Rephonic
Artwork for The le Carré Cast

The le Carré Cast - A podcast on John le Carré novels

The le Carre Cast
John Le Carré
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Honourable Schoolboy
Cold War
Espionage
George Smiley
A Most Wanted Man
Hong Kong
Sarah Gainham
Audio Drama
Radio Drama
1970's London
BBC Radio 4
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Spy Who Came In From the Cold
A Murder Of Quality
Vietnam War
1970s London
Deep State
Sound Design

Exploring the works of John le Carré, each episode looks at a specific novel or an unexplored aspect of his life and work. Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of espionage John le Carré has revealed.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes70Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooksSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The le Carré Cast

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we talk with Helen Lewis and her new book, The Genius Myth. We talk about how to think about artists with problematic pasts, the influence of wives on “geniuses” and how to create a legacy.

Plus, what would a le Carré video game loo... more

In this episode, we welcome Federico Varese to the show. Federico is the co-curator of the new exhibition being held by the Bodelian Libraries showing off some of the materials the library has in the John le Carré archive. He also served as editor of... more

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Jessica Douthwaite to the show. Jessica is the co-curator of the new exhibition being held by the Bodelian Libraries showing off some of the materials the library has in the John le Carré archive.

We talk about how Je... more

In this episode we continue to celebrate 50 years of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by counting up to 50 interesting things about the book.

For numbers eleven to twenty point five I’m welcoming Matthew Bradford back to the podcast. We talk that about som... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Helen Lewis
Staff writer for The Atlantic and author of "The Genius Myth"
The Atlantic
Episode: Helen Lewis – The Genius Myth
Federico Varese
Author and professor of criminology at the University of Oxford, expert on organized crime and the Russian mafia.
University of Oxford
Episode: Federico Varese on – Tradecraft: Writers on John le Carré
Tiffany Babb
Writer about comics and pop culture, previously worked as deputy editor at Popverse
Episode: Queer Betrayal in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Michael Idov
Author of the new spy novel, The Collaborators, screenwriter and director, and former editor-in-chief of GQ Russia.
GQ Russia
Episode: Our Game by John le Carré Explored – Part 1
Scott O'Connor
A creative writing teacher and writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine and other prominent publications
Episode: The Constant Gardener by John le Carré Explored – Part 1
Mark Meynell
Author and speaker; working on a novel set in the Cold War.
Episode: A Legacy of Spies by John le Carre Explored – Part 2
Tod Hoffman
Former intelligence officer for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Episode: Tod Hoffman on le Carré’s Landscape
Ben H. Winters
Edgar Award-winning author of novels including The Last Policeman trilogy and Underground Airlines
Episode: Ben H. Winters on reading John le Carre
Dominic Sandbrook
Historian and co-presenter of The Rest Is History
The Rest Is History
Episode: The le Carre Cast 2024 recap

Host

Jeff
Host of The le Carré Cast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 126 ratings
  • Badly needed podcast

    Thanks for this podcast, true appreciation of an immense writer

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    s??65834
    United States3 months ago
  • A Most Wanted Pod

    I’m a newer fan of JLC (on book 14 in my first read through of all his books) and really enjoy the podcast for various reasons.

    - I learn something new each episode and it’s great to get a mix of facts about JLC, history, the books, etc. while also hearing various perspectives and interpretations.

    - The podcast also introduced me to all of the awesome information Jeff collected on his website, and it helped me find real life JLC locations on a trip to London

    - For someone who hasn’t read all o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jboucher_art
    United States4 months ago
  • All cherries, all the way

    Some podcasts I’m content to cherry-pick, but this is one simply to binge.

    It’s a marvellous treat for a fan to be invited to hear discussions of this depth and substance. Jeff makes a very good host: quite modest, even sometimes self-effacing, so the experience and expertise of his guests really shines out.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    brainypup
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • THE Show for Any Fan - Old or New

    Great podcast for anyone who is an avid le Carre reader or just finished their first novel.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mick Coop
    United States8 months ago
  • If you have ever read a leCarre novel, you will enjoy the discussions on this pod. Definitely worth a listen.

    Audible
    5
    Amazon Customer
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the series appears to attract ardent le Carré enthusiasts and newcomers alike, with many recommending it as essential listening for fans of literary fiction.
The host is praised for his ability to guide discussions thoughtfully and respectfully, making even complex analyses accessible.
Listeners express a strong appreciation for the insightful discussions and depth of analysis regarding John le Carré's works.
Many note that the podcast enriches their understanding of le Carré's novels, providing historical context and engaging conversations with experts.
Critiques are infrequent, but when they do occur, they focus primarily on the desire for expanded exploration of certain works or themes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#161
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#53
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#99
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#145
New Zealand/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#161
Denmark/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#171
Sweden/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Helen Lewis – The Genius Myth
Q: Did he have one editor, his publisher that he worked with for a really long time?
Yes, he had a variety of editors, but Bob Gottlieb was a significant long-term collaborator who helped shape his work.
Helen Lewis – The Genius Myth
Q: So before we get further, I'm just curious, this is a Le Carré podcast. Have you read him before, watched the movies or no clue who he was until I emailed you?
I have, I've read The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and watched the original TV series of Tinker Tailor.
Helen Lewis – The Genius Myth
Q: Can you give me maybe your elevator pitch for this book before we really get into things?
Helen discusses her fascination with why people become famous and how the narrative around genius often oversimplifies human complexity.
Dr. Jessica Douthwaite on the exhibition – John le Carré: Tradecraft
Q: What does a curator do?
Curators research exhibition themes and visualize narratives by selecting pieces for display.
Dr. Jessica Douthwaite on the exhibition – John le Carré: Tradecraft
Q: How did you get involved with this project?
I found this exhibit a perfect synthesis of all my experience as a historian and curator.

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 le Carré Cast

What is The le Carré Cast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the literature of John le Carré, the content revolves around in-depth discussions of his novels, exploring nuanced themes such as betrayal, espionage, and moral ambiguity. The episodes present a blend of literary analysis, historical context, and personal reflections, often featuring guest experts who contribute their insights into the intricacies of le Carré's characters and storytelling techniques. The podcast's unique angle lies in its commitment to connecting le Carré's works to contemporary geopolitical issues and the personal experiences of contributors, making it both a scholarly resource and an engaging conversation for enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for The le Carré Cast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The le Carré Cast. 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 le Carré Cast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The le Carré Cast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The le Carré Cast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The le Carré Cast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The le Carré Cast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The le Carré Cast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The le Carré Cast 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 le Carré Cast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The le Carré Cast:

1. Barbican Station - A Slow Horses Podcast
2. Spybrary Spy Podcast
3. The Rest Is Classified
4. The Rest Is History
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of The le Carré Cast are there?

The le Carré Cast launched 4 years ago and published 70 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 le Carré Cast?

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 le Carré Cast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The le Carré Cast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The le Carré Cast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The le Carré Cast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The le Carré Cast?

Recent guests on The le Carré Cast include:

1. Helen Lewis
2. Federico Varese
3. Tiffany Babb
4. Michael Idov
5. Scott O'Connor
6. Mark Meynell
7. Tod Hoffman
8. Ben H. Winters

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days