The LRB Podcast

The London Review of Books is one of those publications that people either read devotedly or pretend to have read, and their podcast captures exactly why it inspires that kind of loyalty. Hosted by Thomas Jones and Malin Hay, with James Butler handling the fortnightly On Politics segment, the show delivers weekly conversations that move fluidly between literature, politics, history, and cultural criticism. One episode might cover Don Quixote, the next the politics of asylum in Britain, the next a deep read of Dickens. With 430 episodes in the archive, there's a massive back catalog to explore. The LRB Podcast benefits from access to the magazine's roster of contributors, which means the guests tend to be serious thinkers who actually have something to say rather than people doing the standard book tour circuit. Recent episodes have tackled everything from Jessica Mitford's activism to the AI market bubble to Palestinian photography. The political content is unapologetically left-leaning, which will either appeal to you or not. Audio quality can be inconsistent, and some episodes feel more focused than others, but the best installments are genuinely brilliant. The companion Close Readings series offers deeper literary analysis for subscribers. At 4.5 stars from 257 ratings, this sits comfortably among the most intellectually ambitious literary podcasts available. If you want your book talk served alongside real-world engagement, the LRB delivers.