Conversations

• Conversations Live podcast extra: Mandy Nolan and Wesley Enoch

  Sarah and Richard give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Conversations Live Tour, Brisbane edition.Writer and comedian, Mandy Nolan and Chair of Creative Australia, Quandamooka man Wesley Enoch were two of the special guests who appeared on stage to share some photos close to their heart, and the stories attached to them.Further informationTo see Mandy and Wesley's photos for yourself, head to the ABC Conversations Facebook page.https://www.facebook.com/abcconvos/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.

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• 20th Anniversary Collection: Mic's way out of the woods

  Deeply ashamed of something he had done, Mic Whitty retreated into the Welsh wilderness until an unexpected goal pulled him out of homelessness and back into the world.Mic had entered the workforce at the tender age of 15, joining the RAAF as an apprentice, before taking on a series of highly paid jobs in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. But feeling stressed out and burnt out, Mic decided to take a simpler job at a youth hostel in the United Kingdom.Mic, however, couldn't financially acclimatise to a simpler way of life. He began gambling on the stock market and then stealing money from his employer to make up for his smaller pay-cheque.Month after month went by, and no one discovered Mic's transgressions, until finally they did.Deeply ashamed, Mic paid off his debts before deciding to go off grid, going from town to town in Wales, sleeping rough.With some help from the local Salvos and then re-discovering a family heirloom, Mic started thinking about re-entering the world again, and he came up with an extraordinary project. Content warning: this episode of Conversations contains discussion about depression and suicidal ideation. Please take care when listening.If you or anyone you know needs help:Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Lifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOut at au.reachout.comMensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Further informationFirst broadcast in March, 2024.2025 update: Mic has now cycled another 12,600 kilometres, visiting more than 350 cemeteries where WW1 or WW2 casualties are buried along the way.You can read more about Mic Whitty's extraordinary project, and keep up to date with his progress at his website.Standout story – Jimmy WebbYou can hear Sarah’s full conversation with Jimmy Webb on the ABC Listen App or wherever you get your podcasts.You can also read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.This episode of Conversations explores homelessness, rough sleeping, unemployment, shame, making amends, gambling, journalling, diary, mental health, men's mental health, World War One, World War Two, family history, veterans, the military, post-war life, family history, military history, travel, cycling, illegal camping, Wales, Salvation Army.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.

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• 20th Anniversary Collection: Tommy Caldwell — born to climb The Dawn Wall

  Tommy Caldwell grew up exploring Yosemite, looking up at El Capitan's punishing 3000ft sheer rock face. After years of training, he was ready to climb it. Tommy is regarded as the world’s best big wall climber.He spent 15 years ascending various routes on El Capitan, the Yosemite National Park mecca for big wall climbers, until he was finally ready to attempt a route christened 'The Dawn Wall'.The Dawn Wall is a 3000-foot ascent up sheer rock on the southeast face of El Capitan.It took Tommy and his partner Kevin Jorgeson 19 days, but in 2015 they became the first to successfully free climb The Dawn Wall.The accomplishment was the culmination of years of endurance, just only on the wall, but also on the ground. As a younger man, Tommy was kidnapped in Kyrgyzstan and he later lost a finger in an accident, which is a particularly devastating loss for a climber. Through it all, Tommy says climbing is what kept him sane.Further informationFirst broadcast in August, 2019.A documentary about Tommy and Kevin's climb, The Dawn Wall, is available on Netflix.2025 update: Tommy has published a best-selling memoir, ‘The Push’.You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.This episode of Conversations explores rock climbing, bouldering, California, National Parks, outdoor pursuits, free climbing, sports injuries, documentary, adrenaline sports.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.

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• 20th Anniversary Collection: Vickie Roach's turbulent life in and out of strife

  Vickie's police record began when she was just 2 years old, and followed her throughout her life. But as an adult she pushed back, challenging a federal law for the rights of prisoners.When Vickie was given a police record as a toddler, it enabled authorities to place her into the custody of a family she didn't know.She grew up in western Sydney, under the strict religious rule of her adoptive mother, with whom she clashed time and again.Vickie left school at 13., and in the same year she met her birth mother for the first time and discovered she was Aboriginal.Decades of trouble followed, including numerous prison terms.But Vickie has also known periods of stability, like winning back her son after a long-running custody dispute.In 2007, Vickie was awarded her master's degree while serving her final prison sentence at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Victoria.She was also the plaintiff in a ground-breaking legal challenge to the High Court, which returned to prisoners serving less than three years' the right to vote.Vickie now works as an advocate for the rights of women in prison.Content warning: this episode contains mentions of violence, suicide and drug use.Further informationFirst broadcast in May, 2019.Vickie appears in ABC TV's You Cant Ask That - Domestic Violence (survivors) episodeVickie was joint winner of the 2017 Tim McCoy Human Rights AwardAdoption resources and supportFind and Connect - support for former residents of children's homes, orphanages and institutions;Benevolent Society Australia - post-adoption support;For forced adoption support you can visit the Government support services website or contact the Forced Adoption Support Service in your state or territory on 1800 21 03 13.For immediate support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 46 36.You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.This episode of Conversations explores the Stolen Generations, DOCS, child protection, forced adoption, family separation, cultural identity, justice system, Aboriginal incarceration rate, deaths in custody, mental health, origin stories, family dynamics, motherhood, Yuin.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.

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• 20th Anniversary Collection: Alan Alda on bringing science to the stage

  Hollywood actor Alan Alda has devoted his life to science, by taking his acting and communication skills off the screen and into the laboratory.Alan grew up in a show business family and spent his childhood touring with a burlesque show run by his parents.He eventually made a name for himself in showbiz, becoming well-known and much-loved for his performances in M.A.S.H. and The West Wing, as well as his roles in many Hollywood films.Alan is also famous for his love of science.He wrote Dear Albert for the stage, based on the love letters of Albert Einstein, which reveal Einstein as a beautifully passionate man.Alan has used his acting for the good of science by teaching communication skills to scientists so they might make their work better known and better understood.Further informationFirst broadcast December 2016.2025 update:  Alan has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but he says he’s managing it well.  Alan is still working occasionally, most recently in the TV remake of his 1981 film ‘The Four Seasons’.You can read all about the Conversations origin story on the ABC News website.This episode of Conversations explores science, science communication, MASH, television, Hollywood, silver screen, acting, show biz families, family business, Vietnam, origin stories, memoir.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.

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