The Iris Murdoch Society podcast
Episodes
Iris Murdoch and the Transcendent Podcast
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Jil Evans and Charles Taliaferro (St. Olaf College, Minnesota, USA) to discuss their new book, 'Iris Murdoch and th...
Iris Murdoch's Moral Philosophy Podcast
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Cathy Mason (Central European University, Vienna) to discuss her new book, 'Iris Murdoch's Moral Philosophy: Refram...
Existentialists and Mystics 3 Podcast
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we are returning to our close reading of the collection Existentialists and Mystics. For the third podcast of our mini-series, we’ll...
75th Episode Podcast
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this 75th Episode Special, Miles is joined by Daniel Read (Kingston University, UK) to answer questions from the Iris Murdoch Society and via the s...
IMS Christmas Lecture 2025
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this lecture, given on Monday 15th December 2025, Dr Lucy Oulton (University of Chichester), Murdoch's enduring relationship with the figure of Pet...
Jackson's Dilemma Podcast
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Frances White and Robert Cremins - both from the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at the University of Chichester - to ...
Poems from an Attic Podcast
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Anne Rowe (University of Chichester/Kingston), Rachel Hirschler (Kinston University) and Rosanna Hilyard (Chatto & ...
Iris Murdoch and Early Childhood Education Podcast
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles talks to Andrea Delaune (University of Canterbury, New Zealand) about her new book, 'Iris Murdoch and Early Childhood Education:...
Iris Murdoch and the Virtues
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we discuss Murdoch’s conceptualisation of virtue and what it might mean to be virtuous. We’ll range across her philosophy, of cour...
A Word Child Revisited Podcast
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a new season of the Iris Murdoch Podcast! In this episode we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of one of Murdoch ver...
Iris Murdoch Birthday Lecture 2025
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this lecture Miles Leeson, Director of the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at the University of Chichester, discusses Murdoch’s reception by her con...
Existentialists and Mystics 2 Podcast
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this second episode focused on Existentialists and Mystics we’ll be reading two essays – ‘Thinking and Language’ and ‘Nostalgia for the P...
Existentialists and Mystics 1 Podcast
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you always thought you could do with some expert guidance when reading Iris’s philosophy? Well help is at hand! This episode marks the start of...
Iris Murdoch's Wild Imagination Podcast
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Miles is joined by Lucy Oulton (University of Chichester) to discuss her new book, Iris Murdoch's Wild Imagination: Nature and the Environment (Palgra...
The Moral Philosophy of Iris Murdoch Podcast
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by joined by Mark Hopwood, Associate Professor of Philosophy, from the University of Sewanee, USA to discuss his new b...
Lecture 'A Warm Bright Significant Space' Iris Murdoch's Search for Home
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this, her first public lecture, Dr Maria Peacock discusses Iris Murdoch's search for home using examples from her novels and biography. This lectu...
Iris Murdoch Individuals and Ethics Podcast
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Prof. Bridget Clarke (University of Montana) to discuss her new book, entitled ‘Iris Murdoch’ in the Cambridge ...
Iris Murdoch and Public Philosophy
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast Miles is joined by Michela Dianetti and Lucy Elvis (both from Galway University, Ireland) discusses the role Murdoch's work can play i...
The Red and the Green Podcast
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Ian D'alton (Trinity College, Dublin) and Frances White (University of Chichester) to celebrate the 60th Anniversar...
Iris Murdoch and Evil Podcast
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Daniel Read (University of Kingston) to discuss his new book, 'Degrees of Evil in Iris Murdoch's Fiction and Philos...
Keynote Lecture: Justin Broackes Summer 2024
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This Keynote Lecture was given at the Eleventh International Iris Murdoch Conference at Chichester on the 31st August, 2024. Justin is Professor of Ph...
The Sacred And Profane Love Machine Podcast
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Robert Cremins (University of Houston, Texas) and Daniel Read (Kingston University) to celebrate the anniversary of...
Iris Murdoch And Dogs Podcast
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Dr Frances White (University of Chichester) and Liz Whittome (Former Chief and Principal Examiner of English for Ca...
Iris Murdoch And Dorothy Emmet Podcast
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Prof. Larry Blum (U-Mass, USA) to discuss the intellectual and personal connections between Iris and Dorothy Emmet....
Iris Murdoch And Moral Psychology Podcast
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Matt Congdon (Vanderbilt, USA), Sam Filby, (Northwestern, USA) and Francey Russell (Columbia, USA) to consider Murd...
Iris Murdoch And The Political Podcast
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Gary Browning (Oxford Brookes, UK) to discuss his new book, Iris Murdoch and the Political. https://global.oup.com...
Birthday Lecture July 2024
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Much of our conception of the relationship between Iris Murdoch and John Bayley, happily married for over forty years, comes from Bayley’s memoirs, ...
Iris Murdoch And Remorse Podcast
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles talks to Dr Frances White (University of Chichester) about her new book, Iris Murdoch and Remorse: Past Forgiving? They cover ke...
Under The Net Revisited Podcast
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Dr Lucy Oulton, Dr Frances White and Prof. Anne Rowe - all from the University of Chichester - to revisit Murdoch's...
A.S. Byatt Podcast
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode Miles is join by Dr Leanne Bibby (Teeside University) and Dr Barbara Franchi (University of Durham) to celebrate the life, wor...
Iris Murdoch And The Ancient Quarrel Podcast
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined Lyra Ekström Lindbäck (Centre for Ethics, Pardubice) to discuss the distinctions and connections between philosophy ...
Moral Articulation Podcast
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Matthew Congdon (Vanderbilt University, USA) to discuss his new book 'Moral Articulation: On the Development of New...
Philippa Foot Podcast
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode celebrating the Oxford Quartet Miles is joined by Lesley Brown (Somerville College, Oxford) and John Hacker-Wright (University...
50th Episode Q&A Podcast
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this special edition of the podcast Miles is joined by Dan Read (Kingston) to answer questions sent in by listeners. These are: Is it possible to ...
Talk: Iris Murdoch: 25 Years On
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk was given by Professor Anne Rowe at the Iris Murdoch Research Centre, University of Chichester (UK) on Saturday 17th February 2024. Anne Ro...
Iris Murdoch And Japan Podcast
30 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is join by Paul Hullah (Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo) and Chiho Omichi (Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo) to discuss Murdoch an...
Tiny Corner Podcast
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Gillian Dooley (Flinders University, Australia) and Daniel Read (Kingston University, UK) to celebrate the Twentiet...
Iris Murdoch and Artistic Inspiration Podcast
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by artists Kevin Petrie (University of Sunderland), Matthew Richardson (University of Kingston) and Carol Sommer to di...
Murdoch In Translation Podcast
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast, Miles is joined by Eva-Maria Düringer (Tübingen, Germany) and Mariëtte Willemsen (Amsterdam University College) to discuss their w...
Iris Murdoch's Practical Metaphysics Podcast
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Miles is joined by Lesley Jamieson (Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value at the University of Pardubice, Czech Republic) to discuss her new book,...
Austen, Eliot, Woolf Podcast
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Gillian Dooley (Flinders University, Australia), Jan Skinner (Formerly Oxford University's Continuing Education Dep...
Mary Midgley Podcast
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Greg McElwain (College of Idaho, USA) and Ellie Robson (Birkbeck, University of London)to discuss the life and work...
The Black Prince Podcast
15 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Prof. Anne Rowe (Chichester and Kingston) to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of what may be Murdoch's greatest novel...
A Terribly Serious Adventure Podcast
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Nikhil Krishnan(University of Cambridge)to discuss his new book 'A Terribly Serious Adventure: Philosophy at Oxford...
Childhood and Adolescents Podcast
06 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast is joined by Jan Skinner (Oxford) and Anne Rowe (Chichester and Kingston) to discuss the range of children and adolescents in Murdoch'...
Beyond Murdoch: The Experimentalists
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Miles is joined by Carole Sweeney (Goldsmiths University, London) and Joe Darlington (Futureworks Media, Manchester) to discuss a range of authors who...
Before Murdoch: Dorothy Emmet Podcast
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Miles is joined by Larry Blum (U-Mass) to discuss the life and work of Dorothy Emmet, a philosopher of the prior generation to Murdoch who work in num...
Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals Podcast 2
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Miles is joined by Megan Laverty (Columbia, USA) and Evgenia Mylonaki (Patraas, Greece) to discuss their joint reading of Metaphysics as a Guide to Mo...
An Unofficial Rose Podcast
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Miles to discuss Murdoch's sixth novel are Dr Frances White and Lucy Oulton, both from the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at the University of C...
Iris Murdoch, Philosopher Podcast
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Justin Broackes (Brown, USA) and Meredith Trexler-Drees (Notre Dame, US) to discuss and celebrate Justin's edited c...
SEP Podcast
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I'm joined by Professor Larry Blum (U-Mass, USA) to discuss his recent entry on Murdoch in the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. W...
Metaphysical Animals Podcast
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Miles is joined by Clare Mac Cumhaill and Rachael Wiseman to discuss their new book, Metaphysical Animals. https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/...
Ethics Of Attention Podcast
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Miles is joined by Silvia Caprioglio Panizza to discuss her new book 'The Ethics of Attention: Engaging the Real with Iris Murdoch and Simone Weil'. Y...
In Conversation - Gillian Dooley
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gillian Dooley (Flinders University, Australia) is in conversation with Lucy Bolton (QMUL, UK) about her new book, 'Listening to Iris Murdoch: Music, ...
The Wallace Collection Podcast
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Anne Rowe and Miles Leeson as they guide you around London's Wallace Collection, stopping off to discuss three key paintings that feature in Murd...
The Murdochian Mind Podcast
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I'm joined by Silvia Caprioglio Panizza (University College Dublin, and the Centre for Ethics as Study in Human Value, University of P...
Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals Podcast 1
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Murdoch's 'Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals' I'm joined by Gillian Dooley (Flinders University, Australia), ...
Lecture: 'Iris and the Christians: what did the Christian churches make of Murdoch, 1954-1983'
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This lecture was given by Peter Webster, a scholar of contemporary religious history, with a particular interest in the religious arts. His most recen...
Iris Film Podcast
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Lucy Bolton (Queen Mary, University of London), Lisa Smithstead (University of Exeter), and Melanie Williams (Unive...
Iris Murdoch and the Others Podcast
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast Miles is joined by Paul Fiddes, Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Oxford, to discuss his latest book, Iris Murdoch...
Sartre Podcast
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I'm joined by Justin Broackes (Brown, USA), Gary Browning (Oxford Brookes), and Alison Scott-Baumann (SOAS)to discuss Murdoch's lifelo...
In Conversation: Paul Hullah Podcast
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast Miles is joined by Paul Hullah, Associate Professor of English Literature at Meiji Gakuin, and President of the Iris Murdoch Society o...
The Women are up to Something Podcast
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me today is Prof. Benjamin Lipscomb (Houghton College, NY, USA) to discuss his new book 'The Women are up to Something' which considers the fo...
Elizabeth Bowen Podcast
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The new season of the podcast starts with a special on the author, essayist, critic, spy, journalist and much else besides, Elizabeth Bowen. She was a...
Lecture: Cora Diamond 'Murdoch off the Map, or Taking Empiricism back from the Empiricists’
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
*The handout for this lecture is available on the IMS Facebook Page (link in Bio) or by emailing [email protected] Cora Diamond is a leading American phi...
In Conversation: Avril Horner and Sarah Perry
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This 'In Conversation' talk was given as part of the first online Iris Murdoch Conference on the 15th July, 2021. Sarah and Avril discuss the importa...
Iris Murdoch and Peter Pan Podcast
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to discuss Iris' love of Peter Pan, and her use of Barrie's story in her own fiction, are Anne Rowe and Frances White, both from the Resear...
Iris Murdoch and Childhood Reading Podcast
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to discuss Murdoch's childhood reading, and its impact on her fiction, are Jan Skinner (formerly a tutor at Oxford's Continuing Education D...
Iris Murdoch and Religion Podcast
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to discuss Murdoch and Religion are Christopher Gowans (Fordham, USA), Scott H. Moore (Baylor, USA) and Frances White (IMRC, Chichester). W...
Iris Murdoch and the Common Reader Podcast
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me for this podcast are two Murdoch fans who consider themselves to be 'common readers' (a term taken from Virginia Woolf).Kent Wennman is an ...
Iris Murdoch, Music And Singing Podcast
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast I'm joined by Gillian Dooley (Flinders University, Australia) and Elin Svenneby to discuss Murdoch, music and singing. Along the way w...
Murdoch among her Contemporaries Podcast
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to discuss William Golding, Doris Lessing and Muriel Spark in relation to their own work (and Iris!) are James Bailey (University of Sheffi...
Archive Podcast
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is (virtually) in the Murdoch collection at the Kingston University Archives; and joined by the Head Archivist, Dayna Miller, t...
Peter J Conradi Podcast
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast I'm joined by Prof Peter J. Conradi, Iris Murdoch's official biographer, to celebrate his own memoir, 'Family business', and to reflec...
Lecture - Iris Murdoch, Shakespeare and TS Eliot
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this lecture Rob Hardy (Emeritus, Henan Normal University, China) explores the consequences of two statements: (1) that Iris Murdoch was a shaman i...
Iris Murdoch And Feminism Podcast
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to discuss Iris Murdoch and feminism are Lucy Bolton, a film scholar from Queen Mary, University of London; Wendy Jones Nakanishi a literar...
Lecture - Iris Murdoch and William Blake
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
George Steiner commented in Existentialists and Mystics that Iris Murdoch’s writings present ‘[l]uminous shades of Blake’s “holiness of the mi...
A Fairly Honourable Defeat Podcast
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Miles on the podcast are Peter J. Conradi FRSL, author of the authorised biography, 'Iris Murdoch: A Life', as well as his own memoir 'Family ...
In Conversation: The Unicorn
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This recording from 2019 features Miles Leeson and Anne Rowe, both from the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at the University of Chichester, discussing M...
Iris Murdoch and Ireland Podcast
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Miles is joined by Ian D'Alton (Trinity College, Dublin), Gillian Dooley (Flinders University Australia) and Frances White (IMRC, Chi...
Iris Murdoch for Beginners Podcast
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to present a general introduction to Murdoch's life and work are Prof. Cheryl Bove (Ball State University, USA), Prof. Avril Horner (Kings...
Interview With Maureen Gryffd Jones
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Maureen reflects on her time studying with Iris Murdoch (and others) at St Anne's College Oxford in the late 1950s, and reflects on the effect that it...
Interview with Bryan Magee - Philosophy and Literature
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, first broadcast on the BBC in 1977, Murdoch discusses her work in both philosophy and literature with Bryan Magee. An excellent co...
Iris Murdoch and Swimming Podcast
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to discuss Iris and Swimming are Natasha Alden from the University of Aberystwyth, Hannah Marije from St Mary's University of London, and L...
A Word Child Podcast
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Miles to discuss 'A Word Child' are Professor Rob Hardy from Henan Normal University, China; Dr Daniel read from Kingston University, and Mari...
Iris Murdoch in the National Gallery Podcast
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join me and my guest Anne Rowe as she guides us around London's National Gallery! We'll be stopping off at four paintings that appear in her novels: ...
Iris Murdoch and Politics Podcast
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining me to discuss Murdoch and Politics are Gary Browning (Oxford Brookes), author of 'Why Iris Murdoch Matters', Lesley Jamieson (Queen's Universi...
Brigid Brophy Podcast
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Miles in this special podcast on Brigid Brophy's life and work are Gerri Kimber, co-editor of the recent collection 'Brigid Brophy: Avant-Gard...
In Conversation: The Bell
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2016 Frances White (who you can also hear on the recent podcast) joined me at Chichester to discuss 'The Bell' with my students.
The Bell Podcast
18 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
My guests on this podcast are Dr Frances White, Deputy Director of the IMRC at Chichester and author of the short biography 'Becoming Iris Murdoch', F...
Iris Murdoch and the Moving Image Podcast
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Miles is joined by Lucy Bolton (Queen Mary, University of London), Rebecca Moden (University of Chichester), and Anne Rowe (Chichester...
Interview with A.N. Wilson
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2017 A.N. Wilson was a guest at the Iris Murdoch Conference at Chichester. Here he is, in interview with Miles Leeson, reflecting on 'Iris Murdoch:...
Sovereignty of Good Podcast
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast Miles Leeson is joined by three renowned experts on Murdoch's philosophy; Justin Broackes (Brown University, USA), editor of 'Iris Mur...
Murdochland Podcast
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast discusses 'Murdochland' - the locations, characters, and buildings that inhabit Murdoch's novels: London is central. Guests are Chris Bo...
Iris Murdoch: 20 years on
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A talk at the Iris Murdoch Research Centre on the 20th anniversary of her death in 2019.
Under the Net Podcast
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The first podcast from the Iris Murdoch Research Centre at the University of Chichester hosted by the Director, Miles Leeson. Guests include Visiting ...