“This whole life experience is just a ride, and occasionally we get to steer it.” Jason Mraz’s new album Mystical 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 lan...
Jul 01, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 host...
Jun 29, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast “God, I was an idiot, but I had good legs.” Caroline O’Donoghue’s The Rachel Incident is 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 J...
Jun 27, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Lian...
Jun 24, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 Je...
Jun 22, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 hos...
Jun 20, 2023•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jun 17, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 t...
Jun 15, 2023•2 hr 31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jun 10, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Jun 08, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 ...
Jun 06, 2023•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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...
Jun 03, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Jun 01, 2023•2 hr 40 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 th...
May 30, 2023•2 hr 34 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Mess...
May 27, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 Pou...
May 25, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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. Th...
May 23, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 Pour...
May 20, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 S...
May 18, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ho...
May 16, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
May 13, 2023•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 th...
May 11, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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. Thi...
May 09, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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, Jenn...
May 06, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast "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 ...
May 04, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast “…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 le...
May 02, 2023•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Apr 29, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Transcript available on Metacast “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 Ove...
Apr 27, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Apr 25, 2023•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
