Through her prize-winning books All That I Am and Stasiland, Anna Funder has deeply considered the cost of lying and truth-telling in powerful regimes. She’s joined by Jason Steger to discuss what happens to people who espouse lies and those who refuse to go along with them. The pair also highlight the inherent friction between power and truth, and consider how 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we find ourselves in a new age of untruth.

Through her prize-winning books All That I Am and Stasiland, Anna Funder has deeply considered the cost of lying and truth-telling in powerful regimes. She&rsquo;s joined by Jason Steger to discuss what happens to people who espouse lies and those who refuse to go along with them. The pair also highlight the inherent friction between power and truth, and consider how 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, we find ourselves in a new age of untruth.

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more. Subscribe to our channel for new releases.

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more. Subscribe to our channel for new releases.

Australia's largest celebration of writing and ideas.

Sydney Writers' Festival

Australia's largest celebration of literature, stories and ideas. Bringing together the world's best authors, leading public intellectuals, scientists, journalists and more.

Anna Funder: The Cost of Lying and Truth-telling

After her New York Times bestseller, Writers & Lovers, Lily King returns to themes of love, desire, forgiveness and loss in Heart the Lover.    

Our narrator is a successful writer who is familiar with the classic tropes of love stories. She lives her life with her husband and children until a surprise forces her to confront the lingering strings of her own romantic past. This is Lily at her masterful best, with an epic story that celebrates literature and young love.    

Revel in unforgettable connection and untangle the pieces of this love story with Lily, in conversation with Melanie Kembrey.  

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

After her&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;bestseller,&nbsp;Writers &amp; Lovers,&nbsp;Lily King returns to themes of love, desire,&nbsp;forgiveness&nbsp;and loss in&nbsp;Heart the Lover.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Our narrator is a successful writer who is&nbsp;familiar with the classic&nbsp;tropes&nbsp;of love stories. She lives her life with her husband and children&nbsp;until&nbsp;a surprise forces her to confront the lingering strings of her own&nbsp;romantic past. This is Lily at her&nbsp;masterful best,&nbsp;with an epic story&nbsp;that celebrates&nbsp;literature and young love.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Revel in unforgettable connection and untangle the pieces of this love story with Lily, in conversation with Melanie Kembrey.&nbsp;&nbsp;
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.&nbsp;
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:   Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Lily King:  Heart the Lover

After being crowned the number one book of the 21st century by ABC Radio National, Australian literary sensation Trent Dalton’s newest book mixes gruesome true crime with a personal exploration of love and marriage.

Noah Cork had the scoop of his journalistic career hand-delivered to his mailbox. But his decision to pursue the lead of a cold-blooded killer while the case is still under investigation invites more chaos and destruction into his life than he anticipated. In Gravity Let Me Go, Trent returns to age-old themes of love and family in this story of ambition, truth and deception.

Listen in as Trent discusses his latest hit novel with Cassie McCullagh.

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

After being crowned the number one book of the 21st century by ABC Radio National, Australian literary sensation Trent Dalton&rsquo;s newest book mixes gruesome true crime with a personal exploration of love and marriage.
Noah Cork had the scoop of his journalistic career hand-delivered to his mailbox. But his decision to pursue the lead of a cold-blooded killer while the case is still under investigation invites more chaos and destruction into his life than he anticipated. In Gravity Let Me Go, Trent returns to age-old themes of love and family in this story of ambition, truth and deception.
Listen in as Trent discusses his latest hit novel with Cassie McCullagh.
This episode was recorded live in May at the 2026 Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.
Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.&nbsp;
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media: Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Trent Dalton: Gravity Let Me Go

There used to be a time when political leaders didn’t limit themselves to an election cycle.

In his latest book, Grand Ambition, international affairs expert and historian James Curran draws on never-before-seen archival documents and extensive interviews to present former prime minister Paul Keating’s dynamic, compelling and contested vision for Australia’s role on the world stage.

Listen in as Curran and Keating reflect on the bold politics of the past and ask how we should approach questions of independence, security and identity in these turbulent and unpredictable times.

Hear Paul Keating and James Curran for a fascinating in-depth analysis of Australia’s national identity and its place in the world.

This episode was recorded live at a Sydney Writers' Festival event at City Recital Hall in September 2026.

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

There used to be a time when political leaders didn&rsquo;t limit themselves to an election cycle. In his latest book, Grand Ambition, international affairs expert and historian James Curran draws on never-before-seen archival documents and extensive interviews to present former prime minister Paul Keating&rsquo;s dynamic, compelling and contested vision for Australia&rsquo;s role on the world stage. Listen in as Curran and Keating reflect on the bold politics of the past and ask how we should approach questions of independence, security and identity in these turbulent and unpredictable times. Hear Paul Keating and James Curran for a fascinating in-depth analysis of Australia&rsquo;s national identity and its place in the world.
This episode was recorded live at a Sydney Writers' Festival event at City Recital Hall in September 2026.
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and follow our channel.&nbsp;Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms.&nbsp;
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media: Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Anna Funder: The Cost of Lying and Truth-telling

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