Making Trouble with Molly Naylor

It's our final episode! Of season 3. Don't worry, there will be more Making Trouble - soon (ish). Please keep supporting the pod until then, (via Patreon, by sharing it, by posting/talking about it or rating/reviewing on your podcast app) it means everything and it helps us keep going! We sign off the season with a special listener questions episode. Musician and comedian Grace Petrie joins Molly...

It’s Troy Cabida (Neon Manila) day! Troy Cabida is a London-based Filipino poet. He is a former member of the Barbican Young Poets and the Roundhouse Poetry Collective. Join Molly and Troy for a conversation about collaboration. We talk about the highs, the lows, and the things we need to have in place to make it work. We discuss collaboration as making something that ends up being more than...

This week we welcome Mark Haddon (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, A Spot of Bother, The Porpoise) to the podcast for a chat about people-pleasing. Find out where Mark's people-pleasing tendencies come from, what people-pleasing gives us versus what it takes away, and why artists might be particularly prone to it.  We also chat about the impact of having a keen sense of smel...

A treat for the ears! It's Anna Jordan (Yen, Lost Atoms, Succession, Killing Eve)! Anna made her name as a scriptwriter, but has now also published her debut poetry collection DECADE . She co-runs runs  Support Playwrights  with Morgan Lloyd Malcolm; a group of theatre artists finding ways to support playwrights and create community - which can be found on Substack. Join Anna and Mo...

It's Harry Baker day! Harry is a poet with a background in MATHS. His poems have been watched by millions of people online, and his new collection TENDER was an instant Sunday Times Best Seller. Join Harry and Molly for a chat about self belief. We need it as artists, even when we don't know where to get it or how to sustain it. What do we do when we're the only ones who believe in our work during...

It's Benedict Lombe (Shifters! Lava!) day! Bene is an award-winning Congolese British playwright and screenwriter. Her work includes the hit play  Shifters , which transferred to the West End in Summer 2024, marking a ground-breaking moment as Benedict Lombe became the third Black British female playwright to have a play staged in the West End.  Shifters  went on to have another sel...

Lizzy Stewart! Illustrator and writer! Molly's past collaborator ! Maybe you've seen her pictures in there's a Tiger in the Garden, or Lights, Planets, People ! Or perhaps you've read her book Alison? Her new book, The Wreck, is out NOW . It's a glorious genre-defying illustrated novel about the messy tangle of love, envy and desire that underpins our most precious relationships, and the difficult...

It's Jessie Burton! is the multi-million best-selling author of four novels:  The Miniaturist ,  The Muse ,  The Confession  and  The House of Fortune  – all instant  Sunday Times  bestsellers. Her novels have been published in 40 languages. The Miniaturist  was adapted as a BBC One miniseries, starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Romola Garai. ...

Today we welcome the scriptwriter, comedian and journalist Athena Kugblenu for a chat about getting older. Which is good, because Molly needed to hear all this. We also talk about procrastination, what you get out of having a day job, industry rudeness and where Athena gets her ideas from. You can buy Athena's latest children's history book History's Most Epic Fails here ! The book she recommended...

This week I'm delighted to welcome Tim Clare, writer of fiction and non-fiction, for a chat about focus. We talk about planning, fractured focus & intense focus, confidence, editing and the theory that attention is the purest form of compassion. Tim opens up about the specific pleasures and pitfalls of deep focus for neurodivergent people. We talk about experimental French literature grou...

Alice is an award winning comedy writer, Broadcaster, and performer. Listed in the Telegraph’s 50 Funniest Comedians of the 21st Century , her solo comedy shows have been commissioned as TV specials on Amazon Prime, NextUp and the ABC. She has made four documentaries for Audible: Meditation 101 , Habit Change , Wellness and Work Life Balance . She also co-hosted BBC Radio 4 series Stranger Th...

Today I'm talking to poet and novelist Sophie Robinson. Sophie's debut novel Prairie Oyster came out last week. Buy it from your local bookshop, or from Bookshop.org who donate over 80% of their profit margin to independent bookshops. As well as being a writer, Sophie runs Devotion , a radical and inclusive writing workshop for people working at all levels. We talk about the concept of vulnerabili...

It's Josie Long! Josie is a stand-up comedian, writer and filmmaker. She has toured her live shows all over the world. She co-founded the charity Arts Emergency, helping young people get a fair start in the Arts and Humanities. Join us for a chat about Josie's struggles with output and productivity. We also talk about writing as an incantation, imbuing your life with the spirit of creativity, hall...

Listen up troublemakers! From January 12th you're invited to join us for a refreshing, rejuvenating CREATIVE COURSE. Six weeks of prompts, activities and ideas designed to kickstart your practice for 2026. Episodes will drop every Monday as usual, but rather than an interview with an esteemed guest (we'll get back to that in season 3), you'll receive a short audio workshop for you to engage with a...

In this season 2 finale, Molly is joined by Grace Petrie to answer your questions and respond to your creative dilemmas. Thanks for listening to this season of Making Trouble! We'll be back in 2026 with more trouble, more fabulous guests and more bath snacks. Until then, happy making! Join Molly's mailing list Follow Making Trouble on Instagram Support the podcast on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See a...

Musician Kate Stables (This Is The Kit) joins Molly for a chat about saying no. Why it's hard to do in the moment, how to get better at it, what happens when we don't do it, and why we need to say yes to ourselves. Check out the music video for Bashed Out , which featured on Sex Education and Pretty Little Liars. This Is The Kit's website: https://titk.cargo.site/ Join Molly's mailing list Follow...

It's the bard of Barnsley himself, Mr. Ian McMillan! Ian is a poet and broadcaster. He presents The Verb on BBC R3 and has been a regular on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Pick of the Week, You & Yours, Last Word and The Arts Show. He’s been a castaway on Desert Island Discs! Ian joins Molly for a chat about Time. How do we find more? How do we use it wisely? What should we spe...

It's Holly Williams! Holly is a novelist, journalist and theatre critic. This week she joins Molly for a meandering chat about priorities. How do we make time for the things we want to focus on most? What happens when self promotion takes up all of our creative energy? How do we work out what's a good use of our finite time? Plus, why was trying so embarrassing at (state) school? And how do we fin...

JULIE HESMONDHALGH! The legendary British actor (Broadchurch, The Pact, Happy Valley, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, Coronation Street), writer and activist joins Molly for a chat about Ego. What are we trying to protect ourselves from when we become defensive in difficult situations? Why does our ego get challenged by some things and not others? How do we embrace our multitudes instead of clinging...

Molly chats with Maria about losing heart. What happens in the weird lull after you've released a major piece of work? How do we keep caring when we're the only ones who do? What happens when we play the character of ourselves on stage? And did Maria really run away to a lighthouse? You'll also learn about the best way to cook baked beans. Buy Maria's book SWELL . The poem referenced is In That Ye...

Join Molly and Ashley as they discuss the pleasures and perils of SAYING YES. Why does Ashley say yes to EVERYTHING? What will make him say no more? Should he even worry? Who are 'the bum bum creams'? Other topics covered include self-promotion, holidays, inspiration, ambition and friendship. Ashley is a poet, novelist, referee and lecturer of creative writing. Ashley’s debut novel  The 392 &...

In this conversation with award-winning writer and podcaster Deborah Frances-White, Molly and Deb discuss indecision, ego, the biggest obstacles to creative expression and the importance of collaborating with people who make you feel talented. Deborah introduces Molly to the concept of 'trusting your obvious', and shares lots of useful tips on screenwriting and improvising. Check out Deborah's new...

In this episode with the sensational poet, comedian and artist Rob Auton, Rob and Molly talk about the performer's relationship with the audience. They also discuss tricky rooms, strange dynamics, being conscientious and anxiety. Rob has a strong take on how a writer/performer should feel about their own work in comparison to that of other artists and writers. Rob will be touring his new show CAN...

Join Molly Naylor and Adam Buxton for a conversation about sensitivity, and the way it impedes (and sometimes enhances) our creativity. Also touched on: stage craft, comparisons, Twisters (the lolly, not the weather), and how to relax and accept yourself while not wanging on about relaxing and accepting yourself too much. Listen to Adam's podcast ! Buy his new book I LOVE YOU BYEEEEE ! Listen to h...

Helen Zaltzman (The Allusionist, Answer Me This) joins Molly to talk about IDEAS. Where do they come from, where do they go? How do we turn them into something? Does anyone actually plan their career? A meandering, nutritious conversation! Check out Souvenirs on BBC Radio 4, written by Helen with an original score by Martin Austwick (performed by him and Adrienne LaBelle, violin). Produced by Hele...