Big Ideas

The ocean calms us. It terrifies us. It heals us. Sometimes all at once. We explore the sea's complex hold on your mental health — from the fear of shark attacks and the medicine of a morning swim to how immersive ocean soundscapes work on the nervous system and ocean grief as part of climate change anxiety.
Presented at the Ocean Lovers Festival
Listen to Big Ideas — The shark net controversy — hear the debate at Bondi's Ocean Lovers Festival with Natasha Mitchell
Speakers
Dr Brianna Le BusqueProgram Director of Environmental Sciences and Geospatial Sciences at Adelaide University
Anika CraneyFreediver, ocean guide and citizen science research assistant
Kate MontagueWorking with somatic therapy and performance arts, creator of the Audiocraft podcasts
Kal GlanznigYouth ocean and climate champion, creator of the documentary RISING UP, co-founded Plastic Free Cronulla, and founder of the project Blue Minds
John Ireland (Host)Breath and somatic educator, Founder of Breathwork HQ

We are seeing seismic shifts in our politics, as more people than ever turn away from the major parties. Could public policy failures be to blame? Former politician Dr Susan Close has spent her career in the engine room of democracy, and she believes this trend has been caused by successive government policies that have left people behind, created winners and losers and segregated our community — especially in the way Australia funds its schools.
The 2026 Hugh Stretton Oration was recorded at the University of Adelaide on 2 June 2026.
Speakers:
Dr Susan CloseCEO, McKinnon Institute for Political LeadershipMember of the CSIRO boardFormer Member for Port Adelaide 2013- 2025Former Labor Deputy Premier, Minister for climate science, defence, education and more

Palestinians and Israelis are building common ground for peace where most say there is none. Since October 7 and the war in Gaza, the idea of cross-community dialogue seems impossible. But behind the headlines, more than 550 leaders from both communities, across politics, security, business, media, and civil society have come together to shape a peaceful future - for both peoples.
What does a just and peaceful solution actually require? Who is doing the work to get there? And is there a role for Australia to play? 
Presented by the New Israel Fund Australia
Speakers
Hiba Qasas
Founding Executive Director of Principles for Peace, former senior UN official
Dr Gil Murciano
CEO of the “Mitvim Institute", a foreign policy research organisation in Israel
Dr Sally Warhaft (host)
Writer, journalist and host of the Wheeler Centre’s The Fifth Estate series

When writer Hiroko Yoda's mother died, she found herself unmoored. They'd argued a fair bit over the years — as daughters and their mothers can — some things were unresolved. So now what? She found herself setting off an odyssey to understand Japan's surprisingly flexible, practical, pluralistic approach to spirituality, its infinite number of spiritual beings, its affection for angry ghosts, and the curious possibility of embracing belief and non-belief at the same time. She poured it all into a beautiful book called 8 Million Ways to Happiness. Yes, 8 Million! How can that be!? Find out in this poignant conversation she shares with Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell on peace, grief, meaning, and overcoming the mountains within.
This event was recorded live at the 2026 Melbourne Writers Festival. To explore more of the festival's events and talks, visit mwf.com.au.
Speaker
Hiroko YodaTokyo-based author, translator, folklorist, and certified kimono consultantAuthor, Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Find your own way to inner peace with the wisdom of Japan (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2026)

Writers have access to endless worlds, perspectives and experiences — both real and imagined. So what should they do with that privilege? Do they have a responsibility to try to change the world? To cultivate empathy and understanding? Or to simply bear witness?
The Melbourne Writers Festival closing night address was recorded on Sunday 10 May 2026.
Speakers:
Professor Tony BirchAuthor, The White Girl, Women and Children, Ghost River, Blood and moreBoisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of MelbourneHistorian, activist, teacher, long distance runner
Michael Williams (host)Editor, The Monthly magazineHost, Read This podcast