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Big Ideas

ABC
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

Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. Grab your front row seat to the best live forums and festivals with Natasha Mitchell.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1385Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsSociety & CultureNews

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Artwork for Big Ideas

Latest Episodes

When you enter your childbearing years, it can feel like everyone from the treasurer, your mum, and probably your Instagram reels really wants you to have a kid. But is it the right decision? Few women escape this conundrum of modern family-making, a... more

Meet two men who will change the way you think about an experience most of us fear but will be touched by in some way. In Patting the Shark, surfing writer Dr Tim Baker describes his wild ride to reclaim a sense of control and agency after a cancer d... more

Are fermented foods really good for us? Do antibiotics destroy our gut flora? And have you heard about poo transplants?

Our gut is teeming with trillions of microbial cells, and we are learning more all the time about how this affects everything fro... more

Doctor Who has acted as a mirror to more than six decades of social, technological and cultural change. It's been able to evolve and adapt more radically than any other fiction. Why we are so addicted to fiction, and why does this wonderful wandering... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Liz Allen
Demographer and social researcher at the ANU
Australian National University
Episode: Childless on purpose — the fertility crisis and the big decision
Laura Henshaw
CEO of wellness platform Kik and podcast host
Kik
Episode: Childless on purpose — the fertility crisis and the big decision
Tim Baker
Author and surfing journalist
Episode: Surfer Tim Baker and doctor Peter Goldsworthy on living well with cancer
Peter Goldsworthy
GP and award-winning novelist, librettist and poet
Episode: Surfer Tim Baker and doctor Peter Goldsworthy on living well with cancer
Professor Gene Tyson
Microbial ecologist and bioinformatician at the Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Episode: Understand your microbiome
Felice Jacka
Distinguished professor in nutritional psychiatry and founding director of the Food and Mood Centre at Deakin University
Deakin University
Episode: Understand your microbiome
Paul Griffin
Professor of medicine and director of infectious diseases at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
Episode: Understand your microbiome
Dr. Daniel Fung
CEO of the Institute of Mental Health in Singapore
Episode: The role of spirituality and religion in mental health care
Gideon Haigh
Prolific cricket writer and commentator
Cricket Et Al newsletter
Episode: The stories we tell about cricket — with Paul Giles and Gideon Haigh

Host

Natasha Mitchell
Host known for engaging discussions that provoke thought and explore significant cultural and social issues.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • 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
    Australia3 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
    Australia4 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
    Australia5 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
    Australia5 months ago
  • Insightful

    Some really insightful interviews and analyses of issues. I especially enjoy the ones I don’t agree with because they are presented without vitriol and so I am challenged to defend the way I perceive things.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bilas Peles
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners criticize perceived biases in content and guest selection.
Considered thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating with a diverse range of topics.
Many enjoy the depth of discussions, appreciating the insights from various guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#211
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#42
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#182
New Zealand/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#239
Singapore/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Surfer Tim Baker and doctor Peter Goldsworthy on living well with cancer
Q: Tim, how did you tell your children?
It was largely taken out of my hands because when I got the diagnosis, my then father-in-law took the kids for the afternoons so that my then-wife and I could sort of discuss the diagnosis, and he dropped them back at the end of the day.
Pay attention — writer Emily Maguire finds promiscuous curiosity and cultural receptivity in the creative process
Q: If Agnes were born today, what type of person would she be?
Agnes, in her essence, would push against societal messages about who is fit for certain roles, likely pursuing a path that embraces her strong beliefs and creativity amidst modern opportunities.
Pay attention — writer Emily Maguire finds promiscuous curiosity and cultural receptivity in the creative process
Q: Could you comment on to what extent, if any, that extends to how you think about the ethics of writing?
Maguire highlights that while she draws inspiration from many sources, it's crucial for writers to consider the ethical implications of their work and the need to engage deeply with cultural ideas rather than superficially.
The role of spirituality and religion in mental health care
Q: How can we make religious spaces safe for LGBTQIA+ individuals?
Dr. Fung emphasizes the importance of love and acceptance in religious contexts while advocating for more inclusive research and practices regarding spirituality and sexuality.
The role of spirituality and religion in mental health care
Q: What does the peer workforce look like in Singapore or within your hospital?
Dr. Fung describes the peer workforce as professionals with their own lived experiences of mental illness, noting the value they bring to the system and the challenges in integrating them properly.

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?

Content frequently tackles a wide range of topics that engage with the complexities of society and culture, such as education, human rights, climate change, art, and political philosophy. Each episode features in-depth discussions with thought leaders and experts who provide varied insights, allowing listeners to grapple with big ideas and contemporary issues. The conversational format and the inclusion of diverse perspectives are noteworthy, as they invite a broad audience into thoughtful dialogues that challenge conventional thinking and inspire civic engagement.

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. Future Tense
4. All In The Mind
5. The Minefield

How many episodes of Big Ideas are there?

Big Ideas launched 19 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. Liz Allen
2. Laura Henshaw
3. Tim Baker
4. Peter Goldsworthy
5. Professor Gene Tyson
6. Felice Jacka
7. Paul Griffin
8. Dr. Daniel Fung

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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