Qualitative conversations is a series of films where experienced qualitative researchers talk about their research practice and life.

Each episode explores some dimension of doing, engaging with and/or teaching qualitative research. Guest on the show are typically renowned scholars from around the world and within different fields of enquiry. The programmes are presented by myself and Kitrina Douglas, and are most times informal conversations over breakfast, lunch or dinner.

In this episode Kitrina and I talk to a long time friend Gayle Letherby about her research. Gayle describes many of the issues and subjects she is currently interested in, whcih include theorizing subjectivity, the forward slash/ between auto/biography, and about including in our research all the messy details that give context and about different ways of writing and communicating research. Its filmed in Cornwall, Gayle’s home county.

In this conversation Djenane provides some powerful insights about the challenges of working in health care provision within pharmacology.

Here Alec Grant talks about collaborative autoethnography, hyphen identities and the importance of telling stories that challenge the dominant narrative about mental illness. He shares some ideas about why different writing strategies are important, how to become a better storytellers.

In this episode Durell and Dominque talk about the creative process behind their collaborative work, about how “ensemble” makes it possible to begin to be politically aware of “who” is not represented. They reflect on how particular spaces (for example institutional buildings) can inhibit interdisciplinary collaborations and how Autoethnography, provokes responsibility for what we say, write and choose to present. The conversation is concluded with a short performance of one of their pieces.

Here Marcelo Diversi talks about his storytelling approach to social research and his commitment to social justice scholarship. Filmed during the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry Marcelo reflects on how growing up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, continues to shape his research and philosophy.

In this film we talk with Cornishman Ken Gale about how his background, growing up in a ‘working’ class family in Cornwall and how his childhood experiences have shaped his current research practices. Ken reflects on the importance of collaborative writing, DWEMS, his understanding of Deluze, and changing the question from “what is?” to “what if?”

In this episode this episode Tony Adams talks about narrating forgiveness, situational ethics, invitational interviewing, some of the problems with “member checking”, and autoethnography.

In this episode we join Arthur Bochner reflecting on his journey to narrative and autoethnography, and what issues currently concern and motivate his scholarship.

Here Carolyn Ellis talks about compassionate interviewing, evocative autoethnography and her hopes for the future of qualitative research.

The genesis and idea for making these films were our visits with Kim Etherington a good friend and colleague. In this film, the first in the series, we travel to Kim’s home in Melton Mowbry to share extracts from our conversations about reflexivity and “Becoming A Reflexive Researcher”.