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 Wheeler Centre in partnership with RMIT University.

Drawing wisdom from an array of thinkers and artists, including Plato, Simone Weil, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas Aquinas and even Radiohead, Stan Grant’s expansive and philosophical new book When Words Fail Us invites readers to reconsider the meaning and necessity of silence in an age of noise, speed and relentless distraction.

Written after stepping away from public life, the book explores how words can fail to meet the moment in the context of Australia’s history, identity and political division. Grant offers a rare insight into how the power of listening can lead to connection, compassion and love.

Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

The official bookseller was Hill of Content.

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 Wheeler Centre in partnership with RMIT University.
Drawing wisdom from an array of thinkers and artists, including Plato, Simone Weil, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas Aquinas and even Radiohead, Stan Grant&rsquo;s expansive and philosophical new book When Words Fail Us invites readers to reconsider the meaning and necessity of silence in an age of noise, speed and relentless distraction.
Written after stepping away from public life, the book explores how words can fail to meet the moment in the context of Australia&rsquo;s history, identity and political division. Grant offers a rare insight into how the power of listening can lead to connection, compassion and love.
Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.
The official bookseller was Hill of Content.

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The Wheeler Centre

Stan Grant: When Words Fail Us

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 gladiatorial arena powered by an addictive mix of anger and entertainment. As a result, we’re being driven apart: our politics more extreme and empathy on the decline, while those who know how to game the outrage economy for clicks only become more powerful and influential.

In this illuminating in-conversation, pioneer communications expert and the strategist behind GetUp! – Australia's first major online political movement – Ed Coper sits down to unmask the architects of this new power. From manosphere gurus and tech oligarchs to political demagogues and corporate giants, he reveals how social media has evolved into an outrage machine that feeds on scandals, spectacle, extremism and notoriety to bait us into constant engagement.

Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

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 &ndash; it&rsquo;s a gladiatorial arena powered by an addictive mix of anger and entertainment. As a result, we&rsquo;re being driven apart: our politics more extreme and empathy on the decline, while those who know how to game the outrage economy for clicks only become more powerful and influential.
In this illuminating in-conversation, pioneer communications expert and the strategist behind GetUp! &ndash; Australia's first major online political movement &ndash; Ed Coper sits down to unmask the architects of this new power. From manosphere gurus and tech oligarchs to political demagogues and corporate giants, he reveals how social media has evolved into an outrage machine that feeds on scandals, spectacle, extremism and notoriety to bait us into constant engagement.
Featured music is 'Different Days' by Chill Cole.

Ed Coper: Angertainment

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.

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.

Stan Grant: When Words Fail Us

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