Podcasts about Peak District

Matt Hill discusses with Ivan six things which should be better known. Matt Hill is the Philip K. Dick Award-nominated author of Lamb, The Breach, Zero Bomb, Graft, and The Folded Man. He lives in Glossop, on the edge of the Peak District. His new novel is Wrecks, which is available at https://deadinkbooks.com/products/wrecks-matt-hill. You have to rinse the suds off your dishes when you've washed them. Sounds trite, even silly, but it's true, and there's a deeper point around my wife gently challenging me re mental load of managing childcare and housework Phil Collins was a phenomenal drummer. Before his 80s ballads, Phil was writing wildly inventive drum parts. Brand X, early Genesis, mad time signatures, technically brilliant. We are surrounded by free food – some of it weeds! Family walks now involve stopping every ten seconds to pick at leaves or berries. Foraging used to be common and now, obviously, isn't. Nettles factoid, hawthorn ketchup, pig nuts, pineapple weed tea... The moors of the Peak District are dotted with WW2 aircraft wreckage you can just walk up to. During and after the Second World War, dozens of planes crashed on the hills of the Peak District. Many of those wrecks are still there, including the Bleaklow Bomber. Amazing, raw history – feels rare for it not to be sanitised or in a museum It takes a scarily long time to stop when you're doing 80mph. A recent speed awareness course changed my perception of driving, especially residual speeds. By the time a car going at 70mph has stopped, a car braking from 80mph is still doing 40mph – eek In England, we only have legal access to a tiny amount of land. Free access to the countryside was fought for, and often won, by mass trespass Yet we still only have access to something like 10% of land and 3% of waterways; the rest is enclosed, bounded away, or requires us to pay. This podcast is powered by ZenCast.fm

In this episode, Amy sits down with Posture Ellie, a posture specialist based in the Peak District of England, whose work bridges movement, awareness, and human transformation.Ellie shares her personal journey from corporate burnout and disconnection to discovering yoga as a turning point—one that ultimately led her to specialize in posture as a powerful, accessible entry point into healing.Together, they explore a central reframe: posture is not about “standing up straight.” It is about how the body moves, adapts, and expresses lived experience.What You'll Hear in This EpisodePosture as a Living System Ellie challenges the common idea of posture as rigid alignment. Instead, she describes posture as fluid, responsive movement—an expression of how well the body functions as an integrated whole.From Symptoms to Root Cause Rather than chasing tension or pain, posture work invites us to restore movement where it has been lost. This shift moves the work from symptom relief toward deeper resolution.Interoception as a Learned Language Amy and Ellie discuss how body awareness is not immediate—it develops over time. Many people begin disconnected from sensation and gradually learn to “read” their body through consistent practice.The Missing Middle of Movement Modern life often swings between stillness (desk, car, couch) and intensity (gym, running). Ellie highlights the importance of restoring gentle, everyday movement—the “middle ground” our bodies are designed for.Patterns of Stress in the Body The conversation explores two common expressions of stress:Over-efforting / rigidity (often high-achieving, driven individuals)Collapse / withdrawal (protective, energy-conserving patterns)Both influence breathing, posture, and nervous system regulation in distinct ways.Breath, Posture, and the Nervous System Postural patterns directly affect breathing mechanics. Restricted diaphragmatic breathing can reinforce stress responses, while restoring breath capacity can support regulation.From Numbness to Feeling A powerful theme in this episode is the movement from disconnection to awareness. Many people initially feel “nothing,” only to later recognize long-held tension and emotion as awareness grows.Posture as a Gateway to Self-Relationship Over time, posture work becomes more than physical. It becomes a way of listening, responding, and relating to oneself with greater clarity and care.Key InsightPosture is not something you hold. It is something that emerges when the body is supported, responsive, and free to move.About the GuestPosture Ellie is a posture specialist and educator helping people reduce pain, improve movement, and reconnect with their bodies. Her work draws from yoga, the Egoscue Method, and a deep understanding of how modern lifestyles shape the human body.She is the author of Posture Power, a practical and empowering guide to understanding and improving posture.Website: www.posture-ellie.comInstagram: @postureellieBook: Posture Power → https://watkinspublishinglinks.com/posture-powerContact Amy Wheeler:www.TheOptimalState.com Optimal State App for iPhone:https://apps.apple.com/us/app/optimal-state/id1604424804 The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yoga-therapy-hour-with-amy-wheeler/id1564687158 School of Integrative Health at NDMU:https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health Master of Science in Yoga Therapy at NDMU:https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy Explore NDMU's Post-Master's Certificate in Therapeutic Yoga Practices, designed specifically for licensed healthcare professionals:https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/yoga-therapy/post-masters-certificate-in-therapeutic-yoga-practices Try our Post-Bac Ayurveda Certification Program at NDMU:https://www.ndm.edu/academics/integrative-health/ayurveda/post-baccalaureate-ayurveda-certification #IntegrativeHealth #HealthcareEducation #InterprofessionalEducation #GraduateSchool #NDMUproud #SOIHproud #SOIHYoga #SOIHAyurveda #NDMUYoga #NDMUAyurveda #SOIHGraduateSchool Our new book-  https://www.amazon.com/Applying-Therapeutic-Yoga-Integrative-Health/dp/1032888628/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RFZ3L5MCCNPH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.I7harQDOLulfRbd3dx2vVa5VUZa840PHcWB7dDiT3_bB2nravzO7_9Xs9shMhcy2Iwu0wtTA1PxeUG4TTugEQJuK_OEpvzQ-OyVvtsUkXsc.ViqLrL-EQPX7s09wZF6_2eCpLCimHa7Ohfbw-F7Yuk4&dib_tag=se&keywords=applications+in+therapeutic+yoga+wheeler&qid=1775224796&sprefix=applications+in+therapeutic+yoga+wheele%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

This week's episode is a little different.A few weeks ago, a group of us took on a 53km challenge across the Peak District to raise money for Menopause and Cancer. Somewhere between the hills, the aching feet, the snack stops and plenty of laughter, I had this feeling that I wanted to ‘bottle up' some of the conversations and the energy we had - to bring it to you.So, instead of an expert interview, I thought I'd invite you to come along for the post-walk chat with us.You'll hear honest conversations, a few giggles, reflections on why community matters so much after cancer...and yes, the story of why I ended up feeling rather guilty about keeping hold of one of the prizes that had been donated for our walkers. Let's just say...it involved a rather unexpected gift from our lovely Dr Angela Wright!This episode is a reminder that healing doesn't only happen in clinic rooms. Sometimes it happens when you're walking alongside people who simply understand.Whether you've been listening for four weeks or four years, thank you for being part of this community.And if today's episode leaves you wishing you were there with us, why not join our London Bridges Challenge on 12 September? We'd absolutely love to welcome you. Or perhaps you'll even be tempted by the whispers of an even bigger challenge next year…? You can also take on a challenge anywhere in the world too!Who's in?

Richard Bailey from the Peak District Moorland Group calls the wildfires burning across Derbyshire a 'fire wave'. He speaks to Charlie Jacoby in the 2026 Carter Jonas Game Fair Theatre about what the Westminster government can do about it. Read and listen to the full story on Scribehound  Find the Peak District Moorland Group on Facebook   

Rochelle talks us through a 41-day UK road trip from Bath to the Scottish Highlands and back to London, sharing what worked, what surprised her, and how planning early made the whole trip calmer. We swap honest notes on UK driving, smart booking tactics, and the tours, meals and accidental stops that turned into lifelong memories.Planning a long UK itinerary without trying to do too muchLeaving Heathrow before the Easter crowds and saving London for the endCoping with UK driving as visitors, from narrow lanes to complex roundaboutsUsing phone navigation when the in-car sat nav falls shortThe full route: Salisbury, Bath, the Cotswolds, the Peak District, the Lake District, Northumberland, Skye, Inverness, Pitlochry, Berwick-upon-Tweed, York and LondonFavourite moments: the Old Man of Storr at sunrise, York food finds, a surprise stop at St AbbsAn accommodation mix including a castle stay and a standout manor hotelA laundry strategy for multi-week travel, from washing machines to heated towel railsUK food highlights: Sunday roasts, scones, Scotch egg, haggis, black pudding, Irn-Bru and ciderLondon experiences: early Tower of London entry, a food and pub walking tour, and meeting fellow listenersDiscover Real London black cab tours for orientation, photography and a James Bond and Ted Lasso trip to RichmondIf you've enjoyed the show, why not leave us feedback via text or a review on your favourite podcast app? Share it with anyone planning their own UK road trip. We love to hear from you, and you never know, you may receive a shout out in a future episode.⭐️ Guest - Rochelle C

My guest in this episode is May Ling Thomas. May Ling lives in London with her husband and two daughters, who are 13 and 10, and who have always been unschooled. May Ling came across the idea of unschooling when her oldest was still a baby, and it felt a natural fit with how she and her husband wanted to raise their children. We talk about what this all looks like and, of course, all the unlearning we have to do. I hope you enjoy the conversation.Connect with May Ling:https://www.maylingthomas.com/May Ling co-organises the Freedom to Learn forum, which will take place August 13th-17th in the Peak District, UK. See the links below for more information and to book your ticket. Tickets: https://dandelion.events/e/c27isWebsite https://www.freedomtolearn.uk/If you'd like to support the podcast and the sharing of these stories, you can do that here.   Thank you!The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself. A Mindful Guide to Embracing a New Way of Living and Learning With Your ChildYou can sign up for weekly resources around unschooling and mindful parenting at:www.esther-jones.comOr, connect with me onSubstack: https://substack.com/@estherjonesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/estherjones.beyondschoolFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnschoolSpace

James Gilboy has quite a family story, from his childhood in the Peak District, where he always loved farming and animals, through the sale of his family's successful bakery business to the recent search for the perfect home, where they could restore an historic estate. The place they found, dating back to 1550, sits in a secluded valley threaded with barns, private lakes and ancient woodland on the periphery of the South Downs and, most importantly, enabled them to introduce regenerative farming. Mark Simpson, who's son has a part time job at the Bramshott farm, asked James to tell him about his current and future plans with their deer, cows, lambs, pigs and chickens, as well as improvements to the eco system, employing local talent and launching hospitality and simulated shoots at Downlands. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philippa is joined by three brilliant crime writers — Abir Mukherjee, Jane Casey, and Sarah Hilary — to talk all about St Hilda's Crime Fiction Weekend, the unique Oxford crime fiction event running 4th–6th September. Each guest is allotted a school role (head girl, school council rep, and chair stacker) which determines the questions they're asked — and the chaos that follows is exactly as fun as it sounds.

Chatsworth House is one of England's most spectacular stately homes.And in this episode, I'm taking you inside one of the Peak District's most iconic landmarks. You'll learn about its fascinating history, explore the grand rooms and beautiful gardens, discover filming locations from Pride & Prejudice and other productions, and get plenty of practical tips to help you plan your own visit. I'll also share why I think Chatsworth is worth visiting even though it's one of the busier sights in the Peak District. From avoiding the busiest times to making the most of the gardens, estate walks, farm shop, and nearby trails, this episode will help you experience Chatsworth House at a slower, more enjoyable pace.Want to chat more about Chatsworth House?Contact me at Lynne@WanderYourWay.comIn this episode:1:56: Intro2:44: Placing Chatworth House on the map3:30: History6:22: Rooms you can visit11:29: Logistics & advice13:38: The Garden18:27: Nearby trails & parking20:04: Additional planning considerations26:22: Wrapping it upImportant links:Chatsworth HouseDiscovering the Diverse and Beautiful Peak District EnglandWander Your WayWander Your Way AdventuresWander Your Way ResourcesEagle Creek ★ Support this podcast ★

What happens when you step off a train at Edale and ask, "How do I get to the countryside?"For writer, artist and creator of Heath & Mud, Sarah Calcutt, that simple question led to a lifelong relationship with Kinder Scout, the Peak District and a whole new creative life.In this episode of Wild About Kinder, Sarah shares how a chance visit to Kinder Scout sparked a deep love of walking, folklore, history, storytelling and printmaking. We talk about the joy of exploring hidden corners of the plateau, why she's drawn to mysterious places like the Aztec Rock, and how one lino-cut kit discovered in a drawer eventually became Heath & Mud - a community zine that has already raised thousands of pounds for Peak District causes.This conversation wanders through moorland paths, place names, ancient stories, creativity and belonging, revealing why Kinder Scout continues to offer something new every single time she returns.In this episodeSarah's unforgettable first visit to Kinder Scout after arriving by train in Edale.Why the Aztec Rock is her favourite on Kinder.Stepping off the paths and into the wild heart of the Kinder plateau.Why accessible paths can help more people fall in love with the People's Hill.The surprising ways Kinder Scout led Sarah into folklore, history, art and storytelling.The story behind Heath & Mud and how a homemade zine became a thriving creative community.Why Sarah believes in "just having a go."The hidden stories behind Peak District place names.How Kinder continues to surprise her, even after years of exploring.A favourite quote"Kinder Scout offered me something that I didn't even really know I was looking for."Mentioned in this episodeHaddon Hall https://www.haddonhall.co.uk/Edale Mountain Rescue Team – the volunteer rescue team supporting walkers across the Peak District, and one of the first charities to benefit from donations from Heath & Mud.https://edalemrt.co.uk/Landscape Trees – a charity restoring native trees and woodland across the White Peak, supported through sales of the White Peak edition of Heath & Mud.https://landscapetrees.org/Weird Walk – the beautifully produced walking zine celebrating folklore, history and curious landscapes that helped inspire Sarah's own publishing journey.https://www.weirdwalk.co.uk/The South Yorkshire Moors by Christopher Goddard – an excellent guide to the landscapes, history and folklore of the eastern Dark Peak, including the stories behind Win Hill and Lose Hill.https://christophergoddard.net/product/the-south-yorkshire-moors/About Sarah CalcuttSarah is the creator and editor of Heath & Mud, an independent Peak District zine celebrating walking, landscape, folklore, history and creativity. Through writing, linocut printmaking and collaboration with artists, photographers and writers, Heath & Mud has become a growing community project that has donated thousands of pounds back to Peak District conservation and community organisations.LinksHeath and Mud: https://heathandmud.bigcartel.com/Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heath.and.mud/Enjoyed this episode?If you enjoyed this conversation, please consider following Wild About Kinder, leaving a review, or sharing the episode with someone who loves Kinder Scout and the Peak District as much as you do.Every share helps more people discover the stories, history and wild beauty of Kinder Scout.Send in your own Kinder Scout stories on the Wild About Kinder website and contact the show host to send in your comments, questions and suggestions.Subscribe to the Wild About Kinder newsletter and send in your contributions.Share your favourite episodes by tagging @about.the.adventure on Instagram and use the hashtag #WildAboutKinder. Thank you!Recording dateThis interview was recorded on Kinder Scout, 14th May 2026.Host & ProductionBy Sarah Lister, About The AdventureContact the hostYou can email sarah@sarahventurer.com to send in your comments.

Wandering Works for Us PodcastDate: 4 July 2026Title: The Cotswolds Road Trip: Cathedrals, Gin, and SheepSummary of EpisodeWe pick up where the Oxford episode left off and head into the Cotswolds, basing ourselves in the tiny village of Longborough at Lime Cottage. Along the way, we fall hard for Longborough Gin, take a day trip into Gloucester to see the cathedral (Harry Potter fans, this one's for you), and have a few white-knuckle moments learning to drive England's narrow country roads.We also spend our days wandering Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, and a miniature model village straight out of The Borrowers. We wrap up with thoughts on what they'd do differently next time and a preview of what's coming: Bakewell, the Peak District, and Haddon Hall.Key TopicsWhy they chose Longborough as a home base, and their stay at Lime CottageLongborough Gin — discovered at the village shop, and now a mission to find in PortugalGloucester Cathedral: the whispering gallery, the cloisters used in Harry Potter, and a nearly 1,000-year historyA stop at a Gloucester shop hand-weaving wicker casketsLearning to drive on narrow English country roads (and being very glad for full coverage insurance)Bourton-on-the-Water: the "Venice of the Cotswolds," why weekends and tour buses can ruin the charm, and tips for timing your visitThe Bourton-on-the-Water Model Village — a faithful miniature recreation built from real Cotswold stoneStow-on-the-Wold: their favorite stop, including shopping at Woolovers, dinner at The Porch, and a Mother's Day Sunday roast at The StagThe "Tolkien Door" church in Stow-on-the-Wold and the Cotswolds' long history of inspiring writers like Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, and Jane AustenVillages they missed and want to go back for: the Slaughters, Bibury, Castle Combe, and the area around BathWhat's next: Bakewell, the Peak District, and Haddon HallImportant Links To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places, and feel free to email us at wandering@wwforus.comLike what we are doing? Buy us a gin and tonic and help us keep going!InstagramFacebookTiktokYouTubeLooking for a tour guide in Portugal? I have a whole list!Blog post for this episode: A Cotswolds Villages Guide: Gloucester Cathedral, Stow, Burton & MoreI was not able to find a link for the Longborough Gin, but The Longborough Village Shop and Cafe carry it. Contact them!Click here to book the Lime Cottage in Longborough.The Stag at StowThe Porch HouseGloucester CathedralRESOURCES & LINKSLooking to plan your next trip to Portugal? We can help! Check out our guides and Itineraries at wwforus.comFree Lisbon ItineraryPacking ListEssentials for every tripRenting a car in PortugalLooking for a tour guide in Portugal? I have a whole list!

This week, Justin catches up with Mark Jordon, Stanley Chow and Matty White. Justin plays a massive game of heads or tails at the North West Finance Awards, he goes on a rainy dog walk in the Peak District, and a brand-new era of curry club is born. Izzy is back in Manchester and joins us for the ins outs, and Alfie Joey returns to judge your Beat the Gags (now with sound effects!)   GET IN TOUCH HERE:   Instagram - @3045podcast Email – podcast@justinmoorhouse.com   OTHER STUFF:   Watch Justin's YouTube Special: https://www.youtube.com/@justinmoorhousecomedian   The Greatest Performance of My Life: https://www.justinmoorhouse.com/   Have a listen to 'The Good Days Are Coming': https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/new-podcast-new-season-new-hope/id1833675045?i=1000722498125   Music by Liam Frost. Produced by Rachel Fitzgerald and Justin Moorhouse

The latest analysis of wildfires shows that last year the UK recorded its highest burned area on record, including the country's first documented ‘megafire' in Scotland, that's a fire which covers more than 10,000 hectares. Researchers from the University of East Anglia led a team of international scientists looking into last year's fires round the globe, they say wildfires are getting more extreme, costly and disastrous. Though less land was affected, globally the fires resulted in more than 300,000 evacuations and the deaths of more than 90 people. .A three million pound project backed by DEFRA which has been looking at how methane emissions can be reduced in sheep has announced its findings. Various breeds from Scotland to the South Coast were tested as part of the research which gathered data from thirteen and a half thousand lambs. The scientists involved in the “Breed for Change” programme hope sheep farmers will use their data to reduce their carbon footprint.All week we're focusing on farming in the uplands, places above a thousand feet, landscapes like the Brecon Beacons, the Peak District, and the Highlands: many of the most stunning places in the country, but because of their geography they're generally harder places to farm. MPs on the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee are preparing a report on the challenges facing upland farmers in England and how the Government can best support them. It follows the publication of the Land Use Framework, which identified upland areas as places which could be most suitable for delivering climate and nature targets.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Sarah Hilary and Sabine Durrant join Joe Haddow for a Book Off!They chat about their new novels, choosing their settings, 'chalk n cheese' detective duos and balancing darkness and light.Sarah's book ('The Drowning Place') has ghostly elements to it, so they discuss ghosts and whether the authors believe in them...THE BOOK OFF'The Mahe Circle' by George SimenonVS'Your Blue-Eyed Boy' by Helen Dunmore If you're enjoying the podcast - please do like and subscribe - and maybe even leave us a review! It helps to spread the word.Here's a little more info on our guests' books:'The Drowning Place' by Sarah Hilary Every place has its ghosts.Edenscar, a town in the Peak District, has more than most. 17 years ago, its inhabitants were hit by tragedy when a school bus veered off the road and everyone on board drowned. Everyone, that is, except Joseph Ashe. His miraculous survival has haunted him and the town ever since.Now a Detective Sergeant in the local police, Joe is called to the scene of a brutal and apparently inexplicable crime. The whole town is spooked, but Joe's new boss, DI Laurie Bower, more used to inner-city police work, has no time for superstition. She just wants to find the very real killer who has left no trace and apparently had no motive.Joining forces, Joe and Laurie work to uncover the secrets of Edenscar, both past and present. But when you dig up the dead, expect to get your hands dirty…'Dead Heat' by Sabine Durrant Former journalist Matt Grimshaw's life is at a low ebb. He's been 'let go' by the paper where he's worked for years, and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend has come unstuck.So when an invitation arrives from his two closest friends, Celia and Adam Murphy, to join them at their house in Greece, he jumps at it. It may be harsh and unwelcoming on the Mani Peninsula but Matt determines to stay there for the whole summer and to write his much put-off screen-play.But then the Murphys plus children arrive, and a wealthy newcomer to the area starts throwing loud and lavish parties in his big house across the bay.As the nights become hotter and the parties wilder, everyone's motivations darken. Envy rises, resentments grow - until a terrible accident stops the summer in its tracks.At least, it looks like an accident…Set over one blazing Mediterranean summer, Sabine Durrant's new thriller is tense, claustrophobic and utterly gripping. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of our Talking AI series, host Sarah Lister is joined by James Jefferies for a conversation recorded on Kinder Scout in the Peak District. Together, they explore the idea of “rewilding” beyond landscapes and into our digital lives, drawing parallels between ecological restoration and the way today's internet has become increasingly centralised, controlled, and optimised for attention rather than creativity or community.The discussion is inspired in part by the article ‘We Need to Rewild the Internet', which frames the web as an ecosystem in need of diversity and resilience. James reflects on his work in tech and conservation, unpacking themes of power, infrastructure, AI, and the loss of independent spaces online. From small practical changes individuals can make, to bigger systemic questions about ownership, ethics, and the future of AI, this episode sets the tone for the Talking AI series.James Jefferies is a Sheffield-based software engineer with over a decade of experience working across web development, data, and digital infrastructure. Alongside his freelance work, he is a data engineer at Rewilding Britain, where he supports projects that track and scale nature recovery across the UK.His career spans roles in sectors including finance, utilities, and government, as well as collaborations with organisations like the UK Parliament. James is particularly interested in how technology can empower people and communities, and how the systems we build, both digital and ecological, can be more resilient, open, and human-centred.ReferencesThe central article discussed in the episode, exploring how the internet has become increasingly centralised and how it might be reshaped into a more diverse, resilient ecosystem. We Need To Rewild The Internet, by Maria Farrell and Robin Berjon in noemamag.Rewilding Britain - the organisation where James works as a data engineer, supporting nature recovery projects across England, Scotland, and Wales.MozFest mentioned as an upcoming event exploring themes related to rewilding and the future of the internet.NVIDIA referenced in discussion about emerging AI technologies and industry direction.OpenAI referenced in relation to large language models and the broader AI ecosystem.LinksTalking AI campaign by Sheffield DigitalSubscribe to the podcastIf you'd like to have new episodes of the show appear right in your podcast player, you can subscribe via our page on Apple Podcasts and follow the show on Spotify, or search for us in your podcast app of choice!Notes and LinksThis interview was recorded on Kinder Scout by Sarah Lister on 19th March 2026.Join the conversationWe're really keen to get your feedback on the podcast. You can email info@sheffield.digitalThank you for the musicThanks to Alex Mclean – aka Yaxu – for the show's intro music, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa Hall is joined by Sarah Hilary to talk about The Drowning Place, the gripping first novel in a new crime series set in the Peak District. Together they discuss crime fiction, setting, writing atmosphere, rural communities, audiobook narration, and the journey of building a new series. TPhilippa also reviews two very different books:Mars One by Charlotte Robertson — a high-stakes space thriller packed with sabotage, conspiracy, tension and reality-TV energy.The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst — a warm, whimsical YA fantasy audiobook full of magic, comfort and cosy escapism. There's also a Hay Festival update: Philippa will be appearing with Sheila Kanani at Hay Festival on Friday 22 May 2026 at 8.30pm for The Starspotter's Guide, a conversation about the night sky, stars and space. If you enjoy:crime fiction, thriller interviews, atmospheric mysteries, space thrillers, cosy fantasy, audiobook recommendations, and spoiler-free book chat, this episode is for you.Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.

The Peak District was selected as the first area to receive this status because of its landscape and its proximity to large populations covering approximately 555 square miles across parts of Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and ...

The English Uplands are special and defined as areas of elevated land with rugged terrain from moorlands to mountains and typically above 300 metres. A new report "Towards a Flourishing Uplands: Phase 1" has called for more local decision making with a shift away top down directives. Dr Hilary Cottam lead the independent review for Defra. She's published 19 insights which she says, will help meet challenges faced by those who farm the land, as well as the demands of nature, the rural economy and communities. Dr Cottam spent time walking and talking in the uplands, from Devon to North Yorkshire, to find out what people really think of the current state of affairs, what they want for the future and how those visions differ.All this week here on Farming Today we've been looking at National Parks. The Peak District National Park was the first one and is 75. Local people have been a huge part of the Park since it was established thanks to a mass trespass on Kinder Scout, and local volunteers are vital to it today, helping restore paths, plant trees and maintain access for everyone to enjoy its beauty. Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Looking to raise money for charity and get active at the same time?Amelia learned more about the upcoming Pink Ribbon Walks from Breat Cancer Now's Claire Pulford.The upcoming walks are on Saturday 18 April at Hampton Court Palace and the Thames Path, Saturday 9th May at Blenheim Palace in the Cotswolds, Sunday 17th May at Chatsworth House in the Peak District and Saturday 20 June at Holyrood Park in EdinburghImage shows the RNIB Connect Radio logo. On a white background ‘RNIB' written in bold black capital letters and underline with a bold pink line. Underneath the line: ‘Connect Radio' is written in black in a smaller font. 

The Outdoors Fix is a podcast to inspire you to make the outdoors a bigger part of your life. It's hosted by Liv Bolton. This week my guest is Francesca Donovan, a hiker, outdoor swimmer and co-editor of The Great Outdoors Magazine. Now, you might expect someone in that role to have grown up immersed in nature… but Francesca's background is quite different. Her childhood wasn't outdoorsy— and for a long time, she didn't see herself as someone who belonged in those spaces. It wasn't until her mid-20s, almost by accident — and initially for health reasons — that she discovered hiking, starting with day trips out into the Peak District. But what began as a small step has grown into something much bigger. Since then, Francesca has gone on to explore landscapes across the UK — from wild camping and bothy stays to cold water swimming — all while navigating what it means to find your place in the outdoors, even when you might not think you fit the traditional mould. Francesca took me on a beautiful spring walk near Pym's Chair in the Peak District — blue skies, wide-open moorland, and skylarks overhead. It was a beautiful setting for a conversation about her work on the magazine, discovering the outdoors later in life, and realising that you don't have to be a certain kind of person to belong there. I really hope you enjoy our chat — and don't forget to stay tuned for the Sounds of Nature moment at the end of the episode: a small pocket of calm to help you pause, unwind and breathe in the outdoors, wherever you are. Thanks again for listening, Liv x The Outdoors Fix is a podcast produced and hosted by Liv Bolton @liv_outsideuk This episode of The Outdoors Fix is kindly supported by outdoor footwear brand Merrell. If you enjoy this episode, it would fantastic if you could subscribe. And do tell your family and friends about it - thank you! You can find photos of the guests on Instagram @TheOutdoorsFix The Outdoors Fix book is out now: http://bit.ly/3GJDLJc The post Francesca Donovan: From city life to co-editor of The Great Outdoors magazine appeared first on The Outdoors Fix.

This week we spent all our time pressing the flesh (until finding out we'd misunderstood what that means and getting very firmly asked to leave Subway) all in order to win the approval of this week's guest, the master networker Oli Barrett MBE. Blessed with the ability to bring together the right people with the right ideas at the right time, Oli has built a reputation for being the nation's ultimate connector. But, being a fine fellow as well as a canny-business operator, he has used his powers for good – forming remarkable social change initiatives like ‘Tenner', the UK's largest schools entrepreneurship competition and ‘Turn On The Subtitles', a global children's literacy campaign. Deftly uniting the worlds of entrepreneurship, innovation, education and social impact, Oli has been rightly lauded and awarded for his considerable efforts – bagging, among other accolades, the title of ‘Most Connected Man in Britain' from Wired and a place in GQs ‘Top 100 connected figures'. Plus there's the small matter of being awarded an actual MBE from the actual Queen who, we assume, Oli was able to successfully introduce to an off-the-grid artisan driving-goggle manufacturer based in the Peak District. In a chat where Oli reveals the magic behind all his connective conjury, we ponder everything from the value of active learning to the magnetic powers of a well-built network.Follow Oli on LinkedIn ////Timestamps 02:27 – Quick Fire Questions 05:18 – The Zigzag Journey: Dropping Out and Moving On 11:04 – Disney World vs. Lecture Halls: The Awakening 12:01 – Networking: Chance Encounters vs Intentional Connections 14:40 – The First Business: Amazing You 18:05 – The £10 Challenge That Took Off 24:22 – The Power of Defaults: Small Changes, Big Impact 26:04 – Permission to Create: The Entrepreneurial Mindset 30:08 – Connecting the Dots: How to Build Real Networks 35:45 – The Art of Introduction: What Actually Makes It Work//// Oli's book recommendations are: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell Reflections on Success by Martyn Lewis The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger ////

Should we be taking water more seriously? The emergence of the water sommelier would suggest so. Jaega Wise visits a Cheshire restaurant that now offers its own water menu as well as a Peak District pub with a water bar and a borehole to draw its own spring water. She talks to the co-founder of the Fine Waters Academy Michael Mascha who believes that water should be appreciated as a product with its own terroir and hears from Dr Natalie Lamb, a water industry expert who has been trained to appreciate the virtues of tap water. Whether hard or soft, still or sparkling - the Food Programme takes a closer look at the liquid we all too often take for granted.Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Robin MarkwellProgramme contains a clip of the Only Fools And Horses Episode "Mother Nature's Son", written by John Sullivan, first broadcast on BBC TV on 25th December, 1992

Season 9 of Lessons I Learned in Law opens with a candid and wide-ranging conversation with Kevin Massie, Chief Legal, Risk, Governance and Compliance Officer at Imperial Brands PLC, a FTSE 30 business with 25,000+ employees globally.Just over a year into the role, Kevin reflects on stepping into one of the UK's most senior in-house legal positions and why the title alone doesn't guarantee influence.Kevin's first lesson centres on work-life balance, but not in the traditional sense. From late-night IPO drafting as a trainee in Canada to navigating a demanding first year as GC alongside personal challenges at home, he shares why balance isn't about rigid boundaries, it's about building structures that allow you to flex when life demands it.His second lesson is a pivotal leadership moment: realising that if you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room. Kevin explains how a near-miss on a major internal project reshaped his view of leadership, from proving individual brilliance to assembling and empowering people who think differently and better than you.The third lesson focuses on networking without agenda. Kevin recounts how a long-standing mentor invested in a relationship with no commercial expectation, a powerful reminder that authentic connection, not transactional networking, builds a durable career.Along the way, Kevin shares insights on succession planning, international mobility, building diverse leadership teams, and why lawyers must earn their seat at the table, it isn't automatically granted.About Heriot Brown: At Heriot Brown, we help lawyers find fulfilment in their careers. Beyond recruitment, we foster a thriving community of in-house legal professionals who share insights, experiences, and growth opportunities.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your network.00:00 Genuine connection & networking mindset 00:52 Introduction – Kevin Massie, GC Imperial Brands 02:09 Scope of the GC role & global team structure 05:46 Icebreaker – Farming dreams & life in the Peak District 07:20 Lesson 1 – Work-life balance isn't binary 10:19 Setting boundaries & supporting junior lawyers 12:05 International career moves – Canada to Dubai to Cape Town 15:34 Lesson 2 – If you're the smartest in the room, leave 18:24 Leadership growth & building stronger teams 21:45 Succession planning & developing future GCs 26:43 Expanding remit – Risk, governance & board exposure 29:30 Earning a seat at the executive table 31:28 Lesson 3 – Networking authentically & giving back 35:04 Spotting real relationships vs transactional networking 37:29 GC Hot or Not – Legal conferences & business partnering 39:55 International mobility for in-house lawyers 41:05 US firms vs Magic Circle debate 43:01 Walk-on song & episode wrap-up  

In this special episode of A Life in Sound from The Listening Planet, Martyn Stewart returns to England for a journey that is at once deeply personal, profoundly nostalgic, and unexpectedly historic. Fresh from receiving an OBE from King Charles at Windsor Castle for services to nature, Martyn joins Amanda for an intimate conversation about honour, homecoming, and the soundscapes that first taught him how to listen.The episode begins with the extraordinary story of the award itself: the mysterious phone calls Martyn initially dismissed as a scam, the family intervention required to convince him the honour was real, and the surreal experience of arriving at Windsor Castle to discover that it would be the King himself conducting the investiture. For Martyn — a Birmingham-born son of the council estates who built a life documenting the disappearing voices of the natural world — the moment is almost impossible to comprehend. It is moving, funny and deeply human, revealing both his humility and his enduring disbelief at being recognised in this way.But this episode is about much more than ceremony. It is also a return to origins. Together, Martyn and Amanda journey back through England's landscapes and through Martyn's own memories: to the dawn chorus of his childhood, the bluebell woods that offered refuge and solace, and the rivers, forests, marshes and moorlands that shaped his earliest recordings. With extraordinary vividness, Martyn evokes the robin before dawn, the wren, the blackbird, the song thrush, the curlew, the kingfisher and the bittern, revealing not just what these places sound like, but what they mean.At the heart of the episode is Martyn's idea of sound as a time machine. His vast archive allows him to travel back decades and hear the world as it once was — a world richer in birdsong, quieter in its human footprint, and more alive to the subtle textures of the natural world. When recordings from 50 years ago are set against contemporary returns to the same places, the contrast is both fascinating and devastating. The result is an episode that captures the beauty of England's living soundscape while also confronting the losses brought by development, habitat change and modern noise.Travelling from the bluebell woods of Birmingham to the Peak District, the Wye Valley, Thetford Forest and the Norfolk Broads, Martyn builds an auditory map of England through memory, wildlife and wonder. Along the way, he reflects on the craft of sound recording, the patience it demands, and the heightened awareness required to truly hear what nature is saying. This is not only a story of birds and places, but of perception itself — of learning to listen beyond the obvious, and of what becomes possible when we do.Rich with humour, feeling and hard-won wisdom, this is an episode about belonging, recognition, loss and reverence. It is a portrait of England as heard through one of the world's great wildlife sound recordists, and a reminder that the sounds of home can shape an entire life.

Making big decisions can be challenging, and when our body screams NO, we don't really have a choice. In that instant, we are faced with survival or collapse and we must face ourselves and the situations as they are.“When you work in the big system, everything does come down to a dollar and a cent.And, you know,I guess treating people differently because everything's equated down to dollars and cents ended up just not agreeing with me.”That's what happened to Andre Chow, when he hit a wall following a successful career in Medical Technology, and decided to leave it all. At the time he didn't know what would follow, but as it happens, something very different was waiting for him.He and his partner ended up in the Peak District, right alongside Derwent Reservoir, where he really started his healing and connecting to nature. It was here, that life presented it's next adventure for them. One day after Thanksgiving they were on a walk when they were warmly greeted by their neighbours Abe and Pippa.“Stumbling into their home the next day and just being enveloped by the most incredible warmth and welcome and feeling of generosity and abundance and love and then just being like, wow, I cannot remember the last time I felt like this or been welcomed like this.”It was this essence which carried them through to the creation of Open House, a community gathering space in Hathersage.Andre shares his experiences, beliefs with Carmen Rendell, and his very personal journey of creating this beautiful new home-from-home, which we believe is needed more and more in our towns and villages. Spaces for us to come together, to feel that warm welcome whoever you are, to support local community whole-being.We hope you enjoy listening. Get full access to Sole to Soul Inspiration by Soulhub at soulhub.substack.com/subscribe

This is a short, daily podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to build natural English vocabulary through stories and real-life usage.In this episode of The ELAN Podcast, we conclude Chapter 5 of Gabriel's explorations of the Peak District, where he encounters friendly locals, breathtaking views, and tackles unexpected challenges. The Language Lens segment then delves into practical English advice and warnings, illustrating various ways to offer guidance and caution in everyday language.

This is a short, daily podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to build natural English vocabulary through stories and real-life usage.In this episode of The English Like a Native Podcast, Gabriel's peaceful hike in the Peak District takes a turn when the weather shifts and his walking boot breaks at the top of the hill. You'll learn five useful adjectives for describing weather in everyday English.

This is a short, daily podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to build natural English vocabulary through stories and real-life usage.In this episode of The English Like a Native Podcast, Gabriel continues his journey in the Peak District, following local advice to climb Mam Tor for an early morning view. You'll discover five adjectives to vividly describe scenic landscapes in English.

We all have those destinations we think we know.And then we get there and they completely win us over. In this episode, I'm sharing a handful of places that surprised me in the very best way. These are spots around Europe that went beyond my expectations and left a bigger impression than I ever imagined.I'm talking about everything from the wild, rugged beauty of Ireland's west coast to the storybook charm of York in England.And yes, even Paris made this list because sometimes the most iconic places still manage to surprise you.There are mountain regions that stole my heart, quieter corners that felt more magical than expected, and a few destinations that simply stayed with me long after I left.This is a personal look at expectations vs. reality — and how some of the best travel moments happen when a place catches you off guard. It's also a reminder to leave a little room for the unexpected when you're planning your own European adventure.So now I'm curious… what are the places that surprised you in the best possible way?Send me a note at Lynne@WanderYourWay.comIn this episode:2:15: Intro7:06: Ireland: County Donegal & West Cork11:19: Paris, France14:27: South Tyrol, Italy17:20: Slovenia20:24: Isle of Mull, Scotland23:51: York, England27:02: Krün, Germany30:25: Peak District, England33:31: Normandy, France36:49: St Andrews, Scotland41:42: Recap42:20: Wrapping it upImportant links:County Dongel • IrelandWest Cork • IrelandRainbow Weather: Exploring Beautiful West Cork Ireland with Kat KochThe Best Things To Do in Paris in 4 DaysMy Joyful Love Affair with the Beautiful and Diverse South Tyrol ItalySlovenia • An OverviewIsle of Mull • ScotlandYork • EnglandBlack Forest & Bavaria • GermanyDiscovering the Diverse and Beautiful Peak District EnglandExploring Beautiful Normandy, France: Going Beyond the D-Day BeachesExploring St Andrews • Scotland with Bo FraserWander Your WayWander Your Way AdventuresWander Your Way ResourcesOofos ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a short, daily podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to build natural English vocabulary through stories and real-life usage.In this episode of The English Like a Native Podcast, join Gabriel as he navigates the challenging terrain of the Peak District. You'll learn five essential phrasal verbs related to movement and decision-making on foot.

This is a short, daily podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to build natural English vocabulary through stories and real-life usage.In this episode of The English Like a Native Podcast, Gabriel leaves the energy of Manchester behind and begins a new chapter in the peaceful landscapes of the Peak District. Tune in to learn five beautifully descriptive English words to use when talking about movement, nature, and the outdoors.

UPDATE: Apologies for the technical errors in the previous upload. Thank you for your patience, and we remain grateful for your ROYAL support. We have sent Producer Dan to the Tower. Russell Myers and Jennifer Newton discuss the Princess of Wales' recent visit to the Peak District, where she joined a charity called Mind Over Mountains to promote the benefits of connecting with nature for mental health. They delve into Kate's longstanding interest in using the outdoors and natural environments as a tool for healing and self-reflection. Russell and Jen also chat about the new Amazon Prime documentary "Finding Harmony: A King's Vision", which offers a rare, intimate look at King Charles III's lifelong passion for environmental conservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell Myers and Jennifer Newton discuss the Princess of Wales' recent visit to the Peak District, where she joined a charity called Mind Over Mountains to promote the benefits of connecting with nature for mental health. They delve into Kate's longstanding interest in using the outdoors and natural environments as a tool for healing and self-reflection. Russell and Jen also chat about the new Amazon Prime documentary "Finding Harmony: A King's Vision", which offers a rare, intimate look at King Charles III's lifelong passion for environmental conservation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I'm sharing my experience exploring the Peak District, England — a place I truly fell in love with. From dramatic limestone edges and sweeping views to rolling green hills dotted with sheep (soooo many sheep), quiet walking trails, and storybook villages, the Peak District completely won me over. In fact, I loved it so much that it's very likely making its way onto a future Wander Your Way Adventures itinerary.I talk about what makes the Peak District so special — how the landscapes shift from one area to the next and why it's such a rewarding destination for travelers who enjoy walking, nature, and a slower pace of exploration. I also touch on the region's incredible stately homes — including the iconic Chatsworth House — for those who want to pair beautiful scenery with history, architecture and a glimpse into England's past.If you're dreaming of visiting the Peak District, England, curious about why it left such an impression on me, or simply love hearing about places that feel both grounding and inspiring, this episode is for you.Want to chat more about the Peak District?Message me at Lynne@WanderYourWay.comIn this episode:1:10: Intro and thanks3:45: Placing the Peak District on the map4:40: Things to know about the Peak District11:00: Trails26:26: Chatsworth House & historic sites30:05: Bakewell & other towns34:26: Where to stay and eat37:31: Getting there & around39:12: More tips41:23: Final thoughts44:40: Wrapping it upImportant links:Peak District National ParkPeak District Chatsworth HouseBrosterfield FarmManor House FarmHilltop FarmWander Your Way AdventuresWander Your WayWander Your Way ResourcesListener Question FormPatagonia ★ Support this podcast ★

Sheila Dillon goes foraging for wild mushrooms in the Peak District in Derbyshire to find out what common fungi are easy to find - and delicious to eat. She hears from expert foragers, mushroom buyers and fungi fanatics about how the supply chain for this wild food works, from the forest floors of Eastern Europe to China's vast mushroom drying warehouses, as well as the lucrative, and sometimes dubious, trade of some of the most valuable mushrooms. Produced by Nina Pullman.

As 2025 comes to a close, I'm looking back on a remarkable year in travel where I explored some new places in some old countries. In this Year of Travel in Review 2025, I'm sharing a high-level overview of where I traveled during the year — from England's countryside and dramatic coastlines to iconic regions of France, with the Italian Dolomites, where I led my very first Wander Your Way Adventures small group tour, woven in between. This episode isn't a deep dive into each destination (those are coming!), but rather a big-picture look at how this intensive travel season shaped my perspective, my work and what's ahead. During a late-summer and fall travel window, I explored several of England's most beloved (and quietly spectacular) regions, including Oxfordshire, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales and the coastal town of Whitby in North Yorkshire. Each place offered a different pace and personality — and plenty of inspiration for future episodes. France was another highlight of 2025, with time spent in Normandy, the Loire Valley, and my favorite city, Paris — reinforcing why France remains such a cornerstone of European travel.And reminding me that I still have so much more of this fabulous country to explore). Finally, one of the most meaningful parts of this Year of Travel in Review 2025 centers on Italy — specifically the Dolomites — where I led and hosted the inaugural Wander Your Way Adventures small group tour. What an experience!Leading this first small group adventure was a defining moment for me and for my business — truly unforgettable. So tune in as I reflect on my Year of Travel in Review 2025, a season that left a lasting mark.Want to chat more about travel to Europe?Email me at Lynne@WanderYourWay.comIn this episode:0:45: Intro3:25: Oxfordshire England6:02: Peak District England7:40: Yorkshire Dales England8:51: East to Whitby England12:30: Back to the Peak District 14:18: Normandy France19:03: Loire Valley France21:41: Paris22:32: First Wander Your Way Adventures Small Group Tour31:31: Wander Your Way Adventures 2026 Tours35:49: Wrapping it upImportant links: Peak DistrictYorkshire Dales Normandy FranceLoire Valley FranceWander Your Way AdventuresWander Your WayWander Your Way Resources ★ Support this podcast ★

This week on Paranormal Activity, Producer Dom takes us deep into the overgrown and the unseen, as two listeners share stories of places that shouldn't exist and maybe never did.First, Tom from Sheffield recounts a hike in the Peak District that led him to a forgotten walled garden filled with crumbling statues… statues that moved.What began as a peaceful moment turned surreal when stone figures shifted positions and pointed him toward an exit that vanished as quickly as it appeared.Then, Mark brings us into a hedge maze in Cheshire that seems to breathe with its own quiet presence.What starts as a playful wander soon twists into something much darker.Branches that ripple without wind, a face forming in the leaves, and the unsettling realization that the maze may be watching him just as closely as he's trying to escape it.Are these just tricks of the mind or are there places in nature where something older, stranger, and unseen still waits?Tune in and decide for yourself.A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clare joins writer Kate Morgan on a walk from Monsal Head to Tideswell in the Peak District. Along the way, they explore how the use of gallows and gibbets in public punishment has influenced rural place names. Gibbet Rock, a striking limestone outcrop also called Peter's Stone for its resemblance to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, was once used to ‘gibbet' or display the bodies of executed criminals. Kate tells the story of Anthony Lingard, who was convicted in 1815 of murdering a local woman, Hannah Oliver, and became the last person to be gibbetted at the site.Kate is currently researching her third book, which will be on this subject. Her previous two books are Murder: The Biography which explores the legal history of the crime of murder in English Law, and The Walnut Tree which looks into the major legal changes affecting women in the 19th and early 20th centuries. (https://amheath.com/authors/kate-morgan)Map:OS Explorer OL24 The Peak District White Peak Area, Buxton Bakewell, Matlock & Dove Dale Map Ref: SK185715 for the start of the walk at Monsal Head car parkPresenter: Clare Balding Producer: Karen GregorA BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4

In 1988, a new section of road was carved through the hills of the Peak District in Northern England. Built to divert heavy traffic away from the small town of Stocksbridge, the bypass was meant to bring relief. But almost from the start, strange reports began to surface from workers on the site - sightings of figures where no one should be, and unsettling incidents that defied explanation. In the years that followed, this stretch of highway became known not just for its hauntings, but for the unusually high number of lives it would go on to claim. MUSIC  Tracks used by kind permission of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Tracks used by kind permission of CO.AG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator: Thomas Jones

This isn't just London—it's England, and there's so much more beyond the royal stereotypes. On this episode of Unpacked—part of Afar's ongoing Off the Tourist Trail series—join host Aislyn Greene as she explores hidden England with travel journalist Lottie Gross. From rebellious Bristol to underground cave networks, discover the layers of England that even locals often miss. Lottie shares her insider knowledge on experiencing authentic English culture, avoiding tourist traps, and finding magic in shoulder seasons. In this episode, you'll learn Why Bristol is the rebellious alternative to London you need to visit Underground adventures in the Peak District's historic Blue John mines The best neighborhoods in London (the ones that locals love) When to visit England for fewer crowds and better prices Essential etiquette tips for respecting English communities Don't miss these moments [08:45] The Cotswolds photography problem that's driving locals crazy [16:30] Why Bristol tore down Edward Colston's statue—and what it means [24:15] Taking a boat through underground caves to a "bottomless pit" [31:20] The purple heather moors and heritage railways of North Yorkshire [42:35] Winter seal pups and life-changing venison curry in Norfolk Meet this week's guest Lottie Gross, travel journalist and England expert who explores her home country's hidden gems Resources —For more tips from Lottie about where to go, where to say, and what to eat, read her England Off the Beaten Path story on afar.com —Follow Lottie's ongoing UK adventures on Instagram —Read about South Oxfordshire in Afar's 2025 Where to Go list —Dog lovers, be sure to check out Lottie's books, Dog-Friendly Weekends and Dog Days Out —Check out our Iceland Off the Tourist Trail episode —Read the transcript of the episode. Where to StaySoho Farmhouse (Oxfordshire) The Grand hotel (North Yorkshire) What to do Bristol's Banksy street art tours with Where the WallSS Great Britain ship museum (Bristol) North York Moors heritage railway (Pickering to Whitby) Speedwell Cavern boat tours (Peak District) Borough Market and Maltby Street Market (London) Holkham Beach for winter seal watching (Norfolk) Whitby's annual Goth weekend Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not all hauntings announce themselves with screams in the night or flickering lights caught on camera. Some creep in silently—moments so ordinary yet so chilling, they burn themselves into memory forever. This is one of those true stories. It begins in the safest of places: a bright, modern Methodist church. No gothic spires, no crumbling stone, no shadows dancing in candlelight. Just clean carpets, hymn books, and Sunday prayers. But for one child, everything changed the moment they opened their eyes. Because standing at the altar was a monk. Not the pastor. Not anyone from the congregation. A solid, robed figure—watching. Present. Real. And then… gone. That single vision opened the door to a lifetime of paranormal encounters. At university, the hauntings followed. Tools vanished from a design board—only to reappear when politely requested. Housemates saw figures standing silently in bedrooms. Later, in an architect's office in the Peak District, footsteps echoed on a spiral staircase, and even the receptionist swore she was speaking to someone who wasn't there. But the most unsettling hauntings came in the countryside churches. Some radiated warmth, like stepping into a family home. Others pressed down with a crushing sadness so overwhelming that surveyors abandoned their work mid-project. Even vicars—men and women of faith—grew uneasy in their own sanctuaries. No screams, no violence. Just grief so heavy it consumed anyone who lingered. This is not the story of a single haunted house. It's the story of a life marked again and again by the unseen. A monk who didn't belong. Tools that moved on their own. Shadows that whispered just out of sight. Evidence? None. But feelings don't lie. Once you've stepped into a space marked by the dead, you never walk out unchanged. If you've ever felt eyes on you in an empty church… if you've ever sensed sadness that wasn't your own… this true haunting will chill you to the core. #HauntedChurch #TrueGhostStory #RealHaunting #ParanormalEncounters #GhostStories #CreepyTrueStories #HauntedPlaces #GhostCaughtOnCamera #ParanormalActivity #ScaryChurchStories #TrueParanormal #Supernatural  Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Not all hauntings announce themselves with screams in the night or flickering lights caught on camera. Some creep in silently—moments so ordinary yet so chilling, they burn themselves into memory forever. This is one of those true stories. It begins in the safest of places: a bright, modern Methodist church. No gothic spires, no crumbling stone, no shadows dancing in candlelight. Just clean carpets, hymn books, and Sunday prayers. But for one child, everything changed the moment they opened their eyes. Because standing at the altar was a monk. Not the pastor. Not anyone from the congregation. A solid, robed figure—watching. Present. Real. And then… gone. That single vision opened the door to a lifetime of paranormal encounters. At university, the hauntings followed. Tools vanished from a design board—only to reappear when politely requested. Housemates saw figures standing silently in bedrooms. Later, in an architect's office in the Peak District, footsteps echoed on a spiral staircase, and even the receptionist swore she was speaking to someone who wasn't there. But the most unsettling hauntings came in the countryside churches. Some radiated warmth, like stepping into a family home. Others pressed down with a crushing sadness so overwhelming that surveyors abandoned their work mid-project. Even vicars—men and women of faith—grew uneasy in their own sanctuaries. No screams, no violence. Just grief so heavy it consumed anyone who lingered. This is not the story of a single haunted house. It's the story of a life marked again and again by the unseen. A monk who didn't belong. Tools that moved on their own. Shadows that whispered just out of sight. Evidence? None. But feelings don't lie. Once you've stepped into a space marked by the dead, you never walk out unchanged. If you've ever felt eyes on you in an empty church… if you've ever sensed sadness that wasn't your own… this true haunting will chill you to the core. #HauntedChurch #TrueGhostStory #RealHaunting #ParanormalEncounters #GhostStories #CreepyTrueStories #HauntedPlaces #GhostCaughtOnCamera #ParanormalActivity #ScaryChurchStories #TrueParanormal #Supernatural  Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Not all hauntings scream for attention. Some don't slam doors or throw objects across a room. Some simply exist—woven into daily life, quiet and constant, the kind that lingers longer than terror ever could. This is one man's true story of a lifetime of subtle yet undeniable encounters with the paranormal. His first ghost appeared at just eight years old, in the last place you'd expect: church. A modern Methodist church with bright lights, soft carpet, nothing Gothic or ominous. But children notice what adults ignore. During prayer, he opened his eyes—and at the altar stood a hooded monk. Not a minister. Not a trick of light. A robed figure, visible only to him, that never left his memory. That was the beginning. At university, the haunting returned. His design tools vanished from his desk, only to reappear after he demanded them back aloud. A housemate's mother was a medium. Another flatmate saw a man standing in her bedroom. The presence wasn't violent—but it wanted to be noticed. Later, working as an architect in the Peak District, the paranormal seeped into his career. The old office was haunted by a man who walked the spiral staircase daily. Footsteps echoed when no one was there. Tools disappeared and reappeared. Once, the receptionist held a full conversation with someone she thought was him—though he'd only just entered the room. But the most profound encounters happened inside empty country churches. Some welcomed him warmly. Others filled him with crushing sorrow, an almost unbearable despair that drove him back into the daylight. Even veteran surveyors accepted it: some churches let you in. Others wanted you gone. These weren't jump scares. They were real hauntings—ghosts caught not in screams but in whispers, shadows at the edge of vision, footsteps on empty stairs, despair radiating from ancient stone. He doesn't complain about the silence of recent years. But he wonders: is it peace… or simply the calm before the storm? Because when ghosts wait quietly, it isn't absence. It's a reminder that the veil is thin, and once you've seen through it, you never live the same way again.

Not all hauntings scream for attention. Some don't slam doors or throw objects across a room. Some simply exist—woven into daily life, quiet and constant, the kind that lingers longer than terror ever could. This is one man's true story of a lifetime of subtle yet undeniable encounters with the paranormal. His first ghost appeared at just eight years old, in the last place you'd expect: church. A modern Methodist church with bright lights, soft carpet, nothing Gothic or ominous. But children notice what adults ignore. During prayer, he opened his eyes—and at the altar stood a hooded monk. Not a minister. Not a trick of light. A robed figure, visible only to him, that never left his memory. That was the beginning. At university, the haunting returned. His design tools vanished from his desk, only to reappear after he demanded them back aloud. A housemate's mother was a medium. Another flatmate saw a man standing in her bedroom. The presence wasn't violent—but it wanted to be noticed. Later, working as an architect in the Peak District, the paranormal seeped into his career. The old office was haunted by a man who walked the spiral staircase daily. Footsteps echoed when no one was there. Tools disappeared and reappeared. Once, the receptionist held a full conversation with someone she thought was him—though he'd only just entered the room. But the most profound encounters happened inside empty country churches. Some welcomed him warmly. Others filled him with crushing sorrow, an almost unbearable despair that drove him back into the daylight. Even veteran surveyors accepted it: some churches let you in. Others wanted you gone. These weren't jump scares. They were real hauntings—ghosts caught not in screams but in whispers, shadows at the edge of vision, footsteps on empty stairs, despair radiating from ancient stone. He doesn't complain about the silence of recent years. But he wonders: is it peace… or simply the calm before the storm? Because when ghosts wait quietly, it isn't absence. It's a reminder that the veil is thin, and once you've seen through it, you never live the same way again.

In this heartfelt episode of RunPod, Jenni is joined by Emmerdale's Tony Audenshaw- actor, passionate runner, and proud marathoner with more than a few fancy-dress records to his name.Tony shares the story of how running transformed his life- from struggling through his first marathon to chasing sub-three-hour times, tackling ultramarathons, and finding joy on the trails. He opens up about his late wife Ruth, their shared love of running, and how he honoured her memory at this year's London Marathon while raising vital funds for pancreatic cancer research.From the camaraderie of running clubs to the quiet strength found on Peak District trails, Tony reflects on resilience, ageing, injury, and the simple magic of putting one foot in front of the other.Whether you're chasing PBs, starting Couch to 5K, or just need a reminder of the joy running can bring, this is an uplifting conversation about community, perseverance, and the miles that shape us.

  review   This title was released in July 2025. It will be exclusively available to buy from the Big Finish website until 30 September 2025, and on general sale after this date. It's Gina's hen-do and her Maid of Honour has booked a large manor in the Peak District. All her friends should be here - including Yasmin Khan, who's been mysteriously quiet whilst away on her travels. But Yaz is bringing a guest. Someone who isn't invited. Someone who might prove a little disruptive. The Doctor is joining the celebrations. Unfortunately, so is an ancient enemy... **Please note: the collector's edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies**

Today on Wonderland on Points, we're heading out of the city and into the storybook charm of the English countryside! Jo shares all the highlights from her family's recent road trip through two of England's most picturesque regions: the Cotswolds and the Yorkshire Dales (with a fun little national park detour in between). From booking flights with points to tackling the adventure of renting a car and driving on the “wrong” side of the road, she walks through exactly how they made this dream trip happen—without blowing the budget.You'll hear about the magic of the Cotswolds, where each village felt like stepping into a Jane Austen novel, and the peaceful charm of Tewkesbury, including a visit to the breathtaking Tewkesbury Abbey. Joanna also talks about exploring the Yorkshire Dales on horseback, a highlight that brought a whole new perspective to the stunning scenery. Traveling by car gave their family the flexibility to chase spontaneous detours and discover unexpected gems along the way.Whether you're dreaming of a countryside getaway or already planning your own English road trip, this episode is packed with practical tips and inspiration for seeing the UK beyond the big cities—creating family memories that will last a lifetime.Submit Your Summer Road Trip Series Story HEREFacebook GroupOur Episode SponsorsTour Radar MomentsFirefly Recovery - Use code "WONDERLAND" for 15% off your orderFind Us On InstagramMary Ellen | JoHelpful LinksTripiamo for the UK (if you need driving guides for other places let us know! We have links for you!)Affiliate LinksMary Ellen's Chase Sapphire LinkJoanna's Chase Sapphire Link30% off the CardPointers subscription!Credit Card Affiliate LinksThe above link includes referrals for Capital One Travel Cards. If you need AMEX or Chase please reach out and we would be happy to send you our personal referral links.We receive a small commission when you use our links. This is an amazing way to show your support for the show at no cost to you ❤️

Karen Dukess's first book, The Last Book Party, was wildly successful by any measure—sold at auction, Indie Next pick, Discover New Writers pick… you probably read it. The second…Didn't sell. Not as in, not very many people bought it but as in, no publisher published it. She spent the requisite couple years or so, her agent signed on but… no takers. She felt like she was the only person in the whole entire world that that happened to… until she started asking around. Turns out, you know how people say writing books is hard? And publishing is tough? They're right!Never fear, Karen lived to tell the tail. Her next novel (do we call it second or third?), Welcome to Murder Week, is wonderful and available in a bookstore near you (and as you'll hear, I loved it and it's the perfect page-turner but not-anxiety-producing read for a swimming pool, beach, airplane ride or couch). But the real joy is that Karen is willing to dish. You'll hear:What happens when you want to be a bullet journal sticker getting writer with your butt in the chair but you're just … not.How to have fun writing a book that maybe no one will want (and why you'd better).How Karen found the right mindset to keep going.Karen's one rule as a beginning writer who couldn't quite get the hang of 1000 words a day. Links from the Pod:LauraPaloozaKaren Dukess, The Last Book PartyZibby EventsThe Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray#AmReadingKaren: The Original, Nell Stevens KJ: Welcome to Murder WeekKaren's Substack Keep Calm and Carry On, a Substack from Karen Dukess or find her on Instagram @karendukess, or her website www.karendukess.comDid you know Sarina's latest thriller is out NOW? Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she's a mess. She knows that stalking her ex's avatar all over Portland on her phone isn't the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she's out of ice cream and she's sick of romcoms. Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He's dining out while she's wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car. Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.Digital books at: Amazon | Nook | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Audible Physical books at: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indigo | More paperback links here!New! Transcript below!EPISODE 452 - TRANSCRIPTJess LaheyHey, it's Jess here. A few years ago, I got to go to Laura Palooza. Laura Palooza is the conference that is run by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Legacy and Research Association. I was invited because I wrote about Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House on the Prairie books, and at the very beginning of The Gift of Failure, there's a mention in the opening chapter. And I was invited to go, and it was fantastic. And I got to meet Dean Butler, who had played Almanzo, which was quite a moment for me, because I had been quite in love. Anyway, this year's Laura Palooza 2025 is going to be taking place July 8 through 11th, 2025. Laura Palooza 2025's theme is prairies, pioneers and pages. If you want more information on attending Laura Palooza 2025, you can go to L-I-W-L-R-A — L-I-W-L-R-A dot org slash laurapalooza. I will be putting it in the show notes for whatever episode this ends up on, and it's going to be really, really great. I'm jealous that I can't go again because it's not going to be near me. It's going to be in De Smet South, I hope that's how you pronounce it, South Dakota. But they're going to even have, like, a feature on the fashion at the time. They're going to have a section on planes, claims and all those land deals, a beginner's guide to mapping homestead claims. It's going to be cool, challenging gender norms. Laura Ingalls in fiction, and Rose Wilder Lane in reality. Folklore, fiction or forecasts, separating and linking science, storytelling and mythology in weather, lore, that's going to be by Dr. Barb Boustead, who has been on this very podcast. She's fantastic. Laura Palooza 2025... July, you should go, you should sign up. It's really fun. They're going to be doing a field trip also to the Ingalls Homestead, I believe. Check it out. It's pretty cool.Multiple Speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.KJ Dell'AntoniaHey, I'm KJ Dell'Antonia, and this is Hashtag AmWriting, the weekly podcast about writing all the things, short things, long things, pitches, proposals, fiction, nonfiction, in short or really actually, usually long. We are the podcast about sitting down and getting your work done. And I am KJ Dell'Antonia. I am the author of a bunch of novels, the most popular of which is The Chicken Sisters, and the most recent is Playing the Witch Card, and you should read them all. And I have with me today a guest that I'm really excited about for a topic that you all are going to love. So, with me today, I have Karen Dukess, and she is the author of The Last Book Party, which you might have read in 2019 because it was unmissable. It was everywhere. It was an Indie Next. It was a Discover New Writers pick, it was...it was all over the place. And that is partly what we're here to talk about today. And we're also here to talk about her new novel, Welcome to Murder Week, which I have just read and enjoyed, but mostly we're here to talk about the six years in between. So, welcome. I am so glad to have you here. So, Karen and I have met in person. We met at a Zibby book event and at an event for the amazing Annabel Monaghan, who also has a book out this summer. The lovely thing about the universe is that nobody reads just one book.Karen DukessThat is true. Thank you.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo, you can be like, yes, read Annabel's book, read my book. Read. I mean, anybody who reads? I mean, yeah, there are people who read just one book, it's probably not going to be ours. Oh, well, people seem to like the Bible. I don't know that's a popular one. See that? A lot around a lot of Crawdads, also see that. Okay, so anyway, tell us what the story of the long six-year journey between your very, very successful debut novel, and what is about to be your very different sophomore novel.Karen DukessSo, I feel like I have an upside-down writing career in that most people write a lot of novels that don't get published before they write a novel that gets published, and mine went backwards. So, The Last Book Party was my first novel, and I wrote it...Didn't... I wrote it, finished it when I was in my early 50's, around 54 -55, spent about four years writing it, and I had done a lot of writing before, then stopping and starting and thinking that. I must not have what it takes, because this is too hard. I didn't realize that novel writing just is hard, and that is the way it is for all but a few unicorn people. So that novel, I was so happy when I finally finished it. I was so satisfied to just finally have written a novel, and I was truly thrilled, and I I felt like, if it doesn't get published, I'll publish it myself. I'm just so happy to have achieved this goal. And then it sold incredibly quickly. It was unbelievable. I mean, it was like beyond my wildest dreams. It went to auction. It sold very quickly for a good advance, and the publishing experience was great, including the fact that they were originally going to publish it in 2020, but they decided to bump it up to 2019 I don't know why. But I was like, sure, I've waited to my 50's to get this book out, like the sooner the better. And then I dodged the bullet of waiting all these years to publish a novel and have it come out during the pandemic. So, the paperback came out in the pandemic, which wasn't great, but I still felt so grateful that I had gotten this book out before then. So, then I started working on my second novel, which later someone had given me some someone, a friend...it might have even been Annabel. Someone gave her the advice that your second novel, don't make it very, very personal. And I kind of wish I had gotten that advice, even though I'm not sure I would have listened to it. But the thing about a second novel, and I don't know if you experienced this, KJ, but if you have success with your first novel, the second novel is scary because you're like, was I a one hit wonder? You know, was it a fluke? Can I do this again? And people would say, well, you know how to write novels now. And I'd be like, no, I know how to write THAT novel. I have no idea how to write another novel. And the novel I wanted to write at that time was drawing on the many years I spent studying and living in Russia and working as a journalist in Russia. I was in Russia in the 90's, and I wrote a novel that was about an American woman's journey in Russia and some American journalists in Russia. But it was set in Russia in 2017 and with flashbacks to the 90's, and it was hard to write. It was not fun. I think I had, like, sitting on my shoulder this sort of like, oh, can she do it again? You know that kind of thing. And I knew that the luck I had the first one, like, you know, I knew it was unlike, unluck, unlikely to be like that again. Plus, I had this sense of like, this is my Russia novel. And even though it wasn't a novel like, directly about Russia, it still was my chance to sort of give my take on things there. So, I think I also had sitting on my shoulder, like all the journalists I know knew in Russia, and people that studied Russia and the real Russia experts, and what were they going to think of my take?KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, yeah.Karen DukessSo it was, it was not writing, sort of like joyfully, it was a tough novel to write. And then it was also, it was fiction, but it was sort of personal, midlife kind of novel. So, there was just a lot of baggage with that novel. And the writing of it was tough, you know, it was just, it took longer than I thought it it just, I just remember a lot of sort of hair pulling, kind of, you know, those writing days. I had a lot of them. I finished it. My agent said he loved it. I don't think he loved it as much as the other two novels I've written, but, you know, he was ready to send it out on submission. But as I was finishing it, I was getting more and more concerned, because I finished it right around when Russia invaded Ukraine. And my novel, which was set in 2017 Russia, now things were so different, and they had been increasingly becoming different. Suddenly it felt very anachronistic, because I wasn't writing with these big current events in mind. Plus, there was this whole kind of like, oh, Russia, yuck, nobody, you know. And I felt that too. So, I was nervous about it, and my agent was like, just finish it. You've spent this much time on it. Let's finish it and see what happens. And so, we sent it out, and the response I got was kind of... Uh not great, you know, it went to my publisher first. They'd write a first refusal, and we're like, this novel. It about American woman in Russia right now, it's just not the right time. And, you know, there may have been other things about the novel as well, but it was kind of a, like, not a good sell. So, we sent it out to maybe five or six more editors, you know, I got lovely rejection letters, you know. Well, I really enjoyed it. This part was so interesting. But, yeah, I don't know, I don't know how to market this novel right now. And it was, you know, it was crushing, of course, but it also kind of echoed my feelings about the novel. The whole thing gave me a knot in my stomach, yeah, so my agent said, well, we haven't really exhausted the possibilities yet. We can send it out another round, or you can revise it, or you can set it aside. And I felt really sure at that point that I just wanted to, I didn't want to keep submitting it. I just felt like not the right time. And it was disappointing, but it was also kind of a relief, because if someone had decided to publish that novel, I think I would have been really nervous for the whole time before it came out.KJ Dell'AntoniaI think the only thing worse than having your second novel not published is having it published to like, you know, universal hatred.Karen DukessYeah exactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaOr just, or just to your own disappointment, you know?Karen DukessYeah. And then there's a long lead time between the time and novel gets accepted and the time it gets published. And to just feel like, nervous that whole time, I just...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Karen DukessSo, I was relieved and disappointed. And I remember very well thinking like, oh, well, this is what people talk about. When they talk about, you have to be able to deal with rejection as a writer, because I hadn't dealt with it yet. I had been so lucky, and I really had this sense of like, all right, well, now I get to find out if I'm really a writer, like, can I deal with this and or can I not? And so, I was like, I'm going to write something else. But I was determined to write something very, very different. Like, I needed the whole experience to be different, yeah, and it ended up being kind of liberating, because I went on a trip with my sister to England. We went to the Peak District in England for a week. We rented a little cottage, and this was right before the novel went on submission, I think, or maybe right after, maybe it was on submission, I don't know. So, it was around the time when I wasn't feeling good about the novel, but I wasn't sure it was like a dead deal yet. And we had this absolutely fantastic week in the Peak District, where I was my first time traveling in the English countryside. I'd been to London, but I'd never been in the English countryside, and I felt like I was just stepping into the pages of all my favorite English novels, like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. And also, like I was stepping into scenes of every BritBox masterpiece, mystery thing, I had written, you know, think, oh my god, there's a vicar. And just really, I was in a... my sister, we have similar reading tastes, and we were just both in this mood, like everything was just kind of entertaining us, and we were laughing at ourselves for seeing England through all these fictional characters. So, when I came back, I think I came back, and that's when I kind of realized this Russian novel was dead or shortly thereafter. And I thought, okay, I'm going to, I'm going to write something about Americans going to England. I want to continue that mood. And I really felt like, if I'm going to do now that I knew you could spend years writing a novel and have it not get published, which I knew intellectually before, but I didn't, hadn't experienced it. I I just felt like, if I'm going to spend another couple years writing a novel like fun has to be the number one thing. It just has to be fun. I'm like, not going to be miserable again. I can't do something like the Russian novel again. I have to just entertain myself and make myself happy, and hopefully it will entertain other people and make them happy too. And that's how I landed on the idea of sending these writing about Americans that go to England to solve a fake murder mystery, which is what Welcome to Murder Week is about. And I just had such a good time writing it. And I wrote it quicker than I've ever written. I wrote it in a little over a year, and it was honestly delightful. Like, I couldn't believe it. Like, writing could actually be really fun.KJ Dell'AntoniaWho knew? The result is also delightful. It just, it's, it's kind of like every warm and lovely book setting on to you you've ever read. It is it Is that I really enjoyed it, So...Karen DukessI'm so glad.KJ Dell'AntoniaI don't know what the Russian novel was like. That doesn't sound fun.Karen DukessI mean it wasn't really heavy, because I'm not like a heavy writer... like it still had...KJ Dell'AntoniaRight.Karen DukessIn it, and it had emotion, etc., but I'm not sad that it's not out.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Karen DukessLet's put it that way, yeah. So, yeah, this one was just fun. And I, you know, my initial idea was to send a group of Americans to England. Initially it was going to be a writing group. I like the idea of putting characters together who would not ordinarily know each other, but to have them together in a space and then a friend of mine said, Okay, so that's an idea. You're going to send some writers on a writing retreat to England, and what are they going to do there? Like, write? Like, that's not very interesting. And that's how I, kind of, you know, ended up moving to this thing where I could have them participate in this weeklong, solve a fake English village murder mystery. And I could have, you know, the villagers, some of them participating in this, and some eagerly participating, some cynical and send a bunch of Americans, you know, Britbox crazed Americans, to compete in this thing. And, yeah, that's, that's how it ended up. And it was fun.KJ Dell'AntoniaI, yeah. I mean, it reads like you had fun. I, as someone who has... so Playing the Witch Card has like a big game sort of Halloween event at the center of it. That would be really hard to do in reality. This is kind of like that.Karen DukessYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaLike, this is like the dream murder week, both from some of the point of view of someone who might want to put one on and from someone the point of view of someone who might want to go and do one. It's not, it's um, you know, it's not. Sometimes you read these and they're like, they're like, silly and hokey. It's like, very sincere, super fun murder week that anyone would wish that they could do that likes that kind of thing. Anyway, I yeah, I totally enjoyed it. All the characters were really fun. I could see that you must have had fun writing it.Karen DukessI did. And I also, you know, people often say, like, write the novel you want to read. And I really did that with this because I wanted it to have so it has a fake mystery, but then it has a real mystery as well.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Karen DukessLike the main character, thirty-four-year-old Cath, little do you know, she goes on this trip because her estranged mother, before she died, booked them on it, and she's sort of reluctant to go, but can't get a refund. And then I sort of developed this whole story about she teams up with her house, shares a cottage with people to solve the fake mystery, but that she also solves the real mystery of why her mother wanted her to go, her late mother, and that was sort of like the writing the story you want to read. Because I like light and funny, but I also like something that has, like, some emotional heart to it, like I wanted to try to story that was fun, but that has something going on. And the more I wrote, the more Cath's serious story became part of the story, I think, in the first deeply satisfying, yeah, and the first version, the first draft that my agent read, and I had never shared a draft before with him, and, you know, I think I was just hoping he would be like, it's almost perfect. And he was like, well, I think Cath is the hardest story. I think you need to develop that more. And then I went back and did and sort of... blended the two. So, the whole experience was just, yeah, of course. Now I'm like, can I have fun again?KJ Dell'AntoniaYes, yes, you can. Nobody ever tells me my first draft is perfect, and I really hate that.Karen DukessYeah, I know. I think it's, I don't even know if I should have shared it with him, like, I just wanted him to say, like, it's amazing. And he was like, yeah, it could be really good.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, but you just want them to know that you're doing, yeah, I'm a I'm going to share the first draft of the thing I'm doing with my agent, and it might be a terrible idea, but I'm going to do it anyway, because I want her to know I'm doing a thing. And yeah, I'm excited. And yeah um...Karen Dukess I also think that, like, you know, when I said that, it was liberating, in a way, to sort of have the experience that I had with the Russian novel. I think it was also maybe by the time, you know, getting to the third novel, or maybe it's getting to my age. I felt sort of like, I think I gave my permission, myself, permission to write a novel that, yeah, it has a serious story at the heart of it, but it's not like a deeply serious book, you know? And I think there's a tendency to think like, you know, I would look at the world around me sometimes, when I was drafting it, and feel like there's so many serious things to write about, and I'm writing this funny story, like, is that super fluffy? And, you know, it was like, this is what I wanted to write? That's okay, you know? I don't have to prove anything. Like, here is my serious tome. You know, I really just wanted to give people like, an emotional, amusing, heartwarming experience. And that is okay.KJ Dell'AntoniaIt is funny how locked we get into that, both as writers and as readers, this idea that if it's not serious or experimental or deep or dark, it's, I don't know, somehow not worthy. There was somebody was reading somebody's Substack the other day, and they were sort of deeply apologizing for the book they had recommended, which sounded really amazing. And I was like, why you, you know, you clearly enjoyed this, and it sounded great. And I don't. I mean, as a reader, I don't want to read things that are dark and deep and serious A. all the time...Karen DukessYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd B. sometimes not at all.Karen DukessYeah, I do like to read dark and serious, but I've learned that I don't like to write that like writing a novel is, it's always so much more time than you think. I mean, even this one was quicker than usual. It's a lot of time, like you're living it. And I was just like, I can't live in a dark place, like I can read a dark book in a couple days, you know? And...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Karen DukessWipe my eyes and move on. But...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Karen DukessYou know...KJ Dell'AntoniaA light one.Karen DukessYou could assume... but you know. When I'm writing a novel, I'm going to bed thinking about their the characters, and I'm thinking about it when I'm exercising, and it's just like churning in there, and I just don't want to be in a dark place for two years.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, and most of the time people, I mean, I guess it just depends on, on who you are. But a heart, it's hardly ever dark all the time. I mean, even people that I have known that we're going through some really horrible things have found, you know, levity and joy and pleasure in in some parts of it. And I think we all hesitate to say, well, that's everyone. Or you got to, you know, we don't want to impose that on every, on anyone, because that's kind of also where we are is, is this delicate dance of not wanting to expect anybody else to be the way you think they're going to be. But I it just seems like people find levity, even in even the worst, even in the worst moments. And people want, um, solace, you know?Karen DukessYeah.KJ Dell'Antonia Something... something pleasant... something.Karen DukessYeah, I work with an editor, kind of a more like a writing coach, like she doesn't actually edit, but she sort of helps me figure out the story and stuff. And there was one point when she was reading a draft, and there's a scene in the book. I don't know if it's a minor thing, but when my main character Cath, who there's a little romance in it. And when she's first together with this guy, and they're sort of rolling around in bed, the first draft that, the first version of it, she accidentally hit her head on the headboard, and then she's like, “Oh my god, are you okay?” And she was like, “no”. My coach was like, no, no. I don't want to be anxious that maybe this guy is a little violent. Like, no, no, you've got to take that out. I don't want to be anxious in the reading of this book. And it was such a minor thing that I think she was like...KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd you had him hit his head instead, right? Yeah.Karen DukessBecause I don't think anyone was going to worry that she's violent. But it was funny. It was like, she was very much like this book is, there are books where you want the reader to feel anxious, but she's like, this book is not that I don't want anxiety in this book you know?KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, yeah.Karen DukessLike she's still concerned about Cath and her story. You can feel sad about what she learns, but not anxiety.KJ Dell'AntoniaYou know I think you've really put your finger on something, because that is exactly right. This book is a page turner, like you want to find out what happens. You want to be with the characters you want to it's a hang and it's like, like, I read something recently where, um, in the middle, you, I found myself sort of, I was still reading it because it was a good hang, but in the middle I was just kind of, like, I forget why we're here. I forget what I'm wondering. You're not really wondering anything, but I like it, so I'll keep this. Your book was not like that at all. This is a fantastic hang but you're right. It never, it's not... that's exactly right. It's not, it's not anxiety producing. And I think that's its own vibe. Like you can have romances that are fun and they're good, but they actually, you do have anxiety around, you know, like, how the characters are going to pull themselves out of this, or how they're going to feel or, yeah, and you can have them or you don't. I like that as, like, a sort of a line in the sand.Karen DukessYeah, yeah. And then I kind of thought about it as I continued, like, yeah, okay, that's right. We're not going to go to like, the really unsettling places.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah. I mean, even if you really want to know what would what will happen, and you really want, like, the things that happen to turn out in satisfying ways, but it doesn't feel like, if they turn out in some like, there were a variety of available options, none of which felt horrible.Karen DukessYeah, exactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaThank you for that. Thank you for a lovely reading experience. So, what else did you take away? Like, what else did you change between the drafting of the book that does not end up being published, which you know, for all we know, is actually great, but the timing was really bad. What should you change?Karen DukessWhat changed for me... in writing?KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, what are you changing? Did you change anything in your process?Karen DukessUm, I think I, I don't know if it was completely because of the experience with this book, but definitely it fed into it. Um, I worked with the same writing coach on the Russia book, and she keeps saying that book will be published someday. I'm like, yeah, maybe, maybe not. I don't really care, honestly at this point, but one thing that she really pushed on me, which I discovered in the writing of murder week, was really true, is that to be open and playful and just really to be creative, I needed that. I needed to be in the right mindset, like, I know your thing is always butt in chair, butt in chair. And it is true, you have to, you know, you have to push yourself to finish a novel. It's not easy. And there are times when you just have to push forward. But for me, in the drafting of it, like the butt in chair thing, for me, is more important in the revising and the final draft, when it's like, you've got to get through it, and you've just got to keep sitting there and doing it. But when I'm in this sort of creating stage, when I'm not sure what the story is, when I'm in those moods where I'm just like, sit down and work at this like, I don't write good stuff. I just don't. And she would sometimes say to me, like, if I would talk to her, and I was really angsty and I was really self-critical, or I don't like what I've written, or I don't know where I'm going with this, or whatever , she was really she would very much say, like, when you're in that kind of mood, just walk away. Don't sit at your computer. Like, that is not the time for butt in chair. That is the time for just go do something else and like, lighten up on yourself. And that was really true for this. And I'm trying to remind myself that as I work on the next novel that you know for me, being kind to myself and feeling playful and open is when I'm going to write the best stuff and surprise myself. And that applies whether I'm writing like a serious scene or a funny scene. And the tricky thing about it is, you know, it's always a little scary to write, so it's like, Am I walking away because I need to lighten up my mind, or am I just plain procrastinating?KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, or am I walking away because I just don't know how to...Karen DukessSo, I think that is something though, that I do feel like I write better from a free place than from a sort of, like, grim, determined place.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, that makes sense.Karen DukessI think I was learning that and trying to learn that when I was writing the Russia novel, but it really came true with this one, which is why I think I was able to write it quicker, because it's actually, you know, the weaving together of the fake murder mystery and the real mystery and the arcs of all the different characters. Like, it wasn't simple putting all together, but yet it was simpler for me to write, because I was just looser about it.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight. I think you learned to trust that you would finish this, even if you didn't finish it today.Karen DukessYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaDoes that make sense?Karen DukessYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaI, yeah.Karen DukessAnd I just think, like, trusting the process is so important, you know. And I talk about this with friends in my writing group, you know, sometimes when you're like, working so hard to figure it out, because it feels good to figure the novel out before you write it, because then you don't have the anxiety of, what if I don't figure it out? But it doesn't always work best that way. I don't think, like, I think there are times for that, and there are times to just, like, just keep going and like, let it go a little and let some interesting things happen, and then you'll figure out how to put it all together for me anyway. But obviously I'm not a plotter kind of person, so...KJ Dell'AntoniaI think, yeah, I think that varies. But what's what I'm really hearing here is that, like, even you knew, okay, if I don't, maybe I don't sit down today. That doesn't mean I'm never sitting again, down again. And I think that is, that's part of what I struggle with in my like 1000 words a day. Just, just keep doing it time. And I, and I think I, too, have come around to the idea that I'm going to finish it like...Karen DukessYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaI'm not. I'm not suddenly, you know, just because I only got to 700 words today, that doesn't mean tomorrow I'm going to be like, yeah, I'm not a writer anymore. Oops!Karen Dukess Yeah, exactly. Well, I think, and I think I've learned that, like, I can't tell you how many times, I mean, I've listened to your podcast forever, and, like, years ago, I would listen to it, and I would be like, Yes, I'm going to do the stickers, or, Yes, I'm going to do 500 words a day, or, Yes, I'm going to text a friend or you know, none of that stuff. I could never sustain it.KJ Dell'AntoniaIt doesn't work for you.Karen DukessI have no routine; I have no methods. But what I've learned now is like, but I get books done, so it's okay, like, yeah, I will sometimes go a couple days where I don't write, or I will, you know, think I'm on a routine of 500 or 1000 words a day for a while, and then I'm not, and that's okay, because it's just like, I know that I can still get them done in my crazy way.KJ Dell'AntoniaThat is what we have tried to start saying more often, is, listen, this doesn't work for everybody. If you're doing something different and you're getting the work done, then you're great, yeah, if you're doing something different and you're not finishing things, then maybe try this.Karen DukessYeah, well I remember, like, when I was working on The Last Book Party, right before I got kind of serious on it, I was in a writing group, and I was starting, then I was like, I was learning in the writing group through, finally being in a community with other writers. So, like everybody struggles. Published writers struggle. Really great writers struggle like and that, and I loved reading interviews with writers like I couldn't get enough of interviews and essays about writer's struggles, because I had to, like, keep convincing myself that like, my struggles didn't mean I wasn't a writer. But then there was one point where I remember making a rule for myself. And I was like; I am not allowed to read about writing if I haven't written that day. You know, spend a lot of time...KJ Dell'AntoniaYes.Karen DukessWorking on your novel, but what you're actually doing is like, reading about writing and reading interviews and listening to podcasts. So, it's like, I cannot listen to KJ's podcast until I've done some writing. So, I've had to, I have had to make some rules.KJ Dell'Antonia Yeah, well, that's, I mean, that's how you turned yourself into somebody who gets the work done, and now into somebody who has her own like now you have a way people ask you, so what's your process? How did you get this done?Karen DukessI don't think anyone has tried my process, but yeah. And it can be different for every book, I guess, you know?KJ Dell'AntoniaHorrifyingly, I think that it can when you see pointed out, yeah, you that you knew how to write that book, that is so true, and that has been a huge thing for me, is to realize that even after writing a bunch of books, people still struggle, it's still hard, every book is hard. Every book has, I mean, we have a joke among the podcasts, you know, because you get to a point where you're like, okay, I hate this now, and we'll all be right, right-on target,Karen DukessExactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaBaby's developing nicely. Here's our 18-month checklist. Aww and you're crawling, and you hate your book. Yay!Karen DukessYeah, yeah. I don't think the process gets easier, but I think knowing that you can get through it makes it a little easier. Maybe it diminishes the panic a little bit like, you know, you'll figure it out. You'll figure it out.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, this, I mean, this has been great. I'm sure it's going to be inspirational for everyone. It is inspirational for me, because I also... so I have a book that I worked on for the last year and a half, and I, we didn't, we didn't try to sell it because, because it's not very good.Karen DukessAre you still working on it? Or...KJ Dell'AntoniaIt's leaving, it's living. I make these gestures as though, like, there's like, a blobby object over here that is my, but is my finished, but also not revised and not good uh...Karen DukessI had this theory about books, like, it's the same theory I had with au pairs.KJ Dell'AntoniaOkay.Karen DukessWe had a lot of au pairs when my kids were growing up and I was working out of the home, you know, not writing. And I felt like every time I selected, you know, they would come for a year. One or two of them stayed for two years. But every time I selected a new au pair, it was in reaction to the problems of the other... the previous au pair. So, like, when I had an au pair that was like a horrible driver, so much so that we had to, like, get rid of her. Then I was like, okay, where is it hardest to get a driver's license? Germany. Okay, I'm having a German au pair, you know. Then I had, like, a German au pair who was great, but it was like, she was too, I don't know, whatever if I had an au pair, that was like, two lax, then the next one was like, oh, this person has, like, you know, worked in a boys school. I want that.KJ Dell'AntoniaRight? yeah.Karen DukessAnd I feel like, you know, I wrote Welcome to Murder Week because I had had this tough experience with this Russia novel. Then it was like, I'm going to do something really fun. So, and I don't know that I would have written that if I hadn't needed so badly to have fun. I don't know that I would have said, no, yeah, forget doing something, you know, serious or with some geopolitical things in it. I'm going to write a, you know, a murder week story. I don't know that I would have written it if I could have gone on that vacation and just had a great time and come back and not felt the need.KJ Dell'AntoniaWritten something else.Karen DukessSo, you know, maybe the one that's not working is going to lead you to write the next fabulous thing.KJ Dell'AntoniaWell, I hope I'm already well into... I'm well into something else, but, yeah, it's, you know, you spend a lot of time on something, not everything works. It's one of the reasons this is a terrible job, and you absolutely shouldn't do it unless you know, you can't do anything else,Karen DukessExactly.KJ Dell'AntoniaOr unless you really want to.Karen DukessYeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaThere. That's that. That's really good advice. That's going to make a great bumper sticker. All right. So have you read anything good lately besides Welcome to Murder Week, which, in fact, is what I will be raving about in just a second.Karen DukessUm, yes, I read a book called The Original by Nell Stevens. It out in June. She's a British writer, and it's really good. It's sort of an also kind of genre, blending the way my book is, but it's very different. It's like a gothic novel. It's set in an old house in England in the 1800's and it involves an orphan who's being raised by relatives, and she has an incredible talent for painting forgeries, and she sort of has this secret business in selling forgeries, but it also involves an imposter who returns from abroad in the family, and there's a queer romance in it, and it's totally unlike anything I've read, and very compelling.KJ Dell'AntoniaOof, I love that.Karen DukessIn a really compelling way.KJ Dell'AntoniaAnd by the time people hear that, that this, this will either be out, or like, buy your next week self a present. That sounds great.Karen DukessYeah, it was very... it's very good. It's kind of like a rainy day book. You know?KJ Dell'AntoniaI love that. Well, I already raved about Welcome to Murder Week, but I'm telling you all, it's a real it's a real joy. I want to compare it to things. But there's almost like it's, I'll think of things that I that I want to...Karen DukessIt's hard to compare because it's not a traditional mystery,KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, no, um, I feel like Clare Pooley's books are, and I can't even think of the titles of them, but that, yeah, that is kind of ringing the right bell for me. I don't know who else a little bit of the like the murder, like, if you really thought The Murder of Mr. Wickham was super fun, which I absolutely adored, that is completely different, and yet also it's the same, like, it's the same... I think the vibe we're looking for here is page turner, no anxiety. And I love that. I love that for all of us...in England.Karen Dukess Yes, yeah.KJ Dell'AntoniaSo go grab this one. You're going to enjoy it, all right. Well, thanks so much. This was really fun. Thank you for being so open, and not just, you know, wandering around saying, well, I just it took me six years to write this because it's very good.Karen DukessYeah, I have to say, you know, I think that writers should talk more often about their failures. And by that...KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah.Karen DukessI mean, like novels that they wrote and abandoned, or novels that they wrote and tried to get published and couldn't, because it was only until I wrote this Russian novel and didn't sell it, and I would mention it to people. Then all these writers I knew, and people I knew, you know, would suddenly tell me about their own published novels. And I was like, why did I know about this beforehand? There's no shame in it... you know? It's a tough business. It's a tough business. The writing is tough; the publishing is tough. And now I'm like, oh my god, like so many writers I know have novels that did not get published, and for whatever reason. And I'm sure many of those novels are great novels, and but knowing that you know the journey of being a writer, just like I don't know a single author who hasn't like lost their editor at some point, you know, their editor leaves. Then they find a new, you know, be assigned to a new editor. That happens everybody, and I realize how many people have novels that did not see the light of day, and it was comforting to know it. So, I think people should be more open about it.KJ Dell'AntoniaI think we just are afraid that, you know, a reader will hear, well, I don't know if she's capable of writing something... that doesn't work, maybe it's not very good, which readers aren't listening to anything. They can barely remember our names. They just know if the book sounded good and someone pressed it into their hands.Karen DukessYeah, had a great cover.KJ Dell'AntoniaYeah, had a great cover. Yeah, all, all of the things, and it's just, it's, it's just a little scary to admit, because I guess one of the scary things about it, of course, admitting that that has happened means it could happen again. And hey It could! Oh well.Karen DukessYeah, but I've survived it. So...KJ Dell'AntoniaYou've survived it, you would survive it again. And also, it didn't happen this time. Welcome to Murder Week is great, and everyone is going to be sitting with it by the pool looking very happy. This is my wish for you. All right?Karen DukessThank you. Thanks so much KJ.KJ Dell'AntoniaOh, thank you. Hey, anywhere people should follow you? Oh, you have a Substack. What is it? I love it!Karen DukessI have a Substack. I mean, I think on Substack you can find it by my name Karen Dukess, it's, I don't know... it's called, “Keep Calm and Carry On”, but I think you can just look me up by name on Substack, and I am on Instagram more often at Karen Dukess, as I post about books that I'm reading all the time. Obviously, there'll be a lot of quarter week stuff, but I try to, you know, I'm reading eclectically and all the time. So, I'm always posting about books. Those are probably the best places to find me. And I have my website with all my events on it.KJ Dell'AntoniaIt'll be linked. It'll be linked.Karen DukessGreat.KJ Dell'AntoniaHopefully I can get to something... all right. Well, thank you so much. And all you listeners out there, I mean, you know you do you, but in some way, keep your butt in the chair, hey and or your head in the game.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting podcast is produced by Andrew perilla. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe