Advertise on podcast: Afternoon Light

How many times can we reinvent the same political heroes to fit the ever-shifting priorities of modern debates? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Emily Jones about The Disraeli Myth. A fascinating book exploring the manipulation of historical memory for political purposes. It reveals how Sir Robert Menzies is far from unique in being selectively quoted to push contemporary agendas, and that he may yet be reimagined many more times. Want to learn more about the evolution of conservative thought? Listen to these episodes of Afternoon Light: Greg Melleuish on the Evolution of Political Terms: "That's yesterday's liberalism, therefore it's conservatism" Kit Kowol on Chamberlain, Churchill & the British Conservative Party during WW2: "There were other futures available" Charles Moore on Margaret Thatcher's Life, Legacy & 100th Birthday: "Almost Revolutionary Fervour" Emily Jones is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, who has previously worked at Columbia University, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford. Her DPhil was published as Edmund Burke and the Invention of Modern Conservatism, 1830-1914: An Intellectual History, which won the Longmans-History Today prize and was a Financial Times 'Book of the Year'. Her new book, The Disraeli Myth: The Making of a Conservative Tradition, was published in July 2026 by Princeton University Press. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Higher Education Academy. PQNWHUAHY3JOQH4V

How did Australia maintain social cohesion and mitigate populist pressures during our greatest ever cost of living crisis? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with acclaimed historian Joan Beaumont to tell the story of Australia's Great Depression. A formative national trauma on par with our involvement in two world wars, and one in which the Australian experience was truly unique. Want to learn more about how Australia survived the Depression? Listen to these episodes of Afternoon Light: David Bird, ‘A parish pump politician from the potato plots of Tasmania’ Joseph Lyons Michael Easson on Depression era PM James Scullin: "Trying to hold the place together" David Clune, ‘Offered the people economic rainbows’ Jack Lang Joan Beaumont is an internationally recognised historian of Australia in the two world wars, Australian defence and foreign policy, the history of prisoners of war and the memory and heritage of war. Her publications include the critically acclaimed Broken Nation: Australians and the Great War (Allen & Unwin, 2013), joint winner of the 2014 winner of the Prime Minister's Literary Award (Australian History), and Australia's Great Depression: How a nation shattered by the Great War survived the worst economic crisis it has ever faced. She is currently completing the trilogy with a book on Australia in the Second World War. U7H1LDPMRGNZHIWC

Was the Northern Territory still 'unexplored' when the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Mark Smith to tell the story of Australia's Forgotten Explorer William Wilkinson. A man who embarked on a remarkable journey across Northern Australia, and inadvertently helped to inspire and fund St Francis House - one of the earliest and most successful efforts to provide remote Indigenous children with the opportunity to get an education and become advocates for their communities. Want to learn more about Australian explorers and our Indigenous pioneers? Listen to these episodes of Afternoon Light: Grantlee Kieza on Matthew Flinders & the Naming of Australia: "The vast majority of Australians wouldn't know that" Emma McEwin on Sir Douglas Mawson | “Always curious, always inquiring” Bain Attwood, ‘A sense of kin’ The Life of William Cooper Mark Smith is the Chair of the St Francis House Project. He studied politics and international relations at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 2006 with a first-class honours’ degree in history. His thesis compared the environmental impact of first European contact with Indigenous people in the Flinders Ranges with the South East of South Australia. Mark’s grandfather Percy Smith MBE was the first Anglican Archdeacon of the Northern Territory and founder of St Francis House, a South Australian hostel for inland children whose alumni range from Charles Perkins to the designer of the Indigenous flag. In 1947 Percy published The Strenuous Saint, now republished by Mark as William Wilkinson: Australia’s Forgotten Explorer. 64X9YEHJFUK53VM3

Has immigration really made Australia more prosperous? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Mark Cully, former chief economist for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, about his new, revealing and monumental history Waves of Plenty: Immigration and the Making of Australia. One of the only books to ever chart Australia's full immigration story, from the early 19th century to the present, and full of the crucial historical insights that only an economist and a fresh pair of eyes can provide. Want to learn more about immigration in Australia? Listen to these episodes of Afternoon Light: Henry Ergas: What has multiculturalism done to Australia? Peter Kurti on maintaining national unity amidst Australia's growing pluralism: "Multiculturalism works when it's Civic Anchored" Alistair Thomson on the Ten Pound Poms: "Implicitly assumed they weren't migrants" Francesco Ricatti on Italian Migration | “Your own identity... is evolving” Mark Cully was chief economist for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Department of Industry, as well as chair of the OECD’s Working Party on Migration. As head of macroeconomic policy in the Treasury, he led the design of the JobKeeper program during the pandemic. He is an expert panel member of the Fair Work Commission and a visiting fellow at ANU’s Crawford School of Public Policy. HSVVXXKBQ3SLZY1X

Are the English-speaking-peoples still bound together, as we were during the greatest struggles of the 20th century? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Andrew Roberts, fresh off delivering the 2026 Menzies Oration, for a wide-ranging discussion exploring the enduring importance of the Anglosphere family of nations, why Churchill continues to capture our imaginations, and the importance of heroes in inspiring a new generation to realise their capacity to shape history. Lord Roberts has written 21 books which have been translated into 28 languages and have won thirteen literary prizes. These include Churchill: Walking with Destiny, Napoleon: A Life, and most recently, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare 1945 to Ukraine, which he co-authored with General David Petraeus. His acclaimed work, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1901, deliberately continues Churchill’s original history, which ended in 1900 – just before the birth of the Australian Commonwealth. MHKMVUSNHM3LALLA

What did a Japanese spy, straight out of spy-school, make of 1940s Australia? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer and guest Craig Collie tell the fascinating and oft times humorous story of Major Sei Hashida. A haplessly conspicuous figure, whose 'covert' wartime tour of Australia made national headlines, and whose notebook provides a unique insight into the culture clash between two of WW2's Pacific belligerents. Craig Collie is one of Australia’s leading writers of military history and the author of the critically acclaimed The Path of Infinite Sorrow, Nagasaki, The Reporter and the Warlords, Code Breakers, On Our Doorstep, and Where the Flaming Hell Are We? Craig has a special interest in Japanese–Australian history and formerly worked as a TV producer–director, including as Head of Television Production at SBS. His latest book is Major Hashida’s Notebook: A Japanese spy's mission to Australia in World War II. G6VGYIWFOCWKOGLT

Is Australia really just a 'middle power', or are we underestimating our ability to influence world affairs? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer sits down for a lively discussion with Allan Behm and Emma Shortis, exploring and testing their thesis that Australia can spearhead the establishment of a new international rules-based order. As well as debating whether it is time for Australian foreign policy to chart greater distance from the United States and the geostrategic integration proposed under AUKUS. Allan Behm and Emma Shortis head the Australia Institute's International & Security Affairs Program. They have just released the book New Game, New Rules: A Foreign Policy for Dystopian Times. YC0SAIG1UXTXUSF4

Is multiculturalism the cornerstone of Australia's modern identity, or a Canadian import reflecting a society that was always more divided than our own? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks to Henry Ergas about the history of multiculturalism and how it may have contributed to the gradual breakdown of Australia's social cohesion. This wide-ranging discussion explores the limits of liberalism, toleration and acculturation, and what we can do to right our present course. Henry Ergas AO is an Australian economist, public policy expert, and columnist with The Australian. He spent more than a decade at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, and has held academic appointments at institutions including Harvard Kennedy School, Monash University, National University of Singapore, and the University of Wollongong, where he was Professor of Infrastructure Economics. His columns explore economics, politics, and public policy, and increasingly Australian history and national identity; free speech and universities; religion, philosophy, and Western intellectual traditions; and cultural and political debates surrounding multiculturalism and civic values. IRHAQOLWJYPBNIFZ

What was it like for an Australian teenager in the early 1950s, thinking that the advent of World War III was imminent? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer chats with award winning children's author Belinda Murrell about the process of writing The Hidden War. A new historical fiction novel bringing the story of ANZUS to life for a new generation of Australians. Belinda Murrell is an internationally published author with a history of writing in her family that spans over 200 years. Belinda has written more than 35 books including The Golden Tower and The Silver Sea, The Sun Sword trilogy, the popular Lulu Bell and Pippa’s Island series, and her Australian historical timeslip novels. XLR5PEILQOCQRZDH

How did a person of Chinese descent rise to become one of the nation's top barristers at the height of the White Australia Policy? On this week’s Afternoon Light, Andrew Godwin tells an astounding multicultural success story that long predates the very concept of multiculturalism. Offering lessons on integration and the process of 'becoming Australian', by shedding light on the life and times of Menzies's friend and contemporary, William Ah Ket. Professor Andrew Godwin is Professor of Commercial Law at Melbourne Law School, Director of the Melbourne Law Masters, Joint Associate Director of the Corporate Law and Financial Regulation Research Program at the Melbourne Centre for Commercial Law and Associate Director (Commercial law) of the Asian Law Centre. Prior to joining Melbourne Law School as a member of the academic staff in 2007, Andrew was in legal practice for over 15 years, 10 of which were spent in Shanghai where he was a partner of an international law firm. He is a co-author of Sackville & Neave Australian Property Law and Ford, Austin and Ramsay Principles of Corporations Law, and co-editor of Research Handbook on Asian Financial Law, The Cambridge Handbook of Twin Peaks Financial Regulation, and Technology and Corporate Law. He was one of the editors for William Ah Ket - His Life and Times by William’s daughter Toylaan Ah Ket, which was posthumously published earlier this year. TANWRVWMUNBAUHCE

Is 'Asia' a real place, or just an arbitrary mashing together of distinctive cultures and regions? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Nick Bisley about how globalisation made the area Western maps had long designated as 'Asia' into an interconnected reality. Shedding light on the remarkable rise and fractured future of the continent that will dictate Australia's destiny in the 21st Century. Nick Bisley is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University, Australia. He recently completed a term as President of the Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, has been Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center, Washington, DC and previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Journal of International Affairs. He is the author of Asian Crucible: Globalization, Geopolitics and the Contest for the Future. MS4AQUOCC4LNXVCX

How has almost a decade in power left such a severe dent in the Liberal Party's reputation & viability? On this week’s Afternoon Light special guest hosts Alexander Downer and Chetna Mahadik speak with Paul Kelly about his latest book The Twilight of Exceptionalism. Exploring the failures, contradictions and redeeming achievements of Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison, and how the limitations of their prime ministerships have played into the rise of One Nation. Paul Kelly is editor-at-large and a former editor-in-chief of The Australian. He writes on Australian politics, policy, history and international relations, and has covered every prime minister from Gough Whitlam to Anthony Albanese. He has written or co-authored twelve books on our politics and history, with the latest being The Twilight of Exceptionalism: The Liberal and Conservative Era 2013-22. Kelly is a regular television commentator. He has been a fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a visiting fellow at Kings' College London and a fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. He has a doctorate from the University of Melbourne and is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. AFYKZYE2Z2CHXNCD

Is Australia's security most directly determined by our regional neighbours? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Michael Wesley about how Southeast Asia has become a 'blind spot' of Australian diplomatic relations. Discussing whether Australia's most immediate and important regional relationships have taken a back seat to great power struggles, in a manner that has left us unnecessarily isolated and vulnerable. Michael Wesley is Professor of International Relations and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement) at the University of Melbourne. His research focuses on three key themes: Australian foreign policy, particularly in relation to the Asia-Pacific; security competition and geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific region; and state-building interventions. His work on Australian foreign policy began with a collaboration with Allan Gyngell on Making Australian Foreign Policy (Cambridge, 2003; second edition 2007), an influential study of how Australian foreign policy is formulated. He has also examined traditions of thought in Australian foreign policy, comparative approaches to foreign policy under Labor and Coalition governments in The Howard Paradox: Australian Diplomacy in Asia 1996–2006 (ABC Books, 2007), and the objectives, techniques and challenges of Australia’s engagement with Asia in There Goes the Neighbourhood: Australia and the Rise of Asia (NewSouth Books, 2011). His latest output is the 2026 Quarterly Essay ‘Blind Spot: Southeast Asia and Australia’s Future’. USFTAJYHO3W9XVNO

How did Australians first commemorate the Anzac spirit, when the men were still fighting overseas? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Rae Frances & Bruce Scates, the authors of the new biography Mary Booth: The Woman who Shaped the Anzac Legend. A conversation uncovering the story of a pioneering feminist and nationalist, who helped devise Australia's most significant annual tradition and a mythology that continues to define Australia's national identity. Raelene Frances is Emeritus Professor of History at the Australian National University. She is internationally recognised for her contributions to social, gender and labour history, particularly to the understanding of the intersections between work, gender, class and war. Bruce Scates is a Fulbright Scholar and Emeritus Professor of History at the Australian National University. He has pioneered new forms of life writing, published widely on the culture of commemoration and the human cost of war, and is a major contributor to debates in social, labour and gender history. A3VS2PVPACQWIW1I

How old is the sordid Australian phenomenon of 'trial by media'? On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with renowned biographer Patrick Mullins about federation era lawyer and politician Richard Meagher. A man who sold his soul and reputation, then spent decades desperately trying to claw them back. His story has remarkable parallels with the defamation cases and news sensations of today, revealing deep seated aspects of our national character that we may need to reckon with. Patrick Mullins is a Canberra-based writer and academic who has a PhD from the University of Canberra. His first book, Tiberius with a Telephone, won the 2020 NSW Premier’s Non-Fiction Award and the 2020 National Biography Award. He is also the author of The Trials of Portnoy: how Penguin brought down Australia’s censorship system, and has just released The Stained Man: a crime, a scandal, and the making of a nation. Frank Bongiorno has dubbed Patrick ‘the most accomplished Australian biographer of his generation’. X3JG3Y4QLCMGU3CJ