Whilst attending a conference in the not too distant past, I was fortunate enough to be seated at lunch next to a very eminent octogenarian academic. Conversation ensued, and I was instantly captivated by his stories. These were not narratives filled with scientific facts, but rather anecdotes of his life and the pathways he had taken to get where he was today. Fascinated by such accounts, I set about the task of interviewing persons of scientific acclaim, to learn more about their life stories and unwritten tales. 'In conversation with…' therefore offers readers a chance to share an abridged version of these conversations. (In view of the need to condense 4 h of conversation, the original interview text has been abridged, and then reviewed, revised, and approved by TFH.).