The Solutionists, with Mark Scott

What makes a childhood good? Every parent wants their kids to be safe, and for their childhoods to set them up for a productive and fulfilling adulthood. But what about the childhood itself? How do we make sure every child in Australia gets to truly be a kid? Universal childcare might be the answer... 

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Do you ever wish you could be a kid again?  

Remember the freedom of childhood – no job, no responsibiliti...

The widespread problem of substance abuse has plagued humans throughout history. It robs potential, ruins lives. Yet nothing we’ve tried has ever solved addiction. Professor Michael Bowen wants to change this. He went looking for a solution not in the human body, but in the brain. 

And what he’s found could change the way we treat addiction forever. 

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Addiction – substance abuse – is a wicked pr...

Social media connects us to friends and family, and gives us an unprecedented window to the wider world. But how much do we really know about how social media, and the barons who run these platforms, shape our views and our communities? Former newspaper editor and current Meta advisor Alan Rusbridger sheds light on the question of whether social media is strengthening democracy – or strangling it. 

Social media is now an...

It’s in the name, sure... But is AI really ‘intelligent’? Does it ‘think’? What do you know about how these tools were made, who owns them now, and who determines the way they work? How can you turn AI to best advantage in business and personal spheres? 

Now that AI’s on the tip of everyone’s tongues and offered as a service by almost every company you encounter, it’s time to exa...

THE SOLUTIONISTS SUMMER THROWBACK: Heatwaves are an invisible killer, and they’re becoming more common.  

With another scorching summer already upon us, you need to know how to keep you and your family cool when temperatures soar. In this episode, originally published in 2023, heat expert Ollie Jay gives you a tour of his groundbreaking thermal ergonomics lab and teaches you how to stay safe during a heatwave. 

Who gets to tell the story of Australia?  

This is the question always at the forefront of Michael Dagostino’s mind. Michael’s the Director of Museums and Cultural Engagement at the University of Sydney, meaning he oversees its famous Chau Chak Wing museum. The museum houses tens of thousands of objects, all of which tell a story.  

But how does an object tell a story? And how does the way we collect and house them affect that stor...

Where do your values come from? What do you care about, and why?  

If you're one of the growing number of non-religious people in Australia, you might find this question pretty hard to answer... Politics and philosophy professor Alexandre Lefebvre says that if this sounds like you, you might be living by a philosophy you didn't even know you had.  

Alex believes liberalism could be the source of your very soul. It isn't just about ...

Why’s it so hard to be healthy? Why does everyone recommend a Mediterranean diet? Is diet or exercise more important? Is intermittent fasting actually useful?  

When the entire world’s collective knowledge is at your fingertips, why’s it still so difficult to answer the kinds of questions we’ve been asking for millennia? Nutrition and longevity expert Luigi Fontana says it’s because nutrition isn’t as simple as we’d like to think. ...

Why doesn’t anyone seem to trust journalists anymore? Or politicians? Or anyone, really? Are we all becoming paranoid, or has our trust been broken by those we lent it to?  

Lenore Taylor’s the editor-in-chief of The Guardian Australia and the host of the Guardian’s Full Story podcast. Lenore jokes that journos have always been about as trusted as used car salesmen, but she’s worried facts don’t mean what they used to anymore.  

Le...

There’s no one else on the planet just like you. So why do you take the same medicine as everyone else when you get sick?  

Professor David James is an expert is obesity and diabetes, and he says the current medical system isn’t good enough. But as researchers and clinicians learn more about how our genetics work, a better path is beginning to clear.  

David explains how your genetics and environment interact with one another and i...

Deanna D’Alessandro is the director of the University of Sydney’s Net Zero Institute... So why does she want it dissolved?  

“In 2051, my goodness, I hope we do not need the Net Zero Institute,” she says. “We should have solved this problem by then.” 

So what needs to happen in the meantime? Deanna shares the personal connection to the planet that sparked her passion for climate science, and explains how and why the Net Zero Instit...

“When I say what I do for a living, most women have a story,” says Rae Cooper. “Women have a way of being able to understand what it is pretty easily. I think men find it a little bit more... academic.”  

Rae Cooper is Professor of Gender, Work and Employment Relations at the University of Sydney. She says Australia hasn’t come nearly far enough in the fight for gender equality at work, and there’s a few reasons why.  

You’ll also ...

Why do you live where you live?  

If you’re lucky, it’s by choice. Maybe you love the solitude and sprawling nature of the bush. Maybe you can’t get enough of the coffee, cuisine and culture that makes your dense inner-city neighbourhood special.  

Many of us don’t get to choose, though. People are forced into tiny living spaces as their cities grow in population, while others are pushed to the outskirts when gentrification prices ...

If you’re concerned about eating disorders or body image issues, whether you need support for yourself or someone you care about, you can call the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. 

Picture something that absolutely terrifies you. Now, imagine you’re forced to confront it multiple times a day – and nobody understands why it makes you feel distressed. 

Dr Sarah Maguire, the director of the InsideOut Institute, says this is the r...

As the climate changes and populations boom, water supplies are under increasing pressure. 

The idea of drinking water that was once swirling down your toilet bowl or kitchen sink may make you feel squeamish, but it could hold the key to future water security. 

University of Sydney Professor Stuart Khan explains the promise of purified recycled water, and how it can future-proof water supplies in a thirsty nation prone to drought. 

When Sophie Gee’s husband was suddenly rushed to hospital, her life was plunged into uncertainty.  

Amid the chaos, she discovered a surprising source of strength: her study of classic literature, and in particular, the works of Jane Austen. 

Sophie, who was Associate Chair of the English Department at Princeton until she came to the University of Sydney as a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow, says stories have made her more resilient. “Lit...

“If you’re going to have a breakdown, try not to have it in a top secret secure naval dockyard.” 

You might know Alastair Campbell as the formidable former press secretary of British prime minister Tony Blair and co-host of popular podcast The Rest is Politics. 

But back in 1996, when Alastair was a high-flying tabloid journalist, his mind suddenly unravelled. “I was hearing voices and seeing things that weren’t there.” 

Alastair t...

If you had a clone of yourself, what would you want it to do? 

Professor Danny Liu pictures a classroom in the not-too-distant future where teachers work alongside AI ‘clones’ to help their students learn. 

“It’s not about replacing them as teachers. It’s about empowering them and making them more effective.” 

The role of artificial intelligence in education has been hotly debated, with concerns about cheating creating headlines. B...

If you go into your backyard right now, you’ll be able to find a species of insect that is new to science. Tanya Latty guarantees it – even if you live in the inner city. 

Tanya has loved creepy crawlies since she was little, and is now an entomologist at the University of Sydney. “You would be surprised how many things we don't know. There are all sorts of critters, most of which are probably unidentified.”  

But around the world,...