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The Reading Cafe

The Reading Cafe

By: Peter Kelly
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WINNER of Best Children and Young Adults’ podcast in the 2024 Independent Podcast Awards. Currently a FINALIST in 2025’s British Podcast Awards! Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss any episodes!Copyright 2021 All rights reserved. Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Alice Loxton interview (Eleanor)
    Jan 5 2026

    APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

    Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!

    We’re making history with this episode featuring Alice Loxton, author of recent #3 Times Book Chart bestseller, Eleanor.

    IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

    • The emotional connection Alice builds with figures from the past and how she is engaging modern readers with history
    • How she compensates for gaps in historical records to bring stories to life with authenticity and vitality
    • The inspiration for her unique blend of historical research, personal reflection and travel journalism

    To learn more:

    Alice Loxton - https://aliceloxton.com/

    Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!

    Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod

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    36 mins
  • Benjamin Dean interview (Bury Your Friends)
    Dec 18 2025

    APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

    Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!

    This thrilling episode features Benjamin Dean, author of YA survival horror novel, Bury Your Friends.

    IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

    • How Ben maintains tension between characters to create atmosphere
    • The influences from music and the movies that found their way into Bury Your Friends
    • Why the “terrible people” who populate the novel are Ben’s favourites of his characters!

    To learn more:

    Benjamin Dean - https://www.madeleinemilburn.co.uk/mm-authors/benjamin-dean/

    Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!

    Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod

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    33 mins
  • SpotLit: Alaska Reid (Witch Post)
    Nov 7 2025

    APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

    Welcome to a brand new chapter of The Reading Cafe. This is SpotLit, our brand-new strand where we speak to figures from music, sport, entertainment and culture about their relationship with literature.

    In this SpotLit episode, Libby and Emma were joined by singer-songwriter and musician Alaska Reid, one half of the band Witch Post.

    IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

    • The influence of literature on Alaska’s songwriting, both on her solo records and in Witch Post
    • How fantasy-interviewing friends and peers Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek and Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice) led to her writing her own fantasy novel
    • The story of the supernatural experience that led to the naming of Witch Post…

    …AND SO MUCH MORE!

    A ten-minute section of this conversation appeared on the last episode of The Reading Cafe with writer of The Wycherleys, Annaliese Avery. We enjoyed such a brilliant conversation with Alaska about her career and creative life, and you are certain to love hearing it in full in this SpotLit episode.

    To learn more: Alaska Reid

    https://www.alaskareid.com/

    https://partisanrecords.com/artists/witch-post Annaliese Avery

    https://www.annalieseavery.com/home-1

    Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join us for future SpotLit episodes and as always… keep reading.

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    35 mins
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