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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,...
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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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13 OCT 2026 · Mimi Kwa tells her family’s saga, featuring her dad — the thirty-second child of a wealthy Chinese silk trader, and her mum, who survived decades of undiagnosed schizophrenia, and Mimi's glamorous other life in the intoxicating hubbub of Hong Kong.Mimi presented the news on ABC and Channel Nine, and worked in the newsroom for more than 20 years. Today she has four children with her loving husband, John.This is all a long way from Mimi’s early life in Perth, where she managed backpackers’ rent and cleaning toilets at her father’s sprawling youth hostel from the age of eight.Then she would shuttle over to her grandparents’ house in the suburbs, where her mum, who lived with chronic schizophrenia, would do her best to love Mimi, despite her paranoia.Mimi had yet another life, in Hong Kong, where she would visit her relatives, and stay with her loving, steady, glamorous Aunty Theresa, who adored her.Mimi had to synthesise all these parts to grow herself up and become what she had always wanted to be: on telly, reading the news.And once she succeeded in her dream of journalism, she would need all the strength she could get when she unknowingly ambushed Russell Crowe at the airport.Further informationHelp is always available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14, https://www.lifeline.org.au/chat, or speak to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter at https://www.13yarn.org.au/ (13 92 76).House of Kwa is published by HarperCollins ABC Books.This episode was made on Gadigal country. It was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.It covers Hong Kong, World War II, Japanese occupation, occupation, Perth, Mandarin Gardens, racism, trauma, grandparent carers, mental health ward, ECT, big age gap, Channel Nine, cadetship, Russel Crowe, Gladiator, Romper Stomper, contested will, inheritance, suing family, reconciliation, forgiveness and gratitude.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Transcribed
12 OCT 2026 · Mimi Kwa tells her family’s saga, featuring her dad — the thirty-second child of a wealthy Chinese silk trader, and her mum, who survived decades of undiagnosed schizophrenia, and Mimi's glamorous other life in the intoxicating hubbub of Hong Kong. (CW: Discussion of mental illness and suicide attempt)Mimi presented the news on ABC and Channel Nine, and worked in the newsroom for more than 20 years. Today she has four children with her loving husband, John.This is all a long way from Mimi’s early life in Perth, where she managed backpackers’ rent and cleaning toilets at her father’s sprawling youth hostel from the age of eight.Then she would shuttle over to her grandparents’ house in the suburbs, where her mum, who lived with chronic schizophrenia, would do her best to love Mimi, despite her paranoia.Mimi had yet another life, in Hong Kong, where she would visit her relatives, and stay with her loving, steady, glamorous Aunty Theresa, who adored her.Mimi had to synthesise all these parts to grow herself up and become what she had always wanted to be: on telly, reading the news.And once she succeeded in her dream of journalism, she would need all the strength she could get when she unknowingly ambushed Russell Crowe at the airport.Further informationHelp is always available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14, https://www.lifeline.org.au/chat, or speak to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter at https://www.13yarn.org.au/ (13 92 76).House of Kwa is published by HarperCollins ABC Books.This episode was made on Gadigal country. It was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.It covers Hong Kong, World War II, Japanese occupation, occupation, Perth, Mandarin Gardens, racism, trauma, grandparent carers, mental health ward, ECT, big age gap, Channel Nine, cadetship, Russel Crowe, Gladiator, Romper Stomper, contested will, inheritance, suing family, reconciliation, forgiveness and gratitude.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Transcribed
9 OCT 2026 · Mick won three world surfing titles, and famously fought off a great white shark in South Africa. But his life out of the water has been threaded through with devastating loss, after the death of his three older brothers. (CW: loss and grief)Mick Fanning grew up on the Gold Coast in a raucous, loving family of five kids, raised by his mum Elizabeth, a nurse who worked night shift. He and his brother Sean were talented young grommets who dreamed of becoming professional surfers. Then at 16, Mick got a phone call. He was going to be sponsored by Quiksilver, to the tune of $30 000 a year. The money was enough to change Mick's life, and he was able to help his mum out financially for the first time.But just as Mick's star was on the rise, his family suffered the most devastating loss. His brother Sean was killed in a terrible accident on the way home from an 18th birthday party.After being out of the water for a time, Mick started surfing again, and soon began to rise up the ranks. Eventually he would win three world titles. But so many of the career highs were threaded through with grief, as Mick and his family endured the premature deaths of two more of his brothers, Peter and Ed.Peter died unexpectedly, and Ed died after a cut on his leg from a coral reef in Madagascar.In 2015, Mick was catapulted into a kind of fame he never wanted when he punched a great white shark which grabbed his leg rope, live on TV in the middle of a surfing contest at Jeffrey Bay in South Africa.More than a decade on Mick has retired from surfing, and he's leaning into the many joys of raising his young family with his wife Brianna.All Heart is published by Simon and Schuster.Help and support is always available by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14. They are available 24 hours a day.This episode of Conversations was produced by Elizabeth Kulas. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores surfing, shark attacks, WSL, World Surf League, Margaret River Pro, Bondi, Newcastle, J Bay, grief, masculinity, death, accidents, tragic accidents, losing siblings, sibling loss, great white shark, professional athletes, elite athletes, single mothers, nurses, memoir, writing, books, Australian sporting icons, sporting legends, origin stories, love, relationships, fatherhood, psychics, mediums, Rip Curl, Quicksilver, Billabong, surf brands, learning to surf, Australian surf sports.
Transcribed
8 OCT 2026 · Journalist Rick Morton on how his mum raised three children in poverty and the class disparities in Australia.Rick's family come from the vast country of Outback Queensland, near the Birdsville Track.His grandfather, George Morton, was a wealthy landholder and he ruled over his family like a tyrant.When Rick was little, a terrible accident was followed by the break-up of his family and Rick, his mum, and his two siblings were driven out of the family home into crippling poverty.This led Rick to think deeply about the true nature of poverty in our country, how hard it is to thrive when you're bumping along from week to week.After high school he decided to get into journalism and became a social affairs writer at The Australian newspaper.Rick's memoir is called a 100 Years of Dirt This episode was first broadcast in 2018.Further informationRick now lives in Paris and writes about his life in a newsletter called Nervous Laughterhttps://rick-morton.ghost.io/100 Years of Dirt is published by MUP
Transcribed
7 OCT 2026 · Judith Lucy is one of Australia's most loved comedians. Recently after years of tummy troubles, burnout, and a complicated relationship with alcohol, she began her mission to work on her health, in earnest. As well as being a beloved comic, Judith is also the author of four books and the presenter of several television series.For decades Judith has been busying herself with project after project after project, to distract herself from sitting with the truth of where her workaholism, insomnia and dicey relationship with alcohol was coming from.It took Judith a long time to realise she was a chronic workaholic, and to admit she was suffering from burnout, despite the clues being there all along.After feeling unwell for some time, Judith started delving into the multitude of wellness options out there.Well, Well, Well is published by Simon and Schuster.Since recording this interview with Richard, Judith Lucy has revealed she's been diagnosed with breast cancer. In a video message this week, Judith told fans she is in shock but doing ok and fortunately her cancer is not aggressive.We wish Judith all the best for her surgery and any future treatment.This episode of Conversations was produced by Elizabeth Kulas. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores health and wellness, wellness scams, wellness influencers, psychedelics, mental health, substance abuse, alcoholism, AA, family trauma, adoption, grief, deaths, comedy, gut health, faecal transplant, poo transplant, Australian comedy, relationships, love, betrayal, depression, workaholism, workaholic, bad trip, Gabor Mate, To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Transcribed
6 OCT 2026 · A portrait of one teacher and his class as they journey through the ups and downs of a school year.Brendan James Murrary has been a high school teacher for more than ten years and although his own experiences at school weren't great, he ended up taking a job back at the school where he was a bullied and unhappy student.During his time as a teacher he's seen hundreds of kids move through the same hallways and classrooms - boisterous, angry, shy, big-hearted, awkward - all of them on the journey to adulthood.He's also discovered that what makes a good teacher has more to do with generosity and empathy than he first realised.His memoir The School is both a tribute to the teacher who inspired him and a celebration of the kids who shape his career.First broadcast in 2021 The producer was Nicola Harrison and the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.Further informationThe School is published by Pan MacMillanThis episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison and the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.It explores teaching, high school, bullying, school refusal, self harm, anxiety, teachers, mentors, empathy, generosity, regional high school, students, classrooms, support, mental health.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Transcribed
5 OCT 2026 · The instructions found in endorsed baby books over the last century could be, with hindsight, bizarre or cruel. And were most often given by “experts” with no children of their own. Journalist and broadcaster, Richard Glover tackles the changing landscape of parenting advice.He looks back at his own experience of being parented, which included having his ears sticky-taped while growing up in Papua New Guinea, and draws on modern day grand-parenthood to highlight the marked differences in how we raise our children.Richard has delved into the archives to draw out the strangest, sometimes hilarious and rather heartbreaking pieces of parenting advice given to Australians over the last century. He finds advice on toilet training babies when they are weeks-old, and recalls the rich and practically disappeared language of corporal punishment.Further informationHow to Ruin a Child: A journey into the alarming, hilarious and ever-changing advice given to Australian parents is published by HarperCollins.This episode was made on Gadigal country. It was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.It explores caning, the cane, smacking, discipline, raising boys, raising girls, Truby King, family planning, Marie Stopes, eugenics, empire, blame the parents, sleeping through the night, breastfeeding, birth, childbirth, bonding, cuddling, skin on skin, manipulative baby, Hobbes, Rousseau, routine for baby, awake window.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Transcribed
2 OCT 2026 · The author on the diagnosis that floored her and the gifts that got her through harrowing treatment — including a cat named Nicholas.The Australian-Irish author was last on the program in 2020.She reflected on her childhood by the railway tracks in the Clare Valley, South Australia, where she grew up with her band of brothers and sisters.After she recorded that interview, Monica received a cancer diagnosis.International borders were closed due to covid, and Monica found herself staying in a tiny unit with her mum and a cat they named Nicholas.She didn't see her beloved husband John for almost a year.Monica was prescribed a chemotherapy drug known as the 'red devil', and lost her thick, lustrous hair. And she survived.It was 18-months later, back home in Dublin, when Monica could finally confront what had happened to her, and start to climb out of the deep anxiety and depression that marked her experience.Further informationWhen Sullivan Met Lola is published by Penguin Random House.This episode was made of Turrbal and Jaggera lands. The producer was Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores grief, cancer, Invasive ductal carcinoma, breast cancer, aggressive cancer, novels, characters, dread, anti-anxiety medication, antidepressant, near death experience, book tour, death of a sibling, chemo, support system, friends, chemo presents, large family, sibling love, long distance relationship.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Transcribed
1 OCT 2026 · RAF pilot Frank Dell parachuted into Nazi occupied Holland after his plane was hit by cannon fire and with the aid of courageous Dutch families and resistance fighters he got out alive.As a teenager, Frank saw the Battle of Britain played out in the skies above his village in the south of England.He joined the RAF and piloted a De Havilland Mosquito on bombing raids into Germany.In October 1944 Frank's plane was shot out of the sky and he parachuted into Nazi territory.Frank witnessed extraordinary scenes as he walked his way through the countryside into occupied Holland.It was there he joined the Dutch Resistance, and his war shifted to the fields, hay sheds and village lanes of the Netherlands.This episode was first broadcast in 2014.Further informationFrank Dell passed away peacefully in 2022 at the age of 98.His family say that Frank had fond memories of meeting Richard and the chance to tell his story on Conversations. A photo of Richard and Frank was included in a memorial sideshow at his funeral.Mosquito Down (by Frank Dell with Brett Piper) is published by Fighting HighThis episode of Conversations was produced By Michelle Ransom-Hughes and the Executive Producer was Pam O'Brien.It explores WWII, RAF, Nazi occupied Holland, Dutch resistance, the Battle of Britain, cannon fire, parachute emergency, support, survival, undercover, Nazi Germany, rescue, history, memoir, bombing raids, De Havilland Mosquito, 1944To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
Transcribed
30 SEP 2026 · When Magda Szubanski discovered what had happened to her mum as a child, she began to see her in an entirely new light (CW: discussion of sexual abuse, please take care when listening)Magda released her first memoir a few years ago, to widespread acclaim.It was the story of how Magda unearthed the life story of her Polish-born father and his role as an assassin during WWII.Magda's now written her second memoir which hinges on the life story of her charming and funny Scottish-born mother, Margaret.Magda had a complicated and deeply loving relationship with her mum, who sometimes lashed out at her daughter in devastating ways.Two years after Margaret died, Magda found out a tragic secret about her life.The revelation explained so much, and Magda later began to re-examine specific events in her own childhood with a new understanding.Content warning: this episode of Conversations contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse.I Can't Tell You But I Will is published by Text Publishing.This episode of Conversations was produced by Elizabeth Kulas. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores Australian actors, Australian comedians, Australian television, Australian cinema, Kath and Kim, mothers and daughters, childhood abuse, child on child abuse, sexuality, queerness, queer actors, gay marriage referendum, intergenerational trauma, coming out, famous lesbians, Sharon Strzelecki, Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, Happy Feet, Heath Ledger, youngest children, cancer diagnosis, Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Maggie Smith, memoir, writing, books, Australian literature, family origin stories, nervous system, fight, flight, freeze, fawn, Catholic school, George Orwell, mental health, university, shame, pray the gay away, suicidal thoughts, LGBT rights, same-sex marriage, George Miller, domestic violence, violence against women, group think, free bleeding, activism, Madrid, Spain, grief, Catholicism.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
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,...
show more
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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