The YourShelf Podcast

The YourShelf Podcast returns for three very special episodes celebrating our Books of the Year 2021! In episode fifteen, YourShelf's chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) interviews Lauren Groff (one of his favourite ever writers), to discuss YourShelf's Fiction Book of the Year 2021, Matrix. They explore ideas of utopia, reclamation through historical fiction, and lesbian rebel nuns, as well as book recommendations (and more) from Lauren. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/15.Thanks for listening, and thanks to Lauren for such a brilliant conversation!LinksInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay quizzes Lauren on her bookshelves, the books that made her and more.Lauren shines a light on her dazzling novel Matrix, and its roots in the Eve narrative and  obscure twelfth-century French poetry. Lauren discusses reclamation and modern commentary through historical fiction, the meaning of utopia, and the glory of lesbian rebel nuns.Jay wraps up the interview by asking Lauren about her favourite things from 2021 and what she's looking forward to in 2022.Check out episodes thirteen and fourteen for our poetry and non-fiction books of the year, with interviews from Naomi Morris and Michelle Orange.Thank you to Sound Editor, Toby Ollis-Brownstone.

The YourShelf Podcast returns for three very special episodes celebrating our Books of the Year 2021! In episode fourteen, YourShelf's chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) interviews Michelle Orange to discuss YourShelf's Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2021, Pure Flame. They explore ideas surrounding mother-daughter relationships and female legacies through narrative, as well as book recommendations (and more) from Michelle. The episode ends with Michelle flipping the tables to grill Jay on his 2021 reading project and The YourShelf Press. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/14.Thanks for listening, and thanks to Michelle for such an iridescent conversation! LinksInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay quizzes Michelle on her bookshelves, the books that made her and more.Michelle explores the long creative process behind her striking memoir, Pure Flame. Michelle considers mother-daughter relationships, the treachery of storytelling, and the boundless influence of Susan Sontag.Jay wraps up the interview by asking Michelle about her favourite things from 2021 and what she's looking forward to in 2022.Check out episodes thirteen and fifteen for our poetry and fiction books of the year, with interviews from Naomi Morris and Lauren Groff.Thank you to Sound Editor, Toby Ollis-Brownstone.

The YourShelf Podcast returns for three very special episodes celebrating our Books of the Year 2021! In episode thirteen, YourShelf's chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) interviews Naomi Morris to discuss YourShelf's Poetry Book of the Year 2021, Hyperlove, with topics ranging from love and sex to obsession and extremity, erasure and theory, as well as book recommendations (and more) from Naomi. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/13.Thanks for listening, and thanks to Naomi for such a brilliant conversation!LinksInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay quizzes Naomi on her dream literary dinner party, the books that made her and more.Naomi discusses the creation and reception of her collection of poetry, Hyperlove. Naomi explores ideas of sex and love addiction, the erasure of the self in love and spirituality, and why Angel Olsen is her twenty-first century mystic.Jay wraps up the interview by asking Naomi about her favourite things from 2021 and what she's looking forward to in 2022.Check out episodes fourteen and fifteen for our non-fiction and fiction books of the year, with interviews from Michelle Orange and Lauren Groff.Thank you to our Sound Editor, Toby Ollis-Brownstone.

CONTENT WARNING:  This episode touches on subjects of sexual assault/rape, trauma, and physical and mental illness. Please use your discretion when listening. If you are affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, reach out to helplines or charities such as Rape Crisis, Survivors UK, Women's Aid, Mind, Mental Health Foundation, CALM, or any other organisation you might know of or prefer.Please note that due to recording this episode over Zoom, there are some slight background noises we couldn't control throughout the episode, particularly around 44mins in and onwards.Special thank you to our new Sound  Editor Toby Ollis-Brownstone for coming on board The YourShelf Podcast team!The YourShelf Podcast is back from hiatus! In the twelfth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Not Looking Away, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) sits down with writer Lucia Osborne-Crowley to discuss her new book My Body Keeps Your Secrets, and her 2019 memoir I Choose Elena. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/12.Thanks for listening, and thanks to Lucia for such a galvanising conversation! LinksInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay quizzes Lucia on her bookshelves, the books that made her, the book she would live in, and her dream podcast guest.Lucia discusses the legacy of trauma both personally and socially, and how that shaped her writing career through her first two books, I Choose Elena (2019) and My Body Keeps Your Secrets (2021). They discuss the practice of writing a book utilising personal experience and over a hundred interviews, as well as legacies of trauma and ideas of accountability (individual and systemic), "the gift of language", and the importance of not looking away from the pain and suffering of ourselves and others.Jay wraps up the interview by asking Lucia about her future projects and upcoming books she's excited about.Lucia closes with a reading from My Body Keeps Your Secrets.Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for (lucky) Episode Thirteen!

To support our work and listen to additional content from previous episodes, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_ (note: there is no Patreon episode for either of our Books of the Year 2020 episodes). In our latest, eleventh episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Prose Book of the Year 2020, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with Doireann Ní Ghríofa to discuss Doireann's book A Ghost In The Throat, the life of Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, Dubh's poem Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire which survives in the Irish oral tradition, motherhood, voices, astonishment, Doireann's forthcoming bilingual collection of poetry (due spring 2021), and a recap of the best books of 2020. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/11. Thanks for listening.LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Doireann about the books that made her, what her bookshelves look like, and what book she'd send backwards in time if she could. (from 0:01)Doireann explains the origins of her book A Ghost In The Throat, her poetry work including (in English) Clasp and Lies (a bilingual publication), the life and work of Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, astonishment, engineering the breath in the white space on the page, and more. (from 11:40)Doireann recaps her favourite books and TV shows of 2020, recommends some titles for 2021, and muses on what's next from her. (from 54:20)Doireann gives a special reading of a passage from A Ghost In The Throat. (from 1:12:23)The books and authors discussed in this episode include: the work of Edmund Lenihan, the artist Dorothy Cross' Montenotte, Tramp Press' 'Recovered Voices' series, Lucy Ellmann's Ducks, Newburyport, Max Porter's Grief Is The Thing With Feathers, and Han Kang's The White Book.Doireann's 2020 highlights include Sara Baume's handiwork, Celia Paul's Self-Portrait, Ella Frears' Shine, Darling, Seán Hewitt's Tongues of Fire, Mark O'Connell's Notes from an Apocalypse, and Janet Malcolm's The Silent Woman: Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. Aside from books, Doireann also recommends repeatedly rewatching the 2017 film The Meyerowitz Stories, and the 2020 TV series The Queen's Gambit and Ratched.Doireann's most anticipated releases of 2021 include Megan Nolan's Acts of Desperation and Kerri Ní Dochartaigh's Thin Places.Doireann's book A Ghost In The Throat is available now from Tramp Press. Her poetry collections Clasp and Lies are available now from Dedalus Press. Her next collection is forthcoming in Spring 2021.Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for new episodes embracing all the books 2021 has to offer.

To support our work and listen to additional content from previous episodes, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_ (note: there is no Patreon episode for either of our Books of the Year 2020 episodes). In our latest, tenth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Poetry Book of the Year 2020, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with Seán Hewitt to discuss Seán's book Tongues of Fire, the work of Gerard Manley Hopkins, Hewitt's forthcoming memoir (due 2022), and a recap of the best books of 2020. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/10. Thanks for listening.LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Seán about what book world he would live in, what his bookshelves look like, and who he'd invite to a literary dinner party. (from 0:01)Seán explains the origins of his book Tongues of Fire, his pamphlet Lantern, the scope of nature poetry, timeliness vs timelessness, the influence of Gerard Manley Hopkins and more. (from 9:20)Seán recaps his favourite books, albums and TV shows of 2020, recommends some titles for 2021, and hints at his forthcoming memoir, All Down Darkness Wide, due out 2022. (from 44:50)Seán Hewitt gives a special reading of Jay's favourite poem in Tongues of Fire, 'Adoratrion'. (from 1:01:03)The books and authors discussed in this episode include: Philip Pullman's Northern Lights, the works of Flann O'Brien, Virginia Woolf, James Baldwin, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Christopher Marlowe and William Blake, Thomas Hardy's Jude The Obscure, Hera Lindsay Bird by Hera Lindsay Bird, Alice Oswald's Dart, Freya Daly Sadgrove's Head Girl, Mark Doty's My Alexandria, Wayne Holloway-Smith's Love After Love, and the works of Ocean Vuong, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Karin Boye and J.M. Synge.Seán's 2020 highlights include Claudia Rankine's Just Us, Hilary Fannin's The Weight of Love, Rachel Long's My Darling From The Lions, Eavan Boland's The Historians, Robin Robertson's Grimoire, Jane Mead's World of Made and Unmade, and Caleb Femi's Poor. Aside from books, Seán's other 2020 highlights include the albums What's Your Pleasure? by Jessie Ware and Roísín Machine by Roísín Murphy, the TV shows Schitt's Creek and The Crown, and playing the Nintendo game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.Seán's most anticipated releases of 2021 include Niven Govinden's Diary of a Film, Jackie Kay's Bessie Smith, Andrew McMillan's Pandemonium, Kayo Chingonyi's A Blood Condition, and Jen Hadfield's The Stone Age.Seán's book Tongues of Fire is available now from Jonathan Cape. His academic volume J.M. Synge: Nature, Politics, Modernism is available from Oxford University Press, 7 January 2021.Thanks for listening and tune in again very soon for our second Book of the Year episode, with Doireann Ní Ghríofa!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, ninth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Natural Strangeness, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with Rebecca Tamás to discuss her book Strangers: Essays on the Human and Nonhuman, books, ecology and ecocriticism, the work of Ana Mendieta, and more. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/9. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Rebecca about what book world she would live in, what her bookshelves look like, and who she'd invite to a literary dinner party. (from 1:00)Rebecca explains the origins of her book Strangers: Essays on the Human and Nonhuman, staying positive in the face of the climate emergency, the role of ecocriticism, and the intersection of ecology, feminism, mysticism and more. "Environmentalism is for everyone." (from 4:45)Finally, Rebecca discusses the last book she read, and hints at what she's working on next. (from 34:55)Rebecca Tamás gives a special reading of a passage from Jay's favourite essay in Strangers, 'On Panpsychism'. (from 37:10)Jay wraps up with the books and authors that were discussed in the episode: Dodie Smith's I Capture The Castle, the works of Jamaica Kincaid and Jean Rhys, the anonymous Middle English poem Gawain and the Green Knight, the poet Bhanu Kapil, Daisy Lafarge's Life Without Air, AK Blakemore's forthcoming book The Manningtree Witches, Clarice Lispector's The Passion According to GH, Ariana Reines' The Cow, and Joanna Pocock's Surrender. (41:25)Rebecca's book Strangers: Essays on the Human and Nonhuman, is available now in a gorgeous second printing from indie publisher extraordinaire Makina Books. Her debut collection of poetry, WITCH, is available from Penned In The Margins.Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for our special Books of the Year episodes!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, eighth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Spooky Stories, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with writers Daisy Johnson and Julia Armfield to discuss books, horror stories and scary movies, what makes a good spooky story, and their respective short story collections, Fen and Salt Slow. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/8. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Daisy and Julia about what their bookshelves look like, whose ghost they want book recommendations from, and which character they'd be in a horror movie. (from 1:31)Daisy discusses her latest novel, the horror novel Sisters, as well as her debut short story collection, Fen. Julia discusses her debut short story collection, Salt Slow. Together they discuss each other's work, bodily horror, dread, and what makes a good story. (from 5:22)Finally, Daisy and Julia discuss what they're working on now, and what they're currently reading. (from 40:15)Jay wraps up with the books and authors that were discussed in the episode: the work of Shirley Jackson, Stephen King's The Shining, Jeanette Winterson's The Daylight Gate, Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street, Carmen Maria Machado, Helen Oyeyomi, Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects, Jeffrey Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides, HP Lovecraft, a biography of Shirley Jackson, Arthur Machen's The Great God Pan, the short stories of Kelly Link, Susan Hill's The Woman In Black, Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby, Stephen King's Revival, Jessie Greengrass, and Walter Tevis' The Queen's Gambit. (44:30)Daisy's latest book, Sisters, is out now, as well as her two previous books, Everything Under and Fen. Julia's debut collection of short stories, Salt Slow, is also available now. Their bonus episode together is available on our Patreon page now - Daisy and Julia each read a short passage from their work, and give some horror film recommendations for Halloween.Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for Episode Nine.

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, seventh episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Fantasy City, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with writer Alex Pheby to discuss books, genre fiction vs literary fiction, the world of rights and publishing, and the ins-and-outs of Pheby's new fantasy novel, Mordew. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/7. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Alex about who he'd like to get a book recommendation from, what book he'd like to live in, and what his home bookshelves look like. (from 0:48)Alex discusses the origins and influences of his new fantasy novel Mordew, the tensions between genre fiction and literary fiction, the complicated world of rights and publishing, and the darkly fantastical world of Mordew. (from 15:15)Finally, Alex discusses the future of the Mordew trilogy and what he's currently reading. (from 1:02:28)Jay wraps up with the books and authors that were discussed in the episode: the works of Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy, Jack Vance, JRR Tolkien, Paul Stanbridge, Albert Camus' The Plague, Simon Gough's The White Goddess, Eimear McBride's A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing, Jonathan Gibbs' Randall, Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, Stephen King's Carrie, Lucy Ellmann's Ducks, Newburyport, Graham Greene, Preti Taneja, Fritz Leiber's Swords and Deviltry, Iain M Banks, Hilary Mantel, and the short stories of Richard Yates. Jay also recommends two of his favourite fantasy/sci-fi writers, Ursula K LeGuin and Becky Chambers. (1:12:25)Buy, read and review Mordew now, available from all good bookstores! Alex's earlier novels Lucia and Playthings are also available for purchase. Alex's bonus episode is available on our Patreon page now.Thanks for listening and tune in again (very very very) soon for Episode Eight!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, sixth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Given Stories, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) catches up with writer Nikita Gill to discuss books, representation, girlhood, culture, inheritance and Nikita's first novel, The Girl and the Goddess. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/6. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Nikita about her bookshelves, the books that made her, and which writers she'd want to play in a one-woman show. (from 1:15)Nikita explains why she decided to write her first YA novel in verse, The Girl and the Goddess, where the inspiration for the story came from, and what representation means to her and her work. (from 10:38)Finally, Nikita discusses her recent reads and upcoming projects, including a new collection, Where Hope Comes From, publishing Feb 2021. (from 1:10:50)Jay recommends signing up to our Patreon for access to exclusive content, including a  bonus episode with more content from the interview, where Nikita answers some phone-in questions, and gives a reading from The Girl and the Goddess.Jay wraps up with all the books that were discussed in the episode: Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Alice Walker's The Colour Purple, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Nikesh Shukla's Brown Baby, Salena Godden's Mrs Death Misses Death, the works of Amrita Sher-Gil and Sarojini Naidu, Dean Atta's The Black Flamingo, CS Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, Manjeet Mann's Run Rebel, the work of Yena Sherma Purmasir, Louise O'Neill's After The Silence, Savannah Brown's Sweetdark, and Poems To Save The World With, chosen and illustrated by Chris Riddell.Nikita Gill closes with a reading of the stunning poem 'A New City' from her YA novel in verse, The Girl and the Goddess. (from 1:25:33)Buy, read and review The Girl and the Goddess now, available from most bookstores! Nikita's earlier work is also available for purchase.Thanks for listening and tune in again (very) soon for Episode Seven!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, fifth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Everything Is Both, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) sits down with author Rebecca Dinerstein Knight to discuss books, Norway, screenplays, Jenny Slate, and Rebecca's second novel, Hex. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/5. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Rebecca about her bookshelves, the books that made her, and which authors she'd invite to a dinner party. (from 1:35)Rebecca begins the discussion with her first novel, The Sunlit Night, and the process involved in writing the screenplay for the film adaptation due out later in 2020. Rebecca and Jay discuss Rebecca's wide-ranging writing career, the impetus behind her latest novel Hex, creative friendships, obsession, the sophomore slump, and the doubleness of everything. (from 10:24)Finally, Rebecca hints at what her next projects are going to look like. (from 48:21)Jay recommends signing up to our Patreon for access to exclusive content, including a short bonus episode with more content from the interview, where Jay and Rebecca play a game of "Celebs Read Nice Tweets", and Rebecca answers some extra questions from Jay.Jay wraps up with all the books that were discussed in the episode and a few other books he recommends. Some of the books and authors we discussed in our latest episode include Kafka, Mark Strand, Louise Glück, Wallace Stevens, Frank O'Hara, Nicole Sealey, Noah Warren; All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren, To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, Independent People by Halldór Laxness, Changing by Liv Ullmann; Dante, George Eliot, Gustave Flaubert; Little Weirds by Jenny Slate, Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery, The Moomins by Tove Jansson, the short stories of Grace Paley, The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West, Sweet Days of Discipline by Fleur Jaeggy, Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett; Michael Chabon, Walter Pater; Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino, A Burning by Megha Majumdar, and Riding With The Ghost by Justin Taylor. If you're looking for even more recommendations, especially in the age of social distancing, Jay has you covered. Recently, he's read and enjoyed Olivia Laing's Funny Weather, Seán Hewitt's Tongues of Fire, Martha Sprackland's Citadel, Sam Riviere's After Fame, and Deborah Levy's memoirs Things I Don't Want to Know and The Cost of Living.Also, Jay reminds that you can order a copy of his book of poems, the debut publication of The YourShelf Press, on yourshelf.uk/press.Rebecca Dinerstein Knight closes with a reading of the stunning 'Pharmakon' chapter in her new second novel Hex. (from 58:49)Buy, read and review Hex online now, available from most bookstores! Rebecca's first novel The Sunlit Night is also available for purchase, and her debut poetry collection Lofoten is available digitally.Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for Episode Six!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, fourth episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Flights of Thought, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) sits down with author Sara Baume to discuss books, birds, and Sara's nonfiction debut handiwork. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/4. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Sara about her bookshelves, the books that made her, and what she's excited to read in the near future. (from 2:12)Sara begins the discussion with some insights from the writing of her nonfiction debut, handiwork. Sara and Jay discuss all three of Sara's published books, the importance of birds, solitude and other recurrent themes throughout her work. (from 13:30)Finally, Sara talks about her new novella, slated for a 2021 publication, and talks about launching a book during a national lockdown. Sara also shares some quarantine reading recommendations. (from 54:02)Jay recommends signing up to our Patreon for access to exclusive content, including a 10min bonus episode with more content from the interview, where Jay and Sara Baume play a game of "Celebs Read Nice Tweets", and Sara answers some "phone-in questions".Jay wraps up with all the books that were discussed in the episode and a few other books he recommends. Some of the books and authors we discussed in our latest episode include Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, Alice Lyons' Oona, Celia Paul's Self Portrait, Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea, Raynor Winn's The Salt Path, Max Porter's Grief Is The Thing With Feathers, Han Kang's The White Book, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall, Rob Doyle's Threshold, Evie Wyld's The Bass Rock, Adrian Duncan's A Sabbatical in Leipzig, Olivia Laing's forthcoming Funny Weather, Jenny Offill's Weather, and Colum McCann's Apeirogon. If you're looking for even more recommendations, especially in the age of social distancing, Jay has you covered. While most of the books he's read recently have been Sara Baume's three fantastic books, he also recommends the poetry of Doireann Ní Ghríofa, whose forthcoming prose debut A Ghost In The Throat is discussed by Sara earlier in this episode. Currently, he's reading Hex by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight, The M Pages by Colette Bryce, After Fame by Sam Riviere, and Rest and Be Thankful by Emma Glass; while he hasn't yet finished these books, each one is already totally compelling and recommendable.Also, Jay reminds that you can order a copy of his book of poems, the debut publication of The YourShelf Press, on yourshelf.uk/press.Sara Baume closes with a reading from her non-fiction debut handiwork (from 1:02:48).Buy, read and review handiwork online now, available from most bookstores! Sara's previous books Spill Simmer Falter Wither and A Line Made By Walking are also both available for purchase.Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for Episode Five!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In our latest, third episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Everyday Exorcisms, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) sits down with Lynn Gunn of PVRIS to discuss books, confessional poetry in rock music, and the upcoming third album from PVRIS, Use Me - in particular, two songs from the album, Dead Weight and Good To Be Alive. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/3. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay asks Lynn about her dream writer-rockband, the books that made her, and how she stores her books. (from 2:25)Lynn opens the discussion by exploring the creative development of PVRIS over the past six years, with particular focus on their upcoming third album Use Me. Lynn and Jay also talk about the occult, Lynn's creative process, and confessional poetry on the rock scene. (from 9:59)Finally, Lynn talks about dream collaborators and what it means to be a gay front-woman in rock. (from 41:34)Jay recommends signing up to our Patreon for access to exclusive content, including a 10min bonus episode with more content from the interview, where Jay and Lynn Gunn play a game of "Celebs Read Nice Tweets", and Lynn answers some "phone-in questions".Jay wraps up with all the books that were discussed in the episode and a few other books he recommends. Some of the books and authors we discussed in our latest episode include Ted Hughes' Birthday Letters, the work of Edgar Allen Poe and Sylvia Plath, Jenny Slate's brilliant memoir/essays Little Weirds, The Power of Positive Thinking, Rebecca Tamas' WITCH, and Madeline Miller's Circe. If you're looking for more recommendations, especially in our current age of social distancing, Jay's here to help. Recently Jay read the brilliant Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel, which concluded two weeks ago with the long-awaited publication of The Mirror & the Light, one of the most transcendent books and the most expertly crafted historical fiction. In poetry, Caroline Bird's The Air Year is already one of the best collections of 2020. In literary fiction, Jenny Offill's doomsday-prepper-inspired Weather is a relevant, dark, but still hopeful novel, while in the world of memoir, Rebecca Solnit's Recollections of My Non-Existence is an uplifting and illuminating account of how one of our greatest essayists and thinkers came to find her voice.Also, Jay reminds that you can order a copy of his book of poems, the debut publication of The YourShelf Press, on yourshelf.uk/press.Buy and stream PVRIS's new single Dead Weight ahead of the release of third album Use Me in May!Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for Episode Four!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In the long-awaited second episode of The YourShelf Podcast, Reading In The Future, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) sits down with Claire L Evans to discuss books, if a machine can ever be a poet, and what it might mean to read and write in the future. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/2. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay quizzes Claire on her bookshelves, the books that made her, and what recent books Claire's excited about. (from 2:18)Claire discusses a wide range of themes, from writing science and tech in her books High Frontiers and Broad Band, to her collaborative work with YACHT, in particular their 2016 album I Thought The Future Would Be Cooler, and their 2019 Grammy-nominated album Chain Tripping, written using artificial intelligence and machine learning. (from 9:30)Finally, Claire talks about her future plans with YACHT and with her next book. (from 45:39)Jay recommends signing up to our Patreon for access to exclusive content, including a 10min bonus episode with more content from the interview, where Jay and Claire L Evans play a game of "Celebs Read Nice Tweets", and Claire answers some "phone-in questions".Jay wraps up with all the books that were discussed in the episode and a few other books he recommends. Discussed in the podcast: Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, the work of Samuel Delaney, Barry Lopez, Joanna Russ and Ursula K Le Guin, William Gibson's Agency, Jeff Vandermeer's Annihilation, Buckminster Fuller, Ross Goodwin, and Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens. If you're looking for more recommendations, look no further. One of the best books I've read in the few months since our last podcast episode is Jenny Slate's Little Weirds, a memoir of sorts that defies all kinds of limitations, a beautiful ode to wildness and wonder. At the end of 2019, I also very much enjoyed Patti Smith's latest memoir, Year of the Monkey, as well as Sean Hewitt's poetry pamphlet Lantern, and Maya C. Popa's poetry collection American Faith.Also, Jay announce that The YourShelf Press officially launched last month with the publication of his debut poetry collection All Those Bodies And They're Moving, described by Florence Welch as “a technological hellscape, full of monsters of our own making... [examining] queer identity and the flesh”. You can order a copy on yourshelf.uk/press.Buy and stream YACHT's album Chain Tripping, and if you're in San Francisco go see them play live in March. Also, check out Claire's book Broad Band for a personal, human account of the little-known women who created the internet.Thanks for listening and tune in again soon for Episode Three!

To support our work and listen to additional content, see here: https://patreon.com/yourshelf and follow us on social media @_yourshelf_. In the debut episode of The YourShelf Podcast, The Poetic Pop Premiere, our chief curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) sits down with Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine) and Rebecca Lucy Taylor (of Self Esteem) to discuss books and the music industry, all through the lens of their personal brands of poetic pop. For full show notes, see here: https://podcast.yourshelf.uk/episodes/1. Thanks for listening.  LinksPatreonInstagramTwitterPodcastYourShelfEpisode NotesJay quizzes Florence and Rebecca on their bookshelves, the books that made them, and whose reading habits they want to know more about.Florence and Rebecca discuss songwriting and poetry, producing music as women in a male-dominated industry, the importance of personal lyrics, listening to and believing in women, young women "radiating" with feminism, and female solidarity in the industry.Florence and Rebecca share their favourite of each other's lyrics, and talk about what they've been reading recently.Jay recommends signing up to our Patreon for access to exclusive content, including a 30min bonus episode with more content from the interview, where Rebecca and Florence play a game of "Celebs Read Nice Tweets" and answer some "phone-in questions".Jay wraps up with all the books that were discussed in the episode and a few other books he recommends. Discussed in the podcast: Rebecca Solnit's essays Hope In The Dark, the books of Jacqueline Wilson, Frank Herbert's Dune, Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, the Margaret Atwood classic The Handmaid's Tale, Patti Smith's M Train, Ocean Vuong's stunning debut novel On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, Ryka Aoki's book of poems Why Dust Shall Never Settle Upon This Soul, and Yrsa Daley-Ward's memoir The Terrible. Our current Guest Curated title, chosen by the YourShelf community, is Jia Tolentino's incredible Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion. Additional recommendations: Julia Armfield's short story collection salt slow, and RJ Arkhipov's Visceral: The Poetry of Blood, which were given to Florence at the recording, and Mary Jean Chan's Flèche, which was given to Rebecca. Jay's favourite read in August was Lucy Ellmann's groundbreaking, Booker Prize longlisted Ducks, Newburyport.Stream Self Esteem's album Compliments Please and go see her on tour in October. Buy and stream Florence and the Machine's 10th anniversary edition of Lungs and read her book Useless Magic.Thanks for listening and tune in again next month for Episode Two!

Our Chief Curator Juliano Zaffino (Jay) introduces The YourShelf Podcast. The first episode premieres September 2019. Please support us on https://patreon.com/yourshelf (launching with the first episode) for access to our bonus content series: Off The Shelf. All links and social media below. Patreon Instagram Twitter Podcast YourShelf