Monocle 24: Meet the Writers

Marlon James returns with The Disappearers, now shortlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize. He joins Georgina Godwin, reflecting on his career so far and the possibility of winning the award for the second time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin speaks to Teun Toebes and Jonathan de Jong about 'Human Forever: Searching the World for a Better Life with Dementia', exploring dementia care and rethinking ageing through human connection and quality of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Catherine Cho, who discusses motherhood, identity and the journey from memoir to fiction with her debut novel, The Devoted.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Chaucer and Jane Austen to children growing up in a world dominated by screens, Georgina Godwin explores the enduring importance of reading against the backdrop of Chatsworth House’s extraordinary exhibit and the Queen's Reading Room Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets chef Ruthie Rogers at The River Café to discuss her podcast, Ruthie’s Table 4, which has now been turned into a book titled Table 4 at The River Café.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets former UK business secretary Sir Vince Cable to discuss his latest book, Eclipsing the West, which explores the global economic landscape as power transitions from the West to emerging superstates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Novelist Louise Doughty, author of Apple Tree Yard, sits down with Georgina Godwin and shares insights into recounting her parents’ origins in her new memoir, On This Spot Fell One Tear of Love.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma-Lee Moss, also known as Emmy the Great, joins Georgina Godwin to discuss her memoir, ‘My Cantopop Nights’, which expresses her love for the unique genre and how it helped to forge her identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British entrepreneur Simon Woodroffe reflects on his journey from a troubled upbringing to founding Yo! Sushi and Yotel, sharing lessons from rock and roll, Dragon’s Den, and business and personal reinvention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets bestselling author Kathy Lette to discuss her rebellious youth, her Puberty Blues breakthrough, motherhood and her new novel, The Sisterhood Rules, which celebrates the power of sisterly relationships.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets writer Nicholas Boggs to trace the life of James Baldwin in his new biography ‘Baldwin: A Love Story’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Booker Prize-longlisted writer Chloe Aridjis is the author of Book of Clouds, Asunder and Sea Monsters. Her fourth novel, The Shadow of the Object, moves between Mexico City and London in a tale of illness, friendship, magic lanterns, silver polishing, grief and the strange charge of objects.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets Raoul de Jong to discuss his book ‘Jaguarman’, now translated into English, which explores his Suriamese heritage through the prism of a mystical ancestor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgina Godwin meets writer and journalist Erica Wagner to discuss the life of Brooklyn Bridge engineer Washington Roebling, in her new work, ‘Wash’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.