Hear birdwatching stories from around Australia. This episode is about the joys of connecting with neighbourhood birds and the challenge of doing a Local Big Year. Local Big Year is a challenge to identify as many birds species as possible within a local geographical area in one year. Many thanks to the following Local Big Year community members fo…

Today we’re looking at two stories that discuss a horrific chapter of modern history. . One film is considered high art and the other exploitation. Today we’re looking at Liliana Cavani’s The Night Porter and Jonathan Glazer's The Zone Of Interest.By Film Versus Film

We explore a Blueprint for death on this special episode: why black is the colour of mourning, cemeteries as a boon for the living, Colin Bisset's world tour of monuments, and Jamie Oliver's last supper.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Learn how to record bird song and use technology to identify them. This episode is about bird call ID apps, sound recording equipment and research into how baby birds learn while they are in their egg. Dr Vicky Austin is interested in bird behaviour and how birds interact with each other and their environment. She is particularly fascinated by the …

On this episode we’re looking at the myth of mobsters with two films that explore power through violence. Both films follow Italian- Americans characters, and are directed by Italian-American directors who were leaders of the American New Wave. Today we're comparing The Godfather (1972) Versus Goodfellas (1990).…

Feeds: Will Aussie cafes and restaurants survive? Australian restaurants and cafes are grappling with the impacts of the cost of living, COVID, immigration reform, and wages, jeopardising their survival. Wes Lambert is the head of a new peak body, alongside Neil Perry and Chris Lucas, tackling these pressing challenges to sustain the $64 billion se…

Search for birds in Western Australia’s coastal heaths, wetlands, arid regions and tropical north. This episode is about the best places to go birdwatching Western Australia and some of the unique birds you might find there. Jeremy Ringma is a Shorebird Project Coordinator at BirdLife Australia. His work involves collecting shorebird survey data in…

Trucks with precious cargo heading across barren wastelands and doing everything they can to not explode. Today we’re looking at Clouzot’s Wages of Fear and George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road.By Film Versus Film

Tim Spector – The Gut and the New Science of Eating Well What exactly is the gut microbiome and why is everyone talking about it? Nutrition expert and genetic epidemiologist Tim Spector debunks common dietary myths, and gives his top 5 tips for eating a healthy and diverse diet that your gut – and your mind – will thank you for. Lismore After the F…

Adventure around Australia with two passionate birders on a gap year. This episode is about the highs and lows of riding a pushbike 15,000km around Australia to see as many birds as possible in one year. Leo Norman and Cezary Carmichael are on the road, on two wheels, on a grand adventure. The plan is to spend their gap year riding the country and …

One film launched a lucrative franchise and the other made us scared of the sky. This episode it’s all about suspense with Alfred Hitchcock’’s The Birds and Ridley Scott’s Alien.By Film Versus Film

Painting birds: Australian Birds in Watercolour Artist and former regional doctor David Freeman shares his sense of place – a setting which led to his exquisite new collection Australia's Birds in Watercolour. Eating birds: How to roast a duck with Annie Smithers Annie takes Jonathan through jointing and roasting a duck. Learn how to cook a duck st…

Learn about a bird that’s a little bit different from the rest. This episode is about a quirky and lovable migratory shorebird, and a scientist’s quest to grow our knowledge about its physiology and behaviour. Birgita Hansen has strong research interest in understanding the ecological response of birds to modification of their habitat, which has in…

Today we’re going behind the scenes of movie-making, with two films that lift the veil on the Hollywood studio system. Both films have a happy ending, even if they shouldn’t have. That’s right, today we’re talking about Robert Altman’s The Player and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.…

The long shadow of Rome Why are tourists so obsessed with Ancient Greece and Rome? Might some of the more obscure archaeological sites, for example from medieval times, be missing out on the attention they deserve - both in terms of the eyes of tourists, as well as the cold hard cash so vital to ensuring their upkeep? What is a system garden? Join …

Share in the delight of unexpected birding experiences. This episode is about the joys of photography, why birds bathe, foot quivering and the Regent Honeyeater. McKinley Moens is an 18 year-old nature photographer and ornithologist-in-the-making, based in the Blue Mountains of NSW. She has had a camera in her hand since she was three years old and…

Both films are obsessed with what happened, but one drives us to a conclusion and the other frustrates us forever. Today we’re looking at Oliver Stone’s JFK and Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall.By Film Versus Film

From the flickering flames of ancient hearths to the glowing coals of modern barbecues, fire is more than just a tool; it's an elemental force that has shaped our diets, our culture, and our very way of being. Today we'll meet people from across the world who each bring a unique flame to the feast. Niklas Ekstedt, the Michelin-starred Swedish chef …

Meet a small bird with a big personality. This episode is about the Plains-wanderer, a unique and one-of-a-kind Australian bird that is capturing the hearts of the community. Chris Hartnett is a Threatened Species Program Coordinator at Zoos Victoria. Working closely with a range of conservation partners, Chris has led the strategic planning and im…

Uni student protests: An architectural history What impact has the built environment had on student protests on campus? How have universities responded architecturally in order to curb dissent? Matt Preston: Big Mouth The former MasterChef judge, restaurant critic and radio host discusses his memoir Big Mouth. The rise and rise of Baker Bleu The Ba…

Discover the joys of birdwatching walks around Victoria and beyond. This episode is about birding in the Castlemaine and Orbost areas, a great place to visit in France and the Australian Painted Snipe. Damian Kelly has been a birder since he was young, exploring the Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne. In more recent times, he has written two birding guid…

Two films with characters who inhabit uncomfortable spaces. One a serious story about a comic book super villain, the other a female Frankenstein, it's Todd Phillip’s Joker versus Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things.By Film Versus Film

Annie Smithers cooks Elizabeth David - Charcuterie What’s your relationship like with your local sausage maker? Learn about French techniques and recipes that bring to life the art of charcuterie, celebrating its rich flavours and cultural significance. What is the future for WA’s forests? She spent an enchanted childhood exploring her great-grandf…

Join Kirsty and her nephew Edward as they explore the world of Australia's kites. This episode is about the joys of seeing and hearing the Whistling Kite, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite and Square-tailed Kite. Edward is 10 years old and has grown up exploring nature. When he's not playing basketball, cricket or footy, he's hanging out in his backyard, t…

One film is the story of a sick kid in bed hearing a love story, and the other, a love sick kid in bed, erasing a love story. One, a comical swashbuckling romance, and the other a mystery un-love story that became the poster child for the genre known as ‘mind-benders’.By Film Versus Film

Breaking news: Vikings enjoyed cinnamon buns Why is vanilla a byword for boring? How did peppercorns end up next to salt on every western table? Did you know the Vikings were rather partial to cinnamon buns? Food writer Eleanor Ford explores the rich history of spices. Can churches solve the housing crisis? The Australian housing crisis rolls on wi…

Get to know one of Australia’s most charming robins. This episode is about the behaviours, calls, habitats and genetics of the Eastern Robin. It’s time to get sciencey! Lana Austin has been working as a professional ornithologist around the world for many years. To name a few, she has been lucky enough to work with macaws in Peru, Toucans in the Ec…

Your weekly expedition to the heart of modern life through buildings, design, gardens and food.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Deep-dive into the world of one of Australia’s charismatic birds of prey. This episode is all about the Eastern Osprey, and how a childhood of field trips and wildlife photography has led to a life-long love of birdwatching and citizen science. Pip Grant-Taylor is a retired TV Journalist Producer who concentrates largely on birds and wildlife photo…

From ancient Roman aqueducts to futuristic vertical farms, how can we blend historical wisdom and cutting-edge technology to make our cities resilient places to live? What would food writer Hetty Lui McKinnon eat if it was her last day on Earth? And a writer takes us on a tour of his beloved Queensland coastal town.…

Discover how patience and understanding light can create stunning wildlife photographs. This episode is about a photographer’s journey from a childhood in the Australian outback to a career capturing the beauty of birds. Shelley Pearson is an award-winning wildlife photographer who immerses herself in the natural environment, patiently waiting for …

Stretching for 170 kilometres and soaring 500 metres into the sky, how does The Line rank among the most grandiose architectural efforts in history? The story behind a Vogue editor's beloved Chanel jacket; and who wields the real influence when it comes to the world of social media food influencers?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Answering your questions about bird bodies and behaviours. This episode is about bird feathers, eyelids and legs, and their funny little traits that are similar to humans. Dr Gráinne Cleary’s primary area of interest is helping to educate and work with the public to gain the best conservation outcomes for our urban wildlife. She is particularly int…

Re-inventing the suburban backyard with regeneration and community in mind; re-designing the nature strip; Elizabeth David's Gratin Dauphinois and Besha Rodell's love of vintage glassware.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Meet an 11-year old birdwatcher who has a love for Eastern Victoria. This episode is about a unique part of Australia, birding wishlists and the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher. Luca is an 11-year old nature lover and birder who lives in Naarm (Melbourne) and feels most at home in nature. His fondness and respect for wildlife was first inspired b…

If you are dressed head to toe in black, polyester, nylon or some combination thereof, you may need a dress doctor. Linda Przybyszewski - Dress maker, historian and author of The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish - discusses the history of the dress doctors who helped women design, make and choose clothing for the workplace…

Look at Australia's birds through the eyes of an artist. This episode is about kingfishers, kookaburras and painting birds on huge grain silos. Geoffrey Carran has dedicated the past decade to painting explorations of Australia’s diverse bird population. Geoffrey uses his public murals to highlight endangered bird species that can be found in the a…

Raw meat, egg slonking, seed oil panic and the war on “soy globalism” - welcome to the obscurantist dietary fixations of the alt right. Jan Dutkiewicz, Assistant Professor of Political Science in the Department of Social Science and Cultural Studies at the Pratt Institute, explains how diet became a central issue in the culture war; And by way of c…

Gain new insights into birds, traditional knowledge and ecology. This episode is about the health of Country, life in the Otways and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo. Dr Jack Pascoe is a Yuin man living on Gadabanut Country. He studied predator ecology, fire, wildlife and botany. He has led a program of applied ecological research in the Otway region for over…

The city of Paris is about to enact an ambitious new climate Plan and we discuss the commitment to building a cyclist friendly urban centre; We also delve into the design history of the bicycle; and visit a man who makes penny farthings.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Join us as we wrap up the Oscars for 2024 as well as draft the seven best "Best Picture" winners from the year 2000 onward. Trivia, fun and academia.By Film Versus Film

Explore the intricate world of bird feathers. This episode is about feather colour and structure, and the nesting habits of waterfowl. Freia Noss is a lifelong birder and bushwalker, living and working on Dharug and Gundungurra land in the Blue Mountains. During the week she works on re-vegetation projects on rural properties in Australia. In her f…

Internationally renowned designer Bethan Laura Wood is building a library like no other; she gives us a tour of Kaleidoscope-o-rama; Nam Le, award winning author of The Boat, takes us to the two places that shaped him as a writer; and Annie Smithers cooks Elizabeth David's courgettes à la grecque.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Discover the delights of one of Australia’s most popular birds. This episode is all about the Swift Parrot, the 2023 Australian Bird of the Year. Beau Meney has always been fascinated by wildlife and wild places, but his affinity with birds started at the age of ten when he first laid eyes on an enormous Wedge-tailed Eagle nest. Passionate about ec…

With one week out from the Oscars, we talk through our predictions for the top awards and our favorite films of 2023. We've watched them so you don't have to!By Film Versus Film

Solarpunk's vision for a brighter future, the churn of aesthetic trends online and why we find some foods disgusting.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Enjoy the simple pleasures of watching birds through an apartment window. This episode is about Black-faced Cuckooshrikes, pardalotes and the joys of birdwatching at home. Christine Parrott works in a non-birding career and appreciates birds on the side, although many times she wishes it was the other way around! As an adult birdwatching convert, s…

Join us as we draft the 10 Worst "Best Picture Winners" from the Oscars from the past 23 years. Then, join us next week for our predictions for 2024, followed by our 'results card' and finally an episode where we draft the 10 Best from the new millennium. Normal episodes will resume shortly after.By Film Versus Film

Besha Rodell casts her gaze back on the food scene that was 2023 and makes her predictions for 2024; Journalist and author Nathan Thrall takes us to the city he calls the most divided in the world – his home city of Jerusalem.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Take a walk along Australia's stunning coastline to meet the birds that call the beach their home. This episode is about curlews, plovers, gulls, terns and oystercatchers. Bridget Farmer is originally from Northern Ireland. She initially visited Australia to friends but fell in love with the country (and a certain Australian man) and stayed longer …