Yanis Varoufakis on misogyny, resistance and why everything could be different

There is no reason our societies can’t change radically, to produce more of what we need and less of the things that are sowing the seeds of our own destruction, says Yanis Varoufakis.

On this episode of Follow the Money, we bring you highlights from the recent Australian tour of economist and author Yanis Varoufakis, with contributions from a cast of very special guests. Across live events in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne, they discuss misogyny, political power, the erosion of Palestinian rights, and Yanis’ latest book, Raise Your Soul: A Personal History of Resistance.

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Guest: Yanis Varoufakis, economist & author // @yanisvaroufakis

Guest: Clare Wright OAM, Professor of History and Professor of Public Engagement, La Trobe University // @clarewrighthistorian

Guest: Randa Abdel-Fattah, Future Fellow in Sociology, Macquarie University // @RandaAFattah

Guest: Richard Denniss, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @richarddenniss

Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis

Guest: Louise Adler AM, former Director, Adelaide Writers’ Week

Guest: Leanne Minshull, co-Chief Executive Officer, the Australia Institute // @leanneminshull

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Raise Your Soul: A Personal History of Resistance by Yanis Varoufakis, Penguin Books (November 2025)

A Time for Bravery: What happens when Australia chooses courage?, Australia Institute Press (December 2025)

What’s the Big Idea? 32 Ideas for a Better Australia, Australia Institute Press (December 2024)

Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions: How the People of Yirrkala Changed the Course of Australian Democracy by Clare Wright, Text Publishing (October 2024)

Discipline by Randa Abdel-Fattah, UQ Press (September 2025)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to Follow the Money on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

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