Conversations - podcast cover

Conversations

ABC Australia•www.abc.net.au
Society & Culture
Relationships
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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Episodes

Remembering Michael Parkinson

Broadcaster Michael Parkinson with the life story of his late father John William - Yorkshireman, miner, humourist and fast bowler (R)

Aug 18, 2023•20 min

Maddy, the shipwreck mermaid

Dr Maddy McAllister's job as a marine archaeologist involves diving into the deep to uncover the artefacts and human stories sunk in shipwrecks (R)

Aug 18, 2023•54 min

The invisible Mrs Orwell

Anna Funder on unearthing the story of the talented and determined Eileen O'Shaughnessy, George Orwell's first wife

Aug 17, 2023•54 min

From the meatworks to mending men's souls

After arriving in Australia from Yugoslavia as a boy, Peter Stojanovic began working at a Melbourne meatworks. Decades on, he's now a counsellor helping violent men change their behaviour

Aug 16, 2023•53 min

Jana Pittman's turning point

Jana Pittman became one of Australia's most famous athletes as a young woman. Then at age 30, she found herself at a painful crossroads

Aug 15, 2023•54 min

David the Seahorse saviour

David Harasti with the story of how he opened a chain of underwater seahorse hotels to save an endangered species

Aug 14, 2023•54 min

A Heart in Two Places

Sarah Donnelley on her life working at Wilcannia Central School, on Barkandji Country 950 kilometres west of Sydney (R)

Aug 11, 2023

Dr Freakman, hippie psychiatrist

Psychiatrist Dr Harry Freeman on the memorable patients, LSD, and medical epiphanies from his 50 years in psychiatry

Aug 10, 2023•54 min

The sculptor's son

Hung Le and his family made a terrifying escape from Saigon in 1975, carrying one suitcase, a box of biscuits and some seasick pills. Decades after they fled, Hung returned to Vietnam to honour his late father's wishes (R)

Aug 09, 2023•45 min

Danny Estrin's Eurovision glory

Voyager frontman Danny Estrin on his unconventional path from heavy metal to law and the Eurovision grand final

Aug 04, 2023•54 min

Oliver Twist, the storyteller

Rwandan-born comedian and playwright Oliver Twist on his years as a refugee and how his life as a storyteller began

Aug 03, 2023•54 min

The leadership and gentleness of Alex Blackwell

The former captain of the Australian Women's cricket team shares what she's learned along the way, and how cricket has helped her in genetic counselling, her next career (R)

Aug 02, 2023•53 min

On the trail of the mega-shark

When Tim Flannery was a boy he found a palm-sized fossilised tooth of a prehistoric shark.The find changed the course of his life

Aug 01, 2023•52 min

John's wild dogs

They have strange coats that look like they're painted on, and while their big Mickey Mouse ears are cute, their domestic dog-like looks aren't particularly exotic. But Africa's painted dogs are unlike any other carnivores on the planet

Jul 28, 2023•53 min

Martin Flanagan on exchanging shame for grace

In 1966, Martin was 10 years old when he was sent to a Catholic Boarding school in North-West Tasmania. Decades later, he began his own reckoning with what had happened at the school (CW: discusses sexual abuse) Martin Flanagan is a much-loved sports writer who wrote about AFL for many years for The Age newspaper. At the age of 10, Martin was sent away to a Catholic boy's boarding school in North West Tasmania. Three of the priests on the staff at the time were later sent to prison for sexual cr...

Jul 27, 2023•49 min

Healing the grieving heart

Wendy Liu has spent many years right up close to death. As a forensic counsellor she worked with families who had lost someone to an accident or violence, and as a grief counsellor she supports people surviving all kinds of losses. Wendy says her work brings her a keener appreciation of life

Jul 26, 2023•53 min

Maggie Beer: from Bankstown to the Barossa

Maggie Beer started her working life at the age of 14 in a chenille bedspread factory. Two decades later, in a pheasant farm in the Barossa Valley, she found her dream job

Jul 25, 2023•53 min

How Ben's brain changed

An unexpected stroke temporarily robbed Ben Mckelvey of his ability to speak, write and understand words. Eventually, Ben re-learnt the art of language, but his brain, his identity and how he connected to others had changed forever

Jul 24, 2023•49 min

The army town, the lodger, and a succulent Chinese meal

Writer Mark Dapin’s childhood was disrupted at the age of 10, when his mum fell in love with the lodger. He was then raised in an army town called Aldershot in the UK, which began his fascination with stories of crime and warfare

Jul 21, 2023•52 min

Anna McGahan and God

Anna McGahan was playing a sex worker on Australia's biggest television show when she found God, renounced nudity on screen and tried to become the perfect Christian woman

Jul 20, 2023•52 min

The story of the human voice

John Colapinto was singing a Beatles song in front of Bette Midler when he injured his vocal cords. The experience set him on the path to studying the human voice

Jul 19, 2023•53 min

The wild boy who became a parenting expert

Professor Mark Dadds has helped hundreds of troubled kids from his clinic at the University of Sydney. He feels an extra connection to them, as he was once a wild and rebellious boy himself

Jul 18, 2023•52 min

The Bookbinder's Luck

Dominic Riley on how a a chance encounter with a bookbinding monk named Brother Bede changed the course of his life

Jul 13, 2023•53 min

The power and determination of Nas Campanella

Nas Campanella grew up in a big Italian-Australian family, and she was six months old when she lost her sight. Nas then grew up to become one of Australia's most well-known TV and radio journalists

Jul 12, 2023•51 min
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