Podcasts about emirates airline festival

The scariest thing isn't change, it's never changing at all. So why do we resist it?   Najwa Zebian – poet, author, and advocate – has built a global following by confronting life's hardest truths:   Why we stay in toxic relationships,  Why walking away feels impossible, and Why we struggle to truly own our worth.   In this episode, she opens up about loss, identity, and rebuilding life on her own terms. If you've ever felt trapped or afraid to move forward, this conversation will change the way you see yourself, and your future.   A special thank you to the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for making this interview possible. 14:23 – The emotional traps that keep people stuck 20:30 – The struggle of showing up as your real self 26:40 – Navigating life between two cultures 31:11 – Forgiveness is a constant commitment   Show Sponsors: Allsopp & Allsopp: Redefining real estate, through cutting-edge technology and setting new standards for seamless, elevated customer experience. Keep moving with Allsopp & Allsopp.https://bit.ly/Allsopp-and-Allsopp  AYS Developers: A design-focused company dedicated to crafting exceptional homes, vibrant communities, and inspiring lifestyle experiences. https://bit.ly/AYS-Developers    Socials: Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/  Follow Najwa Zebian on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/najwazebian/ https://www.facebook.com/najwazebian1/ https://www.youtube.com/najwazebian https://www.tiktok.com/@najwazebian

Who do you trust when the media is constantly under fire?   Hala Gorani has spent decades reporting from the frontlines – covering wars, breaking global news, and shaping how the world understands current events. Now, the legendary journalist and war correspondent is pulling back the curtain on what really happens behind the headlines.    From the mental toll of conflict reporting to the hard truths about bias, misinformation, and the future of news, Hala doesn't hold back.   Think you know how the media works? This episode will open your eyes to what it really takes to separate fact from fiction in a world drowning in misinformation.   A special thank you to the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for making this interview possible. 25:05 – The pressure to get it right33:03 – Career-defining moments35:57 – From journalist to author Show Sponsors: Allsopp & Allsopp: Redefining real estate, through cutting-edge technology and setting new standards for seamless, elevated customer experience. Keep moving with Allsopp & Allsopp.https://bit.ly/Allsopp-and-Allsopp  AYS Developers: A design-focused company dedicated to crafting exceptional homes, vibrant communities, and inspiring lifestyle experiences. https://bit.ly/AYS-Developers   Socials:   Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/    Follow Hala Gorani on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/hgorani/ https://www.facebook.com/halagoraniCNN/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hala-gorani-959a71246/?originalSubdomain=uk https://x.com/HalaGorani

Why do we never feel good enough, no matter how much we achieve? Dr Jessamy Hibberd, a clinical psychologist, author, and expert in mental resilience, breaks down the hard truths about success, trauma, and self-doubt, and why even the most accomplished people feel like imposters. She reveals why our brains are wired to focus on the negatives, how social media is warping our perception of reality, and why we're all caught in a trap of never feeling good enough. This episode is packed with powerful, science-backed tools to rewire your thinking. Stop undermining yourself, and take back control. A special thank you to the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for making this interview possible. 12:29 – How social media is shaping our mental health18:06 – Real support vs corporate tick-box wellness39:11 – Suicide, pressure and perfectionism Show Sponsors: Allsopp & Allsopp: Redefining real estate, through cutting-edge technology and setting new standards for seamless, elevated customer experience. Keep moving with Allsopp & Allsopp.https://bit.ly/Allsopp-and-Allsopp Socials: Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/  Follow Dr Jessamy Hibberd on Social Mediahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jessamy-hibberd-82a09a55/ https://www.instagram.com/drjessamy/

Is your memory a reliable record of the past? Or a story your brain keeps rewriting?   Leading neuroscientist Dr Charan Ranganath, aka The Memory Doc, joins us on Unscripted With Spencer Lodge, to reveal how our brains store, distort, and reshape our memories.   From false memories to the way trauma, depression, and even psychedelics impact what we recall, Dr Ranganath breaks it all down in a way that just makes sense.   And here's a big one: AI might be smart, but does it actually “remember” the way we do? Dr Ranganath reveals the surprising truth – and what it means for the future of technology, decision-making, and even our identities.   Have a listen; this one's fascinating!   A special thank you to the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for making this interview possible.    10:45 – The nature of memory 22:39 – How mental health impacts the way we think and remember 28:25 – Transforming trauma  42:12 – Psychedelics and memory 49:15 – The nostalgia trap 1:00:03 – Why AI will never remember like we do   Show Sponsors: Allsopp & Allsopp: Redefining real estate, through cutting-edge technology and setting new standards for seamless, elevated customer experience. Keep moving with Allsopp & Allsopp.https://bit.ly/Allsopp-and-Allsopp Socials: Follow Spencer Lodge on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/spencer.lodge/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@spencer.lodge https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerlodge/ https://www.youtube.com/c/SpencerLodgeTV https://www.facebook.com/spencerlodgeofficial/  Follow Dr. Charan Ranganath on Social Mediahttps://www.instagram.com/thememorydoc/?hl=en https://x.com/charanranganath?lang=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/charan-ranganath-1a1aa41bb/

Celebrating 100 episodes of this podcast, Charlie is Joined by Liz Fenwick, Emma Cowell, Ronali Collings, and Tammye Huf, for a general bookish chat. We start off with an excellent conversation on the industry's use of 'women's fiction' when the genderless 'commerical fiction' would do very well. Please note there is one use of 'damn' in this episode. A transcript is available on my site General references: Leonard Cohen's Bird On A Wire The 'Women in Love' panel Liz was on was part of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2015 The Constant Gardener (film) Desert Island Discs Escape To The Country Books mentioned by name or extensively: Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre Elissa Soave: Ginger And Me Emily Brontë: Wuthering Heights Emma Cowell: One Last Letter From Greece Emma Cowell: the House In The Olive Grove Emma Cowell: The Island Love Song John Le Carré: The Constant Gardener Kate Atkinson: Life After Life Liz Fenwick: One Cornish Summer Liz Fenwick: The Secret Shore Paul Auster: The Brooklyn Follies Paul Auster: The New York Trilogy Ronali Collings: All The Single Ladies Sarah Winman: A Year Of Marvellous Ways Tammye Huf: A More Perfect Union Buy the books: UK || USA Release details: recorded 6th May 2024; published 5th August 2024 Where to find Liz online: Website || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram || TikTok Where to find Emma online: Website || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram Where to find Ronali online: Website || Twitter || Instagram Where to find Tammye online: Website || Twitter || Instagram Where to find Charlie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok Discussions 04:02 What is your genre? (The authors discuss labels in terms of gender expectations and marketing in this vein.) 08:25 How do you books do overseas? 10:40 If you wrote in another genre, which would it be? 15:14 If your book was turned into a film or TV show, who would you want cast in it? 20:33 If you could've written someone else's book, whose would you choose? (Some interesting discussions on individual writing styles here.) 26:01 What is the best fan or reader encounter you've had? 31:50 What do you wish you'd known before you became a published author? (Turns into a longer conversation about the difficulty of writing to a deadline.) 41:28 Can you remember any particularly interesting fact that you discovered in your research that couldn't be included in the book? 44:54 Tell us about what you're currently writing Disclosure: If you buy books linked to my site, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops

Francis Kong is a renowned Filipino motivational speaker, author, and businessman. He is well-known for his seminars, workshops, and talks on leadership, personal development, and entrepreneurship. Kong has authored several books on topics such as leadership, success, and personal growth, which have garnered widespread acclaim in the Philippines and beyond. He is highly regarded for his insightful perspectives, practical advice, and engaging speaking style. Kong is considered a prominent figure in the field of personal and professional development in the Philippines. This episode was filmed during The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in February 2024. Instagram - @EmiratesLitFest https://www.instagram.com/emirateslitfest/ #hikmatwehbi#francisjkong#podcast #arabicpodcast#hikmatwehbipodcast #wstudiodxb حكمت_وهبي# حكمت_وهبي_بودكاست#

Thomas Erikson is a behaviourist and the bestselling author of the Surrounded by- series about human behaviours. His mission is to make people's lives easier by making them more aware of themselves and help people to a better understanding of what it takes to achieve the best possible communication. Thomas was writing for twenty years before finally getting published. Being an author was his dream in life, so he never gave up. Instead he tested new ideas, tweaked his writing style, learned new skills, asked professionals, worked from 03.00 in the morning for years. No one really believed in his writing ambitions, so he had to believe in himself. Nowadays Thomas is Sweden's most translated author still active. He has until today published twelve books – half fiction and half non-fiction – and he will continue to write as long as he breaths. He lives by the simple but useful quote: You can't change somebody else, but you can change yourself. This episode was filmed during The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in February 2024. #hikmatwehbi#ThomasErikson#podcast #arabicpodcast#hikmatwehbipodcast #wstudiodxb حكمت_وهبي# حكمت_وهبي_بودكاست#

Benedict Allen is an explorer, adventurer, author and television presenter who finds himself in Dubai for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature with sessions on both Feb 4th and 5th.   He tells Sonal about his expedition style that centers around immersing himself first with the local, indigenous people where he learns certain tools to survive, before setting off on a solo journey, without back up - so no phones, and no GPS through places like the Amazon rainforest, the Gobi desert, and the Arctic.  It's a style that has landed him in some pretty life threatening situations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Cox talks candidly to Chris, Sonal and Robbie about his life in acting, Succession, Logan Roy and what he really thinks of Mel Gibson's turn in Braveheart. He is heading to Dubai to promote his autobiography Putting The Rabbit In The Hat during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Karen Osman shares how her passion for thrilling storytelling led her to publishing an array of bestselling crime thrillers. From her journey in writing to what it took to become a successful author, she dives deep into it all. She talks about all the diverse experiences she had from travelling extensively, teaching and working in sales & marketing space, which led her to recognize her passion for writing and publishing her novels. She is on a path to help other authors develop their writing skills by inspiring them through her own creative writing process. Karen Osman is a best-selling novelist and writing coach. She won an award at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature for her first crime-thriller novel, The Good Mother. Since then, The Good Mother and her second novel, The Home were both number one bestsellers.​ Karen launched her signature online writing course, Kick Start Your Book with Karen, designed for budding authors to help write their books. The course also offers a six-month one-to-one coaching programme. She also has a book club by the name Karen's Book Club, a free online book club where she shares reading recommendations, giveaways, and a behind-the-scenes look into her author life.

We discuss Italy's re-election of Sergio Mattarella as president and discuss Imran Khan's visit to Beijing. Plus: the latest music news and a check-in from the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championship, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and much more. #DubaiTourism #DubaiCalendar #liveentertainment #TennisChampionship #FestivalofLiterature #AtifAslam #DubaiWorldCup #UAETour #SpinneysDubai92CycleChallenge #ArtDubai #BoatShow #WorldArtDubai #SawwahHologramExperience #BillBailey #TheSoundofBond #FlamencoPassion #concert #hozpitality https://www.hozpitality.com/Dubaitourism/read-article/dubai-to-welcome-a-spectacular-line-up-of-events-and-live-entertainment-in-february-and-march-2022-6587.html

Author Ben Bailey Smith on fame, reading, cancel culture and writing books for toddlers: known by his alias Doc Brown, he's an acclaimed actor, rapper, comedian, and screenwriter, and creator of the BAFTA-nominated CBBC comedy 4O'Clock Club.  Ben is a guest speaker at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. His children's books include I Am Bear and Bear Moves, and he has recently published his first solo fiction title Something I Said.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Isobel Abulhoul discussed the role of the Emirates Literature Foundation in maintaining literature's status as a cornerstone of culture and in promoting literature in the region.Isobel Abulhoul OBE, is the CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation. Isobel Abulhoul came to Dubai in 1968 and co-founded Magrudy's, a bookshop chain, in 1975. In 2008, she was founding director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.Created & Hosted by Mikey Muhanna, afikra Edited by: Ramzi RammanTheme music: The Loyalty of the Poet by Faraj Abyad | Performance was commissioned by MetLiveArts &  The Metropolitan Museum of Art"About Al Burda Podcast:Al Burda Podcast, powered by afikra,  is a series long-form conversation with some of the leading and prominent figures from the Al Burda 2021 Festival - the festival from the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, dedicated to celebrating diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture. Al Burda is a multidisciplinary platform run by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, dedicated to celebrating diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture, through promoting creativity and experimentation in Islamic art practices and fostering critical discourse between experts, institutions and communities on the past, present and future of Islamic culture. Join the live audience: https://www.afikra.com/rsvp   FollowYoutube - Instagram (@afikra_) - Facebook - Twitter Support www.afikra.com/supportAbout afikra:‎afikra is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region- past, present, and future - through conversations driven by curiosity. Read more about us on  afikra.comAl Burda Podcast, powered by afikra,  is a series long-form conversation with some of the leading and prominent figures from the Al Burda 2021 Festival - the festival from the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, dedicated to celebrating diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture. Al Burda is a multidisciplinary platform run by the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, dedicated to celebrating diverse facets of Islamic arts and culture, through promoting creativity and experimentation in Islamic art practices and fostering critical discourse between experts, institutions and communities on the past, present and future of Islamic culture. 

Among today's upheavals in the Middle East, a global pandemic and economic recessions, the timely release of Adrift by world-renowned scholar and bestselling author Amin Maalouf is his attempt at making sense of our world as it is today. Expertly weaving in his life story while mapping turning points in the Middle East's geopolitics, Maalouf addresses global threats to humankind with division at the heart of its adversity. Join Maalouf as he seeks to raise awareness and pursue a new human solidarity by facing the history that has led to worldwide political instability and social inequality. This session was recorded in front of a live audience at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2021. Moderated by Sally Mousa Also tune in to the Boundless Book Club, the book club podcast from the Emirates Literature Foundation: https://the-boundless-book-club.captivate.fm/listen (https://the-boundless-book-club.captivate.fm/listen )

Youngest Nobel laureate and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai has never stopped advocating for girls' right to education, despite the attempt on her life by the Taliban in 2012 in her home, Pakistan's Swat Valley. Join the conversation with Malala, now a fresh graduate from Oxford in politics, philosophy, and economics, as she delves into her life and her never-ending endeavor for the eradication of systematic exclusion of children and girls from education. Malala is an example that all it takes is courage to muster a voice — a revolutionary voice. This session was recorded in front of a live audience at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2021. Moderated by Alia Al Mansoori Also tune in to the Boundless Book Club, the book club podcast from the Emirates Literature Foundation: https://the-boundless-book-club.captivate.fm/listen (https://the-boundless-book-club.captivate.fm/listen )

Elif Shafak's remarkable career has seen her use the power of story to bring people together. Perhaps most famous for her fiction, which includes bestsellers The Forty Rules of Love and 10 minutes 38 seconds in This Strange World, she is also the author of reflective and insightful non-fiction. Intellectual and entertaining, universal and personal, Elif's stories have the rare quality of appealing to every reader. With eighteen books published and translated into fifty-four languages, she is the most widely read female author in Turkey and acclaimed across the globe. Watch now the exploration of Elif's writing, the challenges of conscious optimism, and the importance of bridging the gap between the East and West. Session moderated by Ahlam Bolooki, Festival Director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Also tune in to the Boundless Book Club, the book club podcast from the Emirates Literature Foundation: https://the-boundless-book-club.captivate.fm/listen (https://the-boundless-book-club.captivate.fm/listen )

Privilee has seen membership increase by more than 50 per cent in the past few months. We speak to the COO. Plus, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is set to kick off at the end of this month. But how do you throw a meeting of minds during a pandemic? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've met Isobel Abulhoul, you will know that she is a force of nature, a pioneer and a true inspiration. She is perhaps best known for literacy – she co-founded Magrudy's, the book store chain (and a UAE institution!) in 1975. In 2008, she founded the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Arab World's largest celebration of the written and spoken word. This beautiful event has gone on to win awards such as Best Festival, Best Family Day out and Favourite Festival – and I can testify that it's an incredibly special space and the absolute highlight of my year, every year.Isobel, who arrived in the UAE over 40 years ago, has been lauded with countless accolades including Cultural Personality of the Year by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and no less than an OBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. This is in addition to others including an Arabian Business most influential woman award, and one which I just love: Femina's Unstoppable Woman.As the co-host of ‘Talking of Books', broadcast weekly on Dubai Eye 103.8 FM, Isobel has now found an enjoyable way to spend Saturday mornings discussing the latest titles and interviewing authors from around the world.Follow me, and the Good Intentions podcast:https://www.instagram.com/kellyharvarde/Find The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature here:https://www.instagram.com/emirateslitfest/Immerse yourself in some of the books we discussed: A Little Life - Hanya Yanagiharahttps://magrudy.com/book/a-little-life-9781509818235/Burnt Sugar - Avni Doshi https://magrudy.com/book/burnt-sugar-9780241441510/In Search of Fatima - Ghana Kharmi https://magrudy.com/book/in-search-of-fatima-a-palestinian-story-9781844673681/

Simplify to amplify is one of many takeaways in todays conversation with award-winning writer and best-selling author Karen Osman. With three novels under her belt and a fourth on the way, Karen shares her unique journey with actionable takeaways if you're a budding writer or just want to be more impactful on email. She shares more about the realities of the publishing world and her extensive background in journalism. Finally, as today's episode is released on National Authors Day, Karen gives us her recommended reads for broken hearts and motivation. Share your takeaways from todays conversation with us on Instagram by tagging @achievher and @karenosmanauthor Profile: Karen Osman is an award-winning writer and best-selling author. Following her win at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Montegrappa Novel Writing Award 2016 with her crime-thriller novel, The Good Mother, renowned literary agent, Luigi Bonomi of LBA Books, secured a three-book deal with UK-based publishing house Head of Zeus. Since then, The Good Mother, which was published in October 2017 and her second novel, The Home (September 2018), were both number one bestsellers. Her third book, A Perfect Lie, was published in August 2019 and she is currently working on her fourth novel. In July 2020, Karen launched her signature online writing course, Kick Start Your Book With Karen, designed for budding authors to help write their books. In January 2019, Karen launched her own online show, Karen's Bookshelf, all about books in partnership with Borders Middle East. Released weekly, each episode is available on IGTV, Facebook, Linked In, and YouTube and features an online book club, author interviews, and the latest book news. Karen has also been a featured author at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature giving talks and workshops as well as giving writing masterclasses in partnerships with brands such as Costa. In 2019, Karen was chosen by Global Woman Magazine as one of the top 10 inspirational women making waves around the world. In 2017, Karen was included as Ahlan's Hot 100 People, an accolade recognising the pioneers and game-changers shaping the UAE's social and cultural landscape. In addition to being an award-winning author, Karen founded niche communications company Travel Ink in 2011, providing content writing and strategy, public relations, social media, training, and translation services to hotels, airlines, and tourism establishments. Karen uses her commercial experience in luxury hospitality, combined with her academic qualifications, which include a BA in Linguistics and English Language from the University of Durham and a Teaching (TEFL) Certificate from the University of Cambridge. In her role as Managing Director, Karen oversees a team of writers, editors, and PR and social media consultants to deliver quality content for exceptional results. As a testament to its success, Travel Ink was shortlisted as a finalist for the SME Advisor Stars of Business Awards in two categories (Hospitality & Tourism and Communications) just one year after the company's inception. Karen has been recognised for her achievements in the areas of the written word, entrepreneurship, and luxury travel and has featured in various regional and international publications including Hello!, Stylist, Forbes, The National, Ahlan!, and Gulf News to name a few. Karen lives in Dubai with her husband and two young sons.

As firm believers in the redemption and enlightenment that can be found in a book, the Emirates Literature Foundation has been working for more than two years with Dubai Penal and Correctional Institutions and Dubai Police to organise visits from Dubai-based and international authors to help inmates engage with books and the writing process. After visiting the prison as part of this programme, two authors, Clare Mackintosh and Annabel Kantaria, saw an opportunity to develop this initiative into something more. They wanted to help the prisoners find their voices and tell their stories, and so the writer in residence project was born. The authors spent a week visiting the inmates to help them find their voices. The result was published in a book called Tomorrow, I Will Fly, a collection of essays and personal reflections, written entirely by the men and women in Dubai Central Jail. This book was launched at the 2020 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and simultaneously at the Dubai Central Jail.

01 July 2020: Andrea Gissdal from the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature joins us to chat about easy beach reads – we’re not talking classics here, just some sun lounger fodder that you wouldn’t read at any other time!

06 May 2020: Andrea Gissdal, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, joins us for the Book Club. We chat about the latest must-reads and the best books to read as we continue to stay home. Plus, as people share their “shelfies” online, we discuss what your bookshelf says about you.

Lewis Dartnell is an author, presenter and Professor of Science Communication at the University of Westminster. He's well known for his work, The Knowledge: How to Rebuild our World from Scratch. Lewis has written science articles for popular magazines like New Scientist and written books such as Life in the Universe and has contributed an essay on extra-terrestrial life edited by Jim Al-Khalili to critical acclaim. His new book, Origins: How the Earth Made Us, looks at the human story from the perspective of the planetary forces that shaped our biology and history. Lewis speaks to Emirates ICE ahead of Emirates LitFest in 2019.

Sue Nelson is an award-winning science journalist and broadcaster, formerly a BBC TV science correspondent and Radio 4 presenter. Sue was a presenter of The Material World on BBC Radio 4 and has presented a number of science series on Radio 4 including Britain's Modern Brunels and Citizen Scientist in 2006. She was also the co-author of How To Clone the Perfect Blonde alongside Richard Hollingham. Her award-winning 2016 documentary Women with the Right Stuff was one of BBC World Service's most-listened-to podcasts. She came to Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2019 to talk about her latest book, Wally Funk's Race to Space

Leon McCarron is a Northern Irish storyteller and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Leon walked 3,000 miles across China which took him six months while filming for a National Geographic TV show. He also cycled 14,000 miles from New York to Hong Kong and trekked 1,000 miles through the Empty Quarter desert in Oman which became a feature length film, Into the Empty Quarter, and was premiered at the Royal Geographical Society in London. His first book, The Road Headed West, is an Amazon Top 10 Bestseller. His latest book is The Land Beyond: A Thousand Miles on Foot Through the Heart of the Middle East. He speaks to Emirates ICE ahead of his appearance at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2019.

A former British police officer, Clare Mackintosh is now a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her debut novel I Let You Go was a Richard & Judy book club pick and won Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award in 2016. In 2017, it was announced that she had sold over one million copies worldwide. Her second novel I See You reached number 1 in the Sunday Times original fiction list and was shortlisted for Crime and Thriller Book of the Year in the British Book Awards. Her latest novel Let Me Lie also became a number one Sunday Times bestseller and garnered a lot of praise from readers and other thriller writers.

For any woman who has ever looked at her Instagram feed and thought, 'Who are these women, and how the hell do they do it?' The internet has set destructive standards of flawlessness and comparison. Katherine Ormerod, journalist and social media mogul, explodes our social-media-addled ideas about body image, money, relationships, motherhood, careers, politics and more and gives us the tools we need to control our own online lives, rather than being controlled by them. This session was recorded at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2019.

What makes going from A to B an adventure, not a destination? A map can show you the layout of a place, but its emotional geography is something that takes a bit more time and skill to uncover. Leon McCarron is a Northern Irish adventurer, filmmaker, writer and motivational speaker, who believes in the importance of a slower pace to truly understand the world and its people, whether walking 3000 miles across China or trekking 1000 miles across the Empty Quarter. Malachy Tallack is a writer, editor and singer-songwriter from Scotland whose non-fiction books Sixty Degrees North and The Un-Discovered Islands both fuse nature writing, history and memoir. The discuss their adventures at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2019.

Detective John Rebus may have retired, but bestselling crime author, Ian Rankin, certainly has not! The latest instalment continues the story of Rebus's post-retirement meddling in the changing landscape of Scottish policing, as his protégé Siobhan Clarke investigates how the body of a long-missing private investigator was found on land that had been searched years ago. Every officer involved must be questioned. But there is one man who knows where the trail may lead – and that it could be the end of him: John Rebus.

Keith Stuart is an author and journalist. His debut novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, was a Richard and Judy Book club pick and a bestseller, inspired by Keith's real-life relationship with his autistic son. His second novel, Days of Wonder, is a story about story about family, love and finding magic in everyday life. He has written for publications including Empire and Esquire magazine and was the former games editor of the Guardian. Here he speaks to Emirates ICE about his novels at the Emirates LitFest in 2019.

Curry queen, recognised as the foremost authority on Indian food; author of several bestselling cookbooks. Here she is interviewed for Emirates ICE at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018.

Historian and travel writer, best known for his critically acclaimed 'White Mughals' and 'Return of a King', William Dalrymple is interviewed for the Emirates ICE channel at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

Bestselling horror writer Joe Hill, best known for his novels 'Horns', 'The Fireman' and the horror comic series 'Locke and Key'. Son of prolific horror writer, Stephen King, here he is interviewed for Emirates ICE.

What's it like to see your life unfold on the big screen? Authors Saroo Brierley and Cheryl Strayed know, having seen their bestselling memoirs adapted as major motion pictures. Together they discuss the excitement and stress of seeing their deeply personal stories retold by movie studios and released to a whole new audience. Saroo Brierley is the author of A Long Way Home, the tale of his search for his birth family which became the BAFTA-winning movie Lion starring Dev Patel. Cheryl Strayed is the author of the number 1 New York Times bestselling memoir Wild. They came together on a stage at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018 to share their extraordinary stories.

08 Feb 2020: UAE astronauts Hazzaa al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi chat about life on a space station and training with world-record breaking female NASA astronaut Christina Koch.

08 Feb 2020: The man behind the scenes of 17 of Sir David Attenborough’s nature documentaries, award-winning cameraman Gavin Thurston, shares his secrets on how to capture cheeky monkeys at their cheekiest and chats about his book 'Journeys in the Wild: The Secret Life of a Cameraman’.

08 Feb 2020: Scottish artist Ross Collins has illustrated over 100 books for children and written a few too. He shares his insights on drawing for children in favourites like ’There’s a Bear on My Chair’ and 'This Zoo Is Not for You’.

08 Feb 2020: Sara-Jane Arbury and Fiona Ross are the wordsmiths behind 'Roald Dahl’s Rotsome and Repulsant Words’. They explain to Annabelle Corton how their lively lexicon lets children discover etymologies, definitions and fascinating language facts along the way.

08 Feb 2020: Poet Kevin Crossley-Holland met Syrian refugee Nujeen Mustafa here in Dubai at the 2017 Litfest which resulted in him writing her story 'Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo’. They discuss their collaboration on the eve of a multinational choir performing their work at the Festival Finale.

08 Feb 2020: The former foreign minister of Somaliland, Edna Adan Ismail, joins Annabelle Corton live at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature to discuss her work reducing maternal mortality.

08 Feb 2020: Montegrappa Writing Prize winner Stacey Siebritz explains what the prize means to her, and UK literary agent Luigi Bonomi explains the role he'll play mentoring her and helping take her manuscript 'The Leap' to publication.

08 Feb 2020: Historical fiction writer, Esi Edugyan, explains to Annabelle Corton the ideas and process behind ‘Washington Black’ the story of an eleven-year-old slave who finds himself pursuing a promise of freedom.

07 Feb 2020: Henry Firth and Ian Theasby are the boys from Bosh! and they’re here to help everyone eat more plants. They’re the most popular vegans on YouTube, reaching more than half a billion people in their first year alone. They chat with us about how and why they gave up meat and what it means to live life on the veg.

07 Feb 2020: Sustainability campaigner Tony Juniper asks ‘What has Nature Ever Done for Us?’ in his new book and explains to Sonal Rupani that 100% of our economic development comes from what nature provides yet still, we take most of it for granted.

08 Feb 2020: Bestselling Australian author Markus Zusak explains to the Talking of Books team the pressure of finishing a book that was 13 years in the making, and why his daughter is perhaps the sharpest critic of his productivity.

07 Feb 2020: Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock overcame a challenging childhood to pursue a career as a space scientist. She discusses the role that 'The Clangers' played in inspiring her to look to the skies as a very young child and everywhere that’s taken her since, including writing ‘Dr Maggie’s Grand Tour of the Solar System’.

07 Feb 2020: Roma Agrawal is an award-winning structural engineer who builds really big things. She chats about why she promotes engineering careers to kids and about her first book, ‘Built'.

08 Feb 2020: Tayari Jones shares the sofa with Annabelle Corton on Talking of Books live at the Emirates Festival of Literature 2020 to discuss her novel 'An American Marriage’ which traces the lives of Roy, a man wrongly convicted of a crime, and his wife Celestial. 

07 Feb 2020: Harry Baker and Chris Read are 'Harry and Chris’ the UK’s favourite (if only?) Comedy-Rap-Jazz duo. Hear them chatting about pandas, robot wars, bullying and mathematics with Sonal Rupani.

18 Jan 2020: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature announced a ground-breaking venture with Dubai Police and the Penal and Correctional Institutions to publish Tomorrow, I Will Fly, a book of essays written by men and women inmates in Dubai jails.  

18 Jan 2020: Elham Al Qasimi, first Arab woman and UAE national to reach the North Pole, joined us to talk about her journey to the Arctic and what she’s looking forward to asking wildlife cameraman Gavin Thurston at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

Today's episode is with Isobel Abulhoul - CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation and the founder of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Arab World's largest celebration of the written and spoken word, bringing people of all ages together with authors from across the world to promote education, debate and, above all else, reading. In this episode discover her mission, her relentless pursuit and passion to empower the next generation especially young kids from being non-reader to an avid reader. to pick up a book not only for education as well for gratification. Isobel has received several awards and accolades over the years, including Cultural Personality of the Year by Dr. HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah in 2010 and an OBE by HM Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 2012. In 2016, Isobel accepted the UAE Pioneers Award for Best Non-Governmental Organisation for the Emirates Literature Foundation's work in promoting reading initiatives during the UAE Year of Reading. This year, Isobel was chosen as one of the 100 Smartest People in the UAE by Arabian Business magazine. Isobel Abulhoul came to Dubai in 1968 and co-founded Magrudy's, a bookshop chain, in 1975.  Visit #EmiratesLitFest on 4th of Feb - 9th of Feb 2020. https://www.emirateslitfest.com/   Many thanks! Danielle     

14/12/2019: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature have announced two exciting additions to the 2020 line-up in February: author of bestselling author Markus Zusack and creator of Geronimo Stilton, Elisabetta Dami. Plus a heartwarming story to restore your faith in kindness. ‘Mind the Gap!’

23/11/2019: Today’s Talking of Books co-host Allison K Williams has edited and coached many authors throughout her career. She gives us the lowdown of her own workshops happening at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in February 2020 and even spills some tips and tricks on how to improve your draft.

23/11/2019: In honour of the Faith in the Modern World panel at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature next year, we just had to play Faith by George Michael.

Karen is a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and luxury travel journalist and editor, Karen Osman has lived the expat life for almost twenty years across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. One of her latest achievements is securing a three-book deal with UK-based Head of Zeus publishing house following her win at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Montegrappa Novel Writing Award 2016 with her crime-thriller novel, The Good Mother, which was published in October 2017. Since then, The Good Mother has received incredible reviews and was also a number 1 Amazon bestseller in Australia. Her second novel, The Home, was published on 4 September 2018 and was a number 1 bestseller in the UK. Her third book, A Perfect Lie which was out in September 2019. http://www.karenosman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/karenosmanauthor/ As always, I'm Digital Hoos and you can find me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhoos/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/digitalhoos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-el-hage-42566230/ Sign Up to the LTTO Newsletter Here: https://mailchi.mp/6f383cc738de/lttosignup

06/07/2019: Ahh, first love. Butterflies in your stomach, the ‘how-long-should-I-wait-to-text-him?’ debate, the cute inside jokes. We all love a meet-cute story. Festival Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature Ahlam Bolooki reviews Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls, the must anticipated new novel from the author of One Day and Us. It’s a bittersweet coming-of-age tale about the heart-stopping thrill over first love and how just one summer can forever change a life.

01/06/2019: A chance to hear one of the events we recorded at the 2019 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature -  And they lived happily ever after… The End. What makes a happy ever after in fiction feel real and not contrived? What does science say about the reality of finding fairy-tale endings in our own lives? Sandhya Menon is the author of YA Rom Coms When Dimple Met Rishi and From Twinkle, With Love, and blames a steady diet of Bollywood movies for her obsession with happily-ever-afters. In Keith Stuart’s Days of Wonder, happily-ever-afters acted out at the local theatre are a lifeline for Tom and his chronically-ill daughter. And Ty Tashiro’s The Science of Happily Ever After explains what truly matters in our real-life quest for enduring love.

The Eisner Award-winning Locke and Key comic series has sold more than a million copies and is already considered a modern comics classic, pitting a grieving family against the forces of evil and their own buried secrets. For the first time in Dubai, the creators appear together on stage to discuss their work, an upcoming TV adaptation, and their reunion in Tales from the Darkside. This full session recorded at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and microfinance innovator Muhammad Yunus has a vision of a new economic system that unleashes altruism as a creative force just as powerful as self-interest. In his new book A World of Three Zeros he describes a world of zero poverty, zero unemployment and zero net emissions – and introduces the innovative social businesses who are changing their practices to make this possible. This session was recorded at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2018

The biggest selling English-language author in India's history, Chetan Bhagat's novels and non-fiction alike provoke discussion on a wide range of social problems while entertaining millions of readers. His seventh novel One Indian Girl explores the demands placed on young women caught between family, career and love, while the advice collected in Make India Awesome offers solutions to issues from religious fundamentalism to discrimination against women. This full session was recorded at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2018.

Stephen Ritz's seeds of motivation have blossomed into an international movement – come and discover The Power of a Plant! ‘America's favourite teacher' turned around his struggling New York school by changing its grounds into urban gardens. His students' health, grades and community spirit, previously some of the worst in the country, completely transformed. He has since pioneered ways for schools around the globe to start farms that require little in the way of space, dirt or water – just enthusiastic children! This festival session was recorded at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018.

Discover a powerful story of love, rebellion and magical destiny set in post-apocalyptic Africa. Nnedi Okorafor's Who Fears Death is being adapted for television by HBO and George RR Martin, and follows the journey of Onye – a woman on a quest for vengeance against her sorcerous father. A winner of the Hugo, Nebula and World Fantasy Awards as well as the Wole Soyinka Prize for African Literature, Nnedi's recent work also includes the Binti trilogy, Lagoon, a story in a new Star Wars anthology and a comic starring pre-Islamic Arab hero Antar the Black Knight.

The Little Book of Hygge was a runaway success and redefined ‘contentment' for the world. Author Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, has been called ‘the Indiana Jones of smiles' – and now he's back on a new quest to unlock the doors to happiness (or lykke) for us all! Wiking's native Denmark is considered the happiest country in the world, but he believes that the secrets of happiness are hidden around the globe. This full festival session was recorded at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018.

Join us for an hour of mischief, laughter and master storytelling with one of the world's most prolific and best-loved writers, Alexander McCall Smith. Author of more than 100 books including the internationally bestselling No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, 44 Scotland Street and Corduroy Mansions series, McCall Smith was recently awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor for Achievement in Literature by The National Arts Club of America. This full festival session was recorded at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018.

Westeros wouldn't last a week without someone keeping the ravens in order – and that's the job of animal trainer Julie Tottman. Julie is a vital part of the Game of Thrones team, with the difficult but rewarding job of training ravens, wolves, man-eating hounds and (occasionally) over-ambitious directors for their turn in the spotlight. She has also worked on the Harry Potter films, The Dark Knight and many other major film and TV projects. This full Festival session was recorded at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018.

‘Good people bring out the good in other people', says leadership expert Francis Kong. But how do you put this to practice in a challenging workplace or when serious problems arise? An entrepreneur and business consultant with decades of experience, Kong is here to reveal the power of a simple trait: having the right attitude. This entertaining talk shows how maintaining your own optimism and determined attitude – no matter the challenges – will inspire those around you. This full festival session was recorded at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2018.

Number one bestselling children's author, talent show judge and actor David Walliams returns to Dubai to reveal all about his latest laugh-out-loud books! The author of The Midnight Gang, Grandpa's Great Escape and new book Bad Dad (about a wild scheme to return stolen loot!) will be talking to his friend and fellow author Andy Riley about hilariously horrible kids, gangsta grannies and ssspectacularly surprising snakes. This session was recorded at Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2018.

04/05/2019: Today’s soundtrack is by the 1974 poet laureate of Colorado and inspired by Leon McCarron and Malachy Tallack’s conversation at the 2019 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature about unconventional journeys.

This show is about women in space, in science and in history. It’s only becoming mainstream knowledge now that there were many women involved in global space programs in the 1960s. As part of the Mercury 13, Wally Funk was one of the pioneering women of space travel who often outperformed male astronaut candidates in tests of endurance. But just one week before the final phase of training, the programme was abruptly cancelled. Politics and prejudice meant Wally never flew into space. Undeterred, she went on to become an accomplished pilot and America's first female aviation safety inspector. Today’s guest, Sue Nelson, is a physicist who has authored a book about Wally Funk and her colleagues of Mercury 13. You’ll be shocked when you hear what they went through just to take the tests - from being divorced by their husbands to losing their jobs, these ladies pursued space and science at immense personal cost. Sue wrote this book to bring their stories, experiences and learnings to a broad audience, in the hope of inspiring girls to pursue their dreams in science, and ensuring that the huge sacrifices and contributions that female aviators have made do not get left out of history books. Sue Nelson is an award-winning science journalist and broadcaster, formerly a BBC science correspondent and Radio 4 presenter. You can find her on Twitter and LinkedIn. This episode was made possible by the generous support of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Sue Nelson was a guest author of this year's edition, where she talked about her new book Wally Funk's Race For Space. Gift it widely! While you're here, please do subscribe to the podcast, tap a rating or write a review! Thank you.

CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation, Isobel Abulhoul, founded the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature which brings people of all ages together with authors from across the world to promote education, debate and, above all else, a love of reading. - Rolling back the years…. It's vintage LitFest! Since 2009, the Festival has had its own podcast channel on board Emirates flights, featuring interviews from some of the Festival's top authors. Now, curated for your enjoyment, is a selection from the archive!

Isobel Abuhoul left Cambridge for Dubai in 1968 and has been here ever since. In 1975, Isobel set up Al Ittehad Private School and Magrudy's bookshop - both of which are still thriving today. In 2008 Isobel founded the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Arab Worldís largest celebration of the written and spoken word, bringing people of all ages together with authors from across the world to promote education, debate and reading. The festival won the Best Festival title at the Middle East Event Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In this episode we explored Isobel's "why?", what drove her to establish one enterprise after another. Isobel walked me through some of the challenges she faced and what tools she used to overcome them - the value of her network came up a couple of times. We also discussed how she has managed to keep her enterprises alive 40 years on, in the face of fierce competition - by putting herself in the shoes of a demanding and impatient customer! Finally, Isobel gave us a sneak preview of the upcoming Emirates Lit Fest - I've bought tickets to 6 sessions and I cannot wait to attend! The 2018 Emirates Literature Festival is running March 1-10. Tickets are available online at emirateslitfest.com, but do hurry up as the sessions are selling out fast. You can also get in touch with and follow Isobel on Twitter @UmmMansour

Isobel was born and educated in Cambridge and came to Dubai in 1968 which has been her home ever since.Isobel taught at the Dubai Infants School for several years before her involvement in setting up Al Ittehad Private School and soon after co-founding Magrudy’s, a bookshop chain, in 1975.In addition to Magrudy’s, Isobel actively set about publishing children’s books in Arabic and English that have relevance to children from, and living in, the region. Together with the support of the Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum Foundation, Isobel initiated a new reading and teaching scheme in Arabic, called Bustan Al Qusas, which empowered teachers to write and use their own stories.In 2008 Isobel founded and is Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Middle East’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, bringing people of all ages together with authors from across the world to promote education, debate and, above all else, reading. The Festival won the Best Festival title at the Middle East Event Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and in 2016 was declared Best Family Friendly Day Out at the Time Out Dubai Kids Awards.Awarded the Cultural Personality of the Year by Dr HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah in 2010, an OBE by HM Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 2012, Cultural Icon of UAE by The 3rd Petrochem GR8! Women Awards-Middle East 2013, one of the Watani Humanitarian Awards in 2013 and more recently, the Al Owais Cultural Award 2014 and the Time Out Kids Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Award, Isobel has received official recognition for her tireless campaign to improve literacy and a love of books, particularly for children.In May 2013 and 2014, Middle East Business selected Isobel as one of the most influential Brits and the most inspirational woman living in the UAE. She was also selected at the 2015 Femina Middle East Awards ceremony as an ‘Unstoppable Woman’.On the eve of the 2013 Festival, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and also the Festival patron, issued a Decree forming the Emirates Literature Foundation, naming Isobel as one of the trustees on the Board. In addition, Isobel also holds the position of CEO of the Foundation.Isobel was appointed a Trustee for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2014, the premier prize for novelists in Arabic.As the co-host of ‘Talking of Books’, broadcast weekly on Dubai Eye 103.8 FM, Isobel has now found an enjoyable way to spend Saturday mornings discussing the latest titles and interviewing authors from around the world.Enjoy the show! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.