Poured Over: Recent Episodes
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Poured Over is a show for readers who pore over details, obsess over sentences and ideas and stories and characters; readers who ask a lot of questions, just like Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer, a career bookseller who’s always reading. Follow us here for surprising riffs, candid conversations, a few laughs, and lots of great book recommendations from big name authors and authors on their way to being big names. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
Marsha by Tourmaline — artist, activist, and one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in the World — is the inspiring story of icon Marsha P. Johnson. Tourmaline joins us to talk about the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, merging art and history, quiet revolution, joy, legacy and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline
How to Dodge a Cannonball by Dennard Dayle is a rollicking satire of the Civil War centered on one unforgettable protagonist. Dennard joins us to talk about building a novel out of a short story, laughing at your own jokes, studying with Paul Beatty, The Boondocks, humor writing and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): How to Dodge a Cannonball by Dennard Dayle Candide: or Optimism by Voltaire The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek Erasure by Percival Everett Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
So Far Gone by Jess Walter is a timely thriller steeped in the sociopolitical landscape of the nation. Jess joins us to talk about conspiracy theories, pillars of trust, media literacy, messy characters, Spokane, road trip novels, raccoons and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): So Far Gone by Jess Walter The Cold Millions by Jess Walter Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter True Grit by Charles Portis The Dog of the South by Charles Portis The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood
How to Lose Your Mother by Molly Jong-Fast is a heartfelt and honest exploration of complicated childhoods, life and grief. Molly joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about motherhood, mass culture, living in a sandwich generation, the attention economy, nepo-babies and more with Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter’s Memoir by Molly Jong-Fast Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
The Great Mann by Kyra Davis Lurie transports readers into a narrative of wealth, race, class and fame. Kyra joins us to chat about writing Los Angeles, respectability politics, reimagining The Great Gatsby, complicated characters and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Great Mann by Kyra Davis Lurie The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Wrong End of the Telescope by Rabih Alameddine Matrix by Lauren Groff The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong The Perishing by Natasha Deón Ask the Dust by John Fante Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow
The history of Saturday Night Live and the man who made it, Lorne by Susan Morrison is an honest and earnest look at how such a simple concept took over the comedy scene, and how it persisted through decades. Susan joins us to talk late nights on set, interviewing the man behind the curtain, comedy greats from back then and now, bringing a sketch from the writers’ room to the stage and more with guest host Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Lorne by Susan Morrison
Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin is a story about identity, home and hope from a fresh new voice in fiction. Rob joins us to chat about party novels, the evolution of New York City, writing during the pandemic, 2010s indie sleaze and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin Bright Lights, Big City Jay McInerney Just Kids by Patti Smith How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe Intimacies by Katie Kitamura The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong Bluets by Maggie Nelson
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater is historical fiction set against the backdrop of World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. With complex and compelling characters and political tension, it's a read that transports. Maggie joins us to talk about what luxury really means, liminal spaces, morning routines, characterization, mini dachshunds and more with cohost Isabelle McConville.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill
Laura Pegram, Edwidge Danticat and Princess Joy L. Perry joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to celebrate 15 Years of The Kweli Journal. Listen in as they chat about using language to build community, short stories vs novels, witnessing emerging talent and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Sing the Truth: The Kweli Journal Short Story Collection edited by Laura Pegram Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat This Here is Love by Princess Joy L. Perry A Kind of Rapture by Robert Bergman
Travel writing, ecological reporting and history flow together in a portrait of one of nature’s most powerful features in Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane. Rob joins us to talk about the rights of rivers, white river kayaking, giving old ideas new power, moral imagination, fear vs risk, water puns and more with guest host Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane
Tayari Jones and A.M. Homes joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to celebrate 30 Years of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and riff on the craft of writing, the importance (and fun) of editing, unlikable characters, literary influences, endings and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): An American Marriage by Tayari Jones May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes James by Percival Everett Good Girl by Aria Aber
Spent by Alison Bechdel is a big-hearted and funny account of life and art from a beloved author. Alison joins us to talk about late-stage capitalism, vulnerability hangovers, community, writing autofiction and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Spent by Alison Bechdel Fun Home by Alison Bechdel Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey
Inspiring and uplifting, A Little Daylight Left by Sarah Kay is a poetry collection aimed at lighting the fire in you, whether you're facing new challenges, or staring down familiar ones. Sarah joined us live to talk about how she started writing poetry, making poetry accessible for any reader, live performances and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): A Little Daylight Left by Sarah Kay Martyr! by Kaveh Akabar
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow is a deep dive into the life of one of America’s literary geniuses through the eyes of a master biographer. Ron joins us to talk about his research process, understanding the inner and outer life of Mark Twain, viewing Twain through a modern lens, the future of biographies and more with guest host Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Mark Twain by Ron Chernow Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Chasing the Last Laugh by Richard Zacks
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Mark Twain by Ron Chernow James by Percival Everett The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf
There are the books you read and then there are the books you experience, like The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. Poet, photographer and bestselling author, Vuong’s novels are spun from gorgeous prose and vibrant, original imagery. Ocean joins us to talk about autofiction, language, wonder, characterization and more with Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Suttree by Cormac McCarthy Another Country by James Baldwin The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow Ways of Seeing by John Berger
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong Dayspring by Anthony Oliveira My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende
The Names by Florence Knapp is a stunning story about the power of family, legacy, language and lineage. Florence joins us to talk about writing in alternate timelines, the power of a name, fate vs choice, parenting and more with guest host Brenda Allison.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Names by Florence Knapp This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei is a story about the dawn of the internet, budding influencer culture and complicated family ties. Jemimah joins us to talk about Singapore, sisterhood, ambition, the rise of social media and more with Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin A Heavy Feather by A.L. Barker A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood The Most by Jessica Anthony Heaven by Mieko Kawakami The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo is a gripping history of Chinese immigrants in America, from the nineteenth century to modern times. Michael joins us to talk about researching archives, the Chinese Exclusion Act, writing narrative nonfiction, working as a journalist and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo The Cycles of American History by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe The Wager by David Grann The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is the big-hearted tale of a detective octopus helping a grieving aquarium employee solve the mystery of her missing son. Shelby joins us to talk about living in an octopus renaissance, small towns, feeling uprooted, writing about grief, creating chapter titles and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Omar El Akkad began writing fiction while working as a journalist, leading to two novels and an essay collection: American War, What Strange Paradise and One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Omar joins us to talk about the relationship between journalism and fiction writing, worldbuilding, living in translation, interiority and inversion with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): American War by Omar El Akkad What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib
When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris is a story about fathers and sons, love, life and inheritance. Denne joins us to talk about capturing music on the page, sibling relationships, literary influences, Ohio and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin Light Years by James Salter Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter is a novel about fathers and sons, complex family mythologies and buried secrets. Andrew joins us to talk about finding the right tone for his novel, writing about the 1980s, Proust, the evolution of language and more with host Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee The Crack-Up by F. Scott Fitzgerald Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust
If you've ever wanted to start journaling, we’ve got you covered. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad is filled with inspiration, advice and anecdotes from a lifelong journaler and bestselling author. Suleika joins us to talk about flexing your creative muscles, the importance of constancy over output, finding community in reading and writing, navigating uncertainty and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Our favorite book families tend to be delightfully dysfunctional, and there are none quite like the one in The Usual Desire to Kill by Camilla Barnes. With two sisters, a pair of aging parents and barn animals aplenty, this is a quirky and heartfelt novel that reminds readers our parents had lives before us. Camilla Barnes joined us live at the Barnes & Noble on NYC's Upper West Side to talk about long-term marriage, family folklore, llamas and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Usual Desire to Kill by Camilla Barnes The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr How Not to Be a Politician by Rory Stewart
Mỹ Documents by Kevin Nguyen follows four cousins navigating a tumultuous political landscape, internment camps, exploitation and isolation. Kevin joins us to talk about Japanese incarceration, media misinformation, writing family stories, war movies and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Mỹ Documents by Kevin Nguyen New Waves by Kevin Nguyen Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy Giant Robot by Eric Nakamura The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam No-No Boy by John Okada
Doggerel by Reginald Dwayne Betts is a profound new collection on the intricacies of humanity and life, with man’s best friend as its focal point. Reginald joins us to talk about storytelling, the power of poetry, the necessity for community, masculinity, freedom, forgiveness and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Doggerel by Reignald Dwayne Betts Olio by Tyehimba Jess The Ferguson Report: An Erasure by Nicole Sealey leadbelly by Tyehimba Jess The Residue Years by Mitchell S. Jackson Felon by Reginald Dwayne Betts Redaction by Reginald Dwayne Betts and Titus Kaphar Bastards of the Reagan Era by Reginald Dwayne Betts
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Devotions by Mary Oliver Crush by Richard Siken
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is escapist and relatable, poignant and funny. This genre-bending novel is firing on all storytelling cylinders, and is a terrific pleasure to read. Kaliane joined us to talk about falling down reading rabbit holes, writing about time travel, categorizing identity and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut Time Lived, Without Its Flow by Denise Riley
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard The Giver by Lois Lowry Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mantel
Audition by Katie Kitamura follows one woman’s daring exploration of identity, life and love. Katie joins us to talk about writing in first person, unreliable narrators, marriage as a narrative tool, writing women and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Audition by Katie Kitamura Intimacies by Katie Kitamura A Separation by Katie Kitamura The Longshot by Katie Kitamura The Lover by Marguerite Duras Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov Colored Television by Danzy Senna The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier The Coin by Yasmin Zaher
After you read Becoming Earth by Ferris Jabr, be prepared to reconsider everything you think, know or believe to be true thanks to this engaging and thoughtful new look at our world. Ferris joins us to talk about the Gaia hypothesis, understanding planetary systems from your own backyard, science writing and more with guest host Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Becoming Earth by Ferris Jabr The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd An Immense World by Ed Yong
With personal anecdotes, writing exercises and a deep-dive into the pillars of creativity, Dear Writer by Maggie Smith is a one-stop-shop for budding authors, poets and artists from a bestselling voice in literature. Maggie joins us to talk about craft books, quieting the inner critic, tenacity, vulnerability and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Dear Writer by Maggie Smith You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith On Writing by Stephen King Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr Refuse to Be Done by Matt Bell Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Why Poetry by Matthew Zapruder The Wonder Paradox by Jennifer Michael Hecht
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Rabbit Moon by Jennifer Haigh is a story of sisterhood, secrets and complicated family mythologies. Jennifer joined us to talk about writing in public spaces, visiting Shanghai, chance encounters, how well we really know our parents and more with guest host Brenda Allison.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Rabbit Moon by Jennifer Haigh Mercy Street by Jennifer Haigh Faith by Jennifer Haigh The City Changes Its Face by Eimear McBride
O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy is a story about identity, grief, belonging, cults and coming-of-age centered on a young journalist in the California redwoods. Nicole joined us to talk about what it takes to build a cult, writing battle scenes, researching the Vietnam War, taking control of her language and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): O Sinners! by Nicole Cuffy Dances by Nicole Cuffy All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes Sula by Toni Morrison We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Passing Through a Prairie Country by Dennis E. Staples is a chilling tale of fear and folklore set in a labyrinthine casino on an Ojibwe reservation deep in the wilds of northern Minnesota. Dennis joins us to chat about brushing up against the paranormal, casino culture, writing genre fiction and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Passing Through a Prairie Country by Dennis E. Staples This Town Sleeps by Dennis E. Staples The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway by Edward Benton-Banai Ojibway Heritage by Basil H. Johnston The Shining by Stephen King Doctor Sleep by Stephen King The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
As timely as any book can possibly be, There Is No Place for Us is a sweeping and comprehensive journalistic investigation into a troubling new trend in American cities. Brian Goldstone joins us to talk about the realities of housing insecurity, on-the-ground reporting, narrative structure and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
There is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America by Brian Goldstone Nickel and Dime: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich Evicted by Matthew Desmond Invisible Child by Andrea Elliot Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America by Jonathan Kozol
The Mirror and the Light is the final book in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall Trilogy, showcasing the final years of Thomas Cromwell. Before you watch the newest season of the tv show, listen to Mantel talk about crafting her beloved series, her unique approach to historical fiction, planning the end of the trilogy and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Mirror and The Light by Hilary Mantel
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Firebrand by Elizabeth Fremantle
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian is a sweeping tale of humanity and hope centered on two remarkable characters faced with a gruesome time in American history. Bohjalian joins us live at BN UWS to talk about his new book, his writing process and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian
Firstborn by Lauren Christensen is a memoir of tragedy and hope that depicts grief and love with tenderness and heart. Christensen joins us to talk about deciding to tell this story, the impact of writing the book on herself and those close to her, her healing process and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Firstborn by Lauren Christensen
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken
Blue Nights by Joan Didion
North Woods by Daniel Mason
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Good Girl by Aria Aber
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul is a witty and wise collection of essays on family, love, divorce and healing. Koul joins us to talk about what lead her to telling this story now, the vulnerability of writing a memoir, exploring challenging themes and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul
One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul
No Fault by Haley Mlotek
This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
The Antidote by Karen Russell is a transportive story about history, American ideology, and community. Russell joins us to talk about creating her cast of characters, her research process and historical inspiration, writing short stories vs. novels and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Antidote by Karen Russell
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
Dust Bowls of Empire by Hannah Holleman
Canon by Paige Lewis
The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
Portalmania by Debbie Urbanski
The Ghost Variations by Kevin Brockmeier
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters is a series of short stories and a novel that examine gender identity, pushing societal boundaries and more. Peters joins us to talk about exploring complicated themes, creating understanding for complex characters and a unique use of literary form with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov
Nevada by Imogen Binnie
A Safe Girl to Love by Casey Plett
I’ve Got a Time Bomb by Sybil Lamb
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
True Grit by Charles Portis
Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower
When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris
Trauma Plot by Jamie Hood
Aggregated Discontent by Harron Walker
Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyen
Realistic Fiction by Anton Solomonik
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Tai-Pan by James Clavell
The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
The Shape of the Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vásquez
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton is the inspiring and extraordinary story of an unlikely connection between a woman and a wild hare. Dalton joins us to talk about how her life changed after encountering the leveret, her transformed perspective on nature, finding a sense of wonder and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Watership Down by Richard Adams
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell
The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker is a mesmerizing story about motherhood, memory and complicated family ties based on case notes from Oliver Sacks. Walker joins us to talk about returning to the theme of time in her work, her writing process, her teaching career and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker
The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker
Blindness by José Saramago
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami is an engrossing, dire and dystopian story about authoritarianism, survival and the fight for privacy in a surveillance state. Lalami joins us to talk about the idea that inspired the novel, worldbuilding, creating her characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami
The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
The Moor’s Account by Laila Lalami
Disposable by Sarah Jones is a compassionate examination of the most overlooked people in the United States. Jones joins us to talk about what inspired her to write this book, balancing personal narratives with broader themes, the lasting effects of the pandemic and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Disposable by Sarah Jones
Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
The Fact Checker by Austin Kelley
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott
Lion by Sonya Walger is an autobiographical novel detailing the life and loss of her complicated and charismatic father. Walger joins us to talk about writing themes of grief and love, crafting her own experience into fiction, nonlinear storytelling and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Lion by Sonya Walger
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Her First American by Lore Segal
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh
The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley is a big-hearted story with an eclectic soundtrack and sentences that'll stick in your head like your favorite lyrics. Brickley joins us to talk about her emotional connection to music, weaving together the lives of her characters, the effects of nostalgia in the novel and more with guest host Allyson Gavaletz. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Normal People by Sally Rooney
A Feather on the Breath of God by Sigrid Nunez
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Love is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman sheds new light on the story of two women who rescued Allied soldiers during World War II and the complicated history that came after. Goodman joins us to talk about his research process, the consequences and challenges of analyzing the past, the cyclical nature of history and more with guest host Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman
Eighty Days by Matthew Goodman
Gliff by Ali Smith is the story of two siblings navigating a dystopian world that feels timely and hopeful amid themes of isolation and identity. Smith joins us to talk about the meaning of the title, the beauty of physical books, creating empathy and understanding through reading and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Gliff by Ali Smith
How to be both by Ali Smith
Autumn by Ali Smith
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Metamorphoses by Ovid
Theory and Practice by Michelle de Kretser
Scary Monsters by Michelle de Kretser
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Baumgartner by Paul Auster
Dream State by Eric Puchner is a story spanning fifty years, with three best friends grappling with life, love, family and climate change set against the Montana terrain. Puchner joins us to talk about what inspired the novel, his writing process, what he loves about storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Dream State by Eric Puchner
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Light Years by James Salter
North Woods by Daniel Mason
The End of Vandalism by Tom Drury
Skylark by Dezső Kosztolányi
Stoner by John Williams
Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell
Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya reflects on the books that change the way we think about life and literature. Chihaya joins us to talk about these “Life Ruiner” books, the way we connect to stories at different points in our lives, the way our reading shapes us and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The Morningside by Téa Obreht
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson
The Lover by Marguerite Duras
A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Possession by A.S. Byatt
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
The Ferrante Letters by Sarah Chihaya
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey delves into the wilderness in this tender, bold and enchanting fable set in Alaska. Ivey joins us to talk about her personal connections to the setting, themes of community and family ties, the complexities of parenthood and more with guest host Allyson Gavaletz.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson
Ulysses by James Joyce
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
James by Percival Everett
Loca by Alejandro Heredia is a stunning novel about identity, home, life and love that takes readers through one epic, life-changing year alongside two unforgettable protagonists. Heredia joins us to talk about his use of language in the book, his writing practice, his family connection to the story and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Loca by Alejandro Heredia
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
NW by Zadie Smith
A Visitation of Spirits by Randall Kenan
Cleavage by Jennifer Finney Boylan interrogates modern and relevant themes of gender and sexuality with writing that is both entertaining and educational. Boylan joins us to talk about her personal connections to the topic, influential authors, the importance of storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Cleavage by Jennifer Finney Boylan
Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult
Good Boy by Jennifer Finney Boylan
She’s Not There by Jennifer Finney Boylan
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
All Fours by Miranda July
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Ulysses by James Joyce
A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel
Clear by Carys Davies
James by Percival Everett
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
North Woods by Daniel Mason
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks explores what it means to truly grieve — a moving account of what it is to love, to lose and to heal. Brooks joins us to talk about her relationship with her late husband, Tony Horwitz, how writing this book helped process her grief, themes of isolation, growth and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks
Who is Government? by Michael Lewis
Isola by Allegra Goodman is a story of courage and isolation and a sweeping tale of companionship against all odds. Goodman joins us to talk about the real historical events that inspired the novel, her meticulous research process, her unique experience writing this book and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Jamie and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Sam by Allegra Goodman
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Burial Rite by Hannah Kent
Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson takes us from New England to West Africa and France on a quest to uncover the secrets of the past and build a new future. Wilkerson joins us to talk about the history in the novel, the importance of storytelling, balancing heavy tones in her writing and more with guest host Brenda Allison.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
James by Percival Everett
The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natera
Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Nater
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a breathtaking journey of grief, love and history about a woman that loses her twin brother in a freak accident. Young joins us to talk about her descriptive and atmospheric style, what it’s like to write for both adults and young people, creating the connection between twin characters and more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
In Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People Imani Perry studies the color blue in all its history and hues in this remarkable analysis. From West Africa to the American South, Black in Blues examines the color's relation to Blackness and culture. Perry joins us to talk about the symbolic history of the color blue, her research process, the role of storytelling in identity and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Black in Blues by Imani Perry
South to America by Imani Perry
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib
Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Native Son by Richard Wright
Black Boy by Richard Wright
Looking For Lorraine by Imani Perry
The Nickel Boys, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, is a story of injustice and ultimately hope about two young men at a Florida reform school. We love this interview with Miwa Messer and Whitehead from the novel’s release in 2019.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
How to Sleep at Night is a tender and timely novel telling a heartfelt story about marriage, love and politics. Harris joined us live to talk about writing about people who are challenging their values, how her characters surprised her, the effects of being a journalist on pacing and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
How to Sleep at Night by Elizabeth Harris
Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Naming of the Birds by Paraic O’Donnell takes readers back to dark and gloomy Victorian London with a relentless killer on the loose. O’Donnell joins us to talk about continuing a series, balancing tone with humor, his writing process and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Naming of the Birds by Paraic O’Donnell
The House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O’Donnell
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Good Girl by Aria Aber is a coming-of-age novel featuring the daughter of Afghan immigrants set against the backdrop of Berlin’s creative scene. Aber joins us to talk about themes of identity and exile, speaking and reading in multiple languages, her literary influences in prose and poetry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Good Girl by Aria Aber
Hard Damage by Aria Aber
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Luster by Raven Leilani
The Coin by Yasmin Zaher
The Girls by Emma Cline
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor is a novel about what it means to be a storyteller, told in an ingenious blend of sci-fi and literary fiction. Okorafor joins us to talk about what freedom means, technology and authenticity, the personal nature of this story and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
The Note by Alafair Burke is a page-turning thriller that springs into action when one small decision leads a group of friends to question what they know about each other and the secrets we keep from those around us. Burke joins us to talk about the themes in the novel, writing a character driven story, her real-life connections to her stories and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Note by Alafair Burke
The Better Sister by Alafair Burke
Find Me by Alafair Burke
Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald J. Sobol
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
Kat’s Cradle by Karen Kijewski
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is sharp, tragic, heartbreaking and terrifying, taking readers back in time to an all-boys school in the 1950s American South. Due joins us to talk about her personal connection to the novel, entertainment in horror storytelling, creating memorable characters and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
The Good House by Tananarive Due
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias
The Shining by Stephen King
Jackal by Erin E. Adams
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight is a sharp coming-of-age journey set in a glamorous world of high academia, old money and one eccentric upper-class family. Knight joins us to talk about how she crafts her characters, themes of friendship and motherhood, her literary favorites and more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
Orbital by Samatha Harvey
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
A.O. Scott, critic at The New York Times Book Review joins us to talk about what he looks for in literature, why we read the things we do, his path to a career in journalism and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Middlemarch by George Eliot
James by Percival Everett
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Studies in Classic American Literature by D.H. Lawrence
Better Living Through Criticism by A.O. Scott
The Magician by Colm Tóibín
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
Long Island by Colm Tóibín
The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead
Zone One by Colson Whitehead
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones
The Work of Art is a series of in-depth conversations from artists, poets, musicians and more on how they make their art and what goes on inside their heads with Adam Moss, former editor of New York magazine. Moss joins us to talk about his time as a painter, how he decided the composition of the book, changing how we appreciate art over time and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Work of Art by Adam Moss
How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti
Angels in America by Tony Kushner
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Lili Anolik’s Didion and Babitz takes a look at the fraught relationship between two iconic women of literature. Anolik joins us to talk about how she decided to tell this story, the literary landscape of LA, her influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik
Hollywood’s Eve by Lili Anolik
Eve’s Hollywood by Eve Babitz
Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz
I Lost it at the Movies by Pauline Kael
The White Album by Joan Didion
Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion
Run River by Joan Didion
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Frank Sinatra Has a Cold by Gay Talese
The Destroyers by Christopher Bollen
Howard’s End by E.M. Forster
The Western Coast by Paula Fox
The Lives of the Saints by Nancy Lemann
Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson is the fifth book in the best-selling Stormlight Archive — a story of honor, battles won and lost and a race to save Roshar. Sanderson joins us to talk about writing this crucial book in the series, why he loves fantasy, the connections between his work and more with cohost, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Erin.
Featured Books (Episode):
Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly
Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
Watchmen by Alan Moore
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin
The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski
Author James Everett and director Cord Jefferson sat down live to discuss Book of the Year, James. Everett and Jefferson join us to talk about adapting novels for film, finding humanity in serious stories, the power of art and storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
James by Percival Everett
Erasure by Percival Everett
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
God’s Country by Percival Everett
The Memory Palace by Nate DiMeo presents a collection of stories from history highlighting both quiet and significant moments with a personal and captivating lens. DiMeo joins us to talk about adapting his podcast into the written word, some of his favorite moments and why remembering our history is so important and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Memory Palace by Nate DiMeo
Soups, Salads, Sandwiches by Matty Matheson showcases the culinary star’s favorite meals with flavorful twists on kitchen basics. Matheson joins us to talk about putting together another cookbook, some of his go-to recipes, his influences and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Soups, Salads, Sandwiches by Matty Matheson
Home Style Cookery by Matty Matheson
The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgaard continues the story of a world where change is set in motion when a new star appears in the sky and the lives of those affected. Knausgaard joins us to talk about creating his many characters, crafting a narrative across many books, writing from points of transition and conflict and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgaard
The Morning Star by Karl Ove Knausgaard
The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgaard
My Struggle, Book 1 by Karl Ove Knausgaard
On Writing by Stephen King
The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
The Names by Don DeLillo
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy is a saga of secrets, lies and family ties set when a prodigal daughter returns to a hefty inheritance and relatives that deem her undeserving. Roy joins us to talk about the voices of her characters, how she came to tell this story, writing in different mediums and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
An Equal Music by Vikram Seth
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
National Book Award winner Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu captures family, legacy, immigration and assimilation in a personal and comedic novel. Yu joins us to talk about the adaptation of the book into a television series, writing in different genres, who gets to tell our stories and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin chronicles the band’s precipitous rise to fame, shining a comprehensive light on their journey. Carlin joins us to talk about his start in music journalism, telling important stories, the lasting influence of songs and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Name of This Band Is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin
Mystery Train by Greil Marcus
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer reflects with care and compassion on humanity’s reciprocal relationship with nature and the economy. Kimmerer joins us to talk about the ways the natural world reflects human society, how we can reframe our views on the systems around us, what we can do to improve our connection to nature and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger
The Hummingbirds' Gift by Sy Montgomery
Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, joins us to talk about her connection to the organization, the process of judging the National Book Awards, who she is as a reader and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc, Jamie, and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
March: Book Three by John Lewis
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
My Friends by Hisham Matar
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard
Behind the Beautiful Forever by Katherine Boo
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Malcolm Gladwell’s Revenge of the Tipping Point revisits the author’s previous subject matter with a modern lens, dissecting what it is that pushes society over the edge, and what role we play in it. Gladwell joined us live to talk about how he started working on this book, some of the things that surprised him with the process, the ways our environments influence us and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Gather Me by Glory Edim is a memoir that centers on reading, writing and the way literature can shape us and make us feel seen. Edim joins us to talk about why she wrote this book, the importance of an author’s voice, the many works that shaped her as a reader and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Gather Me by Glory Edim
Well-Read Black Girl by Glory Edim
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Middlemarch by George Eliot
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
There There by Tommy Orange
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
James by Percival Everett
Erasure by Percival Everett
How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith
The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke returns to the world of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell with an atmospheric fairytale about a young woman and her connection to nature. Clarke joins us to talk about why she chose to write this story now, creating her memorable characters, incorporating magic into the world we know and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience is a new illustrated edition of the bestselling, conversation-driving anthology featuring some of our top journalists, historians, poets, essayists, and photographers examining the lasting impacts of slavery in America. Author Nikole Hannah-Jones and artist Xaviera Simmons join us live to talk about the continuation of the project, the responses from readers, the power of who gets to tell stories and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience by Nikole Hannah-Jones
The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah Jones
Nick Harkaway takes on his father’s iconic George Smiley series with Karla’s Choice — another thrilling journey into the world of espionage. Harkaway joins us to talk about how he came to this challenge, his time working in entertainment, how he generates ideas and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold John le Carré
Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy by John le Carré
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
A Spy Among Friends by Ben Macintyre
Sabaa Tahir’s Heir returns to the fractured and fraught world of her Ember in the Ashes series as 3 young people’s lives come together in surprising and heartbreaking ways. Tahir joins us to talk about revisiting familiar worlds and characters, dropping readers right in the action, writing complex heroes and villains and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Heir by Sabaa Tahir
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Featured Books (Episode):
The City in Glass by Nghi Vo
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobel takes a new look at the life and impacts of Marie Curie, focusing on the ways she fostered growth for other women in science. Sobel joins us to talk about why she wanted to tell Curie’s story, her research process, the importance of continuing to analyze our history and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Elements of Marie Curie by Dava Sobel
Longitude by Dava Sobel
Galileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel
Mark Haddon’s Dogs and Monsters is a collection of stories that span a wide range of topics and themes based on Greek myth and other literary influences. Haddon joins us to talk about the way he compiles his stories, their connections to other works of literature, writing in different genres and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Dogs and Monsters by Mark Haddon
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
The Porpoise by Mark Haddon
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Don’t Be a Stranger by Susan Minot is a story of obsession, lust and life populated by intriguing characters and full of simmering tension. Minot joins us to talk about the start of the novel, the many ways she creates art, the fluidity of time and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Don’t Be a Stranger by Susan Minot
Monkeys by Susan Minot
All Fours by Miranda July
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Why I Don’t Write: And Other Stories by Susan Minot
Nocturnes for the King of Naples by Edmund White
Rememberings by Sinead O’Connor
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
All Fours by Miranda July
In The Message,Ta-Nehisi Coates delivers a gripping account of some of our world's hardest truths all within a book that's ultimately about the craft of writing. Coates joins us to talk about the inspiration for telling these stories, the role of memory, his influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison
Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
Avengers of the New World by Laurent DuBois
Henry V by Dan Jones takes us back in time to an age of grandeur, guts and glory with an astonishing account of a complicated king. Jones joins us live to talk about the way he crafted the book, the importance of analyzing our past, the roles of the historian and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Henry V by Dan Jones
The Plantagenets by Dan Jones
The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones
The Templars by Dan Jones
The Spy Who Loved Me by Ian Fleming
American Tabloid by James Ellroy
888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang is a debut about the coming-of-age search for love and meaning via family, friendships, education, and (especially) pop culture. Chang joins us to talk about his career in publishing, the Easter eggs he hides in his work, his ensemble of characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
888 Love and the Divine Burden of Numbers by Abraham Chang
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Be Ready When the Luck Happens is an inspiring, heartfelt and intimate memoir chronicling the life of the one and only Ina Garten. She joins us to talk about choosing to tell her story, some of the most memorable moments, the cookbooks she loves and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten
Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman is the start of a cat-and-mouse thriller series with new characters you’ll love and the humor and wit you’ve come to expect from this sharp and sly author. Osman joined us live at Barnes & Noble Union Square to talk about crafting an ensemble of voices, writing propulsive narratives, why we love mysteries and more with cohost Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy L. Sayers
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway
Rumaan Alam, author of Entitlement, and Danzy Senna, author of Colored Television, join us live at The Grove to talk about liminal spaces, writing impeccable dialogue, the similarities and differences in their characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Entitlement by Rumaan Alam
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Caucasia by Danzy Senna
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich is a profound story of the natural world, place and community. Erdrich joins us to talk about the spark for this novel, the evolution of her work, some of her recommendations as a bookseller and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
The Beet Queen by Louise Erdrich
The Antelope Woman by Louise Erdrich
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey
Save Me, Stranger by Erika Krouse
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Never Whistle at Night by Shane Hawk and Theodore C Van Alst, Jr.
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Pearly Everlasting by Tammy Armstrong is a journey through the forest in a tale of friendship, family and hope. Armstrong joins us to talk about the photo that inspired the book, her research process, the importance of chosen family and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Pearly Everlasting by Tammy Armstrong
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Playground by Richard Powers is a multi-layered novel about life in, out of and around the ocean and explores ideas of playgrounds and paradise; computer games and AI; adventure, exploration, colonization and more. Powers joins us to talk about the inception of the story, his research process, the importance and beauty of connecting to the natural world and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Playground by Richard Powers
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
Finite and Infinite Games by James P. Carse
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
The Barn by Wright Thompson examines the story of Emmett Till, including new details and perspectives that shed light on one of the most tragic events of American history. Thompson joins us to talk about how his background influenced the book, the connection between place and history, the lasting effects of these events and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
The Barn by Wright Thompson
Pappyland by Wright Thompson
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
North Toward Home by Willie Morris
Providence by Will D. Campbell
Prairyerth by William Least Heat-Moon
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Bone of the Bone by Sarah Smarsh is a collection of essays reflecting on class, politics, the media and related socioeconomic and cultural topics. Smarsh joins us to talk about how she came to this project, her approach to telling a story, her inspirations and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Bone of the Bone by Sarah Smarsh
Heartland by Sarah Smarsh
She Come By It Natural by Sarah Smarsh
Educated by Tara Westover
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Working by Studs Terkel
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell
The Forgotten Girls by Monica Potts
By the Fire We Carry by Rebecca Nagle blends first-person reportage and historical sleuthing from the journalist and podcaster following a murder that led to a landmark Supreme Court decision that reaffirmed Native rights in America. Nagle joins us to talk about the inception of her work on this story, the importance of analyzing little known history, how writing the book has impacted her and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
By the Fire We Carry by Rebecca Nagle
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
In On Freedom, Timothy Snyder takes a long look at this concept we all hold dear (at least in theory). Snyder joins us to talk about defining an expansive topic, empathy in community, the importance of time and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
On Freedom by Timothy Snyder
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
Our Malady by Timothy Snyder
The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk
How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith
Night Flyer by Tiya Miles
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker is a twists-and-turns story of mothers and family, trauma and survival, truth and lies. Bieker joins us to talk about developing her characters, writing about motherhood and its many forms, themes of trust and more with guest host, Marie Hendry.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Marie Hendry and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker
Godshot by Chelsea Bieker
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
White Oleander by Janet Fitch
The Shame by Makenna Goodman
After Birth by Elisa Albert
The Volcano Daughters by Gina María Balibrera
We Were the Universe by Kimberly King Parsons
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout returns to Crosby, Maine and to her beloved characters in a novel of friendship, love and the many ways in which we tell our own stories. Strout joins us to talk about writing familiar faces, creating a sense of community, the importance of emotional truth and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith
Guide Me Home by Attica Locke concludes the gripping Highway 59 series with a story of complicated family ties and a riveting missing persons investigation. Locke joined us to talk about ending her ongoing story, the importance of community, the role of music in her writing and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Guide Me Home by Attica Locke
Bluebird, Bluebird by Attica Locke
Heaven, My Home by Attica Locke
Black Water Rising by Attica Locke
Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake is a spy novel and philosophical exploration told with humor, intrigue and a propulsive plot. Kushner joins us to talk about writing in the noir genre, the question of her narrator’s reliability, the purpose and reward of reading and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Scrap by Calla Henkel
Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor is a stunning coming-of-age tale of a girl caught on the precipice between adulthood and childhood, familiarity and the unknown. O’Connor joins us to talk about crafting a short novel, isolated settings, her influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Jamie and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor
Clear by Carys Davies
Orbital by Samanta Harvey
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Clear by Carys Davies
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors is a story about sisterhood and how grief can pull a family apart — and put them back together again. Mellors joins us to talk about creating her characters’ distinct voices, sibling dynamics, connection through writing and more with cohost, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app
Featured Books (Episode):
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
All Fours by Miranda July
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer analyzes the artistic and creative life and those who live it in a page-turning conversation about the way we consume art. Dederer joins us to talk about the subjectivity of criticism, the intensity of fandom, ethics in art and more.
Sonora Jha’s The Laughter is a satirical novel taking on academia, obsession, race and class in with wit and, of course, laughter. Jha joins us to talk about creating her characters, writing an unreliable narrator, her influences and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer
The Name of This Band is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
The Laughter by Sonora Jha
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
The Remains of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Kate DiCamillo joins us to talk about her work from Because of Winn Dixie to The Puppets of Spelhorst and beyond. DiCamillo and co-host Jenna Seery discuss her start as a writer, the joys a good book can bring, the importance of reading for young people and more. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo
Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Ferris by Kate DiCamillo
The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Howard’s End by E.M. Forster
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo
We’re Alone by Edwidge Danticat is a collection of essays that combines personal stories with global themes. Danticat joins us to talk about evolution in storytelling, the role of community in writing, the joy of connection and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
We’re Alone by Edwidge Danticat
Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat
The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat
Everything Inside by Edwidge Danticat
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat
James by Percival Everett
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
Caucasia by Danzy Senna
In And So I Roar, Abi Daré returns to the story she began in The Girl with the Louding Voice, with characters both old and new in an ongoing story of resilience, sisterhood and hope. Daré joins us to talk about character development, balancing her narrative with emotional truth, the exploration of new themes and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
And So I Roar by Abi Daré
The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak is a story of love, grief and hope told across humanity, time and history. Shafak joins us to talk about her central themes, empire and identity, her literary influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
The Epic of Gilgamesh translated by Andrew George
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Orlando by Virginia Woolf
Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen is an unnerving and disturbing novel with ancient secrets, modern lies and messy family ties. Pedersen joins us to talk about gothic horror in rural Nebraska, blending mythologies, the complexity of writing about trauma and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Sacrificial Animals by Kailee Pedersen
My Ántonia by Willa Cather
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Lover by Marguerite Duras
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
Grey Dog by Elliot Gish
Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)? by Jay Ellis is a collection of essays that chronicle his time growing up in a world he couldn't make sense of. Ellis joined us live at The Grove to talk about growing up in the 80s and 90s, the process of writing about your life, processing heavy moments through creativity and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)? by Jay Ellis
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo
Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg
Gilbert Cruz, Books Editor for the New York Times joins us to talk about the 100 Best Books of the 21stCentury list. Cruz talked about the creation of the list, the varied participants, the importance of recent literature and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Filterworld by Kyle Chayka
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Stay True by Hua Hsu
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib
Chain Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjeh-Brenyah
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Regina Porter’s The Rich People Have Gone Away is a mystery in the era of lockdown featuring a diverse cast of New York City characters and no shortage of literary intrigue. Porter joins us to talk about writing a novel set during COVID-19, subverting expectations, crafting characters with humor and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter
The Travelers by Regina Porter
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
James by Percival Everett
Memorial by Bryan Washington
We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston is the story of star-crossed lovers set against a charged social backdrop. Johnston joins us to talk about the complex themes in his work, writing relatable characters and real events, the rewards of all kinds of fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston
Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Cultish by Amanda Montell
Godshot by Chelsea Bieker
Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu tells the story of the son of Ethiopian immigrants unraveling family history, connection and memory. Mengestu joins us to talk about the experiences that lead to his writing, diasporic communities, power in storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu
The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu
Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones
Pearl by Siân Hughes is a story of mothers, daughters, an old house, and one haunting poem. Hughes joins us to talk about village life, her writing process for a coming-of-age novel, playfulness in her work and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Pearl by Siân Hughes
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo translated by J.R.R. Tolkien
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry
The Secret Gardenby Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Most by Jessica Anthony is an immersive story about a housewife at her wit’s end that is sure to pack a punch. Anthony joined us to talk about writing a novella, 1950s American culture, voice in fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Most by Jessica Anthony
Enter the Aardvark by Jessica Anthony
Desperate Characters by Paula Fox
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman is a fresh take on a familiar world, complete with legends and honor, our favorite mythical sword and wayward knights, hard truths of a fallen empire and plenty of heart. Grossman joined us live to talk about why he chose to take on King Arthur, his extensive research process, world building and more with Jenna Seery, cohost of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory
A Distant Mirror by Barbara W. Tuchman
The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames is a historical mystery with a literary bent set in an isolated Italian village. Grames joins us to talk about 1960s Europe, power dynamics and patriarchy, writing crime fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames
The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames
Liars by Sarah Manguso takes a loving marriage and flips it on its head, one painful revelation at a time. Manguso joins us to talk about artistic expression, the importance of experimentation and instinct in writing, survival through storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Liars by Sarah Manguso
Very Cold People by Sarah Manguso
The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso
Ongoingness by Sarah Manguso
Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti
Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio is a pointed, often funny, and unexpected coming-of-age story. Cornejo Villavicencio joins us to talk about themes of identity, social dynamics, hagiography and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry is a wildly funny western following lovers on the run in 1890s Montana. Barry joined us live to talk about writing his first novel set in America, his writing style, bending genre, character development and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Night Boat to Tangier by Kevin Barry
City of Bohane by Kevin Barry
Bad Land by Jonathan Raban
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Riveting mystery meets family drama at a summer camp in The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. Moore joined us live to talk about choosing her setting and themes, emphasizing character development, class dynamics and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
Heft by Liz Moore
Dubliners by James Joyce
Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones
Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane
Smothermoss by Alisa Alering is an atmospheric, haunting and sometimes mystical family story set against the backdrop of 1980s Appalachia. Alering joins us to talk about the importance of nature in the novel, the blurred lines between fantasy and reality and writing the relationship between two sisters with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off Book recommendations from Marc and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Smothermoss by Alisa Alering
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Affinity by Sarah Waters
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
Revelator by Daryl Gregory
In Night Flyer, Tiya Miles uncovers the humanity behind the legend with this brilliant account of Harriet Tubman’s life. Miles joins us to talk about reconstructing history with limited sources, shaping historical narratives, cultural heritage through storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Night Flyer by Tiya Miles
Wild Girls by Tiya Miles
All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner is a story about the benefits and consequences of wealth and the lengths we'll go to run from our real stories. Brodesser-Akner joins us to talk about family dynamics and trauma, privilege, the American dream and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty
American Pastoral by Philip Roth
When the past comes back to haunt a small town, it's up to one boy to contend with what happened while discovering just what safety really means in Riley Sager’s Middle of the Night. Sager joins us to talk about his inspirations for the novel, 90s nostalgia, the spookiness of the suburbs and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
Finals Girls by Riley Sager
The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
In A Fever in the Heartland, Timothy Egan takes us back to Jazz Age America to deliver a true story of an American woman shutting down a con man's plans. Egan joins us to talk about his past in storytelling, some of America’s lesser-known history, his approaches to writing narrative nonfiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan
The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher by Timothy Egan
The Wager by David Grann
Grant by Ron Chernow
The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk
Claire Messud’s This Strange Eventful History is a sweeping, multigenerational family saga told over the course of 70 years. Messud joins us to talk about her family connection to the novel, identity and colonialism, the concept of home and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud
We Don’t Know Ourselves by Fintan O’Toole
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei brings readers from the libraries of Princeton to alien planets for a heist story like no other and is a great read for lovers of alien tech, found family and saving the world. Kitasei joins us to talk about her inspirations for her novels, themes of identity and memory, why we should all read more sci-fi and more with co-host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Mary and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord
Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo is a novel about friendship, family and the struggles that can come along with both. Lombardo joins us live at BN Upper West Side to talk about creating her characters, her writing process, her recent book recommendations and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Bear by Julia Phillips is a wild story about the collision between people's dreams and animals' realities. Phillips joins us to talk about writing with themes of isolation and survival, the emotional intensity of relationships between sisters, her reading habits and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Bear by Julia Phillips
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Maid by Stephanie Land
The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever
Nocturnes for the King of Naples by Edmund White with a foreword by Garth Greenwell reflects on love, life and time in this stunning epistolary novel. Both authors joined us to talk to us about bringing back this novel from 1978, the evolution of style and themes, musicality in creative writing and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Nocturnes for the King of Naples by Edmund White with Garth Greenwell
A Boy’s Own Story by Edmund White
Dancer From the Dance by Andrew Halloran
Faggots by Larry Kramer
Cleanness by Garth Greenwell
The Lost Language of Cranes by David Leavitt
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell
The Loves of My Life by Edmund White
Moonbound by Robin Sloan is a novel featuring charm, wit and time-bending set in the world of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. Sloan joins us to talk about imaging the future in his writing, creating unique and engaging stories, literature as nourishment and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Moonbound by Robin Sloan
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Sourdough by Robin Sloan
Imagination: A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The History of Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien with Christopher Tolkien
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis
Margo’s Got Money Troubles features Rufi Thorpe’s wry voice and sharp insights in a rollicking ride about the hustle and grind life, complicated families, and social media. Thorpe joins us to talk about empowered characters, stigmas and societal judgements of young mothers, the dangers of ambition and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe
Piglet by Lottie Hazell
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
In Pretty, poet KB Brookins shines a light on their life with a remarkable queer coming-of-age memoir. Brookins joined us to talk about gender identity, resiliency and joy in the face of adversity, nonlinear storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Pretty by KB Brookins
Heavy by Kiese Laymon
Freedom House by KB Brookins
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer
Griffin Dunne's long-awaited memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club is a stunning portrait of the 70s and 80s, and the stubborn persistence of life through tragedy. Dunne joins us to talk about his childhood, relationships with artists like Joan Didion and Carrie Fisher, overcoming tragedy and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
The White Album by Joan Didion
Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
South and West by Joan Didion
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Nicola Yoon’s adult fiction debut, One of Our Kind, is a novel of class, privilege and how things may not always be what they seem. Yoon joins us to talk about writing for a new audience, literary influences, themes of race and belonging and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Paradise by Toni Morrison
Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele
Fire Exit by Morgan Talty centers around a man grappling with a secret and trying to care for the few loved ones left in his life. Talty joined us live to talk about Native American identity and his work, the process of writing novels and short form fiction, the importance and impact of storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Fire Exit by Morgan Talty
Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
Swift River by Essie Chambers is a story of family mythology and coming-of-age that you won't want to put down. Chambers joins us to talk about themes of race and class in her work, navigating identity, growth through storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with a TBR Top Off from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):]
Swift River by Essie Chambers
Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
Caucasia by Danzy Senna
Citizen by Claudia Rankine
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano
Sundown Towns by James W. Loewen
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry is a story of lost love, longing and scientific pursuit with transportive and transformative prose. Perry joins us to talk about writing about ethics, class and money in her work, female rage, redemption and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Enlightenment by Sarah Perry
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Melmoth by Sarah Perry
In her memoir, Love is a Burning Thing, Nina St. Pierre explores her complicated relationship with her mother, mental health, poverty and the divine. St. Pierre joins us to talk about challenging stigmas, the importance of storytelling, writing as a restorative practice and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off recommendations from Jamie and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Love is a Burning Thing by Nina St. Pierre
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling
The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang
Book of Mutter by Kate Zambreno
In Sensorium by Thanaïs
Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
Featured Books (TBR Top Off):
Acceptance by Emi Nietfeld
Traveling With Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
Travel across the globe in Kevin Kwan’s Lies and Weddings, a funny, lavish novel about love and secrets. Kwan joins us live at Barnes & Noble Union Square to talk about his writing process, cultural identity, representation, reader reactions and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
The Second Coming by Garth Risk Hallberg is a story of fathers and daughters and the lengths we'd go to for the people we love. Hallberg joins us to talk about writing likable characters, self-discovery and trauma, his literary influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Donald.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Second Coming by Garth Risk Hallberg
City on Fire by Garth Risk Hallberg
Underworld by Don DeLillo
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Sam by Allegra Goodman
Blue Ruin by Hari Kunzru is a novel about how we live now, the price we pay for the choices we make, and who gets to call themself an artist. Kunzru joins us to talk about structure and character development, identity and culture, authenticity in storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Blue Ruin by Hari Kunzru
White Tears by Hari Kunzru
Red Pill by Hari Kunzru
The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
Exhibit by R.O. Kwon weaves together themes of identity, artistry, and desire in a powerful story of women searching for meaning. Kwon joins us to talk about the dangers of ambition, the power of creating art, her connection to this novel and more with guest host Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Exhibit by R.O. Kwon
The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon
The Man Who Could Move Clouds by Ingrid Rojas Contreras
In My Time of Dying, Sebastian Junger’s deeply personal memoir, follows the author’s own harrowing journey to answer his questions about death and dying. Junger joins us to talk about his own near-death experience, the impact it had on his perspectives, mental health and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
In My Time of Dying by Sebastian Junger
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Tribe by Sebastian Junger
Freedom by Sebastian Junger
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler
Carvell Wallace’s memoir Another Word for Love recounts life growing up Black and queer with beautifully crafted, emotional storytelling. Wallace joins us to talk about vulnerability, authenticity and liberation, his literary influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Another Word for Love by Carvell Wallace
The Sixth Man by Andre Iguodala & Carvell Wallace
Good Lord Bird by James McBride
Heavy by Kiese Laymon
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham
Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar
All Fours by Miranda July is a funny and unflinching look at one woman’s existence as she faces changes in her life and relationships. July joined us to talk about aging as a woman, societal pressures on identity and motherhood, her writing process and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
All Fours by Miranda July
The First Bad Man by Miranda July
No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July
Cleanness by Garth Greenwell
Acts of Infidelity by Lena Andersson
A Lover’s Discourse by Roland Barthes
The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger is a journey through the complexity and beauty in the world of plants. Schlanger joins us to talk about the possibility of communicating plants, new research breakthroughs, her connection to climate science and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode) The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins The Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Rachel Khong’s Real Americans is a family story that weaves class and race with forgiveness and identity in a story with rich and warm characters. Khong joined us live at The Grove to talk about heritage and culture in writing, nostalgia and memory, community building and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
Colm Tóibín’s Long Island features family secrets and complicated choices in the sequel to his beloved novel, Brooklyn. Tóibín joins us to talk about choosing to continue this story, creating his characters and themes of identity and community with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Long Island by Colm Tóibín
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
Victory by Joseph Conrad
The Golden Bowl by Henry James
The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Tóibín
Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín
Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston is an intimate and compelling story of grief and love, family, and the reverberating impact of what we leave behind. Kingston joins us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about her connection to her mother, grieving and healing, crafting a memoir and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Smile by Sarah Ruhl
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett
In his new memoir, Knife, Salman Rushdie tells the unforgettable (and life-affirming) story of the attempt on his life and the recovery and healing that would follow. Rushdie joins us to talk about writing such a personal work, the importance and beauty of art and the kinds of literature he loves with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode)
Knife by Salman Rushdie
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
Quichotte by Salman Rushdie
Victory City by Salman Rushdie
Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Shannon Chakraborty’s The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is a journey through magical lands and tempestuous seas with a crew of pirates that you won’t soon forget. Chakraborty joins us to talk about creating her unique and vibrant characters, writing about history (and magic), including important themes of identity and religion and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
The Pasha of Cuisine by Saygin Ersin
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Flying Snakes and Griffin Claws by Adrienne Mayor
Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho has it all — space, murder, romance and characters to love. Cho joins us to talk about what lead her to write the book, cultural identity in sci-fi, her inclusion of pop culture references and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Lu
Green Frog by Gina Chung
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan allows readers to experience through the author’s eyes and taps into the fascination we share with our avian friends. Tan joins us to talk about birdwatching and the creative process, the ways she came to writing the book, observation in the natural world and more with Miwa Messer, the host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan
The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim is a story of mothers and daughters, secrets and lies, complicity and betrayal set in 1980s South Korea. Kim joined us to talk about the history that appears in her novel, oppression and storytelling, the importance of historical fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim
If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim
Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich
Paradise by Toni Morrison
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell combines witty and playful analyses of the way our brains work in the nonstop information age with personal stories that will make readers feel like talking to a best friend. Montell joins us to talk about the truth about cognitive biases, her extensive research process, the effects our society has on our thinking and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
Cultish by Amanda Montell
Wordslut by Amanda Montell
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
All Fours by Miranda July
Mistakes Were Made (but Not By Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
White Feminism by Koa Beck
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Once Upon a Prime by Sarah Hart connects mathematics and fiction, encouraging readers to dig deeper into why they like to read what they like to read, using math as a guide. Hart joins us to talk about her path to writing, the unexpected parallels between seemingly different disciplines, some of her favorite mathematical literature facts and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Once Upon a Prime by Sarah Hart
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar Khayyam
The Eight by Katherine Neville
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Ulysses by James Joyce
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
Clear by Carys Davies is a beautifully written short novel about the price of isolation and the desire for community. Davies joined us to talk about the importance of language in her writing, wilderness and western adaptations, writing concise stories and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Clear by Carys Davies
West by Carys Davies
The Mission House by Carys Davies
In the Distance by Hernan Diaz
Inland by Tea Obreht
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich
Like Love by Maggie Nelson features essays and conversations, advice and introspection, spanning the decades of her career. Nelson joins us to talk about her many influences, the role of love in art criticism, vulnerability in writing and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Like Love by Maggie Nelson
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
My 1980s and Other Essays by Wayne Koestenbaum
Close to the Knives by David Wojnarowicz
The Weather in Proust by Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick
Black and Blur by Fred Moten
Index Cards by Moyra Davey
Suicide Blonde by Darcey Steinke
The Seas by Samantha Hunt
Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott is full of empathy, heart and humanity, drawing on personal struggles and triumphs to showcase the wider truths of love and compassion. Lamott joined us to talk about the powers of connection, the impact of distractions in our lives, joy and wonder in creativity and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Dry by Jane Harper
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin
On Writing by Stephen King
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez is a sharp and rollicking read about the power of art and the lasting legacy of those who make it. Gonzalez joined us live at Barnes & Noble UWS to talk about studying art history, culture shock in higher education, creative freedom and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episodes):
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez is a funny, life-affirming novel about storytelling, friendship and death. Alvarez joins us to talk about aging, community, how we chose which stories we tell and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
Afterlife by Julia Alvarez
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger is a big-hearted, hopeful novel that's part adventure story, part love story — with unforgettable dialogue, characters, and sense of place. Enger joins us to talk about writing dystopian fiction, the importance of setting, world building and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
Virgil Wander by Leif Enger
CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
All Our Shimmering Skies by Trent Dalton
The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin
Memory Piece by Lisa Ko is an unforgettable story of art, friendship and coming-of-age that cuts across decades from the 1980s to the 2040s. Ko joins us to talk about forming the characters of the novel, writing through a large span of time, her artistic influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Memory Piece by Lisa Ko
The Leavers by Lisa Ko
After Kathy Acker by Chris Kraus
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday
The Gangster of Love by Jessica Hagedorn
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Set for Life by Andrew Ewell
Bliss Montage by Ling Ma
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham is a clear-eyed, charming coming-of-age-story set in the world of power, money, and political campaigns. Cunningham joins us to talk about choosing the title for his book, the connections between art and identity, what it means to write about politics and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham
High Cotton by Darryl Pinckney
In the Wake by Christina Sharpe
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead
The Giveness of Things by Marilynne Robinson
There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib plays with time and memory, intimacy and vulnerability, going away and coming home — and leaves everything on the court. Abdurraqib joins us to talk about Ohio, bravery in writing, nostalgia and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib
A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib
They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor
Jazz by Toni Morrison
Bluets by Maggie Nelson
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
Hoops by Walter Dean Myers
Tessa Hulls’ Feeding Ghosts is a richly woven and visually stunning graphic memoir about three generations of Chinese women exploring themes of grief, trauma and familial love. Hulls joins us to talk about her time as a DJ in Antarctica, her path to art, recording her family’s history and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury is a coming of age story grappling with family, friendship and gender. Hansbury joins us to talk about identity and small-town life, music and the impact of nostalgia, his creative process and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls
Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury
Vanishing New York by Jeremiah Moss
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
The Seep by Chana Porter
James by Percival Everett flips the script on an American classic as Huck Finn steps to the side and Jim takes center stage in a powerful and often very funny, story of family, home and freedom. Everett joined us live at The Grove to talk about language and storytelling, his sense of humor (and its origins), philosophy, identity and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
James by Percival Everett
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Erasure by Percival Everett
Dr. No by Percival Everett
I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett
Glyph by Percival Everett
Telephone by Percival Everett
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Morningside by Téa Obreht is a story of mothers and daughters and finding home, set in an unforgettable building and a near-future world. Obreht joins us to talk about writing a dystopian novel, creating deep and memorable characters, finding hope in society and more with Miwa Messer, the host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Morningside by Tèa Obreht
Inland by Téa Obreht
The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
Biography of X by Catherine Lacey
Iron Curtain: A Love Story by Vesna Goldsworthy
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
Piglet by Lottie Hazell is a taut and propulsive novel about women’s ambitions and the quest for fulfillment at any cost. Hazell joins us to talk about the process for writing her lush food scenes, the likeability of female characters, her writing influences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Piglet by Lottie Hazell
Supper Club by Lara Williams
The Harpy by Megan Hunter
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
Nobody, Somebody, Anybody by Kelly McClorey
Sloane Crosley’s Grief Is for People grapples with challenging subjects of friendship and profound loss with humor and empathy. Crosley joined us to talk about the series of events that led her to this book, writing about death and grief in unconventional ways, her memoir process and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley
Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange is a multigenerational saga of Native American heritage and culture, and a stunning follow up to his previous work, There There. Along with writer Roxane Gay, Orange joins us to talk about identity and writing, representation in literature, unexpected connections to other authors and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
There There by Tommy Orange
An Untamed State by Roxane Gay
Opinions by Roxane Gay
Epitaph of a Winner by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis
The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Blindness by José Saramago
NW by Zadie Smith
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
“I'm not here to tell the story. I'm here to find the story…”
Cristina Henríquez’s new novel, The Great Divide is a deeply meaningful, character-driven narrative that brings momentous history to new life. Henríquez joins us to talk about writing historical fiction, her family’s connection to the story, her influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Mary and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez
The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez
Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Radiant: The Life and Line of Keith Haring is biographer Brad Gooch’s compassionate and comprehensive look at the artist’s work and archives. Gooch joined us to talk about why he chose Haring as a subject, the lasting legacy of his work, his connections to other artists and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Radiant by Brad Gooch
City Poet by Brad Gooch
Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
“The big reveal isn't 'who done it', the big reveal is why and what effects does it have?"
Set in an insular small town in the Irish countryside, Tana French’s The Hunter follows a set of vibrant characters as they uncover secrets, plots and mystery among their friends and neighbors. French joins us to talk about writing mysteries that cross genres, writing village politics, the influences of Westerns on the novel and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Hunter by Tana French
The Searcher by Tana French
In The Woods by Tana French
The Likeness by Tana French
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
True Grit by Charles Portis
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
"I do think it was freeing for me to write about a female character who has been relegated to a corner, but she takes over the whole house."
Take What You Need by Idra Novey is a story of home and family, coming of age and making art. Novey joins us to talk about her connection to the setting of the novel, art and identity, her influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Take What You Need by Idra Novey
Ways to Disappear by Idra Novey
Those Who Knew by Idra Novey
Foster by Claire Keegan
“I think the question has to do with American memory and what, as a nation, we are prioritizing in that memory…”
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo blends history and biography with the story of Ellen and William Craft, two remarkable people who escaped slavery, and through danger and constant challenges would become abolitionists and heroes in American history. Woo joins us to talk about her research process, the importance of preserving our past, the ever-changing notion of history and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo
The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Middlemarch by George Eliot
“If my mother and my grandma were in this book, how would they be? And what kind of love can I show them as a writer…”
The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin brings readers to pre-Civil War New Orleans to meet a cast of strong, fierce women in a hope filled novel of freedom and liberation. Ruffin joins us to talk about the intricacies of writing about his hometown, cultural impacts on identity, building empathy through fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffin
We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin
The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.
Ours by Phillip B. Williams
American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Two historical novels with elements of fantasy and folklore will bring readers from the battlefields of World War One to the last years of the Qing Dynasty in China.
Katherine Arden’s The Warm Hands of Ghosts shows the terrors of war and the unsettling and fantastical things that can appear in its shadow. Arden joins us to talk about her extensive research, classical allusions in her writing and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo bridges the mystical and the familiar with an expansive story featuring a detective and mysterious and sly (yet alluring) fox spirits. Choo talked with us about writing in this setting, cultural influences on her work, connections to nature and more with host, Miwa Messer.
We end this episode with a TBR Topoff from booksellers, Marc and Mary.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Paradise Lost by John Milton
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu
“I describe this as a love story steeped in loss.”
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica is a heartbreaking yet hopeful debut novel of first love, first loss and how we become ourselves. Ordorica joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about growing into your identity, writing community legacy, his literary influences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica
Diaries of a Terrorist by Christopher Soto
Small Bodies of Water by Nina Mingya Powles
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
“To have freedom you have to give something up, to have love — to experience love as an action — there has to be something that you're willing to sacrifice…”
Ours is the epic and lyrical debut novel by poet Phillip B. Williams, featuring unforgettable characters woven together with folklore and humanity’s search for freedom. Williams joined us to talk about how his characters shaped the story, the influences of poetry on his prose, including myths and legends and more with Miwa Messer, the host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Ours by Phillip B. Williams
Mutiny by Phillip B. Williams
Blindness by José Saramago
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair
“The peril actually comes from us — our prejudice, our biases, and our conceived threats, not from artificial intelligence, so we need to reconsider what is human and how we're treating other human beings…”
Unsettling and chilling, Bora Chung’s Your Utopia is a story collection featuring robot vehicles, sentient elevators and futures both hopeful and terrifying. Chung joins us to talk about the dangers of human influenced A.I., caring for our future robot overlords, adding humor to horror and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Your Utopia by Bora Chung
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
R.U.R. by Karel Čapek
“You can write all the books you want — they are going to be very pretty, but if they don't tell the truth, comprehensively, it's just not worth the effort.”
Lucy Sante’s memoir, I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition, is deeply personal and features expertly crafted prose that tells the author’s journey to authenticity and freedom in her identity. Sante joins us to talk about the small steps that lead to a change in perspective, creating community, incorporating visual arts and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante
Low Life by Lucy Sante
The Factory of Facts by Lucy Sante
“If you write about a person, you're writing about that person because they're special.”
The Book of Love by Kelly Link combines fantastical elements, varieties of love and a supernatural bargain — all set in a picturesque seaside town. Link joins us to talk about what led her from short stories to her first novel, how she created her magic system, the influence of music on her writing and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by guest host Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Book of Love by Kelly Link
White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link
The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub
Your Utopia by Bora Chung
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss
“I am of the mind that a novel should not leave you with a thesis … I think a novel should reflect the deep parts of human behavior in such an accurate way that a wormhole forms…”
With themes of race and class in a college town, Kiley Reid’s Come and Get It balances characters you can’t get enough of with a nonstop plot. Reid joins us to talk about money and marriage, power dynamics in academia, creating her crackling dialogue and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Paying for the Party by Elizabeth A. Armstrong & Laura T. Hamilton
Monoculture by F.S. Michaels
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
“I'm interested in the limitations of the mind — like that your brain really does only go down so many paths, and then there's a million paths that for some reason, it never goes down…”
Sheila Heti’s Alphabetical Diaries is a memoir in a form all its own. Told in order, sentence by sentence from A to Z, to tell a story of identity and change in a lyrically constructed way. Heti joins us to talk about the inception and writing of this book, intense and purposeful editing, creative process and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti Pure Colour by Sheila Heti How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti Ticknor by Sheila Heti
“I feel like these poems tell stories in and of themselves. And perhaps as an entire collection, they tell a greater story. … We're human beings — people laugh, love, hope, dream, dance, smile, live, die, just like everybody else. And Black people need to be reminded of that, and everybody else needs to be reminded of that.”
This Is the Honey is the new poetry collection edited by Kwame Alexander featuring carefully curated poems from contemporary Black poets. Alexander joins us on the show to talk about compiling a collection of pieces, his own connections to this work and themes of identity and community with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
This Is the Honey edited by Kwame Alexander
Why Fathers Cry at Night by Kwame Alexander
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
What can we do when our storybook romance ends? Good Material lets us laugh our way through the thick of heartbreak with sharp wit, the warmth of friendships and all too relatable moments from the throes of a breakup. Alderton joins us to talk about writing from the male perspective, the things we all do when our hearts get broken, the unspoken grief when relationships don’t work and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
“My writing is always trying to open that up and to say — you can start here; you can start now.”
Imagination: A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin reminds us that our imaginations already know what a better world looks like. From education to challenging our systems of oppression and more, this insightful work shows a new place for us all to start from. Benjamin joins us to talk about the split between imagination and technology, changing our narratives to tell new stories, the importance of community and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Imagination: A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin
Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin
Filterworld by Kyle Chayka investigates one of our most prevalent yet often unnoticed influences — the algorithms that shape our online experiences from social media to shopping and more. Chayka joins us to talk about his own internet evolution, the concept of passive consumption and what we lose when the algorithms take over our feeds with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Filterworld by Kyle Chayka
The Longing for Less by Kyle Chayka
“I really wanted to find connection with these creatures that I'll never meet…”
Sabrina Imbler’s How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures is as unique and intriguing as the animals it explores. This book combines personal themes of race, gender, and family with reflections from the natural world in an unforgettable series of essays. Imbler joins us to talk about how they started writing about nature, the incredible and interesting creatures featured in their work, the connection between science and memoir and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode): How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler
The Underworld by Susan Casey
Bitch by Lucy Cooke
Vagina Obscura by Rachel E. Gross
The Women’s House of Detention by Hugh Ryan
“I hope that when there is laughter, it's laughter made wise by having known real grief — and when there is grief, it is made wise by having known real joy.”
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar is the story of a young Iranian American man searching for meaning through art, addiction, and connection. Akbar joins us to talk about writing both poetry and prose, collaboration with other novelists, creating compassion through writing and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
Calling a Wolf a Wolf by Kaveh Akbar
Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe
Marie-Helene Bertino’s Beautyland gives insight into the human experience through the eyes of a young woman (who may or may not be an extraterrestrial) and reflects the joys and heartaches of life in way that will resonate with all readers. Bertino joins us to talk about her unforgettable character, looking at the world from an outsider’s perspective, the mysticism of a fax machine and more.
Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky starts with a childhood game ending in the unimaginable and sets off on a journey of grief, acceptance and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Oshetsky joins us to talk about the inception of the novel, the themes of healing and connection, and writing in the natural world.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky
Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawn Walton
Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz
Chouette by Claire Oshetsky
The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld
The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes
How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill is edited by Jericho Brown and contains diverse and expansive essays and other works on the craft of writing from acclaimed Black authors like Nikki Giovanni, Barry Jenkins, Jacqueline Woodson and more. Brown joins us to talk about identity and language, the necessity of treating yourself like a writer, creating a new form of poetry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill by Jericho Brown
Black on Black by Daniel Black
The Tradition by Jericho Brown
The New Testament by Jericho Brown
Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois is a fiction debut that blends a coming-of-age story with the themes of lasting friendship and what it takes to be an artist. Kois joins us to talk about the publisher that inspired the novel’s title, some of the important influences on his work, what he does in his day jobs and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois
Asa, as I Knew Him by Susanna Kaysen
Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill
Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin
I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore
Angels in America by Tony Kushner
The World Only Spins Forward by Isaac Butler & Dan Kois
Eat Your Mind by Jason McBride
The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Bonnie Jo Campbell’s The Waters follows the interwoven and often complicated lives of a family of women inhabiting an island in a Michigan swamp. Campbell joins us to talk about the challenges in crafting this novel, matching her unique characters with an equally intriguing setting, small-town storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell
American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell
King Lear by William Shakespeare
The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Carolyn Chute
Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
“I think it is a moment where we are thinking a lot about our relationship to the places and the societies that we have … wanting to create deeper connections.”
My Friends by Hisham Matar reflects family and friendships in the shadow of revolution as a man navigates life in exile. Matar joins us to talk about his journey to telling this story, the importance of time in a novel, exploring themes of political strife and identity and more with host, Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books:
My Friends by Hisham Matar
The Return by Hisham Matar
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Fetishist by Katherine Min is a darkly humorous and provocative novel of love, revenge, and identity published after her death in 2019. Min’s daughter, Kayla Min Andrews, joins us to talk about her mother’s work, taking on the task of finishing and publishing this novel, creating and continuing a legacy and more with host, Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Fetishist by Katherine Min
Secondhand World by Katherine Min
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Another Country by James Baldwin
Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie
All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Julie Myerson’s newest novel Nonfiction is intricate and raw, featuring themes of motherhood, addiction and what it means to write. Myerson joins us to talk about her approaches to writing a novel, her interwoven and often personal themes, how she picks her titles and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Nonfiction by Julie Myerson
Something Might Happen by Julie Myerson
Cheri by Jo Ann Beard
Trust by Domenico Starnone
The Tax Inspector by Peter Carey
The Guest by Emma Cline
"People always asked 'what made you want to write fiction?' And I'm like, this isn't a departure. I feel like this is me going back to how it actually started..."
All Good People Here, our January Mystery & Thriller Pick, has everything you want in a crime thriller — a cold case, an intrepid journalist and more twists and turns than you could count, all told from the host of the hit podcast Crime Junkie. Author Ashley Flowers and her co-writer Alex Kiester joined us to talk about their collaboration process, writing suspenseful moments, creating their small-town backdrop and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers & Alex Kiester
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
“Our ancestors, our grandparents, love us by not speaking…”
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan follows one family in 1945 Malaya as they face the realities of a life shaped by war and colonization. Chan joined us to talk about her family connection to her novel, her unique journey to becoming an author, the things about writing that surprised her and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
Sea Change by Gina Chung
The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
“New York is a character in the book, and I hate it when people are like ‘the city's almost a character’”
One of our favorites of 2023, Colson Whitehead’s Crook Manifesto is a crime novel and so much more with unforgettable characters and a gritty portrait of New York in the 70s. Whitehead joined us to talk about his portrayal of the city he grew up in, creating a code of honor for criminals, important movie references and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
The World According to Fannie Davis by Bridgett Davis
The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead
“I think it's actually good for discussion, because you want to see a range of variety of books on these top 10 lists.”
It’s been a great year for books! With best-of-the-year lists rolling out, Gilbert Cruz, Books Editor at the New York Times, sat down with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over, to discuss some favorites of the year, how the top lists are compiled, the joys of recommending books and more.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
North Woods by Daniel Mason
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel
Fire Weather by John Vaillant
Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo
The Wager by David Grann
Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis
A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang
Loot by Tania James
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk puts Indigenous history at the center to create a fuller and more accurate depiction of America’s past and future. Blackhawk joins us to talk about the erasure of Indigenous peoples from American history, retelling narratives from new perspectives, the surprises he found in his research and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk
Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy offers an in-depth look at the significant cultural intersection between hip-hop music and the world of fashion. Krishnamurthy joins us to talk about her career leading up to writing this book, the research she did, gender roles in hip-hop and fashion and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy
Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter is a raw and visceral novel that explores primal desires, shocking secrets and the effects they have on those that uncover them. Hunter is joined by her publisher, Roxane Gay, a prolific author in her own right including her new collection, Opinions. The two join us to discuss collaboration and revision, writing the gritty details of life, advice for writers and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter
Opinions by Roxane Gay
O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker
Empty Theatre by Jac Jemc
The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
The Need by Helen Phillips
Emily Wilson’s new translation of The Iliad brings to life this divine tale of conflict, love and honor in a way that feels fresh and compulsively readable. Wilson joins us to talk about the universality of Homer’s work, working with gods and epic themes, translating for modern audiences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson
The Iliad translated by Emily Wilson
“It’s important for us to examine those inherited perspectives that … guide the way that we think and feel and imagine with regard to other life forms on the planet.”
Entangled Life: The Illustrated Edition brings readers back to the wondrous realm of fungi, now with stunning photographs that illuminate this mysterious piece of our world in a new way. Sheldrake joins us to talk about adding a new medium to his work, the influences of fungi on culture, important conservation efforts and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Entangled Life: Illustrated Edition by Merlin Sheldrake
Ed Park’s Same Bed Different Dreams blends history, technology and pop culture in a novel that spans time and reality in an unforgettable way. Park joins us to talk about the long gap between his books, writing and identity, media connections in his work and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park
Personal Days by Ed Park
Big Bang by David Bowman
The Notebook by Ágota Kristóf
With recent reprints of The Children’s Bach and This House of Grief, Helen Garner’s voice returns in two of her best works — a novel featuring the intricacies of complicated family life and a nonfiction account of one of Australia’s most shocking criminal cases. Garner joins us to talk about how she came to write each of these stories, keeping diaries, the complexities of human character and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Children’s Bach by Helen Garner
This House of Grief by Helen Garner
Monkey Grip by Helen Garner
In Jeff Tweedy’s newest book World Within a Song, the accomplished musician shares fifty influential songs that have shaped his life and career and shows us how music can create connection for all. Tweedy joins us to talk about the impact of music on identity, the shared qualities between his different mediums, his thoughts on authenticity and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode): World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy
How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy
Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy
This Is Not a Novel by David Markson
The Tunnel by William H. Gass
The World Within the World by William H. Gass
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith’s To Free the Captives combines the beauty of a memoir with a grander look at America’s history and future. Smith joins us to talk about family and cultural identity, race and belonging, the importance of poetry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
To Free the Captives by Tracy K. Smith
Such Color Tracy K. Smith
Life on Mars Tracy K. Smith
Wade in the Water Tracy K. Smith
“My favorite parts of this book are when you have two characters … talking about what they want from the world and how they can achieve it.”
The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump showcases a cast of relatable and deeply human characters as they attempt to create a perfect society in an imperfect world. Bump joins us to talk about his writing process, creating characters that feel messy and real, grief and hope and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump
Everywhere You Don’t Belong by Gabriel Bump
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Finnegans Wake James Joyce
The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro
Divine Days by Leon Forrest
The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez reflects our complicated and constantly changing world, featuring unlikely connections and even a parrot named Eureka. Nunez joins us to talk about the autobiographical details in her works, her unique writing process, incorporating humor into her novels and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez
A Feather on the Breath of God by Sigrid Nunez
Sempre Susan by Sigrid Nunez
Sleepless Nights by Elizabeth Hardwick
My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley
First Love by Gwendoline Riley
Seven Steeples by Sarah Baume
Set on one day in April in three different years, Day by Michael Cunningham is an intimate analysis of family love and connection. Cunningham joins us to talk about translating his writing from thoughts to words, writing a pandemic novel that isn’t really a pandemic novel, using literature as a connection to the world and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode): Day by Michael Cunningham
Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Death in Venice by Thomas Mann
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham
“Shift in perception is a miracle”
Death Valley by Melissa Broder is part desert survival story, part examination of grief — mixing the absurd with the profoundly human in a feat of imagination. Broder joins us to talk about the realities of anticipatory grief, incorporating fantastical elements into the real world, including humor in her work and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
The Pisces by Melissa Broder
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
The Babysitter at Rest by Jen George
Open Throat by Henry Hoke
Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls
Leave Society by Tao Lin
The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
Correction by Thomas Bernhard
Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton
“I think the bigger stuff isn't going to happen if we can't change the fact that we're not really seeing each other.”
Class by Stephanie Land is a portrait of motherhood, the institutions of education, and the realities of life for those under the poverty line, full of heart, compassion and wit. Land joins us to talk about her hopes for the book, her experiences with secondary education and motherhood, her identity as a writer and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode): Class by Stephanie Land
Maid by Stephanie Land
Viet Thanh Nguyen’s new memoir, A Man of Two Faces, is an unconventional and impeccable personal narrative that tackles the author’s own life alongside larger themes of culture and colonization. Nguyen joined us live at The Grove to talk about understanding his own story through writing, his interpretations of memory and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is a haunted house story for those of us who love books, creepy fairy tales and Southern Gothic themes. Harrow joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, the ties to children’s literature, the differences in writing novels vs. short stories and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
"It does come down to that moment, when as a reader or as a writer entering into a story we say — it's not about me, it's about you."
Alice McDermott’s Absolution shines a light on the dynamic lives of American women as they navigate the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War. McDermott joins us to talk about the untold pieces of American history, the evolution of her career as a writer, the power and impact of language in fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (episode):
Absolution by Alice McDermott
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott
A Flag for Sunrise by Robert Stone
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
Family Meal by Bryan Washington
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
“There's nothing truer than fiction, because you can always find yourself in the work.”
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters is the story of a Mi’kmaq girl who goes missing and the grief, turmoil and hope that they find as they move forward. Peters joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, crafting her characters, connection through storytelling and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart
The Circle by Katherena Vermette
If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga
Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang connects lyrical, dreamy prose and visceral reality in the story of two girls who navigate their complicated friendship in a world they build with feral dogs and otherworldly connection. Chang joins us to talk about writing in a nonlinear way, creating personal and cultural mythologies and finding connection through literature.
Anbara Salam’s Hazardous Spirits explores the mystical, opulent and sometimes dangerous world of Spiritualism in 1920s Scotland. Salam joins us to talk about writing the time period after a crisis and its connection to today, the specificity of her research and creating stories that may not wrap up neatly.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang
Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam
Bestiary by K-Ming Chang
Gods of Want by K-Ming Chang
Belladonna by Anbara Salam
Affinity by Sarah Waters
Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
In Roman Stories Jhumpa Lahiri translates her own writing from Italian in a feat of language and a love and connection to Rome itself. Lahiri joins us to talk about the role of a translator in literature, language and identity, exophonic authors and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Translating Myself and Others by Jhumpa Lahiri
Trick by Domenico Starnone
Metamorphoses by Ovid
"I think that messy, sort of evolving spiritual element of Black Americans' lives ... has allowed us to survive, and not only to survive, but also to thrive."
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward balances grief and injustice with joy and reclamation in a sweeping, lyrical novel that brings often overlooked history into the light. Ward joins us to talk about exploring historical fiction, writing beyond the world we can explain, and finding the connections between literature, grief, connection and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Percy Jackson returns at long last in The Chalice of the Gods. Rick Riordan brings back the characters that started it all in a new adventure as they face down one of their toughest challenges yet — getting into college. Riordan joins us to talk about the return to his beloved series, collaborating with incredible authors in his publishing imprint, adapting his work for the screen and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan
The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro
Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi
Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choksi
Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson brings these wondrous creatures to the forefront as we learn about their personalities, complex ecosystems and their connections to humanity in a variety of ways. Montgomery and Patterson join us to talk about their love of turtles, the importance of local conservation and rescues, what we can learn from turtles and nature in general and more.
Margaret Renkl’s The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year is a literary devotional featuring beautiful artwork that follows the natural world week by week through the splendor of a year. Renkl joins us to talk about the importance of slowing down to appreciate the world around us, connecting to the plants and animals in our surroundings, the impacts of changing climate and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson
The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl
Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl
Graceland, At Last by Margaret Renkl
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
How To Be A Good Creature by Sy Montgomery
“I expect my reader to meet me halfway with their own experiences and fill in the white space, fill in what's left unsaid.”
Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson brings the reader to Brooklyn in the 70s to examine memory and acceptance through the eyes of one girl from her childhood and beyond. Woodson joins us to talk about writing for young people, the themes of childhood and nostalgia, creating identity through literature and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Family Meal by Bryan Washington features the importance of food, friends and connection with a cast of characters working through the transitions in life. Washington joins us to talk about the identity of place, how he writes the messiness of life, staying truthful to characters and their struggles and more.
Curtis Chin’s Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant follows the author’s life as he grew up in and around his family’s restaurant where he came to better understand himself and those around him. Chin joins us to talk about the perils of writing about your relatives, the nuances of cultural identity, a very particular Detroit meal and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Family Meal by Bryan Washington
Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin
Memorial by Bryan Washington
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park
100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell
Mott Street by Ava Chin
The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang
“I want people to read it with joy, just for the story. But I do hope that they'll pick up something else along the way about … deeper things.”
The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok finds two women on incredibly different paths in life in collision as they grapple with issues of culture, class and motherhood. Kwok joins us to talk about how she started a career in writing, the importance and language and cultural identity, how books open doors to learning and growth and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Greek Lessons by Han Kang
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
"I wanted it to feel like stepping off the world..."
Blackouts by Justin Torres explores love, loss and the stories we leave behind with inventive and transformative form and prose. Torres joins us to talk about the source material for this novel, the importance of telling queer stories, navigating legacy, loneliness and identity and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Blackouts by Justin Torres
We the Animals by Justin Torres
Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo
Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis
City of God by Gil Cuadros
Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe
Punks by John Keene
In Case of Emergency by Mahsa Mohebali
Our October Discover Pick is The Refugee Ocean by Pauls Toutonghi, featuring musical prose and interwoven stories that cross generations and countries to explore what it means to be an immigrant and the resiliency of the human spirit. Toutonghi joins us to talk about his family connection to the novel, using fiction to connect to the human experience, the long process of writing this book and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Refugee Ocean by Pauls Toutonghi
The Overstory by Richard Powers
All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
“Language doesn't just exist on the page … It's about how you embody it.”
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair is a poetic memoir about growing up as a Rastafari woman in Jamaica and how words and writing empowered her voice. Sinclair joins us to talk about the literary connections in her poetry, shedding light on the reality of her upbringing, and the identity that comes with writing and reading with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair
Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Educated by Tara Westover
The Star-Apple Kingdom by Derek Walcott
Jonathan Lethem’s Brooklyn Crime Novel brings readers to New York in the 70s and the cast of characters it contains. Lethem joins us to talk about creating something different than he’d done before, writing memory and nostalgia, the joy of bookselling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
The Maniac by Benjamín Labatut defies genre with an examination and exploration of science and humanity from the Manhattan Project to the advent of A.I. Labatut joins us to talk about the dark art of writing, the mystery and mythology of existence, the importance of story and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem
The Maniac by Benjamín Labatut
The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem
Desperate Characters by Paula Fox
Another Country by James Baldwin
Steelwork by Gilbert Sorrentino
Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr.
When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Underworld by Don DeLillo
The New Life by Tom Crewe
"My biggest goal was to convert people who said they don't like fantasy."
V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series has enchanted us with wit, wonder and a world not unlike our own, filled with heroes and intrigue. Her newest addition, The Fragile Threads of Power, brings our favorite characters on a new adventure. Schwab joins us to talk about returning to her magical version of London, the role of social media for authors and readers, vampire novels and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab
The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
Painted Devils by Margaret Owen
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis follows a family through generations from small town Alabama to Philadelphia in the 80s as they struggle, succeed and learn to care for each other. Mathis joins us to talk about how long it took her to write this book, keeping joy in hard stories, how real events and culture shape her characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman
A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel
“It really illuminates these questions of privilege and pleasure, and what kind of joy we can look forward to in the human experience as things continue to get worse.”
In a world facing food scarcity and limited resources, a young chef enters a world of allure, privilege, abundance (and their consequences) in Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang. Zhang joins us to talk about the mythology of the worlds she creates, the secret to great food writing, the politics of privilege and pleasure and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang
The Lover by Marguerite Duras
Provence, 1970 by Luke Barr
Prophet by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché
H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
“This book is the most personal because it is what I feel about the world itself.”
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff is a beautiful and propulsive survival story that brings new life to wilderness fiction. Groff joins us to talk about her extensive drafting process, her varied influences, getting language right in historical fiction and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books:
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
Arcadia by Lauren Groff
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Anagrams by Lorrie Moore
A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel
Daniel Mason’s North Woods follows one house in the woods of New England as it passes through families (with inhabitants both human and not) and endures natural and human history. Mason joins us to talk about how he connected with his setting, writing a novel covering a large timespan, playing with form and more.
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray chronicles the saga of a family in a post-economic-collapse Ireland. Murray joins us to talk about the cultural background of his novel, writing a dysfunctional family, the influences of Joyce and Faulkner and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
North Woods by Daniel Mason
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Ulysses by James Joyce
Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Wellness by Nathan Hill follows a marriage over decades through a variety of successes, challenges and surprises. Hill joins us to talk about how long it took him to write his novel, describing a realistic marriage, the power of algorithms and more.
Ben Fountain’s Devil Makes Three brings readers to Haiti in 1991 with a cast of characters ranging from divers looking for shipwrecked treasure to CIA agents navigating a country in the midst of political unrest. Fountain joins us to talk about his connection to Haiti and the research he has done, the unique historical events that provide the backdrop for the novel, his influences and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Wellness by Nathan Hill
Devil Makes Three by Ben Fountain
The Nix by Nathan Hill
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme
Forty Stories by Donald Barthelme
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
Brief Encounters with Che Guevara by Ben Fountain
Beautiful Country Burn Again by Ben Fountain
The Immaculate Invasion by Bob Shacochis
“I feel like I could actually follow you through this journey and come out of it changed rather than abused by my ignorance.”
The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland blends memoir, history and culture in a study of the experience of blindness and how it effects both the individual and society as a whole. Leland joins us to talk about the connection between blindness and literacy, the language around disability, the long process he took to write this book and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland
Paradise Lost by John Milton
Finnegans Wake by James Joyce
Claudia Dey’s novel Daughter is a stark and beautiful portrait of the complicated dynamic between a young artist and her father. Dey joins us to talk about creating the distinct voice of the novel, complicated family relationships, writing a novel that’s true and more.
I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel is a visceral look at one young woman’s descent into the world of social media obsession with a sharp look at today’s internet culture and what it means to exist online. Patel joins us to talk about the absurdity of internet fame, unlikable female characters, combining memes with literature and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode): Daughter by Claudia Dey
I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel
Heartbreaker by Claudia Dey
Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus
Motherhood by Sheila Heti
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong
Life with Picasso by Françoise Gilot
Intimacy by Hanif Kureishi
“… this was a book about beauty, and I wanted it to be very honest.”
In Mona Awad’s Rouge, gothic family-drama meets fairy tale (with a hint of horror) as a young woman navigates the world of youth and beauty in the aftermath of her mother’s death.
Awad joins us to talk about how her obsession with skincare led to writing this book, creating a mother and daughter dynamic, the importance of writing with a distinct voice and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Rouge by Mona Awad
Bunny by Mona Awad
13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad
American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
“My specialty is digging up obscure stories where there are just enough facts to really stimulate the imagination.”
Emma Donoghue’s newest novel, Learned by Heart, tells the story of young, enigmatic Anne Lister and her first love, an orphaned heiress born in India. Donoghue joins us to talk about the role Anne Lister has played in her life, crowdsourcing research, the importance of historical fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Haven by Emma Donoghue
Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Maria Bamford’s hilarious memoir Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and a Quest to Belong Anywhere blends the honesty and compassion of a memoir about mental health with her unique brand of absurd, laugh-out-loud humor. Bamford joins us to talk about the realities of writing a book, the importance of honesty around tough subjects, some of the books she loves and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult by Maria Bamford
The Center Cannot Hold by Elyn R. Sacks
Madness by Marya Hornbacher
Marbles by Ellen Forney
Rock Steady by Ellen Forney
Hogbook and Lazer Eyes by Maria Bamford and Scott Marvel Cassidy
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Sleepwalk With Me by Mike Birbiglia
The World’s Worst Assistant by Sona Movsesian
"There's no higher version of historical fiction to me than that, the feeling of being transported."
Zadie Smith’s The Fraud brings all the excitement of a Victorian novel with a cast of characters that will be familiar (Charles Dickens, anyone?) and a wild web of plots that combine the best of historical fiction with themes that still resonate. Smith joins us to talk about the different process she used while writing, the importance of knowing and understanding history, freedom, resistance and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
NW by Zadie Smith
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald
The New Life by Tom Crewe
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
The Book of Salt by Monique Truong
“I think that she would have given — to anyone who had been lucky enough to spend time with her — was just this thirst for curiosity.”
Surreal Spaces is Joanna Moorhead’s in-depth and personal biography of her own long-lost cousin, Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. Moorhead joins us to talk about uncovering the truth about her famous relative, Carrington’s eventful life and career, the importance of highlighting women artists and more with guest host, Allie Ludlow.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Surreal Spaces: The Life and Art of Leonora Carringtonby Joanna Moorhead
The Story of Art Without Menby Katy Hessel
“I've been asked, why do you blend genres so much? And the simple answer is that it's what I want to read.”
Horror meets romance meets historical fiction in Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas. This genre-bending novel will have something for any reader — whether they’re looking for spooky, spicy or something in between. Cañas joins us to talk about her research process, the connection between this book and her own family, the importance of genre fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno Garcia
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa
The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
Angie Kim’s Happiness Falls is a family drama with an unconventional cast of characters centered around a missing persons case. Kim joins us to talk about disability awareness in fiction, how she started writing, getting into her narrator’s head and more.
Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias is a rich novel of secrets, loss and a government coverup set in Costa Rica. Arias joins us to talk about his own family’s connection to the novel, the effects of colonial intervention in Central America, how long it took him to write the book and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Where There Was Fire by John Manuel Arias
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
True Biz by Sara Nović
Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The Art of Death by Edwidge Danticat
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The Dew Breaker by Edwidge Danticat
La Familia de Pascual Duarte by Camilo Jose Cela
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
The Apartment by Ana Menéndez
“I wrote this very simply to stay alive.”
Alice Carrière’s beautiful and intense memoir of her unconventional childhood, her mental health journey through the failings of the psychiatric system and more that eventually led her to a life of reconciliation and reconstruction. Carrière joins us to talk about why she wrote the book now, the connectivity of writing and reading, her love of audiobooks and more with guest host Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Everything/Nothing/Someone by Alice Carrière
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre
The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector
Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler
“Having that store of memories that history can be, if done well, is a really tremendous form of solace.”
Jill Lepore, historian and author of These Truths, returns with The Deadline, a collection of essays ranging from the personal to the political. Lepore joins us to talk about how she came to compile this collection, her connection to Mary Shelley, and the progress to be made in what constitutes the historical record (and who gets to tell it) with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Deadlineby Jill Lepore
These Truths by Jill Lepore
This America by Jill Lepore
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones
A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn
“My book is really an attempt to change that conversation and begin to dismantle some of these pressures so that we don't have to be upheld to these standards.”
Prachi Gupta’s memoir, They Called Us Exceptional: And Other Lies That Raised Us,combines meticulous research with the challenging and emotional story of her own family to reveal the truth of the model minority myth and those it affects. Gupta joins us to talk about why she wrote this book, the myth of American Exceptionalism, how it feels to put this kind of work out into the world and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
They Called Us Exceptional by Prachi Gupta
The Detective Up Late is the newest installment in the Sean Duffy series by Adrian McKinty following a detective solving his final case in Northern Ireland in the 90s. This former B&N bookseller joins us to talk about the experience of living through The Troubles, the difference between writing mystery and thriller, the war between vinyl and CDs and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Detective Up Late by Adrian McKinty
The Chain by Adrian McKinty
The Island by Adrian McKinty
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
“Dr. Oppenheimer, Dr. Oppenheimer. I've been waiting decades to meet you!”
The inspiration for the new movie Oppenheimer, Kai Bird’s incredible biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, follows the complicated and consequential life of one of the most influential scientists in human history. Bird joins us to talk about the film, the amount of time it took to write the book, the fluidity of history and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
American Prometheus by Kai Bird
What happens to reality when nostalgia and memory become weaponized? Part speculative thriller, part queer romance, all page-turning excitement and intrigue, Prophet by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché has something for every reader. The authors join us to talk about how they came to coauthor the novel, writing fun, vibrant and infuriating characters, combining genres and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Prophetby Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché
H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald
Las Madres follows a group of mothers and daughters between Puerto Rico and the U.S. as they face challenges of health, natural disaster and family secrets with rich, warm prose and characters. Esmeralda Santiago joins us to talk about her personal connection to her characters, the challenge of writing real events, representing Puerto Rican history and culture and more.
Elizabeth Acevedo’s Family Lore brings the secrets of a generational saga and the surprises of magical realism together in her adult debut. Acevedo joins us to talk about writing prose and poetry, the importance of silence and power, the danger women face in the world and more. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Mary and Marc.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Featured Books (Episode):
Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago
When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago
Almost a Woman by Esmeralda Santiago
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Blessing the Boats by Lucille Clifton
Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
Afterlife by Julia Alvarez
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Lotería by Mario Alberto Zambrano
The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani
"People who love books, we're the last line of reason and discourse…"
National Book Award winner James McBride’s newest novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Storeshowcases the complicated and compassionate lives of the inhabitants of a small Pennsylvania town. McBride joins us to discuss the research he does, his personal connections to the book, telling stories that need to be told and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
The Good Lord Birdby James McBride
Deacon King Kongby James McBride
Ragtimeby E.L. Doctorow
I Will Greet the Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani is the story of a young Iranian American boy growing up in the San Fernando Valley with his brothers. With basketball, his family and the influences around him, he begins to understand his identity. Khabushani joins us to talk about the different realities within L.A., the rewriting process, what he learned as a teacher and more.
With ten rich and beautifully crafted stories, Jamel Brinkley’s collection Witness shows a glimpse of life for people in pivotal times against the backdrop of New York City. Brinkley joins us to talk about the importance of short stories as an art form, his writing process, ghost stories and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
I Will Greet the Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani
Witness by Jamel Brinkley
Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe
Stay True by Hua Hsu
A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley
I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin
"My overarching goal is to enchant people the way I am enchanted."
Explore the ocean and its wonders in Susan Casey’s The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean. With an eclectic cast of scientists and enthusiasts along with the author’s firsthand experience diving into the unknown of the deep, this is a one of a kind look at one of the most important features of our planet. Casey joins us to talk about the fascinating geography and animal life she’s seen, the importance of connecting with nature, the threats that face the ocean and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Underworldby Susan Casey
The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey
The Wave by Susan Casey
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is a rich, multidimensional story of family, love and summer stock theater. Patchett joins us to talk about the wealth of influences that inspired this novel, wanting to write a happy book, being an author and a bookseller and more.
Jimin Han’s The Apology follows a surprising and funny 105-year-old woman as she fends off an intergenerational curse. Han joins us to talk about the humor in her characters, claiming space as a writer, what she’s learned while teaching and more.
Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
Our Town by Thornton Wilder
Fool for Love by Sam Shepard
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III
The Color of Water by James McBride
Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch
Loot by Tania James
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal
The Apology by Jimin Han
The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
"There's always this thing that makes you kind of gravitate towards an idea… that you just feel this kind of throb or this pulse that's there within it.”
Colin Walsh’s debut novel, Kala, bridges the literary and the thrilling with a group of friends confronting their teenage years as the unraveling of a mystery from their past throws one small Irish town into turmoil. Walsh joins us to talk about creating his characters’ voices, weaving together multiple timelines, the challenges and nostalgia of teenage friendships and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Kalaby Colin Walsh
Frank Sinatra Has a Cold by Gay Talese
My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain
Devil House by John Darnielle
"The fantastical worlds, the science fiction worlds offer a place where they can explore..."
Light Bringer, the 6th installment in Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series, will bring fans back to beloved worlds and characters as the space opera saga hurtles forward. Brown joins us to talk about what other works inspired these books, how this genre can offer space for the outsiders, working toward the conclusion of the series and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Light Bringer by Pierce Brown
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Antigone by Sophocles
The Republic by Plato
Dune by Frank Herbert
The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield
Open Throat by Henry Hoke
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Hyperion by Dan Simmons
“If you're going to go to dark places… then you better go armed with humor.”
Pulitzer Prize Winner Richard Russo returns to upstate New York with Somebody’s Fool, which reunites readers with beloved characters as they continue their lives in North Bath. Russo joins us to talk about the idea of a regional writer, getting the atmosphere of small towns, writing humor and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Somebody’s Foolby Richard Russo
Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo
Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo
Heartland by Sarah Smarsh
Writing duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza return with You Were Always Mine, a timely, tender and thought-provoking novel about race, motherhood and family ties. They joined us to talk about the challenges and surprises of cowriting, how they balance responsibilities and deadlines, the responses of their families to the book and more, live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza
“I feel this book is really about America.”
David Lipsky’s The Parrot and the Igloo is not the climate change story you might expect — with a distinct and even humorous narrative voice and a wild story you’ll need to read to believe, this book will change the way we look at one of our most pressing issues. Lipsky joins us to talk about why he decided to approach the topic in this way, the importance of balancing levity with a serious subject, his favorite literary influences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Parrot and the Igloo by David Lipsky
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
“And I'm grateful for the times I got to ask questions. I got to be curious, I got to say, Hey, this looks different over there.”
A Renaissance of Our Own is both memoir and manifesto; a rallying cry to reimagine how we exist and interact with the world and each other. Author and activist Rachel Cargle joined us to talk about ambition and curiosity, imposed expectations, grief and joy, her work with the Loveland Foundation, finding what we value most and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books:
A Renaissance of Our Own by Rachel Cargle
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
“That to me is part of the joy … of memoir, which is — it is all about looking back.”
Beth Nguyen’s Owner of a Lonely Heart is a memoir about motherhood, loss and coming-of-age while navigating the refugee experience, told with a vivid and powerful voice. Nguyen joins us to talk about the feeling of writing nonfiction, the importance of names, generational impacts on the way we view life and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Owner of a Lonely Heart by Beth Nguyen
Stealing Buddha’s Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen
Heavy by Kiese Laymon
The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Committed by Viet Thang Nguyen
Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson is a novel of family and freedom as one young man navigates coming of age as a Londoner born to Ghanian parents. Nelson joins us to talk about the change and growth in his second book, visiting Ghana while writing, the importance of place and more.
In her short story collection, Temple Folk, Aaliyah Bilal examines and illuminates some of the realities of the Black Muslim experience through her stunning prose and deep characters. Bilal talks with us on how she came to short stories, the impact of community, the influences that shape her as an author and more.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal
Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson
NW by Zadie Smith
Lot by Bryan Washington
Family Meal by Bryan Washington
Jazz by Toni Morrison
Corregidora by Gayl Jones
Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones
The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
The Sword and the Shield by Peniel Joseph
“Every reader can have a different opinion at the end between admiration and disgust and nobody's wrong.”
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel is the stranger-than-fiction true story of Stéphane Breitweiser’s infamous and incredible career as — you guessed it, one of the world’s most notorious art thieves. Finkel joined us to talk about his own interactions with Breitweiser, the notion of obsession, how we should start viewing art and more with guest host, Allie Ludlow.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Art Thief by Michael Finkel
The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
“... what is it like to live your life through the books you read?"
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt is a warm, introspective novel about a retired librarian who lives his life surrounded by books, and the impact he has on those around him. DeWitt joins us to talk about finding the story’s voice, balancing humor and melancholy, writing in different genres and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt
French Exit by Patrick deWitt
Ablutions by Patrick deWitt
Stoner by John Williams
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Fifth Business by Robertson Davies
The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson
“What part of yourself is actually in each character?”
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur is a family drama set on the shores of Cape Cod, full of complicated relationships, secrets and revelations. Brodeur joined us to talk about creating her detailed characters, writing intuitively, her career in the literary world and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur
Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Great Offshore Grounds by Vanessa Veselka
Seven Steeples by Sara Baume
Whether it’s to 18th century Prague or present-day Los Angeles, you’ll find yourself transported with these fast paced and thrilling reads and their complicated characters and dynamic plots.
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni is thriller unlike any other with its intricate web of enigmas and ancient mysteries that will keep you guessing until the very end. Trussoni joins us to talk about how she developed her characters and plots, the immense amount of research she did before writing, why we’re scared of lifelike dolls and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.
Ivy Pochoda returns with her newest novel, Sing Her Down, which follows the charged and often violent journey of two women released from prison in the height of COVID lockdown. Pochoda joins us to talk about female rage, writing during quarantine, the personality of LA and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni
Sing Her Down by Ivy Pochoda
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
These Women by Ivy Pochoda
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Angels by Denis Johnson
Mecca by Susan Straight
Pity the Beast by Robin McLean
“This whole life experience is just a ride, and occasionally we get to steer it.”
Jason Mraz’s new album Mythical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride combines elements from his previous music with all new influences for this journey through sound. Mraz joins us to talk about writing new songs, his time on Broadway, his take on concert etiquette and more with Poured Over guest host, Allyson Gavaletz.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Titles (Episode):
Mythical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride by Jason Mraz
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
“I didn't want to get sick of my work … let's write something that I'm going to enjoy.”
Open Throat by Henry Hoke is a novel unlike any other. This propulsive and vulnerable story reflects humanity from the perspective of a queer mountain lion living under the Hollywood sign. Hoke and his editor, Jackson Howard, join to talk about the process of writing this book, the canon of queer literature, the setting of LA and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Open Throat by Henry Hoke
100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell
Let the Record Show by Sarah Schulman
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis
“God, I was an idiot, but I had good legs.”
Caroline O’Donoghue’s The Rachel Incidentis a witty and emotional journey through friendships, first loves and all the challenges that come with being in your early 20s. O’Donoghue joins us to talk about her incredibly relatable characters, realistic love interests, writing for adults and YA and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue
Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry
Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
Elysha Chang’s debut, A Quitter’s Paradise, is the story of one woman’s journey through family secrets, grief and love told with humor and heart. Chang and her publisher, Sarah Jessica Parker, join us live at Barnes & Noble Union Square to talk about the challenges of writing this novel, what they look for in books, getting into the publishing industry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang
A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
The Dinner by Herman Koch
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters by J.D. Salinger
“I found in nature that kind of the same appeal that I find in books which is: … they're both filled with these rich particularities and they're also … mysteriously universal.”
Jennifer Ackerman’s What an Owl Knows is a compelling and vivid investigation into one of our world’s most beloved and mysterious animals. Ackerman talks with us about her journey to the world of birds, the incredible researchers she worked with on the book, the roles nature plays in daily life and more with guest host Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman
The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman
An Immense World by Ed Yong
Sounds Wild and Broken by David Haskell
Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan Slaght
A Most Remarkable Creature by Jonathan Meiburg
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht
“Does one ever move on from someone they love dying?”
Lorrie Moore’s I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home is a story of love, family, life and death, written with the unmistakable wit and humor her readers cherish. Moore talks with us about her distinct authorial voice, balancing humor and grief, the difference in reviewing television and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore
Arcadia by Tom Stoppard
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Birds of America by Lorrie Moore
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
Feature Books (TBR Topoff):
Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
Two authors take on historical fiction with these novels featuring queer love, heartbreak, coming of age and agency with rich settings and vibrant casts, from 17th century France to the wild, wild American West.
Celia Bell’s The Disenchantment finds Paris amidst political and social upheaval, while one noblewoman balances her unhappy marriage and her female lover in the tenuous world of high society intrigue. Bell joins us to talk about this particularly interesting time period, how a fairy tale inspired the novel, incorporating real people from history and more.
Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens is a nonstop Western following a scrappy and resilient young woman who faces hardship head-on by taking a job at a brothel where she finds strength, friendship and maybe even love with an alluring gunfighter. Cravens talks with us about creating a tactile world, telling queer stories, writing hot mess characters and more.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Disenchantment by Celia Bell
Lucky Red by Claudia Cravens
Kissing the Witch by Emma Donoghue
Regeneration by Pat Barker
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
These two new novels ask a crucial question: who gets to tell our stories?
Keziah Weir’s The Mythmakers follows one young journalist as she seeks answers within the unpublished manuscript of a recently dead author while her own life starts to crumble. Weir joins us to talk about likeable female characters, what makes the literary canon, AI storytelling and more.
My Murder by Katie Williams is a fast-paced, inventive mystery where the victims of a serial killer are brought back to life to solve the case. Williams talks with us about how she came to write her book, including technology in her fiction, what she learns from teaching and more.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Mythmakers by Keziah Weir
My Murder by Katie Williams
The Guest by Emma Cline
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
American Pastoral by Philip Roth
Beowulf translated by Maria Dahvana Headley
The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson
The Wife by Meg Wolitzer
Delicious Foods by James Hannaham
Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Muse by Jessie Burton
The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes
These two novels transport readers into rich, vivid historical settings — whether it’s a journey from colonial India to Europe, or through the canals of 18th century Venice.
Loot by Tania James follows one young artist from his homeland across the world to retrieve a stolen wooden tiger in an engrossing adventure. James joins us in conversation about the choice to write historical fiction, the vast web of colonization and empire (including stolen art), how she came to the voice of the novel and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
Obsession meets ambition in Julia Fine’s Maddalena and the Dark, with two teenage girls set to bargain for their futures — whatever the price. Fine joins us to talk about the particular politics of Venice, the distinct nature of teen girl friendship, highlighting contemporary issues through the past and more with guest host Jenna Seery.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Loot by Tania James
Maddalena and the Dark by Julia Fine
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
Powerful women, families of all kinds, fantastical adventures and so much more unite these two spellbinding tales.
Juno Dawson’s The Shadow Cabinet is the second installment in her series of witches, intrigue and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Dawson joins us to talk about the importance of complex female characters, the response to This Book is Gay, the strength her characters find together and more with Poured Over guest host, Marie Hendry.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs finds two estranged sisters tasked with protecting the most important thing of all: the books in a magical library. Törzs talks about the challenging dynamics of writing about family, fairy tale tropes, her favorite things about writing fantasy and more with Poured Over guest host, Kat Sarfas.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Marie Hendry and Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
You Need to Chill by Juno Dawson
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
Either/Or, Elif Batuman’s sequel to Pulitzer Prize finalist The Idiot, is the humorous and relatable ongoing story of a Turkish American surviving college in the 90s. Batuman joins us to talk about her approach to writing fiction, how her own life influences her work, analyzing literature and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Idiotby Elif Batuman
Either/Or by Elif Batuman
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
The Possessed by Elif Batuman
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust
“This is the place; this is the right place for me, it’s home.”
Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer Prize-winning return to Appalachia, is the story of a young boy growing into adulthood amid the struggle and beauty of this oft-overlooked corner of America. Kingsolver joins us to talk about the truth of Appalachian culture, how journalism made her the novelist she is today, the politics of art and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
David Copperfieldby Charles Dickens
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Dopesick by Beth Macy
Raising Lazarusby Beth Macy
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Dreamlandby Sam Quinones
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
The Leavers by Lisa Ko
Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks
“What if we could do anything? Should we do it? What are the consequences?”
Ramona Ausubel’s new novel The Last Animal asks big questions about motherhood, grief and our responsibility to the planet. And there’s a woolly mammoth. Ausubel joins us to talk about the realities of working in male dominated fields, the differences in writing novels and short stories, the power of storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays)
Featured Books (Episode):
The Last Animalby Ramona Ausubel
A Guide to Being Born by Ramona Ausubel
Pastoralia by George Saunders
Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
The Mountain in the Seaby Ray Nayler
These two authors tackle important subjects with new research and keen insight.
Héctor Tobar’s Our Migrant Souls delves into the “Latino” identity with thorough analysis of history, culture and extensive interviews. Tobar joins us to talk about the concepts of ethnicity and race, hearing stories from people across the country and more.
King: A Life is the comprehensive new biography of Martin Luther King Jr. compiling new information with in-depth research to create a definitive portrait of this brilliant and complicated figure. Jonathan Eig joins us to talk about new declassified documents that aided his work, what surprised him about this project and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Our Migrant Souls by Héctor Tobar
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
The Barbarian Nurseries by Héctor Tobar
Bearing the Cross by David Garrow
G-Man by Beverly Gage
The Sword and the Shield by Peniel Joseph
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Dead are Arising by Les Payne
Women in the Picture by Catherine McCormack
Starring strong female characters in rich, captivating, historical settings, we can’t wait for you to dive into these two new novels we love.
Our June B&N Book Club Pick is Good Night, Irene by Pulitzer Prize finalist Luis Alberto Urrea. Inspired by the life of his mother, this is the story of the bravery of women on the frontlines of WWII. Urrea joins us to discuss connecting his writing to his own family, what surprised him as he wrote and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig is our June Discover Pick, full of pirates, adventure and intrigue as one woman becomes a queen of the high seas in early 19th century China. Chang-Eppig talks with us about erasure of female stories, morally grey characters, and more with Poured Over guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Good Night, Irene by Luis Alberto Urrea
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Tom Hanks (yes, that Tom Hanks) returns to the world of fiction with The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece — a loving look at what (and who) it takes to make a movie, told through the lens of America’s changing history. Hanks joins us to talk about why he writes, how he finds his voice and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks
Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman
“I've become increasingly cynical about the industry's ability to change itself and how it deals with representation and marginalization.”
R.F. Kuang’s new novel, Yellowface,tackles cultural appropriation, the challenges of the world of publishing and what it means to be a writer with a wit all her own. Kuang joins us to talk about what lead her to writing this novel, who gets to tell our stories, publishing her first literary fiction novel and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Babel by R.F. Kuang
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Jade City by Fonda Lee
“I am a firm believer in consequences.”
Brandon Taylor’s new novel, The Late Americans, finds a group of young people at a crossroads and follows as they face uncertainty and confront decisions that will affect the trajectory of their lives. Taylor joins us to discuss connections between his previous works, his love of revision and rewriting, starting a new career journey and more with Poured Over host Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor
Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
The American by Henry James
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Ohio by Stephen Markley
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews
“In 1649, Artemisia Gentileschi wrote, ‘I'll show you what a woman can do.’”
In The Story of Art Without Men, Katy Hessel recounts the legacy of the women that have shaped the history of art — largely without recognition. Hessel joins us to talk about how she started this massive project, what surprised her while writing, some of the women that inspire her and more with guest host Allie Ludlow. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel
The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
How To Suppress Women’s Writing by Joanna Russ
Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? By Linda Nochlin
Few people are as funny as Samantha Irby, and her new collection of essays, Quietly Hostile, proves it. Irby joins us to talk about representation in media, the importance of paperback books, writing for television and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
Meaty by Samantha Irby
Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Dear Girls by Ali Wong
Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan
Emma Cline, author of the The Girls, returns with her propulsive new novel, The Guest. This is the story of a singular young woman — a con artist drifting through Long Island’s high society in the heat of summer. Cline joins us to talk about trauma math, reasons to write complicated characters, how this book was influenced by John Cheever and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Guest by Emma Cline
The Girls by Emma Cline
Daddy by Emma Cline
The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Mary Beth Keane’s new novel, The Half Moon, follows a small-town couple navigating the uncertainties of marriage and starting a family. Keane joins us to talk about how she creates her characters, why she chose to tackle tough themes, writing during the pandemic and more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode): The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Opened Ground by Seamus Heaney
Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Trespasses by Louise Kennedy Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee
“When I was working forensics, I always thought, we do this work for the people who need us to do this work — it's not always the easiest thing.”
Ramona Emerson’s Shutter is not your typical procedural — join an unforgettable crime scene photographer with the ability to speak to the dead in a mystery that will keep you guessing. Emerson joined us to talk about her own career in forensics, the importance of Native American representation in fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Shutter by Ramona Emerson
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
“I have to transport myself, and only then I can transport my reader.”
Brinda Charry’s novel, The East Indian, transports readers to Colonial Virginia to follow the life and adventures of a young Indian boy coming of age in the New World. Charry joins us to talk about her intensive research process, the effects of colonialism on the story, her love of world literature and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The East Indian by Brinda Charry
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
“It's more than responsibility. It's fear of just sucking — I don't want to write some garbage that people are going to dismiss.”
John Wray’s new novel Gone to the Wolves brings the world of heavy metal to the masses, following a group of young people on a nonstop ride from teenage angst to the dark recesses of doomsday cults. Wray joins us to talk about the responsibility of writing about subcultures, his vibrant characters, music you can listen to while you write and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Gone to the Wolves by John Wray
Godsend by John Wray
Lowboy by John Wray
The Biography of X by Catherine Lacey
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Y/Nby Esther Yi
Louder than Hell by Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman
"I loved that sense of the slow evolution of a community and watching it happen under your eyes."
Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone, returns with a long-awaited novel — The Covenant of Water, an inter-generational tale through the lives of a family in Southern India. Verghese joins us to talk about the long gap between his works, his career as a doctor, themes of finding home and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Covenant of Waterby Abraham Verghese
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
My Own Country by Abraham Verghese
The Tennis Partner by Abraham Verghese
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Featured Books (TBR):
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
“…A big part of the journey with this book is realizing that people's humanity shouldn't be negotiable.”
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s debut novel Chain-Gang All-Stars tells an explosive, unrelenting and ultimately compassionate story about a not-so-unbelievable future in which incarcerated people become gladiators fighting their way to freedom at any cost. Adjei-Brenyah joins us to talk about the underlying love in his dystopian setting, creating his characters through voice, the realities that led him to his plot and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Chain-Gang All-Starsby Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Friday Blackby Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Solitary by Alfred Woodfox
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
These riveting works of nonfiction by two incredible women have powerful narratives on family, race, and the way we get to tell our stories.
Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe compiles art and short vignettes into a beautiful work that explores the Black experience through a wide variety of themes. Sharpe joined us to talk about how these notes came to be, the wealth of literary influences on the project and more.
Ava Chin’s Mott Street follows one Chinese American family through generations of struggle and resiliency as they work to build their lives. Chin joined us to talk about uncovering her family’s past, researching an intergenerational story and more.
Listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe Mott Street by Ava Chin
In the Wake by Christina Sharpe Counternarratives by John Keene Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham Obasan by Joy Kogawa Auschwitz and After by Charlotte Delbo Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark Wayward Lives by Saidiya Hartman Lose Your Mother by Saidiya Hartman
Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang
“We all shape our stories in some way, we all try to emerge as the hero of them…”
Author of Killers of the Flower Moon,David Grann, takes on mutiny and shipwreck in the shocking true story of The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. Grann joined us on the show to talk about wading through archival research, his adventure to the sites from the book, seeing his works become films and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
The Lost City of Z by David Grann
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Unknown Shore by Patrick O’Brian
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Dennis Lehane, prolific author for both the page and the screen, returns with Small Mercies,a thriller set against the time of desegregation of public schools in Boston that balances one family’s struggle with the turmoil of the era. Lehane talked about his personal connection to the history of the novel, writing challenging and complex characters, creating his tv show “Blackbird” and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode) Small Merciesby Dennis Lehane
Featured Episode (TBR Topoff) Iron Lakeby William Kent Krueger The Friends of Eddie Coyleby George V. Higgins
“I leave that book feeling less alone, because I've been welcomed into somebody else's humanity, and I feel like they've shared part of themselves with me and that feels communal…”
Maggie Smith’s bestselling You Could Make This Place Beautiful transcends traditional memoir in a staggering take on divorce, motherhood and what it means to be a writer in a way only the poet could deliver. Smith speaks about the vulnerability of sharing your life through words, the freedom of nontraditional literary devices, healing through art and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
Good Bones by Maggie Smith
Goldenrod by Maggie Smith
Keep Moving by Maggie Smith
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy
Broken Reverie by Elle Madison
"All of them, in my mind… were wrestling with the same question, which is — what do I do with either the burden of family or what do I do with the found family that I've made?"
Victor LaValle’s Lone Women takes supernatural suspense to early 1900s Montana as one young woman sets out to leave her past and family secrets behind. LaValle talks about the history that inspired this novel, the connection between this story and one of his previous books, the upcoming streaming adaptation of The Changeling and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
The Changeling by Victor LaValle
Big Machine by Victor LaValle
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang
How to Be Eaten by Maria Adelmann
“You get to learn a bit about the social issue of Native women and girls going missing and that's really what I hope a lot of people will take away from this, having more awareness…”
Nick Medina’s debut novel Sisters of the Lost Nation defies genre — mixing mystery, horror and family drama into the story of one teen girl as she searches for the women who’ve gone missing on her tribe’s reservation, including her own sister. Medina joined us to discuss the unusual way his ideas came to him, preserving culture through legends and stories, his research and the resources he used and more with guest host, Marie Cummings. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Marie Cummings and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
“I can even still have my festively neurotic characters, but they can be working their way toward a happy ending, instead of working their way towards crushing disappointment.”
Curtis Sittenfeld’s Romantic Comedy is a playful, smart and fizzy look at love and pop culture through the eyes of a charming and relatable late-night TV writer. Sittenfeld joins us to talk about how a good novel feels like eavesdropping, what makes a character likable, surprising literary influences and more with Poured Over host Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
XOXO by Axie Oh
“I never start a book out with ideas. I always start a book out with people in places, and what could happen here.”
Charles Frazier, author of Cold Mountain, brings readers to the Great Depression-era American West with impeccably researched history in his new novel, The Trackers, featuring a vivid cast holding secrets and ambitions that transcend the past. Frazier talks about the photograph that inspired the characters, the excitement and drama of book tours, taking his time to get the language right and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Trackers by Charles Frazier
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Ava’s Man by Rick Bragg
“It was going to be a story about American instability, and precarity, and what happens when we aren't able to access the things that we need — and yet still have to try to care for each other anyway.”
Nicole Chung’s newest memoir, A Living Remedy, reflects on the tragic inequality of access to the American healthcare system and the way it directly affected her family. Chung talks with us about privilege and class, how writing this memoir changed her, her literary influences and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Living Remedyby Nicole Chung
All You Can Ever Knowby Nicole Chung
How to Write an Autobiographical Novelby Alexander Chee
The Swimmersby Julie Otsuka
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Anthropocene Reviewedby John Green
Seeing Ghostsby Kat Chow
“Loneliness is such a universal experience for so many of us — and I do hope that the book is a balm for that and helps make readers feel less alone…”
Gina Chung’s debut novel Sea Change explores family ties, grief and growing up through a complicated protagonist that readers will love to root for — and yes, there really is an octopus. Chung joins us to talk about sad girl characters, allowing women to feel anger, how we never stop “coming of age” and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Sea Change by Gina Chung
Chemistry by Weike Wang
Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
Nuclear Family by Joseph Han
Please Report Your Bug Here by Josh Riedel
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
“We all want the same thing; we want respect and security and to be loved — and that's what storytelling does, it connects the similarities that we have.”
Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle, returns with Hang the Moon, a novel that follows feisty Sallie Kincaid as she comes into her own in the upheaval of Prohibition-era Virginia. Walls talks with us about the language of historical fiction, the differences between writing a memoir and a novel, the impact of telling your story and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Chris Gillespie.
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
Featured Books (Episode):
Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
“I live on art. I'm an art vampire, that’s how I sustain myself.”
Jacqueline Holland’s debut novel The God of Endings weaves together themes of motherhood, mortality and the human condition in a vampire novel unlike any we’ve seen before. Holland joins us to discuss vampire lore, the power of art, how her novel grew out of a grad school novella, why you should always read the book rather than watch the movie and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link
The Shining by Stephen King
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
The Lovely War by Julie Berry
“As a kid, you don't know any of that. You're just like, wow, this sounds magical, like, how could this be the sea? How could this be land? How can that just happen? And I think that speaks to a particular quality of life in Singapore, and growing up in Singapore, and all of the changes that you see happening before your eyes…”
Rachel Heng’s new novel, The Great Reclamation, is an epic story of love and power and family (with a magical twist) set in mid-century Singapore. She joins us on the show to talk about the legacy of colonialism, rewriting (with an assist from Post-It notes and index cards), Elizabeth McCracken and the Michener Center, the histories that get told (and the ones that don’t), Crazy Rich Asians, and much more with host Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode):
The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng
Suicide Club by Rachel Heng
The Man with the Compound Eyes by Wu Ming-Yi
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones
The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Shell Collector by Anthony Doerr
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
“I'm so interested in the moment when the reader takes over … I wanted it to be a book that feels like I'm walking alongside the reader, learning as they learn.”
Katherine May’s first book, Wintering, was a finalist for the Barnes & Noble 2020 Book of the Year, and we’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting for her follow-up, Enchantment. Katherine joins us on the show to talk about the importance of humor, holding space for joy and curiosity and wonder in her work, journaling (and the scrappy beginnings of all her books), hierophany, the memoirist’s terror, her admiration for the work of Joan Didion and much more in a charming, laughter-filled conversation with Jenna Seery, Associate Producer of Poured Over. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode) Enchantment by Katherine May Wintering by Katherine May Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susannah Clarke
Featured Books (TBR Topoff) And Yet by Kate Baer The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by Pico Iyer
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“Look at all the advances we've made in the last 50 years, look at the way that culture and medicine and technology and science have advanced since the Beatles broke up, since we were involved in Vietnam, but the poverty rate has been incredibly stubbornly persistent and I think it's rather shameful for the richest country in the history of the world.”
Reading Matthew Desmond’s books will make you smarter, break your heart, make you mad, and push you to think differently about poverty — all in the same moment. Poverty, by America is his follow-up to his landmark book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Desmond joins us on the show to talk about going where the data takes him, the human cost of poverty, the gig economy, writing in community, what a post-poverty would could look like, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Who gets to tell our stories? Two debut authors use their powerful voices to show strong female characters navigating family, race and colonialism with unfailing humor and heart.
Claire Jiménez’s What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez follows a family in the wake of a tragedy as they attempt to move on — and up. Jiménez talks with us about finding the voice in her work, telling Puerto Rican stories, how she uses perspective and humor and more.
In Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou we find a young Taiwanese American woman mired in the world of academia and all the challenges that privilege and power can bring. Chou joins us to talk about Asian American identity, how she changed while writing the book, what she’s working on next and more.
Listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez
The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki
I Hotel by Karen Tei Yamashita
Another Country by James Baldwin
Dear Miss Metropolitan by Carolyn Ferrell
Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
War Against All Puerto Ricans by Nelson A. Denis
Velorio by Xavier Navarro Aquino
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
From the trenches of WWI to the coast of Australia, these two debut novels depict the ubiquity of coming of age, even when the circumstances are drastically different.
In Alice Winn’s In Memoriam, two young men find love and tragedy on the fields of battle. Winn talked with us about how the story came into being, the extensive research required to create her characters and their world, her literary influences and more.
Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas follows a young woman through a newfound relationship that alters her perspective on life and the future. Lucas joins us in conversation about location as a character, other novels and writers that weave their way into her work, the music she listens to when writing and more.
Listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
The Runaways by Fatima Bhutto
Storm of Steel by Ernst Jünger
Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain
Regeneration by Pat Barker
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The Lover by Marguerite Duras
Voyage in the Dark by Jean Rhys
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Good-bye to All That by Robert Graves
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Family dynamics, for better or worse, are front and center in these two novels from two striking voices in fiction.
Jenny Jackson’s debut, Pineapple Street, brings us to an upper-class suburb in New York City — an old-money family, new romance, heartbreak and the kinds of drama only the one-percent can deliver. Jackson joins us to talk about publishing as an author rather than an editor, the intrigue of Brooklyn Heights, how to write humor and more.
In Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano follows four sisters as they navigate their lives from the 80s to early 2000s through tragedy, love and what happens when our futures don’t go as we’ve planned. We talked with Napolitano about her emotional journey while writing this, incorporating obsessions into your work, how to know when a story sounds right and more.
Listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode):
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
Games and Rituals by Katherine Heiny
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
"I'm also trying to make use of how innate I think curiosity is for people, because curiosity is kind of a way towards hope… it's in that direction."
Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Odell, author of How to Do Nothing, asks readers to look at the concept of time, how it relates to the structure of our society and how it can change the way we live our lives. Odell joins us to talk about commodifying time and leisure, the language we use to describe time, the authors and artists that have influenced her and more with Poured Over host Miwa Messer. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Odell
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Grapefruit by Yoko Ono
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Do Nothing by Celeste Headlee
Still Pictures by Janet Malcolm
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I'm interested in how deceptions can make you feel more of yourself or can unlock something in you that you didn't know you had.”
Eleanor Catton, Booker Prize-winning author of The Luminaries, is back with Birnam Wood — part eco-thriller, part social and political satire, wholly insightful. This propulsive novel is prescient, timely, and all-too relatable in our present day. Catton joins us in conversation about creating her characters, Shakespeare’s use of prophecy and power, how the story was influenced by Jane Austen’s Emma and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
We are Bellingcat by Eliot Higgins
Emma by Jane Austen
Memento Mori by Muriel Spark
On Writing by Stephen King
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Appeal by Janice Hallett
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays)
“How do you spot a ‘we should not be friends’ friendship? It's when someone shows you who they are, and you like it.”
Will Schwalbe, author of The End of Your Life Book Club, tells us how an unexpected friendship with a polar-opposite grew into a lifelong journey through love, losses and triumphs. Schwalbe and Chris Maxey, former Navy SEAL and founder of the Island School, join us to talk about Schwalbe's new book, We Should Not Be Friends: A Story of a Friendship, meeting through a Yale secret society, the importance of vulnerability, what they learned about themselves and each other through telling this story and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (episode):
We Should Not Be Friends by Will Schwalbe
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone
The Rediscovery of North America by Barry Lopez
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
"Each time I wrote a story that belonged in this book… It held some pain. It held some love. It held some hope, some longing..."
Eloghosa Osunde’s debut novel Vagabonds! is an inventive, mythic whirlwind through the city of Lagos, Nigeria. Told through interconnected short stories, this raw, painful, and ultimately hopeful work sheds light on an often-unseen world and its diverse inhabitants. Osunde talks with us about the significance and spark of inspiration behind the title, writing a novel in an uncommon format, the feelings she wants to leave her readers with and more with Poured Over guest host, Jenna Seery.
Featured Books (Episode):
Vagabonds! By Eloghosa Osunde
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I feel like we're in a real golden age of fantasy that's exploring diversity from lots of different perspectives, and telling lots of stories that need to be heard at the moment — I feel really honored to be working within that space.”
A Day of Fallen Night has what readers want in high fantasy: strong women, masterful worldbuilding and, of course, dragons. Samantha Shannon’s prequel to her highly acclaimed The Priory of the Orange Tree, is a welcome return to the lands and skies of this mystical world. Shannon joins us to talk about reframing myths, equality in the fantasy genre, how her books get their stunning covers, authors she recommends and more with Poured Over guest host, Kat Sarfas. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
The Unbroken by C.L. Clark
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig
Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Song of Silver, Flame Like Night by Amélie Wen Zhao
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays)
“When you've been disappointed for that long in your life — what kind of people are you? What do you become?”
A Country You Can Leave, the debut novel from author Asale Angel-Ajani, is an unconventional family story following a Russian mother and Black, biracial daughter as they navigate class, trauma and relationships in California’s desert. Angel-Ajani joins us in conversation about discovering her characters, the portrayal of motherhood, her literary influences, and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Country You Can Leave by Asale Angel-Ajani
Strange Trade by Asale Angel-Ajani
The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector
The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker
Another Country by James Baldwin
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I'm one of those writers that … I think I know the story I want to write when I'm going in with a novel … but by the time I get into the middle of it, it's like I've discovered a totally different story.”
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀’s A Spell of Good Things explores class, love, and family ties with interwoven narratives of struggle, heartbreak and hope in Nigeria. She joins us to talk about her cast of unforgettable characters, how misogyny permeates life and literature, what surprised her while writing this novel, her literary influences and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ
Stay with Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ
Everything Good Will Come by Sefi Atta
Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
What It Means when a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah
Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays here and on your favorite podcast app.
“It's a literary, feminist, boarding school murder mystery — everyone's favorite genre.”
I Have Some Questions for You is the thrilling and inventive new novel from Rebecca Makkai, author of The Great Believers, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Part murder mystery, part timely take on issues that readers will connect with, this novel will keep you intrigued from cover to cover. Makkai joins us to talk about unreliable narrators, living on a boarding school campus, what keeps a reader turning the pages and more with host Miwa Messer. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode):
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Trust by Hernan Diaz
The Keep by Jennifer Egan
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
Vita Nostra by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“No one in this cast believes that they have a home — they have houses, but they don't have homes. They were born into this country, they were born into these places, but they don't feel like their homes.”
Within the rich setting of 1940s Trinidad, Kevin Jared Hosein’s sweeping novel Hungry Ghosts brings readers into the world of two families connected by class, power and mystery. A distinctive new voice in Caribbean literature, Hosein has crafted a story that is gothic, propulsive and will resonate with readers from the first page. He speaks with us on learning the true history of Trinidad firsthand, how the title came to be, his literary influences and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode):
Hungry Ghosts by Kevin Jared Hosein
Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul
A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul
No Pain Like This Body by Harold Sonny Ladoo
The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
Sula by Toni Morrison
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays here and on your favorite podcast app.
“I wouldn't have written the book if I were not hopeful. I mean, the act of writing this book was a prayer for our country — it's making the case that there's another way of looking more deeply under the surface of our country, a way of seeing it that can enlighten us…”
From Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson, Caste combines history, social commentary and individual narratives into a work that is wholly original, stunningly written and impressively researched. Wilkerson joins us to talk about arriving at the concept of caste in America, The Warmth of Other Suns, the personal stories that connect readers to Caste, her hope for the future and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. Stick around after the interview for TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode):
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Caste (Adapted for Young Adults) by Isabel Wilkerson
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert
Let’s Talk About Hard Things by Anna Sale
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
“Maureen’s journey is about going to the dark — and when you go right into the dark, you then find the light and the kind of renewal — and of all of them, this book felt to me a book about rebirth, which felt the right place to end.”
Following The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, Rachel Joyce’s Maureen completes her series of novels revolving around a cast of characters that you can’t help but connect with. Whether you’ve read them all or are ready to meet Maureen for the first time, you’ll find something to love.
Joyce talks with us about the evolution of the world of her incredibly popular series, her writing process, the authors who have shaped her, what she’s working on next and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode):
Maureen by Rachel Joyce
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce
Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes of Poured Over land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and wherever you listen to podcasts.
“For us, horror stories are a long, dark, scary tunnel. You hear sounds you don't want to hear; you see things that are going to stick in your head. But if you keep putting one foot after the other, that speck of light at the end is going to grow a little bit bigger and a little bit bigger and one day you step out into daylight.”
Stephen Graham Jones’ second installment in the Indian Lake Trilogy, Don’t Fear the Reaper, is a big-hearted, blood-soaked romp that rivals the very best slasher films. Jones joins us to talk about creating his fierce and funny characters, the importance of setting, Native American authors in horror, his favorite scary movies and frightening books and more with Poured Over guest host, Jenna Seery.
Featured Books (Episode):
Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
The Shining by Stephen King
Books of Blood by Clive Barker
Experimental Film by Gemma Files
Fantasticland by Mike Bockoven
A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
Road of Bones by Christopher Golden
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Carrie by Stephen King
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes of Poured Over land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and wherever you listen to podcasts.
“That was only three years ago, where I read a protagonist I could relate to on a deeper level, for the first time. Subconsciously, it gave me the idea of, oh, maybe you can write how you want to write… it was kind of that seed of — there is space for stories like this, I can use my own voice to tell a story.”
Jessica George’s debut novel Maame is a coming-of-age story that reminds us that where there is sadness and loss we can find laughter, growth and love. Readers will go on a journey of discovery alongside a main character that is warm, full of heart and surprisingly relatable. George joins us for a sentimental and laughter-filled conversation on how she found her character’s voice, processing grief, what she’s working on next and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode):
Maame by Jessica George
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Writers and Lovers by Lily King
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
These two novels explore the gulf between expectation and reality, ambition and opportunity, and what happens when life veers off from your carefully planned path. Kashana Cauley and Matthew Salesses each give us indelible casts of characters to follow as they face career upheaval, challenges to their identities and find new love in unexpected ways. Listen to this Double Shot episode with both authors in conversation separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Matthew Salesses combines professional basketball, K-dramas, and young love in his novel The Sense of Wonder. Salesses joins us to talk about the effect of Jeremy Lin, the structure of a novel vs. a K-drama, his teaching career and what he’s reading now.
In Kashana Cauley’s The Survivalists, a young Black lawyer meets a man who thoroughly changes her life through love, coffee and doomsday prepping. Cauley talks with us about how she developed her characters, social class and real estate in New York City, the authors who influenced her and more.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Sense of Wonder by Matthew Salesses
The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley
Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
No-No Boy by John Okada
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
“I love finishing reading a book and thinking, I feel privileged to have read that, I feel dignified. I feel like that book sort of thought of me as sacred… I want to write the kind of books that I most love to read.”
From Paul Harding, author of Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Tinkers, comes This Other Eden — an intricate novel inspired by the fascinating true story of Malaga, an island in Maine that held one of the first integrated communities after the Civil War. Harding joins us to talk about his vibrant cast of characters, studying with Marilynne Robinson, the authors who have influenced him and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode):
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
Tinkers by Paul Harding
Enon by Paul Harding
The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“At any given time, there's a choir of ideas and nagging voices in my head — chatter that I had to contend with I guess — in the end it ends up with this model of working and living in which everything is happening simultaneously.”
Aleksandar Hemon, author of National Book Award Finalist The Lazarus Project, has no shortage of accomplishments, including screenwriting credits on Sense8 and The Matrix: Revolutions. He’s back with The World and All That it Holds, an epic love story spanning decades, countries, and political boundaries. Hemon joins us to talk about his multitudinous (and simultaneous) projects, his music career as Cielo Hemon, being a romantic (or not) and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
The World and All That It Holds by Aleksandar Hemon
The Lazarus Project by Aleksandar Hemon
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
This Double Shot episode features two authors, one familiar and one who soon will be, each tackling similar themes. Through fiction and essays these authors explore social politics and sexual freedom — listen in as both talk separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
A Guest at the Feast is a collection of essays by Colm Tóibín on topics ranging from his own cancer diagnosis, how reading the diaries of Thomas Mann led to the creation of The Magician (out in paperback now), the works of Marilynne Robinson and more. Tóibín joins us to talk about making private stories public, the lives of Popes and what he’s working on next.
Tom Crewe’s debut novel, The New Life, shows us two marriages and two affairs that buck tradition and showcases the struggles of lives deemed unconventional in 19th century London. Crewe talks with us about the reality of being gay in the 1800s, social class in Victorian England and the authors that have influenced him.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Guest at the Feast by Colm Tóibín
The Magician by Colm Tóibín
Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
Washington Square by Henry James
Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann
The New Life by Tom Crewe
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Homo Irrealis by André Aciman
The Collected Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
“I wanted to spend time with a family and haunted house books are always about families.” Grady Hendrix’s bone-chilling novels The Final Girl Support Group and Horrorstör will have fans knocking at the door for his newest book, How to Sell a Haunted House. This new take on a classic horror story forces readers to confront one of the most frightening things there is: family. Hendrix joins us to talk about what makes a home into a haunted house, the horrifying history of puppets and dolls, the differences in writing a novel and writing for the screen, what he’s been reading lately and more with Poured Over guest host, Kat Sarfas.
Featured Books:
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix
When Darkness Loves Us by Elizabeth Engstrom
The Elementals by Michael McDowell
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Grip of It by Jac Jemc
The Rook by Daniel O’Malley
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Two witty novels, two funny women, and two engaging interviews await you in this Double Shot episode of Poured Over. This pair of authors and their stories of relationships and what happens when they end fit so well together - if you’re a fan of one, you’re sure to love the other. Listen in as both authors talk separately with host Miwa Messer.
Schitt’s Creek writer Monica Heisey’s debut novel REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY gets at the heart of the Millennial struggle as one twenty-something puts her life together again after divorce. Heisey joins us to talk about how we cope when relationships end, what happens when characters spend their lives online, how to find a voice as a comedic writer and more.
SMALL WORLD by Laura Zigman is a different kind of post-divorce novel that focuses on family in the wake of change. Zigman talks about how we get to know our families as adults, the many manifestations of grief, how to work through writer’s block and what she’s reading now.
Featured Books (Episode):
Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey
Small World by Laura Zigman
Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
Bunny by Mona Awad
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
“That's one of those epiphanies - I realized if I wanted to be taken seriously, I needed representation. And who better than to do it than a man who doesn't exist, who's really me? Yeah, it was the perfect decoy.” You’ve heard her plucking guitar strings & heartstrings – now Margo Price sits down with guest host Allyson Gavaletz to talk about her new album Strays, songcraft, exorcising demons, trading jokes with Willie Nelson and being honest with herself on this episode of Poured Over. Featured Media Strays [B&N Exclusive, Baby Pink Vinyl] Maybe We’ll Make It: A Memoir This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
“I remember being in an English class in high school (12th grade actually). We were reading The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, and I announced to the teacher that I could have written a better ending … And I remember the look of shock on the teacher's face because she probably thought I was so arrogant and presumptuous. I don't know how I would have ended it. But I remember thinking that I could have I could have come up with a better ending.”
Who among us hasn’t been tempted to rewrite a classic? The very funny and smart debut novelist Oindrila Mukherjee joins us on the show to talk about The Dream Builders, the looming influence of American pop culture in India, building a fictional city from scratch, tossing out her entire first draft and starting over, her unconventional path to publication via an open submission call from her publisher Tin House, her writing advice, her love of literature in translation and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Book:
The Dream Builders by Oindrila Mukherjee
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“And I always tend to start a book with a very popcorn sensibility, like, oh, well, this’ll be fun, we're gonna have a little romp. And then to tell the story, honestly, you tend — especially when you're talking about things like institutional power and social influence and economic influence — you're going to bump up against some pretty heavy themes. And that certainly happened with Ninth House and again with Hell Bent.”
No one does magic and mayhem and unforgettable characters like Leigh Bardugo. She takes readers behind the scenes of Hell Bent, her latest novel and the long-awaited follow-up to Ninth House, riffing on setting the series at Yale University, what she learned from writing movie trailers, the advice Holly Black gave her about screen adaptations, reading The Princess Bride, magic as a metaphor for power (and what happens to the metaphor when the power is real), how Louise Erdrich shifted the way Leigh felt about fiction, writing morally gray characters, vampires, what she’s been reading, what’s next for her (hint: character-driven standalone) and much more in a laughter-filled conversation with guest host Kat Sarfas.
Featured Books:
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
That Self-Same Metal by Brittany N. Daniels
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“But now, with the rise of new money, it's like there's this moment in India, when new money was eclipsing old money. And that's the moment that I basically find really interesting because I happen to be right there observing, and just talking to people and listening and picking up stories.” You might have missed Deepti Kapoor’s debut, A Bad Character, in 2014; you absolutely do not want to miss Age of Vice, her fast-paced, epic novel of crime and corruption (and the first of three volumes in a series featuring a cast of characters you won’t be able to shake). Deepti joins us on the show to talk about the inspiration behind her pulse-pounding new novel, the trio of characters at its center, the transformation of Delhi, her writing process, her literary influences (ranging from Dostoyevsky to Patricia Highsmith), and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor
A Bad Character by Deepti Kapoor
2666 by Roberto Bolaño
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
Our January Discover and B&N Book Club picks have lots in common: both are debut novels with indelible characters and an unforgettable story, both are graduates of UT’s Michener Center for Writers — think of this episode as an audio boxed set, as both authors sit down separately with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Tracey Rose Peyton knew she was taking on a major challenge with a narrative about enslaved women in 1850’s Texas — and even tossed an entire early draft — but she knew she had what she needed when she landed on the hypnotic first person plural voice for our January Discover pick, Night Wherever We Go. Tracey talks about her literary influences (including Toni Morrison, Marilynne Robinson, Julie Otsuka and Alice Walker), love of short novels, making sure to include moments of real joy in terrible times, and more.
Our January B&N Book Club pick, The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff, is a dark comedy set in modern-day India that started as a short story — one that she put in a drawer for ten or so years. Parini talks about how she got from a short story to her novel about second chances and women breaking free of society’s constraints, her favorite writers (including Zadie Smith and James McBride), the real-life inspiration behind her book’s title, writing women’s friendships, and more. (Join us for the B&N Book Club event in February if you’re looking for spoilers on this one.)
Featured Books (Tracey Rose Peyton):
Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Featured Books (Parini Shroff):
Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
We're closing out 2022 with something new: A Poured Over Double Shot with host Miwa Messer.
Cormac McCarthy doesn’t really do interviews — If you want to know about the work, it’s on the page, he says. Jenny Jackson and Chip Kidd are part of the team that publish McCarthy; Jenny’s been his editor for the last eight years, and Chip has designed McCarthy’s hardcover jackets from 1992’s All the Pretty Horses all the way up to this fall’s The Passenger and Stella Maris, along with the recent reissues of McCarthy’s backlist including Suttree, Blood Meridian and No Country for Old Men. They join us to talk about McCarthy’s surprising new books — his first since Pulitzer Prize winner The Road (2006), getting the jackets right and more in the first half of this Poured Over Double Shot episode.
When a pal asked Cheryl Strayed to take over writing the “Dear Sugar” column in The Rumpus, her first thought was, “Who am I to give people advice? I'd never taken a class in psychology or gone to therapy or any of that stuff. But also, I was afraid specifically to write an advice column on the internet, because it was the age of snark…” Cheryl's open-hearted, non-judgmental letters to readers redefined the medium — and inspired two podcasts, Dear Sugars and Sugar Calling. Some of that work is collected in Tiny Beautiful Things, which was adapted into an acclaimed stage play by Nia Vardalos and is coming to Hulu next year as a series starring Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision). Cheryl joins us to talk about trust and empathy, finding freedom by writing letters to strangers, what she’s working on now and more in the second half of this episode.
Featured Books:
The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
Torch by Cheryl Strayed
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Tiny Beautiful Things (10th Anniversary Edition) by Cheryl Strayed
Poured Over is Produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. We’re taking a break until 1/3/23, but we’ll be back with new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) then.
“They have traveled for most of the day using what little daylight the season offers leaving Ferrara Dawn and riding out to what he had told her was a hunting lodge, far in the northwest of the province. 'But this is no hunting lodge' is what Lucrezia had wanted to say when they reach their destination, a high walled edifice of dark stone flanked on one side by dense forest and on the other by a twisting meander of the Po River. She would have liked to turn in her saddle and ask, 'Why have you brought me here?'”
That’s Maggie O’Farrell, reading from her brilliant new novel The Marriage Portrait, a finalist for our 2022 Book of the Year. In front of a live audience at the Barnes & Noble in Eastchester, New York, Maggie takes us to Renaissance Florence and behind the scenes of her page-turning historical novel and its untamable heroine, the writers who inspired her (from Robert Browning and Wilkie Collins to Daphne DuMaurier and Patricia Highsmith), her writing process (including Post-It notes and pinboards), what’s next for her and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne DuMaurier
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“It is an amazing, amazing translation experience….But it took a long time to get to the point where the language started moving because you have to start out sort of in English laying down a rock, rocks, and then a rock and a rock, building a wall. It doesn't move, and it's just right, right next to the ground. And because you can't obviously start translating in full sentences really. My whole idea was this to just stick absolutely close to the earth of her syntax and build up. And you build and you build and you build and finally something starts to move. And then you can gain some of the movement that you — but in English — that you have sensed and been thrilled by in reading the French.”
Alison L. Strayer has been reading Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux’s books for 30 years, and has translated the last few, including The Years, nominated for the International Man Booker Prize. Alison and Dan Simon of Seven Stories Press, Annie’s longtime American publisher, join us on the show to talk about working with the iconic French author, the joys of literature in translation, capturing Ernaux’s voice and sensibilities and the emotional truth of her genre-bending prose for English-speaking audiences and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
The Years by Annie Ernaux, translated by Alison L. Strayer
A Girl’s Story by Annie Ernaux, translated by Alison L. Strayer
Getting Lost by Annie Ernaux, translated by Alison L. Strayer
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“One of my favorite places to take a little walk around is the public cemetery, which is on a little hill that overlooks the bay. And you know, if you ever wanted to be buried somewhere, that's the place to be buried. And right across the street from it, and a little ways down the road is this beautiful canyon you can walk up. The trees are covered with Spanish moss, and there's fog. And so it's perfect place — if you believe in ghosts — to see one.”
A murder mystery set in 1850’s Monterey, California, Jane Smiley’s latest novel, A Dangerous Business, is a bit of a departure for the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. She joins us on the show to take readers behind the scenes of her new book (as well as some of her earlier work) and talk about the books and writers who’ve inspired her along the way (including what she learned from reading Charles Dickens), what she loves about novels and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley
Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley
Moo by Jane Smiley
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley
The Hundred Years Trilogy (Some Luck, Early Warning and Golden Age) by Jane Smiley
The Greenlanders by Jane Smiley
Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel by Jane Smiley
The Transylvanian Trilogy by Miklos Banffy (Vol 1) and (Vol 2 + 3)
The Kellys and the O’Kelleys: Or, Landlords and Tenants by Anthony Trollope
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Collective by Alison Gaylin
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“Storytelling can just be you understanding yourself, but it turns into something else when it's a shared piece — so much of anything in life is practice, and just pure showing up…I think that's just important to remember, you're not always going to feel inspired or inspirational, or you're not going to feel you've done your best. And you just have to ignore that voice and keep going.” Lauren Graham (Talking as Fast as I Can) is an absolute delight on the page and on the screen (Gilmore Girls and Parenthood) and she joins us on the show to talk about her new book, Have I Told You This Already?: Stories I Don't Want to Forget to Remember, along with Old Lady Jackson, marmalade, rereading and rewatching, her writing process, what’s next for her and more with guest host Marie Cummings. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Have I Told You This Already?: Stories I Don't Want to Forget to Remember by Lauren Graham
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Searle
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Marie Cummings and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I loved it more than everybody. And afterwards, I thought for the first time, whatever I do, I've got to get as close to that as I can. Not the noise or the music or being a rock star, but the creativity of it and the energy of it and the way that you affect people, and I knew that my life wouldn't be the same. And it's kind of always been like that.”
Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, Fever Pitch, About a Boy and Juliet, Naked, among others) returns with Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius — a very funny, very "Nick Hornby" look at music, books, fandom and creativity. Nick joins us on the show to talk about how a newly issued deluxe edition of Sign ‘O’ the Times jumpstarted his latest book, why perfectionism is terrible, how an early Springsteen show put Hornby on his path, why Dickens shouldn’t be taught before the age of 18, why test screenings are a good thing and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc, Jamie and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius by Nick Hornby
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Featured Album (Episode):
Sign ‘O’ the Times [Super Deluxe] by Prince
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Bowie’s Bookshelf by John O’Connell
The Lyrics by Paul McCartney
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
“I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood. And you know, nobody was expected to be a novelist — that was not a thing, that was not a choice in my neighborhood. And when I made that choice, it was very strange to people. And it was a really hard thing for people to accept and my father and my grandfather did not understand that at all. And they discouraged me. But then once I succeeded, they really claimed that, and my grandfather would tell everyone…”
Matthew Quick (The Silver Linings Playbook) joins guest host Allyson Gavaletz to talk about his new novel, We Are the Light, along with breaking cycles, writer’s block, connecting with people, collective trauma, running, Jungian analysis, the books and writers he loves to teach, his literary influences, what’s next for him and more. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
We Are the Light by Matthew Quick
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
"One of the ways you can get into my cast of characters is by leaving a very detailed written record. Because that's what we historians have to work from, you're not allowed to make stuff up like a novelist can… And, of course, it skews, to some extent, the way history is written. Because the rich leave more records than the poor, men leave more records than women, white people leave more records than Black and so on.”
Adam Hochschild (King Leopold’s Ghost) joins us on the show to talk about his latest book, American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis. Hochschild connects the dots between our America and an all-too familiar America of a century ago, riffing on power and deception, Woodrow Wilson’s legacy, undercover agents, labor organizers, the Espionage Act of 1917, what’s next for him and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis by Adam Hochschild
Rebel Cinderella by Adam Hochschild
King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
"When I was a kid, I was super, super geeky, it was so nerdy. And all I read was dragon books, or ghost books, or elf books…someone tried to give me a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, and I just remember thinking, Where are the dragons? And when I went to do my doctorate in creative writing and literature —especially at the time, and even now, they kind of steamroll that out of you, they sort of train you to think that there are two things called literary and genre… if you're a good writer, and smart, you write literary (later on, I came to understand, that just meant realism). And that literary was a series of conventions that had nothing to do with genre. And then I just missed — I really desperately missed [genre] — especially horror, because it's something that's able to marry the darker, more realistic, gritty parts of fiction that I love so much, with kind of the nerdy stuff like ghosts and monsters."
An urban Native of Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee descent, writer Erika T. Wurth joins guest host Allyson Gavaletz to take readers behind the scenes of her fabulous new novel, White Horse, and to talk about her own family’s story, clairvoyance, nostalgia, heavy metal music, finding comfort in reading horror, her favorite contemporary horror writers and much more. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
White Horse by Erika T. Wurth
Thrill Me: Essays on Fiction by Benjamin Percy
Damn Fine Story: Mastering the Tools of a Powerful Narrative by Chuck Wendig
Mastering Suspense, Structure and Plot by Jane K. Cleland
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“They're rooted in our culture as well. And because of all that, I think they feel a little bit more real, even though they are fantastical magical realms…and there's also this timeless quality in a way as well….I do think also there is a lot of room for imagination to grow in these stories.” Sue Lynn Tan joins guest host Kat Sarfas on the show to take readers behind the scenes of her latest epic, Heart of the Sun Warrior, the stunning sequel to Daughter of the Moon Goddess, from world-building, favorite characters, resilience, to celebrating the mid-Autumn festival, what’s next and much more. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode)
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Heart of the Sun Warrior by Sue Lynn Tan
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Beneath the Moon by Yoshi Yoshitani
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“We are writing our stories to the world, as opposed to just reading the old stories. And somehow, some way accidentally, intentionally, desperately on the case and caught off guard, Art is Life captures this huge sweep and ends about where we are now in the present—which is an epic place as well.”
Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Jerry Saltz (How to Be An Artist) is consistently one of the smartest, freshest and liveliest voices in art criticism and he joins us on the show to talk about his new book, Art is Life, and his finger-on-the-pulse perspectives of the art world, including: how art history is being rewritten, the problematic intricacies of the art market, the absolute need for museums and galleries to adapt to the current social climate, the evolution of art critique in social media and much more with guest host Allie Ludlow. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie.
Featured Book (episode):
Art is Life by Jerry Saltz
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Secret Lives of Color by Karissa St. Clair
Ninth Street Women by Mary Gabriel
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I'm really driven by poetry. I'm really driven by language. But also, I'm driven by a desire to connect with the people. So I could have been a teacher. I could have been a politician. I could have been anyone that communicates with people verbally because I liked that. I wound up a performer, but it was all rooted in poetry. And as a book person, I have loved books since I was a toddler.”
Writer, performer, National Book Award Winner (Just Kids), Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith joins us on the show to take us behind the scenes of A Book of Days, connecting with readers, taking the pictures she wants to take (and leaving the rest to others), her love of mathematics, paying attention to marginalia in books, Arianna Grande and Harry Styles, Keanu Reeves (and the John Wick movies), dancing to pop music and much more with Poured Over’s host Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and guest bookseller, Grace.
Featured Books (Episode)
:
A Book of Days by Patti Smith
Woolgathering by Patti Smith
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
2666 by Roberto Bolaño
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
This Searing Light, The Sun, and Everything Else by Jon Savage
Morning Glory on the Vine by Joni Mitchell
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“It's hard to be funny, you can't really plan on — you don't know what will land with people…. absurdity just exists constantly in the world that we live in. And to my mind, the humor comes from the way different people traverse absurdity, how they try to normalize it, or how they freak out because they want to build their own weirdness on top of it. And so for me, that's where I get a lot of the humor, just the different ways that people respond to the absurdity around them.”
Kevin Wilson (Nothing to See Here and The Family Fang) is one of our very favorite writers and he joins us on the show to riff on Now is Not the Time to Panic, his new novel about family, friendship and art, plus rural spaces, pre-internet life, rewriting, balancing fatherhood and career, his literary influences and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff Book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart
Looking for Alaska by John Green
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I had never known what it was like to feel full. And I know that sounds like really odd, but because most people can — I would be with friends and a friend would stop eating. She's like, I'm full. And I'm like, What's wrong with me that I don't know what it feels like to feel full? And I don't know what the answer to that question is, to this day. I don't know if it's a psychological or emotional thing, or if it was an actual physical thing that like my tummy was bottomless. But this feeling of fullness makes me feel like, it's my body, like I'm actually finally having a conversation with my body.” Attorney, advocate, podcaster, and bestselling author (Adnan’s Story) Rabia Chaudry shares her charming, often funny — and always deeply personal story — of her relationship with food in her new memoir with recipes, Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family. She joins us on the show to talk about food and family, body image, changing behaviors and a solution that works for her, finding universal truths in a story’s details, her newest podcast (Rabia & Ellen Solve the Case), why pulao beats biriyani and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode):
Fatty Fatty Boom Boom: A Memoir of Food, Fat, and Family by Rabia Chaudry
Adnan’s Story by Rabia Chaudry
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samrin Nostrat
Brain on Fire by Susanna Cahalan
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I always feel like as a reader, I always want to go in ready to be changed, ready to be transformed by what I'm reading, ready to be expanded. And that's what I love about books, they work on you kind of like magic.” Madeline Miller’s novels, The Song of Achilles and Circe, keep working their magic on readers everywhere. She joins us on the show to take listeners behind the scenes of her new novella, Galatea, in a very fun conversation that covers voice, subverting stories, Troilus & Cressida, the books and writers Madeline loves (and some she’s added to her TBR pile), and plenty of shared fangirling over Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc, Kelly and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Galatea by Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Circe by Madeline Miller
The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid
Babel by R.F. Kuang
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Silence of the Girls by Park Barker
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“More people than we realize are works in progress, are trying to figure out a way to think about the world… As Beyoncé said in her new album, they're contradicted. They're internally contradicted more than we think. We can make the kind of change we seek, we deserve in this country, if we allow the idea that more of us are contradicted, more of us need help sorting through the world, and we have the patience — we can muster that kind of patience and love to help people sort through how they see the world.” Bestselling author Anand Giridharadas (Winners Take All) joins us on the show to talk about his urgent new book, The Persuaders: At the Front Lines of the Fight for Hearts, Minds, and Democracy, psychological transitions and cognitive dissonance, not giving up and bringing people into community, doing the work that works for you, how writing this book changed him and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas
Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“…The idea just kind of spun itself into existence in my head, the world started to form almost immediately — when my creative brain kind of immediately kicks in like that, I've learned to listen to it, because usually, that means something, something good is trying to come out.” N.K. Jemisin — winner of three consecutive Hugo Awards for Best Novel (each of the Broken Earth books) and now a fourth for Best Graphic Story or Comic (Far Sector), and MacArthur “genius grant” recipient — is one of our favorite writers, and we’ll follow her anywhere. She joins us on the show to talk about closing out her Great Cities duology with The World We Make, adaptingthe Broken Earth series for the screen, the challenges of writing about a city massively in flux, NY pizza, Ozymandias the cat, her literary inspirations, what’s she’s reading and more with guest host Kat Sarfas. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin
Monstress by Sana Takeda and Marjorie Liu
Witch King by Martha Wells
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jean Anders
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“…It was at the end of an exhibition called The Art of The Troubles. And that had been a little controversial (as these things very often are in post-conflict societies). Some people felt it had gone too far. Other people felt that it hadn't gone far enough. It just made me think about how maybe art could be used to say things that are really unsayable in a place where people are obsessed with language and obsessed with identity and where languages are so problematic.”
Louise Kennedy joins us on the show to talk about her US debut, Trespasses, a story about love, loss and identity that’s so unforgettable, it’s our newest Discover pick. Listen in as Louise riffs on the layers of her debut: coming of age, class, searching for safety, rewriting matinee idols, transgression, mothers and daughters, her literary influences and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book reviews from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Book (Episode):
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Wolf Den by Elodi Harper
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
"We don't know our parents, I mean, we think we do; you know, all of us have a practice of dealing with contained worlds. And that practice begins with our families, it begins with our parents, because these are individuals that we don't fully understand, but we are completely dependent on for our survival... And so it creates this really interesting situation where, you know, we take them for granted in a certain way, we think we understand them, but we don't. I want to see if I could get that crossed in some small way, by showing these alternate realities…" Marjorie Liu joins Poured Over guest host Kat Sarfas to talk about her latest graphic novel, The Night Eaters: She Eats the Night, the first volume in a new series, along with their shared love of comics and graphic novels, how the story evolved for Marjorie, family, inherited trauma, the importance of play, sibling relationships, Dungeons & Dragons, creepy dolls and much more.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Night Eaters: She Eats the Night by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
The Monstress series of graphic novels by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Neil Gaiman’s Snow, Glass, Apples by Colleen Doran and Neil Gaiman
Bunny by Mona Awad
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I was always writing, and I think it goes back to that Charlotte's Web thing when I had that experience of something taking me out of this world. It was mysterious, and transcendent, and glorious. And I'm still searching for that every day — if I can find a story that will do that to me and just kind of mystify me and leave me a slightly different person than I was before.” Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult joined us on stage at our flagship store on Union Square in New York City to talk about their bestselling novel, Mad Honey, along with keeping bees (and secrets), what they learned from their collaboration, why they write, their literary inspirations and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode):
Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult
Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
I’m Looking Through You: A Memoir of Growing Up Haunted by Jennifer Finney Boylan
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Liberation Day by George Saunders
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“People write medical histories, people write personal case histories, I didn't want to do either. People write memoirs; I wanted to do all of them in the same book. And I wanted to do that without blurring the boundaries between any and all of those… I consider those parts of living history.” Siddhartha Mukherjee is an oncologist, a professor, a bestselling author and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his first book, Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. He joins us on the show to talk about his latest book, The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human, along with gene therapies, balancing the future of science with current patient care, the excitement that comes with scientific discovery, his literary influences and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“We were doing all of this for people we did not know and could not imagine. And as is the case, too, like, when you're planting trees, you hope that they're gonna outlive you. And the trees that were planted have outlived some of the people who are deeply involved in that project. Which is, you know…it's both this sorrow and it's a gratitude. We were addressing our needs. And our needs were actually to care for one another, and to join each other, and to love each other and to come to love to love each other, by making this thing for people who we did not know who may or may not be us.” So many of us have found pleasure and solace — and joy — in The Book of Delights by Ross Gay. He’s back with a new variation on that riff, Inciting Joy, and he joins us on the show to talk about variations on gardening, the connection between sorrow and joy, cover songs, football and footnotes, community, the pleasures of not doing anything, what’s he’s been reading and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Inciting Joy by Ross Gay
Catalogue of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
The Bluest Nude by Ama Codjoe
Or, On Being the Other Woman by Simone White
Under the Sign of Saturn by Susan Sontag
Notes on Sontag by Philip Lopate
War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning by Chris Hedges
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
How to Love the World by James Crews
Film for Her by Orion Carloto
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“When I came back, I was thinking about how to tell the story. And I wanted to meet people who, in one way or another, resembled the young people who I'd known as a kid and I was talking to various people, and I had some ideas. And then I got a call from a lawyer, whose name is Ken. And he called up and he said, You know, I've heard about what you're doing. And I have a client whose experience, I think, speaks to what you're trying to do…” Writer Nicholas Dawidoff (The Catcher was a Spy) spent eight years immersed in the story at the heart of his new book, The Other Side of Prospect: A Story of Violence, Injustice and the American City, and he joins us on the show to talk about the evolution of New Haven (and if it’s possible to go home again), inequality and the American Dream, racism and generational poverty, class, justice, his friendship with acclaimed poet Reginald Dwayne Betts and more with Poured Over's host Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Other Side of Prospect by Nicholas Dawidoff
Felon by Reginald Dwayne Betts
Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude MacKay
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
“By making a certain voice, then I'm going to force myself to do new things in that story. The voice is for me, very measured and realistic and regular, regular. But it's almost like DNA. Once you do that, then you're committed to continuing to do it, which means you're committed to finding some kind of power, even in that somewhat limited mode, which is great fun.” The only thing better than reading a short story by George Saunders is listening to him talk about how — and why — he does it. Liberation Day is his first collection of stories since The Tenth of December (a finalist for the National Book Award), and George joins us on the show to talk about his love of the short story form, how writing A Swim in a Pond in the Rain changed his work, learning to be comfortable with uncertainty, voice as ethos, keeping his readers from of mind as he writes (and rewrites), what’s next and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff Book Recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Books (Episode):
Liberation Day by George Saunders
The Tenth of December by George Saunders
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Boys, Beasts, and Men by Sam J. Miller
The Cabinet by Kim Un-Su
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“There's kind of an aspect of melancholy that I love as a reader… But I can't write a book that I wouldn't want to read… Although I am interested in just sadness and like a certain beautiful quality…I can't write books that I don't want to live in, and I don't really want to live in just a depressed book. I don't want to just live in a depressed world, there has to be more fire than that.” Lydia Millet — finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize (Love in Infant Monkeys) and the National Book Award (A Children’s Bible) — joins us on the show to talk about her latest, Dinosaurs: A Novel, including how the story morphed while she was writing, illusions of normalcy, literal and figurative dinosaurs, how we talk to each other through books, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.
Featured Book (Episode):
Dinosaurs: A Novel by Lydia Millet
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I was always in a play, always in rehearsals. And if I wasn't in a play, I was counting the hours ‘til I could be in a play. Because it was the first time I felt a sense of belonging, a sense of community.” In Making a Scene, actress Constance Wu (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) takes readers backstage in her own life in often hilarious — and always real and relatable — essays. She joins us on the show to talk about authenticity and big emotions, love, her big break (and what happened next), her literary inspirations including Elena Ferrante and Lily King, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
Making a Scene by Constance Wu
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Hello, Molly! by Molly Shannon
All the Women in My Brain by Betty Gilpin
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
"I think the knee-jerk reaction to pandemic literature — that I think a lot of readers might have as well, I don't want to read that because it's going to be triggering, it's going to be about, you know, CDC scientists brushing against the clock — there are actually very few pandemic novels that I can think of that actually operate on that level. They're thinking about Hollywood, probably, and not about literature. Most plague literature that I can think of, or dystopian literature generally, is about hope. It's about relationships, and family and the tiny little movements that occur in the wake of some sort of tragedy, the search for connection."
Sequoia Nagamatsu's novel-in-stories, How High We Go in the Dark, is an absolute delight, even when the darkness shows (think Sea of Tranquility or Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel or Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell). He joins us on the show to talk about hope and love and grief, being a Bad Asian, music (and other soundtracks) connecting characters and story points, what surprised him as he was writing, his literary inspirations (starting with Italo Calvino) and more with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
The Dead Fish Museum by Charles D'Ambrosio
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I want to tell stories. I hate the whole, don't tell, show mantra because it's not true—it has its like moments like, you know, when the reader finishes something of mine, I want them to feel as if it's something they had experienced, as if it's like a memory for them. Because like, for me, that's always been the best stuff. And like that can be so hard to do.” If you haven’t yet read Morgan Talty’s debut linked story collection Night of the Living Rez, you’re in for an exceptional read; think There There by Tommy Orange or Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson or The Candy House by Jennifer Egan. Morgan—who quotes Jane Austen and Audre Lorde in the course of this conversation—joins us on the show to talk about story structure and inspiration, representation and colonialism (in all its forms), the importance of humor, what he’s been reading and recommending, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode)
Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty
A Calm and Normal Heart by Chelsea T. Hicks
Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson
The Last Catastrophe by Allegra Hyde
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway
My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“He thinks of himself as a character in a fairy tale in a way who's going on a quest. And there's so many stories like that about a character who's going in search of a lost loved one, whether it's a daughter, a mother, a son, there's this sense of I'm going off to find you. And that's really powerful.” Celeste Ng follows her massive hit Little Fires Everywhere with a novel set in a world that “looks like ours, but with the volume kind of turned up to 11” in Our Missing Hearts, an indelible story about family and identity, art and connection. Celeste joins us on the show to talk about the novel she never planned to write, mothers and sons, coming-of-age (for adults and children), Asian American history, pushing against our ideas of hero figures, being a word nerd and her love of Shakespeare, her literary influences and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TNR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
China Men by Maxine Hong Kingston
Tripmaster Monkey by Maxine Hong Kingston
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“I want to escape into these like incredible, immersive situations, really. But I think I try and balance this kind of creation of a world or this world building with the dialogue. And that's where things like the humor come in. And particularly with this one, because it's quite a gritty subject. But it was really important to have that joy and have that humor. And to my mind that comes very akin with the bravery in the book and the courage in the book, there is this kind of ability, even under these immense pressures, to have these moments of joy…” Jess Kidd’s ghostly and gothic novels — including Things in Jars and now, The Night Ship, our latest B&N Book Club pick — are some of our absolute favorites. She joins us on the show to talk about the true story behind The Night Ship, the places her research took her, connecting her characters, how writing flash fiction and short stories influence her novels, The Epic of Gilgamesh and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Night Ship by Jess Kidd
Mr. Flood’s Last Resort by Jess Kidd
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd
The Epic of Gilgamesh (Andrew George, translator)
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
“So you know, something that is a big part of my project…is actually this idea that we deserve pleasure. I think that pleasure and care, these are antidotes against various kinds of violence and degradation that we're all beset with. And so for me, when I wrote this novel, I did not write it for a critic at The New York Times, you know. I wrote it for the past version of me. And I wrote for someone who would need to read this, who would be reading this book after work on the subway.”
Sarah's Thankam Mathews is making a terrific debut with All This Could Be Different—longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for Fiction and a finalist for our own Discover Prize—and she joins us on the show to talk about channeling her characters, subverting the coming-of-age novel, challenging the expectations of the immigrant experience, queerness, finding our people and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode):
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Lucy by Jamaica Kincaid
Luster by Raven Leilani
The New Me by Halle Butler
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I think I figured a lot of things out literally as I was writing the book. I'm usually an obsessive methodical writer, or I have everything, if not mapped out, I kind of know spatially, what's going to happen in a piece of writing. But with this, I just kind of had to write it to figure out what it was. For years, friends knew that I was working on this — friends who were in the book, actually. But I could never explain what it was nor could they imagine what it might be. You know, I would just say, I'm writing the story of us, I'm writing a story about Ken.”
Whether he’s riffing on music or sports or Asian American icons like Maxine Hong Kingston, Hua Hsu’s work in The New Yorker is a joy to read. Now he’s turning inward in his new book, Stay True, a beautifully written story of unexpected friendship, shocking loss, and his own coming of age. Hua joins us on the show to talk about grief and growing up, inside jokes, his literary influences, changing the conversations we’re having about Asian America, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode)
Stay True: A Memoir by Hua Hsu
A Floating Chinaman: Fantasy and Failure across the Pacific by Hua Hsu
The Hanging on Union Square by H. T. Tsiang
Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book by Maxine Hong Kingston
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I feel like very often when we have stories about womanizing characters, whether we piece those stories out, so we see each woman—individually or not, they don't really have stories. They don't really have lives except as they relate to that main character. So, it was always going to be each woman steps forward, each woman gets a chapter.” Laura Warrell takes us behind the scenes of her smart, sharp and deeply resonant debut novel Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm. She joins us on the show to talk about flipping the script, the women she writes about (and letting her characters be who they are), love and loneliness, her writing process and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrell
Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby
Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I did nothing but read the entire time I was writing this….literally every waking moment, I was doing some type of research and a lot of research I did for this book was on joy and celebration and on community. Because, yes, we're going through all of these things, but there's a reason the cover is bright and celebratory, because that's also where the book goes, where the journey goes.” Hafizah Augustus Geter covers an incredible amount of ground in her memoir The Black Period: On Personhood, Race, and Origin: past and present, able-bodied and disabled, home and away, grief and love. She joins us on the show to talk about her family’s story, her father’s art (which appears in full color throughout the book), who gets to make history and why, her literary influences and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
The Black Period: On Personhood, Race, and Origin by Hafizah Augustus Geter
Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib
The Yellow House by Sarah Broom
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Year of The Tiger by Alice Wong
Border and Rule by Harsha Walia
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I think I made a shrewd pick when I chose this character. Because the last thing you want is to be able to say—I understand everything about you—is a character with a lot of ambiguity. And I think some of that is calculated ambiguity. And some of it is probably caused by the fact that the historical record is erased in one way or another. But there’s plenty scope for creative conjecture with Cromwell.” That’s Hilary Mantel from this interview, which originally ran in March 2020 when The Mirror & the Light was published in hardcover.
Once the Queen’s head is severed, he walks away. It’s a fabulous opening line, that first line of The Mirror & the Light, the final volume of Hilary Mantel’s stunning Wolf Hall trilogy. Anne Boleyn is dead and Thomas Cromwell, that brilliant self-made man, Lord Privy Seal, fixer and enforcer the man who drove the English reformation continues his ascent. And his fall, when it comes, is brutal. You may have heard at least part of the story behind the story; Hilary Mantel thought about Thomas Cromwell for 30 years before she started work on Wolf Hall in 2005. What she thought would be a single book became to bring up the bodies arrived in 2012, two years earlier than expected, because she realized 400 pages in that she needed a third volume to tell the story of Thomas Cromwell as it needed to be done. Both Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies won The Booker—Hilary Mantel is the only woman to have won the prize twice…
“Ever since we left, when I was 13, it's a place that I think about constantly. I think about it in hypothetical terms. It's something that I just sort of lose myself in all the time. I left before things really got complicated. I left when I was 13. What if I had stayed until now? And what if I had left and gone back? You know, the book kind of stemmed from this story that I had been working through in my mind, all of these hypothetical versions of myself. And then it turned into this.” Bobby Finger, writer and co-host of the celebrity and entertainment podcast Who? Weekly, breaks new ground in his debut novel, The Old Place. Inspired by his real-life roots in Texas, Finger explores the consequences of love and loss in this small-town narrative centered around a retired schoolteacher burdened by a decade-old secret. Bobby discusses his journey to writing a novel, his literary influences and creative process—and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
The Old Place by Bobby Finger
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perotta
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I already had a kind of Don Quixote set up in mind. And so I was like, Wouldn't it be funny if Arthur was the sort of Sancho Panza in this? I'll just barely touch on it and see where it goes. And I thought he needs someone totally full of himself to shake him up…” Readers fell in love with Arthur Less — and Andrew Sean Greer took home a Pulitzer Prize for Less, the novel that introduced us to Arthur. Andrew joins us on the show to talk about his new novel, the not-really-a-sequel, Less Is Lost, turning tragedy into comedy, rewrites, what scares him as a writer, his literary influences, the writing advice that he still relies on and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we finish this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
Less (winner of the Pulitzer Prize) by Andrew Sean Greer
The Confessions of Max Tivoli by Andrew Sean Greer
The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer
Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer
Chéri by Colette
Don Quixote by Cervantes
A Boy's Own Life by Edmund White
Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood
Bucky Fcking Dent* by David Duchovny
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“This book feels very much…drawing from the Black Saints: Whitney Houston, Paul Mooney, Little Richard, Luther Vandross, almost my own canon, my own tradition, my own history, to make sense of what's happening now. I’m not going back to Homer, necessarily. I'm kind of trying to create a new lineage, because I feel that we've been betrayed by our presented histories.” Saeed Jones joins us on the show to riff on his incredibly personal and indelible new poetry collection Alive at the End of the World, along with thepervasiveness of grief, how both he and his writing have changed since he published his memoir, what’s up with his new podcast, Vibe Check, and much more with Poured Over’s host Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (episode)
Alive at the End of the World by Saeed Jones
Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jones
How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones
Furious Cool by David Henry and Joe Henry
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
"Well, home is a complicated concept....So you've shaken me awake at three o'clock in the morning. Where's home? I’ll say Zanzibar without hesitation. Oh, but then on the other hand, I've been living here and working here for 50 years, my family, my children, and my grandchildren live here. The idea that this is not my home, it's just ridiculous. I just won't have it. You know, this is my home. So home is complicated, both are home, but it means something different." An epic story of life, loss, and love set against an unforgiving landscape of colonial violence, Afterlives is a multi-generational novel set in East Africa that is at once wistful, grounded—and unforgettable. 2021 Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah joins us on the show to discuss his body of work, the legacy of colonialism, what it was like to win the Nobel and much more with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer.
Feature Books (Episode):
Afterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Paradise by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Memory of Departure by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Admiring Silence by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Home by Toni Morrison
Dear Life by Alice Munro
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I'm heading into my mid 70s and I really want to just get into a novel and live inside it. No sense of hurry. No deadline, no sense that anyone's waiting for this. I don’t want to talk to anyone about it, but I just want to inhabit it.” Award-winning author Ian McEwan’s new novel, Lessons, takes readers on an emotional journey through the life of one man and McEwan joins us on the show to talk about aging, writing a novel in lockdown, what kinds of books make us cry and much more with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode):
Lessonsby Ian McEwan
Atonementby Ian McEwan
Herzogby Saul Bellow
Cocoonby Zhang Yueran
Finnegans Wakeby James Joyce
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
Moonglow by Michael Chabon
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I start with the emotion. I don't know what the story is. I don't know who the characters are necessarily. I'm working on very little like, I'm thinking, ‘oh, well, the way this light looks through a window’, or something — very few details here and there. But I don't know what happens in this story.” Join three amazing authors talking about their three fabulous fall reads: If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery, The Book of Goose byYiyun Li and Bliss Montage by Ling Ma. The authors speak with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer, about the balance between humor and dread, how they start a project, some of their favorite writers & more.
Featured Books (Episode)
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
The Book of Goose byYiyun Li
Bliss Montage by Ling Ma
Severance by Ling Ma
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Moshin Hamid
Passing by Nella Larsen
Quicksand by Nella Larsen
The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty
Moby Dick by Herman Mellville
Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls
The Collected Poems of Frank O’Hara by Frank O’Hara
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
A Manual for Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin
Artist in the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised By Wolves by Karen Russell
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“…In this particular book, I think I wanted to combat the feeling that we were already inundated with, and even the feelings that are attached to social justice issues. I wanted to combat the feelings of anger and helplessness and all of that with joy.” Margaret Wilkerson Sexton follows her NAACP Image Award-winning novel The Revisioners with On the Rooftop, a stunning novel about a mother whose dream of stardom for her three daughters clashes with their own desires in a rapidly gentrifying 1950s San Francisco. Margaret joins us on the show to talk about wanting to write a book that sits in conversation with Fiddler on the Roof, how her research led her to the Harlem of the West, writing a love story for an older couple, her literary inspirations and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
Featured Books (Episode)
On the Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
The Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
The Yellow House by Sarah M Broom
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
All Aunt Hagar’s Children by Edward P. Jones
The Known World by Edward P. Jones
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
A complete transcript of this episode is here.
“That nine-year-old kid still follows me and is with me and is very much a part of me... And this is the hope for the book, not only for non-immigrants, but for immigrants, to really start to have that internal conversation about what we have been through. And I think this book is mostly for them. The book was for me, and then putting it around the world is for everybody. But I hope that non-immigrants can see that we don't want to do this, and that it's difficult, and that we carry this with us every single day.”
Solito is the story Javier Zamora has been trying to get out ever since he started writing. Through choppy waters and unforgiving deserts, this intimate, gripping memoir is an immersive look into the consciousness of a young boy seeking to be reunited with his parents. Listen as Javier talks about reliving trauma, growing up undocumented, poetry as a gateway to therapy, and what it was like to give his nine-year-old self back his voice, with the host of Poured Over, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books (Episode)
Solito by Javier Zamora
Unaccompanied by Javier Zamora
Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
The Long Walk by Slavomir Rawicz
Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I think about food constantly, but more so than anyone else it's the people I work with who are inspiring me now.... I'm always inspired by the people I cook with, and the people I work with in the restaurants, and they're, you know, they're the ones who are inspiring me most right now, because they're making it all happen.” Chef and restaurant owner, Mason Hereford’s new cookbook Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans is full of flavorful, fun recipes and beautiful photos that will delight any appetite. Mason talks about cooking with nostalgia, vintage McDonald’s plates, what his day in the restaurants looks like, what’s inspiring him in the kitchen now, and more with Poured Over guest host Kat Sarfas.
Featured Books (episode)
Turkey and the Wolf: Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans by Mason Hereford
Without Getting Killed or Caught by Tamara Saviano
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I think it is a conversation I'm having with my younger self, who loved the idea of time travel, who loved the idea that these people perhaps not so different from us, who quite quickly could imagine herself out of her body and into another world against all the laws of physics. And I know I'm not alone in that. I think so many people want to read for a moment in their day or week, of escape, but not mindless escape, but detailed, pleasurable, important escape…” Jessie Burton’s debut novel, The Miniaturist, is a stellar, entertaining work of historical fiction that sold a million copies in its first year and has been translated into 40 languages. Jessie returns to 17th century Amsterdam with an unforgettable cast of characters (including a few familiar faces) in her latest, The House of Fortune. She joins us on the show to talk about writing and rewriting, story points and Post-It notes, revisiting characters, her favorite authors and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Titles (Episode)
The House of Fortune by Jessie Burton
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton
Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido
Featured Titles (TBR Topoff)
The Binding by Bridget Collins
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I think they grew out of the setting of this weird island, this odd place, this place of southern stories and ghosts and food and how they are misfits, but they find their tribe, they find where they belong with other people who think they don't belong either. And I think that is a universal truth for us all.” Sarah Addison Allen’s charming new novel, Other Birds, is our September B&N Book Club pick and she joins us on the show to talk about ghosts, unconditional love, mothers and mothering, place as a character, the problem with notebooks, her writing process, and more with guest host Allyson Gavaletz. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode)
Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen
Bittersweet by Susan Cain
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I think it's really important to remember that poetry has always sort of existed in the moment. It's full of the life that we're living right now. It is a remnant of the life that we're living right now. You know, distilled moments, it's the mess of our life. It's all of those things. And I think we do ourselves a disservice if we think those things don't include joy, that don't include breath and contentedness and moments of peace. And we all have that sometimes, as we struggle.” Ada Limón, our 24th US Poet Laureate and host of the poetry podcast The Slowdown, joins us on the show to take us behind the scenes of her newest book, The Hurting Kind, and talk about the purpose of art, honoring the slipperiness of time, the importance and pleasure of reading out loud, her literary inspirations and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
The Hurting Kind by Ada Limón
Lucky Wreck by Ada Limón
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Chilean Poet by Alejandro Zambra
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is here.
“We're all constantly translating ourselves to the world—we all are trying to take the inevitable stuff that happens in our psyche, our fears, and hopes and desires and dreams and trying to communicate that with others. And some of us are more successful at it than others.” A group of four friends find themselves at the center of a deadly battle between good and evil at an alternate 1800s Oxford University in Babel, the epic new novel from R.F. Kuang, author of the bestselling Poppy War series. Rebecca joins us on the show to talk about world-building, friendship, colonialism, her literary inspirations (including The Secret History by Donna Tartt), Victorian ideas of masculinity and queerness, how she writes, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from interns Issa and Jenna.
Featured Books (episode)
Babel by R.F. Kuang
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Susanna Clarke
Racial Melancholia, Racial Dissociation by David L. Eng
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“And so, then I thought, Who do I most admire? Who taught me the most, and also, they're doing it for completely selfless reasons, right? And I thought, Oh, that moment and the parking lot. So, I thought, I'm going to start a book in the parking lot of a McDonald's dumpster in a dying town and show you how, in the most unlikely places, magic is happening.” Beth Macy’s 2018 bestseller Dopesick and the Emmy-nominated Hulu streamer it inspired have helped changed our national conversation about Opioids and addiction. Her new book, Raising Lazarus, takes a new approach to our ever-growing crisis, focusing on solutions and the people bringing those solutions to our communities. Beth joins us on the show to talk about harm reduction, meeting people where they are, organizing at a local level, the lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and the behavior of the Sackler family, activism, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode)
Raising Lazarus by Beth Macy
Dopesick by Beth Macy
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Undoing Drugs by Maia Szalavitz
Death in Mud Lick by Eric Eyre
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“But I had fun growing up, you know, kids Double Dutch and playing football in the front yard, trash can basketball, running around 40 deep into projects with extended family, cutting the lights off—we really have fun. Of course, you've seen the drug selling, you've seen the dice games. We found a way to become comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.” Keith Corbin’s story is unlike any we’ve heard for a James Beard Award nominated chef, and he holds nothing back in his candid memoir, California Soul: An American Epic of Cooking and Survival. Keith joins us on the show to talk about representation, the realities of second chances (and why opportunity without support isn’t enough), fact-checking his memories with members of his community, the start of his friendship with fellow chef Daniel Patterson, unexpected loneliness and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Book:
California Soul by Keith Corbin
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“To me, science is the rigorous attempt at understanding the world around you. And most people think that that means you're in a lab wearing a coat, working with test tubes. But I think that that's just a matter of using the scientific method in your everyday life. It's a matter of observing the world around you and being curious enough to ask questions and having the logic skills and some math and science skills to find the answers to those questions. But it goes beyond physics and chemistry. It goes beyond math. It goes beyond psychology and sociology, the social sciences.” Dr. Moiya McTier delivers a very fun and somewhat surprising look at our universe in her debut, The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy. Dr. McTier joins us on the show to talk about stepping outside of herself to find our galaxy’s voice, the importance of story (and how it relates to science), growing up in rural Pennsylvania, her hit Exolore podcast, why space isn’t just for billionaires, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we finish this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode)
The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy by Moiya McTier
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Physics of the Impossible by Michio Kaku
How I Killed Pluto by Mike Brown
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“This is one of the great differences between journalism and literature, which I practice in. You write journalism in order for everything to be absolutely clear at the first reading … you write fiction in order to reflect the complexity of the world. And that complexity isn't necessarily grasped at first meeting.” Elizabeth Finch is the latest (and deceptively slim) new novel from Julian Barnes, author of the Booker Prize-winning novel The Sense of an Ending. He joins us on the show to talk about cutting to the chase, unreliable narrators, the intersection of time and memory and history, translating Flaubert, his friendships with fellow Booker Prize-winners Anita Brookner and Ian McEwan, electric typewriters and Blackwing pencils, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we finish this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books:
Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes
Flaubert’s Parrot by Julian Barnes
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (translated by Frances Steegmuller
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert (translated by Lydia Davis)
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“To me, the thing as a writer that you should always be working towards is like, how can I make this just be delicious for the reader?”
Jana Casale has perfected the art of writing about the ordinary lives of women in such a way that fans of Elena Ferrante and Sally Rooney will flock to, and her latest story following the lives of three young women as they navigate love, How to Fall Out of Love Madly, is just out. Jana joins us on the show to talk about the lives and relationships of Millennial women, body image issues, self-love, loneliness, the influence one teacher had on her decision to be a writer, and much more with guest host, Elani Wilson. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode)
How to Fall Out of Love Madly by Jana Casale
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Hello, Molly! by Molly Shannon
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Next Year, for Sure by Zoey Leigh Peterson
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
This episode of Poured Over is produced and hosted by Elani Wilson and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“All three of the books that I have written during the pandemic have really been my way of going into another world and finding a place where none of this was happening. And that I could just relax and have fun. And so, I hope that my books are that kind of fun, joyous of maybe slightly salacious time for readers, too, because that's what I enjoyed as I was writing them.” Jasmine Guillory is one of our favorite rom-com authors, with her seventh and eighth books (By the Book and Drunk on Love) releasing this year. Jasmine joins us on the show to talk about writing Black leads in romance, her literary influences, releasing three books during the pandemic and connecting with readers in person again, her love for the Bay Area, the elements that make up a signature Jasmine Guillory novel, and much more with guest host, Elani Wilson. And we end this episode with a TBR Topoff with Marc and Rhys riffing on their favorite Jasmine Guillory novels
Featured Books (episode)
Drunk on Love by Jasmine Guillory
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
This episode of Poured Over is produced and hosted by Elani Wilson and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“To write a young woman who refuses to define herself by anything other than her activism, her mind, her curiosity, that was just a delight, and she wasn't the most predictable character, but she was the one who told me what to do on every page.” How to describe Tess Gunty’s dynamic debut, The Rabbit Hutch? Think Jennifer Egan + Denis Johnson. Think polyphonic novel about climate change and gentrification and coming-of-age in a dying American Dream with an unforgettable 18-year-old as its heart. Tess joins us on the show to talk about loneliness and connection, South Bend and Studebaker automobiles, needing to leave home in order to write about it, how an anxious kid became a writer, mysticism, revision, the poets and writers who inspire her and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode)
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
NW by Zadie Smith
Great House by Nicole Krauss
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays, with occasional Saturdays.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“But when I write, that's when I feel I can take part in society, I can contribute to ideas, and to teach and to share, and to say, I love you to society—to maybe talk about some of the difficult things in life, but to affirm that these experiences only serve to make life what it is.” From space aliens and cursed violins to a Queen of Hell with a heart, to found family, coming-of-age and living in your truest self, Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars is our latest Speculative Fiction Monthly Pick and it’s an absolute blast to read. Ryka joins us on the show to talk about world-building, the San Gabriel Valley, writing love stories, the evolution of science fiction, her literary inspirations, donuts and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Book (episode)
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Blackwater Sister by Zen Cho
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays with occasional Saturdays.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“There's just so much rich material in Hollywood during the 1940s—which is where much of the book is set—there is just sort of an endless rabbit hole you can go down. And of course, one of the problems with writing a book about the movie industry is that sitting around watching movies technically counts as research.” We still think about Anthony Marra’s incredible debut, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, years after first reading. His newest novel, Mercury Pictures Presents, is an epic story of family secrets, love and war, loyalty and reinvention that cuts between Hollywood and Mussolini’s Italy in the 1930s and 40s—and it’s the August B&N Book Club pick. Anthony joins us on the show to talk about mapping stories, the landscape of exile and imprisonment, the importance of humor, research and rewrites and snappy dialogue, his literary inspirations (including Zadie Smith and David Mitchell), and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book reviews from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode):
Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Tsar of Love and Techno by Anthony Marra
Los Angeles in the 1930s: The WPA Guide to the City of Angels by Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
West of Sunset by Stewart O’Nan
A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I just had so many questions about adoption and motherhood. And you know, you've read my books, you know that I'm very interested in what makes a family and how does our family influence us. And that's all part of this book, too.” From her sparkling debut, The Weird Sisters, to her latest, Any Other Family, Eleanor Brown writes big-hearted novels with hopeful endings about family and finding ourselves. She joins us on the show to talk about the story behind her latest novel, how questions and character drive her novels, capturing children’s voices on the page, how she approaches the writing process, what she’s been reading and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Titles (episode)
Any Other Family by Eleanor Brown
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
The Light in Paris by Eleanor Brown
All You Can Ever Know by Nicole Chung
The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian
The Foundling by Ann Leary
Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley
On Writing by Stephen King
Featured Titles (TBR Topoff)
Run by Ann Patchett
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“What's really interesting about taste memory is it's not that you're trying to necessarily replicate the dish exactly as it was, I think you're actually just trying to replicate your memory of it, because your memory is always going to be the platonic ideal of it.” Eric Kim has a delightful approach to food, and his debut cookbook is a charming exploration of the Korean American table. He joins us on the show to talk about home cooking and how our family stories connect to food, representation (and how his parents landed in Atlanta), the politics of spam, his pantry must-haves, making kimchi, finding joy in a creative space, testing recipes with his mom, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode)
Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home by Eric Kim
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“One thing I really have learned—or at least for myself about writing—is never to explain why a person is the way they are, just to make a dramatic case for why they are the way they are. So, the moments I have that are backstory, or that go back and forth in time, it's because that backstory or that moment of slippage of time is dramatically relevant to the present moment of the story.” Alice Elliott Dark (In the Gloaming) returns with Fellowship Point, a spectacular novel of friendship and family, love and loss, loyalty and legacy. She joins us on the show to talk about her modern 19th-century novel, where she’s been for the last few years, what we often take for granted when it comes to women’s lives, the craft of writing, her literary influences, what’s next for her and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer, live from our flagship store at Union Square in New York City. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode):
Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark
In the Gloaming by Alice Elliott Dark
The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Middlemarch by George Eliott
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I wish I could tell you that I went to a cabin and wrote it perfectly and got it in on time, and it just flowed out of me. But really, the truth of the matter is, it came in fits and starts. And it was written on notepads and half-filled notebooks and phone apps and bar napkins….I grew up in a time of a lot of white men writing, Oh, my sad childhood stories. And so, my whole thing was I'm not going to do that, I'm not going to do that.” Isaac Fitzgerald walks through the world with an open heart, and luckily for readers, he takes notes. Dirtbag, Massachusetts is his memoir-in-essays, and it covers plenty of ground, from his unconventional childhood and the librarians who helped change the trajectory of his life, to issues of class and code switching and complicated family dynamics, to the craft of writing and his literary inspirations. He joins us on the show to talk about all that and more, including a few things that didn’t make the book’s final draft, with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode)
Dirtbag, Massachusetts by Isaac Fitzgerald
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty
The Stories of Breece D’J Pancake by Andre Dubus III, Breece D'J Pancake
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“The primary intent of these books is to take a break... have something you can just curl up with for an afternoon. This is a book that is not going to hurt you. And I think that that's so vital in this day and age, to be able to just pause for a second. I want the book to feel like a cup of tea as well... But I wanted to give you the option of chewing on some of the stuff in there.”
Hugo Award-winning author Becky Chambers is arguably a master of the space opera, with her complex, hopeful characters and her compelling world-building. Sibling Dex and Mosscap return in A Prayer for the Crown-Shy, the latest book in the Monk and Robot series and Becky joins us on the show to talk about creating a story that incorporates the same comfort as watching your favorite TV show for the 10,000th time, how a good cup of tea can make a bad day better, what’s on her TBR list, and much more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Spear by Nicola Griffith
How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Ayoki
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher
This episode of Poured Over is produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“When you're writing a children's book, it shares much relation with horror, because it has to be usually very immediate and very visceral and gripping. Because otherwise the kids are gonna get bored. And your window of opportunity to grab the reader is … longer with horror, you can do the slow creeping dread better, but you have to grab the reader, metaphorically, by the throat.”
Whether you know her as Ursula Vernon or T. Kingfisher, one thing is for sure—this Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award-winning author always pulls us in with her captivating fantasies and chilling thrillers—which remains true of her two new books, Nettle & Bone and What Moves the Dead, both releasing this year. Ursula joins us on the show to talk about the fine line between writing children’s books and writing horror and her love for gothic stories, the artwork that inspired this stunning cover, mycology, the lesser-known life of Beatrix Potter, what she’s working on next and what games she’s playing, and much more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings by Edgar Allen Poe
The White People and Other Weird Stories by Arthur Machen
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood
The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison
The Haunted Mesa by Louis L'Amour
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis
The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard
This episode of Poured Over is produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“But there is joy in advocating for changing of the world for the better, for not allowing the world to tell you who you shall be, but rather reimagining a world in which you can be anything.”
Award-winning journalist and professor at Northeastern University Caleb Gayle delivers a stunningly original story of America in his first book, We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power. Caleb joins us on the show to talk about growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the aftermath of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, the untold stories of marginalized communities, his hopeful outlook for the future of the country, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power by Caleb Gayle
Featured Books (TBR Topoff):
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“I decided to give myself the license to fail, and to write across gender, to write in the voice of a midwife's daughter. And if the book isn't working, fine, we'll write it from the perspective of the midwife's husband, from some other male character. But I loved it. It was so emancipating to not be me, to not be (at the time) this 30-something dude. And I loved it. And I think, my best books, my best characters, whether it's first person or third person, are women.”
Bestselling author and all-around charmer Chris Bohjalian has written 23 books, including our May 2021 B&N Book Club pick Hour of the Witch, The Flight Attendant—now a hit HBO series—and his latest, The Lioness. Chris joins us on the show to talk about his love of bookstores, not writing the same story twice, researching and asking questions and learning stories, letting his characters guide the plot and going back to the first sentence, geography as a character, and so much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with a TBR Topoff with Marc and Becky riffing on their favorite Bohjalian novels.
Featured Books:
Water Witches by Chris Bohjalian
Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian
The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian
The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
The Light in the Ruins by Chris Bohjalian
Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian
Our Country Friends by Gary Shteyngart
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“And so, too often, kids are raised to have empathy for people who look like them, or worship like them or act like them. And we're also taught to have empathy for people who deserve it. And I wanted to convey the importance of raising our kids to have empathy for people who don't look like them or don't live near them. And for us to not make our empathy almost like a tip in which it's transactional."
Award-winning, bestselling author and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Ibram X. Kendi returns with How to Raise an Antiracist, a book that parents, caregivers and teachers won't want to miss. Ibram joins us on the show to talk about his own family's experiences, as well as the intersection of ableism and racism, learning from our children, the importance of joy, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books:
How to Raise an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“I never thought I would be writing something where there would be a lot of intricate feelings around the game engine. But then if you think about something like say, like Sally Rooney's Normal People, who would think that you could feel so much passion over whether like, they go to that dance together, you know?” Gabrielle Zevin’s delightful new novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is part love story, part coming of age and entirely unforgettable—which is why it’s our July B&N Book Club pick. Gabrielle joins us on the show for a spoiler-free conversation about her latest book, from the parallels between writing novels and video games, to Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson, money and class, creativity, friendship and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (episode)
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
The Animators by Kayla Rae Whitaker
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“The most important thing is the reader. I tell my students, Look, if you're writing about yourself, it's great that you want to get your feelings out. You want to maybe, you know, have some catharsis. You want to get the earliest things out. But, if you bore the reader, you're done. You know, and it's important to consider the fact that you're telling a story…this is not a therapy session, you know, you're telling a story. And hopefully that story enlightens, or maybe makes the reader think.” Brian Broome’s acclaimed memoir Punch Me Up to the Gods is a stunning story of love and loss, secrets and shame, sorrow and joy. He joins us on the show for a wise and often very funny conversation about spelling bees and ballet, addiction and recovery, how his memoir is in conversation with Gwendolyn Brooks and bell hooks and James Baldwin, what his students have taught him and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books (Episode):
Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome
We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity by bell hooks
Featured Books (TBR Topoff)
How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones
Unprotected by Billy Porter
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“For me, and perhaps for both of us, I think that our greatest sort of skill set is audacity. It's so funny the way people sort of negatively connote ego, but I think it's necessary to have some, because one has to have a little bit of, I mean, like, when we were 20 years old, our whole thing was we're gonna rearrange and change the way people think of the book, right?” Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin have been friends for 20 years and that friendship has led to an incredible artistic collaboration in Ain’t Burned All the Bright and the now reissued My Name is Jason, Mine Too. Jason and Jason join us on the show to talk about how their collaboration works, how they make art (and when the medium matters), masculinity, the incredible range of artists and media that inspire them both, why paper and pencil is sometimes all that you need, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books:
Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin
My Name is Jason, Mine Too by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“It's so painful to me to feel as though the very notion of objective truth or that journalism could be a vehicle for expressing a kind of objective truth is under assault today.” Patrick Radden Keefe is one of the best longform journalists working today, and we’d follow his dogged reporting anywhere, from bestselling books like Say Nothing and Empire of Pain, to his work as a staff writer at The New Yorker, some of which is collected in his latest book, Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks. Patrick joins us on the show to talk about the art of the write-around and why access is overrated, how one story can lead to the next (or not), writing about morally complicated people (and the stories they tell themselves), the importance of media literacy and getting the facts right, his literary influences and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books:
Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks by Patrick Radden Keefe
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Snakehead by Patrick Radden Keefe
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesday and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
"So much classic fantasy exists in this sort of timeless state where, you know, whatever fantasy world it's set in has kind of always existed....I've always been really interested in kind of disrupting that and kind of setting my books during periods of like, enormous change and upheaval, like, I'm really interested in the idea of a fantasy world that has not always been the same, because that's not how the world works, and kind of taking apart these things that are really taken for granted.”
Ava Reid knows how to do unforgettable fractured fairy tale retellings with fabulous, fierce heroines, hidden magic and family ties based on Hungarian and Jewish folklore. The Wolf and the Woodsman was her debut novel and her latest, Juniper & Thorn, is a gothic horror retelling of the Grimm Brothers’ The Juniper-Tree, and she joins us on the show to talk about world-building by starting from the present and working backwards, diversifying the stereotypical Eastern European fantasy setting, killing off characters for the right reason, designing the cover art, her upcoming YA fantasy debut, what she’s reading right now, and much more with guest host Kat Sarfas. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books:
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Juniper-Tree by Brothers Grimm
Matrix by Lauren Groff
Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas, and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“I sort of figured that, having been interested in science from as long as I can remember, I would be a PhD student, and make a career for myself and research. And it turned out that the one hitch with that plan was that I am catastrophically bad at doing actual research. I was the world's worst graduate student….So instead, I thought that I would find a different purpose and better joy in talking and writing about science, which is what I did. That nourishes my soul much more; I get to learn about a lot of really cool things.” An Immense World is the delightful new book from The Atlantic staff writer Ed Yong, and he joins us on the show to talk about meeting animals on their own terms, the connection between Jane Austen and mice, peacocks and The Bee Gees; how hearing is also a kind of touch and how deer-like creatures transformed into whales; his pandemic puppy and his literary inspirations (including Mary Roach) and much more, with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books:
An Immense World by Ed Yong
I Contain Multitudes by Ed Yong
How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler
H Is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I wanted to write something that was going to take me away, literally and metaphorically, literally take me away from sitting with my feelings about the present moment and take me to another place and this time where you couldn't travel at all. I barely left the neighborhood to play out some imagined incredible drama … I think escapism has its purpose, you know, and so does fiction in general, if we want to live in the biggest world possible, we need everybody's imagination to be there in the ether so we can grab it and follow it and follow ourselves through this journey beyond what we know.” Acclaimed author Ottessa Moshfegh (Eileen, My Year of Rest and Relaxation) joins us on the show to take us behind the scenes of Lapvona, her unexpected new novel set in a medieval village. Ottessa riffs on putting so much of what disgusts her into this new novel, writing in the third person, faith, the importance of creating a new topography, what’s next for her and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and his guest bookseller, Becky.
Featured Books:
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh
McGlue by Ottessa Moshfegh
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“You know, Marlon James said something once, he said, if you're going to write about the enslaved, and you're not going to write about the resilience, and the brilliance, and the incredible ability to make a life in a brutal system, a life full of love and some joy, then he said, he's not interested in reading that book.”
Geraldine Brooks, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, March, is known for her moving historical novels. Her latest, Horse, is a stunning new novel that transports readers between 1850s Kentucky and the present day following a legendary thoroughbred racehorse named Lexington.
Geraldine joins us on the show to talk about the real-world experiences of her unforgettable characters and why we still talk about slavery, growing up on the mindset that books are food, reading poetry before writing as part of her creative process, her literary influences and so much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Becky.
Featured Books:
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
March by Geraldine Brooks
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
The Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“...A part of the point of the book was to not shy away from what we shy away from in real life. And one of the things we shy away from in real life is admitting for exactly how long we are a mess and don't know what we're doing.”
From her classic essay collections, including I Was Told There Would Be Cake through her last bestselling novel, The Clasp, Sloane Crosley keeps us entertained with her trademark wit, voice and gimlet eye. Her latest, the genre-busting new novel, Cult Classic, is gobs of fun and utterly original, and Sloane joins us on the show to talk about love and relationships and finding our sense of self, the fantasy of consistency, aiming through the wood and at the chopping block, having the same editor (or therapist) for 14 years, her literary influences, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley
The Clasp by Sloane Crosley
The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman
Loitering with Intent by Muriel Spark
Pitch Dark by Renata Adler
The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“And when you give people the option to kind of live inside the head of a different character … if you're doing your job, and you make it a character that they can see themselves in and they can empathize with, and then you kind of throw these things at them. And then it just changes the way that people think about something.”
For the Throne is the stunning conclusion to the Wilderwood duology that invokes familiar fairy tales with sharp prose and epic world-building, and it’s out now. Hannah joins us on the show to talk about what draws readers to retellings, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as a gateway to all fantasy, writing fanfiction and what she does with all those candles, The Foxglove King, her dream cast, what she’s reading and watching right now and much more with guest host Kat Sarfas.
Featured Books:
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
For the Throne by Hannah Whitten
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Hunter by Kerrigan Byrne
Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas, and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“It was the people really, that convinced me that this was a story not just worth telling, but needed to be told, and needed to be told the right way, in a way that would actually be fun to read and engaging, that would reach broader than an academic audience that would reach deep into the community and say, you know, this is a story about ordinary people trying to get justice in a time and place in America where it's pretty hard to do that…”
Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial is the true story of an epic battle of power and justice, good and evil, with heroes to remind us that there is virtue in the world. Corban Addison joins us on the show to talk about his nonfiction legal thriller—a book John Grisham says he wished he'd written—centered on the Black and brown residents of eastern North Carolina, two million hogs and the men who run the big business of pork, along with the ways story connects and empowers communities, the hours of personal interviews and research that informed his writing, what next for him, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr
Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
City on Fire by Don Winslow
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“I really wanted to depict the ways that young Black girls are made adults by a culture that sees us as that. And I wanted to show the way that that pressure piles on and what it does to teenage Black girls, who are really often forgotten in our culture.”
Nightcrawling is a powerful story of family, grief and justice with an unforgettable teenage narrator (and equally unforgettable author), and it’s out now. Leila Mottley joins us on the show to talk about writing her first novel at 14, sibling dynamics, the importance of published Black authors, the portrayal of young Black girls in the media, gentrification in Oakland, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Nightcrawlingby Leila Mottley
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
There There by Tommy Orange
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“Tracy never went away. So yes, you can say I'm bringing her back, but the culture kept her in circulation in a way that was really interesting to me, and at times a little alienating. It’s like you create a character and, suddenly, she's played brilliantly by Reese Witherspoon, and in a sense, that becomes the public's image of the character — and I love that performance as much as anybody. But then Tracy got picked up by political journalists and by the internet as a kind of shorthand for an overly ambitious woman… In a sense she became a kind of touchstone and a shorthand and sometimes a bit of a stereotype, caricature, whatever.”
Tracy Flick Can’t Win is the first time Tom Perrotta (Election, Little Children, The Leftovers, Mrs. Fletcher) has revisited a character from one of his bestselling novels, and his timing couldn’t be better. Tom joins us on the show to talk about comic (and counterintuitive) openers, why he returned to Tracy’s orbit, how our own stories change over time, mental gymnastics, why he doesn’t see himself as a satirist, adapting his work for the screen and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Tracy Flick Can’t Win by Tom Perrotta
Election by Tom Perrotta
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I missed it so much. And definitely didn't get it or appreciate the specialness of it, or this particular beauty of it … until you have to show up at a party full of strangers. And answer that, where are you from question so many times. I'm not sure I would have written this book, if I didn't have to do that over and over and over again, in so many different places.” That’s Katie Runde, riffing on the Jersey Shore; it’s more than just the setting for her debut novel, The Shore, it’s a character in its own right. Katie joins us on the show to talk about writing a coming-of-age novel for an entire family, homesickness, grief, sisterhood, jump-starting her own writing career with help from Jami Attenberg’s #1000wordsofsummer + a Catapult class + a Tin House workshop, her literary inspirations for this book and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the show with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and his guest bookseller, Becky.
Featured Books:
The Shore by Katie Runde
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach
We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I was very, very unintentionally smart in that I started it as a short story, I genuinely believed it was a short story, which was good, because if I hadn't sat down and said, I'm now going to write my first novel I'd probably still be working on it, but because it was a short story that got longer and became a long story, and then became a novella. And then like, Oh, I'm writing the book that I want in the world, both as a person and as an editor.” David Levithan’s Boy Meets Boy is one of the most charming rom-coms we’ve ever read, and David joins us on the show to talk about his development as a writer and editor, the power of story, his creative process, his writing partnerships with Rachel Cohn (Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares) and others, his literary influences, Heartstopper, what he’s learned from his readers and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the show with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and his guest bookseller, Rhys.
Featured Books:
Boy Meets Boy (B&N Exclusive Edition) by David Levithan
Every Day by David Levithan
Answers in the Pages by David Levithan
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I didn't want it to be just a very overwhelming dark book. I mean, it has so much tragedy that I had to balance that I wanted to make it part of, you know, light and airy and fun and frothy and feminine to contrast with what's going to happen. I think there's power in that contrast ... I felt like it can't all be this very goth all the time, this very gothic world, the kind of fog-on-the-Moors kind of thing…” We were utterly thrilled by Sarai Walker’s debut novel, Dietland—inspired in part by beauty culture and in part by Fight Club (yep, that one)—and we’re delighted by her newest, The Cherry Robbers. Sarai joins us on the show to talk about sisterhood, love, marriage, romance, feminism, her literary inspirations (including Emily Dickinson and Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life), and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and his bookseller guest, Becky.
Featured Books:
The Cherry Robbers by Sarai Walker
Dietland by Sarai Walker
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
"And I had to actually give up and say, Okay, maybe I'll go to the grave not having written a novel, and I don't have to carry around shame about that. I can just do the kind of writing that I'm maybe better at or that it is my calling to do, and the moment I stopped putting so much pressure on myself and stopped making it a big ego drama about me, that actually opened up space in my creative life for me to enter the hearts and minds of all these characters who were all keeping secrets from one another.” Steve Almond—bestselling author, co-host of The Dear Sugars podcast, writing teacher—has just published his first novel, All the Secrets of the World, and he joins us on the show to talk about revisiting California in the 80s, keeping empathy for all of his characters, his literary influences (including Kurt Vonnegut, George Saunders and Lorrie Moore), share some great writing advice, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
All the Secrets of the World by Steve Almond
William Stoner and the Battle for Inner Life by Steve Almond
Stoner by John Williams
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I'm always coming back to Chicasetta, in the same way that Ernest Gaines always comes back to Bayonne parish. And William Faulkner always comes back to that county that I cannot pronounce, your top or whatever it is, right. You know, in the same way that Louise Erdrich returns to the particular reservation, I'm always coming back to these characters.” Finalist for the National Book Award, poet Honorée Fanonne Jeffers has conjured an epic and indelible story of an American family with The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois; beautifully written, it’s a story we never wanted to end (and you won’t either). Honorée joins us on the show to talk about love and home and family, the legacy of slavery, colorism, feminism, writing about Black joy, Lucille Clifton, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and his bookseller guest, Becky.
Featured Book:
The Long Songs of W.E.B Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I had a dream about them. I have like these really cinematic dreams. And I woke up from this one. And I was like, this is a fantastic, messy little story, this is a love triangle that I want to read about. I want to—as a reader, as a viewer—I want to see this play out. And the only way I could get it to play out was to you know, write it.” Critically acclaimed author Akwaeke Emezi (Freshwater, The Death of Vivek Oji, and Pet, among other novels) delivers a page-turning modern romance in their fabulous new novel, You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty. They join us on the show to talk about their love of romance novels and belief in love at first sight, grief and growing up, celebrity and food, fun and sex, their own work in the visual arts, the writers and artists who inspire them, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Book:
You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“…You have to have so much primary source material that you are drowning, you think you can never get through it all. That's the only way you get dialogue, you get all those details, you know, that really make you feel like you're there and kind of at you just like sinking into the story and forgetting everything else.” We’ll follow bestselling author Candice Millard anywhere at any time—her latest book, River of the Gods, takes us on the epic search for the head of the Nile River with Sir Richard Burton, John Hanning Speke and Sidi Mubarak Bombay, the man who helped them succeed (and stay alive). Candice joins us on the show to talk about the stories and the characters behind “one of the greatest mysteries in this history of human exploration,” her field research and writing process, human nature, disease and disaster, the writers who’ve inspired her and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations featuring Marc and his bookseller guest, Erin.
Featured Books:
River of the Gods by Candice Millard
The River of Doubt by Candice Millard
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“That was really what I wanted to get at. The relationships that you have with the people who you love so much, and who you're so close with that you don't have to talk to them all the time.” All of Emma Straub’s novels have big beating hearts, no matter who or what or where or when she’s writing about. This Time Tomorrow is her “autobiographical time travel novel” and it’s an absolute delight. Emma joins us on the show to talk about why she writes, giving herself permission to try something new, how she set her rules for time travel (and how she stays grounded), her horrifying teenage diaries, bookselling and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and bookseller guest Becky.
Featured Books:
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures by Emma Straub
The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead
Desperate Characters by Paula Fox
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“But then when I read that Raymond Carver said he didn't have the ability to write, you know, a full novel. He was a sprinter and I thought, Oh, maybe I could do it. Is there any such thing as a half a paragraph short story, because that was all I had the focus for. So, it took me a long, long time to write this book.” Actress (Cruel Intentions, Hellboy, Legally Blonde), model, muse to Karl Lagerfeld, mom to a young son, subject of an indelible documentary (Introducing, Selma Blair on discovery+), now author of the memoir Mean Baby, Selma Blair joins us on the show to talk about the title of her book, her relationship with her mother and mentors Ingrid Sischy of Interview Magazine and Carrie Fisher, her love of Joan Didion and C.S. Lewis, the village that came together to help her get her memoir into the world, living with multiple sclerosis and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and his bookseller guest Becky.
Featured Books:
Mean Baby by Selma Blair
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“For me, part of the fun of coming-of-age novels, both reading and writing, is getting to have that adult perspective on these youthful moments and kind of allow you to make sense of them in a way you couldn't before; it can allow you to forgive yourself for some of the things maybe you did, it can allow you to laugh at some of the things that horrified you, and that can bring peace and joy and resolution.” It’s been a minute since Alison Espach’s debut novel The Adults — she joins us on the show to talk aboutthe inspiration behind her new novel, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance, writing love stories, sitting with grief, her obsession with the passage of time in life and in books, Lorrie Moore’s Self-Help, and much more with Poured Over’s Host, Miwa Messer. And we end the show with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach
Self-Help by Lorrie Moore
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I was thinking about caretaking. And I was thinking about mothers because I lost my mom last year, but just the places that feel familiar and how they almost become characters in our heads. Like when I think about the house where I grew up, and I can remember it so specifically right down to the way like the closet smelled or when I think about all the time I spent in Cape Cod, the way the sand on the beach feels at low tide or the way the wind sounds when it's late at night.” Bestselling author Jennifer Weiner (Mrs. Everything and That Summer,among others) joins us on the show to take us behind the scenes of her newest novel, The Summer Place,and talk about love and loss, family and home, motherhood, money and much more with B&N’s Marie Cummings. And we end the show with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Book:
The Summer Placeby Jennifer Weiner
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Marie Cummings and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (and occasional Saturdays)
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
"…It's like if Tim Burton decorated Versailles for Halloween…” Heather Walter’s queer retelling of Sleeping Beauty kicked off with Malice, which we think of as more than just a remix to a familiar story—It's a complex, character-driven story with action, political intrigue, betrayal, and of course, a slow burn romance ... Heather’s closing out her Malice duology with Misrule, and she joins us on the show to talk about good vs. evil, why readers love morally grey characters, the fun she has writing her novels, what she’s reading and recommending now, what’s next (hint: Anne Boleyn) and much more with B&N’s Kat Sarfas. And we end the episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Misrule by Heather Walter
Maliceby Heather Walter
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“For me, the novel form is the greatest expression because it has that room, that latitude to really explore for the full complexity of human existence and psychology and diversity, and there's no other single format that I think comes close, even with the amazing ways in which television drama has grown and become more complex and more satisfying, I still think that it's the novel form that did it first, and still does it best.”
Monica Ali made a splash with her Booker-nominated debut novel, Brick Lane —and she's back with a new novel, Love Marriage, a story of love and family and manners set in modern-day London. Monica joins us on the show to talk about her unforgettable characters, balancing comedy and tragedy, Jane Austen's influence, what screenwriting taught her about novel writing, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff featuring book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Love Marriage by Monica Ali
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“And the title, of course, has this double meaning, the financial meaning of trust, and let's call it, emotional meaning of trust … To what extent can I trust this voice and the book, to a large extent is questioning the contracts we enter into as readers.” Hernan Diaz follows up his acclaimed debut novel, In the Distance (a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), with Trust, a stunning book-about-a-book, an exploration of capital and greed and the making of myths. Hernan joins us on the show to talk about how the stories of Great Men influenced his latest, bringing women back into the story of American business and capital, authenticity, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and other literary influences, why he writes, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the segment with a TBR Topoff segment featuring book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Trust by Hernan Diaz
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I grew up hearing The Ramayana over lunch. My grandma would tell me little bits and pieces to me and my younger sister, she would tell us little bits and pieces every day. And we would ask to hear the same stories over and over again.” If you’re a fan of imaginative retellings like Circe, Ariadneand The Witch’s Heart, you don’t want to miss Vaishnavi Patel’s Kaikeyi. Vaishnavi joins us on the show to talk about the origins of her debut novel, her love of retellings and epic fantasy, what writing her first novel taught her about herself, balancing law school with writing fiction, Season 2 of Bridgerton and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured books:
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
The Ramayana
The Viscount Who Loved Meby Julia Quinn
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“And so then, I felt like that's when I had to go back to the beginning of telling my story of sort of rediscovering the young Viola, who definitely may have been traumatized, but was pure.”
Multi-award-winning actress Viola Davis has poured herself into the characters she portrays on the big screen and on stage. And, now, in her most deeply personal and inspiring role yet, as author, she has released her memoir, Finding Me — out now.
Viola joins us on the show to talk about rediscovering the younger version of herself in order to write this book, the impact of Miss Cicely Tyson and August Wilson, the magic of artistry, the Black best friend role, the freedom and bravery that came with playing Annalise Keating, the connection between joy and peace and trauma, the radical act of forgiveness and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff featuring book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Finding Me by Viola Davis
Educated by Tara Westover
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown
Native Son by Richard Wright
Black Boy by Richard Wright
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
A History of God by Karen Armstrong
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“And I think it's just overall her humanity and her recognition of what other people could accomplish. If you just say the right things, if you create the right chemistry, that really drove me to her. And she does—she has her own chemistry with everyone in the book.” That’s Bonnie Garmus talking about Elizabeth Zott, the unforgettable center of Bonnie’s debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry. Bonnie joins us on the show to talk about her spectacular characters, never giving up (and the writing advice that helped her the most when she was stuck), having empathy for all of her characters (even the evil ones), a most extraordinary dog, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, rowing, what she’s reading now, how writing a novel is scarier than open water swimming, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff featuring book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
On Animals by Susan Orlean
Rationality by Steven Pinker
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I didn't want that more traditional kind of arc of childhood to a certain stance of wisdom or resignation or triumph. I wanted—partly because I felt with Negroland, and very much with this book—that ability to change persona, change my position, to acknowledge that one was performing at times, and that one played many, many roles … I wanted to be able to take in all of that, and a traditional memoir structure wasn't going to allow it.” Margo Jefferson is one of our most astute and elegant cultural critics, full stop. Winner of a Pulitzer Prize for criticism, she’s also the acclaimed author of several books, including her latest, Constructing a Nervous System. Margo joins us on the show to talk about finding a new language for criticism, engaging with art on her own terms, Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald, investigating herself as a critic and a teacher, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with another set of TBR Topoff book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Constructing a Nervous System: A Memoir by Margo Jefferson
Negroland by Margo Jefferson
Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“There's an intense pleasure in viewing the flaws of the people around you and saying, I'm not a part of that, even if maybe at the beginning you want to be or even maybe you still do, but you learn to come from where you stand. And that's part of what Jordan is doing. She's very comfortable in her discomfort…” Nghi Vo won the Hugo Award for Debut Novella with The Empress of Salt and Fortune, the first volume of her Singing Hills Cycle. Nghi’s remixed and remastered The Great Gatsby for her new paperback, The Chosen and the Beautiful, and she joins us on the show to talk about re-imagining an American classic with a layer of magic, taking Gatsby out of the male gaze and putting Jordan Baker in the center of everything, the art of Vietnamese paper cutting, interesting arc of her career (starting with the slush pile), her next novel, Siren Queen (based on the life of Anna May Wong) and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff featuring book recommendations from Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
Pussy, King of the Pirates by Kathy Acker
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“Leonard Cohen is like my all-time favorite musician … I, all my life, have had this reaction to sad music, of not feeling sad at all when I listened to it. Instead, what I feel is a kind of sense of uplift, and a sense of wonder and awe that a musician could take pain and turn it into beauty. And most of all, a kind of sense of connection with the musician and with all the other people who are listening to it. It's a kind of like beautiful acknowledgement that the state of being human involves loss and involves sorrow.” Susan Cain changed the way we think about introverts with her first bestseller, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, and now she’s going to change the way we approach some difficult feelings with Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole. Susan joins us on the show to talk about the thinkers and poets who influenced the new book, the veneer of effortless belonging, resolving her own grief, impermanence, collective creativity (and shifting our communal thinking), Susan David’s concept of Emotional Agility, how writing this book changed her and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff segment featuring Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Gold by Rumi
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“I knew that after writing this sweeping family portrait that goes over about 40 years in the Bain family's history, that for my next novel, I wanted to write something that was very focused, that was quite propulsive, and quite edited in the scope and the time that we spend with the characters. And so, for me, it was about romance. It's about that love between these two young men.” Douglas Stuart has charmed more than a million and a half readers with his National Booker Award and Booker Prize-winning debut novel, Shuggie Bain. Douglas joins us on the show to talk about his incredible new novel, Young Mungo, optimism, writing about the working class and being gay, masculinity, love, mobility, Margaret Thatcher’s legacy, the importance of having a plan before you sit down to write, the writers who inspire him, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff segment featuring Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman
Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
Poured Over is hosted and produced by Miwa Messer. This episode was mixed by Chris Gillespie. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).
A full transcript of this show is available here.
“You know, beauty is such an interesting term. I think it's really important how vast and complex it is … we call people beautiful, I call my dog beautiful every day. I call food I eat beautiful, I call bitter, bitter coffee, beautiful, I call an idea beautiful. A mathematical concept can be beautiful, a sunset, the natural world, a performance, a song, certainly works of art, but … I've heard myself say, What a beautiful attempt, a failed attempt, but a beautiful or like a beautiful mistake, what a beautiful mistake that was, a beautiful error or a beautiful cutting remark even, so it's such an interesting term, because we can use it in so many ways.”
Easy Beauty is Chloé Cooper Jones’ first book, and it’s an incredibly smart and provocative combination of memoir, travel essay and philosophical treatise on beauty and our experience with beauty, and it’s out now. Chloé joins us on the show to talk about what beauty looks and feels like to her, how it feels to live in a body that people stare at (and touch without invitation), how we talk and think about disability, vulnerability and self-acceptance, and so much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff segment featuring Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Easy Beauty by Chloé Cooper Jones
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer. This episode was mixed by Chris Gillespie. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
A full transcript of the show is available here.
“True Biz is an ASL idiom. It doesn't have one direct translation into English, but a few of the things that it could mean: seriously, literally. Real talk is one that I think gets used a lot. No kidding. Like, if someone says like, No, you made that up, no true biz, you know, and I thought that it was a good title for the book, because it doesn't quite translate directly into English.” We’ve been fans of Sara Nović since her page-turning, coming-of-age debut, Girl at War. Sara’s back with a new novel, True Biz, which she calls both a “coming-of-age and a coming-of-middle-age” story set at a school for the Deaf. She joins us on the show to talk about CODA’s Oscars, Deaf culture and degrees of Deaf experience, punk rock, the fluidity of ASL and how best to represent it on the printed page, giving her Deaf characters agency and the space to be real teenagers, writing joy into her story and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff segment featuring Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
True Biz by Sara Nović
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer. This episode was mixed by Chris Gillespie. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“I really wrote it for me, I didn't think anything would come about — I wanted something that could bring me a bit of joy, where Asian American characters could live their lives and do something as fun and ridiculous as robbing art museums across the world.” Grace D. Li loves a caper flick, and now she’s written Portrait of a Thief, a caper novel with a very fun Chinese American cast. Grace joins us on the show to talk about the true story that inspired her debut, the Chinese diaspora, calling Texas home, the movies that inspired her fiction, the books she’s reading and recommending now, being a medical student who writes fiction on the side, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff segment featuring Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
Chemistry by Weike Wang
Joan is OKAY by Weike Wang
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok
Fault Lines by Emily Itami
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
"In the end, all the good ideas and sort of fancy craft approaches get you absolutely nothing if there's no emotional content. That's what it is. I mean, fiction is about going inside other people's minds and consciousnesses and looking through their eyes and living their lives in a way and that's all about emotions.” Jennifer Egan challenged the way many of us thought about how (but not why) we tell stories in A Visit from the Goon Squad—which went on to win the Pulitzer. She joins us on our 100th episode of the show to talk about her latest, The Candy House, which she describes as a “sibling novel” to Goon Squad, along with truth and time and space and memory and nostalgia, the interplay between tech and story (including finding poetry in elliptical, 140-character tweets), finding inspiration in slightly unexpected places like baseball and Dungeons + Dragons, returning to characters she never really left (including the peripheral ones), and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust
The Three Pigs by David Weisner
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, introduction by Jennifer Egan
Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.
A complete transcript of this episode is available here.
“I love being immersed in the grand project of a novel. When I was a kid, I was drawn to books about secret worlds, like The Secret Garden, or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe where you disappear to the back of a wardrobe…”
How many times have you re-read Emily St. John Mandel’s genre-blending novels Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel? Emily joins us on the show to talk about her latest novel Sea of Tranquility — our April 2022 Barnes & Noble Book Club pick — along with what she loves most about writing, breaking the rules of time + space, how character development makes an imaginary world real, the writers and books who inspire her, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer. And we end the episode with a TBR Topoff segment featuring Margie and Marc.
Featured Books:
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
The Singer’s Gun by Emily St. John Mandel
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
The Executioner’s Song by Normal Mailer
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
A full transcript of this episode is available here.
“…Cynical as he is of the world that he encounters, he's also pretty cynical and critical of himself. And that manifests itself in that sense of humor that you're talking about not a light-hearted sense of humor, but a very cynical and dark sense of humor, a sense of the absurd.” Viet Thanh Nguyen, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer and The Committed (now out in paperback), among other books, joins us on the show to riff on the return of his unnamed narrator, why he followed his prize-winning spy thriller with a crime novel set in 1980s Paris, how his novels are in conversation with Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the American canon, his literary inspirations and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Native Speaker by Chang-rae Lee
American Spy by Lauren Wilkerson
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carré
The Land at the End of the World by António Lobo Antunes
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us her for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays.)
A full transcript of the show is available here.
“As you might imagine, over the years, many people heard stories about my family. And they said, Hey, why don't you write a memoir? I really wasn't very interested in writing a memoir as I perceived a memoir to be, so the idea of spending years working on a book about the issues in my immediate family, which I grew up with, and was intimately familiar with, it felt like I would be locked in a closet with that somehow. And then I became sort of interested in looking backward...” Maud Newton used to believe her research into her family’s genealogy was just a distraction from the novel she’d been working on. Not so. Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation is just out, and Maud joins us on the show to talk about where her curiosity took her, DNA sleuthing, facing her family’s legacies (genetic + historical + behavioral), epigenetics, what Harry Crews taught her about writing, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured book: Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and a Reconciliation by Maud Newton
And a few of the books that Maud mentions in hers:
Where I Was From by Joan Didion
The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer
The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee
On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould
The Mistress’s Daughter by AM Homes
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity and Love by Dani Shapiro
Touched with Fire by Kay Redfield Jamison
The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang
Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh
Searching for Zion: The Quest for Home in the African Diaspora by Emily Raboteau
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Poured Over is produced and hosted Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays.)
“They're not all villains and all heroes, I think a lot of people are very morally gray…” The atmospheric and haunting Wild and Wicked Things is a beautifully written tale of queer love in an alternative post-WWI England that invokes the glittering world of Gatsby with a blend of blood magic and gothic mystique. Francesca May joins us on the show to talk about the appeal of The Great Gatsby, the power of community, the thin line between good and wicked, reinventing the ideals of class and privilege, spirit animals and so much more.
Featured in this episode:
Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Lighthouse by Fran Dorricott
Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes
For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten
Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth
The Lord Of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
This episode of Poured Over was hosted and produced by Elani Wilson and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“We should call no future unthinkable and no future unimaginable. We have to be willing to think about the hard things and ready ourselves for them, we also have to free ourselves from the limitations of the present so that we can find refuge in the future that we want.” Futurist and game designer Jane McGonigal wants to help you change your brain with her new book, Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything — Even Things That Seem Impossible Today, and she joins us on the show to talk about when the future starts, Dator’s Law (any useful statement about the future should at first seem ridiculous), normalcy bias, how our future selves are strangers to us, curiosity + empathy, mental time travel, the writers who inspire her, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured in this episode:
Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything — Even Things That Seem Impossible Today by Jane McGonigal
Rebecca Solnit’s books
Emergent Strategyby Adrienne Maree Brown
Pleasure Activismby Adrienne Maree Brown
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes Saturdays.)
“The original impulse to write a book for this age was knowing that this is a time of identity formation for me, curiosity about the outside world. And I guess I wanted to make an offering in that space … I just wanted to write a book with an Asian American protagonist. And I thought, how cool it would have been for me at that age to see that at the library.” Actor John Cho (Searching, Better Luck Tomorrow, Star Trek, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) steps into a new role, author, with the publication of Troublemaker, his first book for middle grade readers. John joins us on the show to talk about why he needed to write this book now (it wasn’t what he originally pitched to his editor); the legacy of 4/29 in the Korean American community and the murder of Latasha Harlins; his fondness for the Little House series; the elasticity of the English language (and not using italics to call out Korean words) and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Troublemaker by John Cho
The Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
IQby Joe Ide
Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha
Poured Over is hosted and produced by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“My book starts in my brain with me telling myself a story. And I choose not to write it down, as I'm thinking about it. Sometimes for months, sometimes even maybe for a couple of years. My feeling is that if I stop thinking about it, or stop daydreaming about the story, then it's died a natural death in my brain and shouldn't make it to the page.” Nine strangers, one determined detective and plenty of devious ways to die; Peter Swanson’s latest whodunnit, Nine Lives, is a creepy, entertaining ride, and he joins us on the show to talk about Agatha Christie and Ruth Rendell and his other literary influences, Maine, trading poetry for crime fiction, and much more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“And within that time, I realized that the story needed to be about regular citizens. But because so much had been written, I found myself needing a new way of telling the story, a story that was very public, that was on everybody's lips.” In 2017, Robert Mugabe was deposed in coup, an act that novelist NoViolet Bulawayo never thought she would see in her lifetime. She joins us on the show to talk about her fantastic new novel, Glory, the distance she needed to write a novel about the fall of a freedom fighter turned dictator and the chaos that followed, George Orwell’s Animal Farm and other literary influences, the power of story and social media, her faith in a new generation and hope for the future, and more with Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“The thing that really sort of blew me away, one of the reasons why we have sort of the type of poetry that we have today and the type of literature that we have today — it bloomed and was, I think, seeded in some ways by Sylvia Plath and her experience.” Lee Kravetz joins us on the show to talk about his unexpected and entertaining debut novel, The Last Confessions of Sylvia P., part literary mystery, part portrait of an immensely talented young woman and her impact on the world around her. Lee tells us about re-reading The Bell Jar, what he learned about poetry in order to write his new novel, the connection between confessional poetry of the 1960s and grunge music of the 1990s, the writers who’ve influenced him, and much more.
Featured books:
The Last Confessions of Sylvia P. by Lee Kravetz
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Life Studies and For the Union Dead by Robert Lowell
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon
Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes Saturdays).
“The book's title comes from Josephine Baker’s speech at the March on Washington … she was speaking to a crowd that was younger, and maybe did not know her from her heyday of performance. And she compels them to go and ask their parents and grandparents about her and the system, They'll tell you that I was a devil and they'll be right. I was a devil in other countries. And I was a little devil in America, too.” Hanif Abdurraqib — MacArthur genius grant recipient, National Book Award finalist and winner of a Carnegie Medal from the American Library Association — joins us on the show to talk about his latest book, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, which is dedicated to the iconic Josephine Baker and just out in paperback. Hanif riffs on what joy sounds like to him, magician Ellen Armstrong, the line between consumption and affection, what performance means for himself and others, and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Books:
A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib
A Fortune for Your Disaster by Hanif Abdurraqib
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes Saturdays).
“…A big part of this book is to have a more whole picture of our history here. It is the last 30 years, 90s to now, but we do devote a big chunk of the before as well because we want to plant those roots and say This began a long time ago. Let's at least start this conversation where we acknowledge and have a more deep understanding of our history. It doesn't all end with this book either." Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, and Philip Wang join us on the show to talk about their fabulous, beautifully illustrated new book, Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the 90s to Now, which covers all things—not just East—Asian American. Jeff, Phil and Philip riff on where we’re really from, things we love, what the words Asian American and representation really mean, Vincent Chin, Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Rich Asians,Jeff and Phil’s podcast They Call Us Bruce,and more with Poured Over’s host, Miwa Messer.
Featured Book:
Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the 90s to Now
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“If you want to create art, and you want to create art the way you want to, and it's just for you, that's fine. But if you want to have a writing career, then my advice is...” Olivie Blake’s dark academic fantasy debut, The Atlas Six, has a cult following for a reason (believe the hype!) and she joins us on the show to talk about her character-driven epic (and which of her characters appeared first), her writing process and what she’s learned over time, her daydream playlists, what she’s reading and watching, and so much more.
This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Kat Sarfas, and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes Saturdays).
Featured Books:
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
Book of Night (Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition) by Holly Black
“I'm writing about group creativity, which is not something we often do … what's interesting to me is what happens in the friction between people's minds through conversations, through discussion, through the exchange of ideas, through debate, through sort of egging one another on … bringing about any idea that's going to sort of undermine the nature of reality as we know it.” Gal Beckerman of The Atlantic joins us on the show to talk about his fascinating new book, The Quiet Before: On the Unexpected Origins of Radical Ideas, including the story behind the Ph.D. he earned in order to write it, how he found the people who drive his narrative from 17th-century France to present-day Minneapolis, how technology helps (or hurts) the exchange of ideas, and so much more.
Featured Books:
The Quiet Before: On the Unexpected Origins of Radical Ideas by Gal Beckerman
Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63 by Taylor Branch
Pillar of Fire: America in the King Years, 1963-65 by Taylor Branch
At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68 by Taylor Branch
King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa by Adam Hochschild
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays.)
“I sketched out some of these pool scenes a long, long time ago, maybe 15 years ago, but just you know, a few paragraphs. And then I don't know, I put them in a drawer somewhere...” It’s been 20 years since Julie Otsuka’s sublime debut, When the Emperor was Divine, almost 10 since the collective voice of The Buddha in the Attic. Julie’s third novel, The Swimmers, is just out, and she joins us on the show to talk about her elegant, witty and elegiac new book and its “soft beating heart,” the joy (and comedy) she found writing about this community, writing in pencil (and more of her creative process), silence and memory, and more.
Featured books:
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka
When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka
The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
The Nick Adams Stories by Ernest Hemingway
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays.)
“It's a great question. And no one has ever asked me that question. I think it's taught me about how to construct the arc of a narrative.” We’ve learned so much from Debbie Millman and her fabulous interviews on her long-running podcast Design Matters. Since 2005, Debbie’s introduced us to incredible thinkers from a variety of disciplines, and now 55 of the more than 500 interviews she’s done are collected in a beautiful (and provocative) new book, Why Design Matters. Debbie joins us on the show to talk about what design has taught her about interviewing, how she never really planned to be a designer (and what changed), her research process, the stories we tell ourselves about images, what’s next for her, and much more.
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
Featured Book: Why Design Matters by Debbie Millman
“Believe me, there probably was not a day that went by where I didn't say to myself, What on earth am I doing? And why did I take this on? Early on in the process, I was talking with a Churchill expert over breakfast in Washington, DC, and he was basically asking me, Why on earth are you doing this? And my answer to him, which stuck throughout the whole project, is that it's all in the telling.” The Splendid and the Vile spent most of 2020 and ‘21 on top of the bestseller charts, and it’s just out in paperback. Erik Larson joins us on the show to talk about the craft of writing, how his background in journalism prepared him for a career writing bestselling books, how he conducts his research, the fiction that inspires him, the surprises he uncovered while writing about one of the world’s most-documented men, and more.
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
Featured books:
The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson
Isaac’s Stormby Erik Larson
The Devil in the White Cityby Erik Larson
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
“There's a reason why all our old stories are fantastical and mythological, and why our fairy tales are so old. Because I think there is something in these mythologies and these folklore stories that tell us something about ourselves. And we've always done it, we've always put it into fantastical to explain the real.” Marlon James returns with Moon Witch, Spider King, the second installment of his Dark Star trilogy, and this time, Sogolon the witch is center stage. Marlon joins us on the show to talk about the reality behind fantasy and the fantasy behind reality, false starts, his fascination with court intrigue, WWBD? (What Would Boo Do?), handing the story over to his characters, his playlist and his podcast (Marlon and Jake Read Dead People), and more.
Featured books:
Moon Witch, Spider King by Marlon James
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Restoration by Rose Tremain
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“...It means the world to me to witness any kind of massive scale love of books.” Sarah J. Maas knows how to build worlds that readers never want to leave. The second installment of her fiery (and spicy) Crescent City series, House of Sky and Breath, is just out and Sarah joins us on the show to riff on #booktok, fandom, the screen adaptation she’s working on with Ron Moore, her love of Lord of the Rings and Jane Austen, her playlists, and more.
Featured Books:
House of Sky and Breath and House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
This episode of Poured Over was produced by Miwa Messer, hosted by Kat Sarfas, and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays.)
“I wrote The Sum of Us in the hopes that people would read it together, that people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, whether they're connected by something, a community, a school, a workplace, would pick it up and find for each person, a way into the story of America's troubled history with racism, and then a way out together.” Trained as a lawyer, and an expert in economic and social policy, Heather McGhee also excels at getting Americans to tell their stories — and look for solutions. Her urgent, important book, The Sum of Us is just out in paperback and she joins us on the show to talk about The Zero-Sum Hierarchy, The American Dream and other stories (and stereotypes) we tell ourselves, where we can go from here, the writers who inspire her, and more.
Featured Books: The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with bonus episodes on occasional Saturdays).
“You know, when I wrote the book, I sort of thought it would resonate with a fairly narrow… I was writing it for people who are more or less like me, you know, little girls who grew up in junkyards and didn't go to school, and then going to college and everything changed.” Tara Westover’s memoir was a massive hit with readers everywhere when it was first published; four years later, Educated is out in paperback, and Tara joins us on the show to talk about choices and boundaries, family and home, how excited she is for new readers to come to the book in paperback, what’s next for her and much more.
Featured Books:
Educated by Tara Westover
Second Place by Rachel Cusk
Playing and Reality by D.W. Winnicott
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, translated by Lydia Davis.
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus eps on Saturdays).
“The Nineties were the last decade that we're ever going to talk about as a decade…” Chuck Klosterman has been challenging how we think, see and hear since his first book, Fargo Rock City, in 2001 to 2016’s But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking About the Present As If It Were the Past.He joins us on the show to talk about his new book, The Nineties, Gen X, the end of monoculture, the rise of independent moviemaking, The New Sincerity, Nevermind + Exile in Guyville and more.
Featured Books: The Nineties, Fargo Rock City and Eating the Dinosaur, all by Chuck Klosterman.
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus eps on Saturdays).
“And fiction is all about obstacles. It's all about misapprehension, misunderstanding, lack of information, lack of connection, and the problems that come up, arise out of those things.” Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Chang-rae Lee’s most recent novel, My Year Abroad, is now out in paperback and it's unlike anything he’s written before. Chang-rae joins us on the show to talk about homecomings and hunger, the limitless imagination of a new generation of immigrants, his 20-year-old narrator and the sense of play at the heart of this new book, what’s on the syllabus for his Asian American autobiography class at Stanford, and much more.
Featured books: My Year Abroad,Native Speaker and Aloft, all by Chang-rae Lee.
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“But I do feel like I was on a quest as a writer, for my work to get bigger. I just wanted it to contain a larger portion of the world than it started off with… I tried to make it large in its emotional scope, as well as in the amount of action that happens in it.” Lan Samantha Chang did, in fact, have as much fun writing our February 2022 B&N Book Club pick, The Family Chao,as we had reading it. She joins us on the show to talk about her post-immigrant novel, the brothers Chao themselves and the debt they owe to The Brothers Karamazov, wanting to throw away the rules of writing she'd been taught, Philip Roth’s fiction, a dog called Alf, and more. Featured Books: The Family Chaoby Lan Samantha Chang and The Brothers Karamazovby Fyodor Dostoevsky. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“It's about people following their passions, and it's about falling in love for the first time whether that love is romantic, or with a professional industry.” Anatomy: A Love Story is everything Noble Blood’s creator and host Dana Schwartz loves in a story: spooky and fast-paced with a dash of romance, a perfect mix for the BN YA Book Club, and our pick for February ‘22. Dana joins us on the show to talk about her love of story and her creative process, finding her voice, the books that inspire her, explain the delights of reading historical fiction, and more.
Featured books:
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Little by Edward Carey
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“If you aren't writing your story in America, your story is being written for you. And if you're not telling your story, your story is being told to you….I was able to create my own superhero origin story when I was 10 years old.” Left-handed, lactose intolerant, wisecracking Wajahat Ali joins us on the show to talk about his first book, Go Back to Where You Came From, growing up brown and Muslim in the Bay Area, his parents’ time in jail, trading his law degree for the writer’s life, becoming a playwright with help from Ishmael Reed (and what Toni Morrison said to him after Ishmael Reed introduced them) and more in this very funny and fast-moving episode. Featured Book: Go Back to Where You Came From by Wajahat Ali. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
[1:40 PM] Miwa Messer
Elani/Chris - just fixed a typo (follow us not follow up)
“I want my readers to be entertained. And if possible, to take a look at that period of that century that was so fascinating, a time of violence, and change, and great steps forward for humanity…” Isabel Allende’s epic new novel, Violeta, is out now, and she joins us on the show to talk about memory and history and justice, love and freedom and family, her creative process (and what the date January 8th means to her) and much more. Featured books: Violeta, A Long Petal of the Sea, The Soul of a Woman and The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
"…I read every day. Reading feels like part of my identity…[it] feels essential as a writer to be reading always.” Imani Perry is the acclaimed author of Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry and Breathe: A Letter to My Sons among other books; her latest, South to America, is an extraordinary blend of personal memoir and American history, and she joins us on the show to talk about her travels around the American South, the people she spoke with and the friendships she made, her own mother’s story, and the writers she holds close, including Kiese Laymon, Jesmyn Ward, Sarah M. Broom, and Richard Wright. Featured Books: South to America by Imani Perry, The Yellow House by Sarah Broome, and Native Son by Richard Wright. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“…Try reading it out loud. That's what I do. I read the whole book out loud, seven or eight times…four or five times… before it ever goes to edit. I believe that writing was made to be heard.” From the age of five, John Darnielle knew he was going to be a storyteller, and he joins us on the show to talk about the structure and the shifting perspectives of his new novel, Devil House, who has standing to tell a story, the difference between touring and performing as an author instead of a musician, the books he loved as a boy, why we should all be reading literature in translation and so much more. Featured Books: Devil House by John Darnielle, James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis, and No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays.)
“…So much of American media is, As long as we have each other, it doesn't matter what happens, we're going to be fine. I don't always think that's true. Circumstances can really tear families apart. But, you know, I'm not going to write Succession.” Weike Wang follows up her acclaimed debut novel, Chemistry, with the deadpan, darkly comic Joan is Okay. She joins us on the show to talk about how (and why) work becomes home for Joan, family and grief and William Faulkner, the horror of Mickey Rooney’s yellowface performance in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and much more. Featured books: Joan is Okay and Chemistry by Weike Wang, Convenience Store Woman by Sayata Murata, The Stranger by Albert Camus, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe, and The Art of Revision by Peter Ho Davies. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“Well, this is the thing about being an overnight success after forty years.” Bernardine Evaristo made history when Girl, Woman, Other won the 2019 Booker Prize, for she is the first Black woman and the first Black British person to have won the coveted prize in its more than fifty-year history. Bernardine joins us on the show to talk about her fabulous memoir, Manifesto: On Never Giving Up, “overnight fame” (after decades of work in literature and the theater), her creative process, the writers who’ve inspired her work in the theater and on the page—and she even offers some advice for those who are stuck in their work and see no way through. Featured books: Manifesto: On Never Giving Up and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf by Ntozake Shange. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“I think bookstores are really magical places, and not to be too idealistic about it, I really think that they're so important, they're cornerstones to communities, and they are treasures and we need to keep them alive.” Jami Attenberg, author of St. Mazie and The Middlesteins, among other novels, joins us on the show to talk about her first memoir, I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing My Way Home,as well as the difference between loneliness and solitude, managing anxiety, her life as a writer, the books her book club has convinced her to read, her #1000wordsofsummer project, and more. (If writing a book is one of your goals for ’22, you don’t want to miss this episode.) Featured books: I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home, St. Maizie and The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg, Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell, the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and Intimacies by Katie Kitamura. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
“This is not just for us to say, ‘How interesting’ now we know three more people, it's for us to say, ‘What can we do now that we know their stories?’" Anna Malaika Tubbs delves into the stories of Alberta King, Louise Little and Berdis Baldwin in our January Nonfiction Pick, The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation.Anna joins us on the show to talk about the importance of reclaiming Black women’s stories, motherhood and the lives women lead before they have children, the moments of joy she found writing this book, and much more. Featured Books: The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, and In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens by Alice Walker. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes Saturdays.
“And when you are lucky enough as a writer to have your book be found, and then have it be a source of someone's passion, someone who is not normally spoken to by the book publishing industry, who then with generosity and real passion, finds a way to tell other people about it, you cannot get luckier than that.” Hanya Yanagihara’s second novel, A Little Life was already a word-of-mouth must read, a finalist for the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Award and winner of the Kirkus Prize when #Booktok introduced Jude & Co. to a new set of readers and kicked the book’s sales into the stratosphere. Hanya’s following up her massive hit with To Paradise, a story of love and ambition, loneliness and freedom, that cuts across time and reimagined Americas. Hanya joins us on the show to talk about Hawaii and New York, her admiration for the novels of Kazuo Ishiguro, what paradise means for her characters, the helix of history, and more. Featured Books: To Paradise and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, The Hours by Michael Cunningham, and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus eps on Saturdays).
“You know, there's something that we don't talk about, which I think is like the underside of success and ambition, which is that for every step that we take towards something, it's a step away from something. And the more that we have these rarefied experiences, the more isolating they can be…” Olga Dies Dreaming is one of 2022’s most anticipated debuts and our January Discover pick; Xochitl Gonzales joins us on the show to talk about her fabulous new novel and unforgettable protagonist, what it means to be part of a community (or leave one behind), heading to the Iowa Writers Workshop and earning an MFA in her forties, the books and writers who inspire her, and more. Featured books: Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzales, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The World According to Garp by John Irving, and Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episode Saturdays).
New episodes of Poured Over land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus eps on Saturdays) on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and wherever you listen to podcasts.
“One thing that I was interested in doing is making literal the surveillance that parents feel every day, because there is the sense that you're being watched and judged and shamed all the time.” Jessamine Chan joins us on the show to talk about her debut novel, The School for Good Mothers (think The Handmaid’s Tale meets Klara and the Sun), writing a Chinese American main character that she wanted to read, making sure her satire is laced with humor, how a self-proclaimed Luddite came to write a book like this one, and more. Featured Books: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan, Plainwater by Anne Carson, Karate Chop by Dorothe Nors, Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls, Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell, The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith, Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado and How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus eps Saturday).
“I describe it as a fantasy novel about the real world we live in, or a realistic novel about the fantasy world we live in.” Anthem is Noah Hawley’s terrific, page-turning sixth novel, and his first after his Edgar Award-winning bestseller, Before The Fall—it’s also our January 2022 Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. Noah joins us on the show for a wide-ranging, spoiler-free conversation about breaking the fourth wall, the death of satire, how we can use fiction to help us make sense of a nonsensical world (even when our brains are working overtime “to maintain the illusion we believe in.”), writing for the screen vs. writing for the page, and more, including the ways Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings inspired Anthem.Featured books: Anthem by Noah Hawley, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, Song of Solomonby Toni Morrison, The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides, White Noise by Don DeLillo, and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (and occasional bonus eps on Saturdays).
“And so we wouldn't be here without Natalie Portman, which isn't a sentence I was expecting to say this evening. But if you ever watched this, Natalie, thank you. Really thank you.” That’s novelist and screenwriter David Mitchell explaining the genesis of his friendships and working relationships with Lana Wachowski and Aleksandar Hemon—which includes screenplay credits on Sense8and now, The Matrix Resurrections. David and Aleksandar join us on the show to talk about creativity and collaboration, their writing partnership, how language changes from page to screen, envisioning the future, and much more. Featured books: Cloud Atlas, Utopia Avenue, The Bone Clocks and Black Swan Green by David Mitchell and My Parents: An Introduction/This Does Not Belong to You, Love & Obstacles and The Lazarus Man by Aleksandar Hemon. Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. (P.S. We’re taking a little break for the rest of this year and returning with a new episode on 1/4/22.)
Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“And imagine what did it feel like to think this was new? Their life, all kinds of different images as time goes on, and people in the Renaissance and later want to recreate for themselves, particularly in painting, but not always in painting….what it is to create a likeness of someone who's been dead for a millennium or more?” Historian and bestselling author Mary Beard (SPQR, Women & Power, Confronting the Classics) joins us on the show to talk about her new book, Twelve Caesars, what it means to make a likeness if you’ve never met your subject, power and representation and propaganda, trying to help us see under-appreciated museum displays (tapestries and coins to start) with fresh eyes, and more. Featured book: Twelve Caesars by Mary Beard. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I went running in Fort Tryon Park in the northern reaches of Manhattan. And it was snowing. And during that run, I had this vision of a hunter lost in the snow…” Beasts of a Little Land is a remarkable debut novel about love and redemption, covering five tumultuous decades of Korean history. Juhea Kim joins us on the show to talk about writing and rewriting an epic novel with a large cast of characters, caring for her antagonists, Anna Karenina and more. Featured books: Beasts of a Little Land by Juhea Kim and Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“But at the end of the day, so many people have lost a loved one. This story is about mothers and daughters. It's about parents and children. It's about a different culture and relating to it. It's about food. It's about grief. It's about loss. It's about family.” Two-time GRAMMY nominee Michelle Zauner joins us on the show to talk about her bestselling memoir Crying in H-Mart, one of the finalists for our B&N Book of the Year, as well as her literary influences, what she leaned about her mom (and herself), how rewrites helped her in unexpected ways, and more. Featured books: Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, and Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“Making connections with people has often been quite difficult for me, you know, this can be really isolating, but it's so incredible to make this book that so many people are interested in reading and enjoying, and they look at it, and they're like, Oh, this feels really relatable.” More than 5.4 million people follow Rachel Smythe’s Lore Olympus on Webtoons, and now she’s adapted the first 25 chapters of her retelling of the myth of Persephone into a fabulous book. Rachel joins us on the show to talk about the inspiration behind her relatable story and unforgettable art; her favorite books and writers, including The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett; color theory and the joys of brainstorming, and more. (She even shares a little advice for comics creators at the start of their career.) Produces/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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"We're going to have to learn to be cartographers in our own lives." Brené Brown is the author of five number one New York Times bestsellers, including Dare to Lead, Daring Greatly, and Rising Strong; co-editor with Tarana Burke of You Are Your Best Thing; The host of two podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Her Netflix documentary, The Call to Courage, is a huge hit—and her 2010 TED talk, The Power of Vulnerability, the one that launched her career as we know it, it is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world. Brené joins us on the show to talk about her new book, Atlas of the Heart, including how language shapes how we feel, how to become great story stewards for ourselves and others, plus nostalgia, hopefulness, and more. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I'm constantly surprised by the books. Because I think about books a lot before I start writing them, I don't write structure and a formal outline. But I carry a notebook around with me for about a year before I start writing and I write down quotes and thoughts and ideas and snippets of overheard conversations and things from the newspaper…some of them are used later and some just are never used, but eventually a pattern forms and that becomes then the idea for the book…” Who hasn’t thought of moving to Three Pines after reading one of Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels? Louise joins us on the show to talk about the story behind the 17th book in the series, The Madness of Crowds, choosing kindness, the evolution of Gamache, Agatha Christie’s relationship to Poirot, and more. Featured book: The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“…And I had arrived at McDowell, with about 200 pages in the summer of 2018…And the great thing about these writing retreats is that they give you a chance to do nothing but just think about your work. And that was a real gift to me, because it was both time and peace and quiet, to just think about this book. And to be really honest with myself about what was doing well and what it wasn't doing well at all….” Jung Yun had our attention from the very first page of her debut novel, Shelter, and we’ve been waiting for her terrific new novel, O Beautiful, set during the North Dakota oil boom. Jung joins us on the show to talk about The American Dream, shame (and hope), when it’s time to scrap a draft that just isn’t working, and more. Featured books: O Beautiful and Shelter by Jun Yung.
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“I love bookstores, with all of my heart for everything that they've done for me and my stories, but it is the booksellers that are at the front putting these books into the hands of readers, so they do absolutely deserve a majority, if not all of the credit.” Our booksellers will be the first to tell you that T.J. Klune writes charming, heartfelt must-reads—The House on the Cerulean Sea was one of our favorite Monthly Picks this year—and his newest book, Under the Whispering Door is our Speculative Fiction Book of the Year! T.J. joins us on the show to talk about his extraordinary world-building, being honest about grief, Buddy Holly, and more. Featured Books: The House on Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune and Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki. Allyson Gavaletz guest hosts this episode, which was produced by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“But we all want to see ourselves in a story of our country. And we call this a new origin story, not the origin story for reason. There are many origin stories; every person wants to feel a part of the narrative of our country.” Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship (a.k.a. The Genius Grant), the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University, and the driving force behind the revelatory, necessary 1619 Project. She joins us on the show to talk about the evolution of The 1619 Project from The New York Times magazine to book form; the book’s extraordinary contributors, a veritable who’s who of historians, poets, novelists, cultural critics, filmmakers, activists, playwrights, academics, and journalists; the conversations we can’t have on Twitter, and more. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I don't remember my dreams a lot. But when I remember them, I stand up and pay attention.” Both of Natashia Deon’s novels, NAACP Image Award nominee Grace, and her latest, The Perishing, started with dreams she couldn’t forget. Natashia joins us on the show to talk about her new novel—think N.K. Jemisin and Octavia Butler—1930s Los Angeles, love and justice, life and death, what it means to truly live in the present moment and more. Featured books: The Perishing and Grace by Natashia Deon. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I'd always wanted to write a ghost story. And I always wanted to write about what it was like to be haunted, because I feel that so many of us are.” Louise Erdrich’s new novel, The Sentence—her first after The Night Watchman, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction—is a funny, big-hearted and profound story of second chances and ghosts, books and bookselling, and the messy love between spouses and parents and children. Louise joins us on the show to talk about hauntings, perfect short novels, the joys of bookselling, the power of names and more. Featured books: The Sentence by Louise Erdrich and Euphoria by Lily King. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“One of the comments that I've often gotten from parents who say, my son read Scythe, or my daughter read, Unwind, and made me read it, because they wanted to talk to me about it. And then we discussed it. And then the parent would say, I never knew my kid thought that deeply. You know, I think when we write things that ask the reader to rise to the level of the writing, and the level of the ideas behind the writing, they will do it, and they will appreciate not being talked down to.” Acclaimed, prize-winning author Neal Shusterman continues to thrill readers of all ages with his series books like Scythe and Unwind, and standalones. He’s co-written his latest novel, Roxy, with his son, Jarrod Shusterman, and they join us on the show to talk about collaborating with family, connecting with their readers through story, creating unforgettable characters and more. Featured book: Roxy by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I wanted to tell my story in a way that made you feel like you were having a beer with me. And…even though I delve into things like identity and politics and family history and things that things that I'm really excited to share with everybody, I want it to be accessible to people who might disagree with me or might not have experience with the things that I have experiences with.” From the Hollywood to the White House, Kal Penn’s careers have been anything but boring; he’s just published a very funny and honest memoir called You Can’t Be Serious, which covers the work and the people he loves and the lessons he’s learned. He joins us on the show to talk about growing up South Asian, stereotyping and that accent, Jhumpa Lahiri’s fiction and more. Featured books: You Can’t Be Serious by Kal Penn and Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake, both by Jhumpa Lahiri. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I'm here to have a dialogue with a person. And if I'm just gonna sit there and look down at my lap, well, speaking profoundly into my lap. That's not enough for me, I need to speak out--and entertain.” Gary Shteyngart’s new novel, Our Country Friends, is our November B&N Book Club pick, and it’s a charming (and provocative) story of friendship and the family we make. Gary joins us on the show to talk about how friendships evolve (or don’t), societal scorecards and lost paradises, why he wrote a memoir in his late thirties, the writers who’ve influenced him, from Chekhov to Chang-rae Lee, and more. Featured books: Our Country Friends, The Russian Debutante’s Handbook, Absurdistan and Little Failure by Gary Shteyngart. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“And so, what was to me a relatively — at least in terms of storytelling — a tidy story of me collapsing and having my wife and my co-workers save my life and be getting up and getting out of the hospital and getting to write again, was a bit more involved than that.” In his new book, The Night the Lights Went Out, Defectorcolumnist Drew Magary delivers a darkly comic and deeply honest story about his recovery from the traumatic brain injury that almost killed him. Drew joins us on the show to talk about what happened the night he almost died, what came later (including his deafness and cochlear implant), why he writes (and what he learned self-publishing a novel), the books and writers he loves to read, and more. Featured book: The Night the Lights Went Out by Drew Magary. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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"And I had a great, great professor named Albert Guerard when I was starting out, and he said to me, 'Some people will tell you to write what you know. But I'm going to tell you write what you can imagine.' And that was such a gift." Words are magic (and truth and love and power) in Alice Hoffman's newest novel,The Book of Magic. It's the fourth in a series that started with Practical Magic in 1995, and features three generations of the fabulous (and sometimes prickly) Owens family, as it cuts between Essex, Massachusetts and Essex, England. The Book of Magic delivers a truly satisfying, emotional read about familial love, and Alice Hoffman joins us on the show for a spoiler-free conversation about turning a beloved stand-alone novel into a series, writing about sisters and mothers, her favorite books of all time, Amelia Bassano (andthose rumors), and more. Featured books: The Book of Magic, The Rules of Magic, Magic Lessons, Practical Magic, The Dove Keepers and The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Frankenstein by Mary Shelly and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I love it, when, as a reader, I am surprised by the way people behave, you know that you're aghast and shocked and standing back a little bit. And I love it even more when I'm writing it, when I have tapped into a sense that I'm not in control of this guy, either.” We’ve been fans of Joshua Ferris since his very funny and acclaimed 2007 debut, Then We Came to the End — and he had us howling with laughter as we read his latest, A Calling for Charlie Barnes. Joshua joins us on the show to talk about second chances and whether or not people can change, family mythology, writing comedy without losing sight of his characters, and more.
Featured books: A Calling for Charlie Barnes and Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf.
Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I'm so interested in people. I have been fascinated by people since I was just my first memory. I just think people are, for me, they are the most interesting things in the world.” No one captures the nuances of complicated lives quite like Elizabeth Strout, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author who likes to return to her characters and their communities in sometimes surprising ways, as she does in her new novel, Oh William! Elizabeth joins us on the show to talk about the world of Lucy Barton and her first husband William, writing with her readers in mind and reading with an open heart, William Trevor’s short stories and more. Featured books: Oh William!, My Name is Lucy Barton and Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“Because for every kid who makes it out, there are thousands more who are just as capable, who don't. And I think we need to shift the conversation away from what was it that helped that one kid make it out to why are all these other kids not?” Andrea Elliott’s Invisible Child belongs on the shelf next to Evicted by Matthew Desmond and Alex Kotlowitz’s books There are No Children Here and An American Summer. She joins us on the show to talk about eleven-year-old Dasani and her family, how systems feed the poverty cycle, why we need to challenge our love of success stories, and more. Featured book: Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival and Hope in an American City. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I'm so grateful to be part of the world of books. And that's what makes me work so hard on them because it's possibly the greatest privilege I've been afforded.” Nick Offerman’s fifth book, Where the Deer and the Antelope Play, is charming, earnest and a little pointed, and, of course, very funny. It opens with Nick gallivanting in Glacier National Park with pals George Saunders and Jeff Tweedy, sees him repairing a stone wall and buying a livestock with his buddy James Rebanks, and roadtripping with his wife, Megan Mullally and her excellent audiobook recommendations. Nick joins us on the show to talk about how the fun’s really an excuse to ask big questions about our place in the wider world, offer some thoughts on where we need to go and some nuanced ideas for how we might get there, and more. Featured titles: Where the Deer and the Antelope Play by Nick Offerman, Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawaii Strong Washburn and Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing by Lauren Hough. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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America’s opioid crisis shows no signs of slowing down, and if you want to know how we got where we are, Beth Macy’s 2018 bestseller Dopesickis coming to Hulu as a limited series on October 13th, produced by Danny Strong (Game ChangeandRecall), Warren Littlefield (The Handmaid’s Tale), director Barry Levinson, actor Michael Keaton and Beth herself, among others. Beth joins us on the show to talk about the screen adaptation of her powerful book—and what she learned writing for the screen for the first time—how the community she’s covered is responding, and more, including a sneak peak of her next book, Raising Lazarus: Hope and Justice in the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis. Featured books: Dopesick by Beth Macy, Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe, The Urge: Our History of Addiction by Carl Erik Fisher and Unsettled: How the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Failed the Victims of the American Overdose Crisisby Ryan Hampton. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“Suffragettes, but witches.” That was the three-word pitch that Alix E. Harrow used to sell her very fun and very smart second novel, The Once and Future Witches, our newest Monthly Speculative Fiction pick. Alix joins us on the show to talk about portal fantasy, our fascination with fairy tales (and why we keep returning to them), being a messy reader and more. Featured books: The Once and Future Witches, The Ten Thousand Doors of January and A Spindle Splintered, all by Alix Harrow, Ammonite and Spear by Nicola Griffith, and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“One of the ways you make magic work is by believing it’s going to work.” Readers love Naomi Novik’s series set at the mysterious (and deadly) Scholomance. Volume two, The Last Graduate,has just landed, and our favorite prickly heroine Galadriel (El) is back, along with her gang of friends, and, of course, Orion Lake, who El might just hate a little less these days. Naomi Novik joins on the show for a spoiler-free conversation about worldbuilding, El’s evolution, Ursula Leguin’s story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, and more. Featured books: The Last Graduate and A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“You never know what’s going to happen in a bookstore.” Wiley Cash joins us on the show to talk about the story about a too-big aircraft and a too-short runway that inspired his new novel, When Ghosts Come Home; tell us why he had to set the book in the 1980s; and how excited he is by the current rise of the Rural South in literary fiction. He also delivers a couple of reading lists you’ll want to add to your TBR pile now. Featured books: When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash, Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby, Hell of a Book by Jason Mott, Aftershocks by Nadia Owasu, and Writers and Lovers by Lily King. Produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“I was honing my writing voice before anyone knew anything or cared about me as a writer.” Phoebe Robinson’s a force of nature with her standup shows, podcasts, TV shows and books. And now she’s adding publisher to her list of accomplishments with her new imprint, Tiny Reparations Books. Phoebe joins us on the show to talk about her newest book, Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes, her new imprint and the incredible debut authors she’s publishing, black hair, performative allyship and more. Featured books: Please Don’t Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson, What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris, Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li, Queenie by Candace Carty-Williams, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson. Produced/Hosted by Elani Wilson and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“But if you say today, I'm just working on this little monologue by this one character, you can trick yourself into making something bigger…” Anthony Doerr joins us on the show to talk about his epic new novel-about-everything, Cloud Cuckoo Land, his first since his Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See. Featured books: Cloud Cuckoo Land , All the Light We Cannot See, and Memory Wall by Anthony Doerr, The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Platero and I by Juan Ramón Jiménez, and Annals of the Formal World by John McPhee. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Ruth Ozeki’s new novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness, is a beautiful story about books and libraries, life and love. Ruth joins us on the show for a lively conversation about hearing voices, the connections between her last bestseller A Tale for the Time Being, and her latest, the relationship between her writing practice and her meditation practice, her very funny debut novel My Year of Meats, and more. Featured books: The Book of Form and Emptiness, A Tale for the Time Being, My Year of Meats, and The Face, all by Ruth Ozeki.
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Brendan Kiely’s an award-winning author of YA fiction, including All-American Boys, which he co-wrote with Jason Reynolds. His fifth book is a bit of a departure for him; The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege is a nonfiction book that asks us to consider where we are in the world today and how we start and sustain necessary conversations about race and whiteness with young people and ourselves. Brendan joins us on the show to talk about his own experience growing up white in a Boston suburb, his days as a teacher, and what he’s learned from talking with and listening to students from middle school through college. Featured books: The Other Talk by Brendan Kiely, All-American Boys by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Richard Powers is the author of 13 novels, including The Overstory, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. His new novel, Bewilderment, shortlisted for The Booker Prize and longlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction, is an intimate story of two lost boys—father and son—and it’s a bit of a departure from his earlier books. Richard joins us on the show for a charming conversation about where the title came from, why he used a first-person narrative for this book, the connection between writing fiction and computer code, writing about grief, and more. Produces/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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We've seen what death and dying do to the human body and we've investigated the afterlife thanks to Mary Roach. We've gone to space and to war with her. We've learned more than a little about taste and our digestive tracts, and, well, bonking--all thanks to Mary and her very, very funny books, her seventh book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law has just landed. And as with all of her earlier books, we're pretty sure like us, you're going to feel smarter after you've read it. Mary joins us on the show to talk about her new book and more. Featured books: Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Two Pulitzers, a National Book Award, and a MacArthur Genius Grant: Colson Whitehead is one of the greatest novelists working today. From The Intuitionist to The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, his incredible body of work is driven by sharp insight and brilliant sentences. Harlem Shuffle is his newest novel, a character study, a caper flick, and an absolute thrill to read. Colson joins us on the show to talk about his love of 1970s heist flicks, walking aimlessly around Harlem, messy internet searches, and more. Featured Books: Harlem Shuffle and The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead, Richard Stark’s Parker novels, and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Qian Julie Wang’s unforgettable memoir, Beautiful Country, belongs on the shelf next to modern classics like Educated by Tara Westover, When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago, The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls and Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Qian Julie joins us on the show to talk about capturing the universality of childhood (no matter how difficult the details), facing down shame in order to tell the truth and more. Featured books: Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong, Detransition Baby by Torrey Peters and Middlemarch by George Elliott. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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“My ears were bent for stories.” Poet Warrior is the indelible new memoir by Joy Harjo, Poet Laureate of the United States. Joy joins us on the show to talk about her family’s stories, making music, Emily Dickinson’s poetry, how reading work out loud helps with the editing process, and more. Featured Books: Poet Warrior and An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo.
Produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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A new book from Lauren Groff is always a hit with us, from her early novels, The Monsters of Templeton and Arcadia, to her massive 2015 bestseller, Fates and Furies, and her story collections, Delicate Edible Birds and Florida. We can’t get enough of her gorgeous sentences, evocative details, and the worlds she conjures. We’ll follow Lauren anywhere, and now that includes a 12th Century Abbey; her fabulous new novel, Matrix, is out today, and it’s our September Barnes & Noble Book Club selection. Lauren joins us on the show to talk about how the past and present collide in Matrix, her love of research, the joy of reading, and more. Featured books: Matrix by Lauren Groff, Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen, Middlemarch by George Elliott and Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Featured poets and writers: Emily Dickinson, Anne Carson, James Salter, Dennis Johnson, Grace Paley and Alice Munro. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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We love B.B. Alston and his Supernatural Investigation series—his debut novel for Middle Readers, Amari and the Night Brothers, is the Overall Winner of the Barnes & Noble Children’s and YA Book Awards—and the second book in the series is due in 2022. B.B. joins us on the show to talk about writing for children (and how to bring reluctant readers around to the sheer joy of books and reading); the writers who made him want to be a reader (and a writer); and more. Featured books: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Night Circus by Erin Morganstern, and Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and sound mix by Emily Hiott.
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Love it or hate it (and there really seems to be no middle ground), The Great Gatsby still speaks volumes about us, our society, and the American Dream. Min Jin Lee, the acclaimed author of Pachinko and Free Food for Millionaires, has a written an introduction for this classic, and she joins us on the show to talk about Fitzgerald’s characters, what the novel means to her, and more. Featured books: The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, with an introduction by Min Jin Lee, and Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer, sound mix by Emily Hiott. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays.
A fun, spoiler-free conversation with Linden Lewis about her fabulous new novel The Second Rebel, the sequel to The First Sister, our first Speculative Fiction Monthly Pick. Linden joins us on the show to talk about Space Opera, world-building, scrapping full first drafts, giving yourself permission to write what you want to write, and more.
Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Featured Books: The Second Rebel and The First Sister by Linden Lewis, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, The Handmaid’s Tale and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
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Grief, trauma and tragedy run through Kat Chow’s family tree, with everything coming together in 1980s Connecticut. Kat joins us on the show to talk about death and grief, ghosts and survival and debt, what it was like to report her own family’s story, taxidermy as metaphor, and more. Featured books: Seeing Ghosts by Kat Chow and Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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If you were offered a life-changing do-over, would you take it? That’s the central question at the heart of Miranda Cowley Heller’s stunning debut novel, The Paper Palace. Miranda joins us on the show to talk about impossible choices, her love of Jane Austen, getting out of your own way, what poetry taught her about writing prose, and more. Featured books: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller, Light Years by James Salter and 99 Stories of God by Joy Williams. Featured poets: Dorianne Laux, Sharon Olds, James Wright, Walt Whitman and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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We stayed up impossibly late one night because we just had to know how Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s The Gods of Jade and Shadow ends. (Sleep is overrated when you need to know if a young woman can help the Mayan God of Death reclaim his throne in Jazz-era Mexico). We did it again with the creepy, unsettling Mexican Gothic, one of our favorite books last year, and again with The Beautiful Ones, our May 2021 Speculative Fiction Monthly Pick. Silvia joins us on the show to talk about her new noir, Velvet Was the Night, breaking convention and writing across genres for each of her books, the importance of storytelling, and more. Featured titles: Velvet was the Night and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Bath Haus by P.J. Vernon. Hosted/Produced by Kat Sarfas and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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Vianne and Isabelle, Leni, Elsa: Millions of readers have fallen head-over-heels for the heroines of Kristin Hannah’s most recent blockbusters, each one an unforgettable literary page-turner combining character, story and emotional payoff. Kristin joins us on the show to take readers behind the scenes of three of her biggest books, her evolution as a writer and more. Featured books: The Four Winds, The Great Alone and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah; We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (a B&N Book Club Pick); Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger; The Nickel Boys and Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead; The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien; and Whose Names Are Unknown by Sanora Babb. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays. Follow us here for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Chicago, 1944. Aki Ito and her parents arrive in town, expecting to be met by Rose, their oldest daughter. But tragedy has struck, and now Aki Ito is determined to discover what happened to her sister in this historical thriller. Naomi Hirahara joins us on the show to discuss sisterhood and coming-of-age, Japanese-American Internment and the 100-442nd Infantry Battalion, and the influence Chester Himes, Walter Mosley and Barbara Neely had on her work — and more. Featured Books: Clark and Division and the Mas Arai series by Naomi Hirahara and Japanese Americans in Chicago, Illinois by Alice Kishiye Murata. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Everyone has a secret to protect in a small Scottish Highlands town in Charlotte McConaghy’s new novel, Once There Were Wolves, the follow-up to her hit debut, Migrations (now in paperback). Charlotte joins us on the show to talk about writing literary fiction with crime elements, rewilding places and people, exploring empathy and hope through dark stories, and more. Featured books: Once There Were Wolves and Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy and The Overstory by Richard Powers. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes drop Tuesday and Thursday.
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Prepare to have your heart broken in all the best ways by Ash Davidson’s miraculous debut novel, Damnation Spring — our August Discover Pick. She joins us on the show to talk about starting with endings (and making big last-minute story changes); grounding her beautiful prose in real-life stories and first-person research; her love for her characters, and more. Featured Books: Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, The Round House by Louise Erdrich, How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C. Pam Zhang, and A Bitter Fog by Carol Von Strum. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If you love reading pulse-pounding stories about fictional spies, you’ll love Ben Macintyre’s thrilling true (and bestselling) stories about real-world spies, like The Spy and the Traitor, A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal, and Operation Mincemeat. His latest yes-this-is-absolutely-a-true-story (Ben has the documentation to prove it) book, Agent Sonya, has the pacing of a great novel and plenty of incredible details as the story cuts from Shanghai and Manchuria in the 1920s and 30s to Switzerland and the UK during WWII and into the Cold War (and beyond). Ben joins us on the show to talk about Ursula Burton — wife, mother and dedicated spy — John le Carré, and the joys of writing about espionage (Hint: It’s all about the hunt). Featured book: Agent Sonya by Ben Macintyre. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday.
Follow us here for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
James Baldwin died in 1987, but his work still speaks to us — as if it was written last year, or last month, or even last week. Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. joins us on the show to discuss leaving the U.S. in order to write about Baldwin (and why Baldwin came back from Paris); why we’re reaching for Baldwin now, more than three decades after his death; what Baldwin has to teach us about the intersection of memory, history, identity and race — and more. Featured books: Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr.; No Name in the Street, Nothing Personal and Nobody Knows My Name by James Baldwin. Produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
Poured Over is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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This is what we talk about when we talk about voice: Fern, Gwin and Jesenia are the heart of Carolyn Ferrell's acclaimed new novel, Dear Miss Metropolitan, and their voices are unforgettable. Their story is a story of trauma and grief and hope unlike any you've read before, though readers who love The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead won't want to miss this one. Carolyn joins us on the show to talk about her electrifying novel, the inspiration she draws from the work of Edward P. Jones, and more. Featured books: Dear Miss Metropolitan by Carolyn Ferrell, the short stories of Edward P. Jones, Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and Ill Will by Dan Chaon. Produced/hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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We've run out of superlatives to describe Helen Macdonald’s memoir, H is For Hawk. She’s followed her acclaimed bestseller — which showed many readers a new way of looking at the natural world — with a delightfully smart collection of essays in Vesper Flights, now out in paperback. Helen joins us on the show to talk about how birds’ nests changed her understanding of home, writing in hotel rooms, and what the natural world can teach us about building community and more. Featured books: Vesper Flights and H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, Missionaries by Phil Klay, and Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Fox & I, Catherine Raven’s tale of an intentional friendship with a wild red fox and how it changed her, is a kaleidoscopic meld of quiet observation, sharp reflection, wry humor and poetry. She joins us on the show to talk about empathy, what it means to be alone but not lonely, and other brilliant and surprising lessons she learned from her companion. Featured titles: Fox & I: An Uncommon Friendship by Catherine Raven, The Little Prince and Wind, Sand and Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Wolf Hall trilogy by Hilary Mantel, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, and The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.
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Sam Kean is an eclectic writer with an affinity for scientific subjects and their weird and darker paths, and he has an inimitable knack for transforming this passionate interest into astonishing story, punctuated with humor and rife with the absurd in his books The Disappearing Spoon, The Violinist’s Thumb, Caesar’s Last Breath, The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons and The Bastard Brigade. His latest book, The Icepick Surgeon, is a tale of scientists and doctors gone amok, crossing the line from experiment to crime, often wrong for all well-intentioned reasons, and what these stories reveal about historic times in which they took place. Sam Kean joins us on the show to talk about pirates, mad paleontologists, scientist-spies, and more. Featured books: The Icepick Surgeon by Sam Kean and Evolution Gone Wrong by Alex Bezzerides. Follow Us here for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Readers LOVE Matt Haig's charming, full of heart, and genuinely unputdownable novels The Midnight Library and How to Stop Time and made both of them bestsellers. Like many of us, Matt spent much of 2020 feeling a little anxious, a little frazzled--and looking for comfort, the subject of his latest work, The Book of Comfort. He joins us on the show to talk about hope, change and the importance of weird thinking. Featured books: The Comfort Book, The Midnight Library and Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig, Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne and the 1812 version of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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We’re huge fans of S.A. Cosby’s pulse-pounding noir novels set in Red Hill County, VA—and we’re not alone: Dennis Lehane, Walter Mosley, Lee Child, Stephen King and Laura Lippman are too. But Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears are more than action-packed thrill rides where the bad guys are very bad and the good guys are doing the best they can with what they have. S.A. Cosby joins us on the show to talk about redemption, family, writers he loves, and making up lies to find the truth. Featured books: Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby, A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley, and The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollack. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Ayad Akhtar’s plays—Disgraced (Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama), The Who and the What, and Junk¬—and his novels, American Dervish and Homeland Elegies, are electrifying, unforgettable works of art that push audiences and readers to think about community and power, money and success, and what it means to be American. He joins us on the show to talk about the inspiration for the outrageous and wildly funny Homeland Elegies (now available in paperback), Shakespeare and more. Featured books: Homeland Elegies, American Dervish, Disgraced and Junk by Ayad Akhtar; Ravelstein and The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow; Hadji Murat by Leo Tolstoy; Henry IV Part One and Part Two and Coriolanus by William Shakespeare; and Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
We’re not the only readers who adore Casey McQuiston’s super-fun, hilarious—and bestselling—love stories. She joins us on the show to talk about using astrology to help with character development (and more), writing rom-coms during the pandemic, the magical power of true love, Tik Tok and more. Featured titles: Red, White and Royal Blue and One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, She’s Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard, How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole, The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo, Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Mary McNamara. Produced/Hosted by Elani Wilson and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
Kiese Laymon — memoirist, essayist, novelist — is one of the most extraordinary and exciting writers working today. Best known for his acclaimed memoir Heavy, he recently bought back the rights to his first two books, the essay collection How to Slowly Kill Yourselves and Others in America and the picaresque coming-of-age novel, Long Division, so he could revise them and send them back into the world as they’re meant to be. He joins us on the show to talk about language and memory, rewriting and rereading. Featured Books: Long Division, How to Slowly Kill Yourselves and Others in America and Heavy by Kiese Laymon, Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deeshaw Philyaw, Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara, and Corregidora by Gayl Jones, Sing, Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward and There There by Tommy Orange. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Writer Gerry Allen is trapped at home after a bad fall, isolated in his swank apartment high over Baltimore Harbor — and the strange calls and letters he’s getting won’t stop. Laura Lippman’s killer new novel Dream Girl is a nod to a classic Agatha Christie locked-room mystery with a twisty plot, crackling dialogue, and lots of literary fun. Featured Books: Dream Girl, Lady in the Lake and My Life as a Villainess by Laura Lippman, Misery by Stephen King, Zuckerman Unbound by Philip Roth, Circe by Madeline Miller, Still Here: The Madcap, Nervy, Singular Life of Elaine Stritch by Alexandra Jacobs, and What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
We fell head over heels for Mostly Dead Things, Kristen Arnett’s wonderful, darkly comic debut novel about family (and taxidermy) set in central Florida — and we’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting for her latest novel, With Teeth, which we tore through as soon as it arrived. Kristen joins us on the show to talk about the family dynamics at the center of With Teeth, queerness on and off the page, nostalgia and more. Featured books: With Teeth by Kristen Arnett, Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Diaz, Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T. Kira Madden, Edinburgh by Alexander Chee, Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, Memorial by Bryan Washington, Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor, and Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays.
You don't have to be an avid fly fisher to appreciate John Maclean's beautiful new book HOME WATERS, but it will certainly inspire you to spend more time outside. A former Washington correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, with a second career writing books about wildfire, John now splits his time between DC and his family’s cabin on Seeley Lake in Montana. And if you’ve read John’s father’s book, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories, you know that cabin, and the Blackfoot River, and John’s Uncle Paul — though you won’t know Uncle Paul’s whole story, until you read HOME WATERS.
Featured books: Home Waters by John Maclean, A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean, Ernest Hemingway's short story, The Big Two-Hearted River (included in his collection In Our Time), and a Sherlock Holmes omnibus. Produced/Hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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You might know Danielle Henderson as the creator of the legendary feminist Ryan Gosling meme (which she later turned into a book); or from her most excellent recaps of Scandal and other shows for Vulture; her work as a television writer; or as the co-host of the screamingly funny movie podcast, I SAW WHAT YOU DID. Danielle’s memoir, THE UGLY CRY, is the unforgettable, darkly comic, true story of her unconventional childhood in the 80s — it’s a complex and wry do-I-laugh-or-do-I-cry memoir, and Danielle’s sublime writing is smart and sharp and not to be missed, but just wait until you meet her wise, horror-movie loving grandmother.
Featured books: The Ugly Cry by Danielle Henderson, Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris and Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs. Hosted and produced by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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HOW THE WORD IS PASSED is one of our most anticipated books for June 2021 — it’s a powerful portrait of America today, built from our history and Clint Smith’s incredible insight. Writer for @TheAtlantic, teacher and Doctor, Clint Smith is also a poet (Counting Descent) and the host of @thecrashcourse Black American History. Our interview with Clint runs a little longer than usual because there’s so much shared ground to cover.
Featured books: How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith, Long Division by Kiese Laymon, The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris, and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw. Hosted and produced by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Ashley C. Ford's essays and journalism have run in The Guardian and Buzzfeed; She's profiled Serena Williams and Anne Hathaway for Allure, Stacey Abrams for Marie Claire, and Vice President Kamala Harris for Elle; and her most recent podcast was Lovecraft Country Radio, the official companion to the hit show. No matter the subject or the format, Ashley knows how to tell a story with deep honesty and a lot of style, and now the story she's telling is hers. Glennon Doyle (Untamed) says Ashley's a "writer for the ages," and Oprah Winfrey's featuring Ashley's memoir, SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER on her imprint, An Oprah Book. Featured Books: Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson.
This episode was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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Maggie O'Farrell joins us to talk about HAMNET, her dreamy, intoxicating story of grief and love and Shakespeare, now out in paperback. Featured Books: Hamnet, The Vanishing of Esme Lennox and I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell, the stories of Alice Munro (Dear Life is a great place to start) and Mary Oliver's poetry. This episode was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and engineered by Harry Liang.
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