Womadelaide

HOSTS: Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas GUESTS: Rebekha Sharkie and Sarah Hanson-Young Australia’s best politics podcast – The Party Room – has been described as biting and brilliant and Planet Talks 2019 showed it’s even better live. If you missed it, don’t worry because Fran and PK are bringing their super sharp political minds and even sharper wit back in 2020 for a special International Women’s day edition of TPR LIVE. Join them as they dissect and interpret all the news and issues of the week in federal politics with some very special guests, live at WOMADelaide. Proudly presented in partnership with the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre

SPEAKERS: Damon Gameau, Will Steffen, Michelle Lim and Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor HOST: Bernie Hobbs The planet is suffering because humans have failed to listen and act. We have failed to act responsibly as individuals and governments have failed to listen to the scientific consensus and act fast. Despite being faced with unprecedented biodiversity loss, mass species extinctions and the dire consequences of a world not meeting the 2015 Paris climate change pledges, our panel however is still optimistic. Find out why in a discussion about protecting, restoring, funding and the revolutionary and transformative changes they’re supporting to fix the mess we have collectively created.

Are we in the midst of a sleep loss epidemic? SPEAKERS: Greg Roach, Jill Dorrian and Danny Eckert HOST: Deb Tribe A good diet and exercise have dominated our media and social feeds as the answer to a long and healthy life. But is a silent sleep loss epidemic the greatest health challenge of the new 24/7 society we live in? Some have suggested, ‘the shorter your sleep, the shorter your life’ - but is it as simple as that? How much sleep do you need to be healthy? Join three internationally respected sleep researchers as they talk about the secrets of sleep and what we can do as individuals and a society to improve our waking life through better sleep.

SPEAKERS: Robert Elliott Smith, Julia Powles, and Peter Lewis HOST: Marc Fennell Our personal data has become the most valuable commodity the world has ever seen, yet most of us happily give it away for free to the likes of Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon (Big Tech). These companies have in turn used this data to accumulate extraordinary wealth, power and influence through mostly unseen and largely unaccountable algorithms and AI that interpret, manipulate and control every aspect of our contemporary digital life. So can we trust Big Tech to always ‘not be evil’? Join our excellent panel of tech thinkers for a discussion about the future use and misuse of our data.

The power and passion in the student climate strike movement. SPEAKERS: Doha Khan, Harriet O’Shea Carre, Milou Albrecht HOST: Tory Shepherd They can’t vote but they’re angry, fearful for the future and demanding to be heard by governments around the world. Passionate, smart and informed, these students have helped to create a thunderous collective voice for change that is hard to ignore. Doha, Harriet and Milou are three of the leaders of the Australian Student Strike for Climate movement. They’ve played a key part in one of the largest environmental movements the world has ever seen with millions demonstrating in more than 4500 locations across 130 countries. Their message is clear - act now - because their lives depend on it. But who’s listening? We are. And you should too.

SPEAKERS: Peter Owen, Bunna Lawrie and Jodie Rummer HOST: Clare Press Peter Owen (The Wilderness Society), Bunna Lawrie (Mirning Elder and Coloured Stone frontman) and Jodie Rummer (marine scientist, James Cook University) represent a large and growing movement of concerned people, councils, businesses, industries, environmental and scientific organisations opposing the proposed drilling by Norwegian oil company Equinor in The Great Australian Bight. It’s a David versus Goliath battle in one of the most pristine and diverse ocean environments left on Earth. On one side, Equinor’s supporters point to jobs and economic benefits for the state, while the other highlights oil-spill modelling that shows catastrophic consequences for fisheries and tourism industries worth over $1.5 billion collectively per annum. The risks are real and battle lines are drawn. Find out what the future holds for oil drilling in the Bight.

SPEAKERS: Quentin Beresford and David Ritter HOST: Deb Tribe Our Prime Minister recently declared the need for “fair dinkum power" when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining. But can this “fair dinkum power” be good for the planet, leaving the 90 per cent of the nation’s coal reserves in the ground estimated for Australia to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement? Join Prof Quentin Beresford (author of Adani and the War on Coal) and David Ritter (Greenpeace CEO and author of The Coal Truth) as they discuss the Adani saga and the power behind our government’s passion for coal over a 100% renewable energy future.

SPEAKERS: Angie Plummer, Cecile Godde, Matthew Evans and Andy Lowe HOST: Deb Tribe Can we really tackle climate change without addressing our relationship with meat consumption and the livestock industry? Ditching the snag on the BBQ and shifting to a more plant based diet is a demand-side solution but only half the consumption / production equation. What needs to be done to change a livestock industry that contributes 15% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions? That’s even more than the transportation sector. Inaugural Director of Food Innovation at the University of Adelaide, Andy Lowe, Less Meat Less Heat CEO Angie Plummer, CSIRO food systems scientist, Cecile Godde and farmer/SBS TV food documentary maker, Matthew Evans have a few thoughts on where to start, even if you don’t want to become a vegan.

SPEAKERS: Gavin McIntyre, Brian Pickles, Alison Pouliot and Mike Hornblow HOST: Robyn Williams Fungi preceded trees and animals on the Earth by hundreds of millions of years, and they’ll be cleaning humanity’s mess long after we’re gone. But can the humble ‘shroom help us save the planet right now? Bioneer Gavin McIntyre from ground breaking New York biofabrication company Ecovative Design, mycologists Brian Pickles and Alison Pouliot, and interdisciplinary designer Mike Hornblow are certain they can. Fungi are saving the planet daily by energy cycling ecosystems, decomposing organic matter and feeding plants and animals. Now, scientists are also harnessing their mycelium – the root structure of mushrooms – to save the planet. They’re growing incredible sustainable materials to replace the use of wood, foam, bricks, leather, and plastics. They’ve even discovered fungi that eat plastic, clean up petrochemicals, absorb radiation, filter wastewater and treat a range of illnesses and immune-mediated conditions

SPEAKERS: Fran Kelly, Patricia Karvelas, Senator Penny Wong and Minister Simon Birmingham. Radio National’s brilliant politics podcast The Party Room comes out of the studio and into the Park for the first time. Join two of Australia’s most respected journalist broadcasters, Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas, plus special guests Senator Wong and Minister Birmingham as they analyse and interpret the latest issues from Canberra affecting our world.

SPEAKERS: Brian Pickles, Monica Gagliano and Alex Gaut HOST: Robyn Williams Join pioneering scientists Brian Pickles and Monica Gagliano alongside Nature Connection guide, Alex Gaut as they discuss the fascinating world of tree communication, plant cognition and the healing powers of forest bathing. Gagliano’s bio acoustics research in plant cognition and Pickles’ work revealing a mycelium communication network dubbed “the Wood Wide Web” has exposed an incredible hidden world where plants and trees share, trade, care for family, display altruism, wage war, and even think! And the connection between trees and humans and is just as fascinating. Originally established with Japanese government support because of its measurable health benefits, tree bathing has become widely popular in Japan, Europe and the US as a mind-tree-body therapy.