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Big Ideas

ABC Australia
Australia
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change
China
Social Media
Misinformation
Colonialism
Democracy
Australian Government
Indigenous Australians
Mental Health
Public Policy
Renewable Energy
Racism
Cricket
Populism
Donald Trump
Fossil Fuels
Australian Politics
Neoliberalism

Your front row seat to big thinkers at the best live events, forums, and festivals. Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. We love hearing from you about the show or events you are planning. Get in touch! Email: Bigideas@abc.net.au SMS line for ABC Radio National: 0418 226 576 Airs Monday to Thursday 8pm, repeated Tuesday to Friday 12pm, on ABC Radio ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1385Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Big Ideas

Latest Episodes

The fire season is changing across Australia, becoming hotter, drier and longer. The evidence about the best ways to protect lives, property, and the environment is changing too. While fuel reduction burning has become a vital tool in the arsenal for... more

The year is 2046. After 2026, a whole lot changed in the world. Citizens started to vote women into power in parliaments everywhere. What happened next? Four Far North Queensland leaders are leaping into a tardis to hurtle twenty years into the futur... more

Has your doctor ever told you to go on a diet? Does that conversation put you off going to them in the first place, even if you need treatment for something not related to your weight? Has being in a larger body ever meant you can't access surgery or... more

Scientists are uncovering the surprising power of the trillions of microbes living inside you and how they can shape your mood, your thinking, even your sense of self. How might the health of your gut change the course of serious mental illness? This... more

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Recent Guests

Sarah Smith
Former music editor at The Big Issue and former editor of Faster Louder
Episode: Wrapped? Or Warped? How the internet changed music criticism
Al Newstead
Double J music and pop culture reporter and author of a book on Tame Impala's Currents
Double J
Episode: Wrapped? Or Warped? How the internet changed music criticism
Sose Fuemoli
ABC Radio Australia music correspondent and host of Sista Sounds and On the Record
ABC
Episode: Wrapped? Or Warped? How the internet changed music criticism
Kerry Arabena
Professor, Indigenous health leader and managing director of Karabena Consulting
Karabena Consulting
Episode: What stops you from becoming homeless? 2026 Australian Homelessness Conference with Natasha Mitchell and guests
Catherine Robinson
Associate professor researching communities, social justice and unaccompanied children experiencing homelessness
University of Tasmania
Episode: What stops you from becoming homeless? 2026 Australian Homelessness Conference with Natasha Mitchell and guests
Rebecca Pinkstone
Inaugural chief executive of Homes NSW and former social housing provider CEO
Homes NSW
Episode: What stops you from becoming homeless? 2026 Australian Homelessness Conference with Natasha Mitchell and guests
Clive Myrie
BBC foreign correspondent, broadcaster and host of Mastermind
BBC
Episode: Clive Myrie on what Africa taught a foreign correspondent about our common humanity
Wendy Whiteley
Creator of Wendy's Secret Garden, artist, and former wife and muse of Brett Whiteley
Episode: Bringing Brett Whiteley's studio back to life — with Wendy Whiteley
Jason T. Eberl
Hubert Mäder Chair in Bioethics, professor of philosophy and director of the Albert Gnaegi Center for Bioethics
Saint Louis University
Episode: The ethics of transhumanism

Host

Natasha Mitchell
Host of Big Ideas; long-running anchor with focus on governance, policy, and global issues.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • A true gem!

    This pod never disappoints.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jennprincipesa
    Australia6 months ago
  • Women matter

    Just an idea - maybe the complete overreach, anti science and homophobic approach of those wedded to gender ideology has inflicted this damage. It’s called “shooting yourself in the foot.” (One group’s “wants” being given absolute priority over the rights of everyone else certainly isn’t a winning approach.)

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LizAnne S
    Australia8 months ago
  • Big Ideas Spotify episode

    This should have been an interesting program, but any “investigative journalist” who uses the word “like” as every fifth word needs some coaching on public speaking before the ABC gives them a platform.

    I gave up a few minutes in - too tedious to keep listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    LizAnne S
    Australiaa year ago
  • Always stimulating!

    Excellent podcast among my short-list of #podrecs - the programming is excellent, interviewers and chairs great, guests always invigorating and stimulating. Worth tuning in, following and sharing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anthony Zwi
    Australiaa year ago
  • Adam Liaw

    Big ideas is always good but I was so stimulated by this show as Adam traversed issues of politics, culture, science and food. We are so blessed to have our Aunty sharing her sage advice through such interesting people.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    digit2021
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value the depth and breadth of perspectives, with many praising the quality of discourse and guest selection.
Some episodes draw mixed feedback on pacing or perceived bias, but overall praise for its ambition and range.
A thought-provoking program that consistently brings high-caliber guests and thoughtful moderation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#235
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#49
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#227
Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#230
Russia/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Clive Myrie on what Africa taught a foreign correspondent about our common humanity
Q: What gives you hope for the future?
He says human cooperation and recognition of shared humanity offer hope, while warning that technology can reduce direct engagement. He also argues for greater regulation of online spaces.
Clive Myrie on what Africa taught a foreign correspondent about our common humanity
Q: How would you suggest we educate and inform the British public of the diversity of the people and history of the continent of Africa and the Caribbean and address the role of Britain in both?
Myrie says education should start in school with a broad curriculum that reflects Britain's global influence, including both its role in ending the slave trade and its involvement in that trade.
Bringing Brett Whiteley's studio back to life — with Wendy Whiteley
Q: Did that alter things? Did it change your relationship with him during that time?
Wendy explains that addiction made obtaining drugs the focus before work could happen. She says they made repeated attempts to quit, that she eventually stopped using mood-altering substances, and that Brett did not.
Bringing Brett Whiteley's studio back to life — with Wendy Whiteley
Q: What was Brett like as a person? Was he fizzing with energies, he seems to be? Was he melancholic? Where did his personality sit?
Wendy describes him as restless, charismatic, easily bored, and prone to depression. She says he was constantly working and moving, and that heroin stilled him.
What stops you from becoming homeless? 2026 Australian Homelessness Conference with Natasha Mitchell and guests
Q: What are the reasons that a child becomes homeless?
Robinson says children's homelessness is often driven by family conflict, sexual or physical abuse, neglect and abandonment, unlike adult homelessness, which is more closely tied to the lack of affordable housing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Ideas

What is Big Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A provocateur-minded show features long-form discussions with leading thinkers across politics, science, history, and public policy. Episodes frequently center on global governance, technological change, climate justice, human rights, and memory or culture, often framed as live panel or interview formats that encourage nuanced, policy-relevant dialogue. Notable strengths include high-caliber guests, rigorous moderation, and a willingness to tackle ethically complex or controversial topics with depth and a long-view perspective. This program is likely to appeal to intellectually curious professionals, policy-minded listeners, and academics who enjoy well-structured conversations that connect ideas to real-world outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for Big Ideas?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Big Ideas. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Big Ideas and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Big Ideas get?

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What are the audience demographics for Big Ideas?

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How many subscribers and views does Big Ideas have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Big Ideas has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Big Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Ideas:

1. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
2. Late Night Live — Full program podcast
3. The Minefield
4. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald
5. All In The Mind

How many episodes of Big Ideas are there?

Big Ideas launched 20 years ago and published 1385 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Big Ideas?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Big Ideas?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Big Ideas from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Big Ideas?

Recent guests on Big Ideas include:

1. Sarah Smith
2. Al Newstead
3. Sose Fuemoli
4. Kerry Arabena
5. Catherine Robinson
6. Rebecca Pinkstone
7. Clive Myrie
8. Wendy Whiteley

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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