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Oxford is a wonderful city in which to live, and If you have the good fortune to call yourself a resident you are probably here because you value its incredible mix of people and cultures. However, whether local or visitor, your own personal network of friends and colleagues can only touch a small proportion of the fascinating people who call this place home.

We set up this podcast to seek out some of the individuals that we find interesting and explore their lives and stories. They are not all celebrated or well-known, but what they do and what they think add another dimension to the familiar narrative of town, gown and tourism. Hopefully you will find it an insight and an introduction to interesting and unfamiliar parts of our community.

So, relax and select someone from the cast below and get to know a bit more about a particular Oxford life.

 

As a compliment to our podcast we have produced a self-guided tour where we look at Oxford’s links to fantasy literature and the many writers who have lived and worked here. So if you find yourself in Oxford prepare to be whisked away to other worlds full of Hobbits, Orcs and parallel universes!

Literary Legends and Landmarks: A fantasy fiction tour of Oxford

 

If you have any comments or any suggestions for people to interview, please contact us at: oxford.lives@protonmail.com

Nov 25, 2021

Our latest guest is academic, critic, novelist, poet and author of Real Oxford, Patrick McGuinness. The book is a tour de force of travel writing which sheds light on the Oxford behind the picture postcard image. In this riveting interview, McGuinness reveals his fascination with aspects of the city seldom depicted...


Oct 11, 2021

Today's edition of Oxford Lives is an interview with writer and publisher, Julia Cameron. Julia has produced a remarkable guide to Oxford, from the viewpoint of a cat. Specifically, Julia's cat - Simeon, for whom she works diligently as editor and typist. Julia also talks about her publishing company Dictum Press, her...


Jul 30, 2021

In this episode of Oxford Lives, we talk to former Lord Mayor Craig Simmons about his time in office, his years as a councillor representing the Green Party, and his work as a sustainability consultant advising high profile companies on how to reduce their carbon footprint. An erudite and committed environmentalist,...


Jun 15, 2021

Host Jeremy Allen and Lee Woodward talk about their new theatre project, Analyse Thou, a Zoom-based drama that puts Shakespearean characters on the therapist’s couch. This original piece of work has been produced in conjunction with Response and Oxfordshire MIND, two leading Oxford-based mental health organisations,...


Apr 29, 2021

Korky Paul is a world-famous children’s book illustrator whose Winnie the Witch series has sold millions of copies all around the world. In a highly engaging interview, Korky reflects on his childhood in Zimbabwe, college years spent in apartheid South Africa, and his European and American travels before settling...