PODCAST · society
What Shall We Do About...?
by Sam Robinson
The world is full of problems, though most of them don’t make the headlines. Sam Robinson sits down with some prominent personalities to try to improve and perhaps even solve some of the world’s less pressing issues. Nothing too trivial will be left unturned.
Episodes
-
Fear w/ Lisa Millar
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,...
-
Fun w/ Ben Lee
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...
-
Climate Change w/ Anika Molesworth
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...
-
Smoking w/ John Safran
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...
-
Disability w/ Skye-Blue Henderson
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…
more -
Generational Gap w/ Ashley Fell
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…
more -
Museums w/ Marc Fennell
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…
more -
Heartbreak w/ Jessie Stephens
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…
more -
Redevelopment w/ Tim Ross
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...
-
Hospitals w/ Georgie Carroll
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...
-
Pokies w/ Tim Costello
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…
more -
Musicals w/ Gabbi Bolt
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...
-
Electric Vehicles w/ Kurt Johnson
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...
-
Game Shows w/ Claire McNear
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...
-
World Records w/ Cameron James
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…
more -
Virtual Reality w/ Woodes
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...
-
Soccer w/ Liam Stapleton
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…
more -
Reading w/ Nat Amoore
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…
more -
2020 w/ Melanie Tait & Tali Aualiitia
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...
-
Watches w/ Sami Shah
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…
more -
Shopping Centres w/ Gemma Acton
Shopping centres - or, malls, depending where you're from - are in real trouble. In the USA, many have closed their doors across the past decade, unable to compete with the rise of online shopping. Here in Australia, department chain Big W has been closing some stores and will continue to do so...
-
Cooking w/ Jessica Rowe
Most of us have a love-hate relationship with cooking. For some of us, it's an opportunity to unwind after a long day, experimenting with flavours and ingredients to create something delicious. For the rest of us, it can be incredibly stressful, especially if we don't feel particularly good at…
more -
Money w/ Rick Morton
What's your relationship with money like? Do you constantly crave more of it? Are you better at spending, or saving? And how much has your upbringing impacted that relationship, or your view of dollars and cents? Money is a huge topic that I've wanted to tackle on this podcast for some time, and...
-
Mars w/ Dianne McGrath
If you were offered the opportunity to travel to Mars, would you go? And what if it were a one way trip - meaning that you would be saying goodbye to Earth, and everything on it, for good? For Dianne McGrath, this is a very real goal. Dianne is one of the remaining one hundred candidates vying…
more -
Season 2 Coming Soon...
With plenty of less-pressing problems still needing to be addressed, here's your first taste of season two of What Shall We Do About...?, landing in your feeds really soon. Hit 'subscribe' on Apple Podcasts or 'follow' on Spotify for new episodes in your feeds every Tuesday. And leaving a rating...
-
50. Conspiracy Theories w/ Maz Compton
For centuries, we've spent time questioning what we understand to be true. Is the earth really round? Did man really walk on the moon? What is really going on at Area 51? Conspiracy theories have always made for a fun deep dive, and with the dawn of the Internet, theories have been thrown around,...
-
49. Compost w/ Costa Georgiadis
According to OzHarvest, here in Australia, we place over five million tonnes of food in landfill each and every year. This is as though one in five shopping bags that we bring home from supermarkets ends up in the bin - and 35% of the average household bin is food waste. And this doesn't need to…
more -
48. Space w/ Kirsten Banks
Ever since we were kids we've looked up at the night sky and felt a sense of wonder: wondering what really is out there, in our galaxy, among the planets and stars? It is still hard to comprehend that more than 50 years ago - without the technological advances we enjoy today - the human race was...
-
47. Screen Time w/ Lauren Bonner
Remember the days when we were told that we shouldn't sit so close to the television, or else we would end up with square eyes? Simpler times, weren't they? Now, we spend far more time in front of screens that are much closer to our eyes than TVs ever were. And in one way or another, we're…
more -
46. Curiosity w/ Corey Tutt
Remember when you were a kid, and you wanted to know the answers to every question under the sun? What makes the sky blue? Why is a rock called a rock? Where do flies go when it rains? How does a TV get its pictures? Children have a natural childlike wonder that adults just don't have. Why is…
more -
45. Crosswords w/ David Astle
When's the last time you completed a crossword puzzle? Or, maybe, you've never done one because you believe that it's something for an older generation to complete. Either way, with print media in decline, is the crossword puzzle under threat? And will the crossword ever see the same level of...
-
44. Trivia w/ Cheryl Toh
Did you know that bees have five eyes? That Billy Joel hasn't released a new single since 1993? That raccoons were originally poised to become the go-to model for animal experiments? These are fun little facts you pick up and can pull out at parties, or even trivia nights. But sometimes the fun…
more -
43. Our Carbon Footprint w/ Craig Reucassel
Late last year, the climate emergency was gaining real attention. Greta Thunberg addressed the UN with her now famous 'How Dare You' speech, school students marched through capital cities, and the summer's devastating summer bushfires showed that something needs to be done. But since our world…
more -
42. Cats w/ Lewis McKirdy
Are you a cat person, or a dog person? It's kinda weird that our society makes us choose one or the other. I'm a dog person, but that's mainly because I only ever had dogs growing up. But this mindset makes me see cats as selfish creatures, bird killers, and unwanted top-of-your-desk sitters. But…
more -
41. TikTok w/ Josh Hawkins
Over the last few months, simmering behind the daily updates of COVID-19 cases, a social media app has been under scrutiny. TikTok, owned by Chinese-based company ByteDance has become massively popular with users around the world, however privacy concerns around data has seen it banned in India,...
-
40. Vegetarianism w/ Zach Mander
Vegetarians have often got a bad wrap, but the conversation seems to be shifting as more and more of us try to reduce meat in our diets, and fast food places introduce plant-based products like Beyond meat onto their menus. It's clear that eating vegetables is a good thing, but what shall we do...
-
39. Drawing w/ Matt Cosgrove
Do you enjoy drawing? Unless you enjoy life drawing, or graphic design, it's fairly likely you only spend time doodling on the edges of notes in dull work meetings. But remember when you were a kid, and you loved drawing? In fact, it was both fun and a challenge. Why don't we draw like we used…
more -
38. Celebrity w/ Jeffrey Walker
Many of us grow up with dreams of making it big. We watch our celebrity heroes on TV and movies and hope that perhaps one day we too could be famous. Even now, we crave likes on Instagram, and views on TikTok. Social media has opened up our eyes to celebrities more than gossip in trashy tabloids...
-
37. Beaches w/ Trent 'Maxi' Maxwell
The beach. You either love it or hate it. For some, it's a relaxing escape: a way to cool down on a hot day, a place to go for a romantic stroll, to breathe in salty air. For others, it's an opportunity to get dumped by waves, and tiptoe across scorching sand, much of which haunts your car for...
-
36. Birds w/ Chris Bath
How do you feel about birds? Those feathered friends that screech at daybreak, poop on your back deck, and swoop you in springtime. OK - so maybe that's a harsh assessment, but I think it's how many of us think about birds. And yet - there are 10,000 different species of bird around the world...
-
35. Parody Songs w/ Lindsay McDougall
Let's be honest - when it comes to creating parody songs there's two leagues: Weird Al Yankovic, and the rest of us. For decades Weird Al has created witty parody tunes that have delighted both fans around the world, and the artists he spoofs. And yet, we've all had that moment at a 21st or...
-
34. Systemic Racism w/ Léonce Crump
Though this is the show that tries to solve the world's less pressing problems, this week is different. In this episode, we're turning to one of the more pressing problems that the world is facing right now. In our previous episode we discussed culture and diversity, and here, we're tackling...
-
33. Culture w/ Mitch Tambo
George Floyd's death at the hands of a police officer has caused an outpouring of anger, prompting national protests in cities across the US. The world looks on as America grapples with ongoing racism, police brutality, protests - all in the midst of a pandemic. And here in Australia, it's made…
more -
32. Fashion w/ Tali Aualiitia
Fashion! Turn to the left. Fashion! Turn to the right. Unlike many trends, David Bowie's 1980 song 'Fashion' hasn't gone out of, erm, fashion. Fashion is said to be a popular or the latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behaviour - but so often these things don't last. Think…
more -
31. Reality Televison w/ Nick Iadanza
Ever since the turn of the millennium, free-to-air television has been dominated by one genre: reality television. Whether it's home cooks putting their 'heart on a plate', punters trying to transform a derelict apartment block into a place for high-end living, or a down-on-his-luck guy looking…
more -
30. Bees w/ Johanna Griggs
How good is honey? That sweet taste on toast in the morning providing that little kick of sugar to get you moving. We can often see its maker - the bee - as a nuisance, something that stings and buzzes, rather than provides. Sadly, bee populations around the world are in steady decline due to a...
-
29. Saxophones w/ James Valentine
Are saxophones the most joked about instrument in modern music? When I was ten, I started learning how to play the alto saxophone. It was a relatively easy instrument to pick up, and I played it right through to my Higher School Certificate. I soon discovered, however, that outside of jazz and...
-
28. Kindness w/ Ash London
In many ways, we've been pushed to our limits in 2020. In Australia, the year began with devastating bushfires with thousands seeing in the new year displaced in evacuation centres. February brought flooding rains - and in March - the term toilet paper panic was born, followed by social…
more -
27. Children's Television w/ James Sherry
Remember the days when after-school TV was appointment viewing? You'd race home, try to knock out your homework as quickly as possible, and switch on for cartoons, magazine shows like The Big Arvo or The Shak, or even a hit of Totally Wild. Then you'd try to squeeze in as much as possible before...
-
26. Trains w/ Alex Dyson
Here in Australia we have some of the best options for public transport in the world. The only problem is that they don't often run on time, and one single problem can impact an entire network. One man who knows this all too well is former triple j Breakfast host turned podcaster and author Alex...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The world is full of problems, though most of them don’t make the headlines. Sam Robinson sits down with some prominent personalities to try to improve and perhaps even solve some of the world’s less pressing issues. Nothing too trivial will be left unturned.
HOSTED BY
Sam Robinson
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What Shall We Do About...? have?
What Shall We Do About...? currently has 76 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What Shall We Do About...? about?
The world is full of problems, though most of them don’t make the headlines. Sam Robinson sits down with some prominent personalities to try to improve and perhaps even solve some of the world’s less pressing issues. Nothing too trivial will be left unturned.
How often does What Shall We Do About...? release new episodes?
What Shall We Do About...? has 76 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to What Shall We Do About...??
You can listen to What Shall We Do About...? on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What Shall We Do About...??
What Shall We Do About...? is created and hosted by Sam Robinson.
URL copied to clipboard!