StoryFest

In their latest novels, Charlotte McConaghy and Kate Mildenhall have imagined the future. One where climate change has resulted in mass extinctions of threatened species. The other, an Australia ruled by the ominously named The Department which tracks every move you make. They are both novels that ask questions about love, loyalty and what drives us to commit desperate acts. Join them as they discuss what setting a novel in the future allows a storyteller to do and the attraction of speculating about how the world might be.

Artists: Kate Mildenhall, Charlotte McConaghy

Storyfest Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram - @storyfestinc

BRAZEN HUSSIES reveals a revolutionary chapter in Australian history, when the bold women of the Women's Liberation Movement reignited Australia’s feminist revolution. Interweaving freshly uncovered archival footage, personal photographs, memorabilia and lively personal accounts from activists, BRAZEN HUSSIES shows us how a daring and diverse group of women joined forces to defy the status quo, demand equality and create profound social change - contributing to one of the greatest social movements of the 20th Century. Following the screening, producer Sue Maslin joins Jane Caro in a conversation exploring  why it was so important to make this documentary now and what it says about the current state of feminism in this country.

Artist: Sue Maslin

Storyfest Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/ 

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram - @storyfestinc

SHOW NOTES

Charles Massy OAM gained a Bachelor of Science (Zoology, Human Ecology) at ANU, before going farming for 35 years, developing the prominent Merino sheep stud ‘Severn Park’. Concern at ongoing land degradation and humanity’s sustainability challenge saw him return to ANU to undertake a PhD in Human Ecology. Using his personal farming experience as a touchstone, Call of the Reed Warbler tells the real story behind industrial agriculture and the global profit-obsessed corporations driving it. Massy shows how innovative farmers are finding a new way, regenerating their land and witnessing astounding transformations that evidence the vital connection between our soil and our health. Since his 2020 appearance on the ABC program, Australian Story, Massy has reached an even broader audience. In his own words, "What was once sort of regarded as a fringe insurgent movement is now gathering mainstream power. " Charles Massy will be discussing his life’s work with science writer and  journalist, Jane McCredie.

Artist: Charles Massy

Storyfest

Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram - @storyfestinc

Craig Silvey is the author of the bestselling multi-award winning novel,  Jasper Jones. Released in 2009, it went on to be turned into an acclaimed play and film. 

His third novel, Honeybee, was published in 2020 and has already won legions of fans. Honeybee is a heartbreaking, life-affirming novel that throws readers headlong  into a world of petty thefts, extortion plots, botched bank robberies, daring dog rescues and one spectacular drag show. It has garnered recognition from the independent booksellers market, winning the  prestigious 2021 Indie Book Award for Fiction.  

Join Craig Silvey as he discusses the inspiration behind Honeybee and find out how he created two such vivid and heartwarming characters in Sam and Vic.

Artist: Craig Silvey - Craig's Website

Host: Suzanne Leal - Suzanne's Website

SHOW NOTES

Storyfest

Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram - @storyfestinc

In her debut novel, The Dressmaker, Rosalie Ham introduced the world to the outback town Dungatar with its eccentric residents, petty  politics and haute couture through the wonderful character, Tilly Dunnage. It became an international bestseller and its reputation cemented with the release of the film of the same name. But what  happened to Tilly after she left town remained an unanswered question. That is, until last year with the release of The Dressmaker's Secret. Find out why Rosalie Ham wrote a sequel to her famous book, what challenges that posed and why she thinks these characters have lived on in readers’ memories.

Artist: Rosalie Ham

SHOW NOTES

Storyfest

Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram - @storyfestinc

Christian White, Candice Fox & Michael Robotham. Hosted by Meredith Jaffé.

One of the most well-attended sessions at StoryFest 2019 was Criminal Minds. With three hugely successful crime authors – Michael Robotham, Candice Fox and Christian White – it’s not hard to see why. Meredith Jaffé spoke to the crime-writing trio about what goes on inside their minds when coming up with their storylines. And some of the answers (including an inter-galactic slug!) might surprise you. As a bonus the audience was treated to readings from each author’s latest book.

Freedom of expression is often touted as the right of individuals to espouse publicly views that were once held privately. No more so than in times where social media has dominated the public conversation on everything from sexuality, race, religion, politics and monarchy. But what responsibilities are inherent in the phrase ‘free speech’ and how hard is it to put the truth at the centre of the public discourse?

Artists: Malcolm Knox, Nikki Gemmell, David Hunt

SHOW NOTES

Storyfest

Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Facebook / Twitter / Instagram - @storyfestinc

Malcolm Knox - Instagram

Nikki Gemmell - Twitter

David Hunt - Twitter

Wendy Harmer - Twitter

The Golden Maze - Richard Fidler in conversation with Nicole Abadee

Richard Fidler first visited Prague in 1989, the moment in history when the decrepit police state was being overthrown by its people in what became known as the Velvet Revolution. The experience never left him. Thirty years later, Fidler returned to Prague to uncover the glorious and grotesque history of Europe's most instagrammed and uncanny city. And, in his inimitable style, he has brought story and history together in a personally curated history of one of the world’s most magical cities, Prague. Beloved ABC broadcaster and bestselling author of Ghost Empire and Saga Land, Richard Fidler joins Nicole Abadee in conversation about his passion for Prague and his passion for story.

SHOW NOTES

Storyfest

Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Richard Fidler

Web - http://www.richard-fidler.com/

Nicole Abadee

Web - https://www.nicoleabadee.com.au/

Buy The Golden Maze from your local bookstore or online here.

If you had asked most people before covid hit our shores, they would have told you there was no way that school children could shift overnight to online learning; that it was impossible for banks to offer mortgage holidays; impossible to double unemployment benefits; impossible to house rough sleepers or put a hold on evictions; impossible to offer wages subsidies and definitely impossible to get Australians to stay home from the beach and the pub. But we did it.

SHOW NOTES

Storyfest

Web - https://www.storyfest.org.au/

Tanya Plibersek

Web - https://www.tanyaplibersek.com/

Jane Caro

Web - http://wallmedia.com.au/jane-caro/

Buy a copy of Upturn: A Better Normal After Covid-19 - https://www.booktopia.com.au/upturn-tanya-plibersek/book/9781742237206.html

In a live version of his popular 2017 TedX talk, The Art of Forgetting, David Hunt argues that in order for Australia to understand who we are, we must embrace the good and bad in our history.

David is the author of the bestselling, award-winning, Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia and the sequel, True Girt. He writes regularly about Australia’s past for the national newspapers and talks about the same on radio and in his podcast Rum, Rebels and Ratbags. He is also the presenter for Foxtel History Channel’s 2019 documentary series, Aussie Inventions That Changed the World.

SHOWNOTES:

Storyfest

https://www.storyfest.org.au

Facebook / Twitter - @storyfestinc

David Hunt

https://davidhuntwriter.com

Twitter @DavidHuntGirt

Listen Up Podcasting (Kel Butler)

www.listenuppodcasting.com.au

Facebook - @kelbutler @listenuppodcasting