Character Study is here — and Emma Gannon came first.

Plus: what to do when someone you admire slides into your DMs

Hello, I hope you’re surviving out there. London is sweltering and I’m personally finding it hard to think about much beyond not dissolving into the pavement. As Lauren Bravo wrote this week, great works of fiction are often set in heatwaves. It’s the perfect backdrop for romance and chaos because we all go a bit mad when the temperature climbs. This week I’ve caught the heatwave hysteria myself (could it instead be that my book is out in 14 days? No, it must be the weather). Perhaps what we all need is a quiet moment in a shady park, Solero in hand, listening to a new podcast?

Well, as it happens, I can be of service!

Character Study is out now. In this series I’m exploring how writers, artists and performers shape their character. Each episode, I’ll be talking to creatives of every discipline about the delicate art of finding inspiration in the everyday. From memoir to standup via autofiction and Instagram, I want to know what happens when we blur the lines between fact and fiction. These conversations will explore how seeing yourself as a ‘character’ in your own story can unearth unexpected courage, compassion and curiosity. And maybe even a bit more self-reflection! This podcast isn’t just for writers, it’s for anyone trying to make sense of their own story.

For the first episode, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better guest. Writer, podcaster, OG Substack champion and woman with the chicest eyewear in London’s literary scene… it’s Emma Gannon!

One of the surprise delights of writing is the connection you have to strangers when they read your work and message you about it. Writing is, of course, a way of saying: I feel like this, does anyone out there feel the same? And I love the internet strangers → friends I’ve made that way.

So, imagine my surprise when I get one of those messages… from an author I’ve always admired! Emma found The Tidal Year in her local bookshop and was kind enough to share it on her Stories. Stuff like that really helps a newbie author so I’m eternally grateful. We’ve been in each other’s orbit ever since and when I found out she’d mentioned The Tidal Year in her latest book A Year of Nothing, I was so happy. Of course, it shouldn’t really have surprised me that someone who writes with such expansive open-heartedness would also be so warm and generous in conversation. I suppose something I’ve realised (just like Hannah’s old professor tells her in Girls) is that no one is ever getting enough of those messages. So if you ever think something someone does is cool, it’s very important that you tell them. And then they can pass that energy on too.

Anyway, chatting with Emma for this first episode was an absolute treat. We talked about burnout, about the difference between performing as a creative person and actually being one and about why—against all her expectations—self-publishing turned out to be the most freeing thing she’s ever done. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it so much you’ll be thinking: ‘I can’t wait for more of these audio treats Freya, when will I be able to quench my conversational thirst?!’ Well, I’m so pleased you asked! Here’s a little insight into how the pod will work…

Each week I’ll release three episodes for every guest. A full conversation on Thursday, a reading and discussion on Saturday and a listener Q&A every Monday. Three pods a week, all with the same guest, a delicious audio-buffet if you will, all with the same fab and funky jingle that is already stuck in my head (and now will be in yours too).

You can watch the full episode on YouTube, and I really hope you do, because it looks great (I can’t take credit, that’s all my very talented filmmaker boyfriend).

🎙️ Apple Podcasts:

🎙️ Spotify:

And if you enjoy it, please share it, give it all the stars and tell a friend. It really helps at this stage and I’d love the podcast to find its people so I can keep creating more.