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The TLS Podcast

The TLS
Literature
Gardening
Psychedelics
Mental Health
Richard Sennett
Self-Consciousness
Therapeutic Use Of Substances
Mean Girls
Feminist Literature
18th Century Literature
Boris Johnson
Medieval Magic
Charles Dickens
Penelope Lively
Josephine Lively
Maritime History
Chatgpt
Teen Culture
Maeve Brennan
Henry David Thoreau

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes632Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The TLS Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week, Joanna Kavenna explains why she invented a game to write her new novel; how to survive life online; and a new poem.

'Seven', by Joanna Kavenna

'This Is for Everyone', by Tim Berners-Lee with Stephen Witt

'Enshittification: Why everythin... more

This week, publisher Alessandro Gallenzi reveals how he turned literary detective and uncovered Dylan Thomas's youthful plagiarism; and Norma Clarke on the stunning work of two 18th-century women portrait artists.

'Mrs Kauffman and Madame Le Brun: T... more

This week, we introduce a very festive issue; and Toby Lichtig on the puppeteers pulling the strings of this season's big productions.

'The Pelican Child', by Joy Williams

'The BFG', by Roald Dahl, adapted by Tom Wells RSC, Stratford-upon-Avon

'Pi... more

This week, Lily Herd heads for outer space in the company of a prodigious imagination; and Andrew Motion joins us with a wonderful new poem.

'Collected Stories' by Cixin Liu, translated by John Chu, Andy Dudak et al

'All that We See or Seem', by Ke... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Joanna Kavenna
Author of the novel Seven
Episode: Mind Games
Jesse Nathan
Poet and author of Egg Tooth
Episode: Mind Games
Alessandro Gallenzi
Founder of Alma Books and a long-time Thomas fan
Alma Books
Episode: Exclusive: Doubting Thomas
Lily Herd
Literary critic and reviewer at The TLS
The Times Literary Supplement
Episode: Altogether Elsewhere
Andrew Motion
Acclaimed poet and former British Poet Laureate
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Altogether Elsewhere
Peter Swaab
Writer and commentator on Sylvia Townsend Warner and her narratives.
Episode: Beyond the bonnet
Alev Adil
Author and reviewer of travel books
Episode: In Transit
Damian Flanagan
Literary scholar and contributor
Episode: Foundation course
CD Rose
Winner of this year's Goldsmiths Prize.
Author of 'We Live Here Now'
Episode: Books of the Year

Hosts

Alex Clarke
Host of the TLS Podcast, engaged in discussions on literature and culture, often bringing insights from her background in literary criticism.
Lucy Dallas
Arts Editor at The TLS, known for her warmth and deep literary insights, she co-hosts discussions on various literary themes.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 588 ratings
  • 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 Kingdom2 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
    Philippinesa year 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 Kingdoma year ago
  • great show in spite of the awful jarring theme music

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Elan Mask
    a year ago
  • Nice podcast but ….

    I love Lucy Dallas’ warmth and knowing - might she just host alone?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Susanfriberg
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions that often blend literary analysis with current social issues.
The podcast is described as intellectually stimulating, often featuring guests who are well-versed in literary commentary.
There are mixed feelings about the hosts' casual banter, with some finding it charming while others prefer more focused discussions on literature.
Technical issues related to audio quality have been raised, although many listeners remain loyal due to the content's value.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#67
Chile/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#162
Argentina/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#172
Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#182
Mexico/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Exclusive: Doubting Thomas
Q: What happened?
Alessandro Gallenzi explains his journey into investigating Dylan Thomas's early works led to the discovery of plagiarism.
Mind Games
Q: Which idea came first to you? Was it the game or was it the philosophy?
I started with this sense of the narrator, their voice.
In Transit
Q: Camille, as someone who commissions theatre reviews, you must be all too aware of his immense influence on the drama and the plays that you send people to review now?
Yes, and there's a big resurgence in interest in his work.
Books of the Year
Q: Do you think it is a boom time for narrative experimentation?
Yes, different ways of storytelling are emerging, enriching literature and creative writing.
Books of the Year
Q: Did you set it in the art world partly because of the idea of the art look?
Yes, the art look allowed the focus on people at openings while often losing sight of the actual art.

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?

The podcast provides in-depth discussions on a wide range of literary topics, often featuring critical insights from authors, scholars, and cultural commentators. Episodes explore notable literary works, analyze their cultural significance, and often delve into themes such as travel, motherhood, and the dynamics of literary adaptations. Unique highlights include conversations with contemporary authors about their creative processes and the reflection of societal issues in literature, making it a rich resource for book lovers and those interested in the intersection of literature and contemporary life.

Where can I find podcast stats for The TLS Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The TLS Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The TLS Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. The LRB Podcast
3. Close Readings
4. Backlisted
5. Arts & Ideas

How many episodes of The TLS Podcast are there?

The TLS Podcast launched 12 years ago and published 632 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. Joanna Kavenna
2. Jesse Nathan
3. Alessandro Gallenzi
4. Lily Herd
5. Andrew Motion
6. Peter Swaab
7. Alev Adil
8. Damian Flanagan

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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