Poured Over

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez is a dazzling slow-burn historical romance set in 1400s Florence. Isabel joins us to talk about lush world building, coming-of-age novels, self-reflection, eldest daughters, control and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez Written in Starlight by Isabel Ibañez Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez  

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman is an intergalactic sci-fi adventure following one man's journey through the apocalypse. Matt joins us to talk about LitRPG novels, video games, worldbuilding, writing in a gameshow structure, the evolution of gaming and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Ready Player One by Ernest Cline Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman  

The Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery is a rollicking locked-room mystery centered on a dynamic detective duo. Ross joins us to talk about Halley's Comet, writing for children vs adults, cosmic frenzy, research, Golden Age murder mysteries and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville 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 Murder at World's End by Ross Montgomery I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery Bright Objects by Ruby Todd Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo  

Tilt by Emma Pattee is a breathtaking exploration of humanity, desperation, love and survival in the midst of a catastrophe. Emma joins us to talk about natural disasters, control, motherhood, research, grief and more with guest host Brenda Allison. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Tilt by Emma Pattee I Am, I Am, I Am: Seventeen Brushes with Death by Maggie O'Farrell Colored Television by Danzy Senna Liberation Day by George Saunders  

The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits is a deeply human and tender story of a man's journey across North America. Ben joins us to talk about road trip novels, middle age, marriage, family and more with guest host Brenda Allison. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison 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 Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits Queen Esther by John Irving Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin Little One by Olivia Muenter  

Get ready for another great year of reading! MJ Franklin and Joumana Khatib of The New York Times join us to talk about dissecting the literary canon, keeping books weird, language, dialogue, world building, rereading, blurbs and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger Moderation by Elaine Castillo Eligible by Curtis Sittinfeld The Complete Novels: Jane Austen by Jane Austen The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë James by Percival Everett Middlemarch by George Eliot The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky East of Eden by John Steinbeck Dracula by Bram Stoker The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones The Odyssey: Translated by Emily Wilson Trip by Amie Barrodale Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel The Ensemble by Aja Gabel Angel Down by Daniel Kraus Audition by Katie Kitamura The Collected Short Stories by Jean Rhys My Broken Language by Quiara Allegria Hudes The White Hot by Quiara Allegria Hudes The Hours by Michael Cunningham Terry Dactyl by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore North Woods by Daniel Mason The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri Theft by Abdulrazak Gurnah The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller Animal Farm by George Orwell The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai The Most by Jessica Anthony Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien Playworld by Adam Ross Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell The Voyage of the Narwhal by Andrea Barrett The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante  

Water Mirror Echo by Jeff Chang is a gripping blend of biography and history centered on a legendary figure. Jeff joins us to talk about community, Chinatown, the Vietnam War, the 1970s, movies and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America by Jeff Chang Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Jeff Chang The World of Suzie Wong by Richard Mason The Teahouse of the August Moon by Vern Sneider Sayonara by James A. Michener Your Turn, Mr. Moto by John P. Marquand The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck Peony by Pearl S. Buck Underspin by E.Y. Zhao Flyboy in the Buttermilk: Essays on Contemporary America by Greg Tate Ocean of Clouds by Garrett Hongo The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen Who We Be: The Colorization of America by Jeff Chang We Gon' Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation by Jeff Chang  

Women by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz is a remarkable celebration of life and womanhood through powerful portraits. Annie joined us live at B&N Union Square to talk about the evolution of photography, Rolling Stone, portraits, photojournalism, digital vs film, the 70s, Gloria Steinem and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Women: 2025 Edition by Annie Leibovitz It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War by Lynsey Addario  

Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg expertly examines how to understand others and be understood through effective communication. Charles joins us to talk about identifying conversation types, connection, attention, the power of questions, neuroscience, habits and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity by Charles Duhigg  

The Breath of the Gods by Simon Winchester is a fascinating deep dive into a familiar phenomenon. Simon joins us to talk about changing wind speeds, the moon landing, oboes, human migration, tumbleweeds and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie 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 Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind by Simon Winchester The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic by Simon Winchester  

A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 by Bill Bryson is the fully revised and updated exploration of life's biggest questions. Bill joins us to talk about advancements in research over the last 20 years, making science accessible, narrativizing history, Isaac Newton, humanity and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie 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 Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 by Bill Bryson A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson  

A Long Game by Elizabeth McCracken is a thoughtful and engaging guide to the craft of writing filled with tips, tricks and personal anecdotes from an acclaimed author. Elizabeth joins us to talk about breaking story rules, short stories vs novels, character physicality, setting, plot, dialogue and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): A Long Game: Notes on Writing Fiction by Elizabeth McCracken Thunderstruck & Other Stories by Elizabeth McCracken Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry: Stories by Elizabeth McCracken The Souvenir Museum: Stories by Elizabeth McCracken Sweet Talk: Stories by Stephanie Vaughn The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken Niagara Falls All Over Again by Elizabeth McCracken Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories by Edward P. Jones Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do by Studs Terkel North Woods by Daniel Mason  

Small Rain by Garth Greenwell is a haunting story of one man's emotional reckoning. Garth joins us to talk about bewilderment, memory, interiority, James Baldwin, home ownership, intimacy and more with host Miwa Messer.  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): Small Rain by Garth Greenwell Nocturnes for the King of Naples by Edmund White Confessions by Saint Augustine Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin Another Country by James Baldwin  

Good Things by Samin Nosrat — our 2025 Gift Book of the Year — is a unique guide to forming a deeper sense of connection through food, paired with gorgeous photos and heartwarming anecdotes. Samin joins us to talk about reconnecting with cooking, writing recipes, teaching new thought processes in the kitchen, sharing a meal with loved ones, time, attention, community and more with guest host Brenda Allison. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love by Samin Nosrat Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat Canal House: Cook Something: Recipes to Rely On by Melissa Hamilton and Christopher Hirsheimer The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Hechel The Sabbath World: Glimpse of a Different Order of Time by Judith Shulevitz Featured Books (TBR Top Off) Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook: A Cookbook by Sohla El-Waylly Measure with Your Heart: Southern Home Cooking to Feed Your Family and Soul: A Cookbook by Hannah Taylor  

Girls Play Dead by award-winning journalist Jen Percy is a powerful and poignant portrait of women and survival. Jen joins us to talk about understanding trauma, PTSD, gender expectations, wartime reportage, self-preservation, research and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Girls Play Dead: Acts of Self-Preservation by Jen Percy Demon Camp: The Strange and Terrible Saga of a Soldier's Return from War by Jen Percy Metamorphoses by Ovid The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brian Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee Bluets by Maggie Nelson  

Heart the Lover by Lily King is a gripping story of family, identity, life and love from the bestselling author of Writers & Lovers. Lily joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about crafting an emotional arc, writing little moments between characters, details, process, vulnerability and more with host Miwa Messer.  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): Heart the Lover by Lily King Writers & Lovers by Lily King The Pleasing Hour by Lily King The English Teacher by Lily King Father of the Rain by Lily King Euphoria by Lily King The Evening of the Holiday by Shirley Hazzard Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf  

Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century by author and critic W. David Marx is a gripping retrospective that examines our culture today — and questions where we might be headed. David joins us to talk about living in Tokyo, the internet, merging art and commerce, nostalgia, smartphones and more with cohosts Chris Gillespie and Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and Chris Gillespie, and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century by W. David Marx Status and Culture by W. David Marx The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib Immediacy: Or, The Style of Too Late Capitalism by Anna Kornbluh Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum When the Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s by John Ganz Liberalism and Its Discontents by Francis Fukuyama Filterworld: How Algorithms Flattened Culture by Kyle Chayka Everything I Need I Get from You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It by Kaitlyn Tiffany  

Joyride by Susan Orlean is a vibrant memoir about the craft of writing and the pursuit of creativity from an acclaimed author. Susan joins us to talk about reportage, capturing place, detail, writers as outsiders, curiosity and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Joyride: A Memoir by Susan Orlean The Library Book by Susan Orlean The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean  

Palaver by National Book Award finalist Bryan Washington is a moving story about mother and son, identity, home and humanity. Bryan joins us to talk about Tokyo, writing in 3rd person, navigating intimacy, utilizing space on the page, honesty, memory and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Palaver by Bryan Washington Lot by Bryan Washington Memorial by Bryan Washington Family Meal by Bryan Washington No Time to Spare: Thinking about What Matters by Ursula K. Le Guin Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story by Ursula K. Le Guin Koolaids by Rabih Alameddine The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar The Antidote by Karen Russell North Sun: Or, the Voyage of the Whaleship Esther by Ethan Rutherford Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Middle Spoon by Alejandro Varela The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong  

Languages of Home by John Edgar Wideman is a collection of the acclaimed author and cultural critic's most influential works — five decades in the making. John joins us to talk about the creative process, improvisation, basketball, storytelling, the evolution of voice, translation and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Languages of Home: Essays on Writing, Hoop, and American Lives 1975-2025 by John Edgar Wideman Slaveroad by John Edgar Wideman Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad and the Fiction of Autobiography by Edward Said The Homewood Trilogy by John Edgar Wideman The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X Corregidora by Gayl Jones Ulysses by James Joyce Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Every Tongue Got to Confess: Negro Folk-tales from the Gulf States by Zora Neale Hurston