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250 to 1.5K🎙 ~2x weekly·100 episodes·Last published today - Monthly Reach
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500 to 3K🇳🇿100% - Active Followers
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200 to 1.2K
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On the show
Recent episodes
Philippa Gregory on the Boleyns, John Le Carre, Jilly Cooper and Maggie Gee.
May 12, 2026
41m 01s
Catherine Nixey - Heresy : Jesus Christ and other sons of God
Apr 19, 2026
26m 00s
Robin Dunbar - How Religion Evolved And Why it Endures
Mar 20, 2026
27m 30s
Sir Martin Gilbert - Never Again - history of the Holocaust
Mar 7, 2026
18m 28s
Andrew Lownie - Traitor King : The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor.
Feb 20, 2026
20m 57s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/12/26 | ![]() Philippa Gregory on the Boleyns, John Le Carre, Jilly Cooper and Maggie Gee. | In this early Author Archive podcast John Le Carre talks about writing politics , and Mallory Blackman explains the political thinking behind Noughts and Crosses. Maggie Gee gives the background to her novel The White Family that endeavours to explain prejudice and the national treasure Jilly Cooper gives background to how life might be in the English counties. Her 'Rivals' is back on UK TV. The episode concludes with two views of the Court of King Henry VIII, Philippa Gregory discusses her book about 'The Other Boleyn Girl' and Alison Weir explains how the king was totally surrounded by the people of the court all the time! | 41m 01s | ||||||
| 4/19/26 | ![]() Catherine Nixey - Heresy : Jesus Christ and other sons of God | The American president now suggests that he is closely associated with Jesus. He has distributed pictures. He is performing Bible readings. Will he include the bits from Matthew 5:9? Blessed are the peacemakers? He declares that he has been saved by God to make his country great again, I find it impossible not to wonder about the precise nature of the deity that he professes to believe in. Are Donald and his advisers familiar with the writings that are the basis of his religion? This book by Catherine Nixey is terrific - its a revelation and it's now available in paperback format. Catherine has studied texts written around the same time as the writings we know as the gospels. Some of these ancient documents tell the story of the bible characters we are familiar with in a totally different way. Listen to Catherine talk about her research and you will be surprised ..... probably very surprised!! Every time I see a politician leaning in a faith direction I want to urge them to read this book! | 26m 00s | ||||||
| 3/20/26 | ![]() Robin Dunbar - How Religion Evolved And Why it Endures | The war that is spreading across the Middle East has a religious dimension. American aggression is supported by evangelical Christians, Iran is an Islamic state and Israel has its own Jewish deity. Donald Trump seems to waver been god and allah. None of the gods seem to be seekers for peace. All seek vengeance and revenge. In early 2025 a million Hindus tried to bathe in a river at the same time. Why would anyone think this would be a good idea. Robin Dunbar is Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford. From his academic standpoint he charts the evolution of religion in all its many guises and forms. Does the professor's analysis explain the enduring but shrinking appeal of non logical beliefs? | 27m 30s | ||||||
| 3/7/26 | ![]() Sir Martin Gilbert - Never Again - history of the Holocaust | The new war that is happening now and the the appalling inhumanity still happening in the world makes this conversation distressingly relevant. There is the thought that some people are less human then others. Some people in power seem to think that bombs and missiles provide an answer. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on December 10th 1948. We now live in a world where the rights agreed in that document are widely ignored. Racial intolerance is on the march . The horrible spectre of antisemitism is looming over the news as is denial of the rights of Palestinians. As an American bishop recently said ..... immigrants and gay people are as valuable as everyone else. A good time to listen to the words of the late Sir Martin Gilbert. The name Winston Churchill has been used recently to score political points. Sir Martin Gilbert is known as Churchill's biographer, but also as the historian of the Holocaust. This conversation with David Freeman took place when his book Never Again was published. Sir Martin's thoughts on war are sadly relevant. Sir Martin died in 2015. | 18m 28s | ||||||
| 2/20/26 | ![]() Andrew Lownie - Traitor King : The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor. | . In the wake of the Andrew Windsor scandal there is much questioning of the need for the royals at all Being royal is not a job you can apply for. If you decide to walk away from your royal identity or are pushed away from it just what are you left with? This book,'Traitor King', tells the story of an inglorious royal. It is a shocking example of what happens when inherited status is randomly given to a person who is clearly not up to the task. The book is the basis of the Channel 4 programme that shed light on the whole episode. As well as telling the historical story Andrew Lownie discusses the lessons that can be learned by the present Royal Family. This book was published long before 'Entitled'. | 20m 57s | ||||||
| 2/3/26 | ![]() Eric Bibb talking about his life as a blues troubadour, the political and musical legacy he inherited from his father Leon ....and his new record. | Eric Bibb is a blues music legend. In this conversation he talks about his teenage life growing up in the middle of the New York civil rights movement. The people he knew... Paul Robeson, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger ..... and how his father Leon Bibb continues to be an inspiration. In the middle of an increasingly wayward world Eric Bibb is a voice of sanity. | 17m 34s | ||||||
| 1/27/26 | ![]() Nina Simone | Nina Simone was born on February 21st 1933. There has been news recently of a plan to buy Nina Simone's childhood home in Tryon North Carolina and make it into a museum celebrating the life and work of the girl who was born Eunice Waymon. I interviewed Nina in December 1998 just before her last ever show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. She was talking to me for a programme on the radio station Jazz fm, which would promote the concert. Nina had a reputation for being a tricky interviewee but on the day she was delightful and during the conversation she was eager to give her views on sexism, racism and feminism. After the interview I was asked to introduce Nina on stage at the Albert Hall. It was a memorable day. | 16m 36s | ||||||
| 1/13/26 | ![]() Stephen P. Kershaw - The Harvest of War -Three Epic Battles that Saved Democracy: Now available in paperback. | The future of democracy is a popular talking point at the moment. It seems some democratically elected leaders would like to change the system that gave them the job in the first place. History records that we have been here before! When I talked to Dr Steve Kershaw about his book about battles in ancient Greece. it seemed that the human desire for conflict is unchanged through history. Three Epic Battles that Saved Democracy is an entertaining and instructive read - now published in the US by Pegasus Books. Great review in the Wall Street Journal. Will it be read in the White House? | 19m 48s | ||||||
| 1/2/26 | ![]() Sir Rannulph Fiennes, Eric Newby, Lucy Irvine. | In 2019 Sir Rannulph Fiennes was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. A few years ago as part of the Cheltenham Literary festival I interviewed Sir Rannulph on stage at the Everyman Theatre about his family history book 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen'. I remember shaking hands - a non standard formality for him. He told me how he had to adopt a DIY approach to dealing with frost bite in his fingers. In this episode there's a conversation I had with Sir Rannulph later in a London studio, a chat with the legendary travel writer Eric Newby, and the life of the unforgettable Lucy Irvine. Lucy had replied to an advertisement in 1980 seeking a woman to spend a year on a desert island with a man she didn't know. This adventure became a film starring Oliver Reid. She tells me how she went on to write the story of another island dwelling family in her book Faraway. Memorable stories. | 39m 09s | ||||||
| 12/10/25 | ![]() Sophie Kinsella : Shopaholic Ties the Knot | Unbelievably Sophie Kinsella has died. This archive conversation was recorded at the Langham Hilton in London and I remember that Sophie ( real name Madeleine) turned up with lots and lots of shopping. That was to be expected because the conversation was to mark the publication of the third in the shopaholic series of stories. She was great fun to talk to. That isn't PR spin .... she really was. Huge sympathy to her husband and five children. | 10m 41s | ||||||
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| 12/3/25 | ![]() Simon Sebag Montefiore : the life of Potemkin | Putin seems determined 'to make Russia great again' His motivations are difficult to understand but listening to historian Simon Sebag Montefiore might go some way to explaining his thinkng. Simon Sebag Montefiore explains the mythic status of this eighteenth century Russian statesman, and military leader Grigory Potemkin. In this conversation recorded in London in 2000 Simon Sebag Montefiore tells David Freeman about practical politics in 18th century Russia and how Potemkin made his way in society with the help of the love of Catherine the Great. Their relationship has been told in films but the way Simon tells the story is probably more gripping and unbelievable. Simon told the story in full in his the books, Prince of Princes, and Catherine the Great and Potemkin, The Imperial Love Affair. Interesting to hear Simon say that Putin read this book and what he learned has informed his political views. This lead to the invasion of Ukraine and a significant incident when Russian troops broke into the crypt of the cathedral in Kherson and removed the bones of Grigory Potemkin. This is history to remember. Putin uses this history to justify his actions. | 23m 55s | ||||||
| 11/13/25 | ![]() Steve Ashley : being a singer songwriter. | Steve Ashley has had a long illustrious career in music and political activism. This conversation was recorded in November 2025, a few months before Steve's 80th birthday. His passions, enthusiasms and commitment remain undimmed. In this informal interview Steve tells of his influences and motivation. He clearly has a lot of fight and lyricism left! A very entertaining musician and stimulating conversationalist. | 33m 35s | ||||||
| 10/28/25 | ![]() Timothy Good - UFOs | Halloween again! Everything weird is celebrated. Does this include UFOs? In this interview on the subject David Freeman, a UFO skeptic, met UFO true believer Timothy Good when his book Unearthly Disclosure was first published. The conversation was friendly but inquisitive! So are UFOs real? Are those little creatures with three fingers that are on the TV screens real aliens? | 14m 11s | ||||||
| 10/6/25 | ![]() Jilly Cooper : Pandora | Sad to report that Jilly Cooper has died. She was always great fun to chat to and consistently jolly. Hugely successful but not grand at all! This conversation was recorded when her novel Pandora was first published. | 13m 26s | ||||||
| 9/30/25 | ![]() Jackie Collins , Joan Collins | Some interviewees I remember as 'troupers'. At the very top of that tree were the Collins sisters. Joan is now 92. I remember a televised conversation I had with Joan. Her assistant decreed that the lighting must be subtle but Joan herself insisted on full on straight in the face spots. I had theories why this might be her preference. Over the years I interviewed Joan and her sister Jackie a few times. It was always 'an event'. The Collins sisters spoke to me in London at the end of the last century. Jackie was promoting her novel 'Thrill' about the glamorous world of Hollywood, and Joan was encouraging interest in her autobiography 'Second Act'. Both sisters were happy to talk about themselves. Sadly Jackie died in 2015 .... but Joan marches on! | 14m 59s | ||||||
| 8/31/25 | ![]() James Patterson - Roses are Red | James Patterson is a phenomenon. His skill as a storyteller has made him very wealthy. His wealth allowed him to buy a house in Palm Beach, near to Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. Interestingly James is the producer of 'Filthy Rich' the Netflix documentary about the scandalous behaviour of Epstein. David Freeman met him in London to talk about his sixth Alex Ross story 'Roses are Red', when the paperback was first published in the UK. | 12m 24s | ||||||
| 8/25/25 | ![]() R.J.B. Bosworth on Mussolini, Gitta Sereny tells of attending a Hitler rally, Donna Leon talks about her Venetian detective and Hugo Vickers talks about Princess Andrew. | Prince Andrew has been in the news. In this episode Hugo Vickers discusses his biography of Alice, Princess Andrew of Greece mother of the Duke of Edinburgh: Donna Leon tells the story of her novel “Wilful Behaviour “ set in Venice: R.J.B. Bosworth recounts his research into the life of Mussolini and Gitta Sereny remembers Germany in the 1930s as told in her book “The German Trauma” We have seen the power of the political rally to stir followers. Gitta Sereny actually attended a Hitler rally. With the spectre of authoritarianism on the rise again this is frighteningly relevant. Lessons from history. | 55m 20s | ||||||
| 8/18/25 | ![]() Spike Milligan | Recently there has been a surge of on line interest in the anarchic radio comedy The Goon Show. The genuis behind the comedy was Spike Milligan . In this episode Spike talks to David Freeman about his life in comedy, The Goons, and the mental health problems that dogged his life after he was blown up by a wartime bomb. | 12m 31s | ||||||
| 7/27/25 | ![]() The two Johns behind QI, Sandi Toksvig, Jon Ronson and philosopher Simon Blackburn on being good | The Cotswolds are in the news,but before the area was discovered by rich Americans it was a fertile area for thought and creativity. The village of Great Tew was where John Lloyd and John Mitchinson met. They both lived there in historic cottages. This is where they came up with the idea of the TV show QI. In this episode they introduce their Book of General Ignorance. The original chair of QI was Stephen Fry and he was replaced by Sandi Toksvig. Here she introduces her story Melted into Air. Journalist Jon Ronson explains how he researched his amazing book 'Them - Adventures with Extremists' and philosopher Simon Blackburn explores the notion of being good. The interview was recorded 20 years ago but the quandaries remain just the same. | 48m 17s | ||||||
| 7/15/25 | ![]() Edwina Currie - This Honorable House | Edwina Currie was a Tory MP from 1983 to 1997. She became Junior Health Minister for 2 years and famously had an affair with John Major, who became Prime Minister. The relationship lasted 4 years. David Freeman met her when her novel This Honourable House was first published. Prior to this, and her second marriage she had written Chasing Men. Interviewing Edwina I always had the feeling that she was very entertaining but was probably trouble. In this conversation, she talks about her life and her books, but also revealingly about the Tory party that she used to be a part of. Times change?? | 16m 44s | ||||||
| 7/12/25 | ![]() Clive James | There is much thought about memoirs at the moment. Salt Paths etc. Clive James wrote memoirs but he always declared they were 'unreliable'. Maybe that is the nature of memory and memoir? Clive James died in 2019 after a long illness. This conversation with David Freeman was recorded in 2001 when Clive was excited by the internet and somewhat fearful of the way public service broadcasting was heading. He would probably be even more fearful now. Listening to Clive James now it is clear that he had a very good grasp on what could happen in many spheres of life - and he really didn't approve. | 20m 21s | ||||||
| 7/4/25 | ![]() Robert Winder - Three Rivers | This book is as exploration of the rich and varied cultural worlds shaped by the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po. Three Rivers traces the rivers' journeys from their glacial sources through Germany, Itals and France. Its an entertaining and informative story. A great holiday read! | 26m 47s | ||||||
| 6/17/25 | ![]() Julian Hoffman- Lifelines | Twenty five years ago Julian Hoffman and his wife Julia decided to leave their life in London and make a dramatic change. They would leave the city life with it's commuting hassles and move somewhere and live very different life On nothing more than a chance encounter with a book about it they moved to Prespa in northern Greece. They didn't speak the language, had very few possessions but their bold and brave decision has worked out very well. They searched for home in the mountains of Greece. How they found it is told in Lifelines. | 27m 11s | ||||||
| 5/26/25 | ![]() Tariq Ali - The Clash of Fundamentalisms : Christianity, Islam and Capitalism | The effect of the Trump win reverberates around the globe. There seems to be perceived electoral advantage in fanning hate and intolerance and spreading intolerance the idea around the world. The Middle East is on a knife edge and the Ukraine war continues. Why is this? Is there any cause for optimism? Where do non rational beliefs and convictions fit in the conflicts? This conversation with the activist and thinker Tariq Ali was recorded soon after the outrage of 9/11. There is a plan for the future in what Tariq was saying but I wonder if he is as optimistic today. Will rational thought and reasoned discussion bring peaceful coexistence? | 21m 37s | ||||||
| 4/24/25 | ![]() Colin Dexter - The Remorseful Day : Inventing Inspector Morse. | Colin Dexter was a splendid writer. His creation Inspector Morse is superb on the page and just as gripping on television. I used to meet Colin in the pub on Banbury Road in Oxford, The Dew Drop. He was great company and almost completely unaware of his success and star quality. I recorded this conversation in his house after the publication of The Remorseful Day. He was relaxed and very happy to look back at his life in education and crime writing. | 14m 51s | ||||||
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