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Artwork for Conversations

Conversations

ABC Australia
Australia
Mental Health
Family
Sydney
Domestic Violence
World War II
Cultural Identity
Grief
Democracy
Authoritarianism
Borneo
Summer
Pacific Ocean
Education
Melbourne
Alcoholism
United States
Happiness
Trauma
Brisbane

Conversations draws you deeper into the life story of someone you may have heard about, but never met. Journey into their world, joining them on epic adventures to unfamiliar places, back in time to wild moments of history, and into their deepest memories, to be moved by personal stories of resilience and redemption. Hosted by Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski, Conversations is the ABC's most popu... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes2900Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RelationshipsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Conversations

Latest Episodes

Former Detective Sergeant, Deb Wallace on policing the heroin hotspot of Cabramatta in the 1990s and how Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' gave her new ideas for clamping down on illegal gang activity.

When Deb joined the NSW Police Force in 1983, there we... more

Mark Woodland is an unexpected CEO — he started his career in the Army as a tribute to his late brother, then went on to revolutionise his mum's paper-based childcare company.

As a young man Mark Woodland was at a loss with what to do with his life.... more

Mary Li was a star ballerina when she fell in love with her dance partner Li Cunxin. When their daughter Sophie was born profoundly deaf, Mary walked away from dance for many years.

Mary says she was the least likely girl to grow up to be a ballerin... more

After a catastrophic car crash in the parking lot of her hospital, Dr Olivia Ong became a paraplegic. But her obsession with learning how to walk again was stronger than her incomplete spinal cord injury.

When Olivia Ong was 28 years old, she had th... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Deb Wallace
Former Detective Sergeant
New South Wales Police Force
Episode: Encore: Catching killers and breaking up bikie gangs
Mark Woodland
Australian entrepreneur and former Army personnel
Founder of Kismet, former Army officer
Episode: Helping other people became my business success story
Mary McKendry
Former principal dancer with major companies; life story focus of episode
former dancer; Li Xunxing's partner (through translation of life story)
Episode: Encore: Falling in love with 'Mao's Last Dancer'
Olivia Ong
Rehab physician and patient who inspired her own memoir
Rehab Medicine; Pain Medicine
Episode: The doctor who learnt to walk again, using exercise
Lynne Shori
Co-founder of Wantaim PNG, a grassroots charity
Wantaim PNG
Episode: Finding my mother alive and becoming invincible
Steve Biddulph
Psychologist and parent educator
Self-employed author and educator
Episode: Encore: A parenting educator on making sense of his own childhood
Michael Dulaney
Environmental journalist, author of Sentinels: When Diseases Spread Between Animals and Humans
Author, Environmental journalism
Episode: Zoonoses — the diseases that jump from animals to people
Colleen Gwynne
Former NT Chief Investigator on Falconio case and NT Children's Commissioner
Northern Territory Police, Office of the Children's Commissioner
Episode: Encore: The cop who stared down Peter Falconio's outback killer
Nikki Goldstein
Author of Conversations with My Rabbi
Book project with Rabbi Eli Schlanger
Episode: What seven ancient traditions can teach us all about living a good life today

Hosts

Sarah Kanowski
Co-host of Conversations
Richard Fidler
Host of Conversations

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 14.3k ratings
  • Beverly Wang really needs some training

    I loved her in Download This, but her conversation episodes are so awkward and lack warmth. The guests are left hanging and it’s like she’s reading a list of questions to stead of actually interacting in a meaningful way. I hope she has the chance to improve, I do like her work

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    MaggieeeeeTeeeee
    Australiaa month ago
  • Quit!

    No way ur better then mama Mia out loud sooo um send some bad eps

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    I rilly don’t care 🥱🖤
    Australia2 months ago
  • Richard

    Richard has a way with people, he is warm and empathetic. It is clear he has done his background work before he speaks to people. He is a pleasure to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Whets1974
    Australia2 months ago
  • So much random knowledge to gain

    I love these amazing people & their stories/knowledge. Highlight of my week listening to one of the conversations:)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bellasie
    Australia3 months ago
  • One of my favourites

    This is one of my favourite podcasts. Love LOVE Richard and Sarah. Such curious, thoughtful interviewers, and the guests are always unexpected and interesting. I also find the voices so soothing. Thank you for continuing to create this gift!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rememberzelight
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are varied and cover a wide range of topics, keeping the content fresh.
The show is seen as a trusted source of Australian storytelling with global relevance.
Audio quality can occasionally be uneven, but the interviewing remains strong.
Listeners appreciate the depth and humanity of conversations with both well-known and lesser-known guests.
Hosts are praised for insightful, thoughtful interviews and strong storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The doctor who learnt to walk again, using exercise
Q: What role did family and relationships play in your recovery and return to work?
Her husband John provided support and shared responsibilities, and relationships with mentors and colleagues—like Dr. Susan Liu and Dr. Harry Eman—helped normalize pain management, rehabilitation, and the possibility of returning to medicine.
The doctor who learnt to walk again, using exercise
Q: How did the rehab approach in Australia differ from Project Walk in the United States?
Australian care was very biomedical and often limited by patient agency, whereas Project Walk emphasized patient autonomy, intensive training, and targeted therapies that allowed Olivia to pursue walking with structured support and goal-driven progress.
The doctor who learnt to walk again, using exercise
Q: What happened to you, Olivia, and how did it unfold medically after the accident?
Olivia describes a high-speed vehicle impact leading to a spinal cord injury at L1–L2, urgent surgery, significant blood loss, and a period of survival-focused recovery before entering rehab where the prognosis felt uncertain and the team was cautious about walking again.
Growing the goodness of the world—Hannah Moloney on why we garden
Q: How did Gardening Australia enter your life?
Hannah describes being invited to film in her garden, then doing a guest stint, and eventually becoming a regular presenter role.
The doctor, the near-death experience, and the saint-in-waiting
Q: I mentioned near-death experience. What was going on in your life when you went through that?
She describes a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, emergency surgery, and a transformative near-death experience that left her with a lasting sense of déjà vu and an overwhelming sense of awe and blessing, which redirected her career and life priorities.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Conversations

What is Conversations about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Long-form, narrative-driven interviews cover a broad swath of human experience, spanning art, history, science, sport, and personal resilience. Conversations centers on intimate life stories, creative journeys, and the real-world implications of big ideas, often blending memoir, scholarship, and cultural critique. Episodes frequently feature notable Australian and international guests, with hosts guiding heartfelt conversations that emphasize curiosity, empathy, and human relevance. A standout trait is the show's ability to surface unexpected personal angles—whether a judge who secretly writes music, a nurse-turned-filmmaker, or artists exploring identity—making it a compelling pick for listeners who enjoy thoughtful storytelling and cross-... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Conversations?

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How many listeners does Conversations get?

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What are the audience demographics for Conversations?

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How many subscribers and views does Conversations have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Conversations has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Conversations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Conversations:

1. All In The Mind
2. No One Saw It Coming
3. No Filter
4. Life Matters - Full program podcast
5. Chat 10 Looks 3

How many episodes of Conversations are there?

Conversations launched 21 years ago and published 2900 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Conversations?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Conversations?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Conversations from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Conversations?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Conversations. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Conversations?

Recent guests on Conversations include:

1. Deb Wallace
2. Mark Woodland
3. Mary McKendry
4. Olivia Ong
5. Lynne Shori
6. Steve Biddulph
7. Michael Dulaney
8. Colleen Gwynne

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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