Leigh Turner writing
Episodes
73. Colombia: Medellin and Cartagena
25 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Colombia at last! Who knows the main sights of Colombia, a country as large as Germany, France and the Netherlands combined? I visited Medellin, with ...
72. Ecuador: The Galapagos, Cotopaxi and more
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From an icy climb up the Cotopaxi volcano to a boat trip around the Galapagos, Ecuador is breathtaking. Explore the highest active volcano in the wo...
71. Peru: Machu Picchu, The Sacred Valley and Lima
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Peru is home to some of the greatest treasures in Latin America, including Machu Picchu. But there's much, much more to explore, from the ancient ...
70. Chile: a life-changing journey
01 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Chile is one of the world's most spectacular countries. Join Leigh Turner on a life-changing exploration of everything from the glaciers, fjords a...
69. "Luxury Spa": a new, Austrian Hotel Story
10 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
“Luxury Spa” is the thirteenth in my "Hotel Story" series, and the first set in Austria. Heroine Ms N is the world’s most glamorous, b...
68. Salonica, City of Ghosts
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Salonica - City of Ghosts" is an eery, elegiac portrait of a city that - in many respects - had a completely different identity to modern T...
67. Lessons in Diplomacy: Germans and other stereotypes
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"German punctuality is a myth that German diplomats work hard to dispel. I... regularly attended meetings of European Union ambassadors where our...
66. Lessons in Diplomacy: Perils of Top Nation-hood
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Being the most powerful country in the world may sound appealing. But there are downsides, too. "Many people couldn't believe that the US was...
65. Lessons in Diplomacy: Why did the US bomb Iran?
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why did the US bomb Iran? We can learn much from the failed US intervention in Somalia in the early 1990s, culminating in the Battle of Mogadishu. Thi...
64. "Blood Summit": Chapters 2 and 3
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to Chapters 2 and 3 of my Berlin thriller "Blood Summit", with diplomat action hero Helen Gale. The Prologue and Chapter 1 are in the...
63. "Blood Summit" - Prologue and Chapter 1
22 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the Prologue and Chapter 1 of my Berlin thriller "Blood Summit", with diplomat action hero Helen Gale. Chapters 2 and 3 will be in...
62. Lessons in Diplomacy Chapter 5: How to understand Putin's war on Ukraine
25 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"President Putin's unprovoked invasions of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 turned diplomacy on its head. In response, countries supporting Ukraine m...
61. Lessons in Diplomacy Chapter 4: How (not) to introduce democracy
11 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"The fact that many ordinary Russians fear that the alternative to authoritarianism is chaos in part reflects their grim experience of the 1990s....
60. Lessons in Diplomacy Chapter 3: How to Fail at Geopolitical Change: Brexit
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"I was surprised to find a political adviser telling off a senior cabinet minister in this way. I was even more surprised when [Boris] Johnson at...
59. Lessons in Diplomacy Chapter 2: How to Tackle Terrorism
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Should you ever get a chance to take part in a counter-terrorism exercise, step forward... but never volunteer to be a hostage." From Chapt...
58. Lessons in Diplomacy Chapter 1: How to Survive a Crisis
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"A bomb has exploded in Ankara. A big one. City centre." My colleague from the British embassy in the capital of Turkey, five hours' dri...
57. Lessons in Diplomacy: Prologue
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Ray: "a shambling, swarthy, sunken-eyed bear of a man... the first thing I saw when I peered into the cab was his butcher's arms: broad ...
56. A complete short story: "The Two Rooms"
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"The Two Rooms" is one of my "Hotel Stories". It features Ms N, the most brilliant and occasionally homicidal hotel managers in th...
55. Lessons in Diplomacy: How to be invited to the King's Birthday Party
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do get invited to the King's Birthday Party in a British Embassy overseas? Find out more in my new book Lessons in Diplomacy. It migh...
54. Lessons in Diplomacy: How to become an ambassador
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you become an ambassador? My new book Lessons in Diplomacy explores what diplomacy can teach us all. Here is a run-through of the main ch...
53. The Tunnel Under the World
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are the conspiracy theories right? What if the entire world, as we perceive it, is controlled by shadowy forces? A 1955 short story helped begin a str...
52. When leaders think they're invincible
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why did Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin allow Vladimir Putin to kill him after Prigozhin's mutiny in 2023? Prigozhin might have taken m...
51. Lessons in Diplomacy: The Perfect Pimm's
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From my book "Lessons in Diplomacy": How to make the perfect Pimm's. Watch the video of Antonio making a mouthwatering Pimms at https://...
50. The Three-Body Problem
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"The Three-Body Problem" is out on Netflix. Some Chinese critics are reportedly angered by the series' depiction of China. I can see why. Let's look a...
49. Lessons in Diplomacy: The Welsh Secret Service
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I don’t usually reveal top secret information in these podcasts. But here, exclusively, I want to talk about the Welsh Secret Service. More about th...
48. Does Duolingo work? How to learn languages
10 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Yes, but." A professional diplomat assesses Duolingo against other methods.
47. Cocktails for Women
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How women handle cocktails - and men. Stand by for fireworks in this interview with Ms N, hotel manager extraordinary, alongside the narrator of the &...
46. Ukraine Fatigue
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the world suffering from "Ukraine fatigue"? It is, and it matters immensely. The security of all of us is at stake - wherever in the world you live...
45. How to Write 10 Books
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you get started writing a book - or 10? Here are a few tips. You can read the post on which this podcast is based here: How to write a book - o...
44. Fighting terrorism
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What MI5 taught me about "fighting terrorism".
43. What an author does
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is this author doing right now? A snapshot of every iron in the fire.
42. Retirement - what went wrong
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What’s full-time writing like? What are the pitfalls? How do you make the most of it? And what did I do wrong? Here is the blog on which this podca...
41. How I wrote "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Diplomacy"
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Writing “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Diplomacy” was fascinating and demanding. It will be published in German on 12 April 2023, by Czernin Verlag,...
40. "The Hitchhiker's Guide to Diplomacy - Wie Diplomatie die Welt erklärt"
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A podcast in German. Ein Podcast auf Deutsch. Mein neues Buch “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Diplomacy – Wie Diplomatie die Welt erklärt” (Czerni...
39. "Britches" - the beginning of the very first "Hotel Story".
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the first scene from the first Hotel Story, "Britches", the hotel's owner threatens the beautiful but naive Tatiana. Will Ms N, the world's greates...
38. Russia-Ukraine ceasefire: why not?
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Any sane person wants to end wars. Many people have argued that a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war might help reduce suffering. Others say that sup...
37. John Savage in therapy: an interview
13 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"John Savage, formerly First Secretary, British Embassy Moscow: Transcript of trauma counselling, session 12". Why is John Savage, the hero of my Is...
36. Writing Resources
30 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Resources to help writers. We look at how to write articles and blogs; how to write a novel; dealing with rejections; a selection of writing courses -...
35. Russia-Ukraine War explainer July 2022
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A summer 2022 update on what is happening in Russia's war on Ukraine. Why it matters - and why what we must do next won't be easy. The picture shows S...
34. Dr Wortle's School - a study in taboos
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Were the people of 19th Century England obnoxious moralists? What if they were no worse than we are today? Also available as a blog post.
33. Does the "Palladium" exist? An interview with an archaeology professor
08 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Top journalist Misty Anderson interviews Turkish archaeology professor Elif Mutlu about the mysterious Palladium. Why, Misty asks, do many people beli...
32. Russia/Ukraine: When deception is official policy
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What three things must you always bear in mind when you hear Russian official statements about Ukraine? Also available as a blog.
31. Goldfinger - is this vile book worth reading?
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Fleming's "Goldfinger", written in 1959, is full of vile sexism, homophobia and prejudice. Is it still worth reading? Also available as a blog.
30. How you can help Ukraine - long term - by drinking vodka
27 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why is Ukrainian vodka the best in the world? What else makes it unique? You may be surprised to learn how "Horilka" could become as famous as Scotch ...
29. Reverse Conspiracy theories and Ukraine
20 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whose fault is the President Putin's invasion of Ukraine? What about the Soviet invasion of Hungary, or the building of the Berlin Wall? Think twice b...
28. Russia-Ukraine war - why is it happening?
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who is really responsible for the devastating Russia-Ukraine war? It may not be who you think. Why did President Putin do a U-turn? Listen to find o...
27. The inside story: publishing a thriller - the cover art
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My Istanbul thriller "Palladium" has been eleven years in the making. This podcast introduces the cover art: how it came to be designed, what input I ...
26. Why "Ulysses" matters - and you can read it
05 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"Ulysses" matters: 100 years after Joyce's great masterpiece first appeared, you can read and enjoy it on many levels. A quotation shows why you have ...
25. A study in stubbornness and relationships: "He Knew He Was Right"
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In "He Knew He Was Right", Anthony Trollope shows he is an outstanding writer on relationships between the sexes. Lessons on gender from 1869 are 10...
24. Diplomacy and the media
02 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How diplomats should work with the media and build their media skills. Subscribe for regular podcasts from Leigh Turner. Read the blog on which this p...
23. Why Tuchman's law could change your life
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
American historian Barbara Tuchman came up with an elegant formula relevant to keeping things in perspective in today's bad news saturated internet ag...
22. A Horror Story for Christmas
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"The Second Phial" is a complete short story set in the Moscow of 1993. It is a horror story - I hope. This podcast is not suitable for children...
21. Dealing with rejection and writer's block: 7 tips
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Rejection and writer's block are constant companions for many writers. I've been there. But don't despair - you can do lots of things to regain your m...
20. Writing tips: how to use Scenes and Sequels
30 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scenes and sequels are a great way to ensure your story is strong, packed with tension, and flows well. They can also help to structure - and speed up...
19. Christmas book gifts? The wonderful Heywood Hill
23 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sick and tired of Amazon? The UK firm Heywood Hill offers a suspiciously brilliant book service I've enjoyed immensely this year. It may be worth a lo...
18. A Hotel Story: Mr Smith Sees Red
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mr Smith is a top manager who thinks he knows better than any woman. When he comes to the hotel of top hotelier Ms N and her beautiful but naive ally ...
17. Stopping work: how it feels
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Thoughts on stopping work to write full time, after 42 years working for Her Majesty's Government. Humiliation - or liberation? - at a reception. What...
16. The Zhivago Affair
19 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How censorship worked in Soviet Russia. The tragic story of the destruction of Boris Pasternak, author of "Doctor Zhivago". You can read the post on...
15. How to get published
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I recently signed a contract with US full-service publishing house Immortal Works for my Istanbul thriller PALLADIUM. How did that contract come abo...
14. Blood Summit: Chapters 2 and 3
24 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Following on from the Prologue and Chapter 1 of my Berlin thriller Blood Summit in the previous episode, this podcast presents Chapters 2 and 3. Thi...
13. Blood Summit: Prologue and Chapter 1
17 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Counter-terrorism expert Helen Gale has one job: to protect world leaders at a summit at the Berlin Reichstag. But terrorists take hostage president...
12. Anthony Trollope: 11 reasons to read him
11 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Trollope is one of the most brilliant and rewarding authors you have never read. He invented the letter box and his novels boil with strong ...
11. W Somerset Maugham: why read him?
03 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why read W Somerset Maugham? Not only for the wisdom set out in my podcast "Books 3: Sex, Turnips and the Meaning of Life: W Somerset Maugham", but ...
10. Sex, Turnips and the Meaning of Life: W Somerset Maugham
27 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The writer W Somerset Maugham compares turnips and sex. Is he wise, or daft? Can we use his wisdom - if any - to make ourselves happier? You can...
9. Writing the perfect article or blog (part 3): worked examples
20 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the third of three podcast on how to write the perfect article or blog. It is based on my article "The perfect article or blog part 3: worke...
8. Writing the perfect article or blog (part 2): nut-grafs and cosmic kickers
13 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second of three podcasts on how to write the perfect article or blog. It is based on my article "Nut-grafs and cosmic kickers: writing t...
7. Writing the perfect article or blog (part 1)
06 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The rules professionals use for writing the perfect article or blog. This is the first of three linked podcasts on this subject: see the next two at...
6. "Fixing It": a complete short story
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Fixing It" is a complete short story I wrote as flash fiction on a writing course in Loutro, on the beautiful Greek island of Crete. You can read t...
5. "Aunts aren't Gentlemen" by PG Wodehouse
27 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is "Aunts aren't Gentlemen" the funniest Wodehouse? It certainly is one of my favourites. Here are ten exquisite quotations for you to relish. Y...
4. Stephen King on writing
20 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In his book "On Writing", Stephen King explains how he never plans his books, but just gets started. Should you plan a novel in advance, or not? A...
3. Short story: "The Two Rooms"
14 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"The Two Rooms" is a complete short story taken from the book "Seven Hotel Stories", available on Amazon. I started writing these tales when fate br...
2. "50 Shades of Grey": 5 reasons it's a masterpiece, 5 reasons it's awful
06 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is "50 Shades of Grey", by E L James, brilliant, entertaining erotic literature, or a misogynistic horror-show? You can read the blog post on which ...
1. Tips for writing novels - and enjoying it
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How does an ambassador - or anyone - combine writing with the day job? Can you find time for writing a book - or two, or eight? Do writing targets h...