The Good Life: Andrew Leigh in Conversation

Former Commanding Officer of the SAS Ben Pronk joins me to talk about his new book ‘We’re All Going to Die’. Our chat covers stoicism, epicureanism, absurdism, running, painting, margaritas and picking up dog poo. This is Ben’s second appearance on the podcast. For our last conversation, check out Episode 76: ‘Ben Pronk on SAS leadership, elite fitness and why specialisation is for insects.’ https://goodlifepodcast.podbean.com/e/76-ben-pronk-on-sas-leadership-elite-fitness-and-why-specialisation-is-for-insects/

What if ageing well isn’t about stopping cognitive decline, but helping our brains become more adaptable and resilient? In this episode, I chat with physician, broadcaster and bestselling author Dr Norman Swan about his new book, The Brain Cliff. Norman also reflects on more than four decades communicating health and medical science to Australians through the ABC, including The Health Report, What’s That Rash?, 7.30 and Four Corners. Recorded 31 August 2026, Cultural Centre Kambri ANU

Nicholas Epley is one of the world’s leading social psychologists and a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His research explores how we understand other people, why we so often get their reactions wrong, and how small changes in our behaviour can strengthen our relationships and improve our wellbeing. In this episode, Nicholas discusses his new book, A Little More Social, and the surprising science of human connection. We chat about the Chicago train experiment that found commuters were happier talking to strangers than sitting alone, why our pessimism about social interaction can become self-fulfilling, and the evidence that acting more extroverted can make even introverts happier. From chatting to a stranger on the train to reaching out to someone we care about, Nicholas’s advice is simple: when in doubt, reach out.

Professor Michael Smithson joined me to discuss his entertaining new book, “The Psychology of Ignorance”. We talk about why ignorance is more than stupidity, how certain unknowns make us anxious, what happens when people don’t realise how ignorant they are, and when we might be happier not knowing certain things.

Jessy Wu is a Sydney-based writer, entrepreneur and author of the debut novel 'Good Intentions'. A former management consultant and venture capital investor, she is also the founder of Broad Church, a creative communal space in Chippendale. Jessy discusses how 'Good Intentions' brings together young love, university journalism, finance and biotechnology. They explore ambition, moral compromise and the tension between changing institutions from within and challenging them from the outside. The conversation also examines how class, migrant experience and financial security shape ethical choices, why good intentions can excuse harmful behaviour, and whether workplaces gradually change the values of the people inside them.

Ed Coper is an expert in digital politics who helped build one of Australia’s first major online political movements and has advised advocacy campaigns around the world. His previous book, Facts and Other Lies, explored the disinformation age: how fake news spreads, why it is so difficult to stop, and what citizens can do to defend the truth. His latest book, Angertainment: How Social Media Outrage Ruined Everything, takes that story a step further. It asks why our social feeds increasingly feel less like public squares and more like pokie machines for grievance, endlessly rewarding outrage with attention. In this conversation, Ed discusses rage-bait algorithms, political demagogues, corporate platforms, and the business model that turns fury into clicks, influence and power. We explore how online toxicity is engineered and amplified, what the outrage economy is doing to democracy, and whether it is still possible to build a healthier digital life.

Wendy Harmer has spent decades shaping Australian comedy, journalism and media, from the newsroom floor to the stand-up stage, from comedy to breakfast radio and the ABC. In this episode, Wendy talks about growing up in country Victoria, building resilience through childhood adversity, becoming one of the first female reporters at the Geelong Advertiser. Wendy reflects on the golden age of Australian live comedy, the discipline of breakfast radio, and why words, writing and curiosity remain central to her happiness. Along the way, she shares sharp stories about newsrooms, hecklers, feminism, fish, fatherhood, and how hard beginning turn into a generous life.

As part of the ANU Meet the Author series, I interviewed Anna Goldsworthy on stage about her new Quarterly Essay, “The God We Made. The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence”.

Martin McKenzie-Murray is The Saturday Paper's associate editor, staff writer for The Monthly, a two-time Walkley finalist and winner of the Melbourne Press Club's Quill Award for commentary. He has worked as a teacher, speechwriter, columnist for The Age and adviser to the chief commissioner of Victoria Police. His first book, A Murder Without Motive, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing. His second, The Speechwriter, won the Russell Prize for Humour Writing. In this episode, I chat with Martin about his latest book, Sirens: Inside the Shadow World of First Responders.

Grace Adams is the CEO of Effective Altruism Australia. To find out more or make a donation, go to https://effectivealtruism.org.au/ You can find Grace's podcast 'More Than Good by Effective Altruism Australia' here: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ea_aus  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TffN3nE1zniT1Mm3VjTdo 

Ant Williams knows what it means to perform under pressure. A world-record freediver, he has held his breath for more than eight minutes, dived 100 metres on a single breath, and swum 182 metres beneath solid Arctic ice.  In this episode of The Good Life, Ant talks about learning from discomfort, building mental toughness, training for pain, facing risk, and why he believes courage can be practised. From freediving and ice diving to fatherhood and psychology, this is a conversation about what happens when we stop running from failure and start treating it as information.

Mark Fabian is associate professor of public policy at the University of Warwick, UK. He is also an affiliate researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at Cambridge University, and an associate at the Institute for Social Change at the University of Tasmania. In his latest book he challenges our ideas of happiness. From the hedonic treadmill to self-actualisation, he explains why frustration can be part of a meaningful life, why integrity matters more than productivity, and how to align who you are with who you want to be. A thoughtful guide to living with pleasure, fulfillment, and purpose.

On 11 June 2025, I joined UNSW Professor Toby Walsh on stage in Canberra at an ANU-Canberra Times Meet the Author event, to discuss Toby’s new book “The Shortest History of AI”.

This week New York Times-bestselling author Alex Hutchinson returns to the podcast to talk about his latest book ‘The Explorer's Gene’.  If you'd like to learn more about Alex and his book, visit his website. 

On 12 March 2025, at an ANU-Canberra Times Meet the Author event, I interviewed Robert Dessaix about his new book ‘Chameleon’. This is a record fourth appearance for Robert on the Good Life podcast (his past fascinating chats are episodes 27, 136 and 172).

Matthew Halteman is a professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Michigan and a fellow in the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. We spoke about his new book “Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan”, which was published in November 2024 by Basic Books.

Shaun Micallef on Laughter, Stepping Up and Stepping Back

Dave Eccles and Tadgh Kennelly on Blokes Bonding on Beaches.   To find out more about WNOW visit https://www.wnow.com.au/ 

Nina Jankowicz and Van Badham on Online Mysogyny Nina Jankowicz, American disinformation expert and author of How to Lose the Information War and How to Be a Woman Online, and Van Badham, activist, playwright, and author of QAnon and On discuss disinformation, online harms, and their effect on elections in 2024 and beyond.

Lucas Patchett on front loaders, friends & founding Orange Sky - To volunteer with Orange Sky, go to orangesky.org.au