The Close Readings series with Mark Ford & Seamus Perry, discussing the work of one poet each time is outstandingly good & insightful. I have learned so much. A huge resource. Other episodes are generally good too, but the Close Readings are outstanding.

The David Foster Wallace episode is disappointingly poor. I don’t say that from a position of reverence — I’m an abuse survivor myself — but because it’s lacking any real content or serious critical analysis and largely consists of unintelligent waffle and silly giggling. The final straw is the hideous vocal fry affected by the American contributor. This ugly U.S. trend cannot die soon enough for me — it renders those who adopt it unlistenable.

Most of the discussions professionally recorded (post Covid) are good but the app doesn’t update. I’ve tried everything.

I love the LRB so much. I read it each week and every time I see an interesting interview or discussion on the podcast I get excited and download it. But I hate to say that the host Tom has a voice not made for radio; he always sounds tired and bored and unfortunately this is infectious when listening to an audio piece. I am certain he’s a fiercely intelligent and great man but I think maybe he should pass on the baton of radio host to another colleague.

it repeatedly makes me fascinated in subjects I had no prior interest in. Abbess, Editor, CEO is a perfect example of this. De Beauvoir and Me another. Thomas Jones has a beguiling interviewing style which gently draws out the best in his guests.

The podcast hosted by Adam Shatz was stunning, 3 intelligent and thoughtful speakers setting out the horror of occupation, the indifference of the international community, and the lack of any obvious peaceful means for the Palestinians to obtain justice. Well done to all involved.

Just listened to two - discussion of post-structuralism and Alan Bennett’s 2019 diary. You might think the first would be pompous and the second cozy. But they were both just level headed and engaging. Looking forward to the poetry discussions next.

The episodes presented by Adam Shatz on the US presidential election were risible. If it weren’t for the obligatory recital of Trump’s sins at the start of each episode (yawn), one would be left thinking that the contest was between Biden and his fellow left-liberal sellouts (boo) and Bernie Sanders, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and other knights of the hammer and sickle (hurrah). Have Shatz or his comrades (I mean guests) ever left the New York Times homepage and met an actual voter?

Wish that these podcasts could cover every twentieth century poet of note. Fascinating discussion pitched at the right level. More please!

I am very disappointed by "the state of" podcasts so far. "The state of the nation" podcast was a lttle like chatting in the pub after a labour party meeting. Little insight and lots of strongly held, badly argued opinions . Very surprising for academics and editors of LRB. If you are interested in current topics the "Talking Politics" podcast is much better in terms of provding giving a broad nuanced view of issues.