Episode 01 - Scott Frank

Israeli actor Amit Rahav, 25, is best known for his role as Yanky Shapiro in Netflix's 2020 phenomenon 'Unorthodox'. He grew up in Tel Aviv, where he was neighbourhood friends with Shira Haas, who plays the runaway wife he attempts to track down in the multi-award-winning miniseries. Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his work on the show, Rahav is definitely an independent spirit himself, and it's a delight to talk to him about childhood anxiety, his army service, how OCD and religion intertwine, and the emotional hangover of being part of such a big hit. He's a dream guest for the final episode of this season of 'Benign Narcissist'.

Twenty-one-year-old Londoner, Jasmine Lee Jones, was a student at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2019 when her first full-length play, 'seven methods of killing kylie jenner', was produced by the Royal Court Theatre. The play had a sell-out run, culminating in Jasmine being awarded Most Promising Playwright by both the Evening Standard and the Critics' Circle. That was before the world - and theatre - shut down...Here Jasmine talks to Emma about the toxic synthesis of capitalism and beauty, how celebrity crushes (or resentments!) can cause creative breakthrough, and what happens in your head when the art you've been deemed the future of is put on pause.

Anoushka Shankar, sitarist and composer, was trained in her art from age seven  by her father, Ravi Shankar, eventually traveling the world as part of his ensemble. When she began to explore music on her own, it was via electronica, collaborating with Karsh Kale on the album 'Breathing Underwater'. Over her career she has earned seven Grammy nominations. Anoushka's record 'Land of Gold' focused her listeners on the plight of refugees, and she remains a committed activist for this cause. She has collaborated with everyone from her late godfather George Harrison to her sister Norah Jones, from MIA to Ibeyi. A mother of two, Anoushka's tenth  and most personal album, 'Love Letters', was released last year. Co-produced with Alev Lenz, it is this podcast's favourite 'divorce' album since Paul Simon's 'Graceland'. 

Born in Tehran in 1978, Porochista Khakpour is the award-winning author of the novels 'The Last Illusion' and 'Sons and Other Flammable Objects', as well as the memoir 'Sick' and the essay collection 'Brown Album'. A frequent New York Times contributor, here she shares with Emma the traumatic experiences that have shaped her creative process: from the refugee experience in '80s California, to US health care failings, to having to have dinner with Marilyn Manson. For levity, there's also at least fifteen minutes about Porochista's passions for Freddie Mercury and the ending of 'The Breakfast Club'.

Tim Burgess is the lead singer of The Charlatans, as well as a memoirist and the mastermind behind 'Tim's Twitter Listening Party'.  Tim talks us through creative time and place, from Manchester to LA to Seven Sisters (!) And, of course, that most vast and confusing time and space: pandemic.

For her role in the play 'Present Laughter' - portraying the very understanding almost ex-wife of Andrew Scott - Indira Varma received a 2020 Olivier Award (making her the first person of South Asian descent to win one!) In 2018, she starred at the National Theatre in Patrick Marber's adaptation of 'Exit The King', opposite Rhys Ifans. On television, Indira has captivated viewers in everything from 'Rome' to 'Luther', though she's perhaps best known on the small screen for her role on 'Game of Thrones', as Ellaria Sand - mother of Sand Snakes, screamer of screams. 

Scott Frank directed and co-created 'The Queen’s Gambit'. At last count it had been viewed by 62 million households, making it the most watched scripted miniseries in Netflix history. Scott discusses his long career -  which includes Academy Award nominations for 'Out Of Sight' and 'Logan' - and reveals how his early experience working with teenage genius, Jodie Foster, bled into his creation of the heroine of 'The Queen’s Gambit’.