Conversations podcast

Conversations

·

  ABC  

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.

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.

 

#2000

Encore: the life of Norman Swan

How a boy from Glasgow named Norman Swirsky grew up to become Australia's most famous doct... more

Yesterday

51 MINS

51:00

Yesterday


#1999

William McInnes' bittersweet summers — budgie smugglers, boardies and bumming around

The author and actor thinks summer in Australia is done bigger, better and weirder than an... more

11 Dec 2025

50 MINS

50:30

11 Dec 2025


#1998

How living like a Stoic changed my life

Journalist and author, Brigid Delaney looked into the ancient philosophy during an assignm... more

10 Dec 2025

51 MINS

51:19

10 Dec 2025


#1997

The Rajneeshees and me — why Martina thought she needed a guru to heal

Cult survivor and psychotherapist Dr Martina Zangger on her ten years devoted to an Indian... more

09 Dec 2025

53 MINS

53:00

09 Dec 2025


#1996

Encore: Helen Garner's love letter to her grandson, and football

When Helen Garner began following her grandson Amby's under-16s football team, it was a ch... more

05 Dec 2025

52 MINS

52:10

05 Dec 2025


#1995

The forgotten men who fought and died in the wild jungles of Borneo

At the very end of World War Two, Australian soldiers were sent to Borneo to dislodge the ... more

04 Dec 2025

53 MINS

53:00

04 Dec 2025


#1994

Deciding to live—recovery from a decade long battle with anorexia

While fighting anorexia Lexi Crouch was admitted to hospital 25 times and placed in an ind... more

03 Dec 2025

50 MINS

50:23

03 Dec 2025


#1993

Frosty the supercars legend and his race to the top of Mount Panorama

Mark Winterbottom grew up in outer Western Sydney, in a family with not much money to spen... more

02 Dec 2025

53 MINS

53:00

02 Dec 2025


#1992

Encore: Author Heather Rose on the grief lodged deep in her body

Heather's brother and grandfather died in a tragic drowning accident when she was 12 and f... more

28 Nov 2025

52 MINS

52:17

28 Nov 2025


#1991

A former army psychologist on ketamine therapy, PTSD and her surrogate twins

Louise O'Sullivan spent 10 years with the ADF, including deployments with the Special Forc... more

27 Nov 2025

49 MINS

49:18

27 Nov 2025


#1990

Dad, Bob Marley and me

After the death of her father, a spiritual moment with the life-size wooden statue of Bob ... more

26 Nov 2025

45 MINS

45:32

26 Nov 2025


#1989

How a pair of disobedient missionaries invented Australia's most iconic road trip

Tens of thousands of 'van lifers' and 'grey nomads' drive around Australia each year. But ... more

25 Nov 2025

52 MINS

52:12

25 Nov 2025


#1988

Encore: How Johnathan Thurston became one of the greats

Despite being a stand-out young player, many NRL clubs initially rejected Johnathan Thurst... more

21 Nov 2025

51 MINS

51:33

21 Nov 2025


#1987

How Aunty Rhonda learnt to cry

Artist, author and Stolen Generations survivor, Rhonda Collard-Spratt, on bush hugs, beehi... more

20 Nov 2025

51 MINS

51:12

20 Nov 2025


#1986

From democracy to dictatorship and back again—how freedom falls and tyranny takes hold

Dr James Loxton on how modern democracies can crumble as authoritarian regimes take hold, ... more

19 Nov 2025

53 MINS

53:30

19 Nov 2025


#1985

A bulldog on the ice -- Eric's journey from the South Pole to Outer Space

Eric Philips has always loved cold weather and from young age became fixated on the idea o... more

18 Nov 2025

52 MINS

52:19

18 Nov 2025


#1984

Encore: Love, sex and the secret life of retirees

Screenwriter Samantha Strauss on her grandmother's vibrant last years in a Gold Coast reti... more

14 Nov 2025

45 MINS

45:17

14 Nov 2025


#1983

Making peace and finding laughter in my family's dark past

Reuben Kaye has always known he was going to be a performer and grew up a house that encou... more

13 Nov 2025

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13 Nov 2025


#1982

Loving and losing three good men—the story of a ballerina called 'Blossom'

Petal Ashmole Winstanley was just a teenager when she left Perth on her own to sail to Lon... more

12 Nov 2025

52 MINS

52:00

12 Nov 2025


#1981

The conspiracy that brought down the Whitlam Government in the 1975 dismissal

Editor-at-Large of The Australian, Paul Kelly looks back at the most profound crisis in Au... more

11 Nov 2025

53 MINS

53:25

11 Nov 2025