Conversations

Melissa Lucashenko grew up on the outskirts of Brisbane, where her Aboriginal mother grew plants and her Russian father built an improbable number of sheds in the backyard. (R)

Melissa worked as a motorcycle detailer, a house painter, a prison advocate, and a game show contestant before finding her way as a writer. 

Her novel, Edenglassie, imagines life in colonial Brisbane in the 1850s. 

In it, she tells the story of the Aboriginal warrior Dundalli who was the last man to be publicly executed in Queensland. 

But Melissa also explores contemporary Brisbane, highlighting what she calls the "double vision" of Aboriginal people.

Edenglassie is published by the University of Queensland Press.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive Producer is Carmel Rooney.

It explores colonial Brisbane, Indigenous history and culture, Russian culture, Edenglassie, karate, prison reform, writing, Aboriginal warrior Dundalli, game show contestant, reality tv, house painter, public execution, 1850s Brisbane, history, mixed race families, growing up mixed race.

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.

Kate Rowe's life has been full of wild adventures and hard living. But when she found sobriety, Kate discovered something big about herself. CW: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening.

Ever since she stepped off the boat at Circular Quay as a 20-something 10-pound Pom, Kate has run fearlessly toward outrageous adventure.

As a young woman Kate travelled around Australia picking tobacco, hitchhiking and sometimes spent her weekends running riot in Kings Cross.

Then in 1974, she tagged along with some random guys she’d met who wanted to walk across the island of Timor. 

From there, Kate ventured into South-East Asia, where she began smuggling bricks of cannabis from Thailand into Nepal.

But everywhere she went, Kate took herself with her, and so all kinds of baggage from her early life came along for the wild ride.

Eventually a cloud lifted, and when Kate found sobriety she realised something big about herself.

Content Warning: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening.

How the F*ck Would I Know is published by Power Writers Publishing Group.

You can find more information about Kate and her writing at her website.

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores trauma, healing, recovery, England, London, disordered eating, eating disorder recovery, substance abuse, addiction, drug trafficking, drug dealing, heroin, opium, alcohol, alcoholism, addiction recovery, therapy, counselling, sexuality, LGBTQI+, queer community, Mardi Gras, 1978, lesbian, women's Lib.

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.

Aaron Tait was 18 when he went to war after September 11. His dad's guidance had set Aaron up with the grit he would need as a military officer, but it took him many years to forgive himself for his role in the war.

Aaron comes from a long line of Navy men, and all through his childhood he was waiting until it was his turn to get stuck into life at sea.

After basic officer training, Aaron moved through the harsh Navy’s Ship’s Divers course.

Then, following September 11 he went to war in the Persian Gulf at just 18.

Aaron's job was incredibly dangerous.

He was boarding and attempting to control illegal Iraqi oil tankers in international waters, and he narrowly avoided death several times.

After his service, Aaron found that his ideas about the Navy had changed, and he set out to rectify what he saw as the terrible part he had played in the war.

This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores Navy diving, Iraq, war on terror, 9/11, pirates, international waters, humanitarian, family love, being a dad, strong dad, broken men, veterans, war veterans, masculinity, toxic masculinity, leaving the military, ADFA, drinking culture, boy dad, travel.

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.

Hostage negotiation isn't at all like what you see in Hollywood blockbusters. There is no lying, no promise-making, not even any names. Vince Hurley has only one task—trying to make a deep, human connection with a complete stranger.

Content Warning: this episode of Conversations contains strong language and descriptions of violent crime.

Vince Hurley is a criminologist at Macquarie University and a passionate advocate for ending violence against women. He brings nearly three decades of policing experience to the job.

For 29 years, Vince was an operational police officer in the outer suburbs of Sydney, investigating domestic homicides, assaults, home invasions and drug trafficking.

In that time, Vince was shot at, stabbed in the hand, and pushed off a building.

But his most challenging work was the shifts he pulled as a hostage negotiator.

Vince worked for 12 hours at a time, trying to literally talk people off the ledge, or to stop them from committing some sort of disastrous violent act.

Hostage negotiation isn't at all like what you see in the cinema.

There is no lying, no promises, not even any names.

All Vince has to go on is trying to make a human connection with someone without knowing anything about them. 

This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores policing, police work, violent crimes, police culture, violence against women, domestic violence, femicide, Lindt siege, hostage negotiation, suicidal ideation, terrorism, murder, retiring, academic, universities, Macquarie University, late career change, Western Sydney, educating teen boys, hidden violence, child abuse, cops, police officer.

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.

Navigator Will Oxley expected the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race to be a challenging one. But when he and his crew met with 12-metre waves and 80km/h winds in Bass Strait, Will knew something was about to go horribly wrong. (R)

Will Oxley learnt the art of celestial navigation in his 20s and he is now one of the world’s leading ocean race navigators.

He has competed in the Sydney to Hobart race many times.

He was navigating during the 1998 race when a freak storm hit off the coast of Eden.

Will’s yacht was up-ended by a giant wave.

He and his crew found themselves trapped upside down for five long minutes, before another wave pounded them back upright, then broke the mast.

He’s also raced around the world 5 times, including the 10 months he spent sailing the wrong way round, against the winds, while skipper to a crew of sailing amateurs.

Since we first spoke to Will he has competed in many more Sydney to Hobart races. In 2025 he sailed in his 21st on SHK Scallywag. 

Will spends most of his time sailing in Europe on a quite radical yacht called Raven. It's semi foiling and 111 feet long. You can see the boat Will describes as a 'very cool yacht' on the Baltic Yachts Facebook page.

This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.

This episode explores the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race, yachting disasters, yacht races gone wrong, dangerous seas, disasters at sea, yachting navigation, sailors, sailing, who goes in the Sydney to Hobart race, 2025 Sydney to Hobart, Bass Strait, crazy brave, adventurers, men who love boats, yachties, sailing race, Raven, radical yacht, foiling, fast yacht, yachting men, men of yachting, very cool yacht, 111 foot yachts.

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

Rafael Bonachela was born in the dying years of Franco’s Spain, into a patriarchal culture that didn’t appreciate little boys who wanted to dance. 

As the eldest of four brothers, his father expected him to be an example of academic achievement and bravado.

This hardline approach slowly drove his father away from the family, though when it came time to say goodbye, Rafael saw an unexpected side of him.

At the age of 17, when the wide world beckoned, Rafael left his home country without a backward glance, grasping with both hands the opportunity to become a professional dancer.

After a last ditch attempt at becoming a choreographer, he received an email from Kylie Minogue. And the rest is history.

Justin Heazlewood fled a complicated early life in Tasmania searching for fame as an artist on the mainland but then moved back to his home town of Burnie, and realised community is where you find it.

For years he imagined his hometown as somewhere he had to leave, especially if he was going to be any kind of artist.

And there were other, more personal reasons that made staying in Burnie complicated.

Justin's Mum has schizophrenia, and growing up he was often forced into the role of being her carer.

It was something he did his best to hide from his friends and other people in his life.

So after school, Justin headed to the mainland and began a life as a comedian and a songwriter.

But a few years ago, he found himself returning to his home town for good. 

This episode of Conversations explores mental health, caring for parents, parents with mental illness, small towns, leaving your hometown, big city life, regional Australia, creatives in regional Australia, mother son relationships, returning home, community, fame, triple j, bedroom philosopher, radio, writing, music, musicians, learning guitar, grandmothers.

Get Up Mum is published by Affirm Press and Justin's new book, Dream Burnie, celebrates the creative humans like him making art far from the big cities, and some of the teachers who recognised the young artists while they were at school.

You can learn more about Justin's book Dream Burnie online.

The Young Carer's Hotline is open Monday-Friday on 1800 422 737

For journalist Kate Halfpenny, moving to a beachside town during Melbourne's lockdowns seemed like the perfect way to unwind and escape her huge mortgage. Then she had to contend with the triple whammy of perimenopause, her husband's alcoholism and distance from family and friends.

For the first time in her life, Kate had an empty house, no job commitments and no city life to distract her.

She was able to indulge daily in her love of boogie boarding and surf-side walks with her dog, Maggie.

One day at the beach, Kate saw her elderly father struggling in the surf.

Kate's husband Chris was in the water next to him, but was acting strangely and couldn’t manage to haul him out of the dangerous water.

That evening, Chris confessed his alcoholism to Kate and the couple faced the inevitable decisions they would have to navigate, together and apart.

Further information

Boogie Wonderland is published by Affirm Press.

This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan.

Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

This episode of Conversations deals with good divorce, Melbourne covid lockdowns, seachange, addiction, alcoholism, supporting an alcoholic, women in media, perimenopause, midlife, being alone, boogie boarding and relationships.

The artist Loribelle Spirovski on her unusual childhood in the Philippines, meeting her father for the first time at 7 years old, and making her way as one of Australia's most exciting young painters.

Loribelle Spirovski grew up in the Philippines, with her mum and her extended Filipino family.

Her Serbian father, whom she had never met, was in Australia, driving taxis and waiting for the visa that would allow him to bring Loribelle and her mum to join him.

Loribelle didn't meet her father until she was 7 years old, and when she saw him for the first time at Manila Airport, she was shocked by how hairy his arms were and the way he smelled just like she did.

Eventually, the family was properly reunited in Sydney, Australia, where Loribelle had to navigate family and cultural ties, where she found love and where she made her way as one of Australia's most exciting young artists.

This episode of Conversations explores painting, creativity, writing, books, love, marriage, Simon Tedeschi, William Barton, the Archibald Prize, art education, art teaching, chronic pain, chronic injury, identity, memoir, family dynamics, origin stories, refugees, Serbia, former Yugoslavia, music, piano, singing, language, mothers, fathers, long-distance relationships.

White Hibiscus is published by Upswell.

You can see some of Loribelle's art at her website and on her Instagram page.

In July, 2025 Loribelle won the People's Choice Award for the 2025 Archibald Prize for a portrait she painted with her fingers of Kalkadunga musician William Barton.

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.

Felicia Djamirze grew up in the criminal underworld, then became a beauty queen. But her life outside the pageant circuit was mired in the world of drugs, bikie gangs and violence.(CW: graphic discussion of domestic violence and crime) 

Felicia Djamirze is a counsellor, an advocate for women's justice, a three-time Miss Australia winner and a convicted drug trafficker.

Felicia grew up surrounded by drug abuse and crime in a rough part of Sydney. Her family was marked by addiction and connections to the criminal underworld.

As she got older, Felicia attracted a lot of attention for her looks, eventually finding the world of beauty pageants, which she thought was her way out.

But behind the scenes, Felicia's life was far from glamorous.

While living with a partner who was in a bikie gang, she survived severe domestic violence. Then, during her next relationship she was caught up in an horrifically violent encounter with the Queensland Police when they burst into her home to arrest her partner for dealing meth.

Felicia admitted her involvement and was convicted for drug trafficking. In the aftermath, she retrained as a counsellor and mental health advocate. 

She now aims to use her experiences to help others find a way out of the justice system and re-enter, unashamedly, into the real world.

Further information

Content warning: this episode of Conversations contains descriptions of domestic violence. 

Help and Support is always available.

If you are experiencing Domestic Violence 1800 Respect is available 24 hours a day on 1800 737 732.

For support with PTSD in Australia, Lifeline (13 11 14) and Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) offer crisis support.

Accessory, written with Erin O'Dwyer, is published by Affirm Press.

This episode of Conversations was produced my Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores crime, conviction history, police brutality, bikies, meth, substance abuse, epic origin stories, family dynamics, relationships, prison, outlaw motorcycle gangs, arms dealing, ice, Russian mafia, Hells Angels, Bandidos, Rebels, Comancheros, Finks, and Mongols.

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.