Podcast: Delving into History

Whether fiction or fact, personal narrative or sweeping saga – the stories behind how authors and journalists dig through history to find a tale that we connect with is always fascinating.

Here we have collated three such podcasts, from Natasha Lester’s sweeping historical romance, to Richard Fidler and Kari Gislason’s personal account of the Icelandic Sagas, to Paul Irish’s important book which sheds light on an unknown part of Australian history.

Natasha Lester

Her Mother’s Secret is the story of a brave young woman chasing a dream in the face of society’s disapproval. Cheryl Akle and Natasha Lester talk in depth about the writing process, the book publishing world and why Natasha is drawn to historical Fiction.

Richard Fidler and Kari Gislason

In Saga Land, journalist Richard Fidler teams up with his friend, Kári Gíslason, a half Icelandic writer and academic, to travel across Iceland and gather fascinating tales that blend ancient and contemporary Iceland with a page-turning family mystery.

Cheryl Akle talks with Richard and Kari about their recently published book, ‘Saga Land’. They talk about the food, culture, and history of Iceland; what makes it funny and unique; and how their travels around Iceland fed their friendship.

Paul Irish

Contrary to what you may think, local Aboriginal people did not lose their culture and die out within decades of Governor Phillip’s arrival in Sydney in 1788. Cheryl Akle and Paul Irish talk about Sydney History, Aboriginal identity, and Paul’s new book, ‘Hidden In Plain View’.