The Weekend Read

4.5 (32)
NEWS
UPDATED MONTHLY

7AM+

Support independent journalism. Get 7am ad-free.

7 days free, then $7.99/month

Listen to Australia's best writers and thinkers read out longform essays from The Monthly magazine, the country's leading publication on politics, current affairs and culture.

21/06/2024

Anna Stewart on being a captain of one of the biggest games of the year

For 31 years, there has been a rivalry – drawing on a divide so inherent and base – that it pits mate against mate. We’re not talking about State of Origin, we’re talking about the Reclink Community Cup. The football contest began in Melbourne, but is now held in cities across the country – with the Rockdogs, a team of not-so-athletic musicians, taking on the Megahertz, a band of various music media personalities. The winner claims the bragging rights. Today, 2024 co-captain of the Rockdogs Anna Stewart will read her story, ‘Reclink Community Cup’. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Digital content assistant, musician and 2024 co-captain of the Rockdogs Anna Stewart.

15 min
07/06/2024

Atticus Bastow on the mysteries of the universe at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft

Over 90 years ago, a swiss astrophysicist theorised there was an unseen, unobservable force that sits behind the universe we know. He called it ‘dark matter’, and today we’re not much closer to understanding it than he was. But that could be about to change, as a group of Australian researchers are part of our most promising effort yet to uncover the nature of this unseen force Today, Atticus Bastow will read his piece, ‘The search for dark matter’ from The Saturday Paper. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: The 7am podcast’s technical producer, Atticus Bastow

17 min
24/05/2024

Martin McKenzie-Murray on the ugly side of football fandom ahead of Euro 2024

The 2024 Euros are just weeks away – with some of the best footballers in the world competing in an event that draws in hundreds of millions of viewers. But the legacy of the last Euros is still an uncomfortable topic for many in England. Not only because they lost, but also the scenes of violence and hooliganism that led to a national debate and a new Netflix documentary. Today, journalist Martin McKenzie-Murray reads his piece from this weekend’s edition of The Saturday Paper. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Journalist, Martin McKenzie-Murray.

21 min
03/05/2024 • 7AM+ ONLY

Angela Savage on the moment a child leaves the home

Today, writer Angela Savage with her piece from a recent edition of The Monthly. Parents often face the dilemma of helping their children become independent, while not wanting to let them go. Angela’s story, ‘Fledglings’, tells the story of what changes when that moment finally comes.

15 min
20/04/2024

Elizabeth Farrelly on the city of the future

Today, columnist Elizabeth Farrelly will read her piece about our modern cities and how they relate to the history of how humanity has imagined the perfect city. Farrelly is one of Australia’s foremost writers on urban development and the communities of our cities – having earned devoted readers at the Sydney Morning Herald and now at Schwartz Media, inThe Saturday Paper. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Columnist Elizabeth Farrelly

21 min
05/04/2024

Sophie Cunningham on remembering Georgia Blain

Today, author and editor Sophie Cunningham reads her piece from a recent edition of The Saturday Paper. Australian author Georgia Blain chronicled her battle with cancer in a monthly column for The Saturday Paper, sadly passing away in 2016. Blain is remembered in this piece by her friend of over two decades, Sophie Cunningham – championing her legacy as a writer of rare talent, with a clear-eyed gaze, and a capacity to talk about sadness without self-pity. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author and editor, Sophie Cunningham

15 min
05/04/2024

Sophie Cunningham on remembering Georgia Blain

Today, author and editor Sophie Cunningham reads her piece from a recent edition of The Saturday Paper. Australian author Georgia Blain chronicled her battle with cancer in a monthly column for The Saturday Paper, sadly passing away in 2016. Blain is remembered in this piece by her friend of over two decades, Sophie Cunningham – championing her legacy as a writer of rare talent, with a clear-eyed gaze, and a capacity to talk about sadness without self-pity. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author and editor, Sophie Cunningham

14 min
22/03/2024

Elmo Keep on the insane spectacle of U2 at the Las Vegas sphere

On the Las Vegas strip, in a sea of casinos, sits an enormous dome that lights up the sky. It’s called The Sphere and it’s a performance venue where punters are dazzled by 54 thousand metres of LED screens capable of showing 256 million colours, in a display so overwhelming that some concertgoers faint. Writer Elmo Keep travelled to Vegas to see her favourite band U2 play at The Sphere in their inaugurating residency. There she found in equal parts, a religious experience and a hyper capitalist nightmare. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Writer, Elmo Keep

29 min

See All (54)

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

4.5 (2446)

DAILY NEWS
Ange McCormack delves into Australia's housing crisis. This five-part series investigates the decision-makers, the effect on a generation destined for rental living, and who profits from record prices.

4.3 (6)

NEWS

View Subscription FAQs

4.5

out of 5

32 Ratings

White Hands on Aboriginal Art?

09/05/2023

Siobhan in Sydney

Interesting take by Quentin Sprague on this complex topic. To hear Aboriginal artists discuss cross-cultural relationships with whites in the art industry, listen to award-winning Heart of Artness podcast, which combines deep academic research with storytelling on this theme. Co-hosted by Margo Neale, Hd Indigenous Knowledges at National Museum of Australia (and me - disclosure), project led by art historian Ian McLean (colleague of Quentin).
Superb writing

22/10/2021

a hop and a skip

The Most Hated Man episode was superb. I still think about it weeks after listening to it.

Listen to Australia's best writers and thinkers read out longform essays from The Monthly magazine, the country's leading publication on politics, current affairs and culture.