Ideas at the House

Human rights lawyer Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts brings her fight for justice for First Nations people and children to this powerful episode. Drawing from her own childhood trauma, forcibly removed at the tender age of ten and only began to heal when she fled the out-of-home care system to reconnect with kin and return to country.Her unflinching exposé uncovers 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.

Deciding whether to have kids is more complex than ever. This thoughtful conversation unpacks the deeply personal choice of parenthood alongside its broader political, financial, and environmental implications. With birth rates falling and uncertainty rising, more women are choosing not to have children. Plug in and hear candid conversations about climate anxiety, economic pressures, and social expectations—and why opting out of parenthood is becoming an increasingly common decision.This event was recorded live at Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2025.

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.

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.

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 17 November 2024

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 10 September 2024

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 17 August 2024

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 11 November 2023.

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 21 May 2024.