Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading

By Better Reading PodcastArts Books

Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading episodes

October 04 Stories Behind The Story: Ash Williams on Almost Killing It in Hollywood
What happens when an Australian comedian heads to Hollywood with big dreams and no idea what’s coming? Ash Williams shares the wild, hilarious and unexpected stories behind Almost Killing It in Hollywood, from chasing big opportunities to the moments that didn’t quite go to plan. His latest work, Almost Killing It in Hollywood, is out now.
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32 min
September 27 Stories Behind the Story: Tess Woods on The Cairo Bridal Shop and Finding Her Way Back to Writing
Three sisters disappear from a bridal shop at the foot of the pyramids. That’s where Tess Woods’ new novel, The Cairo Bridal Shop, begins. Tess joins Cheryl to talk about the very personal story behind the book, her Egyptian heritage, her beloved grandmother and the unexpected journey that took her from physiotherapy to bestselling author. The Cairo Bridal Shop is out now.
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34 min
September 20 Stories Behind The Story: Yumna Kassab on Parramatta, Belonging and the Stories That Shape Us
Yumna Kassab joins Cheryl Akle to talk about the stories, memories and sense of place behind her new book. Yumna shares how growing up Lebanese-Australian in Parramatta shaped her writing, her unusual path from studying science and teaching to becoming an acclaimed author, and how a short story competition led to her first book, The House of Youssef. She also talks about her unique writing process and why she captures her ideas by hand in notebooks. Her new book, Parramatta, a Dictionary of Place and Memory, is out now.
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37 min
September 15 Everyone Has a Story: The woman who carried 15 children and gained 2 more in death
In the first episode of Everyone Has a Story, Sivine Tabbouch tells Cheryl the extraordinary story of her mother, Amina, who raised 15 children.
Amina’s life was shaped by family, love, loss and extraordinary strength. As she grew older and her health declined, Sivine became her carer and found new ways to communicate with her mother.
But the story takes an unexpected turn after Amina’s death, when two baby girls who weren’t her own came to be buried beside her. Listen to find out how...
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38 min
September 14 REWIND: Stories Behind the Story: Karen Brooks on brewing, her writing journey and bringing history to life through fiction
From the archives: Karen Brooks talks to Cheryl about her family-run brewery in Hobart, the influence of feminism on her writing, how she approaches research for her historical fiction, her connection to fantasy stories and what lies ahead in her writing journey.

If you haven’t read The Whisky Widow yet, add it to your TBR on the What Are You Reading app.
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34 min
September 10 REWIND: Stories Behind The Story: Blanche d’Alpuget on the Life and Legacy of Bob Hawke
In this replay of Stories Behind The Story, we remember acclaimed Australian author Blanche d’Alpuget, who joined Cheryl Akle in 2019 to talk about her extraordinary life, her writing career and her relationship with former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

Blanche shares the story of how she first met Bob, what drew her to write his biography, and what it was like to spend 25 years together. She also reflects on his remarkable political career, his love of Australia and the people he served, and the final years of his life.

A fascinating conversation with a much-loved Australian author, revisited in her memory.
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28 min
September 06 Stories Behind The Story: Nadine Browne on finding her voice and trying to belong in the literary world
Nadine Browne talks to Cheryl Akle about her debut novel Gone Guru, a funny and chaotic literary mystery inspired by her own experiences as a writer in New York. She discusses imposter syndrome, class and cultural differences between Australia and America, and how her experiences of leaving religion, finding her voice and trying to belong in the literary world ultimately shaped Gone Guru, which is out now.
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33 min
August 31 Stories Behind The Story: Kbora and Razia Ali on identity, belonging and resilience
Sisters Kabora and Razia Ali talk to Cheryl Akle, sharing their family’s journey from Afghanistan to Australia. Exploring identity, belonging and resilience, Kabora reflects on becoming the first woman of Afghan descent to join the Australian Army at 18. The sisters also share how their family’s history and Kabora’s personal experiences came together to create the book. Their memoir, First of Her Kind, is out now.
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35 min
August 30 Replay: V purman
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30 min
August 03 Stories Behind The Story: Hannah Richell on The Unexpected Ways Life Can Transform After Loss
Hannah Richell joins Cheryl Akle to talk about grief, love, writing and the unexpected ways life can transform after loss. Hannah shares how writing her memoir after the death of her husband Matt became an act of release, remembrance and connection, and reflects on rebuilding a life that holds both profound grief and new joy. A moving conversation about the love we carry, the stories that shape us, and finding the courage to keep living. Hannah’s latest memoir, An Ocean and a Day, is out now.
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42 min