Likely Stories

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So many books, so little time! Jim McKeown hosts this weekly review of fiction, poetry, non-fiction and biographies. Jim is a lifelong voracious reader who learned to read by the “rule of 50" - if he’s not engaged in the characters, the prose, or the plot by page 50, he puts in a book mark and retur…

Jim McKeown


    • May 22, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 3m AVG DURATION
    • 260 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Likely Stories

    Likely Stories - A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 3:31


    As an English teacher. Shakespeare has been in my lesson plans for years. I could teach the bard with my eyes closed. But what if we could reimagine one of the most classic plays in a new light, and take the famous couplet 'for never was there a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo', and flip it on its end. For never was a story of more whimsy than this. Of the Montagues and their daughter Rosie.

    Likely Stories - Hope by Pope Francis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025 3:33


    Likely Stories - The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John Koenig

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025 3:30


    Have you ever found yourself inexplicably moved by something incredibly simple and innocuous? A blinking street light in the dead of night. A solitary shopping cart in an empty parking lot. If so, then you might like to know, that sudden shift of emotion is known as a heartspur.

    Likely Stories - Bitter Soil by Mahasweta Devi

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 3:30


    This is Guilherme Feitosa DeAlmeida, senior lecturer of Musical Theatre at Baylor University. I'm here with this week's edition of Likely Stories. Award winning author Mahasweta Devi is an environmental crusader. Bitter Soil is her narrative manifesto.

    Likely Stories - You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 3:32


    In my goal to read more nonfiction books, I picked up You're Not Listening – what you're missing and why it matters by Kate Murphy. I admit I can't remember who recommended this book, I probably wasn't listening… but reading it is a great opportunity to learn how to become a better listener and who doesn't want that.I'm Lucy Petter. Welcome to today's Likely Stories.

    Likely Stories - I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 3:31


    My name is Heather White, I teach Art History classes at Baylor and manage my household, I have two toddlers and a ten year old. Today I am reviewing, “I Who Have Never Known Men,” by Jaqueline Harpman. If you've never heard of it, don't worry, it's an older, obscure book with a somewhat wordy title.

    Likely Stories - Midnight Cowboy by James Kendrick

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 3:31


    If you haven't seen the movie Midnight Cowboy, don't read Baylor professor James Kendrick's new book Midnight Cowboy. It is full of spoilers…full.

    Likely Stories - The Favorites by Layne Fargo

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 3:30


    You know, investing my soul into a story about fictional competitive ice dancers was not what I had on my 2025 BINGO card, yet there I was, poring over the pages of this book and pouring out my emotions over this debut that is an homage to Wuthering Heights and reads like part fictional account and part Netflix Olympic documentary. Dig in your toepicks to 'The Favorites' by Layne Fargo and get ready for one heck of a spin.

    Likely Stories - Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 3:30


    Hey there. Lauren here. I'm KWBU's public relations intern as well as a Baylor student and a bookseller at Fabled. Today I'm going to be talking all about the book, Carrie Sotozis Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Let me tell you, I love me some Taylor Jenkins Reid. I would probably say she's my favorite author. She writes such fascinating stories with the most interesting characters. One of these interesting characters being Carrie Soto.

    Likely Stories - Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 3:31


    Have you ever been in a daily commute, or in a class, and sat next to the same people day in and day out, and not known one thing about them? Not their names, not their jobs, and certainly not their lives. You give them nicknames in your head attributed to what they wear and what they drink, but you have no idea who they are. Of course, you never speak. The first rule is “don't talk to strangers.” What would it take to get to know these people, and in turn to let them into your life?

    Likely Stories - Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice by Barbara Bradley Hagerty

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 3:32


    I'm Joe Riley with KWBU, and this is Likely Stories.Every couple of weeks, I visit the Waco McLennan County Library and browse the New Book shelves. That's where I saw Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, A Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice. Actually, it was the author's name that first caught my eye – Barbara Bradley Hagerty is currently a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Before that, she spent 19 years reporting on justice issues and religion for NPR. I checked the book out because I've always been impressed by her work.

    Likely Stories - The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 3:30


    It's not Christmastime anymore, but that's never stopped me from enjoying any story set during the most wonderful time of the year. This one is heavy on mystery, lightly romantic, deeply nostalgic, fully entrenched in the setting.

    Likely Stories - Everything We Never Had

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 3:29


    Nearly every time my husband sees me reading he asks, “Reading one of your “happy” books again?” To be fair, he may have a point. For example, listening to the audiobook of a novel that unpacks the emotional trauma of four generations of Filipino men, is possibly not the most uplifting way to spend a drive through the plains of the Texas Panhandle. But Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay was so worth it. I'm Gia Chevis with this week's installment of Likely Stories.

    Likely Stories - Killer Story: The Truth Behind True Crime Television

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 3:29


    For this week's episode of Likely stories, Kevin Tankersley, from the Department of Journalism, Public Relations & New Media at Baylor, is investigating what goes into the making of True Crime Television.

    Likely Stories - Trust

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 3:30


    Hi, I'm Molly-Jo Tilton, reporter at KWBU and hobbyist reader. On this week's episode of Likely Stories, we'll be talking about Trust by Hernan Diaz.

    Likely Stories - Counting Miracles

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 3:25


    Hello. My name is Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University, with this week's edition of Likely Stories.

    Likely Stories - All Fours

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 3:31


    My name is Heather White, I teach Art History classes at Baylor. Before I begin this segment of Likely Stories, I wanted to let you know that this review acknowledges the existence of sexual desire, if this is not appropriate for everyone in your listening space, you may want to return after this three minute segment has ended. Okay, here we go.

    Likely Stories - Butter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 3:30


    If it has taken you an annoyingly long time to learn that perfection isn't a healthy goal and getting help isn't a sign of a character flaw, then you might empathize with Rika's journey in Butter, A Novel of Food and Murder by Asako Yuzuki. I'm Gia Chevis with this week's installment of Likely Stories.

    Likely Stories - Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 3:31


    What would it be like to move to the legendary prairie land of Laura Ingalls Wilder, only to have your world fall apart? Hello, and welcome to “Likely Stories.” I'm Diane Kemper.

    Likely Stories - A Visit From the Goon Squad

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025 3:31


    KWBU's Malcolm Foster reviews the Pulitzer Prize winning book A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan.

    Likely Stories - One Night In A Thousand Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024 3:29


    Hi, and welcome to this week's edition of Likely Stories. I'm Paige Connell, and I teach English at Midway High School.

    Likely Stories - Everything I Know About Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 3:30


    Hey there, I'm Lauren, KWBU Public Relations Intern, Fabled Bookseller, and Baylor Student. Today I'm going to be telling you about one of my favorite books of all time, Everything I know about Love by Dolly Alderton.

    Likely Stories - How to Read a Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 3:30


    Life is filled with second chances, but given the opportunity, could you forgive the person who brought you the greatest heartache?Welcome to “Likely Stories.” I'm Diane Kemper.

    Likely Stories - The Book of Doors

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 3:30


    Magical realism isn't my preferred genre—I typically gravitate toward psychological thrillers with a sharp twist or historical fiction with heart-wrenching accuracy, but when I heard about this debut novel, The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown, a book about books with a unique concept and complex world building just a shade off of our own, I couldn't resist.

    Likely Stories - Hip Hop is History

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 3:29


    I finished reading Hip Hop Is History, the latest book by Questlove, on a recent Saturday afternoon. On my walk the next night, I was listening to Terri Gross' interview with Questlove on Fresh Air. The first song that she mentioned was Rapper's Delight, the first commercially successful hip hop song. I paused Fresh Air, found the long – like 15 minutes long – version of Rapper's Delight, and listened to that. Then I went back to the interview.

    David and Art - Now and Then, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 3:30


    How does an artists trajectory affect our understanding and appreciation of their creative output?

    Likely Stories - Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 3:30


    I have a love hate relationship with reading and learning about history. I can't decide whether I hate being reminded that humans seem to absolutely refuse to learn from their past mistakes or love the hope I feel knowing that we've more or less survived those past mistakes and have made progress, however slowly.

    Likely Stories - The Spirit Bares it's Teeth

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 3:30


    Hi I'm Molly-Jo Tilton, reporter at KWBU, and welcome to this week's episode of likely stories. Today I want to talk about one of my favorite books of all time, Andrew Joseph White's “The Spirit Bares its Teeth”.

    Likely Stories - "Wait Till Next Year" by Doris Keans Goodwin

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 3:30


    Hosting this edition of Likely Stories is Lori Fogelman. Lori works at Baylor University and is part of the broadcast team for Baylor Women's Basketball. Here is her review of Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

    Likely Stories - Picnic: Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Tradition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 3:21


    A big Willie Nelson fan has written a book about the iconic 4th of July picnics.

    Likely Stories - The Ministry of Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 3:32


    Hi, and welcome to Likely Stories. I'm Paige Connell, and I teach English at Midway High School, and today I want to talk about everyone's favorite science fiction construct: time travel.

    Likely Stories - Norwegian Wood

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 3:31


    Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of Likely Stories. I'm Malcolm Foster, operations assistant at KWBU and aspiring habitual reader. Today I want to talk about Haruki Marakumi's best known body of work, ‘Norwegian Wood.'

    Likely Stories - California Golden

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 3:31


    Hey there, my name is Lauren Hooker. I'm a student at Baylor as well as a bookseller at Fabled and I'm also the Public Relations intern this semester here at KWBU.

    Likely Stories - North Woods

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 3:32


    In this week's episode of Likley Stories, art historian and educator, Heather White, is discussing 'North Woods' by Daniel Mason.

    Likely Stories - James

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 3:33


    Hello, my name is Douglas Henry, dean of the Honors College at Baylor University. With this week's edition of Likely Stories.

    Likely Stories - The Frozen River

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 3:32


    Hi, and welcome to another edition of Likely Stories. I'm Paige Connell, and I teach English at Midway High School. When this year comes to a close, if The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon isn't my top 1-2 best books of the year, I will be shocked.

    Likely Stories - A Book of Noises: Notes on the Auraculous

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 3:30


    This is the Reverend Dr. Andrew Armand. I'm an Episcopal priest here in town at St. Alban's Episcopal Church. Welcome to this next edition of Likely Stories.

    Likely Stories - Shut Up, This Is Serious

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 3:34


    Ah, high school. The sounds. The smells. The drama.

    Likely Stories - Tender is the Flesh

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 3:30


    Spooky season is approaching. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and the flavors are getting pumpkiny-er.

    Likely Stories - Upstairs at the White House

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 3:30


    If you have ever wanted a glimpse behind the curtain at the White House, "Upstairs at the White House" by Chief Usher JB West is the book for you.

    Likely Stories - The Inheritance Games

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 3:30


    Hi, my name is Shenequa Williams, and I am an Instructional Specialist at Cedar Ridge Elementary. Today, I'm reviewing The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

    Likely Stories - Sipsworth

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 3:31


    Hi, and welcome back to Likely Stories. I'm Paige Connell, an English teacher at Midway High School, with a review of the most precious book about finding your purpose, caring for others, and the beauty of life-even among the smallest of creatures. Sipsworth by Simon van Booy moved me to tears and filled my cup.

    Likely Stories - The Librarian of Burned Books

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 3:38


    I love books about books. Really, who wouldn't want to be a librarian holding the multiverse together, as in The Invisible Library series? And so many give great us reading lists as a bonus.

    Likely Stories - Demon Copperhead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 3:34


    Hello. My name is Douglas Henry, Dean of the Honors College at Baylor University.Last year, Barbara Kingsolver won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her novel, Demon Copperhead. Inspired by Charles Dickens' David Copperfield, Kingsolver lays bare the woeful lives of orphans in drug-addicted America.

    Likely Stories - Never Let Me Go

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2024 3:30


    During the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine, some people learned to make sourdough, and some learned to paint. Me? I read books. I'm Emma Weidmann, the Arts and Life Editor at the Baylor Lariat, with this week's edition of Likely Stories on KWBU.

    Likely Stories - The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the nineteen thirty-six Berlin Olympics.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 3:31


    Harrison Otis says of The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the nineteen thirty-six Berlin Olympics, "...this is more than a sports story. It's a window into American life during the Great Depression. It's a story about Hitler's rise to power. It's a story of the men and women from Washington whose friendships and conflicts are the real heart of the book...".

    Likely Stories - Normal People

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 3:31


    Why hello there, I'm Malcolm Foster, Operations Assistant at KWBU, habitual collector of books and lifelong lover of compelling storytelling. Today I want to talk about a body of work that captured both my head and my heart. A book that I still find myself thinking of years after my first read through.

    Likely Stories - Starter Villain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 3:30


    Hi, and welcome to Likely Stories. I'm Paige Connell, and I teach 9th grade English at Midway High School. Today I want to talk about one of my surprise favorite books of 2023, Starter Villain by John Scalzi.

    Likely Stories - The Displacements

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 3:30


    Of all the books I have read recently, the one I have recommended to the most people is “The Displacements” by Bruce Holsinger.

    Likely Stories - Devotions

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 3:30


    My name is Heather White. When I am not managing my household and caring for my young children, I teach art and art history classes here in Waco. Today I am recommending the book “Devotions” by Mary Oliver

    Likely Stories - Klara and the Sun

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 3:30


    Hi, and welcome to Likely Stories. My name is Harrison Otis, and I'm a graduate student in the English department at Baylor University. Today I'm reviewing Klara and the sun, the 2021 novel by the British author Kazuo Ishiguro.

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