If you’re an avid podcast listener, you’ve likely heard one of Richard Fidler’s Conversations. 

For 20 years he’s been chatting with people from all walks of life, making the Conversations podcast one of the most popular in Australia. 

So as they mark this big 20th birthday, I thought it’d be fun to flip the mic on Richard. Because his story begins long ago, as a founding member of the Doug Anthony Allstars, and host of Race Around the World. 

In 2016 Richard published his first non fiction book Ghost Empire, and since then has written three more (Saga Land, Golden Maze, and The Book of Roads and Kingdoms).

He is a curious soul, a master storyteller, and you’re about to relish in his tales.

• T. Rex – Get It On
• Joy Division – Interzone
• The Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun
• Cocteau Twins – Carolyn’s Fingers
• Big Star – Kanga Roo

Katy Steele has always been surrounded by music. 

Her brothers came up with the Sleepy Jackson and Empire of the Sun, and her dad Rick Steele was a legendary blues guitarist around Perth. 

But Katy made her own mark more than 20 years ago, when she burst out as the songwriter and frontwoman of Little Birdy. With her soaring voice and knack for writing catchy pop songs, their debut album BigBigLove made a huge mark on Australian music. And now the band are reuniting to play that record in full for the first time in years. Good reason to invite her in to Take 5, and trek through some of the musical moments that have helped her break out as a songwriter.

• Odetta – Gallows Pole (Live)
• Peter Gabriel – The Book of Love (Live)
• Adrianne Lenker – Sadness As A Gift
• Rick Steele – Dianella
• Janis Ian – Stars

It's been a big year for Sam Cromack and his band Ball Park Music. A sold out tour, a #1 album, and a step away from their jaunty indie tunes into a more heartfelt, reflective moment. Like Love has solidified their place and one of Australia’s most loved bands.

It got me thinking about other artist's departures; when they shifted the needle on their sound and surprised us all (for the better). Dive into a gloriously nerdy and warm convo with one of Australia's best songwriters, as we explore his favourite departures in song.

• Big Thief - 'Spud Infinity'
• Beck - 'Paper Tiger'
• Julia Jacklin - 'Body'
• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - 'Planet B'
• Radiohead - 'Idioteque'

Isabella 'Izzi' Manfredi was born to be a frontwoman. As lead singer for The Preatures, she brought rock n roll swagger and brilliant pop songwriting to the scene, when they arrived in the 2010’s. 

They called it a day in 2020, but recently decided to reform and celebrate that brilliant debut album Blue Planet Eyes. It was the catalyst to invite Izzi in to Take 5, and hear about the music that had been the foundations and moulded around her ever-evolving existence.

• Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)
• Cat Power - Ruin
• The Angels  - Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (live) 
• Christine Anu - Island Home
• Charli xcx & Bon Iver - I think about it all the time featuring bon iver

Kumi Taguchi is freshly minted author. Long known to us as a journo with ABC News and the current host of Insight on SBS, she’s just put out a beautiful memoir titled The Good Daughter.

Kumi has always had that perfect blend of curiosity and empathy, it’s what makes her a great journo. She’s also got a strong grounding in music, having trained in violin as a child and even winning a scholarship to study music. So when I asked her to Take 5, I knew she'd have stories. Settle in for a beautiful convo about connection with the world, and finding yourself (with one helluva soundtrack).

• Deep Forest - Sweet Lullaby
• Jamiroquai - Too Young To Die
• The Presets - Promises
• L'Impératrice - Agitations Tropicales
• Daft Punk - Beyond

Tim Carroll has got stories. One half of Holy Holy, he’s been adventuring around the world for most of his adult life, and place is key to his story with bandmate Oscar Dawson.

As Holy Holy get ready to wrap it up for a while, I grabbed Tim on the way out of the door, to Take 5. His great sense of adventure and exceptional music taste locked this one in as a highlight, so go for a journey of sound and story with Tim.

• Ennio Morricone - ‘Ave Maria Guarani’
• Sinéad O’Connor - ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’
• Courtney Barnett - ‘Avant Gardener'
• CocoRosie - ‘By Your Side’
• The Knife - ‘Heartbeats’ 

It was 2006 when UK band The Kooks burst onto the scene with their debut record Inside In / Inside Out.

Six albums later, they're returning to the same raw energy that captured their beginnings, and a nod in the album title too.On the day Never/Know comes out, frontman Luke Pritchard joined Zan to Take 5, and celebrate the songs that capture that same energy. From Lykke Li to David Bowie to The Police, this is a joyful chat about inspiration, indie-sleaze, and how music forms the foundations of our shared memories.\

• Bob Dylan - 'Like a Rolling Stone'
• Lykke Li - 'Complaint Department'
• David Bowie - 'Oh! You Pretty Things' 
• The Strokes - 'Under Control'
• The Police - 'Walking On The Moon'

You’re about to hear a side of Antony Green you’ve never heard before. 

The longtime Chief Election Analyst for the ABC is about to hang up his boots, after calling close to 100 elections in his time. He’s the guy we look to as the polling booths close, crunching the numbers, understanding the swings, and with a brain and knowledge bank that would rival the best computers. Antony is an icon, and arguably the most trusted person in Australia.

But who is he behind the numbers? Get ready to find out, as we Take 5 and analyse the man himself across five songs.

• Traffic – 'The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'
• Pretenders – 'Up The Neck'
• Pete Shelley – 'Telephone Operator'
• Simple Minds – 'I Travel'
• D:Ream – 'Things Can Only Get Better'

Back in the early '90s, a little band called Slowdive were making waves in the UK. With wall of sound, they dwelled in the same realm as My Bloody Valentine, a real shoegaze sensibility, and they thrived. Then they hit a wall. As the loud, brash sounds of Britpop rose, the press soured on shoegaze, and the band decided to call it a day in the mid '90s.

In 2013 they made a comeback and a few years later they made their first ever visit to Australia. As Slowdive ready their return for another tour in 2025, I’m reminded of a brilliant convo I had with singer Rachel Goswell on that first trip, when I invited her in to Take 5.  

From her memories as a 7 year old dancing to ABBA, to idolising Siouxsie (and taking her song name as a band moniker), the shoegaze legend shares stories of the '90s British music press, and what is it that inspires her to make music today. 

• ABBA - 'SOS'
• Grace Jones - 'La Vi En Rose'
• Siouxsie & The Banshees - 'Cities In Dust'
• Cocteau Twins - 'Lorelei'
• Joni Mitchell - 'River'

Lucy Dacus is one helluva songwriter. Whether collaborating with boygenius, or crafting solo songs, she’s gathered a dedicated following across the world.

Lucy just recently put out her fourth album Forever is a Feeling, but back in 2019 she was in Australia touring her second Historian, and I swooped at the chance to have her Take 5. She was 23 at the time, but already showing a wisdom that proved she’d have a long songwriting road ahead of her. And she loves a good cover, as you'll hear in this very charming conversation.

• Yo La Tengo - ‘Tom Courtenay’
• Jesse Pearson - ‘One Last Kiss’
• Louis Armstrong - ‘When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)’
• The Cure - ‘Close To Me’
• Sixpence None The Richer - ‘Kiss Me'