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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

The work of truth-telling in Australia means a robust reckoning with our history and the colonial myths used to interpret it.

In Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838โ€“1844, historian Stephen Gapps reveals the extent of resistance war... more

Translation allows a writer to reach readers around the world but what is the experience of having your words altered like?

Video game translator Matt Alt, speculative fiction writer Bora Chung (The Midnight Timetable), who writes in Korean and tran... more

You can take the kid off the stage, but you canโ€™t take the stage off the kid.

These writers are theatre kids through-and-through but theyโ€™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

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Rachel Perkins
Filmmaker who wrote and directed The Australian Wars documentary series
Blackfella Films
Episode: Rewriting Histories
Stephen Gapps
Historian at Artefact Heritage and Environment and adjunct lecturer at Charles Sturt University
Artefact Heritage and Environment
Episode: Rewriting Histories
Henry Reynolds
Historian and author of more than 20 historical works
James Cook University
Episode: Rewriting Histories
Bora Chung
Korean novelist, short story writer and translator of Russian and Polish literature
Episode: Found in Translation
Mariana Enriquez
Argentinian short story writer, novelist and journalist
Episode: Found in Translation
Matt Alt
Japanese culture writer and translator specializing in video games and manga localization
Episode: Found in Translation
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

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 419 ratings
  • Great podcast

    We canโ€™t get to all the Sydney Writer Events at the same time! Itโ€™s so good to enjoy the solace & stimulus of writers with this podcast ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŒป๐Ÿฆ‹

    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 canโ€™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.

    ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™

    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
#214
Australia/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rewriting Histories
Q: Do you think that this work is breaking through more widely in the community?
Gapps says acceptance is changing incrementally, noting that his book The Sydney Wars was received without the antagonism he had expected.
Rewriting Histories
Q: What do you mean when you say this story is in your blood? How is the frontier in your blood?
Perkins explains that her great-grandmother was an Aboriginal survivor of a massacre on the frontier, later had children with an Irish miner named Perkins, and passed down a family history shaped by frontier conflict and dispossession.
Found in Translation
Q: Whether your writing has evolved in any way, knowing that it's going to be translated, whether that awareness that other people are going to have to, whether it's linguistic or culturally, explain these things, whether that plays any part in your writing.
Mariana Enriquez tries not to write with translation in mind, saying that avoiding very local details to appeal to international readers can make a book feel inauthentic.
Found in Translation
Q: How do you handle cultural concepts, idioms, humor, things that don't have a direct equivalent? Is it better to find a local approximation, translate literally and let the reader sit with the unfamiliarity?
Bora Chung says her approach has shifted from literal translation with extensive footnotes toward more localization, but the right choice depends on the work, context and passage.
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.

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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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?

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What guests have appeared on Sydney Writers' Festival?

Recent guests on Sydney Writers' Festival include:

1. Rachel Perkins
2. Stephen Gapps
3. Henry Reynolds
4. Bora Chung
5. Mariana Enriquez
6. Matt Alt
7. George Kemp
8. Zoe Terakes

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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