JOY Drive

20 Mar 2025

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Are Shopping Malls Dying?

Business, Consumer Affairs, Popular Culture, Shopping, Society & Culture

It was buzzing if you stepped into an Australian shopping centre in the 1990s. Families were renting movies at Video Ezy, grabbing groceries at Franklins, or browsing gadgets at Australian Geographic.

Fast forward to 2025, and things look very different. Some department stores are ghost towns, cafes are struggling, and empty shopfronts are everywhere.

Ally Fashion, Rivers, and Michel’s Patisserie are just a few of the iconic Australian brands that have collapsed in the past year. And with rising costs and shifting shopping habits, many more could follow.

So, what’s behind the retail downturn? And can anything save the Aussie shopping mall?

Guest: Lauren Rosewarne, Associate Professor in Public Policy, Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne

Presenter: Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:13 — 15.4MB)

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22 Apr 2025

Dr Brianna Le Busque: Four types of indoor plant owners

Environment, Mental Health, Natural Sciences, Popular Culture, Psychology, Society & Culture

From leafy living rooms to tiny desk succulents, indoor plants have taken root in our homes and hearts. But what ...

22 Apr 2025

Carolyn Gillespie: LGBTIQ+ Health Australia – 2025 Election Priorities

Health, LGBTIQA+ Community, Politics, Society & Culture

As we head toward the 2025 federal election, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia calls on all political parties to commit to bold, ...

16 Apr 2025

Dr Edith Hill: TikTok and Designer Bags

Consumer Affairs, News & Politics, Popular Culture, Social Media

The trade war has gone TikTok. Chinese factory workers show exactly how your designer bag gets made, and they throw ...