Greg Sheridan wrote recently that Australia is a nation in decline. Across every indicator you can imagine – economy, living standards, social cohesion, crime, health, military capability, the creativity and virtuosity of the arts – we’re in serious decline.

He's one of many Australian media and political figures worried about the future of the once lucky country. Are they right, and if so what can be done? Will discusses these questions (with the odd detour into Roman history) with journalist Joe Hildebrand. 

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

The decline and fall of Australia(?), with Joe Hildebrand

When classical liberals and conservatives took the fight to the ‘woke left’, many made the mistake of thinking that victory would automatically mark a return to classical liberal and conservative principles. Whilst the battle is not over, it is now clear that it won’t be that simple. In fact, perhaps the greatest achievement of the ‘woke left’ has been its role in the creation of a ‘woke right’.

To discuss the troubling phenomenon that has been the talk of Twitter in recent months, Will is joined by author, podcaster, and professional troublemaker, James Lindsay.

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

Visit ‘New Discourses’ here [https://newdiscourses.com/].

The rise of the 'woke right', with James Lindsay

Australia has often been called the ‘lucky country’. Today, it faces a series of economic, cultural, and geopolitical challenges, seemingly without a political class that is equipped to address them. Has Australia’s luck run out?

Will ponders this question with the Chief Economist at the Institute of Public Affairs, and columnist for The Australian, Adam Creighton.

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

The (not so) lucky country, with Adam Creighton

Will was invited back on Nick Dixon's podcast, 'The Current Thing', to discuss the recent Australian election. You can watch the interview on Nick's YouTube channel here [http://youtube.com/watch?v=eMzPDSNlGYg].

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

BONUS: Will's take on the Australian election, with Nick Dixon

One of the tragedies of modernity is how it has stripped away the time (or if we’re being honest, the inclination) to think about the big questions. Most of us no longer spend much time reflecting on the big questions. Which is why it was such a privilege for Will to speak to someone who does.

Sebastian Junger is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker, and a celebrated war correspondent. His books, which include 'The Perfect Storm' (later adapted into a blockbuster Hollywood film), 'Freedom', 'Tribe', 'War', and 'In My Time of Dying', are bracing reminders to reflect on what it means to be human.

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

Pondering the big questions, with Sebastian Junger

The incumbent Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has won a second term in office. Whilst the result was expected, the magnitude of the victory was not. Why did it go so wrong for the Coalition, and how did Labor pull it out of the bag, after trailing in the polls only two months ago?

Will raised these questions with Michael Kroger, former Victorian Liberal Party President, and Stephen Conroy, former Communications Minister in the Rudd government. The interview was originally recorded for the UK edition of The Spectator. You can watch the interview here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBJSziZt0qk].

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

BONUS: A loveless landslide, with Stephen Conroy and Michael Kroger

Earlier this week, Will interviewed journalist Andrew Bolt for the UK edition of The Spectator on the upcoming Australian election. The conversation went beyond politics to a fascinating reflection on modern Australia. Listen here, or you can watch the interview on Spectator TV here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh5LiCEugF0].

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

BONUS: An uninspiring choice, with Andrew Bolt

Despite the media's love of a 100 day report card, it's usually far too early to judge the effectiveness of a new leader. That's not the case in Trump world. He has moved at a dizzying pace, with mixed results. 

To assess the start of the second Trump presidency, Will is joined by the editor at large of Reason magazine, and co-host of The Fifth Column podcast, Matt Welch.

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

Read Reason here [https://reason.com/].

Listen to The Fifth Column here [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-fifth-column/id1097696129].

Trump's 100 day report card, with Matt Welch

Before he became Australia’s second-longest serving Prime Minister, then Opposition Leader John Howard famously stated that his ambition was for a country in which people should feel comfortable and relaxed about the past, present and future.

Many would argue he achieved that ambition, but Australia feels like a less comfortable and relaxed place in 2025. In this very special episode, Will chats to John about the state of modern Australia, and the upcoming federal election.

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

BONUS: Comfortable and relaxed, with John Howard

It says something about the surreal times in which we live that the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom found it necessary to confirm something that everyone with an ounce of sense already knew. Men cannot be women. Unfortunately, in Australia gender ideology is still enshrined law. Sall Grover is Australia’s leading advocate for sex-based rights, and she is trying to change that. 

Follow Will Kingston and Fire at Will on social media here [https://linktr.ee/fireatwillpod].

Read The Spectator Australia here [https://www.spectator.com.au/].

Support Sall here [https://gigglecrowdfund.com/].

Trans women are not women (except in Australia), with Sall Grover

A safe space for dangerous conversations, from The Spectator Australia.
The Spectator is the world’s longest-running magazine of news, arts and ideas.
Hosted by Will Kingston.