The Wheeler Centre
The Wheeler Centre
Subscribe to the Wheeler Centre's podcast to hear full recordings of our talks, featuring the best in books, writing and ideas from Melbourne, Australia.Social links:
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Stephen Fishbach: Escape!
What happens when the promise of reinvention collides with the ruthless machinery of reality television? Drawing on his own experience as a two-time Survivor contestant, Stephen Fishbach’s sharply observed novel Escape! follows a washed-up reality television star and a disgraced producer, each cha…
56:42
Kate Grenville: A Mystery in 88 Letters
Hear from one of the country’s most acclaimed authors, Kate Grenville, on her dazzling new work of non-fiction – a colonial-era cold case that’s part locked-room mystery, part captivating exploration of a writer's imagination navigating the blurred boundaries between fact and possibility. The Coun…
47:33
Geetanjali Shree in Conversation
India’s great chronicler of memory, family, identity and belonging sits down with host Mridula Nath Chakraborty to discuss her luminous, genre-defying books and extraordinary literary career. Originally presented on Wednesday 12 August 2026 by The Wheeler Centre. ‘Anything worth doing transcends…
42:26
Cory Doctorow: Enshittification
Tech critic Cory Doctorow on the broken promise of the utopian internet, the systems that sustain it and what it might take to reclaim a more open digital future. With host Professor Lisa M. Given, Director, Centre for Human-AI Information Environments at RMIT University. Originally presented on …
1:09:15
The 2026 E.W. Cole Lecture: Alice Pung on Keeping Calm and Carrying On
What does it take to keep showing up to the blank page? Award-winning author Alice Pung offers reasons for optimism in this year’s E. W. Cole Lecture. Originally presented on Thursday 6 August 2026 by The Wheeler Centre, supported by the E. W. Cole Foundation. Two decades ago, Alice Pung publish…
31:36
Mick Herron: Slough House and Slow Horses
An unmissable episode for Slow Horses fans, writer Mick Herron unveils the next instalment in his phenomenally successful Slough House series with host Jason Steger. Originally presented on Thursday 21 May 2026 by The Wheeler Centre in partnership with RMIT University. Spies lie. They betray. It…
54:34
Stan Grant: When Words Fail Us
Hear from acclaimed author and broadcaster Stan Grant in this special edition of The Fifth Estate as he reflects on the fragility of words and why contemplation and philosophy matter in an era of increasing division, with host Sally Warhaft. Originally presented on Tuesday 16 July 2026 by The Whee…
1:02:51
Ed Coper: Angertainment
Ed Coper explains how angertainment has co-opted our social media feeds and taken over our lives, in conversation with Sushi Das. Originally presented on Wednesday 24 June 2026 by The Wheeler Centre and supported by RMIT University. Social media is no longer a platform for connection – it’s a gla…
45:41
Amitav Ghosh in Conversation
Celebrated writer and thinker Amitav Ghosh explores rebirth, regeneration and the cycles of life with host Dr Sreedhevi Iyer. Originally presented on Wednesday 27 May by The Wheeler Centre in partnership with RMIT University. Amitav Ghosh is one of India’s most celebrated writers. With a career e…
41:07
Jimmy Wales: Founder of Wikipedia
Hear from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales as he discusses the importance of trust in our online and offline communities and how Wikipedia evolved into one of the internet’s most reputable sources of information. With host Sally Warhaft. Originally presented on Wednesday 20 May 2026 by The Wheeler C…
1:10:00