Eyes & Ears
Books and podcasts to enjoy while you’re travelling with Journey Beyond.
Tom Lake By Ann Patchett (Harper)
Known for her modern fairytales, Ann Patchett has done it again with Tom Lake. Family dynamics here takes the shape of a mother’s story of a long ago affair with a famous actor recounted to her three daughters in installments across the summer of 2020.
Back on Track By Tricia Stringer (HarperCollins Publishers)
Tricia Stringer’s tale of troubled relationships, ageism, and love takes place on a trip across Australia on The Ghan. The unlikely travel companions here embark on a drama-filled journey, with a bit of magic on the other side.
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect By Benjamin Stevenson (Penguin Books)
Featuring Journey Beyond’s very own The Ghan as the main character in this witfilled follow-up to Stevenson’s Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, this story unearths yet another murder on the tracks. Crime writers turned detectives aboard? Mayhem ensues.
Yellowface By R. F. Kuang (The Borough Press)
The literary zeitgeist has a new favourite: R. F. Kuang's all-important Yellowface. Prepare for perceptions to be challenged: about race, identity, and the publishing landscape. This behind the- scenes satirical look into the world of publishing will open eyes to the unfair treatment of marginalised writers and editors in the business. A timely tale of morality to ponder on.
The Queen is Dead By Stan Grant (4th Estate AU)
Leading journalist and author Stan Grant takes his readers deep into the history, present and future of colonialism in Australia, and its tragic effects and legacy on Indigenous people. This searing take covers everything from the war in Ukraine and the rise of China to identity wars and the ongoing resurgence of white supremacy. A necessary conversation.
The Weekend By Charlotte Wood (Riverhead Books)
The Weekend is Charlotte Wood’s ode to growing old and growing up. Three women in their seventies reunite to clean out the cluttered old house of their late friend: what they didn’t expect were frank reflections on ageing and grief, as well as hard conversations about mortality, friendship, and most powerful of all: love. An evocative read.
Conversations (ABC listen)
Like all good conversations, this ABC Listen podcast draws you deep into someone else’s story. Live an hour in another’s life – be it a stranger, or someone you may have heard about, but never met.
Not Lost (Pushkin Industries)
Imagine your stable job and relationship both come to an end. What would you do with your new-found freedom? Journalist Brendan Francis Newnam took it as a sign to pursue his dream: hosting a travel podcast where he learns about his destinations by getting invited to a stranger’s house for dinner.
The Retrievals (Serial)
This five-part narrative from Serial Productions delves into the shocking true story of the women who trusted a fertility clinic at Yale with their IVF treatment only to be left in excruciating pain. Follow the events that unfolded in this nail-biting series.
Coming Out, Blak
Hosted by Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi woman Matika Little, and Courtney Hagen, a Butchulla and Gubbi Gubbi woman, Coming Out, Blak was created to start a conversation and to share the stories of First Nations people in the LGBTQ+ community.
Huberman Lab (Scicomm Media)
Unpacking the fascinating world of neuroscience, Dr. Huberman delves into how our brain and its connections with our organs control our perceptions and behaviours.
Armchair Expert
Hosted by Dax Shepherd, these long-form interviews explore the messiness of being human. Relatable, funny, and above all, real, these conversations are an escape into someone else’s world.
Summer Lovin' Playlist
The carefree season of summer is in full swing so we wanted to create a playlist that’s an ode to summer in all its forms. From bluesy jazz classics to modern pop, we have something for everyone, no matter what your summer adventure entails.