The events where Australian readers have long gathered to hear writers speak about their work are often annual (like festivals) and mostly in the big cities. As podcasts have become a way Australians consume culture, literary conversation has migrated to a more accessible space: the commute, the dog walk, the kitchen bench.
Literary podcasts do something print reviews and festival sessions rarely can. They make space for extended, unhurried thought. Writers speak openly about their process and scholars give cultural and historical context that helps readers approach unfamiliar texts. For many, these podcasts function as a year-round version of a writers’ festival – without the ticket price or travel.
