The Beekeeper of Sinjar by Iraqi journalist Dunya Mikhail is the deeply moving real-life account of an Iraqi honey trader who used his regional knowledge to help liberate Yazidi women enslaved by ISIS. Dunya weaves together recent tales of near-impossible escapes with her own experience of exile. A former journalist at The Baghdad Observer and winner of the UN Human Rights Award for Freedom of Writing, Dunya talks to SBS’s Janice Petersen to reflect on a remarkable story that offers a hopeful counterpoint to terror and hatred.

The Beekeeper of Sinjar&nbsp;by Iraqi journalist&nbsp;Dunya Mikhail&nbsp;is the deeply moving real-life account of an Iraqi honey trader who used his regional knowledge to help liberate Yazidi women enslaved by ISIS. Dunya weaves together recent tales of near-impossible escapes with her own experience of exile. A former journalist at&nbsp;The Baghdad Observer&nbsp;and winner of the UN Human Rights Award for Freedom of Writing, Dunya talks to SBS&rsquo;s&nbsp;Janice Petersen&nbsp;to reflect on a remarkable story that offers a hopeful counterpoint to terror and hatred.

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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.

Dunya Mikhail: The Beekeeper of Sinjar

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

Grand Ambition: Paul Keating and James Curran in Conversation

Two motherless girls begin their lives in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, but they take paths that are worlds apart.

Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, winner of the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, has written another unforgettable story. Her new novel, Kin, centres a complex relationship between childhood best friends, showing how the bonds between mothers, daughters and friends are tested by affluence and inequality, love and desire and a wide world of adventure.

Hear Tayari talking with Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Shankari Chandran about her rich and emotional new work.

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

Two motherless girls begin their lives in Honeysuckle, Louisiana, but they take paths that are worlds apart.
Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage, winner of the 2019 Women&rsquo;s Prize for Fiction, has written another unforgettable story. Her new novel,&nbsp;Kin, centres a complex relationship between childhood best friends, showing how the bonds between mothers, daughters and friends are tested by affluence and inequality, love and desire and a wide world of adventure.
Hear Tayari talking with Miles Franklin Literary Award winner Shankari Chandran about her rich and emotional new work.
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.
After more? Follow Sydney Writers&rsquo; Festival on social media:
Instagram: @sydwritersfest Facebook: @SydWritersFest TikTok: @sydwritersfest

Dunya Mikhail: The Beekeeper of Sinjar

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