It's that time of the year when many people take time off work and enjoy holidays. In this episode, you'll meet Ben Groundwater who travels for a living. You'll also hear Emily Bissland from ABC Warnambool and Lily Partland from ABC Ballarat.

Even though we know it's not real, most people are captivated by magic. In this episode, meet "Magic" Mic Conway, who uses magic as part of his wide ranging performances. You'll also hear ABC RN's All in the Mind presenter, Lynne Malcolm's, interview with magician Sam Angelico and ABC RN's Future Tense presenter, Antony Funnell's, interview with Marco Tempest.

Are you an insider? Or do you feel more like an outsider looking in? In this week's episode, Fealofani Elisara talks about being shunned by the Jehovah's Witnesses and forced to cut ties with her family. You'll also hear Damien Larkins from ABC Gold Coast and Angela Smallacombe of ABC North and West SA.

Bridges occupy a central place in our imaginations. From the Bridge on the River Kwai to London Bridge, the Bridge of San Luis Rey to the Brooklyn Bridge. In this episode, you'll hear Professor Peter Spearitt from the University of Queensland, author of The Sydney Harbour Bridge: A Life and one of the country's biggest collectors of bridge memorabilia. Also Lily Partland, the ABC's cross media reporter for Ballarat and South West Victoria, and Sharon Kennedy from Bunbury in WA.

Water is the stuff of life. In this week's episode, Melbourne University historian Michael Cathcart talks about how water has shaped our nation. You'll also hear from David Murray from ABC Digital Radio's Beyond the Lab and Ross Kay from ABC Wide Bay in Queensland.

From the BBQ to bushfires, fire can serve us but also cause devastation. You'll hear Dr Janet Stanley, chief research officer at the Monash Sustainability Institute, who describes the mind of an arsonist. You'll also hear Linda Mottram from 702 ABC Sydney Mornings and Anthony L'Houillier from ABC Open in Port Augusta.

Many people fear being alone, but it's how we enter and exit this world. You'll meet Buddhist nun, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, who spent 12 years living in a cave in the Himalayas, three in strict meditation retreat. And you'll also hear ABC Open's Jo Joyce from the Sunshine Coast and Sally Bryant, ABC rural reporter in Dubbo.

The race that stops the nation - the Melbourne Cup - has inspired this week's episode on 'horses'. Meet Sam Jones, winner of the world's longest and toughest horse race, the Mongol Derby. And hear Lydia Burton, rural reporter in ABC Western Queensland and Lucie Bell, rural reporter for ABC North West WA in Karratha.

Pssst. Can you keep a secret? It's the theme of this week's episode, with former politician and activist, Meredith Burgmann, describing what it was like to look through hers and other Australian's ASIO files. You'll also hear Fred Hooper from 936 ABC Hobart and Kia Handley, from ABC Central West NSW.

Do you like your name? We've all got one, with research indicating that your name has a bearing on how others perceive you. You'll hear Bern Young from ABC Gold and Tweed Coasts and Ginger Gorman from 666 ABC Canberra. Professor Paul Frijters from the University of Queensland talks about 'alphabetical discrimination'.