Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize Podcast

Jodi Picoult is the number 1 New York Times bestselling author of 28 novels and short stories, and has also written several issues of Wonder Woman.  Approximately 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages.  Her book My Sister’s Keeper was made into a motion picture starring Cameron Diaz. Jodi is the recipient of many awards, including the 2003 New England Bookseller Award for Fiction, a lifetime achievement award for mainstream fiction from the Romance Writers of America, and the Sarah Josepha Hale Award. She holds honorary doctor of letters degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of New Haven. She is a patron of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, which is awarded to female fiction writers in the States.  Her new book By Any Other Name tells the story of two women, centuries apart, who are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard. Jodi’s book choices are: ** Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell ** Out of Africa by Karen Blixen ** Beloved by Toni Morrison ** The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman ** The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

British actress Corinna Brown tells us why representation is so important to her and through the poetry of Rupi Kaur, explains why you are more than just pretty.  Corinna best known for her role as Tara Jones in Heartstopper, the multi-award-winning, BAFTA nominated Neftlix adaptation of Alice Osman’s LGBTQ+ graphic novels which rose to the top ten most-watched English series on Netflix within two days of the first season’s release. The series has assembled a surge of fans mesmerised by the show’s ability to create diverse, authentic storylines for fans around the world to relate to.   Corinna trained at East 15 drama school. She has worked across film, television and theatre, including making her television debut in the BBC Three film My Murder with John Boyega. In 2023, Corinna starred in Essex Girls, a coming-of-age short film directed by Yero-Timi Bie that explores Black-British girlhood and the magic of female friendship, nominated for Best Short Film at the 2023 London Film Festival.   The much anticipated third season of Heartstopper, released on Netflix this week, sees Tara face the trials of living as a lesbian from a young age and what it means to grow up and develop alongside a romantic partner. Corinna’s book choices are: ** Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater ** Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman  ** Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi ** Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur ** Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner by Jasmine Lee Jones Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Food writer and bestselling author Rukmini Iyer shares how her recipes bring families together, the importance of flavours and the joy of finding a delicious, easy solution to dinner. Rukmini is the bestselling author of The Roasting Tin series, which in five years has sold over 1.75 million copies worldwide. They’ve transformed the cookery space in the UK, leading the one-tin, one-pot, and one-pan revolution, and remain firm favourites among cookbook buyers who love Rukmini’s minimum fuss, maximum flavour recipes. Rukmini makes regular appearances cooking live on morning television and is the newest weekly columnist for The Guardian’s ‘Feast’ magazine.  Her newest book, The Green Cookbook, a collection of delicious and simple planted-based recipes, is out now. When she’s not cooking for work, she loves gardening, reading, wandering around food markets with her border collie and toddler in tow, renovating the house with her husband and entertaining friends and family. Rukmini’s book choices are: ** Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë ** Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons  ** The Secret History by Donna Tartt ** The Power by Naomi Alderman ** The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Tracy Chevalier is an award-winning American-British novelist of 11 books, including the immensely popular Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and was adapted into a film, which was nominated for three Academy Awards.  Tracy has also edited anthologies such as Why Willows Weep, a collection of tales from the woods to raise money for the Woodland Trust, and Reader, I Married Him, a collection of short stories commissioned to mark the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Brontë. In addition to her writing, Tracy has been actively involved with various organisations including the Royal Literary Fund, Patron of the Dorchester Literary Festival and the Woodland Trust. Tracy’s latest novel, The Glassmaker, follows a family of Venetian glassmakers from the Renaissance to present day. Tracy’s book choices are: **Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder ** Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison ** Restoration by Rose Tremain ** Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood ** Life After Life by Kate Atkinson Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder was illustrated by Garth Williams. Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Glamour UK’s Editor-in-Chief Deborah Joseph joins Vick to discuss feminism through the lens of magazines, the importance of representation and the need for perfectly imperfect women.  Deborah is an award-winning editor and journalist. Over the past seven years, she has directed Glamour’s transition from a print to a digital-first, beauty-first brand. Prior to that, she spent six years working for fashion and celebrity tech start-ups, was a social media consultant for Jenny Packham, and edited the Daily Mail’s life and style section. She was on the launch team of Glamour over 20 years ago and has also edited two other Condé Nast titles, Easy Living and Brides.  Deborah speaks regularly on the topic of women’s empowerment and the challenges facing working mothers, and after experiencing burnout now chooses to live what she describes as her ‘best 70% life’.  Deborah’s book choices are: ** Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal ** Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë ** Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding ** This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan ** Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!

The former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard joins Vick for a live recording in Bedford Square Gardens from the Women’s Prize Live Festival. Julia Gillard served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013 after serving as Deputy Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. She was the first and only woman to have held either of these offices in Australian history. Following her retirement from politics, Julia has been a visiting professor at the University of Adelaide and is currently the chair of the Global Partnership for Education, the Wellcome Trust and Beyond Blue, an Australian mental health and wellbeing organisation. Julia has also written several books exploring themes of misogyny, leadership and politics. Her memoir, My Story, was shortlisted for Biography of the Year by the Australian Book Industry Awards and was the highest selling politics-related book in 2014.  Julia’s book choices are: ** Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene ** To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ** The Secret River by Kate Grenville ** The Sun Walks Down by Fiona MacFarlane ** Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!

Rosie Jones joins Vick Hope in front of a live studio audience where they celebrate different kinds of love, discuss Rosie’s favourite reads on holiday and uncover why Rosie will never get over A Little Life.   Rosie is a must-see act on the UK comedy circuit. Having fronted two travelogue series’ of her own for Channel 4, Mission: Accessible and Trip Hazard. Rosie can also be seen on countless hit television shows including Live At The Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Cats Does Countdown and The Last Leg, to name a few! Rosie is also an established writer and actor, having written on hit Netflix series Sex Education, she also both wrote and starred in Disability Benefits which was commissioned by Channel 4 as part of their 2022 Comedy Blaps collection.  2022 saw the release of Rosie’s second children’s book, The Amazing Edie Eckhart: The Big Trip which tells the story of a little girl with cerebral palsy.  Rosie’s book choices are: ** The Color Purple by Alice Walker   ** The List by Yomi Adegoke ** A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara ** Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens ** The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid  Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!

Miranda July is a multi-award-winning director, writer, filmmaker and artist and in this episode she opens up about ageing, reaching her creative limit and reading with every meal.   Miranda has written, directed and starred in three feature films as well as over a dozen short films. Her first major film production, Me and You and Everyone We Know, won six awards including the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2016, she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences in acknowledgement as a writer. In addition to her work in films, Miranda is a talented writer whose work often explores slices of ordinary life and  has been described as ‘wry, smart’ and ‘painfully alive’.  Her collection of short vignettes, No One Belongs Here More Than You, won the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award.  Her new book, All Fours, has just been published and follows the journey of a perimenopausal woman who upends her life, following an extramarital affair.  Miranda’s book choices are: ** One! Hundred! Demons! By Lynda Barry ** Acts of Infidelity by Lena Andersson ** The IHOP Papers, by Ali Liebegott ** Daughter by Claudia Dey ** Trans Sex by Lucie Fielding  Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Television presenter and broadcaster, Ria Hebden discusses the importance of identity, how books can inspire massive career changes and why the sky's the limit for her. Ria is the official Entertainment presenter on ITV’s Lorraine, having interviewed  everyone from Robbie Williams to Harrison Ford, to Kim Cattrall, Shania Twain and John Boyega. Her infectious energy and iconic smile make her a TV regular and favourite among viewers, also having hosted shows including All Around Britain on ITV, Sunday Morning Live on BBC One and the BAFTA Film Awards red carpet. Passionate about telling stories that celebrate diversity, champion women and inspire the next generation, Ria founded Wonder Women TV, a women’s network that elevates diverse women who work in Television and the Creative Industries in 2017, and has achieved several National Diversity Award nominations for her work.  Last year, Ria competed as a contestant on ITV’s Dancing on Ice and raised £30K for Lupus UK as a contestant on Celebrity Catchphrase and Celebrity Chase. Ria’s book choices are: ** Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston ** Light is the New Black by Rebecca Campbell  ** The List by Yomi Adegoke ** Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez ** The Good Ally by Nova Reid Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Former swimmer and entrepreneur Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell discusses her career, details her love of the water, and lays bare the pressures within her former swimming world. Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell is a former elite athlete with a career spanning over 10 years, swimming for both Great Britain and Kenya. She is a former world number one and British champion, winning the 50m and 100m breaststroke in 2010.  She was the first Black woman to swim for the Great Britain team.  In 2023, she was honoured in Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work in Social Impact. Rebecca is also the CEO of the 10,000 Interns Foundation, a non-profit that champions underrepresented talent by creating paid internship opportunities. Prior to this, she founded and ran NKG, a creative strategy and media agency focused on social change projects.  Her first book These Heavy Black Bones is out in June. Rebecca’s book choices are: ** Tar Baby by Toni Morrison ** Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ** Educated by Tara Westover ** In The Wake by Christina Sharpe ** Animal by Lisa Taddeo Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.