Fidler came to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS), an Australian musical comedy group also comprising Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott.
The group disbanded in 1994.

Fidler began his broadcast career on TV and presented shows including Race Around the World, Aftershock, Mouthing Off and Vulture.

In 2001, he was elected to the national committee of the Australian Republican Movement and was the chair of their Constitutional Issues committee.
He resigned from these positions in 2007.

In 2005, Fidler moved to Brisbane, Queensland, to host the 7pm to 10pm shift on ABC Local Radio station 612 ABC Brisbane.
The following year, he took on the newly configured 11am to 3pm shift on 612 ABC.
The first hour, a long-form interview program known as Conversations, was also heard on 702 ABC Sydney.
Since 2012 Fidler has focused solely on Conversations.
The show is heard each weekday between 11:05 am and midday on ABC Local Radio in all Australian states except Victoria.
It is replayed on ABC Radio National at 3pm and at 4pm on Saturdays.
Conversations is the ABC's most downloaded podcast.
In December 2015, Conversations was named by iTunes Australia as 2015's Best Classic Podcast and Most Downloaded Podcast.
It was again iTunes Australia's Most Downloaded Podcast in 2016, and 2017.

In 2018, the program's name changed to Conversations and former Radio National arts journalist Sarah Kanowski joined Fidler as a regular host.
The two presenters share duties, with Fidler usually presenting on Monday to Wednesday and Kanowski on Thursday and Friday.

In 2011, Fidler was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate new forms of public radio in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Saga Land, written with Kari Gislason (ABC Books, 2019) was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Douglas Stewart Prize for non-Fiction.

Fidler is the immediate past-president of Brisbane's Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and a member of its board of directors.
Fidler came to prominence in the 1980s as a member of the Doug Anthony All Stars (DAAS), an Australian musical comedy group also comprising Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott. The group disbanded in 1994.
Fidler began his broadcast career on TV and presented shows including Race Around the World, Aftershock, Mouthing Off and Vulture.
In 2001, he was elected to the national committee of the Australian Republican Movement and was the chair of their Constitutional Issues committee. He resigned from these positions in 2007.
In 2005, Fidler moved to Brisbane, Queensland, to host the 7pm to 10pm shift on ABC Local Radio station 612 ABC Brisbane. The following year, he took on the newly configured 11am to 3pm shift on 612 ABC. The first hour, a long-form interview program known as Conversations, was also heard on 702 ABC Sydney. Since 2012 Fidler has focused solely on Conversations. The show is heard each weekday between 11:05 am and midday on ABC Local Radio in all Australian states except Victoria. It is replayed on ABC Radio National at 3pm and at 4pm on Saturdays. Conversations is the ABC's most downloaded podcast. In December 2015, Conversations was named by iTunes Australia as 2015's Best Classic Podcast and Most Downloaded Podcast. It was again iTunes Australia's Most Downloaded Podcast in 2016, and 2017.
In 2018, the program's name changed to Conversations and former Radio National arts journalist Sarah Kanowski joined Fidler as a regular host. The two presenters share duties, with Fidler usually presenting on Monday to Wednesday and Kanowski on Thursday and Friday.
In 2011, Fidler was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate new forms of public radio in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Saga Land, written with Kari Gislason (ABC Books, 2019) was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Douglas Stewart Prize for non-Fiction.
Fidler is the immediate past-president of Brisbane's Institute of Modern Art (IMA) and a member of its board of directors.
Richard Fidler