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Featuring conversations with the authors and narrators of your favourite books, as well as reading round-ups, and the odd light-hearted literary game.

Listening Books is a UK charity that provides audiobooks to anyone who struggles to read or hold a book due to an illness, disability, learning difficulty or mental health issue. To find out more go to www.listening-books.org.uk.

Sep 6, 2019

'As an Irish person I have no such inhibitions.'

For the last episode of the series, Jess talks to Gillie Howarth, who chairs the Listening Books Board of Trustees, about how it all began, and how it’s grown along the way. We also hear from Listening Books ambassadors Sally Gardner, Bali Rai, Kit de Waal, and Jenny...


Aug 15, 2019

'I know not of the squeaky wheel.'

Wail Qasim makes his debut appearance on the podcast, joining Amy Flinders and Jessica Stone for a chat in celebration of Listening Books' 60th birthday, focusing on books popular with Listening Books members before turning to some of Wail's and Amy's favourites.


Jul 25, 2019

'I wasn't that sorry.'

The ever-so-charming author of the Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter, Fethering and Blotto & Twinks series of crime novels joins Jessica in the studio to talk about the experience of narrating his own work, how to spot a crime writer's misdirections, and even what it was like to work with Douglas Adams...


Jul 11, 2019

'And suddenly it starts to make sense.'

Andrew Bell and Sarah Matthews join Jessica to round up some books they feel are even better as audiobooks than in their traditional printed format. From author-read autobiographies to full cast performances, they talk about which books and why they'd rather listen to.


Jun 27, 2019

'Being read to is a basic human need.'

Jess meets the person behind the microphone to find out more about what it takes to be a narrator. Voice artist Bronwen Price talks about what it is like to record stories in the studio, what helps her give her best performance and what her dream books to read would be.

Listening...