Best Literary Kicks Podcasts (2024)

1
Literary Society of Geneva have an English-language programme this September 6:24

1h ago6:24

6:24

The Société de Lecture hold English-speaking events approximately once per month in Geneva, but this month will be an exception. In collaboration with AMERICA festival, the biggest festival of English-language literature in France, located near Paris, the Société de Lecture in Geneva has invited esteemed authors of fiction, non-fiction and screenwr…

1
EP76: National Book Award Longlist Reactions (We're So Smart!) 39:19

2h ago39:19

39:19

Have we read all of the NBA fiction longlist books? We have not. Do we have thoughts on the ones we have read? We do! Jessica Anthony! Amazing! But we also read a bunch of other books for this episode, even if Sam has trouble remembering which ones (much as he could not remember the word "seersucker"). Here's what's on tap: - All of the National Bo…

1
Setting kids up for success and celebrating wins 5:04

34m ago5:04

5:04

Alex Marrable, Director at Tutorsplus, joins Katt Cullen in the WRS studio to talk about this back-to-school period and how to set kids up for success for the brand new school year. She reminds us to prioritise open communication, celebrate successes regularly, and build and maintain confidence with academic support where necessary.…

1
Frontaliers obtaining French Nationality 11:26

3d ago11:26

11:26

Naïs Callier is a Juriste at Cabinet Faulk, based in Ferney Voltaire, specialising in immigration. I spoke to her about obtaining French nationality and particularly for frontalier workers who have a unique situation living in France, but working in Switzerland. We discussed the different ways you can go about obtaining French nationality, the requ…

1
About A Flute 1:32:51

3d ago1:32:51

1:32:51

Gaby Kogut joins Marc Eliot Stein to take a deep psychological dive into the meaning of Mozart's masterpiece "The Magic Flute". We talk about many things: problems this opera has in 2024, the idea of "Die Zauberflote" as a time capsule of freemasonry, the male gaze, the great Ingmar Bergman movie, Carl Jung, individuation, "Wizard of Oz", the quest…

1
KICK ABOUT - with Sally Freedman 5:13

3d ago5:13

5:13

Sally Freedman is a football expert, Senior Sports Communication Manager, sports author, and a huge fan of the game. She tells us what's happening in the world of football this week on the WRS Breakfast Show.By SwissVille Broadcasting

1
Free Diabetes Testing in Geneva 6:12

3d ago6:12

6:12

The Geneva Diabetes Association diabète genève are currently holding 3 days of free testing for diabetes at the Balexert Shopping Centre from Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th September 2024. Geoffrey Katz, Vice President of diabète genève joined us in the studio to tell us about testing and explained who's most at risk, and what a positive result mig…

1
Early years learning and teachable moments during play 7:56

7d ago7:56

7:56

La Côte International School is located in Aubonne and teaches around 430 students aged 3 - 18 years old. Ahead of the Early Years open day, Ashley Moisdon, Early Years Teacher explains how very young children learn through play at La Côte International School. She demonstrates how play can fosters curiosity, develop motor skills, interests, and co…

1
EP75: Sally Rooney, Nick Sparks, and Serviceberries 47:56

7d ago47:56

47:56

Sam is well outside his comfort zone this week, with a read of his first Nicholas Sparks book (it's not terrible!), and a GMA Book Club pick. Hannah's got an early line on the new Sally Rooney. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Here's what's on tap: - "Counting Miracles," by Nicholas Sparks (lots of Bible stuff!) - "Intermezzo," by Sally Roon…

1
Educating Rita at Boutique Theatre Basel (13-28 Sept) 6:19

7d ago6:19

6:19

Cast members Natalie Müller and Fred Zimmerman talk to us about the show on the Breakfast Show on WRS... Educating Rita, by Willy Russell, is a play about Rita, a young working class hairdresser from Liverpool who embarks on a class at Open University. Frank is a middle-aged university professor, and is taken by Rita's energy and her fresh perspec…

1
Henk Potts 2:05

8d ago2:05

2:05

Henk sadly died after a short illness this week. All of us send our deepest condolences to his family - as do many of you. Hear Mark's tribute to his friend. If you wish, you can leave a comment on Henk's tribute page:By SwissVille Broadcasting

1
Laura Leoncini from Job Tales on the Breakfast Show 13:13

16d ago13:13

13:13

Laura's show 'Job Tales' interviews a new guest each week about their job; the ins and outs of what they do as well as their own personal pathway to their current role. The show has been on WRS for a year now, so we invited her on the Breakfast Show to talk about some of her favourite moments so far, some surprises along the way, and about other in…

1
Ozzee the Dozy Mozzy - a fun fictional book for kids, tackling Malaria 9:45

15d ago9:45

9:45

Ozzee the Dozy Mozzee is an educational and fun fictional story for children about eight young female anopheles mosquitoes learning how to bite humans. (Males don't need to.) They face many difficulties, including the ways humans try to stop them. Ozzee, the mosquito who is the central character, is a dozy reluctant learner, who eventually gets cau…

1
Second hand book sale in Divonne this weekend (Fri 30 Aug - Sun 1 Sept) 5:22

17d ago5:22

5:22

Jane Broere is the Founder of Nourishing Minds; a Swiss non-profit organisation that's feeding school children in Malawi with a cup of porridge each school day with the goal of helping undernourished children concentrate and receive a better education. Nourishing Minds runs several different fundraising events in Switzerland and France throughout t…

1
EP74: A Literary Groundhog Day 50:39

21d ago50:39

50:39

The Emotional Support Chicken has been named — Page Turner won out — and Hannah and Sam are satisfied with the results. Can the same be said for the books they've read this week? Yes and no. Here's what's on tap: - "Tell Me Everything," by Elizabeth Strout (shoutout, Emma Straub) - "Shift," by Hugh Howey (with some Common commentary) - "Long Island…

1
GAOS: Twenty - new show 8:23

26d ago8:23

8:23

GAOS Youth Show A retrospective of all the musical Youth Shows GAOS performed since 2004. “TWENTY” will be played at the Founex Communal Hall from August 30 to September 1. The entire cast and most crew members are between 11 and 19 years old. Jo Beveridge, the chair of GAOS and Deyan Marinov, who stars in the show, joined Mark Butcher in the studi…

1
EP73: Hannah Discovers Only Fans 44:32

1M ago44:32

44:32

Hannah's been on vacation, where she read her pants off. She's got books. And she and Sam have a bet as to whether any of you will take advantage of the big discount code embedded in this episode. We'll see what happens. As for books, we tackle: - "Margo's Got Money Troubles," by Rufi Thorpe - "The Most," by Jessica Anthony - "Death at the Sanitori…

1
EP72: Feminists and Wedding People 39:21

2M ago39:21

39:21

We may not be winning the SEO battle, but we're reading some cool books this summer, including the latest from Laura Dave, who has a standard cover treatment for a reason. People are looking for the next one! Then it's on to ultra-feminist badass Kathleen Hanna (Carrie Brownstein was in Sleater-Kinney, sorry Sam couldn't remember), whose "Riot Girl…

1
Tick, Tick... BOOM! 7:30

2M ago7:30

7:30

LYMPA Founder Ylan Assefy-Waterdrinker and Actress Ophelia Chapman join Katt Cullen in the WRS studio to talk about a musical theatre performance that will tell the tale of the creator of Broadway hit RENT. Jon passed away the day before his musical theatre masterpiece performed on Broadway and therefore never saw its success. This shows what happe…

1
Inspire Yoga Festival - yoga at altitude 6:47

2M ago6:47

6:47

We talk to Festival Manager Pati Bendita about what makes yoga at altitude so different. More info available at inspireyogafestival.com.By SwissVille Broadcasting

1
CinéTransat organiser talks Happy City Lab and CinéTransat goals 9:00

2M ago9:00

9:00

CinéTransat is a great event run by Happy City Labs designed to bring people together through creative endeavours. It can be entirely free, though you can buy a drink or two from the buvette, or rent a comfortable transat chair for the movie for just CHF 5.- to support the organisation. As always, there are plenty of movies to enjoy for anglophones…

1
Ford Boyard Comes to the Centre Manor Chavannes 4:35

2M ago4:35

4:35

Calling all brave adventurers!! Kids from age 4 and up are invited to take on the challenge of the famous TV show 'Ford Boyard' where different challenges centre around agility, composure, courage and concentration. Fort Boyard entertainment: 16 - 27 July. Host André Bouchet, aka Passe-Partout, will be on-site on Friday 19 July. Kids Factory (addit…

1
EP71: Having a Laugh or Two on the Dock 52:15

2M ago52:15

52:15

Dock sitting for the July 4 extended weekend means we've got books to talk about! Hannah pulled Peter Heller's "The Guide" off the camp shelves and found herself thinking, "the writing is so insanely beautiful." Pretty high praise. Heller even makes fly-fishing enthralling — she read it in a day. Meanwhile, Sam was consumed for multiple days with L…

1
EP70: The Mayflower, Blood Quantum, and Great Sandwiches 38:39

3M ago38:39

38:39

Sam has been doing research into the family tree, which is largely irrelevent, but does have him fired up to talk books. Hannah's right there with him, with brand-new reads hot off the presses. But we're not quite done with "Fire Exit" yet and start things out with some closing thoughts and a great deal more context (the Press Herald reviewer that …

1
Câlin Doré is the new sustainable luxury lingerie brand in Switzerland 7:18

3M ago7:18

7:18

Câlin Doré's co-founder Sarah joined us on the WRS Breakfast Show to talk about the lingerie industry and patented technology that offers daily protection. Wanting something that was robust enough for daily use, but beautiful enough to feel like luxury lingerie, Sarah set out to make the underwear that she couldn't find on the market. Every pair ca…

1
A Fondness for Truth - a crime novel set in Bern 6:11

3M ago6:11

6:11

A Fondness for Truth is the third crime novel in Kim Hays’s Polizei Bern series and is now available in Swiss bookstores. She talks to Katt Cullen on the WRS Breakfast Show about the recent release and some of the characters within the novel. In A Fondness for Truth, Andi Eberhart is knocked down and killed by a hit-and-run driver while cycling hom…

1
We must stop poaching nurses from the world’s most vulnerable nations 7:00

3M ago7:00

7:00

There’s an international shortage of nurses at present and this week the WHO are talking about unethical international nurse recruitment across borders. The International Council of Nurses (ICN)'s CEO Howard Catton joins Katt Cullen on the WRS Breakfast Show to explain the consequences of this unethical and short-sighted practice, as well as how th…

1
Anna Bory talks Miloo; the bike that's changing how we think about mobility 10:50

3M ago10:50

10:50

Looking at Miloo bikes, you’ll probably be struck by the chunky tires. But keep looking and you'll soon notice that they're packed with extra features that you don't typically see on an electric road bike. Talking to WRS' Katt Cullen, Co-Founder Anna Bory explains why the mobility industry is so much greater than four wheels versus two. She explain…

1
EP69: Keanu Reeves, Elin Hilderbrand, and the Book of the Year? 47:56

3M ago47:56

47:56

It's summer for real now, and we're hyped for our upcoming event at Hastings House in Beverly Farms, featuring four summer-read authors. This is a legit literary genre at this point, folks. So we fire things up with Elin Hilderbrand's final (maybe) summer novel, fittingly titled "Swan Song." What makes this new literary tradition so attractive? Sam…

1
Learn Meditation 3:51

3M ago3:51

3:51

Are you on a search for inner peace? Do you want a few minutes a day to escape the rat run of life? At a special session in Geneva on Thursday 20th June you can learn meditation techniques from the master Gurudev. But what can meditation do for you? Mark Butcher spoke to advanced meditation teacher, and head of the Art of Living Switzerland, Marcel…

1
Léo and Robbie are running 26K in each of the 26 cantons over 26 days - including JULY UPDATE 7:52

4M ago7:52

7:52

Robbie Newton and Léo de Riedmatten are embarking on an exciting running challenge which they're calling "Project 26". They are going to be running 26 kilometres a day for 26 consecutive days, in the 26 cantons of Switzerland — a challenge which has never been done before! They are aiming to raise CHF 26,000.- for Sportegration, an NGO based in Zür…

1
Haut-Lac School on the benefits of a bilingual education 7:13

4M ago7:13

7:13

Anne-Marie Harwood is the Managing Director of Secondary at Haut Lac International Bilingual School. She's also one of the 4 co-founders of the school, which started 31 years ago. As she explained to WRS, all co-founders are still closely involved in the management of the school. Located in St Legier, around 5 minutes above Vevey, the school has cl…

1
EP68: Summer Reading Kicks Off! 33:33

4M ago33:33

33:33

Hannah and Sam are at Clearwater Pond on Memorial Day Weekend and they are ready to rock and roll for summer's many hours of lazy water-side reading. First up is Ann Hood, pride of Rhode Island, and her "The Stolen Child," which features travels to France and Italy with a pair of mis-matched travelers who develop a deep and abiding friendship and i…

1
Todd Barry in Zurich 7:16

4M ago7:16

7:16

Catch Todd Barry LIVE at the Comedyhaus in Zurich on Thursday 6 June. Tickets are available at ticketcorner.ch Todd Barry has released four one-hour stand-up specials, including his latest special, Domestic Shorthair. He has starred in shows such as The Wrestler, Road Trip, Flight of the Concords, Chappelle's Show, Spin City, and Sex in the City. Y…

1
Geneva parking app 4:29

4M ago4:29

4:29

Parking across the whole canton of Geneva has got easier with a significant change in how you can pay for spaces online. Mark Butcher spoke to Damien Zuber, who’s the General Manager of the Fondations des Parkings who explains how the new multizone parking app works. You can pay for half or full day parking in Geneva on Multipark.ch – the web app i…

1
British School of Geneva 9:29

4M ago9:29

9:29

Simon Thompson, Principal of the British School of Geneva joined Mark Butcher in the studio to discuss the value of the UK qualification 'A' Levels. Seen as the gold standard of pre-university qualifications and recognised across the world.By SwissVille Broadcasting

1
Walk the Talk - Health for All 6:29

4M ago6:29

6:29

The 5th edition of Walk the Talk - Health for All will take place this Sunday 26 May. Focus will be on the importance of physical activity, mental health, disease prevention, and access to healthcare for all. The event is free, open to participants from all backgrounds, and can be done on foot, running, or in a wheelchair. A multitude of celebrated…

1
Join the Ceilidh in Grand Saconnex this Friday 24 May 6:55

4M ago6:55

6:55

Jane Broere is the Founder of 'Nourishing Minds', the charity that's working with schools in Malawi to feed school children with locally grown maize-based lunches. This Friday they're organising a Ceilidh at the Grand-Saconnex Salle Communalle from 7-11pm (doors open at 6pm), with a live band, food and entertainment. Tickets cost CHF 45.-. Tickets …

1
EP67: Late Night from NEIBA 45:17

4M ago45:17

45:17

Hannah is at the New England Independent Booksellers Association Spring Fling (or something like that), and it's a late-night recording to beat the band. Mostly, both Hannah and Sam are fired up about the release of "Ministry of Time," which they've been wanting to talk about since they read it as an advanced-reading copy. Yes, it's a time travel b…

1
Award-winning rock-musical RENT comes to Nyon 8:16

4M ago8:16

8:16

GAOS will present rock-musical RENT this 23-26 May 2024 at Théâtre de Marens in Nyon. RENT ran for 12 years on Broadway, telling the tale of a group of young artists in the East Village of New York City. There are themes of falling in love, finding a voice, growing a community and living for today. The musical is a pop cultural phenomenon with song…

1
Smile Through Music - the charity piano concert raising money for children born with a cleft palate 4:58

4M ago4:58

4:58

17 year old James Adalla is a pianist at the musical school of Jaques-Dalcroze and a high-school student at Collège Elilie-Gourd in Geneva. He's currently leading the second edition of his charity project "Gift of Smile Through Music". Born with a cleft lip and palate himself, James' initiative aims to finance surgical operations for other children…

1
Caves Ouvertes in Vaud: 18-19 May 8:26

4M ago8:26

8:26

Nicolas Debluë from Domaine Debluë in Founex joins us on the Breakfast Show to talk about Swiss wines, the recent weather and its effects on crops, and what they're planning for this weekend's event. Caves Ouvertes costs just CHF 40.- to access and taste wines at over 200 vineyards across Vaud this weekend, including a wine glass, a CHF 20.- off vo…

1
CinéGlobe - the film festival at CERN 7:45

4M ago7:45

7:45

The 13th edition of CineGlobe will take place 15-19 May at The CERN Science Gateway and CERN IdeaSquare. Organiser Alex Brown joins us to tell us more...By SwissVille Broadcasting

1
Fingask Follies 5:23

5M ago5:23

5:23

One of Scotland’s musical institutions: touring all over Britain and abroad. The Follies are a full evening's entertainment, on an original theme each year, drinks before Act 1, 35 minutes of live and original singing (no microphones) , then an hour for dinner, then Act 2, 50 more minutes of song and pleasure followed by coffee and pudding wine. Fo…

1
EP66: Live from Newburyport, with Jami Attenberg and Steve Almond 1:02:24

4M ago1:02:24

1:02:24

It's a special edition of "John Updike's Ghost," recorded live from the Newburyport Literary Festival, with special guests Jami Attenberg and Steve Almond, veteran authors who have both penned great new books about writing. Steve's "Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow," is an instruction manual that allows for failure along the way; Jami's "1000 W…

1
Emily Boyle - climate youth activist and flim maker 8:37

5M ago8:37

8:37

Emily Boyle is an activist for Swiss Youth For Climate and was documenting the workings of the latest COP28 meeting in Dubai. She's made a film - Hearing No Ojections - which follows youth activists at the conference. It's being screened in Geneva on May 15. It's hoped the film will soon be screened at festivals. Emily would really appreciate your …

1
The Glass Menagerie 4:51

5M ago4:51

4:51

The latest production from the Lausanne based the Village Players is the classic Tennessee Williams play, The Glass Menagerie. Mark Butcher spoke to the director Hannah Sellers about the play. It's on at the Centre Pluriculturel et Social d'Ouchy, May 16-19 Full details: villageplayers.chBy SwissVille Broadcasting

1
Printemps Carougeois 9:59

5M ago9:59

9:59

Carouge has been marking the begining of spring with events and shows for the last 50 years - and this year is no exception. Mark Butcher spoke to Cecilia Campeas from the Ville de Carouge about some of the highlights. The theme this year is 'secrets'. All the details are on www.printemps-carougeois.ch…

1
GEDS - Double Bill: Friends Help You Move & The Geese Fly South 8:24

5M ago8:24

8:24

GEDS will be going to the Festival of European Anglophone Theatrical Societies (FEATS) in Antwerp with two plays this year; one play is about two inept criminals planning a heist that goes terribly wrong, the other is about three couples at different stages of their relationship on the day before St Valentine’s Day. Before they head off to FEATS, t…

1
Supporting local entrepreneurs 6:16

5M ago6:16

6:16

Youness Yaghcha from LIME - Lab for Innovative Minds & Entrepreneurship - explains how he works with entrepreneurs to build their businesses and save time and money in their start-up journey. He explains the importance of working with the right people, finding funding and testing the product in the market.…

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