The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

1: The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – Introduction Episode The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

On the Goldster Book Club podcast you hear captivating interviews with best-selling authors, intrepid explorers, former spies and international sports people.  We have different shows – Inside Story, Purpose, Passion and Grit, and Author to Author. By joining Goldster you can be part of the live conversation asking our guests directly any question you want — about their failures, successes and what drives them.  So far we have talked to best-selling authors, Ian Rankin, Ely Griffiths and Adele Parks; acclaimed historians, adventurers and travel writers Roger Morehouse, Justin Marozzi and Odd Harald Hague; eagle-eyed commentators, Parag Khanna, Tim Marshall and Geoff Payne; The list goes on.  You don’t have to have the read the book or know the subject. Goldster presenters will draw you into their world and make you feel at home; Biographer and descendant of Charles Dickens, Lucinda Hawksley;  Journalist, thriller writer and Lucinda’s distant cousin, Humphrey Hawksley;  Polar explorer Rosie Stancer; and international cricketer and rugby player, Alistair Hignell.  We would love to meet you. Goldster is barely two years old, and we’re booming. Come join in the Goldster Book Club conversation. www.Goldster.co.uk/book-club

20: Philip Clark and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – 9th March 2023 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Philip Clark is an author and music journalist who spent twenty years writing about classical music, modern composition, jazz, free improvisation and rock music for many leading publications, including The Wire, Gramophone, The Guardian and London Review of Books. He trained as a composer (and in that capacity worked with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the percussionist Orphy Robinson), but has more recently preferred to produce his own sounds playing piano as part of a weekly free improvisation workshop. His biography of Dave Brubeck – A Life In Time – was published in 2020, and he worked with legendary guitarist of The Kinks, Dave Davies, on his autobiography, Living On A Thin Line, published in 2022. Philip is currently writing Sound and The City – due for publication in 2024 – a history of the sound of New York City. He was co-winner of the 2021 Eccles Centre and Hay Festival Writers Award, which gave him a year-long writer’s residency at the British Library. To watch the original recording the click here  

18: Rosie Stancer and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – 14th of February 2023 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Last October we interviewed our own PPG Presenter, the world-renowned explorer Rosie Stancer, as she introduced her plans to cross the Sinai desert to gather scientific evidence on the depredation of climate change on the lives  of the Bedu nomads of the Sinai Peninsula  and her intention to report to the COP 26 Conference at the end of their 160 mile journey. (see map below of their proposed camel trek). Unfortunate security concerns in Egypt prevented the expedition from going at their chosen time – but the good news is that the wait is over, the trip is on again, and Rosie and her formidable team will be setting off on 15th Feb for their adventure. Besides Rosie Stancer , herself  a veteran of record breaking journeys to both the North and South Poles, , her latest expedition a crossing of the dried up Aral Sea, brings experience and leadership, the team also consists of  her deputy, Pom Oliver, a veteran herself of many Arctic and Antarctic journeys, and another member of the Aral Sea expedition importantly gathering physiological data on human destruction of water systems.. Arabella Dorman, a war artist. will be recording another conflict now facing humanity  – the dangers and effects of climate change.  In her paintings she will record not only landscape but also the effects on the lives of those nomads coming to terms with a changing environment, and, last but very much not least,  the redoubtable Lee Watts whose title on the expedition, Communications and Medic, belies the serious all round responsibility for the safety of his companions and the effectualness of the expedition. A former paratrooper, he is a veteran of war, a trainer and instructor and a bible of first aid. On retirement from the armed forces he established his own Gym, where he has been exercising his fellow travellers. Goldster will be monitoring the expedition throughout, keeping daily track of the journey and – put it in your diaries – on 28th February Humphrey Hawksley will interview the team at the isolated St Catherine’s Monastery in the middle of the desert., a third of the way through their desert crossing. On Tuesday 14th February, a day before Rosie leaves for Egypt, Lucinda will interview her on PPG.  As the adventure begins she will ask how Rosie is feeling, how has she overcome the disappointment and delays, what is she is looking forward to now, and what does she fear …

16: Katherine May and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – December 8th 2022 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Katherine May is an internationally bestselling author and podcaster living in Whitstable, UK. Her hybrid memoir Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times became a New York Times, Sunday Times and Der Spiegel bestseller. It was also was adapted for BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week, and was shortlisted for the Porchlight and Barnes and Noble Book of the Year.    The Electricity of Every Living Thing, her memoir of a midlife autism diagnosis, is currently being adapted as an audio drama by Audible. Her other titles include novels such as The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club, and The Best, Most Awful Job, an anthology of essays about motherhood which she edited. Her journalism and essays have appeared in a range of publications including The New York Times, The Observer and Aeon.   Katherine lives with her husband, son, two cats and a dog. She loves walking, sea-swimming and pickling slightly unappealing things. On 8 December, Katherine will be chatting to Lucinda Hawksley about her writing career and the importance of ‘wintering’. To watch the original recording, then please click here 

14: Laura Payne and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – February 2nd 2023 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Laura Payne began her career as a journalist and has a background in international media and marketing. She has advised and mentored some of the world’s leading businesses and organisations – and then, in her 50s, she decided to change her life and career. She made the decision to go back into academia and train as a psychotherapist.  Her book Nine Steps to a Mindful Life (Without Meditating) grew out of her new way of life. The book contains simple exercises with which Laura believes you can turn your life around. It is for anyone looking for a fresh approach, and for all those seeking a sense of calm and empowerment. Whether you are tired, anxious, stressed or just looking to explore a new ‘you’, Nine Steps to a Mindful Life (Without Meditating) will give you insights into how to achieve personal transformation. Join Lucinda Hawksley on 2 February, as she talks to Laura about mindfulness, dream therapy and how Goldster members can enrich their life with her strategies.  http://www.laurapayne.co.uk/ To watch the recording of this episode, please click here  

12: Midge Gillies and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – Jan 12th 2023 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

There’s nowhere quite like Piccadilly Circus. From the moment they emerge, blinking from the underground station, visitors to Piccadilly Circus face a sensory onslaught. Its streets and alleyways merge into an intoxicating thoroughfare, with the power to propel an individual onwards to adventure, romance, or something more sinister. Ever since its iconic Eros statue appeared in 1893, the junction has been a vibrant meeting place, attracting visitors and pleasure-seekers from all walks of life: political plans and theatrical careers were hatched at its restaurant and café tables, lovers met below the statue of Eros, and to this day tourists pour out of its historic Tube to experience the bright lights of London’s nightlife. Piccadilly explores how the area has been shaped by social and historical events – from female suffrage to world wars to technological advancements – and by its colourful cast of characters – from flower girls, shop assistants and sex workers, to film stars, Bright Young Things and conmen (and women).  For many, the Circus has represented both a home from home and a brave new world, as campaigners, revellers, opportunists and romantics have all been drawn to Piccadilly’s bright lights. Join Lucinda Hawksley on 12 January, as she chats to fellow author Midge Gillies about why the story of why Piccadilly Circus continues to mean so much to so many. To watch the original video recording, please click here

10: Henrietta Heald and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – May 5th 2022 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Henrietta Heald is the author of Magician of the North, a biography of William Armstrong, the dazzling Victorian inventor, engineer and industrialist who created Cragside in Northumberland, the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. The book was shortlisted for two literary prizes and, since first publication in 2010, has generated huge interest in Armstrong, with Henrietta making many appearances on TV and radio and in various publications to elucidate his life and work. Earlier this year, she appeared in ‘Diggers’, an episode of BBC2’s Inside the Factory, when she was interviewed about Armstrong’s invention of the hydraulic crane. Henrietta’s most recent book is Magnificent Women and Their Revolutionary Machines, about the extraordinary and inspiring individuals who set up the Women’s Engineering Society a century ago. She argues that the achievements of the women engineers amounts to a vibrant ‘wave’ of feminism that until now has eluded the attention of historians. Before taking up the pen herself, Henrietta had a long and successful career in book publishing. She was chief editor of Chronicle of Britain and Ireland and the Reader’s Digest Illustrated Guide to Britain’s Coast. Her other books include Coastal Living, La Vie est Belle, Blue & White At Home and a National Trust guide to Cragside. A graduate in English from Durham University, she has become a campaigner on behalf of women engineers and the regeneration of local heritage in northeast England. Join Henrietta as she chats to Lucinda Hawksley, at 12pm on 5th May, on the Goldster Inside Story. To watch the original video recording, please click here 

8: Joanne Harris and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – January 12th 2022 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

We have a very special Goldster Book Club event to welcome in the new year. Lucinda Hawksley will be chatting online to Joanne Harris, the award-winning author of 19 novels, including Chocolat, Blackberry Wine and The Strawberry Thief. Her novels also include four psychological thrillers, including Gentlemen & Players and Different Class. Chocolat was turned into an Oscar-nominated movie, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp.  Joanne was born to a French mother and an English father, and in addition to having written several novels set in France, she has also written books on French cookery, including – of course! – a book on cooking with chocolate. Her latest books include the enchanting "mosaic novel" Honeycomb and a non-fiction book, perfect for all aspiring writers: Ten Things About Writing. She has also written novellas (including one about Doctor Who), short stories, screenplays, game scripts, libretti for two short operas, and a musical. Joanne is also a passionate advocate for authors’ rights, and is currently the Chair of the Society of Authors (SOA) and a member of the Board of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS).  Join Joanne Harris as she chats to Goldster Book Club Presenter and fellow author Lucinda Hawksley. To watch the video of this podcast, then please click here

6: Damian Le Bas and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – February 21st 2022 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Damian Le Bas was brought up by Romany Traveller parents, who had lived a life of hardship and adventure on the road. Because his family had largely settled down by the time he was born, Damian always felt that he had missed out on a vital part of his culture. While he was working as a journalist defending Romany people and other Travellers, he realised that few people really saw ‘Gypsies’ as belonging on the cultural and geographical maps of Britain. So he decided to spend a year living in a Ford Transit van, staying in places with an historical attachment to Britain's nomadic peoples – the stopping places – and writing about his experiences alongside the history of ethnic Travellers and snippets of his own family story. The result was his first book, The Stopping Places: a Journey Through Gypsy Britain. It mixes aspects of travel writing, memoir, folk history and nature writing and, in addition to winning several awards, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Damian Le Bas is a former editor of Travellers’ Times magazine. In 2019 he presented the documentary A Very British History: Romany Gypsies on BBC4 and has been a consultant on various TV programmes, mostly translating into the Romani language. When he is not writing Damian is a keen hill walker, scuba diver, outdoor swimmer and sitter in coffee shops. His next book is due to be published by Chatto & Windus in 2023. To watch the recording of this episode please click here

4: Elly Griffiths and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – 14 September 2022 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Elly Griffiths wrote four novels under her own name (Domenica de Rosa) before turning to crime with The Crossing Places. This was her first novel featuring forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway – since then her name has entered into the elite of fictional detectives, with The Times commenting “Galloway now seems as real as Marple and Morse’. The Crossing Places won the Mary Higgins Clark award and several novels in the series have been shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year. The 14th novel in the series, The Locked Room, was published in February 2022 and Elly is currently writing the 15th book. Elly also writes the Brighton Mysteries, a series set in the theatrical world of the 1950s and 1960s. The 6th book, The Midnight Hour came out in 2021 and the 7th is waiting in the wings, to be published soon. In 2020, Elly wrote what was described as a “standalone” mystery, The Stranger Diaries. It won the Edgar award for Best Crime Novel – and her detective, Harbinder Kaur, was so popular, that it became another series. The third book, Bleeding Heart Yard, is being published on 29 September.   In 2016 Elly was awarded the CWA Dagger in the Library for her body of work – and she prolifically keeps producing new novels every year. Elly was one of our first Inside Story authors on Goldster and we are thrilled to invite her back on the eve of Agatha Christie’s birthday, to talk about her writing career and what it was like to be chosen as one of the special few authors asked to write a brand new Miss Marple story. To watch the filming of the recording, please click here

2: Adele Parks and Lucinda Hawksley – The Goldster Inside Story Podcast – 23rd November 2022 The Goldster Inside Story Podcast

Join Lucinda Hawksley as she chats with Adele Parks about her amazing writing career. Adele Parks MBE was born in North Yorkshire and has become one of Britain’s best-loved novelists. She is the author of 22 bestselling novels, including the Sunday Times and eBook Number One bestseller, Both Of You.  Over four and a half million UK editions of Adele’s work have been sold, and her books have been translated into 31 different languages. Her recent Sunday Times Number One bestsellers, Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck were shortlisted for the British Book Awards and have been optioned for development for TV.  Adele is an ambassador of the National Literacy Trust and the Reading Agency: two charities that promote literacy in the UK. She has lived in Botswana, in Italy and in London and is now settled in Guildford, Surrey. In 2022 she was awarded an MBE for services to literature. To watch the filming of the recording, please click here