John Anderson: Conversations

John Anderson speaks with Ted Baehr, founder of Christian film review site Movieguide, to examine what contemporary film choices reveal about the moral instincts of society. Drawing on decades of data, Baehr challenges the prevailing narratives around the relationship between a film's content and its success. He argues that popular entertainment is quietly moving in a different direction from elite commentary, with films centred on family, moral clarity, and hope consistently outperforming darker and more transgressive content.This conversation traces the historical rhythms of Hollywood, from early moral storytelling to periods of decline and renewal. This is a grounded conversation that reorients the cultural debate around what audiences reward rather than what critics promote. Dr. Ted Baehr is Founder and Publisher of Movieguide: The Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment and Chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission ministry, as well as a noted critic, educator, lecturer, and media pundit. His life’s purpose is to be used of God to redeem the values of the media while educating audiences on how to use discernment in selecting their entertainment.

Julian Leeser joins John Anderson for an assessment of the disturbing return of anti-semitism to the Australian public sphere. Leeser sets out the historical contours of anti-semitism and why Hamas's October 7 attacks became a catalyst for hostility on Australian soil.  The conversation criticises the failure of the current Australian government to curb anti-semitic rhetoric and acts of vandalism. Instead, it has instead chosen to legitimise the actions of Hamas by recognising a Palestinian state at the UN. This is an important discussion that urges Australia to have the courage to confront extremist, anti-democratic values and ensure every Australian is able to live in safety and dignity on our shores. Julian Leeser is the Liberal Party Member for Berowra in Sydney. He is the editor and author of numerous books on a bill of rights for Australia, federalism, and Indigenous issues.

John speaks with Michelle Manook about the realities of Australia’s energy system, the misconceptions driving policy, and the widening gap between ideology and practical national interest. Manook explains why technological advances in sustainable coal production, including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and High Efficiency Low Emissions (HELE) power plants, make coal a legitimate energy option for our future. The discussion urges Australians to re-examine the assumptions embedded in net zero narratives, the economic risks posed by unreliable power, and the strategic necessity of maintaining a diverse and resilient energy mix. This is a grounded, forward-looking discussion about how nations sustain prosperity and stability in an increasingly uncertain world. Michelle Manook is Chief Executive of FutureCoal. Previously, she was Head of Strategy, Government and Communications for Europe, Asia and Africa for the multinational company Orica, based in Perth, Australia.

Connor Tomlinson joins John for a compelling examination of Britain’s fractured politics and its loss of cultural self-belief. Tomlinson offers a frank account of how mass immigration and rising Islamist separatism are reshaping the social fabric of Britain. Difficult but necessary questions are examined concerning integration, national cohesion, and whether the country still has the confidence to uphold its own cultural inheritance. Despite the challenges, Tomlinson insists that renewal is still possible if Britain can rediscover the confidence to enforce its laws, protect its institutions, and expect newcomers to adopt its cultural values. This conversation is a call to restore order, confidence, and a shared sense of direction for Britain's future.Connor Tomlinson is a British political commentator, writer, and policy researcher known for his work on immigration, identity, environmental policy, and the cultural challenges facing the UK. A regular contributor to GB News, TalkTV, The Lotus Eaters, and a writer for Courage Media.

Join John in conversation with Helen Joyce for a measured and penetrating examination of gender ideology, the erosion of safeguarding principles, and the profound human rights concerns emerging across clinics, schools, and public institutions. Joyce warns that while the UK is returning to evidence-based practice, Australia continues to pursue practices driven by radical ideology such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and gender-affirming surgery for children.  Joyce is adamant that denying biological reality harms women, children, medical ethics, and public trust. She argues for renewed clarity, ethical courage, and respect for the rights of a child to a natural puberty and long-term wellbeing.  Helen Joyce was Britain Editor at The Economist, where she worked for over 15 years before she joined the gender-critical campaign group Sex Matters as a director. She is the author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality.