Currently Reading - podcast cover

Currently Reading

Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobbcurrentlyreadingpodcast.com
Currently Reading is a podcast dedicated to the love of books and reading. Two bookish friends discuss what’s on their nightstands, in their earbuds, and on their Kindles right now, in addition to books they’ve loved forever, and a variety of other readerly topics. Looking for your next great book? You'll find tons of book recommendations every week.

Episodes

Season 4, Episode 31: A Spicy Meatball + When Backlist Gets "Cringey"

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : too busy to read and leaning into non-fiction Current Reads : When Meredith finished edits on this episode, she called it a spicy meatball, and that’s certainly true for our current reads. Deep Dive : What we do about backlist books that don’t have the same standards as our modern sensibilities. Book Presses : a few middle grade gems that you don’t want to miss As per usual, time-stamped show notes...

Mar 14, 20221 hr 2 minSeason 4Ep. 31

Season 4, Episode 30: Judge Judy's Undies + Bookish One-Night Stands

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : a meetup with Megan! and Book Page Magazine Current Reads : middle grade and horror and Enneagram and magical realism. We’ve got it all! Deep Dive : Palate cleansers and one-night stand books Book Presses : a middle grade fantasy gem a great one-night stand As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to liste...

Mar 07, 202254 minSeason 4Ep. 30

Season 4, Episode 29: Discussions with Fellow Readers + Beloved Curmudgeons

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Mindy and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : live tweets from a friend and a spicy conversation behind the scenes Current Reads : some romance, some disagreement, and some under-the-radar gems Deep Dive : Mindy and Kaytee bring all the curmudgeons and disagree about them! Book Presses : a great series, and a short but powerful novel As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this ep...

Feb 28, 20221 hrSeason 4Ep. 29

Season 4, Episode 28: Not a "You" Book + Books About Marriage

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : reader app ideas and Meredith’s bookish grandbaby Current Reads : we bring books that the other host is NOT interested in reading. Deep Dive : our very favorite books about marriage, almost entirely fiction! Book Presses : fantastic social justice and a book about marriage and parenting As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this e...

Feb 21, 202257 minSeason 4Ep. 28

Season 4, Episode 27: Happy Sighs + An On-Ramp to Romance

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Mary and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : a fabulous buddy read and a young reader milestone Current Reads : this week we have a lot of books we really loved. There may be gushing. Deep Dive : an on-ramp to romance, from fade to black to spicy fun Book Presses : a perfectly midwestern story and a short story collection As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If yo...

Feb 14, 202248 minSeason 4Ep. 27

Season 4, Episode 26: Finding Readers for Authors + Bookish Bucket Lists

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : reader profiles on Instagram and connecting authors and readers Current Reads : we are revisiting some authors that we’ve read before, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Deep Dive : the items we have on our bookish bucket lists. What do we want to “achieve”? Book Presses : an oldie but goodie mystery and a graphic novel As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every bo...

Feb 07, 202257 minSeason 4Ep. 26

Season 4, Episode 25: Fits and Starts + Remembering What We Read

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : a Kindle device hack and the Edgar awards Current Reads : books that whelm us and surprise us in the best ways Deep Dive : the different ways we interact with our books and what we are reading Book Presses : a verse novel and an oldie but goodie As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and ...

Jan 31, 20221 hr 3 minSeason 4Ep. 25

Season 4, Episode 24: Reader, Know Thyself + Our Three Reading Themes

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : a giant fanfic and a kid’s rec Current Reads : books that have very little in common with each other Deep Dive : a listener-suggested topic, what are the three themes of your reading life? Book Presses : productivity non-fiction and pregnancy-related non-ficiton As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to ...

Jan 24, 20221 hr 1 minSeason 4Ep. 24

Season 4, Episode 23: Front and Backlist Beauties + Factors That Affect Our Star Ratings

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Mindy and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : traveling through the mail and anew book light Current Reads : some backlist books and some new releases, some of which really surprised us! Deep Dive : factors that make us add and remove stars Book Presses : redemptive drama and a true-to-life-novel As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first a...

Jan 17, 202251 minSeason 4Ep. 23

Season 4, Episode 22: Goals for 2022 + A Special Kind of Hell

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : home library wins and reading your shelves Current Reads : mystery and fantasy and parenting and romance and family drama, we’re running the reading gauntlet Deep Dive : setting goals for 2022 in our personal, podcast, and Patreon spaces Book Presses : a backlist gem and a retelling of a classic As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned ...

Jan 10, 202250 minSeason 4Ep. 22

Minisode: Mindy and Mary’s Top 10 Books of 2021

Today's minisode has an additional top 10 list to add to your 2022 TBRs! We’ve got Mindy and Mary here with their favorite books of 2021, and their conversation is not-to-be-missed! Note that they recorded this episode before Meredith and Kaytee’s released, so there are some repeats, but no one knew about the other’s lists! Minisode show notes are not timestamped, but linked titles are below for you to peruse. *Please note that all book titles linked below are Bookshop affiliate links. Your cost...

Jan 07, 202248 minSeason 4Ep. 21

Season 4, Episode 21: Our Top Ten Books of 2021!

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Our top ten books of 2021! It’s our longest episode ever, and we are so excited to share it with you as we jump into a new year! As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not spoil the surprise, don’t scroll down! New: we are now including transcripts of the episode (this link only works on the main site)...

Jan 03, 20221 hr 22 minSeason 4Ep. 21

Season 4, Episode 20: An Indie Bookstore Road Trip

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : rethinking the book slump and nerdy book stats Today, for the meat of our episode we are hearing directly from you, the listeners! We’re visiting your favorite indie bookstores and hearing about the books they pressed into your hands. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not spoil t...

Dec 13, 202142 minSeason 4Ep. 20

Season 4, Episode 19: Fabulous Stories + The Fictional Worlds We Want to Live In

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : a birthday gift for a friend and winter prep Current Reads : we’ve got lots of five-star books for you today readers, and one that didn’t hit the mark Deep Dive : the fictional worlds we would love to live in (or maybe just visit) Book Presses : a graphic novel and a perfectly quiet winter book As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned i...

Dec 06, 202158 minSeason 4Ep. 19

Season 4, Episode 18: Books We Both Read + Reading Your Shelves

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Mary and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : holiday reading and a Bookish dentist visit Current Reads : some books that we both read that we can discuss together Deep Dive : how to move those books from TBR to read - reading your shelves! Book Presses : a delightful classic and a middle grade gem As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first ...

Nov 29, 202146 minSeason 4Ep. 18

Season 4, Episode 17: Books of Big Feels + So Many Thoughts on Matrix

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Mindy and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : family reading time and a bookstore shopping trip Current Reads : a cadre of books that have been emotions attached tot hem Deep Dive : Matrix by Lauren Groff Book Presses : some sci-fi and some curmudgeon fiction to round out the episode As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not spoi...

Nov 22, 20211 hr 3 minSeason 4Ep. 17

Season 4, Episode 16: Listener Homework + Cinematic Books

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : an ASMR playlist + supporting indie bookstores Current Reads : climate fiction, romance, non-fiction, and murder Deep Dive : the books that we want to see on the large or small screen Book Presses : another cinematic pick and a quick option for non-fiction November As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like ...

Nov 15, 202153 minSeason 4Ep. 16

Season 4, Episode 15: Long-Term Buddy Reading + Picking a Book Club Book

1:27 Bookish Moment of the Week 1:46 - Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent 1:52 - Bookends bookshop in Pagosa Springs Colorado 2:46 - All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle 4:05 - The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand 4:42 - My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows and Brodi Ashton 4:43 - My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows and Brodi Ashton 4:57 - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 5:19 - Marley by Jon Clinch 6:06 Current Reads: 6:12 - God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (Kaytee) ...

Nov 08, 202151 minSeason 4Ep. 15

Season 4, Episode 14: An Hour to Myself - Finding Time to Read

0:00 Bite Sized Intro 1:43 - Currently Reading Patreon 5:48 Bookish Moment of the Week 7:01 - Smile by Raina Telgemeier 11:51 Current Reads: 13:09 - Billion Dollar Loser by Reeves Wiedeman (Meredith) 13:39 - The Herd by Andrea Bartz 15:33 - Bad Blood by John Carreyrou 19:55 - Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (Kaytee) 20:03 - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 25:05 - Bachelor Nation by Amy Kaufman (Meredith) 27:10 - The Popcast podcast 30:14 - Cazadora by Romina Garber Russell (Kayte...

Nov 01, 20211 hr 1 minSeason 4Ep. 14

Season 4, Episode 13: Bookish Multitudes + Be a Library Ambassador

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : a slumpy slump and reading dates Current Reads : we contain bookish multitudes Deep Dive : how to be a Library Ambassador. Go forth and make disciples! Book Presses : a fairytale that’s just as great on paper as on the screen and a business biography As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first...

Oct 25, 202154 minSeason 4Ep. 13

Minisode: An Interview with "All the Lonely People" Author Mike Gayle

Today’s spoiler-free minisode includes a conversation between Kaytee and author Mike Gayle. Mike is the author of All the Lonely People, his seventeenth novel, and one that totally captured my heart. You’ve heard me gush about the book, now listen to my conversation with Mike to hear about: Where Hubert Bird came from The Windrush generation and his parents A committee against loneliness The filling and emptying of a home How the book landed during the pandemic Captain Tom and small things with ...

Oct 22, 202133 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Season 4, Episode 12: Book Gushing + Packing Your Non-Fiction November TBR

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Mary and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : indie bookstore moments for a day date and a meetup Current Reads : we both have books today that are contenders for favorite of the year Deep Dive : we talk about multiple categories of books that we have loved and think you might love for non-fiction November Book Presses : two more NF picks, both memoir As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we men...

Oct 18, 202155 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Season 4, Episode 11: Recording Together + Lending Books to Friends and Family

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : being together in person! Current Reads : Books in the zeitgeist and one that’s perfect for October Deep Dive : are we precious about lending books out to others? do we have rules and regulations? Book Presses : books from the keeper shelf As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not sp...

Oct 11, 202156 minSeason 4Ep. 11

Season 4, Episode 10: It's Complicated + The Perfect Reading Nook

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : some wonderful bookish podcast episodes we had to highlight Current Reads : books that have complicated feelings attached, and ones that you cannot “at us” about Deep Dive : we are curating the perfect reading space Book Presses : uncomplicated feelings about books from authors we love As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this ep...

Oct 04, 202153 minSeason 4Ep. 10

Season 4, Episode 9: Books from Authors We've Loved Before + Constructive Spicy Opinions

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : emotional reading and books about anxiety for kids Current Reads : quite a few new and backlist releases from authors we love Deep Dive : strong opinions and constructive criticism - how to review a book that didn’t land for you. Book Presses : books that might not be for everyone, but were absolutely for us. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource...

Sep 27, 20211 hrSeason 4Ep. 9

Season 4, Episode 8: A Broad Swath of Current Reads + Gentle Murder

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments : zooming with an author and a slow but steady encouragement Current Reads : fairy tales and graphic novels and non-fiction and middle grade. We’re all over the place. Deep Dive : “gentle murder” is for those readers who want the propulsive and page-turning nature of mysteries and thriller, but can’t handle adding new fears to their arsenal Book Presses : propulsive but gentle books we think you’ll l...

Sep 20, 202159 minSeason 4Ep. 8

Season 4, Episode 7: Generational Reading + Conflicted Feelings About a Favorite Author

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Mindy are discussing: Bookish Moments : kids reading to parents and grandparents blowing a budget Current Reads : family drama and non-fiction and slapdash thrillers Deep Dive : Meredith and Mindy explore the feelings around a favorite author’s new release Book Presses : a new release that needs to be on “the list” and an older true crime gem As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we men...

Sep 13, 20211 hr 9 minSeason 4Ep. 7

Season 4, Episode 6: Breathless Books + An Intro to Book Flights

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : outside reading perfection and a new generation of readers Current Reads : books that take your breath away and that help you breathe better Deep Dive : Q and A about Book Flights Book Presses : two hilarious picks - both way backlist As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this episode. If you’d like to listen first and not spoil t...

Sep 06, 202159 minSeason 4Ep. 6

Season 4, Episode 5: Back to School with Campus Novels

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Mary are discussing: Bookish Moments : Pages at the Park and picking new curriciula Current Reads : following up on a series, going on adventures, and learning through reading fiction and non-fiction Deep Dive : back to school - our favorite campus novels Book Presses : a foodie memoir and back to school for non-school-age readers As per usual, time-stamped show notes are below with references to every book and resource we mentioned in this...

Aug 30, 202148 minSeason 4Ep. 5

Season 4, Episode 4: Reader Whiplash + Literary Hall Passes

On this week’s episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments : a readerly realization and a new library card Current Reads : weird books and wheelhouse books and a highlight of the Indie Press List Deep Dive : our literary hall passes - the characters and authors that make our hearts beat faster Book Presses : one of my favorite moments in our recording history. Welcome to press whiplash, we are glad you are here. As per usual, time-stamped show notes are belo...

Aug 23, 202155 minSeason 4Ep. 4