Podcasts about The Sunday Times

After 10 years of motherhood, I'm really glad I did some things in those first few weeks, and plenty I'd do completely differently.Nothing can quite prepare you for becoming a mother. Those early weeks can be full of love and joy while also feeling exhausting, overwhelming and completely identity-shifting. I certainly wasn't prepared for the emotional whiplash of holding all of those feelings at once.In this special episode, created in partnership with Tesco Fred & Flo, I'm looking back at my first experience of new motherhood and sharing what I got right, what I learnt the hard way and what I wish I'd known before having a baby.We talk about setting boundaries with visitors (including my one rule that I still think was genius!), why new mothers need care rather than being expected to host, and the huge identity shift of matrescence that I knew absolutely nothing about when I had my first daughter.I also share how the mental load began creeping into my relationship almost without us noticing, and the practical change my husband, Guy, and I made to create a more equal division of parenting and household responsibilities. Plus, I share the newborn essentials I genuinely found useful, what I spent time and money on that I probably wouldn't again, and some very practical tips for making those sleep-deprived early weeks a little easier.Because when you're adjusting to life with a new baby, recovering from birth and trying to work out who you are now, the last thing you need is more pressure.

What if the reason you don't feel confident isn't that you lack ability, but because you've stopped noticing the evidence of how capable you really are?In this powerful Moment, Zoe is joined by confidence expert and UPFRONT founder Lauren Currie to explore why so many mothers struggle to recognise their value—and the simple weekly practice that can help rebuild confidence and quieten your inner critic.Lauren explains why confidence isn't something you either have or don't have. It's a skill that can be strengthened by gathering real evidence of your progress, achievements and abilities. This is known as the “progress principle”: recording the things you've done, learned and handled well so that self-doubt can't simply dismiss them.They also explore why this matters beyond paid work. Motherhood develops valuable skills, but mothers rarely receive recognition or positive feedback for them. By actively noticing how you have grown, from handling a difficult moment more calmly to managing situations that once overwhelmed you, you can begin to change the story you tell yourself about who you are and what you're capable of.Lauren also shares the simple ten-minute Friday ritual she uses to build confidence, recognise her progress and quieten the feeling that nothing she achieves is ever quite enough.

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 35! Our guest today is the critically acclaimed UK #1 Sunday Times bestselling writer June CL Tan, author of the Darker By Four Duology, including her latest novel Brighter Than Nine.  A Singaporean who now resides in New York City, June obtained degrees in communications, education, and film before she fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a published author. She's known for creating fantastical worlds that lean in to her love of drawing upon the traditional and modern worlds to create something entirely new.  In her latest novel, Brother Than Nine, June continues the story with the colorful and moving characters of Rui, Zizi, Yiran, and others… as well settings and groups that include traditional exorcists, Hell, and more. Building on the previous book, Darker By Four, readers continue to get a glimpse of a modern world where Chinese mythology, the underworld, and the familiar are all merged.  In our conversation, June discusses how her upbringing has influenced her writing, how the Darker by Four duology came to her, how she decides when to explain some of the Chinese mythology to her audience, humanity, and so much more. To learn more about June, you can visit her website junecltan.com, follow her on instagram @junescribbles, and purchase Brighter Than Nine. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

On this week's episode of Local Legends Martin chats with Sunday Times bestselling author Marion Gibson!Regular listeners will recall that Marion last came on Three Ravens during October 2025 to chat about her wonderful book Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials, at which time we spoke about Marion's childhood and career, so we this time we skip all that and jump straight into the 17th century and witch hunt fever!This is all inspired by Marion's new book Witchland: A Tale of Witch Hunting and War in Seventeenth-Century Britain as researched in partnership with the brilliant Tabitha Stanmore, author of Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic and Love Spells.The book offers readers both a history of the English Civil War and, as a product of months of digging through county archives, never-before-discussed histories of several individual everyday folk accused of witchcraft from Scotland, Newcastle and East Anglia down into Devon and Cornwall. The book also draws connections between English witch trials and their later American counterparts, all of which we dig into, along with the folkloric deaths of two of history's most infamous witch hunters/accusers... Learn more about Marion at mariongibson.co.uk and you can keep up with all her adventures on Instagram @witchesetcinsta.About Three Ravens

Christine Riccio & Natasha Polis talk all things nerdy in the book, tv, movie, pop culture, fandoms, and how they integrate into their adult lives. Today they're talking writing advice with special author guest, New York and Sunday Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi!!! Plus they chat the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days sequel, Taylor Swift, Not Suitable for Work being canceled, Vera Stein is Fine, and more!The main discussion with Rosh is first today!Find all Roshani's books: https://www.roshanichokshi.com/If you'd like to jump to Snap Crackle Pop-culture news it starts at: 57:40Today in Fangirl Tea Time : Join Christine and Natasha for more stories about their recent life escapades. Support the pod by joining the Forking Fangirls Patreon community: http://patreon.com/thoseforkingfangirls TEAM EDWARD: The first five Heated Rivalry episode commentaries are up now! Follow the visual show on our Youtube: http://youtube.com/@thoseforkingfangirls  Get Christine's new book THIRTY, FLIRTY, & FOREVER ALONE: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1662532156Add Thirty Flirty & Forever Alone on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230393104-thirty-flirty-and-forever-aloneCheck out Natasha's sewing classes: https://www.natashapolis.com/Join our patron to get 10 dollars off the classes!Website: https://thoseforkingfangirls.com/ Email us feedback: thoseforkingfangirls@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoseforkingfangirls/

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Pinborough spoke with us about her approach to plotting twists, the stark difference between writing novels and screenplays, and her latest THEY SAY A GIRL DIED HERE. Sarah Pinborough is the New York Times and Sunday Times #1 bestselling author of international hit Behind Her Eyes, published in over 25 territories worldwide. Her latest novel, They Say a Girl Died Here, is describe as “a thrilling, genre-bending mystery about two murdered girls, a town with dark secrets, and a race to break a deadly cycle.” Publishers Weekly called the book, “An addictive tale of Midwestern macabre. . . Pinborough's fierce yet flawed characters are easy to root for, and she doles out the story's shocking secrets at a tantalizing pace. Thriller fans who like it dark will devour this.” Sarah Pinborough was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and also the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and she has four times been short-listed for Best Novel. She is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC with multiple adaptations in the works. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Sarah Pinborough, Milena, and I discussed: Her former life running a strip club The chance encounter at FantasyCon that led to a three-book deal How she changes gears while shifting mediums Why horror is her favorite genre Hot takes on recent horror films And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web sarahpinborough.com They Say a Girl Died Here: A Novel by Sarah Pinborough (Amazon) Sarah Pinborough Amazon Author Page Sarah Pinborough on Twitter Sarah Pinborough on Facebook Sarah Pinborough on Instagram Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During August, the Motherkind team and I try to practise what we preach by slowing down, taking some time off and making the juggle just a little easier over the summer holidays.So, throughout the month, we're bringing you some of our most listened-to episodes of the year so far.What if becoming a mother didn't make you less ambitious, less capable or less valuable at work, but actually gave you skills that could make you better at your job?This week, we're revisiting one of our most listened-to Motherkind episodes of the year, and it's a conversation I think every working mother needs to hear.I'm joined by Vanessa Kingori, who became the first woman in British Vogue's history to become Publishing Director and found herself navigating pregnancy and new motherhood while leading one of the most powerful media brands in the world.Vanessa shares the extraordinary pressure she felt when she became pregnant in such a senior position, including being told that her pregnancy was exactly why businesses were reluctant to put women into these roles. Rather than hiding it, Vanessa did the opposite: she became deliberately visible and set out to make things easier for the women who would come after her.We talk about why working mothers so often feel they're failing at both work and home, even when they're actually performing brilliantly. Vanessa explains why motherhood can make women better at time management, decision-making, prioritisation and leadership — and why businesses that underestimate mothers are missing some of their greatest talent.We also get practical about the juggle: asking for help, having honest conversations with your partner about the division of labour, building your village and surrounding yourself with people who support the life you're trying to create.And Vanessa shares a powerful reminder for any mother questioning her career, ambition or identity: you don't have to choose one version of yourself. You can be ambitious and deeply present. A leader and a mother. Career-driven and family-focused. As Vanessa puts it, she's a better mother because she works — and a better business leader because she's a mother.This is a conversation about working motherhood, career confidence, ambition, mum guilt and redefining what success looks like after children.

Scoop: Ed Miliband is expected to announce two different kinds of sanctions over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. We have the details, but will the plan be enforceable?Get ready for politics on hyperspeed this autumn: a decision on North Sea oil and gas, an announcement about the prisoner early release scheme, two welfare reviews, conferences, a budget and a 10-year plan. But amidst the flurry of activity, is Andy Burnham putting off some tough decisions?Reform UK says British-born workers should get priority for social housing. We look at the shifting Overton window on citizenship as three parties on the right - The Conservative Party, Reform UK and Restore UK - jostle for votes.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesFraser Nelson, columnist, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty Images00:00 - Parliament Returns: The Autumn Political Agenda01:45 - Ed Miliband, Gaza Sanctions & West Bank Trade Bans07:50 - Early Release Scheme & Police Backlash (PC Harper Case)10:45 - The Mini-Budget, Welfare Reviews & 10-Year Plan15:00 - Reform UK's Housing Policy & Citizenship Split23:30 - Kemi Badenoch Meets Giorgia Meloni in RomeThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like one person was supposed to carry the weight of your entire world — your happiness, your moments, your everything?In this Monday Moment, broadcaster and author Anna Whitehouse, also known as Mother Pukka, shares the piece of relationship advice that completely changed how she sees love, family, and what a happy ending really looks like.Anna opens up about the reality of divorce. Why it's one of the hardest things she's ever been through and shares the powerful reframe that helped her stop seeing herself as someone who "broke" her family. Together, Zoe and Anna explore what it really means to build a community around you, why putting everything on one person is quietly exhausting us all, and the simple one-minute practice that works better than any spa day. Whether you're in a relationship, navigating big changes, or just feeling the weight of trying to make one person your everything, there is so much wisdom in this moment.

On this week's episode of Local Legends Eleanor chats with Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Clegg.We first met Sarah last year, when she was one of the guests at our Three Ravens Christmas Feast. Sarah had just published her book The Dead of Winter, all about the origins and changing lore of the dark side of Christmas.Sarah has a PhD in ancient history from the University of Cambridge, and you'd struggle to find another person with such an encyclopaedic knowledge and clear passion for Medieval Romances. In addition to The Dead of Winter, she's the author of Women's Lore: 400 Years of Sirens, Serpents and Succubi. We're speaking just ahead of the publication of her latest book Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries. Perilous Enchantment is a meticulously researched history and travelogue which takes us from elf fires in Iceland to a stream in Cottingley and even a fairy ball in Los Angeles. We talk about the book and her research and the shift in fairy narratives, from dangerous and seductive to childish and whimsical, to explore why stories of the fae continue to fascinate us today. It's a conversation which spans medieval chivalric romances, spicy romantasy, nostalgia and some of the world's most magical places.Learn more about Sarah at https://www.sarahclegg.com, and you can keep up with all her adventures on Instagram @readingartefacts.About Three Ravens

During August, the Motherkind team and I try to practise what we preach by slowing down, taking some time off and making the juggle just a little easier over the summer holidays.So, throughout the month, we're bringing you some of our most listened-to episodes of the year so far.Pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding can be some of the most physically demanding experiences a woman's body will ever go through. So why are mothers expected to simply carry on afterwards?This week, Zoe is joined by nutrition scientist and bestselling author Dr Federica Amati for an eye-opening conversation about what a mother's body actually needs through pregnancy, postpartum recovery and the first years of motherhood.Federica explains why the first 1,000 days aren't only important for our babies — they're a crucial window for maternal health too. Pregnancy draws heavily on our nutrient stores, birth has an enormous physiological impact on the body, and breastfeeding can require significantly more energy than pregnancy itself. Yet this is often the exact moment mothers have the least time, energy and support to properly nourish themselves.Together, Zoe and Federica explore what to eat before and during pregnancy, the truth about pregnancy cravings and morning sickness, and why fertility shouldn't be treated as solely a woman's responsibility.But it's their conversation about postpartum depletion and recovery that every mother needs to hear. Federica shares practical advice for nourishing yourself after birth, why asking for and accepting help matters, and why we desperately need to move away from the expectation that women should simply "bounce back".They also discuss pregnancy spacing, breastfeeding, maternal burnout, the mental load and what happens when postpartum recovery begins to overlap with perimenopause.Above all, this is a reminder that your body isn't supposed to return to the woman you were before children. Motherhood changes us — physically, hormonally and emotionally — and perhaps the goal isn't to fight that change, but to learn how to support the body we're in now.

The 2026/27 Premier League season is here. So, it is prediction time.Who is going to win it, who is in the top four? Who's getting relegated, who could be looking over their shoulders? Plus who will be the surprise packages, who are we most excited to see and which manager will come under pressure first? Tom Clarke is joined Chief football correspondent for The Times and Sunday Times and football journalist of the year Jonathan Northcroft, the former Chelsea, Villa and Celtic player Tony Cascarino and journalist and former footballer Gregor Robertson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry and Meghan are reportedly moving back to Britain with Archie and Lilibet, more than six years after leaving royal life for California. But why now — and how will their return work in practice?Roya Nikkhah is joined by Rosamund Urwin, chief news correspondent of The Sunday Times, to discuss the Sussexes' shock decision, the King's reaction and what it could mean for Prince William.They also examine Harry's security concerns, the couple's life in America and whether their return risks creating an alternative royal court — blurring the “half-in, half-out” boundaries established at Sandringham six years ago .If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app.What do you want to know about Harry and Meghan's return to the UK? Get in touch: theroyals@thetimes.co.ukImage: GettyProducer: Robert WallaceVideo Producer: Eve ChadbournExecutive Producer: Priyanka DeladiaWatch us on YouTube.Read more: How Prince Harry's return complicates the royal balance of power Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What skills will our children really need to thrive in a world that's changing faster than ever?As parents, we spend so much time thinking about our children's future. And with AI and technology transforming the world they'll grow into, two skills feel more important than ever: confidence and resilience.In this special episode, created in partnership with Stagecoach Performing Arts, I'm joined by performance and drama play expert Sarah Chitty to explore how we can help our children develop the confidence to use their voice, handle nerves, take risks, make mistakes and keep going when something feels uncomfortable.We talk about why confidence isn't about being the loudest child in the room, but about building genuine self-esteem and learning to trust who you are. Sarah also explains why girls can become particularly self-conscious between the ages of 8 and 12, and what we can do as parents to give them safe spaces where they can take risks, express themselves and feel seen and heard.We also explore the surprising role that drama, play and performing arts can have in developing skills that extend far beyond the stage, from communication and teamwork to handling fear, presenting ideas, reading body language and having the courage to say yes to new opportunities.And Zoe shares her own experience of Stagecoach Performing Arts as a child and why she believes those early experiences helped give her the confidence to stand up in front of hundreds of people, pursue new opportunities and, eventually, start Motherkind.In this episode, you'll learn:How to build genuine confidence and self-esteem in your childWhy girls' confidence can dip between 8 and 12How to help children handle nerves, fear and failureWhy play and creativity can build lifelong resilienceSimple ways to encourage children to find their voice and take healthy risksWatch this episode on YouTube and subscribe. This episode is created in partnership with Stagecoach Performing Arts. For your 2-week trial from £25, visit https://www.stagecoach.co.uk/motherkind/ Connect with Zoe:Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTokGet Zoe's Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations'

This is episode two of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.Today we go inside Operation Titan, as North Yorkshire Police fight back against county lines drugs gangs. But with each line the police shut down, another pops up in its place, sometimes within days. The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins investigates how to break the cycle. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead more: Drug dealers use anti-slavery law to escape prosecution | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David Collins.Producers: Kate Lamble and Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate and Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to ‘Out of Order' with Mark Lobel. A new series, in partnership with Disorder. Remarkable people, unguarded. Each month, Emmy nominated journalist Mark Lobel meets some of the world's most interesting people to understand the moments that made them who they are; and where they see hope in our mad mad mad mad world when so much feels out of order. In his most revealing interview yet, Charles Cumming, a master of modern spy fiction, opens up about his work, life and reveals his biggest regret, one that helped shape his spy novels. The duo discuss Charles upbringing - and how being sent to a boarding school at a young age shaped his writing. They also chat divorce-- and how two divorces, that of Charles parents and later himself, still shapes his writing, and why spy novels can call out the crimes and immorality of people like Putin and Trump in different ways that politicians and political commentators. For ad free listening, early release episodes and more bonus content, join our Mega Orderers Club at disordershow.com/club - use the promo code BACKGAMMON50 for 50% off a Mega Orderers membership. Limited time only. There is only one week left to redeem this offer. Producer: George McDonagh Subscribe to our Substack - https://natoandtheged.substack.com/ Disorder on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DisorderShow Show Notes Links: Get in touch with Mark here https://www.mark-lobel.com/  For more on Out of Order visit https://linktr.ee/outofordermarklobel  ICARUS 17: A nailbiting new Lachlan Kite espionage thriller, from Sunday Times bestselling author Charles Cumming: Book 4 (BOX 88)https://amzn.eu/d/06DAbiyU

The prison early release scheme is Andy Burnham's first big test as prime minister. There are no good options. Can he make a successful argument that he's picked the least bad?No 10 wants the Autumn Budget to be all about devolution, but they also need to raise money - a lot of money. Fraser believes there are reasons to be cheerful about welfare reform. Can Labour MPs really get behind a plan that inevitably will come with painful political decisions?Reform UK has suspended Tim Montgomerie as a member. What's going on within the party?And Gabriel lifts the veil on Insight's reporting into George Cottrell and Christopher Harborne's donations to Nigel Farage and Reform UK.Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesGabriel Pogrund, Insight editor, The Sunday TimesFraser Nelson, columnist, The TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonExecutive producer: Molly GuinnessPicture: Getty ImagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever felt like maternity "leave" was the wrong word for what you were actually doing?In this powerful Moment, broadcaster and author Emma Barnett shares the phrase that changed how she — and so many mothers listening — understood motherhood: maternity service.Emma explains how the reframe came to her during an intense week of solo parenting, and why swapping just one word completely shifted her relationship to those early, relentless months. Together, Zoe and Emma dig into the "death and rebirth" of matrescence, the strange creative clarity that can show up in the fog of new motherhood, and why so few honest portraits of this stage of life exist. If you've ever felt blindsided by who you became after having a baby, this conversation will leave you feeling far less alone — and hand you some new language for what you lived through.

Jane Garvey is back in the building! She's rested and ready to go, but best believe she's got some gripes from her holiday... Jane and Eve discuss make-up in athletics, dildo rails, breaststroke in the infinity pool, and address the pizza controversy. Plus, Laura Hackett, deputy literary editor and fiction editor for both The Sunday Times and The Times, brings news of harvest time in the publishing world. She recommends Partita by Barbara Kingsolver, The Housekeeper by Rose Tremain, and Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus. You can check out our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffAirWithJaneAndFi Our most asked about book is called 'The Later Years' by Peter Thornton. If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producers: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is episode one of a five-part special investigation into county lines drug dealing from The Times and The Sunday Times first published in March.Today we reveal how police took down the family controlling the drug trade in one British city, creating a power vacuum that was filled by a new breed of violent, criminal operation - county lines.The Sunday Times' northern editor David Collins is given unprecedented access to North Yorkshire Police as they fight back against the drug gangs. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead more: Exposed: how drug gangs deal without fear as the law can't keep up | I was a county lines drug runner. I tried to quit, then I was stabbedWatch: School-age kingpins: why children now hold the key to county linesHost: David CollinsProducers: Kate Lamble, Taryn SiegelExecutive producers: Tim Walklate, Dan BoxWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV presenter and wellness advocate Julia Bradbury joins Katie Brindle for a conversation about the daily habits that transformed her health after breast cancer. Julia and Katie talk about the healing power of nature and breathwork as well as longevity, movement and mindfulness - and the simple practices that can help you live a healthier life.Julia Bradbury's #1 Sunday Times bestselling book Hack Yourself Healthy is available to buy in paperback online and in bookstores. Find out more about Julia at: https://juliabradbury.com/--------------------------------------------More information here: https://katiebrindle.com/Subscribe to my newsletter: https://katiebrindle.com/newsletter-signup/Buy 'Yang Sheng: The Art of Chinese Self-Healing' athttps://www.hayoumethod.com/product/yang-sheng-the-art-of-chinese-self-healing/Buy the Hayo'u tools at https://www.hayoumethod.com/products/--------------------------------------------Join my channel and leave a comment about what you want to see next!Love, Katie Brindle.

Karen Carter was murdered outside her home in the tranquil Dordogne village of Trémolat. The police launched a manhunt, and slowly a story of obsession, romance, and unrequited love started to come to light. So, why would someone murder a well-liked member of the community? And what's the latest development in the police investigation?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Jane Flanagan, Africa correspondent, The Times.Host: Luke Jones.Producer: Sophie McNulty.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Murder in the Dordogne: obsession, affairs, unrequited loveFurther listening: Has an AI sleuth unmasked the Zodiac Killer?Clips: France 3 Nouvelle-Aquitaine, RTL.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunday NY Times Arts & Leisure section

Sunday NY Times Opinion

While recovering from a heart attack, Times sports journalist Owen Slot distracted himself by watching a summer of thrilling sport. He was still hooked up to a heart rate monitor, so he decided to run an experiment: how would his heart react to the drama? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Owen Slot, chief sports writer, The Times.Producer: Jennifer Kennedy.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Sport moves you like nothing else — as I found out after my heart attackClips: talkSPORT.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco, live music and even a Ferris wheel. But during his victory speech, Farage admitted for the first time that he may have made a mistake by failing to declare the £5m gift he received from Christopher Harborne. Now, just hours after his victory, the parliamentary standards watchdog has resumed its investigation into the Reform leader. So, after the Ferris wheel and the fanfare, what next for the embattled Farage?Hosts:Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonPicture: Getty imagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been five years since the Taliban took over Afghanistan's capital. Since then, the country has been plunged into economic crisis and women have all but disappeared from society. The Times' special correspondent Anthony Loyd has been reporting from Afghanistan for 30 years. He's been back on the streets of Kabul and on patrol with the Taliban's morality police finding out what life is like for ordinary Afghans.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Anthony Loyd, special correspondent, The Times. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Emily Webb, Jennifer Kennedy.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: On patrol with the Taliban's ‘Virtue and Vice' policeClips: BBC, Al Jazeera, DW News, ABC News, Fox 59, CBS, ARB 24.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage has done the inevitable and defeated Count Binface in the Clacton by-election. To celebrate, Reform threw a gigantic Glastonbury-style festival on Clacton beach. Farage-fest 2026 featured disco, live music and even a Ferris wheel.But during his victory speech, Farage admitted for the first time that he may have made a mistake by failing to declare the £5m gift he received from Christopher Harborne.Now, just hours after his victory, the parliamentary standards watchdog has resumed its investigation into the Reform leader. So, after the Ferris wheel and the fanfare, what next for the embattled Farage?Steven Swinford, political editor, The TimesLara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday TimesProducers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry KitsonPicture: Getty imagesThis podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said no to Donald Trump's 15-point Gaza plan, and the refusal is flat rather than fudged. In the West Bank, extremist settlers have besieged two Palestinian families in the village of Qusra, apparently hoping to take their homes. The IDF went in but came away with mission very much unaccomplished. With Yonit away, Jonathan is joined by Hadley Freeman, columnist for London's Sunday Times and author of the acclaimed memoir, House of Glass, for what is an Unholy first: two voices from the Jewish diaspora and no Israeli in the room. They talk through the week's news and reflect on what three years since October 7 has done to Jewish life outside Israel, why Israel-Palestine has become the litmus test of the American left and whether anybody speaks for the diaspora.   Plus: a Chutzpah nominee that reached a Belfast stage via Sweden, and a Mensch that arrives from Australia by way of Yiddish.   The Bashevis Singers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G531cgjplcM

During August, the Motherkind team and I try to practise what we preach by slowing down, taking some time off and making the juggle just a little easier over the summer holidays.So, throughout the month, we're bringing you some of our most listened-to episodes of the year so far.If you're the person who remembers the PE kits, books the appointments, sorts the childcare, knows when the suncream needs reapplying and automatically assumes you're looking after the children unless you've specifically arranged otherwise — this episode is for you.This week's episode is with author Lou Beckett for a brilliantly honest conversation about being the default parent and the invisible mental, emotional and physical load so many mothers carry.Lou describes default parenting as something bigger than the mental load. It's not only thinking about everything that needs to happen; it's doing it, managing it and carrying the underlying assumption that ultimately, you are responsible. And often, couples don't consciously choose these roles at all. They simply fall into them after having children and never stop to renegotiate them.We talk about what that does to your identity, your relationship and your time — including Lou's experience of stepping away from her career while her husband's career accelerated, and the gradual feeling that she had lost sight of who she was outside motherhood.Lou also shares what has actually helped them change the dynamic at home: having honest conversations about responsibility, creating space for both parents' needs and recognising that wanting time for yourself doesn't make you selfish. We also talk about the enormous standards mothers place on themselves, comparison, mum guilt and why sometimes “good enough” really is enough.This is a funny, validating and incredibly relatable conversation for any mother who has ever thought: Why does everything seem to fall to me?

Mingyur Rinpoche and I discuss the nature of reality, spirituality and meaning. Online community: https://timfreke.com/online-community/ Free Newsletter https://timfreke.com Experiential Events https://timfreke.com/transformative-events/ Substack https://timfreke.substack.com/ I am the author of 35 books, translated into 15 languages, including a Sunday Times bestseller and Daily Telegraph 'Book of the Year'. For some inexplicable reason I was included in ‘The 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People' lists in Watkins Magazine for 2021 and 2022. #god #spirituality #wisdom #love #evolution #philosophy #death #transformation    

A Scientology whistleblower told Times journalist Tom Ball that the church's Edinburgh branch had children as young as thirteen working there during school hours. The church denied the allegation. Tom went undercover to investigate. This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Tom Ball, news reporter, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Revealed: how Scientology recruits children as 'staff'Further listening: Undercover at Britain's ‘conspiracy school'Clips: Apostate Alex - YouTube.Photo: Ian Rutherford for The Times. This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mel Giedroyc is a comedian, writer and TV presenter who has been entertaining the nation for over 30 years. Hired in 1996 as a writer for French and Saunders (alongside best friend Sue Perkins), Mel's career took off and she went on to co-present hit Channel 4 series Light Lunch and Late Lunch, and then the Great British Bake Off. Since then, Giedoryc has written a Sunday Times bestselling novel and fronts the podcast, Where There's A Will There's A Wake. Now she returns with a new book, The Comeback, a funny, big-hearted novel about second chances set in a community. In this hilarious and moving episode, we talk about how she feels she is always ‘getting away with it', life post-Bake Off, having children, not making it to her mother's deathbed due to a big night out, and the recurring nightmare that she has never been able to shake… IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction 02:55 Getting Away With It 05:43 Bake Off 08:43 Life After Bake Off 09:45 The Comeback Novel 10:21 Theatre And Family Roots 17:18 Cambridge Degree Disaster 28:49 Mums Deathbed Regret 30:46 Strokes And Stolen Years 32:05 Boozy Night Missed Call 36:10 Work As Grief Shelter 39:36 Remembering Rosemary 43:50 VHS Shame Spiral 52:00 Goodbyes And Final Thoughts LINKS + MENTIONS: Listen to Mel's podcast, Where There's A Will There's A Wake here: swap.fm/l/ZuaKfvomuCzS7P3cLJzx and watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@WhereTheresAWillTheresAWake The Comeback is available to pre-order now: www.hachette.co.uk/titles/mel-giedroyc/the-comeback/9781472256263/ Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Elizabeth's Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com WANT MORE? Miranda Hart - swap.fm/l/oTScN30b80GflJtO4rgu Celeste Barber - swap.fm/l/qLmwfjyeSolWuFeaHGdt Stephen Merchant - swap.fm/l/Lta5mlFbVnPHyFb8R1n2 LOVE THIS EPISODE? Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts Leave a 5⭐ review – it helps more people discover these stories Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth: Instagram: @elizabday TikTok: @howtofailpod Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod Website: www.elizabethday.org Guest bookings for How To Fail only come from official @sonymusic.com emails Have a failure you're trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan and Jen Mistri Engineer: Matias Torres Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Alex Lawless Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can you tell where the real innovation in publishing is happening right now, and why is it emerging from the indie side first? How do you market your own book when you've spent 35 years marketing everyone else's? John Bond talks about Going Indie and what he's learned about authors who last. In the intro, my thoughts on writing with AI, Charles Dickens and encouragement for the 3-year-old dancing to K-Pop at the wedding, UK copyright law, The end of an era — Hugh Howey; Notre Dame, Paris; Today's show is sponsored by Bookfunnel, the essential tool for your author business. Whether it's delivering your reader magnet, sending out advanced copies of your book, handing out ebooks at a conference, or fulfilling your digital sales to readers, BookFunnel does it all. Check it out at bookfunnel.com/thecreativepenn This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn John Bond is the co-founder of Whitefox, a premium publishing services agency, and has over 35 years in traditional publishing, from bookselling to marketing and management. He's also the co-author of Going Indie: Publishing Your Book Your Way, with James Silver. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why 2012 was a watershed moment for publishing in the UK Whether the snobbery around self-publishing has finally gone How to co-write a book with someone, and why there's no formula The pride swallowing involved in getting endorsement quotes for your own book The shadow economy of indie sales that no industry chart measures The hallmarks of writers who build a long-term career You can find John at wearewhitefox.com. Transcript of the interview with John Bond Jo: John Bond is the co-founder of Whitefox, a premium publishing services agency, and has over 35 years in traditional publishing, from bookselling to marketing and management. He's also the co-author of Going Indie: Publishing Your Book Your Way, with James Silver. So welcome back to the show, John. John: Thank you, Jo. Thanks so much for having me. Jo: You were last on the show in 2022. You've been on a couple of times, but just set the scene. Tell people a bit more about you and your long background in publishing. John: I suppose I could say I started as a marketing manager at Penguin back in the early 1990s in London, and that role eventually evolved into running sales and marketing, as it often does. I did that at Penguin and at HarperCollins. Then I ran one of the publishing divisions at HarperCollins, including 4th Estate, and published Hilary Mantel and Jonathan Franzen and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and others. I left that in 2011 and set up Whitefox in 2012, and it's a classic startup story. It was somebody I worked with at HarperCollins. We sat around a kitchen table, came up with an idea for a business, which was Whitefox, and that's grown into the creative agency that it is today. Jo: So back then, did you think, “I can do this better”? Was that the impetus, “I can do publishing better than Penguin and HarperCollins”? John: No, I thought we would solve a problem. There's something very attractive about that whole startup mentality and beginning something from scratch. I mean, I was in my early 50s. I'd had a long career in traditional publishing. On the plus side, I knew a lot of people, and I thought I could get meetings, people would reply to my phone calls or my emails. On the downside, I didn't necessarily have the energy of a 20 to 25-year-old. I knew a lot of people and I knew quite a lot of things, and I also knew what problems something like Whitefox could solve. We set up with this idea that if we could galvanise and organise the diaspora of freelancers in the publishing space and make them available to anybody that wanted to make a book, that that would be quite a powerful thing. These incredibly creative, wonderful people who were below the radar and were not particularly valued or managed or utilised properly. I thought if we could access that and make that available not just to traditional publishing people who know about these people, but to individual authors, businesses, brands, people that wanted to make a book, and if you added a layer of our expertise from traditional publishing, that could be quite powerful, I suppose. That's what I was thinking back then. Jo: It's funny, though. You said these wonderful freelancers who were not particularly valued or managed or utilised properly. That could also apply to a lot of authors in traditional publishing. John: Totally. Totally. But if I'm honest, I don't think I was thinking about that. What's really evolved since we started, even in that 2011, 2012 period, is so much has happened to independent writers, indie authors. The whole ecosystem has become much more vibrant, and what is accessible to those writers is much greater. I'd like to think we've played a part in that. What that's done is put power back into writers' hands, and that quickly became apparent in the business as a byproduct of what we'd set up. Jo: Yes, and 2012 I do think in the UK was a pivot point, because I got into self-publishing in 2006/2007 when the Americans did with the beginning of the Kindle and the iPhone. Really the American ecosystem grew first. I happened to be in Australia, and so I think I was able to escape the negativity of the vortex in the UK, which took a number more years to embrace self-publishing as a force to be reckoned with as opposed to an embarrassing thing in the corner for vanity press. Do you see 2012 as a changing point in UK publishing? John: I think we'd just come out of the Kindle moment, hadn't we? There were all sorts of conversations going on about how that was going to change things forever. I think no one quite knew what the upshot of that was going to be, but we knew that it was incredibly disruptive. In 2012, Penguin, as it was then, before Penguin Random House, had offered to buy Author Solutions for $115 million, presumably seen as some kind of defensive measure as to what the market was going to evolve into. I think it felt like a real period of change. In the UK, James Daunt took over running Waterstones, and he was then ultimately going to run Barnes & Noble. It felt like a bit of a watershed. I think we were lucky in that sense, that maybe in the UK and in London, what we were creating coincided with an opening up of opportunity and creativity, and people wanting access to more tools to be able to do things themselves. Getting this idea that you invest in your own talent and what that could mean for your ability to do things quicker, better. Some of it was happenstance, but lucky for us. As you say, we then became aware that in a sense a lot of these things had come to fruition earlier on the US side. In London, that whole idea of setting up something that wasn't a traditional rights-owning model, but where you wanted to be working with people creatively, felt actually really exciting and timely. Jo: And when you started to work with independent authors, probably a couple of years after that, you started to work with a lot more indie authors and things really started to change in terms of the business side. Did you feel any of the snobbery from the traditional industry? Like you mentioned, you have a lot of contacts, a lot of connections. I came to your wonderful launch party and there were just people from all over the industry. I wondered if you got any kickback, or if anyone raised their eyebrows a little bit at who you were choosing to work with? John: Oh, definitely. And I would say I really think that's gone. You may think differently, Jo, but from my perspective, I think there has been such an evolution in the nearly 15 years that we've been going. So any of that residual snobbery, looking down your nose at people that were going DIY, producing multiple books, learning from every single publication. We've spoken about this before. I remember you sat on the panel of a FutureBook conference in the UK, which was run by a trade magazine, with this idea of looking at the, in quotes, “digital future of the business.” It felt like there were a lot of things being talked about, but not a lot of action on the traditional side. I suppose some sort of awe that there was some magic going on with people who were making a success of self-publishing. But then quite a lot of people looking down their noses at things that shouldn't get through the gatekeepers. I do think that's gone. Or if it's not completely gone, I can see it on the way out of the door, because there's no room for that when agents are struggling to sell books to publishers because publishers are looking at the next indie author, the next Freida McFadden, the next Sarah J. Maas, the next Rebecca Yarros. So whoever it may be, or wherever they're publishing, whatever they're doing now, wherever they may be, knowing that a lot of those people will already be publishing and be on not their first, second, third or fourth, but potentially their 10th or 11th book. It's a race to see who can help those authors, as a traditional publisher would see it, amplify what they're doing. I think the idea that there's an us and them, if it did exist then, which it certainly did in certain publishing quarters, is gone. I used to go to those conferences, like the FutureBook Conference, and certain publishers would talk about publishing, and when they meant publishing, they meant a really tiny area of quite literary, traditional imprints. That's what publishing meant. They didn't even mean publishing to mean educational publishing, or children's publishing, or academic publishing, and certainly not Kindle or POD or whatever. So I think that's had to change for very good, sound, commercial, economic reasons. Jo: Yes, you're right. I definitely have heard, as we go to similar events sometimes, and you do hear agents used to talk a lot more about finding books very occasionally in a slush pile, or doing courses so you could meet people and do pitch events and all this. Now it's often build an audience on BookTok or whatever, and sell lots of books, and traditional publishing as an amplifier, as you said. That's how I always hear them pitch it now, the question of— What can traditional publishing still do when indie authors can do so much? It does seem to be, well, we can amplify you, we can get you into traditional press, we can get you in traditional bookstores, we can help you with film and movie deals, that kind of thing. So that's really interesting, because that's actually changed quite a lot. They don't now seem to say, “Oh, well, we can make sure we pay you,” or, “We are editorial success as such.” John: I think they don't say editorial success or quality or indeed marketing, because that was what used to be said. I think there's an understanding that a lot of indie writers are better marketeers of their own books than traditional publishers, and if you go into the publishing machine, then you'll get your slot. It lasts for a certain period of time and then that moves on to another book. Whereas obviously if you're writing your own book and you're marketing your own book, you're able to do that yourself 24/7 wherever you are in the world, and you will know more about your readers and your audience and how that evolves than a traditional publisher would. What they probably mean now is, as you said, as much as anything, distribution, or even physical distribution. Because to be part of that process, I think that is still where a large conglomerate is able to wield some muscle, with this idea that if you physically want to see your book in bricks and mortar retailers in X outlets around the world, that's potentially easier to do if that is your aim, via a traditional publisher. So it is constantly evolving, because it used to be that marketing was the silver bullet, and I don't think that's the case anymore. Jo: No. We'll come back to marketing, shall we? Struggling with marketing. So let's get into your book. You recently co-wrote Going Indie with James Silver, Publishing Your Book Your Way. Obviously you already knew a lot about indie authors, so I wonder, what did you discover in the process of researching the book and the interviews you did? And I was one of your interviews. Did anything come up that surprised you, since you're already pretty embedded in the world? John: I would say some of it was reinforcing what I knew. So how everything is so intertwined, how in some ways unlinear everything is. People are doing lots of things in a different order to the way that traditionally writers would perceive this relay race of a manuscript gets passed to an editor, an editor passes on. That's just not how it is or needs to be anymore. I still think there is—not even a misconception—but I think there's a received wisdom that when you're talking about self-publishing, you're talking about fiction. The majority of books that Whitefox produces are not fiction, they're non-fiction. Some of them are quite mainstream, some of them are quite niche. That idea of connecting to your audience and your followers, and being slightly more scientific about how you find readers in your non-fiction niche, I think is still unspoken about in a way, in that genre fiction tends to be what people automatically assume the conversation is about. This probably doesn't surprise you, but I was pleasantly surprised to have it confirmed to me quite how much swapping and sharing there is of skills and knowledge in that space. I'm not saying indie writing is egoless at all, but there's quite a lot of sharing of knowledge and what works, and collaboration, which I think is great to see. Again, if you've, as I did many years ago, come out of corporate conglomerate publishing, traditional publishing, there's less of that by the very nature of the kind of organisation. And look, we just talked about marketing a little while ago. I do think this whole idea that the cutting edge of experimentation, it's not traditional publishing, it's indie writers. They are looking at not just how to find readers, but how to fulfil orders, how to make commercial sense of what they're doing from the absolute outset and get-go of what they're doing. And just how now the lines are blurring between what would be classified as traditional digital publishers and the writers who are doing their own thing, or doing their own thing on behalf of a few other writers. Those lines have completely blurred. There used to be this traditional hardback, paperback, X number of books a year, a year after hardback there's a paperback. This is the model we have been doing for centuries, and people doing things on their own. I think that's blurring massively, and the Venn diagrams of people's areas of expertise are just overlapping massively. Jo: Well, I think you're right there, and certainly the hardback special editions with sprayed edges and foil. A lot of us now are doing that first and not putting out the other, or putting out the rest of it at the same time. I dare say probably there are more indie authors with sprayed edge hardbacks than there are traditionally published authors. John: I'm sure that's right. And what's interesting is if you go to a traditional book printer, they are loving the direct communication with writers, that's not coming through traditional channels and traditional relationships. It's great business, it's interesting. I think that's something that's even developed in the last couple of years, that cutting out of some of the middle men required. Jo: Yes, and in terms of supporting freelancers and small publishing houses and printers and stuff, the other thing I've heard is that indie authors pay upfront, or they pay quickly, compared to some of these big publishers who are asking for long lead times and steep discounting. So actually a lot of these independent businesses are doing better under indie author work than they were under traditional. John: I think that's right, and that's what I mean also about the sharing of information and this collaborative idea of sharing creative knowledge. I mean, I'm making it sound like a kind of 19th century cooperative, which it isn't. I'm not suggesting that for a second. It's this idea that there's a lot of people learning a lot of things and there's a keenness to share some of that information, because if you've developed your own readership for your unique creative product, some of those learnings are very exciting. The printers I've spoken to love working on those kinds of things, because they are also being challenged to come up with new ways of developing ever more innovative physical product. Jo: Yes, I think it's a fun, creative time for sure. Things like Kickstarter, which you came on and talked about crowdfunding years ago, and I've obviously done. I think, what am I on now? Seven? I've just done my seventh. John: Wow. Jo: It's so much fun. But now what's happening is traditional publishers are arriving on Kickstarter and all that kind of thing. So we really see a blurring. Let's come back to your book, so Going Indie. You co-wrote it. Now obviously there are lots of positive sides of collaboration, but in terms of any challenges with collaboration and co-writing and the writing process of doing this? Because I've done this several times and I've found it very challenging. So tell us about the collaborative writing process. John: We thought a lot about it before we took it on. What I would say, having done it, is I am assuming there is no formula for how you do this. At Penguin I worked with a married couple who were crime writers, and they wrote books together. They merged their names so it appeared to be one name. I could not tell you, and they didn't share what that process was, whether they were writing different chapters or … I don't know. So I can only speak from my own experience. James is an established journalist. He's great with deadlines. He was very good at chivvying me along when I needed to be persuaded to hit the deadlines that I'd promised. I write blogs, I write newsletters, I write content for our website, but this is my first book. I've never written anything of this length. So in a way it started with the structure. It started with this idea that we would play to what we perceived as our respective strengths in terms of writing. We absolutely were not each writing every third word or anything like that. It was a process of trust in different parts. I thought, James had done some research and will be better at writing that. He deferred to me on areas that he took to be my areas of expertise. We did every interview for the book together. We went over the notes from those before they became part of the interviews for the book. And some of the book's elements are diagrammatic, so those are very easy to collaborate on. I think we tried to be professionally, creatively constructive with each other. So it was raising an eyebrow rather than shouting at each other if we didn't agree about something. A lot of it was down to the editing, and I don't know what your experience was like with a co-writer, but a lot of it came down to: here is something which is quite baggy. How do we, between us, make this as tight as we possibly can? I don't mean copy editing or proofreading. I mean the actual sort of, how do we get this into a pithy, usable, practical but discursive book? We didn't ever set out for this to be a pure reference book at all. We wanted to take a snapshot of what was going on. So a lot of it was genuinely trying to do some research and get people to feed into what was going on from lots of different perspectives, which is why we wanted to get mainstream traditional publishers, we wanted to get agents, we wanted to get indie writers, we wanted to get people who have all sorts of experiences and perspectives. That's what makes it what it is, which is, here's what we think are some of the interesting discussion points of what's going on now. Jo: It is a fantastic snapshot. I think it's really interesting—and obviously you also have seen my book, Successful Self-Publishing, which is on its fourth edition—this is one of the difficult things with snapshot type books. So have you already thought about that? I know this one has just come out, but have you thought, “Oh no, in five years we have to do it again”? John: Well, I think we thought we're going to have to address AI, which we do in the book, and we really tried to caveat that with saying, look, so much may change so quickly, and here we are talking about what we know now. We obviously tried to set the context for where we are now, and we tried as much as possible to make something which would last as long as we can. I think what we did think was, we have tried to make it as international a perspective as possible. But at the same time, we are a London-based agency, and a lot of the views will be from people based in the UK. So I think what I would like to explore is something that looks at potentially somewhere like the US, where I think there'll be different people that would perhaps have different perspectives on different things. So I think we thought about potentially there being future iterations of the book, but not yet. Jo: Not yet. This is the challenge with non-fiction, of course. On that, I would say what you just said around the US and stuff, the successful UK authors all use the same systems as the US. So I wouldn't say that the US … I mean, we all have the US companies we all use. I say Kobo is obviously Canadian, but I would say that we use the same ways of doing things. Obviously you might interview a different author, but … John: That was all I meant. I meant interviewing. Because we've interviewed agents and authors and publishers and they are largely UK based. So it was the idea that maybe there are some perspectives on things rather than systemic. Jo: Differences. John: Yes. Just that. Jo: So then I guess another challenge, we've kind of nodded to it so far, is marketing. So let's talk about the challenges of getting this book out in terms of publishing and marketing. Because you've been on the inner circle side, trying to do that for other people's books, but your own book, this is a whole nother thing. So tell us about that. John: Well, how do you do it, Jo? I mean, honestly, I've loved some of it. I get how you become completely obsessed with your book and trying to make sure that you can get it into the hands of the people that you want to get it into the hands of. We've got some great endorsement quotes, which was a task that, how can I say this? I would call it pride swallowing. The idea that you really try and get people to say nice things about your book and, if they don't reply, you think, “How much do I pester them? How much do I annoy them by asking them again nicely?” And the absolute sheer unadulterated joy when they come back with something positive that you can use and utilise in some way. So that whole process of waiting for feedback, I suppose, and hoping that people are going to like what you've done and help you spread the word for it. We had a launch event, we've given books away. We've published the book as ebook and POD. I think one of the great things about that is it's enabled us to be completely adaptable and make changes right up until the last minute. That drove everybody in my team completely crazy because we were making changes up until the last minute. So, is the book definitely going to be available on publication date? What's it going to do? You know, all of that kind of stuff. Also, just getting this idea that I suppose you can never stop. Is that a very obvious thing to say to a writer? It probably is. You just can't stop, because if you go, “Right, well, I've done it,” complacency is the enemy. Just as soon as you've got that quote, or someone said that they're going to give you an opportunity to talk about it on a platform, it's just another day and you've got to keep thinking about how you can spread the word and tell people that it exists. Jo: Yes, well, I think that's right, and particularly non-fiction, which unless it's very timely and you must get it out right now. But other than that— Most books you just have to keep marketing for years. Then just as you say, when do you stop? Well, you kind of never stop unless you want to, unless you want to retire and just give up, basically. Dean Wesley Smith, who's a big writer in the US and a kind of a mentor of mine in past years, he talks about it as this massive sea of books. And when a book arrives, he pictures it coming down and landing on the water. So the day you launch, it's landed on the water, and then it begins to sink. Then there are all these other books coming down. It's like this rain of books, and your book is sinking as soon as it lands. And your job is to keep it afloat somehow. John: Keep it afloat. Jo: Yes. John: I think you're right, and it's such an interesting perspective for us, who work with a lot of people who have one book. You know, they've spent 10 years writing it. It's their life story. It's their memoir. It's their self-help book. It's their book that accompanies them on their speaking journey, or whatever. Then there are the people who are writing constantly and can't stop writing because they're exercising that creative muscle all the time and wanting to get better, and wanting to improve and learn and understand why this works and why that hasn't worked. Just getting a glimpse into what it must be like for that person for whom writing is not a hobby. I kept saying to myself, “This is not something you're doing as a hobby.” I want this book to be of value to people, and if I'm investing that time and effort into something that I want to get out there, you've got to commit to whatever it is you need to do to make sure you're not sinking. Jo: Yes. John: I will now not be able to get that image out of my head. Jo: Yes. I know there's people listening who don't have a mind's eye, which I always find fascinating, but for those of us with a mind's eye, you can now picture that and you will never forget it. The other thing, I guess, is that, having done a lot, over 40 books now, the inevitable thing is you cannot keep pushing all of those books back up to the surface. So when you do get the bug as such of writing, the most interesting thing for all of us is always the next book. It's always like, ooh, the next thing I'm doing, I'm very excited about. So you do have to pick your battles on marketing. So have you got the bug, do you think? Are you thinking of other books in general? Because as you said, you must be, I guess, in your 60s. John: I am. Jo: You could retire. John: I am. You were talking about that long career. I could. I mean, I really love doing it, and I would love to do more. I think one of the things that surprised me was just how many ideas came up while we were doing the book about tangents that one could take it. I have no desire to write a novel. I don't want to do that. I wouldn't be very good at that. I do think there are some interesting spaces around where there's a kind of intersection of creativity and learning, and how you can develop books that would help people who are trying to achieve different things in different sectors of publishing. So without getting too granular about it, this book doesn't really address brands who want to become publishers, and I think that is something that our business has developed into working with, not just individuals, but businesses and brands. I think there's definitely spin-offs of this book which are not about repeating what we've done so far. And this whole idea of what you've been doing for a long time, what we've been doing since 2011, 2012, it's evolving now at such a speed. I mean, who would have known what was going to come out of TikTok? As you talk about TikTok to Shopify, that whole kind of new ways of finding readers, of taking books to market. As you said, Kickstarter, crowdfunding. There's all sorts of things that I think will emerge, because in a funny sort of way traditional publishing at the moment feels quite conservative with a small c. I mean, the bestsellers. Dan Brown is number one in the bestseller list this week in the UK as I speak, who has been a bestseller forever. And obviously new writers come along the whole time, but the market feels a little bit as if it's waiting now for innovation. I think if that innovation's going to happen, it's probably going to happen in the indie space before it happens in mainstream publishing. So people are coming to us and thinking, does that represent a trend? Does that represent something which could be a way of looking at something a little bit deeper, doing some research around and creating something which is not a long book, not a massive thesis, but something which is indicative of something which could be useful for people. Jo: Just coming back on the Dan Brown is in the bestseller list. I think this is completely to do with the way that traditional publishing measures things. For many years, more than a decade, probably since the beginning of Kindle, certainly the beginning of Kindle Unlimited, there is a shadow economy, I call it, or a parallel economy. I would say that almost zero of my own personal sales are measured by any industry standards. Anyone who makes any money from Kindle Unlimited or Kickstarter or Shopify, or selling direct in any form, or selling books at conventions, none of this is measured by any traditional things. As you know, the New York Times list, for example, does not include Amazon sales in their bestseller list. So you've got indie authors in the UK who are incredibly successful who have to decide, say, someone like LJ Ross, for example, decides, “Okay, I'm going to set up a proper imprint with Gardners or whatever so that I can get in bookstores so that I can hit a Sunday Times list or something.” So I would say that seeing things like Dan Brown on a bestseller list has almost no meaning in the shadow indie economy. John: No, you're absolutely right. We're not even able to see audiobook sales. Jo: Yes, audio. Any kind of borrows, like Spotify. John: No, you're completely right. I suppose I was making a broader cultural point, that it doesn't feel like there's an enormous amount of innovation going on or risk taking within what I would call mainstream trade publishing. And there doesn't seem to be the need to be, because there will be more consolidation. Small companies will be bought by big companies, so there's growth through acquisition. There's still a hope that something will take off that is a surprise, and there's still an enormous reliance on established brands who, even through the traditional metrics of how you measure them, are probably selling less, but still at the top of the pile. I suppose that's what I was meaning. Jo: Yes, and I agree with what the industry looks at as signals. It's just, as we said, a lot of these signals are invisible. So coming onto innovation, at London Book Fair this year there were a lot of sessions on AI, and you mentioned AI briefly, and there is a chapter in Going Indie on generative AI. And of course there's a lot of negativity and drama and lawsuits and this, that and the other. But at the same time, at London Book Fair, a lot of traditional publishers talking about using it, and of course they always say, “Oh, we use AI only in marketing and business, not with the creative or editorial.” Everyone makes this distinction. What are your thoughts on what's happening and where's it going with AI? Is a lot of this stuff not happening in public and just going on behind closed doors? John: I think so. We do have a chapter in the book on AI. We've generated summaries of every chapter using AI, which we explicitly said in the book as well. We've got our Ten Commandments of what we think are useful guidelines. I think that there has to be an enormous amount being done, whether it's experimentation or speeding up for efficiency's sake, or things that slow you down, within mainstream publishing. There has to be more than just the guardrails around the creative process. And clearly when we're talking about metadata, book description, cover copy, presumably royalty calculations, presumably if you're trying to grow your newsletters. There has to be an enormous amount of activity going on. We're driven by the market, so we do not commission. Writers come to us and they either want to work with us and we want to work with them, or that doesn't happen. So we're in a sense seeing what the market is seeing, and that is a whole range of things. As I've said before, there's a lot of sweeping generalisations out there, which if you look back to that Kindle moment, we were talking a little while ago about what was going on in 2010/2011, about the enormous broad brush strokes that were being perceived as a result of Kindle. Kindle has affected some areas of publishing, it's affected some not at all. I think it will be absolutely fascinating when the sweeping generalisations stop and there becomes, I suppose, even more transparency. The thing that people are looking for, isn't it? A little bit less opaqueness as to what is really being done. Because everybody's being so careful about what they say they're doing and what they're not doing. I suppose ElevenLabs is the one where people are openly engaging on the audio side. I mean, everyone is being so careful and cautious. Jo: Me too. John: What do you think? We spoke a bit about AI within the book, and I'm interested to know what you think. Jo: Well, I've obviously been openly talking about it since 2016. I openly talk about using it, and I've got my Patreon community where we talk about how we're using it, and tips on how to use it. But then, because I have been writing and publishing since 2007, 2008, I'm very strong in my creative voice. I'm very strong in my understanding of what I consider to be my level of output, and what I publish under my own name is what I publish under my own name. John: Totally. Jo: So the problem is for people who are less confident, I think, in what they're doing creatively perhaps. I know some people feel like they're scared it will take over or something. When you're as strong-minded as me, it's not taking over anything. John: It's not going to take over anything. And the other side of the coin is how many people are finding Whitefox using ChatGPT. Jo: Mm. John: I'm thrilled that we are emerging, through very detailed briefing of AI, as something that is worth engaging with. Jo: Positive marketing. John: Yes, exactly. As you say, I think there's a lot of negativity, and I think it will settle down eventually. I think less hysteria. Jo: Yes, hopefully sooner rather than later. So as we come to an end, you've been in the publishing industry a long time and seen a lot of people who have disappeared, but also those who've lasted. I wondered if maybe you could comment on those who last, because I definitely feel like I'm in my 50s now, and I want to keep doing this. I'm pretty obsessed with— What are the hallmarks of people who have a long-term career? So reflections on that. John: Oh, that's such a good question. I think there's some common characteristics and themes. So I think authenticity, I think this idea of being continually curious. I think there are people who can't help but create, and this idea that once you've sort of expelled once, that's enough. I think there's people that just can't stop creating, whatever you do with it. But this idea that the more you do, the better you get, the more you evolve and keep an open mind. I think there's definitely entrepreneurial writers who love this idea of keeping their readers engaged, and how that conversation is something that evolves and that collaboration evolves, is fascinating. I think if you love that, and you listen, there's always an opportunity to keep building on what you do. I love the writers who we work with. I can think of a writer who we're working on his fourth novel at the moment, and he is a bundle of positivity. No matter the trials and tribulations, the things that have gone wrong, his expectations definitely not being met with his first book. He definitely has this idea that he wants to keep writing, he wants to get better, and he is getting better. It isn't a journey that has a beginning and an end. It's something that will continue for as long as he wants to write. Every single book that he has published, he has learned and gained confidence, gained a network of connections that he's utilised himself now to not make the first half a dozen mistakes he made on the first book. Who knows where it will end up? But certainly the satisfaction he's getting, and the sales he's getting, are growing as he becomes savvier and quicker to make the right choices and decisions. So I think that's my honest answer to that. I think there are definitely people who think, “Phew, I have really wanted to do this book. Now I can rest easy. I've done my book.” Then there are people who really, whatever their objective, whatever the definition of success is from the get-go, just can't help creating. I do love that and respect that. I don't think our book falls quite into that category, because I think it's a slightly different thing. I think there are people who are still making a success of what they do and redefining that as they go on, and who are really open to ideas and input from different people and are not closed off. I love working with those people. Jo: So where can people find Going Indie and everything you do online? John: Well, Going Indie is available online at all good bookshops. It's available at Amazon and anywhere you buy books online as ebook and POD. Our website is wearewhitefox.com, and you'll find information about not just our book there, but a lot of other things that we're doing on that site. Jo: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, John. That was great. John: Thank you so much, Jo. It's been a pleasure. The post Going Indie, Publishing Innovation, And The Challenges Of Book Marketing With John Bond first appeared on The Creative Penn.

We're just a few days out from Fi heading off to strap herself to a ski jump zipline in Oslo, but there's lots to discuss before then! Fi and Eve cover buying miscellaneous items in TK Maxx, maternal sounds, melted hidden chocolate, and teaching your children about your younger self. Plus, The Sunday Times' Roya Nikkhah is presenting the live show with Fi this week. She speaks to pop star Pixie Lott about her new show 'Who Killed Marilyn?' You can check out our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffAirWithJaneAndFi Our most asked about book is called 'The Later Years' by Peter Thornton. If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radio Follow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producers: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham is facing the first big test of his premiership. With jails reaching a crisis point, the government has announced an emergency early release scheme to avoid running out of prison spaces by the end of this year. But Burnham's proposals have faced an outcry from victims. So what options are left?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Oliver Wright, policy editor, The Times.Andrew Neilson, Director of Campaigns, The Howard League for Penal Reform. Host: Manveen Rana.Producers: Micaela Arneson, Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Who is in our overflowing prisons — and why?Clips: Thames Valley Police, BBC, Sky, TalkTV.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch as a full video interview on YouTubeIan Green is a writer from Northern Scotland with a PhD in epigenetics. His biopunk eco-terrorism thriller EXTREMOPHILE was one of Financial Times' Best Science Fiction Books of 2024 and was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award and Dragon Awards. His debut fantasy trilogy THE ROTSTORM began with the Sunday Times bestseller THE GAUNTLET AND THE FIST BENEATH. His short fiction has been widely published and he won the BBC Radio 4 Opening Lines competition, the Futurebook Future Fiction Prize, and was shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the British Fantasy Awards.It was great to get Ian back on the podcast and hear about what he has been up to since he was last on back in January 2023. We talk about whether he wishes he had followed Extremophile up with another cyberpunk novel given its success, why he likes trilogies, and what influenced his new fantasy book, THE DEEP AND THE DROWNED.Links:Buy The Deep and The Drowned nowFollow Ian on InstagramVisit Ian's websiteWatch Ian play Call of Cthulhu with us on Narrative DamageSupport us on Patreon and get great benefits!: https://www.patreon.com/ukpageonePage One Extra and Page One - The Writer's Podcast are brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramFollow us on BlueskyFollow us on ThreadsPage One Extra is part of STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing and publishing podcast needs! Follow STET Podcasts on Instagram and Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Noor shares the moment the world told her she was too early for manifestation. Then too late. And why she said f*ck that to both. In 2017, Noor was pitching to press about manifestation and getting the same answer everywhere: you're too early, nobody gets it yet. Fast forward to her third book, You Are a F*cking Success, published with Penguin — a publisher she'd had on her vision board since that same year. The dream had come true. Except Penguin didn't get her a single piece of press. Not one podcast, article, or radio show. The reason? Manifestation is done. Everyone's bored of it. First too early. Now too late. The book still came in at number 11, missing the Sunday Times list by just 300 book sales. Noor knows exactly what one piece of press can do — with her first book, an interview on BBC Radio London led to Steve Wright pulling his car over on the way home to get her on his show. Millions of listeners. The book shot up the charts overnight. One piece of press was all it took. Noor often says she'll be talking about manifestation on a Zimmer frame with her teeth out if she has to, because she's just getting started. The Three Pillars Noor breaks manifestation down like building a dream house — an analogy close to her heart, because building her own dream home is one of her greatest manifestations. Vision Architecture — Most people hand the universe a child's drawing and wonder why nothing comes back. Vision architecture means getting specific about what you want, why you want it, and whether it's what your soul actually wants — not just what your ego thinks will make you look good. Identity Infrastructure — The subconscious mind runs 95% of everything you do. You can have the most beautiful blueprint in the world, but without the right foundations, the house cannot stand. You have to have the capacity to hold what you're calling in. Action — The universe helps, but you're the one laying the bricks. An acorn is blueprinted to become an oak tree. But without sun, soil, and water, it stays an acorn. Humans need vision, identity, and action in the same way. Without all three, potential stays potential. You are never too early or too late to change your life. Follow your purpose, use the process, and keep going anyway.

Nigel Farage has had a tricky summer. With his party down in the polls and beset by scandal, it hasn't been ideal preparation for Thursday's by-election. So Times Radio's Rosie Wright heads to the seaside in Essex to see how locals are feeling about the vote, before asking one of our politicos if the whole stunt has actually backfired.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Josh Glancy, associate editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Rosie Wright, Times Radio breakfast show presenter.Producers: Harry Stott.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: To stop Reform's slump, Nigel Farage needs to win places like thisFurther listening: Posh George: the criminal behind FarageClips: The Telegraph / Youtube, LBC, BBC, Whitehall Sources, Rupert Lowe / X.Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If the summer holidays have left you feeling overstimulated, overwhelmed and like you haven't had five minutes to yourself, this Moment is for you.When the children are around more, routines disappear and the noise, demands and mental load feel relentless, it's incredibly easy for our nervous systems to tip into stress mode. You might find yourself snapping over something tiny, wanting to escape to another room, giving in because you can't handle one more request—or simply shutting down completely.In this Moment, Zoe explains what's actually happening in your nervous system when motherhood feels too much, and why these reactions aren't something to feel ashamed of. She shares simple techniques you can use in just a few minutes to move out of fight, flight, freeze or fawn, widen your window of tolerance and release some of the stress you've been carrying.You'll also discover why completing the stress cycle can be so important for preventing burnout, and how changing the way you speak to yourself can help you feel calmer and more regulated when family life gets intense.

All aboard Fi and Eve's tugboat! Jane is off to an undisclosed Greek island, fending off the paparazzi. Fi and Eve discuss Noel Edmonds' Swap Shop's impact on the circular economy, taking a film in two halves, labia-like hanging baskets, and their favourite times of day. Plus, Laura Hackett, deputy literary editor and fiction editor across both The Sunday Times and The Times, stops in to share her book picks of the week. You can check out our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OffAirWithJaneAndFi If you subscribe to The Times, you can get tickets to Laura's event with Ann Patchett and Meg Mason here: https://www.thetimes.com/timesplus/events/meet-the-writer-ann-patchett Our most asked about book is called 'The Later Years' by Peter Thornton. If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producers: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cal Flyn is an award-winning writer from the Highlands of Scotland. She writes creative nonfiction, literary criticism, and long-form journalism. Cal's journalistic writing has been published in Granta, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Times, The Economist, and others. On this episode of Nature Revisited, Flyn poses the question "What is Wilderness"? For thousands of years, people have sought out uncontrolled, unknown, or uncharted nature in search of religious epiphany, self-actualization, and an escape from modern life. But having traversed the most forbidding, untamed and inhospitable wild lands—the supposedly uninhabited wilds of the world—she found that such truly untouched lands don't exist: Nearly every wilderness has been or is actively inhabited by humans. By viewing the notion of wilderness as a human construct, Flyn reveals how much we can still discover in wilderness, both as an idea and a vital part of the living world. www.calflyn.com/ www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761751/the-savage-landscape-by-cal-flyn/ Listen to Nature Revisited on your favorite podcast apps, on YouTube, or at https://noordenproductions.com Subscribe on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bdz4s9d7 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n7yx28t Subscribe on Youtube Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bddd55v9 Podlink: https://pod.link/1456657951 Support Nature Revisited https://noordenproductions.com/support Nature Revisited is produced by Stefan van Norden and Charles Geoghegan. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions - contact us at https://noordenproductions.com/contact

The UK produces around half of the food we eat but this year's droughts have led to shriveling crops and farmers struggling to feed their animals. Is our changing climate jeopardising our food security?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests:Olly Harrison, cereals farmer.Ben Cooke, environment correspondent, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Producer: Olivia Case.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Drained reservoirs may not prevent harvest being worst on recordFurther listening: Why young high achievers are leaving BritainClips: Sky News. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jason Arday, who made history as Cambridge's youngest black professor, resigned after facing serious allegations of plagiarism. How did Arday's dramatic downfall unfold? And why has this academic row sparked global headlines? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Emma Yeomans, news reporter, The TimesHost: Manveen RanaProducer: Sophie McNultyWe want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Jason Arday: Times analysis finds ‘impossible' data in his workClips: Channel 5, Sky News, Channel 4, BBC, The Telegraph.Photo: Joshua Bratt for The Times.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oliver Shah is a former journalist at The Sunday Times and now runs Newcome Advisory. On this week's Reality Check Oliver and Michael discuss why Labour can't build trust with the businesses, how the National Insurance tax hike was the poison pill for the private sector and whether it is still worth being an entrepreneur in Britain today.This episode is brought to you by Alliance Witan investment trust. To learn more about the trust and how we're helping investors find their comfort zone, please visit Alliance Witan (ALW) | Investment Trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Norwegian mountaineer Kristin Harila smashed the speed record for the world's 14 highest peaks. But soon after, her career unravelled. Could she have done more to help another mountaineer in trouble?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryRead by: Matthew Campbell, foreign features editor, The Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Emily Webb.We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comPhoto: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Literary Agent season on the pod! And we are coming in HOT with the absolutely iconic queen that is THE Kiana (Kiki) Nguyen!Kiana (Kiki) Nguyen is a literary agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency.Kiki Nguyen started in publishing in 2015 with an internship with Wunderkind PR, independent book publishing PR company, working on campaigns with authors such as Ernest Cline. There, she discovered a practical industry for her codependent love of fiction. She joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2016 as an intern and is now an agent building her own list.Kiki represents young adult and adult fiction across genres, with a particular hunger for Horror and genre-Thrillers and a focus on queer and BIPOC authors. She has represented New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times bestsellers, and award winning titles.We were obsessed with all the incredible things Kiki had to say, and we know you will be too. The episode is out now! On YouTube, Spotify, Apple podcasts and more! We can't wait for you all to tune in, But first, here's more about Kiki:Find Kiki:IG: knguyenbooksAgency Website: https://maassagency.com/kiana-nguyen/substack: kiananguyen.substack.com - Have A Little Kiki On...an inconsistent, snack sized series where Literary Agent Kiana Nguyen shares her highly opinionated and unsolicited thoughts on the publishing industry, books, and tv/film.

During August, the Motherkind team and I try to practise what we preach by slowing down, taking some time off and making the juggle just a little easier over the summer holidays.So, throughout the month, we're bringing you some of our most listened-to episodes of the year so far.If you've ever wondered why you're eating well, exercising, and still struggling with brain fog, exhaustion, or stubborn belly fat, this episode is going to completely change how you think about your body.This week I'm joined by bestselling author and women's health expert Dr Mindy Pelz. We explore why so much health advice has been designed around male bodies, why chronic stress changes everything for women, and how understanding your hormones can help you feel calmer, think more clearly and work with your body rather than against it.We also dive into fasting for women, why it isn't one-size-fits-all, what every mother should know about stress and self-care, and Dr Mindy's fascinating perspective on why perimenopause isn't something to fear—but a powerful new chapter of leadership and confidence.Whether you're navigating early motherhood, feeling overwhelmed by brain fog, or starting to think about perimenopause, this conversation is packed with practical, hopeful insights.

We've made it to our eleventh book club edition (we think)! This time, we've been reading 'Interpreter of Maladies' by Jhumpa Lahiri. Was Jane won over by the short story form? (We're fairly confident you already know the answer to that!) Plus, the wonderful Laura Hackett, deputy literary editor and fiction editor across The Sunday Times and The Times, joins Jane and Fi to share her thoughts and expertise. Fi is back on Monday, but Jane is off on holiday for a week, meaning Eve is back in the hot seat. Thank you so much for all your enthusiasm, engagement and interaction. We hope you'll join us for the next one. Get your suggestions in at: janeandfi@times.radioFollow us on Instagram! @janeandfiPodcast Producer: Eve SalusburyExecutive Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever looked around at your life and wondered why it feels so hard just to keep up?In this powerful Moment, Dr Giselle Goodwin shares the personal turning point that changed the course of her life—and the research that followed.After reaching a breaking point on her 35th birthday while juggling two young children and two businesses, Giselle became convinced she simply wasn't coping. But years later, after completing a PhD in women, work and wellbeing, she discovered something that completely changed her perspective:It wasn't her that was failing. It was the impossible expectations placed on modern mothers.Together, Zoe and Giselle explore why so many women feel overwhelmed, burnt out and like they're constantly falling short, despite doing more than ever before. If you've ever wondered why motherhood feels so much harder than you expected, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, understood and far less alone.