In this edition of the Conversation Hour we talk of Solo Mothers by Choice day, which generally describes single mums who have used assisted reproductive technology. One of the key focuses of the day is advocating for for equal treatment in law, policy and society. We discuss what area of law reform the community would like to see as well as the growing sense of connection fostered by the community. We start the program today with a debrief on what went down at the cancelled Amyl and the Sniffers Fed square gig and  what their donation meant to live music venues. Plus, what will changes to protective service officers mean for your safety.

It's been a big week for rock in Melbourne — in this edition of The Conversation Hour we ask you when you discovered the genre. Also in this edition, intimacy coordinators have been making headlines this week , we discuss how their role in the industry is evolving. Plus, how much do rom-coms shape our relationships?  

A new women's health study from Monash University has looked at the impact of decreasing libido on women midlife. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we speak with researcher on what factors might underpin poor sexual wellbeing, how it impacts their lives and why we need to start talking about it. But first,  the state of caravan parks in Victoria, a debrief on AC/DC, and we check in with OzHarvest for our day of ABC Gives.

AC/DC are in Melbourne and folk are excited. In this edition of The Conversation we hear your AC/DC stories and reflect on what their set list might look like. Also in this edition, the health of local theatre in Victoria plus, violent youth offenders will be tried in adult courts, but how far will it really go in curbing youth crime.

New research has looked at the experience of autistic people playing team sport and has revealed that while there is a desire to increase their participation, barriers are preventing it. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what those barriers are and how to create more inclusive team environments. Also in this edition, why people are protesting Shein in Paris, how our  bee populations are faring, plus what were you wearing in 1975?  

Has football become too long and too confusing? And will the new wildcard make it even more complicated? In this edition of The Conversation Hour we ask if you are struggling to keep up and why it has become increasingly complex. Also in this edition , we talk the importance of archiving history ahead of Remembrance Day, how you can do your bit for citizen science, plus should Vault move to Mildura?  

Bryan Lipmann  has been named the 2026 Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria and in this edition of The Conversation Hour he speaks with Justin Smith about his work advocating for homeless older people.  Also in this edition former premier of Victoria Steve Bracks, shares his reflections on the Whitlam dismissal in the lead up to the 50th anniversary, plus we also talk music memoirs and why local content quotas on streaming platforms matter.

In a housing crisis the idea of holiday home has become something of a dirty word, and comes with a presumption of privilege. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what role the holiday home has played in Australia culture and whether it is really fair to assume they are only for the wealthy. Also in this edition, how the plastics industry made the burden of recycling a consumer issue, are we more vulnerable to advertising at Christmas time plus, how good are you at recognising a face in a crowd.

In this edition of The Conversation Hour we learn about the 2025 Foodbank Hunger Report, talk the come back of Race Around the World and ask do magazines for teenagers still matter? 

A couple of months ago the car company introduced a so called 'semi-autonomous' driving feature upgrade here in Australia. They call it 'supervised' self-driving. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how this feature works what sort of policy needs to be introduced to make sure it is safe. Also in this edition, we celebrate 50 years of Bohemian Rhapsody, how to use your own body weight to get fit, plus what does it mean to coexist safely with crocodiles.

As tech companies launch live translation features, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore how much it influence our motivation to learn new languages and discuss how much we can really rely on the accuracy of the translations. Also in this edition a new study that looks at the experiences of young people caring for parents with early onset dementia, plus is it becoming just too expensive to be a bridesmaid?

A new Aged Care Act is coming in November.In this special edition of The Conversation we explore how the act will affect you and the people you love. 

A recent report by the University College London's Institute of Education has looked at the role of sport in improves the academic performance of young people. In this edition in The Conversation Hour we discuss what makes a good PE teacher and the importance of the role in schools. Also in this program, an exploration of the breakup album off the back of Lily Allen's much talked about album West End Girl, and just how prevalent is hostile architecture in Victoria.

The Victorian government has announced it's reopening Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we explore what role schools can play in preventing at risk young people entering the justice system. Research suggests that students who have been suspended or expelled from school are likely to go on to have contact with the criminal justice system. So, should we be investing in schools and not jails? Also in this edition, why San Remo locals are worried about the wombat population, plus how farmers are using celebrities  to ensure the survival of their industry. 

Have you noticed that on some cars it is hard to tell the indicator is on or the brake lights are working? As more care designers are getting creative with the lights, from the shape to the way they move in this edition of the Conversation Hour we ask whether lights on a car should be off limits and purely for safety. Also in this edition, a new study that looks how fast our brain decides on the food we consume, plus the Australian Masters Games have wrapped for another year and find out about a sport that derives from Victoria that made its debut this year.

There are new guidelines on what to eat and drink if you have chronic constipation, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we speak with a gastroenterologist about the new guidelines as well as how to reduce stigma about the condition.    Also in this edition, we talk citizen science, why wool is a good fibre for sportswear plus dating in later life.

In recent years public discussions about the impact of menopause has been having a bit of a moment, In this edition of The Conversation Hour we look at the rise of so called 'menowashing' and the dangers of commercial interests spreading misinformation and harmful advice in how to manage it. Also in this edition, it's dyslexia awareness month, we look at why there are calls to abandon the term and what needs to happen to better support reading and writing in schools.

With home births and free births in the headlines today, in this edition of The Conversation Hour, we discuss the important differentiation between two, the homebirth guidelines,  and also why some women decide to give birth at home. Also in this episode, new research from The Electrical Trades Union has found that one in eight electrical apprentices have been shocked while on the job, so what needs to change to ensure the safety of trade apprentices.

As rates of homeschooling rise,  in this edition of The Conversation Hour,  we look at why there has been an upward trend and delve into what has been termed the 'accidental home schooler.' Also in this edition, was Barbie responsible for the rise in fast fashion? What does a climate resilient health system look like?Plus, the power of art to connect.     

The WNBL season kicked off on the weekend and in this edition of The Conversation we take a look at what engagement with the game was like and how it will fare this season. Also in this episode there are calls to end to the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 to speed up the shift EV, will it work? Why environmental conservationists are concerned by the state government decision to continue to list deer as a protected species. Plus, how did a crocodile end up in a luxury resort hotel pool?