After a five year hiatus, we bring back You Can’t Ask That to unpack and explore the experiences of misunderstood and marginalised Australians. While the world has changed since we last made the show, the need for honest, courageous questions remains as vital as ever.
This is a deeply personal project for me. The series has given me the opportunity to ask difficult questions and learn from some of our country’s most powerful, but often hidden, voices. Their stories continually impact the way I understand the world.
In bringing the show back, I wanted the new episodes to reflect the world we currently find ourselves in. This season includes episodes on Voluntary Assisted Dying, people who’ve been scammed and survivors of war.
If you have a question, or are part of one of the groups featured this season and would like to share your experience, please get in touch.
Kirk Docker is one of Australia’s finest interviewers and storytellers. He is the co-creator and director of the ABC program You Can’t Ask That, now in its 8th season. The series has won Rose d’Or, AACTA and Walkley awards and remains the most successful format in ABC history, selling to 32 territories and broadcasting in nine languages worldwide.
He is also the co-creator and director of I Was Actually There, now in its 3rd season, a factual series that explores extraordinary events through the first-hand accounts of those who lived them.
When it comes to the stories he tells, no subject is off limits. Kirk’s interviewees range from former politicians to ice users to survivors of sexual assault. He brings a deep curiosity, compassion and playfulness that elicits honesty from his interviewees, who have often never sat in front of a camera before.
After thousands of hours of open dialogue, one truth has become clear to him: regardless of belief, background or status, every person shares a fundamental desire to be understood.
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YOU CAN'T ASK THAT
For 7 years I made a show for the ABC called You Can’t Ask That. There are 65 episodes over 7 seasons of the show. It is the most successful format in ABC history, with 35 seasons around the world in 9 languages.
For those that don’t know the show I’d describe it as an interview show, where each episode we focus on a misunderstood or marginalised group of Australians – it could be Muslims or people living with Schizophrenia or Bogans. All our participants live with a label. What we’re trying to do is go past this label and understand who they truly are. We do that by asking the questions you shouldn’t ask. Maybe you’d like to, but the questions are too rude or too insensitive or maybe you don’t have access to that person to ask it. Each person then gets to answer these questions however they like. The show only features people with first hand experience, so no experts or family speaking on anyone else’s behalf. Just a group of people with a label, talking about what it’s like to be them.
KIRK DOCKER
KIRK DOCKER
After a five year hiatus, we bring back You Can’t Ask That to unpack and explore the experiences of misunderstood and marginalised Australians. While the world has changed since we last made the show, the need for honest, courageous questions remains as vital as ever.
This is a deeply personal project for me. The series has given me the opportunity to ask difficult questions and learn from some of our country’s most powerful, but often hidden, voices. Their stories continually impact the way I understand the world.
In bringing the show back, I wanted the new episodes to reflect the world we currently find ourselves in. This season includes episodes on Voluntary Assisted Dying, people who’ve been scammed and survivors of war.
If you have a question, or are part of one of the groups featured this season and would like to share your experience, please get in touch.
Kirk Docker is one of Australia’s finest interviewers and storytellers. He is the co-creator and director of the ABC program You Can’t Ask That, now in its 7th season. The show has been awarded Rose d’Or, AACTA and Walkley awards and is the most successful format in ABC history, selling to 32 territories, and broadcast in 9 different languages world wide. When it comes to the content he creates, no subject is off-topic. Kirk’s interviewees range from ex-politicians to ice users to sexual assault survivors. He has a deep curiosity, compassion and playfulness that elicits honesty from his participants, many of whom have never sat in front of a camera before. Through thousands of hours of open dialogue, what’s become absolutely clear to Kirk is that every human, no matter what they believe or how high their stature, share a core value: the desire to be understood.
SUBSCRIBE
NEWS
yOU CAN'T ASK THAT
For 7 years I made a show for the ABC called You Can’t Ask That. There are 65 episodes over 7 seasons of the show. It is the most successful format in ABC history, with 35 seasons around the world in 9 languages.
For those that don’t know the show I’d describe it as an interview show, where each episode we focus on a misunderstood or marginalised group of Australians – it could be Muslims or people living with Schizophrenia or Bogans. All our participants live with a label. What’re we’re trying to do is go past this label and understand who they truly are. We do that by asking the questions you shouldn’t ask. Maybe you’d like to, but the questions are too rude or too insensitive or maybe you don’t have access to that person to ask it. Each person then gets to answer these questions however they like. The show only features people with first hand experience, so no experts or family speaking on anyone else’s behalf. Just a group of people with a label, talking about what it’s like to be them.
SPEAKING AND WORKSHOPS
My interactive keynotes and workshops unpack the processes and techniques of the interview, helping audiences communicate more productively in the workplace and everyday life.
Each session challenges you to consider the purpose of your dialogue and builds your ability to ask high-level questions that lead to revelations and new understanding.
They’re also practical. You leave with a repeatable tool and process. A clear system for deconstructing the barriers to effective dialogue.
I’ve worked with organisations across consulting, government, media, education, corporate and the not-for-profit sector, including: McKinsey & Company, Accenture, QANTAS, IKEA, Comcare, King & Wood Mallesons, The University of Melbourne, SBS and Mission Australia.
Contact me for speaking or workshop bookings –conor@dockermedia.com.au
SPEAKING AND WORKSHOPS
In my interactive keynotes and workshops I unpack the processes and techniques of the interview to help my audience communicate more productively in the workplace and everyday life. My sessions will challenge you consider the purpose of your dialogue and instil the ability to ask high-level questions that lead to revelations and new understandings. At the heart of my sessions is the ability to walk away with a repeatable tool and process – a system for deconstructing the barriers for effective dialogue.
Contact me for speaking or workshop bookings – conor@dockermedia.com.au
My interactive keynotes and workshops unpack the processes and techniques of the interview, helping audiences communicate more productively in the workplace and everyday life.
Each session challenges you to consider the purpose of your dialogue and builds your ability to ask high-level questions that lead to revelations and new understanding.
They’re also practical. You leave with a repeatable tool and process. A clear system for deconstructing the barriers to effective dialogue.
I’ve worked with organisations across consulting, government, media, education, corporate and the not-for-profit sector, including: McKinsey & Company, Accenture, QANTAS, IKEA, Comcare, King & Wood Mallesons, The University of Melbourne, SBS and Mission Australia.
Contact me for speaking or workshop bookings – conor@dockermedia.com.au
PRESS
Sydney Morning Herald: Kirk previews the powerful new season of ABC hit series I Was Actually There. Read here
Kirk Docker wins Best Director for non-fiction TV at the AACTAs 2022.
Podcast: Getting a grilling on Mark Bouris’ show, ‘Straight Talk‘
ABC Backstory: “Kirk Docker on what happens behind the scenes & the most brutal questions he’s had to ask.” Read Here.
Sydney Morning Herald: “You Can’t Ask That’s domestic violence episode is the kind of reality TV we need.” Read Here.
OTHER SHOWS
VIVE COOL CITY
HUNGRY BEAST, ABC
HELLO STRANGER, ABC
DEMOLITION MAN, A&E