Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

The history and future of women in combat

Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

Show Notes

Australia’s incoming Chief of Army, Lt. General Susan Coyle, will be the first woman ever to hold the Army’s top post. Her appointment in the lead-up to Anzac Day reflects a change that’s been decades in the making. The true history of warfare is the story of men and women together on the battlefield. But in the early 20th century that reality changed, and at the same time, female fighters began to be written out of the history books. This is the story of how western women successfully fought their way back onto the front line. It’s also a story about how the current US administration is once again trying to wrest them from the field. Guests: Ashleigh Percival-Borley – Military historian, Durham University Dr Sarah Percy – Associate professor, School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland Dr Megan McKenzie – Professor, School for International Studies, Simon Fraser University Dr Kyleanne Hunter – CEO of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Links: Sarah Percy’s Forgotten Warriors Kyleanne Hunter’s Invisible Veterans Megan MacKenzie’s Beyond the Band of Brothers

More from Rear Vision — How History Shaped Today

Oct 23, 2026

The English language is dotted with expressions that betray a distrust of time – we talk of “racing against time” or we express a frustration that “time is not on our side”. In this episode of Rear Vision, we look at the history of time as a concept. Why time from the Industrial Revolution onwards became wedded to ideas of progress and productivity. And how at both a personal and societal level time became a means of constraint as much as organisation. Guests: Dr Adrian Bardon – Professor of Philosophy, Wake Forest University Dr Emily Thomas – Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy, Durham University Dr Iwan Rhys Morus – Professor of History and Welsh History, Aberystwyth University Judith Shulevitz – American journalist, editor and culture critic Dr David Henkin – Professor of History, University of California, Berkeley Tom Greene – Atlanta-based syndicated columnist and podcaster

Oct 16, 2026

Depending on who you talk to the American Israel Lobby is either one of the most powerful forces in US politics or an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. In this Rear Vision we explore the history and ask if the Israel Lobby exist? And if it does what impact it may have had on US politics and US foreign policy in the Middle East.

Oct 9, 2026

Once again communities in Central Africa are plagued by Ebola and the current outbreak shows no sign of being brought under control any time soon. What have medical researchers and practitioners learnt about the nature of the virus over its fifty-year history and just as importantly, how it’s spread? Given its deadly nature, why isn’t there more concern about the possibility of global transmission? Guests: Dr Holly Seale – Professor of Social Science, School of Population Health, University of New South Wales Dr Seth Judson - Assistant Professor-in-Residence, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California Los Angelos Dr Paul Griffin – Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Queensland

Oct 2, 2026

Drug trafficking across the Pacific. Why is it increasing and can it be stopped?

Sep 25, 2026

Separatist sentiments are stirring in the Canadian province of Alberta. Voters will soon cast their ballots in a referendum on whether to begin moves to formally separate from the rest of the nation. We look at the history of separatism in Canada and at the pernicious impact of foreign interference. Guests: Marcus Kolga - Director of DisinfoWatch. Senior fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute Robert Currie – King’s Counsel. Professor of Law, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University Randy Boissonnault - former Member of the Canadian Parliament for Edmonton Centre Dr Ryan Griffiths – Professor of Political Science, Syracuse University

See all episodes →