Each year at the Melbourne International Film Festival, a panel of guests gather to dissect the highs and lows of the zeitgeist. 

Host Michael Sun, essayist and regular writer for the Guardian, is joined by actor and writer Maria Angelico, Chicago–based New York Magazine Vulture culture critic Angelica Jade Bastién and visiting Los Angeles Times film critic Amy Nicholson to discuss the most overrated, underrated and personal favourite moments in movies, TV, podcasts and books of the past 12 months. Hear hot takes, heated discussions and great recommendations to enjoy post-festival. 

Featured music is ‘Golden Hour’ by Sarah the Illstrumentalist.

Each year at the Melbourne International Film Festival, a panel of guests gather to dissect the highs and lows of the zeitgeist. Host Michael Sun, essayist and regular writer for the Guardian, is joined by actor and writer Maria Angelico, Chicago&ndash;based New York Magazine Vulture culture critic Angelica Jade Basti&eacute;n and visiting Los Angeles Times film critic Amy Nicholson to discuss the most overrated, underrated and personal favourite moments in movies, TV, podcasts and books of the past 12 months. Hear hot takes, heated discussions and great recommendations to enjoy post-festival.&nbsp;
Featured music is &lsquo;Golden Hour&rsquo; by Sarah the Illstrumentalist.

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.

The Wheeler Centre

Consuming Culture

Hear Omar El Akkad discuss his searing work, 'One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This' with host Tasneem Chopra.

Sparked by his viral tweet during the bombardment of Gaza – viewed over 10 million times – Omar El Akkad’s 'One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This' lays bare the fractures he has seen in the West’s empty promises of freedom and justice. 

In this timely session, the Egyptian-Canadian novelist and journalist reflects on how events like the Black Lives Matter protests, the escalating climate crisis and the violence in the Middle East have reshaped his understanding of migration, power and inequality and forced him to confront what it means to live in a West that has betrayed its fundamental values.  

Praised by Richard Flanagan as ‘a howl from the heart of our age’, El Akkad’s book explores exactly how the West has failed and offers hope for a way forward.

Originally presented on Wednesday 22 October 2025 by The Wheeler Centre.

The official bookseller was Amplify Bookstore.

Featured music is 'City Phases' by John Abbot.

Hear Omar El Akkad discuss his searing work, 'One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This' with host Tasneem Chopra.
Sparked by his viral tweet during the bombardment of Gaza &ndash; viewed over 10 million times &ndash; Omar El Akkad&rsquo;s 'One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This' lays bare the fractures he has seen in the West&rsquo;s empty promises of freedom and justice.&nbsp;
In this timely session, the Egyptian-Canadian novelist and journalist reflects on how events like the Black Lives Matter protests, the escalating climate crisis and the violence in the Middle East have reshaped his understanding of migration, power and inequality and forced him to confront what it means to live in a West that has betrayed its fundamental values.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Praised by Richard Flanagan as &lsquo;a howl from the heart of our age&rsquo;, El Akkad&rsquo;s book explores exactly how the West has failed and offers hope for a way forward.
Originally presented on Wednesday 22 October 2025 by The Wheeler Centre.
The official bookseller was Amplify Bookstore.
Featured music is 'City Phases' by John Abbot.

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This

Hear from Atlantic culture critic and Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer Sophie Gilbert as she discusses her new book 'Girl on Girl' with host Kate Jinx. They dive into the pop cultural forces of the late 1990s and Y2K era that shaped and warped women's relationships with themselves and other women. 

Casting her eye across pop culture of the past 30 years, she tackles everything from Madonna, the Spice Girls and the Kardashians, to MySpace, the #GirlBoss movement and The Simple Life. In this new book, Gilbert reveals the cultural forces that shaped a generation and laid the groundwork for the misogyny of today. 

In this conversation, Gilbert discusses how millennial pop culture twisted feminism into objectification, the insidious power of media narratives and the pervasive influence of porn, and her own experience of growing up during these defining decades.

Originally recorded on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at The Wheeler Centre.

The official bookseller was The Sun Bookshop.

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

Hear from Atlantic culture critic and Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer Sophie Gilbert as she discusses her new book 'Girl on Girl' with host Kate Jinx. They dive into the pop cultural forces of the late 1990s and Y2K era that shaped and warped women's relationships with themselves and other women. Casting her eye across pop culture of the past 30 years, she tackles everything from Madonna, the Spice Girls and the Kardashians, to MySpace, the #GirlBoss movement and The Simple Life. In this new book, Gilbert reveals the cultural forces that shaped a generation and laid the groundwork for the misogyny of today. In this conversation, Gilbert discusses how millennial pop culture twisted feminism into objectification, the insidious power of media narratives and the pervasive influence of porn, and her own experience of growing up during these defining decades. Originally recorded on Tuesday 21 October 2025 at The Wheeler Centre. The official bookseller was The Sun Bookshop. Featured music is 'No One There' by Ava Low.

Sophie Gilbert: Girl on Girl

After arriving in Australia as a refugee, Jelena Dokic shot to fame when she made the semi-finals of Wimbledon at just 17 years of age. But off the court, there were even greater challenges: from her struggles with mental health to surviving the abuse of her tennis coach father.   

In this special live recording of Australian Story, Dokic opens up to Leigh Sales about the details of her extraordinary life, from escaping war-torn Yugoslavia to becoming a Grand Slam finalist. She reflects on her past, from overcoming child abuse and domestic violence and explores the impact it had on her mental health. Despite the obstacles she faced, Jelena found a way to not only survive, but thrive – transforming her pain into power and purpose. She discovered her voice, built a successful career after tennis and ultimately found happiness.  

Hear Dokic speak with grace and honesty about her hard-won wisdom and the strength it takes to rise above hardship.

This event recorded on Thursday 18 September 2025 at The Edge, Federation Square. It was presented in partnership with the ABC.

The official bookseller was Readings.

Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

After arriving in Australia as a refugee, Jelena Dokic shot to fame when she made the semi-finals of Wimbledon at just 17 years of age. But off the court, there were even greater challenges: from her struggles with mental health to surviving the abuse of her tennis coach father.&nbsp; &nbsp;
In this special live recording of Australian Story, Dokic opens up to Leigh Sales about the details of her extraordinary life, from escaping war-torn Yugoslavia to becoming a Grand Slam finalist. She reflects on her past, from overcoming child abuse and domestic violence and explores the impact it had on her mental health. Despite the obstacles she faced, Jelena found a way to not only survive, but thrive &ndash; transforming her pain into power and purpose. She discovered her voice, built a successful career after tennis and ultimately found happiness.&nbsp; Hear Dokic speak with grace and honesty about her hard-won wisdom and the strength it takes to rise above hardship. This event recorded on Thursday 18 September 2025 at The Edge, Federation Square.&nbsp;It was presented in partnership with the ABC. The official bookseller was Readings.
Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

Consuming Culture

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