Conversations

Latest Episodes:

Postcards from God — artist William Robinson Nov 15, 2019

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William is considered one of Australia's greatest living artists. But it took years for his work to be recognised as brilliant

The ferocious power of Rebekah Nov 14, 2019

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At the age of 2, Rebekah Robertson's son George calmly explained to his mum that he was a girl. After years of turmoil in the family, Rebekah began devoting much of her life to helping Georgie be herself. In the process, she changed history

Clare Bowditch and the breakthrough Nov 13, 2019

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How Clare overcame grief she'd stored away since childhood, found a way to manage anxiety, and embraced a joyful, messy life

Inside the dictator's mind Nov 12, 2019

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Frank Dikotter on the common personality traits of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao and other twentieth century dictators

Armistice: The Good Friends Nov 11, 2019

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The story of two men who fought for different sides on the western front, and an unexpected friendship between their descendants (R)

Animal Behaviouralist: Talking magpies, grieving tawny frogmouths and canny galahs Nov 08, 2019

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Gisela Kaplan fell under the spell of birds when hand-rearing a magpie nestling. After it learned to speak, she was so intrigued she switched careers and began her research into avian behaviour. Her many books on Australian native birds have been ground-breaking.

Many assumptions about the nature of birds and their behaviour are completely wrong when applied to Australian birds.

Gisela Kaplan was a professor of sociology when a magpie nestling she was hand raising bonded closely with her, followed her about, and learned to speak.

Her curiosity about birds became so strong she switched careers to become a field biologist and animal behaviourist.

Based in Armidale NSW, Gisela has conducted extensive research into avian behaviour. Her second PhD was a study of the songs of Australian magpies.

Gisela's many books on Australian native birds have changed the way these creatures are understood.

Along with her teaching, writing and research in ornithology, Gisela has been a wildlife carer for 25 years, raising countless birds of all ages.

Further information

Bird Bonds: sex, mate-choice and cognition in Australian native birds is published by Macmillan

Gisela's earlier books include Bird Minds, Tawny Frogmouth, and Australian Magpie

Gisela is Emeritus Professor of animal behaviour at the University of New England

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.

Finding new ways to grow old Nov 07, 2019

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After both her parents died young, Charlotte Wood grew up believing she would never grow old. When she reached her 50s, she began to ask some big questions about aging

My second family is in Vanuatu Nov 06, 2019

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Physiotherapist Sky Fosbrooke’s stint as a volunteer health worker led to a deep attachment to the people of a small South Santo village

A life in dance after being told he wouldn't make it with David McAllister Nov 05, 2019

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When David McAllister was a little boy growing up in Perth he would tuck tea towels into his undies and dance around in front of the TV.

He watched his own reflection, as he twirled, and leapt around the lounge room.

At 7, David went to his first ballet class at a suburban scout hall, and loved it right away.

But doing ballet was a kind of social death for a boy, in the 1970s in Western Australia.

David says the torment he went through at school helped to spur him on to become one of the best dancers of his generation.

After winning at place at the Australian Ballet School, he joined the Australian Ballet company in 1983.

One artistic director told him his nose was all wrong and he would never be cast as a prince, but he eventually danced many principal roles.

David was named as the Artistic Director in 2001, and he's been the longest-serving director of any in the Australian Ballet.

Next year he will retire after 37 years with the company.

Further information

Learn more about the Australian Ballet's 2020 season

William Dalrymple on the ruthless rise of the British East India Company Nov 04, 2019

Show notes

The outrageous story of a group of financiers from a poor and damp island on the outer rim of Europe, who created a private company that became the biggest military and political power in all of India

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