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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 25, 2021 • 51min
Bill Crews and the Calais epiphany
Reverend Bill Crews on the moment which changed how he saw his own life story, and his ideas on how we can all cultivate compassion, tolerance, empathy and love in difficult times
Aug 24, 2021 • 52min
The art of precision engineering with Simon Winchester
Simon Winchester, author of 'Exactly, How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World', dives into the fascinating realm of precision engineering. He reflects on childhood memories and the emotional ties to craftsmanship, pondering if perfection has eclipsed artistry. The podcast explores the evolution of precision in navigation and the storytelling joy of exploring without GPS. Winchester outlines the impact of figures like John Iron Mad Wilkinson on industrial engineering and contrasts the intricate designs of Henry Royce with Ford's mass production.
Aug 23, 2021 • 48min
The hunt for deep sea bioluminescence (and a giant squid)
Marine biologist Dr Edith Widder was inside a submersible searching for bioluminescence in the ocean depths when she saw a giant squid as big as a two story house
Aug 20, 2021 • 53min
Friends with a fox
Biologist Catherine Raven was living off-grid in a remote valley in Montana when she unexpectedly became friends with a wild red fox
Aug 19, 2021 • 51min
David McAllister: A life in dance
When David McAllister began ballet lessons in Perth in the 1970s, being a 'ballet boy' was a kind of social death. But his school bullies helped spur him on to become one of the world's best dancers (R)
Aug 18, 2021 • 54min
Inside a rogue force
Journalist Mark Willacy on his investigations into alleged war crimes by Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan CW: Some listeners may find elements of this conversation upsetting
Aug 17, 2021 • 52min
Anna Sale talks about hard things
Anna hosts Death, Sex and Money a podcast about money, race, #MeToo, and what to say when someone dies
Aug 16, 2021 • 51min
Linda Jaivin on the sprawling, messy history of China
From kung-fu to tofu, tea to trade routes, sages to silk, China has influenced cuisine, commerce, military strategy, aesthetics and philosophy across the world for thousands of years. Linda Jaivin has written a new account of China which pulls together its sprawling history
Aug 13, 2021 • 52min
Amani, Salwa and Layla
In 2015, Amani Haydar suffered the unimaginable when she lost her mother in a brutal act of domestic violence perpetrated by her father (CW: Domestic violence)
Aug 12, 2021 • 53min
Fascinating fungi - the intelligent kingdom
Biologist Merlin Sheldrake's extreme experiments, many of which involve his physical body and varying forms of fungi, have led to equally remarkable discoveries (R)
