Meet the Writers

<p>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. </p>

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.

11-16
28:10

The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2025 winner: Helen Garner

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-09
33:02

Richard Armitage and the power of storytelling

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-02
31:48

Richard Lloyd Parry and the journeys within stories

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-26
35:49

Olivier Norek on courage, conflict and history

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-19
29:23

Sam Sussman on the possibility of family ties

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’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-12
33:30

Juhea Kim on stories woven from silence

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’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-05
32:02

Priyanka Mattoo on the search for home

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09-28
33:10

Michael Wolff on chaos, power and America’s reckoning

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09-21
37:33

R James Breiding on what small nations teach the world

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09-17
35:10

Michelle de Kretser on literature and belonging

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09-14
30:30

Iain Sinclair on London, literature and hidden journeys

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09-07
33:58

Nick Berg on revolutions, exile and the stories that we inherit

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09-02
28:44

Iris Wolff on weaving memory into words

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’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08-31
22:46

Andrei Soldatov & Irina Borogan: Exiled voices on Russia

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08-24
33:04

Karin Slaughter on banned books and the fight for truth

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08-17
28:17

The women redefining literary festivals

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08-13
43:10

Nick Harkaway and the legacy of Le Carré

Nick Harkaway joins Georgina Godwin to discuss life with John le Carré as a father and carrying on his legacy with the latest installment in the George Smiley series: ‘Karla’s Choice’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08-10
36:08

Jean McNeil on bearing witness to a disappearing world

Canadian author Jean McNeil reflects on her journey from Cape Breton Island to Antarctica in a conversation that explores grief, climate change and honouring the earth through her latest novel, ‘Latitudes’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

08-03
30:41

Guadalupe Nettel on human nature in fiction

Georgina Godwin speaks to Guadalupe Nettel about her award-winning writing, life between Mexico and France, partial blindness and how human and animal behaviour inspires the themes in her latest work, ‘The Accidentals’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07-27
28:15

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