RD Talks

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Sit back and listen to some of the most engaging stories to have appeared in Reader’s Digest magazine. RD Talks brings you the real-life unforgettable crime investigations, dramas in real life, and inspirational and heart-warming moments you’ve come to expect from the magazine. Each one will amaze,…

Reader's Digest Australia


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 264 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from RD Talks

    RD_Race To Save Matilda

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 14:21


    The young hiker was wedged upside down between two boulders. How could rescuers pull her free? Written by Helen Signy. Read by Louise Waterson

    RD_Welcome To My Sentence

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 11:02


    Understanding the science behind why some people constantly interrupt others can help you to be heard better. Written by Kristina Berndt. Read by Louise Waterson.

    Between A Rock And A Hard Place

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 18:40


    Pinned by a giant boulder, a hiker had two choices: panic or gut it out. He did both. Written by Nick Hune-Brown. Read by Louise Waterson

    RD_The Best Gift I Ever Received

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024 13:54


    Sometimes the simplest presents are the most meaningful. Here, RD readers reflect on the gifts they have never forgotten.

    RD_To Hell and Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 16:03


    The Darvaza crater in Turkmenistan is known as the Gates of Hell. I stood on its edge—and lived to tell the tale. Written by Tim Johnson. Read by Louise Waterson

    Tiny New Neighbours

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 6:10


    A couple were astonished to see who had taken up residence in their letterbox. Written by Cathy Free, from Washington Post. Read by Louise Waterson.

    RD_Next Stop Who Knows

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 19:13


    We wanted to do a once-in-a-lifetime trek in northern Laos. Just getting there became the adventure. By Bonnie Munday. Read by Louise Waterson

    Yasmeen Lari's Change Of Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024 15:36


    The former 'starchitect' who designed gleaming towers for Pakistan's corporate elite now rebuilds villages devastated by natural disasters. Written by Lisa Murphy. Read by Louise Waterson.

    The Great Wildebeest Migration

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 11:00


    It's a spectacular sight when countless ruminants cross the Serengeti in search of greener pastures. Written by Vincent Noyoux, from Le Figaro Magazine. Read by Louise Waterson.

    MY STORY Limo Las Vegas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 6:54


    Far from home, a couple decides on an unusual wedding venue in the marriage capital of the world. By Christine Tan. Read by Louise Waterson.

    MY STORY Drum Roll of Honour

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 5:19


    An unusual volunteer enlisted in the navy – and brought heart and soul to a naval band. By Rudy Sadie. Read by Louise Waterson.

    My Story On the Crest of the Waves

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 5:44


    At a time when female announcers weren't commonly heard on the radio, a young woman defied the odds to get on the air. By Erica Condon Smith. Read by Louise Waterson

    My Story The Muse

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 4:54


    This cinematography student found inspiration in a most unexpected friend. By Tamlyn Wilson. Read by Louise Waterson.

    My Story The Essence of John

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 4:56


    A trip down memory lane brings a touching reality to a childhood fantasy. By Lorna Bergamasco. Read by Louise Waterson.

    My Story A Place of Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2023 5:35


    A small white towel holds precious memories for a Polish refugee who started a new life. By Anna Malarz. Read by Louise Waterson.

    Adding Up To Happiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2023 9:14


    Solutions to many of our most perplexing personal problems can often be found by applying a kind of creative arithmetic. Written by Fredelle Maynard. RD Classics. First published December 1979. Read by Louise Waterson

    Wig crusades

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 8:45


    Hairpieces have been around for millenia. Written and read by Zoe Meunier.

    The perfect salon? A barber shop

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 5:32


    I used to think the solution to my aversion to going to a hair salon was finding a stylist with superpowers. Then I dropped by a local barbershop. Written by Patricia Pearson. Read by Zoe Meunier.

    Empathetic pain

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 7:09


    So this is weird… when long-term couples start to have the same health issues. Written by Lisa Kadane. Read by Zoe Meunier.

    My husband's secret life

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2023 6:37


    What did my husband and one of the biggest rock stars of the '80s have in common? More than I realised. By Nancy French. Read by Zoe Meunier

    RD_Small Business Big Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 5:45


    Caring for people is part of the deal at family-run shops. By Scott Grills. From The Globe and Mail. Read by Louise Waterson

    Hoarding Disorder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 9:55


    COVID and the cost-of-living crisis have significantly altered how signs of the condition appear. Here's why.

    The cop who wouldn't quit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 12:49


    Shot and left to die, Kenyon Tuthill was determined to bring his assailant to justice. First published May 1993. Written by Edward Ziegler. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    "Hang on! We'll get you out!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 13:17


    The words were meant to be reassuring. But for the two men clinging to oily cables 35 storeys up in the giant chimney, the question was, "How?" First published June 1981. Written by Richard Schneider. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Triplets... and they didn't know it

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 12:12


    Born in 1961 and separated soon after, the three boys each felt "something missing" in his life. Then suddenly, they found out what it was. First published in 1981. Written by Phyllis Battelle. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Breathless

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 16:36


    A mysterious disease had left my wife comatose and breathing through a ventilator. It all started with a broken ankle. First published in April 2002. Written by Jon Tevlin. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    I have no idea how to fly this plane!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 15:03


    A passenger gets an emergency flying lesson when his pilot passes out 3000 metres above the ocean. First published June 2023. Written by Robert Kiener. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Find awe in everyday life

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 6:33


    We associate the emotion with rare experiences. But people in our daily lives can make us feel it, too. First published March 2023. Written by Elizabeth Bernstein from The Wall Street Journal. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Hero of the frozen river

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 12:26


    After the tragic crash of Air Florida's Flight 90 into Washington's Potomac River, an unforgettable scene was played out in the dark, icy waters. Twice, a balding, middle-aged "average" man had a chance to save himself. Twice he chose instead to save someone else. And then he disappeared. First published November 1982. Written by Claire Safran. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Stalked by an airtag

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 11:18


    A gadget aimed at making our lives easier is now the perfect stalking tool if in the wrong hands. First published February 2023. Written by Maggie Kim. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    When kangaroos attack

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 10:10


    These seemingly friendly marsupials can do serious damage if provoked. First published May 2023. Written by Helen Signy. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    No matter what

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 13:35


    In pitch darkness, amid a raging torrent of icy stormwater, a terrified young boy cried for help in a flooded tunnel. First published August 2013. Written by Allan Sparkes, from the book The Cost of Bravery. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    How Return and Earn has turned trash into treasure

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2023 6:07


    Learn more about the ways in which this NSW Government initiative has become a runaway success story. Sponsored podcast. Read by Zoë Meunier

    The miracle of May Lemke's love

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 13:04


    Day after day, she cared for the unwanted child – talking and singing to him, encouraging and loving him, trying to break through the barrier holding him mute and helpless. First published in November 1982. Written by Joseph Blank. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Pulling the strings of history

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2023 7:49


    Sicily's puppeteers are finding novel ways to keep their art form alive. First published April 2023. Written by Anna Staropoli from Atlas Obscura. Read by Zoë Meunier

    My father's music

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 9:29


    In that odd and dreaded instrument was the gift of a lifetime. First published July 1992. Written by Wayne Kalyn. Read by Zoë Meunier

    A bunny at my door

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 7:34


    After trying to conceive for over three years, the bunny we adopted was a welcome distraction from our struggles with infertiity. First published October 2022. Written by Stacey May Fowles. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    stacey may fowles
    Letters to Anne Frank's father

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 9:36


    For year's after his beloved daughter's death, he inspired a new generation. First published April 1997. Written by Cara Wilson. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Swimming with orcas

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 7:18


    A plunge into forbidding waters off Norway leads to an extraordinary encounter. First published March 2023. Written by Pete McBride from Smithsonian Magazine. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Guerreschi and the bluebottle fly

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 6:35


    Sometimes, a teacher needs skills that are not taught. Written by Giovanni Mosca. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Is only child syndrome real?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2023 6:19


    Are only children really more likely to be selfish, self-obsessed and socially awkward? An only child examines the reality behind this long-held stereotype. First published September 2022. Written by Jane Murphy. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Crushed in a crevice

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 14:30


    It was just a quick climb, but one slip trapped him 20 metres underground. First published June 2016. Written by Lisa Fitterman. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    What will happen to Patty's boy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2023 8:12


    I gave his mother all I could. Now it was his turn. First published June 2016. Written by Karen Mott, as told to Melody Warnick. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Adrift

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 16:47


    When his boat struck a reef and sank in the Caribbean, Don Cavers jumped on a life raft and watched as the ocean carried him away. First published February 2023. Written by Gary Stephen Ross. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    The arrow that saved my life twice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 7:40


    After a freak backyard accident almost kills her, a woman is taken on a miraculous medical journey. First published December 2022. Written by Donna Barbour. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    How to learn from your regrets

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2022 7:43


    If you never pine for a different past, you'll stay trapped in a cycle of mistakes. First published October 2022. Written by Arthur C. Brooks from The Atlantic. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    I survived

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 12:34


    When faced with certain death, it takes bravery, determination and plenty of luck. These people lived to tell their stories. First published July 2022. Written by Sheri Niemegeers (as told to Emily Landau); Ryan Osmun (by Jason Daley, from Outside); and Julie McSorley (as told to Emily Landau). Read by Zoë Meunier.

    survived emily landau
    The Christmas that changed me

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 6:36


    My parents paid far more than they could afford for the greatest gift of my life. First published December 2022. Written by Peter White from The Guardian. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    Let's go for a walk

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 9:52


    I discovered that this gentle activity supports healing for both body and soul. First published March 2022. Written by Gloria Liu, from Outside. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    The Council of Dads

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 18:42


    In 2008, with no inkling of trouble ahead, Bruce Feiler received some devastating news. It was the catalyst for a most unusual request... First published September 2010. Written by Bruce Feiler. Read by Zoë Meunier.

    The Hargila Army

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 8:33


    Behind efforts to preserve the endangered giant stork is a biologist – and a 400-strong group of women. First published in December 2022. Written by Lam Lye Ching. Read by Zoë Meunier.

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