Conversations

ABC Australia

Conversations draws you deeper into the life story of someone you may have heard about, but never met. Journey into their world, joining them on epic adventures to unfamiliar places, back in time to wild moments of history, and into their deepest memories, to be moved by personal stories of resilience and redemption.

Hosted by Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski, Conversations is the ABC's most popular long-form interview program. Every day we explore the vast tapestry of human experience, weaving together narratives from history, science, art, and personal storytelling.

Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more at the Conversations website.

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2,000 episodes
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February 17 · 52 min
Encore: the life and legacy of author John Marsden
Growing up, John Marsden found school incredibly difficult and, as a teenager, spent time in hospital after a breakdown. This difficult early life profoundly shaped his work as a writer and educator of young people. With the help of a therapist, he began to recover, but it took him many years to find his place in the world. Eventually he studied teaching, then in his mid-thirties John began to write. John wrote over 40 best-selling novels for young adults and used his profits to buy bushland
February 16 · 49 min
There is magic to be found when the world goes dark
Dan Richards investigates the multifaceted realm of night-time. Hear about when he survived a brush with death, a treacherous journey on a Scottish ferry, shadowing a search and rescue team, and the comfort and exquisite agony of new parenthood. The writer and broadcaster argues that night-time is universal in that everyone goes through it, but there are so many different experiences of the dark. He has met the many people who work, helping others and doing the invisible organising that kee
February 13 · 52 min
Losing three mothers in one lifetime — Layne Beachley's drive to win
The legendary surfer has grieved the deaths of her adoptive mother, stepmother and birth mother. Only later in life did she realise her drive to win came from a place of loss, and Layne needed to look inward to find her place off the podium. Layne is a legendary surfer who is the first person ever to win six consecutive world titles. Since her childhood spent on Sydney's Northern Beaches, Layne has loved being in the water but it wasn't until later in life that she realised her relentless driv
February 12 · 48 min
A 'hopeless romantic' on divorce, dating apps, and curing a broken heart
After a painful divorce, Charlotte Ree began to piece her broken heart back together by cooking for her neighbours (R) Charlotte Ree grew up in a family full of love, but with its own particular challenges. Her mum struggled with mental illness, which meant Charlotte grew up very quickly. Charlotte met the man who would become her husband when she was 19. Within a few years, they married, but money became a major source of pain in the relationship. One night on a boat, Charlotte realised
February 11 · 52 min
You're not alone or broken — the pursuit of happiness is making us miserable
Philosopher and writer Eamon Evans on humanity's relentless and impossible pursuit of happiness through materialism, social media and self help, and why the kindest and best people have been 'crushed by life' a couple of times. Eamon started to think more deeply about happiness and contentment in his 20s, after a bout of serious depression. He realised that trying to be happy all the time was paradoxically making him miserable, and says that's true for most of us in this modern world. Eamon b
February 10 · 51 min
Encore: Judy Brewer on country love, deb balls and understanding autism
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 f
February 9 · 51 min
A man, his gum trees, and his 'second education'
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
February 6 · 49 min
Zadie Smith on 'being on the side of life' at 50
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 Au
February 5 · 52 min
Encore: Jessica's life as a GODA - the grandchild of deaf adults
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,
February 4 · 51 min
‘Come to orgy, wife wrote to friend’ discovering the truth behind why I was adopted
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 si
February 3 · 51 min
Encore: My shark attack, and the aftermath
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
February 2 · 52 min
Loving and losing my adventurer husband across the Tasman Sea
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
January 30 · 52 min
How a boy named Yuri saved me from the trauma of a bomb blast
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 ex
January 29 · 53 min
Encore: Nikki Gemmell's vivid life of love, grief and reinvention
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, incl
January 28 · 53 min
How I went from young delinquent to running a university
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 th
January 27 · 53 min
What leaving my family’s Baha’i faith taught me about love and life
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
January 26 · 50 min
Remembering Midnight Oil's Rob Hirst
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)
January 23 · 54 min
Encore: Melissa Lucashenko and the story of Edenglassie
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 execute
January 22 · 52 min
From drug smuggling and opium dens to marching in the first-ever Mardi Gras—Kate's coming out
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 s
January 21 · 52 min
I was a teenage military officer in the War on Terror. Then I had to make a new life for myself
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 P