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Artwork for Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading

Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading

Better Reading Podcast
Writing Process
Mental Health
Belinda Audio
Historical Fiction
Australian Literature
Australia
Crime Fiction
Palestine
Children's Literature
Journalism
Identity
Empathy
Better Reading
Australian Crime Fiction
Publishing
Social Media
Literature
Creative Writing
Colonialism
Gaza

Cheryl Akle discusses the world with her favourite authors.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes729Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading

Latest Episodes

Libby Trainor Parker talks to Cheryl about endometriosis, chronic pain, infertility, pregnancy loss, grief, and finding healing through advocacy, storytelling, and foster care. Her book, A Common Misconception, is out now.

Hosted on Acast. See aca... more

Sarah Trad talks to Cheryl Akle about Lebanon and the culture’s deep connection to hospitality, her travels around the world, renovating and creating her dream house, and the influence of her mother. Her cookbook, Beit Trad, is out now.

Hosted on A... more

Joan Sauers talks to Cheryl Akle about her love of mystery series, the writing skills she learned from her father, Hollywood, and the differences between writing novels and screenplays. Her latest book, Murder at Thornwood Park, is out now.

Hosted ... more

Victoria Purman talks to Cheryl Akle about her former career in journalism, her path into publishing, her writing routines, and her love of both vintage and contemporary books. Her latest novel, The Marriage Trap, is out now.

Hosted on Acast. See a... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sarah Trad
Founder of Beit Trad, co-founder/president of SCOAN, Lebanon's first outpatient addiction center, and co-founder of Yoga Souq
Beit Trad; SCOAN; Yoga Souq
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Sarah Trad on Hospitality and Building Her Dream House
Joan Sauers
Author and screenwriter, creator of the Rose McHugh mysteries
Author, Rose McHugh mysteries
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Joan Sauers on Film and Mysteries
Victoria Purman
Bestselling Australian novelist known for historical fiction
HQ HarperCollins (publisher)
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Victoria Purman on Journalism, Publishing and Vintage Books
Francesca Albanese
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territories; jurist, lecturer, and scholar
United Nations; academia
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Francesca Albanese on War and Power
Dervla McTiernan
Internationally bestselling author, author of the Cormac Riley series and standalone thrillers
Author
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Dervla McTiernan on Ruthless Editing and Finding Home in Australia
Antoinette Lattouf
Journalist, presenter, author and human rights advocate
Media Diversity Australia
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Antoinette Lattouf on Books, Battles and Breaking Barriers
Ann Mossop
Artistic director of the Sydney Writers Festival
Sydney Writers Festival
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Ann Mossop on the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival
Mali Cornish
Melbourne-based writer; author of The Missing Mother
Author, The Missing Mother
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Mali Cornish on Life, Law & Her New Novel
Kate Mildenhall
Author of historical/fiction works
Author
Episode: Stories Behind The Story: Kate Mildenhall & Kate Forsyth on the Complexities of Writing

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 373 ratings
  • The best

    Love these interviews with authors and hearing their stories, it’s the best. Thank you Cheryl and team x

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LLovegrove
    Australia2 years ago
  • Kate Cebrano

    The Kate Cebrano episode was superlative. Entertaining, enlightening & most of all fun. Brilliant.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Read away 1
    Australia2 years ago
  • Just a great chat

    Great host, good interview manner, interesting people and stories. Not much to dislike here.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VTK8
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Fantastic conversations

    Loving this show. Just listened to one of Jane Tara’s episodes, it was an incredibly engaging conversation. Wish it was twice as long!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hjfhgfjxbxhdhkvbghcgg anonymoe
    Australia3 years ago
  • Imposter Syndrome

    ‘Imposter Syndrome is only experienced by women…’? Err…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    original format
    Australia3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently high-quality author conversations with thoughtful questions.
Positive feedback on interview depth and guest candidness.
A must-listen for book lovers and emerging writers alike.
Occasional critiques about interruptions or host focus in a few episodes.
Warm, engaging host who draws out guests—great for listeners who want depth.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#55
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#161
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#124
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Stories Behind The Story: Joan Sauers on Film and Mysteries
Q: How does aging influence your writing and the development of Rose as a character?
Sauers notes that aging brings voice, honesty, and a fearless perspective, allowing deeper character arcs and relationships, and explains why Rose evolves across the series.
Stories Behind The Story: Joan Sauers on Film and Mysteries
Q: So how did you get your first novel published after years in screenwriting and non-fiction?
She describes leveraging existing connections with publisher Jane Paul Freeman, securing a reading, and the enthusiastic, decisive response that led to publication.
Stories Behind The Story: Francesca Albanese on War and Power
Q: What role do international institutions play when states prioritize power over humanitarian needs?
She argues that institutions like the UN and ICC are often impeded by the power and interests of strong states, particularly the United States, rather than by their own failings; accountability requires states and civil society to demand action and for legal mechanisms to evolve to address ongoing crises.
Stories Behind The Story: Francesca Albanese on War and Power
Q: Tell me a little about how you came to be in this position, and how you came to write the book.
Albanese explains her 20-year career in human rights, transition from the UN to academia, and the path that led to becoming Special Rapporteur; she describes researching Palestinian refugees to map the roots of displacement and to present a legal, political, and historical reading of Palestine and its refugees. She also discusses the genesis of her books and how writing allowed her to personify stories of occupation and resilience.
Stories Behind the Story: J.A. Stevens on Disability and Writing Her First Book
Q: What sparked the idea for writing a book centered on disability and openness in Regency romance?
A drive to give her partner and daughter representation, and a broader ambition to show that historical romance can be inclusive and challenge traditional norms, which aligned with the author's experiences and advocacy for minority groups.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview show that centers on authors, editors, and publishing insiders, exploring the craft behind books, writing processes, and storytelling choices. Episodes frequently dive into craft, research, and personal journeys, with a strong emphasis on how life experiences shape narratives. Notable is the host's warm, engaging style that draws out practical advice for writers and behind-the-scenes insights for readers and publishing professionals. The show often features Australian authors and industry figures, offering candid conversations about creativity, publishing, and culture that can help potential guests and sponsors understand audience interests and storytelling focus.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Book Show
2. The Bookshelf
3. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
4. Conversations
5. Chat 10 Looks 3

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 729 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Sarah Trad
2. Joan Sauers
3. Victoria Purman
4. Francesca Albanese
5. Dervla McTiernan
6. Antoinette Lattouf
7. Ann Mossop
8. Mali Cornish

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