On the show: Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Filipino journalist Maria Ressa, Lord Norman Foster who was awarded the Pritzker prize for architecture , and Irish novelist Colum McCann who won the National Book Award in America.

What shaped the world in 2025? We revisit the heartbreaking conflicts and the peacemaking. From the powerful influence of the Trump presidency to the Australia federal election, the big beautiful bill to Beijing's rising power, we take stock of pivotal developments with the world's best analysts.  Highlights from our most insightful conversations with some of the world's biggest thinkers: Thomas Friedman of The New York Times, Anne Applebaum from The Atlantic, David Rennie from The Economist, among other greats.

Welcome to Summer on Saturday Extra where you'll hear some of our best conversations of 2025. This week - Australian arts and culture. A conversation with the playwright Suzie Miller about her blockbuster play, Inter Alia; David Wenham brings back the much loved character Jonny Spitteri for the sequel to the 2003 cult film Gettin' Square. Music from the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Australian World Orchestra; and nature photographer Leila Jeffreys reveals how she captures intimate portraits of birds.

One of Australia’s most celebrated authors, Geraldine Brooks on how she came to write a book with the Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris; the deep schism between Europe and the US over the National Security Strategy and how to end the war in Ukraine; the BBC Chief North America Correspondent -Gary O’Donoghue, or BlindGazza as he calls himself on social media, takes us behind the scenes of his exclusive interview with President Trump and his coverage of Trump's attempted assassination; and after 20 years as Chancellor of UNSW, David Gonski reflects on the challenges, criticism and brilliance of the university sector.

An updated US National Security Strategy pledges “lethal force” against drug cartels as the US continues a massive military presence off Venezuela - Phil Gunson from the International Crisis Group analyses the situation from Caracas; a candid conversation with Governor-General Sam Mostyn about her role and the "goodness" in Australia that can be masked by media and polarising voices; a guide to the under 16 social media ban with Professor Susan Sawyer, an expert in adolescent health and medicine, and Bryce Corbett, the creator of a media literacy program for primary school kids; Sean Turnell on Myanmar's mass release of prisoners ahead of the military junta's so called elections later this month; and 18-year Tommy Lamb's global overland odyssey to reach Australia for the Ashes.

A chat with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook from chart-topping The Rest is History podcast;  the year of Donald Trump with the author and journalist David Frum from The Atlantic magazine; a deep dive into the 2025 Australian Election study, and after European leaders were blindsided by President Trump’s 28-point-plan to end the Ukraine war - where do peace talks now stand? 

Constanze Stelzenmüller on Ukraine's ‘difficult choice’ over a US peace plan that's backed by Russia; the G20 in South Africa - Sherwin Bryce-Peace from SABC News takes us through the key issues in Johannesberg; how China is run as an engineering state that excels at construction while the US has become a lawyerly society that favours obstruction with author Dan Wang; Hanan Elatr Khashoggi, the widow of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi on President Trump's defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; a new era of bilateral film collaboration with filmmaker and actress Rachel Griffiths and Mitu Bhowmick Lange; and the week in federal politics with Mark Riley from 7News, and Sarah Ison from The Australian.

On the show: The BBC apology to Trump over Panorama edit with former head of BBC executive Roger Mosey; Tara Setmayer, former GOP communications director on calls to release all Epstein files as President Trump faces rare pressure from the MAGA base; at 90 years of age, the UK architect Lord Norman Foster reflects on his childhood and designs that have led him to world acclaim;, the history of grandparenting in Australia with demographer DR Liz Allen and how to make unis more relevant for students and the public with leading academic Sophie Gee.

After another year of record heat and extreme weather, Nicholas Rowley unpacks what the UN climate talks might achieve. Annabel Crabb on her new ABC TV series Civic Duty; Michelle Grattan takes us back 50 years to the drama of the political crisis of the dismissal. An update on Australia's high speed rail plans between Newcastle and Sydney with rail expert Buddhima Indraratna; the politics of New York City and the victory of Zohran Mamdani with NYMag columnist Ross Barkan and Sophia Rosenfeld discusses her new book, The Age of Choice: A History of Freedom in Modern Life  

On the show: Journalist Emily Maitlis on Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's ties to the convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. Zohran Mamdani's blistering campaign to become the next mayor New York with Katy Honan, from The City newsroom The trade truce between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The US president described it as amazing. The story of Australia, as told by one of the country's most eminent historians, Mark McKenna Laetitia Bader from Human Rights Watch on evidence of systematic killings in the Sudanese city of el-Fasher. And the winning skills of food writer Caroline Velik at the World Porridge Making Championship in Scotland.  

Donald Trump is about to embark on a week-long trip through Asia to attend ASEAN and APEC. He'll meet the new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and there's also an anticipated meeting between the US President and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea. Unpack what's ahead with Demetri Sevastopulo, the US-China Correspondent for The Financial Times and Susannah Patton from the Lowy Institute. History’s most audacious art heists with art historian Pamela James. Arctic expert Elizabeth Buchanan explains why Greenland is much more than a desolate blob at the top of a world map in her new book, So you want to own Greenland? Signs of populism and discontent in Australian democracy with two former state premiers Mike Baird and Jay Weatherill. And India's biggest pop star and fashion icon, Diljit Dosanjh, is touring Australia and has local fans desperate for tickets - find out more from fan and musician,  L-Fresh the Lion.    

One the show: The significant week in Middle East politics with the BBC's Tom Bateman who was part White House press corps travelling on Air Force One to Israel. Foreign affairs journalist, Elise Labott also unpacks the week including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to discuss whether the US will arm Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles capable of striking deep into Russia. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also heads to Washington, what gift should he take along? Paul Brummel, the author of Diplomatic Gifts: A History in Fifty Presents has some gift giving stories and tips. Kate Mulvany on the new Sydney Theatre Company production of the Australian classic, The Shiralee. And Griffin Dunne on coming of age in Hollywood and the many twisting branches of a Hollywood family tree.

On the show: Palestinian aid worker in Gaza City, Hanya Al Jamal, and Israeli journalist, Amir Tibon, on public reactions to the ceasefire. Ghaith Al-Omari, a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, analyses what the future of Palestine will look like now the war has ended.  We also look at the Gen Z protests sweeping the globe from Indonesia to Morocco, calling out inequality and corruption. Plus, who are Australia’s Gen Z political influencers, and what are they saying about the movements that are coalescing around them? The complications blowing out the new Snowy River Hydro scheme and botanist Professor Stephen Hopper on the ancient stories embedded in Australia's iconic Eucalyptus trees.  

On the show: Palestinian analyst Khalil Sayegh on the Hamas announcement that it is ready to release remaining hostages in Gaza, if certain conditions of a broader peace agreement were met. Hope for the families of hostages and for peace in the region with Efrat Machikawa, whose uncle was held hostage in Gaza. A new documentary celebrates the much loved restaurant M on the Bund in Shanghai, run by Australian restaurateur Michelle Garnaut. Might President Trump win a Nobel Peace prize. Can democracy survive AI with Peter Lewis and Lizzie O'Shea. And the death of leggings! Fashion writer Gynis Traill-Nash tries to make sense why leggings are out and baggy work-out gear is in. 

James Lindsay from the Council on Foreign Relations and the ABC's Laura Tingle wrap up the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Virginia Hausegger's history of feminist activism in Australia. Accounting academics dispute the extent of financial crisis at the University of Technology Sydney, Jennifer Byrne shares some of her favourite books for the Top 100 Books of the 21st Century and budgie smugglers are back in fashion in Europe.  

Anthony Albanese is about to embark on a trip to the United States, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. After a series of diplomatic disappoints in the Pacific, Arthur Sinodinos discusses how important a meeting with Donald Trump will be. Jon Sopel from the News Agents podcast catches up with Nick to talk UK and US politics. Amanda Cahill explores how regional Australia is working to meet climate targets. Richard Gowan previews the UN leaders week and we have a sing-along with Tricia Paoluccio, who plays Dolly Parton in "Here you come again" is a musical about a Dolly Parton super fan. 

Over the past year, the US has seen political assassination attempts and murders - the latest being Charlie Kirk, a leading, young conservative activist. Nick Bryant delves into the history of American political violence with historian Jeremi Suri from University of Texas at Austin. Also, filmmaker Max Uechtritz's new documentary PNG The Road to Independence screens on ABC TV this week, he joins PNG lawyer Serena Sasingian to discuss independence. And 25 years on from the Sydney Olympics, we take a walk down memory lane.

Harvard historian Rana Mitter, on China’s war experience and the parade in Beijing this week. One of America’s most seasoned diplomats, Nicholas Burns gives his perspective on the parade and President Trump's order to rebrand the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Big picture thinking to tackle the problem of invasive species in Australia with Jack Gough, from the Invasive Species Council.  And Transylvania in a tutu - Joel Burke the director and choreographer of Dracula the ballet.

Understand Australia and the world with Nick Bryant.

Hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin gives a fascinating insight into his conversations with Hamas negotiators as a UN-backed group declares famine in part of Gaza, and Israel prepares to send troops to occupy Gaza City.  Plus, Allegra Spender and Innes Willox on what we should take away from this week's Economic Reform roundtable, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO Rose Gottemoeller helps us make sense of what's happening with a Russia-Ukraine peace deal after a series of high-level talks, and Australia’s first female astronaut talks about what it's like to smash the galactic glass ceiling (and gives some tips for future young astronauts out there).