Best Macmillan Publishers Podcasts (2024)

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E2A 081: Adapting book manuscripts for audio (a rebroadcast of The Audiobook Podcast) 24:53

3d ago24:53

24:53

In this special episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan shares his guest appearance on "The Audiobook Podcast" with host Justine Sloan-Lees. The episode covers in-depth insights into audiobook production at Grammar Factory, highlighting how they approach audiobooks differently compared to other publishers. You’ll al…

1
Live Recorded: Mystery Editor Consultation with Macmillan Editor Christina Lopez 49:54

3d ago49:54

49:54

Today is a special live recording of the Manuscript Academy podcast! In front of Manuscript Academy members, Jessica and Julie are joined by faculty member and Macmillan editor Christina Lopez in another installment of our Mystery Agent/Editor segment. Listen in as Christina critiques writer Karissa Riffel’s YA horror query and first page, and answ…

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E2A 080: Publishing Paths and Leadership Lessons: Tom Gardner’s Take on DIY vs Full-Service Publishing 16:11

3d ago16:11

16:11

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan is joined by Tom Gardner, a former McKinsey & Company startup COO, strategic advisor, and now the founder of The Management Distillery. Tom shares his journey from consulting to building startups, growing management teams, and his latest venture—The Management Distille…

1
Your Book Is Not For Everyone (Thank Goodness!): Author Positioning with Norton Editor Emma Peters 39:05

8d ago39:05

39:05

Have you ever been tempted to say "My book is for everyone"? We get it! It sounds like the perfect way to convince an agent your book is a slam dunk bestseller--right? Wrong. Realistically, no book is for everyone--and this is a great thing. We're happy to join Emma Peters, editor at W.W. Norton, to discuss: *Why you need to define your audience--a…

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E2A 079: Building Strong Client Relationships Through Everyday Conversations with Deb Feder 18:22

18d ago18:22

18:22

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan interviews Deb Feder, a business growth coach and strategist with a background as an attorney. Deb, the author of After Hello and Tell Me More, specializes in helping lawyers and leaders build successful careers through strong client relationships. She discusses the si…

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Metaphor, Math, Editing, & How You Can Get Your Message to Your Reader Effectively 38:09

21d ago38:09

38:09

We are so excited to welcome math teacher Ben Orlin to the podcast!Ben Orlin is a math teacher who can't draw. His book Math with Bad Drawings (2018) has sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide, and has since been followed by Change is the Only Constant (2019), Math Games with Bad Drawings (2022), and most recently, Math for English Majors (Sept 20…

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E2A 078: The Consumer-Driven Transformation of Commercial Real Estate with Joe Brady 24:09

1M ago24:09

24:09

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan speaks with Joe Brady, partner at LRG Investors, former CEO Americas for The Instant Group, and author of Workshop: The Consumer-Driven Transformation of Commercial Real Estate. Joe shares his insights on the evolving landscape of commercial real estate, driven by cons…

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Messy Characters, Building Tension & How Agents Should Advocate For Your Work with Agent Nour Sallam 32:31

1M ago32:31

32:31

We are so happy to welcome Nour Sallam, agent at P.S. Literary, to the podcast! We discuss: *How agents should advocate for clients from signing to offers to contracts to publication and beyond *Why messy characters and their interiority are often the one thing missing from your work *Why we should experience empathy for your villain*Opportunities …

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Genres, Tropes, Trends, and Finding Your Agent Fit with Agent Erica Bauman 44:36

2M ago44:36

44:36

We are so pleased to welcome agent Erica Bauman from Aevitas Creative Management to the podcast!We discuss: *How to make your work more atmospheric*Where to place emphasis when writing between genres *Balancing keeping the reader in their heads vs. their senses *When the genre of our world gets closer to dystopia, how does the dystopian genre chang…

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Querying, Middle School, And How Mistakes + Embarrassment Often Lead To Book Deals 47:46

2M ago47:46

47:46

Debut author Kristy Jackson joins Julie and Jessica to talk about her new middle grade book, MORTIFIED, now out in bookstores everywhere! From embarrassing middle school moments to querying hiccups, Kristy talks about her 20+ year-long writing journey, how she found the right agent for her, and how perseverance made all the different to achieving h…

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E2A 077: Accelerating Leadership with Jeri Childers 15:40

2M ago15:40

15:40

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, Scott speaks with Jeri Childers, founder of Accelerate You, a coaching, leadership, and business development company. Jeri's expertise lies in supporting leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to create personalized roadmaps for their lives, careers, and businesses. Her latest book, Accelerate …

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Preparing For Your International Bestseller: Liv Constantine on Crafting Unputdownable Characters 46:53

3M ago46:53

46:53

In the first installment of the Manuscript Academy Book Club, we have Liv Constantine, the pen name for internationally bestselling sister duo Lynne and Valerie Constantine! Joined by Jessica, Julie, and the Manuscript Academy community, Valerie and Lynne answer your questions about how to collaborate and edit as a team, how to get the best results…

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E2A 076 Human Connection in the Digital Age: Leaving Instagram and Creating Community with Mark Groves 29:47

3M ago29:47

29:47

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, Scott is joined by Mark Groves, a human connection specialist and the founder of Create the Love, and the co-author of "Liberated Love: Release Codependent Patterns and Create the Love You Desire". Mark discusses co-authoring a book with his wife, Kylie McBeath, emphasizing the challenges and r…

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Finding Your Voice: On the Page, In Your Life with Agent Katharine Sands + Jessica Doyle-Mekkes 57:43

3M ago57:43

57:43

You’ve heard of the all-important voice—but how do you make it more vivid, both on the page—and in your life? Enter Jessica Doyle-Mekkes, an author, voice coach, and eloquent speaker on how your voice in your life and your voice on the page are linked, vitally important—and within your control to improve. Listen along for what helps your voice come…

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E2A 075: Knowing Your Why for Writing and Learning from Leaders with Dr. Monica McGrath 21:44

3M ago21:44

21:44

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan speaks with Dr. Monica McGrath, author of "Learning from Business Leaders: A Coaching Memoir". She shares her journey of transitioning from a family business to earning her PhD and her subsequent career in leadership development at the Wharton School at the University …

1
Hollywood Versus New York: Publishing, Film, Options, Etiquette + What Makes A Hook? 44:42

3M ago44:42

44:42

We are thrilled to introduce our very own Julie Kingsley's debut novel! It's called The Space Between You and Me and came out this week!"That summer, I finally grew into myself. The problem? I grew too fast. And fruit that grows too fast often bursts in the sunshine."With her agent Lane Heymont (Tobias Literary Agency), we discuss: *What happens if…

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Emotional Range, Sensory Details, And Pitching Works On Difficult Topics 52:40

3M ago52:40

52:40

Content Warning: This podcast discusses suicide, grief, and loss. Pam O'Hara's beautiful writing captivated our expert audience during a recent Manuscript Academy panel, so much so that it was picked for our 2024 MSWL Agent Choice Awards. Pam joins Jessica and Julie to speak about her stunning memoir about love, loss, and losing a loved one by suic…

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Live Recorded: Query Class with Agent Dr. Emmy Nordstrom Higdon 1:13:04

4M ago1:13:04

1:13:04

Watch the free video version, slides and all (and get a coupon for our workshop!) at https://manuscriptacademy.com/emmyJoin our Three-Day Keep An Agent Reading Workshop, May 28-30, here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/product/keep-an-agent-reading-workshopTIMESTAMPS: Essential Elements of a Query Letter (00:03:07) Dr. Emmy Nordstrom Higdon covers th…

1
Mini Lesson: What Author Elizabeth Holden Did Right In Her Query & First Page 22:56

4M ago22:56

22:56

We are honored that author Elizabeth (Liz) Holden, author of the forthcoming YA novel Mighty Millie Novak, allowed us to go through her work as a teaching tool for you--what each element accomplishes, WHY it works, and how you can do the same in your own query and first page.If you'd like to follow along visually, head to our YouTube Channel, https…

1
The Roller Derby of Querying: How Author Elizabeth Holden Found Her Agent 51:14

4M ago51:14

51:14

View our in-depth video of what Liz did right in her query letter and first page here: https://www.youtube.com/@manuscriptacademyMeet Elizabeth Holden, Physics professor, travel entrepreneur, and author of Mighty Millie Novak, a YA novel coming out from Flux Publishing in August. https://www.elizabeth-holden.com/Liz is also the travel coordinator f…

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E2A 074: Nail Your Virtual Book Launch with Bonita Nuttall 26:07

4M ago26:07

26:07

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan speaks with Bonita Nuttall, a seasoned MC, keynote speaker, and virtual book launch specialist. Bonita shares insights into the role of book launches, emphasizing the three P's: Product, Positioning, and Possibilities. She discusses the advantages of virtual book launc…

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Finding Your Perfect Agent Fit with Agent Ismita Hussain and Author Jessica Guerrieri 46:38

5M ago46:38

46:38

Please note: This episode contains mentions of alcoholism, recovery, and sobriety. We are so happy to welcome author Jessica Guerrieri and agent Ismita Hussain (Great Dog Literary) to the podcast. They're a great example of what to look for in an author-agent relationship--they're creative, collaborative, supportive, and successful (Jessica's debut…

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Tuesday, May 7, 8:30pm ET: Free Query Workshop With Agent Emmy Nordstrom Higdon 43:21

5M ago43:21

43:21

We are so grateful to Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, agent at Westwood Creative Associates, who has offered to teach a free workshop for you all about the elements of querying—interest, emphasis, tension—that keep a busy agent reading in 2024. Get your free ticket (or replay ticket!) here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/emmyThe event is Tuesday, May 7, 8:30…

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E2A 073: The Power of Short-Form Video for Building Your Personal Brand with Sven Gold 24:54

5M ago24:54

24:54

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, Scott speaks with Sven Gold. Sven a television and digital media host, moderator, entertainer and content creator based out of Munich, Germany. He also helps people build their public profile and personal brand through short-form video content. Scott and Sven discuss the importance of personal …

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Writing Fantasy That Mirrors Our World With (Manuscript) Academy Award Winner Ali McLafferty 47:08

5M ago47:08

47:08

We are thrilled to introduce Ali McLafferty, author, teacher, and most recent winner of the as-yet-untitled (Manuscript) Academy Awards. Ali was nominated by agent Melissa Edwards (Stonesong Literary) for this gorgeous fantasy novel that brings up a lot of issues in our world as well. We discuss how she polished her query, how many drafts she did o…

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Details, Focus and Visual Storytelling To Bring Any Genre To Life with Editor Melissa Warten Vogan 44:23

5M ago44:23

44:23

We love this creativity-packed episode with Melissa Vogan (née Melissa Warten), former editor at Macmillan, current editor at Epic For Kids. We discuss: *“Just enough” art notes - and how they’re useful for every genre *How you can guide the focus of your reader through sensory language *How to get to the heart of your story *How to disagree with a…

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E2A 072: Multi-Title Author by 16: Claudia and Sonia Marta Talk Manuscripts, Book Marketing and More 23:29

5M ago23:29

23:29

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan welcomes Claudia Marta and Sonia Marta, a mother-daughter team excelling in marketing and authorship, respectively. Claudia brings decades of marketing expertise, while Sonia, at just 16, is an accomplished author with multiple books to her credit. They delve into Soni…

1
Good, Better, Best, Agented! Julia Alexandra and Agent Ellen Goff on Plot, Character & World 47:54

5M ago47:54

47:54

You may remember Julia Alexandra from our episode in the fall when we went over three query versions with her (good, better, best): Well, she now has an agent! Ellen Goff (HG Literary) joins us with Julia to discuss balancing plot, character, and world--if your fantasy novel will hold up without your fantasy elements, which we're now calling "The G…

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Learning Advanced Point of View, Romantic Tension & Betrayal From A New Body-Swapping Novel 51:29

6M ago51:29

51:29

If you've ever had trouble with point of view in your work, wait until you hear the advanced logistical world author Nia Davenport had to navigate for her new novel, Out of Body, which she pitches as Freaky Friday meets Get Out. Not only does she have best friends, crushes, confused parents, and a villain on the loose--but she weaves it all into a …

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Success Stories: Aime Alley Card, Agent Leticia Gomez And One Olympic Team That Changed Everything 49:03

6M ago49:03

49:03

Tennessee, 1960. One extraordinary team of women--and the first all-Black women’s track team--found glory at the Olympic games in Rome. Here in America, their success was "an impossible dream come true."Now, author Aime Alley Card tells us her personal connection to the team, how she did her astonishing amount of research, and how she found agent L…

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What Editors Look For: Fresh Takes On Familiar Stories with Harper Editor Sara Schonfeld 45:29

7M ago45:29

45:29

Join our interactive Says/Does Activity + view transcript here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/sara-schonfeldWe discuss editing with love and patience, acquiring in the age of book bans (let's just say Florida doesn't get to choose what the rest of the country reads), how to make your book feel "fresh"--and why so many editors ask fo…

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Research, Marketing & Successful Small Press Publishing with Author JB Harris 54:03

7M ago54:03

54:03

Sometimes publishing your novel takes an unexpected route. In today's episode, Jessica and Julie speak with author JB Harris to discuss how she pivoted when agents told her the manuscript she'd been working on for 11 years would be hard to break out during COVID. We cover querying, finding the right small traditional publisher, and how to market yo…

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How To Build Romantic Tension In Any Genre with Author Lynn Painter 58:18

7M ago58:18

58:18

We’ve never seen a romantic comedy like this one! Happily Never After breaks ALL* the rom com rules, while still maintaining tension, interest, narrative arcs, and everything you need in a satisfying read. Learn the rules our favorite way—by watching Lynn breaks them, succeed, and tell you how she did it. Whatever your genre, a romantic element add…

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E2A 071: Chantal Landreville with a guide to finding love for entrepreneurs 21:51

8M ago21:51

21:51

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan speaks with Chantal Landreville, a certified love and relationship coach and author of the upcoming book "Raise Your Love Signal." With over two decades of experience in personal growth, Chantal shares her journey from the wine business to coaching, emphasizing her pas…

1
Red And Green Flags When Querying Agents with Agent Emmy Nordstrom Higdon 1:13:28

8M ago1:13:28

1:13:28

We are thrilled to welcome Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, agent at Westwood Creative Associates, to talk with us about the red and green flags when querying agents--how you can show (mostly) green flags, recognize agent red flags, and give yourself the best odds of a positive, productive working relationship. Learn more about Emmy and book a consultation h…

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Writing Dialogue That Brings Complicated Characters To Life with Author Karen Outen 50:24

8M ago50:24

50:24

Even our podcast editor describes author Karen Outen as "a breath of fresh air." After twenty years of work, her book, Dixon Descending, features two brothers with a seemingly impossible goal: To be the first Black American men to summit Everest. We discuss how Karen learned to write realistic dialogue that jumps off the page, her publishing journe…

1
E2A 070: How to get your book into stores and libraries 17:43

8M ago17:43

17:43

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan explores the potential benefits and pitfalls of traditional channels like bookstores and libraries. While print-on-demand offers a game-changing solution for authors, Scott shares the nuanced dynamics of traditional channels such as bookstores and libraries. It delves …

1
Personal, Political, Published: Finding Agents For Important, Sensitive Topics with Annie Cardi 1:05:07

8M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

CONTENT WARNING: Mentions of abortion, grooming, assault.Annie Cardi's new book, Red, is a very modern take on The Scarlet Letter. Today, Annie joins Jessica and Julie to discuss the importance of tough topics in YA novels, how to create "quiet" books that pack a punch, and writing advice for new authors. Transcript here: https://manuscriptacademy.…

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Building Character, Enhancing POV, and Principles of (E)motion with Author Sara Read 40:32

8M ago40:32

40:32

A smart, poignant novel perfect for fans of Lessons in Chemistry“An incredible STEMinist read.”—The Honey PopTranscript, timestamps and video clips here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-sara-readJoin Julie and Jessica as they talk to the fabulous Sara Read, the author of the recent book Principles of (E)motion. Trust us when we say it'll make…

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Pete Barbrook-Johnson and Alexandra S. Penn, "Systems Mapping: How to Build and Use Causal Models of Systems" (Palgrave MacMillan, 2022) 49:58

8M ago49:58

49:58

There is a growing need across social, environmental, and policy challenges for richer, more nuanced, yet actionable and participatory understanding of the world. Complexity science and systems thinking offer hope in meeting this need. But in their 2022 book Systems Mapping: How to Build and Use Causal Models of Systems (Palgrave MacMillan, 2022), …

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Rejection Interpretation, Pivots & Annual Submission Strategy Workshop (January 23-25) 11:01

8M ago11:01

11:01

Join our workshop here! https://manuscriptacademy.com/product/three-day-submission-strategy-workshopAre you a writer thinking about querying? Or have you already queried, and you're worried that a rejection you received means you should pivot, edit for months, or--worst of all--give up? This is for you. Listen in on how we'll interpret rejections, …

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E2A 069: Taming Wicked Problems with Professor Clive Smallman 24:44

8M ago24:44

24:44

In this episode of Entrepreneur to Author podcast, your host Scott MacMillan interviews Professor Clive Smallman, founder of Design for Growth, and author of Sorted: Taming Wicked Problems with Smart Leadership Thinking. The conversation delves into wicked problems, which can range from arresting climate change to spurring business growth to the in…

1
"Good Enough" Versus Fit: Executive Editor Erica Finkel On Improving Your Odds Of Yes 49:40

9M ago49:40

49:40

We're thrilled to welcome Abrams editor Erica Finkel to the podcast to discuss editorial board meetings, the top reasons writers get rejected--and how "fit" means far more than you'd think. Book a meeting with Erica here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/erica-finkelErica Finkel (she/her) is an Executive Editor for Amulet Books and Abr…

1
E2A 068: Orchestrating (and Writing) Team Harmony with Ilona Vass 18:53

9M ago18:53

18:53

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan speaks with Ilona Vass, founder of ilonavass.com, an expert in interpersonal communications, for leadership, within teams, and author of Team Harmony: Striking the Right Chord - A Guide for Leading People in the Modern Workplace. Ilona shares her expertise in interpers…

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Seventh Annual Holiday Party with Kaitlyn Sanchez, Linda Camacho, Kiana Nguyen & Stephanie Winter 1:05:42

9M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

We are thrilled to welcome you to the replay of our SEVENTH (woo hoo!) Annual Holiday Party. In this event, writers nominated writers for feedback from our agent panel. Each agent chose a nominator-nominee pair to come up, read their work, and receive support and feedback in front of our audience.Our agents are: Kaitlyn Sanchez, Bradford LiteraryLi…

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E2A 067: Getting Your Ideas Out of Your Head with Kath Walters 23:30

10M ago23:30

23:30

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan speaks with Kath Walters, a professional business writer, founder of the Brain to Book in 90 Days program and twice published author. Since every good book begins with an idea, Kath also provides tips on developing an idea by sharing her approach to guiding authors fro…

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December Announcements: Classes, Mystery Agent + Our FREE Holiday Party 6:46

10M ago6:46

6:46

We can’t wait—what an exciting month!December 5, 8:30pm ET: Our You Belong Here class with Nancy Tandon and Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo: https://manuscriptacademy.com/you-belong-hereDecember 6, 1pm ET: For Members, we have our Mystery Agent consultation with Jenissa Graham. Apply to be on the next one here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/mystery-agentDec…

1
Live Q&A + Collaborative Query Consultations With Editor Jonathan Baker 58:18

10M ago58:18

58:18

Query writing is a craft in and of itself and so often, even the experts disagree on the best approach (hint: that just means there are number of ways to write an amazing query!). Today we're joined by the very talented, multi-hyphenate writer, coach, and former copy editor, reader, bookseller, and more, Jonathan Baker, who answers your rapid-fire …

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E2A 066: What is a hook? And how do you use one in your writing? 12:22

10M ago12:22

12:22

In this episode of The Entrepreneur to Author Podcast, your host Scott MacMillan explores importance of using the right hook in nonfiction writing. A hook serves as the entry ticket to your content, grabbing the audience's attention and setting the tone for your writing. Scott discusses when and where to use hooks, covering various content formats …

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Macmillan Publishers Podcasts

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