Conversations

• The secret lives of diplomats: surviving 'bomb season' in Jakarta

  Diplomat Grant Dooley was inside the Australian Embassy building in Indonesia when a bomb went off, killing several people. This was just the beginning of a series of devastating events that Grant had to come to terms with years after moving back home to Australia.In 2004, Grant Dooley and his wife, Kristan, moved to Jakarta with their two young children to start a three-year posting at the Australian Embassy.In September of that year, Grant arrived at the embassy complex for a brief visit. Not long after he entered the building, a bomb went off outside, which partially destroyed the building and killed many people.The Australian Embassy had been the target of an attack plotted by Jemaah Islamiah, a terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda.Little did Grant know that he and his family had arrived in Indonesia in the middle of a horror show of bombings, natural disasters, and geopolitical tensions, which would not end for the next several years.The embassy bombing was followed by the Boxing Day Tsunami, a second Bali bombing, the Garuda plane crash in Yogyakarta and more.Not only was Grant a witness to these events, he was also a first responder to some of them.Further informationBomb Season In Jakarta is published by Affirm Press.This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris; executive producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores terrorism, diplomacy, expats, Bali bombings, Sumatra, earthquake, tsunami, Schapelle Corby, Bali 9, drug smuggling, banged up abroad, how to become a diplomat, the real life of diplomats, PTSD, post traumatic stress, Jemaah Islamiyah, jihadist organisation, al-Qaeda, Paddy's pub, Sari Club, Aceh, John Howard, Alexander Downer, Kevin Rudd, Prabowo Subianto, Megawati Sukarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Joko Widodo, foreign affairs, books, writing, memoir, modern history, Abu Bakar Bashir, 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing, East Timor, South East Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan, war.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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• Conversations Live podcast extra: Mel Buttle

  Sarah and Richard give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of the now complete Conversations Live Tour, Brisbane edition.Comedian, Mel Buttle was one of the special guests who appeared on stage to share some photos close to her heart, and the stories attached to them. Further informationTo see Mel'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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• Encore: Candice Fox—How to raise a crime writer

  As a child, Candice Fox knew her family wasn't what most people would consider normal.  Their Christmas included lunch at Long Bay jail, where her father worked (R).At home, Candice's mother Ocean was busy rescuing lost people, injured native animals, and bringing home odd things from the council clean-up.In one 5-year period, Ocean fostered more than 140 children.  To escape the chaos of home, Candice would immerse herself in her mum's collection of illustrated true crime stories.Then she began writing her own. She grew up to become one of the world's best-selling crime authors.Further informationOriginally broadcast in March, 2024.Candice’s novels High Wire and Fire With Fire are now being adapted for the screen.This episode of Conversations was produced by Nicola Harrison. Executive producer was Carmel Rooney.It explores writing, books, animals, Australian animals, wildlife rescue, conservation, childhood memories, true crime, crime novels, crime writing, foster families, foster children, blended families, how to become an author, books.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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• When Dr Tottman had to run towards her life

  Dr Charlotte Tottman is a clinical psychologist who specialises in supporting cancer patients. Both her parents had died young from different cancers, so Charlotte always joked she would be next. In 2018, it wasn't a joke anymore.While on a beach holiday, Charlotte found a lump in her breast.When she got her own cancer diagnosis, all of Charlotte’s skills as a psychologist went out the window.She was scared, and angry, and determined to keep going rather than letting herself rest.After falling in a heap, Charlotte has found her way back - helped by an ex-husband’s generosity, by her own penchant for swimming only in bikini bottoms and by needing to be there to have deeper conversations with her children as they became adults.Further informationCharlotte's podcast, Upfront About Breast Cancer - What You Don't Know Until You Do, is produced with Breast Cancer Network Australia, and is available to stream at Apple Podcasts.This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores breast cancer, cancer diagnosis, parenting, motherhood, mother-daughter relationships, divorce, finding love again, career change, double mastectomy, body image after cancer, psycho-oncology, helping people with cancer, how to talk to your children about cancer, mindfulness, swimming, mental health, shock, coping with illness, recovering from illness, major surgery, origin story.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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• Life after menopause, divorce and loss—How this mountaineer started all over again

  A few years ago, after a series of crisis after crisis after crisis, Allie Pepper thought she would have to give up high-altitude mountain climbing. This is how she got her groove back.Record-breaking mountaineer, Allie Pepper, is currently in the middle of a project to become the first and fastest woman to climb the world’s 14 tallest mountains – those over 8000m – without the use of oxygen.But just a few years ago, Allie nearly gave up climbing all together after a trifecta of mid-life crises pulled the rug out from under her.Menopause, divorce, and a devastating death completely grounded Allie.But when she got her groove back, Allie headed straight to the mountain. Further informationAllie recently made a documentary called Limitless Above the Clouds, which was filmed across the Himalayas. It will be available to stream worldwide between 20 - 27 September at this link.This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris; executive producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores mid-life crisis, starting new, documentary, film, mountain climbing, Everest, Nepal, spiritual journey, India, Pakistan, travel, badass women, women in middle age, how to start again, separation, marriage, death of a father, self esteem, self worth, failing school, TAFE, alternative career pathways, Klára Kolouchová, Nanga Parbat, origin story, child of divorce, peri-menopause, hidden menopause symptoms, HRT, hormone therapy for menopause, chronic fatigue, depression, mental health, sweats.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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