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Big Ideas

ABC Australia
Mental Health
Climate Change
Aging
Ageism
Intergenerational Relationships
Tiger Parents
Tennant Creek
Gerontology
Treatment-Resistant Depression
Northern Territory Emergency Response
Human Rights
Community Services
Social Work
PTSD
Psychedelics
Aboriginal People
Domestic Violence
Cultural Stigmas
Clinical Trials
Kidney Disease

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
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NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

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Latest Episodes

This episode explores the past and present expectations and experiences of Australian fathers, in the workforce, domestic duties, and child-rearing, and examines how their roles have also shaped the lives of mothers, children, and society. These conv... more

Dive into the world of heroin chic and Girl Power to make sense of the mixed messages Millennial women experienced as they came of age. Before social media warped our sense of self, other aggressive forces were at work, hellbent on exploiting feminis... more

She's attracted controversy and cancellation, but Palestinian Australian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah has not been deterred from speaking out about the plight of Palestinians in the war on Gaza, and the experience of Muslim Australians sinc... more

When a violent crime makes the news, mental illness is often part of the story. But how that story is told, the words chosen, the details included, the connections drawn, has consequences that ripple far beyond the news cycle. For people living with ... more

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Recent Guests

Husnara Khanom
Bangladeshi poet, writer and researcher
Participating guest in interview
Episode: Shattered lands — Sam Dalrymple on the five partitions of British India
Sam Dalrymple
Indian-raised Scottish filmmaker, researcher and historian
Author of Shattered Lands, Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia
Episode: Shattered lands — Sam Dalrymple on the five partitions of British India
Rolf Zinkernagel
Immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate (1996); Swiss scientist
University of Zurich (contextually), Switzerland
Episode: Three Nobels! Are we backing young minds today to pull off what Brian Schmidt, Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinkernagel did?
Brian Schmidt
Astrophysicist, Nobel Prize in 2011 for cosmology; former Vice Chancellor of ANU
Australian National University
Episode: Three Nobels! Are we backing young minds today to pull off what Brian Schmidt, Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinkernagel did?
Peter Doherty
Immunologist, Nobel Prize laureate (1996); founder of the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity name
Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Episode: Three Nobels! Are we backing young minds today to pull off what Brian Schmidt, Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinkernagel did?
Geoffrey Robertson
Barrister, author of World of War Crimes
DLB, barrister; author
Episode: The secret of how to topple tyrants and dictators — and crimes against humanity under the microscope
Marcel Dirsus
Political scientist, author of How Tyrants Fall and How Nations Survive
Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University
Episode: The secret of how to topple tyrants and dictators — and crimes against humanity under the microscope
Dorcy Rugama
Genocide survivor, author of Hewa Rwanda, Letter to the Absent
Dorcy Rugama (independent author/voice)
Episode: The secret of how to topple tyrants and dictators — and crimes against humanity under the microscope
Tobias Buck
Managing Editor of the Financial Times, author of Final Verdict
Financial Times
Episode: The secret of how to topple tyrants and dictators — and crimes against humanity under the microscope

Host

Natasha Mitchell
Host facilitating engaging discussions and forums, focusing on a wide range of relevant societal issues.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • 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
    Australia25 days 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
    Australia6 months 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
    Australia7 months 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
    Australia8 months ago
  • 21 July 2025 Dr Who episode

    LOL “We all love Dr Who so much” - that it’s looking likely there’ll be no further episodes produced: Disney is backing out; viewer numbers are way down. It’s the problem, isn’t it, when a dearly loved production gets all lecture-ish instead of just being plain old fun.

    Of course the ABC doesn’t like facts to stand in the way of a good ol’ puff piece. Viewers are sick of it.

    The ABC is increasingly dull, dull, dull.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LizAnne S
    Australia8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There are mixed reactions regarding the depth of analysis, with some expressing concern about the occasional bias perceived in the storytelling.
Audience members value the diverse range of topics covered and the opportunity to gain insights into complex societal issues.
Listeners appreciate the stimulating and thought-provoking content, often highlighting the engaging discussions and well-credentialed guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Three Nobels! Are we backing young minds today to pull off what Brian Schmidt, Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinkernagel did?
Q: What can be done to preserve creativity and risk-taking in Australia's research environment?
There is a call for transparent funding, stable support, stronger links between industry and universities, and protection of time for scientists to pursue ambitious, high-risk projects.
Three Nobels! Are we backing young minds today to pull off what Brian Schmidt, Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinkernagel did?
Q: How do you see the balance between blue-sky research and translational work affecting the next generation of scientists?
The panel emphasizes the necessity of both types of research; without blue-sky exploration, translational breakthroughs can stall, while translation can accelerate societal impact if funded sustainably.
Three Nobels! Are we backing young minds today to pull off what Brian Schmidt, Peter Doherty, Rolf Zinkernagel did?
Q: What was the state of mind you possessed as young men when you did this work?
They describe a mixture of curiosity, courage, and willingness to take intellectual risks, even under uncertain funding and job security, which helped drive radical discoveries.
Shattered lands — Sam Dalrymple on the five partitions of British India
Q: What role did personalities and personal networks play in these decisions?
The hosts and guest examine how a small circle of leaders and their relationships, rivalries, and social circles influenced critical choices, such as the Cabinet Mission plan and the reactions of Gandhi and Nehru versus Jinnah.
Backlash against LGBTIQA+ community — why now? Joe Ball
Q: How important do you think it is for universities to have conversations about history to understand each other and the human condition?
Universities have an incredible role in telling history and understanding their own within it, as it reassures us that this moment is not an anomaly.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Big Ideas

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

The content revolves around thought-provoking discussions, interviews, and live forums that tackle significant societal and cultural issues. Topics frequently explored include democracy, the environment, social justice, and the interplay of personal experiences with broader political movements. The podcast features a mix of experts, activists, and public figures, providing a platform for a diverse range of perspectives. Alongside contemporary issues, historical contexts are also highlighted, encouraging listeners to engage critically with the material presented.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Big Ideas, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Big Ideas?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Big Ideas, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. All In The Mind
5. Health Report

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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Big Ideas?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Big Ideas. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Big Ideas?

Recent guests on Big Ideas include:

1. Husnara Khanom
2. Sam Dalrymple
3. Rolf Zinkernagel
4. Brian Schmidt
5. Peter Doherty
6. Geoffrey Robertson
7. Marcel Dirsus
8. Dorcy Rugama

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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