There are two great theatre districts of the world – The West End in London and Broadway in New York. It can be argued strongly over which is the more dominant or important, but in popular culture Broadway shines brightest. So iconic did the lights of Broadway become that when they were dimmed during World War I, public demand forced the federal government to increase the city’s coal ration so that the lights could be restored. In this episode, professional actor Peter Eyers joins us to...

Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) is one of the most significant figures of the Ancient World, whose legacy is both far reaching and profound. His 13-year reign as the king of Macedonia forged one of the largest empires in history and is said to be the start of the Hellenistic period. Mythologised as a classical hero and considered a military genius by many, there are now quite divergent opinions on his rule and its lasting legacy. Archaeologist Dr John Tidmarsh joins us to discuss the life,...

At is heart, Vienna is city of palaces and gardens, museums, music and tradition. For more than 400 years it was the jewel in the glittering imperial crown of the Habsburgs. However, there is also another side to Vienna - one that is less well-known and less visited. The Wiener Moderne refers to a short cultural era around the end of the 19th and start of the 20th centuries that saw an astonishing period of creativity in Vienna's art, design, architecture and other fields, bringing forth...

Straddling the fabled Silk Road, Uzbekistan has undergone enormous transformations throughout its long history. The most recent has been the emergence of a thriving independent republic coming out from under Soviet rule. To tell us about this fascinating land, and how it fits into the story of Central Asia, Chris Bradley joins us in this podcast. We journey along the now famous Silk Road to the five 'stans of Central Asia as Chris highlights the exotic ambiance, vivid histories, impressive...

Morocco is a country that has fascinated travellers for centuries, and just its name conjures up impressive kasbahs, exquisitely decorated medersas and bustling medinas, waiting to be explored. At a crossroads of the African and European continents, the Kingdom of Morocco has been, for centuries, a meeting point for the Arabo-Islamic culture and civilisation. In this episode, archaeologist Ben Churcher takes us to Morocco’s four imperial cities - Marrakesh, Fes, Meknes and Rabat - to uncover...

The President is no doubt the most powerful political figure in the United States, but make no mistake: the First Lady is just as influential in her own right. In addition to the many appearances she makes and the causes she champions, she is also one of the most-followed people in the country, especially when it comes to her fashion choices. What they wore was not only a reflection of their husbands' politics, but their sartorial choices also had the ability to capture the public's...

A diminutive country tucked into the south west corner of the Iberian peninsula, Portugal is somewhat of an anomaly, almost forgotten in comparison with its cousin Spain. However, Portugal is one of the most innovative and diverse countries in Europe. In this episode, Dr Jeni Ryde takes us through Portugal's impressive history and culture, from remnants of the past with dinosaurs, standing stones and rock paintings, to the legacy of the Knights Templar during the reconquest and the...

When we think of Ancient Rome, we automatically think of the strong male characters – figures such as Caesar, Pompey or Augustus – but what about the women of Ancient Rome? Recent study is emphasising the agency that Roman women enjoyed. To help us understand what this newly researched area examines, we are joined on our latest podcast by Dr Kathryn Welch.

For the past week (March 6, 2022), the world has looked on in shock and anguish for the people of Ukraine. Has Vladimir Putin gone mad? Or is there some rational explanation for this catastrophe? In this timely episode, we asked our resident Russia expert Dr Matthew Dal Santo for his views on this unfolding tragedy, to explain the possible thinking behind Russia's invasion, and what might be the outcome.

This year's Canberra International Music Festival features the premiere of a new work by Melbourne-based composer Katy Abbott. As part of its partnership with CIMF, we interviewed Katy about her work Hidden Thoughts: Do I matter. 

Very little was known about the fate of the small number of ANZAC's taken prisoner during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 until Dr Jennifer Lawless uncovered their story and in the process found a vast divergence from the then accepted version of their...

The National Gallery of Australia is currently hosting a blockbuster exhibition from the National Gallery in London. Titled Botticelli to Van Gogh the exhibition surveys 500 years of European art, from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. Academy...

As part of Academy Travel's partnership with the Canberra International Music Festival, the Festival's 2021 composer-in-residence Brian Howard discusses the Festival's theme, 'the idea of Vienna', and his works which are being premiered at the Festival.

The Medici family rose to prominence in 14th-century Florence, making a humble beginning as moneychangers but eventually becoming one of Europe’s most powerful dynasties and renowned arts patrons. Dr Kathleen Olive joins us today to discuss the rise and...

 In 2017, a painting of the Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci sold for a record-breaking $450 million USD at Christie’s auction house in New York. What drives art prices to such astronomical levels? Dr Nick Gordon discusses why the art market is so...

Tucked away in the far eastern Himalaya, Bhutan is arguably the last bastion of the Tibetan Buddhist culture and religion in its truest form. Despite opening up to tourism in the late 70s, it has managed to minimise the effect of outside influences and...

Palladio was the most influential architect of the Italian Renaissance, and his buildings were perfectly proportioned, intelligent and gracious yet unpretentious and practical. In our latest episode, Dr Nick Gordon explores Palladio’s life and career,...

Mayflower, the ship that carried the Pilgrims from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in September 1620. More than 30 million Americans can now trace their ancestry to the 102 passengers on that ship. On the 400th anniversary of that iconic voyage, Dr...

Royna McNamara joins us today to trace the footsteps of Giacomo Puccini and Maria Callas, and discuss the events that helped shape their musical lives. We begin on the picturesque shores of Lake Massaciuccoli in Torre Del Lago, where Puccini lived and...

Three months out from the American election, the polls have Joe Biden ahead of Donald Trump in every State. But can we believe the polls? Is Trump in trouble? Have COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement changed the dynamics of American politics?...

It’s known as the Guggenheim Effect – the extraordinary impact that the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao had in revitalizing the Basque city into an international arts destination. Initially, the idea for the museum generated so much controversy and opposition...

In the 1920s, a cultural movement emerged in uptown New York. For the first time in history, African Americans were living in large urban areas, economically independent, and becoming producers and patrons of the arts. Dr Matthew Laing joins us today to...

Dr Estelle Lazer joins us today to discuss Sir Douglas Mawson’s colossus legacy in Antarctic exploration. Estelle was the first archaeologist to work at the site associated with Mawson's Australian Antarctic Expedition at Cape Denison on the Antarctic...

Lake Mungo, in outback NSW, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Australia. One of the Willandra Lakes, listed by UNESCO as a place of world heritage, it has been described as “the land frozen in time”. Rich in Aboriginal heritage, Dr...

When we talk about the Italian Old Masters we immediately think of Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Tintoretto and Caravaggio. All men. But there were more women painters than you might imagine during the Italian Renaissance. Dr Kathleen Olive introduces...