A Thread of One's Own with Theo Clarke

About A Thread of One's Own with Theo Clarke

'A Thread of One's Own' is a monthly podcast on writing, creativity and living. Host Theo Clarke interviews a guest author to talk about their work and the stories behind them. For more content, make sure to subscribe to her Substack page and join the conversation. https://theodoraclarke.substack.com/ theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com/s/a-thread-of-ones-own?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Theo Clarke

Category

arts · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Oct 2025

Latest episode

23 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Oct 2026

   S2, E7: Author Georgie Capron on Writing Contemporary Women’s Fiction

   This month our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by author Georgie Capron to discuss her fourth novel, The Love I Wished For, published by Pellerin Books. Georgie explores the inspiration behind her novel, which follows a mother trapped in a controlling relationship who faces the possibility of losing the child she loves if she leaves. They discuss loneliness, friendship and the importance of community and found family. Georgie also shares her journey to becoming a published author, how she has balanced writing with teaching and raising three children, and her advice for aspiring novelists.Topics discussed on the show include: writing ‘The Love I Wished For’, loneliness within relationships; motherhood and emotional isolation; friendship and found family; researching loneliness and community; creating believable characters; plotting versus writing instinctively; character development and story arcs; structural editing and line editing; finding time to write as a working mother; writing in short pockets of time; literary agents and publishing contracts; finding inspiration; and advice for first-time authors.BIOGRAPHYGeorgie Capron is a British author of contemporary women’s fiction. She writes stories about real life with themes exploring love, relationships, family, community and friendship. She lives in South-West London with her husband and three children. Her fourth novel, The Love I Wished For, is published by Pellerin Books. Her other novels are Just the Two of Us, Under the Amalfi Sun (previously published as One Summer in Positano) and The Distance Between Us.Follow: @georgiecapronauthor (https://www.instagram.com/georgiecapronauthor/)About the HostTheo Clarke is a bestselling author, podcaster and former UK Member of Parliament. She is the author of ‘Breaking the Taboo: (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355) Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma’ which was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards.Website: www.theo-clarke.org.uk (http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/)Follow: @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en-gb) Founder: Theo Clarke Editor: Adam WoodwardProducer: Kate Kenyon Socials: Phoebe DukesDesigner: Emily Ryder This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   17 Sept 2026

   S2, E6: Damian Collins on Lloyd George, Political Rivalry and Writing History

   This month our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by author, historian and former MP Damian Collins OBE to discuss his new book, Rivals in the Storm: How Lloyd George Seized Power, Won the War and Lost His Government. Damian explores Lloyd George’s extraordinary rise to power, his leadership during the First World War and the political rivalries and scandals that ultimately brought down his government. They discuss the parallels with British politics today and what modern leaders can learn from Lloyd George, before turning to Damian’s own writing process and his advice for researching and writing history. Topics discussed include: Lloyd George and the First World War; political scandal and cross-party politics; historical biography; archival research and first-hand sources; digital tools and AI for historical research; and advice for aspiring authors. About Damian Collins Damian Collins OBE was the Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe. He has served as Minister for Tech and Digital Economy in the UK government, and is a former Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Before entering politics, Damian worked in the advertising industry for M&C Saatchi and graduated with a degree in Modern History from the University of Oxford. About the Host Theo Clarke is a bestselling author, podcaster and former Member of Parliament. She is the author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma which was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards. www.theo-clarke.org.uk (https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Instagram: @theoclarkemp Producer: Adam Woodward Research: Kate Kenyon Designer: Emily Ryder This episode of A Thread of One’s Own is brought to you in association with the Sandon Literature Festival. Find out more about the festival and book tickets HERE (https://sandonhall.co.uk/events/sandon-hall-literature-festival-2025/). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   11 Sept 2026

   S2, E5: Sunday Times Bestselling Author Anna Bailey on Writing Fiction

   This month our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Sunday Times bestselling author Anna Bailey to discuss her new novel, Our Last Wild Days, a Southern Gothic story set in the Louisiana bayou. Anna discusses the inspiration behind her book and how her experiences living in the American South shaped its characters and setting. She also reflects on her unconventional path to publication, the setbacks along the way and what she has learned about building a career as a fiction writer.Topics discussed on the show include: creating a sense of place; character, dialogue and point of view; plotting versus writing instinctively; finding a literary agent; rejection and unpublished manuscripts; writing short stories; editorial feedback; writing routines; and advice for aspiring authors. About Anna Bailey Anna Bailey is a Sunday Times bestselling author from Gloucestershire. Her debut novel Tall Bones was nominated for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and Goldsboro Glass Bell awards, as well as the Prix Nouvelles Voix du Polar. Her second novel Our Last Wild Days was also published to great acclaim. Her short stories have been dramatised for BBC Radio 4, including ‘Long Way to Come For a Sip of Water,’ which was shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award. They live in Bordeaux with their wife. About the Host Theo Clarke is a bestselling author, podcaster and former Member of Parliament. She is the author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma and is currently writing her first historical novel. www.theo-clarke.org.uk (https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)Instagram: @theoclarkemp Producer: Adam WoodwardResearch: Kate KenyonDesigner: Emily RyderSocial media: Eleanor Flavin This episode of A Thread of One’s Own is brought to you in association with the Sandon Literature Festival. Find out more about the festival and book tickets HERE (https://sandonhall.co.uk/events/sandon-hall-literature-festival-2025/). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   3 Sept 2026

   S2, E4: Rosamund Bartlett and Elena Michajlowska on Rediscovering Chekhov’s Earliest Stories

   This month our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by writer and translator Rosamund Bartlett and producer, curator and filmmaker Elena Michajlowska, co-founders of the Anton Chekhov Foundation, to discuss Anton Chekhov, Earliest Stories: Stories, Novellas, Humoresques, 1880–1882. They explore Chekhov’s beginnings writing comic stories while studying medicine, his surprisingly modern and absurd sense of humour, and what these early works reveal about the writer he would become. Rosamund and Elena also share the extraordinary process of bringing together many translators from across nine countries and discuss what today’s writers can learn from Chekhov’s mastery of concision, character and language. Topics discussed include: Chekhov’s life and literary legacy; his earliest comic stories; Moscow in the 1880s; humour, satire and literary parody; translating Chekhov for modern readers; the Early Chekhov Translation Project; and researching and writing biography. About Rosamund Bartlett Rosamund Bartlett is a writer and translator, and a well-known authority on Russian cultural history. She is the author of Chekhov: Scenes from a Life, editor and co-translator of Chekhov: A Life in Letters, and translator of two Chekhov anthologies, About Love and Other Stories and The Exclamation Mark and Other Stories. About Elena Michajlowska Elena Michajlowska is a producer, curator, and filmmaker, whose practice explores collective memory, political trauma, and cultural identity - selected works include Fragile Brutalism (2022–23) and PutschYourself.art (2016). In 2009 she collaborated with Rosamund Bartlett to found the Anton Chekhov Foundation, a UK-registered charity, of which they both remain trustees. RESOURCES Anton Chekhov Foundation (http://antonchekhovfoundation.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Early Chekhov Translation Project (http://antonchekhovfoundation.org/ect?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Anton Chekhov, Earliest Stories: Stories, Novellas, Humoresques, 1880–1882 Anton Chekhov, Earliest Stories at Blackwell’s (https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Anton-Chekhov-Earliest-Stories-by-Anton-Chekhov-author-Rosamund-Bartlett-editor-Elena-Michajlowska-editor/9798887198095?utm_source=chatgpt.com) About the Host Theo Clarke is a bestselling author, podcaster and former Member of Parliament. She is the author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma which was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards. www.theo-clarke.org.uk (https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)Instagram: @theoclarkemp Producer: Adam WoodwardResearch: Kate KenyonDesigner: Emily RyderSocial media: Eleanor Flavin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

5. 

   6 Aug 2026

   S2, E3: Author Kate Riordan on Writing Mystery Fiction: Secrets, Setting and Suspense

   This week on A Thread of One’s Own, Theo Clarke is joined by bestselling novelist Kate Riordan to discuss her new novel, The Last Time I Saw Her Alive, which has recently been published by Penguin.Together they explore the inspiration behind Kate’s latest mystery, from its Cotswold setting and 1970s folk music scene to the secrets that ripple across generations. They discuss writing dual timelines, creating unforgettable settings and complex mother-daughter relationships, as well as the craft of suspense, plotting a mystery, and building a sustainable creative life as a novelist.Topics discussed on the show include: writing mystery fiction; dual timelines; family secrets; mothers and daughters; memory and trauma; creating atmosphere and sense of place; plotting suspense novels; editing and working with publishers; developing a writing routine; coaching writers through The Novelry; and advice for aspiring authors.BIOGRAPHYKate Riordan is the bestselling author of seven novels, including The Heatwave, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick. She is also an author coach for The Novelry. As a journalist, she has written for publications including The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Red, Stella and Grazia. Kate lives in an old cottage in the Cotswolds, where she writes her novels.RESOURCES📖 The Last Time I Saw Her Alive (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/458181/the-last-time-i-saw-her-alive-by-riordan-kate/9780241827383) Follow Kate @kateriordanauthor (https://www.instagram.com/kateriordanauthor/?hl=en-gb)About the HostTheo Clarke is a bestselling author, podcaster and former Member of Parliament. She hosts A Thread of One’s Own, a podcast and Substack exploring books, writing and the creative life through conversations with leading authors. Her memoir ‘Breaking the Taboo’ was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards.Website: www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast (http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast)Instagram: @theoclarkempA Thread of One’s Own production team Founder and Executive Producer: Theo ClarkeEditor: Adam WoodwardDesigner: Emily RyderSocial Media: Eleanor Flavin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   23 Jul 2026

   S2, E2: Sajid Javid on The Colour of Home: Race, Belonging and Britain

   This week on A Thread of One’s Own, Theo Clarke is joined by former Cabinet Minister Sajid Javid to discuss his moving and deeply personal memoir, The Colour of Home. Together they explore Sajid’s childhood, from his family’s experience of Partition to growing up in Britain in the 1970s and 1980s. They discuss the experiences that shaped his journey from a childhood marked by hardship to the highest levels of public life, reflecting on family, identity, education, ambition and the challenges of writing an honest memoir. Above all, they consider what it means to find a sense of home and belonging.Topics discussed on the show include: writing memoir after public life; the legacy of Partition and immigration; growing up in Britain as the child of Punjabi immigrants; racism and belonging in the 1970s and 1980s; education as a route out of poverty; resilience and ambition; family expectations, love and independence; breaking into the world of finance; public service and politics; and what “home” means today. About Sajid Javid Sajid Javid was a Member of the British Parliament from May 2010 to July 2024. During his political career, he served in the Cabinets of three Prime Ministers and led six major government departments, including the Treasury and the Home Office. Most recently, he served as Secretary of State for Health during the Covid-19 pandemic. He has since returned to the business world and also serves as Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. Resources 📖 The Colour of Home: A Memoir of Race, Belonging and Britain (https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-colour-of-home/sajid-javid/9780349147628) About the Host Theo Clarke is a bestselling author, podcaster and former Member of Parliament. She hosts A Thread of One’s Own, a podcast and Substack exploring books, writing and the creative life through conversations with leading authors. Her memoir Breaking the Taboo (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355) (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355)was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards. Host and Producer: Theo ClarkeEditor: Adam WoodwardDesigner: Emily RyderSocial media: Eleanor Flavin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   17 Jul 2026

   S2, E1: The Courage to Write Your Story: Author Tanya Shadrick on Memoir, Creativity and Becoming Yourself

   This week on A Thread of One’s Own, Theo Clarke is joined by acclaimed author Tanya Shadrick to discuss her extraordinary memoir The Cure for Sleep: A Late-Waking Life (https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-cure-for-sleep/tanya-shadrick/9781474618090), and the journey to becoming a writer later in life. The Cure for Sleep: A Late-Waking Life (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) is Tanya’s memoir of what it took—and cost—to break free from old social constraints and make that larger story for herself, even as she remained a wife and mother in a small town. It was a Waterstones and Evening Standard Non-Fiction Book of the Year. Together they explore what it means to find your creative voice after years of putting others first, the power of memoir to make sense of our lives, and how writing can become an act of self-discovery. Topics discussed on the show include: writing memoir; becoming a writer later in life; balancing creativity with family life; finding time to write; the importance of place in storytelling; memory and truth in memoir; writing as self-discovery; overcoming self-doubt; and the journey to publication. BIOGRAPHY Tanya Shadrick embarked as a writer after forty with The Wild Patience Scrolls. A mile of writing composed pen on paper beside England’s oldest outdoor pool during her young children’s school hours, it was an intensely local project that led to BBC Radio 4 features and an international residency at the Jan Michalski Foundation for Writing and Literature in Switzerland. Following that large-scale performance piece, Tanya became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and was welcomed as a writer-in-residence at other extraordinary locations, including the National Trust’s Grade II-listed cliffside artists’ cabin at Bucks Mill, North Devon, and Virginia Woolf’s garden on the Sussex Downs. Theo Clarke is a bestselling author, interviewer and former Member of Parliament. She is the creator and host of ‘A Thread of One’s Own’, a podcast and Substack celebrating books, writing and the creative process. Her memoir ‘Breaking the Taboo’ was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards. Resources: 📖 The Cure for Sleep: A Late-Waking Life by Tanya Shadrick 🌐 Tanya Shadrick: https://tanyashadrick.com/ Website: http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast (http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast) Instagram: @theoclarkemp A Thread of One’s Own production team: Host and Producer: Theo Clarke Editor: Adam Woodward Designer: Emily Ryder Social media: Eleanor Flavin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   29 May 2026

   S1, E10: Author Arabella Byrne on Writing In the Blood: Mothers, Daughters and Addiction

   In this week’s episode, our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke speaks to writer and journalist Arabella Byrne about her memoir In the Blood: On Mothers, Daughters and Addiction, co-written with her mother Julia and published by HarperCollins. They discuss: the practical and emotional challenges of co-writing a memoir with a parent; writing faithfully about family, the influence of journalism and fiction on memoir, the changing landscape of recovery books; family silence around addiction, and she shares her advice for writing. IN THE BLOOD In the Blood: On Mothers, Daughters and Addiction is a memoir in two voices, telling the story of a mother and daughter who both found themselves in Alcoholics Anonymous just nine months apart. Exploring addiction across generations, family secrets, memory and recovery, it is a powerful account of how women navigate inherited trauma and find a way forward. Buy the book: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/in-the-blood-on-mothers-daughters-and-addiction-arabella-byrnejulia-hamilton?variant=41343870042190 (https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/in-the-blood-on-mothers-daughters-and-addiction-arabella-byrnejulia-hamilton?variant=41343870042190) BIOGRAPHY Arabella Byrne is the co-author of In the Blood: On Mothers, Daughters and Addiction, published by HarperCollins in November 2024 and longlisted for the TLS Ackerley Prize for Memoir. She writes for the Spectator, The Times, The Telegraph, Literary Review and The Critic, amongst others. She is an Ambassador for NACOA (the National Association for Children of Alcoholics) and holds a PhD in French history from the University of Pennsylvania. Arabella is married with two children and lives in Oxfordshire. ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke is an author, podcaster, and former politician. She hosts the book club A Thread of One’s Own and the hit women’s health podcast Breaking the Taboo. (https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast) She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355) which was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards. The former MP for Stafford, Theo won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and has been included multiple times in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list. Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en)and @drarabella (https://www.instagram.com/drarabella/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

9. 

   13 May 2026

   S1, E9: Author Theo Clarke on Writing Memoir, Motherhood & Breaking the Taboo

   This week our regular host Theo Clarke is interviewed by broadcaster and journalist Belle Donati about Theo’s bestselling book Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma, and her journey as a writer and campaigner for women’s health. Topics discussed on the show include: writing memoir; championing women’s stories; balancing writing with parenting and a day job; motherhood and creativity; creative writing courses; the importance of writing buddies and accountability; and her writing routine. BIOGRAPHY Belle Donati is a broadcaster and journalist. She has anchored international breaking news for Sky News, NBC-Euronews and France 24, and has a background at the BBC, ITV and Al Jazeera English. She has interviewed guests from Nigel Farage and Humza Yousaf to Brian Cox and Isabel Allende. She hosts podcasts and discussions with The How To Academy on culture and politics. After the birth of her second child, she became an advocate for early intervention in at-risk babies. She is a part of the Ei SMART Foundation team and sits on the Lived Experience Advisory Panel for charity RareMinds. She is chair of the board of trustees of The Lovington Foundation. Theo Clarke hosts the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo which ranks in the Top 5 most listened to shows in the UK for alternative health. She has also published the memoir Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma. Theo was the Member of Parliament for Stafford. She chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and previously set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. Theo has served as parliamentary private secretary at the Departments for Education, Business and Trade and HM Treasury, in addition to being trade envoy for the Prime Minister. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list in 2025 and 2024. She sits on the Board of the United Nations Association UK as their Vice Chair. RESOURCESBreaking the Taboo by Theo Clarkehttps://www.waterstones.com/book/breaking-the-taboo/theo-clarke//9781785909351 (https://www.waterstones.com/book/breaking-the-taboo/theo-clarke//9781785909351) Global Birth Trauma Alliancehttps://www.globalbirthtraumaalliance.com/ (https://www.globalbirthtraumaalliance.com/) Birth Trauma Associationhttps://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/ (https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/) MASIChttps://masic.org.uk/ (https://masic.org.uk/) Website: http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast (http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast) Instagram: @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/) A Thread of One’s Own production team: Producer: Adam Woodward Designer: Emily Ryder Social media: Bella Carter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

10. 

    27 Apr 2026

    S1, E8: Wainwright Prize Shortlisted Author Paul Lamb on Writing, Nature and A Life in the Countryside

    In this month’s episode, our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke speaks to writer and hedgelayer Paul Lamb about his book Of Thorn & Briar, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Wainwright Prize in 2025 and was an instant Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller. They discuss: the origins of the book; his writing process; the craft of hedgelaying; supporting wildlife and climate resilience; rural life, tradition and modern agriculture; the rhythm of seasonal work; writing memoir and nature writing; balancing practical craft with reflective storytelling; and how writing has influenced his relationship with the landscape. Paul also shares his top tips for writing a book and his literary influences. OF THORN & BRIAR Of Thorn & Briar explores the craft of hedgelaying and a life lived close to the land. Following the rhythm of the seasons, the book reflects on the relationship between people, place and tradition, and considers the environmental and cultural significance of hedgerows in the British countryside. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thorn-Briar-Year-Country-Hedgelayer/dp/1398535036 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thorn-Briar-Year-Country-Hedgelayer/dp/1398535036) BIOGRAPHY Paul Lamb was born in 1976. Four years later, he emigrated with his parents to New Zealand. It was here he first developed a love for the outdoors, spending much time in the wild places of the North Island. He returned to Britain in his teens and found employment as an itinerant farm labourer. In his early twenties, Paul took an apprenticeship with a Dorset woodsman in an isolated coppice and began his journey into woodsmanship. Paul has earned his living from the woodlands and hedgerows of the West Country ever since. This enthralling book celebrates the benefits of hedgerows and a way of living that has all but disappeared in recent decades. Following the rhythm of the seasons, Of Thorn & Briar describes Paul Lamb’s life on the road and the practical aspects of his craft, as he travels the South-West caring for an important but often forgotten part of the British countryside. Follow @westcountry_hedgelayer (https://www.instagram.com/westcountry_hedgelayer/) ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke hosts ‘A Thread of One’s Own’ and the hit podcast ‘Breaking the Taboo’ which is in the Top 5% most listened to podcasts globally. She is the bestselling author of ‘Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355)‘ which was shortlisted for the Westminster Book Awards. Theo was formerly the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won ‘Speech of the Year’ at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has been included multiple times in the Top 100 Women in Westminster list. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

11. 

    20 Mar 2026

    S1, E7: Author Helen Chandler-White on Lost & Found and Why We Hold Onto Things

    In this month’s book club, our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke, speaks to journalist Helen Chandler-Wilde about her latest book ‘Lost & Found’. They also discuss advice on writing non-fiction, blending memoir with journalism and share top tips for writing, including the Pomodoro technique, and how to balance being an author with a day job too. LOST & FOUND Why do we buy and keep the things we do, and how can we live a less cluttered life? Journalist Helen Chandler-Wilde dives deep to explore, explain, and guide us on the path to liberation from the tyranny of “too much.” On New Year’s Eve of 2018, journalist Helen Chandler-Wilde lost everything she owned in a storage unit fire in Croydon, where she had stowed all her possessions after a big break-up. She was left devastated, and forced to re-evaluate her relationship with owning material things. A mix of memoir, self-help and journalism, Lost & Found explores the psychological reasons for why we buy and keep the things we do, and explains how we can liberate ourselves from the tyranny of ‘too much’. Helen interviews people from all walks of life, including behavioural psychologists on the science of nostalgia, a nun on what it’s like to own almost nothing and consumer psychologists on why we spend impulsively, to help us better understand why we’re surrounded by clutter and what we can do to change it. This smart-thinking book explains the sociological quirks of human nature and the fascinating science behind why we buy and hold onto things. By the end of it, your relationship with your belongings will be changed forever. Read here: Lost & Found (https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/helen-chandler-wilde/happy-with-less/9781783255603/) BIOGRAPHY Helen Chandler-Wilde is a news and features journalist at Bloomberg and formerly for The Telegraph, where she writes stories about the real people behind the headlines. She covers a range of topics, from celebrity interviews to in-depth stories about housing in the UK. She studied economics and languages at university, before completing a master’s degree in journalism. Follow Helen Chandler-Wilde on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/helenchandlerwilde/) ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke hosts A Thread of One’s Own and the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo which is in the Top 5% most listened to podcasts globally. She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma. Theo was formerly the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won ‘Speech of the Year’ at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025). Follow Theo Clarke: @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

12. 

    22 Dec 2025

    S1, E6: Author Caroline Sanderson on Writing, Music and Memory

    In this month’s episode of A Thread of One’s Own - a book club-style podcast on creativity, writing, and living - our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke speaks to non-fiction writer, editor, and books journalist Caroline Sanderson about her recent memoir Listen With Father: How I Learned to Love Classical Music, published by Unbound in 2025. The episode explores memoir writing, creative nonfiction, music, and memory, and how books help us understand family, loss, and identity. They discuss what it means to write a memoir; how music can act as a channel for remembrance; questions of art versus artist; the place of classical music in contemporary culture; Caroline’s nonfiction writing process and research methods; and book recommendations for readers interested in memoir, music writing, and literary nonfiction. LISTEN WITH FATHER Listen With Father: How I Learned to Love Classical Music (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Listen-Father-Learned-Classical-Music/dp/1789652057) (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Listen-Father-Learned-Classical-Music/dp/1789652057)explores memory, loss and inheritance through music. Moving between childhood listening, adult reflection and travel, Caroline Sanderson traces her evolving relationship with her father and the composers he loved. The book considers how music can hold memory, shape identity and offer connection across time. BIOGRAPHY Caroline Sanderson (https://www.instagram.com/carosandersonwriter/?hl=en)is a non-fiction writer, editor, and books journalist. Caroline is well-known in the book trade and beyond for her author profiles and her non-fiction previews for The Bookseller which she has compiled each month for over 20 years. She has been among the earliest champions during this time of such stellar non-fiction debuts as H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald; East West Street by Philippe Sands; and Educated by Tara Westover. She also writes reviews, features and interviews for a wide variety of other publications including The Express, Mslexia, The Observer and The Mail on Sunday. Caroline has written six non-fiction books of her own, including A Rambling Fancy: In the Footsteps of Jane Austen and Someone Like Adele, a biography of the superstar singer. Programme Director of Stroud Book Festival, Caroline regularly chairs events at book festivals and in bookshops, most recently for Hay Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, and Cheltenham Literature Festival; and for Waterstones, Daunts and Toppings. Caroline has judged many book prizes, including categories at the British Book Awards. She has served as chair of the 2022 Judges for the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize, the UK’s premier prize for non-fiction. Caroline is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund. Read her Substack ‘What to Read Now’ here (https://carosanderson.substack.com/). ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke hosts A Thread of One’s Own and the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com/s/breaking-the-taboo), which is in the Top 5% of most listened-to podcasts globally. She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355): Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma. Theo previously served as the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won “Speech of the Year” at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025). Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

13. 

    11 Dec 2025

    S1, E5: Author Robin de Rosario on Race, Belonging & Writing Historical Fiction

    In this month’s episode, our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke speaks to novelist and award-winning poet Robin de Rosario about his new book Coyote, published by Lucent Dreaming. They discuss the current relevance of race, belonging and sovereignty in his new novel; the craft of writing fiction; advice and writing tips for new authors; the importance of mentoring and peer support; the role of creative writing courses; and the emotional threads at the heart of Coyote, including identity, otherness and inherited loss. COYOTE Coyote explores racial identity in the context of colonialism in early America. Through the story of a mixed-race protagonist navigating competing histories, cultures and expectations, the novel follows his search for belonging as the world around him shifts. Drawing on themes of identity, otherness and the legacies of the past, Coyote examines how people find their place within — and against — the forces that try to define them. Buy the book: https://lucentdreaming.com/product/coyote-by-robin-de-rosario-paperback-2024/ (https://lucentdreaming.com/product/coyote-by-robin-de-rosario-paperback-2024/) https://www.waterstones.com/book/coyote/robin-de-rosario/9781916632066 (https://www.waterstones.com/book/coyote/robin-de-rosario/9781916632066) BIOGRAPHY Robin de Rosario is a novelist and award-winning poet whose work has appeared in The North, Poetry Wales, The American Journal of Poetry, The Bangalore Review and other journals worldwide. His writing touches on themes of race, identity and neurodivergence. He lives on the Sussex coast with his wife — author and performance storyteller Xanthe Gresham Knight. https://www.robinknightwriter.com/robin-de-rosario (https://www.robinknightwriter.com/robin-de-rosario) ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke hosts A Thread of One’s Own and the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo, which is in the Top 5% of most listened-to podcasts globally. She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma. Theo previously served as the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won “Speech of the Year” at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025). Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.google.com/search?q=instagram+theo+clarke&sca_esv=d44b221d688bac1f&rlz=1C5MACD_enGB1112GB1112&sxsrf=AE3TifNKwwuZr0M8ZKYqLjATjjCMcvSlOw%3A1765387987000&ei=0q45aYLlPPCohbIPxMekmQ8&ved=0ahUKEwiCluzexrORAxVwVEEAHcQjKfMQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=instagram+theo+clarke&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFWluc3RhZ3JhbSB0aGVvIGNsYXJrZTIGEAAYFhgeMgUQABjvBTIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIEMggQABiiBBiJBUiQGlCjDFi3GXABeAKQAQCYAcwBoAGjCKoBBTkuMS4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAINoALqCMICBBAAGEfCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgINEAAYgAQYsAMYQxiKBcICExAuGIAEGLADGEMYyAMYigXYAQHCAhkQLhiABBiwAxjRAxhDGMcBGMgDGIoF2AEBwgIQEAAYgAQYsQMYQxiDARiKBcICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgUQABiABMICCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFwgIIEAAYFhgKGB6YAwCIBgGQBg26BgQIARgIkgcGMTEuMS4xoAfvMbIHBTkuMS4xuAfiCMIHBTEuMy45yAcygAgA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#:~:text=Theodora%20Clarke%20(%40theoclarkemp,3.6k%2B%20followers) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

14. 

    10 Nov 2025

    S1, E2: Author Lucy Easthope on Coping with Crisis & Writing Memoir

    In this month’s episode, our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke, speaks to author Professor Lucy Easthope about her latest book Come What May: Life-Changing Lessons for Coping with Crisis, published by Hodder Books. They also discuss advice on being a non-fiction author and writing memoir. COME WHAT MAY (https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/lucy-easthope/come-what-may/9781399736213/) We all know that at some point in life, we will experience pain, uncertainty and loss. Widowhood, redundancy, a life-changing diagnosis, pregnancy loss, or a global pandemic. So how can we weather the storms, and cope with whatever comes next?No one can answer this better than Lucy Easthope, an emergency planner whose job is to support survivors of major disasters. She has been there after countless earthquakes, fires and floods. Time and again she has watched how people rebuild: the work, the pitfalls and the fragile joy. In Come What May, she distils for us what she has learned about how to carry on during and after terrible times.Through poignant stories and hard-won wisdom, she offers a roadmap for resilience in the face of adversity. She explains what shape the recovery journey might take, how to triage your life in an emergency, how to plan for ‘the slump’ (also known as the lasagne phase), how to take stock of what has happened to you, how to watch out for ‘learned helplessness’, and what good (and bad) help looks like.This is a book for all of us existing in ‘the after’ who want not just to survive, but to live and unleash strengths we never knew we had. BIOGRAPHY Lucy Easthope is the UK’s leading authority on recovering from disaster. She has been advisor on nearly every major disaster of the past two decades, including the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, 9/11, the 7/7 bombings, the Salisbury Poisonings, Grenfell. She has most recently has been advising the Prime Minister’s Office on the Covid-19 pandemic.Lucy grew up in Liverpool and has a degree in law, a PhD in medicine and a Masters in risk, crisis and disaster management. She is a Professor in Practice of Risk and Hazard at the University of Durham and Fellow in Mass Fatalities and Pandemics at the Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath.Her book When The Dust Settles: Stories of Love, Loss and Hope from an Expert in Disaster (https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Dust-Settles-Stories-Disaster/dp/1529358248) was released in March 2022 and was a Sunday Times bestseller. https://whatevernext.info/about/ (https://whatevernext.info/about/)Follow @whenthedustsettleslucy (https://www.instagram.com/whenthedustsettleslucy/?hl=en-gb) ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke hosts A Thread of One’s Own and the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/breaking-the-taboo/id1791997791) which is in the Top 5% most listened to podcasts globally. She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355). Theo was formerly the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won ‘Speech of the Year’ at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025). Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

15. 

    10 Nov 2025

    S1, E3: Author Amy Gray on Kitty Atholl, A Rebel Female MP in Westminster & Writing Biography

    Our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke speaks to Amy Gray, author of Red Duchess: Kitty Atholl, A Rebel in Westminster, published by The History Press in August 2025. Together they discuss the fascinating life of the Duchess of Atholl MP - a woman who defied expectations and challenged convention in politics and beyond. Amy also shares the story behind writing her first book: from discovering the idea, to long hours in archives, to balancing research, writing, work and family life. She also talks about finding a publisher without an agent, the importance of writing the kind of book she wanted to read, and why her next project will be fiction. RED DUCHESS: KITTY ATHOLL, A REBEL IN WESTMINSTER (https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/red-duchess/)A pioneering female politician who thought women didn’t need the vote; a conservative who shared platforms with communists; a shy public speaker who travelled the world speaking for Spanish refugees - the formidable Duchess of Atholl was full of contradictions.Born into an ancient Scottish family and married to a philandering duke, Kitty rose above the constraints of class and convention to become a tireless advocate for women and children. By her election as the first Scottish female MP in 1923, she was already one of the most prominent women in Scotland – and that was before she shocked Westminster with outspoken rebellions against her own government.She stood with Spanish refugees and challenged fascism, visited war zones and campaigned with her political opponents, criticised tyrants and wrote her own political playbook. In Red Duchess, Kitty Atholl’s extraordinary life is brought into the spotlight she has long deserved – a compelling story of courage, conviction and a woman who refused to play by the rules.BIOGRAPHYAmy Gray is the author of Red Duchess: Kitty Atholl, A Rebel in Westminster, published in August 2025. She has spent fifteen years working in public affairs and politics and has stood for Parliament twice. After a brief stint as a teacher, she now balances freelance work, writing, and family life. Amy splits her time between Cambridge and Scotland with her husband and two children.🖋️ Instagram & Bluesky: @amygraywrites (https://www.instagram.com/amygraywrites/) ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke hosts A Thread of One’s Own and the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/breaking-the-taboo/id1791997791). She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355). Theo was formerly the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025). Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

16. 

    10 Nov 2025

    S1, E4: Author Emma Simpson on Wild Swimming & Healing from Grief in Breaking Waves

    Our host and bestselling author Theo Clarke speaks to Emma Simpson, author, wild swimmer and tea sommelier, about her debut book Breaking Waves: Discovery, Healing and Inspiration in the Open Water, published by Icon Books in 2025. Together they discuss what it means to discover creativity later in life, finding healing in nature from grief, and how storytelling can help us reclaim our voice. Emma also shares insights from path to publication, and how writing has transformed her everyday life.BREAKING WAVES (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Waves-Discovery-Healing-Inspiration/dp/1837731799)A warm, reflective and uplifting memoir about healing wounds, reclaiming a voice and discovering freedom through the open water. To the uninitiated, wild swimming represents mystery and risk — but for Emma Simpson, the open water became a sanctuary. After a period of deep grief and disconnection, she found solace, strength and a profound sense of belonging in rivers, lakes and seas.Through the stories of women around the world and her own journey, Emma explores the power of water to renew and reconnect us - touching on loss, resilience, body confidence and the courage to begin again. Breaking Waves is both a love letter to womanhood and the natural world, and a celebration of community, creativity and going with the flow.BIOGRAPHYEmma Simpson is an award-winning author, wild swimmer and tea sommelier. Her debut book, Breaking Waves, was published in March 2025 to 5-star reviews, and explores the unique relationship of women with water around the world. Her second book: The Purple Vine Teahouse is currently in progress and is rooted in her passion for tea. Blending memoir and cultural history, it is a modern love story with a twist. Emma lives in the South of England with her fire-fighter husband, two teenage daughters, a rescue greyhound and a sixty-year-old tortoise. She can generally be found swimming in rivers in a bikini in the snow, drinking tea with friends or embarrassing her children with her compulsion to talk with anyone she meets.🌊 www.emmasimpsonauthor.com (http://www.emmasimpsonauthor.com/)📸 Instagram & Substack: @emmasimpsonauthor (https://emmasimpsonauthor.substack.com/) ABOUT THE HOST Theo Clarke hosts the podcast A Thread of One’s Own and the Top-5 UK hit podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/breaking-the-taboo/id1791997791) Breaking the Taboo. She is also the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355) Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma. The former Member of Parliament for Stafford, Theo won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards in the UK and has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025). Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

17. 

    17 Oct 2025

    S1, E1: Author Caroline Montague on Writing Historical Fiction

    In this month’s episode, our host Theo Clarke speaks to author Caroline Montague (https://www.instagram.com/caroline_montague_author_/?hl=en) about her latest novel ‘The Pieces of Us’, published by Orion, and shares her advice on being a historical novelist. This episode is brought to you in association with the Sandon Literature Festiva (https://sandonhall.co.uk/events/sandon-hall-literature-festival-2025/)l. The Pieces of Us (https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/caroline-montague/the-pieces-of-us/9781409198116/) Marina and Hugh were once madly in love. But after the loss of their beautiful little daughter, grief has created a distance between them that feels impossible to bridge. Marina knows leaving Italy is the only way they will be able to move on, but Thorncliffe Hall, Hugh’s family home in England, is so grey and unwelcoming.Just when life feels like it may never regain colour, Marina and Hugh come across a striking china coffee pot in a London shop window, adorned with a fox flying through the night sky. The coffee pot comes attached with a mystery, one that is connected with Hugh’s own family many years ago.By digging into the past, Marina is about to discover a story far beyond her wildest dreams. But will the past help her heal the present? BIOGRAPHY Caroline Montague lives with her husband at Burnt Norton House in the Cotswolds made famous by TS Eliot in the first of his four quartets. She is also a designer and mother to seven children and step-children. She divides her time between England and Italy. ABOUT THE HOSTTheo Clarke hosts A Thread of One’s Own and the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/breaking-the-taboo/id1791997791) which is in the Top 5% most listened to podcasts globally. She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355). Theo was formerly the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won ‘Speech of the Year’ at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025).Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

18. 

    17 Oct 2025

    Trailer – A Thread of One's Own Podcast on Writing, Creativity and Living with Theo Clarke

    ‘A Thread of One’s Own’ is a monthly podcast on writing, creativity and living. Host Theo Clarke interviews a guest author to talk about their work and the stories behind them. For more content, make sure to subscribe to her Substack page (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com/) and join the conversation. ABOUT THE HOSTTheo Clarke hosts A Thread of One’s Own and the hit podcast Breaking the Taboo (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/breaking-the-taboo/id1791997791) which is in the Top 5% most listened to podcasts globally. She is the bestselling author of Breaking the Taboo: Why We Need to Talk About Birth Trauma (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaking-Taboo-about-birth-trauma/dp/1785909355). Theo was formerly the Member of Parliament for Stafford and won ‘Speech of the Year’ at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. She has twice been listed among the Top 100 Women in Westminster (2024 & 2025).Follow @theoclarkemp (https://www.instagram.com/theoclarkemp/?hl=en) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com (https://theodoraclarke.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Contact A Thread of One's Own with Theo Clarke

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.