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| Richard Fidler | |
|---|---|
| Name | Richard Fidler |
| Birth date | 2 September 1964 |
| Birth place | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, musician, author |
| Years active | 1984–present |
Richard Fidler
Richard Fidler is an Australian broadcaster, musician and author, best known for his long-running interview program on ABC Radio. He rose to national prominence as a founding member of the rock band Skyhooks and later transitioned to broadcasting with programs on ABC Local Radio and ABC Radio National. Fidler's interviews have featured a wide range of figures from politics, science, arts, and sport, reflecting his broad intellectual interests.
Fidler was born in Adelaide and spent his formative years in South Australia before relocating to Melbourne as a young adult. He attended local schools in Adelaide and pursued formal studies in music and performance, engaging with institutions such as the University of Adelaide and music communities in Victoria. Influences from Australian cultural figures like Paul Kelly, Don Walker, and international artists including The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie shaped his early artistic development.
Fidler's music career began in the 1980s when he became a founding member of the band Working Class Dog (commonly associated with his later collaborators) before achieving wider recognition with Skyhooks-era veterans and contemporaries. He played guitar and contributed to songwriting, touring extensively across venues in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and regional circuits tied to the Australian pub rock scene. During this period Fidler worked alongside musicians and producers associated with acts like INXS, Midnight Oil, Crowded House, Split Enz, Cold Chisel, AC/DC, Men at Work, The Go-Betweens, The Church, Nick Cave, Paul Kelly, Kylie Minogue, and John Farnham. He recorded studio albums and participated in festivals that included appearances on bills with Big Day Out, Woodford Folk Festival, and other notable events. Collaborations and sessions connected him to songwriters such as Don Walker, Garry Gary Beers, Tim Finn, Neil Finn, and session musicians from bands like Hunters & Collectors.
Fidler began broadcasting with ABC Local Radio and became widely known for his work on programs such as Conversations on ABC Radio National, where he conducted long-form interviews with international and Australian figures. His interview subjects have included global personalities like Sir David Attenborough, Margaret Atwood, Barack Obama, Noam Chomsky, Malcolm Gladwell, Jared Diamond, Yuval Noah Harari, Elon Musk, Jane Goodall, David Suzuki, Bono, Stephen Fry, Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Joni Mitchell, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Ai Weiwei, Gillian Triggs, and Australian figures including Germaine Greer, Tim Flannery, Murray Gell-Mann associates, Bill Shorten, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Bob Hawke, Gough Whitlam, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Ita Buttrose, and Kerry O'Brien. His interviewing style emphasizes in-depth narrative, drawing on techniques used by interviewers such as Terry Gross, Fresh Air hosts, Charlie Rose, Krista Tippett, and Howard Stern.
Conversations under Fidler's tenure featured long-form investigative and human-interest explorations, often recorded in-studio at ABC facilities in Ultimo and regional bureaus. The program won audience and critical recognition and expanded into podcast platforms, leading to collaborations with broadcasters and producers from BBC Radio 4, NPR, CBC Radio, Monocle Radio, and SBS.
Fidler authored books and essays reflecting on travel, storytelling, and personal history, publishing with Australian presses and contributing to magazines and newspapers such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, Griffith Review, and The Monthly. His works interweave memoir, reportage, and interviews, drawing on encounters with explorers, historians, and scientists including figures associated with Antarctic expeditions, space exploration commentators, and conservationists linked to WWF and Australian Conservation Foundation initiatives. Fidler's prose reflects influences from writers such as Bill Bryson, Paul Theroux, Robert McCrum, and John Pilger.
During his broadcasting career Fidler received industry recognition including awards from bodies such as the Australian Commercial Radio Awards, Walkley Awards, and ABC internal accolades for journalistic excellence. Conversations was frequently shortlisted and awarded in podcast and radio categories, acknowledged by organizations like the Australian Podcasting Awards, New York Festivals Radio Awards, and critics' circles. He has been recognized by cultural institutions including Australian Film Institute-adjacent entities, arts councils, and media academies for contributions to Australian media and public discourse.
Fidler resides in Melbourne and is active in philanthropic efforts supporting literacy, indigenous programs, and arts initiatives. He has participated in fundraising events for organizations such as Save the Children, Beyond Blue, World Vision Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, Indigenous Literacy Foundation, and conservation groups aligned with Australian Wildlife Conservancy. His extracurricular interests include long-distance walking, engagement with history societies, and advocacy for mental health and regional arts funding.
Category:Australian broadcasters Category:Australian musicians