Conversations

• Briana, Max and Freddy: love, trains and mouth music

  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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• Encore: breaking the silence around men's mental health

  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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• Learning from the mighty matriarchs of the animal kingdom

  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's life in love, journalism and hip hop

  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 SapphiresShe is now working on her next book, a novel about a psychiatrist who is more unhinged than his patients.

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• Inside the mind of a dog, and a pig named Habib

  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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