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Artwork for The Waterstones Podcast

The Waterstones Podcast

Waterstones
Love
Art
Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize
Long Island
Mental Health
Family Dynamics
Identity
The Ministry Of Time
London
Grief
Brooklyn
History
Climate Change
George Michael
Women's Rights
How To Kill Your Family
Orbital
Time Travel
Motherhood
Crippen Case

Going beyond the book with a wide range of authors to discover the story behind the books we love.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes193Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

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Artwork for The Waterstones Podcast

Latest Episodes

Through her writing about love, Lily King has made readers care deeply about her characters and what life does to them. A year on from Heart The Lover's publication and after a month as our fiction pick, we finally got to sit down with Lily to talk a... more

Having captivated readers with the eponymous Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton , Elizabeth Strout has moved down the coast from Maine to Massachusetts for her latest novel, and a new character for readers to meet. We sat down to speak with her about w... more

George Michael managed to be both enigmatic and to share some of the most personal details about his life but superfan Sathnam Sanghera has looked a little closer to really appreciate the artistry and importance of one of pop's most enduring voices. ... more

Following the phenomenal success of Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell returns with Land, an epic novel of upheaval and loss beginning in 19th century Ireland, with its roots in Maggie's own family. We sat down to speak with her about such personal inspiration... 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.

Take Four Books
Take Four BooksBBC Radio 4
A Good Read
A Good ReadBBC Radio 4
Ask Penguin
Ask PenguinPenguin Books UK
Bookclub
BookclubBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

Lily King
Author of the novel discussed in the episode
Author
Episode: Lily King
Sathnam Sanghera
Author of The Meaning of George Michael
Author
Episode: Sathnam Sanghera
Maggie O'Farrell
Author of Land; co-writer of the Hamnet film
Author
Episode: Maggie O'Farrell
Siri Hustvedt
Author; subject of Ghost Stories
Author
Episode: Siri Hustvedt
Douglas Stuart
Author of John of John, previously Shuggie Bain
Author
Episode: Douglas Stuart
Patrick Radden Keefe
Author and journalist
Episode: Patrick Radden Keefe
Selena Brown
Author of My Rice is Best
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026
Maxwell McGinney
Illustrator for My Rice is Best
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026
Jamie Carroll
Author Illustrator of Milo and the Mountain
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026

Host

Will
Host of The Waterstones Podcast, frequently guiding conversations and introducing participants

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 331 ratings
  • Less Host Talking

    Great guests like Nigel Slater ; would be 5 star if host spoke much much less!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    trillionshelper
    United States2 years ago
  • Great for finding new authors!

    Love the interviewer and short interviews. Always a good listen to expand my reading horizons!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shooker374
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Fantastic

    A nicely varied podcast about books, with authors, actors and humans discussing all aspects of books and our lives!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hanrutous
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • My favourite!

    This is the best bookish podcast I’ve come across. So enjoying each conversation, emotive themes explored but communicated in a lighthearted and warm style. LOVE ❤️📚

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlishaBens0n
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Hand sell?

    What precious nonsense - ‘hand selling a book’

    Should we credit supermarkets with hand selling groceries as well? Or should booksellers admit they are businesses whose primary reason for existence is to make a profit

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cgfry5755435466hfggtu
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A few episodes feel overly polished or scripted, but generally high quality.
Great variety of guests, well-structured conversations that stay on topic.
Listeners appreciate in-depth author insights and practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#58
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#60
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#179
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#105
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#182
Italy/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Maggie O'Farrell
Q: How does Maggie approach writing about a historical period without becoming a historian?
She emphasizes treating it as a novelist first, researching as she goes rather than planning rigidly, and letting characters and universal themes guide the structure, even when the setting is the 19th century.
Maggie O'Farrell
Q: What inspired Land and its focus on family history and maps?
Maggie explains that a myth in her family about an ancestor who helped draw the first maps of Ireland led her to investigate truth versus fiction; discovering her great-great-grandfather's involvement with the Ordnance Survey provided a concrete thread to weave into a broader narrative about land, memory, and belonging.
Sathnam Sanghera
Q: If you could ask him one nerdy question about his craft, what would it be?
Sanghera imagines a highly technical, curious line of questioning about bass sound, vocal production, and the song ideas themselves, indicating a desire to understand the meticulous, almost forensic approach behind his most famous tracks.
Sathnam Sanghera
Q: What do you think is the most convincing case for the meaning of George Michael?
Sanghera argues that the enduring meaning lies in the paradoxes of his art—moments of exuberant dance-floor energy paired with deep grief and longing, and the idea that fashion and public image can mask profound artistic integrity.
Sathnam Sanghera
Q: And I know why I became a Prince fan. What was it that got you into his music and made you fall in love with George Michael first of all?
The host asks about early influences and friendships around Prince and George Michael, prompting Sanghera to discuss vocal beauty, emotional range, and the fascination with how George Michael's voice could convey complex feelings; the discussion then pivots to why his own listening and writing were shaped by those contrasts.

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 Waterstones Podcast

What is The Waterstones Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Collected conversations center on books, authors, and the craft of storytelling across diverse genres and audiences. Episodes frequently explore themes like writing process, character development, and culture, often tying literature to broader cultural or historical contexts. The format tends to feature deep-dive author insights, with recognizably strong emphasis on narrative craft, research, and personal journeys that shape a writer's work. A standout aspect is the thematic variety—ranging from literary fiction to children's books and historical nonfiction—offering listeners thoughtful, well-researched discussions and practical reading recommendations.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Waterstones Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Waterstones Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Waterstones Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Waterstones Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Waterstones 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 Waterstones Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Waterstones Podcast:

1. Take Four Books
2. A Good Read
3. Ask Penguin
4. Bookclub
5. The Radio 2 Book Club

How many episodes of The Waterstones Podcast are there?

The Waterstones Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 193 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 Waterstones 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 Waterstones Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Waterstones Podcast?

Recent guests on The Waterstones Podcast include:

1. Lily King
2. Sathnam Sanghera
3. Maggie O'Farrell
4. Siri Hustvedt
5. Douglas Stuart
6. Patrick Radden Keefe
7. Selena Brown
8. Maxwell McGinney

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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