Conversations

Judy grew up on a farm in north-east Victoria. When she was seventeen, a family tragedy saw her thrust into life as a farmer for the first time. Being a young farmer led her into local politics, and eventually into a burgeoning friendship with a lanky, much-loved local politician named Tim Fischer. On their first date, Tim took Judy to the Tocumwal Debutant Ball, and it was a disaster. But despite the age difference, the two of them eventually fell in love and started a family. When their first son, Harrison, was diagnosed with autism Judy became an advocate for people on the autism spectrum. The family is still grieving Tim, whom they lost to leukaemia in 2019. But Judy is now working to make her beloved family farm, ‘Grossotto’, a sanctuary for vulnerable adults. Learn more about Care Farms. Listen to Tim Fischer in conversation with Richard Fidler. Watch the 2018 Australian Story about the Fischer Family. This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison, Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores love, marriage, relationships, Auspol, local politics, country Australia, regional Australia, rural communities, motherhood, age gap relationships, grief, death, grieving a spouse, neurodivergence, autism spectrum disorder, raising children with autism. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

The world's leading eucalyptus expert, Professor Steve Hopper, on what science and culture say about these spectacular trees, and how Noongar elders in WA's South West led his 'second education' in botany. Australia is one of the richest places on earth when it comes to botanical biodiversity. Tens of thousands of species of trees and flowers have developed over millions of years of isolation. But perhaps the most iconic of all native flora is the humble eucalyptus. From Queensland's ancient rainforests and the alpine region of New South Wales, to the wilds of Tasmania and the granite outcrops of coastal Western Australia, gum trees are synonymous with the Australian landscape. There are 900 different species of eucalyptus, from giant gums close to 100 metres tall, to tiny wee mallee trees the same height as a kindergartener.  Steve Hopper has recorded more than 100 of those species, and believes there are still more waiting to be found. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores botany, climate change, extinction rates, gum trees, eucalypts, California wild fires, biodiversity hotspot, Australia's native flora, koalas, mallee, jarrah, karri, ancient trees, dinosaurs, Australiana, Western Australia, Great Southern Blue Mountains, Tasmania, South West of WA, Albany, Stirling Range, Snowy Mountains, red gum, stringy gum, Australian wildflowers, Kew Gardens, London, the United Kingdom, Joseph Banks, environmental exploitation, Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous healing, eucalyptus oil medicinal properties, dreaming, conservation, gardening. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

UK writer Zadie Smith became a world-wide sensation with the publication of her first novel White Teeth when she was 24. Now aged 50, she's bringing her trademark intelligence and wit to the subject of midlife. Her latest work is Dead and Alive, a new book of essays, where she writes about black British history, paintings, politics, our online lives and getting older. She also talks about up growing in North West London and where she's returned to live with her own family. Zadie will be in Australia next month as part of the All About Women festival at the Sydney Opera House on March 8th and at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne on March 10th. Further Information All About Women at Sydney Opera House Zadie Smith at The Wheeler Centre This episode explores growing up in North West London, immigrants, black British history, the internet, smart phones, social media, the technology of the book, mid life, being 50, free university, Cambridge, diversity, academia, tap dancing, painting, politics, being a writer, non-fiction, young novelists, find success at young age. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Jessica Kirkness with the story of her grandparents, who both grew up profoundly deaf in a hearing world, and how she navigated the space in between sound and silence. (R) Jessica grew up in the outer suburbs with a big extended family, with her grandparents living right next door. Her grandparents, Melvyn and Phyllis, were affectionate, kind and wise and Jessica often spent more time after school in their house than her own. But their house was distinctly different. The doorbell never rang, the alarm clock never sounded, and the television was on but the audio was off. Melvyn and Phyllis were profoundly deaf, and they lived in two worlds - among the hearing, and within the deaf community which had its own language and way of doing things. Jessica grew up in that space between two worlds. She felt that her grandparents' lives were both extraordinary and ordinary, and that their deafness was so exquisitely misunderstood that every part of her felt summoned to translate. Jessica has recently written down the story of her life growing up between the two worlds of the hearing and the deaf, as a GODA, or a grandchild of deaf adults. The House with All the Lights On is published by Allen and Unwin. This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison, Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores deafness, living with a disability, profound deafness, hearing loss, AUSLAN, language, sign language, CODA, grandparents, love, family, relationships, granddaughter, grandchildren, intergenerational families, mixed families, technology, deaf accent, lip reading, migrants, hearing world, accessibility, head injuries, meningitis, hospital, acquired disability, deaf gain, communication, music, translation.

Saul Eslake grew up knowing he was adopted. For many years he knew nothing about his biological parents, but when he adopted his own children, he began the search for his birth family. What he discovered in his adoption file revealed a very complicated story, and It took him more than two decades to unravel the mystery. En route, he discovered a confected newspaper scandal, a story of British pilots at an orgy, and a complicated divorce. Then years on, he experienced the joy of meeting the siblings he never knew existed.     This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores adoption, family history, secrecy, orgies, pilots, British scandals, unusual family stories, strange family history, family history, adoption records, secrets, family secrets, divorce, pilots, tabloid press, adopted siblings, birth records, adoption process, adoption file, records, rejection, history, crime, fraud, genealogy, blood relatives, siblings, Tasmania, growing up in the UK, data, mystery. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Dave Pearson runs Bite Club, a support service for anyone who has survived a shark attack. Dave’s own brush with death came in 2011, when a three-metre-long bull shark almost took his arm. (R) Dave lived that day, but it’s what happened during his recovery that he didn’t see coming. Dave Pearson was with his mates on the NSW Mid North Coast back in 2011, and couldn’t get in the water fast enough to try out his brand new surfboard. He’d caught a few waves when he was slammed by what felt like a freight train. Under the water, through the bubbles and the shock, Dave saw something huge, brown and grey. Dave survived that day, but it’s what happened during his recovery that he didn’t see coming. He founded Bite Club to support survivors through the mental heath challenges following their shark attacks. Bite Club is a closed Facebook group available to those who have survived an attack by an apex predator. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan, Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores sharks, attacks, bull sharks, near death experience, grief, survival, recovery, water sports, surfing, ocean, water safety, summer in Australia, summer holidays, increasing shark attacks, what to do if you're attacked by a shark. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

In 2007, Vicki McAuley's husband Andrew set off from Tasmania in a kayak, aiming to become the first person to paddle to New Zealand, but a month later authorities received a distress call and then his kayak was found with no sign of Andrew. Vicki and their little son Finn, were waiting with friends and family for Andrew at Milford Sound when the devastating news came through. Further information  Vicki McAuley's book Solo was published in 2010. The documentary about Andrew's attempt is also called Solo, directed by Jennifer Peedom and released in 2008. This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores love, mountaineering, sea kayaking, solo sea kayaking, extreme adventure, psychology, adventurer, the Tasman Sea, gale force storms, ocean currents, waves, swells, Fortescue Bay, rescue, kayak design, hypothermia, family, grief, yoga, writing. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Debra Richardson joined the police at age 18 in the 1980s, working undercover as a prostitute and surviving the Russell Street bombing. Years later, she met her foster son, Yuri, who had also survived disaster. Deb and her family met Yuri after they agreed to care for one of the many children brought to Australia for short-term stays following the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine. Decades later, a journey to help that foster son, now living in a war zone, ended up helping Deb in ways she never expected. This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake and the Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. It explores women in the police force, police academy training, sexism, undercover police work, the Russell Street Bombing, car bomb, PTSD, Chernobyl disaster, Chernobyl children, John Farnham, Russian mafia, Project Yuri, charity, war in Ukraine, aid work, family, foster care. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

From Wollongong to London, via Alice Springs, this is writer Nikki Gemmell on her deeply romantic life, and how she defied expectations to become a famous author. (R) Nikki grew up the daughter of a coalminer father who thought writers were a burden on society, while her mum taught Nikki that only success was worthy of love. So Nikki went above and beyond to prove her beloved father wrong, and to get the attention of her mother through her achievements, publishing 20 books in the process, including the wildly successful The Bride Stripped Bare. Now the mother of four children, Nikki has also been determined to live her own life and raise her own children very differently, being generous with her love and pride for her sons and daughter. Content warning: Please take care when listening as this conversation mentions suicide. Help is always available. If you need to talk, 24/7 crisis support is available from Lifeline by calling 13 11 14. You can also text with them and chat online with counsellors here This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores parenthood, mothers, fathers, attachment, fawning, people pleasing, striving for achievement, accomplishment, writing, books, novelist, coal mining, family separation, divorce, childhood trauma, healing, generational differences, romance, love, mental health, Australian literature. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Professor George Williams was uninterested in school, instead spending his time melting down lead to sell to a nearby scrap yard. Then a special primary school teacher gave him permanent detention, which changed his life. Growing up in Sydney, he was the rebellious child of a single mum who worked in a fruit shop to support the family. George was so disruptive at primary school that no teacher wanted him in class. At first he was flabbergasted at the unfairness of this punishment, but with this teacher’s undivided attention, George began to enjoy learning and found that he was smart. His grades improved, and George became interested in studying Law. He has had a long career in Constitutional Law and working in university leadership. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores tertiary education, international students, online learning, lectures, tutorials, the casual workforce, academics, higher learning, lifelong learning, sandstone universities, student debt, HECS, affordable learning and poverty. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Brisbane teacher and author, Sita Walker on the strong, religious matriarchs who have helped her weather the storm of family tragedy, divorce and the beauty of a new love.   Sita grew up in Toowoomba in Queensland, descended from five powerful women — three aunts, her grandmother and her mum. They were Baha’i women who came to Australia via Iran and India. Tragedy struck the family when Sita was a child, and her matriarchs descended on the home — to cook, clean, and comfort. Sita always saw herself as good Baha’i girl, and she went on to marry a good Baha’i boy and start a family.  When things started to unravel, Sita found herself drifting away from her nightly prayers and accounting for her deeds, and it took a divorce and a new love for her to admit to herself, and her parents, how things had changed. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. It explores faith, grief, religion, Baha'i, grandmothering, losing a sibling, evil eye, Queenslander, youth camp, marrying young, nightly prayers, falling in love, leaving religion, girl dinner, fiction writing, being a teacher, high school teacher, Mary Oliver and poetry. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Rob Hirst, the former drummer for the band Midnight Oil has died at age 70. In 2018 Sarah sat down with Rob for a wide-ranging conversation about music, nature and reconnecting with family (R)

Melissa Lucashenko grew up on the outskirts of Brisbane, where her Aboriginal mother grew plants and her Russian father built an improbable number of sheds in the backyard. (R) Melissa worked as a motorcycle detailer, a house painter, a prison advocate, and a game show contestant before finding her way as a writer.  Her novel, Edenglassie, imagines life in colonial Brisbane in the 1850s.  In it, she tells the story of the Aboriginal warrior Dundalli who was the last man to be publicly executed in Queensland.  But Melissa also explores contemporary Brisbane, highlighting what she calls the "double vision" of Aboriginal people. Edenglassie is published by the University of Queensland Press. This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive Producer is Carmel Rooney. It explores colonial Brisbane, Indigenous history and culture, Russian culture, Edenglassie, karate, prison reform, writing, Aboriginal warrior Dundalli, game show contestant, reality tv, house painter, public execution, 1850s Brisbane, history, mixed race families, growing up mixed race. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Kate Rowe's life has been full of wild adventures and hard living. But when she found sobriety, Kate discovered something big about herself. CW: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening. Ever since she stepped off the boat at Circular Quay as a 20-something 10-pound Pom, Kate has run fearlessly toward outrageous adventure. As a young woman Kate travelled around Australia picking tobacco, hitchhiking and sometimes spent her weekends running riot in Kings Cross. Then in 1974, she tagged along with some random guys she’d met who wanted to walk across the island of Timor.  From there, Kate ventured into South-East Asia, where she began smuggling bricks of cannabis from Thailand into Nepal. But everywhere she went, Kate took herself with her, and so all kinds of baggage from her early life came along for the wild ride. Eventually a cloud lifted, and when Kate found sobriety she realised something big about herself. Content Warning: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening. How the F*ck Would I Know is published by Power Writers Publishing Group. You can find more information about Kate and her writing at her website. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores trauma, healing, recovery, England, London, disordered eating, eating disorder recovery, substance abuse, addiction, drug trafficking, drug dealing, heroin, opium, alcohol, alcoholism, addiction recovery, therapy, counselling, sexuality, LGBTQI+, queer community, Mardi Gras, 1978, lesbian, women's Lib. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Aaron Tait was 18 when he went to war after September 11. His dad's guidance had set Aaron up with the grit he would need as a military officer, but it took him many years to forgive himself for his role in the war. Aaron comes from a long line of Navy men, and all through his childhood he was waiting until it was his turn to get stuck into life at sea. After basic officer training, Aaron moved through the harsh Navy’s Ship’s Divers course. Then, following September 11 he went to war in the Persian Gulf at just 18. Aaron's job was incredibly dangerous. He was boarding and attempting to control illegal Iraqi oil tankers in international waters, and he narrowly avoided death several times. After his service, Aaron found that his ideas about the Navy had changed, and he set out to rectify what he saw as the terrible part he had played in the war. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores Navy diving, Iraq, war on terror, 9/11, pirates, international waters, humanitarian, family love, being a dad, strong dad, broken men, veterans, war veterans, masculinity, toxic masculinity, leaving the military, ADFA, drinking culture, boy dad, travel. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Hostage negotiation isn't at all like what you see in Hollywood blockbusters. There is no lying, no promise-making, not even any names. Vince Hurley has only one task—trying to make a deep, human connection with a complete stranger. Content Warning: this episode of Conversations contains strong language and descriptions of violent crime. Vince Hurley is a criminologist at Macquarie University and a passionate advocate for ending violence against women. He brings nearly three decades of policing experience to the job. For 29 years, Vince was an operational police officer in the outer suburbs of Sydney, investigating domestic homicides, assaults, home invasions and drug trafficking. In that time, Vince was shot at, stabbed in the hand, and pushed off a building. But his most challenging work was the shifts he pulled as a hostage negotiator. Vince worked for 12 hours at a time, trying to literally talk people off the ledge, or to stop them from committing some sort of disastrous violent act. Hostage negotiation isn't at all like what you see in the cinema. There is no lying, no promises, not even any names. All Vince has to go on is trying to make a human connection with someone without knowing anything about them.  This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores policing, police work, violent crimes, police culture, violence against women, domestic violence, femicide, Lindt siege, hostage negotiation, suicidal ideation, terrorism, murder, retiring, academic, universities, Macquarie University, late career change, Western Sydney, educating teen boys, hidden violence, child abuse, cops, police officer. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Navigator Will Oxley expected the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race to be a challenging one. But when he and his crew met with 12-metre waves and 80km/h winds in Bass Strait, Will knew something was about to go horribly wrong. (R) Will Oxley learnt the art of celestial navigation in his 20s and he is now one of the world’s leading ocean race navigators. He has competed in the Sydney to Hobart race many times. He was navigating during the 1998 race when a freak storm hit off the coast of Eden. Will’s yacht was up-ended by a giant wave. He and his crew found themselves trapped upside down for five long minutes, before another wave pounded them back upright, then broke the mast. He’s also raced around the world 5 times, including the 10 months he spent sailing the wrong way round, against the winds, while skipper to a crew of sailing amateurs. Since we first spoke to Will he has competed in many more Sydney to Hobart races. In 2025 he sailed in his 21st on SHK Scallywag.  Will spends most of his time sailing in Europe on a quite radical yacht called Raven. It's semi foiling and 111 feet long. You can see the boat Will describes as a 'very cool yacht' on the Baltic Yachts Facebook page. This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. This episode explores the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race, yachting disasters, yacht races gone wrong, dangerous seas, disasters at sea, yachting navigation, sailors, sailing, who goes in the Sydney to Hobart race, 2025 Sydney to Hobart, Bass Strait, crazy brave, adventurers, men who love boats, yachties, sailing race, Raven, radical yacht, foiling, fast yacht, yachting men, men of yachting, very cool yacht, 111 foot yachts. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities

Rafael Bonachela was born in the dying years of Franco’s Spain, into a patriarchal culture that didn’t appreciate little boys who wanted to dance.  As the eldest of four brothers, his father expected him to be an example of academic achievement and bravado. This hardline approach slowly drove his father away from the family, though when it came time to say goodbye, Rafael saw an unexpected side of him. At the age of 17, when the wide world beckoned, Rafael left his home country without a backward glance, grasping with both hands the opportunity to become a professional dancer. After a last ditch attempt at becoming a choreographer, he received an email from Kylie Minogue. And the rest is history.

Justin Heazlewood fled a complicated early life in Tasmania searching for fame as an artist on the mainland but then moved back to his home town of Burnie, and realised community is where you find it. For years he imagined his hometown as somewhere he had to leave, especially if he was going to be any kind of artist. And there were other, more personal reasons that made staying in Burnie complicated. Justin's Mum has schizophrenia, and growing up he was often forced into the role of being her carer. It was something he did his best to hide from his friends and other people in his life. So after school, Justin headed to the mainland and began a life as a comedian and a songwriter. But a few years ago, he found himself returning to his home town for good.  This episode of Conversations explores mental health, caring for parents, parents with mental illness, small towns, leaving your hometown, big city life, regional Australia, creatives in regional Australia, mother son relationships, returning home, community, fame, triple j, bedroom philosopher, radio, writing, music, musicians, learning guitar, grandmothers. Get Up Mum is published by Affirm Press and Justin's new book, Dream Burnie, celebrates the creative humans like him making art far from the big cities, and some of the teachers who recognised the young artists while they were at school. You can learn more about Justin's book Dream Burnie online. The Young Carer's Hotline is open Monday-Friday on 1800 422 737

For journalist Kate Halfpenny, moving to a beachside town during Melbourne's lockdowns seemed like the perfect way to unwind and escape her huge mortgage. Then she had to contend with the triple whammy of perimenopause, her husband's alcoholism and distance from family and friends. For the first time in her life, Kate had an empty house, no job commitments and no city life to distract her. She was able to indulge daily in her love of boogie boarding and surf-side walks with her dog, Maggie. One day at the beach, Kate saw her elderly father struggling in the surf. Kate's husband Chris was in the water next to him, but was acting strangely and couldn’t manage to haul him out of the dangerous water. That evening, Chris confessed his alcoholism to Kate and the couple faced the inevitable decisions they would have to navigate, together and apart. Further information Boogie Wonderland is published by Affirm Press. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. This episode of Conversations deals with good divorce, Melbourne covid lockdowns, seachange, addiction, alcoholism, supporting an alcoholic, women in media, perimenopause, midlife, being alone, boogie boarding and relationships.

The artist Loribelle Spirovski on her unusual childhood in the Philippines, meeting her father for the first time at 7 years old, and making her way as one of Australia's most exciting young painters. Loribelle Spirovski grew up in the Philippines, with her mum and her extended Filipino family. Her Serbian father, whom she had never met, was in Australia, driving taxis and waiting for the visa that would allow him to bring Loribelle and her mum to join him. Loribelle didn't meet her father until she was 7 years old, and when she saw him for the first time at Manila Airport, she was shocked by how hairy his arms were and the way he smelled just like she did. Eventually, the family was properly reunited in Sydney, Australia, where Loribelle had to navigate family and cultural ties, where she found love and where she made her way as one of Australia's most exciting young artists. This episode of Conversations explores painting, creativity, writing, books, love, marriage, Simon Tedeschi, William Barton, the Archibald Prize, art education, art teaching, chronic pain, chronic injury, identity, memoir, family dynamics, origin stories, refugees, Serbia, former Yugoslavia, music, piano, singing, language, mothers, fathers, long-distance relationships. White Hibiscus is published by Upswell. You can see some of Loribelle's art at her website and on her Instagram page. In July, 2025 Loribelle won the People's Choice Award for the 2025 Archibald Prize for a portrait she painted with her fingers of Kalkadunga musician William Barton. To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Felicia Djamirze grew up in the criminal underworld, then became a beauty queen. But her life outside the pageant circuit was mired in the world of drugs, bikie gangs and violence.(CW: graphic discussion of domestic violence and crime)  Felicia Djamirze is a counsellor, an advocate for women's justice, a three-time Miss Australia winner and a convicted drug trafficker. Felicia grew up surrounded by drug abuse and crime in a rough part of Sydney. Her family was marked by addiction and connections to the criminal underworld. As she got older, Felicia attracted a lot of attention for her looks, eventually finding the world of beauty pageants, which she thought was her way out. But behind the scenes, Felicia's life was far from glamorous. While living with a partner who was in a bikie gang, she survived severe domestic violence. Then, during her next relationship she was caught up in an horrifically violent encounter with the Queensland Police when they burst into her home to arrest her partner for dealing meth. Felicia admitted her involvement and was convicted for drug trafficking. In the aftermath, she retrained as a counsellor and mental health advocate.  She now aims to use her experiences to help others find a way out of the justice system and re-enter, unashamedly, into the real world. Further information Content warning: this episode of Conversations contains descriptions of domestic violence.  Help and Support is always available. If you are experiencing Domestic Violence 1800 Respect is available 24 hours a day on 1800 737 732. For support with PTSD in Australia, Lifeline (13 11 14) and Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) offer crisis support. Accessory, written with Erin O'Dwyer, is published by Affirm Press. This episode of Conversations was produced my Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores crime, conviction history, police brutality, bikies, meth, substance abuse, epic origin stories, family dynamics, relationships, prison, outlaw motorcycle gangs, arms dealing, ice, Russian mafia, Hells Angels, Bandidos, Rebels, Comancheros, Finks, and Mongols. To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

When Anh Nguyen Austen was a small girl, her family fled South Vietnam on a boat which met a once-in-a-century storm in the South China sea. When all on board thought hope was lost, they were rescued.

For Professor Kelvin Kong, the ear is our most beautiful organ. Kelvin is a proud Worimi man and an ENT surgeon at the forefront of medical innovation. For Professor Kelvin Kong, the ear is our most beautiful organ. It's vital to how many of us understand each other, and how we understand ourselves. The proud Worimi man is the third doctor in his family, and is now an ENT surgeon at the forefront of medical innovation. He performs highly intricate lifesaving procedures, and also more simple medical interventions that are equally as impactful, because by tending to untreated ear disease in children, he can change the entire trajectory of their lives.    Further information Originally broadcast in September 2022. In 2023, Professor Kong was named NAIDOC Person of the year for his work treating the ear disease Otitis Media amongst children in indigenous communities

When Professor Mandyam Srinivasan began studying bees almost 35 years ago, we was interested in learning how bees landed so elegantly, and avoided colliding in mid-air. What Mandyam discovered was a complex and astounding system of vision and flight, which is now being applied to machine vision and robotics. He and his team at the Queensland Brain Institute built an autonomous aircraft, without GPS or radar, that flies like a bee. The technology could have widespread applications for surveillance, rescue operations, defence, and planetary exploration. Further information Mandyam Srinivasan is now Emeritus Professor at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland. The episode of Conversations covers neuroscience, bees, sensory neuroscience, the study of bees, intelligent machines,

As a marine molecular biologist, Dr Nerida Wilson spends a lot of her time getting acquainted with the mysterious creatures lurking in the dark depths of the sea. From nudibranchs, to sea dragons and a UFO-looking spiral that's around 150 feet long, Nerida doesn't need to know why these weird and wonderful creatures exist, that they made it here in the first place is enough. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris and the Excecutive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It covers marine life, research, science, nudibranch, sea horse, oceans, discovery, deep sea life and exploration.

When Lee Berger entered the field of palaeoanthropology there was a one in 10,000,000 chance he would discover anything 'worthwhile' digging around South Africa. But this real-life Indiana Jones kept bucking the odds. First, he found a pair of hominid teeth in southern Africa, and then after a fossil-hunting dry spell, his 9-year-old son Matthew found the jawbone of a completely new hominid species. A few years later came Lee's most extraordinary discovery yet: a nearly inaccessible cave filled with skeletons of another new hominid species, which seemed to be violating all the rules. The story of what happened in this cave revolutionises what we understand about the origins of our own human species. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores human history, archaeology, Africa, caving, exploration, science, modern history, evolution, biology, bones, forensics, media, journalism, what to study, curious kids, curiosity, podcasts for kids, fascinating science, fascinating history, research, human mysteries, anthropology. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Dr Culum Brown is a leading researcher in the field of fish cognition, his research has shown that even that smallest fish are capable of learning and can retain memories for months. His fascination for fish stems from growing up in parts of south-east Asia, where he would spend every possible hour in the ocean with a snorkel. As an adult, Culum's marine biology studies around the world have revealed many facts which challenge our common understanding of fish. Within schools of fish, there is often a strict social hierarchy which can include forms of bullying. His research into Port Jackson sharks has revealed a lot about their social lives as 'puppies of the sea'. He work has also revealed that sting rays have especially good memories and can distinguish days of the week. Further information Find out more about Culum's work

Dr Campbell Costello's work as a vet has taken him out of his family's station in North Queensland to places as far flung as Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Patagonia. He's acted as the official vet for a sled race in Alaska, for epic horse races in Mongolia and Argentina, and he has run a cattle station in the former Soviet Union. But after a family tragedy, Dr Costello got his pilot's licence so he could service Australian communities and stations in the country's most remote corners. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, the executive producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores animals, adventure, veterinarians, animal welfare, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the Andes, Central Asia, horses, dogs, flying, getting your pilot's licence, learning to fly, outback Australia, top end, Northern territory, Queensland, travel, travel for work, death of a parent, farm accidents, grief, loss, love, family, Middle East, South America, far flung places, places less travelled, vet mental health, podcasts for kids, kids who love animals. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Dr Tanya Latty is an insect scientist with a quirky taste in pets, and a keen eye for detail, but it's the lessons from her brainless pet slime mould that she's most fascinated about. Tanya studies the behaviour of ants and bees and she's particularly interested in their ability to work effectively as a team to achieve a common goal. But her pet project is focused on a creature that defies classification. Slime moulds are neither plants nor animals. They can move, but they don't have legs or wings. They appear to make complex decisions, often motivated by the promise of food. Yet they don't have a stomach or a brain. Despite slime moulds' unique biology, Tanya was struck by their apparent intelligence and by similarities in their patterns of behaviour to ants and bees. Tanya believes the knowledge gained from studying the behaviour of slime moulds and insects could help to solve complex organisational problems in the human world. For more information on Dr Latty’s research head to the Invertebrate behaviour and ecology lab website. This episode of Conversations was produced by Sinead Lee, the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores strange science, weird science, hives, bees, insect behaviour, single cell organisms, biology, science for kids, podcasts for kids, the blob, flubber. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

When his elders named him Bindi, David Hudson had no idea his future would involve performing with his didgeridoo at the Taj Mahal, or a role in a film starring Marlin Brando   Western Yalanji and Ewamian man David Bindi Hudson is a performing artist and musician. His parents were born on Mona Mona mission, near Cairns. David's mother didn't like being told what to do, and so in 1956 she walked off the mission with her three children, and made it 18km away to look for work at a local pub. Her ingenuity led the family to Spring Creek Station, where David’s elders taught him traditional dance and named him Bindi, which means "always looking forward". Since then, David has toured the world with his didgeridoo, playing to huge audiences in the Acropolis, the Taj Mahal and China's Forbidden City. He also played a part in a disastrous Hollywood movie, which gave him the chance to bring Marlon Brando home to have dinner with his Mum. Content warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners: this episode contains the name of someone who has died. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan and the executive producer was Carmel Rooney. It covers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, didgerodoos, the Taj Mahal, Spring Creek Station, Marlon Brando, Hollywood, Mona Mona mission, Cairns, family history, Aboriginal elders, traditional dance and music. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Erna Walraven was one of the first female zookeepers to work at Sydney's Taronga Zoo in the 1980s. Despite practical jokes from her male colleagues, like animal dung in her gumboots, Erna kept her nerve. She was born in The Netherlands, to parents who were involved in the Dutch resistance during World War II. Erna's love of languages took her to Spain, where she lived for many years with her widowed sister and young nephew. It was there she met a penniless Australian backpacker and fell in love, starting Erna on the path to the rest of her life. Erna's memoir Hear Me Roar is published by Affirm Press. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The executive producer of Conversations is Nicola Harrison It covers mothers, animals, sex, mating behaviours, feminism, animal kingdom, Dutch resistance, world war 2, Taronga Zoo, Spain, sisters, family, memoir, writing, The Netherlands, grief, zoology, animal behaviour, offspring, nature, zoos To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

At 18 years old, Mick Doleman miraculously survived when his ship capsized in the freezing Southern Ocean off Tasmania. But as he floated in a life raft with his nine crewmates, his ordeal at sea had only just begun. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, the Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. It covers ship wreck, overcrowding, emergency rescue, team dynamics, ship captain, Tasmania, rough seas, death, the Blythe Star To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Liz Cameron was 18 years old when a stranger approached her in a book shop. It was the beginning of her induction into a cult, and it was an experience Liz barely survived. The process of brainwashing happened gradually, first came the love-bombing and the allure of finding a new purpose in life. Then came the isolation from friends and family, along with sleep deprivation, overwork and sexual manipulation. Liz was one of the many women chosen to become a kind of bride for the leader of an infamous Korean religious group. It wasn’t until she became critically ill, that her family were able to get the help she needed to escape and to begin the process of being deprogrammed. Liz Cameron’s memoir is called Cult Bride: How I was brainwashed and how I broke free. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities. Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. This episode was produced by Jennifer Leake. This episode of Conversations touches on cults, brainwashing, religious groups, eating disorders, sexual manipulation, deprogramming, sexual assault, sleep deprivation, family, recovery, healing, trauma, biography, psychology, Providence, JMS, Jesus Morning Star, Pastor Joshua, Jung Myung-seok.

Tom Robinson was a 14-year-old living in the Brisbane suburbs when he made a promise to himself to become the youngest person ever to row across the Pacific Ocean.  Nine years later Tom set off from Peru bound for Australia without a support crew and limited communication. Tom navigated by the stars, made eye contact with a shark and rowed up to 15 hours a day when strong currents pushed him off course. And when his adventure ended, it was in a completely unexpected by perfect way. Read more about Tom at his website:  https://www.tomrobinsonboats.com/ This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake. Executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores solo adventure, rowing the Pacific Ocean, boat building, remote Pacific Island communities, family, rescue, bad weather, world records, isolation, fear, survival, adventure, near death, volcanic islands, marine life, weather, storms, storms at sea, naked, rescue, teenage adventurer, and getting off your phone. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities

The bestselling Irish author grew up on a farm set on “50 acres on the side of a hill”. Growing up, she witnessed a harsh, misogynistic country that convinced her she would never marry. Claire shares what she has learned about writing from a litter of newborn piglets. Her works Small Things Like These and Foster have both been made into movies. Claire's stories often take place in the landscape where she grew up — the farms and small towns of Wexford in Southeast Ireland. Claire was the youngest of six children, and when she was born their farmhouse had no running water and few books. Instead, Claire fell in love with horses. As a small child she would go to the wood with her brother, who was a lumberjack. Amongst the chainsaws and workmen, little Claire would drive a harnessed horse from behind, to the roadside, to help clear the heavy trees.  And as she grew older, she developed a fierce determination to live life on her own terms. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. Conversations Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. Presented by Sarah Kanowski. This episode of Conversations touches on marriage, Magdalene laundries, contraception, Ireland, Catholicism, big Irish families, horsemanship, starting brumbies, skewbald Connemara pony, New Orleans, writing, literary prizes, farms, personal stories, epic life stories, family dynamics, Cillian Murphy and modern history. Further information Listen to Sarah's interview with Queensland horseman, Ken Faulkner.

When artist Vincent Fantauzzo was a boy he was a street-fighting petty criminal with dyslexia and a blazing talent for drawing. He escaped jail time, and grew up to become one of Australia's most well-known portrait artists. VIncent Fantauzzo is one of Australia's most successful portrait artists. For his luminous, photo-realistic paintings he's won the People's Choice Award at the annual Archibald Prize more than any other artist. He's also won the Moran National Portrait Prize twice, once with a painting of his friend, filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, and the second time with a painting of his wife, actor Asher Keddie. All the success is a long way from his upbringing in Broadmeadows in Melbourne, when at times it seemed like he was going to end up in jail, or dead. Vincent struggled so badly with dyslexia that he developed elaborate rituals to avoid writing at school, which is partly how he came to drawing.  He became a street-fighting petty criminal and he was kicked out of school at 14 and was drawn into a violent world where he had to be extraordinarily streetwise to survive. Vincent still carries the scars of surviving his childhood into the big, beautiful life he's built for himself as one of Australia's most well-known artists. This episode of Conversations explores origin stories, social disadvantage, parenting, father son relationships, boxing, learning disabilities, struggling in school, Hollywood, the art world, Heath Ledger, Kim Ledger, Batman, family, family dynamics, life story, art, portraits, painting, juvenile crime, drug dealing, hot houses, brothers. Unveiled, written with Craig Henderson, is published by Penguin. To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

How a boy from Glasgow named Norman Swirsky grew up to become Australia's most famous doctor When Norman was 10 years old his dad decided to change the family's surname to Swan in a response to ongoing anti-Semitism in Scotland after WWII. Norman wanted to be an actor growing up, but his parents encouraged him to study medicine. After he completed his studies at the university of Aberdeen he spent time working in London before moving to Australia. While on a break from medicine in 1982 he joined the ABC and began a stellar career. Decades on, the advent of Covid-19 thrust Norman into the role of his life and he became Australia's most well-known doctor and a trusted voice in the long pandemic. Sarah spoke to Norman in 2021 after the publication of his book So You Think You Know What's Good For You This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison, the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

The author and actor thinks summer in Australia is done bigger, better and weirder than anywhere else. For three months of the year, life slows down and heats up. But for William, summer in Australia is an imperfect paradise where more than anything, people yearn to connect. Summer can be a hellish time in Australia, where temperatures soar and fires can turn bush and buildings to rubble in an instant. But despite the challenges, William McInnes looks upon this time of year with great affection and nostalgia. Growing up in Redcliffe, Queensland, William remembers the heat that burnt through his thongs, the strange ritual of assembling a plastic European Christmas tree on a 40-degree day, and simple moments in the sun like jumping off his dad's shoulders into the cool coastal water. Every summer connects William with his family, his childhood and his past, just like millions of other Australians on riverbanks and beaches around the country. It's a Scorcher: Tales of the Australian Summer is published by Hachette. This episode of Conversations explores seasons, heat, bushfires, Koolewong, weather forecast, drought, BOM, swimming, tennis, Australian Open, Boxing Day Test, Cricket, Ashes, book, memoir, writing, Australiana, Kitsch, climate change, nostalgia, family time, Christmas, holidays, New Year, how to survive the holidays, road trips, vacation, bikini, swimmers, togs, school holidays, parents. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Journalist and author, Brigid Delaney looked into the ancient philosophy during an assignment from her editor. What she discovered led her to years of study and a brand-new outlook on life that focuses less on happiness and more on meaning and contentment. Brigid is devoted to the Stoics, a philosophy that encourages its followers to focus on what they can control, accepting what happens outside of that sphere of control, and mastering inner peace to have a good life. These ideas have helped Brigid prepare for grief and take the edge off her anxiety by putting it in context. One of the most powerful Stoic ideas is that all the wonderful things and people in our life are “on loan” and can be taken away at any moment. Instead of taking them for granted, the Stoics wanted us to run toward them at full speed, and wring as much fun and juice out of them as we can. Further information Brigid's new book The Seeker And The Sage, and Reasons Not To Worry: How to be Stoic in chaotic times are both published by Allen & Unwin. The Executive Producer of Conversations is Nicola Harrison. This episode contains references to a buddhist with attitude, Nassim Taleb, stoic week, Nero, improving my life, how to improve my life, how to be content, how to find meaning in life, The Guardian, Brigid Delaney's Diary, newspaper column, newspaper columnist, writer, writing life, author, novel, fable, Circles of Hierocles, meditation, Celeste Barber, Wellmania, netflix and internal happiness. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Cult survivor and psychotherapist Dr Martina Zangger on her ten years devoted to an Indian mystic and how she learned to stand on her own two feet. When Martina Zangger was 19 years old she became a devotee of the Rajneeshee Movement led by the Guru, Bhagwan. The cult had its headquarters in a huge ashram, built in rural Oregon, and Martina decided she needed to go there to be closer to Rajneesh to find the healing she desperately needed. She became a sex worker to fund her journey there from Sydney. In the ashram, Bhagwan directed his thousands of followers to wear purple clothing, work for him for free, and avoid monogamy. Then one day, Bhagwan suddenly disappeared on a Lear jet taking his collection of diamond-encrusted watches with him. Martina was left to make a life for herself back in the regular world and to slowly confront the childhood trauma that had led her to join the Rajneeshees in the first place. Not My Shame is published by Ventura Press. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores religion, spirituality, spiritual seeking, trauma, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, Osho, Rajneesh, Pune, India, Oregon, Ashram, meditation, cults, healing, immigration, therapy, self confidence, self worth, motherhood, perinatal psychosis, mental health, psychotherapy, psychology, relationship, monogamy, parenting, mothers of daughters, social work, social justice, Wild Wild Country, Netflix, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, guru, mystic, philosophy, spiritual bypassing. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

When Helen Garner began following her grandson Amby's under-16s football team, it was a chance to spend more time with her youngest grandchild before he became an adult and she was fascinated by the spectacle. She went along to all the games, and to every training session, shivering on the sidelines at dusk, it also gave Helen a new writing project. As Helen began writing about Amby and his season, she began to realise that part of the story was about the 'ordinary beauty of human society'. This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison, the executive producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores growing older, teenagers, playing AFL, training, team sport, AFL, injury, man hood, being a grandma, family, writing, memoir, the culture of sport in Australia, writing, raising boys. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

At the very end of World War Two, Australian soldiers were sent to Borneo to dislodge the occupying Japanese Forces. The story of their brutal fighting was largely forgotten by their own compatriots, who never understood why they went in there in the first place. It was one of the largest amphibious landings of the whole war, and what followed was months of brutal fighting on an island that was both a hell and a paradise. The operation was called Operation Oboe, and it was one of the most successful military campaigns Australia has ever been a part of. But the men who fought there were never celebrated upon their return home. They were forgotten amid all the questioning of whether all the fighting and dying on Borneo needed to happen in the first place. Author Michael Veitch happened upon this forgotten story of Australians at war in the most unlikely of circumstances involving a trivia night and a grumpy older man. Borneo: The Last Campaign - Australia's brilliant, controversial end to World War Two is published by Hachette. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores war, battles, history, modern history, occupation, fighting, death, grief, men at war, brothers in arms, US military, military history, Japanese, Germany, Nazis, allied forces, AUKUS, ANZAC, axis powers, Russia, General MacArthur, great war, fighting, leopards, Borneo, rubber, oil, resources, surrender, books for dad, Christmas books, history books. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

While fighting anorexia Lexi Crouch was admitted to hospital 25 times and placed in an induced coma twice. When doctors told her she would die, she began the slow climb up and out to health (CW: discussion of eating disorders) Lexi was 16 when she was first admitted to hospital and diagnosed with anorexia and spent the next decade in and out specialist clinics. When she overheard doctors talking about how she was going to die, Lexi decided she wasn't ready to give up and began to confront what was driving her illness and begin the slow process of recovery. Lexi is now a clinical nutritionist and eating disorders recovery coach and has co-written a book with psychiatrist Dr Warren Ward called ReNourish: a complete and compassionate guide to recovery from eating disorders. Listen to Sarah's interview with Dr Warren Ward  Treating anorexia by nourishing the heart This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores eating disorders, mental health, body image, boarding school, anorexia, eating disorder clinics, psychiatric ward, perfectionism, extreme exercise, near death, intensive care, therapy, yoga, spirituality, recovery, pregnancy, clinical nutrition. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Mark Winterbottom grew up in outer Western Sydney, in a family with not much money to spend on expensive hobbies. But by an extraordinary twist of fate, Mark won his first mini motorbike in a shopping centre raffle at the age of 8. Immediately, he was off, speedily rising up from bikes to kart racing, and then to V8 Supercars. Mark won race after race, earning him the nickname 'Frosty'. But for years, he could not wrestle the infamous Bathurst 1000 trophy from the hands of his great rival, Jamie Whincup. Then, in 2013, after six hours roaring around the track, in the final lap, the two of them went bumper to bumper, fighting for first place in an electrifying finish. Frosty is published by HarperCollins. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores motorsports, supercars, F1, Ford, Holden, Bathurst, cancer, death of a parent, grief, love, marriage, fatherhood, Owen Wilson, Cars the movie, Disney, Pixar, voice over acting, driving, crash, memo0ir, writing books, origin story, raising boys, childhood sweetheart. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Heather's brother and grandfather died in a tragic drowning accident when she was 12 and from that day, she began looking for a way to commune with what lies beyond.  The quest has taken the Stella award winning writer to Buddhist monasteries, Native American dance rituals and sweat lodges, and to the discipline of writing. And Heather has had an intuitive sense of life's mystery ever since she was a little girl growing up near the ancient forests and wild beaches of Tasmania. Heather's novels include The Museum of Modern Love and the best-selling thriller Bruny and Sarah spoke with Heather in 2022 after the publication of her memoir, Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan, the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It covers, grief, death, drowning, family, Tasmania, writing, Buddhism, memoir, Native American Dance rituals, therapy, nature, the mystery of life, arthritis, chronic illness.

Louise O'Sullivan spent 10 years with the ADF, including deployments with the Special Forces in Afghanistan which eventually left her with PTSD, but a bigger battle lay ahead, the fight to save her premature twins. After leaving the military, Louise wanted to begin a family but cancer treatment had left her unable to carry her own children so she found a surrogate in Ukraine. But when her twins were born prematurely, she spent months living and caring for them in a Ukranian hospital. Eventually Louise had to begin her own process of healing, which included a life changing course of ketamine therapy. The episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake and the Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. It covers topics including psychology, trauma, Australian Defence Force, Afghanistan, women in the military, army training, physical and mental endurance, helicopter crash, fatalities, injury, ripping out, trauma response, PTSD, cervical cancer, chemotherapy, radiation, hysterectomy, international surrogacy, premature babies, health care in Ukraine, divorces, EMDR, ketamine therapy To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities. The most shared episode of Conversations in 2025 was Sarah's interview with social psychologist Jonathan Hait on 'attention fracking' and how to stop tech companies stealing your focus. Sarah's interview with Jonathan Haidt

After the death of her father, a spiritual moment with the life-size wooden statue of Bob at Nine Mile convinced queer rapper, Jamaica Moana that everything would be alright. Jamaica was born to the music of Bob Marley on the Central Coast of NSW. Her dad loved Bob’s music more than anything else and would listen incessantly on his interstate truck driving routes. Jamaica was the beloved baby of six children, growing up in a Maori-Samoan family in the outer suburbs of Auckland. When the family moved to Campbelltown in Western Sydney, Jamaica began to express her queer identity through the dance troupe The Pioneers. Jamaica’s father rejected this new version of her, so different from the son he knew, and they became estranged.  When he became seriously ill years later, Jamaica moved home to care for him and the pair renewed their relationship, staying close until his death. With her brother, she eventually made a pilgrimage to Bob Marley's home town as a tribute to their father. Deep in grief, it was a spiritual experience with a life-size statue of Bob at Nine Mile that convinced Jamaica everything would be alright. Further information Jamaica Moana's debut EP is Bud & Deni.  This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. It covers topics including rap, dance, Hokianga Harbour, Maori, South Auckland, Papakura, Western Sydney, authentic, authenticity, queer, trans, parental estrangement, father daughter relationship, carer, caring for parent, Nicki Minaj, ballroom, duckwalk, west ball, safe space, rupture and repair and community. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Tens of thousands of 'van lifers' and 'grey nomads' drive around Australia each year. But the iconic road trip has a surprising origin story involving a pair of missionaries, a retired butcher and a gun-slinging mother-daughter duo. David Riley is a pastor and father who was on a lap around Australia with his wife and three children when he heard about the surprising origin story of this great road trip. In 1925, two young men set off from Perth to Darwin in a tiny French car nicknamed 'Bubsie'. They were running an errand for their Church – instructed to set up a Seventh-Day Adventist Missionary outpost in the Northern Territory, then to turn around and come back home. Nevill Westwood and Greg Davies battled flat tires, evil cows, losing their way, leaky fuel tanks, dangerous river crossings and a falling out along the way. With the help of First Nations people and station owners they met along the way, they made it to Darwin. But when they got to Darwin, they just kept going, entering into a race with a retired butcher and a gun-slinging mother-daughter duo to become the first vehicle to circumnavigate Australia. For David, researching and writing the story down became a powerful way to preserve the memories of his own family's lap around Australia, after receiving terrible news. Bubsie and The Boys: The First Journey Around Australia by Car is published by SIGNS. Early next year, Bubsie's sister car, a 102-year-old Citroën, will drive around Australia for the 100th anniversary of the original journey. The trip will be raising money for Canteen and Brain Child. Information about the trip will be online early next year. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores travel, road trips, Australian history, modern history, motoring history, great global road trips, grey nomads, caravanning, van life, historical records, religion, church, cancer, losing a daughter, brain cancer, grief, driving, driving Western Australia, madman's track, white history, black history.

Despite being a stand-out young player, many NRL clubs initially rejected Johnathan Thurston because they thought he was too small and wiry but he went on to become one of the best rugby league players of all time. Johnathan showed his rare talent for rugby league early on but his parents didn't have the money to help him travel to games. So in his late teens, Johnathan moved to Toowoomba to get a start in rugby league, while working part-time in the butcher’s section of a supermarket. When Johnathan moved to Sydney at 18 to try his luck with the Cantebury Bulldogs, he began to get noticed and by the time he retired in 2018, had won a record 4 Daly M medals.  Johnathan Thurston The Autobiography (with James Phelps) is published by Harper Collins. This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison, the Executive Producer was Pam O'Brien. It explores the career of Johnathan Thurston, the NRL, rugby league, sporting talent, growing up in Brisbane, working part time jobs, alcohol, scholarships, NRL clubs, the Canterbury Bulldogs, North Queensland Cowboys, State of Origin, Queensland, Daly M medal, NRL Grand Final,  Queensland Maroons, indigenous Australian, Maori heritage, goal kicker, housing commission, Toowoomba, Indigenous All Star, GOAT    To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Artist, author and Stolen Generations survivor, Rhonda Collard-Spratt, on bush hugs, beehives, emu bumps, and finding peace. Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt is a Yamatji-Noongar elder and Stolen Generations survivor who grew up on the Carnarvon Native Mission in Western Australia. As a little girl she would escape from her dormitory into the bush to feel the love and warmth she was missing from her mum. After leaving the mission as a teenager, Rhonda trained as a hairdresser, creating some of the best beehives in Perth. Later in life, she managed to reconnect with her mum and formed a surprising bond with her English stepfather, through music. Rhonda Collard-Spratt's memoir, Alice’s Daughter: Lost Mission Child, was written with Jacki Ferro and published by Aboriginal Studies Press. You can find her children's book series, Spirit of the Dreaming, online in both print and audiobook formats. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores Aboriginal Australia, black history, colonisation, segregation, assimilation, religion, Christianity, the Native Act, reckoning with Australia's history, the Voice, racism, Indigenous suicide, mental health, medical neglect, art, motherhood, writing, books, memoir, modern Australia, Ipswich, Churches of Christ, Aborigines Mission Board.

Dr James Loxton on how modern democracies can crumble as authoritarian regimes take hold, but also how freedom and democracy can rise again, from the Americas to Europe and into Asia. James grew up in stable Canada, where he spent his summers herding sheep in the middle of forest plantations. As a teenager, he hatched a plan to escape his "rough as guts" bush town and the life of a shepherd, moving to India on his own to finish high school. At an international school in Maharashtra, James' classmates taught him about the world outside of democratic Canada, and he became fascinated by military dictatorships and guerilla insurgencies.  Later on, years of living in Latin America showed him firsthand how dictators operated, how they are feared and hated, but also revered and loved by some of the people they control. Now James, and many other political scientists, have their eyes turned to America, watching closely to see how the world's most powerful democracy is changing right before their eyes. Authoritarianism: A Very Short Introduction is published by Oxford University Press. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores Donald Trump, Putin, USA, regime, dictators, ICE, Clinton, Epstein, politics, democracy, Chilean presidential election, Russia, China, Taiwan, Philippines, government, globalisation, Latin American politics, Whitlam, dismissal, divisive politics, left versus right, parliamentary versus presidential forms of government, united kingdom, British colonies, Javier Milei, Venezuela, Argentina, Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, Maduro, elitism, drain the swamp, populism, power for the people, tariffs, Peru, Cuba, straw man, Stalin, Hitler, competitive authoritarianism, substance abuse, addiction, alcoholism, alcoholic mothers, homelessness, losing a mother. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Eric Philips has always loved cold weather and from young age became fixated on the idea of polar exploration and following in the footsteps of the adventurers he read about in National Geographic. And he went on to lead gruelling expeditions to the North and South Poles, pushing his body and mind to the limits. Eric also had dreams of travelling into space and had assumed the would be impossible. But while on a ski expedition in Svalbard, he met a crypto billionaire who was planning a trip to space and he later asked Eric to come along. The crew Eric was a part of would go on became the first human spaceflight mission to explore Earth from a polar orbit and fly over the Earth’s polar regions. This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores polar exploration, South Pole. North Pole, hypothermia, mental and physical exhaustion, physical endurance, kite skiing, antarctica, large families, drug overdose, Space x, polar orbit, dramatic weight loss, rescue, failure To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Screenwriter Samantha Strauss on her grandmother's vibrant last years in a Gold Coast retirement home where love, sex and startlingly pragmatic conversations about dying were all part of daily life. (CW: not suitable for children) (R) Samantha Strauss started dancing from the age of 2, and as she grew up, she became increasingly serious about it. Sam was 18 when her budding ballet career was cut short by a shocking injury. After a year on the couch recovering, she reinvented herself. A few years later, inspired by the story of her own life in ballet, she co-created a TV series called Dance Academy. Dance Academy went on to screen in 160 countries, with Sam as the head writer across the 65 episodes. Sam's next show, The End, was set partly in a Gold Coast retirement village. Samantha got the idea as she watched how her own Grandmother's life changed after moving into a similar place at the end of her life. She expected to hate it, but eventually she found a circle of friends who partied hard and talked freely about love, sex, and death, including experimenting with making their own Nembutal.   Further information Originally broadcast April 2021. Samantha has since won a Logie for her work on the Netflix program Apple Cider Vinegar, based on Belle Gibson’s life. This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores Belle Gibson, wellness, scam, scammers, Philip Nitschke, exit international, VAD, voluntary assisted dying, nursing home, aged care, grandparent grandchild relationship, sick parent, writing, being a writer, dance career, LA, Los Angeles, film industry, connections, Australians in LA, actors, nudists and naturalists. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Reuben Kaye has always known he was going to be a performer and grew up a house that encouraged his love of the limelight.  But in the background was the weight of his family history full of complicated characters and stories of cruelty. Reuben's parent both came from Jewish European families who were forced to flee their homes because of World War 2.   And there were other more secretive stories, involving a return to Communist East Germany and a heartbreaking decision made by Alfreda as a young woman. But Reuben uses the art of cabaret to help make sense of and pay tribute to his momentous family stories. Reuben Kaye's one man show is called EnGORGED and tickets are available via Reuben Kaye's website This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores family history, Nazi Germany, East Germany, persecution, Russia, immigration, dress making, grief, suicide, divorce, cancer, queer identity, bullying, Jewish history, Jewish identity, the Holocaust, musical theatre, drug use, London, death, funerals, live shows, comedy, make up, drag, Stolpersteine, stumbling stones, Melbourne, Leipzig. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Petal Ashmole Winstanley was just a teenager when she left Perth on her own to sail to London. There, in the swinging 1960s, she began her wild adventure of dance, love and heartbreak. Petal got her first big dancing break in a Christmas pantomime, and then she had a spin as a Go-Go dancer in a Parisian nightclub, before eventually working her way into some of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world. Along the way, Petal fell in love with three great men, and she lost them all under brutal circumstances. Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up: Lessons in Love and Surmounting Grief is published by Grosvenor House. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores ballet, dancing, United Kingdom, Dancing with the Stars, love, relationships, marriage, career women, death, grief, loss of a spouse, sexuality, lavender marriages, 1960s, hippies, free love, Western Australia, South Africa, apartheid, genocide, Canada, couples who work together, dating in later life, how to date in later life, online dating after 70, bravery, courage, HIV AIDS, STI, divorce, memoir, writing, books, origin story. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Editor-at-Large of The Australian, Paul Kelly looks back at the most profound crisis in Australia’s democracy, including the off-the-record information he was given five days before it took place.   In 1975 Paul was a young press gallery journalist, working in the cramped old Parliament House, where all it took was a flight of stairs and a few steps to find himself in the Prime Minister’s office. Paul was on close terms with both Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser when Australia faced the biggest crisis in its political history. Five days before the dismissal, Paul was told — off the record — that the Governor General, Sir John Kerr, was going to sack the Whitlam Government, but Paul was sworn to secrecy and had to stand back and watch the fallout like everyone else. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the political upheaval, and Paul looks back at his insider’s experience in the press gallery from that tumultuous time. Further information This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. This episode explores remembrance day 2025, government shutdown, paul kelly, democracy in crisis, conspiracy, gough whitlam, whitlam, whitlam government, malcolm fraser, john kerr, constitutional crisis, election, it's time, no fault divorce, free university, women's rights, women's lib, medibank, great barrier reef, healthcare, old parliament house, press gallery, old school journo, power, journalism, mungo mccallum, graham freudenberg, killing season and dismissal. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

When Ben Gillies was 15 he began touring around the world in his band called Silverchair. After the band broke up, Ben had to work through anxiety and addiction to make an entirely new life for himself. Silverchair toured America, supporting the Ramones and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. They played on the roof of the Radio City Music Hall during the MTV awards. And when they weren't working, they were back at high school, at Newcastle High. Silverchair made 5 albums together, all of which debuted at Number 1 on the Australian charts. But being a teenager rock god wasn't all roses, and through the years, and especially after the break-up of the band, Ben had to work through anxiety and addiction to make a good life for himself as a grown up. This episode explores Silverchair, teenagers, rock music, guitar, male friendship, record deal, live music, mental health, fame, touring, Newcastle, money, anxiety, family, recovery To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

How does Ben Crowe get elite athletes to the top of their game? What he asks footballers, surfers and tennis players to do seems counter intuitive, and a lot of the work happens off the field. (R) Ben Crowe is a mindset coach who has worked with elite athletes like surfer Steph Gilmore, tennis superstar Ash Barty, and the Richmond Football Club. But Ben's method of coaching seems counter-intuitive. Rather than telling these athletes they're the best, he encourages them to own their flaws, make sense of their life stories off the field, prioritising vulnerability and human connection, so they can take both wins and losses in their stride.  Further information Originally broadcast in July 2021. Ben Crowe's new book, Where the Light Gets In, will be published by HarperCollins in January 2026. This episode of Conversations was produced by Michelle Ransom Hughes, executive producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores sport, NBA, basketball, football, Bayern, David Beckham, Hawks, Tigers, Magpies, Warriors, Tottenham, Jake Weatherald, Champions League, Wimbledon, Tennis Open, US Open, Australian Open, Arsenal, UCL, sports trading, UEFA, FIFA, mindset coaching, positive, books, writing, origin story, grief, death of a father, josh giddey. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Bunurong/Boonwurrung actor and author, Tasma Walton was enjoying her big break on TV show Blue Heelers in the 1990s in Melbourne when a transformative visit from her grandmother launched her in a new direction.   Boonwurrung/Bunurong woman, Tasma grew up in windy Geraldton, in Western Australia in the 1970s, hearing stories from her grandmother about baby whales and women who lived in kelp forests.  These stories always featured a bay and very cold water — neither of which were in Geraldton. Many years later, while Tasma was filming Blue Heelers and living in St Kilda in Melbourne, her grandmother came to stay, and the stories she had told Tasma over and over again started to make sense. Except for one tale that had been sanitised for children’s ears — a supposed love story between Tasma's great-great-great grandmother, Nannertgarrook, and a vicious sealer man. As an adult, Tasma started to research the truth of what had happened to Nannertgarrook, generations ago. Further information If you need help, you can call the National domestic family and sexual violence counselling service on 1800-RESPECT — 1800 737 732. I Am Nannertgarrook is published by Simon & Schuster Bundyi. Tasma was named joint winner, with Robbie Arnott, of the $100,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize for 2025. Watch Reckless on SBS, NITV, and SBS ON DEMAND. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. This episode explores heritage, ancestral legacy, inherited trauma, intergenerational trauma, DV, family violence, method acting, mob, Indigenous, First Nations, Aboriginal, slavery, blak, blak mothers, reconnecting with culture, bunurong strong, Nerrm, Narrm, Wilsons Prom, Wilsons Promontory, mermaids, dolphins, asthma, asthma attacks, medea, monologue, auditions, acting auditions, SBS, reckless, St Kilda, Blue Heelers, Luna Park. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Historian William Dalrymple had a rarefied childhood on the windswept coast of Scotland. As an adult he fell in love with India, and later discovered his family's own deep ties to the country. Born into the Scottish aristocracy, William followed his three older brothers and left for boarding school at just 8 years old.  While still an university William set off to follow Marco Polo's journey across the width of Asia and he wrote a best-selling book about that adventure. But after then moving to India, William started to see the many gaps and biases in his understanding of history and ever since he's been working to find the stories and people his education had left out. William also began uncovering his own family’s connections to India which stretched back generations and eventually a discovery relating to his own father's experience in India as a young man.  It seemed to answer the question of why his Dad chose never to go back. The episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores history, Scotland, North Berwick, Marco Polo's journey to South Asia, India, Delhi, archaeology, witches, family history, aristocracy, partition, history writing, large families, family secrets, the golden road, Palestine, Ampleforth College, Catholic Education, Robbie Burns, travel writing, Scottish history.  To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Ten years ago, Michelle Payne became the first woman to win The Melbourne Cup but in the years since she's had to face many challenges, including a life threatening injury and family heartbreak.  Fortunately if there is one thing Michelle knows a lot about, it's how to get back up. Michelle Payne grew up on a farm, the youngest of ten kids, in a family were everyone was mad about horses and horse racing.   Her dad always said girls could be great jockeys if they were given the opportunity and she was determined to prove him right, despite some big challenges. She won her first race at age 15 and in 2015 became the first woman to win The Melbourne Cup and her beloved brother Stevie was her strapper for the race. Michelle Payne's memoir is called Ride On The executive producer of Conversations is Nicola Harrison. It explores horse racing, the Melbourne Cup, female jockey, large families, grief, death, animals, disability, training, injuring, horses, gambling, physical endurance, extreme weight loss, women, head injury, life threatening injuries, horses, recovery, resilience. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Writer, Ianto Ware on growing up in the suburbs of Adelaide in a single-parent, single-child family, when such an experience was rare. (R)   Ianto Ware was raised in the suburbs of Adelaide in a house surrounded by a tangled garden of oak trees and vegetables, and furniture foraged from hard rubbish. Aside from the family pets, it was just Ianto and Dimity at home. His family was different to most in his street, as his mother Dimity described herself as a 'radical feminist socialist lesbian'. Dimity wore dungarees, and for some of Ianto's childhood, she drove a campervan with a yellow kayak on the roof, with a rainbow cat sticker on the bonnet of the van. As she was raising Ianto alone, Dimity knew that it was very likely she would not live to old age, because of a health condition she was born with. Ianto has written down the story his mother's remarkable life, and her legacy. Further information Originally broadcast June 2021. This episode was recorded remotely, during COVID. Mother and I: The fable of a wilful family was published by Hunter Publishing. Read more about Ianto on his website. https://iantoware.com.au/about/  This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. This episode explores single mothers, queer mothers, lesbian, gardening, rainbow families, unusual families, being different, how it feels to be different, when you don't fit in, is it ok to be different, Adelaide, Dunstan, mother and son, single parent family, single parent, single child family, kidney disease, kidney transplant, death of a mother, death of a parent, orphan, strong mothers, only child, one and done, amicable separation, amicable divorce, good divorce, adult son and chronic illness. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Kate Reid inherited her love of Formula 1 from her dad. She put her heart and soul into qualifying for a job with the renowned racing team, Williams, but her dream job turned out very differently to what she expected. Then, a public library turned out to be a bridge to Kate's recovery.   Growing up in Melbourne, Kate was an asthmatic child who developed an extremely close bond with her dad. He would care for Kate during her frequent asthma attacks by operating a whirring nebuliser, staying next to her as she regained her breath in her bed. Kate became obsessed with her dad’s favourite sport — Formula 1 racing.  Once Kate experienced the vibration ripping through her body at a race, she decided she would become an aerospace engineer and work in the area she and her dad loved so much. When her dream job turned turned sour, Kate’s life took a dangerous turn and she developed depression and anorexia. Kate returned to Australia for treatment, and it was thanks to a public library in Melbourne that she started on the next obsession, the one that would heal her. Kate's croissanterie, Lune, is now a thriving business. Further information Destination Moon is published by Simon & Schuster. If you need support with an eating disorder, you can visit the Butterfly Foundation or call on 1800 33 4673. https://butterfly.org.au/  This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores eating disorders, disordered eating, pain au chocolat, Paris, Ousia, hospitality, hospo, cafe culture, croissants, start up, self made, CEO, life of a CEO, France, pastry chef, laminated pastries, obsession, control, perfection, perfectionism, tin tin, sibling love, family support, tight family unit, Du Pain et des Idées, boulangerie, Christophe Vasseur, changing careers, formula 1, formula one, racing, motorsports, pit crew and Monaco. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Walter Marsh with the surreal tale of Colin Wyatt, the ski champion, mountaineer, wartime camouflage expert, artist, and naturalist who committed one of the world's biggest-ever museum heists in the 1940s.   In January 1947, by chance, it was found that over 3,000 rare and precious specimens of butterflies had vanished from museums in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.  Alarmingly, the missing insects included many priceless ‘holotypes’ — the first specimen of a given species to be identified, against which all others are compared. On the other side of the world, New Scotland Yard descended on a nondescript country house in Surrey, where they found a trove of over 40,000 butterfly specimens.  The culprit was Colin Wyatt, a Cambridge-educated ski champion, mountaineer, wartime camouflage expert, artist, and amateur naturalist whose high-flying exploits cut a path from the Alps of Europe to a London court room to a final expedition to the jungles of Guatemala. Walter Marsh has written down the strange and confounding tale of the gentleman butterfly thief in his new book. This episode of Conversations was produced by Jennifer Leake, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores museum heists, museum thefts, gentlemen criminals, natural history, lepidopterists, butterflies, butterfly stealing,adventurers, skiing, mountaineering, war, WWII, alps, london, stealing from a museum, theft from museum, famous museum heists, strange criminals, smooth criminals, why do people commit crime, collectors, the collector, extreme collections. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Katie Treble grew up crying at about how all the king's horses and men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again. It was that compassion that made her the perfect candidate for doctoring during war as an adult. When Dr Katie Treble decided to swap the good vibes and beautiful beaches of Byron Bay for work with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) she knew she would be in for a shock.  Nothing could have prepared her for the desperate need she encountered in the Central African Republic (CAR) in the midst of a civil war. But Katie was even more affected by the courage and kindness of her colleagues. She came away from her months in Bria, CAR knowing that her time as a humanitarian doctor would change her own life in deep ways, and so when she got back to Australia she started the work of trying to make sense of it all. Field Notes from Death's Door is published by HarperCollins. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores medicine, university, war, civil war, Africa, humanitarian crisis, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, MSF, doctors without borders, access to medicine, hospital, conflict zones, PTSD, malaria, defence, navy, Kenya, France, Jamaica, Haiti, natural disaster, murder, infant mortality rate, vaccination, religious war, Islam, Christianity, genocide, MDMA therapy, psychology, recovery, healing. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Aaron was living on the tip of Cape York when he borrowed his uncle’s dinghy to make it to his first acting audition on nearby Thursday Island. He won the role that day in a TV show called Remote Area Nurse, and many other TV series followed, including the crime dramas The Straits and East West 101. He also presented the Torres Strait Island Cooking show, Strait to the Plate, and he was one of the stars of the comedy show Black Comedy. Today Aaron is not just an actor, he's a director and producer as well and as he writes about in his memoir So Far, So Good, there have been many setbacks and some heartbreak on his path to success. Further information So Far, So Good is published by Pantera Press This episode of Conversations explores Cape York, acting, writing, producing, television, film, domestic violence, children, rejection, family, domestic violence protection order, logie awards, masculinity, relationships, racism. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

The singer, podcaster, writer and comedian on living big with neurodivergence, and owning her manic, creative energy.   Growing up in Melbourne in the 1980s, Em was a serious young athlete, focused on hurdles, when a high kick up-ended her ambitions.   She was a creative, energetic child who seemed to always be busier than everyone else.  As a young, stay-at-home mum, Em appeared on Australian Idol, having never performed on stage before, and this opportunity launched her career in radio. Em and her husband had two more children and she found herself at a loss during COVID lockdowns. Em felt she was drowning, and couldn’t work out why things had always seemed so much harder for her than for those around her. As an adult, Em received two life-changing diagnoses, all while being put through the wringer of perimenopause. Em's book Blood, Sweat and Glitter: A Coming of Middle Age Story is published by Pantera Press. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. This episode explores ADHD, neurodivergence, autism, diamond creek, emsolation, emsolation extra, outgrown, diagnostic trifecta, Anomalous, podcast, rage against the vagine, covid lockdowns, melbourne lockdowns, DSM 5, neuropsychologist, National Press Club, National Press Club address, impostor syndrome, sensory issues, autistic females, Quinni, Heartbreak High, jumping on the bandwagon, menopause, perimenopause, hormones, hormonal shift, executive function, autistic, hormone treatment, iron deficient, low iron and middle age women. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

From fairground palmistry to the science of fingerprinting, historian Alison Bashford explores the secrets, history and psychology of the hand. Alison was in a London library when she discovered a ginormous palm print of a gorilla, taken two days after it died at London Zoo in the 1930s. She had no idea whatsoever about why someone had made this mysterious print, or why it had been kept in pristine condition for all these years. Alison plunged into researching the history of the hand, from fairground palm reading to Jungian analysis. She was transported into the magical, scientific and pseudo-scientific attitudes to markings on the body. She encountered Victorian wellness entrepreneurs, how Down Syndrome was first diagnosed in neonates, and celebrity palm readers whose influence reached all the way to former British Prime Minister, William Gladstone. Further information Alison's book Decoding The Hand: A History of Science, Medicine, and Magic is published by The University of Chicago Press. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities. This episode explores gypsies, Roma, palm reading, fortune telling, psychology, psychoanalysis, Charlotte Wolff, Carl Jung, Weimar Germany, Nazi Germany, Brahmin, palmistry, cheiromancy, Cheiro, writing a book, university, Hollywood, 1930s Hollywood, celebrity, Down Syndrome, diagnosis, genetics, eugenics, Lionel Penrose, BBC, simian line, occult, Francis Galton, Ellis Family and British Institute for Mental Science.

Helen Goh's life story began with a complicated childhood — and blossomed into one about culture, cake and the meaning of life.       Helen was born in Malaysia in the year of the Fire Horse. This zodiac birth year was a big threat to the Gohs, and her parents had to make a heartbreaking decision that would affect the family for a generation. The Gohs eventually immigrated to Australia, and Helen went on to sell pharmaceuticals to doctors, before she pursued her honours in psychology. A stint as a cafe owner followed, then Helen went back to basics as a chef's apprentice in Melbourne. She followed her heart to London, and encountered an 'Aladdin's cave' of goodies in a deli in Notting Hill, which was owned by Yotam Ottolenghi. Helen has come to understand the psychological benefits of baking, and now interweaves two of her life's enduring interests. Helen's book Baking and The Meaning of Life is published by Murdoch Books. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities. This episode explores insecure attachment, attachment styles, coherence, purpose and significance in life, so you think horse, Yotam Ottolenghi, Year of the Fire horse, Notting Hill, Helen Goh's chocolate cake, Helen Goh recipes, baking for charity, raising money, bake sales, two careers, how to have two careers, baker, baker and psychologist, studying psychology, lemon curd, Women's Weekly, Malaysia, Nonya, Nyonya, foster child, fostering children, complicated family, raising Jewish boys, sweet, cookbook and cooking.

Wendy Harmer has enjoyed huge success over four decades as a comedian, tv host and as a radio presenter.  A long way from her origins in country Victoria, where she was born with a facial disfigurement, into a struggling family. When her mother left, Wendy often had to look after her young siblings. After her talent for writing was spotted by a lecturer at Deakin University, Wendy became a cadet journalist at the Geelong Advertiser. And then Wendy's life was transformed one night in Melbourne when she saw stand-up comedy for the first time and decided to try it herself. She bought records of Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg and Woody Allen, and studied their acts. The first night she stood up at an open mic night for her 5 minute set, she knew it was the perfect role for her. Soon she was headlining her own shows at the Melbourne comedy venue the Last Laugh, and her life set off on a completely different path. Further information Wendy's memoir is called Lies My Mirror Told Me This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison, the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores family, separation, cleft lip and palate, facial surgery, siblings, poverty, alcoholism, physical abuse, journalism, comedy, broadcasting, writing for children, country Victoria, stand up comedy, television, memoir. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Historian and bookseller Edmund Goldrick on the hair-raising, forgotten tale of the escaped Australian prisoners of war who stumbled into another, hidden genocide, and tried to stop it. Early in the World War Two, Australian soldiers who had been captured by the Germans escaped by leaping from a moving train. They found themselves in unfamiliar territory, in the lands of Yugoslavia. The Australians on the run found themselves in the company of dangerous men, who planned to use the cover of war to commit genocide. One of the Australians fell in with a Serbian Royalist group, and when he discovered their leader’s plans, he acted as a double agent in their ranks, determined to find a way to warn the Allies that their man in Serbia was determined to conduct mass murder. Anzac Guerillas is published by Hachette. Edmund will be giving a talk on Remembrance Day at the Goulburn Library, and again on Saturday, 6 December at Sydney's Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores war, POWs, Germany, former Yugoslavia, Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Catholic, Orthodox, Roma people, Jewish, Islamic, Chetniks, Partisans, genocide, civil war, death, escape, spies, double agents, allied forces, war crimes, international war tribunal, guerilla warfare, murder, assassination, holocaust, Italy, Greece, fascism, tyranny, Bosnia, Nazi, Hitler. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Journalist Ariel Bogle takes us inside the rallies, homes, courtrooms, secret chat rooms and $2000 Byron Bay luxury retreats where Australia’s conspiracy theories spread. Ariel has been investigating conspiracy theories and those who follow them for her new book. When things feel wrong and unfair, sometimes people look for answers in some of the more febrile corners of the internet. Add political fragmentation and the megaphone of the internet to the mix, and many conspiracy theories are fast gaining traction Australia. Some of these beliefs are imported from America; others are home-grown.  In researching her book, Ariel met people who believe there are microchips in vaccines, and that the law isn’t real, but QAnon is. She also met those drawn into the cult-like world of sovereign citizens and tried to understand what lured them there in the first place. This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan and the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. Further information: Conspiracy Nation, co-authored with Cam Wilson is published by Hardie Grant. Listen to David Heilpern's interview with Sarah Kanowski https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/david-heilpern-magistrate-drug-driving-laws-ptsd-justice-system/14103618  It explores conspiracy theories, 5G, vaccines, vaccine refusal, traffic fines, QAnon, 15 minute cities, sovereign citizens, pseudo law, legal system, relationships, conferences, podcasters, influential conspiracy theorists, Bill Heffernan, sheeple, Port Arthur, Wieambilla murders, Port Arthur, what pushes people into conspiracy theories, David Heilpern, do conspiracy theorists change their minds, families, fractured families, going no contact, Dezi Freeman, the hunt for Dezi Freeman, sovcit movement, propaganda, powerful cabals, strange conspiracy theories, australian economy, . To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Griffin Dunne's acting career was just taking off when his sister was brutally attacked by an ex-boyfriend, and the outcome of the infamous murder trial that followed was devastating for his family. As a child his parents threw legendary parties, including one where Sean Connery saved him from drowning in the family pool in Beverly Hills and when he was a teenager, he hung out with famous actors and directors at his aunty's place, the legendary writer Joan Didion. Then as a struggling actor in his 20s, he shared a Manhattan apartment with his best friend, the actress Carrie Fisher. And Griffin went on to achieve his own success, including a starring role in the cult horror film An American Werewolf in London. But after the murder of his younger sister Dominique, Griffin lost interest in his acting career. And his father Dominick Dunne  who wrote about his daughter's trial for Vanity Fair, went on to cover other high profile murder cases for the magazine, including the Menendez Brothers and OJ Simpson. Griffin's memoir is called The Friday Afternoon Club This episode of Conversations explores Hollywood history, family, memoir, fame, domestic abuse, murder, legal system, relationships, acting, producing, New York City, alcohol abuse, writing, divorce, homosexuality, writers, directors, horror films. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Ben Lee on life as a teen rock prodigy, Hollywood fame, living in an Ashram in India, and exploring his subconscious through ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic from the Amazon (R). Ben Lee grew up in Bondi in the 1980s when it was a place of bikie gangs, Yiddish-speaking grandmas and tribes of kids living next to one of the world's most beautiful beaches.  He was educated at a local Jewish school where he confounded his Rabbi by asking some surprising questions about Moses. Ben was always a seeker, and even as a boy, he also possessed a whole lot of chutzpah. At the age of 14 he saw Nirvana play at the Big Day Out.  The next day he started his own band and just two years later Ben was flying to America to support Sonic Youth. After many wild years, Ben emerged with a crucial realisation about his life story.   He is now living back in Australia with his wife Ione and their teenage daughter. This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison and the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores music, songwriting, drugs, drug taking, ayahuasca, what does ayahuasca feel like, ecstasy, do drugs change your brain, your brain on drugs, your subconscious mind, Claire Danes, how to be famous, what it feels like to be famous, mental health, identity crisis, seasons of life, rock star wife, rock star husband, Evan Dando, Evan Dando drug addiction, Lemonheads, ego, big ego, tall poppy syndrome, catch my disease, gamble everything for love, fame, rock music, singing, Bondi, Noise Addict, Sonic Youth, alternative spirituality, Judaism, Australian music, celebrity, Ione Skye. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Historian Tom Trumble tells the story of the cunning World War II Australian sabotage mission known as Operation Jaywick, and how two survivors outsmarted the Imperial Japanese Army police, the Kempeh Tai. Deep in the years of World War II, Australian commandos in the Pacific theatre executed a cunning plan to sneak up on Japanese warships in the occupied Singapore Harbour. They managed to get away with an incredible operation, but in doing so, triggered intense paranoia and embarrassment for Japan. The Japanese were furious, and were convinced Chinese-Singaporeans were behind this humiliating setback. They enacted a terrifying regime of massacres, arrests and torture. Japanese authorities suspected Elizabeth Choy and Robert Heatlie Scott were involved with the sabotage, and the two paid dearly for that assumption during their time in prison. Further information Survival in Singapore: The triumph and tragedy of Australia's greatest commando operation is published by Penguin Random House. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan, Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.  It explores Changi, Changi Prison, smuggling money, the double tenth incident, sook ching massacre, fall of Singapore, WWII, military history, WWII history, fishing vessel, sabotage, commando operation, Australian commandos, Ivan Lyon, SOE, Special Operations Executive, revenge, Sumida Haruzo and spies. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Fran Harding was a stay-at-home mother of eight children when her pharmacist husband came home one night with the news that the family were moving to Charleville in Western Queensland to run a pub. Gordan had spontaneously leased a pub, and Fran was to be its new publican. So, with their kids in tow (including a little baby), they set off. Fran set up her sewing machine behind the bar and did her best to work out how to pull beers, understand what the locals were saying and keep tabs on her brood. Then Fran’s husband fell in love with the pub across the street – the once grand hotel, The Corones. The Harding family moved in, learning about its history as ‘The Taj Mahal of the Warrego’ and doing their best to return the pub to its former glory. Fran has published two books about her life and about the Corones Hotel, called The Accidental Australians and The Accidental Publican. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores Australian history, stories, outback, the bush, Queensland, Quilpie, Migration, Great Australians, 1990 flood, recovering after natural disasters, social history, outback characters, hospitality, running a business, big families, motherhood, historic hotels, writing, books, memoir, Greek-Australians, small town Australia, working mothers, how to run a pub, renovating historic buildings, Harry Corones, Kythira, Poppa, Greece, Mediterranean Islands, Greek Orthodox, Greek diaspora, Australian pioneers. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Dr Todd Bond is marine ecologist who goes where very few humans have ever been: the underworld, or the deep ocean. There, he studies the strange, scary and often cute creatures who call the deepest parts of our oceans home. This part of the ocean starts at 6000 metres deep, and is known as the 'Hadal Zone'. Todd travels there in a small titanium submersible, not much bigger than his own 6'4'' frame. Waiting there for Todd, in the inky darkness, is mysterious and magic, and is still largely unexplored by humans. And when he can't get there himself, Todd sends cameras down to poke around these trenches and caverns. Dr Todd Bond is the Deputy Director of the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre at The University of Western Australia. You can read more about what the centre does online. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores fish, marine biology, marine science, Twiggy Forrest, deep sea, space, exploration, human curiosity, why fish matter, bio-medicine, submarines, OceanGate, Titan submersible implosion, James Cameron, Anglar Fish, snail fish, UWA, university, PhD, doctorate, how to study fish, why we study fish, Mariana Trench, Christmas Island, Java Trench, puffer fish, Antarctica, marine park, conservation, off-shore mining, manganese mining, deep sea mining, ethical science. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and pioneer of groundbreaking chimpanzee field research, has died of natural causes at the age of 91. Jane lived an utterly remarkable life, and her discoveries revolutionised science. She was only 26 years old when she first visited Tanzania to begin her research on chimpanzees in the wild Before Jane went to Africa we knew very little about chimpanzees, despite the fact that they're our closest cousins. It's only because of Jane’s research and observations that we now know they sometimes eat meat, they make tools, they laugh, they are curious about the world around them, they love, they mourn, and sometimes, they are capable of spectacular violence. You can read more about The Jane Goodall Institute online. Read more about Jane's remarkable life at the ABC News website. This episode of Conversations explores zoology, biology, evolution, Africa, exploration, conservation, chimpanzees, apes, monkeys, Kenya, Tanzania, David Attenborough, Dame Jane, mother earth, protecting our environment, habitats, UN Messenger of Peace, raising awareness, threats to wildlife, sustainable relationship between people, animals and the natural world, celebrity death. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Lawyer Paula Gerber on the human rights of the most endangered group of people in any community - its children. They are open to the most predatory forms of exploitation simply because they don't have the worldliness of adults, and must rely on trust and goodwill.  When Paula Gerber was growing up in suburban Brisbane, she didn’t spend her weekends at the pool or playing cricket with her dad. Quality time with her father meant visiting his clients with him in the local jail or mental institution. Her dad was a criminal lawyer, and Paula tagged along to many of his meetings watching him empathise with people, coming up with defences that worked, sometimes because his client were innocent, and sometimes because he knew the law like the back of his hand, and could do some creative arguing around technicalities. Paula wanted nothing else but to follow in the footsteps of her father. She began her career in construction law, but after a motorbike accident, she needed a change, and turned her thoughts to how to help more people with her law degree. Paula began to specialise in human rights, specifically the rights of children. Sex, Gender & Identity: Trans Rights in Australia is published by Monash University Publishing. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores childhood trauma, abuse, child protection services, juvenile justice, the age of criminal responsibility, the queer community, growing up gay, lesbians, construction law, Multiplex, property development, women in male dominated fields, writing, books, the law, the legal system, courts, barrister, criminal law, the UN Convention on the Rights of Children, human rights abuses, discrimination, parenting. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Musician Paul Field on grieving the death of his baby girl, Bernadette, and how she inspired his family band, The Wiggles, to bring joy into the lives of millions of children. CW: This episode of Conversations discusses the death of a child. Paul Field was on tour in Queensland with his band, the Cockroaches, when he received a call that would alter his life forever. His 7-month-old baby daughter, Bernadette, had unexpectedly died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Paul and his wife, Pauline, had never imagined they would one day plan a funeral for their baby, but that's what they had to do. Surrounded by their close-knit families and with support from mental health professionals, Paul and Pauline grieved differently but together, realising that fully reckoning with the their tragic loss was the only way they could move forward for their eldest son, Luke, and for the three more children to come.  Today, Paul loves finding any opportunity to talk about Bernadette, his gentle, joyful baby girl. In fact, Bernadette, changed the course of Paul's next family project: The Wiggles -- a band that has connected with millions of children for the last 30 years. Help and support is always available. You can call or text Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Read more about research into SIDS, and find out more about counselling services available to parents who have lost a child at the Red Nose website. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores unexplained death of a child, how to cope with losing a child, loss, Red Nose Day, Sids for Kids, grief, marriage, love, relationships, music, family bands, big families, Irish Catholic families, Sydney in the 1980s, pub rock, skivvies, Anthony Field, Emma Watkins, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Greg Page, Jeff Fatt, Wake up Jeff,  Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete, Lucia Field, big red car, police corruption, NSW police, royal commission, Sydney gangs, drugs, substance abuse. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

When Brad Guy went skydiving in his early 20s, his whole family was there to watch.  But when Brad jumped out of the plane strapped to his instructor, the parachute, and the backup chute both failed to open. The pair plunged to the ground at 80km an hour, and miraculously both survived. The fall was terrifying, but recovery is what scared Brad the most. Despite hitting the ground at around 80kmph, they both survived, but from the first night in hospital Brad started experiencing debilitating night terrors.  Then back at home with his parents for the first four months, Brad sunk into a deep depression and was barely able to leave his room.  It was the start of physical and emotional recovery that took years and changed Brad and his family forever. This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores physical injury, skydiving, fear, family, PTSD, nightmare disorder, shame, guilt, trauma, mental breakdown, sexuality, psychology, medication, family history, generational trauma. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Phillipa Perry grew in England and as a teenager went to a finishing school in Switzerland where she learnt to ski and speak in a posh accent.  But instead of joining the aristocracy she worked as debt collector, a manager at McDonalds and eventually a psychotherapist. Later she married the celebrated artist Grayson Perry, who is famous for his cross-dressing. Philippa says the key to raising children is acknowledging feelings – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Her best selling parenting book The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read is published by Penguin. Her latest book The Book You Want Everyone You Love To Read (and maybe a few you don't) is also published by Penguin. This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores psychotherapy, parenting, emotions, family, love, queer identity, Grayson Perry, anger, sadness, children, writing. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Bronnie Ware was recovering from burnout when she wrote a blog post reflecting on years working as a palliative carer and the epiphanies patients shared with her as they faced death.  It was read by millions and became the basis of her best-selling book, The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying. And the lessons Bronnie learnt from her dying patients also helped her confront some darker elements of her childhood and eventually find peace. The book has become a touchstone for many people all over the world, including influential thinkers like Dr Gabor Mate and Dr Rangan Chaterjee. Bronnie's wildlife vlog can be found on her website bronnieware.com This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores death, dying, palliative care, family, regrets, nature, depression, chronic illness, carer work, Bronnie Ware, The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying, writing,  forgiveness, wildlife, spirituality, memory, meditation. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

To Australia he was a genius adman and best-selling author but behind closed doors Bryce Courtenay was a deeply flawed husband and father. His son, Adam, has tried to make sense of the lies, the ego and the heartbreak. When Adam Courtenay was growing up, he saw his dad Bryce as a hero. Bryce worked in advertising so he knew all the latest, coolest trends, and at bedtime, Bryce told Adam and his brothers amazing stories about his life in South Africa and the Courtenay family’s noble origins. When Bryce went from adman to wildly successful writer with his debut novel, The Power of One, Adam couldn’t have been prouder. As Adam grew older, he became aware of the gaps in the stories his father told so well, and realised just how many lies Bryce had told his family and the nation. At first, Adam tried to ignore the fables and fibs - he wanted badly to believe them because they made Bryce's storytelling so powerful. But when Adam became a writer himself, an author of historical books and a journalist, he needed to champion the truth above all else. Further information My Father Bryce is published by Hachette. This episode of Conversations explores novels, writing, advertising, Australiana, Australian books, memoir, father son relationships, big egos, Australian voices, Tandia, The Night Country, Whitethorn, The Potato Factory, Tommo & Hawk, Solomon's Song, Nick Duncan Saga, The Persimmon Tree, Fishing for Stars, The Milky Bar Kid, knowing your parents, marriage, fatherhood, journalism, betrayal, cancer, divorce, affairs, infidelity, public personas, modern history, literature. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

In 2017, journalist Nick McKenzie heard rumours of executions and cover-ups inside Australia’s most elite military unit. For the next eight years, Nick waged an epic battle for the truth to be acknowledged about Ben Roberts-Smith VC. Along with his colleague Chris Masters, Nick began an investigation which hinged on Australia’s most famous, and most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, who served in the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) from 2003 - 2013. By following the story, they were plunged into the defamation trial of the century. His fight examined evidence of bullying, intimidation, war crimes and murder, and took him across Australia and to Afghanistan. As he unearthed secrets Ben Roberts-Smith had thought he'd long ago buried, Nick had to deal with death threats, and powerful forces intent on destroying his career. He also witnessed attempts to silence brave SAS soldiers, who had witnessed their famous comrade commit unspeakable acts. For years Nick waged an epic battle for the truth to be acknowledged. Earlier this year, Ben Roberts-Smith lost an appeal against a defamation judgement, which found he committed war crimes. Further information Crossing the Line is published by Hachette. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores war, Afghanistan, the SAS, war crimes, allegations of war crimes, legal history, Australia's military history, Andrew Hastie, ADF, Iraq, Nine, Fairfax, Kerry Stokes, Seven, Media,  Anthony Besanko, Brereton Report, AFP, Federal Police, phone tapping, Mick Keelty, Federal Court, truth defence, David Wroe, peer pressure, military life, camaraderie, life at war, civil versus criminal court. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Hollywood actor Alan Alda has devoted his life to science, by taking his acting and communication skills off the screen and into the laboratory. Alan grew up in a show business family and spent his childhood touring with a burlesque show run by his parents. He eventually made a name for himself in showbiz, becoming well-known and much-loved for his performances in M.A.S.H. and The West Wing, as well as his roles in many Hollywood films. Alan is also famous for his love of science. He wrote Dear Albert for the stage, based on the love letters of Albert Einstein, which reveal Einstein as a beautifully passionate man. Alan has used his acting for the good of science by teaching communication skills to scientists so they might make their work better known and better understood. Further information This interview was first broadcast in December 2016. 2025 update:  Alan has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but he says he’s managing it well.  Alan is still working occasionally, most recently in the TV remake of his 1981 film ‘The Four Seasons’. You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website. This episode of Conversations explores science, science communication, MASH, television, Hollywood, silver screen, acting, show biz families, family business, Vietnam, origin stories, memoir. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Growing up south of Sydney as one of six boys, midwifery wasn't the occupation Christian Wright expected for himself. At the age of nine, he experienced a vision that gave him a sense of his future in a life of service. As a qualified midwife, Christian spent time in the tiny town of Nhulunbuy, right on the tip of the Northern Territory. He worked with Yolŋu women of remote Arnhem Land to help them birth their babies. Further information This interview was first broadcast in March 2021. 2025 update: Several years ago, Christian married his beloved, Caroline in Gove. On the first day of their honeymoon, as they were driving up the track, their troop carrier rolled. Christian's spine was broken, and he was airlifted to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where the doctors feared that he might not walk again. Christian went back to work within six months of the accident and has since worked in the NT and Papua New Guinea. He and Caroline now have a baby boy. Discover more about Christian's research on pregnancy and childbirth. Discover the Djakamirr program, training doulas to help Yolŋu women give birth on their own country. Christian also recommends the book Why Warriors Lie Down and Die by Richard Trudgen as a valuable resource on Indigenous Australia. You can hear Richard's full conversation with Nigel Newton on the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/publisher-nigel-newton-on-harnessing-the-harry-potter-effect/7788834 You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

Christie took up wheelchair racing as a child as part of her rehab after a car crash left her with paraplegia.  Sometimes dangerous and always thrilling, the sport helped to restore her sense of self and Christie went on to compete in seven Paralympic Games. But she almost gave up one of her events, the marathon, after a terrifying experience in Boston in 2013.  Christie manages to split her time training for races, holding down several jobs, and raising her family.   Further information If you need someone to talk to, help and support is always available Lifeline on 13 11 14 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 Headspace on 1800 650 890 This episode was produced by Michelle Ransom Hughes and the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney. This episode of Conversations touches on suicide, Paralympic Games, terrorism, disability, family, wheelchair marathon, wheelchair racing, positivity, sport, women, alcohol, equal rights. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Claire Parkinson is the daughter of a long-distance lorry driver and her first job was cleaning the urinals at her local Suffolk factory. A stint as a prison officer set her up with stability and responsibility, then she was assigned to protect a notorious murderer.  Content warning: this episode contains strong language. As a child, Claire was the apple of her father’s eye and when she got pregnant unexpectedly while a teenager, he could not speak to her at all and the two fell out. Claire became homeless for a time, then tried to adjust to life with her new baby boy. Eventually she got a job as a prison officer at Highpoint Prison, where she was assigned to look after the child murderer, Myra Hindley. Prison taught Claire many lessons, ones she was forced to lean on in a move halfway around the world, and a new career in mining in Australia, bringing her back to her dad.  This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.  This episode of Conversations touches on bhp job cuts queensland coal mining, virgin australia breastfeeding, childcare, crime, counter terrorism, George Michael, LinkedIn, positivity, growth mindset, family dynamics, origin story, hard work, jail, prison officer, corrective services, corrections, mortgage interest rates, and being a single mum. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Tom Robinson was a 14-year-old living in the Brisbane suburbs when he made a promise to himself to become the youngest person ever to row across the Pacific Ocean.  Nine years later Tom set off from Peru bound for Australia without a support crew and limited communication. Tom navigated by the stars, made eye contact with a shark and rowed up to 15 hours a day when strong currents pushed him off course. And when his adventure ended, it was in a completely unexpected by perfect way. Read more about Tom at his website:  https://www.tomrobinsonboats.com/ This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake. Executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores solo adventure, rowing the Pacific Ocean, boat building, remote Pacific Island communities, family, rescue, bad weather, world records, isolation, fear, survival, adventure, near death, volcanic islands, marine life, weather, storms, storms at sea, naked, rescue, teenage adventurer, and getting off your phone. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities

Diplomat Grant Dooley was inside the Australian Embassy building in Indonesia when a bomb went off, killing several people. This was just the beginning of a series of devastating events that Grant had to come to terms with years after moving back home to Australia. In 2004, Grant Dooley and his wife, Kristan, moved to Jakarta with their two young children to start a three-year posting at the Australian Embassy. In September of that year, Grant arrived at the embassy complex for a brief visit. Not long after he entered the building, a bomb went off outside, which partially destroyed the building and killed many people. The Australian Embassy had been the target of an attack plotted by Jemaah Islamiah, a terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda. Little did Grant know that he and his family had arrived in Indonesia in the middle of a horror show of bombings, natural disasters, and geopolitical tensions, which would not end for the next several years. The embassy bombing was followed by the Boxing Day Tsunami, a second Bali bombing, the Garuda plane crash in Yogyakarta and more. Not only was Grant a witness to these events, he was also a first responder to some of them. Further information Bomb Season In Jakarta is published by Affirm Press. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris; executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores terrorism, diplomacy, expats, Bali bombings, Sumatra, earthquake, tsunami, Schapelle Corby, Bali 9, drug smuggling, banged up abroad, how to become a diplomat, the real life of diplomats, PTSD, post traumatic stress, Jemaah Islamiyah, jihadist organisation, al-Qaeda, Paddy's pub, Sari Club, Aceh, John Howard, Alexander Downer, Kevin Rudd, Prabowo Subianto, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Joko Widodo, foreign affairs, books, writing, memoir, modern history, Abu Bakar Bashir, 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing, East Timor, South East Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan, war. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Sarah and Richard give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of the now complete Conversations Live Tour, Brisbane edition. Comedian, Mel Buttle was one of the special guests who appeared on stage to share some photos close to her heart, and the stories attached to them.  Further information To see Mel's photos for yourself, head to the ABC Conversations Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/abcconvos/ To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

As a child, Candice Fox knew her family wasn't what most people would consider normal.  Their Christmas included lunch at Long Bay jail, where her father worked (R). At home, Candice's mother Ocean was busy rescuing lost people, injured native animals, and bringing home odd things from the council clean-up. In one 5-year period, Ocean fostered more than 140 children.  To escape the chaos of home, Candice would immerse herself in her mum's collection of illustrated true crime stories. Then she began writing her own. She grew up to become one of the world's best-selling crime authors. Further information Originally broadcast in March, 2024. Candice’s novels High Wire and Fire With Fire are now being adapted for the screen. This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive producer was Carmel Rooney. It explores writing, books, animals, Australian animals, wildlife rescue, conservation, childhood memories, true crime, crime novels, crime writing, foster families, foster children, blended families, how to become an author, books. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Dr Charlotte Tottman is a clinical psychologist who specialises in supporting cancer patients. Both her parents had died young from different cancers, so Charlotte always joked she would be next. In 2018, it wasn't a joke anymore. While on a beach holiday, Charlotte found a lump in her breast. When she got her own cancer diagnosis, all of Charlotte’s skills as a psychologist went out the window. She was scared, and angry, and determined to keep going rather than letting herself rest. After falling in a heap, Charlotte has found her way back - helped by an ex-husband’s generosity, by her own penchant for swimming only in bikini bottoms and by needing to be there to have deeper conversations with her children as they became adults. Further information Charlotte's podcast, Upfront About Breast Cancer - What You Don't Know Until You Do, is produced with Breast Cancer Network Australia, and is available to stream at Apple Podcasts. If you or anyone you know needs help: Breast Cancer Network Australia on 1800 500 258 Cancer Council on 13 11 20 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 Lifeline on 13 11 14 This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores breast cancer, cancer diagnosis, parenting, motherhood, mother-daughter relationships, divorce, finding love again, career change, double mastectomy, body image after cancer, psycho-oncology, helping people with cancer, how to talk to your children about cancer, mindfulness, swimming, mental health, shock, coping with illness, recovering from illness, major surgery, origin story. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

A few years ago, after a series of crisis after crisis after crisis, Allie Pepper thought she would have to give up high-altitude mountain climbing. This is how she got her groove back. Record-breaking mountaineer, Allie Pepper, is currently in the middle of a project to become the first and fastest woman to climb the world’s 14 tallest mountains – those over 8000m – without the use of oxygen. But just a few years ago, Allie nearly gave up climbing all together after a trifecta of mid-life crises pulled the rug out from under her. Menopause, divorce, and a devastating death completely grounded Allie. But when she got her groove back, Allie headed straight to the mountain.  Further information Allie recently made a documentary called Limitless Above the Clouds, which was filmed across the Himalayas. It will be available to stream worldwide between 20 - 27 September at this link. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris; executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores mid-life crisis, starting new, documentary, film, mountain climbing, Everest, Nepal, spiritual journey, India, Pakistan, travel, badass women, women in middle age, how to start again, separation, marriage, death of a father, self esteem, self worth, failing school, TAFE, alternative career pathways, Klára Kolouchová, Nanga Parbat, origin story, child of divorce, peri-menopause, hidden menopause symptoms, HRT, hormone therapy for menopause, chronic fatigue, depression, mental health, sweats. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Doctors often use euphemisms to dance around the 'C' word. But for oncologist Dr Ranjana Srivastava, how you talk to someone with cancer goes beyond "shadows, lumps and lesions". It's all about compassion and clarity, even when honesty is difficult. Ranjana Srivastava was a young doctor in regional Australia, accompanying her consultant on his late night rounds when she heard a patient say something that stopped Ranjana in her tracks. It was in that moment that she finally knew what her speciality was going to be: oncology.  Ranjana now works in Melbourne as an oncologist and an author. She often writes about the need for clarity and compassion in doctor-patient conversations, to deliver good news, bad news and everything that falls between. Ranjana had her own experience of being at the receiving end of devastating news when she was pregnant with twins. Ranjana has carried the lesson she received from her own doctor forward, into her work as an oncologist, where bearing witness to the attitudes of her patients has changed the way she sees the world and has helped put her own life in perspective. Further information Ranjana's latest book, Every Word Matters, is published by Simon & Schuster. She has published seven books about cancer and end of life care, including A Better Death, Tell Me the Truth, Dying for a Chat, So It's Cancer: Now What, and After Cancer: A Guide to Living Well. Ranjana also writes a regular column for The Guardian, for which she won the Kennedy Award for Outstanding Columnist of The Year in 2025. In 2017, Ranjana was awarded an Order of Australia medal for her work as an oncologist and in improving doctor-patient communication. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores cancer, oncology, the big C, cancerland, breast cancer, bowel cancer, how to survive cancer, incurable cancer, end of life care, palliative care, honest doctors, refusing treatment, chemotherapy, radiation, how to be honest with patients, doctor patient relationship, geriatric oncology, India, migration, motherhood, late term miscarriage, pregnancy, writing, books, origin story, journalism. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Voyager frontman Danny Estrin on his unconventional path from heavy metal to law and on to the Eurovision grand final (R). Danny Estrin is one of the few Australians who knows what it’s like to perform at Eurovision.  As frontman for the progressive synth metal band, Voyager, Danny commanded the stage in the 2023 competition, wind machine and all.  His musical education started early, on a piano gifted by his babushka and freighted from the Soviet Union to his childhood home in Hamburg. After moving from Germany to Perth as a child, Danny turned to heavy metal as a way of finding belonging. Danny is also an immigration lawyer, but by night he quite literally lets his hair down, swapping his suit and tie for a keytar and microphone. Just months after Sarah first spoke to Danny in 2023, he received a stage four cancer diagnosis. Voyager had to cancel all the shows they'd booked after their Eurovision performance, as Danny started treatment, supported by his wife and two girls. While his cancer is terminal, Danny has been doing really well, defying everyone's expectations. This year he even got the band back together, and when he's not undergoing treatment, Danny is back on stage with Voyager. Further information Originally broadcast in August, 2023. Danny is currently working on a television show about people's love affairs with their cars. This episode of Conversations was produced by Tamar Cranswick. It explores music, heavy metal, Eurovision, migration stories, migration law, Russia, Germany, multiculturalism in Australia, classical music, how to have a career in music, family, fatherhood, love, marriage, father of daughters, cancer diagnosis, terminal cancer, cars, hot rods. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Kathleen Folbigg was locked up in prison for decades, wrongly convicted of the deaths of her four children. For years, her childhood friend Tracy was the only person who believed in her innocence. Now they are telling the story of their herculean fight to overturn Kathleen's conviction. (CW: loss of children, descriptions of life in prison)   In 2003, Kathleen Folbigg was locked up in jail for decades, wrongly convicted of the deaths of her four children. One of the only people who believed in her innocence was her childhood friend Tracy. Together, they fought for her freedom for years before science and the law caught up with the case. Kathleen was pardoned and exonerated in 2023.  Now Kathleen and Tracy have written down their story of their 20-year battle for justice, and they are telling their story together for the first time. Further information Inside Out is published by Penguin  Help and support is always available. You can call Lifeline 24 hours a day, on 13 11 14.   This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison and presented by Sarah Kanowski. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison. It explores crime, punishment, criminal conviction, wrongful conviction, a fight for justice, criminal pardon, exoneration, science, DNA, Meadows Law, life in prison, daily life behind bars, flaws in the justice system, internalised misogyny in the law, unsympathetic mothers, never giving up, rallying around scientists and philanthropists, science catching up to a criminal case, the use of DNA to free someone, how a wrongful conviction can be overturned, powerful women, impressive women, tenacity, guts, new beginnings, hope for the future, how to survive the loss of a child, grief after the death of a child, grief after the death of children, post traumatic growth, PTSD, having to be strong, activism, Newcastle, Muswellbrook, famous criminal cases, women who are disliked, how to overcome trauma, moving on, death threats, social media hate, online pile-ons, online cruelty, moving on after trauma, healing after trauma, reinvention, midlife reinvention, new chapter, starting a new chapter of life. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.