Elif Shafak on the connectedness of our world, water & the power of literature and storytelling

For this week's episode, I have the immense honour of speaking with Elif Shafak — an internationally acclaimed and award-winning author whose work has been translated into more than 55 languages. With 21 published books to her name, including 13 novels, Elif has built a remarkable body of work that spans continents, cultures, and generations. Her writing is rich, lyrical, and deeply political, shaped by her experiences of living in multiple countries, her life in exile, and her unwavering belief in the power of stories to build bridges and foster understanding.

In this episode, we talk about her latest novel, There Are Rivers In The Sky, a beautifully layered and timely book that flows across generations and continents, weaving together stories of identity, migration, belonging, and the sacredness of water.

We explore the urgent themes at the heart of the novel — climate change, political unrest, and the silencing of voices — and how Elif draws on oral storytelling traditions to give voice to those often unheard. We also speak about the symbolism of water, the language of silence, and how fiction can hold both beauty and protest at once.

This is a powerful and reflective conversation that touches on hope, resilience, and the role of the writer in turbulent times. I am beyond honoured to be speaking with Elif for this episode. 

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