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The work of truth-telling in Australia means a robust reckoning with our history and the colonial myths used to interpret it.
In Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838–1844, historian Stephen Gapps reveals the extent of resistance warfare on the frontier. The Australian Wars, based on the documentary series by filmmaker Rachel Perkins, brings together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal writers to offer a comprehensive history of the frontier wars. Co-editor and historian Henry Reynolds also reconsiders Australia’s historical past by focusing on colonisation in the far north in Looking From the North.
Join Stephen, Rachel and Henry as they discuss their history-expanding works, with Clare Wright.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest
Facebook: @SydWritersFest
TikTok: @sydwritersfest
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27 Oct 2026
Found in Translation
Translation allows a writer to reach readers around the world but what is the experience of having your words altered like?
Video game translator Matt Alt, speculative fiction writer Bora Chung (The Midnight Timetable), who writes in Korean and translates from contemporary Russian and Polish, and Mariana Enriquez, (Somebody is Walking on Your Grave), who writes in Spanish and has had her work translated into more than 20 languages, discuss the nitty-gritty of translation from both sides of the exchange.
Hear Matt, Bora and Mariana share their experiences and insights in conversation with award-winning translator Daniel Hahn.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest
Facebook: @SydWritersFest
TikTok: @sydwritersfest
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
21 Oct 2026
Theatre Kids
You can take the kid off the stage, but you can’t take the stage off the kid.
These writers are theatre kids through-and-through but they’re trying their hands at another, quieter, form with their debut books.
In this panel discussion, actor and playwright George Kemp (Soft Serve), playwright of acclaimed Counting and Cracking S. Shakthidharan (Gather Up Your World in One Long Breath) and actor Zoe Terakes (Eros) discuss the influence of their theatrical sensibilities on their writing and share a reading of their work. Hosted by theatremaker, music director and cabaret artist, Victoria Falconer.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers’ Festival.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel. Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers’ Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest
Facebook: @SydWritersFest
TikTok: @sydwritersfest
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Who has been a guest on Sydney Writers' Festival
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Anna Funder
Clare Wright
Thomas Mayo
Charlotte Wood
Colm Tóibín
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
386,964
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
34 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 87 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
82
Social presence
97
YouTube
86
Engagement
96
Contact Sydney Writers' Festival
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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