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The Readings Podcast

Readings Books
Melbourne
Australia
The Modern Guide To Sex
Christina
Sophie Quick
Detective Beans and the Case Of the Missing Hat
All Better Now
Arborescence
Covid-19
Neal Shusterman
Tenderfoot
Mental Health
Australian Literature
The Confidence Woman
Brisbane
Salvage
Happiness Pandemic
Scythe
Of Flame and Fury
Housing Crisis

The Readings Podcast is a celebration of books, reading and culture. Episodes are published weekly and include author interviews, event recordings, booksellers chatting about their favourite reads, industry insights, and more.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes374Founded10 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Artwork for The Readings Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this week's episode, we're doing something a little different. As Readings celebrates Australian Fiction throughout June, we're turning to the people who spend every day talking about books: our booksellers. Australian writers have shaped our lite... more

In this episode, a conversation with two contributors to Griffith Review 92. Griffith Review is a quarterly literary journal, with every edition exploring a different theme, bringing together long-form critical and analytical non-fiction and creative... more

In this episode, a conversation with Steve Toltz, Booker-shortlisted author, and the writer of a new audacious, comic lament for a world that no longer knows itself – a novel titled A Rising of the Lights. In a reeling world of fraudsters and hypnoti... more

In this episode, a conversation with writer and comedian Patrick Marlborough, author of Nock Loose. Set in the fictional coastal town of Bodkins Point, where an annual ultra-violent medieval festival has warped local history and identity for generati... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Raeden Richardson
Contributor to Griffith Review 92, author of Encircling of Flames
Griffith Review
Episode: Griffith Review 92 contributors in conversation
Mindy Gill
Contributor to Griffith Review 92, author of The Limits of Authenticity
Griffith Review
Episode: Griffith Review 92 contributors in conversation
Steve Toltz
Booker's shortlisted author, author of Rising of the Lights
Author
Episode: Steve Toltz in conversation
Michael Williams
Editor
The Monthly
Episode: Steve Toltz in conversation
Patrick Marlborough
Writer and comedian, author of Nock Loose
Episode: Patrick Marlborough in conversation
Yasmine Abdel-Magied
Author, writer, and commentator
Author of At Sea
Episode: Y.M. Abdel-Magied in conversation
Doireann Ni Ghriofa
Award-winning poet and writer, author of Said the Dead
Author/Poet
Episode: Doireann Ní Ghríofa in conversation
Susan Tomes
Pianist and author of Nocturnes and the Fascination of Night Music
Author of Nocturnes and the Fascination of Night Music
Episode: Susan Tomes in conversation
Lisa Gorton
Poet and novelist
Poet and novelist
Episode: Lisa Gorton in conversation

Hosts

Nicole Readings Melbourne
Lead host with long-running involvement at Readings Melbourne, engaging in author interviews and shop discussions.
Nico Galligan
Host of long-running conversations, with a focus on author interviews and book culture.
Bernard Caleo
Bookseller and host for comics and conversation segments.
Nico Callaghan
Producer and host contributing to Readings conversations.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 72 ratings
  • Love Stories

    Just came across this podcast and chose the November discussion between Trent Dalton and Julia Baird around Love and Human connection as my starting point.

    It was pure joy to listen to.

    Thank you.

    Can’t wait to dive into more episodes AND to read both of their books !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Karen.Eivers
    Australia4 years ago
  • Fantastic Podcast

    Love listening to this podcast- fabulous content for a bookworm like me. Great authors international and Australian. It’s excellent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Annie897
    Australia8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for diverse author lineups and thoughtful questions.
Audience notes the shop community angle and Australian–international perspectives as a standout.
Listeners feel it offers high-quality, book-focused conversation ideal for book lovers and industry peers.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Patrick Marlborough in conversation
Q: The book includes a lot of self-referential world-building—appendices, songs, and a manga-inspired spread. How do you balance reader accessibility with your penchant for intertextual depth?
I view the intertextuality as a Living Mantaverse that expands with each reprint. The core story remains accessible, while the added materials invite deeper engagement for those who want to explore the universe. My instinct is to keep a through line so the playfulness never overwhelms the narrative drive and emotional core of the characters.
Patrick Marlborough in conversation
Q: You describe a lot of influences—from Tokusatsu to Japanese manga to Western pop culture. How deliberate is the layering of these references for the reader's experience?
Layering references is the through line of the book. It mirrors how a reader engages media in the real world—jumping between sources, finding connections, and building meaning. I aim for a coherent through line that justifies the playfulness, so readers who catch the references feel rewarded, while those who don't still get a strong narrative and emotional experience.
Patrick Marlborough in conversation
Q: But let's talk about Bodkin's Point. So you've set this book in this fictional town, somewhere close to Donnybrook in Western Australia. This place is shot through with corruption, violence, cruelty, and ample alcohol abuse, especially when this annual festival you touched on, Agincourt, is taking place. What are the ideas for a medieval fair as a shaping device for this strange community?
The medieval festival is a real-world analogue reframed to critique national myths and the local politics of storytelling. It provides a flexible stage for satire, allowing me to explore how fantasy tropes, ritual, and performance reveal deeper truths about power, identity, and colonial history in Australia, while still giving the characters room to breathe, clash, and reveal their own compulsion toward mythmaking.
Lisa Gorton in conversation
Q: Could you explain your fascination with Mona Lisa and the shadow device in the backdrop, and how this informs Caesars and Apocrypha?
The shadow device signifies a heraldic language that signals a personal signature in art; it reframes the painting within a web of political and gendered meanings, informing how I approach Mary Magdalene and other figures in Caesarian and Apocryphal contexts.
Lisa Gorton in conversation
Q: How do you imagine the reader in relation to your dense, multi-referenced poetry—are they an active participant in excavation or is the work more private?
I write with multiple voices in mind, not to control the reader but to disrupt a single authoritative narrative, inviting readers to engage with the work through associations and the voices of those who came before them.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Readings Podcast

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

The discussions center on books, authors, and culture, with deep dives into writing processes, thematic exploration, and the publishing ecosystem. Guests span novelists, YA authors, comics creators, poets, and literary scholars, often tying their work to broader social and historical contexts. The format blends intimate author conversations, craft insights, and a bookshop community angle, making it a thoughtful resource for readers, aspiring guests, and sponsors seeking thoughtful literary storytelling and cross-genre conversation. Notable is the shop-forward community vibe, international and Australian author lineups, and a willingness to tackle timely topics alongside craft and storytelling.

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How many listeners does The Readings Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Readings Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Readings Podcast:

1. The Book Show
2. The Bookshelf
3. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
4. Chat 10 Looks 3
5. Big Ideas

How many episodes of The Readings Podcast are there?

The Readings Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 374 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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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.

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What guests have appeared on The Readings Podcast?

Recent guests on The Readings Podcast include:

1. Raeden Richardson
2. Mindy Gill
3. Steve Toltz
4. Michael Williams
5. Patrick Marlborough
6. Yasmine Abdel-Magied
7. Doireann Ni Ghriofa
8. Susan Tomes

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