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Meet the Writers

Meet the Writers

125 episodes — Page 1 of 3

Ruthie Rogers at The River Café

Sep 13, 202630 min

Sir Vince Cable and the changing global economic landscape

Sep 6, 202634 min

Louise Doughty and the letters that changed everything

Aug 30, 202635 min

Emma-Lee Moss and the icons of Cantopop

Aug 23, 202634 min

Simon Woodroffe on reinventing British dining

Aug 16, 202632 min

Kathy Lette on growing up, speaking out and ‘The Sisterhood Rules’

Aug 9, 202630 min

Nicholas Boggs and the legacy of James Baldwin

Aug 2, 202625 min

Chloe Aridjis on objects, projection and transformation

Jul 29, 202627 min

Raoul de Jong’s mystical journey into his Surinamese ancestry

Jul 26, 202628 min

Erica Wagner and the life of Washington Roebling

Jul 22, 202626 min

Victoria Bateman and the hidden economics of women

Jul 19, 202632 min

Ben Faccini on family, memory and fiction

Jul 12, 202629 min

Oliver Bullough on financial secrecy, corruption and global power

Jul 5, 202631 min

Anuradha Roy and life in the Himalayas

Jun 28, 202630 min

Leo Varadkar on power, identity and leaving politics

Jun 21, 202631 min

The winners of the 2026 Women’s Prize

Jun 14, 202629 min

Tim Wu and the future beyond big tech

Jun 7, 202628 min

Tayari Jones at the 2026 Hay Festival

May 31, 202629 min

Judy Blume on taboos, breaking barriers and leaving writing

May 24, 202631 min

Julia Franck on fiction, memoir and personal history

May 17, 202635 min

Oana Aristide on satire, space dreams and fiction

May 13, 202627 min

Megan Mulry and the Santa Fe International Literary Festival

May 10, 202627 min

Ece Temelkuran on exile, language and finding a new voice

May 3, 202629 min

Nicholas Thompson on leading change and running habits

Apr 26, 202633 min

Rachel Eliza Griffiths and the weight of memory

Apr 19, 202643 min

Catherine Carr and the complexities of sibling dynamics

Georgina Godwin meets award-winning documentarian Catherine Carr to discuss the exploration into sibling dynamics that led to her new book, ‘Who’s the Favourite?’, which gives insight into birth order, roles, and the impact of estrangement and loss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 12, 202628 min

Maria Semple on stoicism, rebellion and personal growth

Georgina Godwin meets Maria Semple, bestselling author of ‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette’, to discuss her new book, ‘Go Gentle’, which follows a divorced stoic philosopher’s mid-life transformation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 5, 202633 min

Poet Sasha Debevec-McKenney on writing with joy

Georgina Godwin is joined by Sasha Debevec-McKenney to discuss the writer’s debut poetry collection “Joy is My Middle Name”, which is shortlisted for the 2026 Dylan Thomas Prize. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 3, 202630 min

Margaret Busby on publishing, power and representation

Georgina Godwin meets Margaret Busby, Britain’s first black publisher. They discuss her career, the landmark anthology ‘Daughters of Africa’ and new release ‘Part of the Story: Writings from Half a Century’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 29, 202629 min

Fatima Bhutto at the Daunt Books Festival 2026

Following the release of her memoir, ‘The Hour of the Wolf’, Fatima Bhutto joins Georgina Godwin at the Daunt Books Festival 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 22, 202637 min

Francis Spufford on faith, fantasy and the craft of fiction

Georgina Godwin is joined by renowned writer Francis Spufford. They discuss his early days at Chatto & Windus, his wrangles with sceptics and latest novel, ‘Nonesuch’, which is set in London during the Blitz.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 15, 202631 min

Luka Ivan Jukic on the enduring significance of Central Europe

Georgina Godwin meets journalist and historian Luka Ivan Jukic, whose latest book, Central Europe: The Death of a Civilization and the Life of an Idea, explores the emergent rebirth of the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 11, 202630 min

Karen Dobres and pitch politics

It’s International Women’s Day and Georgina Godwin is joined by a former model who helped transform Lewes FC into the world’s first equal-pay football club. She discusses ‘Pitch Invasion’, a story about sport, culture and Britain’s global soft power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 8, 202638 min

Tom Freston on media, reinvention and change

Georgina Godwin meets Tom Freston to discuss his memoir, Unplugged. It traces his journey from launching MTV and shaping Comedy Central to how philanthropy reshaped his sense of purpose and reinvention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 1, 202638 min

Maria Alyokhina on activism, Russia’s regime and hope for the motherland

Georgina Godwin is joined by Maria Alyokhina, who shares insight into her latest memoir, Political Girl, and her hopes for the future of Russia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 22, 202630 min

Bora Chung on the rise of Korean literature

Georgina Godwin speaks with author Bora Chung about her life and activism, the rise of South Korean literature and her short-story collection The Midnight Timetable, which explores speculative fiction and political themes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 15, 202628 min

Andrey Kurkov on chronicling a nation at war

Georgina Godwin meets Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov, who shares his experiences from four years of war, the impact of conflict on daily life and the role of culture in resistance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 8, 202627 min

Damian Barr on Scottish art, memory and belonging

Damien Barr meets Georgina Godwin to reflect on childhood shaping his memoir and novel, examining class, his move from journalism to fiction and celebrating overlooked Scottish artists via writing, theatre and an exhibition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 4, 202634 min

Alexander B Smalls on opera, food and African heritage

Georgina Godwin meets Alexander B Smalls, tracing his path from opera to food writing via his family roots, landmark restaurants and books championing African cuisine, community and cultural pride.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 1, 202641 min

Steve Crawshaw and confronting global impunity

Georgina Godwin speaks to Steve Crawshaw about his book Prosecuting the Powerful, including cases from Milošević and Putin to Netanyahu. Plus: the ICC, US hostility and why accountability matters in Gaza and Ukraine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 25, 202636 min

Mary L Trump and how power destroys a nation

Georgina Godwin meets US psychologist and author Mary L Trump. They discuss her upbringing within the Trump family, pivoting from psychology to writing memoirs and what’s next for America and its politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 18, 202638 min

EA Hanks and retracing family ties

EA Hanks joins Georgina Godwin in the studio to discuss her debut memoir The 10, which recounts a solo journey, retracing family ties and the memory of her late mother.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 11, 202648 min

Manni Coe on roots, ruins and reinvention

Georgina Godwin speaks with writer-guide Manni Coe about his memoir Little Ruins, tracing his Yorkshire roots, music, struggles and plans for new books and tours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 4, 202629 min

India Knight on finding Home

Georgina Godwin speaks to British journalist and author India Knight on what makes a home worth living in her latest novel "Home"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 28, 202528 min

John Lloyd and ‘The Meaning of Liff’

Georgina Godwin meets John Lloyd, one of the men behind ‘The Meaning of Liff’. He shares insight on working with Douglas Adams and the impact of the humorous dictionary on its 42nd anniversary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 21, 202542 min

Sir Michael Palin on his travels, decades-long career and finding laughter

Georgina Godwin sits down with Sir Michael Palin, who shares insight into his upbringing, his start in comedy with Monty Python and his latest venture, ‘Michael Palin in Venezuela’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 14, 202530 min

Mitchell Kaplan, the founder of Miami Book Fair

Georgina Godwin speaks with Mitchell Kaplan, the founder of Miami Book Fair. They discuss his switch in career to becoming a bookseller, influencing the city’s literary culture and adapting to new reading trends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 7, 202531 min

Harlan Greene at the 2025 Charleston Literary Festival

Georgina Godwin meets American writer and historian Harlan Greene at the 2025 Charleston Literary Festival to discuss the playwright Dorothy Heyward, who is the subject of Greene’s book ‘Porgy’s Ghost’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 30, 202530 min

The winner of the 2025 Booker Prize: David Szalay

Georgina Godwin meets David Szalay, winner of the 2025 Booker Prize, at Charleston Literary Festival. They discuss his winning novel, Flesh, his connection to the UK, his multicultural upbringing and the prize’s impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 23, 202534 min

Kiran Desai on loneliness, legacy and the curse of rewriting

Georgina Godwin is joined by Kiran Desai, whose novel ‘The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny’ was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. She discusses her New Delhi childhood, political unrest and the influence of her mother, Anita Desai.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 16, 202528 min