The Author Archive Podcast

Simon Sebag Montefiore : the life of Potemkin

Putin seems determined 'to make Russia great again'

His motivations are difficult to understand but listening to historian Simon Sebag Montefiore might go some way to explaining his thinkng.

Simon Sebag Montefiore explains the mythic status of  this eighteenth century Russian statesman, and military leader Grigory Potemkin. 

In this conversation recorded in London in 2000 Simon Sebag Montefiore tells David Freeman about practical politics in 18th century Russia and how Potemkin made his way in society with the help of the love of Catherine the Great.

Their relationship has been told in films but the way Simon tells the story is probably more gripping and unbelievable.

Simon told the story in full in his the books, Prince of Princes, and Catherine the Great and Potemkin, The Imperial Love Affair.

Interesting to hear Simon say that Putin read this book and what he learned has informed his political views. This lead to the invasion of Ukraine  and a significant incident when Russian troops broke into the crypt of the cathedral in Kherson and removed the bones of Grigory Potemkin. 

This is history to remember. Putin uses this history to justify his actions.

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony Seldon : The Path of Light. Walkng to Auschwitz

Sir Anthony Seldon has written about a 1,300 kilometre walk he took across Europe from Southern France, through Austria and the Czech Republic finally reaching his destination, Auschwitz in Poland.

On the journey he seeks out inspiring stories of the lives of 'figures of light'.

As he tells me , while he was walking through places associated with fascism and the second world war he was well aware of the worrying state of global politics in the 21st century.

A thought provoking conversation.

 

Marcus Chown : The one thing you need to know.

The cover of this new book declares that in it Marcus Chown explains the simple way to understand the most important ideas in science.

Marcus is one of the very best science writers on the planet.

Listening to this conversation you might marvel at his patience as he explains the workings of a quantum computer to me.

I learned a lot!

Steve Ashley : being a singer songwriter.

Steve Ashley has had a long illustrious career in music and political activism.

This conversation was recorded in November 2025, a few months before Steve's 80th birthday.  His passions, enthusiasms and commitment remain undimmed.

In this informal interview Steve tells of his influences and motivation. He clearly has a lot of fight and lyricism left!

A very entertaining musician and stimulating conversationalist.

 

Amelia Thomas : What Sheep Think About the Weather.

This engrossing book is subtitled 'how to listen to what animals are trying to say'

Amelia, the author, is passionate and thought provoking.

Hearing this conversation or reading the book just might drive you to the edge of becoming a vegetarian.

An excellent gift book for any animal lover.

Andrew Lownie - Entitled

When this interview was recorded in August 2015 Andrew was a prince and a duke living in a very big house. That is now history.

Andrew Lownie has spent four years researching the lives of Andrew Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, who used to be the Duke and Duchess of York.

The book is full of dramatic details of lives spent sailing very close to the wind but mostly protected by their royal status. Not anymore.

What Andrew Lownie tells me will stop you in your tracks.

 

 

Timothy Good - UFOs

Halloween again!

Everything weird is celebrated. Does this include UFOs?

In this interview on the subject David Freeman, a UFO skeptic, met UFO true believer Timothy Good when his book Unearthly Disclosure was first published.

The conversation was friendly but inquisitive!

So are UFOs real?  Are those little creatures with three fingers that are on the TV screens real aliens?

 

Ross King : The Shortest History of Ancient Rome

Hearing Ross talk about the Ancient Romans is an entertaining revelation. 

I didn't know that the 'no kings' movement is a Roman invention as is the tradition of reminding would be absolute rulers that they are as human as the rest of us.

Ross is a riveting writer of history and a great story teller.

Roger Hammond: Lyn and Me. Our life with MS and beyond.

Roger Hammond writes in fearless detail how he was his wife's carer for thirty of their forty seven years of marriage.

Lyn was diagnosed with MS when they were a family of four with two young daughters.

Roger writes about the challenges but he also recounts how they dealt with them and enjoyed a happy and fulfilling marriage.

They never forgot how to enjoy life ...... their holidays were fabulous!

 

 

 

Jilly Cooper : Pandora

Sad to report that Jilly Cooper has died.

She was always great fun to chat to and consistently jolly. Hugely successful but not grand at all!

This conversation was recorded when her novel Pandora was first published.