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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Episodes2000

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May 24, 2018 · 50 min
Jessie Cole's survival story
After two suicides changed her family forever, Jessie Cole returned to Northern NSW to begin again (CW: Suicide references) Jessie grew up in Northern NSW in a rainforest house lovingly built by her parents. They had moved to the hills outside Byron Bay in the 1970s and believed they could remake the world. Jessie’s father had two older daughters from a previous marriage, who visited from Sydney every school holidays. By the time she was eighteen Jessie had lost both her half-sister Zoe, and
May 23, 2018 · 52 min
No way to lose her: Sarah Ferguson on her mother
In the midst of her grief, Sarah became aware that hospital negligence led to her mother's death
May 22, 2018 · 52 min
Terrible treasure: 75 000 convict stories housed in a Hobart basement
Hamish Maxwell Stewart from the University of Tasmania has spent his working life deep in the Tasmanian convict archive (R)
May 21, 2018 · 46 min
The life of Space Gandalf
Amateur astronomer Greg Quicke was working in Northern Australia, sleeping under the stars in a swag when he bought a second-hand telescope
May 18, 2018 · 51 min
Janis Joplin, Quentin Crisp and my Maltese grandmother: Paul Capsis
How three cultures shaped one of our great performing artists
May 17, 2018 · 50 min
How the state of your nation begins in your street
Social researcher Hugh Mackay has some ideas for a more compassionate and socially cohesive Australia
May 16, 2018 · 45 min
Hillary Rodham Clinton and the impossible defeat
Reflections on a failed campaign to become America’s first female President
May 15, 2018 · 51 min
Stephen Davis: life as an international peace negotiator
In 2014, Stephen Davis went on a rescue mission to northern Nigeria to save the Chibok girls, kidnapped by Boko Haram (R)
May 14, 2018 · 51 min
Shaking up the power structure: Jeremy Heimans
Jeremy Heimans was one of the founders of GetUp in 2005. Since then he's been at the forefront of the online movement for social change
May 11, 2018 · 51 min
Yes, Senator: behind the scenes of the Australian Senate
Dr Rosemary Laing was Clerk of the Senate for seven years
May 10, 2018 · 52 min
On the trail of Candidate Trump: journalist Katy Tur
Katy was described by Donald Trump as disgraceful, a liar, and 'third-rate' during her coverage of his successful Presidential campaign
May 9, 2018 · 52 min
The search for the turquoise-blooded frog
Biologist Jodi Rowley has identified 26 new species of frogs in South-East Asia and Australia
May 8, 2018 · 49 min
The evolution of Poh Ling Yeow from Painter to Masterchef
How a shy Mormon girl named Sharon became Poh Ling Yeow. Sharon Ling Yeow grew up in Malaysia, and moved to Adelaide with her parents at the age of 9. She was a shy child, who loved to paint and draw, but found school and socialising overwhelming. At home, her Aunty Kim taught her how to cook Malaysian food, and her mum taught her how to bake. At 16, Sharon joined the Mormon Church, where she met her first husband, Matt. Shortly after they were married, the couple left the church. Matt then
May 7, 2018 · 50 min
Growing up in the shadow of Long Bay
Growing up next door to some of Australia's most notorious criminals shaped Patrick Kennedy's family
May 4, 2018 · 52 min
Richard Lloyd Parry: encounters with Japan's ghosts
The story of the 2011 earthquake that triggered multiple disasters in Japan, and took many thousands of lives
May 3, 2018 · 48 min
The weed forager's cure
Annie Raser-Rowland's adventurous life as a weed forager and free thinker
May 2, 2018 · 50 min
Tara Westover's escape from ignorance
Raised in rural Idaho in an extremist Mormon family who forbade her to attend school, Tara studied in secret, and made her way to university
May 1, 2018 · 51 min
The life of Masha Gessen
Journalist Masha Gessen on growing up Jewish in the Soviet Union, and her two remarkable grandmothers
Apr 30, 2018 · 48 min
How haemophilia shaped a family
Charles Eddy became an expert on rare bleeding diseases after his son Lachie was born with haemophilia
Apr 27, 2018 · 51 min
Liz Ellis on infertility, netball, and other love stories
Liz's life before and after netball; and what she had to unlearn to have a baby boy after facing secondary infertility