Podcast
John Anderson: Conversations
Hosted by John Anderson · EN
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia John Anderson sits down with world-leading historians, economists, politicians, and thinkers to examine the ideas shaping our society. Drawing on decades at the highest levels of government, John brings rare depth and civility to conversations that mainstream media won't have.
This podcast covers everything from Australia's political future to faith, freedom, and the fragility of Western democracy. Thoughtful, rigorous, and genuinely independent.
19episodes
Episodes
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Suicidal Empathy Is Destroying The West | Gad Saad
1w ago01:16:09Tap to summarizeProfessor Gad Saad argues that empathy directed at the wrong targets becomes a tool of civilisational self-destruction, and that every idea enabling this collapse was spawned on a university campus. Drawing on his own experience fleeing Lebanon as a Jewish child, Saad examines Britain's grooming gang scandal, the pathologisation of masculinity, and the incoherence of Queers for Palestine, noting Gaza practises what he calls a gravity-based conversion therapy. He closes with a sobering prognosis: the auto-corrections exist, but the West currently lacks the fortitude to implement any of them.Gad Saad is a Lebanese-Canadian evolutionary behavioural scientist and professor of marketing at Concordia University in Montreal. Born in 1964 in Lebanon, he emigrated to Canada as a child. His academic work applies evolutionary psychology and Darwinian principles to consumer behaviour — he's a legitimate researcher with a substantial peer-reviewed publication record, not purely a public intellectual who drifted into academia. His public profile expanded dramatically through his podcast The Saad Truth, launched around 2014, and accelerated through his 2020 book The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense, which became a bestseller and cemented his position as a prominent voice in the anti-"woke" intellectual space.
Transcribe →Suicide of a Nation: Britain on the Brink of Collapse | Matt Goodwin
2w ago01:03:20Tap to summarizeIn this interview, author, political commentator and Reform UK candidate, Matt Goodwin joins John to unpack the impending collapse of the United Kingdom.Matt explains how a managerial class of politicians have embraced a worldview of 'suicidal empathy' resulting in mass migration.This unelected decision has increasingly come at the cost of English culture, economic security and ultimately the native population's very existence.Matt Goodwin is an academic, bestseller writer and speaker known for his work on political volatility, risk, populism, British politics, Europe, elections and Brexit. He recently contended in the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election for Reform UK. He runs one of UK's biggest Substacks at: https://www.mattgoodwin.org/.Visit John's new substack here: https://www.ourcivilisationalmoment.com/Matt's widely acclaimed new book, Suicide of a Nation, is available here:https://www.amazon.com.au/Suicide-Nation-Immigration-Islam-Identity/dp/1919401407Sign up to John's newsletter here: https://johnanderson.net.au/contact/
Transcribe →Beauty, Law and the Lies of Post-Modernism | Mark Fowler & Ian Callinan
4w ago01:05:57Tap to summarizeWhat makes Australia’s Constitution so effective, and why do so few people understand it? In this interview, Ian Callinan and Mark Fowler unpack the origins of our legal system, the role of philosophy in shaping law, and the importance of keeping power accountable.They also tackle modern challenges: the push for a Human Rights Act, the rise of postmodern thinking, and the growing tension between individual “truths” and objective justice. The result is a powerful discussion on the future of law, freedom, and society.Mark Fowler is an Adjunct Associate Professor at his alma mater, the University of New England School of Law, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame School of Law, Sydney. He is an Appeals Panel member for the Australian Council for International Development, the peak body for Australian non-government organisations (NGOs) involved in international development and humanitarian action. He is the author of Beauty and The Law.The Honourable Ian Callinan was appointed as a Justice of the High Court in February 1998. He remained a Justice of the High Court until 1 September 2007. He has mediated and arbitrated in an extensive range of commercial, energy, revenue, mining, construction, regulatory, IT and other disputes throughout Australia and overseas.
Transcribe →Betting The Farm On Renewables Will Ruin Australia | Derek Bush and Aidan Morrison
Apr 1701:11:44Tap to summarizeAidan Morrison and Derek Bush join John for a frank conversation about Australia's cumbersome renewable energy transition, and the real costs being borne by the communities expected to host it. They make the case that rural Australians are being overrun by a policy conceived in cities and imposed on regional areas, exposing the considerable gap between the government's 2030 targets and what the national grid can realistically deliver.This is a timely warning that Australia's energy policy is being driven by political ambition rather than engineering reality, and that the consequences will be felt by every Australian as power bills continue to rise.Aidan Morrison is a leading researcher into Energy Systems and currently the Director of Energy Research at the Centre for Independent Studies. In 2023 he exposed how the famous CSIRO report “GenCost” excluded vast costs required to integrate and firm renewables by treating them as “sunk” costs. In 2024 he was amongst the strongest voices calling for nuclear energy in Australia and was a leading critic of the ‘Integrated System Plan’ (or ISP): Australia’s blue-print for a transition to an energy system dominated by wind and solar. Derek Bush is a farmer from Bookham in southwest New South Wales, where his family has worked the land for many years, growing flowers and other produce. He has become an outspoken advocate for rural communities navigating the impacts of wind farm development and Australia's energy transition.
Transcribe →Former Japanese Ambassador: "Placating China Is A Recipe For Disaster" | Shingo Yamagami
Apr 1000:58:22Tap to summarizeFormer Japanese Ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami joins John for a frank conversation about the bilateral relationship between Japan and Australia. Yamagami makes the case that this relationship is essential to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region, especially in light of an assertive and expansionist China. The discussion calls for a refusal to cower beneath China’s authoritarian demands, while warning that Australia may not be adequately prepared for a potential conflict over Taiwan. Yamagami argues that internal political and economic pressures within China could create a dangerous window for them to take more aggressive action in the Indo-Pacific. This is a sobering reminder that Australia must renew its commitment to its allies and remain vigilant in protecting its sovereign capabilities.Shingo Yamagami is a Japanese diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Australia from December 2020 to April 2023. Yamagami worked in Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for four decades, also serving in Washington D.C., Hong Kong, Geneva and London. He is now the special advisor to the Japanese corporate law firm TMI Associates, and is the Senior Fellow of Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Transcribe →An Unholy Alliance: Islam and Progressives Will Topple The West
Apr 201:25:17Tap to summarizeIn this special episode for Easter, John is joined by Dr. Michael Youssef to explore the complexities of political Islam and its impact on the West, challenging viewers to move beyond superficial secular answers and confront the deep-seated belief systems that continue to shape the contemporary political landscape. Youssef critiques the 'unholy alliance' between Islamism and progressivism, suggesting that this is a relationship of convenience that will end in betrayal and threatens to destroy the West.The discussion examines the concept of 'third jihad', where democratic processes are being used to implement non-democratic legal codes such as Sharia law. It calls out the stark contrast between Islam and Christianity by examining their divergent views on power, the nature of God, and the foundation of human worth. Ultimately, this conversation is a call to rediscover our conviction in the Christian faith that originally gave birth to individual dignity and freedom.Dr. Michael Youssef is a pastor, bestselling author, and internationally respected Bible teacher of 50 years, whose Middle Eastern heritage and background as a cultural anthropologist have equipped him to serve Christ through the international ministry organisation, Leading The Way. Dr. Youssef is the author of a number of books, including An Unholy Alliance: How Progressivism Brought about an Islamist Invasion and Never Give Up: Holding Fast to Biblical Truth in Times of Danger and Despair.
Transcribe →Nothing Left In The Tank: Australia's Fuel And Food Crisis | Dr. John Coyne
Mar 2000:50:02Tap to summarizeDr. John Coyne joins John Anderson to provide a sobering assessment of why Australia has fallen behind its international peers in maintaining essential fuel reserves. They trace the history of global energy shocks to explain how current complacency regarding diesel and urea threatens the heartbeat of the Australian agricultural sector.The conversation considers the 'cascading risks' of the modern strategic environment and the limitations of current solutions like electrification for heavy farming machinery. This is a call for leaders to prioritise sovereign security and frank policy advice over populist convenience.Dr. John Coyne is the inaugural Director of ASPI’s National Security Program, overseeing ASPI’s Counter-Terrorism Policy Centre; Statecraft and Intelligence Policy Centre; Climate and Security Policy Centre, and Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement Policy Centre. He is the author of The Role of Strategic Intelligence in Law Enforcement and has published widely on policing, national security, northern Australia and organised crime.
Transcribe →Why the West Condemns Israel but Ignores Iranians | Brendan O'Neill
Mar 601:05:16Tap to summarizeIn this conversation, Brendan O’Neill joins John to discuss the global reaction to October 7 and what it reveals about the state of Western culture. They examine why protests and activism erupted across university campuses, how narratives about Israel spread rapidly through Western institutions, and why many of these institutions appeared to respond with hostility rather than solidarity.The discussion also explores the role of identity politics, social media, and shifting cultural attitudes in shaping Western democracies. O’Neill suggests that these reactions reflect a deeper loss of confidence within Western institutions in their own values and historical foundations. This is a thoughtful conversation that sheds light on the prevalence of anti-Semitism in the West.Brendan O’Neill is chief political writer and former editor of Spiked. He also a writes for TheAustralian and numerous other newspapers and magazines. His most recent book is After thePogrom: 7 October, Israel and the Crisis of Civilisation. He hosts The Brendan O’Neill Show.
Transcribe →Iran's Regime Change, Future & The End of the Rules-Based Order? | Rodger Shanahan
Mar 300:57:20Tap to summarizeRodger Shanahan joins John Anderson to examine the true objectives behind U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran. Is this about preventing a nuclear capability, dismantling Iran’s proxy network, or ultimately forcing regime change? Shanahan argues that while public messaging has been inconsistent, the rhetoric and targeting patterns increasingly point toward regime change — a strategic ambition with a poor historical record when pursued through air power alone.The discussion unpacks Iran’s ideological foundations, its history of foreign intervention, the erosion of its “forward defence” strategy, and the real limits of military precision in shaping political outcomes. From contested nuclear claims to the future of the rules-based order, this is a sober, strategic assessment of whether the world will emerge safer — or more unstable.Rodger Shanahan is a non-resident fellow at the Lowy Institute specialising in Middle East security and strategic affairs. He holds a PhD in Arab and Islamic Studies from the University of Sydney and is a former Australian Army officer with operational deployments to Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan and East Timor, as well as diplomatic postings to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He has also served as an expert witness in more than 30 Australian terrorism cases.
Transcribe →Australia: The World’s Most Bloated Bureaucracy | Mike Newman
Feb 2001:05:12Tap to summarizeJohn Anderson sits down with former NSW Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Mike Newman to examine the culture, size and direction of Australia’s modern public service. While both men acknowledge the vital role of capable public servants, they question whether the system has become bloated, inward-looking and detached from the realities faced by households and businesses. At a time of falling productivity and rising cost-of-living pressures, they ask whether the balance between administration and wealth creation has drifted out of alignment.The discussion moves beyond numbers to deeper questions of accountability, incentives and institutional culture. From regulatory overreach to major project failures, Newman argues that expansion has too often come without corresponding responsibility. Yet, he also highlights examples where strong leadership and a service-first mindset have delivered genuine reform. It is a serious, practical examination of how Australia governs itself, and what must change to restore discipline, effectiveness and public trust.Mike Newman has four decades of business experience in North Asia and served as NSW’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the region. He has written insightfully on many topics, and most recently on the problem of government bureaucracies.
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