Conversations

Ben grew up in Drumchapel, a Glasgow housing estate. As a young man, he built a thriving career as a musician, went to University and married. But some years later, he was homeless

Helen recently published her diaries from 1978-1987. They include her thoughts on writing and work, parenting, love affairs, the quest for the right pair of shoes, and the pleasures of mowing the grassHelen is the author of many books, including Monkey Grip, The First Stone, This House of Grief and The Spare Room.Helen's also kept a diary for almost all her life. But until now those exercise books filled with her thoughts, observations, frustrations and joys have been locked away in a laundry cupboard.Recently, she made the decision to get them out of the cupboard, and to publish excerpts covering the years 1978 to 1987.Further information and listeningYellow Notebook is published by TextHelen at 75 in conversation with Richard Fidler (2015)Helen's conversation with Richard on the case of Robert Farquharson (2014)Helen's first Conversations interview (2008)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, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith on how Andromeda is due to collide with our galaxy in five billion years time (R)

How Irving Finkel stumbled upon the true story of the Ark before Noah on a Babylonian clay tablet

Timothy’s stellar screen career, including roles in ‘Mr Turner’, ‘Secrets and Lies’, the Harry Potter films, and his latest, ‘Mrs Lowry & Son’, was almost cut short by a life-threatening illness 

Irish comic Dylan Moran on his unusual childhood, the story behind Black Books, and why he's given up drinking for good

After Hakeem was imprisoned while on his honeymoon in Thailand, Craig fought the power of two monarchies, a military junta, and the world's largest sporting institution to free him

Nepalese surgeon Dr Sanduk Ruit on his work in the villages of Nepal which has restored the sight of more than 150 000 people (R)

An anaesthetist and cave diver, Richard had the exact combination of skills needed to help save the lives of a Thai soccer team trapped deep underwater

Australia's storyteller in song on poems he's loved since childhood, and how reading and learning great poetry has changed his song writing