JOY Drive

7 Nov 2025

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: The Internet’s Mayor and the Politics of Virality

News & Politics, Politics, Popular Culture, Society & Culture

New York Assembly member Zohran Mamdani has been dubbed “the Internet’s Mayor”. His joyful, viral campaign is turning local politics into a global phenomenon.
Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne unpacks how Mamdani blurred the lines between authenticity, performance and politics and what his rise says about the new rules of power and personality online.

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

Presenter: Warren Andrew

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:28 — 14.4MB)

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26 Jan 2026

Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne: Why We’re Pushing Back Against Perfect Faces

Fashion & Beauty, Popular Culture, Society & Culture

After years of smooth, interchangeable faces on screens, something is shifting. Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne unpacks why expressive, readable faces ...

26 Jan 2026

Dr Dee Tomic: Work Participation, Inequality and Feeling Safe at Work

Careers, Psychology, Society & Culture

Work participation isn’t just about skills or effort; it’s shaped by whether workplaces feel safe, welcoming and secure. Dr Dee ...

26 Jan 2026

Nicole Rich: What Renters and Donors Need to Know After a Disaster

Consumer Affairs, Finance, Law, Personal Safety, Society & Culture

After bushfires and other disasters, everyday rules around renting, repairs and donations can quickly become unclear. Nicole Rich outlines renter ...