Conversations

For more than a century, Melbourne's Abbotsford Convent was occupied by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and the "wayward" girls and orphans they took care of. Patricia Sykes was one of those girls.
She was dropped off at the orphanage with her three sisters in the early 1950s after their mother died.
Their father couldn't afford to take care of four girls at home, but wanted them to stay together, so an orphanage felt like his only option.
As a girl, Patricia, a gifted student who loved music and words, desperately wanted to escape the convent.
But later in life, after finally finishing school and then university as a mother and mature student, Patricia returned to Abbotsford Convent.
As a poet in residence, Patricia went back on her own terms to hear and to tell the stories of dozens of women who passed through its doors, and to interrogate her own understanding of her time with the nuns.
Patricia's collection of poetry is called The Abbotsford Mysteries.
This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer was Eliza Kirsch.
It explores religion, Christianity, Catholicism, Australia of yesteryear, modern history, Melbourne, Victoria, nunnery, orphanages, grief, sisterhood, education, women's rights, motherhood, losing a mother, the Queen, writing, books, late life career change.
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.

Science writer David Epstein on why freedom can be the enemy of success and how we can all benefit from less choice, not more.
We live today with vastly more freedom of choice than our ancestors.But there’s also plenty of research telling us all this choice is making us more anxious, overwhelmed and less creative.In his book, Inside the Box, David makes the case for how constraints can unlock creativity and satisfaction.
And why after writing this book he now believes that narrowing your options can truly set you free.
Further Information
Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better is published by Macmillan
You can learn more about David Epstein here
This episode was produced by Jen Leake and the Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
It explores creativity, innovation, creative burnout, relationships, technology, art, music, rules, deadlines, science, General Magic, Apple, Iphone, sport, choice, anxiety, creative thinking, rules.

Veteran performer Paul Capsis on his strict upbringing and the strong female role models who helped him stay in school despite the brutality.
A powerful and expressive voice, flamboyant physical presence, and mane of dark hair have become his trademarks as a performer.
But when Paul was growing up in inner-city Sydney as the child of Greek and Maltese parents, these same qualities brought him a world of trouble. At school he was relentlessly ridiculed and beaten.
The love of his Maltese grandmother, Angela, and other family members, helped Paul stay in school despite the brutality; as did immersing himself in the music of his favourite singers, Janis Joplin and Billie Holiday.
This episode of Conversations was first broadcast in 2018
The producer was Michelle Ransom Hughes and the Executive Producer was Pam O'Brien.
It explores performing, singing, homophobia, bullying, Maltese heritage, Greek heritage, strong female role models, Janis Joplin, cabaret, grandmas, women, inner-city Sydney.

Anna Dombkins was 25 years old, when she and her husband happened on a television program about adoption which would completely change their lives. CW: this episode of Conversations discusses adoption.
It was a documentary investigating the unimaginable conditions of some orphanages in China.
The newly married couple felt compelled to adopt, but because they already had biological children, it was near impossible to adopt in Australia.
The newly married couple felt compelled to adopt children who had no other family support, but because they already had biological children, it was near impossible to adopt in Australia.
While living in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro for a number of years, Anna saw how many children were coming into local orphanages not because they were unwanted or because their biological parents had died, but because their families simply couldn't afford to take care of them.
So, since returning to Australia and becoming a mother to her sixth child, Anna became the founding director of Forever Projects, a charity supporting Tanzanian women in poverty, so they can live independently, care for and keep their babies without having to resort to adoption.
Forever Projects has since helped more than 3,000 babies remain with their families.
Home Forever: Adoption, hope and the mountains we’re all climbing is published by Pepper Press, Fair Play Publishing.
This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
It explores families, motherhood, fostering, overseas adoption, fatherhood, siblings, blended families, cultural awareness, Australian adoption policy, faith, religion, Christianity, serving the community, marriage, love, intergenerational, grandparents, grief, cancer, Moshi, Forever Angels Baby Home, five under five, lawyers, legal system.

Country music artist Kasey Chambers has spent her life making music and connecting with audiences.  It’s what she believes she was put on the earth to do.
Growing up Kasey and her family spent much of the year camping and roaming the Nullabor Plain where her dad would hunt for foxes and rabbits.
She started singing around the campfire as a little girl and went to sleep to the sound of her father’s rifle as he worked through the night.
Singing came naturally to Kasey, and she loved all the old country classics, as well as some Cyndi Lauper and Bruce Springsteen.
The title of Kasey’s memoir is a tribute to her father and the most important piece of advice she’s ever received.
This episode of Conversations was first broadcast in 2024.
Further Information 
Just Don't Be A D**khead is published by Hardie Grant.
You can learn more about Kasey's music here
This episode of Conversations explores family, childhood, growing up in rural Australia, music, singing, country music, camping, hunting foxes and rabbits, fathers, guitar, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, ARIA Hall of Fame, eating disorders, motherhood.
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.