Afleveringen
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Psychiatrist Warren Ward treats patients who are severely ill with eating disorders. Understanding the mystery of human nature has driven him since he was a young doctor.
Warren Ward's patients are often critically ill with diseases like anorexia.
Warren says asking someone with anorexia to eat is like asking an arachnophobe to put their hand in a jar full of spiders.
As a psychiatrist, Warren uses psychotherapy to help his patients.
He encourages those with an eating disorder to approach their mental illness as one part of their whole self.
His interest in the mystery of human nature informed his study of philosophy, and led him to examine the love lives of philosophers.
Lovers of Philosophy is published by Ockham Publishing.
This episode of Conversations explores mental illness, bulimia, orthorexia, anorexia, EDs, Eating disorders, disordered eating, how to help a loved one with an eating disorder, psychology, psychiatry, philosophy, romance, heartbreak, love life, relationships, inpatient treatment, mental health hospitals, feeding clinics.
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When writer Hannah Kent first visited Iceland in 2003, she came across a gothic true story about Agnes Magnusdottir, the last woman hanged in Iceland. That story would change her life.
Hannah's arrival to the Nordic island as an exchange student in 2003 was a difficult one.
On her first night in the country, she found herself stranded late at night at Keflavik Airport and desperately homesick.
But within weeks, Iceland had begun to change young Hannah — its dramatic landscapes, extraordinary light and chilling ghost stories embedded themselves in Hannah's psyche.
She became particularly entranced with the haunting story of accused murderer and domestic servant, Agnes Magnusdottir, who became the last person executed in Iceland.
Hannah's later novel, Burial Rites, was inspired by Agnes' story and became a best-seller. But there were many unsolvable mysteries that lingered in her mind years after that book was released.
Hannah returned to Iceland to find answers, and discovered her life was still entwined with Agnes in strange and eerie ways.
Always Home, Always Homesick is published by Pan Macmillan.
This episode of Conversations was recorded live at the 2025 Melbourne Writers Festival. It explores writing, books, Rotary Exchange, high school exchange, ERASMUS, Scandinavia, remote travelling, the northern lights, mountains, ghost stories, horrible histories, psychics, speaking with the dead, creepy coincidences, true stories, death penalty, execution, murder, crime.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Claude Robinson developed a heroin habit as a young man, and spent years in jail. In 2006 he began to turn his life around for good. (CW: descriptions of drug use, addiction, and crime) (R)
Claude Robinson is the manager of Rainbow Lodge, a home in inner Sydney for men just out of prison. Claude knows the place well because nearly 20 years ago he was sent there himself.
Claude was a heroin addict who had taken to crime to pay for his habit and wound up in a minimum security jail. But after he assaulted a prison guard, he ended up in one of Australia's toughest jails - Goulburn Correctional Centre.
While Claude was inside, his father died, and he found out that he had inherited $60,000.
It was a chance to start a new life when he got out of prison. But instead, he and a girlfriend checked into a hotel in Kings Cross and bought some backs of heroin. Within weeks, all of Claude's inheritance was gone.
In 2006, Claude was back in prison when he decided to finally change his story. He got off drugs, went to TAFE, and started working his way back to Rainbow Lodge, where he helps men who have walked a similar path to his own.
Help and support is always available:
The National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline is a free and confidential 24/7 phone service that provides counselling, advice, and information for those struggling with addiction. Call 1800 250 015.
Learn more about Rainbow Lodge
Read about Australia's Justice Reform Initiative's campaign Jailing is Failing
This episode of Conversations discusses drug use, substance abuse, addiction, crime, mental health, toxic masculinity, manhood, fatherhood, parenting, turning your life around, getting clean, rehabilitation, rehab, intervention, AA, NA, sponsors, inheritance, heroin, methadone, ice, meth, illicit substances, incarceration, recidivism.
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From relationships and loneliness, to indecision and burnout, Jemma Sbeg is your guide to navigating your 20s, and looking back on that decade with a new perspective.
When Jemma Sbeg started recording a podcast in the back of her Subaru about her quarter life crisis, she had no idea just how many people she would reach.
But other people her age were desperate for guidance through their 20s - a decade a lot of us romanticise before we get there, and after we leave.
It's a decade of massive growth for humans, when we make big decisions about relationships, careers and our own identities, but Jemma felt like she had no idea HOW to make the right choices.
She had studied psychology at university, and so looked to psychological research papers to help her and her friends navigate attraction, heartbreak, friendship, imposter syndrome, career anxiety, burn out, mental health and living a happy life.
Jemma's biggest lesson is realising while time is finite, we do have so much of it to "figure it out", and chances are you'll still be working many things out in your 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
Person in Progress: A Roadmap to the Psychology of Your 20s is published by Hachette Australia.
Jemma's podcast is called The Psychology of your 20s.
If you liked this episode of Conversations, you might also enjoy listening to Doctor Hilton Koppe on his experience of PTSD, journalist Ros Thomas on her research into loneliness or psychologist Dr Tracy Westerman on psychology in remote Australia.
This episode of Conversations explores psychology, podcasts, research, books, writing, anxiety, TikTok, social media, ADHD, self-diagnosis, growing up, how to survive your 20s, stay at home dads, heartbreak, mortality, death anxiety, social anxiety, university, what to study, how to get over heartbreak, first loves, building a career in media.
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Jeffrey Broadfield has made building his life. It has taken him around the world, and given him a place to belong.
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Winnie Dunn was a teenager when the Chris Lilley character 'Jonah from Tonga' became a national joke and as a Tongan Australian the stereotype made her feel uncomfortable.
Despite being born into a big Tongan family in Western Sydney, Winnie felt conflicted about her heritage growing up.
But over time her understanding of what it means to be Tongan evolved, and at the age of 28, Winnie became the first Tongan Australian to have a novel published.
Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.
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Jamila’s craniopharyngioma had been growing for years, unbeknownst to her. In hindsight, it was her son who gave the first clue, when he stopped breastfeeding overnight at 11 months old.
Today Jamila is an author, a broadcaster and the deputy managing director of Future Women, dedicated to achieving gender equity in Australian workplaces.
A few years back, her life was on a powerful trajectory — she had been the chief of staff for a federal MP, written best-selling books and was a regular guest on TV panel shows.
Then in 2017, she realised something was wrong with her health.
At first she wasn’t worried.
Then, at 31 she was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma — a rare and recurring brain tumour.
When Jamila left the world of the well, her life changed completely, in funny, strange, and harrowing ways.
Jamila's book Broken Brains: For anyone who's been sick or loved someone who was is co-authored with Rosie Waterland and published by Penguin Random House.
This interview was produced by Alice Moldovan. Conversations' EP is Nicola Harrison. The presenter was Richard Fidler.
Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.
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Whale and dolphin researcher, Barry McGovern’s love of sea creatures started in Clare, Ireland, when as a child he met the county’s solitary, friendly dolphin, named for the singer Dusty Springfield.
Barry grew up in a tiny surfing village where he knew all the bird calls off by heart.
His interest in animal science led him to Edinburgh Zoo, where he fed cassowaries and regularly, accidentally spooked a flock of Chilean flamingos.
He assisted on a mammal research trip in Namibia, where he learned just how many people are required to take biopsy sample from a giraffe.
Eventually he settled on whales, and he learned the lesson that while animals can be lots of fun to study, they come with a heavy research load, and not much time spent out in the wild.
Barry has been slapped in the face by a whale’s tail and watched mother humpback whales squirt-feed their calves breast milk like cottage cheese. And he couldn’t be happier.
Today, Barry works at the Pacific Whale Foundation, Australia.
This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. Conversations' EP is Nicola Harrison. Presented by Sarah Kanowski.
Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.
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After a caesarean section on his labour ward went catastrophically wrong, Adam Kay took a radical inventory of his entire life. CW: traumatic childbirth, eating disorders.
Adam was not far off qualifying as an obstetric consultant in the United Kingdom, when he decided he couldn't be a doctor any longer.
He couldn't face ever again experiencing the tragedy of death during childbirth, nor could he understand the blunt response from his boss in the aftermath, and so he quit doctoring altogether.
After a period of grief and depression, Adam reassessed his goals, his dreams and his relationships, completely up-ending the conventional life he had felt backed into.
He turned to the diaries, which he had kept throughout his seven years working in hospitals, and became a stand-up comedian, then a television writer, an acclaimed author, the executive producer of a wildly popular TV series based on Adam's book, and most recently a father.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Conversations contains accounts of traumatic childbirth and of disordered eating, which may distress some listeners.
Help and support is always available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Find out more about the Red Nose counselling services available to parents who have lost a child by calling the Red Nose Bereavement Support Line on 1300 308 307.
If you or someone you know needs help with disordered eating, the Butterfly National Helpline is available on 1800 33 4673.
This episode of Conversations explores studying medicine, the medical system, Medicare, overworked doctors, young doctors, junior doctors, obstetrics and gynaecology, delivering babies, careers, disordered eating, sexuality, marriage, LGBTQI+, fatherhood, surrogacy, mental health, comedy, touring, music, university life, should I study medicine.
This Is Going To Hurt is published by Pan Macmillan.
Undoctored is published by Hachette.
Adam's debut novel, A Particularly Nasty Case, will be published by Hachette in August.
You can stream the television series based on Adam's first book, This Is Going To Hurt, on ABC iView.
Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.
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Briana Blackett was a journalist in Qatar when she realised her baby son Max wasn't responding to his name. When Max and his little brother Freddy were both diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Briana left Doha to begin an entirely different life (R)
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Jonno Seidler with the story of his Dad Ray, a much-loved and successful doctor, who hid his private struggles from the world.
Behind closed doors, Ray Seidler was locked in a herculean fight with his own mental health. His frequent bouts of depression caused him to regularly 'run away' from his own home and family, and eventually led to his suicide.
His son, Jonno Seidler, has written about his father's life, and Jonno's own mental health diagnosis, which he's been determined not to keep secret.
This episode of Conversations focuses on men's mental health, suicide, Ray Seidler, Jonno Seidler, bi polar, family, family history, harm reduction, Seidler family, Jewish faith, grief, loss, male suicide epidemic.
It's a Shame about Ray is published by Allen and Unwin.
Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.
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Erna Walraven was one of the first female zookeepers to work at Sydney's Taronga Zoo in the 1980s. Despite practical jokes from her male colleagues, like animal dung in her gumboots, Erna kept her nerve.
She was born in The Netherlands, to parents who were involved in the Dutch resistance during World War II.
Erna's love of languages took her to Spain, where she lived for many years with her widowed sister and young nephew.
It was there she met a penniless Australian backpacker and fell in love, starting Erna on the path to the rest of her life.
Erna's memoir Hear Me Roar is published by Affirm Press.
This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The executive producer of Conversations is Nicola Harrison. This interview was presented by Sarah Kanowski.
Conversations Live is coming to the stage! Join Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler for an unmissable night of unforgettable stories, behind-the-scenes secrets, and surprise guests. Australia’s most-loved podcast — live, up close, and in the moment. Find out more on the Conversations website.
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Mawunyo Gbogbo was raised as a church-going African Australian girl in the sleepy mining town of Muswellbrook, before she grew up to become a hip-hop journalist and a writer (R)
Mawunyo's parents had met in Ghana, migrating to Australia when she was a baby.
At high school, Mawunyo fell hard for a charismatic boy, and for the first time, she was introduced to hip hop music.
When she was offered a chance to further her budding media career in New York City at the Bible of hip hop, The Source magazine, she grabbed it.
But while her time in New York was thrilling, it also threatened to derail her dreams.
This episode of Conversations explores Biggie, Tupac, hip hop, rappers, Eminem, Kanye, music, addiction, African diaspora, regional NSW, religion, God, faith, love, migrant communities, relationships, first love.
Hip Hop and Hymns is published by Penguin. The book has has been optioned by Tony Briggs, who created and wrote The Sapphires
She is now working on her next book, a novel about a psychiatrist who is more unhinged than his patients.
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Luke Hura has an innate ability to understand and communicate with animals, and for decades he's been training them for film, television and the stage.
You’ve probably seen one of Luke's dogs in action — he trained Bouncer, the labrador from Neighbours, the kelpie from the film Red Dog, and the maremma who starred in Oddball.
Luke has trained cats, chickens and even earned the trust of a big, black pig with tusks, whom he says was a dream to work with.
Training takes patience, discipline, and endless repetition but Luke says building trust and being able to understand body language, energy and emotions is the most important.
This episode of Conversations explores dog training, how to train dogs, Muster Dogs, how to train cats, dog behaviourist, pets, animals, vets, stage dogs, acting, Red Dog, neighbours, the television industry, working with animals.
Luke and his groodles are currently performing in the musical Annie, which is touring Australia this year. You can find out more about the production online.
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In 2007, Jeremy Austin was asked by the Royal Australian Navy to help them identify the remains of an unknown sailor from World War II. Using the best forensic DNA technology, he embarked on a quest to figure out who this man was and to track down his surviving descendants.
This episode of Conversations explores DNA science, world war 2, Australian navy, history, technology, family history, HMAS Sydney, genealogy, unidentified remains
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The Masterchef graduate shares what he learned from his grandmother, who won the lottery in Malaysia when she was a 25-year-old widow with three children to care for.
After Adam's parents met and married, the family emigrated to Australia when Adam was three-years-old.
He and his brother sped through school in Adelaide and Adam went on to become a lawyer.
In 2010, he won the second season of Masterchef with Peter Gilmore's delicate Snow Egg, and he has been travelling the world ever since, spreading love for the five different tastes.
This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The executive producer is Nicola Harrison and it was presented by Richard Fidler.
Watch The Cook Up with Adam Liaw, Adam’s Dateline episode on the new Changi Prison, and Destination Flavour: Singapore all on SBS.
This episode of Conversations focuses on Adam Liaw, cook books, epic life story, family dynamics, Peranakan food, cooking, food, recipes, Malaysia, Singapore, winning the lottery, The Cook Up, Dateline, Masterchef, Changi Prison, reflection, history and Hainanese Chicken rice.
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In 2023, Arnold Dix helped rescue 41 men trapped in a tunnel after it collapsed high in the Himalayas. As an engineer and tunnel expert, he was uniquely placed to assist, but Arnold also used another skill in the high risk operation: he listened to the mountain.The successful rescue made Arnold a hero to millions of people across India and it was in news all over the world, including back home in country Victoria, where the story surprised the community who knew him as a part-time truck driver and flower farmer.Arnold’s life has taken him from geology to law to tunnels, he’s been shot at in Albania, saved lives in Qatar and driven trucks to make ends meet. He also worked in the tunnels of Ground Zero after 9/11.
The episode of Conversations explores tunnels, the Himalayas, rescue, trapped workers, science, geology, law, 9/11, mountains, memoir, hero, engineering, career change.
The Promise is published by Simon and Schuster
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Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis grew up in Sydney, famous for its coastline and beachside existence. But for reasons beyond her control, she didn't learn to swim until she took the plunge as an adult.
Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis has achieved a lot in her young life.
She is a social researcher at Western Sydney University, she has represented Australia at the United Nations, she advices groups like UNESCO and a couple of years ago she was awarded the NSW Premier's Youth Medal.
But for her family, Angelica's greatest achievement is learning to swim as an adult.
Australia has a sense of itself as a nation of swimmers, and presents this image to the world in its tourism campaigns, films and ownership of the pool at the Olympics.
But in reality, a quarter of Australian adults are very weak swimmers or cannot swim at all, including Angelica, who grew up in Western Sydney, the eldest of nine siblings in a big, blended family.
Instead of going to swimming lessons after school, Angelica spent a lot of her time helping to take care of her little sisters and brothers, one of whom lives with severe disabilities.
It wasn't until she was in her mid-20s that Angelica had the time to learn how to swim, so she could finally understand the calming and cooling effects of the water.
Angelica's podcast documenting her quest to learn to swim as an adult is called Sink or Swim and was produced by Impact Studios.
You can stay up to date with what Angelica is up to at her website.
This episode of Conversations explores swimming, royal surf life saving, drowning, learning to swim, beaches, Sydney, Bondi, Western Sydney, Blacktown, Randwick, pools, public pools, climate change, summer, hot summers, carers, family dynamics, divorce, Nigeria, first generation Australians.
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In 2013, Raynor Winn and her husband, Moth lost their beloved farm in Wales, it was where they'd lived for 20 years and raised their children.
In the same week, Moth was diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disease and doctors gave him just two years to live.
Homeless and with their future together rapidly shrinking, Raynor and Moth decided to walk the South West Coast path.
They camped wild in all weathers and often didn't have enough money for food.
But amazingly, Moth's health began to improve.
When they completed the walk, they found themselves in the midst of a whole new chapter.
This episode of Conversations explores adventure, long walking trails, coastal trek, terminal illness, memory, Wales, marriage, writing, memoir, risk taking, Cornwall, partnership, homelessness, south west coast path, travel, wild camping.
The Salt Path and The Wild Silence are published by Penguin.
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Writer and tour guide Simon Tancred on the little-known ANZAC story of how a group of POWs made a daring escape on foot to neutral Switzerland.
Simon Tancred fell in love with Italy as a young man, and set up a job for himself leading hikes and tours across the country, and into the Alps.
So Simon was familiar with the old trails and passes that crisscross the mountains, and which have been used for hundreds of years by shepherds, traders and travellers.
But one day, someone approached him with the unknown story of how a group of Australian prisoners of war from the Second World War escaped from Italy to freedom in neutral Switzerland.
Four mates from Moree evaded the enemy by using these ancient, winding tracks.
They didn't speak Italian, they battled wintry conditions, and never knew if the civilians they encountered along the way would help them or turn them over to the occupying German forces.
Simon was so intrigued by this story, he bought some old maps and set out to follow their journey to freedom, by tracing their steps across the Alps.
This episode of Conversations explores fascism, politics, war, civil war, prisoners of war, unknown stories of WWII, the Anzacs, Anzac Day 2025, Italy, Italian Alps, modern history, books, writing, walking tours in Italy, travel, Mountaineering, Partisans, Nazis, Nazi Germany, neutral Switzerland, World War Two history, religion, Madonna, Mary, Italian Catholicism, where to hike in Italy.
Trails to Freedom is published by Hardie Grant.
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