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Big Ideas

ABC
Mental Health
Climate Change
Aging
Ageism
Intergenerational Relationships
Tiger Parents
Tennant Creek
Gerontology
Treatment-Resistant Depression
Northern Territory Emergency Response
Human Rights
Community Services
Social Work
PTSD
Psychedelics
Aboriginal People
Domestic Violence
Cultural Stigmas
Clinical Trials
Kidney Disease

Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. Grab your front row seat to the best live forums and festivals with Natasha Mitchell.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1385Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsSociety & CultureNews

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Artwork for Big Ideas

Latest Episodes

From innocently conning controversial radio duo Kyle and Jackie O as a kid, time in a Zambian convent as a teen, to nearly becoming an air traffic controller before finding her real passion - helping others find their voice - Astrid Jorgensen has qui... more

Australia now has its first treaty with this country's first peoples. After nearly a decade of formal consultation and negotiation, the Victorian Statewide Treaty has become law, and will come into effect from early December. This address outlines th... more

Humans are by nature creative, but how do we turn a spark of inspiration into something more tangible? Author Emily Maguire draws inspiration from some of the world's most creative minds — from Lin Manuel Miranda, to Susan Sontag, to explore the ingr... more

As we grow older, changes to our bodies and minds are inevitable. But what if science could help us age better? Our experts on Big Ideas uncover the latest science behind healthy brain aging. What's possible in the fight against cognitive decline and... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Gideon Haigh
Prolific cricket writer and commentator
Cricket Et Al newsletter
Episode: The stories we tell about cricket — with Paul Giles and Gideon Haigh
Jane Caro
Author, commentator, and former advertising executive
Episode: Jane Caro — why Australia is failing our school system
Atari Metcalf
Trans GP and health advocate from New South Wales
Episode: Coming Out and Inviting In — with Zoe Terakes, Nina Oyama, Mon Schafter, Atari Metcalf, Ji Wallace
Nina Oyama
Australian comedian, writer, actor, and director known for her roles in Utopia, Taskmaster Australia and Deadlock
Episode: Coming Out and Inviting In — with Zoe Terakes, Nina Oyama, Mon Schafter, Atari Metcalf, Ji Wallace
Ji Wallace
Australian Olympic silver medallist in Trampoline Gymnastics
Episode: Coming Out and Inviting In — with Zoe Terakes, Nina Oyama, Mon Schafter, Atari Metcalf, Ji Wallace
Zoe Terakes
Actor known for roles in Wentworth and Talk to Me; author of the debut novel Eros, Queer Myths for Lovers
Episode: Coming Out and Inviting In — with Zoe Terakes, Nina Oyama, Mon Schafter, Atari Metcalf, Ji Wallace
AC Grayling
Renowned British philosopher and prolific author
New College of the Humanities
Episode: Searching for convivencia — philosopher AC Grayling makes peace in the culture wars
Sunny Kim
South Korean-born vocalist, composer, and educator, recognized in the field of jazz improvisation.
University of Melbourne
Episode: The Sophia Club live philosophy — what are friends for?
Mark Alfano
Professor of Philosophy at Macquarie University, author of Moral Psychology An Introduction and Nietzsche's Moral Psychology.
Macquarie University
Episode: The Sophia Club live philosophy — what are friends for?

Host

Natasha Mitchell
Host known for engaging discussions that provoke thought and explore significant cultural and social issues.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Big Ideas Spotify episode

    This should have been an interesting program, but any “investigative journalist” who uses the word “like” as every fifth word needs some coaching on public speaking before the ABC gives them a platform.

    I gave up a few minutes in - too tedious to keep listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    LizAnne S
    Australia2 months ago
  • Always stimulating!

    Excellent podcast among my short-list of #podrecs - the programming is excellent, interviewers and chairs great, guests always invigorating and stimulating. Worth tuning in, following and sharing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anthony Zwi
    Australia4 months ago
  • Adam Liaw

    Big ideas is always good but I was so stimulated by this show as Adam traversed issues of politics, culture, science and food. We are so blessed to have our Aunty sharing her sage advice through such interesting people.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    digit2021
    Australia4 months ago
  • 21 July 2025 Dr Who episode

    LOL “We all love Dr Who so much” - that it’s looking likely there’ll be no further episodes produced: Disney is backing out; viewer numbers are way down. It’s the problem, isn’t it, when a dearly loved production gets all lecture-ish instead of just being plain old fun.

    Of course the ABC doesn’t like facts to stand in the way of a good ol’ puff piece. Viewers are sick of it.

    The ABC is increasingly dull, dull, dull.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LizAnne S
    Australia5 months ago
  • Insightful

    Some really insightful interviews and analyses of issues. I especially enjoy the ones I don’t agree with because they are presented without vitriol and so I am challenged to defend the way I perceive things.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bilas Peles
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners criticize perceived biases in content and guest selection.
Considered thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating with a diverse range of topics.
Many enjoy the depth of discussions, appreciating the insights from various guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#209
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#35
Australia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#158
India/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#214
New Zealand/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#224
South Korea/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can science keep dementia at bay and keep your brain sharper − for longer?
Q: Can learning another language prevent dementia?
Being bilingual or multilingual helps sustain more injury in the brain before symptoms appear, but it is about intellectual engagement and creating new connections as well.
Can science keep dementia at bay and keep your brain sharper − for longer?
Q: Are people living with ADHD more at risk of developing dementia, or are people who exist in a state of chronic overwhelm or stress more at risk?
Yes, stress is bad for the brain and can potentially increase the risk of dementia.
Musician Holly Rankin on why young Australians feel that politics isn't delivering for them
Q: Are copyright laws, as they exist at the moment, fit for purpose in the age of artificial intelligence?
Holly Rankin believes that creators should decide how their work is used and what they are paid for it, highlighting the importance of transparency and regulations around algorithms and content usage.
Musician Holly Rankin on why young Australians feel that politics isn't delivering for them
Q: What do you think about how we can strengthen and support our public broadcaster?
Holly Rankin emphasizes the need for the public broadcaster to rapidly adapt to new formats and engage younger generations to remain relevant, noting its important role in democracy.
Musician Holly Rankin on why young Australians feel that politics isn't delivering for them
Q: What does democracy look like for Marigold when she's your age and she perhaps is delivering the Speaker's Lecture?
Holly Rankin envisions democracy maintaining its core structure that supports kindness, mutual benefit, and puts power in the hands of the people, while also expressing concern that without immediate changes, the future for younger generations may lead to control by corporations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Ideas

What is Big Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content frequently tackles a wide range of topics that engage with the complexities of society and culture, such as education, human rights, climate change, art, and political philosophy. Each episode features in-depth discussions with thought leaders and experts who provide varied insights, allowing listeners to grapple with big ideas and contemporary issues. The conversational format and the inclusion of diverse perspectives are noteworthy, as they invite a broad audience into thoughtful dialogues that challenge conventional thinking and inspire civic engagement.

Where can I find podcast stats for Big Ideas?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Big Ideas. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Big Ideas and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Big Ideas get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Big Ideas, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Big Ideas?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Big Ideas, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Big Ideas have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Big Ideas has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Big Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Ideas:

1. Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today
2. Late Night Live — Full program podcast
3. Future Tense
4. The Minefield
5. Health Report

How many episodes of Big Ideas are there?

Big Ideas launched 19 years ago and published 1385 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Big Ideas?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Big Ideas?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Big Ideas from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Big Ideas?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Big Ideas. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Big Ideas?

Recent guests on Big Ideas include:

1. Gideon Haigh
2. Jane Caro
3. Atari Metcalf
4. Nina Oyama
5. Ji Wallace
6. Zoe Terakes
7. AC Grayling
8. Sunny Kim

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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