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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
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureArtsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sydney Writers' Festival

Latest Episodes

Two motherless girls begin their lives in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, but they take paths that are worlds apart.

Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, winner of the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, has written another unforgettable story. Her ne... more

Louisa goes for a walk along the beach with her father, but only she returns.

The new novel from Susan Choi, multi-award-winning writer including the National Book Award and a Lambda Literary Award, is a sweeping, international family drama that wa... more

Longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize, Endling is an inventive, bold and original debut which follows three angry women and one endangered snail on a road trip across contemporary Ukraine.

Named a Best Book of 2025 by The Guardian, The Observer, The... more

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

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

Tayari Jones
Award-winning American author and professor known for intimate portraits of African American family life shaped by social injustice
Author
Episode: Tayari Jones: Kin
Susan Choi
Author of Flashlight, discussed as the guest and subject of the interview
Episode: Susan Choi: Flashlight
Maria Reva
Author of Endlings
Author
Episode: Maria Reva: Endling
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

Host

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

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
    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
#165
Australia/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tayari Jones: Kin
Q: What do you hope readers take away from Kin?
I hope readers leave with a renewed appreciation for their friends and loved ones, and a understanding not to measure real people against imagined ones, while recognizing the strength and agency of women within challenging historical contexts.
Susan Choi: Flashlight
Q: How much of the plot did you already have when you wrote the short story that preceded the novel?
Very little of the plotted arc was set; I had the characters, the setting, and the vague situation, plus the 'big horrible thing,' and the rest evolved as I worked, sometimes jumping ahead or leaping decades in the narrative.
Susan Choi: Flashlight
Q: What's the most interesting piece of advice you give to aspiring writers?
Stop thinking about publishing. Focus on what you feel compelled to write and trust that the work will find its audience in its own time.
An Evening with Patrick Radden Keefe
Q: What's next for you after London Falling, and how does the process of reporting inform what you choose to work on?
Keefe explains that he balances ongoing reporting with book projects, discusses continuing work with The New Yorker, and mentions new podcast and HBO adaptation projects, highlighting how reporting experiences steer future creative choices.
An Evening with Patrick Radden Keefe
Q: Can investigative journalism succeed where our legal systems fail, or is there an intrinsic limitation to what journalism can achieve in the face of power?
Keefe argues that journalism has a crucial role in holding power to account, but emphasizes that it cannot replace the legal system; instead, journalism should illuminate truth and mobilize public awareness to inspire accountability and democratic participation.

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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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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What guests have appeared on Sydney Writers' Festival?

Recent guests on Sydney Writers' Festival include:

1. Tayari Jones
2. Susan Choi
3. Maria Reva
4. Yann Martel
5. Florence Knapp
6. David Szalay
7. Lyse Doucet
8. Mick Herron

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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