Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast

Encore: Oscar Wilde's grandson on the scandal that ruined him

The famous writer Oscar Wilde died alone in a French hotel in 1900. Since that time, so much has been written about the man - much of it rumour and speculation. In his new book, 'After Oscar: The Legacy of a Scandal', Oscar Wilde’s grandson Merlin Holland sets the record straight. The book is thirty years in the making and is an exploration of Wilde’s posthumous reputation and how his imprisonment for homosexuality affected Wilde's family, friends and literary legacy.Guest: Merlin Holland, Oscar Wilde's grandson and author, Oscar: The Legacy of a ScandalProducer: Ali BentonOriginally broadcast in January 2026.

Sarah Baartman: a life, a body, a battle over memory

Sarah Baartman’s body was used by European scientists to promote racist ideas that endured for generations. A new essay in Griffith Review revisits her extraordinary and tragic story — from her exploitation as a colonial spectacle in Europe, to the continuing debates over how she should be remembered today.Guest: Writer, Sisonke Msimang, author, Griffith Review Essay, Defending the dead: The many afterlives of Sarah BaartmanProducer: Ali Benton and Ann Arnold

Who are Russia's Night Wolves?

The Night Wolves are a Kremlin-linked, far-right Russian motorcycle club that has served as a paramilitary proxy and propaganda tool for the Russian state in Europe where they have been sanctioned. They are also operating in Australia, though they have not been outlawed here. But a disinformation expert says they are only one aspect of Russia’s propaganda campaign and their determination to sew discontent in the West. Olga Boichak is a media sociologist who explores how communities can build resilience when digital technologies are weaponised. And she's been tracking Russia's activities in Australia.Guest: Dr Olga Boichak, Senior Lecturer in Digital Cultures, University of Sydney.Producer: Catherine Zengerer

The changes to spot in this year's Census survey

Census night is just two weeks away, and this year, Australians will have the opportunity to answer new questions on sexual orientation and gender. The Census will also allow for further detail on the cultural heritage of survey participants. Demographer Liz Allen explains why these small changes will make a big difference. Guest: Dr Liz Allen, demographer at ANU

Australia's dependence on the controversial weedkiller paraquat

Last month, after a nearly 30-year review, Australia's chemical regulator finally decided that the herbicide paraquat can continue to be used on Australian farms, with new precautions.That's despite bans on the chemical spreading around the world, amid concerns about the health impacts of repeated exposure. Why is Australia so dependent on the controversial weedkiller, and what are the supply chains for pesticides globally?Guest: Sarah Rogers, Associate Professor at the Asia Institute, University of MelbourneProducer: Jack Schmidt