Afternoon Light Podcast

Afternoon Light is the podcast of the Robert Menzies Institute. You can listen to individual episodes by clicking on the links below, or subscribe to Afternoon Light using your favourite podcast app.

FEATURED PODCAST: 17 DECEMBER, 2025

Andrew Kemp ranking our best & worst PMs by term: "It's Whack-a-Mole"

On this week’s Afternoon Light Georgina Downer speaks with Andrew Kemp, who has recently ranked Australian Prime Ministers by the best and worst terms of government we have experienced. A fun and enlightening exercise that highlights how good governance can be judged not merely on the policy programs for which governments are elected, but ultimately on rising to the unique & unforeseeable challenges of the day.

29 Jul, 2026

Rae Frances & Bruce Scates on Mary Booth, the woman who shaped the Anzac legend: "War unsettles the gender orders"

23 Jul, 2026

Patrick Mullins on the flawed & fascinating redemption story of stained man Richard Meagher: "Australia is a land of new beginnings"

15 Jul, 2026

Jeff Kildea on the rise & demise of the Catholic-Labor alliance: "The lifelong habit"

8 Jul, 2026

Alex McDermott on Menzies as the man who made modern Australia: "When the will is triggered"

1 Jul, 2026

Rohan Howitt on how Australia once dreamed of an Antarctic Empire: "Tremendous opportunities down there"

24 Jun, 2026

Tania Ragusa on the challenges & rewards of teaching Australian history: "My favourite part"

17 Jun, 2026

Sarah Irving-Stonebraker on the devastating effects of our Ahistoric Age: "Embedded in larger stories"

10 Jun, 2026

Jesse Clark on the Anglosphere's past, present & future: "Unique political culture"

3 Jun, 2026

Kylie Moore-Gilbert on the nature of the Iranian regime & conflict: "The desire to build a better Iran"

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