Podcast
Book Shambles
Hosted by The Cosmic Shambles Network · EN
Using books as a jumping off point, hosts Josie Long and Robin Ince and a different special guest each week, dive into interesting, passionate and shambolic discussions. Part of the Cosmic Shambles Network.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Stewart Lee Returns
Mar 1300:38:39Tap to summarizeStewart Lee was our first ever guest on Book Shambles and now he’s back in Season 7 as our first return guest. Unfortunately Josie was ill at the last minute so for this episode the role of Josie was played by Michael Legge. Robin, Michael and Stew chat about Jarret Kobek, Alice Cooper and Mohave Ethnopsychiatry. This was a long chat so we’ve split it into two parts. To hear an extended version of this episode, plus lots of other perks you can support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles
Transcribe →Johann Hari
Mar 1300:48:21Tap to summarizeJosie and Robin are joined by writer Johann Hari to talk about all manner of things. From his new book, ‘Chasing the Scream’ and rebuilding trust with readers, to the work of Rebecca Solnit, Simon Ings, Peter Ackroyd and more. This is a bonus episode, free to all with no charge to our Patreons. Subscribe to the all new Cosmic Shambles which is launching soon at cosmicshambles.com
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Lucia Osborne-Crowley - Live from Latitude
Nov 2000:53:04Tap to summarizeGhislaine Maxwell was convicted of five counts of sex-trafficking of minors, and now faces twenty years in prison for the role she played in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of four girls. Lucia Osborne-Crowley was one of the only reporters allowed into the courtroom every day and this is her account of the trial. She joins Robin Ince and Bec Hill to chat for the celebrated Book Shambles podcast. WARNING: This panel contains subject matter that may be distressing to some listeners. Recorded in The Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture at the 2025 Latitude Festival. Support the show at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Transcribe →Weirdly Normal - The Science of Neurodiversity - Live from Latitude
Oct 300:42:17Tap to summarizeWhat if being a bit weird is actually entirely normal? What if sharing our internal struggles wasn't a sign of weakness, but strength? Let some experts help you wade through the 'neurotrash' to talk about the science of neurodiversity. Gina Rippon is a Professor of Cognitive NeuroImaging and author of The Gendered Brain and The Lost Girls of Autism. Dr Camilla Pang is the Royal Society Book Prize winning author of Explaining Humans and Perfectly Weird. They join comedian and author of Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal, Robin Ince. Recorded at the the 2025 Latitude Festival. Support us at patreon.com/cosmicshambles to watch an extended edition of this episode
Transcribe →Graphic Novels Panel - Live from Latitude 2025
Aug 2900:51:44Tap to summarizeGraphic Novels (NB - Alan Moore calls them comics, so we’re allowed to call them comics) are increasingly becoming a fantastic medium for diverse storytelling. Award-winning author Nikesh Shukla grew up feeling less alone because of Spiderman, and is now the author of the Spiderman: INDIA-SEVA as well as multiple best-selling books including The Good Immigrant and Brown Baby. Lewis Hancox is the author of the acclaimed Welcome to St Hell: My Trans Teens Misadventures and its sequel. They chat with Robin Ince. Recorded in The Cosmic Shambles Forest of Science and Culture at the 2025 Latitude Festival. Support us by signing up at patreon.com/cosmicshambles or treating yourself to something at cosmicshambles.com/shop
Transcribe →Stuart Murdoch - Live at the Glasgow Comedy Festival
Nov 22, 202400:57:02Tap to summarizeStuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian joins Josie and Robin live on stage at the Glasgow Comedy Festival to talk about basically everything but his new novel, Nobody's Empire, which is out now. Get an extended video version of this episode by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Transcribe →Claudia Hammond, Chris Lintott and Jakko Jakszyk - Part 2 - Latitude 2024
Nov 5, 202400:51:14Tap to summarizeHere is Part 2 of our Friday session in the bookshop at this year's Latitude Festival. Jakko Jakszyk and Prof Chris Lintott are still on the couch with Robin and are now joined by Prof Claudia Hammond to talk about her new book, The Keys to Kindness. This extended video version is exclusive to Patreon and Substack paid subscribers.
Transcribe →Jakko Jakszyk and Chris Lintott - Part 1
Oct 28, 202400:49:22Tap to summarizeWe did over 6 hours of live book chats in the newly created Robin's Book Corner at this year's Latitude Festival back in the late summer. In this first episode, Robin is joined by Jakko Jakszyk of King Crimson to talk about his upcoming memoir, Who's the Boy With the Lovely Hair, and Prof Chris Lintott to chat about his latest book Our Accidental Universe. Obviously, being record live at Latitude there might be a bit of background noise bleeding in from other stages! To hear and watch an extended video version subscribe to Patreon or Substack at one of the paid tiers.
Transcribe →Alexis Pauline Gumbs
Oct 14, 202400:46:28Tap to summarizeIf you've heard Robin at any point in the past few years, you've probably heard him singing the praises of Alexis Pauline Gumbs' book Undrowned. So when she was briefly in the UK recently with her new book, Survival Is a Promise, we just had to catch up for a chat! Support the show by subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles
Transcribe →Wolverhampton Literature Festival - Josie Long's Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't
Oct 7, 202400:51:59Tap to summarizeIn the first episode of a new limited series of Book Shambles Robin and Josie take the stage at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery to talk about Josie's debut book, a collection of short stories titled Because I Don't Know What You Mean and What You Don't. They chat about the differences in writing a book to writing for stand up, early literary influences and why a fox on the cover actually makes sense. See the video version, with more chat not on the audio version, of this episode by supporting the show and subscribing at patreon.com/cosmicshambles.
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