Advertise on podcast: Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast

Belly or oriental dancing can be traced back to the Ottoman empire, when it was performed by both women and men. Even now, it’s not uncommon to see men wiggling their hips in private, at weddings or other family functions.  However, public performances have really been the domain of women until recently.  Now male belly dancing is enjoying a comeback. Guests: Rachid Alexander Chris of Melbourne

Journalist and former LNL correspondent Margo Kingston returns to reflect on how the rise of Pauline Hanson's One Nation in the late 1990's ultimately led to the split in the Coalition which has now manifested as the number of Teals and other independents in the Australian parliament. She also looks at the poltical influence of "Advance" and what effect they may have on the Dunkley by-election.  Guest: Margo Kingston, journalist and author.  

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has challenged political parties to step up their action on renewables, telling them to stop "bickering", but what's in it for him? How much will it cost to bring in the necessary reforms to higher education? And why cost-of-living is the only issue that counts in the Dunkley by-election, despite Advances attempts persuade voters otherwise. Guest: Laura Tingle, Chief Political Correspondent, 7.30

In the Middle Ages, the rich were expected to use their fortunes as ‘private barns of money’, helping local communities through plague, famine or war. Economic historian Guido Alfani asks whether 21st-century billionaires have a moral duty to contribute to the common good. 

The Moon, our closest celestial neighbour, is almost 400,000 kilometres away and only twelve people have walked on its surface to date. Yet, Rebecca Boyle believes the Moon is responsible for every giant leap humankind has ever made.

The new film Damage is the story of an Iraqi taxi driver Ali, and his elderly passenger Esther. Initially suspicious of each other they eventually form a bond. Filmmaker Madeleine Blackwell cast Ali Al Jenabi as the taxi driver after seeing him at a writers festival. Guests: Damage director Madeleine Blackwell and actor Ali Al Jenabi 

The populist Law and Justice party (PiS) was voted out in October 2023. What is the legacy of their 8 years in office and what lies ahead for Poland? Radoslaw Markowski: Professor of Political Science, Center for the Study of Democracy (Director), University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw.

Anand Patwardhan is an Indian documentary filmmaker whose films have explored the rise of religious fundamentalism, sectarianism and casteism in India. Others have been banned for investigating nuclear nationalism and unsustainable development. His most recent film reflects on his family’s role in fighting for freedom from Britain, and how Modi’s India is not the country his pro-unification family fought for.   Guest: Anand Patwardhan, Indian documentary filmmaker. His work can be found here

Bruce Shapiro unravels the possible consequences of the $355 million fine imposed on Donald Trump for fraud and looks at what the Democrats can learn from winning back the seat in Long Islands from Republican fraudster George Santos. Guest: Bruce Shapiro, contributing editor with The Nation magazine; Executive Director of the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University. 

Someone who epitomises fearless reporting, is the Sydney Morning Herald’s chief investigative journalist Kate McClymont.  Kate has been a journalist for nearly 40 years.   She’s exposed corruption at the highest levels of politics, she’s also lead investigations into financial conwoman Melissa Caddick, high profile neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, High Court Judge Dyson Heydon, and media personalities Don Burke and Alan Jones.   Kate is a winner of many writing awards, including the coveted Gold Walkley as well as recently being honoured with the Walkley for outstanding contribution to journalism. Guest:  Kate McClymont,  SMH chief investigative reporter

The Opposition is claiming the government has lost control of its borders after the arrival of an asylum seeker boat in WA. Meanwhile a review of our naval ship capabilities is expected to recommend we increase the number of warships in our fleet.  Guest: Laura Tingle, Chief Political Correspondent, 7.30

John Clarke, was one of New Zealand and Australia’s comedic geniuses. He died of a fatal heart attack while bushwalking with his wife  in 2017.    John’s eldest daughter Lorin recently  wrote a memoir about her family’s life, titled,  Would that be funny? Growing Up with John Clarke  Guest: Lorin Clarke, writer