Conversations
ABC listen
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. Whether it's an exploration of Australian and American politics, the intricacies of mental health, or the mysteries of ancestry and origin stories, our episodes offer a conversational approach that brings topics to life. We uncover epic tales of war and peace, the complex dynamics of relationships and family, and the profound impact of grief and loss. Follow Conversations for thought-provoking discussions, heartfelt stories, and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Conversations explores the meaning of life, history, relationships, motherhood and fatherhood, love, religion and the origins of human life through a contemporary and conversational Australian lens. From distinctive accounts of crime, mental health, ancestry, cults, grief, family and parenting, to discussions about science, books, art, music, war, spies and economics, Conversations traverses myriad topics. Our interviews focus on pioneers of the natural world, wildlife, oceans, fungi, archaeology, palaeontology and megafauna. Our guests speak about geopolitics, being a refugee and the experience of migration. They come from all walks of life — First Nations, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples, CALD communities and ancestors of Australia's first fleeters. We explore Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu faith traditions, among other beliefs, including atheism. We look at social history as well — close encounters with the ancient world, the Stolen Generations, and adventurers on an explorative odyssey. In a Conversations interview, you will hear personal stories of secrets, lies, adoption, and living with disability, neurodiversity or chronic illness. We traverse a person's life story, full of human interest topics, including redemption, love at first sight, spirituality, poverty, having children, family dynamics and even hidden families. We hear from individuals who have struggled with drug addiction, jail, family violence, political imprisonment, persecution, abuse, depression, anxiety and mental health issues. Conversations also speak to the public figures of Australian and international society — leaders, artists, politicians, authors, sports stars, actors and musicians. A writer, a builder, a neurologist, a Paralympian, an Olympian, an amputee, a historian, a comedian, a funeral director, a bird photographer, an ethicist, a doctor, a spy, a pilot, a choreographer, a firefighter, a bookseller, an astrophysicist, a martial artist, a principal, an oud virtuoso, an ecologist, a carer, a demographer, a chess master, a forensic archaeologist, a biologist, a chef, a surfer, a button shop owner, a costume and set designer, a boxer, a drummer, a conductor, a dog behaviourist, an AFL player, a longevity expert, a barber, a Matilda, and a psychologist have all appeared on our program. Stories make us who we are. Join Conversations for an hour of diverting listening, to transport, touch and uplift you. Our guided storytelling will teach you something new, introduce you to someone extraordinary and take you away to a different place or time in history. After almost 20 years of digging into the lives, stories and worlds of thousands of people, Conversations continues as the ABC's most popular podcast, providing Australians with a social history of our country and paying close attention to the small, personal details that make up a life.
Radio: ABC Classic FM
Categories: Society & Culture
Listen to the last episode:
Previous episodes
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2696 - The coal miner's daughter and the bride stripped bare Fri, 11 Oct 2024
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2695 - A Sri Lankan hotel, a Harlem nightclub and orgasm-induced amnesia — Dasha Ross' epic adventures Thu, 10 Oct 2024
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2694 - Prostate cancer, testosterone and Tim Baker's masculinity Wed, 09 Oct 2024
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2693 - Obsessive-compulsive disorder and how Penny loosened its anxiety-inducing grip Tue, 08 Oct 2024
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2692 - Melbourne's seedy underbelly and the gangsters who run the joint Mon, 07 Oct 2024
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2691 - Play School's Noni Hazlehurst — Australia's TV mum Fri, 04 Oct 2024
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2690 - Kasey Chambers on how not to be a d***head Thu, 03 Oct 2024
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2689 - Into the wild with Gina Chick Wed, 02 Oct 2024
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2688 - Shakespeare's stories aren't boring — we are teaching them wrong way Tue, 01 Oct 2024
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2687 - How Tolstoy and Chekhov schooled George Saunders on life's great lessons Mon, 30 Sep 2024
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2686 - The unexpected plot twist: how a solo hiker stayed alive after shattering her pelvis in Joshua Tree National Park Fri, 27 Sep 2024
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2685 - The unexpected plot twist: the story of how suicide survivor Oceane, who became a beloved midwife Thu, 26 Sep 2024
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2684 - The unexpected plot twist: The story of Toni Jordan's lucky life Wed, 25 Sep 2024
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2683 - The unexpected plot twist: The tech nerd who changed course to help the homeless Tue, 24 Sep 2024
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2682 - The unexpected plot twist: From the David Jones food hall to Opera Australia Mon, 23 Sep 2024
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2681 - An odyssey across Australia — how 11,000 sheep were walked from Victoria into the outback Fri, 20 Sep 2024
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2680 - Antibiotic resistant superbugs and how to fight them Thu, 19 Sep 2024
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2679 - A life spent making — ‘Mr Millimetre’s’ memories Wed, 18 Sep 2024
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2678 - Fish sperm sausages, and eyeball icecream: the Josh Niland story Tue, 17 Sep 2024
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2677 - The architects of ancient Arabia – speaking to the sky Mon, 16 Sep 2024
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2676 - The epic highs and lows of Ji's life on the trampoline Fri, 13 Sep 2024
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2675 - Treating dementia — a new way of caring for the elderly Thu, 12 Sep 2024
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2674 - The story of James Earl Jones, and his legacy Wed, 11 Sep 2024
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2673 - Epic sharks — the ancient origins of the monsters of the sea Tue, 10 Sep 2024
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2672 - Words of love — writing stories of Aboriginal land Mon, 09 Sep 2024
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2671 - My brother's death — writing the story of a family's grief and loss Fri, 06 Sep 2024
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2670 - Quitting alcohol – the story of how Seana got sober Thu, 05 Sep 2024
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2669 - How dogs think — and what they think of us Wed, 04 Sep 2024
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2668 - My Stolen Generations story: how Brenda was taken from her family, twice Tue, 03 Sep 2024
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2667 - The story of the melancholy spy Mon, 02 Sep 2024
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2666 - The psychedelic revolution — how MDMA mended Rebecca's mind Fri, 30 Aug 2024
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2665 - Smuggled out of Wewak — Carolyn's dramatic escape from Papua New Guinea Thu, 29 Aug 2024
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2664 - When the pirate got paid on the island of Corfu Wed, 28 Aug 2024
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2663 - The spark that saw Andy become solar-powered Tue, 27 Aug 2024
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2662 - The sprawling history of the human soul — part two Mon, 26 Aug 2024
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2661 - The trailblazing papergirl, lawyer and playwright Fri, 23 Aug 2024
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2660 - My aunt was smuggled to Tashkent by Stalin Thu, 22 Aug 2024
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2659 - Heavenly beings: the icon paintings of Michael Galovic Wed, 21 Aug 2024
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2658 - Dave Gleeson needs a damn good lie down Tue, 20 Aug 2024
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2657 - The sprawling history of the human soul — part one Mon, 19 Aug 2024
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2656 - The Natural Horseman Fri, 16 Aug 2024
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2655 - The woman who was lucky in love Thu, 15 Aug 2024
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2654 - The farm that Carol built Wed, 14 Aug 2024
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2653 - Mummy bundles, fossils and DNA Tue, 13 Aug 2024
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2652 - 'More than cheesecake' — humanity's shared musical history Mon, 12 Aug 2024
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2651 - Conversations Gold: The silver medal that changed Laurie Lawrence Fri, 09 Aug 2024
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2650 - Conversations Gold: Jana Pittman's turning point Wed, 07 Aug 2024
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2649 - Conversations Gold: Paralympian Christie Dawes is super/normal Mon, 05 Aug 2024
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2648 - Conversations Gold: The life of Anna Meares Fri, 02 Aug 2024
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2647 - Conversations Gold: Lisa Curry on winning gold and losing Jaimi Wed, 31 Jul 2024