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Open Book Podcast

Open Book Podcast

Open Book 172 Episodes Oct 29, 2026

Open Book Podcast features recordings of live events from the Open Book Festival, an annual literary festival held in Cape Town. The show brings together authors, poets, journalists and readers for conversations, readings and panel discussions. Episodes capture the festival's mix of local and international voices exploring books, writing and ideas. It is produced for audiences interested in South African and global literary culture.

Episodes

Feminist Book Club With Lebogang Matseke | Open Book Festival 2026
Feminist Book Club With Lebogang Matseke | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 29, 2026 00:59:16 In this episode, Noma Tsheleza facilitated an interactive conversation with Lebogang Matseke about her debut fantasy novel 'Death Rattle'.This is a recording of a live event that took place at the September 2026 edition of the Open Book Festival.The festival is made possible by the support of the City of Cape Town, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust.
History Shapes Every Story | Past, Present and Future | Open Book Festival 2026
History Shapes Every Story | Past, Present and Future | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 27, 2026 01:06:48 In this episode, Megan Choritz, Mphuthumi Ntabeni and Jean-Paul Willemse spoke to Stevlyn Vermeulen about how their different novels are a product of our history.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.
Blurring The Boundaries Of Reality | Between Two Worlds | Open Book Festival 2026
Blurring The Boundaries Of Reality | Between Two Worlds | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 22, 2026 01:02:30 In this episode, I.O. Echeruo, John Hunt and Keely Shinners speak to Kelly-Eve Koopman about their novels that blur boundaries between the familiar and the speculative.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made pos
The Many Faces Of Grief | Living Through Loss | Open Book Festival 2026
The Many Faces Of Grief | Living Through Loss | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 20, 2026 01:03:39 In this episode, Melinda Ferguson, Thato Sebastian-Charles Mmereki and Dominique Olivier speak to Firdose Moonda about grief becoming part of the fabric of their lives.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made pos
Finding Forgiveness | Reflections On Parents | Open Book Festival 2026
Finding Forgiveness | Reflections On Parents | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 16, 2026 01:01:16 In this episode, Lọlá Ákínmádé, Dyondzo Kwinika and Faraaz Mahomed speak to Kelly Smith about the moments of parental success and failure in their work, and the possibilities of forgiveness.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful di
Just One More Chapter | On Writing An Irresistible Pageturner | Opend Book Festival 2026
Just One More Chapter | On Writing An Irresistible Pageturner | Opend Book Festival 2026 Oct 14, 2026 00:58:58 In this episode, Tom Eaton, Sue Nyathi and Puseletso Tsotetsi speak to Shawn Buck about keeping their readers glued to the page.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of a live even
Love — The Good, The Bad, The Ugly | SA Romance Indaba | Open Book Festival 2026
Love — The Good, The Bad, The Ugly | SA Romance Indaba | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 12, 2026 00:57:47 In this episode, Sven Axelrad, Thandi Moagi and Cathrine Phiri speak to Qarnita Loxton about the good, the bad and the ugly in love stories.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recording of
Adding Missing Voices to History | Filling in the Gaps | Open Book Festival 2026
Adding Missing Voices to History | Filling in the Gaps | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 8, 2026 01:03:10 In this episode, Lulama Mali, Athambile Masola and Bonile Ngqiyaza spoke to Wamuwi Mbao about the work of adding the missing voices to our history.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is a recor
Writing Queer Masculinity | The Lightness & Darkness Of Vulnerability | Open Book Festival 2026
Writing Queer Masculinity | The Lightness & Darkness Of Vulnerability | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 6, 2026 01:00:32 In this episode, Zubayr Charles, Preven Reddy and Wesley Roodt speak to Riley Herbert-Henry about creating space for vulnerability for both reader and writer.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This
Finding Ways To Balance The World | Intentional Recalibrations | Open Book Festival 2026
Finding Ways To Balance The World | Intentional Recalibrations | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 3, 2026 00:57:19 In this episode, Sanah Ahsan, Siphokazi Jonas and Lebogang Matseke speak to Maneo Mohale about divinity, desire, and the intentional work of recalibrating our minds.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possib
Where Are Our Trusted Sources? Finding Truth in an Age of Misinformation | Open Book Festival 2026
Where Are Our Trusted Sources? Finding Truth in an Age of Misinformation | Open Book Festival 2026 Oct 1, 2026 01:03:04 In this episode Dan Corder, Caryn Dolley and Tara Roos speak to Karabo Rajuili about political activism, the current state of South Africa, and finding credible news sources.Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are ma
Feminist Book Club | Elevating Female Voices in Literature | OpenBookFestival 2025
Feminist Book Club | Elevating Female Voices in Literature | OpenBookFestival 2025 Jan 23, 2026 00:57:35 In this episode Noma Tsheleza facilitates an interactive conversation with Michelle Myeko Kekana, the author of The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women. Open Book Festival is an annual literary event in Cape Town featuring panelists from all over the writing and publishing spheres. It is a place where writers and audiences are brought together and meaningful discussions are made possible.This is

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