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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
Journalism
Gaza
Social Media
Authoritarianism
Memoir Writing
Cultural Identity
Gender Equality
Queer Representation
Childhood Trauma

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
Society & CultureArtsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sydney Writers' Festival

Latest Episodes

His deeply researched and intricately crafted non-fiction has captivated the world.

Award-winning staff writer at The New Yorker and bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe is known for his international bestsellers, including the Baillie Gifford P... more

The story of the Trojan War, like so many wars real and imagined, is a story most often told by the victors, the princes and the powerful.

In this new imagining of the ancient legend, Son of Nobody, Yann Martel tells the familiar tale from an unhea... more

An incomparable storyteller, lucid analyst and eloquent polemicist, acclaimed writer Amitav Ghosh’s rich body of fiction and non-fiction work has shaped our contemporary understanding of history and the environment.

Listen in as Amitav reflects on ... more

[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

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.

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Recent Guests

Yann Martel
Canadian author of Life of Pi, author of Son of Nobody
Episode: Yann Martel: Son of Nobody
Florence Knapp
British author, The Names
Author, The Names
Episode: Florence Knapp: The Names
David Szalay
Novelist and author of Flesh
Author
Episode: David Szalay: Flesh
Lyse Doucet
BBC Chief International Correspondent, author of The Finest Hotel in Kabul
BBC
Episode: Lyse Doucet: The Finest Hotel in Kabul
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

Host

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

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 417 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
#213
Australia/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Amitav Ghosh in Conversation
Q: How important is accuracy in historical writing, and how do you balance record with narrative necessity?
He emphasizes truthfulness to known facts for historical events while allowing fictional characters to chart their own paths within those boundaries.
Amitav Ghosh in Conversation
Q: Do you feel like you have double vision and is that exhausting?
Ghosh describes a fluctuating mind that works in unusual ways, embracing both empirical observation and expansive storytelling as complementary modes.
Lyse Doucet: The Finest Hotel in Kabul
Q: Tell us about the scene of the wedding and what it meant within the frame of the hotel as a symbol of Afghanistan.
The wedding scene illustrates the fragility and endurance of Afghan life; despite fear and the Taliban's advance, weddings persist as hopeful rituals, and the hotel becomes a stage for the country's layered history and the people's resilience.
David Szalay: Flesh
Q: Do you run a tight editing ship to end up with economic prose? What is the process like?
Szalay explains editing as a multi-stage process where the manuscript goes through several rewrites with input from both the author and the editor; the publishing team plays a crucial role in shaping the final form, ensuring the prose remains economical while preserving the book's clarity and intent.
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.

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?

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How many listeners does Sydney Writers' Festival get?

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What are the audience demographics for Sydney Writers' Festival?

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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. Good Weekend Talks

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.

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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. Yann Martel
2. Florence Knapp
3. David Szalay
4. Lyse Doucet
5. Mick Herron
6. Amitav Ghosh
7. Jacinda Ardern
8. Jimmy Wales

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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