New True Story podcast launches ahead of 2025's festival of non-fiction at Coledale

Every spring, the True Story Festival invites some of Australia’s most talented non-fiction writers to share the stories behind their work. Now, you can hear their stories from the comfort of your home.

We've pulled six of the most captivating author talks from the archives of last year’s festival and released them in a new podcast, 'True Story', available now on Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts and Google Podcasts/YouTube Music and Apple Podcasts.

From the heartbreaking to the humorous, the podcast features a diverse lineup of voices and topics with something for everyone. Tune in to hear Rosie Batty share a message of hope in the face of immense loss, and join Ailsa Piper in a poignant discussion on grief and growth. Listen as Jodi Edwards bridges local First Nations knowledge and marine science, or enjoy Gina Chick's raw take on survival. You'll also find a darkly witty exploration of his investigation into the tragic RoboDebt scandal from 2024's keynote speaker Rick Morton, and a thought-provoking conversation with esteemed Dark Emu author Bruce Pascoe.

These talks are the perfect way to get a taste of what awaits at this year's festival on November 15-16 at Coledale Community Hall. True Story Festival is a co-production of the South Coast Writers Festival and The Illawarra Flame with directors Caroline Baum, Sarah Nicholson and Genevieve Swart. Super early bird tickets are on sale now.

Secure your tickets for the festival.

Listen to the 'True Story' podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio, Google Podcast/YouTube Music.