I’m currently juggling five writing podcasts. Two are American, three British. I’ve been listening to the Rest is Entertainment the longest, then In Suspense. Jack Carr’s Channel and the Indie Authors’ Club are the newest to join my Spotify Podcasts list, but I’m enjoying them both.
I’ve given each podcasts a rating out of 5 based onythese factors:
- Usefulness for Writers (how much practical advice that I can use is there?)
- Entertainment Value (how much do I enjoy each episode?)
- Inspiration / Motivation (how much does it motivate or inspire me to write or treat writing as a profession?
In Suspense
Although hosts Lesley Kara and Nikki Smith often interview international guests, in many ways they have created the most British of all the writing podcasts on this list, and definitely the most charming. I started listening this year, and have followed Lesley and Nikki as they struggled to keep their writing focus and be positive about virtual marketing and writers’ conferences through the pandemic.
In Suspense often shows the gritty side of writing, discussing mental health issues and how to keep going in times of family tumult, yet never loses its charm, a fact supported by the hosts’ terrible attempts to say ‘In suspense’ at the same time.
Rating
- Usefulness for Writers: 4
- Entertainment Value: 4
- Inspiration / Motivation: 4
The jack carr channel
Jack Carr is the author of The Terminal List. He’s an ex-Navy SEAL who writes evocative and exciting and realistic action scenes. For anyone wanting to write action-filled thrillers, his podcast is excellent. He’s interviewed many renowned thriller writers, including David Morrell (First Blood), Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X) and Stephen Hunter (the Bob Swagger series).
Some of the episodes can be well over the ninety minute mark (one of the David Morrell ones was almost three hours), so strap in for the long haul. However, they’re worth it for the insights and tips into the writing life. Jack is much friendlier than his picture suggests, and he brings a contagious level of enthusiasm to every episode – but this is possibly what leads to the overly long running times.
Rating
- Usefulness for Writers: 4
- Entertainment Value: 3
- Inspiration / Motivation: 3
Novel Marketing
Novel Marketing is the longest running novel marketing podcast in the business, having started back in 2014. Host Thomas Unstaddt Jr undoubtably has plenty of expertise. I came to Novel Marketing after reading a tip on Threads in July 2025. Since then, I’ve listened to a hundred or so episodes. It’s helped me to start marketing my work more professionally. I’m up to about 2017 now, when Thomas was still hosting with co-host James L. Rubart, but he seems to drop off the radar at some point, because 2025 episodes are hosted only by Thomas. You can read my review of the Novel Marketing Podcast here.
Rating
- Usefulness for Writers: 5
- Entertainment Value: 3
- Inspiration / Motivation: 3
Indie Writers’ Club
I’ve only listened to a few episodes of the Indie Authors’ club, but I’m very impressed. Hosts James Blatch and Cara Clare have a huge wealth of experience about indie publishing, and also hybrid publishing, and their episodes on ghost writing were very informative. I also like their pragmatic, realistic take on AI, discussing how to use it to aid the business, marketing and organisational side of writing. Thanks to James and Clara, I am now starting to get my website GEO as well as SEO ready.
Rating
- Usefulness for Writers: 5
- Entertainment Value: 4
- Inspiration / Motivation: 4
The Rest is Entertainment
The Rest Is Entertainment’s inclusion is more of an honoury one because it only covers writing every so often. However, when it does, Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club author, offers interesting insights into the writing and publishing business. The show is often very entertaining, although Marina’s insistence on treating the most trivial topics (E.G. Brooklyn Beckham’s take-away business) like they’re life and death can be grating. Luckily, Richard’s humour alleviates the sense of urgency in Marina’s often breathless delivery.
Rating
- Usefulness for Writers: 2
- Entertainment Value: 5
- Inspiration / Motivation: 2
final Writing podcasts verdict
Of the five writing podcasts reviewed here, I feel I’ve been unfair to The Rest Is Entertainment, which has never claimed to be a writing podcast. On sheer entertainment value, it is absolutely my favourite. Although I haven’t listened to many episodes of the Indie Writers’ Cub yet, I’m already impressed, and it has the slight edge over Novel Marketing because it is British based, so slightly more relevant for me.
Links
Novel Marketing podcast review
My own YouTube Podcast Appearance
Nerves, Genesis and a Noisy Cat: My Podcast Debut
Writers, Mics and Mishaps: preparing for my second podcast
My appearance on the CC and JT Podcast
My BOOKS
The explosive first book in my Angel of the South series, a thriller series exploring the fraught relationship between Billie and Tom, the children of two notorious London gangsters.
She’s the deadliest person he knows. And now he’s betrayed her.
A ruthless London gang targets an innocent shopkeeper and his daughter, prompting Tom Adams to walk away from the criminal life he never wanted. When he warns the shopkeeper of the danger he’s in, Tom betrays Billie, the gang’s boss, and the complicated history they share.
No Way To Live is available from 21st November on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited as an ebook and paperback
In Hong Kong, people who organise demonstrations get arrested or disappeared. Protest leader Mae Yang knows that. She’s been preparing to martyr herself for years. But when she meets lost soul Pete Anderson, she needs to decide how much she’s prepared to sacrifice for her beliefs.
Do Not Keep Silent is available from Amazon.
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