Conversations

Anita Heiss, an award-winning author and professor, shares her family's rich heritage and the intertwining of love and history in her storytelling. She reflects on her parents' romance against the backdrop of colonial struggles faced by her ancestors. Heiss explores the legacy of Windradyne, a Wiradjuri warrior, and the importance of cultural preservation through language. With a focus on empowering First Nations voices, she reveals her commitment to promoting Indigenous literature, emphasizing the vital role of love stories in shaping Aboriginal experiences.

Gideon Haigh, a seasoned writer, shares his emotional journey after the tragic loss of his brother Jasper in a car accident at 17. He reflects on decades of silence about that night, revealing the transformative power of storytelling in processing grief. Gideon explores the complexities of brotherhood, the effects of family loss, and his struggles with identity. As he navigates his memories, he discusses how writing helps confront pain and preserve cherished memories, showcasing the enduring bond of family amidst sorrow.

Seana Smith, who navigated a complicated childhood marked by her father's struggles with alcohol, shares her powerful journey to sobriety. She reflects on how her upbringing shaped her own drinking habits, revealing poignant moments from her past. Seana discusses her escape from an abusive environment and her academic adventures at Oxford. As a mother, she confronts the emotional challenges tied to alcohol and her father's health issues, ultimately leading her to a life-altering commitment to sobriety and deeper family connections.

Laura Vissaritis, a dog behaviourist with expertise in animal behaviour and human psychology, shares fascinating insights about our four-legged friends. She discusses how understanding dog behavior often starts with modifying human actions. The conversation dives into the deep emotional bond between humans and dogs, their shared 14,000-year journey, and the impacts of viewing dogs as quasi-people. Vissaritis also highlights the consequences of unethical breeding and promotes humane training methods to strengthen the human-animal bond.

Brenda Matthews, a member of the Stolen Generations, shares her courageous journey toward healing alongside her biological mother. She reflects on her childhood filled with both joy and separation, detailing the pain of losing her family to authorities. Their reconnection shines light on the complexities of identity and belonging. Brenda emphasizes the power of storytelling in her healing process and the challenges posed by redacted records that obscure her family's truth. Ultimately, her story is one of resilience, love, and rediscovering roots.

Jack Beaumont, a former fighter pilot turned intelligence operative, shares his thrilling journey from the cockpit to covert missions with France's DGSE. He explores the complex world of espionage, discussing the dual identities spies maintain and the psychological toll of their secretive lives. Jack reflects on his tumultuous Paris childhood and how it shaped his quest for adventure. He candidly addresses the challenges of military life, injuries from high-stakes flying, and the struggles to leave behind the hyper-vigilance instilled by his past.

Rebecca Huntley, a renowned social researcher and broadcaster in Australia, shares her profound journey through trauma and healing. She recounts her unconventional choice of MDMA therapy to address deep-rooted PTSD after years of traditional therapy. Topics include her emotional turmoil stemming from childhood experiences and the dynamics of familial relationships. Rebecca’s perspective on healing, empathy, and the transformative power of psychedelics offers a fresh viewpoint on personal recovery. Her insights challenge societal norms about therapy and self-acceptance.

When Carolyn Blacklock's passport was confiscated from her in a foreign country she was faced with a scary reality that got wilder at every turnCarolyn Blacklock's passport was taken from from her at the Port Moresby International Airport when she was trying to get on a plane back to Australia. It was at that moment she realised just how much trouble she was in. Carolyn, who had headed up the national power company in Papua New Guinea and worked for the World Back there, had faced charges of corruption after a change in government. When the court cleared her of any and all wrongdoing, she thought she would be able to leave the country, but still she was detained or threatened at every turn.So, Carolyn set about getting herself out of PNG and back to Australia by any means necessary.What ensued was a wild, nine-day journey travelling in a helicopter, in the boot of a four-wheel drive, in a tiny dinghy and on foot. While Carolyn did get herself out of PNG, she desperately misses the country she called home for more than a decade.Carolyn's story explores escape, adventure, family, regional development, the Pacific, banking, diplomacy, corruption, governance, country Australia, Papua New Guinea, close neighbours, emigration, illegal immigration, politics and foreign affairs.

Kári Gíslason was 18 when he met a mysterious stranger called 'the Pirate' on the Greek island of Corfu. When he fled the island, he left behind a debt he promised to one day repay.When Kári Gíslason was 18, he came to the island of Corfu as a stony-broke traveller. But he quickly found work in a little town: lime washing walls and working as a builder’s labourer.The man who gave him the work was a mysterious figure known simply as ’the Pirate’.At first, Kári thought it was a nickname given to him as a comic exaggeration of his former life as a ship’s cook.But he received warnings from several people to get away from the Pirate.And when the Pirate said he wanted Kári to sail with him across the Atlantic to deliver unnamed goods to Brazil, Kári began to plot his escape.

Andy McCarthy found passion for solar power as a high school dropout. He began one of Australia's biggest solar businesses, right in the heart of Victoria's coal country. But then a breakdown changed everything for Andy and his familyAndy McCarthy dropped out of high school in year 10. He was a highly energetic kid but found it difficult to latch onto any one thing for long.Andy was happier out of school, and tried a whole lot of different jobs.Then at 19, he connected his first solar panel and was suddenly fired up with a jolt of enthusiasm.He set up a rooftop solar business right in the middle of coal country – in the LaTrobe Valley in Country Victoria.Setting up a solar panel shop in a place surrounded by some of Australia’s biggest coal-fired power stations was always going to invite scepticism.But Andy’s drive saw the business grow from a garage operation to one of the biggest employers in the area. At the height of his success though, Andy suffered a breakdown that landed him in hospital – and he realised he would have to change, along with the rest of the planet.Andy's story covers themes of neurodivergence, ADHD, ADD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, climate change, solar power, solar panels, batteries, small business, education, schooling, success, environmental issues, the economy, economic development, regional Australia and industry.