Conversations

Latest Episodes:

20th Anniversary Collection: A Tanzanian love story Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

After a dream job as a nanny in Notting Hill, a young Donna Duggan was first lured to Africa by the charms of Zanzibar. She soon fell deeply in love with a local man, Nas, though she could never have predicted the direction their life would take.

Nas and Donna set up a safari company, on the premise they would give back to the country and community as their business prospered.

They had two children and built a life for their family and their wide network of Tanzanian employees.

Nas was making a short journey for work in 2017 when Donna received word his plane was no longer visible on radar.

Further information

First broadcast April 2019.

Read more about Donna's company Maasai Wanderings.

https://maasaiwanderings.com

This episode was produced by Michelle Ransom-Hughes. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

This episode of Conversations touches on safari, widowhood, widow, two year UK working visa, gap year, death of a spouse, owning a business, running a business, husband and wife team, nurse volunteer, nursing, Brisbane and a plane crash.

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.

20th Anniversary Collection: The barber who helps boys become good men Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Charles Lomu's gentle and religious life in Tonga with his grandparents showed him the meaning of love. He was on track to being a young, in-demand Rugby League player when grief shook his family, and Charles turned down a dark path.

He ended up in periodic detention in jail.

Today, the power of barbering is a tool the youth worker uses to steer young men away from the dangerous path he experienced, and to teach them to be men.

Further information

Originally broadcast July 2022.

This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The executive producer was Carmel Rooney.

Standout Story – Colin Hay

Hear Sarah’s conversation with Colin Hay:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/colin-hay-rpt/10573618

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

This episode of Conversations touches on pusiaki, barbering, jail, prison, youth detention, Tonga, grandparents, grandparenting, footy, youth work, familial care, periodic detention, barber and hairstyling.

20th Anniversary Collection: The seaweed scientist who survived being scalped Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

Marine ecologist, Pia Winberg learned how useful seaweed could be for gut health and wound healing. One day she was conducting research by herself in her lab when she had a terrible accident.

Pia was four-years-old when she moved from her native Sweden to Australia.

She always loved the beach and the coastline.

As an adult, Pia became fascinated with the scientific properties of seaweed after visiting a Sri Lankan prawn farm using seaweed to bolster the health of the surrounding environment.

She became a marine ecologist in Wollongong south of Sydney, looking at the unique ways seaweed could help clean the ocean and help people with various ailments.

In 2015 Pia set up her own seaweed farm, on the edge of an alcohol distillery in the town of Nowra.

One day she was emptying seaweed extract from a tank when a large section of her scalp was torn away from her head by a machine.

The accident could've killed her if she'd fainted. Instead Pia walked 200 metres from the factory to her office, to tell her staff what had happened.

Further information

2025 update: Pia has now had six reconstruction surgeries, and seaweed gels have played a huge part in her healing. Pia explains: using Phyaluronic formulations, which we coined to describe seaweed gels that mimic human tissue, has been transformative in my recovery… I am now 90% reconstructed on top.

Originally broadcast July 2019.

Learn more about Pia's work with seaweed.

More information about Australia's unique seaweed species.

This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The executive producer was Carmel Rooney.

This episode of Conversations touches on seaweed, sustainable farming, emergency services, near-fatal accidents, epic life story, origin story, oceans and marine research.

Standout story – Bill Bailey

Hear Richard’s conversation with Bill Bailey:

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/conversations-bill-bailey/8032120

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

Conversations Live podcast extra: Mandy Nolan and Wesley Enoch Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Sarah and Richard give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Conversations Live Tour, Brisbane edition.

Writer and comedian, Mandy Nolan and Chair of Creative Australia, Quandamooka man Wesley Enoch were two of the special guests who appeared on stage to share some photos close to their heart, and the stories attached to them.

Further information

To see Mandy and Wesley's photos for yourself, head to the ABC Conversations Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/abcconvos/

20th Anniversary Collection: Mic's way out of the woods Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Deeply ashamed of something he had done, Mic Whitty retreated into the Welsh wilderness until an unexpected goal pulled him out of homelessness and back into the world.

Mic had entered the workforce at the tender age of 15, joining the RAAF as an apprentice, before taking on a series of highly paid jobs in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand.

But feeling stressed out and burnt out, Mic decided to take a simpler job at a youth hostel in the United Kingdom.

Mic, however, couldn't financially acclimatise to a simpler way of life. He began gambling on the stock market and then stealing money from his employer to make up for his smaller pay-cheque.

Month after month went by, and no one discovered Mic's transgressions, until finally they did.

Deeply ashamed, Mic paid off his debts before deciding to go off grid, going from town to town in Wales, sleeping rough.

With some help from the local Salvos and then re-discovering a family heirloom, Mic started thinking about re-entering the world again, and he came up with an extraordinary project.

Content warning: this episode of Conversations contains discussion about depression and suicidal ideation. Please take care when listening.

If you or anyone you know needs help:

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800
Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Headspace on 1800 650 890
ReachOut at au.reachout.com
MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Further information

First broadcast in March, 2024.

2025 update: Mic has now cycled another 12,600 kilometres, visiting more than 350 cemeteries where WW1 or WW2 casualties are buried along the way.

You can read more about Mic Whitty's extraordinary project, and keep up to date with his progress at his website.

Standout story – Jimmy Webb

You can hear Sarah’s full conversation with Jimmy Webb on the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can also read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

This episode of Conversations explores homelessness, rough sleeping, unemployment, shame, making amends, gambling, journalling, diary, mental health, men's mental health, World War One, World War Two, family history, veterans, the military, post-war life, family history, military history, travel, cycling, illegal camping, Wales, Salvation Army.

20th Anniversary Collection: Tommy Caldwell — born to climb The Dawn Wall Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Tommy Caldwell grew up exploring Yosemite, looking up at El Capitan's punishing 3000ft sheer rock face. After years of training, he was ready to climb it.

Tommy is regarded as the world’s best big wall climber.

He spent 15 years ascending various routes on El Capitan, the Yosemite National Park mecca for big wall climbers, until he was finally ready to attempt a route christened 'The Dawn Wall'.

The Dawn Wall is a 3000-foot ascent up sheer rock on the southeast face of El Capitan.

It took Tommy and his partner Kevin Jorgeson 19 days, but in 2015 they became the first to successfully free climb The Dawn Wall.

The accomplishment was the culmination of years of endurance, just only on the wall, but also on the ground.

As a younger man, Tommy was kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan and he later lost a finger in an accident, which is a particularly devastating loss for a climber.

Through it all, Tommy says climbing is what kept him sane.

Further information

First broadcast in August, 2019.

A documentary about Tommy and Kevin's climb, The Dawn Wall, is available on Netflix.

2025 update: Tommy has published a best-selling memoir, ‘The Push’.

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

This episode of Conversations explores rock climbing, bouldering, California, National Parks, outdoor pursuits, free climbing, sports injuries, documentary, adrenaline sports.

20th Anniversary Collection: Vickie Roach's turbulent life in and out of strife Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Vickie's police record began when she was just 2 years old, and followed her throughout her life. But as an adult she pushed back, challenging a federal law for the rights of prisoners.

When Vickie was given a police record as a toddler, it enabled authorities to place her into the custody of a family she didn't know.

She grew up in western Sydney, under the strict religious rule of her adoptive mother, with whom she clashed time and again.

Vickie left school at 13., and in the same year she met her birth mother for the first time and discovered she was Aboriginal.

Decades of trouble followed, including numerous prison terms.

But Vickie has also known periods of stability, like winning back her son after a long-running custody dispute.

In 2007, Vickie was awarded her master's degree while serving her final prison sentence at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Victoria.

She was also the plaintiff in a ground-breaking legal challenge to the High Court, which returned to prisoners serving less than three years' the right to vote.

Vickie now works as an advocate for the rights of women in prison.

Content warning: this episode contains mentions of violence, suicide and drug use.

Further information

First broadcast in May, 2019.

Vickie appears in ABC TV's You Cant Ask That - Domestic Violence (survivors) episode

Vickie was joint winner of the 2017 Tim McCoy Human Rights Award

Adoption resources and support

Find and Connect - support for former residents of children's homes, orphanages and institutions;

Benevolent Society Australia - post-adoption support;

For forced adoption support you can visit the Government support services website or contact the Forced Adoption Support Service in your state or territory on 1800 21 03 13.

For immediate support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 46 36.

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

This episode of Conversations explores the Stolen Generations, DOCS, child protection, forced adoption, family separation, cultural identity, justice system, Aboriginal incarceration rate, deaths in custody, mental health, origin stories, family dynamics, motherhood, Yuin.

20th Anniversary Collection: Born blind at the right time Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

Law Professor Ron McCallum was a premature baby in the 1940s. He completed his studies by recording people reading his textbooks aloud onto cassettes. Then an early version of text to speech opened up new possibilities for him.

When Ron was born, prospects for blind people to have careers outside sheltered workshops were few.

In the late 1970s enormous change swept into Ron’s life. He fell in love with fellow lawyer, Mary Crock, and they began a family.

Ron became the first totally blind professor of any discipline in Australia with a role at the University of Sydney Law School.

He was also chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and 2011 Senior Australian of the Year.

Further information

First broadcast July 2019.

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

The researcher on this episode of Conversations was Michelle Ransom-Hughes. The Executive Producer is Carmel Rooney.

This episode touches on disability, a career in law, uni, life story, epic life story, premature babies, history and autobiography.

20th Anniversary Collection: Brolga the 'kangaroo mum' Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Aged 17, Chris 'Brolga' Barns was meant to be the 'bird guy' at a new zoo in Broome. A cough in his keeper's house alerted him to a kangaroo joey called Josie, who needed four-hourly feeds and help with the toilet. From then on he was hooked.

Brolga knew early on he wanted to make a living working with animals.

After meeting Josie he began to rescue other joeys left alive in their mothers' pouches after the large animals had been hit by cars.

Word spread about his passion for orphaned joeys, and he started an education centre in an old double-decker bus.

In 2013 the BBC made a documentary about Brolga, Kangaroo Dundee, which became a worldwide hit.

Brolga and his wife Tahnee now run a hospital and rescue centre outside Alice Springs.

Further information

Originally broadcast October 2018.

Read more about Brolga's Kangaroo Sanctuary.

2025 update: since Sarah’s original conversation with Brolga, the mighty Roger has passed away, at the age of 12.

A new Australian movie, Kangaroo, based on Brolga’s life and the sanctuary, is due for release in September.

Standout story – Belinda Terry

Hear Belinda Terry, ‘Nocka' Peoples, Cheryl Thompson, Elizabeth 'Thumper' Clark in a special night of storytelling from Muttaburra.

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/muttaburra-stories-conversations-in-the-shearing-shed/7788918

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Pam O'Brien.

This episode of Conversations touches on kangaroos, wildlife care, Alice Springs, orphaned joeys, kangaroo joeys, epic life stories, origin stories, zoos, roadkill, outback Australia and the outback.

20th Anniversary Collection: Stan Grant on what his father taught him Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

The veteran Wiradjuri journalist spent his first year living in the wreck of a Model T Ford on a NSW mission. He has reported from China and North Korea, covered Nelson Mandela’s release, the death of Princess Diana, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and reported from outside Osama bin Laden’s house after he was killed.

His father was a hard man and an itinerant sawmiller who taught Stan the lessons he would need to survive and thrive as he grew older.

On the surface, Stan seemed disinterested in his studies, but he memorised everything he learned and gathered his knowledge for the future.

The family moved to Canberra when Stan was a teenager and suddenly the world opened up for him.

Further information

Originally broadcast May 2013.

This episode was produced by Michelle Ransom-Hughes and the Executive Producer is Carmel Rooney.

You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-03/richard-fidler-reflects-on-20-years-of-conversations/105495784

This episode of Conversations touches on Indigenous family, Wiradjuri country, tabloid TV, racism, fatherhood, fathers, origin stories, personal stories, epic life stories, family dynamics, First Nations, news reporting and international news and journalism.

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