Shows
PAGECASTPagecast takes Franschhoek Literary Festival 2025: “The Last Word: Endings, Echoes, and What Comes Next”Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz.
Reflecting on the festival buzz in the air, standout moments, and the nostalgic love affair with Johannesburg, all against the breathtaking beauty of Franschhoek. In “The Last Word: Endings, Echoes, and What Comes Next”, Michele Magwood, Paige Nick, and Kate Mosse were interviewed by Shaun de Waal in a powerful, funny, and moving conversation that captured it all.2025-05-1823 min
PAGECASTEmpire, Architecture and Influence: The Life of Sir Herbert Baker with John StewartThis week on Pagecast, Michele Magwood is in conversation with John Stewart about his book, the first complete and comprehensive biography of Sir Herbert Baker.
More about the book:
Architect Sir Herbert Baker left an indelible mark on South Africa and much of the British Empire in the first half of the 20th century. This is the first full biography from childhood and was written with full cooperation from his family and with access to his archive and private papers.
After a Victorian architectural apprenticeship in London, Sir Herbert Baker went on to become the...2025-03-1727 min
PAGECASTUnpacking Exclusive Books’ Christmas ListBatya Bricker, Exclusive Books Marketing, Loyalty and Procurement – General Manager joins Michele Magwood, writer, editor and Publisher-at-Large for Jonathan Ball Publishers, to chat about the Exclusive Books Christmas List.
This year’s Exclusive Books Christmas selection – The List – is the widest selection in years, making the offering truly ‘something for everyone’.
The campaign itself, Santa’s No 1 Supplier, is traditional and nostalgic, featuring Santa himself, with his trusty elves, amongst the treasure trove of bookshelves at Exclusive Books.
“This is a departure from Exclusive Books’ usual approach, where we would emphasise the general holiday aspect of the Seas...2022-12-0523 min
Magwood on BooksDarrel Bristow-Bovey riffs on his memoir, One Midlife Crisis and a SpeedoThe celebrated columnist Darrel Bristow-Bovey is in top form as he wrestles with the manopause in One Midlife Crisis and a Speedo. Listen to him sounding off about Tim Noakes, Facebook and aphrodisiacs.2020-02-2627 min
UNderdogStuff® w/ Gregory NesmithSegment: UNjust or Just Right - ‘She’s Gotta Have It’?“UNjust OR JUST RIGHT - ‘SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT’? - Filmmaker Spike Lee nixed using singer Chrisette Michele’s song in his upcoming Netflix series “She’s Gotta Have It” because she performed at the “Make America Great Again” concert for Donald Trump’s inauguration. Gregory and Asha debate: UNjust or Just Right.
This is a clip from ‘The Gregory Nesmith Show’ Special Delivery of UNderdogStuff™ Episode “LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!" w/ Gregory and Asha Davis in-studio. Full episode of “LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!" is coming soon to Podomatic, iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and LiveLeadPlay (Search “The Gregory Nesmith Show”).
UNderdogStuff™ Team: Gregory Nesmith...2017-01-2811 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to John CleeseI recently spoke to comedy legend John Cleese on the TM LIVE Book Show about his memoir So, Anyway …
Cleese said he first thought about writing his memoir one Christmas while he was having lunch with Michael Caine in Barbados. As one does.
“Michael Caine had been writing his autobiography and saying what an interesting experience it was. He said you recapture all the bits of your life that you’d actually forgotten about,” the Monty Python legend said.
“I was very lucky. Whenever something bad happened something immediately something good happened.”2014-10-2825 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Ray HartleyListen to my interview with Ray Hartley on his book Ragged Glory: The Rainbow Nation in Black and White.2014-10-1537 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Philip HensherAn interview with Philip Hensher about his latest novel, The Emperor Waltz.
Read my article on the book here: http://bookslive.co.za/blog/2014/10/27/a-benevolent-contagion-michele-magwood-interviews-philip-hensher-about-his-latest-novel-the-emperor-waltz/
2014-10-0920 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Jaco van SchalkwykJaco van Schalkwyk is one of the most interesting new authors on the SA book scene, an acclaimed visual artist who has turned his hand to writing. He tells how his debut novel The Alibi Club is based on a real dive bar in New York, and rails at the aftermath of 9/11, which he witnessed firsthand.2014-09-1839 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to PJ PowersPJ Powers is one of South Africa’s most beloved performers, but her new autobiography Here I Am chronicles a dark, desperate period in her life. Here she speaks candidly about her alcoholism, the wreckage of her life and how she has emerged from it stronger than ever.2014-09-1142 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Glenn MossGlenn Moss relives the intense student politics at Wits in the 1970s in his absorbing book The New Radicals: A Generational Memoir of the 1970s, and speaks here about Steve Biko, the bitter Nusas trial and how the ideals of that generation have become frayed.2014-09-0431 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Hagen EnglerThe witty Hagen Engler lets rip in Stuff South African White People Like, sending up our predilection for Tasha’s paninis, craft beers – and two-tone shirts. Here he points out that Johnny Clegg’s Zulu accent is “a bit off”.
2014-08-1439 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Amanda CoetzeeAmanda Coetzee is making a name for herself with her pacy thrillers, and her fourth, One Shot, has just been published. Here she talks about her intriguing detective, the enigmatic, gypsy-blooded Badger, and how she once worked at Holloway Women’s Prison.
2014-08-0720 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Bongani MadondoThe irrepressible Bongani Madondo has edited a collection of essays on Brenda Fassie called I’m Not Your Weekend Special and here he remembers with affection the maddening, brilliant Ma Brr.2014-07-3147 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Lauren BeukesSouth Africa’s new literary supernova Lauren Beukes talks about Detroit, the derelict setting of her new book Broken Monsters, and how thwarted creativity can turn malevolent.2014-07-0921 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Amanda ProwseFrom 2014.
The effervescent British author Amanda Prowse was in South Africa to launch her novel Will You Remember Me? and talks about going from self-publishing to a place on the bestseller lists.2014-07-0720 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Donna BrysonAmerican journalist Donna Bryson talks about her thoughtful, revealing book It’s A Black/White Thing, about racism in post-Independence South Africa.2014-06-1217 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Michiel HeynsMichiel Heyns is one of South Africa’s most acclaimed novelists and translators. His latest novel A Sportful Malice is a slyly funny tale of love and revenge. Here he talks about Tuscany, “transnational” literature and the scourge of social media.2014-06-0524 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Damon GalgutFrom 2014.
Damon Galgut’s subtle new novel Arctic Summer charts the travels of the great author EM Forster in the years before he wrote his masterpiece A Passage to India. Here he talks about his extensive research into this quiet, repressed author, and the liberation Forster felt in Egypt and India.
2014-05-1538 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Paul MorrisPaul Morris served in the South African forces in the 1980s when he was just 19 years old. Now he’s written a book about an epic bicycle journey he has made across that country in an effort to make peace with the ghosts of his past. He speaks here about the writing of Back to Angola: A Journey From War to Peace.2014-05-1338 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Derek HookHSRC Press published a series of short studies on struggle heroes earlier this year called Voices of Liberation. One of the stand-out books was a study of Steve Biko by Professor Derek Hook. He spoke about Black Consciousness and Biko’s lasting legacy.2014-04-2429 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Karen RoseKaren Rose is one of America’s favourite thriller writers. On a visit to South Africa she discussed her new novel Watch Your Back and how she creates strong women characters.2014-03-2719 min
Magwood on BooksThe TM LIVE Book Show: Michele Magwood talks to Mark GevisserMark Gevisser’s brilliant Lost & Found in Johannesburg is part memoir, part social and historical investigation, and is one of the best books published this year. He explains how his childhood obsession with maps was the starting point for the work.2014-03-1335 min