EPISODE · May 13, 2026 · 59 MIN
Wounded narcissist, visionary, team player, a mother's love? The alchemy of good (and bad) political leadership
from Big Ideas · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Three savvy political minds get up close and (very) personal with power to consider where it succeeds and struggles. They've got gripping stories to tell — about Australia's prime ministers past and present — and their mothers! What traits do you look for in an effective political leader? Are leaders made rather than born? When Canada's Prime Minister took to the World Economic Forum stage in Davos this year, staking a claim for middle powers and standing up against the bullies across his border, the world took notice. Is that what good political leadership looks like, or not? How does Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stack up? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests with a lively audience at the 2026 Sorrento Writers Festival.SpeakersJennifer HewettBusiness journalist and a national affairs columnist, Australian Financial Review.Troy BramstonSenior journalist, The AustralianAuthor and political biographerAuthor, Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New (Harper Collins Australia, 2025)Paul StrangioHistorian and Emeritus Professor of politics, Monash UniversityAuthor, The Alchemy of Leadership: Seven Australian Prime Ministers in a Turbulent 21st Century (Melbourne University Publishing, 2026)Thanks to Festival director Corrie Perkin and team.
What this episode covers
Three savvy political minds get up close and (very) personal with power to consider where it succeeds and struggles. They've got gripping stories to tell — about Australia's prime ministers past and present — and their mothers! What traits do you look for in an effective political leader? Are leaders made rather than born? When Canada's Prime Minister took to the World Economic Forum stage in Davos this year, staking a claim for middle powers and standing up against the bullies across his border, the world took notice. Is that what good political leadership looks like, or not? How does Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stack up? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests with a lively audience at the 2026 Sorrento Writers Festival. Speakers Jennifer Hewett Business journalist and a national affairs columnist, Australian Financial Review. Troy Bramston Senior journalist, The Australian Author and political biographer Author, Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New (Harper Collins Australia, 2025) Paul Strangio Historian and Emeritus Professor of politics, Monash University Author, The Alchemy of Leadership: Seven Australian Prime Ministers in a Turbulent 21st Century (Melbourne University Publishing, 2026) Thanks to Festival director Corrie Perkin and team.
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Wounded narcissist, visionary, team player, a mother's love? The alchemy of good (and bad) political leadership
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