Our friend from Australia, Andrew Head—a blind writer and devoted audiobook listener—joins Julia Golding once again on today's episode of Mythmakers to explore the world of Philip Pullman through audio. Together, they dive into the pros and cons of semi-dramatised audiobooks: Are they a help or a hindrance? Which are the best Pullman titles? Their conversation then takes a deeper turn as they reflect on Pullman’s atheistic worldview and how it comes through in his writing.

(00:00) Welcoming Andrew Head: Audiobooks, Accessibility & Blind Reading
(05:15) Comparing Three Audio Formats: Dramatisation vs. Straight Readings
(08:59) Audio Descriptions in Film & TV Adaptations of His Dark Materials
(11:17) Returning to the Story: Enjoyment, Themes & Faith Tensions
(14:38) Pullman’s Worldview, Critique, and Literary Craft

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.

(00:00) Journey to Helm’s Deep & Rohan’s Poetic Prose
(10:00) Shadows, Huorns, and Hints from Isengard
(20:00) Mapping the Fortress: Helm’s Deep, Strategy, and Hidden Heroes
(30:00) Waves of War, Turning the Tide, and Tolkien’s Battle Craft

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
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This year marks 75 years since The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe arrived in bookshops, so join us on this anniversary episode of Mythmakers as Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker discuss the origins of the book and consider how it stood out among its literary contemporaries before we reflect on its enduring legacy today. If you have an opinion on this, have a listen and join the conversation to let us know what you think!

The book referred to in the news section is WARDROBE AND RINGS by Julia Golding, Malcolm Guite and Simon Horobin, and will be out on 28th November 2025, be sure to check it out.

(00:05) Exploring Narnia Through Different Ages
(11:10) Analyzing the Origins of Narnia
(20:29) Analyzing Character Dynamics and Planetary Influence
(31:22) Adapting Narnia Across Different Mediums
(37:19) Exploring Fantasy Adaptations and Influences

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.

(00:05) Youth and Age in Rohan
(15:17) Power Play and Pity in Court
(27:57) The Rise of Rohan's Warriors

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

In this episode of Mythmakers, join Julia Golding for a review of the newly released full-cast production of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone from Pottermore and Audible. Does this reimagined version enhance the magic, or distract from the original charm? Tune in to hear Julia’s take on the production quality, narration choices, and ultimately whether this edition is worth adding to your audiobook library, along with a couple of unexpected mentions of Mr. Darcy and Dr. House!

(00:05) Harry Potter Audiobook Review
(09:22) Examining the Structure and Satire
(16:38) Recommendation for Harry Potter Audiobook

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.

(00:05) LOTR Two Towers Riddles and Laughter
(17:14) The Reawakening of Gandalf
(21:45) Gandalf's Cryptic Wisdom and Laughter
(36:54) Gandalf's Return and Shadowfax's Arrival
(45:12) MythMakers Podcast Advertising and Promotion

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

Netflix is bringing The Chronicles of Narnia back to our screens with Greta Gerwig at the helm for the first two films in the series. Interestingly, the adaptation begins with The Magician’s Nephew, opting for chronological order rather than the order in which the books were written.

In this episode of Mythmakers, Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker dive into what we know so far about the creative direction of the films, and what Gerwig’s involvement might mean for this and future instalments, it’s a conversation every Narnia fan will want to hear! Be sure to listen in and let us know what YOU think of this bold new beginning.

(00:05) Greta Gerwig's Narnia Adaptation Discussion
(07:33) Adapting Narnia for Modern Audiences
(14:27) Casting and Setting Challenges in Narnia
(28:13) Controversies Surrounding Narnia Adaptation Hope
(40:12) Fantasy Podcast

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by.

(00:05) Exploring Treebeard
(13:09) Encountering Treebeard's Character
(19:57) Unveiling Treebeard's Language Evolution
(28:53) Treebeard's House and Entwives
(38:01) Exploring Entish Poetry and Ents' March
(47:15) Ents' Last March and Battle Prep

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

We’re thrilled to welcome Marisa Linton to this episode of Mythmakers. A former student from our writing course and a valued member of one of our writers' groups, Marisa recently won the Times Chicken House Fiction Competition for her YA fantasy title The Binding Spell, and she’s now stepping into new territory with the release of her first adult fantasy detective novel, The Circle of Shadows.

As a retired historian, Marisa is the perfect guest to speak to about the blend of historical fact and fiction. Join us as we spend some time in the Edwardian period and delve into the archives of the great universities to answer the questions: is Dark Academia really a genre? And in which fantasy world is it a good place to fight the occult? All this and more in today’s conversation!

Discover more about Marisa and her written works at https://www.marisalinton.com/

(00:05) Marisa Linton
(10:52) Edwardian Era and Occult Mysteries
(23:31) Exploring Dark Academia and Publishing
(29:29) Discovering the Art of Editing

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 

(00:05) Analyzing the Uruk-Hai in LOTR
(11:36) The Capture and Escape of Pippin
(21:36) Escape and Battle in Fangorn Forest
(31:49) Meeting Treebeard in Fangorn Forest

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website 
Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram 
Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook 
TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok