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The TLS Podcast

The TLS
Literature
Shakespeare
Edna O'brien
Poetry
Dylan Thomas
Gardening
Virginia Woolf
Jane Austen
World War II
Paris
Psychedelics
Charles Dickens
Irish Women's Representation
Brexit
Translation
Booker Prize
Mental Health
Han Kang
Nobel Prize In Literature
James Baldwin

A weekly podcast on books and culture brought to you by the writers and editors of the Times Literary Supplement.

To read more, welcome to the TLS.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes661Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionSociety & Culture

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Latest Episodes

This week, we join Toby live from the European Writer's Festival where he spoke to novelists Beatriz Serrano and Sulaiman Addonia.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, join us live from Hay Festival.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May has flown by — here's a listen back at some of the conversations we've had this month on The TLS Podcast.

We hear from Merlin Holland on the afterlife of his grandfather Oscar Wilde, David Horspool on the luscious world of the lido, Samantha Ell... more

This week, Dinah Birch finds solace in letters and diaries from the past, whether they be joyous, heartbreaking or down-to-earth; John Talbot reads us his poem of a very specific corner of London.

 A Literary Letter for Every Day of the Year, edited... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

John Talbot
Poet, reading St. Petersburg Muse W2
Poet, teacher at Brigham Young University (as mentioned)
Episode: Antidotes to doomscrolling
David Streitfeld
Technology journalist joining from California
The New York Times (per discussion)
Episode: Fabrications
Samantha Ellis
Writer and Brontë scholar discussing Charlotte Brontë's Life Through Clothes
TLS contributor
Episode: Fabrications
Ed Vulliamy
Foreign correspondent and investigative journalist
Independent (as journalist), subject of interview
Episode: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
David Horspool
Historian and author featured for Lido-related discussion
University of Oxford (historian role implied by review discussion)
Episode: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Merlin Holland
Oscar Wilde's grandson
Cambridge Literary Festival appearance
Episode: Looking at the Stars
Jan Morris
Biographer and subject of a significant profile in the episode
Independent biographer and travel writer
Episode: April Highlights
John-Paul Stonard
Author and critic
The TLS
Episode: Strike!
Sara Wheeler
Biographer and travel writer
Independent/Author
Episode: On the Road

Hosts

Alex Clarke
Host of The TLS Podcast
Lucy Dallas
TLS Arts Editor introducing segments / co-host

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 591 ratings
  • Intelligent and pleasant

    Intelligent chatter in a pleasant mood.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flodysseus
    Germany2 months ago
  • If only they would focus on the substance

    Good guests and interviews but the opening chit chat between the two main hosts is not for me. I avoid podcasts which are more about the interaction between hosts than substance. I don’t care what these two have been up to in the last week. I fast forward past the small talk, which absolutely does not make me feel like part of their gang, to get to the point with this one if the topic looks worthwhile. The chatter does decrease once they get down to business but even so..

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Lacwn
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Audio quality is poor

    Almost always interesting literary discussions but the audio quality is so bad. Get a new audio engineer.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Manila Ph listener
    Philippines2 years ago
  • Fine once you get to the substance

    Good guests and interviews but the opening chit chat is not for me. I avoid podcasts which are more about the interaction between hosts than substance. I fast forward past the small talk to get to the point with this one. The chatter does cease once they get down to business

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Lacwn
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • great show in spite of the awful jarring theme music

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Elan Mask
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critique early-stage chattiness before getting to the topic.
Listeners praise the hosts' intelligent banter and deep literary knowledge.
Production quality and guest depth are repeatedly highlighted as strengths.
A few listeners wish for more focus on substantive analysis over conversations.
Viewers appreciate the breadth of guests from editors to poets to historians.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#72
Finland/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fabrications
Q: Samantha, what does the Brontë wardrobe tell us about their creativity and daily life?
She explains how clothing and accessories were practical, expressive, and symbolic—showing that the Brontës used fashion to negotiate status, personal identity, and artistic ambition.
Fabrications
Q: David, how did Le Guin's relationship with technology shape your view of AI today?
He argues that AI risks outsourcing human creativity and knowledge, while also acknowledging the enduring value of books and human-made artifacts that require careful interpretation and curation.
Antidotes to doomscrolling
Q: What makes the selection of entries compelling for readers today?
The entries reveal a spectrum of human experience—ordinary domestic details, existential reflections, and moments of resilience—showing that even celebrated writers grapple with everyday concerns, which humanizes them and offers context for their work.
Antidotes to doomscrolling
Q: Dinah, how do journals differ from letters in terms of public facing-ness and privacy?
Journals tend to be more inward-facing, sometimes private or semi-private, whereas letters are usually addressed to a recipient but can still reveal intimate details; online diaries complicate this by making private thoughts more public, which changes how we perceive self-presentation.
Looking at the Stars
Q: What was the significance of the Tide Street plaque ceremony in the family's history, as discussed by Toby and Lucy?
They reflect on public acknowledgment of Wilde's legacy and the tensions between scandal and remembrance, illustrated by the choice of Compton McKenzie to unveil the plaque after other candidates were unavailable.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The TLS Podcast

What is The TLS Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly literary culture show that pairs thoughtful author interviews with scholarlycontext and cultural discussions. Across recent episodes, listeners encounter deep dives into archives, literary history, and editorial perspectives, all anchored by conversational hosts who blend banter with rigorous analysis. Guests range from novelists and poets to historians, editors, and biographers, often tying literature to broader themes like politics, art, and society. A standout is the mix of archival mystery, biographical storytelling, and cross-disciplinary conversations (literature, film, history, and food) that keeps discussions both accessible and richly informative for devoted readers and professionals in publishing and media.

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How many listeners does The TLS Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The TLS Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The TLS Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The TLS Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The TLS Podcast:

1. London Review Bookshop Podcast
2. Close Readings
3. The LRB Podcast
4. Backlisted
5. Arts & Ideas

How many episodes of The TLS Podcast are there?

The TLS Podcast launched 12 years ago and published 661 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The TLS Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The TLS Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The TLS Podcast?

Recent guests on The TLS Podcast include:

1. John Talbot
2. David Streitfeld
3. Samantha Ellis
4. Ed Vulliamy
5. David Horspool
6. Merlin Holland
7. Jan Morris
8. John-Paul Stonard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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