In this episode, Nick and Paul discuss the emergence of Artificial Intelligence and the critical question: What does it mean to be human in the age of AI? Nick and Paul discuss: Intelligence and the Turing Test: Examining the definition of intelligence, the limitations of computational capacity, and the philosophical significance of the Turing Test…

In this podcast, Nick Fabbri and Dr. Paul Monk discuss the fragility and instability of the global order following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and reflect on the nature of international relations and decision-making. Key Discussion Points include: The Unipolar Moment and US Decline: Discussing Aaron Friedberg's 1988 book, The Weary Titan, whi…

In this episode, Dr. Paul Monk features a selection of poems from his recent anthology, Love on the Road of Life. This collection is dedicated to his lifelong companion, Claudia Alvarez, and celebrates their deep, 20-year relationship lived largely across continents. Paul credits Claudia with having been the catalyst for him embracing his identity …

In this podcast, Nick Fabbri and Dr. Paul Monk discuss and recite a further selection of poems from Monk's recent collections dedicated to his muse, Rachael: Red Ochre For The Moon Goddess and Wine On The Flames. These 600+ poems represent a unique, enduring, and intellectually intimate poet-muse relationship forged largely across continents and oc…

In this podcast, Nick Fabbri and Dr. Paul Monk discuss the decision to write his three-volume autobiography and reflect on the nature, structure, and meaning of autobiography and memoir. Key discussion points include: Why Write: Monk's impetus to write his own life story to preserve his interpretation of events, citing Socrates' idea that the "unex…

In this podcast, Nick Fabbri and Dr. Paul Monk discuss and read from two major collections of love poetry written for Paul’s muse, Rachael: Red Ochre For The Moon Goddess and Wine On The Flames. These 600+ poems document their extraordinary, long-distance relationship, which Monk calls the "culminating experience" of his life. Key Discussion Points…

In this podcast, Nick Fabbri and Dr. Paul Monk discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, reflecting on its profound personal and societal impact, and its depth as a work of fantasy. Key Discussion Points include: A Profound Personal Impact: The book had a deeper impression on Paul's education and life than any other work from his youth, helpi…

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, host Nick Fabbri sits down with Haibado Abdoulkader Yacin, a Mastercard Foundation AfOx Scholar and Master of Public Policy student at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government. Haibado, a dedicated public servant from Djibouti, shares her incredible personal story and journey from Djibouti, in the Horn o…

In this episode, Nick Fabbri speaks with Gargi Sharma Goel about her life and career in New Delhi, India, her work in the Ministry of Finance and Indian Revenue Service, key economic and tax policy interests, her journey to the Master of Public Policy at Oxford, balancing parenthood with studies, and the happiest memories from her time in the UK. *…

In this episode crossposted from the Oxford Policy Podcast, Nick Fabbri speaks with The Hon. Tony Abbott AC, Former Prime Minister of Australia. They discuss: The influence of the Jesuits, Oxford, and Father Paul Mankowski on Mr. Abbott's life and leadership qualities The art of effective opposition and developing alternative policies for the natio…

In this episode, Nick Fabbri speaks with fellow MPP students Anushka Jadhav and Rafaela Viana about the 2024 Education World Forum, their personal education journeys in India and Brazil respectively, Education Policy in Oxford, and some of the major education policy issues and developments globally. Anushka and Rafaela also reflect on their time at…

Lord Christopher Patten is the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, having served in the role since 2003. Lord Patten was the 28th and final British Governor of Hong Kong, who oversaw its handover to the People's Republic of China in 1997, symbolically marking the end of the British Empire. Lord Patten was also a Conservative Member of the UK Pa…

Damien Shannon is a DPhil candidate in Economic and Social History at New College, Oxford. In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, Nick and Damien speak about: Damien's experience in suing Oxford University over its admissions criteria, which initially prevented him from taking up his degree place on financial grounds Educational access and e…

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, Nick Fabbri speaks with George Brandis, former Australian Attorney-General and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. They discuss George's time at Oxford and Magdalen College as a law student, his career in the law, the philosophical traditions of liberalism and conservatism and how they might be app…

In this episode of the Oxford Policy Podcast, Nick Fabbri speaks with Bob Carr, a former Australian Foreign Minister and long-serving Premier of New South Wales. They discuss politics and embarking on a political career, the art of good policymaking and some of the major policy reforms of the Carr Labor Government, international affairs and securit…

In this episode cross-posted from the Oxford Policy Podcast, Nick Fabbri speaks with Grace Fox, a student of the Master of Public Policy at Oxford University, about her personal story, the history of the Native American Seminole Nation, her family, identity, and belonging. Grace also reflects on her work with the US Department of the Interior in th…

In this conversation cross-posted from the Oxford Policy Podcast, Nick Fabbri speaks with Lord Michael Heseltine, former UK Deputy Prime Minister and leading figure in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. In this interview, we reflect on Lord Heseltine's love of gardening, his time at Oxford University and presidency of the Oxford U…

In this episode cross-posted from the Oxford Policy Podcast, Nick Fabbri and Dr. Paul Monk discuss the crises facing the liberal democracies today, and the lessons that the Roman Republic and Greek democracies may hold for the 21st century. We cover Paul's recent papers delivered to the Institute of Law and Strategy, and his tours of Finland, Polan…

Originally published with transcript at: https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/paulmonkpoetryscienceandclassics In this podcast, Dr Paul Monk and Nick Fabbri discuss the relationship between poetry, science, and the classics, and how these subjects inform Paul’s poetry, and what it means to live poetically. This conversation includes readings of a numbe…

Originally published with transcript at: https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/paulmonkdefenceofaustralia In this podcast, Dr Paul Monk and Nick Fabbri discuss Sam Roggeveen’s new book The Echidna Strategy: Australia’s Search for Power and Peace, Australia's geopolitical and security context, the rise of China and its increasing militarisation, what the…

Shane Fitzsimmons currently leads Resilience NSW - the peak disaster management and recovery agency in NSW - as its inaugural Commissioner, following a long and distinguished career with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). Shane came to national prominence in Australia through his role as Commissioner of the NSW RFS during the 2019-2020 bushfires, wh…

Tú Lê is a young lawyer, community worker, and political advocate. Tú recently came to national and international prominence, with articles recently published in The New York Times, in the wake of the Australian Labor Party’s decision to nominate the former Premier of NSW and current federal Senator Kristina Keneally for preselection in the Western…

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/paulmonklyricpoetry In this podcast, Nick and Paul discuss: Poetry’s Touch by Professor William Waters and its influence on Paul’s approach to lyric poetry The ‘addressable you’ in poetry Reflections on communicative intimacy and the idea of authentic understanding between peo…

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/paulmonkoncancer In this podcast, Nick and Paul discuss: Paul's cancer journey and the odds of his survival The development of immunotherapy and other revolutionary cancer treatments Cancer research and the medical establishment The examples and books of Jimmy Stynes, Lance Ar…

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/paulmonkmortalityandmeaning In this podcast, Nick and Paul discuss: The commemoration of the dead through religious rituals, such as the Kaddish Representations of mortality, death, and dying as expressed in poetry and literature Why death exists in the world at all, as a func…

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/paulmonkonchina In this episode, Nick and Paul discuss: Paul’s book Thunder From the Silent Zone, and four possible futures for China The history and legacy of Hu Yaobang, the "conscience" of the Chinese Communist Party The history of democracy in China, and the possibility of…

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/frankbrennan In this interview, Nick and Frank discuss: Frank’s early life and education in Queensland, and the influences of his mother and father on his life Frank’s ordination within the Catholic Church and the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) The impact of Jesuit Pope Franci…

Originally published with transcript at: https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/bensonsaulo Benson Saulo is an inspirational and trailblazing 32 year old Australian, who has had a wide and diverse career across the social purpose sector, consulting, banking and finance, diplomacy and advocacy. Benson has recently been appointed as the first Indigenous Co…

In this interview, Nick and Elly discuss: Elly’s love of Greece and Cyprus Questions of identity, home and belonging The Parthenon Marbles, and Elly’s work to reunite them through the Parthenon Committee of Australia Life and living history in Athens and Europe Reflections on the incredible life and legacy of the late Samuel Symons Living through a…

Transcript available at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/garethevans In this interview, Nick and Gareth discuss: Gareth’s early life and influences, and what drew him to politics Some of his most enduring political and policy achievements Reflections on Bob Hawke and Paul Keating as men, and as Prime Ministers of Australia The current world order, …

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/grayconnolly In this interview, Nick and Gray discuss: Gray’s life and career in the law, including his military service in the Royal Australian Navy The geopolitical lessons of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic The Dragon-Bear strategic alliance between China and Russia The 2020…

In this conversation, Nick and Hugo discuss: Hugo’s early life and career as a frontline humanitarian worker in Africa and the Middle East The bureaucratisation of humanitarian organisations over recent decades The magic of young people in humanitarian (and other) organisations The experience of civilians in war and conflict, the ‘seven spheres of …

Originally published with transcript at: https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/peterdoherty In this interview, Nick and Professor Doherty discuss: Peter's life and career in science and advice for young research scientists today The work of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in tackling the global burden of COVID-19 The different pub…

In this interview, Nick and Dr. Paul Monk discuss: Background on epidemiology, virology and global transmission as they relate to COVID-19 Major plagues throughout history, and literary representations of pestilence and plague The context of wet markets, corruption, totalitarianism and secrecy in China The divergence in global reactions to the outb…

In this podcast, Nick and Dr. Paul Monk discuss: The Rationalist Society of Australia and Paul’s occasional paper, Religion and Society: Dilemmas of Our Time The deep history of the relationship between religion and society The relationship between liberal and social democracies and religion since the Reformation The rich traditions of mysticism, p…

Dr. Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert who works as Director of Health Professional Training at Movember and as a post-doctoral research fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne. In this conversation, we speak about mental health and the Australian health care system, notions of mascul…

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/angelinastanton In this podcast, Nick and Angie discuss: Angie’s life story and career as a poet Typewriters and poetry Influences on Angie’s writing, such as New Zealand writer Janet Frame Imagination and writing poetry for children The City of Melbourne and recent changes to…

Transcript available at www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/paulmonkontrump In this podcast, Dr Paul Monk and Nick Fabbri discuss the impeachment and acquittal of President Donald Trump, the role of impeachment in the US Constitution and examples of it occurring throughout history, and the differences between the liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes.…

Originally published with transcript at https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/gilliantriggs In this podcast, Gillian and I discuss her recent book Speaking Up (MUP, 2018), influences on her early life and career, her role as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2012-2017, the scale of the Global Refugee Crisis, and her upcoming role …

By Nick Fabbri

In this podcast, Paul Monk and Nick Fabbri discuss the nature of poetry, the origins of music and language, and how to live life with meaning and authenticity. Dr Paul Monk is a poet, polymath and highly regarded Australian public intellectual. He has written an extraordinary range of books, from Sonnets to a Promiscuous Beauty (which resides in fo…

https://www.nickfabbri.com/bloom/patmcgorry Professor Patrick McGorry AO is an Irish-Australian psychiatrist, leading international researcher, clinician and advocate for mental health reform. Many Australians will recognise him as the 2010 Australian of the Year and for his leadership of mental health organisations such as Orygen Youth Health and …

Rowan Callick is a highly regarded Australian and British author and journalist with The Australian newspaper. He’s one of the pre-eminent journalists and writers specialising in Asia-Pacific affairs, having lived and worked in the region for decades, including 4 years as China correspondent in Hong Kong. Rowan has won two Walkley Awards for his co…

Dr Paul Monk is a poet, polymath and highly regarded Australian public intellectual. He has written an extraordinary range of books, from Sonnets to a Promiscuous Beauty (which resides in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s library), to reflective essays on the riches of Western civilization in The West in a Nutshell, to a prescient 2005 treatise on …

A conversation with Professor Peter Singer, Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics in the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University and a Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne. The interview looks at his life story, and touches on his works which helped shape the modern animal rights movement and advanced our understandin…

I speak with Alma Zygier about Judaism, growing up in a creative family, her love of jazz and performing, and what she wants to do with her considerable talents.By Nick Fabbri

A conversation with André Aciman, author of the hit book turned film 'Call Me by Your Name'. André speaks about his life and exile from Egypt; the influence of French novelist Marcel Proust on his professional and personal lives; the importance of the Classics to Call Me by Your Name; the positives and negatives of the filmic adaptation; in additio…

Dr Paul Monk is a poet, polymath and highly regarded Australian public intellectual. He has written an extraordinary range of books, from Sonnets to a Promiscuous Beauty (which resides in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s library), to reflective essays on the riches of Western civilization in The West in a Nutshell, to a prescient 2005 treatise on …

Dr Paul Monk is a poet, polymath and highly regarded Australian public intellectual. He has written an extraordinary range of books, from Sonnets to a Promiscuous Beauty (which resides in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s library), to reflective essays on the riches of Western civilization in The West in a Nutshell, to a prescient 2005 treatise on …