Meet the Revolutionaries and Ratbags who shaped the world as we know it.
Join Dr Liam Byrne and Francis Leach as they travel back through time in Absolutely Revolting!
They’ll explore the moments in history that set the course for where we are today, from the social change movements that made the world a better place, to the times that ended in disaster. It’s a history lesson like no other, as they consider how change happens, and what we can do to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Absolutely Revolting is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, to acknowledge their history and connection to country, which goes back tens of thousands of years.
Creators and Hosts: Liam Byrne and Francis Leach
Producer: Seth Robinson
Recording: Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne
Editing and Sound Design: Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media
Bonus Episode: Discover the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative
Liam sits down with Melbourne Public Humanities Initative (MPHI) producer Seth Robinson to talk about research translation, storytelling, and the value of public humanities.
About Seth Robinson
Seth Robinson is a writer, producer, and academic. He Lectures in the University of Melbourne's Executive Master of Arts Program, and works as the Creative Producer for the MPHI. He is currently co-host of the podcast 'Unfolded', with Tony Birch, which presents original audiofictions, and does a deep dive interview with the stories' authors.
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
26 Oct 2025
Is the USA a superpower in decline? Trump, Trumpism, and lessons from history
The United States has dominated the world state as a political, cultural, and military hegemon for the last century. But now, with the rise of Trump, and a time of change and conflict in the US, it's worth asking the question, is it in decline?
Francis and Liam join Tim Lynch, to talk all things America and Trump, in the season finale of Absolutely Revolting.
About Emma Shortis
Dr Emma Shortis is Director of the Australia Institute’s International & Security Affairs Program. Emma is historian and writer, focused on the history and politics of the United States and its role in the world.
About Tim Lynch
Timothy J. Lynch is Professor of American politics and co-chair of the political science discipline in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. He is the author of several books about American politics and foreign policy, and is currently writing a book on 10 reasons to doubt that the USA is in political decline.
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
19 Oct 2025
Making a multicultural Australia: the history of migrant advocacy and activism
Australian society has been shaped by a multicultural community. But now, in a time of growing isolationist policy and conflict on the world stage, it's time to look at the history of migration and learn how migrant communities in Australia have organised and advocated for their rights against racism.
Francis and Liam join Joy Damousi and Joo-Cheong Tham to learn about the battles of the past, and how they're continuing today.
About Joy Damousi
Joy Damousi is Professor of History in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne as well as Dean of Arts, Professor and Director of the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences at Australian Catholic University.
About Joo-Cheong Tham
Joo-Cheong Tham is a Professor at Melbourne Law School with expertise in labour law and public law. His labour law research focuses on the regulation of precarious work. He has previously been the Deputy Chair of the Migrant Workers Centre, and is currently the National Tertiary Education Union’s Victorian Assistant Secretary (Academic Staff).
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
12 Oct 2025
Revolutions in language and culture - is Shakespeare still relevant today?
The works of Shakespeare are everywhere. They're entrenched in our cultural history, our theatres, and of course, the school curriculum. But 400 years on, are these stories still relevant to audiences today?
And if so, why?
David McInnis joins Francis and Liam to discuss the staying power of Shakespeare's work, and why these plays are still filling seats.
About David McInnis
David is Professor of Shakespeare and Early Modern Drama at the University of Melbourne. His major scholarly books include Shakespeare and Lost Plays(Cambridge UP, 2021; paperback 2023), Mind-Travelling and Voyage Drama in Early Modern England (Palgrave, 2013), and the Revels Plays edition of Dekker’s Old Fortunatus (Manchester UP, 2020).
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
5 Oct 2025
Is a 4-day week really possible? The history of shorter hours campaigns
Who wouldn't love a long weekend, every week? But as the 4-day work week movement picks up momentum around the world, it's time to crack open the history books and look at the history of labour movements.
Liam and Francis speak with Sean Scalmer, and Fiona McDonald to find out if it's realistic, and what it would take to get us all knocking off early.
About Fiona McDonald
Dr Fiona McDonald is the Acting Director of the Centre for Future Work and an Adjunct Principal Research Fellow in the College of Business and Law at RMIT.
About Sean Scalmer
Professor Sean Scalmer is from the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne, and has just written a book on the history of campaigns for shorter hours.
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
28 Sept 2025
Who were the Luddites and why do they matter today? AI, automation, and the history of protest against modern technology
Who were the Luddites? And why should we care about them today?
In the age of AI and technological innovation on steroids, the history of technological protest is more relevant than ever.
Join Francis and Liam as they speak with Professor Jeannie Paterson, and find out how smashing machine parts shaped the way we work now, and what it might mean as we consider our future AI overlords...
About Jeannie Paterson
Jeannie Paterson, is a Professor of Law and the Director of the Centre for AI and Digital Ethics at the University of Melbourne.
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
21 Sept 2025
More than 50 years since the Equal Pay decision in Australia – why do Australian women still not have pay equality?
In 1974 the Equal Pay decision set the wheels in motion, but more than 50 years later, we're still a long way from gender pay parity.
This week on Absolutely Revolting, Liam and Francis are joined by Marilyn Lake, Leah Ruppanner, and Lisa Heap, to look at how far we've come, how far we still have to go, and how we get there.
About Marilyn Lake
Marilyn is an Honorary Professorial Fellow in History at the University of Melbourne and the author of 15 books, including Getting Equal: The History of Australian Feminism.
About Leah Ruppanner
Leah Ruppanner is a Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab and the Gender Equity Initiative at the University of Melbourne. She was awarded the top in field for Gender Studies (2022 and 2023) and Sociology (2023) for all of Australia. Her book, Drained offers a new way to understand the mental load and is forthcoming this year.
About Lisa Heap
Dr Lisa Heap is a labour lawyer and researcher with a research focus on gender and inequalities at work, work health and safety and the regulation of work. She holds degrees in political science/industrial relations, law and applied human rights. She has advised several New Zealand and Australian unions and appeared in pay equity cases before tribunals in both countries.
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
14 Sept 2025
Revolutionary Transformations: The Russian Revolution
In episode two of Absolutely Revolting, we're crossing the continent to learn about the Russian Revolution with Dr Natasha Wilson. We'll go inside the bloody end of an empire, as the Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Monarchy, in a story that inspired, but was anything but a Disney movie.
About Natasha Wilson
Dr Natasha Wilson is a historian of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. She received her PhD in History from School of Slavonic and East European Studies at University College London in 2021 where her research was funded by the SSEES Foundation Scholarship. She is currently completing a book manuscript entitled The Young Socialists: Left-wing Dissent in the Soviet Union from the Brezhnev years to Perestroika.
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
7 Sept 2025
Revolutionary Transformations: The French Revolution
Professor Peter McPhee joins Liam and Francis to share all the grizzly details of the French Revolution.
We'll consider exactly what that idea of 'revolution' means, whether it's political, social, or technological, and think about how these major moments of change, and how they set the tone for today.
Liam also gets the chance to share his love of historically inspired musicals.
About Peter McPhee
Professor Peter McPhee is a globally renowned expert on French history and the French revolution – and will be familiar to any listeners who have studied the French revolution in high school in Australia, with his works being widely used to teach the subject.
He has played a major role in the life of Melbourne University, including being appointed its first Provost in 2007, but even more notably for his role as an educator for many generations of young historians.
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
11 Sept 2024
Subscribe to Absolutely Revolting!
Absolutely Revolting is a podcast that takes history to the barricades.
History-curious dilettante and music addict Francis Leach joins renowned historian and Star Wars encyclopaedia Dr.Liam Byrne on a rampage through the history of social change, radical movements, social and cultural upheaval, reactionary nasties, goodies, baddies and uglies to try and understand how change happens, why it fails, and what we can learn from it all.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
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