Uncommon Sense

Director Ella Caldwell and cast members Daniela Farinacci and Hannah Fredericksen from Red Stitch Actors' Theatre joined Amy to talk about their Australian Premiere of the play OIL, a political and historical play on humanity’s troubled relationship with oil and fossil fuels. Professor Alex Collie from Monash University on the health status of those receiving the Disability Support Pension or Newstart, and what needs to change to support the most disadvantaged in our community

Folk-rock musician Carus Thompson came in to discuss how music and storytelling can dismantle political walls and ideology, and to chat about the very topical social and political themes in his new album, Shakespeare Avenue. He also played live in studio.

Folk-rock musician Carus Thompson came in to discuss how music and storytelling can dismantle political walls and ideology, and to chat about the very topical social and political themes in his new album, Shakespeare Avenue. He also played live in studio. Leading forest and conservation researcher and advocate Professor David Lindenmayer AO shares his views on the Victorian government's recent decision to stop logging old growth native forests immediately and to transition to plantation forest logging over the next 10 years. And Professor Lesley Hughes, climate scientist and former Lead Author in the IPCC’s 4th and 5th Assessment Report, discusses climate change in Australia and its critical relationship to increasing drought and unprecedented bushfires, among other environmental effects.

Historian Professor Timothy C. Winegard from Colorado Mesa University, USA explored some fascinating true stories of history from his new book, The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator.

Nic Maclellan, journalist for Islands Business Magazine in Fiji, discusses politics in the Pacific region, and Australia’s dilemma – having a Pacific policy requires us to have a climate policy. Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT came in to discuss the latest in US politics, including the Turkey-Kurdish conflict in Syria and the US' formal withdrawal from the region, the Democratic primary debates, and the Trump impeachment hearings. Historian Professor Timothy C. Winegard from Colorado Mesa University, USA explored some fascinating true stories of history from his new book, The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator.

Shaun Walker, a foreign correspondent for the Guardian who spent over a decade reporting on Russian politics from Moscow, came in to discuss his forthcoming Melbourne University lecture, and book, The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past.

Shaun Walker, a foreign correspondent for the Guardian who spent over a decade reporting on Russian politics from Moscow, came in to discuss his forthcoming Melbourne University lecture, and book, The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past. Film director Janine Hosking joined Amy to discuss her documentary, The Eulogy, which looks at the life and lonely death of one of the world's greatest pianists, Geoffrey Tozer, and Paul Keating's eulogy for a man he considered to have been abandoned by Australia's arts establishment. Maddison Connaughton, Editor of The Saturday Paper on the latest in federal politics. 

Amy speaks with journalist and author Judith Hoare about her new book on a remarkable Australian scientist and doctor who changed the field of psychology forever, The Woman Who Cracked The Anxiety Code: The Extraordinary Life of Dr Claire Weekes.

Amy speaks with journalist and author Judith Hoare about her new book on a remarkable Australian scientist and doctor who changed the field of psychology forever, The Woman Who Cracked The Anxiety Code: The Extraordinary Life of Dr Claire Weekes; Luke Henriques-Gomes from the Guardian Australia came in to discuss what we have learned so far from the Senate inquiry hearings into Newstart - Australia’s jobseeker allowance; and Hong Kong-based lawyer and author Antony Dapiran returns with an in-depth look at the evolving political protests in Hong Kong, and the response from China and the outside world.

Geelong Football Club Vice-President Bob Gartland and Geelong Gallery Director Jason Smith came in to talk about the Geelong Gallery's exhibition, 'The Greatest Team of All—Treasures From the Bob Gartland Collection.' It celebrates 160 years of the Geelong Football Club – the second oldest continuing professional sportsclub in the world.