Bandwidth Conversations (Katie Brewer)
Explore every episode of Bandwidth Conversations
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Apr 2022 | The Making of a Rock 'n' Roll Photographer: Danny Clifford | 01:18:04 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Danny Clifford is arguably the best Rock ‘n’ Roll photographer of ALL time. He has led the most extraordinary life. From a tough childhood where he encountered extreme anti-semitism, he starts his career charming and hustling his way into concerts. He has a unique view of the music industry having photographed so many top performers but, more than just the fascinating stories of his experiences with some of the greatest bands in the world - The Who, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Status Quo and more - this is a tale of prejudice, hard work, resilience, perseverance and triumph told with brilliant humour. Danny is an inspiration and you are in for a treat! | |||
| 12 Jul 2024 | James Krishna Floyd: Actor, Writer & Director: The Swimmers, My Brother the Devil, Unicorns. | 00:56:51 | |
James Krishna Floyd is an award winning actor, a screen writer and director. He has been described as a young Robert de Niro and his versatility is displayed in the extraordinary breadth and variety of roles he has played to date. His film Unicorns which he wrote and co-directed came out last week (July 5th). It’s not only entertaining but also important, brave, ground-breaking and deeply human. In this conversation James talks about how he prepares for the roles he plays and the scripts he writes; he lived in amongst East London gangs for six months, he found an Egyptian refugee on which to base his character in The Swimmers and he immersed himself in the Gaysian scene for Unicorns. Packed with interest, thoughtful insights, humility and empathy, I was struck by this hugely talented man and profound thinker. Related Links | |||
| 03 Apr 2023 | How to maximise your potential and joy by teacher, author, healer and rock star of life, Loretta Ferrucci. | 01:00:12 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website What do you most want to be able to do in your life? What are you longing to achieve or create? Would you like to better understand your character and personality traits, your path in life and discover your true potential? Would you like to find peace within yourself? Would you like to have a healthier, less guilty relationship with food? Find out how by listening to my podcast with Loretta Ferrucci who has spent her life exploring how we can maximise our potential and create our vision. Full of insights, she is an absolute inspiration and I think you will find her discoveries fascinating. Related Links: | |||
| 13 Sep 2022 | The Hidden Man: John Altman – Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Director, Musician | 01:06:46 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website John Altman has composed, arranged, conducted, produced and directed countless music for television and film including Titanic, Little Voice, Goldeneye, Leon, Peake Practice. As an arranger and conductor he’s worked on hit records for artists including Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Roy Orbison, Simple Minds, George Michael. He has written, arranged and produced the music for over 4,000 commercials worldwide. He is an incredible saxophonist and has played or recorded with the likes of Little Richard, Prince, David Bowie, The Damned, Eric Clapton, Sting, Jimi Hendrix, Chet Baker, Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse, Muddy Waters, Phil Collins. The list is endless. Among others he toured with Hot Chocolate and Van Morrison as their musical director. What a life! John has such great stories to tell about his time working with the greatest icons in both the music and film industries. To them, he is the icon! | |||
| 11 Jul 2023 | Jimmy Mulville: Award Winning Producer, Comedian, Actor & Television Presenter. | 01:27:17 | |
Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and managing director of Hat Trick Productions, one of the country’s leading producers of comedy, drama and entertainment. He’s also a comedian, comedy writer, actor and television presenter. He has written, produced and acted in countless shows; Alas Smith and Jones, Chelmsford 123, Whose line is it anyway, Have I got News for You, Outnumbered, Drop the Dead Donkey to name but a few. In 1999 he won the BAFTA Alan Clarke Award for his creative contribution to television. In 2003 he and his then wife Denise O’Donoghue were listed in the Observer as two of the 50 funniest people in Britain. In this conversation Jimmy talks about many things; among them his journey from comprehensive school to reading Classics and French at Cambridge University to being one of the funniest men in the UK and one of its leading producers. He is an absolute legend and I loved talking to him! | |||
| 15 Feb 2022 | Santa Montefiore, No.1 Bestselling Author | 01:06:26 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Santa Montefiore is a no 1 bestselling author on the Sunday Times Best Sellers list and each and every book she publishes immediately shoots into the top ten. She writes sweeping sagas of love, tragedy, trauma, heartbreak and hope. She has written 30 books and has sold over 6 million copies worldwide. A friend of hers recently said of her, “She is a candidate for sainthood as a mother, sister, godmother and wife, but somehow also one of the funniest people in London.” Santa talks about her childhood, her love affair with Argentina, her incredible success, how she has honed her craft and her ability to see spirits all with great humility, humour and insight. Related Links: Related Books: | |||
| 15 Nov 2022 | From Death Row to RADA: Richard Lissack KC and Star of the Bar. | 01:06:06 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website My guest today is Richard Lissack who is a nationally and internationally recognised barrister and is one of the handful of practitioners listed as a “Star of the Bar”. Richard talks about his highly unusual route to becoming one of the top barristers in the UK, his pro-bono work for Jack Alderman, who was the longest-serving death row prisoner in the United States, The Bristol Royal Infirmary Heart Scandal, why you should never pre-judge people’s innocence or guilt, tips for becoming a barrister, words of wisdom on living life and how Kate Bush was spotted by Dave Gilmour – all told with great humour, insight and candour. Related Links and reading National Bereavement Partnership | |||
| 01 Oct 2024 | Inside the Mind of a Serial Entrepreneur: How Brent Hoberman built Lastminute.com and the blueprint for startup success | 00:56:37 | |
Brent Hoberman, the visionary co-founder of Lastminute.com and Made.com, is a true force in the world of entrepreneurship. From building multi-million- dollar businesses to founding the renowned Founders Forum, Brent is now a key player in supporting the next wave of innovators. He’s an advisor to governments on tech, a board member tackling issues from cyberbullying to education and a relentless advocate for startups. In this lively and insightful conversation, Brent opens up about his journey through the highs and lows of the dot-com boom, the lessons he’s learned, and the unique challenges of being a pioneer in the digital age. Packed with energy, hilarious anecdotes and reflections, this episode offers invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and a rare glimpse into the mind of a serial innovator. | |||
| 31 Jan 2023 | Lior Raz - Lead Actor in FAUDA, Creator & Screenplay Writer [REPLAY] | 00:42:16 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website I’m very excited to be re-releasing my conversation with Lior Raz: Creator, Screenplay Writer and Lead Actor in FAUDA, the award-winning Netflix Series. I have watched a couple of episodes of the long awaited fourth season and it is every bit as gritty, exciting and traumatic as the others, and our hero Doron is as aggressive and hot-headed as ever. By contrast, Lior is hilariously funny and self-deprecating. If you didn’t listen to the podcast first time around, you are in for a treat and, if you did, please listen again! Find out how FAUDA was created, what life in the army taught Lior and his journey from National Service to co-creator and icon of one of the most explosive and talked about series on television. Related Links: | |||
| 14 Dec 2021 | Madeline Bell World Class Jazz, Pop and Soul Singer | 01:05:05 | |
Madeline Bell is a world class jazz, pop and soul singer who has contributed to some of the greatest music of ALL time. She has released numerous solo albums revealing an array of styles and she was part of the pop combo Blue Mink with whom she had a string of top ten hits in the UK. Dusty Springfield did backing vocals for her and she has been a backing singer for Dusty, Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Donna Summer, Donovan, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Tom Jones, and many more. Madeline talks with great candour and humour about being expelled from school, her rise to fame in the UK and Europe, her dual life as a soloist and backing singer and the incredible fellow musicians she has met along the way. Here are links to a few of the songs discussed in Madeline’s conversation: I’m Gonna Make you Love me Madeline Bell - I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (1968) - YouTube Melting Pot (No 3, UK Pop Charts) BLUE MINK - Melting Pot (RARE LIVE UK TV 1970) Ft Roger Cook & Madeline Bell - YouTube Bannerman (No 3, UK Pop Charts) Blue Mink - The Banner Man (1972) - YouTube Prison, Space SPACE Prison - YouTube Joe Cocker: With a Little Help from my Friends Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends - YouTube Rolling Stones: You Can’t Always Get What You Want The Rolling Stones - You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website | |||
| 28 Nov 2023 | David Yarrow: One of the World’s Most Celebrated Photographers | 01:14:36 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website What do Cindy Crawford, Bill Nighy and a polar bear have in common? They have all been photographed by David Yarrow, one of the most celebrated photographers in the world. David Yarrow’s photographs are on the walls of celebrities, art collectors and no less than 3 ex-US presidents. He makes and takes photographs of the natural world and captures scenes that tell iconic stories. In this conversation we talk about how David began, left and returned to photography, the current marketplace for photographers, the pitfalls of conservation and how he took some of his legendary shots. He, like his photographs, is a great story teller and he talks with great humility and humour. I loved talking to David! Related Links | |||
| 05 Oct 2021 | Chris White Saxophonist played with Dire Straits for 10 years | 00:50:09 | |
Saxophonist Chris White played with Dire Straits for 10 years. He has also recorded and played with many other top artists including Sir Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Aretha Franklin, Robbie Williams, Chris de Burgh, Aztec Camera, Haircut 100. More recently he has been managing and touring with his band ‘The Dire Straits Experience’ and has a packed tour scheduled in multiple venues though-out Europe through to May next year. Chris talks about how hearing the saxophone played on television at the age of thirteen triggered his lifelong passion and career as a saxophonist, what it was like playing at The Live Aid and Nelson Mandela Concerts at Wembley Stadium and some of the extraordinary experiences he encountered along the way. Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Related Links: | |||
| 02 Aug 2022 | Neil Laughton: From Everest with Bear Grylls to the Poles to piloting the first ever flying car | 00:58:48 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Neil Laughton is an expeditioner extraordinaire. He has summited the highest mountains on each and every continent. He has skied his way to the North and South Poles, he piloted the first ever road-legal flying car from London to Timbuktu. In this conversation Neil talks about leading Bear Grylls up Everest having attempted it two years before during the worst storm on the mountain. He talks about ascending Aconcagua and flying over the Straits of Gibraltar in a car! This podcast is a reminder that in life “It is not what you have that counts, but what you have done” - Reinhold Messner. Related Links & Reading | |||
| 30 Jan 2024 | Prasanna Puwanarajah: Actor, Director, Writer & Producer: From ‘The Crown’ to ‘Patrick Melrose’ | 01:05:39 | |
Prasanna has appeared in multiple TV series, films and theatre productions; ‘The Crown’, ‘Patrick Melrose’, ‘Line Of Duty’, ‘Defending the Guilty’, ‘Ten Percent’ to name but a few. Onstage he has further acting credits with the RSC, the Donmar Warehouse and the Young Vic. He writes for the stage, for the screen and is a published author. He started off life as a junior medical doctor. In this conversation Prasanna talks about the challenges he faced being a junior doctor, the multiple and varied projects he has either performed or masterminded in the entertainment industry and why he feels he is ‘skin queer’. Packed full of insights, anecdotes and honesty, this is a great episode! | |||
| 12 Jul 2022 | Ingrid Oliver: Comedian, Actor (Dr Who, Peep Show, The Watch, The Hustle) and Writer. | 01:02:52 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Ingrid Oliver: One half of the comic double act Watson & Oliver; comedian, actor and writer. Ingrid talks about her journey from student to drama school to casting to having her own comedy show to acting in some of the most iconic shows and alongside some of the greatest actors of this generation; Peter Capaldi, Emma Thompson, Anne Hathaway to name but a few. She talks about the highs and lows and shares some embarrassing and hilarious moments along the way. Related Links and reading Bea and Fi’s Holiday – Watson and Oliver It's All About the Nails - Watson and Oliver Made in Chelsea General Hospital - Watson & Oliver
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| 04 Jun 2024 | The secrets to living longer and healthier lives - with Dr Michael Mosley: Medical Journalist & International Bestselling Author | 00:49:42 | |
This interview was recorded on March 15th 2024. Dr Michael Mosley is a household name and one of the best loved and most respected doctors in the UK. He’s a medical journalist, a producer and presenter of award-winning television programmes. He has written international bestselling books on diet, sleep and a myriad of health topics. He has a brilliant podcast called ‘Just One Thing’ which gives simple, scientifically proven tips to improve your health and change your life. I am addicted to it! Michael talks about his circuitous route to medicine and, following that, the media and is full of health advice and anecdotes about the crazy things he has subjected himself to in the quest for medical knowledge from which we may all benefit and thereby live better and longer lives. Related Links Michael’s Website | |||
| 23 Nov 2021 | Rageh Omaar: Celebrated Reporter, Newscaster, Documentary Maker and Author. | 01:02:33 | |
Rageh Omaar has covered and reported from some of the most hostile places on earth. His career has spanned the BBC, Al Jazeera and ITN. He is a reporter, a documentary maker, author, newscaster and is now International Affairs Editor at ITV. In this conversation Rageh talks about how he became a journalist, his time with the BBC reporting from Iraq during the 2003 invasion and what it was like to interview Nelson Mandela. He discusses the highs and lows of being a journalist and reflects on his life’s work throwing a spotlight on war, terror, trauma and tragedy. Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Recommended Books: Revolution Day: The Real Story for the Battle for Iraq Only Half of Me: Being a Muslim in Britain Related Movies:
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| 31 May 2022 | Patrick Gale’s Story: From growing up in prisons to becoming one of the country’s best loved novelists. | 01:06:53 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Patrick Gale is one of this country’s best loved novelists. He has written 20 sparkling books to date. His novels are achingly beautiful. They cover many aspects of life but their essence is about family, relationships, of being human, frail and vulnerable. He is also a screen writer and his screenplay, Man in an Orange Shirt, won an International Emmy Award for Best Movie/ Miniseries. In this conversation Patrick talks about his journey; his family, his novels, his writing method. It was an immense privilege to talk to Patrick. | |||
| 19 Oct 2021 | Sonia Jones Top Backing Vocalist | 00:43:28 | |
Sonia Jones is one of the top backing vocalists and vocal coaches in the music industry. She sang the title track to Monty Python’s Life of Brian when she was only sixteen years old, she was the lead in the Broadway Production Dreamtime and has performed in multiple other musicals plus the TV show Let’s Rock. She has toured with The Who, Spandau Ballet, Mike Oldfield and James Last; she has recorded with The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Simple Minds, Peter Gabriel to name but a few, she has performed with the likes of Dave Gilmour, Annie Lennox and David Byrne. In this conversations Sonia talks about how she left Wales as a teenager determined to forge her career as a singer against her family’s wishes and shares some of her top moments with the world’s greatest musicians in a jam-packed conversation of music insights, adventures and laughter. Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Related Recommendations: | |||
| 06 Dec 2022 | Tony Remy - guitarist for Annie Lennox, Simply Red, Gary Barlow, Jack Bruce, Craig David, Herbie Hancock & more! | 00:38:49 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website I’m very excited to be releasing my conversation with one of the world’s greatest and most versatile guitarists, Tony Remy. Annie Lennox, Simply Red, Gary Barlow, Jack Bruce, Craig David, Glenn Hughes; the leading artists from the rock and pop world all chose to play with him. From the Jazz, Funk and Soul world, he’s played with artists such as Herbie Hancock, Pee Wee Ellis, The (Jazz) Crusaders, Matt Bianco, Incognito and many more. He has played the biggest stadiums in the world including Madison Square Garden, Wembley Stadium and Live 8. In the industry he’s known as “The guitarists’ guitar player.” Listen to find out how Tony went from one of the poorest areas of London to playing the recorder to becoming a flute prodigy to being one of the most sought after guitarists in the world. Related Links & Reading Tony Remy and Pee Wee Ellis at Ronnie Scotts | |||
| 23 Apr 2024 | From New College, Oxford to Westminster; from Call my Bluff to writing Prince Phillip’s biography: A conversation with Gyles Brandreth | 01:01:23 | |
In no particular order, Gyles Brandreth was an MP in John Major’s government, is a writer of novels, biographies, autobiographies and stageplays, is a broadcaster, a podcaster, a television presenter and an accomplished speaker. He has set up a teddy bear museum, he started the UK Scrabble competition, he campaigns for public spaces. Veteran of Call my Bluff and Just a Minute, he is one of the most quick witted people on the planet! Full of wisdom and hilarious anecdotes, this is a wonderful conversation. | |||
| 04 Oct 2022 | Kate Mosse: International Best-selling and Multi-Award-Winning Writer and Champion for Women’s Creativity | 01:10:25 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Bandwidth Conversation's 20th Podcast Episode! Kate Mosse is an international best-selling and multi-award-winning writer of fiction, non-fiction and short stories, playwright, broadcaster and champion for women’s creativity. She has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide in 38 languages and in over forty countries. Her new book, “Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries – How Women Also Built the World” is coming out; a celebration of some of the extraordinary women who built our world and their unsung achievements. In this episode, Kate talks about her new book, how she came to be a champion of women’s rights and creativity, the inspiration behind “Labyrinth” and the “Languedoc Trilogy”, what she thinks of Tarot card readings, why “The Taxidermist’s Daughter” is so dark, plus great tips for writers and for living your best life. And so much more! Related Links and reading | |||
| 20 Aug 2024 | Guy Chambers: Prolific Musician and Songwriter. Co-wrote Robbie Williams’ biggest hits. Over 50 Gold and Platinum albums to his credit. | 00:49:40 | |
Guy Chambers is a rock star in every sense of the title. He is one of the most successful and prolific musicians, songwriters and producers in the UK. He has more than 50 gold and platinum albums to his credit. He has worked with a variety of top artists, ranging from Mark Ronson and The Wanted to Katie Melua and Beverley Knight. He has also composed the music for films, musicals and even an opera. His best known and long-standing collaboration is with Robbie Williams, with whom he wrote some of the biggest hits of the 1990s and 2000s including ‘Angels’, ‘Rock DJ’, ‘Feel’, ‘Millenium’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’. In this conversation Guy talks about some of his present and past collaborations, how he wrote the song that changed everything for him and Robbie and what life was like under the spotlight of fame’s adulation and scrutiny. Full of wisdom, reflection, humility and candour, my conversation with Guy will fascinate and entertain! Related Links | |||
| 23 May 2023 | Lucy Walker: From Blind Children who climb Mountains to Waste Pickers who create Art to Amish youth running wild, Lucy Walker, documentarian, talks about her life, her films and lessons she’s learned. | 01:11:34 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website I had the most fascinating conversation with film director Lucy Walker. Lucy talks about how she became a multi-award-winning documentarian, about the craft of making documentaries, what it was like to climb a peak in the Himalayas with a group of blind Tibetan children, what it was like to create art out of waste in one of the largest landfill sites in the world, how the Amish youth are set free in the hope they return to the community for life and many other extraordinary stories. Her documentaries are outstanding; they shine a spotlight on injustice and ignorance, they celebrate bravery against the odds, they uncover latent dangers, they are thought provoking, they inform and they challenge. She is a genius! Related Links: | |||
| 10 Jan 2023 | Damian Lewis: From school, to Band of Brothers, to Homeland, to Billions. | 01:11:22 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Damian Lewis is one of the most talented, sought after and highly acclaimed actors of all time, both in the UK and America. He is a multiple award winner and nominee. Among many things, Damian talks about how Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks chose him to play Major Dick Winters in 'Band of Brothers', how he was given the role of Nicholas Brody in 'Homeland', how he created his character of Bobby Axlerod in 'Billions' and his latest role as an MI6 agent in a new miniseries 'A Spy Among Friends'. Hilarious, modest, honest – not only is Damian a star of the theatre and screen, he was an absolute star to talk to. An unmissable episode! | |||
| 23 Aug 2022 | Dangerous Liaisons: A conversation with Sir Christopher Hampton, award-winning playwright, screenwriter, translator, adaptor, director and lyricist. | 00:54:40 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Sir Christopher Hampton is a playwright, screenwriter, translator, adaptor, director and lyricist. He is an Oscar and Tony Award winner. His French teacher described him as “quite simply one of the most brilliant students I ever taught”. Among many things, Sir Christopher talks about his formative years in Alexandria, making theatre history by being the youngest playwright to have a West End hit at the age of 20, writing “Dangerous Liaisons” and winning the Oscar, writing the screenplay of “Atonement”, translating and co-writing “The Father” and his acting role alongside a young Leonardo DiCaprio as the judge in “Total Eclipse”. Related Links and reading Dangerous Liaisons trailer | |||
| 14 May 2024 | Martin Sixsmith: From The Cold War to Putin, the highs and lows of Government and uncovering the scandal of the lost children of Ireland. | 00:57:30 | |
Martin Sixsmith is many things; he’s an academic, an investigative journalist, a documentarian and he spent years as a foreign correspondent for the BBC working in Russia, Washington and Poland. He’s an author of both fiction and non-fiction, a radio and television presenter and he was an adviser to the Labour Government. Of the 8 books he has written to date, probably his most well known is “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee” which was turned into a multi Oscar and BAFTA nominated film “Philomena” starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. In this conversation Martin talks about his experiences in Russia, The Cold War and Putin and how he came to write about The Lost Child of Philomena Lee. Fascinating, frank, informative and funny, I really enjoyed talking to Martin. | |||
| 25 Oct 2022 | Chris Difford from SQUEEZE | 00:30:59 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website I was unbelievably lucky to have the chance to talk to Chris Difford of Squeeze. Chris formed Squeeze in 1974 by putting an advert in a shop window and Glenn Tilbrook was the only person to answer the ad. The partnership of Chris and Glenn was a collaboration with Chris writing the lyrics and Glenn writing the music. They had multiple chart-topping singles and albums and their ‘Singles’ album went platinum. Listen to the podcast to hear how the band went from the pubs of Deptford to Madison Square Garden. Chris talks with great honesty about the highs and lows, the ins and outs and the joys and trials of that journey. He also talks about his song-writing retreats, mentoring, his autobiography and his “I Never Thought It Would Happen” podcast. Cool for Cats!! Related Links and reading Listen to Chris’s own podcast: ‘I Never Thought It Would Happen’ | |||
| 11 Jan 2022 | Louis Prima Jr. Singer, Songwriter, Trumpeter and Bandleader of Louis Prima Jr. & The Witnesses | 00:38:03 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Louis Prima Jr. is an incredible singer, songwriter, trumpeter and bandleader. With his band “Louis Prima Jr. & The Witnesses,” Louis Prima Jr. continues his father’s legacy performing all the Prima hits plus new songs live across the world. Their third album comes out in 2022 and they just released a super-catchy Christmas single, “Hey, Skinny Santa!” Louis Jr.’s father is the legendary Louis Prima, The King of Swing. Louis Prima performed for Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the rest of the rat pack would come to listen to Louis. When asked, Elvis Presley said that his “all shook up” wiggle was based on him. He was the voice of King Louie in The Jungle Book, immortalised in the song “I Wanna Be Like You”. Website: https://www.louisprimajr.com/ Prior Albums: Link to Louis Prima Documentary | |||
| 17 Dec 2024 | The Meteoric Rise of Henry Rowley: Comedian, Writer, Actor, TikTok King, Total Rock Star of Life! | 00:50:03 | |
OUR 50TH EPISODE! How lucky was I to be in the passport queue in Nice airport and spot my guest Henry Rowley? Even luckier that he was so lovely and agreed to have this conversation with me. Henry Rowley is a writer, actor and comedian who has amassed 1.3 million followers on TikTok and rising doing the most hilarious point of view sketches from posh girl Minty to The Creepy Teacher to Soho House Member to almost any other stereotype you can think of. He has just finished his standup tour “Just Literally” of the UK and Ireland. It was laugh out loud magic. It turns out that, not only is he the new comedian to watch for, he is also a wonderful human being. This podcast will make your day and, if you follow him on TikTok, all the days that follow will also be brighter! Related Links | |||
| 19 Sep 2023 | [REPLAY] Santa Montefiore: No. 1 Bestselling Author | 01:06:26 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Santa Montefiore is a no 1 bestselling author on the Sunday Times Best Sellers list and each and every book she publishes immediately shoots into the top ten. She writes sweeping sagas of love, tragedy, trauma, heartbreak and hope. She has written 30 books and has sold over 6 million copies worldwide. A friend of hers recently said of her, “She is a candidate for sainthood as a mother, sister, godmother and wife, but somehow also one of the funniest people in London.” Santa talks about her childhood, her love affair with Argentina, her incredible success, how she has honed her craft and her ability to see spirits all with great humility, humour and insight. Santa has also just released her new book 'Wait for Me'. Based on a true story, this is a tale of enduring love and devastating secrets, sweeping across England during WWII to Australia five decades later. Related Links: Related Books: | |||
| 04 Mar 2025 | Mike Reed: Musical Director for Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Barnum and many more | 00:56:28 | |
Mike Reed has been described by those he works with as “a humble genius”. He is a composer, conductor, musical director and pianist. He was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s right hand man for over a decade. In this podcast, Mike talks about his extraordinary career, the musicals he has worked on and the stars he has worked with. At times hilarious, an insight into how musicals work and a glimpse into an incredible life of music, theatre and entertainment. Related links: | |||
| 14 Feb 2023 | Tony Klinger: Award-winning filmmaker, writer, storyteller; from life to death and back again. | 00:41:45 | |
Tony Klinger is an award-winning international maker of inspiring documentaries, rockumentaries and films. He has made over 100 films worldwide with stars from the film and music industries such as The Who, Michael Caine, Lee Marvin, Roger Moore, Deep Purple, Peter Ustinov, Jack Nicholson, Sir John Gielgud and many others. He is also an author, a screenplay writer and a playwright. He talks about how his father went from immigrant to market seller to cinema owner to one of the most highly acclaimed film producers of all time. Tony talks about his most noteworthy films, has great words of wisdom to impart to aspiring filmmakers and writers and he talks about how he died and lived to tell the tale. A great storyteller! | |||
| 24 Mar 2025 | Måns Mårlind: The King of Swedish Noir - Creator, Writer and Director of The Bridge, Midnight Sun, Shadowplay and Underworld Awakening | 01:02:45 | |
Måns Mårlind is a visionary director and screenwriter whose work has captivated audiences worldwide. From his early days crafting compelling narratives for Swedish television to his acclaimed collaborations on international hits like The Bridge and Underworld: Awakening, Måns has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled ability to blend suspense, emotion and artistry. His keen eye for storytelling and his innovative approach to filmmaking have earned him numerous accolades, including a prestigious Guldbagge Award nomination for Best Director. Whether behind the camera or crafting intricate plots, Måns’ contributions to the world of cinema are nothing short of extraordinary. In this podcast, Måns talks about some of his masterpieces – the trials and triumphs all with good humour and humility. Related Links | |||
| 25 Jan 2022 | Part 1 - From Catholic Cult to Wall Street Wonder, Patricia Chadwick talks about her life. | 00:49:13 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Part 1: Little Sister - Life in a Catholic Cult In the opening lines of Patricia’s book ‘Little Sister’ Patricia writes, “Until the age of eighteen, I had never read a newspaper nor perused the pages of a magazine. I had never eaten in a restaurant nor shopped in a grocery store. I had never bought any clothes or cosmetics or a single item that could be called my own. I had never heard of Elvis Presley or Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, or Elizabeth Taylor. I had never watched television nor made a phone call. I did not know how to dance.” In Part 1 Patricia explains how the Catholic cult came about, how it went from a meeting place for Catholic students to a way of life governed by increasingly draconian rules that separated children from their parents, siblings and friends with harsh punishments. Patricia tells how she battled the injustices of the institution and found freedom. Website: https://www.patriciachadwick.com/
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| 26 Nov 2024 | Toby Spence: Award-Winning Tenor talks about his Career, his Battle with Thyroid Cancer and Rediscovering his Voice | 00:56:10 | |
Toby Spence is an award-winning tenor, who has played the lead roles across the world in every major opera theatre from The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden to The Met in New York to La Scala in Milan. A frequent performer at The Proms and on acclaimed recordings, he has also brought classical music to popular audiences through shows like The Rob and Romesh Show. In this episode, Toby shares his journey to becoming one of the most sought-after tenors of his generation, his battle with thyroid cancer and the remarkable process of relearning to sing after surgery. Humble, witty and candid, this is a rich, touching and inspiring conversation. Related Links
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| 14 Mar 2023 | Tara Fitzgerald: Multi Award-Winning Actress, Director and Producer. | 01:08:04 | |
Tara Fitzgerald is a star of both the stage and screen. Tara talks about everything from her experiences at drama school to her early roles co-starring with Peter O’Toole, Ewan MacGregor, Hugh Grant, Joseph Fiennes, Ralph Fiennes to name but a few and the heady time in her 20’s playing lead roles in plays, films and television series such as 'Hear My Song', 'Brassed Off', 'The Camomile Lawn', 'Sirens', 'Frenchman’s Creek', 'Hamlet' and 'Macbeth'. The list is endless! She talks about her long-standing role in 'Waking The Dead', what it was like to be Selyse Baratheon in 'Game of Thrones' and her current theatre role as Stephanie Abrahams in 'Duet for One'. Self-deprecating, candid, funny and erudite, I loved my time with Tara and you will love this episode. | |||
| 05 Nov 2024 | From Senior Advisor to David Cameron to Fox News: Steve Hilton discusses Trump and his vision for California. | 01:08:01 | |
Steve Hilton is a British and American political commentator. He was David Cameron’s Senior Advisor when he was Prime Minister. He is an entrepreneur, a best-selling author, a podcaster and he hosts his own television show on Fox News. With all his political experience he is considering the role of Republican candidate for governor of the state of California in 2026. Having made his mark on both sides of the Atlantic, Steve talks about how he went from the son of Hungarian immigrants to leading construction projects at the tender age of 16 to David Cameron’s Senior Advisor to the Republican hopeful for governor of the state of California. It is a story that encompasses different occupations, nationalities and continents. Related Links | |||
| 02 Apr 2024 | Ben Goldsmith: Environmentalist, Financier, Author & Podcaster who talks about rewilding the world and coming to terms with the loss of his daughter. | 00:57:50 | |
My guest today Ben Goldsmith has been dealt cards of both privilege and tragedy. In our conversation, Ben covers his upbringing, his time at Eton, his love of nature, the tragic loss of his daughter Iris and the organisation he has set up in her memory; ‘The Iris Project’. Ben is also a pioneer in the rewilding movement and has his own podcast ‘Rewilding the World’. He discusses some of the environmental challenges the world is facing and details some fascinating facts and stories about our connection to nature. Ben talks with such openness and eloquence. It was very special for me to have him as a guest. Related links Ben’s Book ‘God Is an Octopus’ | |||
| 13 Jun 2023 | Jason Watkins: A master of both drama and comedy | 01:14:53 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Jason Watkins is one of the leading actors of our generation. He won the BAFTA for best lead actor in The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries, he played Prime Minister Harold Wilson in The Crown. He played the biographer of a serial killer in Des. He’s in McDonald and Dodds, Line of Duty, Trollied, W1A, Are you being served, Taboo, The Golden Compass, A Very English Scandal, Bridget Jones, Nativity – the list is endless. In this episode, Jason talks about his struggles at school, his time at RADA, how he builds his characters and the tragic loss of his daughter Maudie aged two and a half. He shares advice on the grieving process and information on the often undiagnosed disease that is sepsis. Related links | |||
| 21 Jun 2022 | Paul Booth: Top Saxophonist, Multi-instrumentalist & Composer | 00:43:18 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Paul Booth is one of the greatest saxophonists of his generation. At the age of 16 he won a place at the Royal Academy of Music becoming their youngest student on a degree course. From busking at the age of 12 to performing at Wembley Stadium with The Eagles, Paul talks about how his love of jazz was born, his experiences touring the world as the featured saxophonist with The Riverdance show at the age of 22, what it’s like playing with some of the most famous bands of all time and the myriad of albums he has written and recorded, bands he has put together and projects he has masterminded. He must be one of the busiest musicians on the planet! | |||
| 13 Mar 2024 | Guy Fletcher: From Roxy Music to Dire Straits to The Princess Bride to Teenage Cancer Trust | 00:51:36 | |
Guy Fletcher is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, engineer and producer. He has performed, recorded, toured and worked with artists including Dire Straits, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Roxy Music, Tina Turner and Mick Jagger. His longest standing collaboration is with Mark Knopfler not only with Dire Straits, but also with Notting Hillbillies, Mark’s solo albums and the film scores they have written together. In this conversation, Guy talks about his love of music from an early age, some of the mad experiences touring with bands at the height of their fame, his extraordinary project for the Teenage Cancer Trust and how in his career he has covered all areas in the world of music. Hugely talented, hugely modest, Guy Fletcher is one of a kind! Related Links | |||
| 08 Mar 2022 | FAUDA! – Award Winning Netflix Series. A Conversation with Lior Raz: Creator, Screenplay Writer and Lead Actor | 00:42:16 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Lior Raz did his mandatory service in the Israeli Special Forces before becoming an actor. Together with longstanding friend Avi Issacharoff, they created the world-renowned and award-winning series FAUDA drawing on their experiences in the army. In this conversation Lior talks about his life; what life in the army taught him, his PTSD, his ADHD, his persistence in pursuing his goals, his acting method and his hopes for peace in Israel all with humility, humour and great candour. | |||
| 02 Jul 2024 | Tim Sullivan: Director, Author and Screenwriter: ‘Letters to Juliet’, ‘My Little Pony’ and the DS Cross Thriller Series | 00:49:42 | |
Tim Sullivan is a screenwriter, film and TV director and author. He wrote and directed 'Jack and Sarah' with Richard E. Grant, Judi Dench and Ian McKellan. He directed 'The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes', 'Thatcher The Final Days', the last 90 minute episode of 'Cold Feet' and 'Coronation Street'. His scripts include 'Letters to Juliet' with Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave. He co-wrote 'A Handful of Dust', 'Where Angels Fear to Tread' and more recently 'My Little Pony: A New Generation' which shot to the number one movie slot worldwide on Netflix in its first week of release. He is now the author of a series of crime novels which are gripping, clever and twisty, yet also touching and funny, featuring a brilliant detective DS George Cross who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. It has been hailed as the best detective series since Sherlock Holmes. His latest novel in the series, 'The Teacher', is out in paperback on Thursday. Tim discusses the joys and woes of writing for Hollywood, his writing process, advice for aspiring writers and the surprising way he plots his novels. My conversation with Tim is out today! Related Links | |||
| 11 Feb 2025 | Creating Masterpieces: Amor Towles on Writing Timeless Novels | 00:54:19 | |
Amor Towles, the award-winning and bestselling author of Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway shares the journey from his childhood fascination with storytelling to his transition from investment banking to the literary stage. Discover the meticulous process behind his richly imaginative novels, the secrets to creating unforgettable characters and his thoughts on literature’s lasting impact. Amor offers an intimate look into the mind of one of our generation's most celebrated writers. It was a pleasure getting to chat to him! Related links: | |||
| 08 Aug 2023 | Sir Ivor Roberts: Diplomat, Ambassador & Writer | 00:57:56 | |
Sir Ivor Roberts KCMG FCIL served in the British Diplomatic Service for nearly forty years. He served his country in Lebanon, France, Luxembourg, Australia, Vanuatu, Spain and served as British Ambassador to Yugoslavia during the Balkans war. He was posted as Ambassador to Ireland immediately following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and also served as Ambassador to Italy. During that time and, among many roles, he was sent to deal with a rebellion, was involved in the complex and delicate negotiation of releasing hostages and served as the Foreign Office’s Head of Counter Terrorism. His memoir of his years in the Balkans, Conversations with Milosevic, was published in 2016. After a glittering career as a diplomat, he became President of Trinity College, Oxford. In this conversation Ivor shares his experiences and perspectives; from Terry Waite to Milosevic to Silvio Berlusconi to who poses the biggest threat today plus some funny anecdotes and what to expect from a career in the Diplomatic Service. Related Links | |||
| 15 Apr 2025 | From Foyle's War to Downton Abbey: Julian Ovenden - A Life on Stage, Screen and in Song. | 01:16:35 | |
I had been really looking forward to talking to Julian Ovenden but the conversation I ended up having with him was extraordinary and unexpected. Not only is he a talented actor appearing in some of our best loved TV shows and theatre productions: Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, Foyle’s War, My Night with Reg, All About Eve to name but a handful, he is also a hugely talented singer whose concerts, albums and worldwide performances have touched the hearts of many. He is a winning combination of self-deprecating, funny, and honest and he generously shared some of the best and worst periods of his life. At times hilarious, at others heartbreaking and at all times fascinating, this is an important, entertaining and ultimately uplifting conversation. I feel honoured have been part of it and to be able to share it with you. Related Links | |||
| 02 May 2023 | Sally Phillips: Actor, Comedian, Presenter, Writer & Director. | 01:11:07 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Sally co-created, wrote and acted in Smack the Pony, a double Emmy Award- winning comedy show, for which she was nominated for best female newcomer at the 1999 British Comedy Awards. She has starred in countless films, television series, comedy shows and radio programmes such as the Bridget Jones films, Miranda, Green Wing, I am Alan Partridge, Rescue Me, Veep, Friday Night Dinner, Clare in the Community, among many others. In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the funniest acts in British comedy. Sally talks about some of her career highlights and lowlights, the joys and pitfalls of being a female comedian, what it was like to be Shazza in Bridget Jones, and what it is like to live with her son Ollie, dispelling some of the unkind myths surrounding Down’s Syndrome. Related links: | |||
| 10 May 2022 | Ian Haworth: Founder, General Secretary and main representative for Cult Information Centre UK | 00:40:54 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Canada, 1978 and Ian Haworth goes on a stop smoking course. Within three days he has given the organisation all his money and has handed in his resignation at work. This is a fascinating, shocking and salutary tale of how dangerous and prolific these cult organisations are and how vulnerable we all are to them. An eye opening and important podcast for children and adults alike. | |||
| 23 Jul 2024 | Andy Coulson: From The Press to Politics to Prison to Podcasts | 01:01:34 | |
Andy Coulson was editor of The News of the World and was Downing Street Director of Communications for David Cameron after he became Prime Minister in 2010. He founded and now runs Coulson Partners giving strategic advice to global CEOs, entrepreneurs and philanthropists on crisis avoidance and management, on seizing opportunities and on how to drive smart, long-term decision making. He also founded and hosts the brilliant “Crisis What Crisis?” podcast, talking to guests who have endured the worst of life’s experiences and who share their wisdom on how to survive and thrive. In partnership with the Ministry of Justice, his podcast has just been made available to thousands of inmates across UK prisons. These podcasts will inform, inspire and provide hope in what are often empty, wasted, despair-filled days. Andy understands crisis well when, 10 years ago, he himself was convicted of conspiracy to intercept voicemails and spent time in prison at HMP Belmarsh and Hollesley Bay. In this conversation, Andy describes the highs and lows of his journey and how he has dealt with both successes and crises. Andy is very open, honest and has much wisdom to share. Related links | |||
| 29 Mar 2022 | The Lion Whisperer: Kevin Richardson | 00:56:56 | |
Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Kevin Richardson is a world-renowned wildlife conservationist and self-taught animal behaviourist. He provides a caring home to rescued lions, leopards, hyenas and other predators. When interacting with them he breaks every safety rule there is and instead uses love, understanding and trust to bond with the animals. The extraordinary relationships he forges has earned him the title ‘The Lion Whisperer’. He campaigns to preserve habitat and improve the welfare of lions through education and by creating places of sanctuary. In this conversation Kevin talks about how his love of animals began, how he developed his relationships with his animals, the incredibly complicated and ever more pressing challenges facing conservation and how we are poised to lose some of the most majestic animals on earth. Related Links: Kevin Richardson Foundation | |||
| 21 Jan 2025 | John Lloyd: The only man to be fired from Footlights for being too funny! | 01:24:42 | |
If you grew up loving Not the 9 O’Clock News, Blackadder and Spitting Image, you will love this podcast! John Lloyd takes us behind the scenes of Blackadder, Not The 9 O’Clock News, Spitting Image, QI and many more award-winning comedy shows. Known as ‘The God of Comedy Producers’ he is also a writer, director and presenter and he is every bit as hilarious as the shows he’s created. This conversation is packed with humorous anecdotes but there are some important life lessons too and John generously shares the flip side of a career in comedy. I took many things from this conversation and I am sure you will too. Not to be missed! | |||
| 25 Jan 2022 | Part 2 - From Catholic Cult to Wall Street Wonder, Patricia Chadwick talks about her life. | 00:48:10 | |
Part 2: Breaking Glass Ceilings - The horrors and triumphs of a woman ascending the corporate ladder. Patricia talks about her life post the centre, how she adapted to life in the outside world, her ascent of the corporate ladder to become one of the most well-known and sought-after investors on Wall Street at a time when women were considered secretary material at best. She discusses with great honesty and candour some horrific experiences she had to live through and how, despite trauma, prejudice and adversity, she learned to forgive, succeed and thrive. Website: www.patriciachadwick.com/ Book links: www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sister-Patricia-Walsh-Chadwick/dp/1682617823/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Little+Sister+Patricia+Chadwick&qid=1636751674&sr=8-1 Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website | |||
| 10 Sep 2024 | David Tait: CEO & Philanthropist discusses Climbing Everest and Surviving Profound Sexual Abuse as a Child | 01:24:52 | |
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions around sexual abuse and violence. David Tait is a rock star many times over. -WORK: He is CEO of The World Gold Council having run trading desks at Goldman Sachs, UBS, Credit Suisse and Bluecrest Capital. -CHARITY: He has single handedly raised £7.5m for the NSPCC for whom he is a speaker, ambassador and trustee. -ADVENTURE: He has successfully summitted Everest 5 times and is the only person to have summitted from the North and descended via the South (starting in Tibet and ending up in Nepal). -CHILDHOOD: He has achieved all the above having been sexually abused as a child by grandfather's brother, his father and others. For many years David kept this abuse a secret which nearly cost him his life. His tragic and deeply compelling story is portrayed in the movie Sulphur & White. All the above is discussed in our conversation. Related Links Donate to the NSPCC (If you'd like to donate specifically to The Lighthouse, please say when you donate)
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| 19 Feb 2025 | Sally Phillips: talks about life, comedy, acting and being Bridget Jones’ best friend [REPLAY] | 01:11:07 | |
Sally co-created, wrote and acted in Smack the Pony, a double Emmy Award-winning comedy show, for which she was nominated for best female newcomer at the 1999 British Comedy Awards. She has starred in countless films, television series, comedy shows and radio programmes such as the Bridget Jones films, Miranda, Green Wing, I am Alan Partridge, Rescue Me, Veep, Friday Night Dinner, Clare in the Community, among many others. In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the funniest acts in British comedy. Sally talks about some of her career highlights and lowlights, the joys and pitfalls of being a female comedian, what it was like to be Shazza in Bridget Jones, and what it is like to live with her son Ollie, dispelling some of the unkind myths surrounding Down’s Syndrome. Related Links
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| 02 Nov 2021 | Multi-talented Actor, Narrator, Screenplay Writer and Author Jeff Rawle | 00:53:12 | |
Actor, narrator, screenplay writer and author Jeff Rawle talks about how he fell into acting, his time at drama school, landing the lead in a new television comedy Billy Liar just two days out of drama school, working with Alan Bennett, his time as George Dent in Drop the Dead Donkey and what it was like to be Amos Diggory in Harry Potter. Having been in the industry for forty-eight years, Jeff shares experiences and encounters across his television, film and theatre careers and talks about the hugely diverse roles he has played all with great humour, affection, honesty and insight. Sign up to our newsletter and never miss a release! | Visit our website Related Movies: | |||
| 20 Feb 2024 | Introducing the new band; Bagawire whose past collaborations have ranged from The Rolling Stones to Annie Lennox, Simply Red and FM | 01:08:17 | |
Bagawire is the new band to look out for. Its band members are Steve Overland and Tony Remy, both legends in the world of music. Steve Overland is a singer, songwriter & guitarist who has headlined all over Europe and America. He is best known as FM’s lead singer and for whom he’s written 20 albums. Steve’s been voted one of the top 10 rock singers of all time and in Europe he is known simply as The Voice. Tony Remy is one of the world’s greatest and most versatile guitarists. He has been sought after by rock and pop music icons including Annie Lennox, Simply Red, Gary Barlow, Jack Bruce, Craig David, Glenn Hughes and from the Jazz, Funk and Soul world, he’s played with Herbie Hancock, Pee Wee Ellis, The (Jazz) Crusaders, Matt Bianco, Incognito and many more. Sonia Jones, their manager, is one of the top backing vocalists worldwide & has sung, recorded and toured with bands including The Who, Rolling Stones, Dave Gilmour, Donna Summer, Spandau Ballet and Monty Python. I am lucky enough to sing with them with the band The Staks.
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| 21 Sep 2021 | Eva Hamilton | 01:05:01 | |
Eva Hamilton has spent most of her life turning around the lives of some of the most marginalised members of society including inner city youth, the homeless, war veterans, young offenders and with those at risk of offending. In 2005 she was awarded an MBE by Prince Charles alongside whom she has worked for many years. Eva talks about how this evolved; how working with Mother Theresa changed the course of her life, her ‘lightbulb’ moments that led her to transform the lives of others, her struggles with mental health, the healing power of horses, her own healing abilities and spirituality and she shares some of the invaluable life lessons she has learned along the way. Joy film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIwPsgP9KSg&t=609s Film of young men with the horses: | |||
| 09 Jan 2024 | Bonnie Garmus: Bestselling Author of ‘Lessons in Chemistry’ | 00:47:04 | |
‘Lessons in Chemistry’ is a multi-million copy bestselling novel, it’s in over 40 countries and has won far too many awards to list here. Such is its success it has been made into a series on Apple Plus, starring Brie Larson. My aunt sent it to me to cheer me up after I had open heart surgery this Summer. It was one of the best presents I have ever been given and it transformed my recovery. I was devastated when I finished it. I contacted author Bonnie Garmus to tell her how wonderful her book was and she very kindly agreed to let me interview her. In the episode, Bonnie discusses her journey, inspirations, how she came up with her characters, the struggles of being a writer, tackling sexism & how to use anger constructively. Funny, smart, self-deprecating, full of wisdom, insight and humour, talking to Bonnie was as joyous and compelling as reading her brilliant novel. | |||