Collected: The Podcast

Royal Literary Fund

Arts Society & Culture

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#496: Elif Shafak, award-winning & international best-selling novelist, essayist and activist
Elif Shafak, the internationally acclaimed Turkish-British author of 21 books joins host Doug Johnstone on a deep dive into the RLF sound archive. Responding to other writers' observations, she reflects on her approach to structure, the role of activism in her writing, what it means to write a book that won't be read for 100 years, and her love of heavy metal music. © Royal Literary Fund www.rlf.org.uk
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#495: Matt Carr, fiction and non-fiction writer, journalist and podcaster
Presenter Paul Dodgson is joined by Matt Carr, whose wide-ranging curiosity has led him to write books on topics as diverse as the history of terrorism, the conquest of Patagonia and Charles Darwin. As a lifelong Hispanophile, Matt also writes fiction and nonfiction often focused on themes from Spanish and Latin American culture, history, and politics. © Royal Literary Fund www.rlf.org.uk
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#494: Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse, author and genocide survivor
French-Rwandan writer Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse joins host Sonia Faleiro and responds to clips from the RLF archives, using them as ways into her creative process. This moving discussion, which features frank descriptions of violence, reveals how the will to survive can inspire storytelling, the importance of sharing survivors' accounts, and how this can build fellowship and community in the wake of profound trauma. © Royal Literary Fund www.rlf.org.uk
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#493: Ian Seed, translator, short-story writer and prose poet
Host Jonathan Tulloch is joined by award-winning poet, translator, short-story writer, essayist and editor Ian Seed, to explore what makes a prose poem, how translating can influence writing and the power of redrafting. © Royal Literary Fund www.rlf.org.uk
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#492: Blake Morrison, poet, memoirist and critic
Blake Morrison joins Julia Copus to respond to material from the RLF archives, and reflect on his work and process. They discuss how he grew into being more confessional in his writing, how he encourages students to overcome their fears when writing memoir and how he has come to write in such an extraordinary range of genres. © Royal Literary Fund www.rlf.org.uk
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About Collected: The Podcast

Welcome to our fortnightly podcast, where we delve into the vibrant world of contemporary writers and the literary life they lead. Offering a deeper and more nuanced perspective on the writing journey, we go beyond the surface often presented in the media. This season, we're thrilled to feature an exceptional lineup of special guests, including best-selling author and Women's Prize founder Kate Mosse, poet and artist Ella Frears, Royal Court Associate Playwright Ishy Din, WritersMosaic Director Colin Grant, and the award-winning author Deepa Anappara. Plus, enjoy extracts from our archive, showcasing our writers reflecting on their creative processes. Join us for honest and heartfelt discussions about the triumphs and challenges of putting words to the page. Whether you're a reader, writer, or simply curious about the art of storytelling, find solidarity, and inspiration with the Royal Literary Fund's Collected podcast. © 2025. All rights reserved. Charity No: 219952

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