Monocle 24: Meet the Writers

Georgina Godwin meets economist Victoria Bateman to discuss her latest work, Economica, which explores and rewrites our understanding of women’s role in the economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Ben Faccini to discuss how his multicultural upbringing shaped his writing and the themes of his latest novel, ‘Other People’s Children’, including wartime Italy, memory and family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets journalist Oliver Bullough, who explores money laundering in the most unlikely of places in his latest work, Everybody Loves Our Dollars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks to Anuradha Roy on living in the Himalayas as detailed in her latest work, ‘Called by the Hills’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks to former Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who reflects on identity, leadership and life after politics. From Brexit and Biden to the coronavirus pandemic and stepping down, he shares lessons from power and public service. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin sits down with the winners of the 2026 Women’s Prize for fiction and non-fiction, Virginia Evans for The Correspondent and Lyse Doucet for The Finest Hotel in Kabul.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Tim Wu, the man who coined the term “net neutrality” in Silicon Valley, and discusses his book ‘The Age of Extraction’, which critiques the extractive practices of tech giants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Tayari Jones at the 2026 Hay Festival. Jones details her upbringing and her path into writing leading to her new novel, ‘Kin’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets award-winning writer Judy Blume at the Santa Fe International Literary Festival. She shares career moments and her thoughts on the future of literary works in the US in the current political climate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Julia Franck, a writer born in East Berlin, who shares insight into her upbringing, literary influences and her memoir, ‘Worlds Apart’, which explores her Jewish heritage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks to Romania-born author Oana Aristide about communism, satire and fiction, while tracing her journey from macroeconomics and political advising to her latest novel, ‘Astronaut!’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the 2026 Santa Fe International Literary Festival, Georgina Godwin speaks to Megan Mulry, the executive director, to discuss this year’s event and the importance of global literary engagements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin is joined by journalist and novelist Ece Temelkuran. Forced exile led to her writing in English and producing her latest work, Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century, which explores the concept of home and belonging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Nicholas Thompson, CEO of ‘The Atlantic’, to discuss ‘The Running Ground’, a memoir which intertwines his career in journalism, his relationship with his father and his passion for running.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin is joined by writer and poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths to discuss her memoir, ‘The Flower Bearers’, a deeply moving portrait of love, loss and the power of bearing witness in a fractured world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets award-winning documentarian Catherine Carr to discuss the exploration into sibling dynamics that led to her new book, ‘Who’s the Favourite?’, which gives insight into birth order, roles, and the impact of estrangement and loss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Maria Semple, bestselling author of ‘Where’d You Go, Bernadette’, to discuss her new book, ‘Go Gentle’, which follows a divorced stoic philosopher’s mid-life transformation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin is joined by Sasha Debevec-McKenney to discuss the writer’s debut poetry collection “Joy is My Middle Name”, which is shortlisted for the 2026 Dylan Thomas Prize. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Margaret Busby, Britain’s first black publisher. They discuss her career, the landmark anthology ‘Daughters of Africa’ and new release ‘Part of the Story: Writings from Half a Century’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the release of her memoir, ‘The Hour of the Wolf’, Fatima Bhutto joins Georgina Godwin at the Daunt Books Festival 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin is joined by renowned writer Francis Spufford. They discuss his early days at Chatto & Windus, his wrangles with sceptics and latest novel, ‘Nonesuch’, which is set in London during the Blitz.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets journalist and historian Luka Ivan Jukic, whose latest book, Central Europe: The Death of a Civilization and the Life of an Idea, explores the emergent rebirth of the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s International Women’s Day and Georgina Godwin is joined by a former model who helped transform Lewes FC into the world’s first equal-pay football club. She discusses ‘Pitch Invasion’, a story about sport, culture and Britain’s global soft power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Tom Freston to discuss his memoir, Unplugged. It traces his journey from launching MTV and shaping Comedy Central to how philanthropy reshaped his sense of purpose and reinvention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin is joined by Maria Alyokhina, who shares insight into her latest memoir, Political Girl, and her hopes for the future of Russia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks with author Bora Chung about her life and activism, the rise of South Korean literature and her short-story collection The Midnight Timetable, which explores speculative fiction and political themes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov, who shares his experiences from four years of war, the impact of conflict on daily life and the role of culture in resistance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Damien Barr meets Georgina Godwin to reflect on childhood shaping his memoir and novel, examining class, his move from journalism to fiction and celebrating overlooked Scottish artists via writing, theatre and an exhibition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Alexander B Smalls, tracing his path from opera to food writing via his family roots, landmark restaurants and books championing African cuisine, community and cultural pride.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks to Steve Crawshaw about his book Prosecuting the Powerful, including cases from Milošević and Putin to Netanyahu. Plus: the ICC, US hostility and why accountability matters in Gaza and Ukraine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets US psychologist and author Mary L Trump. They discuss her upbringing within the Trump family, pivoting from psychology to writing memoirs and what’s next for America and its politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EA Hanks joins Georgina Godwin in the studio to discuss her debut memoir The 10, which recounts a solo journey, retracing family ties and the memory of her late mother.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks with writer-guide Manni Coe about his memoir Little Ruins, tracing his Yorkshire roots, music, struggles and plans for new books and tours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks to British journalist and author India Knight on what makes a home worth living in her latest novel "Home"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets John Lloyd, one of the men behind ‘The Meaning of Liff’. He shares insight on working with Douglas Adams and the impact of the humorous dictionary on its 42nd anniversary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin sits down with Sir Michael Palin, who shares insight into his upbringing, his start in comedy with Monty Python and his latest venture, ‘Michael Palin in Venezuela’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks with Mitchell Kaplan, the founder of Miami Book Fair. They discuss his switch in careers from lawmaker to bookseller, influencing the city’s literary culture and adapting to new reading trends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets American writer and historian Harlan Greene at the 2025 Charleston Literary Festival to discuss the playwright Dorothy Heyward, who is the subject of Greene’s book ‘Porgy’s Ghost’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets David Szalay, winner of the 2025 Booker Prize, at Charleston Literary Festival. They discuss his winning novel, Flesh, his connection to the UK, his multicultural upbringing and the prize’s impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin is joined by Kiran Desai, whose novel ‘The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny’ was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. She discusses her New Delhi childhood, political unrest and the influence of her mother, Anita Desai.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin is joined by Helen Garner, the 2025 winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, who shares insight into How to End a Story: Collected Diaries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Armitage discusses moving from acting to writing with ‘The Cut’, which explores trauma and memory. Reflecting on his Leicestershire roots, immersive roles and empathy, Armitage seeks a balance between storytelling on stage and page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.