Benjamin Dreyer has strong ideas about the English language, and how to transform books into the best possible versions of themselves. But he's not a member of the grammar police

Pádraig Ó Tuama survived conversion therapy and exorcism as a young gay man in a church in Ireland, then became a leading peace negotiator and a poet.

Pádraig Ó Tuama grew up in the South of Ireland, and spent a long time not knowing quite where he fit in.

He loved poetry, and prayer and talking to people so he decided to become a Priest.

But a realisation about his sexuality began a struggle with his faith and his identity.

Padraig now lives and works in Belfast, where he has helped many groups of people who see themselves as enemies listen to each other's stories.

He's also a host of the podcast Poetry Unbound.

Further information

Padraig's book is called 'Poetry Unbound'

Listen to the podcast Poetry Unbound

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.

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For Jenny Graves, the genetic history of Australia's unique wildlife holds a key to the future of human evolution.

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There he encountered a vast swarm of millions of monarch butterflies, carpeting the forest floor and tree trunks.

This experience led him to replicate the Herculean migration of this seemingly common butterfly.

He launched his own flight along the thermal air currents which carried him all the way from Mexico to Canada.

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The ABC Sports presenter describes his life at 17, a year dominated by football, girls, beer, and a serial killer stalking his neighbourhood (R)

Toni Jordan grew up working in a TAB and going to the greyhound races. Then she grew up to become a best-selling novelist

Sophie Matterson fell in love with camels at first sniff. After working with them for years, she hatched a plan to walk across the vast Australian continent with five humped companions - Jude, Delilah, Charlie, Clayton and Mac

Dean Laws was in his 50s when doctors told him he had Parkinson's disease. For a time, he was devastated. Then he formed a running crew with his friends called 'The Dean Team', and made a plan to run the Sydney Marathon