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 effortlessly spanning fiction, non-fiction and reportage, his work is characterised by big picture thinking with an unwavering drive to bring the climate crisis into stark focus.

These qualities are on display in his captivating new novel, Ghost-Eye, a story that begins in mid-century Calcutta, with a child who claims to remember a past life and leaps to contemporary Brooklyn, where a middle-aged antiquarian is drawn into investigating a family mystery. As the two seemingly unrelated stories converge, Ghosh crafts a narrative that offers a powerful meditation on fate, meaning and the awakening of wonder.

Ghosh sits down with Sreedhevi Iyer to discuss his latest novel, what it means to write about the climate breakdown and his remarkable career to date.

Featured music is 'No One There' by Ava Low.

The official bookseller was Readings.

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&rsquo;s most celebrated writers. With a career effortlessly spanning fiction, non-fiction and reportage, his work is characterised by big picture thinking with an unwavering drive to bring the climate crisis into stark focus.
These qualities are on display in his captivating new novel, Ghost-Eye, a story that begins in mid-century Calcutta, with a child who claims to remember a past life and leaps to contemporary Brooklyn, where a middle-aged antiquarian is drawn into investigating a family mystery. As the two seemingly unrelated stories converge, Ghosh crafts a narrative that offers a powerful meditation on fate, meaning and the awakening of wonder.
Ghosh sits down with Sreedhevi Iyer to discuss his latest novel, what it means to write about the climate breakdown and his remarkable career to date.
Featured music is 'No One There' by Ava Low. The official bookseller was Readings.

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Amitav Ghosh in Conversation

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 Centre in partnership with RMIT University.

When Jimmy Wales founded Wikipedia more than two decades ago, he changed the landscape of knowledge forever – although at the time, almost no one realised it. Today, Wikipedia draws 11 billion monthly views in the English language alone.

In the current ‘post-truth’ era, the internet is a sea of disinformation, the rise of AI threatens to erode hard-won knowledge and facts are increasingly malleable. In his new book, The Seven Rules of Trust, Wales shows us that it's more important than ever to return to the problem at the heart of it all: that without trust, we have no knowledge. And without knowledge, we can't fight back.

In this fascinating edition of The Fifth Estate, Wales sits down with host Sally Warhaft to discuss the importance of trust in our online and offline communities, how Wikipedia evolved into one of the internet’s most reputable sources of information and shares his optimistic take on the future.

The official bookseller was Hill of Content.

Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

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&rsquo;s most reputable sources of information. With host Sally Warhaft. Originally presented on Wednesday 20 May 2026 by The Wheeler Centre in partnership with RMIT University. When Jimmy Wales founded Wikipedia more than two decades ago, he changed the landscape of knowledge forever &ndash; although at the time, almost no one realised it. Today, Wikipedia draws 11 billion monthly views in the English language alone. In the current &lsquo;post-truth&rsquo; era, the internet is a sea of disinformation, the rise of AI threatens to erode hard-won knowledge and facts are increasingly malleable. In his new book, The Seven Rules of Trust, Wales shows us that it's more important than ever to return to the problem at the heart of it all: that without trust, we have no knowledge. And without knowledge, we can't fight back. In this fascinating edition of The Fifth Estate, Wales sits down with host Sally Warhaft to discuss the importance of trust in our online and offline communities, how Wikipedia evolved into one of the internet&rsquo;s most reputable sources of information and shares his optimistic take on the future. The official bookseller was Hill of Content. Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

Jimmy Wales: Founder of Wikipedia

Beloved humourist Kathy Lette joins host Elizabeth McCarthy to discuss her big-hearted, cheeky and deeply relatable novel, The Sisterhood Rules. 

Originally presented on Wednesday 25th March 2026 by The Wheeler Centre.

Full of laugh-out-loud humour and flashes of devastating pathos, Kathy Lette’s The Sisterhood Rules is a romp through secrets, scandal and the unbreakable – if occasionally exasperated – bonds of sisterhood. Twin sisters Isabel and Verity have always been inseparable – until Verity has an affair with Izzy's husband, leaving them hopelessly estranged. But when their mother goes missing, Verity and Izzy are forced to reunite to find her. From there, the problems only get bigger: their mother has a new younger lover and where there's a will … he'd clearly like to be in it. Can the sisters stop their mother from making a truly terrible mistake? And, while they’re at it, can they salvage their own relationship from the rubble?

The official bookseller was Hill of Content Bookshop.

Featured music is 'Lucy's Trail (Don't Give Up)' by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist.

Beloved humourist Kathy Lette joins host Elizabeth McCarthy to discuss her big-hearted, cheeky and deeply relatable novel, The Sisterhood Rules.&nbsp;
Originally presented on Wednesday 25th March 2026 by The Wheeler Centre. Full of laugh-out-loud humour and flashes of devastating pathos, Kathy Lette&rsquo;s The Sisterhood Rules is a romp through secrets, scandal and the unbreakable &ndash; if occasionally exasperated &ndash; bonds of sisterhood.&nbsp;Twin sisters Isabel and Verity have always been inseparable &ndash; until Verity has an affair with Izzy's husband, leaving them hopelessly estranged. But when their mother goes missing, Verity and Izzy are forced to reunite to find her. From there, the problems only get bigger: their mother has a new younger lover and where there's a will &hellip; he'd clearly like to be in it. Can the sisters stop their mother from making a truly terrible mistake? And, while they&rsquo;re at it, can they salvage their own relationship from the rubble?
The official bookseller was Hill of Content Bookshop.
Featured music is 'Lucy's Trail (Don't Give Up)' by Sarah, the Illstrumentalist.

Kathy Lette: The Sisterhood Rules

Acclaimed British journalist Emily Maitlis reflects on a remarkable career at the forefront of global news, sharing insights and behind-the-scenes stories from some of the world’s most explosive headlines. With host Sally Warhaft. 

Originally presented on Thursday 5 March 2026 by The Wheeler Centre.

Over a decades-long career, Maitlis has covered everything from the Paris terror attacks and the Grenfell fires to Brexit, interviewing everyone from prime ministers and presidents to Nobel laureates and Hollywood stars.

She is perhaps best known for her 2019 interview with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – then Prince Andrew, Duke of York – regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The four-hour conversation was widely credited with prompting Mountbatten-Windsor to relinquish his honorary military titles, royal patronages and ultimately resign from public duties.

Maitlis recounts the world-changing events she has witnessed, as well as the bust-ups, blow-ups, scoops, walk-outs and unexpected triumphs that come with making – and breaking – the news. 

The official bookseller was Readings. 

Featured music is 'Living in a Fantasy' by Pulsed.

Acclaimed British journalist Emily Maitlis reflects on a remarkable career at the forefront of global news, sharing insights and behind-the-scenes stories from some of the world&rsquo;s most explosive headlines. With host Sally Warhaft. Originally presented on Thursday 5 March 2026 by The Wheeler Centre. Over a decades-long career, Maitlis has covered everything from the Paris terror attacks and the Grenfell fires to Brexit, interviewing everyone from prime ministers and presidents to Nobel laureates and Hollywood stars. She is perhaps best known for her 2019 interview with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor &ndash; then Prince Andrew, Duke of York &ndash; regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The four-hour conversation was widely credited with prompting Mountbatten-Windsor to relinquish his honorary military titles, royal patronages and ultimately resign from public duties. Maitlis recounts the world-changing events she has witnessed, as well as the bust-ups, blow-ups, scoops, walk-outs and unexpected triumphs that come with making &ndash; and breaking &ndash; the news. The official bookseller was Readings. Featured music is 'Living in a Fantasy' by Pulsed.

Amitav Ghosh in Conversation

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