Best Michael Ayres Podcasts (2024)

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E29 - Elliott Gould with Mitchell Beaupre 1:04:04

5h ago1:04:04

1:04:04

My dear friend, Letterboxd managing editor Mitchell Beaupre returns to the show to discuss the filmography & mystique of one of cinema's coolest counterculture icons, Elliott Gould. Giving a thoughtful overview of the way that his work has evolved over the years, in this engaging conversation, we focus on three of what we consider to be Gould's gre…

1
John Bishop; Lucy Shepherd; Adrian Chiles; Grace Campbell; Stuart Maconie; Ron Sexsmith; Seckou Keita 38:03

29m ago38:03

38:03

The comedian and actor John Bishop is about to head off on a tour celebrating 25 years in stand up - a quarter century since he took to the stage on a whim and ended up one of the UK's favourite stars. The explorer Lucy Shepherd is more likely to be found fighting off venomous spiders than hecklers. For her latest TV series she's embarked on a neve…

1
Barns, Gumbo and Scriptoriums with Type Designer, Matthijs Herzberg 32:41

1h ago32:41

32:41

The Herzberg Design Co is a New Orleans based studio specializing in type design, brand identity, art direction, and everything related to letters; it’s a one-man operation founded by Dutchman Matthijs Herzberg. He focuses on unconventional and exuberant work, but always with a sharp eye for detail, quality, and purpose (as such, combining the best…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E28 - Paul Rudd with Jen Chaney 1:00:33

1h ago1:00:33

1:00:33

It’s Jen x2! In easily the most stressful week of an incredibly fraught fall, I know we could all benefit from a little extra kindness and positivity, which just so happen to be two of the qualities most filmgoers associate with actor Paul Rudd. Chatting with Vulture's delightful TV critic Jen Chaney, who literally wrote the book on writer-director…

1
Michael Palin, Jessica Raine, Susan Wokoma, The WAEVE, Ashley Henry 35:19

38m ago35:19

35:19

Monty Python star and king of the travel documentary Michael Palin has just published the fourth volume of his best-selling diaries. In 'There and Back' he covers the years 1999-2009. He joins Clive to talk about how the 21st Century has treated him. The actor and Call The Midwife star Jessica Raine is soon to return to our screens in the second se…

1
Collecting & Collaging with Eric Bargenda 45:53

3h ago45:53

45:53

This episode is all about collage! Eric Bargenda is seasoned design director who has taken his love for graphic design, ephemera and all things vintage and applied it to the art of analog collage. In this episode, you’ll better understand the ways in which collage is a natural extension of graphic design, you’ll hear Eric describe his collage proce…

1
Harriet Walter, John Douglas Thompson, Robert Popper, Jessica Hepburn, Emily Burns, Wes Finch 35:25

14d ago35:25

35:25

Loose Ends is at the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival and Stuart Maconie is joined by Harriet Walter, who has played many roles at the RSC in Stratford and has just published 'She Speaks!', a book imagining what Shakespeare's women might have said if they'd been given half a chance. John Douglas Thompson is one of America's finest classical ac…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E27 - "The Hitchcock Hotel" with Stephanie Wrobel 59:12

7d ago59:12

59:12

Author Stephanie Wrobel takes a break from the busy book tour for her acclaimed, addictive new mystery novel THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL to talk about writing, what it takes to navigate multi-character arc narratives, & lessons in suspense from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. In addition to covering her exciting mystery, we discuss three of the b…

1
Sprinting Through Setbacks with Olympian Micha Powell 55:31

11d ago55:31

55:31

In this episode, you’ll hear world-class Canadian Olympic sprinter and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Micha Powell, share the process for writing and publishing her book, Sprinting Through Setbacks, and the important lessons she’s learned in the process. You’ll hear her inspiring story that changed the trajectory of her track career. Micha speak…

1
Bill Bailey, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Amanda Owen, Katherine Priddy & Richard Walters, Maya Sondhi, Stuart Maconie 34:40

11d ago34:40

34:40

Stuart is joined in the Loose Ends Salford Studio by comedian, musican, actor and Strictly winner Bill Bailey. His new book is 'My Animals, and Other Animals: A memoir of sorts'. It's the story of his life through the creatures who have meant something to him, and a celebration of how animals bring us joy. The Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen, ta…

1
Cultivating Collective Effervescence with Jeff Newberry of Mirvish’s The Lion King in Toronto 45:04

14d ago45:04

45:04

This episode features a conversation with Jeff Newberry, a music director, composer, arranger, sound designer, and educator working in theatre, concert, and community spaces. For Mirvish, Jeff is the associate music director of Disney’s The Lion King in Toronto. (Opening night is November 2!) In this conversation, Jeff describes his vision of stron…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E26 - Netflix's MINDHUNTER with Rob Belushi & Blake Howard 1:29:04

21d ago1:29:04

1:29:04

We don't cover TV very often on Watch With Jen so you know that when my guests & I dedicate an entire episode to a television series, it's something we wholeheartedly recommend you seek out. (In fact, THE AMERICANS, COLUMBO, TERRIERS, HALT & CATCH FIRE, MR. INBETWEEN, & SUCCESSION are among the few exceptions to this film-centric show in over 200 p…

1
Pam Ayres, Dawn O'Porter, Dee C Lee, Poppy O'Toole, Ahir Shah, Clive Anderson 36:10

23d ago36:10

36:10

The poet Pam Ayres, author of Oh, I wish I'd looked after Me Teeth - which was voted one of the UK's top ten comic verses - joins Clive to discuss almost half a century of writing and a new volume of her collected works - Doggedly Onwards. Dawn O'Porter was once the journalist behind documentaries on topics from extreme dieting to poligamy and even…

1
Type Talk with Peter Ha 30:09

21d ago30:09

30:09

It’s Peter! Peter Ha is a designer, artist and educator. He is a co-founder of Equal Parts Studio, a Toronto-based contemporary graphic design practice, whose process is founded on curiosity and finding the joy and playfulness in every project. In this conversation, you'll hear why Peter loves type, including some different professional and passion…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E25 - Edward Norton with Roxana Hadadi 1:13:21

22d ago1:13:21

1:13:21

One of my most soulful & philosophical guests, my good friend, Vulture TV critic Roxana Hadadi returns to Watch With Jen to discuss character actor Edward Norton's career. Paying particular attention to his '90s & early aught heyday, in this thoughtful conversation, we discuss his films & performances in PRIMAL FEAR, AMERICAN HISTORY X, FIGHT CLUB,…

1
Tim Smit, Patrick Gale, Tom Allan, Anna Keirle, Angeline Morrison 33:53

1M ago33:53

33:53

Stuart Maconie presents Loose Ends from the North Cornwall Book Festival in St Endellion. He is joined by Patrick Gale, Tom Allan, Anna Keirle and Tim Smit, and there's music from the multi-instrumentalist Angeline Morrison. Patrick Gale is the author of the Emmy award-winning BBC drama Man in an Orange Shirt and novels including A Place Called Win…

1
Secret Ingredients with Johnny Cupcakes 49:07

27d ago49:07

49:07

Why do thousands of people have Johnny Cupcakes' logos tattooed on their bodies? And why have thousands of people camped out for Johnny's special edition T-shirts? In this conversation, you’ll learn about the secret ingredients to Johnny Cupcakes’ success: surprise and delight. You'll hear how he’s been able to stretch a traditional marketing budge…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E24 - Bookshop Movies with Jenn McKinlay & Paige Shelton 1:23:29

28d ago1:23:29

1:23:29

This week, I was delighted to be joined by two New York Times best-selling novelists who happen to live right here in Arizona & both of whom I met through Barbara Peters' wonderful world-famous independent Poisoned Pen Bookshop in Scottsdale. Jenn McKinlay is the award-winning bestselling author of several mystery & romance series & her work has be…

1
Nihal Arthanayke, Henry Normal, Donna Ashworth, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Mike Harding, The Lovely Eggs 34:49

1M ago34:49

34:49

Nihal Arthanayake presents Loose Ends from the third annual Morecambe Poetry Festival. He's joined by Henry Normal. Henry is a writer, poet, TV and film producer who has been involved with many of our most loved comedies, such as The Mrs Merton Show, The Royal Family, Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge. He's a prolific poet, and his latest collect…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E23 - Physical Media: Summer '24 (with Sean Burns & Blake Howard) 1:38:30

1M ago1:38:30

1:38:30

Welcome to the second physical media episode of season five. Inundated by first-rate releases on disc over the last several months, this casual installment primarily consists of my takes on the stack of films you see in the cover photo, but I wanted to break up the rhythm of this one by inviting friends like Sean Burns & Blake Howard to help me cov…

1
Play, Passion Projects and Butts with Sophie Elinor Brown 35:24

1M ago35:24

35:24

Welcome to a fun deep dive into typography, play, passion projects and butts, with self-proclaimed Type Dork, Sophie Elinor Brown! In this conversation, you’ll hear the ways in which Sophie weaves humour and silliness in her work, the tools she uses, curiosity’s role in resourcefulness and continuous learning and the ways in which doing work both f…

1
Russell Watson, Jackie Kay, Deborah McAndrew and Adam Kay join Nihal with music from The Lemon Twigs 0:28

1M ago0:28

0:28

The tenor Russell Watson's remarkable career took him from playing from working mens clubs in Salford to performing at the Vatican. But his life hasn't been completely charmed - he discusses the brain tumour that threatened his life as well as his voice and how he found his way back to centre stage. Jackie Kay is one of the UK's most lauded poets w…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E22 - Neo-Swashbucklers with Dan Mecca & Conor O'Donnell 1:45:20

2M ago1:45:20

1:45:20

This month, I was pleased to welcome back Dan Mecca & Conor O'Donnell, two friends & the hosts of The Film Stage's excellent podcast The B-Side, which covers movie stars in a fascinating way, by focusing not on the films that made or kept them famous but on the ones that actors made in between. Equally skilled at coming up with highly original show…

1
Richard Armitage, Rianne Downey, Chris Brookmyre, Dr Marisa Haetzman, Suzy Aspley, Chloe Matharu 35:58

2M ago35:58

35:58

From Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. Richard Armitage’s CV is already packed with roles, including a string of stellar acting credits in the likes of The Hobbit, North and South, Robin Hood, and Spooks. Now he’s added author to the list with his debut novel Geneva. Ambrose Parry is not one writer but two – it's the penname of in…

1
Tinker with Allison Mackenzie 30:16

2M ago30:16

30:16

In this first episode back after the summer break, you’ll hear from multidisciplinary creative and community-builder, Allison MacKenzie about her brainchild called Tinker*. You’ll hear about the ways that it’s an interdisciplinary, iterative, low-stakes and high community environment. We talk about imperfection, vulneratibility and experimentation …

1
Sir Ian Rankin, Michelle McManus, Kim Carnie, Shane Todd, Len Pennie, Luke La Volpe 36:13

2M ago36:13

36:13

Sir Ian Rankin’s much-loved detective Rebus has had a big year, with a fresh BBC TV adaptation in the summer, and now a return to the stage. Clive Anderson hears about new play Rebus: A Game Called Malice which was written by Sir Ian and Simon Reade, it's touring the UK. Michelle McManus chats to poet and women’s rights advocate Len Pennie who rose…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E21 - Carol Reed: Man of War Noir with Jed Ayres 1:22:07

2M ago1:22:07

1:22:07

It's the season five return of my good friend & longtime Watch With Jen fan-favorite guest, cinephile, Hardboiled Wonderland blogger, & author Jed Ayres. This time, Jed & I journey into stealthy mid-twentieth-century international spy terrain via four noir war films from the masterful British director Carol Reed. Kicking things off with the incredi…

1
Elaine C Smith, Nathan Carter, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, Becky Sikasa, Claire Love Wilson 36:38

2M ago36:38

36:38

Elaine C. Smith has delighted audiences for decades, including work on TV shows like BBC Scotland’s Two Doors Down. In her latest project she joins the touring cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and takes on a character that used to terrify her - The Childcatcher. Claire Love Wilson is a Scottish-Canadian theatre-maker, actor, and singer-songwriter wh…

1
Su Pollard, Michelle McManus, Camille O'Sullivan, Chris Grace, Catherine Cohen, Sinéad Gleeson 35:11

2M ago35:11

35:11

Actress and singer Su Pollard’s new tour Still Fully Charged celebrates her 50 years in showbiz – she catches up with Michelle McManus about what keeps her hooked, and being beaten by a dog in a talent competition. Clive Anderson chats to comedian and actor Chris Grace. He’s returned to Edinburgh after his sold-out 2023 run, this time with a packed…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E20 - Jan-Michael Vincent with Larry Karaszewski & Daniel Waters 1:23:36

2M ago1:23:36

1:23:36

This week, I'm honored to be joined by not one but two brilliant screenwriters, Larry Karaszewski & Daniel Waters. Larry Karaszewski & his writing/directing/producing partner Scott Alexander are best known for writing unusual true stories such as the films ED WOOD, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT, MAN ON THE MOON, AUTO FOCUS, BIG EYES, DOLEMITE IS MY NA…

1
Inside Out 2: Navigating Anxiety, Envy, Restoring Joy, and Other Chaotic Emotions! 1:12:37

3M ago1:12:37

1:12:37

On this episode, Rick and Kailah return to talk about a movie tailor made for therapy discussions: Inside Out 2! They talk about the incredible success of the movie before diving into the therapeutic themes of Anxiety, Envy, and Restoring Joy. And make sure to listen to the end for a bonus 3 minute episode where Rick asks his son about his favorite…

1
Jason Byrne, Marjolein Robertson, David Ireland, Isabella Nefar, Catriona Price, Two Hearts 33:23

2M ago33:23

33:23

Clive Anderson is joined by comedian Jason Byrne who returns to Edinburgh for his 28th consecutive Fringe with No Show, a performance that will be totally new each night. Playwright and actor David Ireland’s award-winning plays Cyprus Avenue and Ulster American have had success across the world. His latest play The Fifth Step stars Jack Lowden and …

1
Bobby Davro, Michelle McManus, Lara Ricote, Hamish Hawk, Virginia Gay, A Giant on the Bridge 35:17

3M ago35:17

35:17

From the Edinburgh Festivals, Clive Anderson and Michelle McManus talk to actor, comedian and family favourite Bobby Davro about his beginnings in TV entertainment, his acting journey and finding comedy through tough times – something he explores in his show Everything is Funny...If You Can Laugh at It. Lara Ricote, a former winner of the Edinburgh…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E19 - Edie Falco with William Boyle 1:02:30

3M ago1:02:30

1:02:30

This week, my good friend William Boyle returned to the podcast to discuss a terrific character actress we both love. Celebrating Edie Falco beyond her tour de force performance as Carmela Soprano on THE SOPRANOS, in this fast-paced conversation, we offer an overview of her work in early indies like LAWS OF GRAVITY, THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUTH, & TRUST,…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E18 - Rodeo Movies with Christa Faust 1:15:22

3M ago1:15:22

1:15:22

This week, I was thrilled to welcome a longtime Twitter mutual who's a huge cinephile with outstanding taste, a veritable encyclopedia of Film Noir, & an author as well. Christa Faust writes crime novels, comics, & tie-ins. She worked in the Times Square peep booths, as a professional dominatrix, & in the adult film industry, both behind & in front…

1
Ewan Mitchell, Jon Holmes, Julia Fordham and Kym Marsh. 36:05

3M ago36:05

36:05

This week Stuart is joined by Jon Holmes who's producing a new play at the Edinburgh Festival - which explores what happens when the camera moves on from a relationship forged on a Love Island-style reality show. And there are definitely some strained relationships in the second series of House of the Dragon - but they're more the kind that result …

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E17 - TV Adaptations with Katie Stebbins 1:27:57

3M ago1:27:57

1:27:57

It's a pleasure to welcome one of my longtime Twitter faves to the podcast. Katie Stebbins is a knowledgeable cinephile, academic librarian, & the author of truly creative film zines. For the uninitiated, that's "zines" as in magazines or literary journal-styled books filled with collages & writing on films within a given calendar year. Described a…

1
Damian Lewis; Elf Lyons; Gareth Malone; Rachel Ramsay; Gia Ford; Esme Emerson; Clive Anderson; Emma Freud 36:54

3M ago36:54

36:54

Clive Anderson and Emma Freud present Loose Ends from Latitude Festival in Suffolk. They'll talk to the actor-turned-musician Damian Lewis who will discuss his latest album Mission Creep and why he's chosen to go back to his musical roots when he could have rested on his Hollywood laurels as the star of Homeland and Billions. The UK's favourite cho…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E16 - William Wyler with Natalie Jenner & Sarah Kozloff 1:09:28

3M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

After our brief midsummer break, we're back with an episode featuring two outstanding new guests, Natalie Jenner & Sarah Kozloff. Natalie Jenner is the internationally bestselling author of THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY & BLOOMSBURY GIRLS which have been translated into more than 20 languages worldwide. A former lawyer, career coach, & independent bookst…

1
Nina Conti, Tom Kerridge, Samantha Spiro, Donna Leon, Clive Anderson, That Woman, Braimah Kanneh-Mason & Plínio Fernandes 38:39

3M ago38:39

38:39

Clive will talk monkeys, masks and improvisation with comic Nina Conti who is honing a brand new show Whose Face is it Anyway? and about to release her directing debut a feature film called Sunlight; Chef Tom Kerridge's been on a culinary tour of the UK for a new cookbook and TV show and has plenty to say about our food, farming and how to pronounc…

1
Griffin Dunne, Marc Almond, Ruth Ware, Sophie Duker, Nadine Shah, Stuart Maconie 36:36

4M ago36:36

36:36

The actor, producer and now memoirist Griffin Dunne on growing up in Hollywood in a family of literary stars including his aunt Joan Didion, on his own screen success opposite Madonna in Who's That Girl and in After Hours and the real-life tragedy that changed his life forever. Soft Cell front man Marc Almond on his early days as a subversive perfo…

1
Iwan Thomas, Chloe Petts, Lottie Gross, Raghu Dixit, Kiioto, Anna Ptaszynski 33:35

4M ago33:35

33:35

Stuart is joined in the Salford Loose Ends studio by the Welsh Sprinter Iwan Thomas, who held the UK 400m record for 25 years. His new memoir 'Brutal', tells his story - one of speed, the drive to succeed and an extremely high tolerance for pain. . Comedian Chloe Petts is gearing up for the Edinburgh Fringe, and in perhaps the ultimate highbrow/low…

1
David Baddiel, Richard Thompson, Abigail Cruttenden, Noorruddean Choudry, Amy Gledhill, Stuart Maconie 35:56

4M ago35:56

35:56

An eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedyBy BBC Radio 4

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E15 - Robert Ryan with Clay Keller 1:36:26

4M ago1:36:26

1:36:26

It's always a pleasure to bring on another podcaster & even more so when they're from my home state of Minnesota! That's right, gang, this week, you'll hear Minnesotan accents at full power as I'm joined by Clay Keller, who's the engaging & knowledgeable co-creator & co-host of the sensational Screen Drafts podcast. In this joyous, in-depth, classi…

1
XR Possibilities in Publishing with Immersive Technology Specialist, Michael Carter-Arlt 47:39

4M ago47:39

47:39

This is the sixth episode in a 6-part magazine mini series. Here you’ll meet Immersive Technology Specialist, Michael Carter-Arlt. In this conversation, you’ll hear the ways in which Michael’s print background informs his work in immersive technologies and the bridging of these two worlds. You’ll hear about XR technologies (including the difference…

1
Techno, Type, Zines and Chaos with Dominic Ayre 1:09:05

4M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

This is the fifth episode in a 6-part magazine mini series. Here you’ll meet Creative Director and zine designer publisher, Dominic Ayre. The conversation focusses around a single question (“What is Do Not Xray zine?”) and Dom takes us on a wonderfully passionate and techno-filled deep dive about his upbringing, early hip-hop, and graffiti leading …

1
Charlie Higson, Bilal Zafar, Pravesh Kumar, English Teacher and Alexandra Whittingham join Stuart Maconie. 37:28

4M ago37:28

37:28

Joining Stuart in our Salford studio are Charlie Higson. After writing several books in the bestselling 'Young Bond' series, Charlie has written his first Bond for Adults. Stand up Bilal Zafar's new show 'Imposter' is about a once harmonious house-share that goes very wrong and Pravesh Kumar has written 'Frankie Goes to Bollywood', a new musical ab…

1
Sharing Stories in All Shapes and Sizes (Books, Magazines and Podcasts) with Angela Misri 52:12

4M ago52:12

52:12

This is the fourth episode in a 6-part magazine mini series. Here you’ll meet award-winning journalist, author and educator, Angela Misri. You’ll hear about Angela’s career path in different media spaces: in print, in audio and on the web. You’ll hear specific examples related to telling stories in added value ways; the why and the how of telling t…

1
Watch With Jen - S5: E14 - Under-discussed Crime Movie Faves with Sean Burns & S.A. Cosby 1:20:11

5M ago1:20:11

1:20:11

The only thing better than talking to one Sean is when you add a second Shawn to the mix. Returning to the podcast this week, I'm thrilled to share this recent wonderfully rollicking, quick-witted, story, & insight-filled conversation I had with two of my dearest friends: the veteran Boston-based WBUR film critic Sean Burns & the award-winning inte…

1
Digital Reading Experiences with Alyssa Andino of Rakuten Kobo 41:57

5M ago41:57

41:57

This is the third episode in a 6-part magazine mini series. Here you’ll meet digital reading expert, Alyssa Andino. you’ll learn more about what Alyssa’s role entails and more about digital reading experiences, including what works and what doesn’t work. You’ll learn about the ways that Alyssa and her team are thinking of the reading experience bey…

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Michael Ayres Podcasts

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