Podcast · Arts & Books

UNSW Centre for Ideas

by UNSW Centre for Ideas · English · Arts & Books

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 46 min
Latest: 18 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

18 Sep 2026 · 48 min

We built this thing Ep5: The age of consent: When your social media post causes a national reckoning with Chanel Contos

When Chanel Contos first hit post on an Instagram poll in 2021, she had no idea of the cultural reckoning she was about to unleash. She asked a simple question, “Have you or has anyone close to you ever been sexually assaulted by someone who went to an all-boys school in Sydney?”. But the responses were overwhelming. So much so, that she had to create a website to collect over 6,700 testimonies. This led to the founding of Teach Us Consent. Now, five years on Chanel has spearheaded an organisation at the forefront of dismantling sexual violence. She sat down with host Justine…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S1 · E4 · 10 Sep 2026 · 30 min
We built this thing Ep4: The ethical executive: when your moral compass guides your career decisions with Raji Ambikairajah
Raji Ambikairajah has had a very successful career. She was awarded NSW Woman of the Year for her work with Room to Read, she has a PhD in electrical engineering from UNSW, she’s been the CEO of several start-ups, and she’s been on company boards since she was in her 20s. But if you asked her right after graduating what she wanted to do, she wouldn’t have been able to tell you. In fact, she was one of the few graduates in her year without a job lined up. What makes Raji stand out has been a clear moral compass that has guided her across careers, companies and boardrooms. On…
2 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Daniel Joinbee: Indigenous aerospace trailblazer
From a family story rooted in Yarrabah, to the lawns of the White House in Washington DC, hear the incredible story of Daniel Joinbee, a proud Gunggandji man, Royal Australian Air Force veteran, and founder of Australia’s first and only 100% Aboriginal-owned aerospace consultancy and Indigenous youth program. Daniel and host Jonathan Webb will also discuss enabling Indigenous communities to blaze their own trails through empowering programs like Raising Horizons. For more UNSW Centre for Ideas podcasts, visit unsw.to/cfi-podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Andrew Upton: From stage to page
What happens when a master of the stage turns to the page? Acclaimed playwright, screenwriter, artistic director and now novelist Andrew Upton has never been one to stay in his lane. Across theatre, film, television and fiction, his many creative pursuits are united by one calling: storytelling. In this compelling conversation with Michaela Kalowski, recorded live at Belvoir St Theatre, Upton discusses his debut novel, Krank Fuss – a modern-day fable set against the gathering darkness of Europe in 1937. Moving from the stage to the page, he explores the craft behind the novel, the…
S1 · E3 · 21 Aug 2026 · 26 min
We built this thing Ep3: From incarcerated to CEO: driving change in youth justice from the inside-out with Michael Kwan
During his first night in prison at 16 years old, Michael Kwan knew it was time to take accountability for the choices he’d made. Now, Michael wants to share the opportunities he made for himself - an education, a part-time job, a place to call home - with other at-risk youth and those already inside the youth justice system. He’s now the CEO and co-founder of Praxis Youth, a non-profit that is translating big ideas into real action for young people. On this episode of We built this thing , Michael chats with host Justine Rogers about what drove him to complete an education from…
S1 · E2 · 12 Aug 2026 · 31 min
We built this thing Ep2: The competitive edge as a first-time founder in your 40s with Janet Salem
After 17 years at the United Nations, Janet Salem was growing frustrated with the gap between the sustainability data she was gathering, and the information businesses were using to make investment decisions. She saw an opportunity to give business’s crucial insight into their resource consumption and environmental impact to make more informed decisions, the same way food packaging provides nutritional information so that consumers can make more informed decisions. Now, she’s co-founded a start-up to help get sustainable investment a green thumbs up from the CFO. Her journey from…
S1 · E1 · 5 Aug 2026 · 37 min
We built this thing Ep1: When solving the water crisis comes from thin air with Shannon Lemanski
On this episode, Shannon chats about pivoting your start-up after funding failure, committing to your mission and transforming lives in the process.
29 Jul 2026 · 22 min
Human vs Machine: Joel Pearson on staying optimistic about the intelligence revolution
The development of AI has brought humanity to the cusp of a seismic change the likes of which has never been seen before. Workforces of the future will be dramatically different, as some jobs become obsolete and people scramble to learn new skills and ways of working. But just as this intelligence revolution has called into question the role of humans, could it be the catalyst for more purposeful leadership and smarter working? Could the very essence of being human – empathy, creativity and collaboration – become skills more important than ever as AI increasingly takes over dull,…
23 Jul 2026 · 52 min
Human vs Machine: Barbara Wilby and Joel Pearson in conversation
The development of AI has brought humanity to the cusp of a seismic change the likes of which has never been seen before. Workforces of the future will be dramatically different, as some jobs become obsolete and people scramble to learn new skills and ways of working. But just as this intelligence revolution has called into question the role of humans, could it be the catalyst for more purposeful leadership and smarter working? Could the very essence of being human – empathy, creativity and collaboration – become skills more important than ever as AI increasingly takes over dull,…
13 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Women on Top
Statistics can sometimes paint a rosy picture. Women now make up half of federal parliamentarians in Australia, more women graduate from university than men, and over 60% of Australia’s Winter Olympic team in 2026 were women. But the reality of gender equality and progress is disappointingly stagnant if not downright regressive and concerning. From the alarmingly high prevalence of gendered violence online and in relationships, to the burden of the mental load in household chores, to the uneven playing field in which women are promoted and paid. When even the most accomplished women…
9 Jul 2026 · 55 min
Whistleblowers: In defence of truth
Most whistleblowers are unknown and ordinary people shedding light on corruption and misconduct. They rarely make the front page; many pay a devastating personal price. Australia’s whistleblowing protections are failing them. Hear two of the foremost experts in Australia on protecting and defending the rights of whistleblowers, Kieran Pender and Gabriel Shipton alongside leading commentator and former editor of Guardian Australia, Lenore Taylor. The event also includes an account from a whistleblower on a harrowing case of wrongdoing they exposed in the prison system. See…
1 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Sue-Anne Hunter: Our kids deserve better
Following the historic appointment of Sue-Anne Hunter as the inaugural National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, Australia finds itself on a new journey but an old and critical road to mend. From the over-representation of Indigenous kids in child protection and youth detention systems to the inordinately high rates of incarceration, family separation and suicide, there has been an ongoing failure to address their health and wellbeing, justice and education. Commissioner Hunter has been clear - First Peoples’ children and young people…
3 Jun 2026 · 9 min
Nalini Prasad on global oil and the Aussie wallet
The ongoing conflict between Iran, the US and Israel has not only led to the deaths of many thousands of people, it has destabilised the global world order. As a middle power, Australia is being drawn into the conflict amid global pressures and strategic resource dependencies. Closer to home, the conflict is having a destabilising impact on Australia’s economy and enhancing other ongoing issues, such as rising inflation and concerns of higher unemployment. UNSW’s Nalini Prasad explains how global and domestic trends in the economy are impacting the Aussie wallet, and your…
28 May 2026 · 1 hr
Nila Ibrahimi: Song of Rebellion (Re-release)
When Nila Ibrahimi posted a video of herself online, singing proudly in protest of the ban on girls over 12 singing in public, she hoped the music would inspire young girls to continue their education. It was 2021 and the Taliban’s return to Afghanistan had come down swiftly on women's freedom. The video went viral and the ban was reversed, sending a powerful message across social media – women of Afghanistan would not be erased from public life. The Taliban would, however, go on to prohibit female education and Nila and her family would have to flee her homeland. Undeterred,…
7 May 2026 · 27 min
Guardians of the future: Māori knowledge in the age of AI
Dr Karaitiana Taiuru is a leading global voice at the forefront of Māori data sovereignty and AI ethics. His practice draws on tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori to facilitate conversations about the ways emerging technologies must uplift, protect and empower Indigenous knowledge, culture and communities. Hear him in conversation with Dr Sue Keay, where he explores why protecting Māori knowledge as a living treasure is one of the most exciting and urgent challenges of our tech future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 May 2026 · 25 min
Meditation on Country: Professor Angie Abdilla
Angie Abdilla creates video installations interrogating Indigenous deeptime knowledges, automation and AI, focusing on technology as cultural practice. Her research, artworks and films have been exhibited at premier cultural institutions, including the current Data Dreams: Art and AI exhibition at the MCA, and previously, the United Nations; Ars Electronica, Linz, Austria; the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam; the Museum of Old and New Art, nipaluna/Hobart; and the Goethe-Institut, Sydney. Her pioneering research on cultural governance for AI has influenced governments globally.…
6 May 2026 · 13 min
Look Again: Why AI images don’t tell the whole picture
Every day, generative AI is pumping millions of new pictures into existence. Researcher and UNSW lecturer Dr Charu Maithani is redefining how we think about the images flooding our world, exposing how they capture only the narrowest sliver of human experience. Her work reveals how reimagining the way AI is trained – what it sees, learns, and absorbs from culture – defines our visual vocabulary and reshapes our collective imagination. Sometimes, what we don’t see is just as important as what we do. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 Apr 2026 · 46 min
The Housing Crisis with Alan Kohler (Re-release)
Richard Holden | Alan Kohler Australia, a land of sweeping plains, has one of the lowest population densities on the planet. So, how did we end up with a housing shortage? In conversation with economist and author Richard Holden, veteran finance journalist Alan Kohler’s new Quarterly Essay , The Great Divide: Australia’s Housing Crisis and How to Fix It , investigates where things went wrong at the start of the 21st century with escalating property prices leading to a rental crisis, a dearth of public housing and a mortgage crunch. This event is presented by the Sydney Writers'…
22 Apr 2026 · 1 hr
Laurie Woolever: The gluttony of life
Since its 2025 publication, Laurie Woolever’s Care and Feeding was an immediate New York Times bestseller, tracing her path from small-town childhood to working with two of the most powerful men in the food business, chefs Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. The book’s success is no surprise. Laurie doesn't sugarcoat the consequences of a life where desire has been met with opportunity in equal measure. She weaves her story deftly, capturing the essence of New York city during the golden era of the 1990s and 2000s food celebrity without downplaying the darker side of indulgence…
15 Apr 2026 · 25 min
6 things you need to know about AI with Toby Walsh (Re-release)
As one of the world’s leading researchers in artificial intelligence, Toby Walsh has been awarded the Humbolt Research Award and elected as a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of AI. In The Shortest History of AI , Toby outlines the six key ideas for understanding artificial intelligence today. Hear Toby trace the origins of artificial intelligence in science and culture and predict where the technology is heading in the future. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
9 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
Karen Hao: Empire of AI (Re-release)
Programs like ChatGPT have become ubiquitous with AI, promising to kick start the next industrial evolution. But the scale of resources needed to support AI are staggering, with the cost largely being levied on the marginalised. From energy demands eclipsing whole cities, to labour exploitation in the global south, this behaviour bodes poorly for an equitable future. In Empire of AI , award-winning investigative journalist Karen Hao unpacks the rise of OpenAI and their race for global dominance – prompting the question, what will it take to reign in this laissez-faire approach to…
2 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Yael Stone: Giving to gain
Many people would recognise Australian actress Yael Stone from her breakout role as the red-lipped Lorna Morello in TV series Orange is the New Black. But, in 2020 she gave up her green card, and her acting career in the United States, unable to reconcile the carbon emissions of the jet-setting lifestyle with her own climate conscience. Since then, Yael has channelled her focus into a new career path in climate advocacy, going back to university and co-founding the not-for-profit renewables and clean energy organisation, Hi Neighbour. In celebration of International Women’s Day 2026,…
20 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Who's the Man? (Re-release)
Within today's social media landscape, a finely tuned content algorithm is serving up often unhealthy and sometimes extreme views on masculinity. For boys, in particular, the injection of vitriol into playgrounds, classrooms, backyards and wider society has turned the question of what it means to be a man on its head. This is also having far-reaching consequences for young girls and women. So what do we do when influencers co-opt masculinity for clout? Hear ABC presenter Siobhan Marin as she explores this topic with award-winning author, human rights advocate and Indigenous leader Thomas…
11 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 7 min
Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New
Hear acclaimed political biographer Troy Bramston in conversation with UNSW’s Verity Firth and delve into his latest book Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New . From Whitlam’s rise through the Labor party to Prime Minister, to his family, upbringing and life after politics, Troy lifts the lid on new revelations behind the man and his polices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
4 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 25 min
Lesbians are Lovely!
We’ve come a long way since references to lesbians could potentially land you jail-time and lesbian culture was less visible in literature and the arts, social commentary and public life. From anthemic pop icons Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish to commercially successful flicks like Bottoms and Love Lies Bleeding , lesbian culture is having a moment. In the fifty years since the rallying cry “Lesbians are Lovely!” was sprawled across walls, bodies and picket boards in the fight for recognition and liberation, there have been many developments in queer identity and culture.…
24 Feb 2026 · 40 min
David Cooper Lecture | Ending AIDS: A Global Responsibility
With Australia on track to be among the first countries in the world to eliminate the transmission of HIV, there is a lot to be optimistic about. Yet globally the rates of transmission and AIDS-related deaths are predicted to rise, disproportionately impacting marginalised communities and people living in low and middle income countries. Weakening US political commitment and recent funding cuts are threatening the delicate global healthcare architecture designed to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. High-income countries, like Australia, have a crucial role to play in enabling accessible research,…
19 Feb 2026 · 31 min
Kind by Design with Dr Gabi Nudelman | One Big Idea
In an era of increasing productivity, efficiency and automation it’s important not to lose sight that education – the learning and teaching that we all pursue – is about human connection and transformation. Tune in to learn from Dr Gabi Nudelman, a Senior Lecturer in business sustainability and ethics, on how kindness could be our secret weapons against disconnection in our work and school environments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12 Feb 2026 · 21 min
Unpicking the Lock to the Blood-Brain Barrier with Dr Alexis Minchaca Acosta | One Big Idea
The blood-brain barrier prevents 98% of medicines from reaching the brain. This prevents the effective treatment of neurological disorders, from cancer to Alzheimer’s. If we knew how to create drugs that could pass through this barrier, then we’d be able to create targeted, effective treatments. But doing so requires a lot of trial and error, and there aren’t a lot of effective, ethical, targeted treatments. Until now. Tune in to learn from Dr Alexis Minchaca Acosta, a Research Officer at the Children’s Cancer Institute, on how her work in lab-made blood brain…
22 Jan 2026 · 33 min
Reframing Rescue with Communities at the Heart with Dr Regina Jefferies | One Big Idea
As natural disasters increase in frequency and severity, we are all at risk of one day having our homes and our lives being in danger from fire or flood. Right now, we are seeing an unprecedented level of people needing rescue in the midst of disaster. But rescue shouldn’t just be after the point of no return, when people must evacuate their homes because hazardous conditions overwhelm communities. Listen to Dr Regina Jefferies, a human rights and refugee lawyer, on how recognising the broad scope of who tends to be a first responder in a disaster, and what it means to truly save…
15 Jan 2026 · 32 min
Grand Designs for our Oceans' Habitats with Ann Flemming Nielsen | One Big Idea
Our coastal marine habitats are suffering from the man-made degradation of climate change. From coral reefs to seagrass meadows, oyster reefs and kelp forests, these ecosystems are vital nurseries for marine life and natural coastal buffers against storms and we’re losing them at a rapid pace. But all is not lost. We have the tools and the know-how to restore these environments. Tune in to learn from Ann Flemming Nielsen, a PhD student at the Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, on how we can use human engineering to build back the coastal environments in severe decline and give…

About UNSW Centre for Ideas

An initiative of UNSW Sydney, the Centre for Ideas is a thought-provoking program of events and digital content from the globe's leading thinkers, authors and artists.

UNSW Centre for Ideas is a English arts & books podcast from UNSW Centre for Ideas. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: UNSW Centre for Ideas
Language: English
Category: Arts & Books
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 46 min
Latest episode: 18 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1392873256
Rights: 2026 UNSW Centre for Ideas

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