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The Minefield

ABC Australia
Democracy
Fawlty Towers
Deepfakes
Evil
Taylor Swift
Multiculturalism
Climate Change
1970s
Philosophy
Abu Ghraib
Electric Vehicles
Taxation
A Christmas Carol
Britishness
Saturn Eating His Son
Trust
Artificial Intelligence
Online Disinformation
War Crimes
Hannah Arendt

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
Society & CulturePhilosophy

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Artwork for The Minefield

Latest Episodes

Within days of the commencement of the war that has enveloped the Middle East — and that continues to severely disrupt global energy supplies — a familiar pattern began to emerge in some of the world’s most prosperous democracies. Much as they did at... more

One of the words we use to describe political authority gone wrong is "autocracy": which is to say, the concentration of power in a unitary figure who then exercises that power without countervailing constraints and for its own sake. To borrow an exp... more

It’s like déjà vu all over again. After launching a devastating but limited series of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and against the nation’s top military leaders and nuclear scientists in June last year, the United States and Israel recommenc... more

If there is something inherently suspicious about political appeals to “the heart” — which is to say, attempts to exploit unreflective prejudices and reactive emotions — then it is also true that a form of politics that is unresponsive to heart-felt ... 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

M Gessen
Award-winning Russian-American journalist and author
The Minefield guest; author of Surviving Autocracy and The Future Is History
Episode: Why Autocracy Needs Spectacle — with M Gessen
Tamer Morris
Senior Lecturer in the School of Law, University of Sydney; focus on international law, UN peacekeeping and international humanitarian law
University of Sydney
Episode: Can illegal wars still be legitimate wars?
Christos Tsiolkas
Novelist, essayist, playwright, film critic
Australian writer, Ray Mathew Lecturer on fence-sitting
Episode: Ramadan: Politics Straight from the Heart — with Christos Tsiolkas
Avril Alba
Professor of Holocaust Studies and Jewish Civilization at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: Ramadan: ‘Do Not Harden Your Heart’ — with Avril Alba
Claire Zorn
Multi-award-winning author and illustrator
Author of Better Days
Episode: Ramadan: Having a ‘Change of Heart’ — with Claire Zorn
Stephen Darwall
Professor of Philosophy at Yale University and author of The Heart and Its Attitudes.
Yale University
Episode: Ramadan: The Heart and the Moral Life — with Stephen Darwall
Lexi Eichelboom
Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at the Australian Catholic University
Australian Catholic University
Episode: What can headcoverings teach us about individuality, dignity and modesty?
Sean Kelly
Columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, former advisor to Labor Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, author of Quarterly Essay 100.
The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald
Episode: Can political moderation survive in an age of grievance?
Brendon O'Connor
Professor in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, professor at the United States Studies Center
University of Sydney
Episode: From Venezuela to Greenland — how to respond to Trump’s territorial ambitions?

Hosts

Waleed Aly
Host of The Minefield; associated with ethical and public discourse; co-host in most episodes.
Scott Stephens
Co-host known for authoritative, analytical contributions and a probing interviewing style.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • 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
    Australia4 months ago
  • Listener Questions . . .

    Brilliant‼️ More please‼️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    M.G.Gaede
    Australia6 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
    Australia6 months ago
  • Review

    The discovery of the Minefield podcast was a providential. I loved former ABC podcast named “The Signal “ and was desperate to find an equivalent. Here it is, in another format, longer, with deep brainstorming conversations about current issues, crossing all together philosophy, religion, ethics, politics, and sciences areas. The hosts are just excellent journalists, full of humour and knowing what they talk about, welcoming also experts to share their insight. The show is well structured. I am ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Marie Clbs
    Australia7 months ago
  • Somewhat good

    The piece on masculinity was interesting with many approaches to the subject although I think the title is very misleading. The one on recognizing a Palestinian state descended into anti-Israeli sentiment so that was expected, but no mention as to what a Palestinian state would look like, who would be in charge or how it would be led or understood, what’s the mantra and what type of state? Quite disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Thkabtit
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests bring diverse expertise, enhancing credibility and insight.
Listeners appreciate deep, civil debates that connect philosophy with real-world issues.
Occasional critiques note pacing or guest balance, but overall praise thoughtful discourse and structure.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The importance of letting someone 'save face'
Q: What is the balance between shame and face-saving in society?
While shame can prompt moral improvement, excessive emphasis on humiliation can push individuals away from community engagement.
How do recommendation algorithms affect our sense of taste?
Q: What relationship do you think language has with our tastes?
Language underpins how we categorize and articulate our tastes, yet the imprecision of language can complicate the description of our preferences.
How do recommendation algorithms affect our sense of taste?
Q: Why does having things recommended by an algorithm deprive or blunt the keenness of your taste?
Because it reduces the engagement and connection that comes from human recommendations, which allow for a deeper understanding and articulation of taste.
What will we lose if translation becomes wholly automated?
Q: What may be worth preserving that we risk perhaps not even realizing we're missing if we just fully embraced instant translation?
Ross Benjamin discusses the importance of human translation and the rich personal connections it fosters, which may be lost with automated systems.
‘Adult time for violent crime’? What commitments should guide society’s response to youth crime?
Q: What is the rationale for the human rights concerns that ought to attend to children?
The rationale is to acknowledge the moral development and capacity of children and to show compassion, instead of solely focusing on punishment.

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?

A thoughtful, intellectually rigorous show that threads ethics, philosophy, religion, and current affairs through conversations with scholars, writers, journalists, and thinkers. Across recent episodes, topics center on the heart as a moral compass, how culture and personal practice shape virtue, the politics of moderation, and the ethical implications of technology, law, and art. Guests span theology, philosophy, literature, and public policy, yielding deep dives into topics like forgiveness, integrity in leadership, hate speech, translation, and life-writing. The format typically pairs seasoned hosts with expert guests to explore complex ideas with civility, nuance, and practical takeaways for living more thoughtfully in a noisy world. A ... more

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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. Philosopher's Zone
4. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
5. Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald

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. M Gessen
2. Tamer Morris
3. Christos Tsiolkas
4. Avril Alba
5. Claire Zorn
6. Stephen Darwall
7. Lexi Eichelboom
8. Sean Kelly

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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