Read On - The Audiobook Show from RNIB
RNIB Connect Radio
A weekly show all about audiobooks recorded at the RNIB Talking Book studios.
We talk to your favourite authors and narrators, along with reviews and news about new audiobooks.
Presented and produced by Robert Kirkwood, you'll find a new episode here every Friday at 1pm plus bonus content such as longer uncut interviews and episodes of our occasional extra show, The Book Group.
Talking Books is a free service from RNIB giving access to over 40,000 fiction and non fiction books for adults and children. Find out more by searching for RNIB Library.
Get involved and join the conversation by emailing radio@rnib.org.uk or find Robert on Twitter @Talking_Books
Other great podcast channels from RNIB Connect Radio
Connect - Our main channel with news, features and articles on sight loss.
Conversations - Blind and partially sighted people speaking about a wide range of topics.
Tech Talk - Technology for blind and partially sighted people.
Sport - See sport differently.
The Happy Hour - Mental health, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing.
Tracks of My Life - Take a journey through our guest's life.
Support - Other podcasts from RNIB.
TV Guide - Daily audio TV listings
We talk to your favourite authors and narrators, along with reviews and news about new audiobooks.
Presented and produced by Robert Kirkwood, you'll find a new episode here every Friday at 1pm plus bonus content such as longer uncut interviews and episodes of our occasional extra show, The Book Group.
Talking Books is a free service from RNIB giving access to over 40,000 fiction and non fiction books for adults and children. Find out more by searching for RNIB Library.
Get involved and join the conversation by emailing radio@rnib.org.uk or find Robert on Twitter @Talking_Books
Other great podcast channels from RNIB Connect Radio
Connect - Our main channel with news, features and articles on sight loss.
Conversations - Blind and partially sighted people speaking about a wide range of topics.
Tech Talk - Technology for blind and partially sighted people.
Sport - See sport differently.
The Happy Hour - Mental health, mindfulness, and overall wellbeing.
Tracks of My Life - Take a journey through our guest's life.
Support - Other podcasts from RNIB.
TV Guide - Daily audio TV listings
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 12, 2025 • 58min
454: Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones - Christmas with the Map Men Part 1
In today's Read On, Robert Kirkwood chats to the Map Men, also known as Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones about their debut book This Way Up - When Maps Go Wrong (and why it matters).
In this first part of a two part show Jay and Mark talk about accents, breaking the fourth wall and addressing the listener directly and about turning a very visual book into an audiobook.
Plus we'll find some festive books in the RNIB Library.
Dec 12, 2025 • 2min
Best-selling author Joanna Trollope has died aged 82
Author of many favourites in the RNIB Library, Joanna herself was very aware of the importance of accessibility as she had an eye condition that made her partially sighted. Here she is on the importance of Talking Books
Dec 5, 2025 • 58min
453: E.K. Wise - The Keepers of the Rock Book 1 - The Debilis Rising
From her home in Los Angeles, author E.K. Wise tells Robert Kirkwood about The Keepers of the Rock - Book 1 The Debilis Rising, a thrilling YA fantasy full of secrets, crystals and history. We discuss the science behind the book, about neurodivergent representation and ask why the audio version was recorded in the UK
Plus we find some new books in the RNIB Library
Nov 28, 2025 • 58min
452: Annaliese Avery - The Wycherleys plus Renita Boyle and Charlotte Bennie - Wigtown Book Festival
In the final show this year recorded in Scotland's Book Town, we chat to author Annaliese Avery about her new series, The Wycherleys, storyteller Renita Boyle has some Wild Words and listener Charlotte Bennie, and her guide dog Christie, tell us what the Wigtown Book Festival is like for accessibility.
Plus as always, we find some new books in the RNIB Library.
Nov 21, 2025 • 58min
451: Nicholas Jubber and Ambrose Parry - Wigtown Book Festival
Today Robert Kirkwood chats to Nicholas Jubber about Monsterland, a journey around the world's dark imagination and he also talks to an author with two heads ... those being that of Christopher Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman AKA Ambrose Parry, about the latest Raven and Fisher mystery, The Death of Shame.
We also travel to the RNIB Library to find some brand new books.
Nov 14, 2025 • 58min
450: David Szalay - Flesh - Booker Winner 2025
On today's Read On a long chat with the winner of the Booker Prize 2025, David Szalay. Robert Kirkwood chats to David about the life of his character István, and how he seems to live in the gaps between chapters, and about the narration of the audio version by Daniel Weyman.
We also find some brand new books in the RNIB Library.
Nov 10, 2025 • 8min
Booker Winner 2025 - David Szalay for Flesh (Extract)
Full interview on Friday - but for now huge congratulations to David Szalay for his Booker win for Flesh - available in audio and Braille from RNIB Library.
Nov 7, 2025 • 58min
449: Booker Shortlist 2025 - Susan Choi, Kiran Desai, Katie Kitamura, Ben Markovits, Andrew Miller, and David Szalay
Today a supercut of interviews with all six Booker shortlisted authors for 2025 with Susan Choi on Flashlight, Kiran Desai on The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Katie Kitamura on Audition, Ben Markovits on The Rest of Our Lives, Andrew Miller on The Land in Winter, and David Szalay on Flesh.
All books on the shortlist are available both in audio and Braille from RNIB library.
Oct 31, 2025 • 58min
448: Grant Harrold, Robert Twigger and Vivian French - Wigtown Book Festival
In today's episode from Scotland's Book Town we chat to friend of the show, and author of over 300 books, Vivian French. We chat end of the world survival with author Robert Twigger and hear about King Charles' book collection from The Royal Butler, Grant Harrold.
Plus we find new books in the RNIB Library.
Oct 24, 2025 • 58min
447: Dan Richards and Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan - Wigtown Book Festival
Today on Read On from the Wigtown Book Festival, we have some journeys, conversations and stories after dark in Dan Richards' book, Overnight and chat to Suzanne O'Sullivan about The Age of Diagnosis: How the Overdiagnosis Epidemic is Making Us Sick.
Plus we'll find some brand new books in the RNIB Library.
