David George Haskell, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of the South (USA) discusses his fascinating book, The Songs of Trees: Stories From Nature's Great Connectors (Black Inc). Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley AC, Editor-in-Chief of The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), speaks with Amy about the coronavirus pandemic. They discuss the state of ICU bed and ventilator capacity in Australia, widespread concerns over the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), whether Australia’s testing criteria needs to be expanded, and what the MJA's new COVID-19 surge modelling says about our health system’s ability to cope with increased demand. Dr Emma Shortis, from RMIT's EU Centre of Excellence, on the latest in US politics, including Trump's handling of COVID-19. Plus Ben Eltham on federal politics, including the most recent economic and health announcements and what they mean in practice.

Amy speaks with author and Harvard Review editor Christina Thompson about her book, Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia, which explores the quest to understand who first settled the islands of the remote Pacific, where they came from, and how they got there.

Amy speaks with author and Harvard Review editor Christina Thompson about her book, Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia, which explores the quest to understand who first settled the islands of the remote Pacific, where they came from, and how they got there. Associate Professor Gemma Carey, Research Director of the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW, discusses how the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is affecting people with a disability and/or chronic illness, and what support the government and the NDIS need to provide so people with a disability and their carers are not left behind and put at increased health risks. Plus, Ben Eltham from New Matilda on federal politics, including the latest on public health measures, social security support announcements, and what the next coronavirus economic stimulus package means for you.

Bill Bowtell, strategic health policy adviser and Adjunct Professor at UNSW, discusses the Australian government's handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and how it compares to the various approaches other countries are taking. He also discuss the crucial role of state and local governments, and what we can do ourselves. Bill Bowtell was an architect of the Australian government’s successful response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic

Bill Bowtell, strategic health policy adviser and Adjunct Professor at UNSW, discusses the Australian government's handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and how it compares to the various approaches other countries are taking. He also discuss the crucial role of state and local governments, and what we can do ourselves. Bill Bowtell was an architect of the Australian government’s successful response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Sophie McNeill, investigative reporter and former ABC foreign correspondent in the Middle East joins Amy to discuss her book, We Can't Say We Didn't Know: Dispatches From An Age of Impunity. Sophie will share her experiences reporting from the frontlines of conflicts in Syria, Gaza, Yemen, West Bank and Iraq. Plus Ben Eltham on the latest in federal politics, including what the federal government is doing to prevent a pandemic-induced recession.

Historian and author Stuart Kells came in to discuss his new book, The Convent. Amy and Stuart explore the fascinating and sometimes controversial history of Melbourne’s much loved Abbotsford Convent.

Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT came in to chat about the latest in US politics, including the Democratic primaries and the Super Tuesday result which saw Joe Biden overtake Bernie Sanders, and sealed the demise of Elizabeth Warren. Steve Meacher, President of Friends of Leadbeater's Possum Inc and longtime native forest advocate, discussed the imminent logging of large native trees in the Toolangi State Forest. The logging coupe is near one of Victoria’s largest and most loved trees; the Kalatha Giant, which is 400 years old and 65 metres tall. Historian and author Stuart Kells came in to discuss his new book, The Convent. Amy and Stuart explore the fascinating and sometimes controversial history of Melbourne’s much loved Abbotsford Convent.

Historian Dr Chloe Ward from the EU Studies Centre at RMIT came in to discuss Boris Johnson's Britain and UK politics post-Brexit. Associate Professor Jessica Whyte, a political theorist and philosopher from The University of NSW, traces the origins of neoliberalism from 1947 and recounts how neoliberals hijacked human rights - this is all explored in her critically acclaimed book, The Morals of the Market: Human Rights and the Rise of Neoliberalism. And Australian composer and conductor Gordon Hamilton on the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's World Premiere of Far South, inspired by his voyage to Casey Station, Antarctica onboard the icebreaker Aurora Australis. 

Natural historian, ecologist, and environmental photographer Alison Pouliot came in to talk about the fascinating fungi kingdom, how fungi are our phylogenetic older siblings, and her extraordinary life travelling the globe to capture and study all kinds of fungi. Alison believes we need to care about the conservation of fungi as much as any other living organism.

Natural historian, ecologist, and environmental photographer Alison Pouliot came in to talk about the fascinating fungi kingdom, how fungi are our phylogenetic older siblings, and her extraordinary life travelling the globe to capture and study all kinds of fungi. Alison believes we need to care about the conservation of fungi as much as any other living organism. Nick Parry, from the Australian-German Climate & Energy College at The University of Melbourne discusses how and why European nations have been transitioning more easily than Australia to renewable energy and the idea of a low carbon emissions future. He also shares how this affects EU-Australia relations, diplomatically and economically. Plus the Guardian Australia's Luke Henriques-Gomes returned to discuss what we've gleaned so far from recent Disability Royal Commission hearings, and gave us an update on robodebt, and federal welfare policy.