Conversations

Rebecca Huntley, a social researcher and author, is joined by beloved TV presenter Julia Zemiro and award-winning journalist Rick Morton for a lively storytelling event. They share unforgettable tales of mishaps and misadventures. Huntley recounts her chaotic first drive, while Morton hilariously reflects on a wild run-in involving his brother's friends. Zemiro reveals her mortifying professional experience and the frustration of perfect comebacks arriving too late. Together, they explore the humor in human failure and the beauty of resilience.

Josie McSkimming, sister of renowned poet Dorothy Porter, shares insights from her memoir, "Gutsy Girls: Love, Poetry and Sisterhood." She reflects on their bohemian upbringing in Sydney, highlighting the striking contrast between their life choices. Josie recounts her journey as a born-again Christian, her eventual departures from doctrinal constraints, and the complex familial dynamics that shaped both sisters. With humor and nostalgia, she pays tribute to Dorothy’s vibrant spirit while navigating her own path through faith and identity.

Hilton Koppe, a cherished country GP and author of "One Curious Doctor," shares his transformative journey after a health crisis reveals PTSD stemming from his medical career. He discusses the emotional weight of his experiences, exploring themes of migration, family heritage, and the importance of empathy in healthcare. Koppe reflects on his training, the challenges of integrating into Australian culture, and the profound effects of personal trauma. He emphasizes healing through connection with nature and reconnecting with passions, like soccer.

Sonya Voumard, a journalist and author, discusses her life with a tremor that began after her father's untimely death. She shares her journey through the medical system, the challenges of living with dystonia, and the emotional nuances of grief. Sonya vividly recounts transitioning from a young girl to a determined journalist while navigating her condition. She explores innovative treatments like incisionless brain surgery and the complexities of personal identity intertwined with her health, offering a raw and humorous look at resilience.

Ros Thomas, a globe-trotting journalist and columnist, shares her deep dive into the universal experience of loneliness. She recounts meeting a 70-year-old man who found solace with a small robot, and visits a unique Swedish share house where the elderly and young asylum seekers support one another. Ros opens up about her own childhood struggles with loneliness after her father left, and highlights innovative solutions, like AI companions and community hubs, to combat this growing epidemic.

Kate McClymont, the fearless chief investigative reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, shares her gripping journey uncovering crime and corruption in NSW. She reveals how a seemingly innocent wedding assignment led to her first death threat. McClymont discusses the emotional toll of journalism, the resilience gained from personal loss, and her unique transition from busking in Kings Cross to breaking major stories. With over ten Walkley Awards under her belt, she highlights the critical role of investigative reporting in seeking truth and holding power accountable.

Krystyna Duszniak, a professional historian dedicated to uncovering lost Polish family histories, shares her profound journey into the past. She discusses the secrets and untold stories lurking in family archives, often tied to World War II. Full of emotional complexity, she helps families connect with hidden relatives and unsavory truths. Krystyna reflects on her father's influence on her love for Polish culture and the bittersweet revelations she encounters while navigating intricate family dynamics and relationships throughout her research.

Peter Norris's father was a notorious bank robber who lived life on the run, dragging his boy across the country with him, until Peter refused to go with him one last time. It was the hardest decision he ever had to make.Peter Norris grew up on the run with his criminal father, Clarence 'Clarry' Norris.Every time Clarry was arrested, he would find a way out of custody and fulfil his promise of coming back to his son, and every time they reunited they would be off once more tearing across Australia.Peter climbed out windows at foster homes, and escaped group homes for boys to be with his dad, in Sydney, in Shepparton, Perth and Port Hedland.Until one day, his father came back to Peter when he had landed on his feet in the home of a beautiful foster family in regional Victoria.The faith the Dullards had in Peter gave him the courage to finally say "no" to his loving, caring, criminal, complicated dad.It was the hardest decision he ever made, but while desperately Peter wanted to be with his father, but didn't want to be him.It was the last time Peter ever saw his father. This episode of Conversations discusses family dynamics, origin stories, crime, criminality, theft, intergenerational trauma, foster care, abandoned children, group homes, remand centres, Baltara, homelessness, abuse, parenting, grief, closure, fatherhood, father son relationships.The Bank Robber's Boy is published by Simon & Schuster

Martha Jabour was a young mum when her baby son Michael died suddenly. In the thick of her grief, she worried for the devastated young police officer who had come to her home that day, before he unexpectedly reappeared in her life (CW: this conversation discusses the death of a child).Martha Jabour has lived through the worst possible day for a parent. When she was a young mum, she put her baby Michael to bed one night, and by the morning he had died in his sleep. Michael was just 7 weeks old, and because his was an unexplained death, there were police on her doorstep, and a post-mortem, and an ambulance which took away her baby boy.At the time of Michael's death in the 1980s, not much was known about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).Martha threw herself into support groups, fundraising, and helping to change the story for parents like her, affected by the shocking and unexplained loss of their babies. Within a few years, research discovered more about the causes, and today rates of SIDS have fallen by nearly 90%.Martha trained as a grief and trauma counsellor, and her work with grieving parents saw her tapped on the shoulder to start a Homicide Victims Support Group.It was a job she initially said she’d only do for a year - but it became her life’s work.This episode of Conversations explores SIDS, death of a child, grieving, grief, policing, community policing, motherhood, fatherhood, parenting, birth stories, sick children, sudden loss, cot death, trauma, shock, counselling, therapy, support groups, where to find support.Help and support is always available. You can call Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week  on 13 11 14, or text them 0477 13 11 14.Red Nose also offers counselling services to parents who have lost a child. Their number is 1300 308 307.

While working as an undercover cop, Nick Kaldas played a drug baron in the market for vast quantities of hemp oil, tracked a fugitive with a penchant for hair transplants, and posed as a hit man for a spurned lover.Nick was a 21-year-old immigrant lad from Egypt when he decided to join the NSW Police Force.He soon rose up the ranks from working as a junior constable on the beat, then as one of the first Arab-Australian undercover cops, to becoming one of the most senior police officers in Australia.While undercover, Nick tracked a fugitive with a hair transplant, bought hemp oil and heroin at the Sydney Hilton, and was hired as a hit man by a spurned lover.He then had stints as the head of the homicide squad, the gangs squad and led some of NSW's biggest criminal investigations as Deputy Police Commissioner. Nick's work also took him to Iraq to rebuild the police force after the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime.Since leaving the NSW Police, Nick has continued his work in international law enforcement.This episode of Conversations explores crime, gangs, Egypt, migration, the Arab world, Syria, Iraq, Saddam Hussein, policing, law enforcement, corruption, inquiry, undercover cops, films, Batman, Northern Territory, NT Police Commissioner, Michael Murphy.Behind the Badge is published by Angus and Robertson.