Episodes 164
Avg. Duration 43m
Activity Dormant
Apple Rating 4.8 (20)
Since Sep 2018
Latest Episode Oct 2025

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Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
31%
Hosting
feed.podbean.com

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About This Podcast

Edinburgh based book podcast. Critical appreciations of classic and modern literature. Interviews with academics, authors and perfomers.

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Recent Episodes

S3E104 ‘Verses written at the Hermitage of Braid, near Edinburgh’ (1771) by Robert Fergusson

Oct 09, 2025 15m

S3E104 Today, Ash broadcasts from the Hermitage of Braid in Morningside, to talk about a poem Robert Fergusson was inspired to write on a visit there in 1771.    Title Music: 'Not Drunk' by The Joy…

S3E103 “Of Course, Merlins are Different”: Frank Rennie on A Magical Raptor

Oct 05, 2025 1h 6m

S3E103 Today, Ash interviews Frank Rennie, Professor of Sustainable Rural Development at the University of the Highlands and Islands and author of numerous books, including this year's The Merlin.…

S3E102 The “Glitchy Atmosphere” of Grievance: Krystelle Bamford on Idle Grounds

Aug 26, 2025 51m

S3E102 Today, Ash interviews Edinburgh-based author Krystelle Bamford about her debut novel, Idle Grounds for a conversation ranging from Scotland to the "horse country" of New England.    To order a…

S3E101 “Our Storied Town”: Donald Smith on Edinburgh’s Explosive Literary Past

Apr 23, 2025 44m

S3E101 Donald Smith takes us on a literary tour of Edinburgh's Old Town, touching on the stories of writers including Robert Louis Stevenson, J. K. Rowling, Naomi Mitchison, Robert Burns and many…

S3E100 A Year of Birds (1984) by Iris Murdoch

Apr 07, 2025 48m

S3E100 Miles Leeson returns to the podcast to talk about Iris Murdoch, this time concentrating on her short collection of poems, A Year of Birds.    Miles and Ash discuss connections between…

S3E99 ‘Epitaph for Robert Fergusson’ (1789) by Robert Burns

Mar 08, 2025 23m

S3E99 Today Ash looks at not one but three short poems composed by Robert Burns on the subject of his 'elder brother in the Muse', Robert Fergusson.    Title Music: 'Not Drunk' by The Joy Drops. All…

S3E98 “Technology is Hijacking Our Dreams”: Alice Thompson on AI, Edinburgh and Sylvia Plath

Feb 24, 2025 34m

S3E98 Today's special episode of Ear Read This was recorded on location in Portobello Library, where Ash interviewed novelist Alice Thompson about artificial intelligence, the effect of Edinburgh on…

S3E97 ‘The Daft Days’ (1772) by Robert Fergusson

Jan 12, 2025 30m

S3E97 Iconic Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson is the subject of today's podcast, as Ash looks at his breakthrough poem, 'The Daft Days':  Now mirk December’s dowie face Glowrs owr the rigs wi sour…

S3E96 ‘Kookaburra’ (1998) by Frieda Hughes

Apr 04, 2024 19m

S3E96 On today's episode, Ash looks at a poem from Frieda Hughes' debut collection, Wooroloo, discussing Hughes' longstanding connection with birds, and how 'Kookaburra' relates to the poetry of her…

S3E95 ‘Address to Edinburgh’ (1786) by Robert Burns

Jan 31, 2024 31m

S3E95 A belated Burns Night celebration, featuring one of Burns' lesser liked poems. But one of the only poems to inspire a toilet seat. Tune in for an exploration of Burns' time in Edinburgh, the…

S3E94 “Ominous Whoosh”: John Thorne on Twin Peaks

Oct 31, 2023 1h 25m

S3E94 As a Halloween treat, Ash talks with the author of Ominous Whoosh: A Wandering Mind Returns to Twin Peaks, John Thorne. Tune in for a in-depth conversation about Twin Peaks with one of the…

S3E93 “Plath’s Not a Phase”: Trish Grisafi on Breaking Down Plath

Sep 14, 2023 19m

S3E93 Ash is again joined by Trish Grisafi to talk about her book Breaking Down Plath as well as Plath's relationship with feminism, the changing reputation of Plath and the "Plath phase".  Follow…

S3E92 ‘Stings’ (1962) by Sylvia Plath

Sep 08, 2023 1h 2m

S3E92 Ash is joined by Patricia Grisafi to discuss 'Stings' by Sylvia Plath, the third poem in her Bee Sequence. Tune in for a conversation about red comets, queen bees, and scapegoats. Follow Trish…

“I Felt Like I Was Cheating on Plath”: Peter K. Steinberg on the Writings of Assia Wevill

Aug 29, 2023 44m

S3E91 On today's extended interview, Ash talks some more to Peter K. Steinberg, about his work as co-editor of the Collected Letters of Sylvia Plath and The Collected Writings of Assia…

S3E90 ‘The Swarm’ (1962) by Sylvia Plath

Aug 27, 2023 48m

S3E90 Ash is joined again by Peter K. Steinberg to discuss Sylvia Plath's late poem 'The Swarm'. Tune in to hear about Plath's interest in Napoleon, her experiences bee-keeping and Peter's theory…

S3E89 ‘Electra on Azalea Path’ (1959) by Sylvia Plath

Jul 25, 2023 1h

S3E89 Ash is joined by Peter K. Steinberg to discuss Sylvia Plath's fascinating poem, 'Electra on Azalea Path'. Tune in for a discussion about reckless psychoanalysis, bumblebees (and their ways)…

S3E88 “My Mother’s Legacy is Secure”: Kate Levey on Brigid Brophy

Jul 10, 2023 18m

S3E88 Ash is joined again by Kate Levey to talk more about her mother, Brigid Brophy: her work outside of writing, her relationship with Iris Murdoch and her reputation today.  Follow Kate on…

S3E87 The Snow Ball (1964) by Brigid Brophy

Jul 09, 2023 1h 17m

S3E87 "Mozart, sex and death" is in store today, as Ash and his guest Kate Levey discuss her mother's brilliant 1964 novel, The Snow Ball.  Follow Kate on Twitter here: @brophylevey And visit her…

S3E86 “Shakespeare’s Tutor”: Darren Freebury-Jones on The Influence of Thomas Kyd

May 05, 2023 29m

S3E86 Following on from episodes on The Spanish Tragedy and The Birth of Merlin, Darren Freebury-Jones joins Ash once again, this time to talk about his own work on Thomas Kyd and early modern…

S3E85 The Birth of Merlin (1622) by William Rowley

May 04, 2023 1h 11m

S3E85 Ash is joined again by Shakespearean scholar, Darren Freebury-Jones to discuss a rarely-performed Jacobean play, The Birth of Merlin or The Child Hath Found its Father. Their conversation takes…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Ear Read This have?

Ear Read This has published 164 episodes since September 2018, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is Ear Read This still active?

Ear Read This is currently dormant with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 43m.

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