The Readings Podcast

In this episode, hear Om Dhungel and James Button in conversation with Elly Varrenti, to celebrate the publication of Om’s memoir, Bhutan to Blacktown. This book tells Om Dhungel’s remarkable story — his journey from a remote village to a senior position in the Bhutanese Civil Service, to life as a human rights activist in Nepal and, eventually, to his work as a community leader in Blacktown, west...

In this episode, a recording taken from bestselling journalist Antony Loewenstein discussing his latest book, The Palestine Laboratory. This book demonstrates in depth how Israel has become a leader in developing spying technology and defence hardware that fuels some of the globe’s most brutal conflicts. Loewenstein was interviewed at our Carlton store by Jeff Sparrow, a writer, journalist and bro...

In this episode, Bruce Wolpe in conversation with Sean Kelly to discuss Wolpe's new book, Trump's Australia. In the book, leading expert and US and Australian politics insider Wolpe reveals the many ways in which Australia was damaged by Donald Trump's presidency, and ponders what could happen if Trump (or a Trump-like candidate) becomes US president in 2024.

In this episode, a conversation with Andrew Skeoch, author of the recently released book, Deep Listening to Nature. As one of Australia's best-known nature sound recordists, Skeoch’s work offers us an invitation and an opportunity to open our ears to nature, and to learn from the world around us. Particularly focused on avian life, his book is an inspiring text filled with reflection, wonder and r...

In this episode, a conversation with author Tegan Bennet Daylight, centred around her new YA novel, Royals. A group of teenagers alone in an empty shopping centre, with everything they could possibly want ... and a baby? With no phones, no internet and no way out, Shannon and five other trapped teens are completely disconnected from the outside world ... and their online lives. It’s hard to say wh...

In today’s episode, booksellers Justin Amalimal Cantrell and Nico Callaghan are joined by Aurelia Guo, a writer and researcher based in London, for a conversation centred on her book, World of Interiors. Of the book, Guo writes: “In World of Interiors I use collage and appropriation to destabilise the first-person ‘I’. I also write directly about the inescapable condition of being perceived and po...

In this episode, an interview with Ros Ben-Moshe, author of The Laughter Effect, a powerful philosophy that enhances wellbeing and provides you with a road map to tap into the lighter side of life and awaken both your inner and outer smile. Drawing on research, practice and wisdom from humour and laughter therapy, along with positive psychology and neuroscience, health promotion academic and laugh...

In this episode, Mary Crooks, executive director of the Victorian Women’s Trust, chairs a conversation with the authors of The Voice To Parliament Handbook, Thomas Mayo and Kerry O’Brien. The Voice to Parliament Handbook is an easy-to-follow guide for the millions of Australians who have expressed support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, but want to better understand what a Voice to Parliam...

In this episode, a conversation with Sarah Street, author of the new book, A Curse of Salt. Drawing comparisons to Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreakers series and Sarah J Maas's A Court of Thorns and Roses, Street’s debut novel is a reworking of the time-old tale of Beauty and The Beast set amidst the high seas.

In this episode, a recording taken from an event at Readings Carlton, to celebrate the publication of Benjamin Hegarty’s book, The Made Up State: technology, trans femininity and Citizenship in Indonesia. In The Made Up State, anthropologist Benjamin Hegarty contends that warias, who compose one of Indonesia's trans feminine populations, have cultivated a distinctive way of captivating the affecti...

In this episode, a conversation with Mikki Brammer. Her new novel, The Collected Regrets of Clover, is a big-hearted and life-affirming novel that turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life. It's a sparkling debut which reminds us all to live life with fewer regrets. Brammer was interviewed by Readings Marketing Manager, Rosalind McClintock.

This episode features a live event recording taken of a conversation between Alexis Wright and Ivor Indyk, to celebrate the publication of Wright’s new novel, Praiseworthy. Alexis Wright is a remarkable writer, originally hailing from the from the Waanyi nation in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Her novel Carpentaria won the 2007 Miles Franklin award, and Wright was awarded the 2018 Stella Prize for her...

In this episode, a conversation with Kate J. Armstrong, author of the new YA novel, Nightbirds. Set in a dazzling new fantasy world full of whispered secrets and political intrigue, the magic of women is outlawed but three girls with unusual gifts have the chance to change it all. Filled with sumptuous, cinematic writing and dazzling details, Nightbirds is a fiercely feminist fantasy debut where t...

In this episode, listen to a conversation between English author Max Porter and Readings Podcast Editor, Nico Callaghan. This recording is taken from an online event celebrating the release of Porter’s most recent novel, Shy.

This episode features the recording of an online conversation focused on the newest edition of The Quarterly Essay, The Wires That Bind: Electrification and Community Renewal, penned by Saul Griffith. In this edition, inventor, engineer and visionary Saul Griffith reveals the world that awaits us if we make the most of Australia’s energy future. Griffith was interviewed by Simon Holmes A Court, an...

This recording is the third instalment of The Comics Question series. In these podcasts, Bernard Caleo and Nico Callaghan discuss comics, graphic novels, and the place they inhabit within the broader books and publishing world. In this episode, Bernard and Nico sit down with Steven Christie, writer and artist to discuss, among other things, his publications Arrowheads and Turtlenecks.

In this episode, a recording taken from the launch of Gregory Day’s novel, The Bell of The World. The Bell of the World is both a song to the natural wonders that are not yet gone and a luminous prehistory of contemporary climate change and its connection to colonialism. Bell is in conversation with writer and broadcaster Elly Varrenti.

In this episode, a conversation with Hugh Mackay, social psychologist and bestselling author. Mackay’s latest book, The Therapist, is a powerful and poignant story of deception, ambiguity, lust and love – and the challenge of living with the consequences of our actions.

In this episode, enjoy a discussion with author Katherine Kovacic about her latest work, Seven Sisters. Seven Sisters is a twisty, intriguing crime novel for fans of The Mother and The Family Doctor.

A recording of the launch for Kate Auty’s book, O’Leary Of The Underworld: The Untold Story of the Forest River Massacre. This book is a powerful investigation that reveals the deep injustices inflicted on Aboriginal people in the Kimberley in the 1920s. Please note, this episode contains discussion topics and readings from Auty’s work that some listeners may find distressing.

In this episode, hear Margaret Simons in conversation with Tim Dunlop about his book, Voices of Us. The book is a reflection on the most recent Australian federal election, and an analysis of the transformation Australian politics is capable of — to potentially become a progressive, open, economically stable and egalitarian nation.

In this episode, we're joined by Dominic Smith, author of the acclaimed Last Painting of Sara De Vos, a Readings favourite, to discuss his new book, Return to Valetto. A nearly abandoned Italian village, the family that stayed, and long-buried secrets from World War II. On a hilltop in Umbria sits Valetto. Once a thriving village-and a hub of resistance and refuge during World War II-centuries of...

Today’s episode is the second instalment of The Comics Question series. In these podcasts we discuss comics, graphic novels, and the place they inhabit within the broader books and publishing world. In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Hill-Smith, who, among many talents and pursuits like filmmaking, has produced a new comic, Crime Scene Australia. Charlie is in conversation with Bernard Cale...

Tait Ischia in conversation about his publishing journey and bestselling book, Copywrong to Copywriter.

Sasha Kutabah Sarago in conversation about her new book, Gigorou.