Conversations

•

Channel • 8 Shows

Relationships

Relationships

Updated daily
Relationships

Relationships

Updated 25/06/2025
Relationships

Relationships

Updated 16/12/2011
Relationships

Relationships

Updated 10 Jun
Relationships

Relationships

Updated 05/12/2014
Relationships

Relationships

Updated 3 days ago
Relationships

Relationships

Updated 12 Jun

06/10/2021

Surviving two volcanoes — Singer Ngaiire's story

When an eruption began in 1994 in Papua New Guinea, the last thing singer-songwriter Ngaiire expected was a second volcano to begin spewing ash. Tuning in to the mystery and majesty of PNG has become a lifelong project (CW: Some listeners may find parts of this conversation upsetting. Please use discretion when listening) Throughout her childhood, singing was something Ngaiire did at church, somewhat begrudgingly, because her dad told her to. The singer-songwriter grew up between Palmerston North in New Zealand and her father's home in Rabaul, a volcanic hot spot on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. As a child, she and her family survived a double volcanic eruption in 1994, and the chain of events that followed pulled Ngaiire to Wenamo, her mother's ancestral home in the Highlands. Amongst the mountains, Ngaiire leaned into quiet spirituality and connected with her ancestors, both living and deceased. Music is a delight and a necessity for Ngaiire, but in the past she tried to separate her Papua New Guinean heritage from her music career in Australia. That changed in 2017 when she made a pilgrimage to her mother's mountain. Further information Some listeners may find parts of this conversation upsetting. Please use discretion when listening. The following songs have been edited for the podcast: Shiver Him 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.

06/10/2021

•

48 min
27/05/2016

Ian Heads with the best story of his sports journalism career

Ian says the story of the Western Division and the Amco Cup is the best football story he's come across in forty years of writing them.

27/05/2016

•

50 min
23/06/2011

Michael Wesley discusses Australia's complacency in a changing world

Broadcast date: Thursday 23 June 2011

23/06/2011

•

51 min
25/02/2016

Rayya Elias: rising up from addiction and life on the streets of New York

How one Syrian-born post-punk hairdressing rocker remade her life

25/02/2016

•

51 min
30/04/2013

Travel writer Brendan Shanahan shares his most disastrous holiday

Broadcast date: Tuesday 30 April 2013

30/04/2013

•

43 min
05/02/2015

Kirsti Abbott on ants: 'tiny things that run the world'

Ants have fascinating ways of communicating and are so connected to each other that scientists think of ant colonies as superorganisms, because they operate as a unified entity.

05/02/2015

•

50 min
05/08/2013

Anne Gallagher's tireless fight to end human trafficking

Broadcast date: Monday 05 August

05/08/2013

•

51 min
10/11/2011

Author Anna Funder shares her love for the stories of Berliners

Broadcast date: Thursday 10 November 2011

10/11/2011

•
20/10/2010

James P Othmer on high-flying advertising, and Greens senator Larissa Waters

Broadcast date: Wednesday 20 October 2010

20/10/2010

•

52 min
04/08/2016

Maxine Beneba Clarke: growing up black in white Australia

Conversations with Richard Fidler draws you deeper into the life story of someone you may, or may no

04/08/2016

•

51 min

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.