Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast

500 years ago, the Incas ruled the western half of South America with the help of a unique form of writing based on coloured and knotted strings. Researchers think they're getting closer to deciphering these strings, known as khipus. 
Guest: Professor Sabine Hyland, anthropologist from the University of St Andrews
Producer: Sarah Allely
Originally broadcast in June 2025.

The current Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest and most lethal in that country’s history, with 4536 deaths so far from 9415 cases, and it continues to spread at an alarming rate in communities already facing violent conflict, food insecurity, and other health emergencies. The latest outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a different strain from the one responsible for the devastating 2014–2016 West African epidemic. During the first 100 days of the outbreak, the DRC recorded nearly six times as many infections as were reported during the early stages of the previous epidemic. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) has been there from the beginning,  providing patient care and treatment. Dr Rupa Narra is a paediatrician who has undertaken three deployments to care for people with Ebola, and she says children are the most vulnerable, but are being left behind in the Ebola response.
Guest: Dr Rupa Narra, Paediatric Medical Expert Officer with Médecins Sans Frontières
Producer: Catherine Zengerer

With two weeks to go before the midterms, Bruce Shapiro runs through which states to watch for changing seats, and why many of them are former Republican strongholds. And he examines President Trump's strange diesel deal with Russia - will it win him any votes? 
Guest: Bruce Shapiro, contributing editor with The Nation magazine and Director of the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma. 
Producer: Catherine Zengerer

Hordes of yabbies are trashing rivers in southern Africa - an Australian native crayfish that has rapidly become a devastating pest. Can the crustaceans be curtailed, or is this an unstoppable invasion?

The youth movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party is testing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's iron grip on power in India. Our guest, a global democracy expert, believes it's the most important challenge to Modi yet, and that the Cockroaches may represent a renewed prioritising of democratic ideals in that country.
Guest: Maya Tudor, Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
Producer: Ann Arnold