Back Story

Author P.J. Laverty joined Gold FM's Wake Up Call to talk about his new novel RIPPA II: Young Pilgrim, a reluctant teen surfer who happens to be a gun soccer player, shipped to England in the late '80s. Listen to the full chat here. 📖⚽ #YoungPilgrim #AussieSoccer

Bonita Mersiades talks with Sarah Dingle, ABC News Radio, after red card controversy involving Folarin Balogun of the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup.

In the second part of our evening session on Human Creativity vs AI, we asked four writers of different genres - Candida Baker (historical fiction/non-fiction), Amy Coomer (YA), Amy Hutton (rom-com) and Daniel Nour (memoir) - to respond to an AI prompt, "At 2:17 the phone rang. The voice on the other end said, 'It's done. You can come home now.'" They are joined by three musicians who respond to a...

Part 1 of 'The Night Shift' at Manly Writers' Festival, 2026 - an after-hours sequence of talks and live experiments examining what humans do in words and music that machines still can’t. Nick Place is in conversation with Cory Alpert, who explains what AI is actually doing to creative work, setting the scene and unpacking how algorithms shape attention, authorship and culture, and what’s really a...

Not every life follows the path we’re told to expect, and not every choice is freely made. In this intimate and thoughtful conversation from the 2026 Manly Writers’ Festival, Kumi Taguchi and Lucy Nelson reflect on identity, womanhood, motherhood, childlessness, expectation and silence. From choosing, or being unable, to have children, to navigating lives shaped by grief, loss, constraint and self...

As the international order shifts, three leading commentators and strategic thinkers discuss Australia’s future in a rapidly changing world. From US–China competition and regional militarisation to democratic backsliding, disinformation and the erosion of global norms, this finale to our three-part geopolitics sessions brings contrasting views to the major strategic questions facing the nation. Dy...

In this intimate conversation, Bob Carr reflects on love, loss, and the emotional afterlife of a shared life. Bring Back Yesterday is his deeply personal account of a 50-year partnership, and of learning how to live in the wake of profound grief following the sudden death of his wife, Helena, in 2023. Rather than offering consolation or easy answers, Carr speaks candidly about absence, memory, and...

The book, Ruptured, brings together the voices of Jewish women in Australia reflecting on life after 7 October 2023, an event that sent seismic shockwaves worldwide. Four of the contributors to the book share deeply personal essays that wrestle with grief, fear, belonging, faith, and the fractures that opened in both public and private life, and, more recently, were highlighted in Australia by the...

A gripping, deeply human conversation with two Australians whose lives have been transformed by conflict and state power. Kylie Moore-Gilbert reflects on her 804-day imprisonment in Iran, while journalist Mike Amor shares his experiences reporting from natural and human disasters, war zones and political flashpoints. Together, they shed light on resilience, risk, hostage diplomacy, and what it mea...

Inside Australia's foreign service. What does diplomacy really look like behind closed doors? Three former diplomats (and heads of mission) lift the veil on the pressures, responsibilities and moral complexities of representing Australia abroad. From crisis management to regional relationships and the shifting expectations placed on the foreign service, this session offers a candid insider’s view...

Hugh Mackay in conversation with Helen Vatsikopoulos around his latest book, 'Just Saying'. In Just Saying, one of Australia’s most trusted social commentators, Hugh Mackay, turns his sharp but compassionate gaze to the state of our national psyche. From loneliness and social division to kindness, trust and the small acts that shape community life, Mackay explores what truly matters in unsettled t...

David Picken, editor of 'Football Fans in their own write' (2023) talks with David Astle of ABC Evenings about the book and the contributors who wrote about why they follow a particular football team, headlined by the late Pope Francis.

Interview with Blanche d'Alpuget on ABC Radio Sydney with Hamish Macdonald, 5th March 2025.

A brief chat with Jill Valentine, author of 'High Heels and Low Blows' on the sidelines of the 2024 Manly Writers' Festival

A chat with Craig Lord, collaborator with Michelle Ford on her autobiography, 'Turning the Tide', on the sidelines of the 2024 Manly Writers' Festival.

Greg Downes, author of 'The First Matildas' on the sidelines of the 2024 Manly Writers' Festival with P.J. Laverty.

Sally Freedman, author of "Get Your T*ts Out for the Lads" on the sidelines of the 2024 Manly Writers' Festival. The book was shortlisted for the Football Book of the Year 2024, as part of the 2024 Sports Book Awards.

Emeritus Professor John Maynard, author of 'Socceroos World Cup Odyssey, 1966-2022' on the sidelines at the 2024 Manly Writers' Festival. John is also author of 'The Aboriginal Soccer Tribe' (2019 2nd ed.) and 'Golf Dreaming' (2025).

A Q&A discussion between author of 'The Goals That Changed Australia', David Weiner, and Niav Owens at the launch of the book at Gleebooks, Sydney, December 2024.

Days out from the start of the co-hosted Women's World Cup, our panel of experts - players and coaches with a few country experts also - gave their tips for the outcome. How right or wrong were they? Francis Awaritefe, Olga Bagatini, Elissia Carnavas, Steve Darby, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Ciara McCormack, Clare Shine, Jean Williams - talking with Philippe Auclair.

Jason Goldsmith and Lucas Gillard, the authors of ‘Be My Guest - Football Superstars in Australia’. by Fair Play Publishing

Dr Hunter Fujak is the author of 'Code Wars - the Battle for Fans, Dollars and Survival' published by Fair Play Publishing in March 2021.

Nick Galatas - In Conversation with Nick Galatas, Chairman of AAFC by Fair Play Publishing

Alen Stajcic - In Conversation With Alen Stajcic, Head Coach Of The Central Coast Mariners by Fair Play Publishing

#FWF2020 - Do #BlackLivesMatter in football? by Fair Play Publishing