She’s had a career in the military, academia, media, literature and beer brewing. Called everything from a ‘six two transvestite Sheila’ by former football great Sam Newman on national TV, ‘the grunge queen’, by former QLD Premier Wayne Goss, a ‘witch’ by a Sunshine Coast pastor (Karen is convinced the consonant was misheard) and a ‘left-wing loopy academic with no testosterone’ by an irate radio listener in Tasmania, and a crusading, sycophantic, pedantic and myopic academic dwelling in an ivory tower, by a Courier Mail reader, Dr Karen Brooks is, to say the least, polemical. However, the hundreds of emails and letters she receives each week from readers of her books, columns and articles, as well as TV viewers and radio listeners attest to the fact that what she has to say about society, culture and young people today is striking a very loud chord.

One man, thrust into fear, driven by his curiosity, travels the world interviewing experts on fear. The result is “Facing Fear”, the film. It’s toured Australia and is now rolling out in the USA, with an exceptional response. Film-maker and author, Bill Bennett, speaks of his journey through his own fear whilst making and touring the film, and his transformed attitude to his diagnosis. A universally relevant topic. A conversation illuminated by curiosity, openness, humility and compassion. You’ll enjoy this one.