Interwoven

How can the study of the 'Global' Middle Ages decentre traditionally Eurocentric frameworks of medieval studies? And how do we even define the 'Global' in 'Global Middle Ages'?  In this episode, I unpack these questions with Dr Shazia Jagot, a Senior Lecturer in Medieval and Global Literature at the University of York. We discuss how the study of cross-cultural influe...

What happens when you put a library on wheels? And how is it that a mobile library can change the way we perceive who literature is meant to be written 'for'?  In this episode, I am joined by Laura Moulton who is a writer, educator and the founder of the non-profit organisation, Street Books. Street Books is a mobile library that provides books to marginalised and unhoused communities at...

What can the parallels between Pele, the deity of volcanoes and fire, and Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland reveal about the task of translating from English to Hawaiian? Can exact equivalence between the source and target language ever actually be attained? And should equivalence even be an aim when translating?  This week, I'm joined by Dr. Keao NeSmith to unpick the complexi...

What does a napkin have to do with the modern-day reception of medieval literature? How is it that Rosalia's album 'Lux' invites new interpretative possibilities for the study of female mystics? And how does Shrek fit into all of this? In this episode, I am joined by Libby, Ella and Issi (the genius behind my intro and outro music) as we unpack the powerful ways that creative critic...

How is it that lines from Omar Khayyam's poetry wind up in the pockets of World War I soldiers? And how far can literary and historical theories help us explain this extraordinary moment of cross-cultural contact?  In this episode, I am joined by Faisal Javid (an Ertegun Scholar studying a Masters in Comparative Literature at the University of Oxford) and Eliza Kaminska-Benadat (a second-year...

This week's episode is inspired by my experience as a participant in the University of Oxford's Future Leaders Programme where I have taken part in various character-based training sessions and cultivated my leadership skills.  I am joined by the facilitators of the Programme: Angela Unsworth (the Director of Accommodation, Conferences and Catering at Jesus College), Neil Unsworth (Head...

Inspired by the TORCH event, 'Reading Choices in Young and SEND Children: A Conversation,' this episode explores how accessible forms of theatre, puppetry and performance can spark children’s interest in reading and storytelling.  I’m joined by Emma Boor, Creative Director of Wild Boor Ideas, to discuss the visceral responses that theatre often invites. We explore how interactive, sensor...

What can comic books achieve that no other storytelling medium can?    In this episode, I’m joined by comic book artist and writer, Sam Hart, and Oxford English undergraduate, Anvita Kopparthi (the most avid reader of comics I know!), to unpick the intricacies that underpin graphic novels. Sam is based in London and has worked on a broad range of comics, varying from Joan of Arc to The Coldest Cit...

Welcome to Interwoven, a podcast where we follow the winding threads of literature, as they weave together stories and voices across time and cultures. In this episode, I share the inspiration that led to the creation of Interwoven. I talk about the vision and purpose that lie at the heart of every conversation to come. Music credits go to Isobel (Issi) Marklew.