Conversations

Melina Marchetta grew up in Sydney in a close-knit Sicilian family, but she never wanted to be seen as 'that Italian girl'. Years later, she drew on her story to write an Australian classic (R).
Growing up, Melina lied about the fact she was forbidden to go out on the weekends, and instead told her friends she had to attend lots of weddings.
At 19 years old, she visited Italy for the first time and met her great aunts, still grieving the siblings who had left for Australia decades earlier.
Melina was working in the Commonwealth Bank when she began writing the novel inspired by her family's story.
Looking for Alibrandi was rejected five times before it was published some years later.
Then it became an Australian classic.
Originally broadcast in April 2019.
Melina's latest novel The Place on Dalhousie was published by Penguin in 2019.
And her latest children's book in the What Zola Did series, was published in 2022.
This Conversation was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.
It explores Australian literature, writing, books, memoir, semi-autobiographical, novels, youth literature, teen literature, romance, coming of age, migrant stories, Italian-Australian stories, movie adaptation, Pia Miranda, Kick Gurry, Anthony LaPaglia.
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.

Tracy Drain is Chief Engineer of the Europa Clipper, a NASA spacecraft currently travelling to Jupiter on a journey that will take six years.
Europa is one of Jupiter’s four largest moons, and scientists believe there could be an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust.Having water would make Europa one of the best places to look for signs of life in the solar system.
Tracy Drain has worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab for more than two decades.
She is also a National Geographic Explorer and was in Australia for the World Science Festival in Brisbane.
This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, the executive producer is Nicola Harrison.
It explores NASA, robotic space travel, Jupiter, Jupiter's moons, Europa, The Europa Clipper, mechanical engineering, NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols, Uhura, solar system, mechanical engineering, AI, Mars Reconnaisssance Oribter, Keiper Project, Alien life, Earth-like planets, asteroids, moon landing, the space race, SpaceX, Elon Musk.
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.

Together with his husband, Vinko Anthony runs a matchmaking agency for gay men looking for the type of enduring commitment and love that they found. As part of his role as matchmaker, Vinko shares what he's learnt about love and listening through the ups and downs of his own relationships.
Vinko grew up on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, where he spent a lot of his childhood with his Nonna.
The two of them would walk together for hours in silence, listening deeply to the birds, the waves and the wind.
Then, when they got home and sat down to eat, VInko and his Nonna would listen to each other.
Vinko took these lessons in listening and love very seriously, and he brought them with him when his family migrated to Australia and also into his vocation as a matchmaker.
When Vinko finally got the courage to tell the love of his life a secret he had been hiding for five years, he had to trust that all that love and listening would be gracefully given back to him.
Vinko has written a book about his love story and his matchmaking business. It's called All In: How to Make Love Stick.
Vinko and his husband, Andrea, co-founded a dating agency called Beau Brummell Introductions, for gay men in Australia, the US, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand.
This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
It explores dating, online dating, homosexuality, growing up gay, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Italy, Puglia, travel, STI, living with HIV, falling in love, relationship advice, dating agency, matchmaking, masculinity, affair, love, listening, how to date, finding true love, travel, business, falling in love, family, coming out, mardi gras, love at first sight, building a business with your partner, HIV/Aids, Prep, communicating in relationships, commitment, long-term relationships, how to communicate with your partner, reactivity, how to listen, accepting yourself, how to find love, dating apps, tinder, hinge, bumble, grindr, feeld.
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.

Stephanie Wood was new to online dating when she met a sweet man named Joe. But within weeks, she realised 'farmer' Joe was not who he claimed to be (R).
Stephanie was a successful and well-travelled journalist when she met a sweet man named Joe online.
They spent many romantic weekends away and discussed a future where they would live together in the country.
But after months of his last minute cancellations and no shows, Stephanie finally ended the relationship.
What she discovered next was a shocking tale of deceit and manipulation.
Once she began telling her story, Stephanie realised there were hundreds of other women, and a few men just like her.
Fake is published by Penguin
Since Sarah first spoke with Stephanie in 2019, her story has been turned into an acclaimed TV series starring Asher Keddie.
Stephanie's newsletter Vamp is available on Substack.
This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.
It explores online dating, dating apps, catfishing, the Tinder Swindler, betrayal, deceit, love, relationships, modern dating, grief, dating for women, manipulation, narcissism, is my partner a narcissist, gaslighting, is my partner gaslighting me, ripped off, lies.
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.

Charles Lomu on being privileged to see love in action in his grandparents, how a spiral into grief and anger led him to periodic detention, and how cutting hair today helps him steer young men away from a dark path (R). 
When Charles was born, he was lovingly given to his grandparents, in the Tongan adoption custom of pusiaki.
He lived a gentle, religious life in Tonga, and saw love in action through his grandparents' care.
The family moved to Australia, where Charles grew to be an up-and-coming Rugby League player.
When grief shook his family, Charles turned down a dark path, which ended in periodic detention in jail.
Originally broadcast July 2022.
This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan and the Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.
This episode of Conversations explores masculinity, love, boyhood, manhood, toxic masculinity, mentoring boys, family life, sports, men in sports, grief, trauma, trauma response, manosphere, Louis Theroux, HSTikkyTokky, Waller, Sneako, men for boys to look up to, recidivism, incarceration, criminal justice system, repeat offending, turning your life around, father figures, grandfather.
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.