Program: Conversations

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A man sitting on a stool with hands on thighs looking at the camera

A woman in a black dress stands, smiling in front of a teal background.

Conversations draws you deeper into the life story of someone you may, or may not, have heard about — someone who has seen and done amazing things.

Airs on ABC Local Radio, Monday to Friday at 11am and on ABC Radio National, Monday to Friday at 3pm (repeated at 3am)

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Conversations draws you deeper into the life story of someone you may, or may not, have heard about — someone who has seen and done amazing things.

Airs on ABC Local Radio, Monday to Friday at 11am and on ABC Radio National, Monday to Friday at 3pm (repeated at 3am)

Episodes

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Birtles, Brown and Bean: Warren's madcap re-enactment of a 1927 car adventure

Warren Brown on driving through 80 countries in searing heat and pouring rain in a vintage Bean car, while recreating the 1927 world tour of Australian motorist, Francis Birtles

Published: 2h agoTue 11 Feb 2025 at 12:00amwith Richard Fidler

Duration: 50 minutes 42 seconds

From London to Sydney — off-road in the roaring twenties

In 1927 Australian motoring pioneer Francis Birtles set off on a grand adventure from London to Melbourne, through murderous mountain ranges and blustering blizzards, in a bright red Bean motor car. (R)

Published: YesterdayMon 10 Feb 2025 at 12:00amwith Richard Fidler

Duration: 50 minutes 19 seconds

Encore: The making of Nazeem Hussain

Nazeem Hussain honed his comedy in Melbourne's suburbs in the 1990s. After his father left the family, his fearless mother taught Nazeem how to use humour to get bullies off his back. (R)

Published: FriFri 7 Feb 2025 at 12:00amwith Richard Fidler

Duration: 52 minutes 30 seconds

Drug bazaars, hitmen and hackers — why Eileen went deep into the dark web

Lawyer turned journalist Eileen Ormsby on her journey deeper and deeper into the internet's 'evil twin', where, under the cloak of anonymity, people sell buy and share anything a person is willing to pay for.

Published: ThuThu 6 Feb 2025 at 12:00amwith Richard Fidler

Duration: 50 minutes

The family secret that inspired 'The Teacher's Pet'

Journalist Hedley Thomas grew up knowing that his grandmother Gladys had vanished in the sea off Sydney in the 1950s when she was just 35 years old.

Published: WedWed 5 Feb 2025 at 12:00amwith Sarah Kanowski

Duration: 52 minutes 30 seconds

Lucinda Light on MAFS, living with ADHD, and her search for love

Lucinda Light was running a speed dating company in Byron Bay when she auditioned for 'Married At First Sight'. While on the show, she became a huge hit with fans because of her emotional intelligence and open-hearted soul.

Published: 4 Feb 2025Tue 4 Feb 2025 at 12:00amwith Sarah Kanowski

Duration: 44 minutes

Sex, law, and life on Mars

What would a human settlement on Mars look like? How would humans procreate in space? And what on earth is a 'snuggle tube'? These are all questions Dr Kelly Weinersmith is trying to answer. (R)

Published: 3 Feb 2025Mon 3 Feb 2025 at 12:00amwith Richard Fidler

Duration: 52 minutes 18 seconds

Encore: The Toilet Warrior's origin story

Mark Balla was on a business trip to India when he met two young men on a train. They invited him back to see their home, one of the world's biggest slums. This meeting changed the course of Mark's life. (R)

Published: 31 Jan 2025Fri 31 Jan 2025 at 12:00amwith Sarah Kanowski

Duration: 51 minutes 36 seconds

The spy who kept secrets for the self-made man

Belinda Probert knew her father as an English war hero named Bill. What she didn't know, was that he was born Roy and that his spying did not end when the war did.

Published: 30 Jan 2025Thu 30 Jan 2025 at 12:00amwith Sarah Kanowski

Belinda_Probert_headshot (credit Ed Blak)

Duration: 53 minutes

Dressing drag queens in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

A chance find at age 14 at Flinders Street Station led Tim Chappel to a life of silver lamé, sequins, girdles, and an Oscar.

Published: 29 Jan 2025Wed 29 Jan 2025 at 12:00amwith Sarah Kanowski

A man in a black shirt smiles against a grey background.

Duration: 50 minutes 18 seconds

Highlights

Road Trip Playlist

The road may be long, so here is a series of interviews about adventures and passions, some with a focus on the natural world. This playlist is designed to keep the spirits high as you drive off into your holiday period.

Published: 16 Dec 2024Mon 16 Dec 2024 at 12:31am

Conversations from the Pacific

From the dramatic forests of Fiji, to the striking rivers of Papua New guinea, Conversations takes you into the Pacific to hear remarkable stories from our closest neighbours

The bow of a boat can be seen travelling toward an island in Fiji.

Published: 30 Jun 2023Fri 30 Jun 2023 at 3:36am

The Artist's Way

It's a tough road to success through the arts. What drives our artists and musicians to explore their vulnerabilities so publicly?

Stage light shines on a microphone, blurred and darkened background.

Published: 18 Jan 2023Wed 18 Jan 2023 at 3:20am

Amazing Science

From the depths of the ocean to far-away planets and into the human brain, let these scientific explorers astound you

A satellite in space with Earth in the background.

Published: 18 Jan 2023Wed 18 Jan 2023 at 3:21am

Frequently asked questions

Conversations FAQs

Find out the answers to many questions we are asked regularly.

Published: 3 Apr 2023Mon 3 Apr 2023 at 2:28am

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