EPISODE · Feb 16, 2026 · 49 MIN
There is magic to be found when the world goes dark
from Conversations · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Dan Richards investigates the multifaceted realm of night-time. Hear about when he survived a brush with death, a treacherous journey on a Scottish ferry, shadowing a search and rescue team, and the comfort and exquisite agony of new parenthood.The writer and broadcaster argues that night-time is universal in that everyone goes through it, but there are so many different experiences of the dark.He has met the many people who work, helping others and doing the invisible organising that keeps our communal world turning while others rest.Dan says the night is a place of encounters — both magical and disturbing.Further informationDan's book Overnight: Journeys, Conversations and Stories After Dark is published by Allen & Unwin.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.This episode touches on sleep, covid, COVID, covid-19, hospital, emergency workers, NHS, ICU, frontline workers, search and rescue, dreams, outreach workers, homelessness, moominland, the shipping forecast, BBC, new fatherhood.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
Dan Richards investigates the multifaceted realm of night-time. Hear about when he survived a brush with death, a treacherous journey on a Scottish ferry, shadowing a search and rescue team, and the comfort and exquisite agony of new parenthood. The writer and broadcaster argues that night-time is universal in that everyone goes through it, but there are so many different experiences of the dark. He has met the many people who work, helping others and doing the invisible organising that keeps our communal world turning while others rest. Dan says the night is a place of encounters — both magical and disturbing. Further information Dan's book Overnight: Journeys, Conversations and Stories After Dark is published by Allen & Unwin. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. This episode touches on sleep, covid, COVID, covid-19, hospital, emergency workers, NHS, ICU, frontline workers, search and rescue, dreams, outreach workers, homelessness, moominland, the shipping forecast, BBC, new fatherhood. 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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There is magic to be found when the world goes dark
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