Per Capita Podcasts

Corporate Social Responsibility in an Age of Existential Threats With Professor Bryan Horrigan

In an age of existential threats for Australia and the world, what does society need from companies and how should companies respond?
 
In this groundbreaking book, Professor Bryan Horrigan provides a roadmap for navigating the complexity of corporate social responsibility and the current controversies surrounding it. 
 
He joined Per Capita to discuss his book "Corporate Social Responsibility in an Age of Existential Threats" at the March John Cain Lunch. 
 
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

JCL Series: The Good Fight with Sean Kelly

In Quarterly Essay 100, author Sean Kelly considers the enigma of the Albanese government.
With wide yet shallow support, will it change the country? Does it have big ideas, or is it content just to become "the natural party of government"?
Sean joins Per Capita for their first John Cain Lunch for 2026!
Be part of our next JCL. Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

JCL Series: From Resistance to Reform with Prof Philip Mendes

In his new book "From Resistance to Reform: Case studies of long term social justice advocacy in Australia", Prof Philip Mendes presents a comprehensive historical and political analysis of four policy areas where reform was achieved after many years of neglect. Including:
- Young people transitioning from out-of-home care- Medically supervised injecting facilities- Social security payments for the unemployed, and- Compulsory income management
Prof Mendes joined Per Capita at their November John Cain Lunch to make the argument for governments to introduce policy development processes and networks that include active engagement with knowledge from domestic and global research studies. 
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

JCL Series: Political Skills and the Art of Influence with Dr Wesa Chau

Political skills are the skills to build trust, influence, and persuade others to support a decision within a political context. These abilities underpin effective political leadership, advocacy, and decision-making, yet they are often invisible and difficult to define.
This is especially true for people from minority backgrounds who may not be as familiar with Australian cultural and political norms. As the Executive Director of Per Capita, one of Australia’s leading progressive think tanks, Dr Wesa Chau brings both academic depth and lived experience to this topic.
She spoke at the October John Cain Lunch and her speech is now available on the JCL Series podcast.
 
Visit percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

JCL Series: Catch and Kill - Politics of Power with Joel Deane

Power is the only measure of a politician that matters. How they win power. How they wield power. How they lose power. This new edition of an Australian classic features a new introduction by the author taking into account the latest developments in Australian politics.
Catch and Kill is an inside account of the beguiling and nomadic nature of that unholy trinity of politics. Taking us into the inner sanctum of state and national politics, Joel Deane investigates how four friends – Steve Bracks, John Brumby, John Thwaites and Rob Hulls – beat the factions, won office in Victoria, achieved progressive reforms, then tried to hijack Canberra. 'We were', Bracks says, 'a government that could catch and kill its own'.
Deane joined Per Capita for their September John Cain Lunch to discuss his book. 
 
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
 
Recorded 17 September 2025. Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

JCL Series: A Fair Day's Work: the quest to win back time with Sean Scalmer

The length of the working day and the challenges of work–life balance are pressing issues for many Australians, as well as lively matters of public controversy. While the winning of the eight-hour day is celebrated as a past industrial achievement, contemporary discussions of working hours often overlook its rich history.
 
Professor of History, Sean Scalmer, will be joined Per Capita for our August John Cain Lunch to discuss his latest book "A Fair Day's Work: the quest to win back time."
 
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
 
Recorded 20 August 2025. Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.
 

JCL Series: Looking forward and looking back: why do tax reform? with Prof. Miranda Stewart

The Federal Government recently announced a Productivity Roundtable, indicating that broad tax reform will be part of the discussion to tackle the economic pressures our country faces today, to boost national prosperity, to reduce growing inequality and to improve living standards for future generations.
 
Following the popularity of her keynote speech at the Community Tax Summit in February 2025, Professor Miranda Stewart provided a follow-up address at the July JCL, outlining how Australia's tax system came to be how it is today, the reasons it needs reform and what that reform should look like, in light of the recently announced Productivity Roundtable.
 
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
 
Recorded 16 July 2025. Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.
 

JCL Series: No Power Greater: A History of Union Action in Australia With Dr Liam Byrne

Unions are making a comeback. Labour disputes around the world have hit the headlines as unions take action to challenge inequality. But while media coverage has increased, understanding of unions has not.
Liam Byrne seeks to illuminate what unionism means, exploring why successive generations of working people organised unions and nurtured them for future generations.
Liam spoke at Per Capita's John Cain lunch in June 2025.
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

Re:CAP - Winning For Women

Welcome back to Re:CAP!
On this episode, acting Executive Director, Sarah McKenzie is joined by the Executive Director of the Chifley Research Centre, Emma Dawson, to chat about how the upcoming federal parliament will be the first gender-equal parliament in Australian history. 
Read Sarah’s blog on this historical achievement: “A Question of Quotas”
If you’re a young policy student or professional looking to network or learn more about passing progressive policies, then check out our Policy Hive.
For more on our research and advocacy, visit the Per Capita website.
Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

JCL Series: Making Progress - How good policy happens

Is big policy reform still possible? Does Australia have the political will to tackle generational issues such as climate change, the housing crisis, rising inequality and Closing the Gap?
Legendary Labor policymaker Jenny Macklin believes that if Australia wants to remain prosperous and fair, big policy reform is not just possible, it's essential. 
Listen to our May John Cain Lunch, with Labor’s Jenny Macklin and co-author Joel Deane.
Purchase "Making Progress: How good policy happens?" here.
Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events.
Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.