Making Trouble with Molly Naylor

The Trouble with Perfectionism, featuring Jessie Burton

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:01:00 GMT

It's Jessie Burton! Jessie Burton is the multi-million best-selling author of four novels: The Miniaturist, The Muse, The Confession and The House of Fortune – all instant Sunday Times bestsellers. Her novels have been published in 40 languages.

The Miniaturist was adapted as a BBC One miniseries, starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Romola Garai.

Join us for a chat about PERFECTIONISM. Where it comes from, what it does, how it helps and hinders our process and our lives. We also chat about ageing, mortality, Sylvanian Families and how writers after master manipulators (in a good way?).

The book Jessie recommended was The Maps We Carry by Rose Cartwright.

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The Trouble with Getting Older, featuring Athena Kugblenu

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:01:00 GMT

Today we welcome the scriptwriter, comedian and journalist Athena Kugblenu for a chat about getting older. Which is good, because Molly needed to hear all this. We also talk about procrastination, what you get out of having a day job, industry rudeness and where Athena gets her ideas from.

You can buy Athena's latest children's history book History's Most Epic Fails here!

The book she recommended was Heiresses by Miranda Kauffman.

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The Trouble with Focus, featuring Tim Clare

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:01:00 GMT

This week I'm delighted to welcome Tim Clare, writer of fiction and non-fiction, for a chat about focus. We talk about planning, fractured focus & intense focus, confidence, editing and the theory that attention is the purest form of compassion.

Tim opens up about the specific pleasures and pitfalls of deep focus for neurodivergent people. We talk about experimental French literature group The Oulipo, we disappear up our own bumbles but we do come out again.

Tim's latest book is The Game Changers is published by Cannongate.

He also wrote Coward, in which he explores all possible cures for anxiety.

Check out his podcast Death of a 1000 Cuts, it's an amazing resource for writers!

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The Trouble with Self Promotion, featuring Alice Fraser

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:01:00 GMT

Alice is an award winning comedy writer, Broadcaster, and performer. Listed in the Telegraph’s 50 Funniest Comedians of the 21st Century, her solo comedy shows have been commissioned as TV specials on Amazon Prime, NextUp and the ABC.

She has made four documentaries for Audible: Meditation 101, Habit Change, Wellness and Work Life Balance. She also co-hosted BBC Radio 4 series Stranger Than Sci Fi, about ongoing conversations between science and science fiction.

Alice recently published her first book A Passion for Passion: A Delirious Love Letter to Romance. It's a glorious homage to genre fiction, celebrating the solemn silliness of romance novels.

She has an excellent Patreon, where she writes a brilliant blog. She also hosts creative retreats in Switzerland! Let's all go!

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The Trouble with Vulnerability, featuring Sophie Robinson

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:01:00 GMT

Today I'm talking to poet and novelist Sophie Robinson. Sophie's debut novel Prairie Oyster came out last week. Buy it from your local bookshop, or from Bookshop.org who donate over 80% of their profit margin to independent bookshops.

As well as being a writer, Sophie runs Devotion, a radical and inclusive writing workshop for people working at all levels.

We talk about the concept of vulnerability, both in writing and in life. We also explore addiction, panic attacks, radical acceptance & surrender, chronic illness, becoming an accidental knitting influencer and ignoring the male gaze (but not the male gays).

Read Sophie's poem Art in America here.

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The Trouble with Productivity, featuring Josie Long

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT

It's Josie Long! Josie is a stand-up comedian, writer and filmmaker. She has toured her live shows all over the world. She co-founded the charity Arts Emergency, helping young people get a fair start in the Arts and Humanities. Join us for a chat about Josie's struggles with output and productivity. We also talk about writing as an incantation, imbuing your life with the spirit of creativity, hallucinogenic revelations and how art teaches us what we don't know about ourselves.

Buy Josie's brilliant book here!

Learn more about Arts Emergency here!

Follow her on Instagram!

Buy one of her excellent hats!

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ANNOUNCEMENT: A CREATIVE ADVENTURE FOR JANUARY

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:58:59 GMT

Listen up troublemakers! From January 12th you're invited to join us for a refreshing, rejuvenating CREATIVE COURSE. Six weeks of prompts, activities and ideas designed to kickstart your practice for 2026. Episodes will drop every Monday as usual, but rather than an interview with an esteemed guest (we'll get back to that in season 3), you'll receive a short audio workshop for you to engage with at your own leisure. Light on homework, hopefully heavy on inspiration.

THIS COURSE IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO PATREON SUBSCRIBERS. So head over to Patreon anytime before January and join as a paid member (not available to free subscribers). You can sign up for as little as £2.50 a month (you can cancel easily any time). You'll have access to the course for as long as you're a subscriber, and you'll also have access to the Patreon community page if you want to share your experience with other listeners. https://www.patreon.com/c/MakingTrouble

Can't wait to see what happens!

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Answering YOUR questions with Grace Petrie and Molly Naylor

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:01:00 GMT

In this season 2 finale, Molly is joined by Grace Petrie to answer your questions and respond to your creative dilemmas.

Thanks for listening to this season of Making Trouble! We'll be back in 2026 with more trouble, more fabulous guests and more bath snacks. Until then, happy making!

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The Trouble with Saying No, featuring Kate Stables (This Is The Kit)

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:01:00 GMT

Musician Kate Stables (This Is The Kit) joins Molly for a chat about saying no. Why it's hard to do in the moment, how to get better at it, what happens when we don't do it, and why we need to say yes to ourselves.

Check out the music video for Bashed Out, which featured on Sex Education and Pretty Little Liars.

This Is The Kit's website: https://titk.cargo.site/

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The Trouble with Time, featuring Ian McMillan

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:01:00 GMT

It's the bard of Barnsley himself, Mr. Ian McMillan! Ian is a poet and broadcaster. He presents The Verb on BBC R3 and has been a regular on BBC Breakfast, Coast, Pick of the Week, You & Yours, Last Word and The Arts Show. He’s been a castaway on Desert Island Discs!

Ian joins Molly for a chat about Time. How do we find more? How do we use it wisely? What should we spend less time doing, and what should we spend more time doing?

You can read Ian's work on The Poetry Society website, or buy/order one of his many collections from your local bookshop.

Check out the Maurice Dobson museum next time you're in Yorkshire.

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The Trouble with Priorities, featuring Holly Williams

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:01:00 GMT

It's Holly Williams! Holly is a novelist, journalist and theatre critic. This week she joins Molly for a meandering chat about priorities. How do we make time for the things we want to focus on most? What happens when self promotion takes up all of our creative energy? How do we work out what's a good use of our finite time? Plus, why was trying so embarrassing at (state) school? And how do we finally find a way to not assume everyone hates us?

Holly's book THE START OF SOMETHING has been described as a sexy relay race. Buy it!

Subscribe to Exeunt on Substack.

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The Trouble with Ego, featuring Julie Hesmondhalgh

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:01:00 GMT

JULIE HESMONDHALGH! The legendary British actor (Broadchurch, The Pact, Happy Valley, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, Coronation Street), writer and activist joins Molly for a chat about Ego. What are we trying to protect ourselves from when we become defensive in difficult situations? Why does our ego get challenged by some things and not others? How do we embrace our multitudes instead of clinging to the parts of ourselves we deem acceptable?

See Julie in Punch in the West End until November 29th, 2025: https://theapollotheatre.co.uk/tickets/punch/

Buy Julie's book about acting: https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/an-actors-alphabet

The Common Ground Justice Project: https://www.commongroundjustice.uk/

Find out more about the brilliant charities that Punch the play is supporting:

The Forgiveness Project: https://www.theforgivenessproject.com/

Go Live: https://golivetheatre.org.uk/

Remedi: https://www.remediuk.org/

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The Trouble with Losing Heart, featuring Maria Ferguson

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:31:53 GMT

Molly chats with Maria about losing heart. What happens in the weird lull after you've released a major piece of work? How do we keep caring when we're the only ones who do? What happens when we play the character of ourselves on stage? And did Maria really run away to a lighthouse? You'll also learn about the best way to cook baked beans.

Buy Maria's book SWELL.

The poem referenced is In That Year by Kim Moore.

See Molly opening for Grace Petrie on her UK tour now: https://www.gracepetrie.com/gigs

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The Trouble with Saying Yes featuring Ashley Hickson-Lovence

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 01:00:00 GMT

Join Molly and Ashley as they discuss the pleasures and perils of SAYING YES. Why does Ashley say yes to EVERYTHING? What will make him say no more? Should he even worry? Who are 'the bum bum creams'? Other topics covered include self-promotion, holidays, inspiration, ambition and friendship.

Ashley is a poet, novelist, referee and lecturer of creative writing. Ashley’s debut novel The 392 was published by OWN IT! in 2019. His second novel Your Show, published by Faber in 2022, was longlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize and shortlisted for the East Anglian Book Awards. His third book, a young adult novel-in-verse called Wild East, was published by Penguin in 2024. His poetry collection Why I Am Not a Bus Driver is available now from Bad Betty Press.

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The Trouble with Indecision, Featuring Deborah Frances-White

Sun, 05 Oct 2025 23:51:33 GMT

In this conversation with award-winning writer and podcaster Deborah Frances-White, Molly and Deb discuss indecision, ego, the biggest obstacles to creative expression and the importance of collaborating with people who make you feel talented. Deborah introduces Molly to the concept of 'trusting your obvious', and shares lots of useful tips on screenwriting and improvising.

Check out Deborah's new book, SIX CONVERSATIONS WE'RE SCARED TO HAVE.

Her podcast THE GUILTY FEMINIST must have made it into your ears, but if not, check it out!

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The Trouble with Sharing, featuring Rob Auton

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 10:46:09 GMT

In this episode with the sensational poet, comedian and artist Rob Auton, Rob and Molly talk about the performer's relationship with the audience. They also discuss tricky rooms, strange dynamics, being conscientious and anxiety. Rob has a strong take on how a writer/performer should feel about their own work in comparison to that of other artists and writers.

Rob will be touring his new show CAN extensively from January 2026. Do not miss out! Tickets here, or go to his website robauton.co.uk.

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The Trouble with Sensitivity, Featuring Adam Buxton

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 23:01:00 GMT

Join Molly Naylor and Adam Buxton for a conversation about sensitivity, and the way it impedes (and sometimes enhances) our creativity. Also touched on: stage craft, comparisons, Twisters (the lolly, not the weather), and how to relax and accept yourself while not wanging on about relaxing and accepting yourself too much.

Listen to Adam's podcast! Buy his new book I LOVE YOU BYEEEEE! Listen to his amazing album BUCKLE UP!

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The Trouble with Ideas, featuring Helen Zaltzman

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 23:01:00 GMT

Helen Zaltzman (The Allusionist, Answer Me This) joins Molly to talk about IDEAS. Where do they come from, where do they go? How do we turn them into something? Does anyone actually plan their career? A meandering, nutritious conversation!

Check out Souvenirs on BBC Radio 4, written by Helen with an original score by Martin Austwick (performed by him and Adrienne LaBelle, violin). Produced by Helen Zaltzman and Martin Austwick. A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

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The Trouble with DIY, featuring Grace Petrie

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:01:00 GMT

A lovely, rambling chat with singer and comedian Grace Petrie. Check out Grace on tour this autumn/winter - gracepetrie.com/gigs

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The Trouble with Money featuring Amy Mason

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 23:01:00 GMT

Amy Mason joins Molly for the final episode of the first season of Making Trouble! We will be back in September with more guests, more chats, more trouble.

Buy tickets for Amy's Edinburgh Fringe show here. Watch her be funny on TikTok.

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The Trouble with Rejection featuring Roann Hassani McCloskey

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 23:01:00 GMT

Molly is joined by theatre-maker, performer, writer and director Roann Hassani McCloskey for a chat about REJECTION. Yum!

The quote Roann refers to but can't remember properly is from Susan Cain: “...it’s that creativity has the power to look pain in the eye, and to decide to turn it into something better.”

Check out Roann's theatre company Bet'n Lev.

Read Roann's article about political theatre in The Stage.

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The Trouble with Anxiety Featuring Sara Barron

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 23:01:00 GMT

An honest, funny chat with the smart and insightful comedian and writer Sara Barron.

The book Sara mentions is My Age of Anxiety by Scott Stossel.

Listen to Sara (and Geoff's)'s podcast here! I say in my intro it's called 'we like to watch'. It's actually called 'they like to watch'. Huge appols. I can't re-record because I've pulled the plug out.

We're coming to the end of season one! Now is an amazing time to share this podcast with people you think might like it so that season two can POP OFF.

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The Trouble with Exposure Featuring Andrew McMillan

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:12:31 GMT

Buy Andrew's new novel PITY here.

Buy 'the famous one' here!

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The Trouble with Overwhelm Featuring Jessica Fostekew

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Comedian and writer Jessica Fostekew joins Molly to talk about focus and overwhelm.

See Jess's new show ICONIC BREATH at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.

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The Trouble with Boundaries Featuring Amy Liptrot

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Read this beautiful review of The Outrun by Will Self. Buy The Instant here.

Learn about The Snettisham Spectacular.

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The Trouble with Burnout Featuring Kate Fox

Mon, 26 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Check out Kate's work here.

Explore her wonderful workshop offers here.

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The Trouble with Self Doubt featuring Joshua Idehen

Mon, 19 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Check out Joshua's work here. Buy his brilliant new book direct from his (and my) publishing house, Bad Betty Press.

Here's Jessica, the poem by Polarbear (Steven Camden) that he references.

Here's Again by Mirna, who Joshua cites as someone whose art is currently blowing his dick off.

And here's Joshua performing Once in A Lifetime by the Talking Heads, making the literal king of Sweden dance.

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The Trouble with Procrastination featuring Cariad Lloyd

Mon, 12 May 2025 00:01:00 GMT

Buy Cariad's brilliant new book! Check out her podcast with Sara Pascoe, Sara and Cariad's Weirdos Book Club.

Catch Grace Petrie on tour right now! Catch Bet n Lev on tour right now!

And PLEASE rate this podcast, share this podcast, subscribe to this podcast.

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The Trouble with Writer's Block featuring Emma Healey

Mon, 05 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Molly is joined by novelist Emma Healey, to discuss writer's block, the challenge of generating ideas and the truth about the nutritional value of potatoes.

Here's the book about a woman and a bear that Emma mentioned but couldn't think of the author's name - it's Marian Engel.

Buy Emma's new book SWEAT here. Follow Emma on Instagram.

Please subscribe, share and RATE! It helps others find it.

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The Trouble with The State of the World featuring Vanessa Kisuule

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Here are the mighty snacks we discuss early on. Not a sponsor. Would accept sponsorship. Here's Vanessa's brilliant poem Hollow, which I reference halfway through. Buy Vanessa's new book Neverland - The Pleasures and Perils of Fandom here!

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The Trouble with Ambition, featuring Rachel Parris

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Check out Austentatious, the improvised Jane Austen novel. Buy Rachel's book Advice From Strangers here. Here's the song Rachel mentions, Tim Minchin singing My House from Matilda.

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The Trouble with Family featuring Joe Dunthorne

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Check out Joe's book, Children of Radium, published by Hamish Hamilton. Here's a recent Guardian review to give you a sense of it. Here's a link to the book Joe referenced at the end, HHhH by Laurent Binet.

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Introducing Making Trouble

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:26:26 GMT

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