Welcome to Curtin’s Cast, the John Curtin Research Centre’s podcast of politics, ideas and culture brought to you by JCRC Executive Director Nick Dyrenfurth and Redbridge’s Kos Samaras. Each fortnight we will bring you the freshest and most challenging conversations from the world of Australian and global politics, culture, and ideas every week with leading political leaders, activists, and thinkers.
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Welcome to Curtin’s Cast, the John Curtin Research Centre’s podcast of politics, ideas and culture brought to you by JCRC Executive Director Nick Dyrenfurth and Redbridge’s Kos Samaras. Each fortnight we will bring you the freshest and most challenging conversations from the world of Australian and global politics, culture, and ideas every week with leading political leaders, activists, and thinkers.
Curtin's Cast Episode 27 - 27 August 2025 - Former Liberal MP Keith Wolahan
Curtin’s Cast
47 minutes 12 seconds
2 months ago
Curtin's Cast Episode 27 - 27 August 2025 - Former Liberal MP Keith Wolahan
This week’s Curtin’s Cast features the thoughtful and formidable former Liberal MP Keith Wolahan. Kos Samaras and Nick Dyrenfurth discussed Keith’s Irish Catholic working-class roots in Dublin, his childhood in suburban Melbourne and education at Ringwood Secondary College, through to his academic achievements at Melbourne, Monash and Cambridge and career as a barrister.
Our conversation delved into his two decades of military service including the elite 1st Commando Regiment, deployments to East Timor and Afghanistan, and the loss of close friends in combat that shaped his reflections on leadership, sacrifice and ethics. We unpacked his pivotal preselection contest against Kevin Andrews in the seat of Deakin and his brief time in federal parliament, with Keith providing some raw and super interesting insights into modern political life.
We also explored the lessons of defeat after Menzies turned red in 2025, his honesty in taking responsibility, and his vision for a Liberal Party that must reconnect with urban voters – especially professionals, women, younger Australians and migrant communities. Keith spoke candidly about his family life, his values, and whether a political comeback might lie ahead alongside his work at the Bar.
This is a conversation not to be missed.
Check out a preview which is running in Nine Media's The Age and SMH:
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/canavan-leads-group-of-five-demanding-coalition-debate-now-on-scrapping-net-zero-20250826-p5mpvo.html
Curtin’s Cast
Welcome to Curtin’s Cast, the John Curtin Research Centre’s podcast of politics, ideas and culture brought to you by JCRC Executive Director Nick Dyrenfurth and Redbridge’s Kos Samaras. Each fortnight we will bring you the freshest and most challenging conversations from the world of Australian and global politics, culture, and ideas every week with leading political leaders, activists, and thinkers.
