Patrick Radden Keefe - ‘Lying Is More Prevalent Than People Think’

2026-06-17

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What draws an award-winning writer to the darkest corners of human behaviour? Patrick Radden-Keefe is a New York Times bestselling author and staff writer at The New Yorker. He is known for his acclaimed books, including Empire of Pain and Say Nothing - the latter was adapted into a BAFTA and Emmy-nominated drama series. Radden Keefe’s latest book, London Falling, investigates the life and untimely death of Zac Brettler, a North London teenager drawn into the criminal underworld. In this conversation, Patrick reflects on why he is so fascinated by “the bad guy...

Radden Keefe’s latest book, London Falling, investigates the life and untimely death of Zac Brettler, a North London teenager drawn into the criminal underworld. In this conversation, Patrick reflects on why he is so fascinated by “the bad guys”, how the extraordinary story behind London Falling unfolded and his unconventional writing process.

Patrick also talks about the years of rejection that preceded his success and how it has shaped him. I hope you enjoy this conversation with one of the world’s finest narrative journalists (oh, and Patrick). JUST KIDDING.

✨ IN THIS EPISODE:

03:25 Why He Writes Bad Guys

05:12 London Falling Origin Story

08:01 Reinvention and Secret Lives

10:06 Holocaust Legacy and Lying

14:58 Carrying Grief and First Failure

31:47 Parents Read First Drafts

33:13 Family Themes And Fixations

34:22 Chasing The New Yorker Dream

36:49 Rejection Resentment And Drive

41:14 What To Leave Out

43:28 Research Outline

48:13 Screenplays That Never Get Made

50:51 Growth Outside Comfort Zone

💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER:

I tend to look at people, even people who do pretty monstrous things, as human beings... The question for me is always, how did they get there? And usually they got there by degrees.

I'd like to think that the sense of who you are as a person isn't contingent on the dopamine hit of people telling you you've done a good job.

🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS:

London Falling is out now: www.patrickraddenkeefe.com

Join the How To Fail community: www.howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content

Elizabeth’s Substack: www.theelizabethday.substack.com

📚 WANT MORE?

Jon Ronson - another journalistic hero of mine, Jon talked about his love of storytelling, what being bullied at school taught him and why truth-telling is vital: swap.fm/l/3Uwm2GCNCBpHQVZc6dwr

Malcolm Gladwell - on being mediocre at running, failing to be a friend and whether prejudice can ever be a force for good: swap.fm/l/CxIsEyNtJcyXROPZQCvh

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Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan