Expand your horizons with 'explore words discover worlds', the podcast that brings the world of Bradford Literature Festival to your ears. From the classics to the cutting edge, we'll introduce you to the most exciting and thought-provoking authors, poets, and thinkers.
“Some brains, through no fault of their own, pack a bag, turn the lights off and run away to the seaside the moment they are meant to be doing homework, paying bills or not putting the cat in the fridge. These are ADHD brains and I have one.” You’ll know her from Live at the Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow. Much-loved comedian, Shaparak Khorsandi, shares her rollercoaster ride of a life shaped by undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in her latest publication, Scatter Brain. Khorsandi talks all things, from shoplifting and her attraction to toxic men, and you’ll discover what it’s really like to live a life out of control. Whether you suspect you may have ADHD, or you’re just here for the ride, Khorsandi will share her heart-breaking and hilarious journey of self-discovery. Who knows where it may lead to?!
Join us for a captivating discussion as author, Jason Wright, teams up with Stephen Pritchard from the Blake Society to explore the transformative power of William Blake’s work in modern mental health and addiction recovery. Delve into Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job and discover how these poignant themes resonate with contemporary psychoanalysis and psychotherapy techniques. Wright masterfully connects Blake’s vision of despair, redemption and hope to the journeys individuals face when overcoming trauma today. This engaging event will offer fresh perspectives on using historic literary insights to foster healing and growth in modern therapy. Don’t miss this unique blend of art, literature and psychological recovery.
In the hands of artists and poets, books have taken a radically different form since the advent of the artist’s book in Paris in the early 20th century. In this fascinating conversation, art historian, Dr Venetia Porter, curator of the Artists making books: poetry to politics exhibition, and academic and writer, Dr Atef Alshaer, discuss the exhibition’s accompanying publication, a stunning collection of outstanding and fascinating artists’ books. Join us for an enthralling discussion as they delve into the range of artists work, from Beirut to Tunis and beyond. Highlighting the relationship between artists and writers and the influences that inform their work, from family to politics and everything in between.
Join us as host, Muhammad Jalal, meets Ahmed Paul Keeler to recount his fascinating life journey, from an idyllic childhood in Windsor to navigating trauma in English boarding schools, embracing modern art and theatre, and ultimately to finding solace in Islam. As a teen, Keeler organised plays and later established the groundbreaking Signals Gallery, promoting kinetic art. His crowning achievement was the World of Islam Festival in 1976, followed by various projects promoting Islamic civilisation and cultural dialogue. At 70, he penned Rethinking Islam and the West, questioning society’s obsession with progress andadvocating for balance, explored further in his companion volume, A Life’s Journey. Enjoy discovering the ideas and experiences that informed Ahmed Paul Keeler’s book Rethinking islam & the West.
Join us for a panel discussion on the rich heritage and contemporary resonance of Islamic art and architecture. The panel includes Dr Silke Ackermann, Director of the History of Science Museum at the University of Oxford, and Dr Abdulrahman Azzam and Muhannad Shono, two of the curators of the forthcoming Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, which is the first exhibition of its kind and offers a forum for the display and discussion of Islamic arts and cultures from around the world. Ackermann and Azzam bring their expertise and perspectives on the multifaceted ways in which Islamic philosophies and civilizations have had a profound impact on art and science globally. As a prominent Saudi artist working in Riyadh today, Shono addresses the lasting significance of Islamic cultural heritage for contemporary art. Together, the panellists offer insight into the beauty and breadth of the arts of Islamic cultures, and the profound influence they have had on our shared present.