Island of Ideas

Is Laughter the Best Medicine?
Explore the surprising impacts of humour on health in this unique mix of comedy and expert insights.

Broadcast 20 August 2025.

Tassie’s Wild Weather Up Close
Tasmania’s weather is famously unpredictable, but the impacts of extreme events are becoming harder to ignore. Join a meteorologist, climate extremes expert and a disaster resilience specialist to discover what’s behind the wild swings and what they mean for our land, livelihoods and future.

Broadcast 14  August 2025 in partnership with the Australian Meteorology and Oceanographic Society.

Voyage to Antarctica’s Floodgates
An Antarctic voyage, a melting glacier, and a warming ocean. Discover what four science agencies found at the Denman Glacier, and why it matters for all of us.

Broadcast 23  July 2025.

Beyond the Breadwinner
New global research is revealing that long-held ideas about masculinity shape far more than personal identity. Find out how far reaching the impact is, from labour force participation to suicide rates and political attitudes.

Broadcast 2 July 2025 in partnership with the Economic Society of Australia (Tasmania).

Australia and the Trump Effect
The effects of America’s transformation under Trump are already rippling through Australia - in trade, health, and equality. Our experts unpack what’s happening now, and what’s coming next.

Broadcast 18 June 2025

Safeguarding the Vulnerable in Conflict
Hear from two globally recognised experts who are at the forefront of the fight to protect vulnerable populations in conflict, and explore the complex challenges of safeguarding human dignity and holding perpetrators accountable in times of war.

Broadcast 4 June 2025 in partnership with the Australian Red Cross.

The Promise and Perils of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already reading minds, literally. Brain-computer interfaces can let people send messages or move prosthetic limbs just by thinking. But while AI offers incredible breakthroughs in medicine and safety, it’s also being used to exploit, deceive, and disrupt. Join three experts as they unpack the promises and perils of AI.

Broadcast 28  May 2025.

Australian Resilience in the New World Disorder
Amid global instability, including the second Trump administration, Australia has been slow to confront the scale of international risk. The 2025 Sir James Plimsoll Lecture explores how the nation, well beyond just government, can build resilience and engage a changing world with clarity and purpose.

Broadcast 22 May 2025

Two Ways to  See Indigenous Rock Art
Learn about Tasmanian Indigenous rock art and how ancient rock art on Balanggarra Country in the Kimberley, Western Australia, is being brought to life through a unique collaboration between traditional owners and scientists.

Broadcast 26 March 2025.

The Age Illusion and Myth
We’re all getting older - so why does society treat ageing like a problem to be solved? Join Associate Professor Peta Cook as she challenges you to think about growing older as something to embrace, rather than erase.

Broadcast 19 March 2025.

Tasmania’s Debt Dilemma with Saul Eslake
Is Tasmania’s financial future at risk? Economist Saul Eslake unpacks the Government’s response to his independent review and what it means for us all.

Broadcast 12  March 2025.

Arrest Warrants for Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu
Join our experts to explore the legal foundations behind these arrest warrants, the challenges of bringing sitting world leaders to justice, and the wider impact on global diplomacy and the power struggles at play on the global stage.

Broadcast 11 February 2025.