Conversations

Latest Episodes:

Love, death and walking : writer Ailsa Piper Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

In 2014, Ailsa Piper's husband's unexpected death cast her adrift in a sea of grief. Then bit by bit, life called her back.

Ailsa Piper is a writer and a walker.

She has used walking throughout her life as a meditative salve and a way to reflect on her life.

In 2014 Ailsa's beloved husband Peter died suddenly, while she was interstate for work.

His death cast her adrift in a sea of grief, but bit by bit life called her back.

A few years ago Ailsa had her own life-threatening health scare, and now she sees herself as a lucky woman.

Further information

For Life is published by Allen & Unwin.

Ailsa's first book, the bestselling memoir Sinning Across Spain is published by MUP.

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.

The farm that Carol built Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

On Carol Perry’s communal farm there’s ‘no loneliness, and no mortgages’. It’s a long way from the life her parents expected her to lead, and she got there after an overseas motorbike tour and teaching in a war zone

Mummy bundles, fossils and DNA Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

Kim McKay is the Director and CEO of The Australian Museum, responsible for 22 million objects that tell the history of the world

(Content warning: this episode discusses human remains held in museums and the repatriation process. Indigenous, Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Islander peoples, please listen with care.)

'More than cheesecake' — humanity's shared musical history Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

Like tracing the cultural history of breathing or love, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when, how or why humans started making music. But composer and broadcaster Andrew Ford has uncovered the story of music, from pre-historic times to now

Conversations Gold: The silver medal that changed Laurie Lawrence Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

As a child, the superstar swim coach lived with a chronic lung condition, and had part of a lung removed. In 1956, a huge event held in his family's backyard changed the course of his life (R)

Conversations Gold: Jana Pittman's turning point Aug 07, 2024

Show notes

Jana Pittman became one of Australia's most famous athletes as a young woman. Then at age 30, she found herself at a painful crossroads (R)

Conversations Gold: Paralympian Christie Dawes is super/normal Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

The Tokyo Paralympics were Christie's seventh as a wheelchair racing competitor, but Christie almost gave up marathons after the 2013 Boston Marathon, and the most frightening experience of her life (CW: mention of suicide) (R)

Conversations Gold: The life of Anna Meares Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

Anna's stellar cycling career saw her smash Australian Olympic records and become the World Champion 11 times. Then to the surprise of many, she walked away from cycling for good, returning to the world stage as Australia's Chef de Mission for Paris 2024 (R)

Conversations Gold: Lisa Curry on winning gold and losing Jaimi Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

Swimmer and entrepreneur Lisa Curry's life has been full of highs and lows both in and out of the pool. But it was the death of her daughter, Jaimi, that completely changed her. This is how Lisa fought to get her old self back after her unimaginable loss (R)

Conversations Gold: Patrick Johnson's golden run Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

How a boy who grew up on a fishing trawler became the first man in Australia to run 100 metres in under 10 seconds (R)

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