Like books? Try these 7 places to hear great conversations with authors
There are literally billions and billions of podcasts!
Don't bother fact-checking that statement; it's literally not true. It just sometimes feels that way, what with the plethora of content available on the many podcasting platforms, social media live streams and good ol' YouTube.
The good news for book lovers is that great conversations with your favorite authors have never been more accessible, as are ways to discover new writers (or new-to-you writers). The bad news is that it can be daunting to know where to start. So let me share some go-to shows from my perspective as a book lover, author and journalist (and occasional writing instructor, too). In no particular order:
Writers on Writing: What began as a college radio show at UC Irvine in the 1990s has evolved into a must-listen to hear advice from esteemed writers, earning the show the label of "your own personal MFA program." Hosts Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone regularly pull luminaries, including Ann Patchett, Amor Towles and George Saunders.
Otherppl with Brad Listi: Since 2011, Brad, himself an author, has been talking about the creative process, politics, culture and whatever else comes up with fellow literary types. A few names to drop: Jonathan Franzen, Ottessa Moshfegh, Hilton Als, Tom Perrotta, Tim O'Brien, Jonathan Lethem, Lauren Groff, Celeste Ng, Aimee Bender. Smart, often funny, always insightful.
Memoir Nation: Originally launched as WriteMinded in 2018, founders Brooke Warner, publisher of SheWrites Press, and author Grant Faulkner have rebranded to offer this as a weekly writing podcast that focuses on memoir and personal narratives, as well as industry trends and conversations with memoirists like Roxane Gay and Anne Lamott.
Alta Journal California Book Club: Technically, this is not a podcast but rather a virtual program produced via Zoom then posted on YouTube. Nonetheless, it's worth your time, as host John Freeman curates in-depth conversations with some of the Golden State's most luminous literati - Amy Tan, Janet Fitch, Percival Everett and many more.
The Unspeakeasy with Meghan Daum: Meghan is an author and cultural critic of steel-edged intellectual sharpness whose wide-ranging array of guests - be they authors, academics, journalists - often skew right-of-center. Expect more nuanced conversations about art, culture and politics than any of your average cable shows.
Bibliocracy: Andrew Tonkovich, editor of the literary journals Santa Monica Review and Citric Acid and a retired English professor, is the erudite host of this weekly half-hour program, which features readings and conversations with authors and poets. Hear it Thursdays on the radio at KPFK 90.7-FM, or streaming on most platforms.
Bookish: File this under "shameless plug." The Southern California News Group launched Bookish during the pandemic as a way to engage our newspapers' subscribers, but it is now an ongoing community, talking with a broad range of authors about their big ideas. All-star guests have included Susan Orlean, Joyce Carol Oates, Michael Connelly, Karin Slaughter, Lidia Yuknavitch and John Lithgow. We're still a virtual program produced via Zoom, then posted on YouTube - and yes, I'm the host.
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