About this episode
Adam Buxton interviews author Zadie Smith about various topics ranging from trivial to profound, including empathy in politics and cultural observations.
Adam talks with author Zadie Smith about fun, trivial things like Wordle start words, men who dress as if they're still young, and the sadness of podcasts becoming TV shows, and then not trivial things like the problems associated with empathy when it comes to politics, war and fiction writing. Plus, what is Zadie's problem with Generation X? Conversation recorded face-to-face in London on 7 October 2025 Thanks to Séamus Murphy-Mitchell for production support Podcast illustration by Helen Green Listen to Adam's album 'Buckle Up' Order Adam's book 'I Love You Byeee' Sign up for the newsletter on Adam's website (scroll down on homepage) RELATED LINKS DEAD AND ALIVE by Zadie Smith - 2025 (PENGUIN) ZADIE SMITH ON FASHION NEUROSIS PODCAST WITH BELLA FREUD - 2025 (YOUTUBE) ZADIE AND DEVONTÉ HYNES ON 'HOLDING UP THE LADDER' PODCAST - 2025 (ACAST) ZADIE SMITH ON WILD CARD - 2025 (NPR) LISA THATCHER - THE BRILLIANCE OF WHITE TEETH - 2012 CHARLIE KIRK WAS PRACTICING POLITICS THE RIGHT WAY by Ezra Klein - 11 September, 2025 (NY TIMES) CHARLIE KIRK REDEEMED, A POLITICAL CLASS FINDS ITS LOST CAUSE by Ta-Nehisi Coates - 2025 (VANITY FAIR) EZRA KLEIN AND TA-NEHISI COATES HASH…
People in this episode
Host: Adam Buxton
Guest: Zadie Smith
Topics covered
- empathy in politics
- trivial discussions
- Generation X
- fiction writing
- cultural commentary
Keywords
- Zadie Smith
- Adam Buxton
- empathy
- politics
- Generation X
- Wordle
- fiction writing
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: DEAD AND ALIVE, I Love You Byeee, Buckle Up, White Teeth
Places: London
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