Once Upon a Time

It’s Booker Prize week, and we’re joined by Booker-shortlisted novelist Nadifa Mohamed. We talk through Nadifa’s life and career by way of the three novels she’s written.Black Mamba Boy began as her father’s life story, which she recorded at university. The Orchard of Lost Souls was written in lockdown in her bedroom.The Fortune Men tells the true story of Mahmood Mattan and it put her on the Booker Prize shortlist. Nadifa talks about what that shortlisting really does for a writer’s career, and gives us a first look at her fourth novel which is out next year📸 Instagram: @ / uponatimepod🎵 TikTok: @ / uponatimepod▶️ YouTube: @ / @uponatimepod🌐 uponatimepod.com

This week we’re joined by one of Britain’s most respected drummers, Steve White, who was born a stone’s throw from the studio at Guy’s Hospital. Steve tells us about getting his first paid gig at 14 while signing up to the Musicians’ Union, joining the style council and the Live Aid stage.His three book picks are Peter Ackroyd’s London: The Biography, The Torment of Buddy Rich by John Minahan, and Bruce Lee’s Tao of Jeet Kune Do. Along the way he shares stories about bumping into David Bowie at Live Aid, filling in on drums for Oasis on tour in America, and auditioning players for George Michael.📸 Instagram: @ / uponatimepod🎵 TikTok: @ / uponatimepod▶️ YouTube: @ / @uponatimepod🌐 uponatimepod.com

Actor, writer and former Butlin’s Redcoat Sue Vincent joins us this week. Sue co-writes and stars in The Madame Blanc Mysteries with Sally Lindsay. She talks about finding her tribe among the Bluecoats at Pontins, getting thrown out of tap class at six and how a read-in for Pauline Collins turned into Mount Pleasant and eventually Madame Blanc.Her three book picks are The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics, edited by Alan Aldridge, Let Them by Mel Robbins, and Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. 📸 Instagram: @ / uponatimepod 🎵 TikTok: @ / uponatimepod ▶️ YouTube: @ / @uponatimepod 🌐 uponatimepod.com

This week the show heads to Brighton with author, journalist and screenwriter Juno Dawson. Juno talks about going from a Bradford childhood to the classroom to bestseller lists, almost making it onto Big Brother 4, and auditioning for Pop Idol even though she can’t sing.Her three book picks are Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin, the book that persuaded her to move to Brighton, Michelle Paver’s chilling ghost story Dark Matter, and Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman, which inspired her to start writing. She also tells the story behind Her Majesty’s Royal Coven.📸 Instagram: @ / uponatimepod 🎵 TikTok: @ / uponatimepod ▶️ YouTube: @ / @uponatimepod 🌐 uponatimepod.com

Content warning: this episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse & addiction Season Two opens with a bumper episode. Gok Wan joins Scott as guest co-host, and they're talking to DJ Fat Tony. This week we swap books for music. Tony picks three tracks from the recovery playlist in his new book, Recover Me: No More Drama by Mary J. Blige, Together Again by Janet Jackson, and Believe by Soldiers of Twilight.Tony is honest about the abuse, the addiction and the people he lost to the AIDS crisis. He also shares wild stories, from blagging his way onto the decks at the Lyceum to partying with Andy Warhol in New York. He explains why music is the one thing that has never let him down. It's raw and funny, and Tony calls it one of his favourite podcasts ever.

Something a bit different this week... our summer reads special before we take a break. We're joined by bestselling author Juno Dawson and Waterstones Brighton bookseller and podcaster Phil Adele, and asked everyone to recommend their summer reads for August.

Erim Kaur — founder of haircare brand ByErim and influencer  — joins Jamie & Scott to share the three stories that shaped who she became, spanning grief and grace, the hard work of confronting yourself, and the search for a cultural home you weren't quite handed.Her choices: Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry's What Happened to You?, and Thoughts to Heal. Together they trace a journey from a nine-year-old reading about a motherless princess who "remains regal, humble, respectful" through hardship, to the science of staying "regulated".

We're re-sharing one of our favourite episodes: our conversation with Gok Wan. Settle in for a funny chat with one of the UK's most-loved TV personalities.