The show that took longform radio interviews to the podcasting masses and became a classic: for many years this has been Australia’s most- downloaded homegrown podcast.

Conversations’ success lies in the power of the personal story, as told to a curious host (Richard Fidler) who asks all the things the listener would want to ask, and then more.

Unravelling the life of a person in an hour is a more complex feat than it seems, and the work of the show’s producers is essential. They lay the groundwork with interviews before the on-air interview, and by writing comprehensive briefs for the hosts.

I started with the show as a research intern in 2007, worked as a producer until 2021, and did my most recent stint for the show’s 20th anniversary, in 2025.

Working with talented colleagues on stories of every imaginable hue was absorbing and humbling. It was a multi-year masterclass in telling human stories.

If you don’t know the show, here are some suggested episodes from producers.

It was a pleasure to develop, pilot and deliver a companion podcast for the ABC TV series of the same name.

“Gripping stories told by people who witnessed history first-hand. Hear what it was like to be a police sniper tasked with handling the gunman at the Port Arthur massacre; how it felt to be a teenager seeing The Beatles during their record-breaking 1964 Adelaide visit; and how one man survived being trapped 1km underground for 14 days, after the Beaconsfield mine collapse.”

Given almost complete creative freedom by my EP, I made the most of Kirk Docker’s interview material by crafting an un-narrated series.

On this co-production with Docker Media, creators of the magnificent You Can’t Ask That TV series, I was responsible for story and audio editing, and sound design.

Reported, produced and sound designed two episodes of this narrative storytelling podcast:

Swimming for Joy (about a woman’s attempt to swim an ice mile);

and Lifeline (3 crisis line volunteers tell what it’s like to answer those phone calls).

Swimming for Joy remains among the (now retired) show’s most-downloaded episodes.