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Conversations

Conversations

ABC listen

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. Whether it's an exploration of Australian and American politics, the intricacies of mental health, or the mysteries of ancestry and origin stories, our episodes offer a conversational approach that brings topics to life. We uncover epic tales of war and peace, the complex dynamics of relationships and family, and the profound impact of grief and loss. Follow Conversations for thought-provoking discussions, heartfelt stories, and a deeper understanding of the world around us. Conversations explores the meaning of life, history, relationships, motherhood and fatherhood, love, religion and the origins of human life through a contemporary and conversational Australian lens. From distinctive accounts of crime, mental health, ancestry, cults, grief, family and parenting, to discussions about science, books, art, music, war, spies and economics, Conversations traverses myriad topics. Our interviews focus on pioneers of the natural world, wildlife, oceans, fungi, archaeology, palaeontology and megafauna. Our guests speak about geopolitics, being a refugee and the experience of migration. They come from all walks of life — First Nations, Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander peoples, CALD communities and ancestors of Australia's first fleeters. We explore Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Buddhist, Sikh and Hindu faith traditions, among other beliefs, including atheism. We look at social history as well — close encounters with the ancient world, the Stolen Generations, and adventurers on an explorative odyssey. In a Conversations interview, you will hear personal stories of secrets, lies, adoption, and living with disability, neurodiversity or chronic illness. We traverse a person's life story, full of human interest topics, including redemption, love at first sight, spirituality, poverty, having children, family dynamics and even hidden families. We hear from individuals who have struggled with drug addiction, jail, family violence, political imprisonment, persecution, abuse, depression, anxiety and mental health issues. Conversations also speak to the public figures of Australian and international society — leaders, artists, politicians, authors, sports stars, actors and musicians. A writer, a builder, a neurologist, a Paralympian, an Olympian, an amputee, a historian, a comedian, a funeral director, a bird photographer, an ethicist, a doctor, a spy, a pilot, a choreographer, a firefighter, a bookseller, an astrophysicist, a martial artist, a principal, an oud virtuoso, an ecologist, a carer, a demographer, a chess master, a forensic archaeologist, a biologist, a chef, a surfer, a button shop owner, a costume and set designer, a boxer, a drummer, a conductor, a dog behaviourist, an AFL player, a longevity expert, a barber, a Matilda, and a psychologist have all appeared on our program. Stories make us who we are. Join Conversations for an hour of diverting listening, to transport, touch and uplift you. Our guided storytelling will teach you something new, introduce you to someone extraordinary and take you away to a different place or time in history. After almost 20 years of digging into the lives, stories and worlds of thousands of people, Conversations continues as the ABC's most popular podcast, providing Australians with a social history of our country and paying close attention to the small, personal details that make up a life.

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Best episodes

Top 10 Conversations Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Conversations episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Conversations for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Conversations episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Conversations - Tina Arena — singing it loud
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04/16/21 • 50 min

1 Listener

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Conversations - Tom Tilley: losing my religion
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05/12/22 • 53 min

1 Listener

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Conversations - Esther Freud's unconventional family
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03/08/23 • 51 min

Esther Freud has many famous men in her family, including psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. But it is her mother's story which has left the greatest mark on the writer

1 Listener

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Conversations - Best of 2020 — Joy McKean
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12/11/20 • 55 min

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Conversations - The mystery of Lasseter's Reef
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02/10/21 • 51 min

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Conversations - A life inside the rock 'n' roll circus - Part 2
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02/02/21 • 49 min

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Conversations - The babies of Holnicote House
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03/09/21 • 49 min

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Conversations - Ajay Rane and the gift of the earthenware pot
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10/23/20 • 50 min

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Conversations - David Astle's brain on puzzles
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10/07/20 • 50 min

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Conversations - Best of 2020 — John Doyle
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12/10/20 • 51 min

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FAQ

How many episodes does Conversations have?

Conversations currently has 1185 episodes available.

What topics does Conversations cover?

The podcast is about Podcasts, Relationships and Society & Culture.

What is the most popular episode on Conversations?

The episode title 'Tina Arena — singing it loud' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Conversations?

The average episode length on Conversations is 50 minutes.

How often are episodes of Conversations released?

Episodes of Conversations are typically released every day.

When was the first episode of Conversations?

The first episode of Conversations was released on Oct 14, 2019.

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