Conversations

Would you want to live for longer? Forever? Have your mind preserved and uploaded into something non-human? And is it even possible? Neuroscientist Dr Ariel Zeleznikow explores challenging ideas about life and death.From adding a few decades onto a life span, to suspending the aging process altogether, and more radically, uploading a preserved brain and consciousness into an entirely different physical structure, Ariel's research is at the cutting edge of neuroscience.These seem like strange ideas, scientifically and morally, but Ariel says that with the advent of new techniques of brain preservation and the recent successful attempts at mapping consciousness, we could be looking at drastically longer lives in the future.This episode of Conversations explores weird science, epic stories, brain preservation, the aging process, how to stop ageing, getting older, brains, minds, souls, humanity, morality, lifespan, cancer, brain disease, Walt Disney, cryogenic freezing, genomes, biology, neurology, philosophy, ethics.The Future Loves You: How and Why We Should Abolish Death is published by Penguin.

Gold Coast lawyer Chris Nyst on his 45 years in criminal law, defending career criminals, going head to head with corrupt police, heroin addicts and a postcard bandit (R)When Chris Nyst finished studying law in the mid 1970s, he moved to a town by the beach to begin his life as a lawyer, not because it was a glitzy and glamorous city back then, but because he wanted to surf.But his nearly five decades as a criminal lawyer on the Gold Coast turned out to be a wild ride through crime, corruption, and shady characters.Chris has used some of the most dramatic chapters in his working life as inspiration for his crime fiction and for the film Getting Square.This episode of Conversations explores drug crime, surf culture, addiction, substance abuse, the justice system, the Fitzgerald Inquiry, the Fitzgerald Report, Tony Fitzgerald, Queensland corruption, cops, petty crime, bank robbing, robbery, murder, Australian crime, Brenden Abbott, career criminals.Millen is published by Angus and Robertson.

Durkhanai Ayubi and her family keep alive the stories and flavours they carried to Australia from Afghanistan, in the dining room of their 'accidental' and thriving restaurant (R)Durkhanai was two years old when she and her family came to Australia from Afghanistan.She grew up with stories of the old country from her parents, but her most powerful sensory connection to Afghanistan developed in the kitchen of her mother, Farida.Both her parents had other professions in their homeland, but in 2009, sensing an opportunity to share their culture's rich tradition of hospitality, they opened a restaurant.They named it Parwana, meaning butterfly, and serve traditional Afghan food cooked by Farida.This episode of Conversations explores migration, multiculturalism, cooking, food, history, the Silk Road, trade, refugee, war, civil war, family, parenthood, multicultural Australia, origin stories, epic journeys.Parwana: Stories and Recipes From an Afghan Kitchen (by Durkhanai Ayubi with recipes by Farida Ayubi) is published by Murdoch Books.

Writer Geraldine Brooks on love, grief and letting go after her husband died in a shocking and unexpected way.In 2019, Australian writer Geraldine Brooks was forced into a world of practicalities when her beloved husband, Tony, collapsed on the street in the United States and died.She had to immediately manage finances and family life, organise a funeral and work out what had happened for Tony to so suddenly and unexpectedly die.As time went by, Geraldine realised she had never let herself properly grieve his loss and the loss of their imagined future together.So she rented a shack on Flinders Island in the Bass Strait to face what had happened, to reflect on their big, itinerant life together, and to finally feel peace again.This episode of Conversations explores grief, grieving a loved one, death, how to cope with an unexpected death, marriage, death of a spouse, letting go, origin stories, love stories, relationships, writing, books, America, Australia, politics, journalism, war correspondence, Syria, Israel, Iran, Palestine.Memorial Days is published by Penguin Random House.

It took a catastrophic car accident for the singer and actress to leave a decorated career in architecture and focus on her artistic ambitions, including a tribute show to her friends Sinead O'Connor, and Shane MacGowan of The Pogues.Irish-French singer and performer Camille O’Sullivan grew up in County Cork, with her Irish father and French mother.Although she sang throughout her youth, she was persuaded to become an architect and went on to win awards for her work.But after she nearly lost her life in a harrowing car crash, she decided she had to be honest with herself and become the singer she always wanted to be. Camille has brought her unique voice to the songs of Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, Nick Cave and Radiohead.In her newest show, she’s honouring two late Irish singers who were her friends: Sinead O’Connor and Shane MacGowan from The Pogues. This episode of Conversations touches on epic life stories, origin stories, Ireland, Irish singing, Jacques Brel, friendship, songwriting, poetry, and performing.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, singers, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.

Lindsey Fidler’s quest to find her biological father started with jazz and an American Air Force Base. It ended with a trip to the U.S. through a disastrous free flights promotion run by the British division of Hoover Vacuums.Sociologist Lindsey Fidler’s parents met and married in the 1960s in East Anglia, United Kingdom.They would go to jazz clubs and socialise with the men from the American Air Force base nearby.Lindsey’s father was known as The Typewriter King because he could fix any typewriter in the area.He had contracts to repair machines on the nearby base, and even in London, where he was responsible for some of the Royal typewriters.This was the world Lindsey knew — the one she was born into. However, she was always separated from it somehow.Adults behaved strangely around her, and she felt she didn’t fit in.She was 22 when her parents sat her down and told her why.This episode of Conversations touches on biological fathers, family secrets, secrets we keep, epic life stories, belonging, identity, race, infidelity, siblings, affairs, being mixed race, blended families, biological parents, step parents, sociology, finding dad, personal stories, origin stories, typewriters, jazz, U.S. military, motherhood and self.

Join Paul Livingston, a musician known for his comedic alter-ego, Flacco, and Nadia Madhuri, a counselor and author specializing in maternal mental health. They delve into the healing power of humor and how bell ringing provides comfort through life's toughest moments. Paul shares his transformative experiences as a hospital volunteer, capturing poignant life stories of those nearing the end, while Nadia reflects on her journey into motherhood and her cultural roots. Their conversation weaves comedy, caregiving, and the importance of heritage.

In this insightful discussion, Dr. Gabor Maté, a renowned physician and expert on trauma, delves into how early experiences shape our lives. He explores the profound effects of childhood trauma on addiction and chronic illness, using his own journey as a testament to healing. Maté emphasizes the connection between emotional well-being and physical health, challenging conventional thought. He advocates for compassion and understanding in mental health treatment and highlights how play can facilitate personal growth and healing.

Nadia Mahjouri, a Moroccan-Australian author and maternal mental health counselor, shares her transformative journey of discovering her father's identity while embracing motherhood. She explores the concept of matrescence and how it reshaped her sense of self. With a blend of cultural heritage and personal storytelling, Nadia discusses the poignant moments of searching for family in Marrakech and the emotional challenges faced after becoming a mother. Her experiences highlight the beauty of family bonds and the significance of one’s roots.

Gus Worland, TV and radio host known for his heartfelt engagement with mental health, shares his journey of grief after losing two father figures. He examines what it means to be a strong man in a society that often shuns vulnerability. Gus discusses his candid radio moment that sparked a national conversation on masculinity and suicide prevention. The podcast also touches on fatherhood, the impact of loss, and the need for emotional openness, highlighting his efforts to redefine masculinity through the Gotcha4Life Foundation.