Rephonic
Artwork for Sydney Writers' Festival

Sydney Writers' Festival

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sydney Writers' Festival

Latest Episodes

[Content warning: Family violence]

Instant bestseller and “best debut novel in years” (The Sunday Times) starts in a literal and metaphorical storm.

While registering her son’s birth, Cora faces a decision that could change his life: what will sh... more

In a novel, the words on the page are our entrance into another’s mind. But sometimes it’s the space between the lines that define a character.

In David Szalay’s 2025 Booker Prize–winning Flesh, István is caught between the boundaries of Hungary an... more

The history of the Kabul Inter-Continental Hotel is the history of a nation.

Built in 1969, it has stood through Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a civil war, a US invasion and waves of Taliban control. Legendary international war correspondent L... more

In the latest instalment of Mick Herron’s internationally bestselling series, palms are itching among Jackson Lamb’s cohort of misfit spies.

A legendary former spy’s missing book, a state secret and some mischievous blackmail: which underhanded acti... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Book Show
The Book ShowABC Australia
The Bookshelf
The BookshelfABC Australia
Chat 10 Looks 3
Chat 10 Looks 3Chat 10 Looks 3
A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
A Podcast of One's Own with Julia GillardA Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
Conversations
ConversationsABC Australia

Recent Guests

Mick Herron
Author of the Slough House series
Author
Episode: Mick Herron in Conversation
Amitav Ghosh
Indian writer; historian of climate and empire
Author
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Jacinda Ardern
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Jimmy Wales
Founder of Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Roddy Doyle
Irish novelist
Irish literature
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Lise Doucet
BBC chief international correspondent
BBC
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Patrick Radden Keefe
Staff writer at The New Yorker; author
The New Yorker
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Dav Pilkey
Author of Captain Underpants/Dog Man
Scholastic (established author)
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Randa Abdel Fattah
Australian writer and journalist
Sweatshop Literacy Movement (collaborator)
Episode: 2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop

Host

Anne Mossop
Host and Artistic Director; central figure in festival planning and programming.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 415 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
    Australiaa year 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.

Many value the festival-forward energy and accessibility of talks for those who can't attend live.
Listeners appreciate the depth and breadth of author conversations and the high-caliber guests.
Some episodes attract critique when the interviewer's approach is perceived as less engaging or the guest's perspective is controversial.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#215
Australia/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Q: How does the festival approach international guests to make them feel welcome and connected?
International writers are welcomed with curated experiences beyond talks, including private tours and time to connect with Australian writers, and are integrated into a broader community so they feel part of the festival rather than isolated performers.
2026 Program Announcement: Yumi Stynes and Ann Mossop
Q: What have you got planned this year for free events and ticketing strategy?
The festival has a robust mix, with 25% of events free to the public, alongside paid sessions; the team encourages exploring the program online swf.org.au or picking up the booklet to start small and dip into what resonates, with a plan to avoid overwhelm while still chasing favorites.
A.C. Grayling on Cancel Culture
Q: Given your audience is progressive, how should progressive intellectuals persuade conservative audiences?
Persistence in dialogue, modeling inclusive and generous behavior, and demonstrating respect for others' rights through concrete examples is vital for bridging divides and persuading conservative audiences over time.
Ian Rankin: Master of Crime
Q: How has writing Rebus changed you?
Writing Rebus has allowed me to reflect on aging, morality, and the evolution of crime, as he ages alongside me.
Ian Rankin: Master of Crime
Q: What themes do you explore with the character Rebus?
I explore themes of good and evil, the complexities of morality, and have Rebus investigate his own moral failings as he navigates the world of crime.

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?

A bold literary-arts program that centers on conversations with acclaimed authors, journalists, and thinkers, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, freedom of expression, and festival-driven culture. Episodes frequently feature high-profile authors, international voices, and discussions that blend literature with politics, society, and current events. Noteworthy aspects include live festival sessions, archival interviews, and explorations of tough topics—from cancel culture to resilience in trauma—delivered in an engaging, journalistically respectful style. This show is likely to appeal to literature lovers, festival enthusiasts, and listeners who enjoy deep-dive conversations with well-known writers and thought leaders.

Where can I find podcast stats for Sydney Writers' Festival?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sydney Writers' Festival. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sydney Writers' Festival and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sydney Writers' Festival get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Sydney Writers' Festival, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Sydney Writers' Festival?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sydney Writers' Festival, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Conversations

How many episodes of Sydney Writers' Festival are there?

Sydney Writers' Festival launched 11 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sydney Writers' Festival?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sydney Writers' Festival from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Sydney Writers' Festival?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sydney Writers' Festival. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Sydney Writers' Festival?

Recent guests on Sydney Writers' Festival include:

1. Mick Herron
2. Amitav Ghosh
3. Jacinda Ardern
4. Jimmy Wales
5. Roddy Doyle
6. Lise Doucet
7. Patrick Radden Keefe
8. Dav Pilkey

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days