Best Benjamin Freud Podcasts (2025)

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Becoming-Through-Loss: The Groundwork of Metabolic Ontology 8:59

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6d ago8:59

8:59

What if life doesn’t fight decay, but feeds on it? In this episode, I explore metabolic ontology, a way of seeing being, learning, and ethics as continual re-organization. Entropy, loss, and transformation aren’t problems to fix; they’re the medium through which life keeps composing itself. Drawing from my work in regenerative education, I look at …

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Richard Lloyd Parry and the journeys within stories 35:49

6d ago35:49

35:49

Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia editor for The Times and Sunday Times, shares memories of his upbringing in Southport and his Blockbusters prize trip to Japan, which sparked a desire to cover the continent during his career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Olivier Norek on courage, conflict and history 29:23

13d ago29:23

29:23

French author Olivier Norek presents ‘The Winter Warriors’, his first historical novel, on the 1939 Soviet invasion of Finland. He joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his research and why this story deserves global recognition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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School Isn’t Broken, It’s Working Exactly as Designed 15:52

18d ago15:52

15:52

In this episode of the Coconut Thinking Podcast, I take a hard look at what school really does, and what it would cost to truly change it. We keep saying education needs fixing, but maybe it’s doing exactly what it was built to do: sort, rank, and hold the world in place. Drawing on Bourdieu, cultural capital, and the myth of meritocracy, I unpack …

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Sam Sussman on the possibility of family ties 33:30

20d ago33:30

33:30

Writer Sam Sussman joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his US upbringing, relationship with his mother and the op-ed that developed into his debut novel, ‘Boy from the North Country’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Juhea Kim on stories woven from silence 32:02

27d ago32:02

32:02

Georgina Godwin speaks to Juhea Kim about her path from ballet to bestsellers, the inspirations behind her work, her passion for conservation and the television adaptation of her debut novel, ‘Beasts of a Little Land’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Priyanka Mattoo on the search for home 33:10

1M ago33:10

33:10

Writer and filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo joins Georgina Godwin following the release of her memoir, ‘Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones’, which details a journey of self-discovery and finding home in an ever-changing world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Michael Wolff on chaos, power and America’s reckoning 37:33

1M ago37:33

37:33

Journalist Michael Wolff joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his career and his perception of Donald Trump, leading to his ‘Fire and Fury’ series. Plus: he shares his view on the political landscape in the media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Elspeth Hay: Feed us with trees 44:10

1M ago44:10

44:10

What if the way we eat could root us back into place, instead of tearing it apart? In this episode, I speak with Elspeth Hay. Elspeth is a writer, public radio host, and food systems advocate whose work explores what it means to live thoughtfully in place. Raised in Maine by birdwatcher parents, she grew up seeing how species adapt seamlessly to th…

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R James Breiding on what small nations teach the world 35:10

2M ago35:10

35:10

R James Breiding, Naissance Capital founder and author, recounts his path from Catholic school to finance. He champions small nations’ strengths, praises Singapore’s healthcare and highlights lessons from Nordic countries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Michelle de Kretser on literature and belonging 30:30

2M ago30:30

30:30

Georgina Godwin interviews Michelle de Kretser on her Sri Lankan roots, family influences, migration to Australia and her novel ‘Theory & Practice’, which explores desire, jealousy and identity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Iain Sinclair on London, literature and hidden journeys 33:58

2M ago33:58

33:58

Georgina Godwin is joined by the chronicler of London’s psychogeographies, Iain Sinclair. His latest novel, ‘Pariah Genius’, traces the footsteps of photographer John Deakin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Josh Dorfman: The Lazy Environmentalist (not really) 45:36

2M ago45:36

45:36

What if sustainability’s future was driven by passion, shaped with youth, and told through real stories? In this episode, I speak with Josh Dorfman. Josh is a climate entrepreneur, author, and media voice at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and culture. He is the co-founder, CEO, and host of Supercool, the climate-tech podcast and me…

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Nick Berg on revolutions, exile and the stories that we inherit 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

Nick Berg joins Georgina Godwin to discuss ‘Shadows of Tehran’, a novel mirroring the author’s life in Iran before and after the revolution. He reflects on activism, escape, military service and Iran’s future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Iris Wolff on weaving memory into words 22:46

2M ago22:46

22:46

Georgina Godwin is joined by Iris Wolff to discuss her childhood in Romania, emigrating to Germany in the 1980s and the use of language and creative processes in the writing of her novel ‘Blurred’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Andrei Soldatov & Irina Borogan: Exiled voices on Russia 33:04

2M ago33:04

33:04

Russian journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, exiled in London, discuss ‘Our Dear Friends in Moscow’. The conversation ranges from post-Soviet transformations and censorship to their ongoing investigative reporting on Russian intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Maya Frost: Collapse 45:42

2M ago45:42

45:42

How might we consider collapse as a a transformative process that brings us together through loss and renewal? In this episode, I speak with Maya Frost. Maya is a creative adaptation strategist, grief worker, and trauma‑informed facilitator who specializes in what she calls “creative adaptation": helping collapse‑aware individuals disrupt their des…

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Karin Slaughter on banned books and the fight for truth 28:17

3M ago28:17

28:17

Karin Slaughter joins Georgina Godwin to reflect on her upbringing and her latest novel, ‘We Are All Guilty Here’. Plus: she shares her criticisms of book banning and censorship in the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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The women redefining literary festivals 39:43

3M ago39:43

39:43

Georgina Godwin speaks with women directing major literary festivals worldwide, from Edinburgh and Auckland to Sydney and Dubai. She explores their histories, audiences, themes and reach, highlighting diverse programming, cultural impact and international connections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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171: Media, Monopolies, and the Fairness Doctrine 23:37

3M ago23:37

23:37

This week I talk about who owns the media and why that matters. I get into the consolidation of media outlets from local owners a century ago to mostly multinational super-rich corporations today, and I unpack some of the ways that change has shaped the media we consume, which in turn shapes us. I talk about the Fairness Doctrine, the war on drugs,…

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Nick Harkaway and the legacy of Le Carré 36:08

3M ago36:08

36:08

Nick Harkaway joins Georgina Godwin to discuss life with John le Carré as a father and carrying on his legacy with the latest installment in the George Smiley series: ‘Karla’s Choice’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Jennifer D. Klein: Leadership as resistance and risk 55:56

3M ago55:56

55:56

How do you lead with courage and love for every child when the culture around you is demanding you do the opposite? Jennifer D. Klein is an educator, author, and global learning advocate with over 30 years in student-centered, project-based education. A product of the very pedagogies she champions, Jennifer has taught and led in diverse contexts—fr…

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170: Polybius and the End of Democracy 18:00

3M ago18:00

18:00

This week I kick off a new section of the show by talking about the cycle of democracy, which philosopher Polybius outlined more than 2000 years ago. I cover aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, anarchy, monarchy and tyranny, explaining the seemingly-unavoidable cycle that links them all together into a loop...one we appear to be nearing the end/begi…

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Jean McNeil on bearing witness to a disappearing world 30:41

3M ago30:41

30:41

Canadian author Jean McNeil reflects on her journey from Cape Breton Island to Antarctica in a conversation that explores grief, climate change and honouring the earth through her latest novel, ‘Latitudes’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Guadalupe Nettel on human nature in fiction 28:15

3M ago28:15

28:15

Georgina Godwin speaks to Guadalupe Nettel about her award-winning writing, life between Mexico and France, partial blindness and how human and animal behaviour inspires the themes in her latest work, ‘The Accidentals’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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C K Stead at the 2025 Auckland Writers Festival 29:36

3M ago29:36

29:36

New Zealand literary giant C K Stead joins Georgina Godwin to discuss aging, mortality and his early fascination with poetry. He also reflects on his influential role in shaping New Zealand’s literature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Karim Kattan on writing between languages and landscapes 26:57

3M ago26:57

26:57

Karim Kattan joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his upbringing in Bethlehem, putting Palestine in his own words and writing ‘The Palace on the Higher Hill’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Michael and Matariki Bennett at the 2025 Auckland Writers Festival 28:24

4M ago28:24

28:24

Georgina Godwin speaks with Michael and Matariki Bennett, co-curators of the Auckland Writers Festival, about their Māori heritage, the kōhanga reo movement and addressing sociopolitical issues through art. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Damian Le Bas on writing between worlds 37:13

4M ago37:13

37:13

Damian Le Bas joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his latest work, ‘The Drowned Places’, which delves into the myth of Atlantis and the sunken worlds beneath the ocean’s surface. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Agustina Bazterrica at Hay Festival 2025 22:34

4M ago22:34

22:34

Georgina Godwin speaks to Argentine author Agustina Bazterrica about her shift from opera to writing, literary influences and her novels exploring oppression, capitalism and control. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Esther Freud on family, fiction and healing 33:01

4M ago33:01

33:01

Esther Freud reflects on her childhood and literary journey to ‘My Sister and Other Lovers’, which follows two sisters facing secrets and heartbreak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Damien Wilkins at the 2025 Auckland Writers Festival 31:06

4M ago31:06

31:06

Georgina Godwin meets Damien Wilkins, the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Award winner for fiction with his novel ‘Delirious’. Wilkins reflects on his early literary influences, past work and transitioning to songwriting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Eliza Reid on crafting her first mystery 24:46

4M ago24:46

24:46

Eliza Reid speaks to Georgina Godwin about growing up in Ottawa, her time as Iceland’s first lady and her debut whodunit, ‘Death of a Diplomat’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Meike Ziervogel on her humanitarian and literary drive 30:04

4M ago30:04

30:04

Meike Ziervogel joins Georgina Godwin to discuss her literary and humanitarian journey, and her new novel, Shams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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The Winners of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction 38:45

5M ago38:45

38:45

Georgina Godwin meets Yael Van Der Wouden and Rachel Clarke, the winners of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction for their works ‘The Safekeep’ and ‘The Story of A Heart’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Charlotte Hankin: Where are the animals? 52:48

5M ago52:48

52:48

How might our relationships other-than-human animals help us consider sustainability and regenerative education in more life-centered ways? In this episode, I speak with Charlotte Hankin. Charlotte is an educator, sustainability consultant, and PhD researcher in the Department of Education at the University of Bath. Her doctoral work explores how r…

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Miranda Cowley Heller on what lies beneath art and memory 29:07

5M ago29:07

29:07

Author Miranda Cowley Heller speaks to Georgina Godwin at Adelaide Festival about the personal and literary crucible of her upbringing in a bohemian family of artists and writers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Ewan Morrison on AI and its side effects 27:23

5M ago27:23

27:23

Ewan Morrison joins Georgina Godwin to discuss the inspiration behind his ninth book, For Emma. His first science-fiction novel follows a grieving father in search of answers after the death of his daughter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Special Episode: Learning is a means, not an end 31:28

5M ago31:28

31:28

How can learning&doing help us become good participants in the web of life? In this special episode, I speak about how systems change won’t happen if we replace names and labels but continue to do the same old thing. I propose that we move beyond assessing learning, competencies, soft skills for their own sake. Rather, what if we collected the voic…

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Tiffany Watt Smith on female friendships 27:10

5M ago27:10

27:10

Tiffany Watt Smith joins Georgina Godwin to discuss her new release, ‘Bad Friend’, which explores the dynamics of female friendships with personal insights from Smith’s own life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Jeremy Vine: Broadcasting and the stories that matter 31:54

6M ago31:54

31:54

Broadcaster Jeremy Vine sits down with Georgina Godwin to share details about his upbringing in Surrey, his entry into reporting as a political correspondent and writing a cosy mystery novel, Murder on Line One. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

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Ahmed Alnaouq: the voices of Gaza beyond the headlines 28:40

6M ago28:40

28:40

Gazan journalist Ahmed Alnaouq joins Georgina Godwin to discuss his upbringing, losing family in a 2014 Israeli bombing and co-founding We Are Not Numbers, a network dedicated to sharing Palestinian stories beyond the headlines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle