Welcome to The State of Us – Episode 06: John Boyne
In this compelling episode of The State of Us, host Ian O’Doherty sits down with acclaimed Irish novelist John Boyne for a candid, moving, and, at times, darkly humorous conversation. Brought to you by Rivada Space Networks, this episode takes you beyond the headlines into the personal, literary, and societal undercurrents that have shaped one of Ireland’s best-known authors.
Timestamps / Topics Covered:
00:00 – Introduction | The State of Us & Rivada’s “outernet”
01:00 – John’s book tour, the “Elements” novella sequence, and tackling sexual abuse in literature
04:00 – Growing up in Irish schools: endemic abuse, generational silence, complicity, and trauma
12:00 – How Irish schools have changed & recognising positive progress for young people today
14:30 – Writing about the Holocaust: The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas—origins, empathy, challenges
18:30 – Impact, legacy, and enduring controversy of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
24:00 – Responding to criticism, online abuse, and navigating backlash as a writer
33:20 – “My Brother’s Name is Jessica”: Writing about transgender issues, allyship, and being targeted by social media mobs
41:00 – The culture wars, the privilege of victimhood, pronouns, and cancel culture
49:50 – Satire and catharsis: Writing “The Echo Chamber” as a response to contemporary online outrage
56:00 – Threats, author safety, and reflections on the Salman Rushdie attack
1:08:00 – John’s creative process, life, and what’s next
Key Discussion Points:
The Elements Novellas: John breaks down his daring four-part novella series, which confronts sexual abuse from different perspectives, and explains why fiction is crucial for empathy and understanding.
School Abuse Scandals: Hear powerful, candid accounts of how abuse in Irish schools shaped a generation and why silence persisted for so long.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: Learn where the novel’s inspiration came from, its unexpected global impact, and why John remains fiercely proud despite enduring waves of criticism.
Controversy & Social Media: John discusses being at the centre of online “pile-ons”, why he stands by his work on transgender issues, and the culture of outrage—plus, his approach to dealing with trolls and threats.
The Echo Chamber: Discover why satire was the only suitable response to Ireland’s digital culture wars—and why laughter heals.
Wisdom for Writers: John shares his writing routine, relationship with solitude, and advice for fellow creatives.
About John Boyne:
Author of over twenty novels, John Boyne is best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Heart's Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky, The Echo Chamber, and several acclaimed books for young readers. His work has been translated into more than 60 languages.
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