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Festival of Dangerous Ideas

Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Festival Of Dangerous Ideas
Politics
Art
Australian Citizenship
Inequality
Censorship
Democracy
Australia
Covid-19
Social Media
Mental Health
Gaza
Julian Assange
Australian Passport
Israel
Funding In the Arts
China
Kylie Moore-Gilbert
Ian Kemish
Sangeetha Pillai

Listen to over 10 years of talks presented at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas – Australia's original disruptive ideas festival. FODI brings to light important conversations that push the boundaries of conventional thought, challenging thinking on some of the most persevering and difficult issues of our time. Hear from our festival alumni – the world's best experts, innovative thinkers and mischief... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes131Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Festival of Dangerous Ideas

Latest Episodes

For most of its modern history, Australia has sheltered under the wing of a great and powerful friend – first the UK, then the USA. But the rules-based order we've relied on is now unraveling. America is no longer the reliable ally it once was.

So... more

What happens when the institutions designed to protect human dignity come under strain? In the frontline human rights battles across the US, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, China and beyond, the future of freedom may depends less on superpowers and more on whe... more

History's response to heretics has been consistent – to silence, shame and ultimately, burn them. Booker Prize-winning Australian novelist Richard Flanagan presents a new essay inspired by his book, Heresies.

This session was recorded live in Sydne... more

Australia has spent years building new ways to recognise suffering and combat discrimination. From dedicated envoys to public reckonings – but are these approaches deepening division rather than healing it?

Professors Ghassan Hage and Marcia Langt... more

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Recent Guests

Malcolm Turnbull
Former Prime Minister of Australia, lawyer, investment banker and journalist
Episode: Dancing with Elephants (2026) - Bob Carr & Malcom Turnbull
Bob Carr
Former Premier of New South Wales and Australian Foreign Minister
Episode: Dancing with Elephants (2026) - Bob Carr & Malcom Turnbull
Daniela Gavshon
Australia Director at Human Rights Watch and adjunct lecturer at the University of New South Wales.
Human Rights Watch
Episode: The End of Human Rights (2026) - Philippe Bolopion & Daniela Gavshon
Philippe Bolopion
Executive Director of Human Rights Watch and former journalist for Le Monde, France 24 and Radio France Internationale.
Human Rights Watch
Episode: The End of Human Rights (2026) - Philippe Bolopion & Daniela Gavshon
Richard Flanagan
Australian novelist and Booker Prize-winning author
Episode: Richard Flanagan (2026) - Heresies
Ghassan Hage
Anthropologist whose research focuses on racism and nationalism; Distinguished Research Fellow at Zhejiang University.
Zhejiang University
Episode: Paranoid Nationalism (2026) - Ghassan Hage, Marcia Langton, David Leser & Simon Longstaff
Marcia Langton
Anthropologist and geographer, Indigenous rights advocate and Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne.
University of Melbourne
Episode: Paranoid Nationalism (2026) - Ghassan Hage, Marcia Langton, David Leser & Simon Longstaff
David Leser
Walkley award-winning journalist and author of seven books.
Episode: Paranoid Nationalism (2026) - Ghassan Hage, Marcia Langton, David Leser & Simon Longstaff
Cory Doctorow
Science fiction author, activist and journalist.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Episode: Cory Doctorow (2026) - Enshittification

Host

Danielle Harvey
Festival Director and lead host, associated with Festival of Dangerous Ideas and Ethics Centre.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 69 ratings
  • Dershowitz Debate

    Hey thanks for uploading these. Can you please upload the debate from 2010 where now known Jeffery Epstein associate Alan Dershowitz debates the Church on Child Abuse. Thanks

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Kulestoreebrowe
    Australia5 months ago
  • Yawn

    Boring

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    carrieboosh
    Australia2 years ago
  • Critical listening

    Great series

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zaron noraz
    Australia5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Consistently provocative with a strong emphasis on freedom of expression and ethics.
Thoughtful, courageous discussions that challenge norms and encourage debate.
High-quality guests and ideas, though some episodes feel dense for casual listeners.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Maria Ressa (2026) - Weapons of Mass Distraction
Q: What will you sacrifice for the truth?
Ressa frames information integrity as the starting point for democracy and shared reality, and urges people to defend facts and build communities.
Paranoid Nationalism (2026) - Ghassan Hage, Marcia Langton, David Leser & Simon Longstaff
Q: Is it at all possible that we might recover a positive, effective sense of what nationalism could be?
Hage says communities can acknowledge enmity without turning it into a warring relationship. Langton is doubtful that governments can achieve a robust national identity, while Leser emphasizes listening, forgiveness and empathy in personal life.
Paranoid Nationalism (2026) - Ghassan Hage, Marcia Langton, David Leser & Simon Longstaff
Q: What did you have in mind when you wrote about paranoid nationalism, and how do you see that concept today, particularly in Australia?
Hage explains that nationalism once offered hopeful visions of the future but has increasingly become focused on fear, perceived threats and self-protection. He says this paranoid outlook has persisted and grown more prevalent.
The End of Human Rights (2026) - Philippe Bolopion & Daniela Gavshon
Q: How can countries and civil society defend human rights when powerful states are unwilling to protect them?
Bolopion calls for democratic countries to cooperate in defending the ICC, the UN and international norms, while using diplomacy, domestic prosecutions and collective civic action to resist impunity and authoritarianism.
The End of Human Rights (2026) - Philippe Bolopion & Daniela Gavshon
Q: Is it the end of human rights, and why does this moment feel uniquely challenging?
Bolopion says human rights are not dead, but the systems that protect them face unprecedented pressure from democratic decline, the influence of Russia and China, and the Trump administration's hostility to international rules and institutions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Festival of Dangerous Ideas

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

- A collection of provocative talks from a long-running ideas festival, featuring global thinkers on freedom of expression, geopolitics, social justice, and culture. Episodes often blend personal storytelling with big-picture policy debates, pushing audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and challenging dominant narratives. The talks frequently address power structures, censorship, and the future of society in an increasingly polarized world. A standout is the festival's emphasis on real-world implications and diverse voices, making it a go-to for listeners who enjoy rigorous, boundary-pushing discussions that are still accessible to a broad, educated audience.

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Which podcasts are similar to Festival of Dangerous Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Festival of Dangerous Ideas:

1. Late Night Live — Full program podcast
2. Big Ideas
3. 7am
4. Sydney Writers' Festival
5. If You're Listening

How many episodes of Festival of Dangerous Ideas are there?

Festival of Dangerous Ideas launched 8 years ago and published 131 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 Festival of Dangerous 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.

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What guests have appeared on Festival of Dangerous Ideas?

Recent guests on Festival of Dangerous Ideas include:

1. Malcolm Turnbull
2. Bob Carr
3. Daniela Gavshon
4. Philippe Bolopion
5. Richard Flanagan
6. Ghassan Hage
7. Marcia Langton
8. David Leser

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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