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What are you afraid of? What scares you? And how do you overcome that fear? We are all stopped in our tracks by something - and it’s a real problem. On the podcast this week, we're joined by journalist and host of ABC News Breakfast, Lisa Millar. Lisa has faced a number of fears over the years, including a fear of flying following a bad experience on a plane. In this conversation we also talk about the dangers associated with being a foreign correspondent, and much more. Lisa Millar’s memoir is called Daring to Fly, and you can also find Lisa on Instagram @LisaMillarTV. Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

The world is a bit of a mess at the moment. We’ve been stuck indoors for months, been robbed of human interaction, and who knows when we’ll next be able to travel internationally. We miss the freedoms that come with socialising without risk, and in many ways, the world feels less fun, and more negative, than it used to be. So, what shall we do about fun? Joining the podcast to discuss this question is musician Ben Lee, who has been spreading positivity through his music for years. Ben has just moved back to Australia, recently appeared on The Masked Singer, and released a new single, Born For This Bulls***. Ben shares about his career, dealing with trolls, and how we can push through the hard stuff to find fun. Ben’s new album I’m Fun releases in June 2022, and you can find Ben on Twitter @BenLeeMusic and Instagram @BenLeeMusic. Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

This podcast has always aimed to fix the world’s less pressing problems, but 72 episodes in, it’s time for a shake up. I’ve always wanted to look at the issue of climate change, because here in Australia, not enough is being done about it. Someone who has been quite vocal about the issue, with a lived experience of its effects, is Dr. Anika Molesworth. Anika moved to a sheep station outside of Broken Hill when she was 12, just as the Millennium Drought hit. She witnessed firsthand the way in which her surroundings changed, becoming dry, and with challenges of heat waves and dust storms. Anika’s new book Our Sunburnt Country is a hope-filled story of her life, and shares that we can indeed make a difference despite the enormity of the challenge. We discuss plenty in this challenging, yet hopeful chat. Anika’s new book is Our Sunburnt Country, and you can find Anika on Twitter @AnikaMolesworth. Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

The danger of smoking has become far more evident around the world in recent years - though did you realise smoking wasn’t banned in any workplace or indoor venue in Australia until the early 1990s? In more recent years, the European Parliament has banned traditional menthol cigarettes, but alternatives such as e-cigarettes and vaping have grown in popularity. But here’s a statistic for you: of the 57 million people who die around the world each year, 8 million are due to Big Tobacco. That’s 14 per cent. Clearly, it’s still a problem. Joining this episode is writer and filmmaker John Safran. His latest book, Puff Piece, investigates how makers of Marlboro - Philip Morris - have redefined themselves as the future of cigarettes is up in the air. And as John explains, not is all as it seems. John Safran’s new book Puff Piece is available now. John can also be found on Twitter @JohnSafran. Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

For the season finale of this podcast, the incredible Skye-Blue Henderson joins us to discuss disability. Skye-Blue competed on this year’s edition of The Amazing Race Australia - making it through 20 legs of the race with her brother Jake, and proved to Australia that she can do anything - despite being born with no left hand. In this conversation, Skye-Blue shares about being underestimated, and how she doesn't believe in the word 'disability'. No doubt you'll find this conversation inspiring, and hopefully you'll leave challenged to make a change in the way you perceive others. Skye-Blue Henderson is on Instagram @skyeblueh. Read more about Skye-Blue: Reality TV shows Big Brother, The Voice and The Amazing Race helping to 'crush' stigma around disability (ABC News). And that brings us to the end of another season of What Shall We Do About...?. If you missed any episodes, there's 70 of them to go back and enjoy. Hopefully we'll be back with new conversations at some time in the near future. In the meantime, shoot me an email and share any feedback you may have! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

When we draw lines at different generations, it's easy to make comparisons of experience. We might look at Baby Boomers and wish we could have grown up in a time where houses were more affordable. We might look at younger generations and think that they have it so much easier, growing up in a world where they’ll never have to look up basic information in a paper encyclopedia. Ashley Fell is a social researcher, and Director of Advisory at McCrindle Research. Together with Mark McCrindle, she has written a brand new book: Generation Alpha: Understanding Our Children and Helping Them Thrive. Ashley joins this episode to talk about Generation Alpha and how they fit together with other generations, whether it’s helpful to create generalisations about generations, and how we can better understand those who may have grown up at different times to us. Ashley Fell is on Twitter @AshFelll, and her new book is Generation Alpha, which is out now. Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

Museums are a fascinating place to visit, especially on a school excursion or on a rainy day. But behind the glass, and the velvet ropes, what stories really lie behind the artefacts? Are the plaques telling an honest, truthful account of history? TV host and podcaster Marc Fennell returns to What Shall We Do About...? for the first time in nearly two years. His podcast series for the ABC, Stuff the British Stole, burst onto the podcast charts late in 2020 and delves into a number of museum-held items and their histories. In this conversation, we talk about the making of Marc’s podcast, whether cancel culture should exist within the walls of the museum, and how we should best respond to what’s on display. You can hear season one of Stuff the British Stole on the ABC Listen app, or wherever you get your podcasts. Marc Fennell is on Twitter @MarcFennell and Instagram @MarcFennell. Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

There aren’t many worse feelings in the world than that of a broken heart. Breakups suck - they’re often messy, painful, and disorientating. And yet, we all experience heartbreak at some time in our lives. So why isn’t heartbreak seen as a real form of grief, instead relegated to montage sequences in film where characters mope around the house, eating ice cream straight from the tub? Journalist and podcaster Jessie Stephens has experienced more than her fair share of heartbreak, which moved her to write a non-fiction book called Heartsick: Three Stories about Love and Loss, and what Happens in Between. It’s a fascinating, and devastating read - and intrigued me so much I wanted to get Jessie on the podcast, to ask, what shall we do about heartbreak? Heartsick by Jessie Stephens is out now. You can find Jessie on Instagram @jessiestephens90. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

If you take a walk around your suburb or town, it’s likely you’ll see redevelopment in one form or another. In fact, many would argue that the look of most suburbs has changed dramatically in the last decade or so, and grief is often shared that character of buildings and dwellings is lost to redevelopment, and it's mostly due to money. Tim 'Rosso' Ross is a comedian and design nerd, and has filmed a number of specials about architecture for the ABC. In this conversation, we discuss classic Australian design being lost to redevelopment, the issues around heritage listing, and more. Tim Ross is on Instagram @Modernister, and you can see more of Tim’s passion for architecture and design at timross.com.au. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

Hospitals are never a place that we want to spend a whole lot of time at. Unless, of course, we require urgent medical attention - in that case they are exactly the place to be. Mostly though, it’s a place of sickness and sadness, a place of pain and painful waits. A place where staff are stretched, especially as they deal with the added pressure of a pandemic. So, what shall we do about hospitals? Georgie Carroll spent years working as a nurse in public hospitals around the world, before switching gears and launching into the world of comedy. She’s just released her first book, Off the Charts, which is a memoir of her time working as a nurse. In this conversation we talk about nursing, comedy, and what can be done to improve our hospitals. Georgie Carroll’s book Off the Charts is out now. Georgie is on Instagram @nurse_georgie_carroll, and you can find out more about Georgie and her upcoming shows at georgiecarroll.com. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

While we usually tackle the world's less-pressing issues, this one is a biggie, especially here in Australia. Poker machines are commonplace in Australia - found in pubs, clubs and casinos. In fact, 20% of the world's pokies are found in Australia. They are designed to be addictive, and 15 billion dollars is lost to them every single year. So why are they legal, especially when these machines cause so much harm? Is it because we’re simply a betting nation, or is there more at play? The Reverend Tim Costello has been working hard to bring the truth about pokies to light for decades. Tim now serves as the Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, and talks on this episode about the history of poker machines, the damage that they do, and the threats he’s received along the way for being so outspoken. Rev. Tim Costello is on Twitter @TimCostello, and you can find out more about the work of the Alliance for Gambling Reform at pokiesplayyou.org.au. And if you or someone you know needs help, you can call the Gambling Help Hotline in Australia on 1800 858 858. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

If you’re a fan of musicals, you’ve probably found the past year pretty tough. Broadway, The West End all shut down because crowds can’t gather - and it’s only in recent months that Australia has begun staging musicals with theatres at full capacity. So, what shall we do about musicals, and do we need to rethink the way they are created? One such example of ingenuity happened during the pandemic, when TikTok users around the world teamed up to crowdsource create an unofficial musical based on the 2007 Disney Pixar film Ratatouille, Ratatousical. One of those Tik Tok users is Gabbi Bolt - who wrote a song from her home in Bathurst, Australia. In this episode, Gabbi shares the experience of becoming an overnight musical composer, and where she sees the future of musicals headed. Gabbi Bolt is on TikTok as @FettuccineFettuqueen, as well as Instagram @GabbiBoltOfficial. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

Do you dream of owning an electric vehicle? Imagine - to live in a world where you never have to fill up at the petrol station, or worry about changing petrol prices - all the while knowing your trip is having less of an impact on the environment. When you look around the world, it’s clear that electric vehicles - or EVs - are the future of transportation, but here in Australia at least, things are moving slowly. I was quite struck recently reading an article in The Saturday Paper by journalist Kurt Johnson called ‘Australia missing out on EVs’. In it, Kurt claims that Australia has all the advantages in the world to manufacture electric vehicles, and yet it just isn’t happening. Kurt happily joined me on this episode to discuss electric vehicles, the technology and minerals required to build them, and whether I'll ever be able to afford an EV here in Australia. Kurt Johnson is on Twitter @kujo4pm, and his article about electric vehicles is in the April 10 2021 edition of The Saturday Paper. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this show, please follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

For many decades, game shows have been a magnet in homes around the world - as families gathered around television sets after or during dinner. But what proves popular is ever changing, and at least here in Australia, game shows have all but disappeared from primetime. So, what shall we do about game shows? Will they ever gain the fame and attention that they once did? My guest this week is Claire McNear, a writer at sports and pop culture website The Ringer. Claire has just released a book about the long-running American television show Jeopardy!, and was able to share plenty of insights into not only the history (and scandals) of game shows, but also the obsession that still exists among fans of the format. Claire McNear’s book Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider’s Guide to Jeopardy! is out now. Claire is also on Twitter @ClaireMcNear. If you enjoyed this episode, you might enjoy our previous episode on Trivia with Cheryl Toh from The Chase Australia. Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed it, please follow us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

Since the dawn of time, people have been setting world records. Well - at least since Guinness World Records claimed the right to adjudicate such matters. There’s always been something alluring about holding a world record: to claim that you can be the best person on earth at something. And yet, in more recent years, the world record has lost its sheen. More trivial records have become more common, businesses and brands have sought the glory more than individuals, and questions have been raised over why Guinness are the gatekeepers. So, what shall we do about world records? Comedian and Podcaster Cameron James has always been fascinated by world records, and has even investigated one that didn’t appear that it could be true on the ABC podcast Finding Desperado. I connected with Cameron to talk about his discoveries, as well as the process required to actually gain a world record, which is both surprising and controversial. Cameon James is on Twitter @iamcameronjames and you can hear his World Record investigation in the ABC podcast Finding Desperado. Thanks for listening to the show, I'm genuinely thankful that you did. If you enjoyed it, please hit 'subscribe' on Apple Podcasts, or 'follow' on Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

The world of Virtual Reality has dominated tech news headlines over the last decade. By simply strapping on some goggles, a user can be transported anywhere: to a simulated experience like the real world or not. But so far, this technology is yet to be perfected, has caused a number of health and safety concerns, and it hasn’t taken off as its creators would have hoped. Elle Graham, also known as Melbourne artist and producer Woodes, has engaged with virtual reality in what she believes is a world first. Not only has she released her debut album, Crystal Ball, but she’s also built the complete album virtually into the game Minecraft. I invited Woodes on to the podcast to discuss virtual reality, and the process of working with an online community to turn music into a visual virtual world. Woodes’ debut album Crystal Ball is out now, and you can keep up with her work at @WoodesMusic on Instagram, and at woodesmusic.com. The article mentioned in this episode is 'What Went Wrong With Virtual Reality?' by Eleanor Lawrie at the BBC. Thanks for listening to the show, I'm genuinely thankful that you did. If you enjoyed it, please hit 'subscribe' on Apple Podcasts, or 'follow' on Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

Of all the sports that are played across Australia, soccer can’t manage to rise to the top. For so long, the soccer has sat in the shadow of more popular sports including cricket, Australian rules football, and rugby league. The A-League has improved things, but there's still a long way to go until the code is as popular as it is overseas, where it is known not as ‘soccer’, but ‘football’. So, what shall we do about soccer? Liam Stapleton, one half of Nova’s Ben & Liam, is a huge soccer fan, and joined me to chat about some of the issues with the sport, and how we might be able to increase its popularity. Liam can be heard on Ben & Liam, on Nova 919 in Adelaide, and nationally on Sundays. Find him on Instagram @liamstapleton. Thanks for listening to the show, I'm genuinely thankful that you did. If you enjoyed it, please hit 'subscribe' on Apple Podcasts, or 'follow' on Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

Happy New Year! If you managed to get a break, did you spend some time reading a book? Whether it’s leafing through a novel at the beach, or finally getting to that pile of books on your bedside table - the December to January period is peak reading time. But how can you keep a reading habit going beyond holidays, and well into the year? And if you’ve never been much of a reader, where is a good place to start? Nat Amoore is a children’s author who also hosts One More Page - a podcast uncovering the best in kid’s literature. I connected with Nat to find out the best ways to form a reading habit, and why reading is such a good thing to be doing, no matter how old you might be. Nat Amoore’s latest book The Power of Positive Pranking is out now, and you can see more of Nat’s work at natamoore.com. Nat is also on Twitter at @Nat_Amoore. Thanks for listening to the show, I'm genuinely thankful that you did. If you enjoyed it, please hit 'subscribe' on Apple Podcasts, or 'follow' on Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

2020 is just days away from being over. A year where we experienced lockdowns, isolation, job losses, and for many of us, the loss of loved ones. A year where making plans was near impossible. So, what shall we do about 2020? With many of us writing the year off as the worst ever, can we glean anything positive from the experience? To answer that question, this bumper episode features two return guests whose years have been majorly disrupted, with ruined plans leading to a real need to adapt. Playwright Melanie Tait shares what happened when her play A Broadcast Coup was shut down, and broadcaster Tali Aualiitia discusses whether she could complete her year of 'no new clothes', and whether panic buying a sewing machine aided her time in Stage 4 Lockdown in Melbourne. Melanie Tait is on Twitter @MelanieTait, and if you’re yet to hear her previous episode on Plays, click here. Tali Aualiitia is on Twitter @TaliAualiitia, and if you’re yet to hear her previous episode on Fashion, click here. If you’ve had a tough year, know there’s always someone who will listen at Lifeline - 13 11 14. Thanks for listening to the show, I'm genuinely thankful that you did. If you enjoyed it, please hit 'subscribe' on Apple Podcasts, or 'follow' on Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.

Do you own a watch? And if so, is it on your wrist, or in sitting a drawer somewhere? As this podcast looks to solve the world’s less pressing problems - this week we ask the question, what shall we do about watches? According to Guinness World Records, the timepiece jewellery was first invented in 1868, but more recently there’s been a decline in popularity because we all carry around phones with clocks on it (that also provide no risk of the dreaded watch tan). To go deeper on the history, and future, of the watch, I caught up with comedian and writer Sami Shah, who is a big fan, and collector, of the wristwatch. Sami is on Twitter @SamiShah and you can see more of Sami’s work at thesamishah.com. Further Reading: Twelve Easily Avoided Mistakes New Watch Enthusiasts Make, Bloomberg How Apple Killed the Swiss Watch Industry, Forbes Thanks for listening to the show, I'm genuinely thankful that you did. If you enjoyed it, please hit 'subscribe' on Apple Podcasts, or 'follow' on Spotify to get new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating and review really does help get the word out, so feel free to do so! Connect with the show: Instagram: @whatshallwedopodFacebook: @whatshallwedopodTwitter: @whatshallwepodEmail: whatshallwedopod@gmail.com What Shall We Do About...? is hosted and produced by Sam Robinson, who is on Twitter @samsquareeyes.