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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 from the TLS.

Editors and writers join Lucy Dallas and Alex Clark to talk through the week’s issue.

To read more, welcome to the TLS.

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes680Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureFiction

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Artwork for The TLS Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week, David E Cooper on a mammoth history of the garden; and Larry Wolff takes in Macbeth at the Met.

'The Garden: Our 4,000-year quest for paradise', by Jonathan Bate

'Macbeth', by Giuseppe Verdi, Metropolitan Opera, New York, until October 2... more

This week, Sophie Oliver on Rebecca West's struggle with her love of clothing; and Robert Poole introduces us to a dashing 19th-century radical.

'A Fable for Christians', by Rebecca West

'Mad Tom's Rising: The revolutionary mystic Sir William Court... more

This week, Patrick McGuinness delves into the moving and illuminating notebooks kept by Albert Camus; and Elizabeth Lowry on the untold lives of novelist Anita Brookner.

'The Complete Notebooks', by Albert Camus, translated by Ryan Bloom

'Anita Bro... more

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.

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

Sophie Oliver
Author and interviewer for Rebecca West story discussion
University of
Episode: Costume Dramas
Robert Poole
Reviewer and Emeritus Professor of History
University of Lancashire
Episode: Costume Dramas
Patrick McGuinness
Professor of French and Comparative Literature, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: Outsiders
Hermione Lee
Biographer of Anita Brookner
Author Biographies (Brookner bio)
Episode: Outsiders
Elizabeth Lowry
Reviewer of Hermione Lee's Brookner biography
TLS
Episode: Outsiders
Toby Lichtig
TLS fiction editor
Times Literary Supplement
Episode: The Cat's Whiskers
Kathryn Hughes
Reviewer and author
The TLS
Episode: The Cat's Whiskers
Rohan Maitzen
Literary scholar, joins to discuss Rose Tremain's The Housekeeper and Rebecca
Episode: Manderley Revisited
Jamie McKendrick
Poet reading his poem The Importance of Time
Episode: Manderley Revisited

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 596 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 Kingdoma year 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
#154
Indonesia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#208
Brazil/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#228
Ireland/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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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. The Shakespeare and Company Interview

How many episodes of The TLS Podcast are there?

The TLS Podcast launched 12 years ago and published 680 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. Sophie Oliver
2. Robert Poole
3. Patrick McGuinness
4. Hermione Lee
5. Elizabeth Lowry
6. Toby Lichtig
7. Kathryn Hughes
8. Rohan Maitzen

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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