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The Minefield

ABC Australia
Democracy
Philosophy
Ramadan
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Education
Australia
Donald Trump
Ethics
Comedy
Climate Change
Social Cohesion
Friendship
Populism
Taylor Swift
Moral Philosophy
Australian Federal Election
Australian Politics
Freedom
Gaza

In a world marked by wicked social problems, The Minefield helps you negotiate the ethical dilemmas, contradictory claims and unacknowledged complicities of modern life.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes502Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Minefield

Latest Episodes

According to every available metric, the number of people who read books across almost every demographic in countries like Australia and the United States has fallen precipitously over the last fifteen years. Whether it be for enjoyment or edificatio... more

Even for those who don’t gamble, the exponential growth of online sports betting since 2018 has made it impossible to avoid. Not only have odds and ads been seamlessly integrated into sports broadcasts, but the language of betting has now become perv... more

It’s no mystery why David Frankel’s 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada was a hit. The movie had all the ingredients of a certain kind of success. Take a bestselling novel (by Lauren Weisberger) about a midwestern girl trying to make it in the big city, ... more

Essential to the profitability and widespread adoption of modern technologies is the need to conceal their costs — the human labour, the unjust or exploitative working conditions, the environmental degradation and drain on natural resources, the redu... more

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

Clare Bowditch
Australian musician, broadcaster, author, actress, film critic
Independent guest on The Minefield
Episode: ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ — high fashion or vision of hell?
Anna Funder
Professor of Practice in Creative Writing, University of Sydney; award-winning author
University of Sydney
Episode: Copyright theft is AI’s original sin — are we doomed to repeat it?
Glenda Ballantyne
Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Swinburne University of Technology; Coordinator of the Australian Intercultural Cities National Network
Swinburne University of Technology
Episode: Why the anxieties over multiculturalism? What’s the appeal of a monocultural society?
Paul Strangio
Emeritus Professor of Politics at Monash University
Monash University
Episode: One Nation is on the rise — but do we know what it means?
Kirsten Mann
Postdoctoral fellow in School of Philosophy, Australian National University
Australian National University
Episode: The ethics of ‘longtermism’ — what are our obligations to the future?
Mahsheed Ansari
Higher Degrees Research Coordinator and Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies
Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation, Charles Sturt University
Episode: Last Words: The ‘Farewell Sermon’ of the Prophet Muhammad
David Moscrop
Canadian political columnist and commentator, author of Too Dumb for Democracy and On Nationalism
Canadian media/publishing
Episode: The Problem of Nationalism, with David Moscrop — Live at the Sydney Writers’ Festival
Kate Flaherty
Head of English and Senior Lecturer in English and Drama
Australian National University
Episode: What is the moral of Marlowe’s ‘Doctor Faustus’?
Luara Ferracioli
Associate Professor in Political Philosophy, University of Sydney; philosopher in residence at the Sydney Policy Lab
University of Sydney
Episode: Does the budget have a coherent underlying philosophy?

Hosts

Waleed Aly
Host of The Minefield; frequent co-host on ABC Radio National and related programs.
Scott Stephens
Co-host; long-running contributor with a background in journalism and public affairs.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Great topics but a little less verbosity please

    I really enjoy the topics Waleed and Scott unpack and I think the debate is excellent but I do struggle with Scott’s verbosity

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Gj_h
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Funny and wise

    A huge fan. But Scott could speak more clearly and simply. Waleed gets the tone right and is a wonderful communicator.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SimonAlfref
    Australia4 months ago
  • Thankyou

    The episode on incarceration of children was excellent and easy listening, I loved you all but the guest was terrific on this episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pakkykid
    Australia8 months ago
  • Listener Questions . . .

    Brilliant‼️ More please‼️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    M.G.Gaede
    Australia10 months ago
  • Great Show But…

    This is a fabulous show but I’ve been listening less. Mainly because it’s virtually impossible to contact the team. Guving feedback and asking for subjects to be included is sadly very difficult. So I came here! Hopefully they read this

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    davehammond
    Australia10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners wish for easier contact with the team and guests.
Guests are generally strong and well-prepared; some critique verbosity from the hosts.
The mix of academia and journalism is valued for rigor and relevance.
Listeners praise deep, civil debates but want tighter pacing.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Last Words: ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ — Martin Luther King, Jr in Memphis
Q: Can you explain the architecture of the speech and why King chose Memphis as a focal point for the Poor People's Campaign?
The speech combines a sweep through world history with a concrete focus on economic injustice in America, using the sanitation workers' struggle to illustrate how legal gains must be reinforced by economic and social justice. Memphis served as a strategic launching point for the Poor People's Campaign, linking civil rights to broader economic grievances.
Copyright theft is AI’s original sin — are we doomed to repeat it?
Q: Do you worry, though, about the prospects of pieces of human creativity jostling side by side in a cultural milieu that is already awash with synthetic works of art?
She expresses concern about the economic and symbolic impacts on individual creatives, arguing for a system where compensation is secured and where synthetic works complement rather than erode the value of authentic, attributed art.
Copyright theft is AI’s original sin — are we doomed to repeat it?
Q: Anna, on the understanding that you are not speaking for anybody else, do you think a good outcome, an equitable outcome, is proper recompense for use of your work in the way that these companies have seen fit to use it?
Anna argues that proper recompense should be negotiated through licensing with rights holders and that we must protect creators' moral rights, while acknowledging the complexities of what constitutes fair use versus systemic exploitation. She emphasizes contracts, territorial rights, and transparent licensing as the path to a sustainable framework.
One Nation is on the rise — but do we know what it means?
Q: Are you taking notes?
The guest confirms engagement with the topic and begins outlining paradoxes in the current political moment, including the surge's durability and its implications for traditional parties.
Are ‘reaction videos’ dulling our ability to be genuinely responsive?
Q: Nicholas, welcome to The Minefield. How would you define the core idea behind the 'reaction economy' in media?
The reaction economy is the way media brands and platforms design content and interfaces to elicit and monetize viewers' emotional responses, turning those responses into data, attention, and engagement that can be tracked and sold.

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 The Minefield

What is The Minefield about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently centers around big ethical questions that intersect politics, philosophy, and culture, featuring sharp exchanges between two hosts and a rotating roster of expert guests. Episodes routinely unpack topics like nationalism, democracy, law, and technology through rigorous debate, literature, and academic perspectives, often layering historical context with contemporary policy implications. A standout trait is the integration of diverse viewpoints from scholars, journalists, and policymakers, which can produce deeply nuanced conversations that challenge assumptions while staying accessible to engaged, curious listeners. A notable strength is the willingness to tackle abstract ideas—from moral philosophy to international la... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Minefield?

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How many listeners does The Minefield get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Minefield?

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How many subscribers and views does The Minefield have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Minefield 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 The Minefield?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Minefield:

1. Big Ideas
2. Late Night Live — Full program podcast
3. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
4. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald
5. Philosopher's Zone

How many episodes of The Minefield are there?

The Minefield launched 11 years ago and published 502 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 The Minefield?

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 The Minefield?

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

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What guests have appeared on The Minefield?

Recent guests on The Minefield include:

1. Clare Bowditch
2. Anna Funder
3. Glenda Ballantyne
4. Paul Strangio
5. Kirsten Mann
6. Mahsheed Ansari
7. David Moscrop
8. Kate Flaherty

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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