The Reading Cafe

WINNER of Best Children and Young Adults’ podcast in the 2024 Independent Podcast Awards. Currently a FINALIST in 2025’s British Podcast Awards! Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss any episodes!
WINNER of Best Children and Young Adults’ podcast in the 2024 Independent Podcast Awards. Currently a FINALIST in 2025’s British Podcast Awards! Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss any episodes!

Author testimonials
"I was so impressed by 'The Reading Cafe podcast'—it's run by children, for children under Mr Kelly's expert tutelage. I was so impressed by the professionalism and efficiency of the entire process, and found the interview to be one of my favourites, with insightful questions and a fun discussion all round." (Aisha Bushby)
"I had a great time doing the Reading Cafe podcast. The interviewers were extremely knowledgeable and inquisitive, and I had to be on my toes to answer all their questions!” (Darren Shan)
"I was delighted to be interviewed by The Reading Cafe - it's a wonderful podcast from enthusiastic and passionate young podcasters who have created something very impressive. My interview was fun and engaging, and I still have fond memories of it a year later." (Robin Stevens)
"The team at the Reading Cafe podcast are fantastic: highly enthusiastic, perfectly organised and well researched and experienced in their individual roles. It is additionally so refreshing to chat to young people who really know their stuff and have a passion for talking about all things books. I loved working with them on promotion for my book, Look What You Made Me Do, and was delighted to share my writing and reading thoughts with the presenters and guest speakers." (Kat McKenna)
Episodes
Episodes



Monday Oct 31, 2022
Darren Shan interview (Zom-B/Cirque du Freak)
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
APPROX AGE RATING: 14+
🎃 HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 🎃
Fittingly for our Spooky Season Special, our interview guest is Master of Horror, Darren Shan!
Darren is the creator of Zom-B, Archibald Lox and Cirque du Freak. His books are on sale in 40 countries in 32 languages and have sold 30 million copies worldwide.
Darren talks with our S6 Reading Leaders and S1-4 Shanfans about his inspirations for writing, his relationship with his readership and his advice for would-be writers...



Sunday Aug 28, 2022
Robin Stevens interview (Murder Most Unladylike)
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
APPROX AGE RATING: 12+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe! In this episode, we speak to Robin Stevens, author of the award-winning Murder Most Unladylike series. This is a fantastic interview and it was wonderful to be able to give some of her Holy Cross High School superfans the chance to talk with her. Soon after this interview, Robin was awarded Blackwell's Children's Book of the Year 2022 for her new novel, Ministry of Unladylike Activity.
https://robin-stevens.co.uk/



Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
S2 Book Talk
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
Wednesday Mar 16, 2022
APPROX AGE RATING: 13+
Welcome back to The Reading Cafe! In this episode, we're talking with S2 about graphic novels, dream memoirs and the secret diaries they would love to read... If you're thirsty for literary chat, our Reading Leaders are on hand to brew up some good book talk. If you haven't already, subscribe to make sure you don't miss a single episode and share The Reading Cafe with everyone you know.



Sunday Dec 12, 2021
S1 Book Talk
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
APPROX AGE RATING: 12+
Welcome to the Reading Café – a brand new podcast from Holy Cross High School aiming to get people talking about reading. In each episode, we’ll be chatting with pupils about their literary dopplegangers, the villains they love to hate and the books they’d love to see make the transition from script to the screen. Be sure to subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode and share it with everyone you know!




