Conversations

When Robin Bailey’s husband and father of their three boys died by suicide, she had to figure out the best way to help her children work through their grief while also managing her own sadness and anger. (CW: this episode discusses suicide, please take care when listening)Robin is one of Brisbane’s best-known breakfast radio hosts, and she’s been in the business for decades.
When she was 11, Robin’s father died suddenly, and her mother was left to raise Robin and her sister while forging on with her own career.Decades later another tragedy forced Robin into single parenting, after her husband Tony died by suicide.
In the aftermath of Tony’s death Robin was determined to make space for all her son’s feelings and their questions as they worked through their grief.
With the help of incredible community of friends, she knitted a family back together which was strong enough to face what came next.
Further information 
Robin Bailey's memoir Flamingos Aren't Born Pink is published by Harper Collins 
Help and support is always available
If you need to talk, 24/7 crisis support is available from Lifeline by calling 13 11 14.
More options for mental health and suicide prevention helplines and websites are hereThis episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, the executive producer is Nicola Harrison
It explores suicide, grief, death, family, marriage, children, depression, mental health, community, counsellors, pastoral care, losing a parent, travel, radio, commercial radio, maternity leave, financial pressure, cancer, terminal cancer, dying at home, single mothers, sons, daughters, weddings.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.

Dr Culum Brown's work on fish cognition has proven fish have long memories, sharks have friends, and sting rays know it's the weekend.
Dr Culum Brown is a leading researcher in the field of fish cognition. He's based at Macquarie University where he runs the Fish Lab — the Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution of Fishes Laboratory.
His fascination for fish stems from growing up in parts of south-east Asia, where he would spend every possible hour in the ocean with a snorkel.
As an adult, Culum's marine biology studies around the world (including the UK and Finland) have revealed many facts which up-end the basis of our common understanding of fish.
His research has shown that even the smallest fish are capable of learning and can retain memories for months. 
Within schools of fish, there is often a strict social hierarchy which can include forms of bullying.
His research into Port Jackson sharks has revealed a lot about their social lives as 'puppies of the sea'.
He work has also revealed that sting rays have especially good memories and can distinguish days of the week.
Learn more about Culum's work at The Fish Lab.
First broadcast in 2020.
This episode of Conversations explores

Broadcaster and author Dee Salmin on how her parents' epic love story and dramatic relationship shaped her understanding of love and men; and how she eventually found healthy romance in life.
When Dee was growing up in Perth, her father, a great Russian ballet dancer, was ‘the man of the house’.
Life at home, and every choice that Dee, her siblings, and her mum made revolved around his whims and his moods.
Dee worshipped her parents and all the opportunities they fought for her to have, so she grew up thinking that is what healthy love looked like.
She sought out a similar dynamic in her own relationships as she got older.
Dee had just moved to Melbourne for her dream job, working on Triple J’s sex and relationships program The Hook Up, when she found herself living alone in lockdown.
During that time, Dee got to know herself outside romantic relationships and began the process of dismantling what she thought she knew about love and hook-up culture.
For three years, she went ‘boy sober’ and spent time getting to know herself, instead of another Lothario who played guitar. She fell in love with her friends, and the life she’d made for herself.
And then, her father, who had done his own self-reflection, suggested the whole family sit down together so he could apologise and heal.
It's Not Love, Actually is published by Pan Macmillan.
This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.
It explores sex, love, relationships, dating apps, hook-up culture, intergenerational trauma, parenting, healing relationship with parents, self love, self worth, self esteem, modern dating, boy sober, abstinence, books, writing, ballet, Russia, Soviet Union, Berlin, Germany, shot gun wedding, falling in love fast, red flags, green flags, dating slowly, car crash, friendship, romance, hopeless romantic, self-help books, Darcy Moore, Collingwood, AFL, dads and daughters.
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.

Mimi Kwa tells her family’s saga, featuring her dad — the thirty-second child of a wealthy Chinese silk trader, and her mum, who survived decades of undiagnosed schizophrenia, and Mimi's glamorous other life in the intoxicating hubbub of Hong Kong.
Mimi presented the news on ABC and Channel Nine, and worked in the newsroom for more than 20 years. 
Today she has four children with her loving husband, John.
This is all a long way from Mimi’s early life in Perth, where she managed backpackers’ rent and cleaning toilets at her father’s sprawling youth hostel from the age of eight.
Then she would shuttle over to her grandparents’ house in the suburbs, where her mum, who lived with chronic schizophrenia, would do her best to love Mimi, despite her paranoia.
Mimi had yet another life, in Hong Kong, where she would visit her relatives, and stay with her loving, steady, glamorous Aunty Theresa, who adored her.
Mimi had to synthesise all these parts to grow herself up and become what she had always wanted to be: on telly, reading the news.
And once she succeeded in her dream of journalism, she would need all the strength she could get when she unknowingly ambushed Russell Crowe at the airport.
Further information
Help is always available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14,  chat online, or speak to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter at 13 YARN (13 92 76).
House of Kwa is published by HarperCollins ABC Books.
This episode was made on Gadigal country. It was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.
It covers Hong Kong, World War II, Japanese occupation, occupation, Perth, Mandarin Gardens, racism, trauma, grandparent carers, mental health ward, ECT, big age gap, Channel Nine, cadetship, Russel Crowe, Gladiator, Romper Stomper, contested will, inheritance, suing family, reconciliation, forgiveness and gratitude.
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.

Mimi Kwa tells her family’s saga, featuring her dad — the thirty-second child of a wealthy Chinese silk trader, and her mum, who survived decades of undiagnosed schizophrenia, and Mimi's glamorous other life in the intoxicating hubbub of Hong Kong. (CW: Discussion of mental illness and suicide attempt)
Mimi presented the news on ABC and Channel Nine, and worked in the newsroom for more than 20 years. 
Today she has four children with her loving husband, John.
This is all a long way from Mimi’s early life in Perth, where she managed backpackers’ rent and cleaning toilets at her father’s sprawling youth hostel from the age of eight.
Then she would shuttle over to her grandparents’ house in the suburbs, where her mum, who lived with chronic schizophrenia, would do her best to love Mimi, despite her paranoia.
Mimi had yet another life, in Hong Kong, where she would visit her relatives, and stay with her loving, steady, glamorous Aunty Theresa, who adored her.
Mimi had to synthesise all these parts to grow herself up and become what she had always wanted to be: on telly, reading the news.
And once she succeeded in her dream of journalism, she would need all the strength she could get when she unknowingly ambushed Russell Crowe at the airport.
Further information
Help is always available. You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, text on 0477 13 11 14,  chat online, or speak to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter at 13 YARN (13 92 76).
House of Kwa is published by HarperCollins ABC Books.
This episode was made on Gadigal country. It was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.
It covers Hong Kong, World War II, Japanese occupation, occupation, Perth, Mandarin Gardens, racism, trauma, grandparent carers, mental health ward, ECT, big age gap, Channel Nine, cadetship, Russel Crowe, Gladiator, Romper Stomper, contested will, inheritance, suing family, reconciliation, forgiveness and gratitude.
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.