Conversations

Jonathan Miller on President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs in the Philippines

Mei Fong explains how China's misguided population control scheme rendered it 'too old, too male, and too few' (R)

A freewheeling conversation with the celebrated poet and essayist

After two suicides changed her family forever, Jessie Cole returned to Northern NSW to begin again (CW: Suicide references)Jessie grew up in Northern NSW in a rainforest house lovingly built by her parents. They had moved to the hills outside Byron Bay in the 1970s and believed they could remake the world.Jessie’s father had two older daughters from a previous marriage, who visited from Sydney every school holidays.By the time she was eighteen Jessie had lost both her half-sister Zoe, and her father to suicide.Many people in her small community didn't know what to say to her about what had happened, so they avoided the family altogether.Then in her early 20s, Jessie decided to return to the family home in the rainforest.Further informationStaying is published by TextHelp and information are always availableLifeline 13 11 14 24 hour counsellingSANE Australia - helpline, online, forums 1800 187 263Beyondblue - telephone and online counselling 1300 22 4636Suicide Call Back Service - 24 hours -1300 659 467To 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.

In the midst of her grief, Sarah became aware that hospital negligence led to her mother's death

Hamish Maxwell Stewart from the University of Tasmania has spent his working life deep in the Tasmanian convict archive (R)

Amateur astronomer Greg Quicke was working in Northern Australia, sleeping under the stars in a swag when he bought a second-hand telescope

How three cultures shaped one of our great performing artists

Social researcher Hugh Mackay has some ideas for a more compassionate and socially cohesive Australia

Reflections on a failed campaign to become America’s first female President