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Artwork for Sydney Writers' Festival

Sydney Writers' Festival

Sydney Writers' Festival
Australia
Sydney Writers' Festival
Artificial Intelligence
Feminism
United States
Literature
Democracy
Storytelling
Misogyny
Colonialism
Authoritarianism
Fatphobia
Journalism
Gaza
Social Media
Memoir Writing
Cultural Identity
Ukraine
Gender Equality
Queer Representation

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more. Subscribe to our channel for new releases.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureArtsBooks

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Artwork for Sydney Writers' Festival

Latest Episodes

You can take the kid off the stage, but you can’t take the stage off the kid.

These writers are theatre kids through-and-through but they’re trying their hands at another, quieter, form with their debut books.

In this panel discussion, actor and p... more

Professor of Philosophy and author A.C. Grayling outlines the fragility of democracy and the freedoms we take for granted and risk losing in For The People: Fighting Authoritarianism, Saving Democracy.

In recent years, the democratic foundations an... more

Dubbed the “undisputed laureate of ordinary lives” by The Sunday Times, Irish Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle has kept us laughing and crying in equal measure.

From his prize-winning Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha to The Commitments, which was adapted into a... more

After her New York Times bestseller, Writers & Lovers, Lily King returns to themes of love, desire, forgiveness and loss in Heart the Lover.

Our narrator is a successful writer who is familiar with the classic tropes of love stories. She lives h... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

George Kemp
Writer, actor, producer and creative mentor; author of the debut novel Soft Serve
Australian Theatre for Young People
Episode: Theatre Kids
Zoe Terakes
Actor and writer; author of Eros, a collection of Greek myths retold through a queer lens
Episode: Theatre Kids
S. Shakthidharan
Western Sydney storyteller of Sri Lankan heritage and Tamil ancestry; writer, director, producer and composer
Powerhouse Museum
Episode: Theatre Kids
A.C. Grayling
Professor of philosophy and author of For The People: Fighting Authoritarianism, Saving Democracy.
Episode: The Future of Democracy: Fighting Authoritarianism with A.C. Grayling
Roddy Doyle
Irish storyteller, novelist, playwright and scriptwriter
Author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, The Commitments, The Barrytown Trilogy
Episode: Roddy Doyle in Conversation
Lily King
Author of Heart the Lover
Episode: Lily King: Heart the Lover
Trent Dalton
Australian author and journalist
Author of Gravity Let Me Go; novelist and screenwriter
Episode: Trent Dalton: Gravity Let Me Go
Paul Keating
Honorable Paul Keating, AC, former Prime Minister of Australia
Former Prime Minister of Australia
Episode: Grand Ambition: Paul Keating and James Curran in Conversation
James Curran
Professor of Modern History at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: Grand Ambition: Paul Keating and James Curran in Conversation

Hosts

Anne Mossop
Host of multiple Sydney Writers' Festival programming and events with artistic director responsibilities.
Jimmy Wales
Founder of Wikipedia; discussions on trust in information and information ecosystems.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 418 ratings
  • Great podcast

    We can’t get to all the Sydney Writer Events at the same time! It’s so good to enjoy the solace & stimulus of writers with this podcast 📚🌻🦋

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rylie Teal
    Australia2 years ago
  • Feminist firebrand.

    Fantastic

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @janetBackstage
    Australia2 years ago
  • Brilliant

    Fantastic podcast and so happy to catch up on the festival for those who missed it. I just listened to Julia Gillard: it was an outstanding conversation. I can’t recommend it enough. Enjoy it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lamamandemilly
    Australia3 years ago
  • Podcast Julia Gillard

    Thanks for making this and other podcasts available for those of us who for one reason or another could not attend in person.

    What a fascinating discussion between two interesting women. Reminded me how eloquent Julia is.

    Thanks so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    On hanger
    Australia3 years ago
  • Outstanding podcast

    Thankyou for this wonderful podcast. Excellent presentation by Eleanor & the caliber of wonderful Bernard & Julien . Such decent professional men who have the courage of their convictions.

    🙏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rolypolyeastereggs
    Australia5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the breadth and depth of conversations, with many noting high-caliber guests and insightful questions.
Audience values thoughtful, well-researched discussions, and respectful host interview styles.
Some episodes receive criticism for uneven interviewer preparation or perceived gaps in background for certain guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#236
Australia/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Future of Democracy: Fighting Authoritarianism with A.C. Grayling
Q: Are we living through the end of the democratic movement, or will it rise up again and come out on top?
Grayling says democracy's future depends on people understanding the value of their liberties and the rule of law, staying informed and remaining engaged.
The Future of Democracy: Fighting Authoritarianism with A.C. Grayling
Q: How can we tackle corporate power both domestically and globally if we're going to save democracy?
Grayling says profit-driven companies can pressure governments and exploit weak labor and environmental protections. He argues that societies can limit these pressures by treating services such as education and health care as shared public investments, rather than placing their costs on individuals.
Theatre Kids
Q: Did you always have it in mind while the idea of a memoir, while doing other theatre works?
Shakthidharan said he begins with concepts rather than a fixed form. After reaching a point where he could understand his past, he found that the personal story worked best as a book.
Theatre Kids
Q: Did you always know that it was going to be a novel rather than a theatre piece?
Kemp wanted to explore characters at different ages through multiple points of view, which he felt prose could handle more deeply than a play.
Roddy Doyle in Conversation
Q: What inspired your portrayal of Paula Spencer and how do you ensure the voice feels authentic?
I focus on words and rhythm, constantly reading women writers who shape my sense of how women think and speak. I imagine how Paula would react in moments like dancing or conversations, and I avoid imposing a male viewpoint; I let her words carry the truth of her experience.

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 Sydney Writers' Festival

What is Sydney Writers' Festival about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently centers literary conversations at a major festival, featuring celebrated novelists, journalists, historians, and public intellectuals. Episodes explore writing craft, historical context, and the social impact of fiction and non-fiction, often tied to current events or regional policy. Notable strengths include high-caliber guests, deep-dive discussions, and a festival atmosphere that blends scholarly analysis with accessible storytelling. It's a strong fit for listeners who love literature, long-form interviews, and thoughtful perspectives on culture, politics, and global affairs. A recurring edge is the ability to pair literary analysis with real-world insights from prominent authors and public figures, sometimes incl... more

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How many subscribers and views does Sydney Writers' Festival have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sydney Writers' Festival has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sydney Writers' Festival?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sydney Writers' Festival:

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

How many episodes of Sydney Writers' Festival are there?

Sydney Writers' Festival launched 12 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sydney Writers' Festival?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Sydney Writers' Festival?

Recent guests on Sydney Writers' Festival include:

1. George Kemp
2. Zoe Terakes
3. S. Shakthidharan
4. A.C. Grayling
5. Roddy Doyle
6. Lily King
7. Trent Dalton
8. Paul Keating

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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