Our Director Made Us Do This: The Podcast: Recent Episodes
Oneida Public Library
Librarian, Ariel Bero and Tech Services Wizard, Colleen Samura explore the world of books and libraries (specifically theirs-Oneida Public Library) with hot takes and hilarious banter.
This week, Colleen and Ariel have a special guest host, the famous, Spencer K. Spencer talks about his new film projects and how Ariel absolutely KILLED her very small part in one of them.
We talk about her a lot so this legend is here with us!! This week Ariel and Colleen are joined by Kathy Wojciechowski (or Wojo) to talk about board things and books.
This week Colleen and Ariel talk to YA author and master certified life coach, Isabel Sterling about her writing process, writing LGBTQIA+ characters, her favorite books and much more on this week's episode!
A fun episode about our most anticipated books of the summer and of course the rise of the ORCAS!!
Ariel is back from vacation and never leaving Colleen to her own devices. This week, Ariel and Colleen talk to one of our favorite people and poets, Beth Totten and her collection of poetry, Connections that includes beautiful photos that her son, Jake took. Enjoy :)
Colleen brings you a little change of pace with a mini-cast solo episode. Is she losing her mind? It's very possible.
Did she think her phone falling off her desk was a rat scurrying toward her and then she screamed so loud that Jason and Sara came running from the desk to see what happened?
Maybe.
That may have happened.
Ariel gears up for vacation, NEW Program announcements and we talk with Amanda Mullenax from Bridges about mostly everything about Narcan (how to administer, what it is exactly, what to expect if you ever have to give it and the importance of breaking stereotypes). Definitely worth a listen!
This week we talk with Megan and Aubrey Kirley from Safe Harbor to talk about all the Safety Week events coming up and why app chats are crazy places. Warning: We do talk about semi-mature topics so listeners be aware.
Colleen has the day off so Bree graciously offered to co-host this weeks episode. We talk spring break activities, what topics we cannot read and Bree tests Ariel's ability to recall random books from her Good Reads list.
Ariel and Colleen give a sneak peak to our ridiculously packed April calendar, the rest of the podcast covers a modpodge of topics.
Lots to catch up on since we skipped last week. Sneak peak of upcoming programming, graphic novels galore and Ariel and Colleen's neurodivergent brains are allllll discussed and more this week. Check. It. Out.
Updates on the library budget vote, Ariel finally finishes Hell Bent and Colleen read more graphic novels than Ariel has in her life in just one short week.
Ariel and Colleen give you the low down of everything happening in March at the library (spoiler: there's a lot) and then the conversation goes off from there.
This week Colleen and Ariel feel OLD. They talk about the three new decade dolls from the year Ariel was born and when she was 13. Then they think of things that would come as accessories to their dolls (if they had them) as children AND as adults. By far, one of their favorite episodes so far!
We have a realllll treat this week. Ariel and Colleen are joined by Spencer (and very briefly Garret) to talk about his creative process making movies and writing/directing plays. You would never know this kid is only 11. He certainly has a very bright future ahead of him so be sure to listen to his very first interview!
Hope you all like Brendan Fraser. We also talk about some fun events coming up at the library and have returning guest, Bree on this weeks episode to talk about some Stephen King too.
This episode is brought to you by new TikTok sensations, Ariel and Colleen (find us at @oneida_library). Colleen loses her mind over Holly Black and Leigh Bardugo's January releases and Ariel finally gets to play would you rather?
Lots of fun programming coming up in the next couple of weeks, Colleen actually read a physical book and a fun little segment inspired by TikTok.
We'reeeee backkkkkkk! New year, new season! Ariel read a lot of books, Colleen didn't. This week we talk about our 2023 life/reading goals, Colleen plays the uke for us and much more!
We're backkkkkkkkkk :) Ariel and Colleen catch you all up about library life and the books we've actually read
This episode is worth the wait! Colleen, Ariel and Megan talk with Matt Pelicano about his newest book, The Woolems of Averlune. We apologize for the delay!
The first eleven minutes or so of this week's episode is about the World Cup. If you do not want to hear two book nerds talk about sports ball, you can skip ahead (but we are very excited so maybe listen for the enthusiasm). Colleen also read a TON of books and then Ariel and Colleen discuss why and how they rate their books after reading.
This week Ariel and Colleen are joined by Jessica Farmer of the Oneida Nation. Jessica talks about what she brought in for our art gallery for November and December (visit us to take a look at incredible beadwork and baskets), misconceptions (do not call them Iroquois), bringing back their native language, traditional dancing and so, so much more. This is quite possibly our favorite episode to date. We learned so much and you will too!
This week Colleen and Ariel chat about the books that have been on their bookshelves and minds for a while and still haven't gotten to. December is looking promising!
This week we have special guest, Officer Mike from the Oneida Police Department, to talk about some common scams that are going around, how to avoid them and what to do if you are targeted.
This week we talk with our instant new best friend, Bree and talk about all the very interesting niche genres that you probably didn't know were a thing.
We hype up our first annual Pumpkin Glow, Family Friendly Halloween Movie Trivia and holiday family portraits are back! Then we chat with our long lost patron, Laura about witchy books and whatever else comes to mind. It's a fun one!
Get yourself a steaming cuppa and cozy up to hear about some of our favorite nonfiction books ranging from anthologies to memoirs.
Hope you have your steaming cup of tea ready to settle into this episode with! This week, the gals talk about their favorite spooky/cozy season books and give a sneak peak about our first annual Pumpkin Glow event. Ariel finally feels alive.
This week Megan joins us for that quiz we promised to give her MWAHAHAHAHA evil laughter then we plan some weddings for Disney Princesses. Colleen says this is one of the best episodes we have recorded so you should trust her.
Ariel and Colleen actually finished books this week to talk about then they chat about some of the books that are coming out this fall that they are pretty jazzed about.
This week Ariel and Colleen chat about adventuring to Maryland and meeting Lisa Jewell. Listen to find out why we think she is a 10/10 human.
Books Mentioned:
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
Lisa Jewell Books:
The Family Remains
The Family Upstairs
Then She Was Gone
The Night She Disappeared
Invisible Girl
Ralph's Party
The House We Grew Up In
Since Colleen is off this week, Michele joined me to chat about upcoming events including our last outdoor concert and how to avoid scammers then we debunk some library myths like we read all day or libraries are quite spaces (they are...sometimes) and many more. Michele is also sure that every library has at least one ghost and Ariel can verify. We hope you enjoy this weeks episode, email us at ourdirectorpodcast@gmail.com to share some preconceived notions you have about libraries.
This week we have special guest, Terri Bonney, on to discuss some of her favorite books she's read this year (so far over 180 books!!!), what books to avoid when they finally get released (hence the title-also ARCs are advanced reader copies) and gushes with Colleen about the Animorphs children book series. It was a fun episode to record and you are going to hear a lot (we hope) from Terri in the future!!
We didn't prepare for this week so we grabbed Megan and off we went on a fun chat about our fun August plans, what we have and have not been reading and what we would do if we won the lottery.
This week Colleen and Ariel talk about their adventure to go see Lisa Jewell in August and all the books that live in their heads rent free (It doesn't mean we loved them).
Books Mentioned:
Siren Queen by
Circe by Madeline Miller
An Unkindness of Ghosts by River Solomon
Darling Girl by Liz Michalski
Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
Rent Free Books:
Flight From Berlin by David John
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Salvage The Bones by Jesmyn Ward
The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
Murderbot Series by Martha Wells
This week we talk about space and the incredible pictures that the Webb Telescope is taking, Ariel tries to explain the Tour De France to Colleen then we talk to our friend, Justin Acker from Parks and Rec about some of our collaborations coming up and more!
We have a very special episode for you this week. Ariel and Megan got to talk with Nashville recording artist, Alyssa Trahan. Find out who responded, how she got started and writes songs. It was a pleasure to sit down and talk with her!
(Our normal features still made it!)
Books Mentioned:
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
this book is not about benedict cumberbatch by Tabitha Carvan
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
We have A LOT to go over this week! Colleen and Ariel finished their Buddy Read, Outlawed by Anna North. Then the gals talk about their most anticipated Summer books coming out in July and August.
Books Mentioned:
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender,
A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
Summer TBR:
OUR WIVES UNDER THE SEA BY JULIA ARMFIELD (JULY 12),
THE LAST WHITE MAN BY MOHSIN HAMID (AUGUST 2),
BABEL: OR THE NECESSITY OF VIOLENCE: AN ARCANE HISTORY OF THE OXFORD TRANSLATORS’ REVOLUTION BY R.F. KUANG (AUGUST 23),
THE SPEAR CUTS THROUGH WATER BY SIMON JIMENEZ (AUGUST 30)
NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ: STORIES BY MORGAN TALTY (JULY 5)
THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU BY SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA (JULY 19)
DIRTBAG, MASSACHUSETTS: A CONFESSIONAL BY ISAAC FITZGERALD (JULY 19)
MERCURY PICTURES PRESENTS BY ANTHONY MARRA (AUGUST 2)
CARRIE SOTO IS BACK BY TAYLOR JENKINS REID (AUGUST 30)
The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (August 9th)
Summer Reading is upon us so that means lots of fun things at the library. Ariel actually finished books this week to tell you about and Colleen closes pride month with a final list of Pride recommendations. We are also 3/4 through Outlawed. There is still time to read with us!
Colleen and Ariel have had a WEEK but things are looking up. Buddy Read of "Outlawed" by Anna North continues (things are really speeding up) with chapters 4-6 and Colleen continues her favorite Pride Month reads.
Books Mentioned:
Beach Reads by Emily Henry
Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
In Five Years by Rebecca Searle
Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
Vol. 3 Books:
Of Fire and Stars, Of Ice and Shadows by Audrey Coulthurst Wilder Girls by Rory Power (Burn Our Bodies Down, In a Garden Burning Gold) The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang Princess Princess Ever After, The Tea Dragon Society, by Kay O’Neill Heartstopper by Alice Oseman Summer of Salt by Katrino Leno When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore (Wild Beauty, Blanca y Roja, The Weight of Feathers, Lakelore, The Mirror Season, Deep and Darkest Red) If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Welcome to this weeks Top Gun: Maverick episode. The gals talk about their buddy read, Outlawed by Anna North, Colleen also gives us her second set of Pride book recs and much, much more!
Ariel's Books:
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham Beach Read by Emily Henry
Colleen's Books:
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal el-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Crier’s War by Nina Varela Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward The Afterward by E.K. Johnston Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera
Books by Adam Silvera: More Happy Than Not History is All You Left Me They Both Die at the End What if it’s Us Here’s to Us Infinity Son
Books by Mackenzi Lee: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy The Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks
This week Ariel and Colleen have two special guests, Alex and Garret, discuss all of our Pride month programming and our favorite LGBTQIA+ books (there are A LOT).
Books Discussed:
Outlawed by Anna North for the read along
Becky Chambers To Be Taught, If Fortunate Psalm for the Wild Built A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Nina LaCour Yerba Buena We Are Not Okay Someone to Watch Over Me The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth Orpheus Girl by Brynne Rebele-Henry All Out (Anthology) Edited by Saundra Mitchell Becky Albertalli Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda Leah on the Offbeat
Ariel's Books: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Let's Get Back to the Party by Zak Salih The Fixed Stars by Molly Wizenberg On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
This week Colleen and Ariel give you a sneak peak on the Mid York Library Road Trip program, some pop culture hot takes, tell you about the books they haven't read then Colleen gives Ariel two bookish quizzes. Listen to find out what they were!
Books Mentioned:
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobels
Stay and Fight by Madeline Fitch
We've made it to our twentieth show! Ariel did come back from California just so she could tell you her least favorite books.
Books Mentioned:
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
Books We Hated:
White Houses by Amy Bloom A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams The Chosen and The Beautiful by Nghi Vo The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer The Spy by Paulo Coelho Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig White Noise by Don DeLillo The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
Colleen highly upsets Ariel by viciously attacking her love of audiobooks and Ariel runs away to California, never to be heard from again.
Books we mentioned:
Gallant by V.E. Schwab
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Spear by Nicola Griffith
Book of Night by Holly Black
Stay and Fight by Madeline Ffitch
Plus a motherlode of Ariel's favorite audiobooks that Colleen is too lazy to type here.
Stay tuned for next week when Ariel is back (maybe) to write a better episode description.
Colleen is out this week so Megan, our Youth Services Coordinator, joins Ariel for this week's episode. Megan tells us about her surprising secrets, upcoming youth programs and knows more about Star Wars than any of us thought. It was fun having her on.
Books mentioned:
-Lore by Alexandra Bracken
-People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
-Book Lovers by Emily Henry
-Come Fly The World by Julia Cooke
-Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner
-Galant by V.E. Schwab
Colleen is taking a vacation so we have a special episode for you this week! Ariel and Colleen quiz each other on 80s music and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (their respective strong suits) because Trivia Nights at the library are their favorite.
Books mentioned:
The Sanatorium (DNF) by Sarah Pearse
Sometimes I lie by Alice Feeney
People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry
What are the best books you've ever read? What's that one novel that changed your life? We call those God Tier books and this week we share some surprising, never before mentioned books (we were saving them for this episode). Let us know what your God Tier book, email us at ourdirectorpodcast@gmail.com or message us @ourdirectorpodcast on Instagram.
Books mentioned:
Sincerely by F.S Yousef
Fake by Erica Katz
The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Taste by Stanley Tucci
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
A Thousand Lives: The Untoald Story of Hope, Deception, and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres
In The Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a Boy Solider by Ishmael Beah
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
This week we learn about Ariel's complete and utter devotion to Stevie Nicks while we talk about books we read last week. Colleen continues her poetry book a day extravaganza THEN we talk with our favorite Bookstagrammer, Madeline Smith. We gave her a surprise quiz about her favorite book series and found out what her God Tier (best book) pick is. This episode was a lot of fun and we hope you enjoy it!
We have another jam packed episode this week. Not only did we have a chat with our friend Deb about her upcoming Ukulele class, Colleen read all the poetry books (well five of them). We have a podcast specific Instagram @ourdirectorpodcast where you can match our guests to their faces and other great visuals that we happen to talk about.
Books:
Last Night At The Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar
your wound | my garden by alok
Mother Country by Elana Bell
What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer
This week, Author in Residence Matt Pelicano, drops in to discuss his newly released poetry book (Winter Bloom), his upcoming novel and his teen writing group here at the library. Before we do that we talk about Ariel's developing new podcast about boy bands and of course the books we are reading. Almost forgot! Find out the number one most poached item in the world (hint: it's not ivory or from an animal) in this installment of Discovering Dewey.
Books Mentioned:
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
The Push by Ashley Audrain
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Council of Animals by Nick McDonell
Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
This week Megan joins us to talk about ALL THE THINGS that are coming to the library in April including a jam packed Spring Break filled with Ukulele classes, family movie night. a Teddy Bear workshop and more! We also left some time for some shenanigan's and why Cazenovia's newly departed Library Director NEEDS gold (she's the best). Find past reading lists on www.oneidapubliclibrary.org under the OPL Podcast Tab.
This week's book:
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
A Boy With A Bird In His Chest
The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis
This week we talk about all the exciting new groups that are starting this month and next at the library, how all of Ariel's audiobook holds became available and the book that Colleen says is her favorite of 2022 (it's only March). Then the lady's talk about Modern classics and we shoot off some predictions of what will become classics from the past decade or so. Don't miss it! E-mail us at Ourdirectorpodcast@gmail.com.
We made it 10 episodes! The lovely Pat Albaugh drops in with milkshakes and Colleen reveals what she learned in the serene lands of the 200's (204 specifically).
You know the deal: a long list of library programs to enjoy, books we've read/listened to and then all the books we have read that we didn't hate that the nice people on the internet told us to read. Follow Ariel's favorite bookstagramer, @madelinemaesmithauthor and your favorite librarian, @arielreadsitall on Instagram. E-mail us at ourdirectorpodcast@gmail.com with books that you have read that you probably wouldn't have because of the internet!
This week Ariel and Colleen talk about ALL the things that are coming up at the library including Matthew Urtz, Madison County Historian and his Scandal of Mad Co Program. What we are currently reading (obvi) and ending with what children's book series you read and what we think you are reading now as an adult. A lot of hot takes in this one!
If you love Libraries and everything they do, this episode is for YOU! Get some surprising library facts and get caught up with the upcoming gallery, our new Teen Advisory Group, and all the books Colleen and Ariel read :)
This week Ariel reveals her Discovery Dewey number and all the weird thing that she learned (she's still waiting for that cadaver). Then Colleen and Ariel chat about Amazon's new Lord Of The Ring series and other ridiculously expensive TV shows and finally our Supreme Leader graces us with her presence to discuss her dream travel guide book.
This week Ariel and Colleen talk about what we are doing for Black History Month at the library, this months trivia, and Colleen gives Ariel a quiz but tricks her first (very on brand).
This week Colleen learned a language for Discovery Dewey! We also chat about our new writer's group, what we are reading when Ariel is not playing Candy Crush and discuss IN DEPTH about upcoming movie and tv adaptations of our favorite books as well as the best and worst adaptations in recent history.
This week Ariel and Colleen talk about the new writer's group, what we are reading and why Ariel chooses the darkest books to read. They also talk with Ms. Megan, OPL's Children's Coordinator about our fun kids programs and a sneak preview of Summer Reading and much, much more!
This week Ariel asks Colleen a bunch of would you rather book related questions. We could have also named this episode "or Colleen Gets Stressed Out For No Reason".
This week Ariel and Colleen talk about the new art gallery and upcoming programs for January, what they are currently reading and Colleen recaps Return to Hogwarts.