Radio and PodcastRadio and PodcastLive Radio & Podcasts
Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading cover
Arts

Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading

Cheryl Akle

Cheryl Akle discusses the world with her favourite authors. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episodes

20 of 742 episodes

Stories Behind The Story: Michael Robotham on The 40-Year-Old Novel He Finally Shared

What happens when a bestselling crime writer returns to the novel he first wrote in his twenties? Michael Robotham joins Cheryl to reveal th...

32:21Oct 18, 2026

Stories Behind the Story: Nina Kenwood on Books, Writing and People Skills

What happens when a lifelong book lover becomes a writer? Nina Kenwood joins Cheryl Akle to talk about her new novel People Skills , a slow-...

29:32Oct 11, 2026

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, hilario...

31:36Oct 4, 2026

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....

33:20Sep 27, 2026

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 Leban...

36:17Sep 20, 2026

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 chil...

37:52Sep 15, 2026

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 ap...

33:09Sep 14, 2026

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 ta...

27:27Sep 10, 2026

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...

32:12Sep 6, 2026

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, belongin...

34:47Aug 31, 2026

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...

41:12Aug 3, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: Hannah Richell & Michelle Prak on Their Favourite Phases When Writing

Hannah Richell (The Search Party, The River Home) and Michelle Prak (The Rush) have a laugh and talk about their books One Dark Night and Th...

18:07Jul 20, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: Holden Sheppard & Peter Polites on Their Unique, Diverse Backgrounds

Holden Sheppard (Invisible Boys, The Brink) and Peter Polites (Down The Hume, God Forgets About the Poor) chat about the adaptation of Holde...

19:44Jul 12, 2026

Libby Trainor Parker on Finding Healing Through Advocacy

Libby Trainor Parker talks to Cheryl about endometriosis, chronic pain, infertility, pregnancy loss, grief, and finding healing through advo...

31:47Jul 5, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: Sarah Trad on Hospitality and Building Her Dream House

Sarah Trad talks to Cheryl Akle about Lebanon and the culture’s deep connection to hospitality, her travels around the world, renovating and...

27:52Jun 28, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: Joan Sauers on Film and Mysteries

Joan Sauers talks to Cheryl Akle about her love of mystery series, the writing skills she learned from her father, Hollywood, and the differ...

34:01Jun 21, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: Victoria Purman on Journalism, Publishing and Vintage Books

Victoria Purman talks to Cheryl Akle about her former career in journalism, her path into publishing, her writing routines, and her love of...

35:46Jun 14, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: What Are You Reading? The App with Caroline Overington

Cheryl talks to Caroline about Better Reading’s new project, What Are You Reading? The App , an Australian, community-focused book tracker t...

30:18Jun 7, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: Francesca Albanese on War and Power

Francesca Albanese talks to Cheryl about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the impact of technology on modern warfare, and her career in aca...

33:54May 31, 2026

Stories Behind The Story: Dervla McTiernan on Ruthless Editing and Finding Home in Australia

Dervla McTiernan talks to Cheryl about her brain tumour diagnosis, her writing routine, the brutality of editing, and how living in Australi...

35:48May 24, 2026