Ideas at the House

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.

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.

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 join 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.-Watch talks from Antidote 2022 on Stream, the streaming platform from the Sydney Opera House. Register for free now and start watching at stream.sydneyoperahouse.com.