Best Claire Barker Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 71: Wesley Brooks 45:05

2d ago45:05

45:05

Welcome to episode 71, in which Claire tells the story of Wesley Brooks, who went missing in 1996 at the age of 18. It wasn't until a wheelie bin was recovered from the Leven River in Ulverstone, Tasmania, nearly four years later that a murder investigation was launched... Hear about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the outcome o…

1
Writing Soulful Nonfiction with Danielle Anderson of InkWorthy Books {ep. 165} 40:10

3d ago40:10

40:10

In this inspiring episode, Alexa sits down with Danielle Anderson, founder of InkWorthy Books and the Soulful Nonfiction School. Danielle is a certified nonfiction book coach and editor with more than 14 years of experience helping writers bring mission-driven, healing-centered books into the world. They discuss what it means to write "soulful nonf…

1
Episode 70: Amerithrax 52:53

9d ago52:53

52:53

Welcome to episode 70, in which Ben takes us back to the year 2001 and explores the anthrax attacks that gripped America soon after it was rocked by the events of September 11. Hear about the fallout and the investigation, which became one of the largest and most complex in the history of US law enforcement. And Claire ends things on a lighter note…

1
From Ghostwriting to Global Bestsellers: JD Barker’s Savvy Moves that Grew His Author Business {ep. 164} 39:52

10d ago39:52

39:52

In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, bestselling author JD Barker joins Alexa to share the bold, strategic decisions that helped him build a powerhouse fiction career. From ghostwriting and indie publishing to launching his own imprint with Simon & Schuster, JD has built a career grounded in talent, creative risk-taking, and entrepreneurial …

1
Episode 69: The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty Episode 14 40:47

16d ago40:47

40:47

Welcome to episode 69, in which the Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire and Kitty makes a quick turnaround from last month to embrace the saucy connotations of the episode's number by exploring some felonious fetishes. Claire shares the story of Jerry Brudos, whose obsession that started when he was five years old turned deadly, while Kitty lighten…

1
Luminare Press - Hybrid vs. Self-Publishing with Patricia Marshall {ep. 163} 48:57

17d ago48:57

48:57

As hybrid presses become a more popular option, we're often asked about the difference between hybrid presses and self-publishing. Here's a breakdown of the differences at Luminare Press 📚 Self-Publishing Assist vs. Hybrid Publishing Self-Publishing Assist (Luminare Press) Offers fee-for-service publishing help: editing, cover and interior design, …

1
Helen Jamison & Claire Bithell | CROSPO Report 48:19

18d ago48:19

48:19

In 2022 the Science Media Centre published an insightful report on the changing role of science press officers at UK universities. In this episode of Research Unravelled Peter speaks with two people who were instrumental to the report's creation: Helen Jamison and Claire Bithell. The conversation reveals the often invisible but critical role these …

1
Episode 68: Anzac Day - War Crimes 48:44

23d ago48:44

48:44

Welcome to episode 68, in which we mark the occasion of Anzac Day in Australia by taking a look at war crimes. Claire tells the story of Ted Sweetman, who was a soldier in the Tasmanian 2nd/40th battalion when he was captured in Timor and became a prisoner of war on the Thai-Burma Railway and then in mines in Japan until the end of World War II. An…

1
Make Marketing Fun Again: How to Promote Your Book Without Losing Your Mind {ep. 162} 35:17

24d ago35:17

35:17

📚 In this episode of Alexa’s Publishing Chat, Alexa shares: The terrifying moment every author faces—wondering if people will hate your book—and how to overcome it. Why marketing doesn’t have to feel icky or overwhelming—and how to make it fun. The power of early feedback: how to build and use an advance reader team. What to do if talking about you…

1
Episode 67: The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty Episode 13 46:23

30d ago46:23

46:23

Welcome to episode 67 and another instalment of The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty! This month it coincides with Good Friday so your hosts have some Easter-related tales. Kitty tells us about the Norwegian tradition of Påskekrim and the story of Janelle Patton on Norfolk Island, while Claire shares the case of the Mad Sculptor Robert I…

1
Is Substack Right for You? with Claire Tak {ep. 161} 39:16

1M ago39:16

39:16

If you’ve been hearing the buzz about Substack but aren’t sure what it is—or how it could actually help you as a writer—you’re going to love today’s conversation. I’m joined by Claire Tak, a tech writer turned aspiring memoirist, who shares how Substack became her go-to platform for building an authentic writing community, sharing her journey, and …

1
Episode 66: The women executed in Van Diemen's Land Part 2 42:06

1M ago42:06

42:06

Welcome to episode 66, in which Claire completes her account of the women who were executed for their crimes in the convict days of Tasmania. Hear the stories of Mary Sullivan, who was only 16 years old when she was sentenced for stealing in Ireland in 1850, and Margaret Coghlin, who was transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1846 for perjury. But it …

1
Building Author Community & Confidence with Brooke Black {ep. 160} 23:46

1M ago23:46

23:46

📝 Show Notes: In this episode, Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Brooke Black of Black Bear Communications about the power of author community, the journey from editing to full-service support, and how The Hive Collective helps authors thrive. From self-publishing to traditional routes, Brooke shares wisdom, encouragement, and practical strategies. 💡 Key T…

1
Episode 65: The women executed in Van Diemen's Land Part 1 48:49

1M ago48:49

48:49

Welcome to episode 65, in which Claire tells the first half of her account of the women who were put to death for their offences in penal colony-era Tasmania. Hear the stories of Mary McLauchlan, a 24-year-old from Glasgow, Scotland, who was transported in 1828 for theft by housebreaking, and Eliza Benwell, who was 32 when she was convicted of stea…

1
Self-Publishing Secrets for Children's Book Authors with Karen Ferreira {ep. 159} 30:37

2M ago30:37

30:37

🎙️ Show Notes In this episode, Alexa and Karen discuss: How Karen’s journey as an illustrator led her to launch Get Your Book Illustrations and Children’s Book Mastery Common struggles children's book authors face and how Karen helps solve them Why writing a short children's book is actually harder than people think The essential elements every chi…

1
Episode 64: The Moorhouse Murders - with special guest Matt Turfrey 40:45

2M ago40:45

40:45

Welcome to episode 64, in which your hosts Ben and Claire are joined by special guest Matt Turfrey. He tells the story of a horrific series of crimes that occurred not far from his current home in Western Australia. Originally from Burnie, Tasmania, the name had caught Matt's ear over time in the media, but it turned out to be referencing David and…

1
Tracey Brown | Sense about Science 46:58

2M ago46:58

46:58

Why do many risk messages fail to connect with audiences? How can communicators avoid oversimplifying complex risk information while still making it accessible to audiences? What does it mean to take a "public-led, expert-fed" approach to science communication? In this episode Tracey Brown, Director of Sense About Science, talks about the charity's…

1
Books Born from Grief: Writing to Heal and Help with Nathalie Himmelrich {ep. 158} 42:34

2M ago42:34

42:34

In this episode, Alexa and Nathalie discussed: 💡 How it all began: Nathalie reflects on her first book, Grieving Parents: Surviving Loss as a Couple, which grew from sharing her own story online and realizing it could help others. ✍️ The unexpected journey to six books: She never set out to be an author, but over time felt called—intuitively and em…

1
Episode 63: The Barker-Karpis Gang 44:33

2M ago44:33

44:33

Welcome to episode 63, in which Ben tells the story of the Barker-Karpis Gang - one of the longest-lived criminal gangs in Depression era America. Hear about their string of crimes, from bank robberies and kidnappings, and their ultimate downfall. To top things off, Claire has a collection of recent quirky crime stories. If you would like to reach …

1
Episode 62: The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty Episode 12 40:20

2M ago40:20

40:20

Welcome to episode 62 and another instalment of The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty! This month, in honour of St Patrick's Day, the girls have some Irish stories to share - Claire has a compilation of stupid criminal cases from the Emerald Isle and Kitty tells us about William Smith O'Brien, the Irish nationalist who escaped the gallows…

1
Hot Sh*t & High Standards: Women Redefining Publishing {ep. 157} 1:11:17

2M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

Panelists: Karen Strauss (Hybrid Global Publishing) Pam Sheppard (Sheppard Edits) Alesha Brown (Fruition Publishing) E. Danielle Butler (EvyDani Books) Linda Ruggieri (Editor, The Insightful Editor) Panel Discussion Highlights: Karen Strauss shared her experience leaving corporate publishing due to gender bias and lack of upward mobility. She found…

1
International Women's Day: Amplifying Your Voice with Karen Strauss {ep. 156} 36:09

2M ago36:09

36:09

In this podcast episode, Alexa and Karen discuss: Karen’s Publishing Journey Started in publishing by accident while working at Macy’s, where she managed book events. Moved into traditional publishing, working at Bantam, Random House, McMillan, and Crown in sales, marketing, and publicity. Noticed that her voice was being muted in the corporate wor…

1
Episode 61: Randall Ludlow Askeland, with guest Sam the forensic psychologist 48:45

2M ago48:45

48:45

Welcome to episode 61, in which Claire covers a Tasmanian case from 1982 - it's the saga of a stamp-collecting solicitor and the sexual slurs that caused him to snap, while supposedly being at the other end of the state... She and Ben are again joined by special guest Sam the forensic psychologist, who shares some insights into the story. If you wo…

1
Nick Hillier | The Academy of Medical Sciences 58:23

2M ago58:23

58:23

What counts as a 'meaningful' engagement when involving patients and public with research? How can we elevate the voices of people with lived experience as experts? How can we support those people who agree to tell their own stories for impact? In this episode Peter is joined by Nick Hillier, Director of Communications and Engagement at the Academy…

1
The Truth About Ghostwriting: How to Bring Your Nonfiction Book to Life with Roxanne McCarty-O’Kane {ep. 155} 35:58

2M ago35:58

35:58

If you've ever dreamed of writing a book but felt overwhelmed by the process, you’re not alone. Many aspiring authors struggle to put their ideas into words, whether due to lack of time, writing challenges, or uncertainty about structure and flow. That’s where ghostwriting comes in. Alexa Bigwarfe and award-winning ghostwriter Roxanne McCarty-O’Kan…

1
Episode 60: The Beltway Snipers and escape from Alcatraz 48:20

3M ago48:20

48:20

Welcome to episode 60, in which Ben changes up his format to please those with the shorter attention spans (including himself). He tells us firstly about the two men who became known as the Beltway Snipers and their reign of terror over Washington DC in October 2002, in which 10 people were killed and three critically injured. Then we hear about th…

1
The Inside Scoop on Offset Printing & Board Books with MCRL {ep. 154} 35:37

3M ago35:37

35:37

In this episode, you will learn all about offset printing and MCRL! Topics covered includeL Offset Printing vs. Print-on-Demand (POD) What is offset printing, and how does it differ from POD? Pros and cons of each method depending on your book’s goals. Why offset printing is a better choice for high-quality, bulk book production. Why Bulk Printing …

1
Episode 59: John Reginald Christie - with special guest Natasha Turner 59:46

3M ago59:46

59:46

Welcome to episode 59, in which Ben and Claire are thrilled to be joined by special guest Natasha Turner again. Hear her account of the story of John Reginald Christie and the series of horrendous crimes he committed over a 10-year period in Rillington Place, Notting Hill. If you would like to reach out, please email us at [email protected]…

1
Protecting Your Creative Legacy: Estate Planning for Authors & Publishers with Kelley Way {ep. 153} 41:20

3M ago41:20

41:20

In this episode, Alexa and Kelley discuss: The importance of estate planning for authors and publishers Alexa’s personal experience with a medical crisis that made her rethink the future of her business and books Why copyrights are considered part of your estate and what happens to them when you pass away How copyright transfers work and why it’s c…

1
Episode 58: The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty Episode 11 39:53

3M ago39:53

39:53

Welcome to episode 58 and another installment of the Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty! This month the girls are talking Valentine's Day - Kitty will tell you all about the saintly man himself and the weird and wonderful origins of the day, while Claire delves into a dark Australian case which turned out to be so much more than a grizzly …

1
Research Unravelled Extra 15:46

3M ago15:46

15:46

In these monthly extra episodes Peter is joined by co-host, Bianca Winter, to share listeners' thoughts on our main guest episodes, and to discuss the latest news and trends from the world of research communications. In this episode we... Reflect on the last guest episode with Lorraine Bridges - Head of Campaigns at the National Institute of Health…

1
Be Contagious, Not Viral: Smart Marketing Strategies with Markeyla Henton {ep. 152} 32:39

3M ago32:39

32:39

In this podcast episode, Alexa and Markeyla discuss: 🎉 From Summit to Collaboration – How a standout presentation at the 2024 Women in Publishing Summit led to an exciting partnership between Alexa and Markeyla. 📝 Markeyla’s Journey in Media & Publishing – From a book-loving kid to running Against the Stream Magazine and building a thriving busines…

1
Episode 57: Jamie John Curtis 47:16

3M ago47:16

47:16

Welcome to episode 57, in which Claire tells the harrowing story of the 12-hour rampage committed by one of Tasmania's most notorious rapists and killers - Jamie John Curtis. Hear what the survivor of his heinous 1986 crimes has to say and the most recent development in the case. If you would like to reach out, please email us at tcrimecollective@g…

1
AI Tools for Authors and PublishDrive with Danica Favorite {ep. 151} 57:04

3M ago57:04

57:04

Alexa Bigwarfe chats with Danica Favorite, Community Manager at PublishDrive and a multi-published hybrid author, about how authors can leverage AI and PublishDrive’s powerful tools to streamline their publishing journey. They discuss how metadata impacts book sales, how AI can help optimize book descriptions, keywords, and pricing, and why Publish…

1
Lorraine Bridges | National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) 34:45

4M ago34:45

34:45

What differentiates a 'campaign' from business-as-usual comms? What are the most important ingredients for running a successful communications campaign? How do you build partnerships based on trust and reciprocity? In this episode Peter is joined by Lorraine Bridges, Head of Campaigns and Deputy Director of Communications at the National Institute …

1
The Essentials of Story Craft: Plotting Act 1 with Alida Winternheimer {ep. 150} 1:09:14

4M ago1:09:14

1:09:14

In this podcast episode, Alexa and Alida discuss: The importance of honing your writing craft, regardless of genre or experience. Understanding the fundamentals of story structure, including the three-act structure. Breaking down the key elements of Act 1: hooks, setup, inciting incidents, and points of no return. How story craft applies across gen…

1
Research Unravelled Extra 26:03

4M ago26:03

26:03

A 2025 Welcome from Peter and Bianca at Research Unravelled Extra! In these monthly extra episodes Peter is joined by co-host, Bianca Winter, to share listeners' thoughts on our main guest episodes, and to discuss the latest news and trends from the world of research communications. In this episode we... Reflect on Peter's interview with Catherine …

1
Is Hybrid Publishing Right for You? With Mindy Kuhn of Warren Publishing {ep. 149} 39:48

4M ago39:48

39:48

In this podcast episode, Alexa Bigwarfe interviews Mindy Kuhn, CEO of Warren Publishing, a hybrid publishing company with over 36 years of history. They discuss the unique benefits of hybrid publishing, including retained author rights, professional editing and design, and higher royalty rates. Mindy shares tips for authors on choosing the right pu…

1
The Power of Big Picture Thinking with Nikki Nash {ep. 148} 46:00

4M ago46:00

46:00

In this podcast, Alexa and Nikki discuss: Nikki Nash’s journey to becoming a Hay House author and marketing expert: From wanting to be a journalist to becoming a Fortune 100 marketer and finally starting her own entrepreneurial journey after a wake-up call about family health, Nikki’s inspiring story highlights the power of following your purpose. …

1
Navigating Self-Publishing with Confidence – Leanne Janzen of FriesenPress {ep. 147} 45:06

4M ago45:06

45:06

Be sure to grab your ticket to the Women in Publishing Summit to learn more from Leanne as she teaches the workshop Working with a Service Provider to Self-Publish Your Book In this podcast episode, Alexa and Leanne discuss: Introduction to Leanne Janzen and FriesenPress: Leanne’s journey in publishing, starting as a publishing specialist and now l…

1
Episode 56: The Itty Bitty Nitty Gritty with Claire & Kitty Episode 10 45:53

5M ago45:53

45:53

Welcome to Episode 56! Please feel free to leave a comment or reach out at [email protected]

1
Catherine Foot | Phoenix Insights 43:14

5M ago43:14

43:14

How can we transform the national conversation around what it means to live longer better lives? How do we avoid drowning in nuance when trying to understand complex systems? What does it take to relentlessly pursue a single issue in order to bring about change? And how can you build a coalition to bring others on board? Join Peter Barker in conver…

1
Friends Round Friday... with Bill Bailey, Mel Giedroyc and Harry Hill! 28:37

5M ago28:37

28:37

We say goodbye to Friends Round Friday, with a hilarious trio, a huge trombone and a leaf blower!By BBC Radio 2

1
Episode 55: Sue Neill-Fraser 57:55

5M ago57:55

57:55

Welcome to Episode 55! Please feel free to leave a comment or reach out at [email protected]

1
Kathryn Day and How This Community All Began with Alexa Bigwarfe {ep. 146} 28:59

5M ago28:59

28:59

In this podcast episode, Alexa shares: Reflections on a Personal Anniversary: Alexa commemorates the 13th anniversary of her daughter Kathryn’s passing and shares how this event shaped her journey as a writer, publisher, and creator of the Women in Publishing Summit. The Power of Writing to Heal: Writing became a vital tool for Alexa's healing, lea…

1
Friends Round Friday... with Jack Whitehall, Diane Morgan and Lloyd Griffith 28:08

5M ago28:08

28:08

There’s talk of proper sausages… salt and vinegar crisps… and being ghosted by Paul Heaton!By BBC Radio 2

1
Episode 54: Alfio Granata 45:46

5M ago45:46

45:46

Welcome to Episode 54! Please feel free to leave a comment or reach out at [email protected]

1
Building Community and Author Collaborations with Danika Bloom {ep. 145} 21:25

5M ago21:25

21:25

Grab your ticket to the 2025 Women in Publishing Summit! In this podcast episode, Alexa and Danika discuss: The importance of building an author network and community for long-term career growth. How connecting with other authors helps manage the inner critic and provides motivation. The value of having a purposeful network to support marketing eff…