Listen

On Talkfest, hear from Rob Delaney, Alice Pung, Tim Rogers and more about the challenges of keeping it together ›

Listen

Why do Manus detainees continue to protest and resist – despite the consequences? Listen to The Messenger ›

Attend

Longform Society Meeting #3: The Art of the Celebrity Profile. Wednesday 20 September ›

Attend

The Festival of Questions. This October, a day of querying, questioning, wondering and asking why ›

Attend

New events added in Sydney, Newcastle, Ballarat, Bendigo and Kyneton. Check them out ›

Watch

What do we remember – and why do we forget? Watch a fascinating discussion about memory ›

Highlights

New/interesting

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Monday Conversations: Anaesthesia

Monday Conversations: Anaesthesia  /  Science & technology

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Boundaries: Mapping Melbourne

Boundaries: Mapping Melbourne  /  Animals & nature

 
Promo image for The Fifth Estate: Politics and Public Policy: Australia and the World

The Fifth Estate: Politics and Public Policy: Australia and the World  /  Government

With Sally Warhaft , Geoff Gallop, and Peter Hartcher

 
Promo image for Invasion of the Pod People: Can U Not? Featuring Megan Tan

Invasion of the Pod People: Can U Not? Featuring Megan Tan  /  Radio

With Kamna Muddagouni, Megan Tan, and Brodie Lancaster

 
Promo image for Forget About It!: The Science and Psychology of Memory

Forget About It!: The Science and Psychology of Memory  /  Psychology & mental health

With Jee Hyun Kim, Ashley Bush, Leah Kaminsky and 1 other

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Antarctica and the Climate with Chris Turney

Antarctica and the Climate with Chris Turney  /  Environment

A taste of Season Three

Picks from our slate of newly released events

Running thoughts

From our upcoming presenters

Portrait of Kenan Malik

Democracy is in rude health. It is liberalism that is in trouble.

Kenan Malik on populism and solidarity.

Portrait of Helen Razer

In the West, we do some radical things. These produce some radical results.

Helen Razer on ideology in the West.

Portrait of Jordan Raskopoulos

For me, it was a choice between personal acceptance or oblivion. Trans, or die.

Jordan Raskopoulos on transitioning.

Newest Notes

Viewpoints, arguments, reports and other stories

Working with Words: Lia Hills  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Lia Hills

Working with Words: Shaun Prescott  /  Fiction

Guest post by Shaun Prescott

Working with Words: Neha Kale  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Neha Kale

Working with Words: Angela Betzien  /  Theatre

Guest post by Angela Betzien

Dive into our podcasts with these gateway episodes

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #1 Aziz, Not a Boat Number

1 Aziz, Not a Boat Number  /  Migration

 
Podcast episodeiTunes podcast feed image 2015

Good Sport  /  Australian politics

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #1: Sizzle

Housekeeping #1: Sizzle  /  Australia

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of #1 The invasion of death

1 The invasion of death  /  Life & death

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Mary Norris and Jane Caro: Why does ‘i’ come before ‘e’, except after ‘c’?

Mary Norris and Jane Caro: Why does ‘i’ come before ‘e’, except after ‘c’?  /  Words & language

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Bryce Courtenay

Bryce Courtenay

Annie Proulx on 'Brokeback Mountain'

Watch




Listen to Housekeeping – an audio mini-series about voting, beyond the ballot box

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #1: Sizzle

Housekeeping #1: Sizzle  /  Australia

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #2: ID

Housekeeping #2: ID  /  Government

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #3: No-Shows

Housekeeping #3: No-Shows  /  Australian politics

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #4: Scrutiny

Housekeeping #4: Scrutiny  /  Government

 
Podcast episodeCover image for of Housekeeping #5: Locked Out

Housekeeping #5: Locked Out  /  Crime

Listen

We asked children: why do you love books?



Some of our favourite Notes

Note
Promo image for Reading into Dementia

Reading into Dementia  /  Young & old

Guest post by Melanie Joosten

Note
Promo image for The Case for Cartoons

The Case for Cartoons  /  Comedy & humour

Guest post by Oslo Davis

Note
Promo image for Live the Lie: how narrative is used in crowdfunding

Live the Lie: how narrative is used in crowdfunding  /  Internet, journalism, media & publishing

Guest post by Oscar Schwartz

Note
Promo image for Beyond Bars: two perspectives

Beyond Bars: two perspectives  /  Social justice

By Sophie Quick

Note
Promo image for By Any Other Name: the secret lives of romance writers

By Any Other Name: the secret lives of romance writers  /  Romance

Guest post by Danielle Binks

Note
Promo image for Putting Quarters in a Broken Machine: on the merit of literary prizes in Australia

Putting Quarters in a Broken Machine: on the merit of literary prizes in Australia  /  Awards & prizes

Guest post by Omar Sakr

Note
Promo image for I'm Only Sleeping: Stories from the edge of wakefulness

I’m Only Sleeping: Stories from the edge of wakefulness  /  Radio

Guest post by Bec Fary

Note
Promo image for Jumping Off Mountains

Jumping Off Mountains  /  Biography & memoir

Guest post by Cheryl Strayed

Note
Promo image for Eating with my Mouth Open: on memories of food and family

Eating with my Mouth Open: on memories of food and family  /  Food

Guest post by Sam van Zweden

Note
Promo image for Miranda July's Internet Interventions

Miranda July’s Internet Interventions  /  Books, reading & writing

Guest post by Connor Tomas O'Brien

Note
Promo image for Radio is Dead: Long live radio documentaries and features

Radio is Dead: Long live radio documentaries and features  /  Radio

Guest post by Kyla Brettle

Note
Promo image for The Tern

The Tern  /  Fiction

Guest post by Tony Birch

Note
Promo image for Remembering John Clarke

Remembering John Clarke  /  Life & death

Guest post by Kaz Cooke

Note
Promo image for Members Only: on politicians who write fiction

Members Only: on politicians who write fiction  /  Fiction

By Sophie Quick

Note
Promo image for Dear Lexdyslic Reader: why I love Roald Dahl

Dear Lexdyslic Reader: why I love Roald Dahl  /  Literacy

Guest post by Jackie French

Note
Promo image for Memories of an Island

Memories of an Island  /  Climate change & weather

Guest post by Xiaolu Guo

Note
Promo image for Do Not Ask for Whom the Pinball Chimes

Do Not Ask for Whom the Pinball Chimes  /  Life & death

Guest post by David Astle

Note
Promo image for What's the difference between a religion and a cult?

What’s the difference between a religion and a cult?  /  Faith, religion & spirituality

Guest post by Andrew Singleton

The Wheeler Centre is Melbourne’s home for smart, passionate and entertaining public talks on every topic. Across 230+ events each year, you’ll find some of our finest local and international speakers sharing their expertise, their imaginations and their ideas.

Find out more about us ›