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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

Ben Lee on life as a teen rock prodigy, Hollywood fame, living in an Ashram in India, and exploring his subconscious through ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic from the Amazon (R).

Ben Lee grew up in Bondi in the 1980s when it was a place of bikie gangs, Yiddish-speaking grandmas and tribes of kids living next to one of the world's most beautiful beaches. 

He was educated at a local Jewish school where he confounded his Rabbi by asking some surprising questions about Moses.

Ben was always a seeker, and even as a boy, he also possessed a whole lot of chutzpah.

At the age of 14 he saw Nirvana play at the Big Day Out. 

The next day he started his own band and just two years later Ben was flying to America to support Sonic Youth.

After many wild years, Ben emerged with a crucial realisation about his life story. 

He is now living back in Australia with his wife Ione and their teenage daughter.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison and the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

It explores music, songwriting, drugs, drug taking, ayahuasca, what does ayahuasca feel like, ecstasy, do drugs change your brain, your brain on drugs, your subconscious mind, Claire Danes, how to be famous, what it feels like to be famous, mental health, identity crisis, seasons of life, rock star wife, rock star husband, Evan Dando, Evan Dando drug addiction, Lemonheads, ego, big ego, tall poppy syndrome, catch my disease, gamble everything for love, fame, rock music, singing, Bondi, Noise Addict, Sonic Youth, alternative spirituality, Judaism, Australian music, celebrity, Ione Skye.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Encore: Ben Lee, the chutzpah mystic, Bondi rock prodigy, Noise Addict

Historian Tom Trumble tells the story of the cunning World War II Australian sabotage mission known as Operation Jaywick, and how two survivors outsmarted the Imperial Japanese Army police, the Kempeh Tai.

Deep in the years of World War II, Australian commandos in the Pacific theatre executed a cunning plan to sneak up on Japanese warships in the occupied Singapore Harbour.

They managed to get away with an incredible operation, but in doing so, triggered intense paranoia and embarrassment for Japan.

The Japanese were furious, and were convinced Chinese-Singaporeans were behind this humiliating setback.

They enacted a terrifying regime of massacres, arrests and torture.

Japanese authorities suspected Elizabeth Choy and Robert Heatlie Scott were involved with the sabotage, and the two paid dearly for that assumption during their time in prison.

Further information

Survival in Singapore: The triumph and tragedy of Australia's greatest commando operation is published by Penguin Random House.

This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan, Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. 

It explores Changi, Changi Prison, smuggling money, the double tenth incident, sook ching massacre, fall of Singapore, WWII, military history, WWII history, fishing vessel, sabotage, commando operation, Australian commandos, Ivan Lyon, SOE, Special Operations Executive, revenge, Sumida Haruzo and spies.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

How a heroine of Singapore survived jail and torture in WWII

Fran Harding was a stay-at-home mother of eight children when her pharmacist husband came home one night with the news that the family were moving to Charleville in Western Queensland to run a pub.

Gordan had spontaneously leased a pub, and Fran was to be its new publican.

So, with their kids in tow (including a little baby), they set off.

Fran set up her sewing machine behind the bar and did her best to work out how to pull beers, understand what the locals were saying and keep tabs on her brood.

Then Fran’s husband fell in love with the pub across the street – the once grand hotel, The Corones.

The Harding family moved in, learning about its history as ‘The Taj Mahal of the Warrego’ and doing their best to return the pub to its former glory.

Fran has published two books about her life and about the Corones Hotel, called The Accidental Australians and The Accidental Publican.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores Australian history, stories, outback, the bush, Queensland, Quilpie, Migration, Great Australians, 1990 flood, recovering after natural disasters, social history, outback characters, hospitality, running a business, big families, motherhood, historic hotels, writing, books, memoir, Greek-Australians, small town Australia, working mothers, how to run a pub, renovating historic buildings, Harry Corones, Kythira, Poppa, Greece, Mediterranean Islands, Greek Orthodox, Greek diaspora, Australian pioneers.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

The unlikely outback publican of the 'Taj Mahal of the Warrego’

Dr Todd Bond is marine ecologist who goes where very few humans have ever been: the underworld, or the deep ocean. There, he studies the strange, scary and often cute creatures who call the deepest parts of our oceans home.

This part of the ocean starts at 6000 metres deep, and is known as the 'Hadal Zone'.

Todd travels there in a small titanium submersible, not much bigger than his own 6'4'' frame.

Waiting there for Todd, in the inky darkness, is mysterious and magic, and is still largely unexplored by humans.

And when he can't get there himself, Todd sends cameras down to poke around these trenches and caverns.

Dr Todd Bond is the Deputy Director of the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre at The University of Western Australia. You can read more about what the centre does online.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores fish, marine biology, marine science, Twiggy Forrest, deep sea, space, exploration, human curiosity, why fish matter, bio-medicine, submarines, OceanGate, Titan submersible implosion, James Cameron, Anglar Fish, snail fish, UWA, university, PhD, doctorate, how to study fish, why we study fish, Mariana Trench, Christmas Island, Java Trench, puffer fish, Antarctica, marine park, conservation, off-shore mining, manganese mining, deep sea mining, ethical science.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Journeying to the Hadal Zone in a two-man submarine

Jane Goodall, the renowned conservationist and pioneer of groundbreaking chimpanzee field research, has died of natural causes at the age of 91.

Jane lived an utterly remarkable life, and her discoveries revolutionised science.

She was only 26 years old when she first visited Tanzania to begin her research on chimpanzees in the wild

Before Jane went to Africa we knew very little about chimpanzees, despite the fact that they're our closest cousins.

It's only because of Jane’s research and observations that we now know they sometimes eat meat, they make tools, they laugh, they are curious about the world around them, they love, they mourn, and sometimes, they are capable of spectacular violence.

You can read more about The Jane Goodall Institute online.

Read more about Jane's remarkable life at the ABC News website.

This episode of Conversations explores zoology, biology, evolution, Africa, exploration, conservation, chimpanzees, apes, monkeys, Kenya, Tanzania, David Attenborough, Dame Jane, mother earth, protecting our environment, habitats, UN Messenger of Peace, raising awareness, threats to wildlife, sustainable relationship between people, animals and the natural world, celebrity death.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Remembering Dr Jane Goodall's science and her humanity

Lawyer Paula Gerber on the human rights of the most endangered group of people in any community - its children. They are open to the most predatory forms of exploitation simply because they don't have the worldliness of adults, and must rely on trust and goodwill. 

When Paula Gerber was growing up in suburban Brisbane, she didn’t spend her weekends at the pool or playing cricket with her dad.

Quality time with her father meant visiting his clients with him in the local jail or mental institution.

Her dad was a criminal lawyer, and Paula tagged along to many of his meetings watching him empathise with people, coming up with defences that worked, sometimes because his client were innocent, and sometimes because he knew the law like the back of his hand, and could do some creative arguing around technicalities.

Paula wanted nothing else but to follow in the footsteps of her father.

She began her career in construction law, but after a motorbike accident, she needed a change, and turned her thoughts to how to help more people with her law degree.

Paula began to specialise in human rights, specifically the rights of children.

Sex, Gender & Identity: Trans Rights in Australia is published by Monash University Publishing.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores childhood trauma, abuse, child protection services, juvenile justice, the age of criminal responsibility, the queer community, growing up gay, lesbians, construction law, Multiplex, property development, women in male dominated fields, writing, books, the law, the legal system, courts, barrister, criminal law, the UN Convention on the Rights of Children, human rights abuses, discrimination, parenting.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Why you should empower your children to know their human rights

Musician Paul Field on grieving the death of his baby girl, Bernadette, and how she inspired his family band, The Wiggles, to bring joy into the lives of millions of children. CW: This episode of Conversations discusses the death of a child.

Paul Field was on tour in Queensland with his band, the Cockroaches, when he received a call that would alter his life forever.

His 7-month-old baby daughter, Bernadette, had unexpectedly died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Paul and his wife, Pauline, had never imagined they would one day plan a funeral for their baby, but that's what they had to do.

Surrounded by their close-knit families and with support from mental health professionals, Paul and Pauline grieved differently but together, realising that fully reckoning with the their tragic loss was the only way they could move forward for their eldest son, Luke, and for the three more children to come. 

Today, Paul loves finding any opportunity to talk about Bernadette, his gentle, joyful baby girl.

In fact, Bernadette, changed the course of Paul's next family project: The Wiggles -- a band that has connected with millions of children for the last 30 years.

Help and support is always available. You can call or text Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Read more about research into SIDS, and find out more about counselling services available to parents who have lost a child at the Red Nose website.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores unexplained death of a child, how to cope with losing a child, loss, Red Nose Day, Sids for Kids, grief, marriage, love, relationships, music, family bands, big families, Irish Catholic families, Sydney in the 1980s, pub rock, skivvies, Anthony Field, Emma Watkins, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Greg Page, Jeff Fatt, Wake up Jeff, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete, Lucia Field, big red car, police corruption, NSW police, royal commission, Sydney gangs, drugs, substance abuse.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

The Wiggles, Red Nose Day and baby Bernadette

When Brad Guy went skydiving in his early 20s, his whole family was there to watch. But when Brad jumped out of the plane strapped to his instructor, the parachute, and the backup chute both failed to open. The pair plunged to the ground at 80km an hour, and miraculously both survived. The fall was terrifying, but recovery is what scared Brad the most.

Despite hitting the ground at around 80kmph, they both survived, but from the first night in hospital Brad started experiencing debilitating night terrors. Then back at home with his parents for the first four months, Brad sunk into a deep depression and was barely able to leave his room. 

It was the start of physical and emotional recovery that took years and changed Brad and his family forever.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores physical injury, skydiving, fear, family, PTSD, nightmare disorder, shame, guilt, trauma, mental breakdown, sexuality, psychology, medication, family history, generational trauma.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

When my parachute failed: How I survived a fall from 15,000 feet

Phillipa Perry grew in England and as a teenager went to a finishing school in Switzerland where she learnt to ski and speak in a posh accent. But instead of joining the aristocracy she worked as debt collector, a manager at McDonalds and eventually a psychotherapist.

Later she married the celebrated artist Grayson Perry, who is famous for his cross-dressing.

Philippa says the key to raising children is acknowledging feelings – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Her best selling parenting book The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read is published by Penguin.

Her latest book The Book You Want Everyone You Love To Read (and maybe a few you don't) is also published by Penguin.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

It explores psychotherapy, parenting, emotions, family, love, queer identity, Grayson Perry, anger, sadness, children, writing.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Encore: Psychotherapist Philippa Perry says yes to feelings

Bronnie Ware was recovering from burnout when she wrote a blog post reflecting on years working as a palliative carer and the epiphanies patients shared with her as they faced death. It was read by millions and became the basis of her best-selling book, The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying.

And the lessons Bronnie learnt from her dying patients also helped her confront some darker elements of her childhood and eventually find peace.

The book has become a touchstone for many people all over the world, including influential thinkers like Dr Gabor Mate and Dr Rangan Chaterjee.

Bronnie's wildlife vlog can be found on her website bronnieware.com

This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores death, dying, palliative care, family, regrets, nature, depression, chronic illness, carer work, Bronnie Ware, The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying, writing, forgiveness, wildlife, spirituality, memory, meditation.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

What caring for the dying taught Bronnie Ware about living

To Australia he was a genius adman and best-selling author but behind closed doors Bryce Courtenay was a deeply flawed husband and father. His son, Adam, has tried to make sense of the lies, the ego and the heartbreak.

When Adam Courtenay was growing up, he saw his dad Bryce as a hero.

Bryce worked in advertising so he knew all the latest, coolest trends, and at bedtime, Bryce told Adam and his brothers amazing stories about his life in South Africa and the Courtenay family’s noble origins.

When Bryce went from adman to wildly successful writer with his debut novel, The Power of One, Adam couldn’t have been prouder.

As Adam grew older, he became aware of the gaps in the stories his father told so well, and realised just how many lies Bryce had told his family and the nation.

At first, Adam tried to ignore the fables and fibs - he wanted badly to believe them because they made Bryce's storytelling so powerful.

But when Adam became a writer himself, an author of historical books and a journalist, he needed to champion the truth above all else.

Further information

My Father Bryce is published by Hachette.

This episode of Conversations explores novels, writing, advertising, Australiana, Australian books, memoir, father son relationships, big egos, Australian voices, Tandia, The Night Country, Whitethorn, The Potato Factory, Tommo & Hawk, Solomon's Song, Nick Duncan Saga, The Persimmon Tree, Fishing for Stars, The Milky Bar Kid, knowing your parents, marriage, fatherhood, journalism, betrayal, cancer, divorce, affairs, infidelity, public personas, modern history, literature.

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, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

My father Bryce Courtenay: the charming, charismatic, compulsive liar

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