Best Conversations With Richard Fidler Podcasts (2025)

1
Making peace and finding laughter in my family's dark past

1h ago

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Reuben Kaye has always known he was going to be a performer and grew up a house that encouraged his love of the limelight. But in the background was the weight of his family history full of complicated characters and stories of cruelty. Reuben's parent both came from Jewish European families who were forced to flee their homes because of World War …

1
Loving and losing three good men—the story of a ballerina called 'Blossom' 52:00

1h ago52:00

52:00

Petal Ashmole Winstanley was just a teenager when she left Perth on her own to sail to London. There, in the swinging 1960s, she began her wild adventure of dance, love and heartbreak. Petal got her first big dancing break in a Christmas pantomime, and then she had a spin as a Go-Go dancer in a Parisian nightclub, before eventually working her way …

1
The conspiracy that brought down the Whitlam Government in the 1975 dismissal 53:25

1d ago53:25

53:25

Editor-at-Large of The Australian, Paul Kelly looks back at the most profound crisis in Australia’s democracy, including the off-the-record information he was given five days before it took place. In 1975 Paul was a young press gallery journalist, working in the cramped old Parliament House, where all it took was a flight of stairs and a few steps …

1
Silverchair’s Ben Gillies on his life as a teenage rock god, and what happened next

2h ago

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When Ben Gillies was 15 he began touring around the world in his band called Silverchair. After the band broke up, Ben had to work through anxiety and addiction to make an entirely new life for himself. Silverchair toured America, supporting the Ramones and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. They played on the roof of the Radio City Music Hall during the …

1
Encore: Meet Ash Barty's mindset coach — Ben Crowe 53:30

1h ago53:30

53:30

How does Ben Crowe get elite athletes to the top of their game? What he asks footballers, surfers and tennis players to do seems counter intuitive, and a lot of the work happens off the field. (R) Ben Crowe is a mindset coach who has worked with elite athletes like surfer Steph Gilmore, tennis superstar Ash Barty, and the Richmond Football Club. Bu…

1
Uncovering the heart of my Nana’s saltwater stories 53:19

7d ago53:19

53:19

Bunurong/Boonwurrung actor and author, Tasma Walton was enjoying her big break on TV show Blue Heelers in the 1990s in Melbourne when a transformative visit from her grandmother launched her in a new direction. Boonwurrung/Bunurong woman, Tasma grew up in windy Geraldton, in Western Australia in the 1970s, hearing stories from her grandmother about…

1
William Dalrymple's own curious history, from the Scottish coast to Mughal Delhi

7d ago

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Historian William Dalrymple had a rarefied childhood on the windswept coast of Scotland. As an adult he fell in love with India, and later discovered his family's own deep ties to the country. Born into the Scottish aristocracy, William followed his three older brothers and left for boarding school at just 8 years old. While still an university Wil…

1
The drama and the grit behind Michelle Payne's ride into Melbourne Cup history

5d ago

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Ten years ago, Michelle Payne became the first woman to win The Melbourne Cup but in the years since she's had to face many challenges, including a life threatening injury and family heartbreak. Fortunately if there is one thing Michelle knows a lot about, it's how to get back up. Michelle Payne grew up on a farm, the youngest of ten kids, in a fam…

151
Encore: The story of a wild, radical feminist socialist lesbian mum, and her son 53:18

7d ago53:18

53:18

Writer, Ianto Ware on growing up in the suburbs of Adelaide in a single-parent, single-child family, when such an experience was rare. (R) Ianto Ware was raised in the suburbs of Adelaide in a house surrounded by a tangled garden of oak trees and vegetables, and furniture foraged from hard rubbish. Aside from the family pets, it was just Ianto and …

201
How Paris helped this aerospace engineer survive anorexia 53:12

8d ago53:12

53:12

Kate Reid inherited her love of Formula 1 from her dad. She put her heart and soul into qualifying for a job with the renowned racing team, Williams, but her dream job turned out very differently to what she expected. Then, a public library turned out to be a bridge to Kate's recovery. Growing up in Melbourne, Kate was an asthmatic child who develo…

201
The strange tale of the artist who stole 3000 butterflies

9d ago

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Walter Marsh with the surreal tale of Colin Wyatt, the ski champion, mountaineer, wartime camouflage expert, artist, and naturalist who committed one of the world's biggest-ever museum heists in the 1940s. In January 1947, by chance, it was found that over 3,000 rare and precious specimens of butterflies had vanished from museums in Sydney, Melbour…

1
Why this humanitarian doctor swapped Byron Bay for a war zone and what happened next 53:00

15d ago53:00

53:00

Katie Treble grew up crying at about how all the king's horses and men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again. It was that compassion that made her the perfect candidate for doctoring during war as an adult. When Dr Katie Treble decided to swap the good vibes and beautiful beaches of Byron Bay for work with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) she kne…

301
Encore: Aaron Fa’Aoso on his mistakes, heartaches, and lucky breaks

14d ago

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Aaron was living on the tip of Cape York when he borrowed his uncle’s dinghy to make it to his first acting audition on nearby Thursday Island. He won the role that day in a TV show called Remote Area Nurse, and many other TV series followed, including the crime dramas The Straits and East West 101. He also presented the Torres Strait Island Cookin…

1
‘Maximalist power queen’ Em Rusciano on the diagnoses that revealed her 52:30

15d ago52:30

52:30

The singer, podcaster, writer and comedian on living big with neurodivergence, and owning her manic, creative energy. Growing up in Melbourne in the 1980s, Em was a serious young athlete, focused on hurdles, when a high kick up-ended her ambitions. She was a creative, energetic child who seemed to always be busier than everyone else. As a young, st…

1
Telling the future and the past through the palm 53:18

16d ago53:18

53:18

From fairground palmistry to the science of fingerprinting, historian Alison Bashford explores the secrets, history and psychology of the hand. Alison was in a London library when she discovered a ginormous palm print of a gorilla, taken two days after it died at London Zoo in the 1930s. She had no idea whatsoever about why someone had made this my…

1
Cakes, Ottolenghi and the Fire Horse child 51:28

17d ago51:28

51:28

Helen Goh's life story began with a complicated childhood — and blossomed into one about culture, cake and the meaning of life. Helen was born in Malaysia in the year of the Fire Horse. This zodiac birth year was a big threat to the Gohs, and her parents had to make a heartbreaking decision that would affect the family for a generation. The Gohs ev…

1
Encore: Wendy Harmer on overcoming her fractured childhood

21d ago

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Wendy Harmer has enjoyed huge success over four decades as a comedian, tv host and as a radio presenter. A long way from her origins in country Victoria, where she was born with a facial disfigurement, into a struggling family. When her mother left, Wendy often had to look after her young siblings. After her talent for writing was spotted by a lect…

1
Why these prisoners of war wished they never escaped 'from the bloody train' 46:42

22d ago46:42

46:42

Historian and bookseller Edmund Goldrick on the hair-raising, forgotten tale of the escaped Australian prisoners of war who stumbled into another, hidden genocide, and tried to stop it. Early in the World War Two, Australian soldiers who had been captured by the Germans escaped by leaping from a moving train. They found themselves in unfamiliar ter…

1
QAnon, 15-minute cities and sovereign citizens: Plunging into the world of conspiracy theories 52:06

23d ago52:06

52:06

Journalist Ariel Bogle takes us inside the rallies, homes, courtrooms, secret chat rooms and $2000 Byron Bay luxury retreats where Australia’s conspiracy theories spread. Ariel has been investigating conspiracy theories and those who follow them for her new book. When things feel wrong and unfair, sometimes people look for answers in some of the mo…

1
The Hollywood insider and the murder that changed his famous family 48:11

24d ago48:11

48:11

Griffin Dunne's acting career was just taking off when his sister was brutally attacked by an ex-boyfriend, and the outcome of the infamous murder trial that followed was devastating for his family. As a child his parents threw legendary parties, including one where Sean Connery saved him from drowning in the family pool in Beverly Hills and when h…

1
Encore: Ben Lee, the chutzpah mystic, Bondi rock prodigy, Noise Addict 51:42

28d ago51:42

51:42

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.…

1
How a heroine of Singapore survived jail and torture in WWII 51:31

1M ago51:31

51:31

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 o…

1
The unlikely outback publican of the 'Taj Mahal of the Warrego’ 53:00

1M ago53:00

53:00

By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Journeying to the Hadal Zone in a two-man submarine 51:42

1M ago51:42

51:42

By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Remembering Dr Jane Goodall's science and her humanity 49:25

1M ago49:25

49:25

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 wen…

1
Why you should empower your children to know their human rights 52:05

1M ago52:05

52:05

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 …

1
The Wiggles, Red Nose Day and baby Bernadette 52:00

1M ago52:00

52:00

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 alte…

1
When my parachute failed: How I survived a fall from 15,000 feet 52:30

1M ago52:30

52:30

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 m…

1
Encore: Psychotherapist Philippa Perry says yes to feelings 52:54

1M ago52:54

52:54

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 cros…

1
What caring for the dying taught Bronnie Ware about living 51:06

1M ago51:06

51:06

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 help…

1
My father Bryce Courtenay: the charming, charismatic, compulsive liar 52:00

1M ago52:00

52:00

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 …

1
How this journalist took on a war criminal and won 53:00

2M ago53:00

53:00

In 2017, journalist Nick McKenzie heard rumours of executions and cover-ups inside Australia’s most elite military unit. For the next eight years, Nick waged an epic battle for the truth to be acknowledged about Ben Roberts-Smith VC. Along with his colleague Chris Masters, Nick began an investigation which hinged on Australia’s most famous, and mos…

1
Encore: Paralympian Christie Dawes is super/normal 50:27

2M ago50:27

50:27

Christie took up wheelchair racing as a child as part of her rehab after a car crash left her with paraplegia. Sometimes dangerous and always thrilling, the sport helped to restore her sense of self and Christie went on to compete in seven Paralympic Games. But she almost gave up one of her events, the marathon, after a terrifying experience in Bos…

1
How I went from being a pregnant, homeless teenager to running a BHP mining merger 52:19

2M ago52:19

52:19

Claire Parkinson is the daughter of a long-distance lorry driver and her first job was cleaning the urinals at her local Suffolk factory. A stint as a prison officer set her up with stability and responsibility, then she was assigned to protect a notorious murderer. Content warning: this episode contains strong language. As a child, Claire was the …

1
265 days alone at sea — the young boat builder who rowed across the Pacific 52:16

2M ago52:16

52:16

Tom Robinson was a 14-year-old living in the Brisbane suburbs when he made a promise to himself to become the youngest person ever to row across the Pacific Ocean. Nine years later Tom set off from Peru bound for Australia without a support crew and limited communication. Tom navigated by the stars, made eye contact with a shark and rowed up to 15 …

1
The secret lives of diplomats: surviving 'bomb season' in Jakarta 51:00

2M ago51:00

51:00

Diplomat Grant Dooley was inside the Australian Embassy building in Indonesia when a bomb went off, killing several people. This was just the beginning of a series of devastating events that Grant had to come to terms with years after moving back home to Australia. In 2004, Grant Dooley and his wife, Kristan, moved to Jakarta with their two young c…

1
Conversations Live podcast extra: Mel Buttle 13:13

2M ago13:13

13:13

Sarah and Richard give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of the now complete Conversations Live Tour, Brisbane edition. Comedian, Mel Buttle was one of the special guests who appeared on stage to share some photos close to her heart, and the stories attached to them. Further information To see Mel's photos for yourself, head to the ABC Conversatio…

1
Encore: Candice Fox—How to raise a crime writer 52:05

2M ago52:05

52:05

As a child, Candice Fox knew her family wasn't what most people would consider normal. Their Christmas included lunch at Long Bay jail, where her father worked (R). At home, Candice's mother Ocean was busy rescuing lost people, injured native animals, and bringing home odd things from the council clean-up. In one 5-year period, Ocean fostered more …

1
When Dr Tottman had to run towards her life 51:48

2M ago51:48

51:48

Dr Charlotte Tottman is a clinical psychologist who specialises in supporting cancer patients. Both her parents had died young from different cancers, so Charlotte always joked she would be next. In 2018, it wasn't a joke anymore. While on a beach holiday, Charlotte found a lump in her breast. When she got her own cancer diagnosis, all of Charlotte…

1
Life after menopause, divorce and loss—How this mountaineer started all over again 52:54

2M ago52:54

52:54

A few years ago, after a series of crisis after crisis after crisis, Allie Pepper thought she would have to give up high-altitude mountain climbing. This is how she got her groove back. Record-breaking mountaineer, Allie Pepper, is currently in the middle of a project to become the first and fastest woman to climb the world’s 14 tallest mountains –…

1
Why Dr Ranjana Srivastava tells the whole truth about cancer 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

Doctors often use euphemisms to dance around the 'C' word. But for oncologist Dr Ranjana Srivastava, how you talk to someone with cancer goes beyond "shadows, lumps and lesions". It's all about compassion and clarity, even when honesty is difficult. Ranjana Srivastava was a young doctor in regional Australia, accompanying her consultant on his late…

1
Encore: Danny Estrin's Eurovision glory and the bittersweet aftermath 52:13

2M ago52:13

52:13

Voyager frontman Danny Estrin on his unconventional path from heavy metal to law and on to the Eurovision grand final (R). Danny Estrin is one of the few Australians who knows what it’s like to perform at Eurovision. As frontman for the progressive synth metal band, Voyager, Danny commanded the stage in the 2023 competition, wind machine and all. H…

1
Kathleen Folbigg tells the story of her fight for freedom 53:12

2M ago53:12

53:12

Kathleen Folbigg was locked up in prison for decades, wrongly convicted of the deaths of her four children. For years, her childhood friend Tracy was the only person who believed in her innocence. Now they are telling the story of their herculean fight to overturn Kathleen's conviction. (CW: loss of children, descriptions of life in prison) In 2003…

1
How Alan 'the shit magnet' Playford helped revolutionise Australia's ambulance services 46:30

2M ago46:30

46:30

When you call for an ambulance these days, chances are the officers inside will save a life. But 40 years ago, 80 per cent of Alan Playford's passengers would either die on the way to the hospital, or on its doorstep. This is how he, and his colleagues, changed the face of paramedicine for the better. When Alan Playford first joined the New South W…

1
Why I wrote a musical for my cheeky, charismatic, Persian mum 47:12

2M ago47:12

47:12

Ten years ago, Sydney-based artist HOSSEI took a step back from the art world to care for his sick mother. The more time they spent together, the more inspired HOSSEI became to create something especially for, about, and starring his mum. HOSSEI is an artist with a flair for colour, quirk and unbridled joy. But growing up the only son of a Persian-…

1
20th Anniversary Collection: Alan Alda on bringing science to acting 52:00

2M ago52:00

52:00

Hollywood actor Alan Alda has devoted his life to science, by taking his acting and communication skills off the screen and into the laboratory. Alan grew up in a show business family and spent his childhood touring with a burlesque show run by his parents. He eventually made a name for himself in showbiz, becoming well-known and much-loved for his…

1
20th Anniversary Collection: The male midwife working in Arnhem Land 5:20

2M ago5:20

5:20

Growing up south of Sydney as one of six boys, midwifery wasn't the occupation Christian Wright expected for himself. At the age of nine, he experienced a vision that gave him a sense of his future in a life of service. As a qualified midwife, Christian spent time in the tiny town of Nhulunbuy, right on the tip of the Northern Territory. He worked …

1
20th Anniversary Collection: Writing hit songs for Blondie, Tina Turner and Suzi Quatro 36:25

2M ago36:25

36:25

Music was always in Mike Chapman’s blood. As a boy, he collected bottles at the Brisbane showgrounds and traded them for money, which he saved to buy his first guitar. In his career he has penned electrifying numbers for The Sweet, The Knack and Pat Benatar. In the history of '70s and '80s rock music, he is one of the least known, but most influent…

1
20th Anniversary Collection: Surviving PTSD as an Iraq War correspondent 51:13

2M ago51:13

51:13

Michael Ware witnessed some of the most violent battles in Baghdad; and was kidnapped three times. He was one of the few Western journalists to live full-time in Iraq during the war, embedded with U.S. forces, insurgents, and terrorists. Leaving the war zone and resettling in Brisbane, Michael has had to 'consciously attempt to reclaim his life'. F…

1
20th Anniversary Collection: A Tanzanian love story 52:06

2M ago52:06

52:06

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…

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Conversations With Richard Fidler Podcasts

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