It Was A Book First – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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It Was A Book First

Arts

Tv & Film

Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 11

It Was A Book First is a weekly podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Hosted by culture reporters and former colleagues Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg, IWABF dissects the TV and film adaptations everyone is talking about, what you'll be reading and watching next, and the business behind what actually makes it off the page.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - books
16/08/2026
#39
🇺🇸 USA - books
16/08/2026
#13
🇺🇸 USA - arts
16/08/2026
#45
🇨🇦 Canada - books
15/08/2026
#38

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.instagram.com/itwasabookfirstpod
10 shares
https://www.instagram.com/svershbow
4 shares
https://www.instagram.com/rudi_greenberg
4 shares

http://itwasabookfirst.com/
5 shares
https://www.trishalouiseprieto.com/
4 shares
https://www.vulture.com/author/roxana-hadadi/
1 share

https://www.youtube.com/@ItWasaBookFirstPodcast
10 shares
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzw2ttJD2qQ
1 share

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 68%

Publication history

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Latest published episodes

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Teaser: 'It Was A Book First'

Thursday, June 4, 2026 • Duration 01:41

Welcome to It Was A Book First, a new podcast about the book-to-screen adaptations everyone is talking about. Each week, culture reporters Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg will discuss a new book-to-screen adaptation, covering everything from how it got made to how readers are reacting to it. We’ll also talk to authors and industry insiders about how books actually go from page to screen.

Our first two episodes drop on Wednesday, June 17th! Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly.

TikTok: @itwasabookfirst

YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast

Email us at itwasabookfirst@gmail.com

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'Project Hail Mary' Is the Biggest Adaptation of 2026 … So Far

Episode 1

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 • Duration 01:24:26

Welcome to the first episode of It Was A Book First, a new podcast about book-to-screen adaptations. Today, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss one of the biggest and most successful adaptations of 2026, "Project Hail Mary." In directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's take on Andy Weir's 2021 novel of the same name, Ryan Gosling stars as a science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship alone and doesn't remember how he got there.

Before they talk about "Project Hail Mary," Sophie and Rudi introduce themselves and the podcast and explore why book adaptations are having a moment right now.

Then they have an in-depth and spoiler-filled conversation on what they liked and didn't like about "Project Hail Mary," what differed from the book, and what they thought of Gosling's performance. At the end of the episode, Sophie decides which she liked better: the book or the movie?

New episodes of It Was A Book First drop on Wednesdays. Subscribe now to get them delivered weekly.

TikTok: @itwasabookfirst

YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast

Email us: itwasabookfirst@gmail.com

Hosts and Producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg

Music by Cliff Blum and John Connelly; mix and production by Kevin Pons

Logo by Trisha Louise Prieto

Website by Kevin Pfab

'Off Campus': The Art of Adapting 'The Deal'

Episode 4

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • Duration 01:11:30

On the fourth episode of It Was A Book First, the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss “Off Campus,” Amazon Prime Video’s series adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s “The Deal,” the first book in her bestselling “Off Campus” series. The college-set streaming show follows the opposites attract romance between music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and star hockey player Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli).

Before talking about the show, Sophie and Rudi share what else they watched recently: Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” (00:01:01) and two classic movies (00:03:15), “Chungking Express” and “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Then they get into the background of “The Deal” and the TV show (00:07:21) before breaking down the first season of “Off Campus” (00:17:54) in a spoiler-filled chat that explores the differences between the book and the series. They discuss how the show is refreshingly anti-toxic masculinity (00:27:24), why it feeds into millennial nostalgia (00:36:49), how it compares to “Heated Rivalry” (00:38:28), and why TV is in its hockey romance era (00:42:49).

Finally, Sophie makes her choice (01:06:42) for which she liked better: reading "The Deal" or watching “Off Campus.”

TikTok: @itwasabookfirst

YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast

Email us: itwasabookfirst@gmail.com

Hosts and Producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg

Music by Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production by Kevin Pons

Logo by Trisha Louise Prieto

Website by Kevin Pfab

'The Testaments' and 'Backrooms' Explore Different Kinds of Horrors

Episode 3

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 • Duration 54:41

On the third episode of It Was A Book First, the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss "The Testaments," Hulu’s series adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 2019 sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Created by Bruce Miller as a continuation of his “Handmaid’s Tale” series adaptation, “The Testaments” stars Chase Infiniti and Lucy Halliday as teenagers coming of age in the dystopian society Gilead.

Before talking about the show, Sophie and Rudi have an extended chat (01:10) on A24’s Gen Z horror hit “Backrooms,” which is based on director and YouTuber Kane Parsons’ series of the same name, which is based on Internet creepypasta, which is based on an image of an abandoned office space.

Then they break down the first season of “The Testaments” (18:25) in a spoiler-filled chat that explores what the show chooses to omit from the book and invent for the show, why leaning into “Bridgerton”-esque courting rituals doesn’t fit the source material, and how Infiniti and Halliday’s performances get stronger as the season goes on.

Finally, Sophie makes her choice (50:23) for which she liked better: reading "The Testaments" or watching the series.

New episodes of It Was A Book First drop on Wednesdays. Subscribe now to get them delivered weekly.

TikTok: @itwasabookfirst

YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast

Email us: itwasabookfirst@gmail.com

Hosts and Producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg

Music by Cliff Blum and John Connelly; mix and production by Kevin Pons

Logo by Trisha Louise Prieto

Two Classics Professors on Why Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Works (with Kyle Gervais and Il-Kweon Sir)

Episode 8

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 • Duration 01:03:31

This week, Sophie and Rudi take a deep dive into Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” with Classics professors Kyle Gervais and Il-Kweon Sir from Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.

After Kyle and Il-Kweon share their backgrounds and areas of expertise (00:01:15), they dive right into Nolan’s film, sharing their general thoughts on his adaptation (00:03:35).

Then, they discuss what message readers are meant to take away from Homer’s poem (00:05:54), how Matt Damon’s characterization of Odysseus in the film subverts the poem (00:10:51) and the influence of Virgil’s “Aeneid” on Nolan’s film (00:27:23).

Kyle and Il-Kweon also share their favorite translations of “The Odyssey” (00:38:00), decide whether Anne Hathaway's Penelope is faithful to the text (00:47:00), and share their thoughts on how Nolan’s interpretation of the ending is in conversation with the tradition of scholarly debate over the end of the poem (00:56:49).

Next week, we’re discussing Apple TV’s “Cape Fear,” a series adaptation of John D. MacDonald’s 1957 novel “The Executioners” that also draws from a pair of “Cape Fear” films from 1962 and 1991.

It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.

TikTok: @itwasabookfirst

YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast

Email: itwasabookfirst@gmail.com

Hosts and producers: and

'The Odyssey' Is an Epic Adaptation Worthy of Homer’s Poem

Episode 7

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 • Duration 01:34:45

This week, It Was an Epic Poem First! Sophie and Rudi discuss one of the most anticipated adaptations of the year: “The Odyssey,” director Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s epic poem. The blockbuster adaptation of the ancient Greek work follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, on his long journey to return home after the Trojan War. Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyong'o are just some of the stars who help bring this 3,000-year-old epic to the screen.

Before talking about the film in detail, Rudi and Sophie share their general thoughts on Nolan’s take (00:04:03) and briefly detail the histories (00:08:15) behind the poem, Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation, Nolan’s adaptation, and prior attempts to bring “The Odyssey” to screens.

Then they have a spoiler-filled chat (00:29:28) about “The Odyssey,” tracking the long journey Odyessus takes throughout the nearly three-hour epic while detailing some of the major (and subtle) changes Nolan made to Homer’s poem: the opening scene; the Cyclops battle (00:47:00); the breathtaking Trojan horse and Troy scene (00:52:46); Circi’s island (01:01:41); and the final conclusion (1:21:15).

Along the way, they explore why Nolan’s choices served the movie and the story, the impressive filmmaking craft on display, why Damon’s Odysseus is very different from the trickster in the poem (01:17:48), and how the film is in conversation with our modern times.

Finally, Rudi makes his choice (01:30:03) for which he liked better: listening to Claire Danes narrate the Wilson translation of “The Odyssey” or watching Nolan’s film.

We’ll continue discussing “The Odyssey” in our next episode, which will feature a conversation with professors who have studied Homer’s work and teach it to college students.

It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.

What the Emmys Tell Us About Book-to-Streaming Adaptations (with Gary Goldstein)

Episode 6

Wednesday, July 15, 2026 • Duration 59:37

This week, Sophie and Rudi look at the streaming adaptation landscape through the lens of this year’s Emmy nominations, BookTok's role in the rise of streaming adaptations, and the process behind adapting a book with author, screenwriter, and LA Times contributor Gary Goldstein.

Before that conversation, Sophie and Rudi chat about what adaptations made the cut for the Emmy Award nominations (02:23), (including two series they’ve covered on the podcast: “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” and “The Testaments”), Rudi shares a brief recommendation for why you should go see Olivia Wilde’s new movie “The Invite” (10:22), and they reveal why “Heated Rivalry" was absent from the Emmy nods (12:00).

Then, Gary Goldstein joins the show (16:03) to discuss his recent LA Times article, “Thanks to BookTok, authors are the new ‘rock stars.’ And Hollywood is taking notice,” why streamers are latching onto book adaptations, and his experience adapting the “Flower Shop Mysteries” book series into a TV movie series for Hallmark.

Next week, we’re discussing Christopher Nolan’s star-studded adaptation of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey.”

It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.

'The Sheep Detectives' Is 'Three Bags Full' of Quirky Fun

Episode 5

Wednesday, July 8, 2026 • Duration 57:50

This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss one of 2026’s most surprising hits: “The Sheep Detectives,” Amazon MGM’s adaptation of Leonie Swann’s German murder mystery novel “Three Bags Full.” The family-friendly comedy, about a flock of sheep investigating the muder of their sheppard, stars Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon, and a voice cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Brett Goldstein, and Bryan Cranston.

Before talking about the movie, Rudi and Sophie share what else they watched and read recently: John Early’s new movie “Maddie’s Secret” (01:17) and the novels of author Emily St. John Mandel (04:17).

Then they get into the background of “Three Bags Full” and the film (07:55) before breaking down the cozy mystery’s plot in a spoiler-filled chat (13:45) that explores the big differences between the book and the movie (25:26), why murder mysteries are having a moment (31:45), and the film’s surprisingly affecting exploration of grief (45:00).

Finally, Sophie makes her choice (51:25) for which she liked better: reading "Three Bags Full" or watching “The Sheep Detectives.”

It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.

TikTok: @itwasabookfirst

YouTube: @itwasabookfirstpodcast

Email: itwasabookfirst@gmail.com

Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg

Editing: Rudi Greenberg

Social media: Sophie Vershbow

We Watched Apple TV's 'Cape Fear' So You Don’t Have To (with Vulture's Roxana Hadadi)

Episode 9

Wednesday, August 5, 2026 • Duration 01:12:23

This week, Vulture TV Critic Roxana Hadadi joins Rudi and Sophie to discuss Apple TV’s “Cape Fear,” a streaming adaptation of John D. MacDonald’s 1957 novel “The Executioners” that’s also based on a pair of “Cape Fear” films from 1962 and 1991.

After introducing Roxana (00:01:11), Sophie shares some background on the novel (00:06:42); Rudi gives an overview of the 1962 film, which was directed by J. Lee Thompson and starred Gregory Peck as the lawyer Sam Bowden and Robert Mitchum as the vengeful ex-con Max Cady (00:11:37); and Roxana details Martin Scorsese’s 1991 adaptation that starred Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte in the lead roles (00:14:33).

Then they unpack Apple TV’s “Cape Fear,” a series created by Nick Antosca that stars Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson (00:23:17). They detail why they all agree that this was an unsuccessful adaptation; the way the series could have used the modern setting to its advantage (00:27:31); why it often misses the point of the source materials (00:32:09); and how every generation gets its own version of “Cape Fear” (00:47:58).

Rudi debuts a new segment called Rudi’s Rankings, where he ranks his favorite Max Cady performances (00:57:00) and briefly discusses “The Simpsons” parody “Cape Feare” (01:02:40) before Sophie reveals her Sophie’s Choice pick for which she liked better: the book or the TV show (01:06:18).

For more on Apple TV’s “Cape Fear,” read Roxana’s excellent mid-season Vulture piece on the show and her review of the entire season.

Next week, we’re interviewing Oscar-nominated screenwriter Samy Burch (“May December”) about her new film “Late Fame,” starring Willem DaFoe and Greta Lee, in a (mostly) spoiler-free discussion.

is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.

It Was A Book First – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

It Was A Book First – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Instagram4

Other10

Youtube2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Instagram4

Other10

Youtube2

Apple Podcasts

Spotify