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Welcome to season 10 of Bedside Reading and what a series I've got lined up for you this time around! I am delighted to be launching today with two very special guests, Debbie Hicks and Gemma Jolly from The Reading Agency.

The Reading Agency is an absolutely wonderful charity and their Reading Well "Books on Prescription" scheme is absolutely fantastic. If you don't know about it already, there's plenty in the show notes to tell you about it and we will be talking about it during today's episode. 

https://readingagency.org.uk/

We are here today to talk about three different and absolutely brilliant books that the Reading Agency recommend on their Reading Well scheme. Frankie's World by Aoife Dooley, Slow Puncture, Living Well with Dementia by Pete Berry and Deb Bunt, and Boy with a Topknot by Satnam Sanghera

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Nina Donovan's brilliant poem Nasty Woman moves me so much every time I hear it, or read it. It's such a joy to welcome Charley to the podcast here

Listen to Nina perform her poem here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvN0On85sNQ

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In this episode, I'm joined by GP Jo Maher as we delve into Jackie Kay’s evocative poem “Three Little Birds” We explore grief, memory, the power of music and the possibility of an earworm from beyond the grave

Whether you’re familiar with her work or discovering it for the first time, this episode offers a heartfelt look at one of Jackie Kay’s most moving poems.

we mentioned Jo's partner's poetry podcast which you can find here: https://www.chris-jones.org.uk/

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It's a real treat to welcome one of my all time medical humanities heroes to the podcast again this week. Sam Guglani is an oncologist, poet and novelist. He is the curator of the incredible Medicine Unboxed, hosting a festival which I've thoroughly enjoyed attending and this wonderful podcast https://soundcloud.com/medicineunboxed

Sam was generous enough to give up his time to talk about his wonderful novel Histories back in season 2  (listen here:  https://bedsidereading.buzzsprout.com/1880290/episodes/11212760-histories) and it was so lovely to spend time talking with him again, this time about Preparation by Czeslaw Milosz. 

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I'm not sure I can say I have a favourite poet but if I were forced to choose the incredible Hollie McNish would be up there as a hot favourite.

Lizz Lidbury and I are talking about one of our favourite of her poems today Arguing in the Headmaster's Office.   As the mother of teenage girls this one spoke to me (and is one of the only literature sources my older teen and I can both agree on the brilliance of!!)

It's clearly best when ready by Hollie herself so here's a link  https://www.tiktok.com/@holliemcnish/video/7246103333604248859

Enjoy, we did!!

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There is a wonderful recording of James Fenton reading this wonderful poem here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D3KcWVfQS8 it is well worth listening to.

Follow Tom on bluesky here: https://bsky.app/profile/tpoates.bsky.social

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Welcome to the third in a short special series of "Bedside Poetry" podcasts.

One poem, one guest, one conversation....

I'm delighted to welcome psychiatrist and writer Sabina Dosani to explore "Visit to the Vets" by Ilse Pedler

Listen here to Ilse Pedler reading her poem herself:
https://youtu.be/p3LTxg1SnP0?si=bMtri4HsTIAGMKcb

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Welcome to the first of a short special series of "Bedside Poetry" podcasts.

One poem, one guest, one conversation....

I'm delighted to welcome neonatologist and poet Beth Osmond to explore Angel Nafis' poem "Ode to Dalya's Bald Spot"

find the poem here:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/149508/ode-to-dalyas-bald-spot