Writers, friends and co-authors Jamila Rizvi and Rosie Waterland discuss brain health – the physical and the mental – through their intertwined experiences.

Together with host Clare Bowditch, they consider illness, resilience and friendship in this raw and insightful conversation on their new book, Broken Brains.

Supported by Readings.


Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2025.

Writers, friends and co-authors&nbsp;Jamila Rizvi&nbsp;and&nbsp;Rosie Waterland discuss brain health &ndash; the physical and the mental &ndash; through their intertwined experiences.
Together with host Clare Bowditch, they consider illness, resilience and friendship in this raw and insightful conversation on their new book,&nbsp;Broken Brains.
Supported by Readings. 
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival 2025.

Australia's boldest literary festival.

Melbourne Writers Festival

Conversations from Australia's boldest literary festival.

Conversations from Australia's boldest literary festival.

Jamila Rizvi and Rosie Waterland: Broken Brains

Award-winning author and musician Jimmy Barnes recounts the twists and turns of his larger-than-life adventures live on stage. With his trademark candour, humour, and distinctive voice, Barnes shares anecdotes, lessons, and cracking good yarns: from unearthing shattering family secrets in Glasgow to encountering charismatic and not-so-endearing superstars, to confronting his own mortality.

Featuring humorous tangents, wild characters, and the occasional tall tale, hear from the beloved star and maverick as he celebrates heritage, family, friends, music and the adventure of a grand life with host Brian Nankervis.

Award-winning author and musician Jimmy Barnes recounts the twists and turns of his larger-than-life adventures live on stage. With his trademark candour, humour, and distinctive voice, Barnes shares anecdotes, lessons, and cracking good yarns: from unearthing shattering family secrets in Glasgow to encountering charismatic and not-so-endearing superstars, to confronting his own mortality. Featuring humorous tangents, wild characters, and the occasional tall tale, hear from the beloved star and maverick as he celebrates heritage, family, friends, music and the adventure of a grand life with host Brian Nankervis.

Jimmy Barnes: Highways and Byways

The extraordinary writers and editors behind Someone Like Me: An Anthology of Non-fiction by Autistic Writers come together for this panel discussion exploring identity, creativity and culture.

This expansive anthology of creative non-fiction, memoir, graphic storytelling and more features a stellar line-up of Autistic gender-diverse and women writers, exploring topics such as sex, religion and the natural world.

Co-editors Jo Case and Clem Bastow, and contributors Jess Ho, Marlee Jane Ward and Caitlin McGregor appear in conversation. Enjoy their wide-ranging discussion on belonging, connection, social interaction, meaning and joy.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

The extraordinary writers and editors behind&nbsp;Someone Like Me: An Anthology of Non-fiction by Autistic Writers&nbsp;come together for this panel discussion exploring identity, creativity and culture. This expansive anthology of creative non-fiction, memoir, graphic storytelling and more features a stellar line-up of Autistic gender-diverse and women writers, exploring topics such as sex, religion and the natural world. Co-editors&nbsp;Jo Case&nbsp;and&nbsp;Clem Bastow, and contributors&nbsp;Jess Ho,&nbsp;Marlee Jane Ward&nbsp;and&nbsp;Caitlin McGregor appear in conversation. Enjoy their wide-ranging discussion on belonging, connection, social interaction, meaning and joy.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Someone Like Me: Autistic Writing and Belonging

Samantha Harvey discusses her 2024 Booker Prize-winning novel, Orbital – a profound meditation on deep space, our environment, the meaning of life and the nature of humanity itself.

Taking place over a single day – with sixteen sunrises and sixteen sunsets – Orbital tells the story of six astronauts as they observe the planet Earth from the vantage point of the International Space Station. The fragility of human life fills their conversations, their fears, their dreams. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?

Hosted by Kate Mildenhall.

Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Samantha Harvey discusses her 2024 Booker Prize-winning novel, Orbital&nbsp;&ndash; a profound meditation on deep space, our environment, the meaning of life and the nature of humanity itself. Taking place over a single day &ndash; with sixteen sunrises and sixteen sunsets &ndash; Orbital tells the story of six astronauts as they observe the planet Earth from the vantage point of the International Space Station. The fragility of human life fills their conversations, their fears, their dreams. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity?
Hosted by Kate Mildenhall.
Recorded live at Melbourne Writers Festival.

Jamila Rizvi and Rosie Waterland: Broken Brains

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