Podcasts about Literary festival

Greetings Glocal Citizens! As we hit the halfway mark on 2025 our treat this week is a thought-provoking conversation with Wana Udobang, a multifaceted writer, poet, performer, curator, and storyteller based in Lagos, Nigeria. I met Wana last year during the Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra where she faciliated her own unique writing workshop - “Comfort Food” a storytelling and poetry workshop that uses food as a conduit to explore memories, history, joy, and healing which was born out of her culinary quality time during the pandemic. In this lively conversation we cover Wana's extensive body of work which encompasses her journey of becoming a creative professional in Nigeria, her spoken word albums and how she has honed her craft building a framework for entrepreneurship using various storytelling platforms. Where to find Wana? wanaudobang.com (https://www.wanaudobang.com/about) On LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/in/wana-udobang-16063776) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/mswanawana) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/misswanawana) What's Wana reading? Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun](https://sarahladipomanyika.com/work/like-a-mule-bringing-ice-cream-to-the-sun-book.html) by Sarah Lipado Manyika All Fours (https://mirandajuly.com/all-fours/) by Miranda July The Big Leap (https://hendricks.com/resources/big-leaps/the-big-leap/?v=0b3b97fa6688) by Gay Hendricks What's Wana watching? Conclave (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclave_(film)) The Substance (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Substance) What's Wana listening to? Florence and the Machine (https://florenceandthemachine.net) Other topics of interest: About the Ibibio people of Nigeria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibibio_people) Def Poetry Jam (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Def_Poetry_Jam) About Nnedi Okorafor (https://nnedi.com) and Akata Warrior (https://www.instagram.com/p/DJhM9rQJxFr/) as seen in the new Forever series on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/forever-judy-blume-show-announcement) Special Guest: Wana Udobang.

Slushies, we invoke the retelling of a ghostly experience shared by Kathy and Marion at the Hotel Figueroa in California earlier this year partway into this episode. Two poems by Jen Siraganian are at the heart of our discussion, and it's the first of these that puts ghosts into our heads. This poem also causes us to consider at some length the physical form chosen by or for a poem, and how this can utterly enhance the experience of the poem when it's just right. It's also an opportunity for Jason to raise the spectre of the virgule (or slash) once again, and we even pause briefly to recall when WYSIWYG was a useful acronym. We end the episode with an ekphrastic that prompts an on-the-spot tie breaker (thanks to our sound engineer Lillie for saving the day!).   https://whitney.org/collection/works/2171 https://www.nga.gov/collection/highlights/gorky-the-artist-and-his-mother.html  At the table: Kathleen Volk Miller, Marion Wrenn, Lisa Zerkle, Jason Schneiderman, Dagne Forrest, Jodi Gahn, Lillie Volpe (sound engineer)   Jen Siraganian is an Armenian-American writer, educator, and former Poet Laureate of Los Gatos, California. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in AGNI, Barrow Street, Best New Poets, Cortland Review, Poetry Daily, Prairie Schooner, The Rumpus, Smartish Pace, and other journals. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won the 2024 New Ohio Review Poetry Prize. A former managing director of Litquake: San Francisco's Literary Festival, she is a current Lucas Artist Fellow. jensiraganian.com      Social media handles:   Facebook @jen.siraganian, Instagram @jsiraganian, Bluesky @jsiraganian.bsky.social, Website

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Reflecting on the festival buzz in the air, standout moments, and the nostalgic love affair with Johannesburg, all against the breathtaking beauty of Franschhoek. In “The Last Word: Endings, Echoes, and What Comes Next”, Michele Magwood, Paige Nick, and Kate Mosse were interviewed by Shaun de Waal in a powerful, funny, and moving conversation that captured it all.

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Three Karens — Schimke, Vermeulen, and Lane — gathered to unpack what it means to be a Karen in 2025. The conversation, titled “Karen, Rewritten: Owning the Name in a Meme-Worn World”, was outrageously funny. They laughed louder (and longer) than the internet ever did at the meme. Enjoy!

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Sandiswa Tshabalala sat down with Ute Hermanus, Thandolwethu Binda, and Emily Bolton for “Moments That Moved Us: A Festival in Reflection” — a heartfelt and energising chat with the JBL FLF crew. They shared the behind-the-scenes magic, the unexpected joys, and the moments that made it all worthwhile.

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Ute Hermanus sat down with Ashraf Jamal for “The Art of Story: When Words and Images Collide.” It was a brilliant, thought-provoking conversation that danced between the visual and the verbal. A true celebration of storytelling in all its forms.

Live from the Franschhoek Literary Festival, The Afternoon Drive with John Maytham features a compelling conversation with Wandile Sihlobo, one of South Africa’s leading agricultural economists, following his participation in two provocative sessions: ”(Butt) Out of Africa” and “Seeds of Change.” Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Abi Daré and Bronwen Everill join Sibongile Machika to explore the borders of Africa as they appear in fiction and non-fiction, and how these boundaries are often more porous than we assume. Both authors reflect on how their work aims to spark ideas that help us rethink the ways we live in and relate to the world.

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Maryam Adams engages in a compelling conversation with Elleke Boehmer and Mary Watson, exploring their latest works of fiction, the diverse settings that inspire their narratives, and the audiences they envision while writer.

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Caryn Dolley, Kelly Ansara and Nicole Engelbrecht talking true crime, ethical sleuthing and getting to the bottom of Caryn's obsession with painting cats as famous Pawtraits.

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz. Join Kelly Ansara and Justin Fox as they chat about place, memory and non-fiction writing. We also hear more about Justin's unexpected skill that helps him with his writing.

Guest: Jennifer Ball | Programme Director Africa Melane speaks to Jennifer Ball, Programme Director for The Franschhoek Literary Festival which kicks off From 16–18 May See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7:15AM // Worker Women's Strength and Struggle: Rana Plaza disaster 2013 From 3CR's May Day 2025 special programming. Mercedes from Uprise Radio and A Friday Rave presented a speech from Taslima Akhter, president of Bangladesh Garment Workers Solidarity, & Rupali Akhter, survivor of Rana Plaza Disaster - recorded at the 2023 May Day for Freedom and Liberation Rally at the state library.7:30AM // Sarah & Cathy: One Year since Kanaky uprising On the anniversary of the Kanaky uprising in 2024, two members of Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm give an overview of the uprising, key events that have punctuated the last 12 months, & lessons we can learn from Indigenous struggle against imperialism. Follow them on Instagram at @freekanakysolidarity.naarm, you can also follow @radio__rata for more news and events. 7:45AM // Tamil community member Jo: Upcoming Mullivaikal Remembrance Day, 18th MayJo, Tamil Community member who joined Uncle Robbie Thorpe in 3CR the studio yesterday, and her speech at a Free Palestine Dandenong Rally in September 2024, during the 100-days refugee encampment, with links between First Nations & Palestinian struggles, the legacy of trauma, and standing up for justice.  8:00AM //  Timothy Ryan: Q-Lit, a Vic-based LGBTQIA+ literary festival  Timothy discusses the upcoming festival this June & Q Lit's work more broadly in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. You can follow @q.lit.victoria or on their website q-lit.com.au.  8:15AM // Yasmine Johnson: Students for Palestine, Encampment & Nakba Day Yasmine, an organiser with Students for Palestine at the University of Technology Sydney & the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at the University of Sydney. Yasmine discusses campaign updates and to talk about actions planned for Nakba Day, this coming Thursday 15 May. You can follow their Instagram: @studentsforpalestineaus Songs: Dream Baby Dream - Spinifex Gum ft. Marliya [5.08]Team (cover of Lorde) - nehmasisBarkaa - For my Tittas

Back to normal! No guests this week, just a bunch of books to talk about, including some big names. Is Sam's mic kind of wonky early? Yes. Just get by that. It doesn't last long. And you really want to hear about: -  "Great Big Beautiful Life," by Emily Henry, which is just enough different from her previous beach reads to make a great beach read. It's a ridiculous biography contest set in Georgia.  - "The Name of this Band is R.E.M.," by Peter Ames Carlin, which Sam found a little boring, but it's hard to tell if that's just because R.E.M. is a boring band.  - "Raising Hare," by Chloe Dalton, which really is about raising a bunny, but not a bunny, a hare, which is a different mysterious kind of animal. Better than that sounds, though.  - "Everything is Tuberculosis," by John Green, which has a terrible name, but is very readable because John Green can write like crazy. This leads to talk about Reddit forums detailing woo-woo mom forum posting, for reasons, and discussion of the term "vlogger."  - "Whyte Python World Tour," by Travis Kennedy, an absolutely absurd and often funny tale of a hair-metal band secretly working for the CIA to bring down the Wall in the late 1980s. Sam doesn't know what to make of it.  - "Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries," by Heather Fawcett, which is delightful, about an academic cataloging faeries in Norway. It's cozy and quite charming.  Also, no, we didn't get this posted in time for Bookstore Day or the Literary Festival, but just try to look past that. It's already happened and you missed it. But there will be other stuff that's awesome in the future, we promise. 

Author and comedian David Baddiel joins Lester Kiewit on the show today, ahead of his appearance at the Jewish Literary Festival this April. The internationally acclaimed writer, known for his bestselling book Jews Don’t Count, talks about his career, his exploration of identity politics, and his recent family memoir My Family. David also discusses his work for younger audiences, including his latest book Small Fry. With his trademark humor and insight, David’s conversation with Lester offers a deep dive into the themes that shape his writing and his unique perspective on the world. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live – Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit is broadcast weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) https://www.primediaplus.com/station/capetalk Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/capetalk/good-morning-cape-town-with-lester-kiewit/audio-podcasts/good-morning-cape-town-with-lester-kiewit/ Subscribe to the CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/ Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalk   CapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalk   CapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkza  CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalk  CapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pippa speaks to Jennfer Ball, Programme Director for the Franschhoek Literary Festival about the jam-packed programme offering both local and international writers across a broad spectrum of genres. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Listen live – Lunch with Pippa Hudson is broadcast weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) https://www.primediaplus.com/station/capetalk Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/capetalk/lunch-with-pippa-hudson/show-podcasts/lunch-with-pippa-hudson/ Subscribe to the CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/ Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalk   CapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalk   CapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkza  CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalk  CapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 10-minute Book Short 
with Phillip Todres and 
the organisers of the 
Jewish Literary Festival

As a fiction writer, essayist and journalist, Lauren Markham’s work most often concerns issues related to youth, migration, the environment and her home state of California. ‘A Map of Future Ruins’ explores the global immigration crisis’s historical, contemporary and, of course, future implications. Speaking with Georgina Godwin during the Lannan Literary Festival at Georgetown University, Lauren shares stories of her Greek upbringing, working with refugee communities and her future work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zumba is a fitness program that involves cardio and Latin-inspired dance.15 million people worldwide take classes weekly - a small percentage of them here in Gibraltar! It's popular on the Rock, and this weekend Boyd's will be the venue for a Zumba charity event! We spoke to Nadia Casciaro and Mimi Drury told us more about the event.The number of diagnosed cases of skin cancer in Gibraltar have shot up in the last two years. Since 2017 the average was one diagnosed case per year. But in 2022, this went up to 47. And the following year, it rose to 147. For Dr Deardon of Specialist Medical Clinic, the numbers didn't come as much of a surprise.Raul Mesa is a familiar name on the rock - Raul is an established fitness trainer and now an author too! His debut book is called 'Searching for Balance' - it aims to help people understand how mental health, nutrition and sports can combine to transform your life.The Gibraltar Gibunco Literary Festival is one of the highlights of the local cultural calendar, pulling in lots of international names year on year. The dates for this year's festival were announced this week for mid November. Chief Cultural Officer Seamus Byrne. And today is World Book Day, an opportunity for kids to become their favourite book characters for a day, with schools and Government ministries going all out in honour of the humble book! For the last few years, Cultural Services has put together activities to encourage young and old to get stuck in a book. Davina Barbara from GCS told us about the fun activities they've been doing for this year's theme: the classic fairytale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ram Murali’s pivot from law to filmmaking sparked his route into writing. His debut novel, ‘Death In the Air’, blends elements of an Agatha Christie whodunnit with the sumptuous setting of a world-class spa in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. He speaks to Georgina Godwin at the 2025 Galle Literary Festival about his diverse career background and the importance of India’s cultural community at literary events.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa C. Taylor is the author of the novel, The Shape of What Remains, three poetry collections, most recently Interrogation of Morning (2022) and two short story collections, most recently Impossibly Small Spaces (2018). Her honors include the Hugo House New Fiction Award and Pushcart nominations in fiction and poetry and Best-of-the Net nominations in both categories. Her poetry collaboration with Irish writer Geraldine Mills, The Other Side of Longing received the Elizabeth Shanley Gerson Honor at University of Connecticut. Lisa holds an MFA in Creative Writing and she is the co-director of the Mesa Verde Writers Conference and Literary Festival. She is also a board member for Four Corners Writers and the Mancos Creative District. Lisa has received writing residencies from Vermont Studio Center, Willowtail Springs, and Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. She teaches writing online and offers workshops around the country.   More: https://www.lisactaylor.com/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/   Host Mark Stevens www.writermarkstevens.com   Watch these interviews on YouTube (and subscribe)! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8&si=yl_seG5S4soyk216

In the headlines: Students display the works of Saint Lucia's Nobel laureates at the Central Library's Literary Festival and; the World Bank and Caribbean Development Bank review Saint Lucia's project implementation performance For details on these stories and more, visit www.govt.lc

We pride ourselves on being a platform where diverse perspectives on urgent issues in Bali, the region, and around the globe can be shared with clarity, nuance, and respect.With the latest ceasefire and hostage deal between Hamas and Israel, we invite you to revisit our panel discussion with award-winning author and human rights lawyer Sara M. Saleh, prominent author and Palestine's former Minister of Culture Atef Abu Saif, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at the Australian National University Amin Saikal, and lecturer at Reichman University Dr. Ori Goldberg. Together, they seek to understand the dire impact by exploring the historical roots, critical events, and pivotal moments shaping this enduring conflict.Recorded live from #UWRF24 and moderated by journalist Hannah Lucinda Smith, this extraordinary talk is now available on YouTube, Spotify, and Simplecast.Join us to shape Indonesia's literary future!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubudwritersfest/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UbudWritersFestX (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/ubudwritersfestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ubudwritersfestVisit our website: https://www.ubudwritersfestival.comJoin our newsletter: https://www.ubudwritersfestival.com/subscribe/

We look back at the Charleston Literary Festival in South Carolina. Its roots lie in Charleston House in the UK, home of radical writers, artists and thinkers. Georgina Godwin speaks to executive director Sarah Moriarty and artistic director Diana Reich about the origin of the festival. Plus: development director Suzanne Pollak, co-founder of the Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits, shares her thoughts on the reading community in the US.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week is the finale of our writing as activism series at the 2024 Pa Gya! Literary Festival (https://writersprojectghana.com/pagyafest/). It has been such a pleasure bringing the works and words of these writers to a wider audience. It has been a wonderful multi-generational compilation of wisdom across genres. Joining us this week is Ivana Akotowaa Ofori, a Ghanaian storyteller known also by the alias, “The Spider Kid.” She is a weaver of words in many forms, including fiction, non-fiction and spoken-word poetry. Akotowaa has been nominated for various awards for her prose writing. Her work is included in the Flash Fiction Ghana anthology, Kenkey for Ewes and Other Very Short Stories, and the Writivism anthology, And Morning Will Come. She is also included in the Africa Risen Anthology 2022 (http://Tor.com) with her short story, “Exiles of Witchery”. Akotowaa's debut novella, The Year of Return (2023) (https://www.android-press.com/product-page/the-year-of-return-paperback) has been published in the US with Android Press and in West Africa with Smartline Publishers. Writing aside, Akotowaa spends much of her time looking for excuses to make everything purple and this imaginative, playful spirit definitely shines through our conversation. Where to find Akotowaa? On Akotowaa's Blog (https://akotowaa.wordpress.com/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivana-akotowaa-ofori-60b54620a/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/akotowaa/?hl=en) On X (https://x.com/_akotowaa?lang=en) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Akotowaavimusic/) What's Akotowaa watching? Dr. Who (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who) Sherlock (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_(TV_series)) What's Akotowaa reading? The Color Purple by Alica Walker (https://alicewalkersgarden.com/books/book-the-color-purple/) How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair (https://safiyasinclair.com/home-how-to-say-babylon) Saltwater Slavery by Stephanie E. Smallwood (https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674030688) Manchester Happened by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (https://jennifermakumbi.net/portfolio-item/manchester-happened-lets-tell-this-story-properly/) Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie (https://www.peacemedie.com) Other topics of interest: Black Girls Glow (https://blackgirlsglow.org) and the KOSHKA Sound Residency (https://youtu.be/NAG6rKJEoE4?si=NScETAJX-wS8lMDf) Burma Camp, Accra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana_Armed_Forces) About Roald Dahl (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roald_Dahl) Ananasesem (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1762627273941978&id=142243112647077&set=a.1201015243436520#) About Kente Cloth (https://umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/teacher-resources/games-crafts/kente-cloth-project/#:~:text=The%20origin%20is%20explained%20in,use%20materials%20to%20weave%20kente.) Special Guest: Ivana Akotowaa Ofori.

Listen to an urgent conversation from this year's festival featuring renowned best-selling authors Amitav Ghosh, Sathnam Sanghera, and Isna Marifa as they explored the history of European colonialism and its outcomes. Their dialogue challenged the notion that history is settled and delved into how the legacies of colonialism continue to shape our social, political, and economic landscapes.To watch the full session, visit our website at ubudwritersfestival.com/media, or click the link in our bio to listen to this session on podcast platforms Spotify and Simplecast.Join us to shape Indonesia's literary future!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ubudwritersfest/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UbudWritersFestX (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/ubudwritersfestTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ubudwritersfestVisit our website: https://www.ubudwritersfestival.comJoin our newsletter: https://www.ubudwritersfestival.com/subscribe/

Today's Rosebud is an enormously entertaining talk given by Gyles at the Henley Literary Festival. Ostensibly about Gyles's books - Prose and Cons, a History of the English Language in Just a Minute, and Breaking the Code: Gyles's diaries from his days as an MP - this talk is actually much more than that. In true Gyles style, it is full of amazing anecdotes, beginning with some brilliant stories about Dame Maggie Smith, who died the day before this talk was given. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this fun hour with the master raconteur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greetings Glocal Citizens! We are nearing the end of our Writing As Activism series @ the 2024 Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra. This week, Ghanaian writer and editor winning acclaim as a children's author, poet, broadcaster and novelist, Nii Ayikwei Parkes joins the conversation. Winner of multiple international awards including the ACRAG (Arts Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana) award, his novel Tail of the Blue Bird won France's two major prizes for translated fiction – Prix Baudelaire and Prix Laure Bataillon – in 2014. Nii Ayikwei is the founder of flipped eye publishing (https://flippedeye.net), a leading small press; serves on the boards of World Literature Today and the AKO Caine Prize; and was chair of judges for the 2020 Commonwealth Prize. Translated in multiple languages, he has also written for National Geographic, Financial Times, the Guardian and Lonely Planet. His most recent books are The Ga Picture Alphabet and Azúcar (https://www.peepaltreepress.com/books/azucar), a novel. Currently Producer of Literature and Talks at Brighton Festival, he is also author of two collections of poetry The Makings of You (2010) and The Geez (2020), both published by Peepal Tree Press. In this conversation, we journey with Nii Ayikwei through his works, his entreprenuership, his love for food and rum, and much more! See Nii in converation at Pa Gya! here (https://www.youtube.com/live/fEFByAZDgwo?si=Cp2R4hSp5XcNiOva). Where to find Nii Ayikwei? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/niiayikwei/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/niiayikweiparkes/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ayikweiparkes/) On X (https://x.com/BlueBirdTail) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/NiiParkes_A) On Tik Tok (https://www.tiktok.com/@niiayikweiparkes) On BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/niiayikwei.bsky.social/post/3kbj5pcnbso2l) What's Nii Ayikwei listening to? Gene Noble (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCRUMqB8CNGlFwJpwjALL-w) Blues Man Robert Cray (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cray) The Roots (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roots) Cody Chesnutt + The Roots (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKw_umLS56A) and Headphone Masterpiece (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Headphone_Masterpiece) Nii's Pan-African Activism essential reading list: Howard W. French, Born In Blackness (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/26/born-in-blackness-howard-w-french-review-africa-africans-and-the-making-of-the-modern-world) Mongo Beti's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongo_Beti), The Poor Christ of Bomba (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poor_Christ_of_Bomba) Ama Atta Aidoo's, No Sweetness Here (https://www.feministpress.org/books-n-z/no-sweetness) Franz Fanon, Black Skin, White Mask (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Skin,_White_Masks) You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town (https://web.facebook.com/watch/?v=804875960113686), Zoë Wicomb Kofi Awoonor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Awoonor), This Earth My Brother Other topics of interest: Historic Jamestown, Accra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamestown/Usshertown,_Accra) Oto Blohum, Old Accra (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/geography/old_accra.php#google_vignette) North Kaneshie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaneshie#:~:text=Kaneshie%20is%20a%20suburb%20in,beginnings%20as%20a%20night%20market.) Thornton Heath, UK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thornton_Heath) About Courttia Newland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courttia_Newland) Learn more about Nii's uncle Frank Kobina Parkes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Kobina_Parkes) Nkyinkyim (https://www.adinkrasymbols.org/symbols/nkyinkyim/#:~:text=Nkyinkyim%20is%20an%20Akan%20word,symbol%20of%20dedication%20to%20service.) in the Adinkra (https://www.adinkrasymbols.org) On Ghana's Chop Bars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chop_bar) About Spanish-Caribbean Rum (https://www.gotostcroix.com/st-croix-blog/spirited-history-caribbean-rum/) About Rhum Agricole (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhum_agricole) Special Guest: Nii Ayikwei Parkes.

New Month Greetings Glocal Citizens! The first Tuesday in November represents the official US election day. As polling evolves for higher participation and greater inclusion, most states offer early voting so millions have already cast thier votes. Throughout this year of elections across the globe, the build up to the two where I have a say, the United States and Ghana, has played a critical role in inspiring my most activist self to move the dial in different ways toward manifesting a new world. Coincidentally, this week on the podcast kicks off our Writing as Activism series in coordination with the Pa Gya! Literary Festival in Accra. Recorded live at the eighth installment of the festivaland in the days that followed, starting the panel, Writing as Activism: Ghanaian Voices and Pan-African Perspectives Across Genres, the conversation starts with a distinguished voices covering works of poetry, screenwriting, and nonfiction scholarship with: Nicole Amarteifio is an acclaimed Ghanaian-American TV/film writer, director, and producer. She successfully launched the hit web series 'An African City' - dubbed by CNN and the BBC as Africa's answer to ‘Sex and the City'. Returning Glocal Citizen, Nydia A. Swaby is a Black feminist artist, researcher and curator. Her practice engages archives, autoethnography, photography, the moving image, and the imagination to explore the gendered, diasporic and affective dimensions of Black being and becoming. In addition to curating artistic programmes, she creates visual narratives, research and performance texts. Nydia's first book, Amy Ashwood Garvey and the Future of Black Feminist Archives, was published by Lawrence Wishart in October 2024 as part of LW's Radical Black Women book series. She is also developing an artist film, Amy and Me in the Archive, which will be screened at the forthcoming Singapore International Photography Festival 2024. And Poet Laureate of Jamaica, Kwame Dawes, author of numerous books of poetry and other books of fiction, criticism, and essays. His most recent collection is Sturge Town (Peepal Tree Press, UK 2023). Dawes is Professor of Literary Arts at Brown University. He teaches in the Pacific MFA Program and is the Series Editor of the African Poetry Book Series, Director of the African Poetry Book Fund, and Artistic Director of the Calabash International Literary Festival. He is a Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Kwame Dawes is the winner of the prestigious Windham/Campbell Award for Poetry and was a finalist for the 2022 Neustadt International Prize for Literature. In 2022 Dawes was awarded the Order of Distinction Commander class by the Government of Jamaica. He is the Poet Laureate of Jamaica (2024-2027). Click through to find out more about the Pa Gya! Literary Festival and the Writer's Project Ghana (https://writersprojectghana.com/pagyafest/) and watch this and other festival panels at WPGTV (https://www.youtube.com/@wpgtv3685). Where to find Nicole? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleamarteifio/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amerleyproductions/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/nicolelovesghana/?_rdc=1&_rdr) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/AnAfricanCity) On X (https://x.com/allthingsafrica) Where to find Kwame? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwame-dawes-2a23943b/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kwame.dawes/?hl=en) On X (https://x.com/kwamedawes?lang=en) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/KwameDawes/?_rdc=1&_rdr) Where to find Nydia? On Glocal Citizens (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nydia-swaby) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nydia-a-swaby-85a04132/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nydiaswaby/) On X (https://x.com/NydiaSwaby) Other topics of interest and the Essential Pan-African Activism reading list coming soon! *This audio recording has been edited for clarity from the original video recording. Special Guests: Kwame Dawes, Nicole Amarteifio, and Nydia Swaby.

She also tells Jeff Douglas about the inspiration behind a tree parade that will be part of a day of programming just for kids. More info at https://afterwordsliteraryfestival.com/

Sarah Binchy discusses the literary festival Echoes that celebrates the legacy of her aunt, Irish novelist and playwright, Maeve Binchy, alongside the best in Irish writing and contemporary writers.

Sarah Binchy, Maeve's Niece and RTÉ Producer

Sayed Kashua, an Arab Israeli novelist and newspaper columnist based in Boston, is best-known internationally as the creator of hit TV series, most recently "Madrasa," about a bilingual school in Jerusalem where Palestinians and Israelis try to find a common ground. He will be at the WIT Festival on 9/28.

Last year's inaugural Brontë Festival in Kilkee was clearly a great success, because it is making its return for 2024! The second Brontë Festival will take place from the 13th to the 15th of September in Culturlann Sweeney in Kilkee. For more on this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Yvonne McGann. Photo (c): Kilkee Civic Trust via Facebook

While Salem's usually known this time of year for getting a bit spooky, there's a lot of excitement for another big festival, and this one's all for the lovers of the written word! This year's Salem Literary Festival runs from September 4-8, both online and in-person, with all sorts of fun and informative events for bibliophiles and aspiring writers. Nichole speaks with Jean Marie Procious, Executive Director of the Salem Athenaeum, author Betty Cayouette, and WBZ-AM alum/Salem Lit Fest Committee Member Diane Stern about this family-friendly event!

The Authors Guild Foundation's WIT: Words, Ideas, and Thinkers Literary Festival will return next month to Lenox, MA and explore the theme: The Power of Words: Why Writers Matter. It runs from Friday, September 27 - Sunday, September 29th. Marie Arana, President of the Authors Guild Foundation Board of Directors, will join us this morning for a preview.Marie Arana is a prizewinning author, critic, and former Literary Director of the Library of Congress.

Made in Colorado: a Berthoud Literary Festival will take place September 20 to 22, 2024. Get a sneak peek at what's coming in this short episode, and get ready to welcome great authors to the Berthoud community.

Listen to the highlights of the Chesham Literary Festival poetry competition awards ceremony held at the Town Hall, Chesham on 12th July 2024. It was a great evening. Many thanks to the four judges - Emily Townsend, Valerie Jack, Ben Batten & Jon Bickley, with additional thanks to Mark Jackson-Hancock and Pemby.  Invisible Folk is proud of the brilliant volunteers, poetry competition winners, commended poets, families and friends who made our awards ceremony such a success. Keep an eye on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/invisiblefolkltd for future competitions and events.

Around 85,000 people attended over 160 events at the Auckland Writers Fest - its biggest showing yet in its 25-year history.

Will SA voters change the political landscape in this year's election?Is this the beginning of the end for the ANC and what will a coalition nation look like? Crystal Orderson speaks to Dr Oscar Van Heerden who was part of a political discourse panel today at the Franschoek Literary Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Sunday authors from around the province will gather to showcase their work at the annual Sparks Literary Festival. To tell us more we were joined by one of the festival's featured authors Trudy Morgan Cole. Also joining us was Joshua Goudie, communications advisor with the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at MUN, who are the festival's organizers.

The Culture Tree founder Anu Sehgal has organized the first ever AAPI Children's Literary Festival with The Asia Society in New York City. Kanika chats with Anu on her journey building her organization, rooted in celebrating culture and strengthening the community. She also interviews featured author and food reporter Priya Krishna on her latest children's cookbook which was inspired by her travels and favorite foods as a kid.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg is an SMU professor who hails from Pumpkin Bend, Arkansas. He's also the lead singer for Beekeeper Spaceman and the editor of the Southwest Review. It is under the auspices of the latter that he is launching a new literary festival. Frontera runs April 12 and 13 in three Oak Cliff venues (Wild Detectives, the Texas Theatre, and the Kessler Theater). So we talked with Greg about how you stage a lit fest that feels less like homework and more like a party. And we talked about one of the most amazing physical feats ever performed in the city of Arkadelphia (by him).  If you have a minute, throw us some stars and write a review of the podcast. Then subscribe to D Magazine. Print makes the podcast possible. 

Anu Seghal is a children's author and the founder of The Culture Tree, a cultural literacy and language education company that celebrates South Asian culture. Priya Krishna is a food reporter and video host for the New York Times and the best-selling author of multiple cookbooks, including Indian-Ish and Cooking at Home. Her latest book is Priya's Kitchen Adventures. The Culture Tree will be hosting their first annual AAPI Children's Literary Festival in collaboration with the Asia Society. This is a unique gathering place for writers, illustrators, publishers, and fans of AAPI literary works. It features readings, meet-and-greet sessions with authors like Priya, illustrators, panel discussions, and writing workshops, engaging the youth with the full diversity of South Asian culture.Anu and Priya delve deep into how The Culture Tree and the AAPI Literary Fest will help immerse children in South Asian culture through the love of reading and food. We talk about the importance of food in our culture and what comfort food we still love, Anu shares her journey with The Culture Tree , and Priya discusses how her dad gets stopped at Costco to discuss his recipes that are now shared worldwide.The AAPI Children's Literary Festival will be in person Saturday, May 11th from 1 to 5 p.m. at 725 Park Avenue, New York City. What we talked about:Growing the Culture Tree: Anu breaks down the Culture Tree's mission of celebration and education + the importance Anu places on the languages of South Asia + how South Asian culture is one of the most diverse in the world and the need to celebrate it all + the heartwarming support the Culture Tree receives from the wider community (3:28)Anu's Journey: Growing up in an inter-religious, multilingual family and her passion for teaching South Asian languages + how having children inspired her to challenge South Asian stereotypes + her pride in seeing her kids haggling in a Delhi bazaar (7:33)Lit Fest: Putting Kids First: The original inspiration for the Lit Fest + TikTok and teaching middle schoolers the lost art of recipe reading + having children do their own writing and illustrating + how children run their panel discussion in the Festival (18:12)Priya's Kitchen Adventures: How Priya's created an interactive cookbook that normalizes South Asian cooking from a young age + how she came to be involved in the Lit Fest + how she refused to bring Indian food to school so she could fit in + how she first promoted Indian cooking + celebrating the support she has received from Madhur Jaffrey and other South Asian cooking experts (23:15)Priya's Further Adventures: Priya describes how her local Mutai shop was her first New York Times project + Her pride in her YouTube videos highlighting the unseen labor in the food industry + her latest project exploring identity beyond the South Asian American paradigm + her parents suddenly becoming famous (30:51)Final Goals: Anu and Priya express their hopes to promote the Lit Fest annually for children as young as five as well as middle schoolers + their wish for parents to join in the fun (35:17)Rapid Fire Round: (37:43)Anu's Bucket List: (40:39)Priya's Bucket List: (40:46)Connect with Anu:LinkedinThe Culture TreeInstagram Connect with Priya:WebsiteInstagramLinkedinTwitterYouTubeLet's talk Connect:Instagram This podcast is produced by Ginni Media.

David Atwell spearheads engaging discussions and readings at the Books onthe Bay festival, featuring over 40 renowned writers like Ivan Vladislavić andC.A. Davids, offering a vibrant literary experience with 28 diverse events.booksonthebay.co.zaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey book lovers, welcome back to Stories in Two!

From registration (which is absolutely free) to an exciting lineup of authors, I'll share everything you need to know.  Can't make it live?  No worries – we're also offering two fantastic replay options for your convenience.  This episode continues as we delve into the festival program and schedule.  Get a sneak peek into captivating sessions like 'Seasons Readings,' 'Mystery, Suspense, and Thrillers,' and the 'Hidden Gems Happy Hour.'  By the end of the conversation, you'll have a clear picture of the festival and be eagerly counting the days till all the events kick off.  I can't wait to see you there!FESTIVAL INFO & LINKS:- Join us from September 21st - 23rd, 2023.- Get more information about replays here.   Use promo code: "EARLY20" for 20% off replays before 9/17.  This will support the festival, and you can binge-watch at your leisure.- For more information about the festival, epigraphlitfest.com.SHOW NOTES & BOOKLIST:Find the episode show notes and a list of all the books mentioned here.MORE RESOURCES:Visit bibliolifestyle.com for more information and resources to help you in your reading journey.THE BIBLIOLIFESTYLE 2023 FALL READING GUIDEGet ready for a cozy fall reading season! Download your free copy of the guide when you visit fallreadingguide.com. This year's guide has thirty books organized across nine categories, plus fun recipes, fall activities, lifestyle tips, classic books, and a fun challenge. So download your free copy and discover your next favorite book! EPIGRAPH LITERARY FESTIVALMark your calendars, register to attend, and join us from September 21st - 23rd, 2023, for a fun virtual event! Watch authors share their new books, attend lifestyle-themed sessions, and join our fun literary happy hours! For more information visit: epigraphlitfest.com. See you there! BIBLIOLIFESTYLE COMMUNITY & BYOB CLUBRead a good book recently? Join our members-only Community & Bring Your Own Book (BYOB) Club and tell us about it! Here we read what we want, make friends, and encourage each other along the way. Attend our online book club, seasonally-themed happenings, get exclusive content, plus more!

On this week's episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: a summer reading conundrum, and a box full of galleys Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: best practices and encouragement for attending a literary festival and meeting authors The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you'd like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don't scroll down!  We are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site). The goal here is to increase accessibility for our fans! *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a small portion of your purchase will come back to us to help offset the costs of the show. If you'd prefer to shop on Amazon, you can still do so here through our main storefront. Anything you buy there (even your laundry detergent, if you recently got obsessed with switching up your laundry game) kicks a small amount back to us. Thanks for your support!*   . . . . 1:10 - It's time to send in your listener presses!  Make a voice memo on your phone. Tell us your name, where you're from and the title and author of the book you'd like to press. Use the phrase “Here's the setup” and tell us why you love it! Please keep it under 3 minutes. Email us your voice memo at currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Press” as the subject. DEADLINE JUNE 22 3:17 - Bookish Moment of the Week 5:09 - Libby 5:10 - Hoopla 5:11 - Scribd 5:12 - Audible 7:05 - Elizabeth Barnhill @wacoreads on Instagram 7:37 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 8:14  - Current Reads 8:32 - Currently Reading Patreon 8:44 - Capital Books on K 9:25 - The Swifts by Beth Lincoln (Meredith) 13:58 - Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls (Kaytee) 14:07 - Parnassus Books 14:12 - Parnassus Books on Instagram 14:13 - Parnassus Books on TikTok 17:13 - All the Queen's Men by S.J. Bennett (Meredith) 20:54 - The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett 21:08 - How to Human by Carlos Whittaker (Kaytee) 21:18 - @loswhit on Instagram 24:55 - The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (Meredith) 27:27 - The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James 29:34 - Home Before Dark by Riley Sager 30:16 - Happy Place by Emily Henry (Kaytee) 35:24 - Deep Dive: Literary Festivals, Book Signings, and Meeting Authors, Oh My! 35:58 - CR Season 5, Episode 42 36:08 - Prepping for a Literary Festival Get on their mailing list Figure out which events you want to attend, because some run concurrently and you have to choose! Coordinate with others attending!  47:58 - An Immense World by Ed Yong 49:44 - Meet Us At The Fountain 51:19 - I wish everyone would find their Swift name! (Meredith) 52:08 - I (Megan) am in fact okay with Cardon Swift. I am slightly large, kind of prickly, and do also have my pretty side.  52:30 - Mary is Marketable Swift 52:55 - Roxanna is Shrill Swift  54:04 - I wish to win at summer reading. (Kaytee) Connect With Us: Meredith is @meredith.reads on Instagram Kaytee is @notesonbookmarks on Instagram Mary is @maryreadsandsips on Instagram Roxanna is @roxannathereader on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast.com @currentlyreadingpodcast on Instagram currentlyreadingpodcast@gmail.com Support us at patreon.com/currentlyreadingpodcast and www.zazzle.com/store/currentlyreading