Meet the Writers
Culture
Want to know more about the authors behind your favourite books? Tune in to discover the methods of – and inspiration behind – some of the world’s most exciting writers. Every Saturday, Georgina Godwin hosts an in-depth discussion with the person behind the prose.
Location:
London, United Kingdom
Description:
Want to know more about the authors behind your favourite books? Tune in to discover the methods of – and inspiration behind – some of the world’s most exciting writers. Every Saturday, Georgina Godwin hosts an in-depth discussion with the person behind the prose.
Twitter:
@monocle24
Language:
English
Episodes
Mitchell Kaplan, the founder of Miami Book Fair
12/7/2025
Georgina Godwin speaks with Mitchell Kaplan, the founder of Miami Book Fair. They discuss his switch in careers from lawmaker to bookseller, influencing the city’s literary culture and adapting to new reading trends.
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Duration:00:31:46
Harlan Greene at the 2025 Charleston Literary Festival
11/30/2025
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’.
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Duration:00:30:18
The winner of the 2025 Booker Prize: David Szalay
11/23/2025
Georgina Godwin meets Davis 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.
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Duration:00:34:02
Kiran Desai on loneliness, legacy and the curse of rewriting
11/16/2025
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.
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Duration:00:28:10
The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2025 winner: Helen Garner
11/9/2025
Georgina Godwin is joined by Helen Garner, the 2025 winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, who shares insight into How to End a Story: Collected Diaries.
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Duration:00:33:02
Richard Armitage and the power of storytelling
11/2/2025
Richard Armitage discusses moving from acting to writing with ‘The Cut’, which explores trauma and memory. Reflecting on his Leicestershire roots, immersive roles and empathy, Armitage seeks a balance between storytelling on stage and page.
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Duration:00:31:48
Richard Lloyd Parry and the journeys within stories
10/26/2025
Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia editor for The Times and Sunday Times, shares memories of his upbringing in Southport and his Blockbusters prize trip to Japan, which sparked a desire to cover the continent during his career.
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Duration:00:35:49
Olivier Norek on courage, conflict and history
10/19/2025
French author Olivier Norek presents ‘The Winter Warriors’, his first historical novel, on the 1939 Soviet invasion of Finland. He joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his research and why this story deserves global recognition.
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Duration:00:29:23
Sam Sussman on the possibility of family ties
10/12/2025
Writer Sam Sussman joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his US upbringing, relationship with his mother and the op-ed that developed into his debut novel, ‘Boy from the North Country’.
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Duration:00:33:30
Juhea Kim on stories woven from silence
10/5/2025
Georgina Godwin speaks to Juhea Kim about her path from ballet to bestsellers, the inspirations behind her work, her passion for conservation and the television adaptation of her debut novel, ‘Beasts of a Little Land’.
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Duration:00:32:02
Priyanka Mattoo on the search for home
9/28/2025
Writer and filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo joins Georgina Godwin following the release of her memoir, ‘Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones’, which details a journey of self-discovery and finding home in an ever-changing world.
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Duration:00:33:10
Michael Wolff on chaos, power and America’s reckoning
9/21/2025
Journalist Michael Wolff joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his career and his perception of Donald Trump, leading to his ‘Fire and Fury’ series. Plus: he shares his view on the political landscape in the media.
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Duration:00:37:33
R James Breiding on what small nations teach the world
9/17/2025
R James Breiding, Naissance Capital founder and author, recounts his path from Catholic school to finance. He champions small nations’ strengths, praises Singapore’s healthcare and highlights lessons from Nordic countries.
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Duration:00:35:10
Michelle de Kretser on literature and belonging
9/14/2025
Georgina Godwin interviews Michelle de Kretser on her Sri Lankan roots, family influences, migration to Australia and her novel ‘Theory & Practice’, which explores desire, jealousy and identity.
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Duration:00:30:30
Iain Sinclair on London, literature and hidden journeys
9/7/2025
Georgina Godwin is joined by the chronicler of London’s psychogeographies, Iain Sinclair. His latest novel, ‘Pariah Genius’, traces the footsteps of photographer John Deakin.
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Duration:00:33:58
Nick Berg on revolutions, exile and the stories that we inherit
9/2/2025
Nick Berg joins Georgina Godwin to discuss ‘Shadows of Tehran’, a novel mirroring the author’s life in Iran before and after the revolution. He reflects on activism, escape, military service and Iran’s future.
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Duration:00:28:44
Iris Wolff on weaving memory into words
8/31/2025
Georgina Godwin is joined by Iris Wolff to discuss her childhood in Romania, emigrating to Germany in the 1980s and the use of language and creative processes in the writing of her novel ‘Blurred’.
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Duration:00:22:46
Andrei Soldatov & Irina Borogan: Exiled voices on Russia
8/24/2025
Russian journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, exiled in London, discuss ‘Our Dear Friends in Moscow’. The conversation ranges from post-Soviet transformations and censorship to their ongoing investigative reporting on Russian intelligence.
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Duration:00:33:04
Karin Slaughter on banned books and the fight for truth
8/17/2025
Karin Slaughter joins Georgina Godwin to reflect on her upbringing and her latest novel, ‘We Are All Guilty Here’. Plus: she shares her criticisms of book banning and censorship in the US.
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Duration:00:28:17
The women redefining literary festivals
8/13/2025
Georgina Godwin speaks with women directing major literary festivals worldwide, from Edinburgh and Auckland to Sydney and Dubai. She explores their histories, audiences, themes and reach, highlighting diverse programming, cultural impact and international connections.
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Duration:00:43:11