Rephonic
Artwork for First Read
Penguin
Immigration
Developmental Pediatrics
Non-Fiction Books
Co-Regulation
Stuff the British Stole
Migration
Mental Health
Parenting
Boys and Gender Norms
British Empire
Perimenopause
Museums
Repatriation
Women Who Win
Menopause
Geelong Revival Centre
Journalism
Creativity
Art

The meeting ground for big ideas, compelling stories, and the conversations shaping our world. Insightful author interviews with leading thinkers, bestselling writers, and the experts behind today's most talked-about non-fiction books. Join Charle Malycon for this weekly podcast from Penguin, providing thoughtful conversation, expert analysis, and engaging cultural commentary. From politics, histo... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes11Founded2 months ago
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Artwork for First Read

Latest Episodes

What happens when our boys and their behaviour starts spiralling out of control? In Part 1 of our in-depth interview with developmental paediatrician Dr Billy Garvey, author of Ten Things I Wish You Knew About Raising Boys, we step through how to nav... more

What happens when the conversation around immigration reaches fever pitch? For political journalist George Megalogenis, it comes back to the data. In this in depth interview, we delve into the third book in the George's trilogy on Australia's politic... more

What happens when our brains are bombarded by consistent sensory and mental overload? We talk to clinical psychologist Dr Anastasia Hronis, gambling and addiction expert to understand to how to overcome the overstimulation that our modern lives so of... more

What happens when you encounter the perfect storm - caring for young kids, peaking career demands, sick parents - and then your brain is suddenly hijacked by anxiety, brain fog and rage? For Dr Fatima Khan, it led her to writing her groundbreaking bo... more

What happens when we share our art, no matter how imperfect? For artist and author Amie McNee, that's when the power of creativity truly begins to shine. In this enlightening conversation, we we talk about why so many of us need permission to create,... more

What happens when a work and energy expert experiences extreme burnout? For Dr. Amantha Imber, it gave her the impetus to start researching how to gameify energy and to write her most personal book yet. We talk through the four energy types, how to m... more

What happens when the most difficult period of your life is broadcast live across the country? For Antoinette Lattouf, the answer was to write. During her landmark court case against the countries public broadcaster for unlawful termination, she turn... more

What happens when your whole life has been controlled by the confines of a cult, and you finally break free? Bek Condello's experience within the doomsday cult Geelong Revival Centre is what begins her new book, Can You Handle A Girl Like Me, but it'... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Dr. Billy Garvey
Developmental pediatrician, social entrepreneur, podcaster, and author
Self/The book author
Episode: Dr. Billy Garvey on Raising Boys Part 1: The Early Years
George Megalogenis
One of Australia's leading journalists and authors, researcher of the Three Shocks trilogy
Author, Three Shocks; former journalist
Episode: George Megalogenis on immigration, One Nation, and Australia's future
Dr. Anastasia Hronis
Clinical psychologist, academic researcher and author
Australian Institute for Human Wellness; University of Technology Sydney
Episode: Dr Anastasia Hronis on gambling, addiction and our overstimulated world
Fatima Khan
Australia's leading menopause expert, physician and author
Menopause Clinic, Melbourne
Episode: Dr Fatima Khan on navigating perimenopause and why 'Hormone Health is Mental Health'
Amie McNee
Author of We Need Your Art; creativity coach and speaker
Author, We Need Your Art
Episode: Amie McNee on the transformative power of creativity, and her book 'We Need Your Art'
Amantha Imber
Organizational psychologist, founder of Inventium
Inventium
Episode: Dr. Amantha Imber on the extreme burnout that inspired 'The Energy Game'
Antoinette Lattouf
Award-winning journalist, human rights activist, and author
Media Diversity Australia, Et Media, We Used to Be Journos
Episode: Antoinette Lattouf on writing 'Women Who Win' while fighting her greatest battle
Bek Condello
Author of Can You Handle A Girl Like Me
Penguin Random House Australia
Episode: Bek Condello on escaping a cult, and finding herself while writing 'Can You Handle A Girl Like Me?'
Marc Fennell
Walkley Award-winning journalist, podcaster, presenter, and author
Stuff the British Stole (Book, TV show, podcast)
Episode: Marc Fennell on writing his 'deeply uncomfortable' history book, 'Stuff the British Stole'

Host

Charle Malycon
Host of the podcast

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#8
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#13
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#37
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#220
Italy/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#9
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#26
New Zealand/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#29
Ukraine/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#53
Ukraine/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#65
United Arab Emirates/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#69
Poland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#72
Taiwan/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#78
Japan/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#85
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#113
Sweden/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#114
United Arab Emirates/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#116
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#127
Saudi Arabia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#155
Poland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#156
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#163
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#168
Taiwan/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#178
Hong Kong/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#185
South Africa/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#186
Argentina/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#189
South Korea/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#196
India/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#217
Japan/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#225
Sweden/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#231
Norway/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#240
Saudi Arabia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#245
Ireland/Arts/Books

Top Books Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

George Megalogenis on immigration, One Nation, and Australia's future
Q: How did you approach writing Three Shocks and choosing which moments to highlight?
Megalo­genis explains he combines data-driven research with storytelling, aims to reveal long-term trends rather than focusing only on recent events, and prioritizes moments that redefine Australia's identity across generations.
Dr. Amantha Imber on the extreme burnout that inspired 'The Energy Game'
Q: Amantha, can you summarize how your energy framework works in a way that a busy executive can apply it this week?
The energy framework maps to four types within a two-by-two matrix, defined by mode (we vs me) and motivation (ambition vs anxiety). Each type has different drains and recovery strategies, so the first step is a quick self-quiz to determine your type, then use a targeted mix of strategies for the week while tracking energy across physical, mental, and emotional accounts.
Dr Fatima Khan on navigating perimenopause and why 'Hormone Health is Mental Health'
Q: How has the understanding of HRT evolved, and what should someone today know about its safety and benefits?
Today we use body-identical hormones with modern delivery methods; the historical breast cancer concerns largely stem from old trial designs. When prescribed appropriately, estrogen-with-progesterone regimens or estrogen-only regimens (for those without a uterus) have clear symptom relief and do not inherently raise long-term breast cancer risk.
Dr Fatima Khan on navigating perimenopause and why 'Hormone Health is Mental Health'
Q: What are the practical steps a listener can take if they suspect they're in perimenopause?
Track symptoms over a few months, consider validated questionnaires like GREEN CLIMACTIC or MENOD, discuss results with a GP, and explore a range of options from lifestyle changes to hormone or non-hormonal therapies based on personal risk and preferences.
Dr Fatima Khan on navigating perimenopause and why 'Hormone Health is Mental Health'
Q: So then if a woman does turn up to her doctor in her 40s with depressive symptoms, how can you tell the difference between standard depression and something that's hormonally driven?
Depression scores over six weeks aren't the full picture here. Perimenopause often presents with fluctuating anxiety, sleep disturbance, and mood changes rather than persistent low mood, so clinicians should look for variability tied to hormonal cycles and consider menopause-specific tools like MENOD.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About First Read

What is First Read about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The audience likely gravitates toward thoughtful nonfiction, author interviews, and Big Ideas that intersect culture, politics, history, and society. Episodes spotlight authors and researchers unpacking complex topics—ranging from journalism ethics and media integrity to colonial history, belief systems, and climate-related disruption—often blending personal storytelling with rigorous inquiry. The show tends to balance accessible storytelling with in-depth analysis, making it suitable for listeners who enjoy intellectually engaging conversations with practical takeaways and broader cultural context. A notable strength is its ability to pair high-profile authors with wide-ranging subjects, creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary releva... more

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How many episodes of First Read are there?

First Read launched 2 months ago and published 11 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on First Read?

Recent guests on First Read include:

1. Dr. Billy Garvey
2. George Megalogenis
3. Dr. Anastasia Hronis
4. Fatima Khan
5. Amie McNee
6. Amantha Imber
7. Antoinette Lattouf
8. Bek Condello

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