Episode 9

The Re-Read: Bri Lee

Welcome to The Re-Read: bonus episodes where we chat with previous Better Words guests and catch up on what's happened since they joined us on the pod.


Bri Lee is a writer, journalist and activist. Her debut book Eggshell Skull was a multi-award winner. She followed this with Beauty and Who Gets to Be Smart. She is working on a PhD in law at the University of Sydney where she also lectures in media law. The Work is her first novel.

Listen to our previous chat with Bri here.

You can follow Bri @bri.e.lee on Instagram and check out News & Reviews.

*There's a little bit of background noise in this episode, sorry! Unfortunately, it's a hazard for us all recording remotely from home.

In this interview, we chat about:

  • Why Bri feels more comfortable and excited about discussing The Work, in comparison to her previous non-fiction novels
  • Why polarisation is a crucial part of any art (and why it means aggregating star reviews on platforms like Goodreads doesn't really work)
  • Bri's writing process for this dual-perspective story
  • The various selves needed to craft and then promote your work
  • Why Bri views fiction and non-fiction as a spectrum rather than a binary
  • Privilege, hard work and our obsession with the next young 'it' writers
  • The work Bri does in creating News & Reviews

Books and other things mentioned:

  • Good Material by Dolly Alderton
  • Cool Story with Bri and Bridie
  • Sally Rooney

The Work is available in Australia now.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

About the Podcast

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Better Words

About your hosts

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Caitlin Toohey

Hi, I'm Caitlin! I've been on bookstagram since 2016, a podcaster since 2017, and worked in publishing since 2019. So books and reading are my entire life. When I'm not reading, I like listening to Taylor Swift, watching sitcoms, and generally being a theatre kid.
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Michelle Gately

Hi, I'm Michelle! I'm an Aussie living in the UK, working as a bookseller. I'm obsessed with storytelling in all its forms – I spend as much time watching TV or listening to podcasts as I do reading. Other hobbies include bouldering, hiking and generally obsessing about my pug Percy.