• Season 2 - Episode 3 - Tom Percival, Kirsty Woods & Esther Brown
    Mar 29 2026

    SEASON 2 - EPISODE 2

    In this episode we are choc-full of celebrities whether they come from the world of writing, illustration, bookselling or teaching.

    Our author & illustrator guest Tom Percival navigates us down some dark alleys with his three choices of books from his childhood, before filling us in on the latest projects he's working on.

    We're also joined by the wonderful Kirsty Woods of Kibworth books who recommends another wonderful picture book from the Read for Empathy collection.

    To top things off we also have Instagram favourite Esther Brown, curator of 'Mrs Brown's Bookbox' on Instagram. She chooses a 'scrambled' title for us to enjoy!

    BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

    Paul - Bunny's First Birthday by A.J McGregor and W.Perring

    Kirsty - The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick, Mevan Babakar and Yas Imamura

    Tom - Tim and the Hidden People by Sheila McCullach, The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper & The Devil on the Road by Rober Westall

    Esther - Scrambled Legs by Jahanna N.Malcolm

    USEFUL LINKS

    Tom Percival

    WEB:www.tom-percival.com/

    INSTA: @tompercivalbooks

    Kibworth Books

    Bookshop

    Kirsty Woods

    Insta : @homelovinguk

    EmpathyLab

    WEB: www.empathylab.uk

    INSTA: @empathylabuk

    Paul Jenkins WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk

    INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ

    For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com

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    44 mins
  • Season 2 - Episode 2 - Dominic Berry, Sarah Mears & Paul Heaton
    Mar 10 2026

    SEASON 2 - EPISODE 2

    Recorded at the Ramsbottom Come Together Festival somewhere between the toilets and the fire esacpe (Oh the glamour!) my guest this week is the fantastic Dominic Berry (AKA Dommy B) - we delve into the brilliant books his Mum introduced him to, the graphic novels he loved as a child and the books he was terrified by - but loved. We also take a few meandering turns through politics, autism and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's the perfect discussion.

    I also speak this week to Sarah Mears about another book in the Read for Empathy Collection and we get a book recommendation all the way back to the 60's with former teacher Paul Heaton. Jump in your time capsules kids - we're off to the library!

    BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

    Paul - Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

    Imogen - The Boy I Love by William Hussey

    Dom - He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, The Magic House series by Joe Austen, The Deptford Mice by Robin Jarvis & Green Smoke by Rosemary Manning

    Paul H - The Happy Venture Series by Fred J Schnoell

    USEFUL LINKS

    Dominic Berry

    WEB: www.dominicberry.net

    INSTA: @thepoetdominic

    EmpathyLab

    WEB: www.empathylab.uk

    INSTA: @empathylabuk

    Paul Jenkins WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk

    INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ

    For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com

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    33 mins
  • Season 2 - Episode 1 - Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Imogen Bond & Jade Marley
    Feb 24 2026
    SEASON 2 - EPISODE 1 Marty: Doc, are we back? Airplane comes screeching onto the screen Doc: We're back! Yup, it took a little longer than planned but we're here with metaphorical bells on. Our author guest to kick off the new series is the wonderful Rashmi Sirdeshpande and she has chosen some stonkingly good books from her youth to discuss. Rashmi also tells us of her love of libraries as a child and what's next on the horizon from her too! February also sees the publication of the brand new 'Read for Empathy' collection and i'm delighted to welcome back the Chief Exec of EmpathyLab to talk about one of her picks from the new list. AND we hear from Jade, MFL teacher at Tottington High School with her pick from childhood. We don't do things by halves around here! BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE Paul -Harry's Mad by Dick King Smith. Imogen - The Doughnut Club by Christina Rahim Rashmi - Please Mrs Butler, by Allan Ahlberg, The Usborne Adventure Series and The DK Eyewitness series Jade - Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel USEFUL LINKS Rashmi Sirdeshpande WEB: www.rashmisirdeshpande.com INSTA: @rashmiwriting EmpathyLab WEB: www.empathylab.uk INSTA: @empathylabuk Paul Jenkins WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com
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    34 mins
  • Episode 10 - Hannah Gold & Mari Bowen
    Oct 5 2025

    EPISODE 10

    And so - the end is near. And now we face...the final curtain. :(

    But don't cry too much we'll be back in a few months with season 2.

    What? One last MASSIVE episode? Oh, ok then.

    Today's guest is the brilliant Hannah Gold talking about her brilliant books and three choices of her own that she read when she was younger. From rats, lions and ducks came the stories of whales, turtles, bears & huskies that we know and love from Hannah's back catalogue. Hannah also speaks candidly about her worries that she was somehow 'not good enough' before her first book deal and opens up on the insecurities you can have has as a young writer.

    Mari Bowen will also be filling us in on a her choice from the Read for Empathy collection - a Catherine Johnson classic.

    We also pay tribute to the inimitable Brian Patten, who sadly signed off his final stanzas this week. What an inspiration to me and so many more. Raised by Writers, inspired by writers. The words live on. :)

    BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

    Paul -Gargling with Jelly by Brian Patten.

    Mari - Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson

    Hannah - Mrs Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H by Robert C.O Brien, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis and The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen

    USEFUL LINKS

    Hannah Gold

    WEB: https://www.hannahgold.world/

    INSTA: @hannahgold_author

    EmpathyLab

    WEB: www.empathylab.uk

    INSTA: @empathylabuk

    Paul Jenkins

    WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk

    INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ

    For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com

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    41 mins
  • Episode 9 - S.F. Said, Helen Mulligan & Simon Hunt
    Sep 28 2025

    EPISODE 9

    The penultimate episode in the series? How did we get so close to the end of the book? What's going to happen to the characters? Will there be a sequel?!? Yes. We announced that last week Pay at the attention you at the back!

    This week, we're talking all things cats, tigers, geese and trees. It's a fine combination. S.F.. Said joins me to discusses the books that influenced him but also highlights the importance of storytelling, fable and reading in our lives. And he talks about his cat. What's not to love?

    As for geese, Helen Mulligan has that covered with her recommendation from the Read for Empathy collection this week as we meet 'The Meanest Goose on Earth'

    Lastly, our teacher guest this week chooses a book that we've had on the pod before - proving yet again that despite the fact that Enid Blyton is not the 'trendiest' of authors to discuss - they clearly hold very firm memories for anyone who came across their books in childhood. (Me included!)

    BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

    Paul -1984 by George Orwell

    Helen - Gordon, The Meanest Goose on Earth by Alex Latimer

    S.F.Said - The Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss, Watership Down by Richard Adams and The Tyger by William Blake

    Simon - The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

    USEFUL LINKS

    S.F.Said

    WEB: www.sfsaid.com

    INSTA: @whatsfsaid

    Simon Hunt

    INSTA: @mrhuntfromthefront

    EmpathyLab

    WEB: www.empathylab.uk

    INSTA: @empathylabuk

    Paul Jenkins

    WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk

    INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ

    For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com

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    37 mins
  • Episode 8 - Attie Lime, Rashmi Sirdeshpande & Andrea Humberstone
    Sep 21 2025

    EPISODE 8

    We motor on into a giant of an episode with not one but two brilliant authors? More bang for your buck. Which is an even better deal when you consider this baby is free.

    Attie Lime, poet and author of Blue Jelly & Strawberries is my guest as we go through the books that have stayed with her since childhood and shaped the poet she has become. We also chat about her upcoming Chrsitmas collection "A welly full of Christimas" and her involvement with the Swadlincote Festival of Words.

    But as if that wasn't enough we also speak to the fantastic Rashmi Sirdeshpande about her 2023 book "We've Got This" - the six step guide to developing your empathy superpower she wrote in collaboration with EmpathyLab. Rashmi will be back in series 2 (Yes, it's official - we're having a series 2!) to chat about her won books from childhood.

    Finally, our teacher guest, Andrea Humberstone introduces me to a book that had gone under my radar - and it sounds like its right up my street. Time to do a trawl of the old t'internet to find me a copy methinks!

    BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

    Paul -Stories from Rainbow

    Rashmi -We've Got This by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Juliana Eigner

    Attie - The Puffin Book of Funny Verse, The Enormous Turnip and Mr Strong by Roger Hargreaves.

    Jennifer - The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott Odell

    USEFUL LINKS

    1. Attie Lime

    WEB: www.attielime.co.uk/

    INSTA: @attielime

    Rashmi Sirdeshpande

    WEB: www.rashmisirdeshpande.com

    INSTA: @rashmiwriting

    EmpathyLab

    WEB: www.empathylab.uk

    INSTA: @empathylabuk

    Paul Jenkins

    WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk

    INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ

    For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com

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    31 mins
  • Episode 7 - Patrice Lawrence, Miranda McKearney & Jennifer Young
    Sep 13 2025

    EPISODE 7

    Episode 7 already? Unbelievable. But what a week. To say that our guest this week is a legend is a little bit of an understatement. Author of Orangeboy, Needle, Our Story Starts in Africa and of course the Elemental Detectives series, Patrice Lawrence is one of the most powerful authors in UK Children's literature. A former journalist, Patrice has numerous accolades including winning the Waterstones book prize & the Bookseller Prize in 2017 & being elected as a fellow to the Royal Soicety of Literature in 2023.

    Patrice chooses some fabulous titles and lets us peep behind the curtain of her early reading experiences, growing up in Brighton in the 60's and 70's.

    Miranda McKearney, formerly of the Reading Agency and co-founder of EmpathyLab discusses her choice(s) from the Read for Empathy collection and our teacher guest, Jennifer Young manages to pick out our first double of the series.

    Blyton clearly still holds a place in people's hearts!

    BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

    Paul - The Conker as Hard as a Diamond by Chris Powling

    Miranda - The Grand Hotel of Feelings by Lydia Brankovic and The Cat who Couldn't be Bothered by Jack Kurland

    Patrice - The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, The Wishing Chair by Enid Blyton and The Didakoi by Rumer Godden.

    Jennifer - The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

    USEFUL LINKS

    Patrice Lawrence

    WEB: www.goodreads.com/author/show/646810.Patrice_Lawrence

    INSTA: @lawrencepatrice

    EmpathyLab

    WEB: www.empathylab.uk

    INSTA: @empathylabuk

    Paul Jenkins

    WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk

    INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ

    For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com

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    32 mins
  • Episode 6 - Joshua Seigal, Rebecca Horswill & Samantha Nunnery
    Sep 7 2025

    EPISODE 6

    Over halfway through the series now and today Paul meets the brilliant award winning poet, Joshua Seigal. Author of Who Let the Words Out?, I Don't Like Poetry and Little Lemur Laughing to name but three, Joshua is a twice winner of the Laugh Out Loud award as well being chosen as the Reading Rocks award winner in 2024.

    We chat about his first brush with poetry being read to as a child through to his explorations of his teenage years alongside a very famous keeper of diaries.

    Rebecca Horswill is the Communications and Design Officer for EmpathyLab with a background herself in chlidren's book illustration. It's no surprise that she's chosen an amazing picture book to talk about. Out teacher recommendation this week comes from Samantha Nunnery, who is our first sixth form teacher on the pod. Sam takes us back to a book that has been with her since the age of 7.

    Prepare to go down the rabbit hole!

    BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE

    Paul - The Sonnets of William Shakespeare

    Rebecca - Grandad's Star by Frances Tosdevin, Illustrated by Rhian Stone

    Joshua - There's a Wocket in my Pocket by Dr Seuss, There Are a Lot of Weirdos in Our Neighbourhood by Colin McNaughtonand The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend

    Samantha - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

    USEFUL LINKS

    Joshua Seigal

    WEB: https://www.joshuaseigal.co.uk/

    INSTA: @joshuaseigal

    EmpathyLab

    WEB: www.empathylab.uk

    INSTA: @empathylabuk

    Paul Jenkins

    WEB: www.pauljenkinspoet.co.uk

    INSTA: @teacherwriterPJ

    For any enquiries about the podcast contact Paul on pauljenkinspoet@gmail.com

    Raised by Writers (c) is a Double Rainbow production

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    31 mins