Lifestyle

Impact brings you compelling stories, inspiring research, and big ideas from ACU. It's about the impact we’re having on our communities, and our Mission in action. It’s a practical resource for career, life and study.

At ACU it’s education, but not as you know it. We stand up for people in need, and causes that matter.

If you have a story idea or just want to say hello, do contact us.

Copyright@ Australian Catholic University 1998-2024 | ABN 15 050 192 660 CRICOS registered provider: 00004G | PRV12008

Human Matters

Human Matters


Human Matters brings you the latest research insights on history, society, politics and more from humanities researchers at Australian Catholic University. From Trump and populism, to discussions on women's safety, why we love music and more, we bring you new research to expand your mind and challenge your thinking.

Human Matters is available to download from the iTunes store or at Podbean.

Episode 1 | Season 1

Populism explosion

Populist politics is booming from Trump to Brexit, Spain to South America. Politics academic Dr Ben Moffitt explains a phenomenon that doesn't obey the rules of engagement and threatens democracy as we know it.

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Episode 2 | Season 1

Fostering better childhoods

Removing children from their parents is always a tough call but what happens next is equally difficult. Historian Dr Nell Musgrove questions how much foster care has really improved since the days of Victorian paternalism and the stolen generation.

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Episode 3 | Season 1

Soldiers history forgot

The hidden histories of Australia’s military are coming to light as LGBTI and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women tell their stories. Historian Associate Professor Noah Riseman explores the experience of minorities in the armed services and their far-reaching effects on social change.

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Episode 4 | Season 1

Tea and revolution

Long before contemporary feminism, forward-thinking church ladies' groups abandoned the flower roster to fight for birth control, sex education and women's safety. Historian Dr Ellen Warne reveals the work of these unsung pioneers.

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Episode 5 | Season 1

Gold as a global magnet

Contemporary issues such as globalisation, the rise of communications technology and mass can be traced back to the mass movements sparked by 19th Century gold rushes. Historian Dr Benjamin Mountford explains how gold changed the world. 

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Episode 6 | Season 1

The universal sound of music

Music exists in every culture and every period of history. Composer and music education expert Professor Tim McKenry explores why music is so pervasive and powerful and how we can make the most of it in our contemporary lives.

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Episode 7 | Season 1

Reform and revolution in Iran

Iran is the world's largest and most powerful theocracy but 40 years after it became an Islamic Republic, there are cracks in the fundamentalist regime. Politics and international relations expert Dr Naser Ghobadzadeh explains what's really going on beneath the surface in Iran.

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Episode 8 | Season 1

Is nationalism a dirty word? 

Nationalism doesn’t have to be a dirty word. Sociologist Dr Rachel Busbridge argues we need to reclaim the idea of nationalism before it becomes the sole province of flag waving ideologues or racists. 

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Impact brings you compelling stories, inspiring research, and big ideas from ACU. It's about the impact we’re having on our communities, and our Mission in action. It’s a practical resource for career, life and study.

At ACU it’s education, but not as you know it. We stand up for people in need, and causes that matter.

If you have a story idea or just want to say hello, do contact us.

Copyright@ Australian Catholic University 1998-2024 | ABN 15 050 192 660 CRICOS registered provider: 00004G | PRV12008