Category Archives: The Podcast

The end of all things – The podcast. Reviews, Interviews and other literary guff

Episode 24 – The Indies: Nathan Connolly from Dead Ink

In part one of TEOAT’s RAPID FIRE INDIE PUBLISHER EXTRAVAGANZA, Rob speaks to indie publisher Nathan Connolly from Dead Ink about Liverpool, Working class stories (again), Squeezing dough from the Arts Council, Crowdfunding, publishing nine novels in a year, getting picked off the slushpile and life as a book fetishist.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Namechecks:

SJ Bradley, Northern Fiction Alliance, Naomi Booth, Gary Budden, Jenn Ashworth, Richard Hirst, Sophie Hopesmith, Harry Gallon, Peepal Tree Press, Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press, Inpress Books, And Other Stories, Saboteur Awards

Episode 23 – First on the pile of corpses

Leave a reply

In this episode, Rob speaks to novelist Conrad Williams about Horror, the impending apocalypse, the distinction (or lack thereof) between genre and literary fiction, the Yorkshire Ripper, Conrad’s latest novel “Hell is Empty” and, of course, Hull. Trigger warning: Rob does the worst Trump impression known to man.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Namechecks:

Nicholas Royle (again, sigh), Martin Amis, JK Rowling, International Horror Guild, Ramsey Campbell, Stephen Gregory, Thomas Ligotti, Derek Raymond, Helen Walsh, Stephen King

Episode 22 – Being true

Leave a reply

In part 2 of TEOAT’s two part Christmas special, Rob talks to Costa First Novel Award nominee, Kit de Waal about working class stories (a favourite of this podcast), adoption, a fascination with the minutiae of life, the 80s, and of course, her rather incredible novel, My Name is Leon. The conversation took place before her keynote speech for the Graduate Writers day put on by Comma Press.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Episode 21 – Being one thing and its opposite at the same time

Leave a reply

In part 1 of TEOAT’s two part Christmas special, Rob talks to Garth Greenwell about Pride, resisting mainstreaming, becoming visible and, of course, writing the “gay book of our times” What Belongs to You. Garth also talks about the purpose of art and literature and Rob tries to keep up. The conversation took place the day after Garth’s talk with Andrew McMillan as part of the Manchester Literature Festival.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Namechecks:

Andrew McMillan, Olivia Laing, Elena Ferrante, Kit de Waal, Reinaldo Arenas, Manchester Literature Festival

Episode 20 – The age of miracles

Leave a reply

In this episode, Rob talks to lovely purveyor of Savidge Reads and youtube sensation, Simon Savidge about Daphne Du Maurier, Liverpool, northern female writers, the fact that we are bizarro twins and(rather selfishly) podcasting. They also talk about ‘merica, Leonard Cohen and Simon recommends a book about the earth slowing down to Rob. Freakishly apt when you consider it was recorded over a month ago.

Rob (sigh) gets a bit sweary about Donald Trump. Interview starts at 12:59(ish).

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Namechecks:

Jenn Ashworth, Emma Jane Unsworth, Daphne Du Maurier, Garth Greenwell (again), EM Forster, Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen, Donald Trump, Armistead Maupin, Charlotte Wood, Val McDermid, Evie Wyld, Carys Bray, Caroline Smailes, Karen Thompson Walker, Andrew McMillan

Episode 19 – Words matter

Leave a reply

In this episode, Rob talks to novelist, essayist, editor and activist, Nikesh Shukla about good immigrants, uncomfortable writing, diversity panels, mentoring yoofs, african barbershops and motherfucking microgressions (Nikesh’s words). The interview took place backstage at Gorilla on the night of his show for the Manchester Literature Festival. (Special appearance by festival director Sarah-Jane Roberts)

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Namechecks:

Nikesh Shukla, Inua Ellams, Bobby Nayyar, South Asian Literature Festival, Bharit Mehta, Riz Ahmed, Himesh Patel, Reni Eddolodge, Chimene Suleyman, Selena Godden, Kate Tempest, Nish Kumar, Varaidzo, Rife magazine, Galdem magazine, Vera Chok, Coco Khan, Sarah-Jane Roberts, Vinay Patel, JK Rowling, Wei Min Kam, Daniel York, Paul Hyu, Ben Myers

Episode 18 – Horror is in everything

Leave a reply

In this episode, Rob talks to novelist and METALHEAD, Stephen McGeagh, about METAL, the state of Horror writing, having his novel, Habit, made into a film, MORE METAL, MAs in Creative Writing, beautiful Manchester and EVEN MORE METAL.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Namechecks:

Rachel Richardson-Jones, Simeon Halligan, Colibra, Sam Eades, Jess Barton, Nikesh Shukla, Garth Greenwell, Simon Savidge,

Episode 17 – Lower middle class hero

Leave a reply

In this episode, Rob talks to novelist and music journo, Ben Myers, about class, talking to famous people, the Cragg Vale coiners, writing about landscape and (of course) money. In between all that, they discuss his latest novel, Turning Blue.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Links mentioned in the podcast:
Know your Place – Essays on the Working Class by Dead Ink publishing

Namechecks:

Socrates Adams, Claire Malcolm, Bluemoose books, Dodo Ink, Deak Ink, James Baldwin, David Peace, Nikesh Shukla, Trapeze publishing, Orion publishing, Galley Beggar Press, Moth publishing, Riz Ahmed, Garth Greenwell, Kit de Waal, Gregory Norminton, Stephen McGeagh

Episode 16 – Writing worried

Leave a reply

In this episode, Rob takes to the Wilderness festival to chat with Emma Jane Unsworth about physics, frostbite and murderous cats. Emma also talks about the movie being made from her novel, Animals, and Rob begs to be in it. Emma also reads from her brand new and yet unnamed novel.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Links mentioned in the podcast:
The world’s smallest movie: A boy and his atom
Roisin and Chiara “Wild at Heart”

Namechecks:

Sarah Brocklehurst, Wyl Menmuir, Sophie Hyde, Jenn Ashworth, Margaret Atwood, Jo Bell, Caitlin Moran, Garth Greenwell, Edinburgh Book Festival, Literary Friction podcast, Lord Piddick, Camilla Elworthy and Roisin and Chiara

The Manchester Literature Festival

Leave a reply

In this mini-episode, Rob talks to Kate Feld about the Manchester Literature Festival. In addition to MLFing it out, they talk about Good Immigrants, they try to figure out what “working class” means and of course, chat about the end of the world. Rob has a bit of a sweary whinge (what else is new?) about the Olympics.

SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES WHY DONTCHA

Namechecks:

Ian McMillan, Andrew McMillan, Simon Savidge, Nikesh Shukla, Selena Godden, Hollie McNish, Dead Ink Books, Olivia Laing, Garth Greenwell, Yuval Noah Harari, Margaret Atwood, Richard Hines, Lionel Shriver, Dr Katy Shaw, Andrew Michael Hurley, Jenn Ashworth, Gillian Slovo, Lemn Sissay, Jenny Murray, Rose Tremain, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jeanette Winterson, Anne Enright, Vivienne Westwood, Susan Calman, Margaret Drabble, Jane Rogers, Johnny Marr, Kamila Shamsie, Deborah Levy, Jo Bell, Michael Symmons Roberts, David Gaffney, Eimer McBride