The John Batchelor Show

St. Augustine Early Life — Part One
Professor Catherine Conybeare, author of Augustine the African, explores the early life and intellectual journey of St. Augustine in fourth-century North Africa. Raised in Tagaste, Augustine studied rhetoric in Carthage, embraced Manichaeism, and wrestled with Virgil’s Aeneid. Leaving his unnamed partner, he traveled to Rome and Milan before experiencing a dramatic conversion under Bishop Ambrose. (1)

Australian Cricket Test Slump
Jeremy Zakis reports that the Australian cricket team is suffering an unprecedented performance slump during its Test series against South Africa. Officials are weighing strategy overhauls and roster changes while scouting rising T20 talent, as the national side confronts widespread unpredictability and questions about its competitiveness on the international stage. (3)

Venomous Snake Territorial Battles
Jeremy Zakis explains how volatile El Niño conditions have sparked a population boom among Australian wildlife. He details intense territorial conflicts between venomous red-bellied black snakes and eastern brown snakes, alongside surging numbers of mice and kangaroos, as unpredictable weather reshapes animal behavior across the Australian countryside this tumultuous spring. (2)

El Niño Spring Chaos
Jeremy Zakis reports that unusual El Niño weather patterns are driving a tumultuous Australian springtime marked by severe atmospheric conditions. He describes a rare inland tornado in New South Wales, stark climate divides across the continent, and the unpredictability these volatile conditions bring to regional meteorology and forecasting across Australia. (1)

Hannibal and the Punic Wars — Part Two
Professor Eve MacDonald, author of Carthage: A New History, describes how Hannibal Barca launched an ambitious campaign against Rome, leading thousands of soldiers and war elephants across the Alps. Despite spectacular tactical victories such as Cannae, Carthaginian forces were ultimately defeated by Scipio Africanus at Zama, and the city later suffered complete destruction before its rebirth as a Roman city. (4)