Ideas at the House

2025

Your Body, Who's Choice? | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 15

58 min 33 sec

The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court sent shock waves around the world. And while abortion rights seemed to be settled in Australia, there have been attempts - on both sides of politics - to undermine them here. Abortion restrictions were proposed in at least two Australian states, while debate continues about whether publicly funded hospitals can refuse to perform the procedure.
In this podcast, Jane Caro, Summer May Finlay and Charlotte Mortlock canvass the current state of debate in Australia and examine how seriously to take these recent threats. Could it really happen here?

This event was hosted by Gina Rushton and recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

The Tracy Westerman Effect | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 14

54 min 44 sec

An inspirational force for positive action, Nyamal woman and renowned psychologist Dr Tracy Westerman is making waves in the treatment of Indigenous women’s trauma. As the first Aboriginal person in Australia to complete a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Dr Westerman has opened the floodgates, inspiring others to follow her into a professional field truly in need of community-based Indigenous psychologists.

Drawing from her decades working with clients, Dr Westerman explores the deep racial trauma affecting Aboriginal women across generations. In this powerful talk, she reveals how hope and optimism fuel the resilience of the world’s oldest living culture.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Rachel Kushner | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 13

57 min 28 sec

Rachel Kushner’s latest novel Creation Lake, a French noir eco-espionage thriller, was an instant New York Times bestseller, shortlisted for the Booker, and hailed as a blend of John le Carré’s intrigue with the wit of Kill Bill and the style of Killing Eve.

It’s the latest in a career that has dazzled her fans - whether she is taking on the art and radicalism in 1970s New York (The Flamethrowers), the horrors of the US carceral system (The Mars Room) or American expatriates caught up in the Cuban revolution (Telex from Cuba).

Join us for this conversation and find out how this author creates stories and characters that always feel so brilliantly and bracingly alive.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Game Changers | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 12

58 min 38 sec

From the Matilda’s Effect to the AFL commitment to close the gender pay gap, cross-code support for female athletes is at an all-time high. With record attendance, huge broadcast viewership and glass ceilings shattering, elite players are finally being taken seriously. None of this happened overnight. How far off is something that looks like parity?

Join Kirby Bentley, Bec Goddard, Ann Odong, Lydia Williams and Tracey Holmes from on and off the pitch to hear first-hand experiences of the peaks and pitfalls that have come with the growing emphasis on women’s sport, and learn about the role intersectionality needs to play.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Memorial Days | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 11

61 min 47 sec

After spending their early years together in conflict zones as foreign correspondents, Geraldine Brooks and her husband Tony Horwitz settled down for a quiet life. This came to an abrupt end on Memorial Day 2019 with the sudden death of Brooks' beloved husband. Without space to grieve, her loss became a yawning gulf.

Her profoundly moving memoir, Memorial Days, is a portrait of a larger-than-life man and a timeless love between intertwined souls that captures the joy, agony and mystery of life. In this touching talk, Brooks is joined by Jennifer Byrne to discuss how to honour a person, endure their absence in ways both new and old, and rebuild a life after loss.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

An Industry Off-Key | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 10

54 min 36 sec

Despite decades of legislative reform and workplace protections in other industries, some claim there is a persistent shadowy underbelly in Australian music, with female artists alleging bullying, harassment as well as sexist and racist abuse. Speaking from lived experience, Australian artists BARKAA and Jaguar Jonze argue for their rights at work and challenge the lack of accountability from those at the top.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Wild at Heart with Gina Chick | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 9

62 min 0 sec

Embracing her misfit nature early on, Gina Chick found grounding in the rhythms of the natural world. With an innate ability to bring barefoot wisdom into her daily life, Gina has dedicated her time to helping others be guided by their internal authority.

Her extraordinary journey includes surviving cancer, losing her only child to the same illness, and spending 67 days alone in the Tasmanian wilderness and ultimately becoming the first winner of Alone Australia. Gina shares her story in her memoir We Are The Stars. With humour and unshakable spirit, she invites you into an intimate journey of possibility through story and song.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Matrescence | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 8

61 min 0 sec

Acclaimed science journalist and author Lucy Jones (UK), explores the emerging concept of matrescence and how motherhood causes more physiological and psychological changes than we have been led to believe.

Part memoir and part journalism, her latest book – named ‘Book of the Year’ by The New Yorker, the New Statesman and the Daily Mail – is an urgent examination of motherhood and mental health. Join Jones in conversation with reproductive rights journalist and author of The Most Important Job in the World, Gina Rushton as they radically reveal the science of motherhood.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

The Lasting Harm | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 7

61 min 0 sec

Journalist and survivor Lucia Osborne-Crowley goes beyond the headlines in this gripping podcast, sharing the untold stories of the women victimised by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Drawing from her acclaimed book The Lasting Harm, she reveals the emotional toll of the trial, the strength of survivor testimony, and the systemic failures that continue to persist, even after countless convictions. A powerful exploration of justice, trauma, and the courage it takes to speak out — and keep surviving.

This event was moderated by Grace Tame and recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Feeling the Heat | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 6

60 min 0 sec

What happens when a natural phase of life becomes a trending topic—and a business opportunity? In this sharp, funny, and deeply insightful conversation, our panel dives into the realities of perimenopause and menopause. From mood swings to hot flushes, hormone therapy to healthcare ‘goopification’, they unpack the confusion, stigma, and skyrocketing market around women’s health. With personal stories and expert insights, this podcast cuts through the noise to bring clarity, solidarity, and a few laughs.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Ladies, We Need to Talk | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 5

60 min 0 sec

The Ladies, We Need to Talk podcast goes deep on the personal stuff that's hard to talk about, even with your closest mates. With sensitivity, hilarity, personal stories and serious smarts, it tries to work out what normal is by talking to real women about their real experiences.

Relive Yumi Stynes bringing her hit ABC podcast to the Opera House, with a panel of frank and funny women answering the question: is everyone having more interesting sex than me?

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

They Still Take The Children Away | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 4

60 min 0 sec

Human rights lawyer Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts brings her fight for justice for First Nations people and children to this powerful episode. Her exposéuncovers the ongoing violence institutions are inflicting on children and their communities - from racist family policing and shameful rates of child removals to the steady pipeline of First Nations children into the criminal justice system. Listen to this conversation of bold truth-telling that poses an important challenge to us all.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baby Boycott | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 3

60 min 0 sec

In an environment where birth rates are falling while uncertainty is rising, deciding whether to have kids feels more complex than ever. This thoughtful conversation unpacks the deeply personal choice of parenthood alongside its broader political, financial, and environmental implications. Plug in to hear candid conversations about climate anxiety, economic pressures, and social expectations - and discover how these women make the parenthood decision.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tradwives Club | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 2

62 min 0 sec

Wondering what’s behind ballerina farms, #mormonmoms and the simple life? As the Trad Wife phenomenon rises up the algorithm, clips of women collecting newly laid eggs and baking bread are finding their way into 'For You' pages everywhere. Jump down the rabbit hole as this conversation examines how these influencers perform the roles of wife and mother for public consumption and how feminism fits into this story.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

State of Emergency | All About Women 2025

Season 13 – Episode 1

92 min 0 sec

An urgent panel discussion on Australia’s escalating crisis of violence against women. Experts share personal accounts and professional insights into the rise in partner homicides, tech-enabled abuse, and the disproportionate impact on First Nations women. As governments acknowledge the issue but fail to act effectively, this conversation asks: why is the danger increasing, and what must be done to protect women and children across the country?

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tracy Westerman in conversation with Stan Grant

Season 12 – Episode 2

69 min 0 sec

From humble beginnings in the remote Pilbara, Dr Tracy Westerman was the first Aboriginal person in Australia to complete a PhD in Clinical Psychology and has risen to become one of the country’s leading psychologists.

In an event that marked the publication of her powerful memoir Jilya, Westerman spoke to journalist and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant, and drew on decades of client stories of trauma and heartbreak, explaining how mental health professions’ one-size-fits-all approach is creating irreparable damage and how a different approach can help to heal the wounds of intergenerational trauma.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on September 10, 2024

Brainstorm with Richard Scolyer

Season 12 – Episode 1

73 min 0 sec

Co-Medical Director of the Melanoma Institute Australia, Professor Richard Scolyer AO is a world-leading clinician and researcher who has spent years alongside his colleagues transforming melanoma treatment, Australia’s deadliest cancer. At the peak of his career, his world was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with an incurable Grade 4 glioblastoma.

Refusing to accept the status quo—where treatment options had remained unchanged for nearly two decades—he made the courageous decision to become “patient zero” in a world-first experimental immunotherapy.

Moderated by Jamila Rizvi, this fascinating conversation follows Richard’s remarkable journey and celebrates the publication of his latest book Brainstorm.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on November 17, 2024

2024

Your Brain on AI - From Organoids to Consciousness

Season 12 – Episode 3

88 min 0 sec

A future where artificial intelligence intersects with human cognition, consciousness, and even life itself couldn’t actually become a reality anytime soon…right?

Esteemed experts including renowned quantum physicist and cosmologist Paul Davies AM, cognitive scientist Inês Hipólito and neuroscientist Brett Kagan sat down with University of Sydney's AI expert Sandra Peter to unveil life-altering developments that will reshape our future sooner than you think.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on August 17, 2024

Jamie Oliver in conversation with Melissa Leong

Season 12 – Episode 4

89 min 0 sec

He’s a global household name who needs no introduction - from the famous moment of discovery at London’s River Café to selling 50 million books 24 years later, Jamie Oliver popped into Sydney for an Australian exclusive conversation covering the breadth of his career.

Moderated by former Masterchef Australia judge Melissa Leong, hear Jamie’s insights into his triumphs and challenges, the meaning of family and being a dad, and his pledge to create a happier, healthier world by inspiring the love of cooking in children.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on November 11, 2023.

The Gene Editing Revolution with Jennifer Doudna

Season 12 – Episode 5

81 min 0 sec

The world is on the cusp of extraordinary changes - from cures for intractable illnesses to dramatic reductions in greenhouse gasses - thanks to Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna. Listen to her thoughts in this fascinating discussion with Natasha Mitchell and learn about the benefits and threats in the revolution of gene editing.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on May 21, 2024.

The Body Keeps the Score with Bessel van der Kolk, MD

Season 12 – Episode 6

84 min 0 sec

In this Australian exclusive event, psychiatrist and trauma research pioneer Bessel van der Kolk, MD, sat down with Sarah Kanowski to discuss his New York Times best selling book The Body Keeps The Score.

Hear his insights into how traumatic experiences can disconnect our body and mind leaving us with a physical imprint of our psychic wounds, and explore the experimental treatments being used, including MDMA-assisted therapy, recently approved for use in Australia.

This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on March 9, 2024.

Influencers are the New Public Intellectuals | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 8

63 min 00 sec

For a long time, the word ‘influencer’ conjured stereotypes of activewear and dubious hot takes. But it’s 2024 and social media has well-and-truly revolutionised the public square. Today, the word influencer can refer to an activist or academic who shares short videos on TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram to explain complex concepts on niche subjects for a global audience.

This event was recorded at All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Who Gets To Be Bad | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 9

60 min 0 sec

Pop culture has embraced a surge of complex female anti-heroes, from con-women to avengers, challenging traditional narratives of female perfection with their flaws and moral ambiguity. However, this trend predominantly features white women, leaving Women of Colour marginalized as exceptions rather than the rule.

Featuring an all-star First Nations panel, Steph Tisdell, Barkaa and moderator Rudi Bremer, this panel sheds light on the burden of representation and the narrow pathways for Women of Colour to navigate between societal expectations of excellence and the right to embrace imperfection.

This event was recorded at All About Women festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Wifedom with Anna Funder | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 10

61 min 0 sec

When Anna Funder turned to her literary hero, George Orwell, for inspiration, she discovered not just that Eileen O’Shaughnessy, his first wife's, contribution had been ignored by his biographers but that Orwell himself had blatantly downplayed both her work and her contribution.

In her book Wifedom, Funder forensically proves Orwell’s deliberate erasure of his wife and not only puts O’Shaughnessy back in the story, but in the process comes face to face with the doublethink of patriarchy and how it continues to shape women’s lives today. Funder is joined by Jemma Birrell for this conversation, as she unpacks Orwell's double-edged legacy and her latest masterpiece.

This event was recorded at All About Women festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Is it time to rethink Porn with Chanel Contos | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 11

61 min 0 sec

Content warning: this podcast includes discussion about violence and other sensitive issues. If you or someone you know needs support, contact 1800 RESPECT, a free helpline which supports people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.

In an era where porn is omnipresent and often celebrated as a symbol of empowerment and personal freedom, Chanel Contos argues that it also perpetuates harmful norms of objectification and violence. Contos is the creator of the Teach Us Consent movement and author of Consent Laid Bare. In this discussion with Jess Hill she interrogates how the porn industry infiltrates real-life sexual dynamics and expectations.

This event was recorded at All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Mary Beard | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 12

65 min 0 sec

For the first time, Sydney audiences heard directly from Cambridge Professor Emerita Dame Mary Beard in an event that delved into the broad range of her career - from the ruins of ancient Rome to the trenches of Twitter.

Dame Mary joins Bri Lee in a broad reaching discussion about how power is skewed along gender lines, her latest book, Emperor of Rome, which gives a nuanced understanding of sex, class, race, and politics in the ancient world, and whose astute observations of modern political power have shone a light on the remarkably persistent patterns of patriarchy today.

This event was recorded at All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Yellowface with Rebecca F. Kuang | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 13

62 min 0 sec

Hot on the heels of her satirical literary sensation Yellowface crushing the bestseller lists, American author Rebecca F. Kuang was joined by Nakkiah Lui for a conversation exploring the complexities of diversity, racism and cultural appropriation today – both through her own eyes and those of her book’s protagonist Juniper Hayward.

This event was recorded at All About Women festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Feminist Roast | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 14

89 min 0 sec

It was the ultimate roast session at All About Women, but this time, the target wasn't a person—it was feminism itself! From suffrage struggles to the #MeToo movement, no aspect of feminist history or ideology was safe from the scathing wit of our roasters. A sizzling interrogation of gender and power, this special event was filled with laughs, irreverence, and insights that might make you look at things differently.

Host Steph Tisdell marshalled six of the wittiest voices in comedy and writing -Michelle Law, Jane Caro, Jan Fran, Zoe Coombs Marr and Nakkiah Lui- to take aim at feminism, from its earliest roots to its modern-day iterations.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Our Bodies | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 15

62 min 0 sec

For All About Women in 2024, audiences embarked on a journey through the complex landscape of the human body, where strength meets vulnerability, pleasure intertwines with pain, and empowerment dances with trauma. This captivating conversation explored the political battleground that our bodies often become and tackled the societal challenges deeply rooted in our physical forms.

The distinguished panel included Grace Tame, Tanya Hosch, Madison Griffiths and Tara Rae Moss, alongside moderator Jamila Rizvi.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024. 

Mothers in the Margins | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 16

63 min 0 sec

Content warning: this podcast includes discussion about violence and other sensitive issues. If you or someone you know needs support, contact 1800 RESPECT, a free helpline which supports people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.

Motherhood is known as one of life’s greatest joys but the complexities that come with raising a child solo while battling systemic barriers such as ableism and racism can turn it into an uphill battle.

Malyangapa, Barkindji artist Barkaa and feminist writer Karen Pickering were joined by moderator Edwina Throsby for a moving and thought-provoking discussion at All About Women, where they unravelled the challenges society throws at mothers.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

The Beauty Trap with Marisa Meltzer | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 17

59 min 9 sec

It’s not hard to get caught in the contradictions of the beauty industry. We're told to embrace natural looks, yet we are bombarded with countless products promising to conceal or enhance our features. Additionally, no sooner than we express a desire to champion entrepreneurial women, we turn on them with criticism that outstrips anything said about a male exec.

Fashion, beauty, and wellness journalist Marisa Meltzer spoke to moderator Bridie Jabour at All About Women 2024, exploring the impact of social media-driven hyper consumerism on the beauty industry - and us.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024. 

Daddy Issues | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 19

62 min 0 sec

In days gone by, raising kids was considered a woman’s job, while men were the breadwinners. Fast forward to 2024, and women are now expected to work, but men are still only taking 12% of primary carer’s leave.

A panel of dads, including Sean Szeps, Osher Günsberg and Amar Singh, joined Jamila Rizvi at All About Women in 2024, to discuss their commitment to equality in the household and encourage men to take on more responsibilities.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Beyond Bars | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 20

61 min 0 sec

Our justice system is not functioning as it should. Over 90% of women in prison have faced domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse. One-third of women incarcerated have yet to be found guilty of a crime. First Nations women are disproportionately represented in incarcerated populations. Additionally, there's the issue of mothers and pregnant individuals behind bars.

Eleni Psillakis, Ashlee Donohue, Frances Drake and Tabitha Lean joined moderator Kirsten Gray at All About Women to share their experiences and talk about the prospects for reform.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Anne Enright | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 21

58 min 22 sec

Booker Prize-winning author Anne Enright’s latest novel is The Wren, The Wren, a multigenerational story delving into the inheritance of trauma, the resilience of women and the power of love in its manifold forms. It contemplates the question: how do we live with betrayal and loneliness, yet still love those close to us?

Anne Enright joined us at All About Women this year to explore with author Madeleine Gray the reasons behind the choices she makes in her writing.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

Slowing Down Fast Fashion with Aja Barber | All About Women 2024

Season 12 – Episode 22

62 min 0 sec

Consumerist culture grows stronger every year, particularly with the expansion of marketing and influencers on social media, contributing to the rise in carbon emissions and inequality.

At All About Women this year, fashion activist and writer Aja Barber demystified the structural inequality embedded in the global fashion industry and spoke with moderator Jan Fran about ways we can be good global citizens while still enjoying what fashion has to offer.

This event was recorded at the All About Women Festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 10, 2024.

2023

All About Women of Colour Mentorship

Season 10 – Episode 12

50 min 41 sec

Content disclaimer: this podcast contains content that is explicit in nature.

For All About Women 2023, the Sydney Opera House partnered with Western Sydney-based literacy movement Sweatshop on an emerging writers mentorship program for women and non-binary First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse writers.

The recipients worked on short fiction pieces, responding to Tarana Burke’s #MeToo movement and those left behind as it evolved, under the guidance of Sweatshop judges and mentors Winnie Dunn and Sarah Ayoub.

Hear from 2023 winners Margretta Sowah and Uppma Virdi and highly commended writer Helen Nguyen, including readings of their stories.

This is the fifth and final episode of a five-part season which showcases recent events from the Sydney Opera House, and was recorded in studio June 2023.

An Evening with Alison Roman

Season 10 – Episode 11

64 min 0 sec

Capturing global attention through recipes so popular they became viral hashtags (#TheCookies, #ThePasta, #TheDip), Alison Roman wowed Sydney audiences in May 2023 in her quest for us all to ditch “domestic goddess” perfection and embrace a no-fuss, no-nonsense approach to cooking at home.

Roman spoke to fellow cook and Australian television presenter Adam Liaw about all the things that took her from early life as a pastry chef in California to the stage of the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

AI: The Human Interface

Season 10 – Episode 10

81 min 0 sec

In a year when everyone is talking about artificial intelligence, we need to talk about the human kind. What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be conscious of your existence, your thoughts, your dreams? As machines develop, what might be left that is uniquely human? Our pursuit of pleasure and its rewards? Our ability to love?

AI expert Toby Walsh and evolutionary biologist Rob Brooks joined journalist Rae Johnston to tackle the fundamental questions we should be asking amid the advent of super intelligent machines.

This is the second episode of a five-part season which showcases recent events from the Sydney Opera House, and was recorded live in October 2023.

The Opera House Would Not Be Built Today

Season 10 – Episode 9

81 min 0 sec

We kick off a new five-part season with a debate from our 50th Birthday Festival, discussing whether or not the Sydney Opera House would be built today. It's an iconic building that inspires imagination and sparks conversations, but do we still have what it takes to bring such a bold vision to fruition?

Arguing for the motion are: Osman Faruqi, Rebecca Huntley, and Benjamin Law and arguing against are: Wendy Harmer, Helen Pitt, and Yumi Stynes.

Hosted by Julia Zemiro, this event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in October 2023.

Maybe Baby | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 8

59 min 10 sec

Unsure about parenthood? You're not alone.

There's a lot to consider when it comes to reproductive choice, evolving social norms mean that women don't have to follow a one-way path to motherhood. Either flying solo or coupled, hetero or queer, when it comes to taking control of fertility there's IVF, egg freezing, and more. And the decision to have children only leads to more questions - about careers, relationships, AND the state of the world.

At All About Women 2023, our panellists share their research and lived experiences about biological clocks, and the latest in fertility science. Journalists Brooke Boney, Gina Rushton, and Dr Natasha Andreadis explore the minefield of baby-making in the modern world with host Sana Qadar.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

Spinster | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 7

69 min 0 sec

Independent single women are a threat to the status quo. So, it comes as no surprise that the demonisation of single women is not new. From the European witch trials to the formation of the western legal system and its impact on survivors today, the patriarchy has gone to diabolical lengths in order to keep women under its watch.

In this invigorating All About Women 2023 session, Clementine Ford’s eye-opening and hilarious walk through history explored why unmarried spinsters strike fear in the heart of powerful men.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

Finding love in a hopeless place | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 6

49 min 21 sec

Reality tv has always been a contentious category of television especially when it comes to authenticity and finding true love. Many of us love the drama, the tropes and stereotyping, even if we’re just poking fun at it. 

This session at All About Women 2023 explored Brooke Blurton’s time on The Bachelorette and Rosie Waterland’s satirical take on dating shows. Hosted by Nakkiah Lui, they delve into what it’s like to participate in traditionally heteronormative dating shows as a queer person, trying to find a genuine connection on tv and what this voyeuristic search for romance reveals about Australian culture.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

The War on Women | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 5

25 min 47 sec

From repressed women in Iran to the rollback of abortion rights in the US, alongside the return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the continuing fight for rights for First Nations people and justice for victims of sexual assault, there appears to be a global war against women.

Women around the world are speaking up and there has been a ferocious backlash. Karen Iles, Mona Eltahawy, Fatima Bhutto, and Chelsea Watego spoke at All About Women 2023 with host Sam Mostyn about women’s rights at this moment, and what women must do to gain – or retain – their freedom.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

Goodbye Girlboss | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 4

58 min 1 sec

Being a girlboss meant that you could have it all, a renlentlessly demanding job, the side hustle that swallowed your downtime, and a phone that never stops pinging.

This session explored questions such as: Is burnout the only path to modern career success? Will all the girl bossing in the world win a pay rise for those women stuck in the underpaid and undervalued care economy? And can Gen Z remake the game, for the better?

Flex Mami, Jamila Rizvi and host Jan Fran sat down at All About Women 2023 to discuss how the next generation of feminists are putting the girlboss mentality and burnout to bed, and to see if they can remake the game for the better.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

Matriarchies and Movements | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 3

65 min 0 sec

Since time immemorial, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have looked after human, spiritual and ecological wellbeing. Many First Nations women's activism is empowered through continuation of a long history of matriarchs who embody kinship and moral responsibility to community and country. This session will examine how this activism intersects and conflicts with mainstream feminism today.

In this session from All About Women 2023, a multi-generational panel featuring: Jackie Huggins, Teela Reid, Marlene Longbottom and host Courtney Fewquandie, looks at the movements Blak women have mothered and led, alongside fights that could be considered feminist issues - like equal pay and justice, violence and coercive control, leadership and movement building.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

Actually Autistic | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 2

60 min 0 sec

We live in a society that is only just beginning to recognise neurodivergence in women and non-binary people. So how does it feel to be misdiagnosed for years? Does greater public awareness make socialising a little bit simpler? What are some strategies to cope with ableist systems? And what stereotypes do we really need to put in the bin?

In this session at All About Women 2023, host and festival co-curator Dr. Amy Thunig is joined by panellists Chloe Hayden, Grace Tame and Dr. Jac den Houting to share their lived experiences with Autism. Navigating questions about social situations and professional settings, and what terms like masking and mimicry mean.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

Bikini Kill Speaks | All About Women 2023

Season 10 – Episode 1

58 min 17 sec

Legendary punk band Bikini Kill headlined Sydney Opera House’s 2023 All About Women Festival with a reminder of what it was like to perform in a male-dominated music industry in the 90s. They represented anarchist feminist music and encouraged disobedience in young women, emboldening them to publish zines and start bands as acts of cultural resistance.

In this session, Bikini Kill’s lead singer Kathleen Hanna, and bassist Kathi Wilcox, were joined by writer and Bikini Kill mega fan Marieke Hardy to talk about new ways to speak out, the balance between activism, anger, and joy, and how the band's blistering message is once again bringing girls to the front.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in March 2023.

2022

How do you solve a problem like the Media | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 34

61 min 0 sec

The conduct of many journalists during the 2022 federal election appeared to expose media bias on the campaign trail. Many Australians were dissatisfied with journalists who seemed more concerned with catching politicians out than helping us to understand their vision and priorities for the country.

At Antidote 2022, journalists Maddison Connaughton, Barrie Cassidy, Osman Faruqi & Janine Perrett came together to ask, “ is there something fundamentally wrong with Australian media?”

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

Where do we go from here? | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 33

59 min 52 sec

With growing momentum to enact the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and The Voice to Parliament on the agenda, is a meaningful change for First Nations people finally happening in Australia?

In a First Nations led discussion at Antidote 2022, host Jason Glanville was joined by Nareen Young and Nardi Simpson, to discuss what needs to change in our politics, our society and our culture. And what needs to change in the heart of Australians as individuals, as community and as a nation, to realise goals and walk together as one.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

It Happened To Me | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 32

67 min sec

Can someone else's story change your life?

Dai Le, Nardi Simpson, Dinesh Palipana, Antoinette Lattouf and host, Steph Tisdell, took the stage at Antidote 2022 to draw back the curtain on their worlds and reveal what happened to them. We hear stories that are tragic, hilarious, engaging, and life changing, and learn how they shaped who they have become.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

What Would China Do? | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 31

59 min 36 sec

In the wake of multiple political crises in the United States, a rich and powerful China increasingly asserts itself. How does Australia navigate this new world order?

China will soon overtake the US as the world’s largest economy and has swiftly become a strategic powerhouse with relationships across the globe. With America’s deep political divisions and diminishing consensus around key democratic norms, it’s hard to argue that China’s rise won’t be accompanied by a greater say in global decisions, impacting countries like Australia.

Geremie R. Barmé, Linda Jaivin, and Vicky Xu came together at Antidote 2022 to discuss the threats and opportunities for Australia in the midst of these geopolitical changes.

Hosted by Richard McGregor, this talk was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

The Last White Man | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 30

61 min 0 sec

The Last White Man is the latest novel from internationally bestselling author Mohsin Hamid. The book reimagines Kafka's Metamorphosis and taps into white anxiety about replacement in unique and enlightening ways.

The British Pakistani novelist of The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Booker-Prize-nominated Exit West, talked to Osman Faruqi at Antidote 2022 about whiteness, privilege, prejudice, and the transcendent power of love.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

The World Turned Upside Down | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 29

61 min 0 sec

The 2022 federal election saw Australian voters moving away from the traditional two-party system, with a record number of Independents and Greens candidates elected. How will this change the way our government is formed in the future? Will we stitch coalitions together after elections to assemble government like in many other countries?

At Antidote 2022, Karen Middleton, Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, sat down with crossbench trendsetters, Cathy McGowan, Adam Bandt and Allegra Spender to examine the new balance of power in the senate and put the new state of affairs under the microscope.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

A Higher Calling | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 28

58 min 16 sec

Would you quit your job to serve others?

These two high-achievers sacrificed successful careers in journalism to take up the rigorous study necessary to become medical doctors. What drives such a sacrifice, and how does it feel to be called to serve?

Lisa Pryor, previously a lawyer and a columnist is now a psychiatry registrar, listening and responding to human stories in a different way. Amy Coopes was a journalist dispatched to meet victims of violent crimes, left the newsroom to pursue medicine in rural areas. At Antidote 2022, they spoke to Norman Swan, who famously switched from medicine to journalism, about what compelled them to abandon successful careers in order to embark on the ultra-demanding profession of medicine and how it gave their lives a bigger sense of purpose.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

Welcome to the Pandemicine | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 27

57 min 37 sec

Is Covid just the beginning? The climate crisis has created a unique situation that has the potential to breed many more viruses, forcing animals to migrate to new habitats, creating new inter-species infections. This means more and more of the world's viruses could leap from animals to humans.

Science journalist Ed Yong - who won a Pulitzer Prize for his COVID explanatory articles and Professor Raina MacIntyre - epidemiologist and UNSW Chair of Biosecurity tell host Rebecca Huntley at Antidote 2022 what we can expect in this new era and how we should prepare for it.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

First Languages First | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 26

57 min 3 sec

There are over 150 Indigenous languages actively maintained by community groups in Australia, and a growing movement to protect, revitalise and promote Indigenous language.

There are 7000 languages in use worldwide - but many Indigenous languages are falling out of use. What does Australia need to do to preserve, revitalize and promote Indigenous languages? Uncle Gary Williams, Shelley Ware & Kirli Saunders sat down at Antidote 2022 to embark on an agenda-setting conversation.

Hosted by Daniel Browning, in collaboration with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, this event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

The Body Free And Powerful | Olivia Laing at Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 25

56 min 53 sec

Bodies carry and represent so much, these fragile vessels that we are "stuck in" can dictate privilege or oppression not only within ourselves but in wider society.

In a talk recorded at our Antidote festival in September 2022, trans and non-binary author, Olivia Laing is joined by host Jessie Tu in a profound discussion about the ideas in Laing's latest book 'Everybody', which draws on figures such as Malcolm X, Andrea Dworkin, Nina Simone and more, exploring the human body and its effect in our world today.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

Unfriend The Algorithm | Ed Coper & Malcolm Turnbull AC at Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 24

57 min 49 sec

Should government step in to protect us from Big Social Media?

Conspiracy theories and false news are spread by social media, with real and dangerous consequences for society. Is it time for governments to consider dealing with algorithm bubbles?

At Antidote 2022, journalist Karen Middleton was joined by former PM Malcolm Turnbull AC and Ed Coper, author of Facts and Other Lies, to discuss how false information affects governments delivering services and ask whether social media networks are out of control and posing a threat to democracy.

This event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

Good Pop Bad Pop | Jarvis Cocker at Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 23

65 min 0 sec

What if the things we keep hidden say more about us than those we put on display?

Jarvis Cocker, founder and front man of legendary English band Pulp finally found the time to rummage around his attic crawl space and write a book on the rediscovered hoarded objects and mementos that tell a lifetime of incredible stories.

In this show and tell with Myf Warhurst as part of Antidote 2022, Cocker explores questions of creativity, music, and the deep significance of everyday objects that most people throw away.

This talk was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

Ukraine Has Changed Us | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 22

60 min 0 sec

This episode of Ideas At The House features an Antidote festival event like no other. As a response to the brutal invasion and ongoing war in Ukraine, the event features sombre and beautiful works by Ukrainian poets, musicians, and storytellers Maria Tumarkin, Serhiy Zhadan, Billie Tumarkin, Anatoli Torjinski & Olga Boichak.

Hosted by Chip Rolley, this event was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

Succession's Brian Cox - The Evil in Us All | Antidote 2022

Season 9 – Episode 21

64 min 0 sec

This episode, we begin a season of talks from our Antidote 2022 festival, starting with an in-depth discussion with renowned actor, Brian Cox.

Famed for his portrayal of the media patriarch, Logan Roy, in the television series Succession, Brian Cox has built a brilliant career exploring power, control, and fallibility. Fellow actor David Wenham sits down with Brian Cox to discuss the actor's unmatched ability to fulfil characters that burn with rage and fury.

This talk was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in September 2022.

BUILD: Life Below Water

Season 9 – Episode 20

77 min 0 sec

This episode is the second talk from the Build conversation series, which explores new perspectives from design, architecture, engineering, science and The Arts to reflect on how these disciplines can address the urgent issues of our times. Each of the talks in this series respond to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Sydney Opera House's Joni Taylor, chairs a conversation with two visionary thought leaders, using their exploration of design practices to reflect on our relationship to Life Below Water - Global Goal number 14.

Dr Danièle Hromek is a Budawang woman of the Yuin nation. She works as a spatial and cultural designer and researcher, considering how to Indigenise the built environment. Alex Goad is an industrial designer and founder of Reef Design Lab. Together, Daniele and Alex discuss how we can create non-human centred design to preserve biodiversity, restore and regenerate marine life and waterways. And how seahorses have come back to Sydney harbour!

This talk is supported by the Ove Arup Foundation and was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House Centre for Creativity in September 2022.

BUILD: Life on Land

Season 9 – Episode 19

70 min 0 sec

The BUILD conversation series is a new series of talks that explore new perspectives from design, architecture, engineering, science and The Arts, to reflect on how these disciplines can address the urgent issues of our times. Each of the talks in this series respond to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In the first episode of the series, Sydney Opera House's Joni Taylor, chairs a conversation with two visionary thought leaders, Jefa Greenaway and Liane Rossler, using their exploration of design practices to reflect on our relationship to Life on Land. - Global Goal number 15.

Jefa Greenaway is an architect, interior designer, academic, director of Greenaway Architects and co-founder | Chair of Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria, Australia’s only Indigenous design association. He is of Wailwan | Kamilaroi and German heritage.

Liane Rossler is a designer, artist and curator championing design that balances perspectives of nature, sustainability, creativity and community. She co-founded Sydney’s internationally renowned Dinosaur Designs, and in recent years founded Superlocalstudio– ‘a space that enables the creation of thoughtful practises’

This talk is supported by the Ove Arup Foundation and was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House - Centre for Creativity in May 2022.

Pasi Sahlberg & Sharon Goldfeld | Teaching health in schools

Season 9 – Episode 18

76 min 0 sec

The Pasi Sahlberg conversation series is a 3-part series of urgent discussions about the Australian Education System.

In this final episode of our three-part series, Pasi Sahlberg is joined by Professor Sharon Goldfeld, a paediatrician and director of the Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health and theme director for Population Health at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Also joining the conversation, is Ann King, parent at Mosman High school and, giving a young person’s perspective, year 12 Mosman high school captain, Will Osborne.

The discussion was recorded live at the Sydney Opera House in 2022 and explores the question: “what might schools look like if health and wellbeing were considered one of the basics like numeracy and literacy?”.

Pasi Sahlberg, Ricky Kradolfer & Sarah Donnelly | Can Rock'n'Roll save our schools?

Season 9 – Episode 17

66 min 0 sec

In this second episode, Pasi Sahlberg is joined by Ricky Kradolfer, music educator, guitarist and frontman of The City Riots, and Sarah Donnelley, 2020 ARIA Music Teacher of the Year and deputy principal of Wilcannia Central School, to discuss the lack of music education in the Australian school system. From lived experiences, these teachers have seen music inspire engagement and give children a different way of expressing themselves, especially those who struggle with traditional methods of learning.

Pasi Sahlberg and the panel explore the sense of connection music brings and the excitement that children feel coming to school knowing they will partake in musical activities.

This talk was recorded live at Sydney Opera House in 2022.

Pasi Sahlberg, Denise Lofts & David Gonski | The Gonski Report – 10 Years On

Season 9 – Episode 16

82 min 0 sec

In this, the first of three episodes, Pasi Sahlberg talks with the acclaimed businessman David Gonski about the impacts of the 2011 Gonski report. Joining them is president of the NSW Teacher’s federation, Angelo Gavrielatos and Principal of Ulladulla High School Denise Lofts as well as year 12 student Mim Macdonell, together they address the various persistent challenges in education, and how the report did and did not address those.

This talk was recorded live at Sydney Opera House in 2022.

After Consent | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 15

57 min 35 sec

New legislation is making its way through Australian state parliaments, enshrining the concept of "affirmative consent": an explicit, articulated, ongoing agreement to sexual activity.

Bri Lee, Saxon Mullins, and Amy Thunig navigate these recent changes and the implications for sexual freedom. Are changes to the law enough? What should justice look like? And how to get the next generation of people to be different?

Hosted by Lucia Osborne-Crowley, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

The Wendy McCarthy Effect | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 14

57 min 35 sec

Wendy McCarthy is one of Australia's feminist heroes. She shares her remarkable life and achievements, and the lessons she has learned - and taught us all.

In addition to the work, she does that is very much in the public eye – advocating for women’s health, reproductive rights, child care, and women’s self-determination – she is often the woman who is there behind the scenes, strategizing, and counselling women undergoing any number of challenges.

Hosted by Larissa Behrendt, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

The Future for Women in Afghanistan | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 13

57 min 8 sec

The Australian and American troops are gone, the Taliban are back in power. What is life like now for women and girls in Afghanistan and what can we in the rest of the world do to help? Did the Western presence benefit or disrupt Afghan women’s organisations? How do Afghan women and their allies around the world fight for their freedom?

This talk is an essential conversation filled with expert knowledge and personal stories. Hosted by Diana Sayed, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

Laura Tingle Explains It All | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 12

59 min 17 sec

The tables turn for ABC's 7:30 journalist Laura Tingle, as subject rather than interviewer as she analyses the domestic and political world.

Combining political insights with personal observations and anecdotes about the players who hold our fate in their hands, rest assured Laura will not let anyone off lightly.

Hosted by Anne Summers, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

Beyond the Binary | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 11

58 min 40 sec

What would our world look like if all our current gendered expectations disappeared, and what needs to happen for this to be achieved?

Jinghua Qian, Amao Leota Lu, and Sandy O'Sullivan imagine a world with no gender binary.

Hosted by Dr Yves Rees, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

Why Design Matters: Debbie Millman & Yumi Stynes | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 10

53 min 58 sec

How do you find the courage to make a major change in your life?

How do you re-set your values? How do you reconnect with your creative self? Designer and host of the long-running and wildly popular podcast Design Matters, Debbie Millman explores invention, truth-telling and inspiration, in a fascinating conversation hosted by Yumi Stynes.

Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

For Kate | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 9

57 min 35 sec

How can we find justice for friends who can no longer speak for themselves? A friend, a lawyer, and a journalist explore the profound commitment of friendship and collective action.

Moderated by Julia Baird, this is a big conversation about feminism and the law, friendship and power, hope and action.

Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

The Right to Sex | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 8

55 min 53 sec

What shapes the way we think about sex?

Consent and power relations, gender justice and the state, pornography and freedom - political philosophy professor Amia Srinivasan refuses to turn away from the hard questions about society and sex.

Hosted by Emma A Jane, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

Protecting the Outspoken: Grace Tame & Rosie Batty | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 7

61 min 0 sec

How do we support those who speak out? How can we support advocates who speak from traumatic lived experiences? When victims of violence move from silence to speech, how do we honour their stories?

Rosie Batty and Grace Tame have built their lives around fighting for justice. Together for the first time, they share their experiences of being Australian of the Year, explore the power of personal testimony, and advocacy's personal cost. These two heroic advocates have a necessary conversation about upholding and protecting vocal survivors.

Hosted by Jamila Rizvi, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

Queerstories | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 6

63 min 0 sec

Mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, femmes and friends. Five incredible LGBTQI+ writers share a personal tale about their relationship to womanhood - intimate considered and, as always, rooted in community.

Hosted by Maeve Marsden, recorded live at Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

First Nations Women Speak to the Future | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 5

92 min 0 sec

Nothing is off-limits in this conversation between American writer Roxane Gay and screenwriter Nakkiah Lui as these two incredible women whose work challenges us with the hard questions about racism and misogyny today.

Both known for speaking with radical authenticity about their own experiences of racism, misogyny, and trauma, expect razor-sharp commentary on issues such as young women's personal testimonies disclosing violence and sexual assault, the Black Lives Matter movement, and how these issues play out differently for Black women in the US and First Nations and other women of colour in Australia.

Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

We've Got This | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 4

69 min 0 sec

How do two parents who are blind take their children to the park? How is a mother with dwarfism treated when she walks her child down the street? How do Deaf parents know when their baby cries in the night? Get to know the everyday of disabled parenting. Eliza Hull, Debra Keenahan and Sarah Keenahan gather to share the joy and triumph and the difficulties of their lived experience. Amongst the challenges of microaggression, judgements and discrimination, these brilliant women will honour the incredible, empowering journey of having kids.

Hosted by Lisa Cox, recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

Facing Up: Roxane Gay & Nakkiah Lui | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 3

65 min 0 sec

Nothing is off-limits in this conversation between American writer Roxane Gay and screenwriter Nakkiah Lui as these two incredible women whose work challenges us with the hard questions about racism and misogyny today.

Both known for speaking with radical authenticity about their own experiences of racism, misogyny, and trauma, expect razor-sharp commentary on issues such as young women's personal testimonies disclosing violence and sexual assault, the Black Lives Matter movement, and how these issues play out differently for Black women in the US and First Nations and other women of colour in Australia.

Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.

In Colour: A Dialogue with Rising Artists | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 2

47 min 2 sec

All About Women partnered with Western Sydney-based literacy movement Sweatshop on an emerging writers mentorship program for women and non-binary First Nations, culturally and linguistically diverse writers.

Mentorship recipients, Yeena Kirkbright and Ayeesha Ash read their finished works inspired by the All About Women festival themes of: allyship, friendship, and collective responsibility, in a dialogue with mentors Winnie Dunn and Randa Abdel-Fattah.

Clementine Ford: Love Sermon | All About Women 2022

Season 9 – Episode 1

52 min 9 sec

Unrequited romance. Deep friendship. Motherhood. Break-ups. Self-love.

Writer, broadcaster and one of Australia's most provocative feminists Clementine Ford explores the manifold ways love makes its home in our hearts. In sermon and song she shows how romantic love might be the least important for us, inviting us to come together and open ourselves up to everything love has to give.

Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.