Podcasts about Waterstones

The stories of ancient Rome are littered with despicable women, and those of the Julio-Claudian dynasty are especially infamous. But where do these stories come from? And why have they endured for centuries? Speaking to Elinor Evans, Joan Smith explores how Roman misogyny, mistranslations, and modern historians have shaped a distorted narrative – casting influential historical women as villains, nags and nymphomaniacs. (Ad) Joan Smith is the author of Unfortunately, She was a Nymphomaniac: A New History of Rome's Imperial Women (William Collins, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6388&awinaffid=489797&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Funfortunately-she-was-a-nymphomaniac%2Fjoan-smith%2F9780008638801&clickref=historyextra-social-histboty. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the summer of 1944, as the German forces were retreating in northern Italy, a small group of soldiers made a detour to a remote villa in search of Albert Einstein's cousin. Robert Einstein posed no threat to the Nazi regime, but nonetheless they were determined to hunt him down. The tragic events that followed are the basis of a new book by the bestselling author Thomas Harding – he spoke to Rob Attar about an appalling crime and the decades-long hunt for justice that followed. (Ad) Thomas Harding is the author of The Einstein Vendetta: Hitler, Mussolini, and a True Story of Murder (Michael Joseph, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-einstein-vendetta%2Fthomas-harding%2F9780241658482. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week is the last podcast for a few weeks as Brad is off to the Fjords, Jonny to Cape Town, and um... water bears to the moon?WATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: https://youtu.be/UiR2m5XYWOgSupport the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

In the seventh century BC, the ancient Assyrian king Ashurbanipal created a gigantic library in his capital city – one that contained centuries of wisdom. And this vast wealth of ancient knowledge can reveal a lot about how the people of the Near East thought about their gods. Dr Selena Wisnom tells David Musgrove more about the Assyrians' religious views, including how they tried to keep gods – and other supernatural entities – happy. (Ad) Selena Wisnom is the author of The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History (Penguin, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-library-of-ancient-wisdom%2Fselena-wisnom%2F%2F9780241519639. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What has prompted humans throughout history to risk life and limb to conquer some of the world's highest mountains? Author and climber Daniel Light talks to Rachel Dinning about why humans have always been drawn to mountains, the evolution of mountaineering as a sport, and the stories of the individuals who risked everything to make it to the top of nature's most formidable peaks. (Ad) Daniel Light is the author of The White Ladder: Triumph and Tragedy at the Dawn of Mountaineering (Oneworld, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-white-ladder%2Fdaniel-light%2F9780861548163. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist and non-fiction writer Andrew O'Hagan. Born in Glasgow, Andrew is the author of seven novels – including "Be Near Me", "Mayflies" and  "Caledonian Road" – and three books of non-fiction: "The Missing", "The Atlantic Ocean" and "The Secret Life". He is editor at large at the London Review of Books and has written over 150 pieces for the publication, starting with a Diary in 1993 about James Bulger's murder and the cruelty of children to other children. Other LRB pieces have covered the sinking of his grandfather's ship, the Grenfell Tower disaster and Prince Harry. Andrew has has been nominated for the Booker Prize, was voted one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2003, and won the E. M. Forster Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. We spoke to him about coming to London from Scotland and making his way, combining journalism and fiction, and his latest novel, "Caledonian Road". We've also made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added 40 new pages of material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. This means the whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. And we're excited to announce that for people who contribute $10/month we're now releasing bonus mini-episodes. If you'd like to know what these will sound like, there's a sample episode with Lee Child that you can listen to for free on our Patreon now. Thanks to the help of our sponsors, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will additionally receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99. This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. But we only have ten to give out so, if you're interested, please check it out as soon as you can. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival - Episode 3 recorded at the Ceredigion Museum and Aberystwyth Library featuring interviews with authors and excerpts of live panels. Featuring: Interviews - Sarah Bax Horton, Mari Hannah & Sarah Todd Taylor and a brief panel excerpt featruing Jacky Collins with Mari Hannah & Clare Mackintosh. Interview Mari Hannah Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Wales' only international crime writing festival, Aberystwyth 25th-27th April, 2025. Guests include Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, Mari Hannah, Chris Lloyd, Clare Mackintosh, Zoe Sharp, Graham Bartlett, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee, Alis Hawkins, Nicola Williams, Louise Mumford, Phil Rowlands. Ayo Onatade, Dr. Noir, Matt Johnson, Gwen Parrott and many more.Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Sponsors: Arts Council of Wales, Ceridigeon Museum, Love Ceridigeon, Aberystwyth govt., Literature Wales, Waterstones, Welsh Govt., Lottery, Hugh James and National Library of Wales.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

This week we mostly talk about Bedford.WATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IELJ6JCewQ4Support the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

Tim Worthington has a new book out called The Golden Age Of Children's TV - all about the best, worst and most just plain baffling shows you grew up with in the sixties, seventies and eighties - and the lines are open now for an hour of fun, facts, laughs and thrills. Juliet Brando will be getting out her binoculars for a look at some of Britain's disappearing wildlife in Orm And Cheep. If you're a fan of Press Gang, Stephen O'Brien will be dropping by with a few hints and tips on how to start your very own Junior Gazette, and Steve O'Brien will be bringing along a few of the ornaments from Emily's shop window in Bagpuss. John Rain has a few playground moneymaking ideas for the new term at Grange Hill and Tim Worthington will be taking Paul Abbott for a look behind the scenes at The Magic Roundabout. So if you want to join in the fun - or just swap a copy of the Grange Hill ZX Spectrum game for a copy of We'll Help, Mr Rusty! - ring the show now!You can get The Golden Age Of Children's TV in all good bookshops, and from Amazon here, Waterstones here or directly from Black And White Publishing here - and if you want to know more about what you can find in it, head for timworthington.org!

Nazi Germany had finally been defeated. And, for 24 hours, Britons could let their hair down and celebrate. But not everyone was in the mood to party. As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary, John Willis tells the story of VE Day via the experiences of ordinary Britons who lived through it. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, he discusses what these testimonies reveal about the state of mind of a nation after six long years of war. (Ad) John Willis is the author of The People's War: Unheard Voices: Life on the Battlefront and at Home in World War II (BBC Books, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-peoples-war%2Fjohn-willis%2F9781785949005. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonny's won another Fortnum & Mason Award! Brad's been pub crawling with the Wicker Man! And we dig into the craft beer reports of the US and UK.WATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: https://youtu.be/flfxCqqesX4Check out ElBurritomonster: https://www.instagram.com/elburritomonsterCheck out the Perfectpour guy in Japan: https://www.instagram.com/perfect_beer_kitchen_nishiogi/Check out the World Beer Cup results: https://www.worldbeercup.org/winners/current-winners/Support the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

What's the difference between private and public life – and where should we draw the line between the two? Over the centuries, these boundaries have often been blurred, as Tiffany Jenkins explores in her book Strangers and Intimates. In this episode, she speaks to Lauren Good about everything from the rigid separation of public and personal spheres in ancient Athens, to the privacy-busting spectacle of Big Brother. (Ad) Tiffany Jenkins is the author of Strangers and Intimates: The Rise and Fall of Private Life (Pan Macmillan, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fstrangers-and-intimates%2Ftiffany-jenkins%2F9781529034165. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this powerful episode of A Leader Like Me, we speak with Janelle Benjamin—award-winning DEI consultant, founder of All Things Equitable, and LinkedIn Top Voice—about her journey from workplace mistreatment to building an influential consultancy rooted in justice and inclusion. Janelle opens up about life beyond the title: a dedicated single mum, a quiet changemaker, and a passionate learner committed to creating safer, more inclusive workplaces. She shares how her legal background sharpens her strategic lens and why humility, curiosity, and continuous learning are essential for truly inclusive leadership. We explore: What real inclusion looks like beyond policy and posters The emotional cost of exclusion—and the power of turning pain into purpose How her legal training helps her spot risks others miss Practical steps for those who want to lead inclusively, even when DEI is being scaled back The power of connection, community, and shared accountability in driving cultural change Whether you're just starting your inclusion journey or you're deep in the work, Janelle's story will leave you inspired, challenged, and ready to act. Listen now to discover what it takes to build cultures where everyone is truly seen, heard, and valued. ______________ Did you know? you can now order Priya and Advita's new book Building a Culture of Inclusivity Order from https://www.koganpage.com/ Discount Code ALLME20 The book is available in most online stores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Indigo etc… and in some physical ones as well.  Don't miss out. Get your copy of the book now and be part of the DEI conversation. Building a Culture of Inclusivity Effective Internal Communication For Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  Want to evaluate where your business stands when it comes to the EI? Visit our website to learn more: https://aleaderlikeme.com/ Have any questions? Would you like to book Priya and or Advita for a speaking event? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@aleaderlikeme.com For our latest updates, continue to follow our LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram @aleaderlikeme. If you read our book and would like to give us your honest review, feel free to post on social media. Don't forget to use the #ALLME and tag us. Thank you for your continued support as we drive global DEI/EDI conversations forward. If you want to transform your culture and build better inclusion then get in touch and let's see how we can work together: info@aleaderlikeme.com.  If you're curious about inclusive cultures and want to understand what needs to happen in your organisation to cultivate belonging so you and your colleagues can thrive, you can purchase our book: https://aleaderlikeme.com/book/ 

Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Special Episode 2 recorded at the Ceredigion Museum and Aberystwyth Library featuring interviews with authors and excerpts of live panels. Featuring: LJ Shepherd, Jacqueline Harrett, Diamond Crime panel, Heidi Amsinck, Foreign Fields panel, Gwenllian Williams, Vaseem Khan (sneak appearance by Abir Mukherjee), Arresting Fun panel, Philip Gwynne Jones.Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Wales' only international crime writing festival, Aberystwyth 25th-27th April, 2025. Guests include Mark Billingham, Elly Griffiths, Mari Hannah, Chris Lloyd, Clare Mackintosh, Zoe Sharp, Graham Bartlett, Vaseem Khan, Abir Mukherjee, Alis Hawkins, Nicola Williams, Louise Mumford, Phil Rowlands. Ayo Onatade, Dr. Noir, Matt Johnson, Gwen Parrott and many more.Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival Sponsors: Arts Council of Wales, Ceridigeon Museum, Love Ceridigeon, Aberystwyth govt., Literature Wales, Waterstones, Welsh Govt., Lottery, Hugh James and National Library of Wales.Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network, Punk Noir Magazine (fiction contribution). He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2024. His first book An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in late 2025.Produced by Junkyard DogCrime TimeCrime Time FM is the official podcast ofGwyl Crime Cymru Festival 2023 & 2025CrimeFest 2023CWA Daggers 2023 & 2024 & National Crime Reading Month& Newcastle Noir 2023 and 20242024 Slaughterfest,

How did the English take Manhattan from the Dutch in the 17th century without firing a single shot? Speaking to Elinor Evans, historian Russell Shorto explains a many-layered colonial history, including pragmatic deals, personal rivalries, and ideological divides, that led to the ultimately peaceful takeover of New Amsterdam in 1664. (Ad) Russell Shorto is the author of Taking Manhattan: The extraordinary events that created New York and shaped America (Swift Press, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Ftaking-manhattan%2Frussell-shorto%2F9781800754966. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A REMARKABLE BOOKSELLER. James Daunt is the founder of the Daunt Books chain in the UK, and has been managing director of Waterstones, the bookshop chain of more than 300 stores, since 2011. In 2019 he also became CEO of Barnes & Noble, the American bookstore chain of some 650 stores. An Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Daunt was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to publishing. “The real joy of a bookstore is that it does curate and it does the job of ensuring that readers and customers are browsing the best that's available.“ “The book is ultimately the most satisfying way in which to educate oneself and to illuminate around the issue of interest“ “There are booksellers up and down, particularly in Europe, who are espousing the same principles, which is let the booksellers in each shop run their own bookstores“

Composing songs of courtly love and war in the High Middle Ages, the troubadours were the poet-musicians of western and southern Europe – especially southern France. But were they really the lovesick wandering minstrels popular culture would have us believe? Or was there more to their artistry? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Linda Paterson answers your top questions on the troubadours and their enduring poetic and musical legacy. (Ad) Linda Paterson is the author of The Troubadours (Reaktion Books, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-troubadours%2Flinda-m-paterson%2F9781789149197. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we celebrate a response to our petition, release a video NOT about cask, and worry what will happen if Stanley Tucci comes to the Fortnum & Mason Awards next week.Support the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

In the summer of 1565, the might of the Ottoman empire faced off against a few hundred Knights Hospitaller and their allies on the island of Malta. The outcome might have seemed inevitable but the events of the subsequent siege were far from predictable, as the defenders waged a desperate battle for their home and their lives. Speaking to Rob Attar, Professor Marcus Bull chronicles the events of a dramatic clash with far-reaching consequences. (Ad) Marcus Bull is the author of The Great Siege of Malta (Penguin Books, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-great-siege-of-malta%2Fmarcus-bull%2F9780241523650. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richard the Lionheart is well-known for his travels to distant lands, time on crusade, and wrangling with international politics… But, less well known is the fact that his sister, Joanna Plantagenet (otherwise known as Joan of England, Queen of Sicily) led a life of adventure and danger to rival that of her famous brother. A princess, queen, prisoner and power player, she navigated the turbulent world of medieval politics with resilience and careful judiciousness. Emily Briffett speaks to author and historian Catherine Hanley to chart Joanna's extraordinary life and uncover why she deserves the title of the medieval 'Lionessheart'. (Ad) Catherine Hanley is the author of Lionessheart: The Life and Times of Joanna Plantagenet (The History Press, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Flionessheart%2Fcatherine-hanley%2F9781803995168. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode we're tackling the big one: stepping out of that oh‑so‑snug comfort zone so we can finally stretch, grow, and live a little larger and longer.If you've ever felt that quiet itch - a ‘there's‑got‑to‑be‑more' whisper - stick around. We unpack the science of discomfort, share a couple of our own spectacular stumbles, and give you practical moves to trade safe and small for bold and brilliant.So, grab your coffee, lace up those metaphorical boots, and let's get uncomfortable - because that's exactly where the magic happens. Ready? Let's dive in.Grab James' New Book - The Midlife Male Handbook Now - From Amazon, Waterstones or WHSmithThe Midlife Male Handbook available now:AmazonWaterstonesWH Smith Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.comTik Tok: @themidlifementorsIG: @midlifementors

This week we've been all over the national media – ITV News, The Guardian, Times Radio... but we spend most of the podcast talking about THAT space trip, someone else's Youtube video, and a chef in a gimp suit. The usual stuff.WATCH TWEEDY'S VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAR9u6zjtwgLISTEN TO DIAMOND MINE: https://open.spotify.com/album/3gjscVqoJHTwhp6p2zZETj?si=2m4Rnk0oSJelKCNGQT8bkQWATCH THE GIMP CHEF: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EQK783tR5/?mibextid=wwXIfrSupport the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

In this episode of A Leader Like Me, we sit down with Garry Clarke-Strange —founder of Think Inclusion and passionate inclusion consultant, who shares his inspiring journey from a traditional corporate career to running his own consultancy while living in Spain. Garry opens up about what inclusion really means, how respectful curiosity can be a catalyst for change, and why joy and humanity must be at the heart of workplace culture. Together with co-hosts Advita Patel and Priya Bates, this honest conversation explores the emotional realities of leadership, the importance of community, and how internal communications can shape truly inclusive environments. If you're a communications or HR leader looking to drive meaningful change, this episode is not to be missed. Priya and Advita.  ______________ Did you know? you can now order Priya and Advita's new book Building a Culture of Inclusivity Order from https://www.koganpage.com/ Discount Code ALLME20 The book is available in most online stores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Indigo etc… and in some physical ones as well.  Don't miss out. Get your copy of the book now and be part of the DEI conversation. Building a Culture of Inclusivity Effective Internal Communication For Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  Want to evaluate where your business stands when it comes to the EI? Visit our website to learn more: https://aleaderlikeme.com/ Have any questions? Would you like to book Priya and or Advita for a speaking event? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@aleaderlikeme.com For our latest updates, continue to follow our LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram @aleaderlikeme. If you read our book and would like to give us your honest review, feel free to post on social media. Don't forget to use the #ALLME and tag us. Thank you for your continued support as we drive global DEI/EDI conversations forward. If you want to transform your culture and build better inclusion then get in touch and let's see how we can work together: info@aleaderlikeme.com.  If you're curious about inclusive cultures and want to understand what needs to happen in your organisation to cultivate belonging so you and your colleagues can thrive, you can purchase our book: https://aleaderlikeme.com/book/ 

Simon and Rachel speak with ⁠Joshi Herrmann⁠, the founder of local journalism startup ⁠Mill Media⁠. Joshi founded The Mill, a newsletter covering Greater Manchester, as a one-man band in June 2020. The company now has staff writers and editors across six British cities: Manchester⁠, ⁠Glasgow,⁠ Birmingham, ⁠Liverpool⁠, Sheffield and ⁠London⁠. Mill Media is known for deeply reported long reads and its paid newsletter model; it is read by more than 150,000 email subscribers. The company has received investment from figures including Sir Mark Thompson, chief executive of CNN and a former BBC director-general. Joshi was formerly editor-in-chief of ⁠Tab Media⁠, and he has reported for the Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian and the London Evening Standard. We spoke to Joshi about ⁠working at the Standard⁠, his stints at the Tab, and his current venture, which is looking to reinvent local journalism.We have recently also overhauled our offer for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Emerging from crusading endeavours in the Holy Land, the Teutonic Order was one of great military orders established in the 12th century. Its influence spread far and wide, and its members negotiated with popes and emperors. Speaking to Emily Briffett, Aleks Pluskowski explores how a humble field hospital went on to establish itself as one of the most significant religious corporations of medieval Europe – and left an indelible mark on history in the process. (Ad) Aleks Pluskowski is the author of The Teutonic Knights: Rise and Fall of a Religious Corporation (Reaktion Books, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-teutonic-knights%2Faleksander-pluskowski%2F9781789148688. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we relive the chaos of last night's live show, muse on stunts to get our petition to 100,000 signatures, and try to make a pub out of Francois Bourgeois.SIGN THE PETITION HERE: tinyurl.com/save-caskGET THE POSTERS & LETTER HERE: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ek1L6GYVwd6lYEAzvl8oo2c353_QoLCD?usp=sharingSupport the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

She super-charged Mark Antony's rise to power, whipped up gang violence, went to war with Octavian – and may, just may, have abused Cicero's decapitated head with a hairpin. Here, in conversation with Spencer Mizen, Jane Draycott explores the life of Fulvia, the extraordinary figure who rewrote the rulebook of what a woman could achieve in the cut-throat world of ancient Roman politics. (Ad) Jane Draycott is the author of Fulvia: The Woman Who Broke All the Rules in Ancient Rome (Atlantic Books, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Ffulvia%2Fjane-draycott%2F9781805464877. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you've been following us for a while, you'll know that we love a good old cold plunge, so when the opportunity came up to speak to Dan Bosworth, founder of ice bath company Brass Monkey we leapt at it.We cover Dan's own journey into cold water therapy, the mental and physical improvements he experienced, and the multitude of benefits cold water immersion can provide. From starting out with an old chest freezer in his garage, to building a brand that's supplying commercial ice bath units globally, this is a really inspirational story, not to mention educational - so take a listen.For more information:Brass Monkey WebsiteCold Exposure Free GuideJournal: Brass Monkey Health BlogGrab James' Book - The Midlife Male Handbook Now - From Amazon, Waterstones or WHSmithThe Midlife Male Handbook available now:AmazonWaterstonesWH Smith Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.comTik Tok: @themidlifementorsIG: @midlifementors

Between the 1870s and the First World War, European colonialists set their sights on the Africa, making territorial land grabs that consumed nearly the entire continent. Speaking to Ellie Cawthorne, Professor Richard Reid explains how the so-called 'Scramble for Africa' played out, and explores its immense impact on Africa and its peoples. (Ad) Richard Reid is the author of The African Revolution: A History of the Long Nineteenth Century (Princeton University Press, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://www.amazon.co.uk/African-Revolution-History-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0691187096/?tag=bbchistory045-21&ascsubtag=historyextra-social-histboty. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the end of Keep Cask Alive series but not the campaign! Join us as we discuss the next steps for getting cask ale UNESCO recognition, as well as some beer news and the fact that Jonny is brewing again!SIGN THE PETITION: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/716686WATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: https://youtu.be/cY_krjt0K1USupport the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

In this energising episode of A Leader Like Me, Priya Bates and Advita Patel sit down with the dynamic and joy-fuelled Gabriel Galdamez—internal communications expert, community builder, and flying trapeze coach (yes, really!). Gabriel shares his unconventional journey into internal communications, his passion for purpose-driven work, and his reflections on what inclusion truly looks like when it's done with integrity. Together, they explore: Why “bringing your whole self to work” can be problematic—and what to say instead How trauma and trust (or the lack of it) influence how people show up in organisations The myth of the ‘authentic self' and how inclusion should offer people the choice of what to share The danger of framing workplaces as "families" and why seeing them as teams creates healthier cultures How introspection can be a game-changer for leaders building inclusive workplaces What it means to lead with curiosity over judgement in a fast-changing world This episode is a must-listen for internal comms professionals, HR leaders, and DEI advocates who want to move beyond surface-level inclusion and into real, transformational culture change. Find out more about Gabriel.  Priya and Advita.  ______________ Did you know? you can now order Priya and Advita's new book Building a Culture of Inclusivity Order from https://www.koganpage.com/ Discount Code ALLME20 The book is available in most online stores including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones, Indigo etc… and in some physical ones as well.  Don't miss out. Get your copy of the book now and be part of the DEI conversation. Building a Culture of Inclusivity Effective Internal Communication For Diversity, Equity and Inclusion  Want to evaluate where your business stands when it comes to the EI? Visit our website to learn more: https://aleaderlikeme.com/ Have any questions? Would you like to book Priya and or Advita for a speaking event? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at info@aleaderlikeme.com For our latest updates, continue to follow our LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram @aleaderlikeme. If you read our book and would like to give us your honest review, feel free to post on social media. Don't forget to use the #ALLME and tag us. Thank you for your continued support as we drive global DEI/EDI conversations forward. If you want to transform your culture and build better inclusion then get in touch and let's see how we can work together: info@aleaderlikeme.com.  If you're curious about inclusive cultures and want to understand what needs to happen in your organisation to cultivate belonging so you and your colleagues can thrive, you can purchase our book: https://aleaderlikeme.com/book/ 

What connects a notorious Chilean dictator with an SS commander who played a key role in the Holocaust? This is the question at the heart of a book by the author and lawyer Philippe Sands, which follows the twin stories of Augusto Pinochet's sensational arrest in London in 1998 and the postwar career of Walter Rauff, who spent many years in Pinochet's Chile. Philippe was joined by Rob Attar to explore a tangled tale of law and mass murder in Europe and South America. (Ad) Philippe Sands is the author of 38 Londres Street: On Impunity, Pinochet in England and a Nazi in Patagonia (Orion, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2F38-londres-street%2Fphilippe-sands%2F9781399632812. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Nnedi Okorafor. Nnedi is a prolific writer of science fiction and fantasy for adults, young adults and children; her best-known titles include the "Binti" trilogy, "Lagoon", the "Nsibidi Script" series and "Who Fears Death". Nnedi has won the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature as well as the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus and Lodestar awards. Several of her books are currently being adapted for TV. We spoke to Nnedi about the hospital stay that led her to start writing, breaking into the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, and her latest novel, "Death of the Author". We have recently also overhauled our offer for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Debates about whether museum artefacts should be returned to the cultures that made them have made headlines several times in recent years. But historian and author Justin M Jacobs explains to Matt Elton why he believes that calls for these objects to be repatriated often overlook the wishes of the people who made them in the first place. (Ad) Justin M Jacobs is the author of Plunder?: How Museums Got Their Treasures (Reaktion Books, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fplunder%2Fjustin-m-jacobs%2F9781789149487. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1910, music hall performer Belle Elmore went missing. Her husband Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen claimed Belle had gone to America to visit a dying relative. But before long, Crippen's stories began to unravel and the doctor went on the run, triggering an international manhunt. Hallie Rubenhold re-examines Crippen's crimes in her new book Story of a Murder, and she spoke to Ellie Cawthorne about what this infamous case can reveal about medicine, the music hall and women's lives at the time. (Ad) Hallie Rubenhold is the author of Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen (Transworld Publishers, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fstory-of-a-murder%2Fhallie-rubenhold%2F2928377304799. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we dig into the science of the sound of a beer opening, mourn the future of our species as Toronado is sold to a tech bro, and dig into the comments of what's being heralded as the Best Episode of Keep Cask Alive yetWATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: https://youtu.be/PyD8TmmRScYBUY THE T-SHIRT: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/craft-beer-channel-keep-cask-alive-black-t-shirt/Support the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

Has our focus on the impact of the transatlantic slave trade blinded us to the diversity and complexity of Africa's past? That's one of the arguments at the heart of Luke Pepera's new book Motherland, which spans 500,000 years of the continent's history. Luke speaks to Matt Elton about some of the stories that shine the spotlight back on African people. (Ad) Luke Pepera is the author of Motherland: A Journey through 500,000 Years of African Culture and Identity (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fmotherland%2Fluke-pepera%2F9781398707368. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join me for an insightful conversation with Gill Hornby, author of Miss Austen, a captivating novel that reimagines the life of Cassandra Austen — Jane Austen's beloved sister. We delve into Cassandra's pivotal role in Jane's life and legacy, the inspiration behind the book, and the journey of adapting it into the widely popular BBC mini-series.Gill shares her thoughts on bringing Cassandra's untold story to life, balancing fact with fiction, and what viewers can expect from her upcoming novel The Elopement out 22nd May. Gills books are available in local bookshops and Waterstones. KindleAudiobookMiss Austen is now available in the UK on BBC iplayer and will be out in the US in May.@gill.hornby@whattheausten

This week sees a bumper crop of news, some serious VIEWS on the comments section, and a massive ear worm.WATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO: https://youtu.be/1JQop7DMVecDON'T WATCH THIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE-1RPDqJAYSupport the showBrought to you by the team behind the Craft Beer Channel, The Bubble is a weekly podcast that gives you a way to wind down with your first beer of the weekend. Dig into craft beer, film and music culture as well as hearing what's going on in the wild world of Beer Tubing.BUY JONNY'S NEW BOOK! SIGNED COPIES: https://www.davids-bookshops.co.uk/products/the-meaning-of-beer-by-jonny-garrett-signed-pre-orderAMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meaning-Beer-Jonny-Garrett/dp/1838959947/WATERSTONES: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-meaning-of-beer/jonny-garrett/9781838959944SUPPORT US! Pledge on Patreon and get some cool merch & videos: https://www.patreon.com/craftbeerchannel Check out our awesome sponsor The Malt Miller: https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ Twitter – @beerchannelFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/thecraftbeerchannelInstagram – @craftbeerchannel

From true crime pamphlets to reports from the scaffold, early modern Britain was gripped by tales of women who killed. But were these cases as common as they seemed, or was something else at play? Speaking to Lauren Good, historian Blessin Adams explores the obsession with female murderers in this period, and what this tells us about historical attitudes to gender, justice and power. (Ad) Blessin Adams is the author of Thou Savage Woman: Female Killers in Early Modern Britain (Harper Collins, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthou-savage-woman%2Fblessin-adams%2F9780008500177. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this month's Parenting SOS, we're joined by Clinical Psychologist and expert on maternal rage Dr Caroline Boyd.Anger is a natural response to the overwhelming demands of motherhood in today's society. Many of us feel pressure to be supermums - calm, coping and in control at all times - and were raised to see anger as a ‘forbidden' emotion for women. This often means our feelings stay simmering under the surface, until we reach a breaking point. Caroline shares her insight on what happens to us when we're angry, how can we move through the emotion, and letting go of the inevitable guilt that comes after an angry reaction. Gi and Caroline also touch on the different contextual forces at play that shape our responses to anger. These social contexts are numerous and varied for every individual, often including important identities such as race, class and sexuality, which influence how we feel and express anger.Plus, we answer some of your questions, including how to manage anger towards your partner, keeping your cool when overstimulated, and identifying burn out.Caroline offers a self-paced anger course for mothers (USE THE CODE “HMHB” TO CLAIM YOUR £100 DISCOUNT):https://dr-caroline-boyd.mykajabi.com/maternal-rage-sign-upDownload Caroline's FREE GUIDE on how to handle partner rage: https://dr-caroline-boyd.mykajabi.com/3rs-free-downloadCaroline's book, Mindful New Mum: A Mind-Body Approach to the Highs and Lows of Motherhood, is available to buy online Amazon, Waterstones or Bookshop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist Ben Okri. Born in Minna, Nigeria, Ben came to England as a child. He attended school in London before returning to Africa with his parents on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War. He came once more to the UK in 1978 and studied at Essex University. Two years later he published his first novel "Flowers and Shadows". A second, "The Landscapes Within", appeared two years afterwards, before two collections of short stories in 1986 and 1988. In 1991 his novel "The Famished Road" won the Booker Prize, the first time a black writer received that award. Ben's subsequent work includes the novel "Astonishing the Gods" (chosen by the BBC in 2019 as "one of the 100 novels that has shaped our world"), the epic poem "Mental Fight" and the play "The Outsider". We spoke to Ben about his early life in Nigeria and Britain, winning the Booker Prize, and his latest novel, "Madame Sosostris & the Festival for the Broken-Hearted". We have recently also overhauled our offer for those ⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Life balance. How do we get it and why does it feel so elusive? In this podcast episode we'll break down why it's so important to address life balance, why it feels impossible to achieve and reveal some common misconceptions. Most importantly though we'll explain why life balance doesn't actually exist and how it can make us even more stressed chasing after it! As always, we'll wrap up by giving you a four pillar holistic framework to regain control, be kinder to yourself and find more joy again.James' book The Midlife Male Handbook is now available:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midlife-Male-Handbook-Thriving-Andropause/dp/0912106395It's also available at Waterstones & WHSmith... Please remember, if you find the show helpful or it makes you laugh, motivates and inspires you - please do like, share and rate us. We don't run ads on the podcast or for the show, because we want to keep it as enjoyable for you to listen as possible. So if you can help us spread the word, we'd be incredibly grateful.For more information about The Midlife Mentors, click the below link:https://linktr.ee/themidlifementors.comTik Tok: @themidlifementorsIG: @midlifementors

Pacifist. Humanitarian. Whistleblower. From humble roots growing up in Cornwall, Emily Hobhouse went on to challenge the societal issues of her day and expose the horrors of British concentration camps during the Second Anglo-Boer War. Speaking to Emily Briffett, biographer Elsabé Brits uncovers the story of a woman who was branded a 'traitor' for defying the British establishment, but saved thousands of Boer women and children. (Ad) Elsabé Brits is the author of Rebel Englishwoman: The Remarkable Life of Emily Hobhouse (Little Brown, 2019). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Frebel-englishwoman%2Felsabe-brits%2F9781472140920. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From green men and jolly horse skulls, to chasing cheese down hills and morris dancing, Britain has a rich tradition of folk customs. Some are strange, some downright silly. But, as Liz Williams tells Ellie Cawthorne, some of these traditions can also have a darker aspect, based on shame, judgement and social conformity. (Ad) Liz Williams is the author of Rough Music: Folk Customs, Transgression and Alternative Britain (Reaktion Books, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Frough-music%2Fliz-williams%2F9781836390602. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

WOW! I really went there with you for this one. March is here, Spring is upon us, which means my 2025 begins. I return here with fresh thoughts and an open heart. I'm learning to allow myself to share the truth of what's happening in REAL TIME, instead of only sharing retrospectively, and as a very reflective but also private person - this feels exposing, yet insanely liberating. I am practicing what I preach. I am practicing courage. I am practicing brave expression. And it's making me trust my self-leadership at another level. Privately and publicly.In this episode, I decided to take you deep into the raw, painful, and necessary truth of my recent breakup. A relationship that was both my greatest teacher and my biggest test. I share what it's like to grieve someone who is still alive (AGAIN), the profound heartbreak of loving someone deeply but knowing you cannot stay, and the brutal self-reckoning that followed. I wanted to be completely fucking open about how this experience has forced me to confront my own self-betrayal, how I shrunk myself in ways I didn't even realise, and why I'm, having to become my own student to find my way back to integrity.Thank you for letting me go there

Frederick Barbarossa has gone down in history as one of medieval Europe's most formidable rulers. He waged ruthless wars in Italy, clashed with the papacy, and came to an ignominious end on crusade. Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian Graham Loud explores the life and many afterlives of the legendary red-bearded emperor. (Ad) Graham Loud is the author of Frederick Barbarossa (Reaktion Books, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Ffrederick-barbarossa%2Fg-a-loud%2F9781836390220. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's often proclaimed that British sea power was at its pinnacle in the years following the French and Napoleonic wars. But was this really a time when Britain 'ruled the waves'? And how did the rise of steam, development of international communication and establishment of naval air services reshape Britain's strength and strategy at sea? Speaking to Emily Briffett, historian Nicholas A M Rodger sketches out the history of the British navy, from the early 19th century up until 1945. (Ad) Nicholas A M Rodger is the author of The Price of Victory: A Naval History of Britain: 1815 – 1945 (Penguin Books, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-price-of-victory%2Fn-a-m-rodger%2F9780713994124. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How cruel was Caligula? How depraved was Tiberius? And how monstrous was Nero? The dark reputations of these emperors owe a great deal to the Roman writer Suetonius, whose 121 AD work Lives of the Caesars offered intimate portraits of 12 rulers of Rome – from Julius Caesar to Domitian. The popular historian and podcaster Tom Holland has just produced a new translation of the Lives and he speaks to Rob Attar about the profound influence of Suetonius' work – and whether it's an example of ancient fake news. (Ad) Tom Holland is the translator of The Lives of the Caesars (Penguin, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=3090&awinaffid=489797&p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-lives-of-the-caesars%2Fsuetonius%2Ftom-holland%2F2928377309039&clickref=historyextra-social-histboty. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Monasteries and convents were a common sight throughout medieval Europe and beyond. But who were they for? What did they do? And how did religious life there change over the centuries? Speaking to Emily Briffett, Professor Andrew Jotischky traces the history of monastic life from its early origins in the fourth century right up to the 16th century. He explores the pivotal role these religious houses played as society's 'prayer factories', and examines the experiences of the monks and nuns who lived in them. (Ad) Andrew Jotischky is the author of The Monastic World: A 1,200-Year History (Yale University Press, 2024). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-monastic-world%2Fandrew-jotischky%2F9780300208566. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices