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The TLS Podcast

The TLS
Literature
Poetry
Shakespeare
Edna O'brien
Booker Prize
Dylan Thomas
Gardening
Virginia Woolf
Jane Austen
World War II
Paris
Psychedelics
Charles Dickens
Irish Women's Representation
Brexit
Translation
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 weeklyEpisodes677Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureFiction

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The TLS Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week, Toby Lichtig on the six Booker hopefuls; and Kathryn Hughes joins us in an exploration of feline mysteries.

'Cats: A History', by Rod Phillips

Produced by Charlotte Pardy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Rohan Maitzen on Rose Tremain's reimagining of Rebecca, and a new way of seeing the terrifying Mrs Danvers; and Jamie McKendrick reads his poem, 'The Importance of Time'.

'The Housekeeper', by Rose Tremain

'The Importance of Time', by Ja... more

This week, Anchit Sathi asks what an "author" is in the age of AI; and Keggie Carew on the world of symbiotic slime and friendly fungi.

'Togetherness: Symbiosis and the hidden story of life's greatest collaboration', by Rowan Hooper

Produced by Cha... more

This week, Mary Beard gives us the inside track on what it's like to be a Booker Prize judge; and Russell Williams guides us through the highlights of a new season in French publishing.

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri... 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

Rohan Maitzen
Literary scholar, joins to discuss Rose Tremain's The Housekeeper and Rebecca
Episode: Manderley Revisited
Anchit Sathi
Author and TLS essayist discussed in episode
TLS
Episode: Who's in Charge
Keggie Carew
Author reviewed book Togetherness by Rowan Hooper
Independent author
Episode: Who's in Charge
Mary Beard
Chair of this year's Booker Prize jury; TLS Classics Editor
The Times Literary Supplement
Episode: Noses to the grindstone!
Russell Williams
French editor at the TLS; Associate Professor at the American University in Paris
TLS
Episode: Noses to the grindstone!
Abigail Dembeau
Poet, TLS poem author
The TLS
Episode: Lines of beauty
John Tolbert
Poet, professor teaching ancient Greek and Latin to English literature
Brigham Young University
Episode: Lines of beauty
Sam Riviere
Poet, novelist, publisher
Poetry/Publishing World
Episode: Lines of beauty
Jamie McKendrick
Poet and translator
TLS/poetry world
Episode: Lines of beauty

Hosts

Alex Clarke
Host of The TLS Podcast, TLS (Times Literary Supplement)
Lucy Dallas
Host of The TLS Podcast, Arts editor and co-host
Toby Lichtig
TLS contributor, books editor on TLS contributor picks for summer

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 595 ratings
  • Intelligent and pleasant

    Intelligent chatter in a pleasant mood.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flodysseus
    Germany6 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 Kingdom10 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.

Listeners praise intelligent, thoughtful discourse and engaging guests.
The show's mix of criticism, publishing culture, and live event insights is a distinctive strength.
Audio quality and production occasionally cited as inconsistent by critics.
Some appreciate the warm host banter but others dislike lengthy preambles and ad breaks.
Guests and TLS connections are a strong draw for literature-focused audiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#178
India/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Cat's Whiskers
Q: Which books are on the Booker Prize shortlist and what are the hosts' initial thoughts?
The hosts list the six shortlisted novels and discuss their expectations and potential winners, noting the mix of familiar prize-winners and acclaimed newcomers, and debating whether a repeat winner or a fresh author will take the prize.
Noses to the grindstone!
Q: Can you explain how submissions are decided and what role call-ins play in the process?
Submissions are governed by rules about how many titles publishers can submit, with call-ins allowing publishers to highlight additional works beyond their initial submissions; the process involves a balance between volume, justification, and the judges' assessment of each book.
July Highlights
Q: How do you ensure the actors convey the dense ideas with enough clarity for the audience?
By having the actors deeply understand the material, resisting the urge to overcomplicate, and using a shared sense of purpose to guide their delivery so the audience can follow the core human connections.
July Highlights
Q: Why did you decide to revisit Arcadia now and what drew you to directing it?
The decision was rooted in the play's enduring resonance and the director's appreciation for its intellectual depth, combined with a desire to bring its emotional and philosophical energy to a contemporary stage.
Earthing Emily
Q: Tell us how Deborah Lutz's approach to Emily Brontë differs from traditional biographies.
Lutz concentrates on the material world—objects, the house, rooms, and manuscripts—to tell Emily's story, offering a strong sense of the physical and historical context rather than relying solely on literary criticism or gossip.

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 thoughtful, literature-forward show that blends author interviews, literary criticism, and cultural commentary. Episodes often orbit novels, poetry, and theatre, with occasional forays into film, journalism, and publishing culture. The hosts' warm, witty banter provides a comfortable entry point into deep dives on craft, memory, and material culture, while guests range from poets and novelists to critics, editors, and theatre practitioners. The format tends to pair accessible book-talk with rigorous insights, making it well suited for listeners who love literature, literary history, and thoughtful cultural analysis. A notable strength is the thoughtful curation of guests who bring both scholarly gravitas and practical storytelling, though... more

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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. The LRB Podcast
2. London Review Bookshop Podcast
3. Close Readings
4. Backlisted
5. Past Present Future

How many episodes of The TLS Podcast are there?

The TLS Podcast launched 12 years ago and published 677 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.

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What guests have appeared on The TLS Podcast?

Recent guests on The TLS Podcast include:

1. Rohan Maitzen
2. Anchit Sathi
3. Keggie Carew
4. Mary Beard
5. Russell Williams
6. Abigail Dembeau
7. John Tolbert
8. Sam Riviere

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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