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 very first SpotLit episode, we’re joined by actor, voice artist and writer Safiyya Ingar, in conversation with Niamh and Isla.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• How Safiyya fell in love with voice acting through narrating audiobooks

• Safiyya's unique approach to voting stories in a way that makes each character stand out

• Why representation on the page, on screen and in audio matters more than ever

Safiyya’s multifaceted career spans stage, screen, video games and audio. From playing Keira Metz in The Witcher opposite Henry Cavill, to starring as Valarie Lockwood in Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Chronicles. They recently starred in Brides, the 2025 Sundance hit described by Variety as “magnetic” and “savvy”, and they’ve voiced video game titles including Valkyrie Elysium, Dustborn and Diablo IV.

Safiyya is also the narrator of For She Is Wrath, the stunning debut novel by Emily Varga, featured in this month's episode of The Reading Cafe.

This honest and illuminating conversation explores literature as both a refuge and a force for change, and sets the tone for the SpotLit series to come.

To learn more: Safiyya Ingar – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safiyya_Ingar Emily Varga – https://emilyvargabooks.com

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

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast named Best Children and Young Adults' Show by the Independent Podcast Awards and current FINALIST in the 2025 British Podcast Awards and 2025 Independent Podcast Awards!

This brilliant episode features Emily Varga, writer of For She Is Wrath, in conversation with Rosie and Nicole.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• How Emily balances her creative life a s writer with her professional role as a family lawyer
• Her approach to writing without being stuck to a plan
• Why fantasy is her favourite genre

PLUS: Isla and Niamh present the SpotLit featurette with a mini-interview with actor Safiyya Ingar, star of The Witcher and Brides, whose remarkable voice brings the audiobook of the novel to life. Emily’s enlightening, deep and thought-provoking interview appears in full in this episode, and Safiyya is our SpotLit guest, appearing in a 10 minute segment halfway through. Be sure to listen to the full Safiyya Ingar interview next week when it is published as a bonus SpotLit episode - it is worth hearing all the way through, especially if you’ve ever dreamed of being an actor as Safiyya is proof that ambition is more than a dream!

To learn more:

Emily Varga - https://emilyvargabooks.com

Safiyya Ingar - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safiyya_Ingar

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

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome to Season 5 of The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast named Best Children and Young Adults' Show by the Independent Podcast Awards and current FINALIST in the 2025 British Podcast Awards!

This special Reading Cafe LIVE episode was recorded with an enthusiastic audience at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where we were joined by Waterstones Children's Book Prize winner, Nathanael Lessore.

Our tremendous presenters Sophia and Namatai had a fantastic chat with Nathanael and the audience were thoroughly entertained - laughing, applauding and no doubt making their way to pick up his excellent books (Steady For This, King of Nothing and What Happens Online) straight after the event...

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Nathanael's approach to ensuring his use of language chimes with his audience
• His process to addressing issues around toxic masculinity and the potential problems of online anonymity
• How his life has changed since winning the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Readers

PLUS: Alice and Daisy present an Ed Book Fest featurette including a mini-interview with Carnegie Medal winner, Margaret McDonald (Glasgow Boys) and excerpts from the YA Book Prize award ceremony, co-hosted by The Reading Cafe's Elsa and Grace alongside Laura Bates (Non-fiction: Everyday Sexism/YA Fiction: Sisters of Fire and Fury)

To learn more:

Nathanael Lessore - https://www.darleyandersonchildrens.com/book/king-of-nothing/

Margaret McDonald - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e4k4zxwwlo

Laura Bates - https://www.laurabates.co.uk/

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

APPROX AGE RATING: 9–12

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast named Best Children and Young Adults' Show by the Independent Podcast Awards!

This episode is a double delight! We’re joined by award-winning author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce, along with his long-time collaborator, the brilliant illustrator Steven Lenton, for an inspiring and laughter-filled conversation all about stories, screenplays, and storytelling magic.

Frank is the celebrated author of Millions, Cosmic, and The Wonder Brothers, and he’s also the screenwriter behind Kensuke’s Kingdom and the unforgettable 2012 Olympics opening ceremony. His latest novel, The Blockbusters, brings his love of cinema and literature together in an exciting new adventure that celebrates friendship, creativity, and the power of stories.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

🎬 How Hollywood and screenwriting inspired The Blockbusters 🎙 Why hosting The Island of Brilliant podcast has changed how Frank thinks about children's books ✨ How magical elements help tell real-life stories in The Wonder Brothers 🎆 What it was like to help create the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony 📚 Frank's thoughts on the "happiness recession" and why access to books matters now more than ever 🎞 The challenges—and joys—of adapting Kensuke’s Kingdom for the big screen

PLUS: Illustrator Steven Lenton gives us a peek behind the scenes at how he brings Frank’s stories to life with colour, energy, and humour—and why pictures matter just as much as words.

To learn more: 📘 Frank Cottrell Boyce – https://www.stevenlenton.com

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

APPROX AGE RATING: 15+ (NATIONAL 5/HIGHER MODERN STUDIES/POLITICS)

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

The Reading Cafe LIVE 2025 audience event featured an interview with Darren McGarvey, award-winning BBC documentarian and Orwell Prize-winning author of Poverty Safari and The Social Distance Between Us.

During this excellent interview, Darren was in conversation with outstanding S6 Reading Leaders, Elsa and Grace. Our audience of National 5/Higher Modern Studies and Politics students had the opportunity to hear the writer’s responses to questions about key topics (poverty, health, gender and the criminal justice system) in preparation for the exam in May.

They also enjoyed live self-written scenes ('Tone Deaf' and 'The Glass Ceiling') performed by Advanced Higher Drama pupils focused on poverty and gender.

This is an invaluable resource for all pupils who are studying for the National 5 and Higher Modern Studies and Politics exams, so make sure you take lots of notes as you listen!

SUBSCRIBE: @ApplePodcasts @spotify @audible @podbeancom

FOLLOW: @ReadingCafePod on Instagram

APPROX AGE RATING: 9-11

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe!

Pari Thomson is the author of the acclaimed eco-fantasy series Greenwild, which won the 2024 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for both the overall category and the Younger Readers prize. In addition to her own writing, Pari works as the Editorial Director at Bloomsbury Children's Books. Her Greenwild series has been praised for its imaginative storytelling and environmental themes.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

• Why Pari chooses to write children's literature
• How the magic of nature inspires her
• Plus, Pari reads from Greenwild: The World Behind The Door

This episode also features Holy Cross Geography teachers, Stephanie Murphy and Dawn Honnet, who will be talking about their connection to nature and literature.

To learn more about Pari Thomson, visit: https://us.macmillan.com/author/parithomson

You wouldn't want to miss any episodes of The Reading Cafe, so be sure to subscribe!

Please leave a rating, review wherever you listen to podcasts and... keep reading!

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

WINNER - Best Children and Young Adults' Podcast 2024 (Independent Podcast Awards)

Welcome back to the Reading Cafe!

Kat McKenna is author of Look What You Made Me Do: A Love-Letter to the Fandom Era. As a massive long-term Swiftie, Kat evaluates the phenomenon of Taylor Swift's success and looks at the concept of fandom itself.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT:

- How Taylor makes her fans feel “seen”.

- Swiftmas and the Easter Eggs Taylor leaves throughout her songs, performances and videos.

- Why fans care so much about Taylor as a person, not just as a pop star.

...AND MUCH MORE!

This episode also features two members of The Tortured English Department, Miss Gallagher and Miss Quigley, who will be telling you about their most prized poets and treasured Taylor Swift songs.

To learn more about Kat McKenna, visit: https://www.katmckenna.com

You wouldn’t want to miss any episodes of The Reading Cafe, so be sure to subscribe. Please leave a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts and… keep reading!

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe!

Kayvion Lewis is the author of Thieves' Gambit, winner of the 2024 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Readers. This thrilling and wildly imaginative crime novel is the first in a series which looks certain to become the next big YA hit. Excitingly, it is now on its way to the big screen, having been sold to Lionsgate who have brought Creed and Transformers director, Steven Caple Jr, onto the project.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• How Kayvion makes sure twists are unpredictable
• What she would say to her characters if she met them in real life
• The turning point in her journey as a writer

Plus, Kayvion reads an EXCLUSIVE preview of her new book, Heist Royale, which arrives in November.

This episode also features Holy Cross History teacher, Lucy Kinnie, who will be revealing the historical crime that has arrested her attention above all others...

To learn more about Kayvion Lewis, visit: https://www.kayvionlewis.com/

You wouldn’t want to miss any episodes of The Reading Cafe, so be sure to subscribe! Please leave a rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts and… keep reading!