Jared Stacy and OCB on Reality in Ruins
In this episode, Dr. Jared Stacy discusses his new book *Reality in Ruins*, exploring how traditional Western theological frameworks falter amid ecological, epistemic, and spiritual collapse. He argues that collapse can be a "kairos" moment—a divine interruption that opens space for new, embodied ways of knowing and practicing faith, emphasizing the body as a site of revelation rather than abstract metaphysics. Stacy critiques the self‑justifying tendencies of theology when it remains purely theoretical, urging a grounded, incarnational approach that confronts white evangelicalism’s role in empire and systemic oppression. The conversation also contrasts reconstruction versus fugitive theology, suggesting that transformative change may require both rebuilding and radical refusal of oppressive narratives.
"These Are People Whose Lives Have Been Rendered Invisible."
In this episode, host Josh talks with anthropologist‑turned‑journalist Brian Goldstone about his book *There’s No Place for Us: The Working and Homeless in America*. Goldstone explains how his ethnographic training helped him uncover the hidden lives of five Atlanta families...
Ben Lerner on TRANSCRIPTION
In this episode, author Ben Lerner discusses his new novel *Transcription*, which centers on a failed recording of a final interview with a 90‑year‑old mentor, Thomas, and the ripple effects of that missing transcript. Lerner explains how the book blends...
Stop Guessing: How to Know If Your Book Marketing Is Working
In this episode, host Thomas interviews Iri Theodoru, co‑founder of Publisher Champ, about the challenges indie authors face in measuring the true profitability of their marketing efforts. They discuss how traditional Amazon dashboards and ACOS metrics can be misleading because...
#393 – Crafting a Bestselling Thriller Series with Angela Marsons
In this episode of the Kobo Writing Life podcast, bestselling author Angela Marsons shares her 25‑year journey from relentless rejections to selling over 6 million copies of her D.I. Kim Stone thriller series. She reveals how she finally broke through by...
Patrick Radden Keefe on LONDON FALLING
In this episode of Poured Over, host Miwa Messer talks with author Patrick Radden Keefe about his new book *London Falling*, which grew out of a New Yorker article. Keefe recounts how a chance conversation on a TV set led...
The Patriarchal Muzzle
In this episode of Disinfo Detox, host Nolan interviews Dr. Allison Butler, author of *The Judgment of Gender*, to explore how pop culture both centers and silences women. They discuss the legacy of the #MeToo movement, the promise and fallout...
BOOKstore Economics
In this episode, Planet Money dives into the hidden economics of independent bookstores, following Fisher Nash, the book buyer at Carmichael's in Louisville, as he decides which titles make it onto shelves. Fisher explains his decision‑making process—evaluating thousands of catalog...
READ : Beyond Belief by Nir Eyal
In this episode, bestselling author Nir Eyal discusses his new book *Beyond Belief*, which argues that our limiting beliefs—not resources or intelligence—are the primary barriers to achieving our goals, especially financial ones. He explains how to identify "the muck" where...
Emma Straub on AMERICAN FANTASY
In this episode of Poured Over, bookseller and author Emma Straub discusses her new novel *American Fantasy*, a comedic yet heartfelt tale about 50‑year‑old Annie who, after a divorce, joins a cruise full of women and the nostalgic boy‑band Boy...
Fear and Loathing in the Cheese Castle
In this episode of "Brad and Mira for the Culture," Brad Listie and Mira Gonzalez riff on a whirlwind of pop‑culture topics, from their spontaneous spring‑break road trip to Utah and a night in Las Vegas to the looming "world...
Human Nature Odyssey, Episode 21. Earth Abides (Part 1): Life After Civilization
In this first part of the two‑episode deep‑dive on George R. Stewart’s 1949 novel *Earth Abides*, host Alex Leff and guest astrophysicist‑writer Tom Murphy explore the story of Ish Williams, a young ecologist who survives a global plague and witnesses the...
Lily Brooks-Dalton : Ruins
In this episode, host David Naiman talks with author Lily Brooks-Dalton about her latest novel, *Ruins*, exploring its intricate plot, themes of apocalypse, solitude, and the value of knowledge, as well as her broader body of work that tackles climate...
Meet the Jewish 'Troublemakers' Who Zionists Hated: The Radical, Unknown History of the Bund
In this episode of Beyond Israelism, host Simone Zimmerman talks with author Molly Crabapple about her book *Here Where We Live Is Our Country*, which revives the history of the Jewish socialist Bund—a massive, anti‑Zionist movement that championed "Doikheit" (the...
Caro Claire Burke on YESTERYEAR
In this episode of Poured Over, host Jenna Seery chats with author Carol Claire Burke about her debut novel *Yesteryear*, which follows Natalie Heller Mills, a ruthless social‑media entrepreneur who awakens in the 1850s version of the pioneer world she once fetishized. Burke...
How Literary Awards Work: A Conversation with PEN/Faulkner Executive Director Gwydion Suilebhan
In this episode Brad Listie talks with Gwydion Sullivan, executive director of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, about how the organization’s four literary awards are conceived, judged, and awarded. Sullivan explains the foundation’s mission to champion American fiction, the all‑writer judging panels,...
Steven Kotler on We Are As Gods: Godlike Power, Stone Age Minds
In this episode, Stephen Kotler discusses his new book *We Are As Gods*, which expands on the optimism of *Abundance* while confronting the darker side of a world flooded with technology, AI, and carbon emissions. He argues that humanity’s Stone‑Age...
Dorothy Koomson
In this episode of BBC Radio 4's Book Club, author Dorothy Koomson discusses her psychological thriller *The Ice Cream Girls*, which follows the intertwined lives of Serena and Poppy after they are accused of murdering their abusive teacher, Marcus. Koomson...
Ep 26. Love, Freedom, Feminism, and Keeping Dalit Life Intact: Featuring Nikhil Pandhi
In this episode, host Bhakti Shrungarpre talks with medical anthropologist Nikhil Pandhi about his anthology *Love in the Time of Caste*, a collection of 17 Dalit love stories that blend violence, desire, and everyday intimacy. Pandhi explains how his ethnographic...
713 - Jesse Bering on The Incredible Afterlives of Dr. Stevenson
In this episode of Tangentially Speaking, host Chris Ryan chats with experimental psychologist Jesse Bering about Bering's new biography, *The Incredible Afterlives of Dr. Ian Stevenson*, which chronicles the life and rigorous research of the controversial psychiatrist who studied reincarnation....
REPLAY: Lorrie Moore on Writing, the Afterlife, and Ghost Stories
In this replay episode, Brad Listie revisits his 2023 interview with acclaimed author Lorrie Moore, discussing her novel *I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home*. Moore delves into the book’s blend of grief, afterlife speculation, and ghost‑story elements,...
Macaroni Art in the Age of Filtration by Ryan Cole (Audio)
In this speculative‑fiction audio story, Ryan Cole’s "Macaroni Art in the Age of Filtration" follows Verity, a scavenger in a polluted underground colony, as she navigates crumbling tunnels to find a functional lung that could free her brother Axel from...
Jenny Lawson on HOW TO BE OKAY WHEN NOTHING IS OKAY
In this episode of Poured Over, host Jenna Seary chats with humorist and mental‑health advocate Jenny Lawson about her new book *How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay*. Lawson explains that the book grew out of her own post‑college‑kid‑leaving...
Yann Martel on SON OF NOBODY
In this episode of Poured Over, Barnes & Noble bookseller Brenda Allison interviews bestselling author Yann Martel about his new novel Son of Nobody. Martel explains the book’s dual structure—epic verses recounting a newly imagined Trojan War tale of a...
1028. Jung Yun
In this episode of The Other People Show, host Brad Listie talks with author Jung Yoon about her new novel All the World Can Hold, a 9/11‑set cruise‑ship story that follows three strangers grappling with identity, ambition, and grief in...
”Autoimmunity and the Good Girls” Behind-the-Page with Sara Hirsh Bordo
In this introductory episode of "Behind the Page," author Sarah Hirsch-Bordeaux shares the premise of her upcoming book, *Autoimmunity and the Good Girls*, exploring how the cultural pressure to be a "good girl" can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune illness. She...
Atomic Show #340 – Zion Lights, Author of “Energy Is Life”
In this episode, host Rod Adams talks with Zion Lights, author of *Energy is Life* and former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, about her dramatic shift from anti‑nuclear activism to championing nuclear power as a vital tool for decarbonisation. Lights recounts a...
Kristen Arnett on STOP ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE
In this episode of Poured Over, author Kristen Arnett discusses her latest novel, *stop me if you've heard this one*, a comedic yet heartfelt love letter to Florida centered on a lesbian birthday‑party clown named Cherry. Arnett explains how the...
Excerpt From 'Black Bag,' By Luke Kennard
In this episode of the Other People podcast, poet‑novelist Luke Kennard reads an excerpt from his new novel *Black Bag*, which follows a struggling actor who volunteers for a bizarre university psychology experiment that requires him to spend a semester...
Those Who Left History by Wanxiang Fengnian (Audio)
The episode delves into Wang Xiong Feng Yen’s short story “Those Who Left History,” narrated by host Clarksworld Magazine. It explores the chilling concept of “exclusive residences” – sealed, self‑sustaining living units that permanently remove their occupants from reality –...
Book Ratings and Recommendations
In this episode of Data Skeptic, host Kyle and guest Hannes Rosenbusch explore whether some books are objectively better than others by analyzing the Goodreads dataset. They dissect rating variance, finding that differences between books are minimal while individual reader...
Jordy Rosenberg : Night Night Fawn
In this episode, scholar and novelist Jordi Rosenberg discusses his new novel Night Night Fawn, a genre‑bending work that intertwines autofiction, queer theory, and historical critique while exploring trans identity, Jewish assimilation, and familial trauma. Rosenberg explains how the book...
Scion by Thomas Ha (Audio)
In this episode of The Fourth Story, host Kate Baker narrates Thomas Ha’s speculative short story “Scion,” set in a constantly reconfiguring manor that mirrors the deteriorating mind of the protagonist’s father, the Leavenlord. The tale follows a young heir...
Amal El-Mohtar on SEASONS OF GLASS AND IRON
In this episode of Poured Over, Barnes & Noble bookseller Isabel McConville chats with author Amal El‑Mohtar about her upcoming short‑story collection Seasons of Glass and Iron. Amal shares the chaotic lead‑up to the March 24 release—including a D&D podcast...
A Few Good Afromen
In this episode of Brad and Mira for the Culture, the hosts dive into pop‑culture gossip, covering the Baldwin family (especially Hilaria Baldwin), Romy Mars’s famous‑parent lineage, the high‑profile Afrofuturist defamation lawsuit, and the surprising world of professional cornhole. Their banter...
REPLAY: Notes on Notes on Being a Man
In this episode, the host examines the alarming rise in mental health crises and suicide among young men in the United States, sparked by the tragic story of Alex Kearns, a college student who died after a mistaken Robinhood loss...
1961: The Psychology of Never Enough. Why High-Achievers Still Feel Empty and How to Fix It
In this episode of So Money, host Farnoosh Torabi talks with former Google executive and researcher Brooke Taylor about the "success wound"—the feeling that achievement never feels sufficient. Taylor explains how early messages tying self‑worth to performance create a cycle...
Your Friends Lied About Your Book Cover
In this episode of Novel Marketing, host Thomas interviews award‑winning thriller author and Navy veteran J.A. Webb about the hidden pitfalls of relying on friends’ opinions for book cover decisions. Webb explains that a cover’s primary job is to attract...
Becky Garrison on Spiritual Narcissists, MAGA as Cult, and Why the Church Can’t Be Saved
In this episode, Frank Schaefer talks with religious satirist Becky Garrison about her new book *Gaslighting for God*, a satirical guide to recognizing and escaping spiritual narcissists. Garrison explains how the rise of MAGA has taken on cult-like characteristics, blending...
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney on LAKE EFFECT
In this episode of Poured Over, host Miwa Messer chats with novelist Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney about her debut novel *The Nest* and its sequel *Lake Effect*. They recount the whirlwind launch of *The Nest*, the challenges of promoting books during the...
1027. Luke Kennard
In this episode of The Other People Show, host Brad Listie talks with acclaimed poet‑novelist Luke Kennard about his new novel Black Bag, a darkly comic story of a 37‑year‑old actor who volunteers for a university psychology experiment that requires him...
25. Queer, Palestinian and Decolonial: Featuring Tareq Baconi
In this episode of Radical Futures, host Bhakti Shangarpare talks with author Tariq Baconi about his memoir *Fire in Every Direction*, which intertwines his queer coming‑of‑age story with his Palestinian heritage and family history. Baconi explains how writing the book...
Exploring Lincoln and the "Heroic Legend": A Conversation With Kenneth W. Noe
In this interview, Civil War historian Kenneth W. Noe discusses his new book, *Abraham Lincoln and the Heroic Legend*, which interrogates the mythic portrayal of Lincoln as a flawless commander‑in‑chief. Noe traces how his research, sparked by questions raised after...
Tom Junod on IN THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH I WAS TOLD WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN
In this episode of Poured Over, host Miwa Messer interviews acclaimed writer Tom Junod about his memoir In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man. Junod recounts how the book evolved from...
Inside a BOOK Auction
In this episode, Planet Money chronicles its own journey to land a book deal, revealing the hidden economics of publishing—from literary agents pitching the idea, to crafting a proposal, and courting major houses amid industry consolidation. Host Alex Horowitz-Gazi and...
Race and the Anti-War Movement in the 1960s: A Conversation with Matthew Delmont, Dartmouth University and Author of Until the...
In this episode of The Long View, Dartmouth historian Matthew Delmont discusses his new book, *Until the Last Gun is Silent*, which uses the lives of Coretta Scott King and Detroit soldier Dwight "Skip" Johnson to explore the intersections of...
A Forgotten Roman Masterclass in Leadership
The episode spotlights the largely overlooked Roman leader Frontinus, highlighting his extensive field experience as governor of Britain, negotiator with Welsh tribes, and companion of Emperor Domitian in German campaigns. The host argues that Frontinus’s blend of military command and...
Confronting 'The Emotional Machine of Fascism' - Turkish Author on Lessons for America
In this episode, award‑winning Turkish journalist and author Ece Temelkeren discusses her new book *Nation of Strangers, Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century*, exploring how rising fascism leaves people feeling un‑homed both physically and politically. She links the Turkish authoritarian...
A Personal Invitation From William Giraldi
In this episode, William Giraldi invites listeners to his two‑hour class exploring five stories from Raymond Carver’s collection *Where I’m Calling From*, using them to examine the suffering of ordinary people. Giraldi highlights Carver’s influence on American short fiction, noting...
Charismatic Prayer, Psychedelics, & The New Activism
In this episode, host Nolan interviews Josh Brahinsky, author of *Tongues of Fire*, about how charismatic prayer—especially speaking in tongues—acts as a mind‑body practice that reshapes the brain, fostering creativity, empowerment, and a sense of surrender. Brahinsky explains that these...