The Reading Cafe

By Peter KellyEducation Arts Books Kids & Family

The Reading Cafe episodes

October 10SpotLit: Clari Freeman-Taylor (Mary in the Junkyard)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 6 of The Reading Cafe, winner of Emerging Talent at the 2026 Scottish Podcast Awards, 2026 Interview and Specialist British Podcast Awards FINALIST, and current Books FINALIST at the 2026 Independent Podcast Awards!
This is SpotLit, our arts and culture strand where we speak to creative people about their relationship with literature and its influence on their own work. In this episode, Amy and Lola were joined by Clari Freeman-Taylor of the spellbindingly unique London art-rock band, Mary in the Junkyard.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
Clari’s favourite conflicts in literature,
The Murakami character who made her way into a Mary in the Junkyard song
How a Jacqueline Wilson character inspired her to do her own thing!
To learn more:
Mary in the Junkyard
https://linktr.ee/maryinthejunkyard
https://chuffmedia.com/artists/westside-cowboy
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join us for future SpotLit episodes and as always… keep reading.
39 min
September 21The Reading Cafe LIVE w/ Patrick Ness at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2026
APPROX AGE RATING: 15+
Welcome to Episode 1 of Season 6 of The Reading Cafe, winner of Emerging Talent at the 2026 Scottish Podcast Awards, and current Interview and Specialist FINALIST at the 2026 British Podcast Awards, as well as Books FINALIST at the 2026 Independent Podcast Awards!
This special Reading Cafe LIVE audience episode was recorded at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where we were joined by multi-award winning novelist, screenwriter and journalist, Patrick Ness - author of the Chaos Walking series.
Our fabulous presenters, Molly and Daisy, had a remarkable conversation with Patrick about his amazing career and the new chapter in the Chaos Walking story, Piper at the Gates of Dusk.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
How Patrick approached his return to New World, following the massive success of his original Chaos Walking series
The themes that find their way into his writing, and how he balances them with his characters’ journeys
Why he isn’t threatened by AI in the creation of literature
PLUS: Noah presents an Ed Book Fest featurette including mini-interviews with YA Book Prize shortlisted writers, Harry Trevaldwyn, Elgan Rhys, Mared Roberts, Anika Hussain and overall winner, Josh Silver who picked up the trophy for Traumaland.
To learn more:
Patrick Ness - https://patrickness.com/
Josh Silver - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e4k4zxwwlo
YA Book Prize - https://www.thebookseller.com/the-ya-book-prize/the-ya-book-prize-2026
Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!
Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod
54 min
July 10Radiya Hafiza interview (The Silver Kingdom)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!
This superb season finale episode features Radiya Hafiza, author of The Silver Kingdom.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
Why the enemies-to-lovers plot continues to grip romantasy readers
How Radiya approaches planning her stories, especially when writing a dual-narrative
The opportunities fantasy offers to address difficult real-world topics
To learn more:
Radiya Hafiza - https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Radiya-Hafiza/232707659
Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!
Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod
48 min
June 22The Reading Cafe LIVE Jr: Ross MacKenzie (The Uninvited)
APPROX AGE RATING: 12+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!
This special episode is the first ever Reading Cafe LIVE Jr, which features award-winning fantasy writer, Ross MacKenzie, who speaks with Nora and Orla about his latest thrilling novel, The Uninvited.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
How (or even if...) Ross plans his stories, and how he visualises the exciting events of his books
Ross's approach to addressing real world issues through junior fiction
The influence of Scotland on his unique brand of fantasy writing
This episode was recorded in the Banqueting Hall at South Lanarkshire Council HQ before an audience of South Lanarkshire P7 pupils on the cusp of beginning in S1 at Holy Cross High School. Thank to the following schools for coming along to enjoy the show: St Bride's, St Elizabeth's, St John's (Blackwood), St John the Baptist, Our Lady and St Anne's, St Mary's (Hamilton), St Mary's (Larkhall) and St Paul's.
To learn more:
Ross MacKenzie - https://www.andersenpress.co.uk/contributors/ross-mackenzie/
Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!
Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod
40 min
March 19SpotLit: Aoife Anson-O'Connell (Westside Cowboy)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome to a new chapter of The Reading Cafe. This is SpotLit, our brand-new strand where we speak to interesting people from arts and culture about their relationship with literature.
In this SpotLit episode, Gemma and Victoria were joined by Aoife Anson-O'Connell of the thrilling 'Britainicana' band, Westside Cowboy.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
The soundtrack Aoife would choose to accompany her favourite book
Which character would sing in her fantasy literary supergroup!
Why she loves escaping into magical realism
…AND SO MUCH MORE!
To learn more:
Westside Cowboy
https://www.westsidecowboy.com/
https://chuffmedia.com/artists/westside-cowboy

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join us for future SpotLit episodes and as always… keep reading.
24 min
February 18The Reading Cafe LIVE: Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!
This special Reading Cafe LIVE episode features singer, song-writer, novelist and film-maker Stuart Murdoch of the legendary Scottish band, Belle and Sebastian.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
How Stuart approaches imagining things into reality, whether in song, for the page or on the screen.
The links Stuart finds between creativity and spirituality
How punk influenced his writing, alongside his favourite book...
This episode features three exclusive solo performances of classic Belle and Sebastian songs: Fox in the Snow, Dog on Wheels and very excitingly, The Boy With The Arab Strap, which Stuart has never previously played without the band.
To learn more:
Belle and Sebastian - https://www.belleandsebastian.com/
Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!
Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod
51 min
January 05Alice Loxton interview (Eleanor)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!
We’re making history with this episode featuring Alice Loxton, author of recent #3 Times Book Chart bestseller, Eleanor.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
The emotional connection Alice builds with figures from the past and how she is engaging modern readers with history
How she compensates for gaps in historical records to bring stories to life with authenticity and vitality
The inspiration for her unique blend of historical research, personal reflection and travel journalism
To learn more:
Alice Loxton - https://aliceloxton.com/
Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!
Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod
36 min
December 18, 2025Benjamin Dean interview (Bury Your Friends)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!
This thrilling episode features Benjamin Dean, author of YA survival horror novel, Bury Your Friends.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
How Ben maintains tension between characters to create atmosphere
The influences from music and the movies that found their way into Bury Your Friends
Why the “terrible people” who populate the novel are Ben’s favourites of his characters!
To learn more:
Benjamin Dean - https://www.madeleinemilburn.co.uk/mm-authors/benjamin-dean/
Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!
Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod
34 min
November 07, 2025SpotLit: Alaska Reid (Witch Post)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome to a brand new chapter of The Reading Cafe. This is SpotLit, our brand-new strand where we speak to figures from music, sport, entertainment and culture about their relationship with literature.
In this SpotLit episode, Libby and Emma were joined by singer-songwriter and musician Alaska Reid, one half of the band Witch Post.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
The influence of literature on Alaska’s songwriting, both on her solo records and in Witch Post
How fantasy-interviewing friends and peers Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek and Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice) led to her writing her own fantasy novel
The story of the supernatural experience that led to the naming of Witch Post…
…AND SO MUCH MORE!
A ten-minute section of this conversation appeared on the last episode of The Reading Cafe with writer of The Wycherleys, Annaliese Avery. We enjoyed such a brilliant conversation with Alaska about her career and creative life, and you are certain to love hearing it in full in this SpotLit episode.
To learn more:
Alaska Reid
https://www.alaskareid.com/
https://partisanrecords.com/artists/witch-post

Annaliese Avery
https://www.annalieseavery.com/home-1
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join us for future SpotLit episodes and as always… keep reading.
35 min
October 31, 2025Annaliese Avery (The Wycherleys) and Alaska Reid (Witch Post)
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast named Best Children and Young Adults' Show by the Independent Podcast Awards, as well as Kids finalist in the 2025 British Podcast Awards and Books finalist in the 2025 Independent Podcast Awards!
This magical new Halloween episode features Annaliese Avery, author of The Wycherleys, in conversation with Cara and Molly.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
How Annaliese’s characters shape their own stories when she is writing
The importance of strong female relationships explored in The Wycherleys
Why we need fantasy and romantasy now more than ever
PLUS: Libby and Emma present a SpotLit featurette with Alaska Reid - acclaimed songwriter, musician, and member of Witch Post. This abridged version is brilliant but don’t miss the full Alaska Reid interview next week when it drops as a SpotLit episode - it’s a must-listen for anyone who’s ever found magic in music and words alike…
To learn more:
Annaliese Avery – https://annalieseavery.com
Alaska Reid – https://www.alaskareid.com
Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!
Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod
47 min

About The Reading Cafe

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WINNER of Scotland’s Emerging Talent at the 2026 Scottish Podcast Awards.

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The Reading Cafe

The Reading Cafe episodes

About The Reading Cafe