EPISODE · Jan 22, 2026 · 52 MIN
From drug smuggling and opium dens to marching in the first-ever Mardi Gras—Kate's coming out
from Conversations · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Kate Rowe's life has been full of wild adventures and hard living. But when she found sobriety, Kate discovered something big about herself. CW: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening.Ever since she stepped off the boat at Circular Quay as a 20-something 10-pound Pom, Kate has run fearlessly toward outrageous adventure.As a young woman Kate travelled around Australia picking tobacco, hitchhiking and sometimes spent her weekends running riot in Kings Cross.Then in 1974, she tagged along with some random guys she’d met who wanted to walk across the island of Timor. From there, Kate ventured into South-East Asia, where she began smuggling bricks of cannabis from Thailand into Nepal.But everywhere she went, Kate took herself with her, and so all kinds of baggage from her early life came along for the wild ride.Eventually a cloud lifted, and when Kate found sobriety she realised something big about herself.Content Warning: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening.How the F*ck Would I Know is published by Power Writers Publishing Group.You can find more information about Kate and her writing at her website.This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores trauma, healing, recovery, England, London, disordered eating, eating disorder recovery, substance abuse, addiction, drug trafficking, drug dealing, heroin, opium, alcohol, alcoholism, addiction recovery, therapy, counselling, sexuality, LGBTQI+, queer community, Mardi Gras, 1978, lesbian, women's Lib.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.
What this episode covers
Kate Rowe's life has been full of wild adventures and hard living. But when she found sobriety, Kate discovered something big about herself. CW: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening. Ever since she stepped off the boat at Circular Quay as a 20-something 10-pound Pom, Kate has run fearlessly toward outrageous adventure. As a young woman Kate travelled around Australia picking tobacco, hitchhiking and sometimes spent her weekends running riot in Kings Cross. Then in 1974, she tagged along with some random guys she’d met who wanted to walk across the island of Timor. From there, Kate ventured into South-East Asia, where she began smuggling bricks of cannabis from Thailand into Nepal. But everywhere she went, Kate took herself with her, and so all kinds of baggage from her early life came along for the wild ride. Eventually a cloud lifted, and when Kate found sobriety she realised something big about herself. Content Warning: This story contains discussion of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault and some strong language. Please take care when listening. How the F*ck Would I Know is published by Power Writers Publishing Group. You can find more information about Kate and her writing at her website. This episode of Conversations was produced by Meggie Morris. Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores trauma, healing, recovery, England, London, disordered eating, eating disorder recovery, substance abuse, addiction, drug trafficking, drug dealing, heroin, opium, alcohol, alcoholism, addiction recovery, therapy, counselling, sexuality, LGBTQI+, queer community, Mardi Gras, 1978, lesbian, women's Lib. 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.
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From drug smuggling and opium dens to marching in the first-ever Mardi Gras—Kate's coming out
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