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Artwork for The Waterstones Podcast

The Waterstones Podcast

Waterstones
The Fury
Ultra-Processed Food
Maurice and Maralyn
Easy Wins
The Last Murder At the End Of the World
My Favorite Mistake
London
Menopause
Obesity
The Silent Patient
Greek Mythology
The Clockwork Conspiracy
Ocean Survival
Citibank
The Trading Game
Cooking
Agatha Christie
Quantum Leap
The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn
Malnutrition

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes185Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Artwork for The Waterstones Podcast

Latest Episodes

For the first time ever, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize assembles our shortlisted authors and illustrators for a special interview in which we discover more about the joy of picture books, the nature of world building, and how they incorporate... more

YouTube

The legends surrounding the figure of Rasputin are so well-trodden we may think we know the story, but how did a man born as a peasant come to find himself within the Tsar’s inner circle and how instrumental was he in the downfall of the Romanov dyna... more

Booker Prize-winner George Saunders takes us back to that space between life and death in his new novel, Vigil, leading to a fruitful conversation about providing comfort at the end of life, why repentance at the end might not make the difference and... more

Booker Prize-winner Julian Barnes has a bibliography that would keep a reader happy for many months, even years, but with mention that his latest book, Departure(s), might be his last, we were determined to speak with him about his approach to fictio... 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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People also subscribe to these shows.

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

Recent Guests

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
Janine Hyatt
Author of Evian Mariam's Family Tree
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026
Ashley Thorpe
Author of Spirit Warriors
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026
Brogan Murphy
Author of Wildlands
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026
Steph SF Williamson
YA author of A Language of Dragons
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026
Besira Mataliko
Author of Till Death
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026
Rowan O'Brien
Author of Solo
Self-published/Waterstones shortlist participant
Episode: Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026

Host

Will Rycroft
Host in discussions with debut authors; longtime host of The Waterstones Podcast

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 327 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.

- Guests are consistently described as engaging and the show as a good source for book recommendations.
- Listeners appreciate the strong host interviews and the breadth of authors featured.
- Many praise the thoughtful, thematically cohesive conversations and the varied guest list.
- Some listeners wish for deeper or more challenging questions from the host and more diverse guest selections.
- A few critiques note that some episodes feel overly familiar or formulaic, depending on the guest.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#207
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#40
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#126
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#168
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#59
South Korea/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#112
South Korea/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Julian Barnes
Q: How do you manage to stay calm and composed when faced with difficult circumstances?
Barnes explains that writing helps him remember events clearly and provides a calming distraction during challenging times.
Julian Barnes
Q: When did you realize that 'Departures' would be your last book?
Barnes discusses his contemplation regarding writing his last book, noting it felt correct when he committed it to paper.
Philip Pullman
Q: Can you explain a little bit about what you mean by being a storyteller rather than a novelist?
I became a storyteller by accident, finding joy in using my imagination to craft stories.
Philip Pullman
Q: How do you feel now that you've come to the conclusion?
I feel relieved and free to do something else now.
Malala Yousafzai
Q: What did those friendships give you that really helps you to find yourself in those years at university?
Friendships provided liberation and security, allowing Malala to navigate her university life more authentically.

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?

A literature-focused show that features in-depth conversations with authors across a broad range of fiction and non-fiction, often anchored by themed series or book-length conversations. Episodes frequently explore big ideas—creative process, memory, climate themes, identity, and societal issues—while spotlighting the human side of writing, publishing, and storytelling. The format tends to mix personal background, craft insights, and contextual discussion about each book, making it appealing to devoted readers, aspiring writers, and industry professionals looking for author perspectives, process tips, and reading recommendations. A noteworthy strength is the way discussions weave thematic coherence with author personalities, creating approa... more

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How many listeners does The Waterstones Podcast get?

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

How many episodes of The Waterstones Podcast are there?

The Waterstones Podcast launched 8 years ago and published 185 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.

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What guests have appeared on The Waterstones Podcast?

Recent guests on The Waterstones Podcast include:

1. Selena Brown
2. Maxwell McGinney
3. Jamie Carroll
4. Janine Hyatt
5. Ashley Thorpe
6. Brogan Murphy
7. Steph SF Williamson
8. Besira Mataliko

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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