Rephonic
Artwork for Conversations

Conversations

ABC Australia
Australia
Mental Health
Family Dynamics
Education
Family
World War II
Domestic Violence
Cultural Identity
Comedy
Queensland
Brisbane
Sydney
Henrietta Lacks
Pacific Ocean
Hela Cells
Tanzania
Death
Grief
Democracy
Authoritarianism

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

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Conversations

Latest Episodes

Staff writer at The New Yorker, Patrick Radden Keefe tells the story of Zac Brettler, who inexplicably changed from a charming and hilarious boy into a money- and status-obsessed young man, who mixed with gangsters and shady businessmen.

Patrick's n... more

The philosopher argues that as a culture, we'd be happier and saner if we re-examined our view of love, because our romantic notions can actually work against the relationships we want most. (R)

Alain De Botton's novel from 2016 called The Course of... more

The renowned physician discusses the role of trauma in our lives, showing up as addiction, chronic disease and mental illness, and how recognising his own led to true healing. (R)

Dr Gabor Maté was born in Budapest to a Jewish family, just before Na... more

Diana Nguyen's mother would walk out of her performances at interval in protest of her career, but Diana forged on and in the process healed this mother-daughter relationship. (R)

Diana Nguyen knew she was born for a life on the stage when she disco... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

All In The Mind
All In The MindABC Australia
No Filter
No FilterMamamia Podcasts
What's That Rash?
What's That Rash?ABC Australia

Recent Guests

Lindy Lee
Australian artist and Zen practitioner
Artist
Episode: Lindy Lee on how Zen Buddhism changed her life and art
Peter Goers
Writer and presenter; memoirist
ABC Adelaide
Episode: Encore: My parents died in a plane crash and what came next
George Palmer
Australian judge and composer
NSW Supreme Court; Composer
Episode: The secret obsession of a Supreme Court Justice
Sutapa Mukherjee
Associate professor, sleep specialist; based at Flinders University's Sleep Health Institute; president of the Australasian Sleep Association
Flinders University; Australasian Sleep Association
Episode: Encore: How to sleep well and what can get in the way
Moana Hope
Professional athlete and public figure
Former AFLW player, business owner
Episode: Moana Hope on a life spent caring for others and re-learning how to love
Lucinda Holdforth
Writer and author of Going On and On
Author, Going On and On
Episode: Prolonged old age, the sandwich generation and biohacking—the realities of an aging Australia
Jack Ashby
Assistant Director of the Museum of Zoology, University of Cambridge
Cambridge University Museum of Zoology
Episode: Encore: The misfit mammal that defies biological conventions
Antoun Issa
Journalist and author of Rebirt,h: A Love Story from the Depths of War
Author, Journalist
Episode: Lessons in living, grief and love from the Lebanese Civil War
Colm Toibín
World-renowned writer; guest on the episode
Writer
Episode: Encore: Colm Toibin on his early life and running away to Barcelona, Brooklyn and beyond

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 14.2k ratings
  • Best Aussie podcast

    So grateful for this great Australian production. We need more Aussie stories/content in every corner of media. Richard is the best interviewer we have. Please keep going forever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Knickersisnotadirtyword
    Australia23 days ago
  • My year with the real Rudolf Nureyev, Surviving White Island,

    OMG Dear Richard & Sarah 😊 I’ve loved all the interviews you’ve both done - so interesting with wonderful people telling their fascinating stories of their lives. I also loved Professor Daniel Reynaud telling the story of the life of ‘The Pinching Padre’. And Sandi Toksvig’s bright side. All excellent interviews. The well thought out questions you both ask are incredible. Of course Blue Robinson really made me smile over & over again. Thank you both! Greetings from the Midlands Kwa Zulu Natal ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pippasqeakie
    South Africaa month ago
  • Blinded by bias

    I have listened to Conversations for years and although it has gotten progressively more woke over the last few years, I have mostly still enjoyed it, especially the hosts. Richard and Sarah are great. This episode from the Brisbane writers festival was the widest I’ve ever heard. The guest is so incredibly deranged when it comes to Trump that he obviously can’t even bring himself to fact check his claims and assertions about the President. He made so many false claims that I can’t even begin to... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hermy7
    Australia2 months ago
  • John Howard’s toy poodle epiphany

    Once again I have hugely enjoyed your conversation with John Howard Richard. I smiled a lot but also found myself shedding a tear at times thinking of my own bizarre childhood. I loved that he shared so openly his sad life’s story. And so admired him for picking himself up and finding love and himself in a little dog. Keep strong John and don’t loose what you’ve worked so hard for. Thank you Richard for all your and Sarah’s interesting topics so well conversed with interesting people and topics.... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pippasqeakie
    South Africa3 months ago
  • Just the best

    Varied, interesting guests. Thought provoking. I listen and re listen. As a recent convert I’m loving going through the back catalogue.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elizabeth aya
    United Kingdom3 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.

Encore: How to sleep well and what can get in the way
Q: What can people do to improve sleep quality if they're having trouble falling asleep?
Adopt consistent wind-down rituals, limit screen time before bed, avoid heavy meals close to bedtime, and try targeted strategies like leaving the bed if not asleep after a while, plus consider evidence-based approaches like sleep hygiene and CBT-I tailored to the individual.
Encore: How to sleep well and what can get in the way
Q: What role does REM sleep play in learning and memory?
REM sleep contributes to memory consolidation and emotional processing, and is linked to brain development, so adequate REM is important for learning new skills and coping with emotional experiences.
Prolonged old age, the sandwich generation and biohacking—the realities of an aging Australia
Q: Paint the picture for me first of just how different life expectancy is now compared to the rest of human history.
Life expectancy has risen dramatically since the mid-20th century due to peace, prosperity, and advances in public health and medicine; people now live much longer, but many spend a long period in relatively good health before aging declines set in.
Lessons in living, grief and love from the Lebanese Civil War
Q: What is your earliest memory of your mother's experience during the conflict?
Antoun recalls a vivid moment of recognizing his mother's sorrow when he was eight, which became a touchstone for understanding how war affected individuals and families long before the full scope of the conflict was understood.
Encore: Colm Toibin on his early life and running away to Barcelona, Brooklyn and beyond
Q: What was it like returning to Ireland from Spain in the mid-70s, and how did that influence your writing?
The return exposed me to a more conservative society, yet it also opened up opportunities to write and observe family dynamics more closely, which later fed into Nora Webster and my shift toward longer fiction.

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?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Conversations. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Conversations and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Conversations get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Conversations, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Conversations?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Conversations, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Life Matters - Full program podcast
4. No Filter
5. What's That Rash?

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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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. Lindy Lee
2. Peter Goers
3. George Palmer
4. Sutapa Mukherjee
5. Moana Hope
6. Lucinda Holdforth
7. Jack Ashby
8. Antoun Issa

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days