Crescendo Conversations

Before he became Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly was a child who loved music. A son. A husband. A keen-fisherman. Someone who felt most alive in particular moments that had nothing to do with a title.In this first conversation of Crescendo Conversations, Prof. Paul Kelly shares four pieces of music that trace the full arc of a life — where he came from, what lit him up, what the weight of the pandemic revealed about him, and what music he is walking toward now.What emerges isn't a career retrospective. It's something far more interesting: a portrait of a person who has held enormous responsibility and remained, quietly, himself.This is a conversation about family, belonging, courage and hope, told through the only language that bypasses everything we've learned to perform."Zen is a great conversationalist. I didn't know what to expect before the interview, and now I feel grounded, elated and honoured." — Prof. Paul Kelly

What are the four songs that shaped your life, career and identity?

"Can we do that again?"In this teaser for Crescendo Conversations, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Paul Kelly, steps away from the podium to share the moments that define his vitality. From the birth of his children to a breathless, high-speed cycling descent through the Alps with his wife, Jenny, Paul discusses the power of being present.Full episode launches April 21, 2026.