Shows
Chatting LitUltramarine by Mariette NavarroFor this episode we try something a bit different! While discussing the book Ultramarine with its author, Mariette Navarro and its English translator, Cory Stockwell you get to hear some live translation! Mariette discusses the inspiration behind the novel, how different it was to write it compared to the usual work she does in theatre, and how it feels to see her work translated into several languages. Cory tells us about his route into translating, the difficulties of translating English to French, and the unusual circumstances around how he came to translate the book.Books mentioned in...2023-12-061h 06Chatting LitRen by Deborah McFadyenFor this episode I'm joined by the author Deborah McFadyen to discuss her book Ren. We also talk about writing believable dialogue, writing in Scots, Glasgow as a literary city and more!Books mentioned in this episode:Severance by Ling MaThe Hole by José Revueltas, translated by Amanda Hopkinson and Sophie HughesDear Neighbour by Jane Claire BradleyMetabolize, If Able by Clay ADThis Is Not Miami by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie HughesBless The Daughter Raised By The Voice in Her Head by Warsan ShireC...2023-08-2158 minChatting LitChris Lee: The DefiantI'm joined for this episode by Chris Lee, author of The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism, as well as the man behind the podcast and website Outside Write (https://outsidewrite.co.uk/) We talk about the relationship between football and politics, the growth of left-wing fanbases, his favourite football books and more!The Defiant: A History of Football Against Fascism by Chris LeeSeverance by Ling MaUltramarine by Mariette Navarro, translated by Cory Stockwell Origin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World by Chris Lee2023-05-151h 17Chatting LitChatting Australian LiteratureLiterature podcast collab episode! I'm joined for this episode by Ben from the Beyond The Zero podcast (@beyondzeropod) to discuss Australian Literature. We talk about his favourite Aussie authors, the state of the Aussie book market, which is the capital of Oz literature and more!Books mentioned in this episode:Raven Smith’s Men by Raven SmithPortnoy’s Complaint by Philip RothParadais by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie HughesHurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor, translated by Sophie HughesStill Born by Guadalupe Nettel, translated by Rosalind HarveyThe Deat...2023-05-0856 minChatting LitRick Harsch: The Manifold Destiny of Eddie Vegas and Corona/SamizdatBack with another episode after another unexpected break! In this one I talk to Rick Harsch, author of The Manifold Destiny of Eddie Vegas and the man behind Corona/Samizdat Press. We discuss the problem of the every growing TBR, how Rick wrote Eddie Vegas, how he decides what to publish and more!Books mentioned in this episode:The Manifold Destiny of Eddie Vegas by Rick HarschPoguemahone by Patrick McCabeThe Prague Orgy by Philip RothEl Llano in Flame by Juan Rulfo, translated by Stephen BeechinorThe Defiant: A History...2023-04-031h 36Chatting LitPalmer SmithAfter another unexpected break, Chatting Lit is back! In this episode, I speak to Palmer Smith about her book The Butterfly Bruises, a collection of poems and short stories, available to buy directly from the publisher here: https://pressdionysus.com/product/palmer-smith-the-butterfly-bruises/Palmer and I discuss the relationship between her short stories and poems, Southern Gothic literature, her relationship to the two main settings of her work (NYC and the American South) and more!Books mentioned in this episode:The Manifold Destiny of Eddie Vegas by Rick HarschThis Is Not...2023-01-291h 05Chatting LitJarboeFor this episode I'm joined by the musician, writer and visual artist Jarboe (https://www.thelivingjarboe.com/) to discuss her process of writing lyrics and prose, the vinyl reissue of her album Sacrificial Cake, the relationship between her different artforms and more!Books mentioned in this episode:The Manifold Destiny of Eddie Vegas by Rick HarschThe Passenger by Cormac McCarthyThe Gallow’s Pole by Ben MyersLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtyMercia’s Take by Daniel WilesThe Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez (translated by Megan...2022-10-271h 05Chatting LitChatting Sally RooneyI'm back! After a longer than planned 'season break' I'm here to discuss the work of Sally Rooney with Natalie Beech, co-founder of the Feminist Fiction (@feminist.finction) book club and co-host of the podcast of the same name! We discuss the recurrent themes in Rooney's work, what we like/dislike about it, if she is the 'voice of millennial women' and more!Books mentioned in this episode:Fup by Jim DodgeSwamplandia by Karen RussellWhat a Shame by Abigail BergstromConvenience Store Woman by Sakaya Murata (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)2022-10-0258 minChatting LitJoe CarducciFor this episode I speak to Joe Carducci about his screenplay collections Wyoming Stories and Western Stories, as well as his book about Western films, Stone Male: Requiem for the Living Picture. We discuss some of his favourite Westerns, why people still watch Westerns today, and how film making has changed over the years.Books mentioned in this episode:Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree, translated by Daisy RockwellThe God of Small Things by Arundhati RoyThe Passenger by Cormac McCarthyStella Maris by Cormac McCarthySalt Lick by Lulu Allison2022-05-311h 51Chatting LitChatting Music WritingMy guest for this episode is Chris 'Frenchie' French, a music journalist for various print and online publications. We discuss how he got into music journalism, if things like the #metoo movement will make rock stars more cautious about what they tell in their autobiographies, and if in an age of social media and streaming there's still a role for professional music critics.Shoutouts for this episode go to Ben at Beyond The Zero podcast (@beyondthezeropod) and some of the publications Chris writes for: Astral Noize (@astralnoize) and Zero Tolerance (@zerotolerancemagazine)Books mentioned in this...2022-05-161h 52Chatting LitThommy Waite: Any Day You Can DieIn this episode I speak to the Australian author Thommy Waite @thommywaiteworld) about his book Any Day You Can Die. We discuss his writing process, his influences, Bookstagram, cancel culture and more!Shout-out for this episode goes out to fellow lit podcast Beyond The Zero @beyondthezeropod)Books mentioned in the episode:Stone Male: Requiem for the Living Picture by Joe CarducciEveryman by Philip RothThe Humbling by Philip RothSalt Lick by Lulu AllisonWise Blood by Flannery O’ ConnorStoner by John WilliamsButcher’s Crossing by J...2022-05-021h 47Chatting LitChatting about the ClassicsFor this episode I've assembled a crack team of book nerds to discuss 'the classics.: Megan (@feminist.fiction), Noah (@everyone_who_reads_), Seth (@wastemailinglist) and Matty (@theobliterature). We debate what constitutes a classic, which ones we love and loathe, and if we need to expand our notion of the term.Books mentioned in this episode:America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic by Phillip Freedenberg, illustrated by Jeff WaltonOpen Water by Caleb Azumah NelsonWestern Stories by Joe CarducciWyoming Stories by Joe CarducciStone Male: Requiem for...2022-04-181h 47Chatting LitArchie ThornFor anyone who's ever wondered what happens when you put two teachers who are also book lovers together, this one's for you! I'm joined by Archie Thorn, author of Home Time Blues, a fantastic book set in a high school in Scotland, which looks at many themes; the failure of education to inspire children; the impact a job you don't like can have on personal relationships; unsympathetic management cultures and more. We discuss these topics, what literature is on the Scottish curriculum, the debate as to whether or not Scots is a language or form of dialect and more!2022-04-041h 09Chatting LitPhillip Freedenberg & Jeff Walton (America & The Cult Of The Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic)This episode is one I've been trying to get set-up for a while, and it finally happened! I'm joined for this edition of Chatting Lit by Phillip Freedenberg and Jeff Walton, who are the author and illustrator of America and the Cult of the Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic, a fantastic maximalist novel set in a dystopian America in the which the written word has been banned. We discuss the unique genesis of the book, the ability of literature to unite us, and how playing math rock is useful training for writing a novel with a complex structure!...2022-03-211h 49Chatting LitMr B's Emporium of Reading DelightsI'm joined in this episode by Gemma who's a bookseller at Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights (https://mrbsemporium.com/) , an independent bookshop in Bath here in the UK. We discuss the reading spas which Mr B's is famous for, how to balance selling 'commercial' books with more literary ones, how working as a bookseller has changed Gemma's own reading habits and more! Books mentioned in this episode: Still Life by Sarah WinmanTo Paradise by Hanya YanagiharaOpen Water by Caleb Azumah NelsonPlain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Da...2022-02-2848 minChatting LitChatting Nature WritingThis episode sees me combine two of my loves: books and nature! I'm joined by George Steedman Jones, host of the Coffee with Conservationists podcast (@coffee_with_conservationists) (which I totally get the name of wrong in the episode, sorry George!), who is studying for a BA in Marine and Natural History Photography at Falmouth University.We discuss the popularity of nature writing in the UK, if eco-dystopias are good or bad for engaging people with climate change, and if as readers we need to be more environmentally aware of the impact our hobby can have on n...2022-02-141h 19
Neurodiversity PodcastRaising Twice-Exceptional Children, a Book PreviewA new book by Emily Kircher-Morris, “Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids,” is now officially released! Emily and producer Dave Morris talk about the book, preview the contents, and discuss why parents will find it helpful. ABOUT THE BOOK Just because a child is gifted doesn't mean they don't have other types of neurodivergence, like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and more. Conversely, even children with one of these diagnoses can be cognitively gifted. Raising Twice-Exceptional Children provides you with a roadmap to understand the complex makeup of your "gifted-plus," or twice-exceptional, child...2022-02-0413 minChatting LitQueerLitIn this episode I finally speak to someone on the frontline of getting books into people's hands- Matt from QueerLit (https://www.queerlit.co.uk/), Manchester's LGBTQ+ bookshop! We discuss the failure of major book retailers to engage with LGBTQ+ audiences, why diversity in books is important and Matt gives some tips for any budding bookshop owners!The shoutout for this episode is a delayed one from last time, and goes out to @isabelsreadsBooks discussed in this episode:The Postmortal by Drew MagaryCain by José SaramagoHome Time Blues b...2022-01-311h 04Chatting LitCharco PressIn this episode I speak to Sam from Charco Press, the UK award-winning publisher, who specialise in Latin American literature. We discuss how Charco started, how the literary world needs to move from the Latin American Boom, and Sam gives some great advice for anyone thinking of starting up their own publishing house!No shout-outs for this episode as I stupidly forgot to record them!Books mentioned in this episode:Never Did the Fire by Diamela Eltit, translated by Daniel HahnCatching Fire: A Translation Diary by Daniel Hahn (Untranslated series)Homesick by Jennifer...2022-01-171h 05
Chatting LitChatting Comics and Graphic NovelsFor this episode I'm joined by my dear friend Holly Cruise (@hollyzonebooks & @hollyzonehistory) of the Queer Girl Film Club podcast (@queergirlfilmclub) to discuss comics and graphic novels! We discuss what we love and dislike about the artform and industry, if 'graphic novel' is just a snobby term to make comics more appealing to literary types, and our favourites!Shout-outs for this episode go to:Zoe (@jenniferqueenie)Robert (@rocinante.lit)Comics mentioned in the episode by Holly and I:I Want to Eat Your Pancreas by Yoru Sumino and Izumi Kirihara2022-01-031h 20Chatting LitBONUS EPISODE- 2021 Reading Wrap-upIn this episode I look back on my favourite reads of 2021, with listeners/friends contributing theirs too! This was recorded in one take, unedited, so here it is, warts and all!Shout-outs go to my dear friend Andreas of the band Saint and the Sinners (@saintandthesinners), as well as all the book podcasts I listen to:How's The Water? (@howsthewaterpodcast)The Wee Scottish Book Club hosted by @scott.you.reading and @scottiesandbooksBooks of Some Substance (@booksosubstance)Canonical (canonicalpodcast)Beyond the Zero (@beyondthezeropod)Concavity Show (@concavityshow)Mid Lit Podcast...2022-01-0257 minChatting LitSteve Von TillIn this episode I speak to Steve Von Till, best known for his work with the band Neurosis, about his poetry collection Harvestman: 23 Untitled Poems and Collected Lyrics. We discuss how nature inspires his writing, how he inspires the students he teaches to love reading, American Transcendental poets and more!Books mentioned in this episode:Piranesi by Susanna ClarkeTrain Dreams by Denis JohnsonCrow by Ted HughesUnderland by Robert MacfarlaneTeaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters by Annie DillardAscend Ascend by Janaka StuckyThe Gallows...2021-12-201h 08