How does reading bring people together? Listen now 🎧

We’re delighted to share the second of our special Festival feature episodes from A Shared Reading Podcast by Derby Book Festival.

Hosted by our Shared Reading volunteers Ellie and Steve, this episode continues our Summer Festival series, bringing together author interviews, audience reflections and conversations about the many ways reading can connect us.

Recorded during the Festival in May, the episode shares voices from writers, readers, festival-goers and the wider Derby Book Festival community.

A Shared Reading Podcast by Derby Book Festival is a new podcast celebrating local voices, community connection and the conversations that begin when we read together.

Each episode gives a flavour of our Shared Reading programme, where stories, poems and other short texts inspire warm, welcoming conversations and connection. Across the series, we feature local writers, Shared Reading volunteers and participants sharing their experiences of reading and community.

If you enjoy this festival episode, please download, follow/subscribe and share the podcast with others. It really helps more people discover Shared Reading. You can also find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you usually listen to podcasts.

Shared Reading is a simple, welcoming way to enjoy stories, poems and other short texts in a group. A trained volunteer reads aloud, then everyone is invited to chat about whatever the words bring up – memories, feelings, ideas, favourite lines, or anything else that comes to mind.

There’s no prep, no pressure and no need to be a literature expert. You can share as much or as little as you like, or simply listen.

We run Shared Reading groups across Derby and Derbyshire, including in community venues, libraries, cafés, healthcare settings and online.

We’d love to keep growing A Shared Reading Podcast by Derby Book Festivaland continue sharing local voices, author conversations and stories of reading, wellbeing and connection.

To make that possible, we’re looking for support from individuals and organisations. This could include sponsoring an episode, supporting a future season, sharing the podcast through your networks, promoting it in a newsletter, website or social post, or offering in-kind support such as recording space, promotion, design, photography or other practical help.

Sponsorship starts from £100 for community support, with options to sponsor or co-sponsor individual episodes and seasons.