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Australia
Australian Politics
Australian Literature
One Nation
Labor Party
Gaza
Anti-Semitism
Protests
Liberal Party
Donald Trump
Palestine
Israel
Election Campaign
Royal Commission
Violent Revolution
Pauline Hanson
Sydney
Albanese
Digital Media
Short Stories

The Battler is a podcast about culture, politics and media in Australia, hosted by Patrick Marlborough and Timwintoncellectuals. thebattler.substack.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes65Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Artwork for The Battler

Latest Episodes

Battlers, we have a question for you…Shag - Date - Marry: Pat - Tim - Drew.This week, The Battler Lads discuss The Beijing of the North (Brisbane), Pat’s (receding) hairbrained scheme to sell OzLit to the Chinese market, contemporary Chinese cinema, ... more

With Tim up in the great Pearl River City of Brisbane, this week the Battler brings you a conversation between friends of the pod Michael Winkler and Giacomo Bianchino. They launched the book Griefdogg together at Better Read than Dead, in Sydney, ba... more

This week, the extended M*rlborough-Sh*a-C*llectual clan chat for ages with James.haha.nice: the “alternative comedian from Melbourne” responsible for the Harold Holt Swim Centre series on Instagram Tiktok. They talk about “Puss” Holt, the general me... more

This week, the gr*nks are talking to Shane Jesse Christmass, author of Xerox Over Manhattan; Latex, Texas; Meth DTF and a bunch of other indie gems. They talk prose style, the global indie publishing orbit, Amerikkka as theory and practice; collabora... more

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Recent Guests

James HaHaNice
Alternative Melbourne comedian and Namite comedian; curator of Harold Holt Swim Centre material
Independent content creator
Episode: Ep61 Swim Centre Poetics w. james.haha.nice
Shane Jesse Christmass
Cult author with multiple titles across indie presses, including Filthy Loot
Filthy Loot (publisher)
Episode: Ep.60 SJXSJC IN FURS w. Shane Jesse Christmass
Will Cox
Author; author of Hyacinth (Casuals Network Press) and creator of Pictureland
Casuals Network Press; Pictureland
Episode: Ep57 Keeping Up Appearances w/ Will Cox
Emmett Stinson
Literary scholar, critic and academic
Edith Cowan University
Episode: Bonus Ep.
Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle
Author; host of Bad Fluner reading series
Joramondo/Bad Flunters
Episode: Ep53_Creating Drama w/ Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle
Michael Winkler
Esteemed author and essayist, author of Grimmish and Griefdogg
Author (Grimmish, Griefdogg)
Episode: Ep51. GrimmDogg with Michael Winkler
Steve Toltz
Australian novelist, author of Rising of the Lights
Penguin, author of four acclaimed novels
Episode: Ep50. Fraction of the Toltz.
Amy Remeikis
Chief Political Analyst at the Australia Institute; former Chief Political Reporter for Guardian Australia
Australia Institute / Guardian Australia
Episode: Ep48. Howard Battlers ft. Amy Remeikis
Yaraman Thorne
Gamilaroi guy, co-host of Uplate podcast, writer and actor
ABC
Episode: Ep42– Closing the Yap with Yaraman Thorne

Hosts

Patrick Marlborough
Co-host of The Battler; long-running cultural, political, and media commentator in Australia.
Tim Winton Selectuals
Host focusing on literature, political culture, and media commentary; a core voice with broad engagement across topics.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 20 ratings
  • Great YA fiction podcast!

    No but is is good though

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brewben_o
    New Zealand5 months ago
  • Funny stuff

    Ozpol, ozlit, he do the police in different voices.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LutherEnjoyer
    Australia7 months ago
  • Great chats

    Love the thought provoking discussions, literary snobbery and expanding my reading list. Great takes on culture and politics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cat______________
    Australia9 months ago
  • My favourite source of actionable content

    Thank the lord for the great Australian anti-defamation legal loophole. Get in while you still can for the most cathartic take-downs of the most cooked c*nts in Auspol, Auslit and beyond

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    moelrt
    Australia10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Show offers provocative, sometimes provocative critique that resonates with culture-war discourse.
Guests bring strong expertise, enriching discussions with literary and policy insights.
Some listeners note the irreverent tone may be polarizing for non-fans.
Praises for nuanced discussions on media and Indigenous representation across episodes.
Listeners appreciate the sharp, candid takes on Australian culture and politics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#98
Australia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BONUS EP: Michael Winkler's "Griefdogg" Launch
Q: Can you tell us what the central conceit of Griefdogg is and how it holds the book together?
Jeffrey, a water scientist who becomes Hubert, navigates grief by embodying it and learning to read and respond to others' unspoken grief, with the narrative carried by three voices that weave his inner journey with external observations.
Ep61 Swim Centre Poetics w. james.haha.nice
Q: How did the Harold Holt Swim Centre project begin and what was your motivation to tell this story?
James explains that the project began as a way to illuminate underexplored Australian political history through a contemporary, accessible format on TikTok and Instagram, with a focus on primary sources and a fresh perspective that challenges official biographies.
Ep57 Keeping Up Appearances w/ Will Cox
Q: How do you see translation and cross-cultural influence shaping Australian literature, especially with Auslan and the Gothic you explore?
Translation introduces opacity and compression; Australian writing benefits from not being entirely legible, and Auslan-influenced approaches create a unique cadence that helps Australian Gothic feel global yet distinct.
Ep57 Keeping Up Appearances w/ Will Cox
Q: This cover looks so striking; could you walk us through how you decided to serialize Hyacinth and what your publishing journey looked like?
I started by rewriting the Keeping Up Appearances episode guide, then serialized the chapters as short, standalone pieces, building toward a larger narrative while keeping the fragments and gaps that give the prose its depth.
Ep51. GrimmDogg with Michael Winkler
Q: What drew you to constructing Grimmish as a self-published breakthrough before finding wider publication?
Winkler explains decades of rejection in traditional publishing and how self-publishing, aided by a supportive literary community online, ultimately helped Grimmish gain attention and momentum.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Battler

What is The Battler about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on Australian culture, politics, and media, often blending sharp critique with humor and cultural commentary. Episodes frequently feature long-form conversations with authors, journalists, and cultural commentators, exposing underlying themes in Australian literature, politics, and public discourse while spotlighting media ecosystems and social issues. A notable strength is its willingness to interrogate established narratives, criticize power structures, and highlight Indigenous representation and the Australian literary scene, making it potentially engaging for listeners who enjoy candid, opinionated analysis with a progressive tilt.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Battler?

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How many listeners does The Battler get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Battler have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Battler 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 The Battler?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Battler:

1. Lamestream
2. TRUE ANON TRUTH FEED
3. Chapo Trap House
4. Blowback
5. Bad Hasbara - The World's Most Moral Podcast

How many episodes of The Battler are there?

The Battler launched a year ago and published 65 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 The Battler?

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 The Battler?

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What guests have appeared on The Battler?

Recent guests on The Battler include:

1. James HaHaNice
2. Shane Jesse Christmass
3. Will Cox
4. Emmett Stinson
5. Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle
6. Michael Winkler
7. Steve Toltz
8. Amy Remeikis

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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