Australian Story Season 30, Episode 13: Better Angels - Samuel Johnson

1

Unfiltered - Celeste Barber

Celeste Barber went from unemployed actor to social media sensation for her celebrity parodies. But behind the hilarity is a story of struggle and self-doubt.

31 min

2

Outspoken - Jacinta Nampijinpa Price

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is a rising political star who helped defeat the Voice referendum. The former singer and TV host reveals the private pain that shaped her polarising views and why she's unapologetic.

33 min

3

Heartfelt - Colin Clausen and Laura Aisbett

When Col and Laura met, they were both grieving the sudden death of a cherished spouse. They soon had to confront a thorny question - when is an appropriate time is to find love after loss?

31 min

4

Second Innings - Bharat Sundaresan

On the brink of death in India, Bharat Sundaresan turned to cricket, gathering millions of followers. But it's now in Australia that the colourful commentator has found true acceptance.

31 min

5

Home Truths - Vincent Fantauzzo

When celebrated artist Vincent Fantauzzo first appeared on Australian Story, he held something back about his past. Now he's ready to reveal all.

30 min

6

Hooked - Dave Hughes

Comedian Dave Hughes thought his struggle with addiction was over when he gave up alcohol in his 20s, but his obsession with work and fame has been harder to navigate.

30 min

7

Born to Run - Cliff Young

The enduring legend of Cliff Young, the 61-year-old potato farmer who became an accidental hero when he shuffled his way to victory in the 1983 Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon.

30 min

8

The Shoot Out - Race Around The World

Untold stories from behind the scenes of Race Around the World, the show that launched John Safran and become one of the '90s unlikeliest TV hits.

31 min

9

Class Wars - Murat Dizdar

Murat Dizdar is a proud working-class man who's made it his mission to win back private school students to the public education system.

31 min

10

Herding Katter - Bob Katter

A portrait of maverick MP Bob Katter, the eccentric 79-year-old TikTok star who could soon even hold the balance of power.

32 min

11

Duped - Donna Nelson

How an online love scam landed West Australian grandmother Donna Nelson in solitary confinement in Japan, leaving her five daughters fighting for her freedom.

31 min

12

Birds of a Feather - The Twinnies

Quirky identical twins Paula and Bridgette Powers were in the process of sharing some exciting news with Australian Story when the 'Twinnies' suddenly became a global sensation.

31 min

13

Better Angels - Samuel Johnson

Actor Samuel Johnson has led a rollercoaster life, dealing with successive tragedies and a self-destructive streak. But a cause close to his heart helped him overcome his demons.

31 min

14

Missing Pieces - Sue-Yen Luiten

Adopted by an Australian couple 50 years ago, Sue-Yen Luiten is cycling through Vietnam with DNA kits in a last-ditch effort to find family.

30 min

15

Game Of His Life - Ange Postecoglou

At the peak of his career, legendary Australian football manager Ange Postecoglou speaks exclusively to Australian Story about Tottenham Hotspur's stunning Europa League victory and says he's still dreaming big.

33 min

16

Nick Cave with Leigh Sales

In an encore screening, rock legend Nick Cave talks candidly about grief, addiction, religion and why he's still making challenging music in his 60s.

30 min

17

Forget Me Not - Jim Rogers

Jim Rogers has always been a big personality so when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 55, he wasn't going to keep quiet. Now he's become 'the poster boy for dementia', determined to speak out while he can.

30 min

18

Break It Down - The Raygun Phenomenon

Rachael "Raygun" Gunn broke the internet with her Olympic routine, sparking countless memes and vitriolic abuse. A year on, Australian Story asks what the hell was that all about?

32 min

19

The River - Franklin River Rescue (Part 1)

When Lithuanian rafter Valdas Bieliauskas became trapped in rapids on the Franklin River, it set in train a perilous 24-hour rescue mission that presented rescuers with a terrible choice.

31 min

20

The River - Franklin River Rescue (Part 2)

The dramatic conclusion to Australian Story's two-part account of the extraordinary 24-hour rescue effort to save Lithuanian rafter Valdas Bieliauskas from rapids on Tasmania's Franklin River.

33 min

21

Common Ground - Liz Heggaton and Tim Baker

Sheep farmer Liz Heggaton and surf writer Tim Baker should never have met, but a shared experience put them on a mission to highlight the potentially deadly side effects of a commonly prescribed cancer treatment.

30 min

22

Making a Scene - Claudia Karvan

Actor and producer Claudia Karvan speaks openly about how an unconventional childhood fuelled her brilliant career. An encore screening of one of our most popular episodes.

30 min

23

Gut Instinct - Jane Dudley

When Jane Dudley used an unapproved and icky treatment to cure her crippling depression, it grabbed the attention of the medical world, paving the way for large-scale clinical trials.

31 min

24

Momentum - Dr Mohammed Mustafa

Mohammed "Dr Mo" Mustafa might only be a junior doctor from Perth but he's got the ear of leaders from around the world as he tries to turn his dream of a children's hospital in Gaza into reality.

31 min

25

To Bilo and Back - The Nadesalingam Family

They were once the most famous refugee family in Australia. We check in with the Tamil family from the small town of Biloela who were at the centre of one of the country's biggest people-power movements in recent years.

31 min

26

Dark Star - Alex Lloyd

In 2001, Alex Lloyd broke through with his massive hit Amazing, a song that led to the best and then the worst time of his life. Now he's getting his life back on track.

32 min

27

Small Wonders - Eden Tiny House Project

It was the offer of a lifetime. Provide land and around $40,000 and get your own tiny home. The catch is, you have to help build it. Three vulnerable women took up that challenge and transformed their lives.

31 min

28

Say My Name - Louisa Ioannidis (Part 1)

When Louisa Ioannidis was found dead in a creek, police found no suspicious circumstances. But Louisa's brother had his doubts and with a private investigator has exposed serious flaws in the police case.

31 min

29

Say My Name - Louisa Ioannidis (Part 2)

The gripping conclusion in the mysterious case of Louisa Ioannidis, who was found dead in a creek in 2011. Intrigued by a podcast's revelations, a legal team has discovered new evidence and is pushing to re-open the case.

32 min

30

All Consuming - Kate Reid

Kate Reid's croissants have been called the world's best. But how did a Formula 1 engineer battling a near-fatal eating disorder end up perfecting pastry?

30 min

31

Only Fifteen - Sarah Kopp

When a charismatic sports teacher arrived at Sarah Kopp's school, the talented student's life was upended. When she finally sought justice, she faced a near-impossible choice.

31 min

32

Striking A Chord - Astrid Jorgensen

When Astrid Jorgensen started Pub Choir in a small Brisbane bar, she never imagined she would be filling halls across the world eight years later.

31 min

33

Dog Gone - The Hunt for Valerie

How the hunt for runaway sausage dog Valerie fired up the Kangaroo Island community and sparked headlines around the world.

31 min

34

Jelena Dokic with Leigh Sales

In her first in-depth interview since her father's death, former tennis star Jelena Dokic opens up about the years of abuse she suffered at his hands and how she rebuilt her life.

29 min

35

Ride Of Her Life - Saya Sakakibara

BMX golden girl Saya Sakakibara dreamed of sharing Olympic glory with her brother Kai. When a racing accident almost took his life, Saya had to overcome crippling fear and ride for both of them.

31 min

36

Against The Odds - Lauren Huxley

Lauren Huxley was given little chance of survival after a brutal attack. Twenty years on, she and her family reflect on her miraculous recovery and the fact her attacker could soon be back on the streets.

31 min

37

It's My Party - Kirsha Kaechele

She's flamboyant, provocative and brave. She's also married to David Walsh, founder of the Hobart-based MONA gallery. So why does artist and curator Kirsha Kaechele feel she's not taken seriously?

31 min