Podcast appearances and mentions of sydney writers

What actually is foreign news in 2026, when stories of the world's pain and joy are accessible in the click of a button? And who can we trust to tell it? Recorded live at the Sydney Writers' Festival, Hamish and Geraldine talk to two veteran foreign reporters, about their careers and how to tell honest human stories in a world jam-packed with information. 

In this special recording of the Barries in front of a live audience of 600 at the Sydney Writers' festival, Barrie Cassidy and Tony Barry discuss why budget criticism is hurting Labor more than many anticipated. They also examine the Coalition's many leadership changes and ask who could take the reins next Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

At 48, Bill Hayes moved to New York. He took up photography, and never anticipated the surprise of falling in love with his neighbour, Dr Oliver Sacks,  a neurologist, a naturalist and a university professor. (R)Doctor Oliver Sacks became famous for writing case histories of his patients in books, including The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, and An Anthropologist on Mars.At 75 years old, Oliver had never been in a relationship, until he fell deeply in love with his neighbour Bill Hayes, who was decades younger than him.Bill and Oliver lived together until Oliver Sacks died in 2015, in his early eighties.Further informationBill's memoir Insomniac City was published in 2017 by Bloomsbury.This conversation was recorded at the 2017 Sydney Writers' Festival.The producer was Nicola Harrison and the Executive Producer was Pam O'Brien.

Growing up in Tokyo, Hiroko Yoda never thought of herself as religious, but after her mother died, she began exploring the spiritual traditions of Japan.She was inspired by the Shinto idea that there are '8 million spiritual beings', animating everything we encounter.In the different practices of Shintoism, Buddhism, and Shugendo, Hiroko found practical means of emotional support, and also ways of making her everyday life more beautiful.Further informationHiroko's book is called Eight Million Ways to HappinessShe will be appearing at this year's  Sydney Writers' Festival

Cheryl talks to Ann Mossop, Artistic Director of the 2026 Sydney Writers' Festival, for a special episode of Stories Behind the Story. Together, they explore this year's festival theme, highlight standout events, and discuss the exciting lineup of attending authors. The 2026 Sydney Writers' Festival runs from 17–24 May, with tickets now available via the official festival website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La escritora argentina, autora de "Nuestra parte de noche" y ganadora del World Fantasy Award, estará presente en la edición del Sydney Writers' Festival 2026. En una conversación con SBS Spanish, la autora más internacional del terror en español, habla sobre su proceso creativo, la adaptación de su obra para la pantalla y los peligros de un mundo donde la realidad y la ficción se confunden.

La escritora australiana-uruguaya Natalia Figueroa Barroso participa en el Sydney Writers' Festival 2026, donde presenta su obra marcada por la memoria, la migración y las raíces afroindígenas, su novela debut, Hailstones Fell Without Rain.

The Albanese government is planning a budget cash-splash, antisemitism at the Sydney Writers' Festival, at public schools and by strangers on public transport. Plus, the "Globalise the Intifada" forum is going ahead at a Sydney park.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Holden | Alan Kohler Australia, a land of sweeping plains, has one of the lowest population densities on the planet. So, how did we end up with a housing shortage? In conversation with economist and author Richard Holden, veteran finance journalist Alan Kohler’s new Quarterly Essay, The Great Divide: Australia’s Housing Crisis and How to Fix It, investigates where things went wrong at the start of the 21st century with escalating property prices leading to a rental crisis, a dearth of public housing and a mortgage crunch. This event is presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Alt is a Tokyo-based American author and translator who introduces Japanese pop culture to the world through his writing of articles and books, as well as his translations of games and manga. We asked him about the key aspects of learning Japanese and the challenges of translating Japanese manga. Mr Alt appears at the Melbourne Writers Festival (7-10) and the Sydney Writers' Festival (17-24) in May. - 記事や書籍の執筆、ゲームやマンガの翻訳などを通して、日本のポップカルチャーを世界に紹介している作家で翻訳家のマット・アルトさん。日本語学習で大切なことや、マンガの翻訳で難しいことなどを聞きました。

The far right is becoming more visible globally, including in Australia, through online activity and public protests involving extremist nationalist groups and neo-Nazi figures. But experts say understanding this rise requires looking at its deeper history. One key moment often pointed to is the 2017 Charlottesville rally in the US, where white supremacists, neo-Nazis and counter-protesters clashed violently, leaving one woman dead and many injured. In her book Charlottesville: An American Story, historian Deborah Baker examines not just the event, but the long history of racism and political tension that led to it. In this bonus episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Baker about why Charlottesville is seen as a turning point for the modern far right. You can see Deborah at Sydney Writers' Festival (17-24 May) Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As one of the world’s leading researchers in artificial intelligence, Toby Walsh has been awarded the Humbolt Research Award and elected as a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of AI. In The Shortest History of AI, Toby outlines the six key ideas for understanding artificial intelligence today. Hear Toby trace the origins of artificial intelligence in science and culture and predict where the technology is heading in the future. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monday Headlines: National Cabinet to discuss fuel crisis today Iran says it will ‘rain fire’ on US troops Emergency relief announced for residents after tropical Cyclone Narelle Australia to play a key role in this week’s moon expedition Kylie Minogue to headline AFL grand final Deep Dive: The state of democracy is always up for debate here in Australia - whether it’s the rise of One Nation, the influence of Donald Trump and his “voter fraud”, social algorithms, or just how well our democratic society is really functioning. While democracy is often seen as stable or even untouchable, that may not actually be the case. So, what does it take for a democratic society to function successfully? In this episode of The Briefing, David Moscrop, a Canadian political scientist and author of Too Dumb For Democracy, unpacks what happens when factors like emotion, technology, AI and our values begin to work against it. David Moscrop appears at Melbourne Writers Festival (7-10 May) and Sydney Writers' Festival (17-24 May) Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every family has its secrets—but what happens when a writer dives into the family archive to uncover and share those stories with the world? In this very special final episode of Season 7 (yes, already!) - recorded live on Gadigal land at the 2025 Sydney Writers Festival — Yves and Clare probe Australian-born Maori poet Anne-Marie Te Whiu (Mettle) and Queensland-born author and journalist Lech Blaine (Australian Gospel) about the promises and pitfalls of working with stories close to home. Why rattle the bones of family skeletons? How important it is to have one member of the family who is a hoarder of seemingly minor items or insignificant facts that can, to a writer, be like shards of gold? How to navigate the ethical and emotional minefield of finding uncomfortable truths about loved ones and forebears? And what does excavating the roots of the family tree do to the writer themselves?

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Walker. The British neuroscience professor is the author of “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams”, and he’s coming to Australia shortly to speak at Vivid Sydney in conjunction with the Sydney Writers' Festival. Walker has lately become the sleep expert of choice around the world for his deep research and clear thinking about one of life’s great mysteries – and necessities. This student of the sandman will be on stage in front of a packed audience at Sydney Town Hall on May 27, but for the moment, he joins Good Weekend senior writer Konrad Marshall for a chat about the incredible benefits of a good night's sleep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The scintillating chronicler of human weakness, Oscar Wilde, once said, “True friends stab you in the front”.  In this popular event, writer and presenter Annabel Crabb and writer David Marr lead opposing teams in a rollicking debate on the legitimacy of this aphorism about friends who betray each other.   Featuring debaters Matilda Boseley, Rhys Nicholson, Justine Rogers and Jennifer Wong, and adjudicated by Yumi Stynes, this debate is sure to get provocative, pithy and personal. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women’s bodies are a battleground for beauty capitalism with a constant pressure to reach unachievable beauty standards. Writer, presenter and entertainer Lucinda Price (aka Froomes) spent 30 years striving to fulfil those standards, which she unpacks in her debut memoir, All I Ever Wanted Was To Be Hot: Self image, beauty ideals and desirability. Nutritionist and lecturer Rebecca Reynolds teamed up with mental health author Bev Aisbett to write Beyond the Body Bully: How to love the body you’re in to improve the way we think about our bodies. And writer and researcher Chloe Elisabeth Wilson satirises the cult-like world of beauty by turning it into a real cult in her debut novel Rytual. Lucinda, Rebecca and Chloe discuss how they are helping to rewrite women’s relationships with beauty and their bodies, in conversation with Yumi Stynes.  This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. Please be aware this podcast discusses eating disorders and body image issues which may be distressing for some people. Resources and support can be found here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1998, at the beginning of his esteemed career as an international human rights lawyer, Philippe Sands was invited to advise Augusto Pinochet as the Chilean dictator faced arrest in London. Instead, Philippe chose to act as a barrister for Human Rights Watch, where he uncovered the well-hidden connection between Pinochet and former SS commander Walther Rauff. In his latest book, part memoir and part detective story, Philippe draws on interviews and archives to link two of the most brutal regimes of the 20th century at the infamous 38 Londres Street in Santiago. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The STEMMinist Book Club was founded in 2018 and is dedicated to reading and discussing books related to feminism and STEMM (science, technology, engineering, medicine and maths). The book club has over 5,000 members from 25 countries. As well as discussing great books, the book club provides a virtual discussion forum and support network for women and non-binary people working in these sectors. Come along to this special Festival edition of the STEMMinist Book Club to discuss the phenomenon of GPs who write. Hosted by Caroline Ford with guests Jumaana Abdu (Translations), Melanie Cheng (The Burrow) and Sarah Sasson (Tidelines), all of whom are doctors with brilliant new books. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Parthenon Marbles. The Benin Bronzes. Grandma's jewellery that she smuggled in her clothes, never to return. What if taking an object is the best way to keep a community's culture alive? Legal experts Sherine Al Shallah and Lucas Lixinski engage with old and new arguments about cultural objects. Bringing together perspectives from decolonisation and refugee practices, Sherine and Lucas dare us to think beyond our preconceived notions, showing that ‘whether’ to return can be an even more complicated question than we thought.If we think about cultural objects not as objects, but as conduits for human connection and identity, they argue, then we may have a chance of solving these complex ethical problems. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Time landed on multiple bestseller lists thanks to its highly original, genre-defying story, which combines elements of time travel, romance and spy thriller. Described by Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton as “outrageously brilliant”, Kaliane Bradley’s debut challenges the boundaries of literary and genre fiction as the past meets the future when a disaffected civil servant accepts a job at a mysterious new government ministry specialising in ‘historical expats’. Join Kaliane and host, Spectrum editor Melanie Kembrey, to unpack the triumph of Kaliane’s debut novel and what it means to change the world by defying history. With an introduction from Fiona Morrison. This event was co-presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since early 2023, MDMA has been authorised for use in Australia to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Still, it remains a controversial treatment publicly and among experts. Adam Bayes from the Black Dog Institute and researcher Rebecca Huntley, whose book Sassafras: A memoir of love, loss and MDMA Therapy recounts her experience of using MDMA to treat trauma, discuss the personal and medical cases for (and against) psychedelics. Learn more about this contentious treatment and hear Adam and Rebecca’s perspectives, in conversation with Norman Swan. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As state and federal governments move to criminalise forms of hate speech, it's time to look at what evidence shows about the effect that laws can have on hate speech and its victims, with legal expert Luke McNamara. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not two years after making Australian literary history with My Brilliant Career, Miles Franklin fell into obscurity – and when publishers rejected her subsequent novels, she left Australia for Chicago. Uncover the mysteries of the legend’s life with Kerrie Davies, whose Miles Franklin Undercover focuses on those lost years. It’s a real-life sequel to the classic Australian novel, using never-before-published material – including intimate correspondence with poet Banjo Paterson – from Miles’s years working as a servant. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robbie Coburn is a poet and author of the young adult verse novel The Foal in the Wire (Lothian/Hachette Australia, 2025). His poetry collections are Ghost Poetry (Upswell, 2024), And I Could Not Have Hurt You (Kiddiepunk, 2023), The Other Flesh (UWAP, 2019) and Rain Season (Picaro Press, 2013). He has also published several chapbooks and zines.His poems have been published in Australian and overseas journals including Meanjin, Island, Westerly, and Poetry (Chicago), and anthologised in Oystercatcher One  (5 Islands Press, 2024), To End All Wars (Puncher and Wattmann, 2018) and Writing to the Wire (UWAP, 2016).He has been featured at The Wheeler Centre and La Mama Poetica, appeared as a guest at literary festivals including the Sydney Writers' Festival, Canberra Writers Festival, Newcastle Writers Festival and Perth Poetry Festival, and run poetry workshops for youth mental health organisation Headspace.He grew up on a farm in Regional Victoria and now lives in Melbourne. Production & Interview: Tina Giannoukos

As one of the world’s leading researchers in artificial intelligence, Toby Walsh has been awarded the Humbolt Research Award and elected as a fellow of the Association for the Advancement of AI. In The Shortest History of AI, Toby outlines the six key ideas for understanding artificial intelligence today. Hear Toby trace the origins of artificial intelligence in science and culture and predict where the technology is heading in the future. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Bayes is leader in the field of mental health, working as a clinical academic psychologist at UNSW Sydney and a senior research fellow at the Black Dog Institute specialising in mood disorders including depressive and bipolar disorders. In this podcast Adam shares his cutting-edge research and clinical experience such as using ketamine to treat severe and treatment-resistant depression, a new development with promising results. This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new trend is currently taking social media users by storm - leaving some feeling relieved… and others very confused. Producer Olivia dives into the phenomenon of bathroom camping with clinical psychologist Dr Anna Sidis. Writers are among Australia's lowest-paid creatives, earning an average of $18.5k per year. A new, permanent home for the Sydney Writer's Festival at the State Library of NSW might go some way toward addressing the issue. Festival CEO Brooke Webb came into the studio for a chat. After developing tinnitus herself following an ear infection, producer Charlotte knows firsthand how isolating it can be. Last week, she spoke to audiologist Myriam Westcott to unpack the condition and how to manage it. The NSW branch of the Australian Communist Party held an unauthorised screening of the documentary 'To Kill A War Machine', which features UK-based activist group Palestine Action. Backchat producer Gabriella attended the screening and spoke to party members Alice and Dan about the choice to screen the doco. Producer Jaspar was also on the road this week, attending the launch of NSW Socialists, the state's newest official political party. His full chat with party secretary Eleanor Morley will be featured in a standalone podcast episode coming this week. This episode of Backchat was produced by Charlotte Saker, Gabriella Accaria, Olivia Nunes-Malek, Holly Payne and Jaspar McCahon-Boersma. Executive produced by Bec Cushway.Hosted by Dani Zhang and Jaspar McCahon-Boersma. Aired 2 August 2025 on Gadigal land. Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soaring and crashing stock prices, resigning CEOs and out of control labour practices: what is going on with Australian businesses? Award-winning labour relations lawyer and author of Working for the Brand: how corporations are destroying free speech, Josh Bornstein and award-winning senior business writer and investigative journalist Adele Ferguson join host Richard Holden to consider the state of business. Get your head around the latest scandals, analyse business-employee relations and discover the ethical challenges shaping the future of corporate Australia.  This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney. Presented in partnership with the State Library of NSW.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April 1980, a group of armed men invaded the Iranian Embassy in London, taking hostages, and issuing demands in the name of a cause almost no one had ever heard of.The 'Group of the Martyr', a collection of Iranian Arabs, wanted independence for their province of Iran, but their demands were impossible for the British Government to meet, and so the then-little known Special Air Service (SAS) were told to plan an invasion of the building to rescue the hostages.They had taken 26 people hostage, including staff, visitors and a police officer named Trevor who was guarding the building at the time of the attack.What followed was a six-day siege, that was eventually broken by the SAS.Their storming of the embassy galvanised the world, as people watched it all unfold on live television.Historian and author Ben McIntyre takes a deeper look at this dramatic siege and rescue operation, uncovering the real, powerful story of ordinary people responding as best they could to lethal jeopardy.Further informationThe Siege is published by Penguin Random House.This episode was recorded live at the 2025 Sydney Writers' Festival.It explores Iran, Tehran, terrorism, violence, threats, diplomacy, rescue missions, epic history, western democracy, dictatorship, foreign affairs, global politics, east vs west, occupation, war, civil war, BBC, journalism, live television, media ethics, Afrouz, MI5, Hyde Park, surveillance, Stockholm Syndrome, Mustapha Karkouti, Syria, Operation Nimrod, Jassim Alwan al-Nasiri, Abbas Lavasani, murder, execution, Saddam Hussein, Iraq, Iran-Iraq War, the Middle East, history books, writing.Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.

Ian Rankin introduced Detective John Rebus in his 1987 novel Knots and Crosses. Since then, Rankin has published another two dozen books in the series and has sold almost 40 million books to date. Unsurprisingly, he’s now Sir Ian Rankin. This week, Michael sits down with Ian at Sydney Writers’ Festival for discussion about his latest Rebus book, Midnight and Blue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Rankin introduced Detective John Rebus in his 1987 novel Knots and Crosses. Since then, Rankin has published another two dozen books in the series and has sold almost 40 million books to date. Unsurprisingly, he’s now Sir Ian Rankin. This week, Michael sits down with Ian at Sydney Writers’ Festival for discussion about his latest Rebus book, Midnight and Blue. Reading list: Knots and Crosses, Ian Rankin, 1987 Black and Blue, Ian Rankin, 1997 The Hanging Garden, Ian Rankin, 1998 Standing in Another Man's Grave, Ian Rankin, 2012 Midnight and Blue, Ian Rankin, 2025 A Killing Kindness, Reginald Hill, 1980 In the Woods, Tana French, 2007 The Broken Shore, Peter Temple, 2005 You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store. Socials: Stay in touch with Read This on Instagram Guest: Ian RankinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democracy has established itself as a form of government in many parts of the world. But you also have to admit that there is a lot of dissatisfaction with democracy and that many people long for 'strong men — or women — to really take action. Marcel Dirsus is a young German political scientist who knows this desire for strength and warns against it. He has written a highly acclaimed book called “How Tyrants Fall” and presented it at the Sydney Writers' Festival. But, he was asked, are there still many tyrants? - Die Demokratie hat sich als Regierungsform in vielen Teilen der Welt etabliert. Man muss aber auch gestehen, dass es viel Unzufriedenheit mit der Demokratie gibt und viele Menschen sich nach 'Starken Männern - oder Frauen' - sehnen, die mal so richtig durchgreifen. Marcel Dirsus ist ein junger deutscher Politikwissenschaftler, der diesen Wunsch nach Stärke kennt und davor warnt. Er hat ein vielbeachtetes Buch unter dem Titel 'How Tyrants Fall' geschrieben und beim Sydney Writers' Festival vorgestellt. Aber, so wurde er gefragt, gibt es denn noch viele Tyrannen?

Renowned author Colm Tóibín's international bestseller Brooklyn deals with the agonies of trying to adapt to the customs of a strange new land. When we meet main character Eilis Lacey 20 years later, in Tóibín’s latest novel, Long Island, she again grapples with the pull of her home country Ireland. So what does Tóibín make of our yearning to belong, and how it can twist us internally? How it can drive otherwise rational people to damn entire groups of people? In this special episode, Tóibín, who is in Australia for the Sydney Writers’ Festival and the Melbourne Writers Festival, toys with these themes in a discussion on migrants, Donald Trump and the new Pope. And the times when even he can’t find the right words, in his own life.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renowned author Colm Tóibín's international bestseller Brooklyn deals with the agonies of trying to adapt to the customs of a strange new land. When we meet main character Eilis Lacey 20 years later, in Tóibín’s latest novel, Long Island, she again grapples with the pull of her home country Ireland. So what does Tóibín make of our yearning to belong, and how it can twist us internally? How it can drive otherwise rational people to damn entire groups of people? In this special episode, Tóibín, who is in Australia for the Sydney Writers’ Festival and the Melbourne Writers Festival, toys with these themes in a discussion on migrants, Donald Trump and the new Pope. And the times when even he can’t find the right words, in his own life.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcel Dirsus is fascinated by the treadmill of tyranny: how dictators gain power, how they stay there and how they fall. This is his blueprint for bringing an end to authoritarianism.With democracies seemingly faltering worldwide, political scientist and writer Marcel Dirsus is putting tyrants under the microscope to better understand how they rise and how they fall.Years ago, Marcel took a break from his university studies and travelled to central Africa, where he took a job in a brewery.One day, while walking to work, he heard shots fired and an explosion in the distance as the military was launching a coup.The experience terrified him, and drew him into a study of tyrants — the dictators and despots who make life miserable for so many people on the planet.While they project an image of strength, guarded on all sides, and surrounded by people who do their bidding, Marcel says they live in fear.For the road to power is often flanked by the road to revolution.These men know a mass uprising, an assassination, a mutiny or a foreign invasion could end their reign at any moment, and who, or what will take their place?In investigating the long history of tyrannical leaders, however, Marcel has found a renewed optimism for Western Democracy.How Tyrants Fall: And How Nations Survive is published by Hachette Australia.Marcel is appearing at the Sydney Writers' Festival on Friday 23 May.This episode of Conversations explores Putin, Xi Jinping, China, CCP, Russia, Trump, global politics, dictatorships, democracy, voting rights, election results, the new world order, Stalin, Hitler, famous leaders, Churchill, politics, books, writing, history, war, civil war, Africa, USSR, Elon Musk, Gaddafi, golden gun, torture, Libya, Syria, control, Machiavelli, monarchs, Al-Ghazali, East Germany, Congo, academia, what to study at university, coup, the elite, power systems, Cold War, Bashar al-Assad, Ukraine, surveillance, Roman Empire.

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Walker. The British neuroscience professor is the author of “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams”, and he’s coming to Australia shortly to speak at Vivid Sydney in conjunction with the Sydney Writers' Festival. Walker has lately become the sleep expert of choice around the world for his deep research and clear thinking about one of life’s great mysteries – and necessities. This student of the sandman will be on stage in front of a packed audience at Sydney Town Hall on May 27, but for the moment, he joins Good Weekend senior writer Konrad Marshall for a chat about the incredible benefits of a good night's sleep.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ann Mossop is the artistic director of the upcoming Sydney Writers' Festival. As someone who is really in touch with what's hot in the world of publishing, she comes with her top book recommendations that are actually worth your time. 

Ever wonder how personal experiences fuel creativity? On episode 46 of The B-side with James Barrow podcast, I catch up with Jonathan Seidler, an author, creative director, and music critic who brings a fresh perspective on culture and mental health. He's written for The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, and has a column for Esquire that dives into men's mental health and fatherhood. With a background at agencies like Leo Burnett and M&C Saatchi in Australia and London, Jonathan knows how to craft campaigns that resonate.His memoir, It's A Shame About Ray, got rave reviews and was even turned into a live performance at the Sydney Writers' Festival 2023. Plus, his debut novel, All the Beautiful Things You Love, is out now from Pan Macmillan.We kick it off talking about Jonathan's background and how he went from studying law to find a home in the creative industry. He shares some personal stories about the people and experiences that shaped his creative journey, what fuels his creativity and how his diverse influences come together in his work. He also talks about his love for music (being an unashamed Nu-metal apologist) and how creative polymaths like Tyler, the Creator and Pharrell inspire him.We jam on his creative process, exploring how he goes from a rough idea to a finished project using the 12 box method. Jonathan opens up about the emotional heart of his memoir, It's A Shame About Ray, and why writing about his father's struggles with mental illness felt so important to him. Then we get into the inspiration behind All the Beautiful Things You Love. Jonathan reflects on the experiences he and his ex-partner went through after their breakup, including selling their shared belongings and the interesting characters he met along the way.He also gives some great tips for beating creative block and staying inspired. Plus, he reflects on a piece of work he's particularly proud of and talks about how having diverse experiences and interests shapes his storytelling. And as we wrap up, he shares some solid advice for anyone looking to follow a similar path, along with his creative philosophy.This was a fascinating conversation, full of insights that are both inspiring and practical. If you want to learn more about how personal experiences drive creativity and the value of diverse perspectives in storytelling, give it a listen. Cheers!All the Beautiful things you love is available here: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781761269547/or here: https://www.amazon.com.au/All-Beautiful-Things-You-Love/dp/1761269542 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This special episode was recorded live at the 2024 Sydney Writers' Festival with Emile and Lloyd joined on stage by eminent philosopher A.C Grayling and digital content creator Mary McGillivray. Together they consider the merits and pitfalls of various forms of factual information distribution. This is arguably the greatest time in the history of the world for reading, with literally the entirety of human knowledge available in books or in the online world of articles, blogs etc. If you want to develop a deep understanding of the world we live in, you just have to read. But with the rise of online video platforms like YouTube and TikTok, many people - young people in particular, are getting their factual content, not from reading, but from these alternative sources. Research has shown that we are evolutionarily adapted to taking in knowledge audiovisually - we apparently process video images 60,000 times faster than text - and that reading, as a form of communication is complex and inefficient.For a long time, reading was the only available technology to disseminate ideas beyond the campfire, fuelled most powerfully by the invention of the printing press. Now that we have the technology to create video content, which sits most naturally with the way we're evolved to take in information, maybe we should thank reading for its help in bridging the techno- gap, and let our books collect dust as we finally return to the way we most naturally absorb knowledge about the world.In this conversation we look at the tsunami of non-fiction video content that has taken so many young people's attention away from the written word, and ask whether it's a merciful release from the boring and inefficient world of reading, a release into a promised land of enlivened, engaging, memorable video content, or whether it signals a slow spiral into a shallow, unfocused, unimaginative and insubstantial way of understanding of the world we live in.~~~~You can be part of the discussion @PofCharity on Twitter, @PrincipleofCharity on Facebook and @PrincipleofCharityPodcast on Instagram. Your hosts are Lloyd Vogelman and Emile Sherman. Find Lloyd @LloydVogelman on Linked in Find Emile @EmileSherman on Linked In and Twitter. This Podcast is Produced by Jonah Primo and Sabrina Organo Find Jonah at jonahprimo.com or @JonahPrimo on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Content warning: misogynistic violence, sexual assault] When Kate Manne's first book Down Girl, a tightly argued analysis of misogyny, was published shortly after the full exposé of Harvey Weinstein, she became ‘the philosopher of #MeToo' – someone who could explain in crisp and compelling terms what misogyny is and how it works. With her trademark combination of philosophical rigor and vivid storytelling, her next book Entitled took aim at male privilege and how it hurts women. Her new book Unshrinking: How to Fight Fatphobia targets particularly prevalent and oppressive aspects of misogyny – fatphobia and diet culture – proposing a radical rethinking of our bodies and the world. In her closing address, join Kate to build on this extraordinary body of work and consider what recent activism has changed, what has resolutely stayed the same and what has worsened. What might the future of misogyny look like? This episode was recorded live at the 2024 Sydney Writers' Festival.   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.  Sydney Writers' Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.  After more? Follow Sydney Writers' Festival on social media:Instagram: @sydwritersfestFacebook: @SydWritersFestX (Twitter): @SydWritersFestTikTok: @sydwritersfestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss Part One, Chapters 1-11 of Eric Redman's new Hawaiian Noir novel, Death in Hilo. Kawika Wong is in the prime of his career, leading the homicide squad at the Honolulu Police Department, but it all could come crumbling down when a criminal he put away a decade ago begins hinting towards the truth of a case Kawika thought he had put behind him. With a serial killer on the streets, and the bones of an old case peeking above the ground, Kawika's duties are torn. But he can't see everything we can... We also speak with Australian fantasy author Garth Nix about authority, suspense, and the lessons he's learned from crime fiction. Thank you to the University of Hawaii, Pineapple Tweed, and Crooked Lane for providing copies of 'Death in Hilo' and arranging for us to speak with Eric Redman. Thank you to Sydney Writers' Festival and Allen & Unwin for arranging our time with Garth Nix.

Crabb shows Sales an extraordinary dance routine by Hollywood A-lister Tom Holland (and later is crushed by her teenage daughter acidly informing her that everyone in the world saw that video seven years ago when it first came out). Who cares, because Leigh Sales is touring with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, and Crabb is interviewing Ann Patchett for the Sydney Writers' Festival, so suck on that, kids. Listen now on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Watch the full video on YOUTUBE  READ FULL SHOWNOTES ON Chat10Looks3.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Annabel Crabb and Artistic Director Ann Mossop as they discuss the 2024 Sydney Writers' Festival program. The pair talk about the 2024 Festival theme, Take Me Away, and how books let us escape into different worlds, live other lives and travel in time and space.  The 2024 Sydney Writers' Festival is out now. Head to our website to explore the program: https://www.swf.org.au/ Tickets on sale Saturday 9 March at 10am.  Thank you to 2SER for facilitating the recording of this podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Content warning: Child sexual abuse] Join internet darling Daniel Lavery as he lifts the lid on his writing life and Dear Prudence, a collection of the weirdest and wildest questions received during his tenure as Slate's agony aunt. Filled with his always sympathetic, thoughtful and good-humoured advice, it offers a good dose of sense and compassion in an increasingly wonky world. Daniel reveals the secrets to dispensing wise counsel and talks about his broader career as the co-founder of legendary website The Toast and a New York Times–bestselling author. In conversation with Mon Schafter. This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Sydney Writers' Festival.   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.  Sydney Writers' Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.  After more? Follow Sydney Writers' Festival on social media:Instagram: @sydwritersfestFacebook: @SydWritersFestX (Twitter): @SydWritersFestTikTok: @sydwritersfestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Curiosity Lecture series returns to the Festival with a line-up of our most thought-provoking speakers delivering one-time talks on topics of intrigue, interest and importance. In this entertaining talk, author Tabitha Carvan shares the story of how falling for Benedict Cumberbatch while stuck at home with two young children became an unlikely catalyst for self-discovery. She casts light on what becomes of women's passions in adulthood and what happens if you subvert the narrative and simply love something like you used to. Supported by UNSW Sydney. This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Sydney Writers' Festival.   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.  Sydney Writers' Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.  After more? Follow Sydney Writers' Festival on social media:Instagram: @sydwritersfestFacebook: @SydWritersFestX (Twitter): @SydWritersFestTikTok: @sydwritersfestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

[Content warning: Sexual assault and paedophilia] Women and girls have long been pressured to conform to written and unwritten rules about how to think, act, look and feel. But a new generation of writers and activists are breaking down barriers to allow women and girls to show their real selves.  Hear from Wadjanbarra Yidinji, Jirrbal and African-American filmmaker and Gigorou author Sasha Kutabah Sarago and activist for sexual assault survivors and The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner author Grace Tame in conversation with disability and women's rights advocate Hannah Diviney about their pathbreaking work. This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Sydney Writers' Festival.   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.  Sydney Writers' Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.  After more? Follow Sydney Writers' Festival on social media:Instagram: @sydwritersfestFacebook: @SydWritersFestX (Twitter): @SydWritersFestTikTok: @sydwritersfestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrated Ukrainian novelist Andrey Kurkov has been one of the most important voices throughout the Russian invasion of his adopted homeland, releasing frequent dispatches from Kyiv and the remote countryside. See him in conversation about Diary of an Invasion, his searing on-the-ground account of the human toll of the war, the interrelated history between the nations, and how language itself has become a battleground in the conflict. Andrey speaks live via video with on-stage interviewer Matt Bevan. Supported by ARA. This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Sydney Writers' Festival.   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.  Sydney Writers' Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.  After more? Follow Sydney Writers' Festival on social media:Instagram: @sydwritersfestFacebook: @SydWritersFestX (Twitter): @SydWritersFestTikTok: @sydwritersfestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Ghassan Hage's seminal study on racism in Australia, White Nation, was published 25 years ago, the Cronulla riots, Christchurch massacre and Black Lives Matter movement all lay ahead. Hear from a lively panel of writers and thinkers as they consider how racism and white privilege have changed here since then and what lies ahead. Anthropologist and social critic Ghassan Hage, Palestinian-Egyptian author and academic Randa Abdel-Fattah, The Sydney Morning Herald culture editor Osman Faruqi, and Gomeroi academic and author Amy Thunig are joined in conversation by global diaspora expert Andonis Piperoglou. Presented with Sweatshop: Western Sydney Literacy Movement. This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Sydney Writers' Festival.   If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.  Sydney Writers' Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.  After more? Follow Sydney Writers' Festival on social media:Instagram: @sydwritersfestFacebook: @SydWritersFestX (Twitter): @SydWritersFestTikTok: @sydwritersfestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our cultural narrative says there is no supernatural or transcendent realm. The CPX team wants to break that spell.  --- Seen & Heard is back – and this time, the team have disenchantment in their sights, or the belief that there is no more supernatural or transcendent realm to life, that science is the only verifiable path to truth, and that all things religious are debunked, once and for all.  But is this true? The books and films we've been reading and watching might disagree.   Natasha highlights beloved Australian author Helen Garner's encounter with an angel and our flirtation with the supernatural through occasions like Halloween, before taking us through the supernatural stylings of the latest Poirot film A Haunting in Venice, based (extremely loosely) on Agatha Christie's 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party.   Simon has been reading the biography of tennis icon and former World No. 1 Andre Agassi who, it turns out, hated tennis and wrestled with fame, but discovered that helping people is the “only perfection there is”.   A world that has cast off religion and the transcendent also leaves behind any account of the good life that goes along with those claims. Yet Agassi discovered that being the best tennis player in the world didn't fulfil him. Only serving others did, which resonates with the Christian claim that the good life is a life lived for others.   And Justine raves about Susannah Clarke's novel Piranesi and its vivid portrayal of what the disenchanted view of the world lacks: wonder, deep communion with the world, joy, and hope. Plus, Justine makes a bold claim:  Susannah Clarke is the 21st-century successor to C.S. Lewis.  --  Explore  Helen Garner describing her angelic encounter at the 2018 Sydney Writers' Festival (from 30 mins)  Sean Kelly's column mentioning Hilary Mantel's possibly demonic encounter  Trailer for A Haunting in Venice  Natasha's article on Halloween, published in the Sydney Morning Herald  Andre Agassi's Open: An Autobiography  The Guardian's interview with Susannah Clarke  Piranesi by Susannah Clarke  Wikipedia entry on the real-life Piranesi, the 18th-century architect and artist