Sunday 29 March 2026

 Saturday 28 March 2026

Lead up festival events  22 to 27 March 2026

The ability of journalists to publish news in the public interest without interference and threats to their own safety is under increasing pressure. Diminishing resources, AI, and disinformation are just some of the threats to media freedom. Join journalists Eric Beecher and Rick Morton as they shed light on the state of media and what it means for the future of democracy. Hosted by Kylie Morris.

This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by Create NSW. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

The ability of journalists to publish news in the public interest without interference and threats to their own safety is under increasing pressure. Diminishing resources, AI, and disinformation are just some of the threats to media freedom. Join journalists Eric Beecher and Rick Morton as they shed light on the state of media and what it means for the future of democracy. Hosted by Kylie Morris.
This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw">Create NSW</a>. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/">donation</a>.&nbsp;

Eric Beecher and Rick Morton in Conversation - Breaking the News

Helen Garner returns with her signature candour and wit in an exuberant new book The Season, an account from the sidelines of the highs and lows of her youngest grandson’s footy team. Helen speaks with Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom about the vulnerability of boys and the bittersweet experience of loving them and letting them go.

This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by Create NSW. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

Helen Garner returns with her signature candour and wit in an exuberant new book The Season, an account from the sidelines of the highs and lows of her youngest grandson&rsquo;s footy team. Helen speaks with Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom about the vulnerability of boys and the bittersweet experience of loving them and letting them go.
This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw">Create NSW</a>. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/">donation</a>.&nbsp;

Helen Garner in Conversation - About a Boy

In his book Always Was, Always Will Be, Thomas Mayo investigates 'what's next?' for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. Thomas speaks with Clare Wright about lessons from the past, a path towards the future, and the new generation of First Nations leaders who are ready, resilient, and hopeful.

This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by Create NSW. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

In his book Always Was, Always Will Be, Thomas Mayo investigates 'what's next?' for reconciliation and justice in Australia after the failed Voice to Parliament referendum. Thomas speaks with Clare Wright about lessons from the past, a path towards the future, and the new generation of First Nations leaders who are ready, resilient, and hopeful.
This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw">Create NSW</a>. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/">donation</a>.&nbsp;

Thomas Mayo in Conversation - Always Was, Always Will Be

For 25 years, award-winning author Michelle de Kretser has been dazzling readers with her novels. Her new book, Theory & Practice, is set in 1980s Melbourne and is an exquisite blend of fiction, memoir and essay. Michelle makes her first appearance in Newcastle to speak with Kate Evans about craft, creativity, and the enduring influence of Virginia Woolf.

This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by Create NSW. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

For 25 years, award-winning author Michelle de Kretser has been dazzling readers with her novels. Her new book, Theory &amp; Practice, is set in 1980s Melbourne and is an exquisite blend of fiction, memoir and essay. Michelle makes her first appearance in Newcastle to speak with Kate Evans about craft, creativity, and the enduring influence of Virginia Woolf.
This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw">Create NSW</a>. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/">donation</a>.&nbsp;

Michelle de Kretser in Conversation - Theory & Practice

From larger-than-life adventures to vivid and poignant tales of the imagination, no one tells a yarn quite like Jimmy Barnes. In his fourth memoir Highways and Byways, he takes readers on another enthralling tour, this one complete with the odd detour, and a roundabout or two, through the life of one of this country’s most successful and beloved artists. Hosted by Richard Glover.

This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by Create NSW. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

From larger-than-life adventures to vivid and poignant tales of the imagination, no one tells a yarn quite like Jimmy Barnes. In his fourth memoir Highways and Byways, he takes readers on another enthralling tour, this one complete with the odd detour, and a roundabout or two, through the life of one of this country&rsquo;s most successful and beloved artists. Hosted by Richard Glover.
This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752018392948000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1sJ7-8PUOu9yQEr3Rp60rR">Create NSW</a>. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752018392948000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0C5Q4_rkL8x5LOMtl7S0PZ">donation</a>.&nbsp;

Jimmy Barnes in Conversation - Highways and Byways

It’s the 1980s in Darlinghurst, Sydney, and strange rumours abound: that you can catch the ‘gay plague’ from kissing, or a mosquito bite. There’s talk of quarantines and army intervention, and violence increases on the streets. David Owen Kelly’s Host City fuses memoir with alternative history to spin a tale of joy and survival. He speaks with Keri Glastonbury.

This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by Create NSW. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

It&rsquo;s the 1980s in Darlinghurst, Sydney, and strange rumours abound: that you can catch the &lsquo;gay plague&rsquo; from kissing, or a mosquito bite. There&rsquo;s talk of quarantines and army intervention, and violence increases on the streets. David Owen Kelly&rsquo;s Host City fuses memoir with alternative history to spin a tale of joy and survival. He speaks with Keri Glastonbury.
This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752018392948000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1sJ7-8PUOu9yQEr3Rp60rR">Create NSW</a>. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1752018392948000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0C5Q4_rkL8x5LOMtl7S0PZ">donation</a>.&nbsp;

David Owen Kelly in Conversation - Host City

It’s a well-known phenomenon: the anxious, agonising process of releasing a second book after a successful debut. Is the new book too similar to the first, or maybe too dissimilar? Was the debut effort a fluke? Courtney Collins, Hayley Scrivenor, and Jessie Tu open up to Amy Lovat about imposter syndrome, creative blocks, and debunk second-book blues.

This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by Create NSW. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible donation. 

It&rsquo;s a well-known phenomenon: the anxious, agonising process of releasing a second book after a successful debut. Is the new book too similar to the first, or maybe too dissimilar? Was the debut effort a fluke? Courtney Collins, Hayley Scrivenor, and Jessie Tu open up to Amy Lovat about imposter syndrome, creative blocks, and debunk second-book blues.
This conversation was recorded at the 2025 Newcastle Writers Festival. The Stories to You podcast series is supported by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/create-nsw&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1751946198440000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2S_d00FfJVf2cpJgfpyBET">Create NSW</a>. If you would like to contribute to the valuable work of the festival in fostering a culture of reading and writing, please consider a tax-deductible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/donate/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1751946198440000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0lr9516bf8eXZtT7NWivzt">donation</a>.&nbsp;

Courtney Collins, Hayley Scrivenor, and Jessie Tu - Second Book Syndrome

Podcast by Newcastle Writers Festival

Newcastle Writers Festival

Podcast series by Newcastle Writers Festival

Podcast series by Newcastle Writers Festival

Newcastle Writers Festival

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