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The Minefield

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

Over the last twelve months, there have been two conspicuous trends in federal politics. One is the precipitous decline in electoral support for the Liberal Party, which began before last year’s federal election and has continued apace ever since. Th... more

One of the criticisms often directed at democratic politics is that it is irresponsibly, even dangerously, short-term in its orientation. The wellbeing of future generations, to say nothing of the sustainability of the planet, rarely matter more to l... more

It could be said that human beings reveal who they most truly are as they approach the end. For the end of one’s life is not simply its terminus ad quem; it is also its telos, its goal or meaning. A life that has been lived in the thrall of egotism, ... more

It’s common these days to refer to “the return of nationalism”. But that assumes that nationalism receded for a time, like the tide, and here the world is, now, getting its pants legs wet. Such an assumption misunderstands the peculiar character of n... 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

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?
Nicholas Carah
Director of the Centre for Digital Cultures and Societies, Professor at the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
Episode: Are ‘reaction videos’ dulling our ability to be genuinely responsive?
Jennifer Smith-Merry
Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and Professor of Health and Social Policy, University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: NDIS reforms may be necessary, but they’re also morally fraught
Milica Stilinovic
Postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: Smart glasses — a new frontier of foreseeable digital harm?
Hamish MacKenzie
Deputy Program Director of Grattan Institute's Energy and Climate Change Program
Grattan Institute
Episode: The price of sovereignty: Are we prepared to pay more for less vulnerability?
Ron Levy
Professor in the College of Law, Governance and Policy at Australian National University; specialist in citizens' assemblies
Australian National University
Episode: Social cohesion is straining — can citizens’ assemblies help?
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

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 Kingdoma month 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
    Australia3 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
    Australia7 months ago
  • Listener Questions . . .

    Brilliant‼️ More please‼️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    M.G.Gaede
    Australia9 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
    Australia9 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.

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.
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.

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. 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. David Moscrop
2. Kate Flaherty
3. Luara Ferracioli
4. Nicholas Carah
5. Jennifer Smith-Merry
6. Milica Stilinovic
7. Hamish MacKenzie
8. Ron Levy

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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