
Best of 2025: Medical misogyny, Saul Griffith and the Hejaz Railway
23/12/2025 | 54 mins.
It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025.Today, how medical researchers and practitioners have been blind to differences of sex and gender with deadly consequences.Plus, Saul Griffith’s electrifying “how-to guide“ for your life and home. And the bold plan to resurrect the railway linking the Islamic holy city of Medina to the oldest capital city in the world, Damascus.

Best of 2025: Mosquitos, Guy Pearce and Virginia Giuffre
22/12/2025 | 54 mins.
It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025.Today, an ethical dilemma, should we eliminate a species of mosquito to save people from malaria? Guy Pearce talks about filming his indie film Inside in, yes, you guessed it, an actual Victorian prison. And we reflect on the extraordinary legacy of Virginia Giuffre who took on the rich and powerful to expose the crimes of paedophile Jeffery Epstein.

Best of 2025: Cyclone season, political pragmatism and TIME magazine covers
19/12/2025 | 54 mins.
It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025.Today, it’s cyclone season in Australia which means millions of us are - hopefully -ready to batten down the hatches at short notice. But how do scientists and engineers figure out how to build stronger shelters … at the Cyclone Testing Station of course. Also ahead … the problem with political pragmatism … Richard Dennis spoke to Michael Rowland about his essay Dead Centre, How Political Pragmatism Is Killing Us.And the man behind a thousand Time Magazine covers.

Best of 2025: Firing squads, Axolotl's and photographer Mike Bowers
18/12/2025 | 54 mins.
It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025.Today, amid growing resistance to the use of the death penalty in the US, some states are resorting to firing squads.Also ahead, they have a smile that could melt even the hardest hearts, but Axolotls are critically endangered. And Mike Bowers explains why “photographs are the receipts for the rough draft of history”.

Best of 2025: South Korea's adopted children, fashion manufacturing and the Enhanced Games
17/12/2025 | 54 mins.
It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025.Today, South Korea acknowledges human rights of thousands of adopted children were violated.Bringing back the 'Australian-made mindset' for fashion manufacturing.And, 'roid rage', athletes push back against Enhanced Games.



The Radio National Hour