A quarter century ago, religion retreated to the margins of Australian public life. Faith was personal, private, practised quietly. Today, that's changed. Religious identity is celebrated and amplified across social media, where belief systems compete for hearts and minds.

But this renewal has coincided with something darker. Acts of violence committed in religion's name – like the Bondi Beach shootings – have forced an uncomfortable reckoning. When faith becomes potent in fractured societies, does it risk becoming a weapon?

Throughout history, religion has inspired both extraordinary compassion and devastating cruelty. So as Australia grapples with religious violence, we must ask: Is the problem religion itself? Or how faith is exploited by those seeking power or redemption through violence?

Should we implement 'faith guard rails'? Where does religious freedom end and public safety begin?

Rev. Bill Crews sits down with Simon Smart from the Centre for Public Christianity – one of Australia's most thoughtful voices on faith in public life.

A conversation about belief, violence, and whether our diverse society can withstand the strains of religious division.

The Discussion. Available now.

Between 1952 and 1967, 39,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen witnessed 45 nuclear bomb tests in Australia and the Pacific.

Now survivors report devastating health impacts – cancers, birth defects, generational disabilities – yet their medical records remain classified or missing.

In this episode of The Discussion, investigative journalist Susie Boniface discusses allegations of a decades-long cover-up, reclassified blood samples, and sanitised archives. With veterans now in their 80s and 90s, she examines why the truth about Britain's nuclear testing programme remains one of the state's most closely guarded secrets.

What if our civilization is already collapsing – and we're too deluded to see it?

Julian Cribb delivers a confronting message: the collapse of modern civilization isn't a question of if, but when. Throughout history, 90 civilizations have fallen, and ours shows all the warning signs – resource depletion, climate catastrophe, overpopulation, and a dangerous faith that growth can continue forever on a finite planet.

But the greatest threat isn't climate change or nuclear war. It's delusion – our collective inability to face hard truths about the world we've created.

With no government prepared and time running out, Cribb argues we have perhaps a few years to act before the slide becomes irreversible. The evidence is overwhelming, yet most of humanity remains indifferent, content to sacrifice the future for the comfort of today.

In this urgent conversation, I explore the 10 interconnected megathreats facing humanity, why our political systems are structurally incapable of responding, and whether anything can still be done to save what remains.

Are we witnessing the twilight of modern civilization? And if we are, why can't we bring ourselves to believe it?

Listen now.

Is the United Nations still relevant in contemporary global affairs. In this episode of The Discussion I talk with international affairs expert Dr. Keith Suter who explores whether the organisation can effectively address modern conflicts and challenges, given its 1945 structure and the controversial veto powers held by five permanent Security Council members.

The podcast considers how the UN might be reformed to reflect today's geopolitical realities and improved operational effectiveness across its peacekeeping, humanitarian, and development programs. We also assess the UN's capacity to handle 21st-century issues like climate change, cyber warfare, and artificial intelligence, while questioning whether a universal multilateral institution remains necessary in an increasingly multipolar world dominated by regional organisations.

Sudan's humanitarian catastrophe extends far beyond immediate malnutrition. Over 13.6 million children need urgent assistance, while 10.8 million people have fled their homes.

The crisis encompasses destroyed healthcare systems, compromised water supplies, educational collapse, and widespread psychological trauma.

Famine conditions now exist in multiple locations across Darfur and beyond. International funding shortfalls are crippling response efforts. The conflict has created a perfect storm of displacement, disease, and deprivation that threatens to devastate an entire generation of Sudanese children with consequences lasting decades.

In this episode of The Discussion I speak with international aid advocate, Tim Costello.

Join me for a crucial conversation about the devastating humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza.

In this episode of The Discussion I speak with a Tony Stuart, the CEO of UNICEF Australia about the urgent food crisis affecting thousands of children, the challenges of delivering aid in an active conflict zone, and what immediate action is needed to prevent famine.

This episode examines the human cost of the crisis and explores how international support can make a difference for Gaza's most vulnerable residents.

There’s a growing issue of religious intolerance in society. Not just in Australia, but around the world. Religious communities are coming under attack for doing nothing other than – seemingly – existing.

In this episode of The Discussion host Bill Crews examines what’s driving the rise of religious intolerance and what the solutions might be, with Simon Smart from the Centre for Public Christianity?

Voluntary assisted dying is legal across Australia, much of Europe, Canada, and several US states, with dramatically varying implementations.

Some countries permit advance directives for dementia cases, and AI is being developed to replace psychiatrist in the assisted dying process.

While some jurisdictions focus on terminal illness with strict safeguards, others expand access to mental illness.

In this episode of The Discussion, host Bill Crews examines these complex ethical, medical, and legal issues with Dr. Philip Nitschke, a prominent advocate who offers insights into global approaches and lessons from this evolution in human autonomy.