Podcasts by Oxford Lives
Oxford is a wonderful city in which to live, and If you have the good fortune to call yourself a resident you are probably here because you value its incredible mix of people and cultures. However, whether local or visitor, your own personal network of friends and colleagues can only touch a small proportion of the fascinating people who call this place home.
We set up this podcast to seek out some of the individuals that we find interesting and explore their lives and stories. They are not all celebrated or well-known, but what they do and what they think add another dimension to the familiar narrative of town, gown and tourism. Hopefully you will find it an insight and an introduction to interesting and unfamiliar parts of our community.
So, relax and select someone from the cast below and get to know a bit more about a particular Oxford life.
With Jeremy Allen
Produced by Graeme Fry
As a compliment to our podcast we have produced a self-guided tour where we look at Oxford’s links to fantasy literature and the many writers who have lived and worked here. So if you find yourself in Oxford prepare to be whisked away to other worlds full of Hobbits, Orcs and parallel universes!
https://voicemap.me/tour/oxford/literary-legends-and-landmarks-a-fantasy-fiction-tour-of-oxford
Further podcasts by Graeme Fry, Jeremy Allen
Podcast on the topic Tagebücher
All episodes
Oxford Lives - Episode 50 with Rawz from 2023-10-20T11:16
This episode of Oxford Lives features an interview with musician, rapper, poet, and community artist, Rawz. Rawz has seen Oxford from both sides, having grown up in the Town (Greater Leys) and w...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 49 with Jonathan Self from 2023-09-27T10:45
Tolkien-Lewis Special. In this edition of Oxford Lives we examine the lives of two of Oxford’s most esteemed residents: JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. Listen
Oxford Lives - Episode 48 with Karen Ford from 2023-09-15T09:44
Karen Ford is a prolific actor with a vast range of experience in stage and screen to her name. Perhaps her best-known role is that of Miss Booth in the BBC children’s drama, Listen
Oxford Lives - Episode 47 with Ronak Sahni from 2023-05-20T08:19
On this episode of Oxford Lives we interview Ronak Sahni from SWAT (Sikh Welfare & Awareness). SWAT are a charitable organisation committed to transforming the lives of disadvantaged members of ...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 46 with Charlie and Chico from 2023-04-15T00:00
Today’s guests are from the Oxford Artisan Distillery and are both leading experts in their field. Master Distiller Francisco Rosa (AKA Chico), and Head of Whisky, Charlie Echlin, talk us throug...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 45 with Jeremy Smith from 2022-12-04T14:55
We enjoyed his company so much the first time, we asked him back! This time Jeremy Smith is here to talk about the Oxford music scene, of which he has a vast knowled...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 44 with Tinashe Mushakavanhu from 2022-10-30T09:00
Today on Oxford Lives we interview academic and writer Tinashe Mushakavanhu. Tinashe is a Junior Research Fellow in African & Comparative Literature at St Anne's College, here in Oxford. In a fa...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 43 with Jeremy Smith from 2022-10-06T11:02
Oxford Pub Special – The Bear, Turf Tavern, Kings Arms. Oxford is blessed with an array of historical pubs, blending tradition, atmosphere, sumptuous ales, and some fantastic stories. Here, real...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 42 with Melanie Clarke-Jacques. from 2022-08-25T16:02:08
INSPECTOR MORSE SPECIAL – In this latest episode of Oxford Lives, we discuss all things Inspector Morse with Oxford’s resident Morse expert, Melanie Clarke-Jacques. Intrinsic to the novels and T...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 41 with Patrick McGuinness from 2021-11-25T15:45:59
Our latest guest is academic, critic, novelist, poet and author of Real Oxford, Patrick McGuinness. The book is a tour de force of travel writing which sheds light on the Oxford behind ...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 40 with Julia Cameron from 2021-10-11T08:24:53
Today's edition of Oxford Lives is an interview with writer and publisher, Julia Cameron. Julia has produced a remarkable guide to Oxford, from the viewpoint of a cat. Specifically, Jul...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 39 with Craig Simmons from 2021-07-30T13:44:50
In this episode of Oxford Lives, we talk to former Lord Mayor Craig Simmons about his time in office, his years as a councillor representing the Green Party, and his work as a sustainability con...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 38 with Jeremy Allen and Lee Woodward from 2021-06-15T16:25:28
Host Jeremy Allen and Lee Woodward talk about their new theatre project, Analyse Thou, a Zoom-based drama that puts Shakespearean characters on the therapist’s couch. This original piec...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 37 with Korky Paul from 2021-04-29T18:04:53
Korky Paul is a world-famous children’s book illustrator whose Winnie the Witch series has sold millions of copies all around the world. In a highly engaging interview, Korky reflects on his chi...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 36 with Dr Mary Miller from 2021-03-15T09:55:12
Dr Mary Miller is a Consultant in Palliative Medicine, specialising in end-of-life care. Mary qualified from University College Cork in 1988 and has practised around the work, coming to Oxford i...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 35 with Anand Menon from 2021-03-05T11:47:53
Anand Menon is Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College Londin and director of UK in a Changing Europe, an initiative promoting independent research into UK-EU relati...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 34 with Sinead Leach from 2021-02-05T21:02:05
What is the Census? How did it evolve? What is all that information used for? And why is it so important we complete it? Here Census Engagement Manager Sinead Leach tells us everything we need t...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 33 with Tim Wraith from 2020-10-14T20:39:14
Tim Wraith is Corporate Partnerships Manager for Sobell House. But he’s more than that. Much more. Tim is a true force for good in our community, uniting individuals and organisations in the com...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 32 with Richard O Smith from 2020-10-04T20:25:11
In this latest edition of Oxford Lives we welcome back author and comedian, Richard O Smith. Richard is here to talk about three new projects he’s been involved in, each with a distinctly Oxford...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 31 with Chris Heap from 2020-09-09T09:30:17
In 1971, Chris Heap moved from the riot-torn streets of Derry to the tranquillity of Oxford. Here he talks about growing up in a city dominated by the car industry and dwells at length on the gl...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 30 with Jane Cranston from 2020-07-24T17:52:41
Today we talk to Jane Cranston, Chair of Oxford Homeless Movement. Homelessness has been a growing problem in Oxfordshire over recent years, due to a variety of factors, many of which Jane outli...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 29 with Alasdair de Voil from 2020-06-09T17:43:55
Today’s guest is a familiar sight for regular visitors to the centre of Oxford. His name is Alasdair de Voil, but you will probably know him as The Mad Hatter. Here, Alasdair talks about his liv...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 28 with Graeme Fry from 2020-06-01T16:26:27
Welcome back to Oxford Lives- in Lockdown! It’s been a while since our last outing, so here we launch a series of fresh interviews with fascinating Oxonians via video platform du jour,Z...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 27 with Larry Sanders from 2019-12-04T10:35:29
Larry Sanders is a living legend. New York born and raised, Larry moved to Oxford fifty years ago and can now safely call himself an Oxonian. Health Spokesperson for the Green Party of England a...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 26 with Andrew Mason AKA Mani from 2019-11-15T14:57:21
Nobody embodies the spirit of Oxford more than Andrew Manson AKA Mani AKA The Big Orange M. You’ll recognise his distinctive art work from around the city: Co...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 25 with Jerome Arab from 2019-10-25T07:42:47
Jerome Arab is a Zimbabwean rapper, singer, songwriter and entertainer with a following in 40 countries. He spends his summers in Oxford and was kind enough to pop into Oxford Lives to share wit...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 24 with Liz Woolley from 2019-10-18T09:28:51
Liz Woolley (MSc Dist.) is a highly acclaimed local historian with a wealth of knowledge about Oxford and its multifaceted past. She is particularly interested in the “town” side of the city, as...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 23 with Jamal Ibrahim - Part 2 from 2019-10-08T11:06:58
Part Two of this fascinating interview with Oxford-based artist, biochemist and teacher Jamal Ibrahim. Here we pick up where we left off, with Jamal telling us an interesting story about a Samur...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 23 with Jamal Ibrahim - Part 1 from 2019-10-08T11:02:05
Jamal Ibrahim has a fascinating story. As a scholarship student back in the early seventies, he was plucked from a working class Malaysian background to win a place at an English public school. ...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 22 with Paul Hobson from 2019-05-09T12:10:05
An integral part of the Oxford cultural landscape for the last five decades, Modern Art Oxford is renowned for its diverse and progressive artistic programme. Here Director Paul Hobson recounts ...
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Oxford Lives - One Year Anniversary Special - Part 2 from 2019-04-19T18:34:47
Our one-year anniversary special continues with plenty of juicy topics dissected by our panel of four. Conversation veers from contentious statues, the Steve Bannon O...
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Oxford Lives - One Year Anniversary Special - Part 1 from 2019-04-14T10:28:38
Oxford Lives is one year old. In this anniversary special, we invite back two of our most popular guests, poet Steve Larkin and comedy writer Richard O Smith, here to...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 19 with David Juler from 2018-12-23T11:26:07
Following on from our Remember Them event at Oxford Town Hall we caught up with David Juler, Museum Development Assistant at the Museum of Oxford. The museum is in th...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 18 Armistice Event Podcast from 2018-11-26T13:02:21
A special live edition of the podcast recorded at Oxford Town Hall in conjunction with The Museum of Oxford. To coincide with The Armistice commemorations, Oxford Liv...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 17 with Caroline Roaf from 2018-10-19T12:21:02
In the 1960s, a series of letters were found in an attic, chronicling the WW1 experiences of Pleasance Walker, a volunteer nurse who left Oxford to join the French Red Cross. Caroline Roaf disco...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 16 with Bill Spectre from 2018-09-17T16:28:05
Bill Spectre's award-winning Oxford Ghost Trail has been named as one of the ten best ghost tours in the world by Trip Advisor. Here we ask Bill (real name Bill Ritch...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 15 with Tanya and Jason Field from 2018-08-17T11:13:48
In this podcast we visit the MINI plant in Cowley to interview Jason and Tanya Field. Jason started as an apprentice on the plant thirty years ago and still works the...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 14 with Stephen Hosking from 2018-08-13T18:25:47
Stephen Hosking is facilitator for the Oxford OCD Support Group which meets twice a month at the Restore Centre in Manzil Way. Here Stephen discusses the nature of th...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 13 with Susie Barker and Harley Evans from 2018-05-25T16:11:20
Harley Evans and Susie Barker are a pair of East Oxford creatives who have lived and worked in the city for many years. As professional photographers and designers th...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 12 with Margaret Bonfiglioli from 2018-05-24T13:25:38
Margaret Bonfiglioli has lived in Oxford all her life. A few years ago, Margaret discovered that a Luis Vuitton trunk on her landing contained hundreds of family lett...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 11 with Peggy Seeger from 2018-05-10T18:59:02
One of folk music's most enduring icons, Peggy Seeger settled in Iffley Village in 2010. She has since been involved in local politics, most notably the campaign to s...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 10 with Steve Larkin from 2018-04-23T10:41:39
Internationally acclaimed slam poet, dramatist, musician, educator, force of nature. Steve is president of poetry slam competition heavyweights Hammer & Tongue, has t...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 9 with Don Flanagan from 2018-04-09T11:02:27
Don Flanagan grew up in Ireland but moved to London in 1940. He experienced the Blitz and then served as a stoker with The Royal Navy in the Far East. After the war, ...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 8 with Melrose Fernandes from 2018-03-15T11:12:20
Melrose Fernandes has been teaching at Kings Oxford for 24 years. In a warm and lively interview, Melrose recollects her early years, fleeing with her family from Idi...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 7 with Benji Ming from 2018-03-08T16:47:59
Benji Ming is a man with many strings to his bow. Actor, author, model, tree surgeon, gardener…the list goes on. Here he ...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 6 with Rob Walters from 2018-03-08T16:47:01
Author, tour guide, businessman, traveller. Rob is a fascinating man with a strong Oxford presence. Here he reminisces on his idyllic Gloucestershire childhood, appre...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 5 with Simon Image from 2018-03-08T16:46:15
Drama theorist, theatre producer, film maker, translator, tour guide: Simon possesses a vast knowledge of art, culture and social structures. On this must-listen podc...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 4 with Lizzy McBain from 2018-03-08T14:56:54
Lizzy is director at Oxford-based theatre company UnderConstruction, specialising in site-based performance. Lizzy is also an associate artist with the Old Fire Stati...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 3 with Jeremy Spafford from 2018-03-08T14:03:32
Jeremy is the director of Arts at the Old Fire Station. Here, Jeremy tells us the ethos behind the OFS, explaining its remit to combine creative arts and support for ...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 2 with Bob Price from 2018-03-08T13:44:02
Bob Price is Oxford’s longest serving councillor, becoming leader of the City Council in 2008. In May of this year, he retires after 35 years of public service. Here,...
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Oxford Lives - Episode 1 with Richard O'Smith from 2018-03-08T12:42:24
Richard is a comedy writer for Radio 4’s The Now Show, The News Quiz and Dara Ó Briain’s Science Club. He recently wrote the screenplay for Foos...
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