Kilts, Cupcakes, and Romance Novels
Frank and Gwen dive into two very different romance novels with NYPL librarians Annie Lin and Kate Fais. Plus: a super-clean podcast, a binge-watch-able show, and a gender-bending picture book.
Feb 16, 2017•46 min
The Librarian Is In
The New York Public Library’s podcast about books, culture, and what to read next.
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Episodes
At Home and Abroad
With books on the Syrian refugee crisis and American "hillbilly" culture, Frank and Gwen are looking for a deeper undstanding of the world here at home, and abroad. Also, dinosaurs. And then, the inimitable Nancy Aravecz, NYPL trainee and library-school student, joins us to talk about the core principles of libraries and the equal-opportunity learning at Jefferson Market University.
Feb 02, 2017•55 min
Lord of the Guys
Overdue in NYC! Frank and Gwen welcome Andrew and Craig of the Overdue podcast for a deep dive into William Golding's 1954 classic, Lord of the Flies. Every reader for him/her/reallyjustHIMself...
Jan 19, 2017•1 hr 6 min
#ReadersUnite!
Happy new year! Christopher Platt joins Gwen and Frank to talk about hate crimes, privacy and transparency, and how to start a revolution from your local library. Plus: Project Gutenberg reads, our technological future, and our crush on Carla Hayden.
Jan 05, 2017•55 min
So Long, 2016
Welcome to our Very Special Holiday Mini-Episode! We talk about our families' book-giving traditions, Santa stress, and a few random gift suggestions.
Dec 21, 2016•28 min
Lots of Good Fun That Is Funny
Children's librarian Louise Lareau joins Frank and Gwen to talk about NYPL's annual Best Books for Kids list and why you should say "underpants" during first-grade storytime. Plus: Eve Babitz, Joan Didion, Zadie Smith, joy, suffering, existentialism, etc., etc.
Dec 08, 2016•55 min
Turkeys Strike Back
Gwen and Frank are joined by Sarah Ball from NYPL's Correctional Services unit to talk about library services for people in jail or prison. Plus: what we're reading, books we're thankful for, and a whole lot of Frank's singing.
Nov 22, 2016•58 min
The Woman Behind the Curtain
Lynn Lobash, manager of Readers Services, peels back the curtain how how to make great book recommendations—and puts Gwen and Frank to the recommendations test.
Oct 27, 2016•48 min
Halloween Comes Early
As fall sets in and Halloween approaches, things get a little creeeeeeepy in the studio as Frank and Gwen bravely welcome horror expert and YA librarian Brian Stokes.
Oct 13, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Sixteen, Going on Seventeen
Manga madness overtakes the podcast when Frank and Gwen are joined by YA librarian Chantalle Uzan. Plus: Love for Liesel... not so much for Lionel Shriver.
Sep 29, 2016•54 min
Winnie-the-Podcast, Ep. 21
Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, and Roo join Frank and Gwen in the studio this wee... just kidding. But we have the next best thing: Michael Inman, curator of NYPL's Rare Book Division, who tells us about the restoration of the Library's historic Winnie-the-Pooh dolls. Plus: children's and YA books galore, and queens of all kinds.
Sep 15, 2016•52 min
(Literary) Disco Dancing, Ep. 20
Frank and Gwen are joined by Julia Pistell, co-host of the Literary Disco podcast! We play multiple rounds of guess-the-book, talk about whaling ships and virtual reality and Garfield Minus Garfield, and offer a bazillion book recommendations.
Sep 01, 2016•49 min
Hot Garbage, Summer in the City, Ep. 19
Humidity can't exist in outer space! Beat the heat by blasting off into orbit with Frank and Gwen's brand-new segment. Plus: Do audiobooks "count" as reading?
Aug 18, 2016•54 min
Frankster & The Veve: Ep. 18
Up for some agony? Frank and Gwen chat about suffering in literature and movies, debate the gender politics of picture books, and hang out with one of our funniest guests ever: Genoveve Stowell, manager of NYPL's new 53rd Street branch. Learn more at nypl.org/podcast
Aug 04, 2016•52 min
One Bad Podcast: Ep. 17
Gwen can barely contain herself this week when she and Frank are joined by Biz Ellis, one of the hosts of the One Bad Mother podcast, to talk kids and parents and books. And Biz's 6-year-old daughter makes a book recommendation! Find show notes and more at nypl.org/podcast
Jul 21, 2016•54 min
Hogwarts & Hollywood: Ep. 16
It's the first-ever Reading Challenge episode! Gwen and Frank assigned books to each other to read and discuss on the air. Hijinks ensue...
Jul 07, 2016•38 min
Reading Us the (Book) Riot Act: Ep. 15
Amanda Nelson, managing editor of Book Riot and host of BR's own book recommendation podcast, joins Frank and Gwen to discuss book recommendations. (What else?) Find show notes and more at nypl.org/podcast
Jun 23, 2016•42 min
Take Me Back to Manhattan: Ep. 14
Frank and Gwen keep it local this week, from a fashion show at Jefferson Market and Open Book Night with Mid-Manhattan's Elizabeth Waters to a great read about the city's Chintz Age and a karaoke trip around Broadway. Learn more at nypl.org/podcast
Jun 09, 2016•51 min
Dame Margaret Comes to Town: Ep. 13
Margaret H. Willison, a.k.a. The Coolest Funniest Pop-Culture-iest Librarian Ever, joins Gwen and Frank this week for the ultimate high/low-culture episode. nypl.org/podcast
May 26, 2016•55 min
Closer to Fine: Ep. 12
Along with Susen Shi from Mid-Manhattan Library, Frank and Gwen reveal their librarianship origin stories on this week's episode. Plus: Self-help books, plays in print, and the legacy of the Indigo Girls. Learn more: nypl.org/podcast
May 12, 2016•48 min
Raspberry Berets: Ep. 11
Frank and Gwen turn the tables on NYPL's Jessica Strand this week, interviewing the host of Books at Noon about the coolest authors she's ever interviewed herself. Plus: Prince's book-related legacy and Frank's best Carson impression.
Apr 28, 2016•50 min
Bros, Shakespeare, & Nudity... Not All at the Same Time: Ep. 10
Doug Reside from NYPL’s Library for the Performing Arts joins Gwen and Frank to talk about the Bard and the Great White Way. He even raps a teeny tiny bit from Hamilton.
Apr 14, 2016•45 min
What, Wait, What Happened!? Ep. 9 (Bonus Episode!)
Gwen and Frank discuss books that defy description and throw reality for a loop. Longtime residents of Harlem, Greenwich Village, the Bronx, and more get shout-outs in an interview with NYPL's Alex Kelly about the Library's oral history projects. Plus, Times Square and the attack of the Elmos. (Elmoes? Elmii?)
Apr 07, 2016•53 min
Grace Jones and Spelling Bees: Ep. 8
Who's ready to relive some traumatic moments from childhood?! We go toe-to-toe with the winner of the tri-library spelling bee: NYPL's very own Rob Kelley. Also! After taping Rob discovered that both 'pimiento' and 'pimento' are acceptable ways to spell the pepper that stuffs an olive and wanted us (and you) to know. So, now we all know, and you'll see why that is significant in this week's episode.
Mar 31, 2016•43 min
All the Feels: Ep. 7
Earnestness sets in when Singing Children's Librarian Emily Lazio joins us to talk about courage and encouragement, children's classics, and a cool new trend in picture books. Music by Podington Bear: "All Hot Lights" & "Ideas"
Mar 17, 2016•53 min
Far Out, Friends! Ep. 6
We're heading back to the '70s this week! Shola Lynch (of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture) joins us to talk about film, art, collecting history, and what it's like to hug Bert from Sesame Street.
Mar 03, 2016•50 min
We Love Men! Ep. 5
Taboo subjects in adult and children's books alike abound on our fifth episode. Plus, find out what makes a "rare book" rare with our very own rare book librarian, Jessica Pigza.
Feb 18, 2016•54 min
The Podcast That Must Not Be Named, Ep. 4
Go behind the scenes at BookOps, the Library's special secret spy agen— er, the "technical services" unit. Also: the Helen Ellis/Shirley Jackson/Anita Brookner triumvirate, Frank's shocking Harry Potter confession, and more.
Feb 04, 2016•1 hr
#TeamEdith, Ep. 3
We talk about how to fit more reading into busy schedules, Lin-Manuel Miranda, horror books and movies, childhood favorites, David Bowie, Lin-Manuel Miranda again, and our love for Downton Abbey’s kind Anna and unstoppable Edith.
Jan 21, 2016•56 min
Cloning Clooney, Ep. 2
We talk about feminist comics, The Golden Girls, squids and snails, intellectualism, and -- yes -- cloning George Clooney. Plus Frank and Gwen are joined by NYPL's very own Jason Baumann.
Jan 06, 2016•53 min
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