How can we have brilliant, life-affirming, lean-in conversations that force us to think in new ways and make us blurt out things we’ve never said before?
Richard Fidler knows.
He lives it, every day. As The host of the cult ABC radio show and podcast Conversations, he’s spent 10 years making ordinary people sound like rock stars. He can take a topic that has never entered your mind, and draw you so deep into it that before you know it, you’re sitting transfixed in your car, unable to get out, gripped by stories of Amish communities, ant colonies, or a person you’ve never met.
His show is the ABC’s most popular podcast, downloaded more than 1.8 million times per month, and all without the star factor of major celebs, who he says he won’t interview.
So how did Richard Fidler become so extraordinary at interviewing? And what makes a great conversation?
He tells Mia Freedman, in our most requested No Filter podcast, ever.
It’s a beautiful masterclass in how to stay curious, how much preparation it can take to make something sound so effortless (spoiler: hours and hours), the questions he doesn’t ask, and why he knocks back the mega-mega-mega stars of the world.
When Richard met Mia...
He says the trick to good conversation is remaining curious, and celebrating the weird in people, while the biggest conversation killer is pretending you're the expert.
Top Comments
Wow, what a great interview. Felt like I was eavesdropping in on a conversation between friends. I've been listening to Richard for a while now, but will check out more interviews from Mia. She asked all the right questions. Loved it!
His show is great listening, would love to see him do a guest appearance with the Doug Anthony Allstars