell cycle regulatory molecules saw him jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2001.

The Monthly's Contributing Editor Rachel Withers talks about the political fallout from the federal budget and more. Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sir Paul Nurse sits down with Amy to explore and answer the question, What Is Life? This is considered in Paul's recent book, What Is Life? Understand biology in five steps. Journalist and author Zoe Holman talks about her new book, Where The Water Ends: Seeking Refuge in Fortress Europe, which explores Europe's migration and refugee crisis.

Human rights advocate and barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC joins Amy to discuss his new book, Bad People: And How to Be Rid of Them: A Plan B for Human Rights, which is the first book published on the 'Magnitsky Laws' that have been adopted by 31 countries worldwide. Geoffrey explains how targeted sanctions can act as a deterrent and punishment for individuals who commit crimes against humanity and serious corruption.

Ben Eltham, National Affairs Correspondent for New Matilda talks about the latest in federal politics, including what we know about tomorrow's budget. Human rights advocate and barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC joins Amy to discuss his new book, Bad People: And How to Be Rid of Them: A Plan B for Human Rights, which is the first book published on 'Magnitsky Laws' that have been adopted by 31 countries worldwide. Dr Chloe Ward, historian and Research Officer at the EU Centre of Excellence, RMIT, chats about the results of Scotland's election, the political fallout in Britain, and the renewed push for a second referendum on Scottish independence.

Barrister Richard Beasley SC joins Amy to discuss why he's angry about the death of the Murray-Darling Basin and what we can do about it. Richard's new book is called, Dead in the Water: A very angry book about our greatest environmental catastrophe... the death of the Murray-Darling Basin, published by Allen & Unwin.

Guardian reporter Luke Henriques-Gomes talks about the many proposed and controversial changes to the NDIS. Luke explains his exclusive report detailing how the proposed "independent assessments" for NDIS recipients would save the federal budget $700m and lead to smaller funding packages “on average” for disabled people. Barrister Richard Beasley SC discusses why he is angry about the death of the Murray-Darling Basin. His new book is called, Dead in the Water: A very angry book about our greatest environmental catastrophe. . . the death of the Murray-Darling Basin. Historian Professor Michelle Arrow from Macquarie University talks about the many archival treasures on the brink of destruction due to chronic federal funding cuts to the budget of the National Archives of Australia.

Dr Monica Bell, associate professor of law and sociology at Yale University joins Amy to discuss the murder of George Floyd and the trial of Derek Chauvin, as well as pervasive police violence against Black and brown Americans and the push for racial justice in the United States.

Hong Kong-based lawyer and author Antony Dapiran discusses the latest developments in Hong Kong politics, including Beijing's overhaul of the electoral system and LegCo, the prosecution of an investigative journalist, and the jailing of pro-democracy activists. Dr Monica Bell, associate professor of law and sociology at Yale University joins Amy to discuss the murder of George Floyd and the Derek Chauvin trial, amidst the backdrop of pervasive police violence against Black and brown Americans and the push for racial justice in the United States. Yuin man and conservation ecologist Dr Jack Pascoe discusses his connection to Bangerak country, also known as Cape Otway. Jack's essay on the subject has been published in Animals Make Us Human.