Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer analyzes the artistic and creative life and those who live it in a page-turning conversation about the way we consume art. Dederer joins us to talk about the subjectivity of criticism, the intensity of fandom, ethics in art and more.

Sonora Jha's The Laughter is a satirical novel taking on academia, obsession, race and class in with wit and, of course, laughter. Jha joins us to talk about creating her characters, writing an unreliable narrator, her influences and more.

Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

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 Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.   

Featured Books (Episode):

Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer

The Name of This Band is R.E.M. by Peter Ames Carlin

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

The Laughter by Sonora Jha

Vladimir by Julia May Jonas

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

The Remains of The Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Kate DiCamillo joins us to talk about her work from Because of Winn Dixie to The Puppets of Spelhorst and beyond. DiCamillo and co-host Jenna Seery discuss her start as a writer, the joys a good book can bring, the importance of reading for young people and more. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                    

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.          

Featured Books (Episode):

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

The Watsons Go to Birmingham — 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond

Holes by Louis Sachar

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Howard's End by E.M. Forster

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Featured Books (TBR Top Off):

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo

Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu tells the story of the son of Ethiopian immigrants unraveling family history, connection and memory. Mengestu joins us to talk about the experiences that lead to his writing, diasporic communities, power in storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. 

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.           

Featured Books (Episode): 

Someone Like Us by Dinaw Mengestu  

The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengestu 

Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones 

"Our ancestors, our grandparents, love us by not speaking…"  

 The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan follows one family in 1945 Malaya as they face the realities of a life shaped by war and colonization. Chan joined us to talk about her family connection to her novel, her unique journey to becoming an author, the things about writing that surprised her 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.                

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.             

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan 

Sea Change by Gina Chung 

The Great Reclamation by Rachel Heng 

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett  

The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade 

In Memoriam by Alice Winn 

"New York is a character in the book, and I hate it when people are like 'the city's almost a character'" 

One of our favorites of 2023, Colson Whitehead's Crook Manifesto is a crime novel and so much more with unforgettable characters and a gritty portrait of New York in the 70s. Whitehead joined us to talk about his portrayal of the city he grew up in, creating a code of honor for criminals, important movie references 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.               

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.            

Featured Books (Episode): 

Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead 

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead 

The World According to Fannie Davis by Bridgett Davis 

The Colossus of New York by Colson Whitehead  

"I think it's actually good for discussion, because you want to see a range of variety of books on these top 10 lists." 

It's been a great year for books! With best-of-the-year lists rolling out, Gilbert Cruz, Books Editor at the New York Times, sat down with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over, to discuss some favorites of the year, how the top lists are compiled, the joys of recommending books and more.   

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 Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    

Featured Books (Episode): 

Lone Women by Victor LaValle 

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton 

North Woods by Daniel Mason 

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride 

Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 

The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel 

Fire Weather by John Vaillant 

Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo 

The Wager by David Grann 

Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park 

Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond 

A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung 

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 

The Fraud by Zadie Smith 

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis 

A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen 

Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang 

Loot by Tania James 

Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead 

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus 

This Other Eden by Paul Harding 

Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk puts Indigenous history at the center to create a fuller and more accurate depiction of America's past and future. Blackhawk joins us to talk about the erasure of Indigenous peoples from American history, retelling narratives from new perspectives, the surprises he found in his research 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.              

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.          

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk 

Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy offers an in-depth look at the significant cultural intersection between hip-hop music and the world of fashion. Krishnamurthy joins us to talk about her career leading up to writing this book, the research she did, gender roles in hip-hop and fashion 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.              

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.         

Featured Books (Episode): 

Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy  

Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter is a raw and visceral novel that explores primal desires, shocking secrets and the effects they have on those that uncover them. Hunter is joined by her publisher, Roxane Gay, a prolific author in her own right including her new collection, Opinions. The two join us to discuss collaboration and revision, writing the gritty details of life, advice for writers 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 Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.             

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.        

Featured Books (Episode):  

Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter 

Opinions by Roxane Gay 

O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker 

Empty Theatre by Jac Jemc 

The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure 

 Featured Books (TBR Topoff): 

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh 

The Need by Helen Phillips 

Emily Wilson's new translation of The Iliad brings to life this divine tale of conflict, love and honor in a way that feels fresh and compulsively readable. Wilson joins us to talk about the universality of Homer's work, working with gods and epic themes, translating for modern audiences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. 

 This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.               

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).        

 Featured Books (Episode): 

The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson 

The Iliad translated by Emily Wilson  

"It's important for us to examine those inherited perspectives that … guide the way that we think and feel and imagine with regard to other life forms on the planet." 

 Entangled Life: The Illustrated Edition brings readers back to the wondrous realm of fungi, now with stunning photographs that illuminate this mysterious piece of our world in a new way. Sheldrake joins us to talk about adding a new medium to his work, the influences of fungi on culture, important conservation efforts and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.  

 This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.               

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).        

Featured Books (Episode):  

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake 

Entangled Life: Illustrated Edition by Merlin Sheldrake 

Ed Park's Same Bed Different Dreams blends history, technology and pop culture in a novel that spans time and reality in an unforgettable way. Park joins us to talk about the long gap between his books, writing and identity, media connections in his work 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.             

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.         

 
Featured Books (Episode): 

Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park 

Personal Days by Ed Park 

Big Bang by David Bowman 

The Notebook by Ágota Kristóf 

With recent reprints of The Children's Bach and This House of Grief, Helen Garner's voice returns in two of her best works — a novel featuring the intricacies of complicated family life and a nonfiction account of one of Australia's most shocking criminal cases. Garner joins us to talk about how she came to write each of these stories, keeping diaries, the complexities of human character 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.            

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       

Featured Books (Episode): 
The Children's Bach by Helen Garner 

This House of Grief by Helen Garner  

Monkey Grip by Helen Garner  

Pearl by Siân Hughes is a story of mothers, daughters, an old house, and one haunting poem. Hughes joins us to talk about village life, her writing process for a coming-of-age novel, playfulness in her work and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                    

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.          

Featured Books (Episode):

Pearl by Siân Hughes

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo translated by J.R.R. Tolkien

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Featured Books (TBR Top Off):

Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

In Jeff Tweedy's newest book World Within a Song, the accomplished musician shares fifty influential songs that have shaped his life and career and shows us how music can create connection for all. Tweedy joins us to talk about the impact of music on identity, the shared qualities between his different mediums, his thoughts on authenticity and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. 

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.              

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).       

Featured Books (Episode): 
World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy

How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy

Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy

This Is Not a Novel by David Markson

The Tunnel by William H. Gass

The World Within the World by William H. Gass

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith's To Free the Captives combines the beauty of a memoir with a grander look at America's history and future. Smith joins us to talk about family and cultural identity, race and belonging, the importance of poetry 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.    

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.   

Featured Books (Episode):

To Free the Captives by Tracy K. Smith

Such Color Tracy K. Smith

Life on Mars Tracy K. Smith

Wade in the Water Tracy K. Smith

"My favorite parts of this book are when you have two characters … talking about what they want from the world and how they can achieve it." 

The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump showcases a cast of relatable and deeply human characters as they attempt to create a perfect society in an imperfect world. Bump joins us to talk about his writing process, creating characters that feel messy and real, grief and hope 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.            

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.        

 Featured Books (Episode): 
The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump 

Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel Bump 

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 

Finnegans Wake James Joyce 

The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro 

Divine Days by Leon Forrest 

The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez reflects our complicated and constantly changing world, featuring unlikely connections and even a parrot named Eureka. Nunez joins us to talk about the autobiographical details in her works, her unique writing process, incorporating humor into her novels 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.            

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.        

Featured Books (Episode): 
The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez 

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez 

What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez 

A Feather on the Breath of God by Sigrid Nunez 

Sempre Susan by Sigrid Nunez 

Sleepless Nights by Elizabeth Hardwick 

My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley 

First Love by Gwendoline Riley 

Seven Steeples by Sarah Baume 

Set on one day in April in three different years, Day by Michael Cunningham is an intimate analysis of family love and connection. Cunningham joins us to talk about translating his writing from thoughts to words, writing a pandemic novel that isn't really a pandemic novel, using literature as a connection to the world 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.           

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       

Featured Books (Episode): 
Day by Michael Cunningham 

Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton 

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot 

Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

The Hours by Michael Cunningham 

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham 

"Shift in perception is a miracle" 

 Death Valley by Melissa Broder is part desert survival story, part examination of grief — mixing the absurd with the profoundly human in a feat of imagination. Broder joins us to talk about the realities of anticipatory grief, incorporating fantastical elements into the real world, including humor in her work and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. 

 This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.              

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     

Featured Books (Episode): 

Death Valley by Melissa Broder 

The Pisces by Melissa Broder 

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder 

The Babysitter at Rest by Jen George 

Open Throat by Henry Hoke 

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls 

Leave Society by Tao Lin 

The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector 

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey 

Correction by Thomas Bernhard 

Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton 

"I think the bigger stuff isn't going to happen if we can't change the fact that we're not really seeing each other."  

Class by Stephanie Land is a portrait of motherhood, the institutions of education, and the realities of life for those under the poverty line, full of heart, compassion and wit. Land joins us to talk about her hopes for the book, her experiences with secondary education and motherhood, her identity as a writer and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.  

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.              

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).       

Featured Books (Episode): 
Class by Stephanie Land

Maid by Stephanie Land 

Viet Thanh Nguyen's new memoir, A Man of Two Faces, is an unconventional and impeccable personal narrative that tackles the author's own life alongside larger themes of culture and colonization. Nguyen joined us live at The Grove to talk about understanding his own story through writing, his interpretations of memory 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.          

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      

Featured Books (Episode): 

A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen 

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen 

The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen 

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston  

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is a haunted house story for those of us who love books, creepy fairy tales and Southern Gothic themes. Harrow joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, the ties to children's literature, the differences in writing novels vs. short stories and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.  

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.  

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). 

Featured Books (Episode): 

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow 

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow 

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow  

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow 

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow 

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan 

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 

"It does come down to that moment, when as a reader or as a writer entering into a story we say — it's not about me, it's about you." 

Alice McDermott's Absolution shines a light on the dynamic lives of American women as they navigate the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War. McDermott joins us to talk about the untold pieces of American history, the evolution of her career as a writer, the power and impact of language in fiction 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.         

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.       

Featured Books (episode): 

Absolution by Alice McDermott 

The Quiet American by Graham Greene 

The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott 

A Flag for Sunrise by Robert Stone 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard 

Family Meal by Bryan Washington 

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 

The Most by Jessica Anthony is an immersive story about a housewife at her wit's end that is sure to pack a punch. Anthony joined us to talk about writing a novella, 1950s American culture, voice in fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                    

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    

Featured Books (Episode):

The Most by Jessica Anthony

Enter the Aardvark by Jessica Anthony

Desperate Characters by Paula Fox

"There's nothing truer than fiction, because you can always find yourself in the work."

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters is the story of a Mi'kmaq girl who goes missing and the grief, turmoil and hope that they find as they move forward. Peters joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, crafting her characters, connection through storytelling and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. 

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.            

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).      

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart

The Circle by Katherena Vermette

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga  

Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang connects lyrical, dreamy prose and visceral reality in the story of two girls who navigate their complicated friendship in a world they build with feral dogs and otherworldly connection. Chang joins us to talk about writing in a nonlinear way, creating personal and cultural mythologies and finding connection through literature.

Anbara Salam's Hazardous Spirits explores the mystical, opulent and sometimes dangerous world of Spiritualism in 1920s Scotland. Salam joins us to talk about writing the time period after a crisis and its connection to today, the specificity of her research and creating stories that may not wrap up neatly. 

Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery. 

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.         

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).  

Featured Books (Episode):

Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang 

Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam 

Bestiary by K-Ming Chang 

Gods of Want by K-Ming Chang 

Belladonna by Anbara Salam 

Affinity by Sarah Waters 

Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward 

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters 

In Roman Stories Jhumpa Lahiri translates her own writing from Italian in a feat of language and a love and connection to Rome itself. Lahiri joins us to talk about the role of a translator in literature, language and identity, exophonic authors 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.       

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.      

Featured Books (Episode):

Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri 

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri 

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri 

Translating Myself and Others by Jhumpa Lahiri 

Trick by Domenico Starnone  

Metamorphoses by Ovid  

"I think that messy, sort of evolving spiritual element of Black Americans' lives ... has allowed us to survive, and not only to survive, but also to thrive."

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward balances grief and injustice with joy and reclamation in a sweeping, lyrical novel that brings often overlooked history into the light. Ward joins us to talk about exploring historical fiction, writing beyond the world we can explain, and finding the connections between literature, grief, connection 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 hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.       

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.     

Featured Books (Episode):  

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward 

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward 

Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward 

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward 

Featured Books (TBR Topoff):

Beloved by Toni Morrison 

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson 

Percy Jackson returns at long last in The Chalice of the Gods. Rick Riordan brings back the characters that started it all in a new adventure as they face down one of their toughest challenges yet — getting into college. Riordan joins us to talk about the return to his beloved series, collaborating with incredible authors in his publishing imprint, adapting his work for the screen 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 hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.       

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.     

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan 

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan 

The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro 

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan  

 Featured Books (TBR Topoff): 

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi 

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choksi 

Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson brings these wondrous creatures to the forefront as we learn about their personalities, complex ecosystems and their connections to humanity in a variety of ways. Montgomery and Patterson join us to talk about their love of turtles, the importance of local conservation and rescues, what we can learn from turtles and nature in general and more. 

Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year is a literary devotional featuring beautiful artwork that follows the natural world week by week through the splendor of a year. Renkl joins us to talk about the importance of slowing down to appreciate the world around us, connecting to the plants and animals in our surroundings, the impacts of changing climate and more. 

Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery. 

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.         

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).  

Featured Books (Episode): 

Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson

The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl 

Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl 

Graceland, At Last by Margaret Renkl 

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery 

How To Be A Good Creature by Sy Montgomery 

"I expect my reader to meet me halfway with their own experiences and fill in the white space, fill in what's left unsaid."

Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson brings the reader to Brooklyn in the 70s to examine memory and acceptance through the eyes of one girl from her childhood and beyond. Woodson joins us to talk about writing for young people, the themes of childhood and nostalgia, creating identity through 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.      

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    

Featured Books (Episode): 

Remember Us by Jacqueline Woodson 

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson 

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson 

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson 

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward 

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis 

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson 

Family Meal by Bryan Washington features the importance of food, friends and connection with a cast of characters working through the transitions in life. Washington joins us to talk about the identity of place, how he writes the messiness of life, staying truthful to characters and their struggles and more.

Curtis Chin's Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant follows the author's life as he grew up in and around his family's restaurant where he came to better understand himself and those around him. Chin joins us to talk about the perils of writing about your relatives, the nuances of cultural identity, a very particular Detroit meal and more.  

 Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  

 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 Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    

 Featured Books (Episode): 

Family Meal by Bryan Washington 

Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin 

Memorial by Bryan Washington 

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson 

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto 

Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park 

100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell 

Mott Street by Ava Chin 

The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang 

"I want people to read it with joy, just for the story. But I do hope that they'll pick up something else along the way about … deeper things."

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok finds two women on incredibly different paths in life in collision as they grapple with issues of culture, class and motherhood. Kwok joins us to talk about how she started a career in writing, the importance and language and cultural identity, how books open doors to learning and growth and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.   

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 Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok 

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok 

Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok 

Mambo in Chinatown by Jean Kwok 

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim 

The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni 

Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello 

Featured Books (TBR Topoff): 

Greek Lessons by Han Kang 

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan 

"I wanted it to feel like stepping off the world..."

Blackouts by Justin Torres explores love, loss and the stories we leave behind with inventive and transformative form and prose. Torres joins us to talk about the source material for this novel, the importance of telling queer stories, navigating legacy, loneliness and identity 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.    

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.   

Featured Books (Episode):

Blackouts by Justin Torres

We the Animals by Justin Torres

Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo

Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis

City of God by Gil Cuadros

Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe

Punks by John Keene

In Case of Emergency by Mahsa Mohebali

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman is a fresh take on a familiar world, complete with legends and honor, our favorite mythical sword and wayward knights, hard truths of a fallen empire and plenty of heart. Grossman joined us live to talk about why he chose to take on King Arthur, his extensive research process, world building and more with Jenna Seery, cohost of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.                    

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    

Featured Books (Episode):
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory

A Distant Mirror by Barbara W. Tuchman

Our October Discover Pick is The Refugee Ocean by Pauls Toutonghi, featuring musical prose and interwoven stories that cross generations and countries to explore what it means to be an immigrant and the resiliency of the human spirit. Toutonghi joins us to talk about his family connection to the novel, using fiction to connect to the human experience, the long process of writing this book and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. 

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.           

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).     

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Refugee Ocean by Pauls Toutonghi 

The Overstory by Richard Powers 

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr 

Soccer in Sun and Shadow by Eduardo Galeano 

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 

"Language doesn't just exist on the page … It's about how you embody it." 

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair is a poetic memoir about growing up as a Rastafari woman in Jamaica and how words and writing empowered her voice. Sinclair joins us to talk about the literary connections in her poetry, shedding light on the reality of her upbringing, and the identity that comes with writing and reading with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

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 Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.    

Featured Books (Episode): 

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair 

Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair 

The Tempest by William Shakespeare 

Educated by Tara Westover 

The Star-Apple Kingdom by Derek Walcott 

Jonathan Lethem's Brooklyn Crime Novel brings readers to New York in the 70s and the cast of characters it contains. Lethem joins us to talk about creating something different than he'd done before, writing memory and nostalgia, the joy of bookselling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

The Maniac by Benjamín Labatut defies genre with an examination and exploration of science and humanity from the Manhattan Project to the advent of A.I. Labatut joins us to talk about the dark art of writing, the mystery and mythology of existence, the importance of story and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.  We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc.   

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.           

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    

Featured Books (Episode): 

Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem 

The Maniac by Benjamín Labatut 

The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem 

Desperate Characters by Paula Fox 

Another Country by James Baldwin 

Steelwork by Gilbert Sorrentino  

Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr. 

When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamín Labatut 

Featured Books (TBR Topoff): 

Underworld by Don DeLillo 

The New Life by Tom Crewe 

"My biggest goal was to convert people who said they don't like fantasy."

V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series has enchanted us with wit, wonder and a world not unlike our own, filled with heroes and intrigue. Her newest addition, The Fragile Threads of Power, brings our favorite characters on a new adventure. Schwab joins us to talk about returning to her magical version of London, the role of social media for authors and readers, vampire novels and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc.    

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.        

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).  

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab 

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab 

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab 

The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell 

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith 

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen 

Featured Books (TBR Topoff): 

Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri 

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey 

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis follows a family through generations from small town Alabama to Philadelphia in the 80s as they struggle, succeed and learn to care for each other. Mathis joins us to talk about how long it took her to write this book, keeping joy in hard stories, how real events and culture shape her characters 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.   

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.   

Featured Books (Episode): 

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis 

The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis 

Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe 

American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson 

Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman 

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel  

"It really illuminates these questions of privilege and pleasure, and what kind of joy we can look forward to in the human experience as things continue to get worse."

In a world facing food scarcity and limited resources, a young chef enters a world of allure, privilege, abundance (and their consequences) in Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang. Zhang joins us to talk about the mythology of the worlds she creates, the secret to great food writing, the politics of privilege and pleasure 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.  

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.  

Featured Books (Episode): 

Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang 

How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang 

The Lover by Marguerite Duras 

Provence, 1970 by Luke Barr 

Prophet by Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché 

H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald 

"This book is the most personal because it is what I feel about the world itself."

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff is a beautiful and propulsive survival story that brings new life to wilderness fiction. Groff joins us to talk about her extensive drafting process, her varied influences, getting language right in historical fiction and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. 

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 Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. 

Featured Books: 

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff 

Arcadia by Lauren Groff 

Matrix by Lauren Groff 

Middlemarch by George Eliot 

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe 

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan  

The Road by Cormac McCarthy 

Anagrams by Lorrie Moore  

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel  

Daniel Mason's North Woods follows one house in the woods of New England as it passes through families (with inhabitants both human and not) and endures natural and human history. Mason joins us to talk about how he connected with his setting, writing a novel covering a large timespan, playing with form and more. 

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray chronicles the saga of a family in a post-economic-collapse Ireland. Murray joins us to talk about the cultural background of his novel, writing a dysfunctional family, the influences of Joyce and Faulkner and more. 

Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.           

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).         

Featured Books (Episode): 

North Woods by Daniel Mason 

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray 

The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason 

The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason 

Walden by Henry David Thoreau  

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray 

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett 

Ulysses by James Joyce 

Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon 

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen 

Who Will Run the Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore 

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner 

Wellness by Nathan Hill follows a marriage over decades through a variety of successes, challenges and surprises. Hill joins us to talk about how long it took him to write his novel, describing a realistic marriage, the power of algorithms and more.

Ben Fountain's Devil Makes Three brings readers to Haiti in 1991 with a cast of characters ranging from divers looking for shipwrecked treasure to CIA agents navigating a country in the midst of political unrest. Fountain joins us to talk about his connection to Haiti and the research he has done, the unique historical events that provide the backdrop for the novel, his influences and more. 

Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.           

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).        

Featured Books (Episode): 

Wellness by Nathan Hill 

Devil Makes Three by Ben Fountain 

The Nix by Nathan Hill  

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders 

Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme 

Forty Stories by Donald Barthelme 

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain 

Brief Encounters with Che Guevara by Ben Fountain 

Beautiful Country Burn Again by Ben Fountain 

The Immaculate Invasion by Bob Shacochis 

"I feel like I could actually follow you through this journey and come out of it changed rather than abused by my ignorance." 

The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland blends memoir, history and culture in a study of the experience of blindness and how it effects both the individual and society as a whole. Leland joins us to talk about the connection between blindness and literacy, the language around disability, the long process he took to write this book and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.  

This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.            
     
New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.         

 Featured Books (Episode): 

The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland 

Paradise Lost by John Milton 

Finnegans Wake by James Joyce 

The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames is a historical mystery with a literary bent set in an isolated Italian village. Grames joins us to talk about 1960s Europe, power dynamics and patriarchy, writing crime fiction and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                    

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.         

Featured Books (Episode):

The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia by Juliet Grames

The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna by Juliet Grames

Claudia Dey's novel Daughter is a stark and beautiful portrait of the complicated dynamic between a young artist and her father. Dey joins us to talk about creating the distinct voice of the novel, complicated family relationships, writing a novel that's true and more.  

 I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel is a visceral look at one young woman's descent into the world of social media obsession with a sharp look at today's internet culture and what it means to exist online. Patel joins us to talk about the absurdity of internet fame, unlikable female characters, combining memes with literature and more.  

 Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host Jenna Seery.  

 This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.          

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).  

 Featured Books (Episode): 
Daughter by Claudia Dey 

I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel 

Heartbreaker by Claudia Dey 

Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel 

I Love Dick by Chris Kraus 

Motherhood by Sheila Heti 

Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong 

Life with Picasso by Françoise Gilot 

Intimacy by Hanif Kureishi 

"… this was a book about beauty, and I wanted it to be very honest." 

In Mona Awad's Rouge, gothic family-drama meets fairy tale (with a hint of horror) as a young woman navigates the world of youth and beauty in the aftermath of her mother's death.  

Awad joins us to talk about how her obsession with skincare led to writing this book, creating a mother and daughter dynamic, the importance of writing with a distinct voice 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 produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.           

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.        

Featured Books (Episode): 
Rouge by Mona Awad 
Bunny by Mona Awad 
13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad 
American Psycho Bret Easton Ellis 
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys 
Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys 

Featured Books (TBR Topoff): 
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede 
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo 

"My specialty is digging up obscure stories where there are just enough facts to really stimulate the imagination." 

Emma Donoghue's newest novel, Learned by Heart, tells the story of young, enigmatic Anne Lister and her first love, an orphaned heiress born in India. Donoghue joins us to talk about the role Anne Lister has played in her life, crowdsourcing research, the importance of historical fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Mary. 

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.           

Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    

Featured Books (Episode): 

Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue 

Room by Emma Donoghue 

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue 

Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue 

Haven by Emma Donoghue 

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue 

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 

Featured Books (TBR Topoff): 

Matrix by Lauren Groff 

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters