Books with Betsy is a podcast that celebrates the reading life of all readers. Each week, Betsy interviews a different person about their reading life. Listen for book recommendations, reading tips, and to join in the joy that reading brings. And remember, anyone who reads is a reader.
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Episode 60 - Pull Your Guts out Through Your Nose with Melissa Joulwan of Strong Sense of Place
Episode 60
Monday, June 30, 2025 • Duration 01:14:09
On this episode, Melissa Joulwan, author and co-host of the podcast Strong Sense of Place, discusses the way her personal reading life and work for the show overlap. We talk about her deep and varied book preferences, our shared love for diving deep into a backlist, and you get to hear the fabulous way she describes the books she loves.
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley
The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley
2 A.M. at The Cat’s Pajamas by Marie-Helene Bertino
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
The Way Men Act by Elinor Lipman
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Episode 59 - Picked it Up Out of FOMO with Samiksha Gaur
Episode 59
Monday, June 23, 2025 • Duration 53:41
On this episode, Samiksha Gaur, a mom and baker who has found herself enjoying dark romance recently, talks to me about her life engaging with bookish social media. We talk about a bunch of series that she loves, how she got back into reading later in life, and we give a big shoutout to Tanima Kazi for getting us connected!
Episode 58 - Challenges My Expectations with Jess Abra Sandy
Episode 58
Monday, June 16, 2025 • Duration 01:00:49
On this episode, Jess Abra Sandy, a self-described lapsed opera singer and cyber security expert talks about how poetry has provided for her in different ways as her seasons of life change. We also talk about books that make us want to throw them across the room, how her reading life has changed as her kid has grown, and Jess shares a lot of very insightful thoughts about the reading life.
Episode 57 - It's Not Cheating with Caroline Pilman
Episode 57
Monday, June 9, 2025 • Duration 56:44
On this episode, Caroline Pilman, a fellow Chicago Public Schools teacher, and I discuss the many ways of reading, all of which are acceptable. We also discuss a shared pet peeve in children’s literature, how a seasonal career can affect the reading life, and how Chicago Public Schools does one thing right.
On this episode, Meara McNitt, a social media professional who loves stories of all types, discusses her love for all kinds of books, including an interest that her friends suggest she doesn’t yell about in the bookstore. She talks about a lot of books that haven’t appeared on the show yet and I go on a bit of a rant about one of my favorite hot takes.
Episode 55 - Competitive Reading with Austin Waters
Episode 55
Monday, May 26, 2025 • Duration 59:04
On this episode, Austin Waters, a friend of mine from high school, describes how he has had lots of experience with many different types of reading and writing. We discuss reading plays, how we read so many good books in high school, and how competition in reading can be detrimental.
Episode 54 - Take My Books Where They Belong with Chelsey Stone
Episode 54
Monday, May 19, 2025 • Duration 01:00:20
On this episode, Chelsey Stone, a freelance writer and book tour leader, describes herself as someone who reads to learn. She brings a lot of really great non-fiction books to the show, and while some of them can be a bit of a bummer, these books help Chelsey learn more about herself and the world while facing reality through reading.
Episode 53 - Horror for Anxious Readers with Johanna @memydogandbooks
Episode 53
Monday, May 12, 2025 • Duration 01:05:26
On this episode, Johannah @memydogandbooks who loves to shout about books on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and I discuss leaning into cozy hobbies, reading widely and eclectically, and an overlapping prize interest for us. We also discuss how horror is an underrated genre and why it works, even for scaredy-cats!
Episode 52 - My Entire Life is Words with Hannah Gordon
Episode 52
Monday, May 5, 2025 • Duration 59:19
On this episode, Hannah Gordon, a fellow CPS teacher and I discuss the importance of the library as a public service, how your reading life can turn around from what people expect of you as a child, and she brings some really great books to the show that haven’t been talked about yet.
Episode 51 - More Beautiful Thoughts with Christopher Hermelin of So Many Damn Books
Episode 51
Monday, April 28, 2025 • Duration 01:01:58
On this episode, Christopher Hermelin, host of the podcast So Many Damn Books and I discuss his life that revolves around books, our shared love for stories on the continuum of weird, and we both go on a bit of a tear about over-comped books. You can also hear me get totally sucked in by something Christopher recommends.
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