Bedside Reading
A medical humanities podcast where we explore themes from fiction, memoir and other non traditional non-textbooks which help to make us better at what we do.
Hosted by Dr Tara George, a GP and medical educator, in each episode a different guest explores a book that has changed their practice. Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/bedsidereading.bsky.social Facebook or Instagram @bedsidereadingpodcast. If you'd like to recommend a book or to come on the podcast as a guest please email: bedsidereadingpodcast@gmail.com. Episodes hosted by Tara George, edited by Levi Gee
Bedside Reading
Tales of the City
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I'm delighted to welcome Ian Seymour to Bedside Reading to discuss the first two novels in Armistead Maupin's beloved Tales of the City series: Tales of the City and More Tales of the City.
These are books I have returned to repeatedly throughout my adult life, and each time I revisit them, I discover something new to love. Rich in warmth, humour, compassion, and humanity, Maupin's novels continue to resonate decades after their original publication.
One of the great pleasures of this conversation was discovering just how much Ian also loves these books. Together, we explore what makes the series so enduring and why the residents of 28 Barbary Lane continue to feel so relevant today.
As well as celebrating these brilliant novels, we reflect on what they can teach us about community, belonging, identity, and acceptance. We discuss their significance not only as readers and lovers of literature, but also as doctors, considering how the stories might shape our understanding of the people and communities we serve.
Whether you're revisiting these books or discovering them for the first time, this conversation is a celebration of a series that has touched generations of readers and continues to offer insight, comfort, and joy.
Pride in Practice
We discuss the Pride in Practice programme during the episode. Pride in Practice is an LGBTQ+ inclusion programme designed to support primary care services in improving the experiences of LGBTQ+ patients.
Find out more here: https://lgbt.foundation/help/pride-in-practice/