Conversations

Hostage negotiation isn't at all like what you see in Hollywood blockbusters. There is no lying, no promise-making, not even any names. Vince Hurley has only one task—trying to make a deep, human connection with a complete stranger.
Content Warning: this episode of Conversations contains strong language and descriptions of violent crime.
Vince Hurley is a criminologist at Macquarie University and a passionate advocate for ending violence against women. He brings nearly three decades of policing experience to the job.
For 29 years, Vince was an operational police officer in the outer suburbs of Sydney, investigating domestic homicides, assaults, home invasions and drug trafficking.
In that time, Vince was shot at, stabbed in the hand, and pushed off a building.
But his most challenging work was the shifts he pulled as a hostage negotiator.
Vince worked for 12 hours at a time, trying to literally talk people off the ledge, or to stop them from committing some sort of disastrous violent act.
Hostage negotiation isn't at all like what you see in the cinema.
There is no lying, no promises, not even any names.
All Vince has to go on is trying to make a human connection with someone without knowing anything about them. 
This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
It explores policing, police work, violent crimes, police culture, violence against women, domestic violence, femicide, Lindt siege, hostage negotiation, suicidal ideation, terrorism, murder, retiring, academic, universities, Macquarie University, late career change, Western Sydney, educating teen boys, hidden violence, child abuse, cops, police officer.
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.

Navigator Will Oxley expected the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race to be a challenging one. But when he and his crew met with 12-metre waves and 80km/h winds in Bass Strait, Will knew something was about to go horribly wrong (R)
Will Oxley learnt the art of celestial navigation in his 20s and he is now one of the world’s leading ocean race navigators.
He has competed in the Sydney to Hobart race many times.
He was navigating during the 1998 race when a freak storm hit off the coast of Eden.
Will’s yacht was upended by a giant wave.
He and his crew found themselves trapped upside down for five long minutes, before another wave pounded them back upright, then broke the mast.
He’s also raced around the world 5 times, including the 10 months he spent sailing the wrong way round, against the winds, while skipper to a crew of sailing amateurs.
Further information
First broadcast in 2021.
Since we first spoke to Will he has competed in many more Sydney to Hobart races. In 2025 he sailed in his 21st on SHK Scallywag. 
Will spends most of his time sailing in Europe on a quite radical yacht called Raven. It's semi foiling and 111 feet long. You can see the boat Will describes as a 'very cool yacht' on the Baltic Yachts Facebook page.
This episode was produced by Nicola Harrison. The Executive Producer was Carmel Rooney.
This episode explores the 1998 Sydney to Hobart race, yachting disasters, yacht races gone wrong, dangerous seas, disasters at sea, yachting navigation, sailors, sailing, who goes in the Sydney to Hobart race, 2025 Sydney to Hobart, Bass Strait, crazy brave, adventurers, men who love boats, yachties, sailing race, Raven, radical yacht, foiling, fast yacht, yachting men, men of yachting, very cool yacht, 111 foot yachts.
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

Rafael Bonachela was born in the dying years of Franco’s Spain, into a patriarchal culture that didn’t appreciate little boys who wanted to dance. 
As the eldest of four brothers, his father expected him to be an example of academic achievement and bravado.
This hardline approach slowly drove his father away from the family, though when it came time to say goodbye, Rafael saw an unexpected side of him.
At the age of 17, when the wide world beckoned, Rafael left his home country without a backward glance, grasping with both hands the opportunity to become a professional dancer.
After a last ditch attempt at becoming a choreographer, he received an email from Kylie Minogue. And the rest is history.

Justin Heazlewood fled a complicated early life in Tasmania searching for fame as an artist on the mainland but then moved back to his home town of Burnie, and realised community is where you find it.
For years he imagined his hometown as somewhere he had to leave, especially if he was going to be any kind of artist.
And there were other, more personal reasons that made staying in Burnie complicated.
Justin's Mum has schizophrenia, and growing up he was often forced into the role of being her carer.
It was something he did his best to hide from his friends and other people in his life.
So after school, Justin headed to the mainland and began a life as a comedian and a songwriter.
But a few years ago, he found himself returning to his home town for good. 
This episode of Conversations explores mental health, caring for parents, parents with mental illness, small towns, leaving your hometown, big city life, regional Australia, creatives in regional Australia, mother son relationships, returning home, community, fame, triple j, bedroom philosopher, radio, writing, music, musicians, learning guitar, grandmothers.
Get Up Mum is published by Affirm Press and Justin's new book, Dream Burnie, celebrates the creative humans like him making art far from the big cities, and some of the teachers who recognised the young artists while they were at school.
You can learn more about Justin's book Dream Burnie online.
The Young Carer's Hotline is open Monday-Friday on 1800 422 737

For journalist Kate Halfpenny, moving to a beachside town during Melbourne's lockdowns seemed like the perfect way to unwind and escape her huge mortgage. Then she had to contend with the triple whammy of perimenopause, her husband's alcoholism and distance from family and friends.
For the first time in her life, Kate had an empty house, no job commitments and no city life to distract her.
She was able to indulge daily in her love of boogie boarding and surf-side walks with her dog, Maggie.
One day at the beach, Kate saw her elderly father struggling in the surf.
Kate's husband Chris was in the water next to him, but was acting strangely and couldn’t manage to haul him out of the dangerous water.
That evening, Chris confessed his alcoholism to Kate and the couple faced the inevitable decisions they would have to navigate, together and apart.
Further information
Boogie Wonderland is published by Affirm Press.
This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan.
Conversations' Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
This episode of Conversations deals with good divorce, Melbourne covid lockdowns, seachange, addiction, alcoholism, supporting an alcoholic, women in media, perimenopause, midlife, being alone, boogie boarding and relationships.