Mary-Jane Walker is an evolutionary scientist and artist based in Geelong, Victoria. She is working in 'paper taxidermy' to create more than 80 birds which are under threat in her Now You See Us art project.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Critically acclaimed writer Hanif Abdurraqib unpacks his latest book, There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, in which he explores his lifelong love of the game and what it means to make it; singer-songwriter Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses discusses her new book The Future of Songwriting, where she considers how to be an artist in a…

Is there a link between good design and democracy? Sophia Psarra is a professor of Architecture and Spatial Design at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London who has studied the way architecture subtly influences power structures in parliaments around the world.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

What we put in our tea and coffee has become a polarising subject in recent years, so why is it that milk has become such a hot topic? Matthew Evans is a chef, farmer and author. His new book is called Milk-the truth, the lies and the unbelievable story of the original superfood.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Journalist J. Wortham (The New York Times Magazine, Still Processing) recounts what happened when they visited a nude queer beach in Oaxaca; author Curtis Sittenfeld discusses her newest novel Romantic Comedy, which flips the script on the celebrity love story; and singer-songwriter Margo Cilker performs "With the Middle" from her sophomore album V…

Sam Cox is a landscape designer who learnt his craft from one of the leaders in naturalistic garden design, the late Gordon Ford. He takes us on a tour of his garden and reflects on how we can all learn from the natural contours of the landscape.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Grand tours for the aristocracy in centuries gone by were filled with art and architecture to fulfil the senses. But what would such a tour look like today if only places created in the 20th and 21st centuries were on the itinerary? Richard Weller is a landscape architect who has pondered this question in his latest book, To the ends of the earth- …

As higher density increases in our cities and we look for housing solutions, how can apartment design be improved? Dr Elizabeth Farrelly is the founder and CEO of the Better Cities Initiative, an organisation which is calling for better planning models to create more vibrant urban centres into the future.…

What role can the humble duckweed play as humans embark on missions to the Moon and Mars? And what lessons can be learned about food security here on Earth? Professor Matthew Gilliham is the director Plants for Space, a consortium of academics who are turning their attention to this question of botanical survival.…

This month, The Florida Themis Project features two unidentified women found in Broward County, Florida, Jane Doe 82 and Jane Doe 88. Nic Edwards from the True Crime Garage Podcast is joining us for this episode and sponsoring our Themis feature this month! (Thanks Nic!!) If you have any information about the identity of this person, please get in …

Comedian and television host W. Kamau Bell discusses his Substack newsletter Who's With Me? and how AI got his comedic personality all wrong; journalist and podcaster Jane Marie breaks down multi-level marketing and how it preys upon working class Americans; and indie band Y La Bamba perform "Crema de Melón." Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer E…

Colin Bisset takes us on a tour of the some of the world's greatest commemorative monuments. From London's Albert Memorial to Berlin's November Revolution Monument, they speak of a desire to immortalise and elevate a particular viewpoint of history.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

What role has the colour black played in mourning fashions since the time of Queen Victoria? Dr Lorinda Cramer is a fashion historian at Deakin University and co-curator of Back to Black, an exhibition at Old Government House, Parramatta. She charts the changing cultural meanings associated with this darkest of hues.…

Can cemeteries be a boon for the living as well as a place for the dearly departed? Tania Davidge, Executive Director of Open House Melbourne, believes so. She argues that cemeteries can provide much needed open space in our crowded cities to be enjoyed across the generations.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Chef Jamie Oliver selects the last meal he would have on this earth- his mum's roast dinner. Surrounded by friends and family, he believes a Sunday roast would be the best final meal, with all the trimmings.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

See a weed, pluck it out, right? Maybe it’s not so simple. Tim Entwisle speaks with John Dwyer whose new anthology, "Weeding Between the Lines," offers a provocative rethink of what weeds are and how we approach them - in our backyards and in the bush. Learn more Weeding Between the Lines by John Dwyer…

The total area of degraded land in Australia is eight times the size of Tasmania. The need to replant diverse native species is more urgent than ever. But with a critical shortfall in the availability of native seeds, how can we replant degraded ecosystems and meet Australia’s ambitious international targets? Read more: Only 10% of native plants ca…

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 sector.…

Comedian Hari Kondabolu discusses his new standup special Vacation Baby and how regrettably he blew off congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on her campaign trail; writer Kristi Coulter unpacks her memoir Exit Interview: The Life and Death of My Ambitious Career, which recounts the often soul-crushing work culture of an Amazon executive; and indi…

Two years after devastating floods ravaged Northern NSW and South-East Queensland, the town of Lismore is the focus of a collaborative effort to rebuild. Drawing from her experience in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, Professor Elizabeth Mossop explores what’s ahead for Lismore and how other communities can thrive amid climate change threats.…

Explore the fascinating world of architect Le Corbusier with design commentator Colin Bisset, as he walks in the footsteps of this larger than life figure. Colin shares his own love affair with France, including his firsthand experiences of Le Corbusier’s iconic buildings, and his strange obsession with concrete.…

What exactly is the gut microbiome and why is everyone talking about it? Nutrition expert and genetic epidemiologist Tim Spector debunks common dietary myths, opens his fridge, and gives his top 5 tips for eating a healthy and diverse diet that your gut – and your mind – will thank you for.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Comedian Dulcé Sloan (The Daily Show) shares some anecdotes from her new book Hello, Friends!: Stories of Dating, Destiny, and Day Jobs, including how becoming fluent in Spanish as a kid turned her into the neighborhood's child lawyer; filmmaker Brian Lindstrom chats about his documentary Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill, which follows the shor…

Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood discuss traditional agriculture, observing the seasons, and how they find strength in Country at their farm Yumburra.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Annie takes Jonathan through jointing and roasting a duck. Learn how to cook a duck stock, duck sausage, and the prized duck fat.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Comedian Daniel Connell shares the story behind a cute little porcelain owl which has accompanied him on his comedic journey.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Podcaster Sam Sanders (Vibe Check) shares his hot takes on pop culture, from the Barbie movie to his favorite nepobaby; comedian Reggie Watts interprets his feelings about generation differences through a spoken word poem; and indie folk duo Sway Wild perform their song "Home," which was inspired by a two-month sailing voyage in British Columbia. P…

The idea of designing with empathy is a popular one. But empathy has its limits. LA-based designer Nu Goteh explores how we can move beyond creating objects to foster conditions for radical change, reshaping the very idea of design as a chance for others to thrive.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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? Read more: The Long Shadow of Rome by Dr Daniel Reynol…

Join Tim Entwisle on a late autumn stroll through the System Garden at the University of Melbourne. The System Garden is used by teachers and students to learn about subclasses and families of plants. Created in 1856, it is one of the oldest gardens of its kind in Australia.By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Journalist and bestselling author Bianca Bosker (Cork Dork) takes us behind the scenes of the highfalutin art world with her new book Get the Picture, before getting a lesson on masterworks from a four-year-old; and singer-songwriter Brittany Davis performs the single "So Fly" from her new album Image Issues. Plus, host Luke Burbank and announcer E…

Shalamar Lane is a Los Angeles-based pitmaster renowned for her innovative approach to American barbecue. She comes from a long line of pitmasters in Alabama and Texas. As the creative force behind the popular restaurant My Father's Barbecue, Lane has earned accolades for her unique recipes that blend Southern techniques with a West Coast flair.…

Niklas Ekstedt is a celebrated Swedish chef known for his pioneering approach to cooking over open fire. He gained international acclaim through his Stockholm-based restaurant, Ekstedt, where he showcases his expertise in reviving ancient culinary techniques to create exquisite dishes - all without the use of gas or electricity.…

No exploration of fire would be complete without understanding the tools we've used to contain it. Design writer Colin Bisset guides this captivating journey through the evolution of modern cooking technology, from Francois de Cuvillies's 1735 Castrol oven, to the contemporary convenience of the air fryer.…

Lennox Hastie, the acclaimed chef celebrated for his mastery of wood-fired cooking, has a distinct preference when it comes to envisioning his last meal on earth. Known for his Sydney restaurant Firedoor, Hastie would choose a simple yet exquisite dish: a perfectly grilled whole fish, sourced from pristine waters, and complemented with a side of fr…