Afternoon Light

Amanda Laugesen on telling Australia's story through the evolution of our language: "Tell you something about the Australian psyche"

What can you tell about a country through the words it invents?
On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with lexicographer Amanda Laugesen to tell Australia's story in 100 words. From bushmen to Sheilas, and larrikins to wowsers, it will change your perspective on the Australian language and make you appreciate the uniqueness of our culture.
Amanda Laugesen is a historian, lexicographer, and author. She is director of the Australian National Dictionary Centre at ANU and chief editor of the Australian National Dictionary: Australian words and their origins. She has published extensively on US and Australian history. Her most recent book is Australia in 100 Words (2024).
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Xiaoxi Cui on understanding Menzies's approach to the Suez Crisis | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Xiaoxi Cui on the topic 'Suez and the shadow of the last war'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Molly Doran on the centrality of the family in Menzies's political philosophy | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Molly Doran on the topic 'Understanding families as homes human'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Ethan Westwood on Menzies's denunciation of 'false values' | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Ethan Westwood on the topic 'Beyond money, notoriety, applause'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Aryan Ilkhani on Menzies's conception of the Rule of Law | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Aryan Ilkhani on the topic 'Two conceptions of the rule of law'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Jamie Robbins on the formation of Menzies's Cabinets | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Jamie Robbins on the topic 'Shaping of the Cabinet'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Chantal Moore on Ancient lessons for modern democracy | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Chantal Moore on the topic 'Ancient lessons for modern democracy'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Fiona Duncan on the attempt to ban the 'Friends of the Soviet Union' | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Fiona Duncan on the topic 'Attorney-General versus Friends of the Soviet Union'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Charlie Hume on Robert Menzies's trips to America | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Charlie Hume on the topic 'A prime minister’s American odyssey'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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Axel Melkonian on post-war German immigration to Australia | Menzies Early Career Network

In this special series of the Afternoon Light podcast Georgina Downer speaks with participants from the Menzies Early Career Network to discuss their chapters in the new book, Menzies Rediscovered: A new generation’s inspiration for political philosophy, domestic challenges and foreign affairs.
In this episode, Georgina speaks with Axel Melkonian on the topic 'Political pragmatism and post-war German immigrants'.
The Menzies Early Career Network (MECN) is a flagship program of the Robert Menzies Institute, designed to identify, nurture, and connect a new generation of emerging leaders with a deep understanding of Australia’s national story.
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