The Boundless Podcast

Author of The Sufi Storyteller Faiqa joined Boundless Junior Editor Sadia Nowshin to discuss the beauty of Sufi stories, how classic Western literature might have been inspired by the tradition, and the love and pain of mother-child relationships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erica Wagner talks to Patrick Galbraith about her book Chief Engineer, which was published by Bloomsbury in 2017. They discuss Washington Roebling, the man who built the bridge, and his extraordinarily prescient understanding of engineering. It isn't just a story about metal and rock but it's a story about fathers and sons and it captures, in tremendous detail, a time of great change. There was, for instance, a ferry company that tried to sue when the bridge was built. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alison Bechdel joins Erica Wagner to chat about her new comic novel Spent, writing a new kind of autobiography, and learning new things. Spent by Alison Bechdel was published by Jonathan Cape on 22nd May 2025 (£22) and is available for preorder now Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Galbraith talks to Richard Negus about hedgelaying, nature writing, and the disconnect between the urban and rural sphere. Richard’s debut book, Words From the Hedge: A hedge layer’s view of the English Countryside, was published by Unbound on May Day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shelley Fisher Fishkin speaks to Boundless Editor-at-Large Erica Wagner about the enduring relevance and influence of Mark Twain — and how his words can still be used to apply to American politics today over a century since his death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Galbraith and Erica Wagner talk about Patrick’s unexpectedly controversial new book, Uncommon Ground, which explores land access throughout Britain. From naturism to fox hunting to magic mushroom picking and farming, Uncommon Ground has been called “a raking survey of England” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erica Wagner talks to Elizabeth Garner about folklore, and Erica and Patrick Galbraith discuss Elizabeth’s piece for Boundless on a well that sits in the garden at her childhood home. Erica and Patrick also discuss Patrick’s new book Uncommon Ground. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Galbraith talks to Lamorna Ash, the author of Don't Forget We're Here Forever which will be published shortly by Bloomsbury, about the rise of interest in religion among young people in Britain. That's the topic of her book, which also looks at conversion and Lamorna's own relationship with Christianity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erica Wagner talks to the novelist Manya Wilkinson, the winner of the 2025 Wingate Prize, about the influence of Yiddish in writing today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many now-20-something women who grew up in the UK, Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging was an iconic staple of Sadia Nowshin's early teenhood — the awkwardness of girlhood thrown into sharp relief and a protagonist whose imperfections brought girls on the cusp of young adulthood some comfort. What teens are reading now looks very different, and you only have to look at a 'TikTok Recommends' table at a bookshop to notice a pattern of romances with questionable themes — but should there be more guidance in place to stop impressionable young women from accessing stories beyond their years, or will teens simply always want to feel older than they are? She and Erica Wagner discuss how books targeting this demographic has changed, from Judy Bloom to toxic tropes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.