Podcasts about Damian Barr

A memoir about growing up gay in Scotland under the shadow of Thatcherism, Maggie & Me was published to wide acclaim in 2013. Damian Barr joins to discuss how he as adapted it with James Ley for a new National Theatre of Scotland touring production.As Roberto Rossellini's classic 1945 film Rome, Open City (Roma città aperta) is re-released by the BFI, writer Thea Lenarduzzi and film historian Ian Christie reassess its role in launching Italian neorealism and compare it with There's Still Tomorrow (C'è ancora domani), a new film by Paula Cortellesi that borrows many of neorealism's visual and thematic hallmarks.With news last week that fake artworks by Renoir and Monet were being sold online, Samira is joined by art specialist and A.I. expert Dr. Carina Popovici and writer and art crime expert Riah Pyror to discuss the problem and how A.I. is being used to solve it.

Judith Ralston, Damian Barr, Hugh MacDonald and Gordon Waddel loin the guys to chat about Desert Island Book; Memorable Memes; Steak XI; Terracing Teaser and Venables Tribute

Our dearest podcast listeners - we have a special, important message for you from our founder Damian Barr, as we say a very fond but sad farewell to the Literary Salon... Some of you have come along in person or online or listened to our podcast for years. Thank you for being there—readers bring a book to life, and that's what you've done for Salon. It's been fifteen years since our first night at Shoreditch House and we've grown beyond any dream Damian dared have. So in this special final episode, Damian shares his decision with you, takes us on a joyful trip down memory lane, and gives you a sneak peek of the next chapter... Damian Barr's Literary Salon was founded 15 years ago by award-winning writer, columnist and broadcaster Damian Barr. Find out more about Damian and subscribe to his personal newsletter on his website - www.damianbarr.com. Follow Damian on Twitter/X - @Damian_Barr Follow Damian on Instagram - @mrdamianbarr Podcast produced and edited by presenter/producer Megan Bay Dorman. For any podcast production or presenting enquiries, email Megan on mbaydorman@gmail.com Podcast programmed by Sales, Marketing & Publicity Director Matt Casbourne. For any enquiries email Matt on mcasbourne@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award-winning actor and creator of a myriad of unforgettable characters from Lady Whiteadder to Gertrude Stein, Miriam truly is a national treasure - and possibly our very favourite lesbian. She made us wait a long time for her extraordinary life story, and it's far richer and stranger than any part she's played. From declaring her love to Vanessa Redgrave to being told to be quiet by the Queen, her memoir This Much Is True is packed with brilliant stories, several of which Miriam shared with us in this live Literary Salon at the London Library. As you might expect from Miriam and her potty mouth, the conversation with Damian gets explicit and sweary at times, as well as being honest, intelligent and HILARIOUS - enjoy!   Interview and reading recorded live at Damian Barr's Literary Salon, at the London Library, in December 2021. Podcast produced and edited by Megan Bay Dorman Live audio recorded by Jake Clark-Darby Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Anita Anand joins author Damian Barr and podcaster Meff to hear about how the 80s icon She Ra - sister of He Ra - has become a main character. We hear about how, in her newest iteration, the Princess of Power isn't just openly gay but saved the world with a queer kiss. Producer: Rufaro Faith Mazarura Editor: Ailsa Rochester Sound Design: Craig EdmondsonAn Audio Always production for BBC Radio 4

It's the penultimate Book Bite of the season, and the final Wednesday Bite of the season... so it's entirely appropriate that we look back at the bests of the season... the best moments, our favourite books, and the lessons we're taking away from it all.Of course this all had to happen by way of a long tangent about swearing, a weird tangent about method acting, an odd tangent about... you get the point.Keep  in touchWe love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:Twitter: @twolitchicksInstagram: @two_lit_chicksTikTok: @two_lit_chicksEmail: hello@twolitchicks.orgIf you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news. Thank you so much for listening.   Listeners, we love you.Support the show

Damian Barr is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and journalist. His memoir, Maggie & Me, won Stonewall Writer of the Year and Sunday Times Memoir of the Year. His debut novel, You Will Be Safe Here, was shortlisted for six major awards and named a Book of the Year in the Observer, Guardian and Mail. He's written columns for The Times and Sunday Times and hosted Front Row on BBC Radio 4 as well as his own series Guide Books.  In 2019, Damian brought books back to television with 'The Big Scottish Book Club', now in its fourth series and syndicated internationally. Also on BBC TV, he presented 'Shelf Isolation' and the landmark documentary for Sir Walter Scott's 250th. Damian holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He started his world-famous Literary Salon in 2008. He lives in Brighton.Damian's ChoicesA Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee WilliamsBeloved by Toni MorrisonTales of the City: Book 1  by Armistead Maupin Other books mentionedA Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara Illborn by Daniel T JacksonThe Sandman by Neil GaimonThe Graveyard Book by Neil GaimonListener's Choice (Dedra L Stephenson)Spare by Prince HarryLinks to other things discussedJulia's article on marketing for debut authors (part one, part two)Ed's magical writing practice: Pomodoro TechniqueDamian's favourite writing haunt: Gladstone LibrarySUPPORT GROUPSLGTBQ+ Mental Health Service: Mind OutFor children in need of help: Childline (0800 1111)Support for recovery from child abuse: NAPAC  (0808 801 0331)You can buy books mentioned in this episode on our Bookshop.org Affiliate page (UK Only). By purchasing here, you support both small bookshops AND our podcast. Keep  in touchWe love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media: Twitter: @twolitchicks Instagram: @two_lit_chicks TikTok: @two_lit_chicks Email: hello@twolitchicks.org If you do one thing today, sign up to our newsletter so we can keep you updated with all our news. Thank you so much for listening.    Listeners, we love you. Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice HereSupport the show

'Marple: Twelve New Stories' is a brand-new collection of original tales penned by some of the world's bestselling female writers. Each story takes inspiration from Agatha Christie's classic originals to feature a new mystery for Miss Marple to solve. As ever, she knows more than she appears to. Acclaimed authors Kate Mosse and Lucy Foley and sought-after bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud joined Damian Barr for a Special Salon at the British Library to celebrate the return of Marple and to discuss her legendary creator Agatha Christie. Enjoy this special episode packed with exclusive readings and expert insights, celebrating the incomparable, enigmatic spirt of Jane Marple and her legendary creator! This event was held at the historic British Library, the national library of the UK, with its unparalleled archive of books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, sounds and websites. All of Christie's first editions are held there and their spirit suffused the evening! Podcast produced and edited by Megan Bay Dorman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadcaster and author Damian Barr on the new series of The Big Scottish Book Club

The writers choose the books they love to read.

Arthur Hughes, known for his roles in The Archers, in which he plays Ruairi, and the BBC2 drama Then Barbara Met Alan, details the significance of his portrayal as Richard III in the new RSC production as a disabled actor. Earlier this month the literary world was shocked by the announcement that after 50 years the Costa Book Awards, formerly the Whitbread, would be no more. What did this announcement mean and how healthy is the outlook for book prizes in the UK? Damian Barr was a judge last year and joins Tom to make a proposal for a new national prize alongside commentator Alex Clark. We Are Invisible We Are Visible is a day of Dada-inspired art works and performances in UK art galleries by deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists. Organiser Mike Layward explains why he wanted to bring Dada and disability together, while performance artist Aaron Williamson and curator and printmaker Mianam Yasmin Bashir Canvin discuss their respective Dadist offerings, the performance Hiding in 3D at the Ikon Gallery Birmingham and This Is Not a Pipe at the Hepworth Wakefield Gallery. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Harry Parker Photo: Ellie Kurttz, RSC

Abi Morgan OBE is the BAFTA and Emmy-winning playwright and screenwriter who created the BBC's rave series The Split, The Iron Lady, Suffragette, The Hour and much more. She shifts from screen to page for her first book This Is Not A Pity Memoir, and we were thrilled to have the world premiere at a very special Literary Salon. Poignant and heart-breaking but resolutely unwilling to rely on sentimental platitudes, Abi's memoir about a tragic change in her family circumstances is a profoundly powerful and perceptive read on love, grief and the eternal promise of hope. Abi joined us at The London Library on 5th May 2022 to share a very powerful reading and conversation with Damian Barr. Not to be missed! Podcast introduced and produced by Megan Bay Dorman Programmed by Matt Casbourne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EXTRA SPECIAL EPISODE ALERT! Enjoy this full-length Literary Salon with Douglas Stuart, hot-off-the-press! Last week we held a very special evening with Douglas in conversation with Damian at an in-person Salon in Brighton - it was an incredible conversation, and we're still thinking about it. So join us as we celebrate Douglas' brilliant new novel 'Young Mungo', the story of two boys, two tribes and two Scotlands. Catholic James and Protestant Mungo live in the violent, macho world of Glasgow's council schemes. They dream of escaping the gangs and the grey, fractured city. Will their dream come true? 'Thanks so much for a wonderful Salon Damian. I could have listened to Douglas all night. Such a tender, interesting and poignant interview.' - Araminta Hall Young Mungo is out now and a definite must-read for 2022. If you'd like to support the Salon podcast and indie bookshops at the same time, you can grab a copy from our shop at bookshop.org (where you can also pick up a copy of Douglas' Booker-winning debut, Shuggie Bain). Podcast introduced, produced and edited by Megan Bay Dorman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Scottish Field podcast this wees chats with an author who had a five-star review in our own pages. This week our guest is John Gerard Fagan. Readers of Scottish Field may recognise his name, as he was the author of the book Fish Town, which received a five-star review in our October edition. Fish Town, which was released through Guts Publishing, tells John's story, having been workinh in factories and call centres or unemployed. Approaching 30 and disillusioned with life in Glasgow, he sold everything heI had and left for a new life in a remote fishing village in Japan. He knew nothing of the language or the strange new land that he would call home for the next seven years. Fish Town is an eye-opening true story that paints the reality of living in Japan as an outsider. This debut memoir, written entirely on his phone, reads like a book of poetry or perhaps a long text message, and captures the experience of a Scottish man living in Japan - with humor, wit and honesty. John appears this Sunday on the Big Scottish Book Club, reading a short extract from the book, as host Damian Barr chats with guests including former Scots Makar Jackie Kay, and the one and only Miriam Margolyes. At the end of the episode, John read a short extract from his book, and now, in this week's Scottish Field podcast, he tells us how the whole book came about, how he enjoyed reading his book in front of Harry Potter and Blackadder star Miriam, and much more. You can buy the latest issue of Scottish Field, priced £4.75. To find out more about how to subscribe, just visit www.scottishfield.co.uk/subscriptions

The December issue of Scottish Field will be appearing in shops any day now, and this week we preview one of the features in it. We look at Dr David Livingstone, the famous Scots explorer. This month marks 150 years since four of the most famous words ever uttered between two people are reputed to have been said - 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?' It was on November 10, 1871, when Scots explorer Livingstone, who had been missing in the deepest depths of Africa for six years, met New York Herald journalist Henry Morton Stanley who, according to legend, greeted the Scotsman with the now legendary phrase. You can read this feature, and much more, in the latest Scottish Field, priced £4.75. To find out more about how to subscribe, just visit www.scottishfield.co.uk/subscriptions We also have a chat with Damian Barr, host of the Big Scottish Book Club, currently airing at 10pm on BBC Scotland on Sundays. Each week, he is joined by three guests to discuss their work, in themed episodes. The show is a must-watch for bibliophiles, and here, we speak with Damian, who was our first guest back on episode one of the podcast talking about BBC Scotland's Shelf Isolation series.

For the fourth episode of The Literary Edit Podcast, I was joined by the divine Damian Barr. Author, broadcaster, and creator and host of the Literary Salon, which started at Shoreditch House in 2008, Damian hosts live literary events worldwide.   You can read about Damian Barr's original list of Desert Island Books here, and the ones we discuss in this episode are:   Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin The Colour Purple by Alice Walker The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell This is Not About Me by Janice Galloway A Scots Dictionary of Nature by Amanda Thomson Scabby Queen by Kirstin Innes The Young Team by Graeme Armstrong   Other books we spoke about included The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, The Third Life of Grange Copeland by Alice Walker, Damian's books, Maggie and Me and You Will be Safe Here and Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart.   If you'd like to buy any of the books we discussed in the episode, please consider doing so from the list I created on Bookshop.org, an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. If you're based in Australia, please consider buying them from Gertrude & Alice. To contact me, email lucy@thelitedit.com   Facebook The Literary Edit   Instagram: @the_litedit @mrdamianbarr @damianbarrliterarysalon   Twitter: @thelitedit @Damian_Barr  

Bibliotherapist and author (with Susan Elderkin) of classic books about books The Novel Cure and The Story Cure, Ella Berthoud's most recent work is The Art of Mindful Reading, a practical guide that promises to help people to read more mindfully, bringing their lives to books and books into their lives equally. As you might expect we have a lot of book recommendations in this show, plus advice on everything from how to keep a successful book journal to what to do when you're not enjoying your book club book – we've all been there. Listen in and learn how to make the very most of your precious reading time, and even find out how to carve out more of it. Book recommendations What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt, The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey, The Pisces by Melissa Broder, Elijah's Mermaid by Essie Fox, The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar, Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towes and There But For The by Ali Smith You can keep up with Ella via her website, ellaberthoud.com and don't miss her themed sessions on Damian Barr's Literary Salon facebook page and her Instagram and YouTube channels. And if you're in need of a literary makeover or have something you want to work through in your life you can sign up for a bibliotherapy session at the School of Life website. • sign up for our weekly newsletter here • Follow us on Instagram  • Follow us on Facebook • Follow us on Twitter • Check out our website

‘Life is just a party, and parties weren’t meant to last.’ The post-punk protagonists of Andrew O’Hagan’s Mayflies would probably describe the lyrics of Prince’s hit pop song 1999 as ‘Yankee pish,’ but O’Hagan’s novel catches exactly the mood of the song. The ephemeral nature of life, burning brightly and then so soon extinguished, lies at the heart of this soulful story of two lads from small-town Scotland. Tully and James are growing up in Irvine, steeped in the music of the Fire Engines, the Fall and the poetry of John Cooper Clarke. Together they rush towards the climax of their youth in an unforgettable, friendship-defining weekend in Manchester. Thirty years later, Tully calls his old pal with some troubling news. The fine grain of working-class teenagers’s lives; the blether, the binge-drinking and nights on the pull: Mayflies sees Andrew O’Hagan in scintillating, heartbreakingly good form. He talks with fellow Scottish writer, columnist and doyen of the literary salon, Damian Barr in this event recorded live at the 2020 Book Festival.

In the first episode of Scottish Field's podcast, web editor Kenny Smith and writer Stephanie Abbot look through the April 2021 edition of the magazine, picking out their highlights. Steph also shares her experiences of wild swimming, which feature in the print edition. Later, Kenny is joined by Damian Barr, the host of BBC Scotland's Shelf Isolation, to discuss the second run of the series, as well as his highlights from the first.

In the words of the Kirkus review: ‘You will never forget Shuggie Bain. Scene by scene, this book is a masterpiece.’ This astonishing debut is a powerful and heartbreaking story about the love between a boy and his mother, about poverty and addiction, about Thatcher’s Glasgow, about sexuality, coming of age and finding one’s way. Roaming through public housing, wandering in and out of pubs and neighbourhoods, it asks how we might protect those we love most of all, and at what cost. Hugh ‘Shuggie’ Bain and his mother Agnes are two of the great characters of literature and in this event recorded live at the 2020 Book Festival, their creator, Douglas Stuart, answers your questions after a conversation with author Damian Barr. Inviting comparisons to the works of Alan Hollinghurst, Frank McCourt, and Hanya Yanagihara, you will not finish it unscathed, and you will not forget Shuggie Bain.

For natural extrovert Damian Barr, lockdown has presented a new set of challenges. Without being able to enjoy unplanned, unscheduled interactions and the layers of connection we have in our normal life, he's had to learn how to live in the present and slow down. In this brilliantly insightful and honest chat, we speak to Damian about how he has coped with the past year, and how, having lived through the Aids pandemic of the 80s and 90s, and survived a traumatic childhood, he was unusually well equipped to deal with the immediate emergencies thrown at us by Covid. Damian also opens up about his experience of online bullying on social media last summer – and how a forced break from digital platforms has led him to entirely reassess his relationship with social media, consider what he puts online and also rediscover a love of speaking on the phone. He also talks about why he's gone back into therapy and how he's approaching 2021 (it's about dreams, not plans). Thanks so much to Damian for talking to us – we hope you enjoy it. Damian's next Literary Salon Live featuring Russell T Davies and Ruth Coker Burks is February 18th https://www.theliterarysalon.co.uk/get-tickets Damian's book You Will Be Safe Here is available in paperback now: https://www.waterstones.com/book/you-will-be-safe-here/damian-barr/9781408886052 The second series of the Big Scottish Book Club is on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000bc3j/the-big-scottish-book-club How to Cope is hosted by writer Becky Howard and psychotherapist Lucy Clyde. You can follow us on Twitter @_beckyhoward @lucysclyde @cope_podcastThank you so much for listening. Please like, subscribe and share, it makes a real difference and we really appreciate it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tri (@elasmotri) and Jazz (@Elasmo_Gal) recap the emotional rollercoaster that was 2020 and discuss recent events. We referenced Michael Che's stand-up on Black Lives Matter on this episode and we definitely recommend checking that out! We also reference a quote that pretty much sums up 2020: "We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm. Some of us are on super-yachts. Some have just the one oar." -Damian Barr. You can read Barr's full poem here. If you enjoyed the episode please support us by donating, following us on Twitter or sharing our podcast with your friends!

2020 provides some useful takeaways for dealing with conflict effectively.This year has been full of challenges and many are happy to put it behind them. As we turn the page, we can benefit from remembering a few lessons. First, many individuals reached across differences to help each other – these successes can be lost in the scope of the challenges. Second, when grappling with the issue of racial inequality – and other issues, too – we do well to remember that we are all individuals, and worthy persons. Third, as Damian Barr stated, we are in the same storm, but not the same boat. We all have different experiences, which shape our perspectives. Respecting those differences allows us to handle them better.Finally, many thanks to my listeners, guests, and fellow podcasters. One guarantee for 2021: conflict will be a part of life. And, we can get better at dealing with it well.Do you have comments or suggestions about a topic or guest? An idea or question about conflict management or conflict resolution? Let me know at jb@dovetailresolutions.com! And you can learn more about me and my work as a mediator and a Certified CINERGY® Conflict Coach at www.dovetailresolutions.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/janebeddall/.Enjoy the show on your favorite podcast app or on the podcast website: https://craftingsolutionstoconflict.com/And you can follow us on Twitter @conflictsolving.  

The holiday season can be challenging for many in the LGBTQ+ community, especially those who may be ostracised from their families. Adding to this stress, the pandemic gave us quarantines, social-distancing, and mask mandates. British writer Damian Barr wrote "We are not all in the same boat. We are in the same storm. Some have super-yachts. Some have just one oar." Equally of concern is the difference we all have in coping abilities. In this episode, licensed professional counselor Dede Norungolo shares how she and her family are dealing with the new realities of COVID holidays, and she shares some excellent coping tips and strategies. Thanks for listing to This Week in Gay.  #Pride48

Douglas Stuart has just won The 2020 Booker Prize for his incredible debut novel 'Shuggie Bain', so to celebrate we're releasing the never-published-before Literary Salon we held with Douglas in June! In a special private event Douglas joined us online all the way from New York, along with viewers from around the world, and treated us to the very first UK reading from Shuggie Bain. Listen in to enjoy his reading and a heartfelt, honest, humorous and thought-provoking interview about the book that was 12 years in the making. Shuggie Bain is the unforgettable story of a sweet and lonely boy who spends his 1980s childhood in the run-down public housing of Glasgow. Shuggie's mother, Agnes, walks a wayward path: she's Shuggie's guiding light but also a burden as she finds increasing solace in drink, draining away the lion's share of each week's benefits. Shuggie is meanwhile struggling to somehow become the normal boy he desperately longs to be as it becomes evident he's hiding a secret. A story of addiction, sexuality, and love, Shuggie Bain is an epic portrayal of a working-class family rarely seen in fiction. We’ve been behind Shuggie Bain since we received an early proof and we couldn't be more delighted for Douglas, who adds the Booker to a long list of awards and accolades for his debut. To hear another longer reading Douglas gave us exclusively for our podcast before publication, click here or search our podcast listings from June 2020. Podcast produced and edited by Megan Bay Dorman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the latest podcast Ali caught up with writer and presenter Damian Barr to talk all about the second series of The Big Scottish Book Club which airs on BBC Scotland this Sunday (25th). It's a welcome return to one of the all too few TV shows which unashamedly celebrates and discusses all aspects of the book world and those who love it, and it's great to get such an informed and personal insight into the show, and hear who Damian has lined up to appear this time round. If you love books, and I know you do, then this podcast, like The Big Scottish Book Club itself, is an absolute must.

We’re all in a global pandemic, but we aren’t all in the same situation.Damian Barr’s poem is full of wisdom:I heard that we are in the same boat. But it's not that.We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.Your ship can be shipwrecked and mine might not be.Or vice versa.For some, quarantine in optimal: a moment of reflection, or reconnection.Easy, in flip flops, with a whiskey or tea.For others, this is a desperate crisis.For others, it is facing loneliness.For some, peace, rest time, vacation.Yet for others, Torture: How am I going to pay muy bills?Some were concerned about a brand of chocolate for Easter (this year there were no rich chocolates).Others were concerned about the bread for the weekend, or if the noodles would last for a few more days.Some were in their "home office".Others are looking through trash to survive.Some want to go back to work because they are running out of money.Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.Some need to break the quarantine to stand in line at the banks.Others to escape.Others criticize the government for the lines.Some have experienced the near-death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it, and some believe they are infallible and will be blown away if or when this hits someone they know.Some have faith in God and expect miracles during 2020. Others say the worse is yet to come. So, friends, we are not in the same boat.We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different. And each one will emerge, in his own way, from that storm.It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, more than looking, seeing.See beyond the political party, beyond biases, beyond the nose on your face. Do not judge the good life of the other, do not condemn the bad life of the other.Don't be a judge.Let us not judge the one who lacks, as well as the one who exceeds him. We are on different ships looking to survive. Let everyone navigate their route with respect, empathy and responsibility. Do you have comments or suggestions about a topic or guest? An idea or question about conflict management or conflict resolution? Let me know at jb@dovetailresolutions.com! And you can learn more about me and my work as a mediator and a Certified CINERGY® Conflict Coach at www.dovetailresolutions.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/janebeddall/.Enjoy the show on your favorite podcast app or on the podcast website: https://craftingsolutionstoconflict.com/  And you can follow us on Twitter @conflictsolving.  

In this episode Janine has the pleasure of chatting to author Ber Carroll about her latest thriller Who We Were - a story that will make you think twice about attending your school reunion! Sue shares a lovely review of the 2020 Miles Franklin award winning novel The Yield, by Tara June Winch. Our staff have been loving biographies this month - in case you are looking for two true stories to get you started - Lynda reviews Magda Szubanski's Reckoning and Carol enjoys Damian Barr's Maggie and Me. Finally our local Casey Cardinia Libraries Historian, Heather shares her passion for uncovering the past and where to get started when it comes to family history.

Lockdown Mental Health British Literary Shenanigans with Baroness Nicholson, Damian Barr, and Janice Turner JK Rowling Hamilton Vaccine Good News Follow us at @culturescast, and our hosts on Twitter at @adrianhon @naomialderman @andrhia We're on Mastodon at @adrianhon@mastodon.social @naomialderman@mastodon.social @andrhia@wandering.shop

An exclusive treat for our Salonistas: get ready for a sneak peek of SJ Watson’s phenomenal new thriller, Final Cut! SJ continues to push the boundaries of the psychological thriller genre he's celebrated for reinvigorating with his first novel, international bestseller (and film) Before I Go To Sleep. In this new book we meet award-winning documentarian Alex, who's looking for a location to base her next film she receives an anonymous postcard urging her to choose Blackwood Bay. It isn’t long before she discovers the village is home to a string of disappearances and the apparent suicide of a young girl. Compelled to learn more, she travels to the village to find more than she bargained for. What secrets lie in the murky waters of Blackwood Bay, and what darkness will Alex find when her probing questions disturb the seemingly placid surface of village life?   Final Cut is published by Doubleday and available on 6th August 2020 (UK) in all good bookshops. SJ Watson is also our Salon Live Online guest on 7th August! Click the Eventbrite link below for tickets to join him and Damian Barr for a thrilling conversation online:   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/salon-live-online-sj-watson-with-damian-barr-tickets-110865269004 Podcast produced and edited by Megan Bay Dorman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"We are not all in the same boat. We are all in the same storm." - Damian Barr   Share your words with us, send your letters, stories and wisdom to podcast@heatherchauvin.com

A live session from #JaipurLitFest2020. Elizabeth Gilbert, Leila Slimani, Avni Doshi, John Lanchester and Howard Jacobson in conversation with Damian Barr.

Damian Barr is an award-winning writer and columnist. Maggie & Me, his memoir about coming of age and coming out in Thatcher's Britain, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and Sunday Times Memoir of the Year, and won the Paddy Power Political Books 'Satire' Award and Stonewall Writer of the Year Award. Damian writes columns for the Big Issue and High Life and often appears on BBC Radio 4. He is creator and host of his own Literary Salon that premieres work from established and emerging writers. His debut novel You Will Be Safe Here is out now in paperback. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fine Music Radio — Beverley Roos-Muller gave considerable thought to her choice of books this month, and has even themed her contribution. No prizes for guessing the topical theme, but there may well be a prize for listening closely to her reviews of The Body: a guide for occupants, by Bill Bryson and Plague, Pox and Pandemics by Howard Phillips. Vanessa Levenstein was duly impressed by Chanel Miller’s Know my name, the memoir of the woman previously known as Emily Doe, who was at the centre of a much publicized rape case in the US. Melvyn Minnaar highly recommends Apeirogon by Colm McCann which he describes as “truly uplifting”, giving “hope amid our and all division”, while Penny Lorimer provides our monthly dose of thrillers with Blood Will Be Born by Gary Donnelly and Three hours by Rosamund Lupton. John Hanks gives his sweeping view of Birds of Southern Africa and their tracks and signs, by Lee Gutteridge, and Beryl Eichenberger stays with flying things but takes us across continents with The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. Prepare to fasten your seat belts for Philp Todres’ interview with Damian Barr as they discuss the author’s latest novel You will be safe here. Philip calls it a “rough but riveting ride”, that transports the reader back to Boer War era South Africa. Lesley Beake brings to the table her inspired choice for younger readers, both Tiger themed: The tiger who came to tea, written and illustrated by Judith Kerr, republished in 2018, and Tiger Walk by Dianne Hofmeyr, illustrated by Jesse Hodgson.

Beverley Roos-Muller gave considerable thought to her choice of books this month, and has even themed her contribution. No prizes for guessing the topical theme, but there may well be a prize for listening closely to her reviews of The Body: a guide for occupants, by Bill Bryson and Plague, Pox and Pandemics by Howard Phillips. Vanessa Levenstein was duly impressed by Chanel Miller's Know my name, the memoir of the woman previously known as Emily Doe, who was at the centre of a much publicized rape case in the US. Melvyn Minnaar highly recommends Apeirogon by Colm McCann which he describes as “truly uplifting”, giving “hope amid our and all division”, while Penny Lorimer provides our monthly dose of thrillers with Blood Will Be Born by Gary Donnelly and Three hours by Rosamund Lupton. John Hanks gives his sweeping view of Birds of Southern Africa and their tracks and signs, by Lee Gutteridge, and Beryl Eichenberger stays with flying things but takes us across continents with The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri. Prepare to fasten your seat belts for Philp Todres' interview with Damian Barr as they discuss the author's latest novel You will be safe here. Philip calls it a “rough but riveting ride”, that transports the reader back to Boer War era South Africa. Lesley Beake brings to the table her inspired choice for younger readers, both Tiger themed: The tiger who came to tea, written and illustrated by Judith Kerr, republished in 2018, and Tiger Walk by Dianne Hofmeyr, illustrated by Jesse Hodgson.

In celebration of its paperback release, Damian Barr gives an exclusive new reading for Salonistas from his debut novel, You Will Be Safe Here. The book is a powerful and urgent novel of two connected South African stories, exploring how the past influences the present and what choices we have - or not - in influencing our destiny. Listen in for news about the paperback - released in the UK April 2nd 2020 - and for a beautiful new reading from a particularly tender scene in the book. You Will Be Safe Here is published by Bloomsbury and will be available in paperback in the UK from 2nd April 2020. Available to pre-order now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mishal Husain presents pieces by writers and journalists across the UK presenting portraits of life today. Garry Owen of BBC Radio Cymru visits Llanelli and Hospital Notes - an amateur choir there comprising hospital and care workers and members of the emergency services. He discovers how its members de-compress at times of stress - when social distancing restrictions permit it - and what benefits they derive from singing together. The writer, Damian Barr, author of the Radio 4 Books of the Week, "Maggie & Me" and "You Will Be Safe Here", takes us to north Lanarkshire and the South Downs in his quest for glow worms. His search is part journey of discovery and part self-revelation. Along the way, he explains the enduring appeal of these elusive insects at this - or, indeed - any time. Andrew Green has journeyed around England in search of the special memorials which are stained glass windows in parish churches commemorating the Fallen of the Great War. From Cornwall to Suffolk, Leicestershire to Devon, he has been speaking with those entrusted with the care of both old and new windows and has heard why they matter so much to local communities. The Edwardian bandstand in the West Yorkshire town of Todmorden is sadly neglected. But, as Andy Kershaw has been discovering, there are plans afoot from local campaigners to restore it. Might they, though, be defeated by local bureaucracy or will this rare structure come to enjoy a new lease of life over a hundred years after it first came into use? And the poet and broadcaster, Ian McMillan, considers how we mark out our lives. For him, it's the regular visit to the same place for a ritual that’s barely altered over the decades. But if the location hasn’t changed the people certainly have… Producer: Simon Coates

Anna and Amanda discuss how you can support your local bookstores during the COVID-19 shutdown - including Annie's store Mostly Books and ordering online via Hive in the UK. Our book of the week is You Will Be Safe Here by Damian Barr, host of the fabulous Literary Salon  and The Big Scottish Book Club.  This is a novel set in South Africa during the Second Boer War and modern times, when Willem aged 16 is sent to a training camp to 'turn boys into men'. An Observer, Guardian and Financial Times book of the year and a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime, we loved this one.  Next week, Anna and Annie will be reading Weather by Jenny Offill. Follow us! Email: Booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Books On The Go Instagram: @abailliekaras and @amandalhayes99 Twitter: @abailliekaras LItsy: @abailliekaras Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

Damian Barr reads his piece from this brand new collection edited by Val McDermid and Jo Sharp. Imagine A Country: Ideas for a Better Future offers visions of a new future from an astonishing array of Scottish voices, from comedians to economists, writers to musicians. Featuring Ali Smith, Alan Cumming, Kerry Hudson, Jackie Kay, Louise Welsh and many more. Royalties will be split among five Scottish charities: Shelter Scotland, Scottish Women’s Aid, Scottish Book Trust, Refuweegee and Reforesting Scotland. Imagine A Country was published on 19th March 2020 by Canongate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Damian Barr is a British writer, columnist, playwright, radio presenter and more.Damian's 2013 book Maggie and Me was awarded The Political Humour and Satire Book of the Year, the Sunday Times Memoir of the Year, and Stonewall Writer of the Year, and his latest novel had already been hailed as the “Book of the Year” by several leading British and Irish newspapers.Other useful links================Youtubehttps://goo.gl/uLs7j5Spotifyhttps://goo.gl/zYQUhCiTuneshttps://goo.gl/rMFT7FStitcherhttps://goo.gl/GQkfpS

Georgina Godwin meets Damian Barr, accoladed writer and columnist who revived the Savoy Hotel’s writer-in-residence programme. Together they interview Aminatta Forna, the award-winning Scottish and Sierra Leonean author and one of the Savoy’s two writers-in-residence for 2020.

Anna is joined by special guest Jo Dyer, director of Adelaide Writers' Week.  Anna and Jo discuss the authors coming to Writers' Week from 29 February to 5 March 2020.  Some highlights include Jokha Alharthi, Julia Phillips, Damian Barr and Pitchaya Sudbunthad.  Our book of the week is The Weekend by Charlotte Wood, the follow-up to her much-awarded The Natural Way of Things.  It's the  story of three women who clear out the house of their friend who has died.  Worthy of its rave reviews, lots to discuss and we haven't stopped thinking about this one. Next week, Anna, Annie and Amanda will do our Summer Reading Recommendations and Best Books of 2019. Follow us! Facebook: Books On The Go Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras Litsy: @abailliekaras Twitter: @abailliekaras

Bonus interviews and book recommendation from novelists Damian Barr, Andrea Goldsmith, Simon Cleary and Emma Ashmere and poet and filmmaker Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Novelists Emma Ashmere and Simon Cleary join Kate and Cassie to discuss new fiction by Damian Barr, Chip Cheek and Alex Landrigan; and Damian Barr himself comes along to talk about the books that have shaped him

An exclusive interview with author and journalist, Damian Barr about his first novel “You Will be Safe Here”, following on from his hugely successful memoir, “Maggie and Me”.

What to expect from Episode 5 Hosted by acclaimed author Cathy Rentzenbrink, the fifth edition of The Bookseller Podcast features an exclusive interview with author and journalist, Damian Barr about his first novel “You Will be Safe Here”, following on from his hugely successful memoir, “Maggie and Me”. The Bookseller editor, Philip Jones shares the much anticipated “Nibbies” shortlist, ahead of The British Book Awards on 13th May, which celebrates the stars of the bookselling and publishing trade. Tom Tivnan, managing editor, discusses the biggest fiction and non-fiction hits to be published in April, including a very special 50th anniversary edition of the children's classic “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle, with an afterword written by Dolly Parton. Hear what The Book Doctors – two of the British Isles' best indie bookshops – recommend for readers from up and down the country. This episode it's Henry Layte from The Book Hive in Norwich and Carrie Morris from Booka in Oswestry. As BookGig is now part of The Bookseller family, we recommend the very best book and author events coming up this month, across the UK. And playing us out – an extract from “The Confessions of Frannie Langton” written and read by Sara Collins. The Bookseller Podcast is a Heavy Entertainment Production

Writer, salon leader, & literary ambassador for the Savoy, Damian Barr talks about the power of stories, how he chooses his creative projects and how to write a memoir Recorded in a suite at the Savoy Hotel itself on The Strand in London. Join us on a fascinating, fun and emotional journey into the world of writing & books with Damian Barr; author, salon leader and Literary Ambassador to the Savoy Hotel in London. From finding meaning in childhood memoirs to curating inspirational literary salons across the world, Damian shares his thoughts and insights on how he continues to follow his passions and write acclaimed books. Episode Highlights: "You want to feel like you're in conversation with that book, with an idea. Otherwise, you're just being shouted at."  "...A hotel is supposed to be a home from home, and you can't live at home without books." "...Do you really think Charles Dickens would have written all those books if he had Netflix and Twitter?" "...You have to leave space for the reader. I think it's really important when you're telling a story to leave space for the reader." "...You need to stop looking at Twitter, and you need to be there for your book and it involves saying no to all kinds of temptations in the world." "...You can't be that aggressive in fiction or creative non-fiction. You have to let readers think, "actually I like this person or I don't like this person, or I think this happened, or I think that happened". You need to be a bit equivocal. I'm interested in doubt, right? People who are very certain, I find scary." "[On the homophobic section 28 legislation of the 1980s]...Some people struggle to learn maths, homosexuality is a much more advanced skill." "...Stories are my life. What am I without them? I don't want to live without them and I don't want other people to live without them. That's kind of my guiding mission." "...Build in time for spontaneity. But I think that you do need to create these spaces otherwise time just gets used up." "...You've got to make people feel valued, you've got to listen when they're telling you that you're getting something wrong, you've got to listen when they say to you this is what you want for me or I want for me." Bio: Damian Barr FRSA is an award-winning writer, columnist, presenter and playwright and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is currently the Literary Ambassador for The Savoy Hotel in London and also hosts The Literary Salon. Topics covered: Why the Savoy wanted a Literary Ambassador and what it means to be one The key to the success for the Literary Salon. The power of the podcast. How to sign a colostomy bag at a book launch! The benefits of being an independent organisation. Damian's memoir ‘Maggie and Me' - hard truths and how they bring us together. Advice on writing a memoir. The blur between fiction and non-fiction. The origins of his latest book - “You Will Be Safe Here”. A chance meeting with Gerry Adams How Damian got into a good-natured disagreement about cheese with the New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. So many projects! How to choose what to invest your time and energy into. The importance of planned spontaneity. The power of partnerships and being social Just. Listen. More.   Get full references, links, videos clips and more in the shownotes here     Music provided by Argofox: TheDiabolicalWaffle - My Wish https://youtu.be/sRWEMjYR6e4

Karen Krizanovich explains the appeal of three of the biggest recent hit TV releases still provoking discussion: Bird Box and Sex Education on Netflix, and Bros: After the Screaming Stops on BBC iPlayer.The contemporary video artist Bill Viola has been paired with the Renaissance master Michelangelo in the Royal Academy's new exhibition, Bill Viola/Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth. It sets out to show the preoccupation of both artists with the nature of human experience and existence. Critic Waldemar Januszczak gives his response to the exhibition and its thesis.The Art Fund, the charity that raises money to acquire art for the nation, has revealed that it is to disband its volunteer network by the end of the year. Its director Stephen Deuchar explains the decision.The death has been announced of the great literary editor and writer Diana Athill. She worked with many celebrated authors including Jean Rhys, Molly Keane and VS Naipaul. In recent decades she became known as a brilliant and unsentimental writer of memoir. The writer Damian Barr was a close friend, and reflects on Athill's life and work.Presenter: Stig Abell Producer: Edwina PitmanMain image: Bros

As public services come under increasing pressure from government cuts the demand for documentaries about them is reflected in the number of programmes on TV. Last week, ITV's Inside London Fire Brigade featured previously unheard accounts of fire fighters from inside Grenfell Tower. In the same week, Channel 4's 24 hours in A&E returned for its 13th series, alongside 999 What's Your Emergency which is in its fourth; earlier in July, the second series of Hospital was screened on BBC Two. TV executives Simon Dickson and Ed Coulthard discuss why programmes about public services are so popular and what is involved in turning hours of documentary material into compulsive viewing. Writer Damian Barr champions Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City novels for Front Row's Queer Icons series.Sally Hawkins stars as Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, in new biopic Maudie. The actress discusses Maud's remarkable life in a remote part of Nova Scotia living in very basic conditions while suffering from juvenile arthritis, her unlikely romance with local fisherman Everett Lewis played by Ethan Hawke in the film, and Maud's joyful spirit that comes through in her paintings. Josette Bushell-Mingo talks about her one-woman show 'Nina - a Story about Me and Nina Simone' in which she explores Nina Simone's musical and political influence not only on the young Josette but on the American civil rights movement of the 1960s and onwards. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Jack Soper.

Aasmah Mir and Richard Coles with a programme from Glasgow to celebrate the Commonwealth Games. They are joined by record-breaking long-distance Scottish cyclist, adventurer, broadcaster and Queens Baton bearer Mark Beaumont.Sir Professor Geoff Palmer came to Britain from Jamaica aged 14. Described as educationally sub-normal is he now an expert in cereals and Professor Emeritus of brewing at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. He was the first black Professor in Scotland and is a prominent anti-racism campaigner.We meet the former class mates who campaigned for a fairer deal for asylum seekers in the city.And live music from Dave and the Turtles, three school friends who have just won the Big Big Sing Commonwealth songwriting competition. They perform 'Life's a game' for us.Louise Martin is the chair of sportscotland and credited with bringing the Games to Glasgow and shares her Inheritance Tracks with us. She has chosen 500 miles by The Proclaimers and the theme of the Glasgow bid The Road to Home by Amy MacdonaldDavid Watson has spent the last 10 years mapping the Masai Marra Game Reserve after getting lost there in 1999. And more of your one way ticket stories. We meet Hamish Khayat and friends who booked a one way ticket to Australia. They are currently en route on their way back....in a rowing boat mid-Indian Ocean.Author and journalist Damian Barr gives thanks to his anonymous benefactor for the impact they've had on his career. Damian Barr's book 'Maggie And Me' is out now.Plus poetry from Sierra Leone, Gibraltar and Nauru.Produced by Alex Lewis.