The Radio National Hour

A weekday magazine-style current affairs program hosted by one of Australia's pre-eminent and loved interviewers. Drawing on Fran's extensive current affairs and cultural knowledge, The Radio National Hour takes a thoughtful, deep dive into the important and challenging issues, and brings insightful and engaging conversations with big names in the arts, sport and culture.

The Radio National Hour is a news podcast hosted by ABC Australia, with 217 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

ABC Australia hosts The Radio National Hour, a news show with 217 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  The Radio National Hour

  Kevin Rudd on what the West and China misunderstand about each other

  Oct 2, 202655 min

  Former Australian Prime Minister and Ambassador to the United State Kevin Rudd joins The Diplomats to reflect on his differing roles in diplomacy, as well as explore the misinterpretations between the US, the West and China.Humorist and essayist David Sedaris's latest work focuses on travelling, growing older, family but continues his iconic style of finding humour in everyday oddities. Could artificial intelligence every replace him? And in 1997 the people of Newcastle lined the M1 to Sydney to cheer on their Knights to their inaugural rugby league premiership. Veteran broadcaster, author and mental health advocate Craig Hamilton reflects on that experience and how Justin Holbrook tapped into the Hunter's blue collar roots, taking the Knights from wooden spooners to grand finalists in 2026.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Radio National Hour

  'Clowns out, Cowboys in' The meaning behind Pete Hegseth's latest announcement

  Oct 1, 202655 min

  The latest 'State of the Force' was another firey speech from US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth signposting an American focus on autonomous warfare, 'Fortress America', faith and the promotion of a warrior culture. Retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Rachel VanLandingham, now professor of law at Southwestern Law School looks at the broader agenda. European intelligence officials are warning Russia is stepping up its attacks across NATO territory. Steven Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times, explains how Moscow is testing resolve. The tale of how Australian women war artists inspired author Pip Edwards' expansion of her literary universe, and Rampaging Roy Slaven and HG Nelson stop by with their preview of the NRL Grand Final.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Radio National Hour

  The Greens choose a new leadership team

  Sep 30, 202655 min

  With David Shoebridge voted in by his peers as the new federal leader of the Greens, Phil Coorey, Political Editor of The Australian Financial Review looks at where the party could wield its influence in the Senate. Plus Kos Samaras, pollster and director strategy and analytics at Redbridge Group, looks at what the electorate thinks of the Greens and where it does have support, but where its also leaking potential votes. With more tricky economic data showing inflation rising a day after interest rates rose, does the removal of credit card surcharges provide consumers with any relief? Simon Birmingham CEO of the Australian Banking Association details what will change. Plus author Andrew Bailey on how indigenous artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye changed Australia's art landscape after picking up a paint brush in her late seventies and without formal arts training.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Radio National Hour

  What the latest RBA rate rise means for the Australian dream

  Sep 29, 202655 min

  The Albanese Government wants to help more first home owners get into the market, but the fourth rate rise from the RBA this year just made that more difficult. Dr James Graham, Assistant Professor in the School of Economics at the University of Sydney and a former economist with the Reserve Bank of New Zealand explains why there's a perfect storm of factors at play working against the government's objective. As the ABC's Foreign Correspondent program trails the fight to track down missing Ukrainian children, abducted during the war, Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, details the efforts of trying to find tens of thousands of children before they're indoctrinated and conscripted into fighting against their homeland. And it's arguably never been a bleaker time to be a humanitarian worker. James Elder is the Global Spokesperson for UNICEF - the United Nations Children's Fund on what still gives him hope despite several major conflicts and diminishing aid funding.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Radio National Hour

  A public tip off leads to a suspected terror plot thwarted in the UK

  Sep 28, 202655 min

  What do we know after a public tip off about three 'suspicious' white vans which led to five arrests near a British airforce base used by the United States in its war against Iran? The UK’s Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation Jonathan Hall explains what happens next.Where should Australia turn after OpenAI paused training of its latest AI models, following the revelation its confession that it lost control of its own AI Agents, which broke into Australia's Medicare website last week? Executive Director of the Tech Policy Design Institute Johanna Weaver, who also served as Australia's chief cyber negotiator at the United Nations looks at the options.After a stunning weekend of results across the major football codes, leading sports and performance psychologist Jacqui Louder unpacks the psychology of winning under pressure, following epic results in the AFL Grand Final, NRL preliminary finals, the Wallabies winning the Nelson Mandela plate and the Socceroos against Brazil.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Radio National Hour. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.