The Listening Books Podcast

This week we're joined by Isy Suttie - comedian, musician and author - as she chats all things Taskmaster. She also discusses the books that have made her laugh out loud, the stories that helped shape her childhood and her current favourite novels by Janice Hallett.

Episode Three, Series 7 of the podcast is here! Nicola and Megan are joined by broadcaster, writer and economist Ed Balls. The former politician reflects on the books that have shaped him, from childhood classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Swallows and Amazons, to the life changing Testament of Youth. He also reflects on the role of memory and food in his writing, and offers some sage advice about the importance of living in the moment.

For episode two of The Listening Books Podcast Series 7, Nicola and Megan are joined by beloved radio presenter, screenwriter, and children's author Konnie Huq. Known to many children of the noughties as a presenter of Blue Peter, Konnie delves into the inspiration behind her Cookie book series, discusses updating classic fairy tales for modern readers, and shares which books she's currently reading. Buckle up for a fascinating chat about STEM, consumerism, troglodytes, and even dog ancestry!

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too). You can also give us a shout on Instagram: @ListeningBooks, or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted Nicola Austin and Megan Harvey and is a production for Listening Books, a UK charity for those who find that an illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information.

The Listening Books Podcast is back with an all-new sound! Joining Nicola and Megan for the first episode of series 7 is Adam Buxton – British comedian, writer, actor, broadcaster and podcaster. They discuss the audiobooks he's listening to at the moment, his latest book, I Love You, Byeee, and how he wrote it with an audio-first approach, as well as his latest project, Successpod. And, of course, there's a chat about his canine companion, Rosie.

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too). You can also give us a shout on Instagram: @ListeningBooks, or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted Nicola Austin and Megan Harvey and is a production for Listening Books, a UK charity for those who find that an illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information.

Leeanne O'Donnell is the author of Sparks of Bright Matter, a novel set in Georgian London and West Cork that follows the pursuits of scientist and alchemist, Peter Woulfe. In her thoughtful conversation with host Jessica Stone, she talks about what made Peter a subject of fascination to her, how her own near-sightedness inspired a beloved character's way of navigating the world, and how learning about older traditions of spoken-word storytelling provoked a crisis of philosophy around the written word.

This is Leeanne's debut novel, but she's no stranger to telling stories—she's made a number of award-winning radio documentaries and presents her own podcast about Irish mythology with Pol O Colmain, Into the Mythic.

Books mentioned:

Sparks of Bright Matter, Leeanne O'Donnell, narrated by Gerry O'Brien

Give the gift of audio this Christmas with a Listening Books gift membership: https://www.listening-books.org.uk/gift-membership

We'd love to hear from you!

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too).

You can also give us a shout on Twitter or Instagram: @ListeningBooks

Or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

We also have more content on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningBooks

Who Are We?

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted by audio producer Jessica Stone and is a production of Listening Books, a UK charity that provides an audiobook lending service for over 120,000 members who find that an illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information. To purchase a gift membership, go directly to https://www.listening-books.org.uk/gift-membership

Louise Hare is the London-based author of This Lovely City and the Canary Club Mysteries. In this conversation with host Jessica Stone, she talks about the second in that series, Harlem After Midnight—how the musical styles of ragtime and jazz support the story, how she creates a safe space for her main character, and how the historical setting resonates with current times.

Books mentioned:

Harlem After Midnight, Louise Hare, narrated by Leonie Elliott

Miss Aldridge Regrets, Louise Hare, narrated by Georgina Campbell

This Lovely City, Louise Hare, narrated by Theo Solomon and Karise Yansen

Another Country, James Baldwin, narrated by Dion Graham

Links:

https://louisehare.com/

We'd love to hear from you!

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too).

You can also give us a shout on Twitter or Instagram: @ListeningBooks

Or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

We also have more content on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningBooks

Who Are We?

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted by audio producer Jessica Stone and is a production of Listening Books, a UK charity that provides an audiobook lending service for over 120,000 members who find that an illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information. To purchase a gift membership, go directly to https://www.listening-books.org.uk/gift-membership

Becca Caddy is a writer and journalist who likes to explore the human side of technology, and her book Screen Time offers the information and guidance to help us take back a bit more control over our digital lives. In this conversation with host Jessica Stone, Becca talks about why our language around technology is so important and how we can be more deliberate in our use of the technological tools available to us.

Books mentioned

Screen Time: How to Make Peace with Your Devices and Find Your Techquilibrium, Becca Caddy, narrated by Julie Maisey

Hello World: How to Be Human in the Age of the Machine, Hannah Fry, narrated by the author

Irresistible: Why We Can't Stop Checking, Scrolling, Clicking and Watching, Adam Alter, narrated by the author

Apps Mentioned

Waking Up: Meditation and Wisdom

Headspace

Links

Becca Caddy's website: https://beccacaddy.com/

A special, YouTube-only episode of The Listening Books Podcast with bestselling author B.A. Paris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMuOepbkhaY

We'd love to hear from you!

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too).

You can also give us a shout on Twitter or Instagram: @ListeningBooks

Or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

We also have more content on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningBooks

Who Are We?

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted by audio producer Jessica Stone and is a production of Listening Books, a UK charity that provides an audiobook lending service for over 120,000 members who find that an illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information. To purchase a gift membership, go directly to https://www.listening-books.org.uk/gift-membership

Sierra Godfrey is the well-travelled author of A Very Typical Family and The Second Chance Hotel. In this joyful conversation with Jessica Stone, she talks about her first novel, her love for anything written or recommended by Marian Keyes, the nature of friendship, and even her meticulous system for tracking all the books she reads.

Books mentioned:

A Very Typical Family, Sierra Godfrey, narrated by Gail Shalan

The Second Chance Hotel, Sierra Godfrey, narrated by Ri Paige

Watermelon, Marian Keyes, narrated by Gerri Halligan

The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young, narrated by Brittany Pressley

Clover Hendry's Day Off, Beth Morrey, narrated by Imogen Church and the author

Links:

https://sierragodfrey.com/

We'd love to hear from you!

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too).

You can also give us a shout on Twitter or Instagram: @ListeningBooks

Or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

We also have more content on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningBooks

Who Are We?

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted by audio producer Jessica Stone and is a production of Listening Books, a UK charity that provides an audiobook lending service for over 120,000 members who find that an illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information. To purchase a gift membership, go directly to https://www.listening-books.org.uk/gift-membership

Amy, Claire and Jessica each bring one 'old' book and one 'new' one to the table before Amy and Claire square off in Jess's ridiculously challenging literary game.

Books mentioned:

Weirdo, Sara Pascoe, narrated by the author

And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie, narrated by Dan Stevens

The Canary Club Series, Louise Hare, narrated by Leonie Elliot and Georgina Campbell

Psyche and Eros, Luna McNamara, narrated by Rachel Petladwala and Joshua Riley

Persuasion, Jane Austen, narrated by Juliet Stevenson

The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck, full cast LA Theatre Works production

Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver, narrated by Charlie Thurston

We'd love to hear from you!

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too).

You can also give us a shout on Twitter or Instagram: @ListeningBooks

Or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

We also have more content on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningBooks

Who Are We?

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted by audio producer Jessica Stone and is a production of Listening Books, a UK charity that provides an audiobook lending service reaching over 100,000 people with print impairments. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information. To purchase a gift membership, go directly to https://www.listening-books.org.uk/gift-membership

A special festive episode discussing books that feature celebrations. Amy and Edward return for a final a face-off as Jess attempts to foil them with her literary quiz.

Books mentioned:

Brideshead Revisited, by Evelyn Waugh

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers

The Party, by Elizabeth Day

Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen

Who Are We?

The Listening Books Podcast is hosted by audio producer Jessica Stone and is a production of Listening Books, a UK charity that provides an audiobook lending service for over 120,000 members who find that an illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book. It's simple to join. Visit https://www.listening-books.org.uk for more information. To purchase a gift membership, go directly to https://www.listening-books.org.uk/gift-membership

We'd love to hear from you!

If you're enjoying this podcast, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, can help others find us (and makes us feel good, too).

You can also give us a shout on Twitter or Instagram: @ListeningBooks

Or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ListeningBooks12

We also have more content on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ListeningBooks