Meet the Writers
Monocle
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
Networks:
Monocle
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
Bora Chung on the rise of Korean literature
2/15/2026
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.
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Duration:00:28:04
Andrey Kurkov on chronicling a nation at war
2/8/2026
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.
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Duration:00:27:43
Damian Barr on Scottish art, memory and belonging
2/4/2026
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.
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Duration:00:34:46
Alexander B Smalls on opera, food and African heritage
2/1/2026
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.
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Duration:00:41:29
Steve Crawshaw and confronting global impunity
1/25/2026
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.
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Duration:00:36:54
Mary L Trump and how power destroys a nation
1/18/2026
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.
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Duration:00:38:46
EA Hanks and retracing family ties
1/11/2026
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.
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Duration:00:48:47
Manni Coe on roots, ruins and reinvention
1/4/2026
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.
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Duration:00:29:10
India Knight on finding Home
12/28/2025
Georgina Godwin speaks to British journalist and author India Knight on what makes a home worth living in her latest novel "Home"
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Duration:00:28:56
John Lloyd and ‘The Meaning of Liff’
12/21/2025
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.
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Duration:00:42:25
Sir Michael Palin on his travels, decades-long career and finding laughter
12/14/2025
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’.
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Duration:00:30:02
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