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Zadie Smith

Novelist and essayist known for books such as White Teeth, On Beauty, and The Fraud, writing widely about culture, identity, and literature.

Top 10 podcasts with Zadie Smith

Ranked by the Snipd community
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28 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 48min

Zadie Smith Asks, What Makes Us Feel Alive?

Zadie Smith, renowned novelist and essayist known for her debut 'White Teeth' and 'Dead and Alive', dives deep into her thoughts on time and generational issues. She questions the often exaggerated narratives of generational conflict while reflecting on her family's history and its impact on her perspective. Raised by television, Zadie shares how it influenced her identity and her writing. As she navigates aging, she discusses changing fears and the evolution of feminist discourse, revealing the intricate relationship between personal experiences and broader cultural shifts.
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25 snips
Oct 27, 2025 • 28min

Zadie Smith on Politics, Turning Fifty, and Mind Control

Zadie Smith, acclaimed novelist and essayist known for works like *White Teeth* and *Dead and Alive*, dives deep into the intricate relationship between politics and personal reflection. She explores how digital platforms manipulate public discourse and admits that we are all impacted by this 'mind control.' Smith also contrasts youthful exuberance with her mature insights, discusses the role of essays in slowing down thought, and highlights class divides in screen exposure, advocating for regulatory measures to protect children's development.
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20 snips
Oct 24, 2025 • 28min

Zadie Smith on Politics, Turning Fifty, and Mind Control

Zadie Smith, an award-winning novelist and essayist known for her debut, White Teeth, explores the intersection of technology and politics. She discusses her new essay collection, Dead and Alive, highlighting how digital platforms manipulate our thoughts and political discourse. Smith provocatively argues that acknowledging this manipulation is crucial for understanding our society. She reflects on the evolution of her writing, the importance of essays in her creative process, and the need for regulating children's screen time, framing it as a collective responsibility.
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18 snips
Oct 1, 2023 • 1h 9min

The Transformations of Novelist Zadie Smith

Novelist Zadie Smith discusses her historical novel The Fraud and her evolving writing process. She reflects on her upbringing, the media circus around her debut novel, and her desire to reinvent herself as an artist. They also explore the nuanced politics of her work and her evolving relationship to humanism.
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12 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 24min

Zadie Smith loves Billie Eilish, clubs and third-rate novels

Zadie Smith, novelist and essayist behind White Teeth and Swing Time, reflects on attention, aging, music and culture. She talks about reclaiming focus in a phone-driven world. She celebrates transcendent moments in high and low art, loves Billie Eilish’s quiet power, and ponders dancing, loneliness and the pleasures of observation.
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6 snips
Nov 6, 2024 • 53min

Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith, a celebrated British novelist and essayist known for her captivating storytelling, dives into the intricate relationship between fashion and identity. She shares personal anecdotes, reflecting on the societal pressures of aging and the transition between seasons. The conversation explores the power of clothing to express mood and self-identity, while also addressing beauty standards and the evolution of personal style. Smith's insights on how fashion shapes confidence in social spaces offers a thought-provoking take on femininity and self-acceptance.
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Oct 5, 2023 • 49min

Zadie Smith on Dickens, Hypocrisy & Justice

Novelist Zadie Smith discusses the lasting impact of Charles Dickens on her writing and his presence in her new novel. They explore Dickens' anti-hypocrisy views, compare his work to Russian literature, and discuss the power of novels to inspire action and reveal human complexity.
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May 30, 2024 • 44min

Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith, novelist and essayist known for White Teeth and On Beauty, reflects on growing up in Willesden and how family shaped her voice. She recalls formative reads like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. She discusses a creative partnership with poet Nick Laird, a trip to West Africa that fed Swing Time, and her shift into public essaying and refusal of social media.
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Feb 6, 2026 • 49min

Zadie Smith on 'being on the side of life' at 50

Zadie Smith, British novelist and essayist known for White Teeth, reflects at 50 on midlife and cultural change. She discusses growing up in Kilburn, the loss and richness of neighbourhood life, the influence of books and Cambridge, tap dance and aesthetics, parenting as creativity, and a long critique of smartphones, social media and public discourse.
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Jan 5, 2026 • 50min

Late Night Lit: Playwright Bess Wohl | Author Zadie Smith | Hilary Meyers

Bess Wohl, a Tony-nominated playwright behind the hit play Liberation, shares insights into her writing process and the balance of mother-daughter dynamics in her work. She discusses the transformative journey from off-Broadway to Broadway, reflecting on the importance of collaboration with directors. Zadie Smith, the acclaimed author of White Teeth, explores the nuances of writing essays and playwriting, emphasizing the role of curiosity in storytelling. Both guests provide thought-provoking perspectives on art, politics, and personal growth, engaging listeners with their creative journeys.

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