Conversations

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.

Last refreshed: May 22nd, 2026 at 3:20 AM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

How Lemn Sissay found his voice

Lemn Sissay grew up in the UK as a child of the state. At 18 he was given a letter written in 1968 from his Ethiopian mother pleading for his return

Aug 08, 2018•55 min

Can football save politics?

George Megalogenis thinks that Australia's political leaders should learn from football

Aug 07, 2018•51 min

Universal Basic Income: the future?

Rutger Bregman is calling for new thinking about the kind of world we want to live in

Aug 06, 2018•50 min

The life and landscapes of Alison Lester

From Antarctica to Arnhem Land, the pages of the books of this prolific author and illustrator are fuelled by adventure

Aug 03, 2018•52 min

The other Kokoda trail

When the Japanese began bombing New Guinea, Peter Phelp's granddad was forced to trek through some of the most rugged terrain on earth, but he wasn't a soldier.

Aug 02, 2018•51 min

Growing up dirt poor

Rick Morton was growing up on a cattle station when his parents split up. His mum was left to raise three children in poverty

Aug 01, 2018•52 min

William McInnes’ stories of fatherhood

Tales ranging from growing up in 70s Queensland, to raising children as a single dad William is one of Australia's best-known storytellers and actors. As his children become adults, he's been reflecting on what it means to be a father. William’s dad was a gregarious character, a veteran of World War II who ran a hire business in Queensland. Despite the many colourful names his father coined for him, William remembers his dad as a very kind man and a loving father. William's been thinking about t...

Jul 31, 2018•55 min

Unlocking the mystery of Motor Neurone Disease

Dominic Rowe is asking how common degenerative brain diseases begin

Jul 30, 2018•51 min

Losing a brother, finding himself

Nic Newling believes sharing his story of living with mental illness will help others

Jul 27, 2018•53 min

A grief pilgrimage on Te Araroa Trail

Bruce Hopkins set out to walk the length of New Zealand, with the ashes of his father and brother

Jul 26, 2018•52 min

Searching for Christoph

In 1975, Ivonne Ranisch’s brother Christoph disappeared from an East German hospital. Her parents now believe he was stolen by the state

Jul 25, 2018•45 min

On being shot

At 17, Gail Bell was shot in the back. The shooter was never found

Jul 24, 2018•50 min

Questioning the line of duty

Gwen Cherne has become an advocate for war widows after the death of her husband Pete

Jul 23, 2018•54 min

Bringing kids back from the edge

Major Paul Moulds and his calling to ‘run a rescue shop within a yard of hell’

Jul 20, 2018•52 min

The daring mission to rescue survivors of the Titanic

Jay Ludowyke has traced the story of RMS Carpathia, from Titanic rescue mission to the bottom of the ocean

Jul 19, 2018•52 min

The secretive world of mercenaries and private armies

Sarah Percy explains the history and motivations of unconventional combatants (R)

Jul 18, 2018•51 min

How religious zealots shaped a family

Lech Blaine grew up in a large family of foster siblings. When he was ten years old, his childhood ended suddenly (R)

Jul 17, 2018•52 min

Surviving kidnap in Sierra Leone

Aminata Conteh-Biger was kidnapped during the Sierra Leone Civil War, and endured months of terror at the hands of rebel soldiers.

Jul 16, 2018•57 min

Censorship, and an unexpected friendship

Sari Braithwaite is drawn to making films on things we don't like to talk about

Jul 13, 2018•52 min

Osamah Sami - not always the good Muslim boy

Osamah Sami wrote and starred in the hit Australian comedy film Ali's Wedding.

Jul 12, 2018•53 min

The doctor known as 'the God of Sight'

Nepalese surgeon Dr Sanduk Ruit has restored the sight of more than 150 000 people during his career

Jul 11, 2018•52 min

Behind the sequins: the Tony Sheldon story

Tony Sheldon's mum was a major star when he was a child. At 17, he became an actor against her wishes

Jul 10, 2018•51 min

The girl from Mount Druitt who became a remarkable comedy voice

Playwright Nakkiah Lui was given a crucial early piece of advice: when telling stories, always try to offend your mother (R)

Jul 09, 2018•46 min

A 'lucky' accident changed Sarah Brooker's life

Sarah Brooker was studying to be a neuroscientist, when a freak accident forced her to rebuild her life from the ground up (R)

Jul 06, 2018•51 min

The world's sinking megacities

Michael Kimmelman on why the world's giant cities like Jakarta and Mexico City are slumping into the earth

Jul 05, 2018•52 min

Young Hitler

WWI helped a homeless vagabond named Adolf Hitler become the dictator of the German Reich

Jul 04, 2018•50 min

Jurors behaving badly

Jeremy Gans on the limitations of the jury system, and stories of extreme misbehaviour among jurors

Jul 03, 2018•49 min

Betty, Queen of Donks

Betty Klimenko grew up as an heiress to the Westfield fortune. Then she turned her back on it all to marry the man of her dreams

Jul 02, 2018•50 min

Sam Cutler tour-managed some of rock's biggest names

Sam worked behind the scenes for Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and the Grateful Dead (R)

Jun 29, 2018•33 min

Dr Budgerigar

Bob Donely is one of Australia's only vets specialising in the health of budgerigars

Jun 28, 2018•52 min

← Prev Next →

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android