The Reading Cafe LIVE at Ed Book Fest: Nathanael Lessore (What Happens Online)

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome to Season 5 of The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast named Best Children and Young Adults' Show by the Independent Podcast Awards and current FINALIST in the 2025 British Podcast Awards!

This special Reading Cafe LIVE episode was recorded with an enthusiastic audience at the Edinburgh International Book Festival where we were joined by Waterstones Children's Book Prize winner, Nathanael Lessore.

Our tremendous presenters Sophia and Namatai had a fantastic chat with Nathanael and the audience were thoroughly entertained - laughing, applauding and no doubt making their way to pick up his excellent books (Steady For This, King of Nothing and What Happens Online) straight after the event...

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Nathanael's approach to ensuring his use of language chimes with his audience
• His process to addressing issues around toxic masculinity and the potential problems of online anonymity
• How his life has changed since winning the Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Older Readers

PLUS: Alice and Daisy present an Ed Book Fest featurette including a mini-interview with Carnegie Medal winner, Margaret McDonald (Glasgow Boys) and excerpts from the YA Book Prize award ceremony, co-hosted by The Reading Cafe's Elsa and Grace alongside Laura Bates (Non-fiction: Everyday Sexism/YA Fiction: Sisters of Fire and Fury)

To learn more:

Nathanael Lessore - https://www.darleyandersonchildrens.com/book/king-of-nothing/

Margaret McDonald - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e4k4zxwwlo

Laura Bates - https://www.laurabates.co.uk/

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!