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Artwork for Little Atoms

Little Atoms

Neil Denny
Art
Colonialism
Grief
Folklore
It Comes From the River
Land Of Hope
Literature
Climate Change
Ireland
A Flat Place
Identity
Old Soul
Guy Trash
Violence
Nature
Age Of Discovery
Divorce
The End Of Drum-Time
The Coast Road
The Safekeep

Little Atoms is a weekly show about books, with authors in conversation. Produced and presented by Neil Denny.

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes725Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureFiction

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Artwork for Little Atoms

Latest Episodes

Louise Kennedy grew up a few miles from Belfast. She is the author of the acclaimed short-story collection, The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac, which won the John McGahern Prize. Her debut novel Trespasses, published in 2022, has been translated in... more

China Miéville is a Sunday Times bestselling author of fiction and non-fiction. His novels include The City & The City, Embassytown, and Perdido Street Station. A recipient of the Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction, he has won the World Fantasy, the H... more

Fatima Bhutto is the author of the novels The Runaways and the Women’s Prize for Fiction-longlisted The Shadow of the Crescent Moon, and the non-fiction New Kings of the World and Songs of Blood and Sword, which deals with her father’s murder and the... more

Marlon James is the author of the Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings; the National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf; the New York Times-bestselling Moon Witch, Spider King; The Book of Night Women; and John Crow’s Devil... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

China Miéville
Author of The Rouse
Episode: Little Atoms 1004 - China Miéville's The Rouse
Fatima Bhutto
Author
Author of The Hour of the Wolf
Episode: Little Atoms 1003 - Fatima Bhutto's The Hour of The Wolf
Marlon James
Author of The Disappearers, Booker Prize winner for A Brief History of Seven Killings
Author; Hamish Hamilton (UK)
Episode: Little Atoms 1002 - Marlon James' The Disappearers
Sarah Polley
Filmmaker, author of Run Towards The Danger
Author, Filmmaker
Episode: Little Atoms Archive - Sarah Polley's Run Towards The Danger
Maggie O'Farrell
Author of The Marriage Portrait
Episode: Little Atoms Archive - Maggie O'Farrell's The Marriage Portrait
Robert Harris
Author of Act of Oblivion
Author
Episode: Little Atoms Archive - Robert Harris' Act of Oblivion
Madeline Miller
Orange Prize-winning author of Circe
Bloomsbury
Episode: Little Atoms Archive - Madeline Miller's Circe
Laura Cumming
Author of Thunderclap; art critic and writer
Episode: Little Atoms Archive - Laura Cumming's Thunderclap
Mark O'Connell
Author of A Thread of Violence
Author
Episode: Little Atoms Archive - Mark O'Connell's A Thread of Violence

Host

Neil Denny
Host of Little Atoms; conducts author interviews and leads weekly conversations about books and ideas.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 249 ratings
  • Fascinating and gentle

    I LOVE this podcast for finding new books to read, hearing new ideas, and tuning out of the chaos of the world around me. I have so many downloaded for long journeys or nights I can’t get to sleep. Thank you Neil Denny!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beccy2019
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • So Interesting & Very Rewarding

    This is an excellent podcast. Neil, the presenter is very personable, relates well with all the authors interviewed, which makes each episode a rewarding and a relaxing listen.

    Each episode does encourage me to read the book discussed with the most recent one being so good.

    Thank you, thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PineGroveCharlie
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Inspiring

    Really inspiring content. Should be on everyone’s top podcast list! So glad I stumbled across this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tyupgdtt33
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Wow

    What a great podcast series. Loved every single episode 👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    madeintaiwa
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Always interesting

    Every episode of LA is worth listening to. There’s always some really interesting insight to take away. Always something to change how you think about the world. Can’t recommend it enough.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    iamjamesward
    United Kingdom8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the thoughtful, calm interviewing style and depth of questions.
Fans value the breadth of guests and the book recommendations they provide.
Feedback highlights variable audio quality but consistently strong interviews.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Little Atoms Archive - Sarah Polley's Run Towards The Danger
Q: What did you learn about childhood acting and safeguarding children on set?
Polley emphasizes first-priority attention to the child's wellbeing, with on-set protections, union oversight, and clear protocols to prevent harm and misalignment between artistic goals and a child's health.
Little Atoms Archive - Sarah Polley's Run Towards The Danger
Q: What happened with the concussion and how did the treatment change you?
She details a multi-faceted Pittsburgh program that re-engaged her with stimuli and movement, leading to a dramatic reduction in symptoms and a broader philosophy of approaching fears head-on.
Little Atoms Archive - Sarah Polley's Run Towards The Danger
Q: Tell us about the central idea of memory and its elasticity.
Polley explains that memory is not a static replay but a living dialogue with the present, where past and present influence how we perceive and construct our stories, which shapes how she wrote the essays.
Little Atoms 1002 - Marlon James' The Disappearers
Q: First of all, tell us then how you would describe this novel.
James describes it as a multifaceted examination of Jamaica in the 80s and 90s through a fact-finding mission that also doubles as a personal reflection on gay life, violence, and memory, told through varied narrative forms.
Little Atoms 1003 - Fatima Bhutto's The Hour of The Wolf
Q: What do you mean by coercive control, and how do you explain gaslighting in the context of your experiences?
She discusses coercive control as a form of abuse that erodes a person's agency and self-trust, with gaslighting presented as a pervasive tactic where lies are used to make the victim doubt reality, while the abuser maintains control.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Little Atoms

What is Little Atoms about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on in-depth author conversations, often exploring how historical contexts, mythology, and literary craft shape contemporary fiction and non-fiction. Guests range from prize‑winning novelists to writers investigating true crime, history, and cultural commentary, with episodes that pair rigorous research with intimate discussions of craft, process, and thematic resonance. A recurring strength is the way interviews illuminate how authors translate archival material, myth, or real events into compelling narrative, while foregrounding the human voices behind the pages. A standout trait is the breadth of guests across literary fiction, history, and culture, offering podcast listeners thoughtful perspectives, behind‑the‑scenes wr... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Little Atoms?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Little Atoms:

1. The Book Club
2. The TLS Podcast
3. The Waterstones Podcast
4. London Review Bookshop Podcast
5. Bookclub

How many episodes of Little Atoms are there?

Little Atoms launched 18 years ago and published 725 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Little Atoms?

Recent guests on Little Atoms include:

1. China Miéville
2. Fatima Bhutto
3. Marlon James
4. Sarah Polley
5. Maggie O'Farrell
6. Robert Harris
7. Madeline Miller
8. Laura Cumming

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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