You Are What You Read

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by quintessential music maker and founding member of The Four Seasons, Bob Gaudio. Bob's career in music started at a young age. At the age of 15, he co-wrote his first hit, "Who Wears Short Shorts," for a group he started, The Royal Teens. His song, "Sherry," in the early '60s, launched The Four Seasons' incredible string of hits. At the time, he also began a productive and creative relationship with Bob Crewe, a teaming that produced an amazing run of hits for The Four Seasons, including "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "Walk Like a Man," "Bye Bye Baby," "Silence Is Golden," and in 1967, Frankie Valli's classic, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." Gaudio also produced and co-wrote with his wife, Judy Parker, "Who Loves You," for The Four Seasons and Billboard Magazine's longest-charting single (54 weeks), "December '63 (Oh, What a Night)." Bob has collaborated with Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra, and has produced albums for Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack, Barry Manilow, Peabo Bryson and The Beach Boys, to cite just a few. This is a conversation about Bob's greatest hits- the songs we will be tuning up this summer!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of You Are What You Read we are doing a deep dive into the life of Audrey Hepburn with Hollywood historian Tom Santopietro. In his work, Tom has studied the greats. His titles include The Sound of Music Story, The Importance of Being Barbra, Sinatra in Hollywood, The Godfather Effect, Why To Kill A Mockingbird Matters, the New York Times Editor's Choice Considering Doris Day, The Way We Were: The Making of a Romantic Classic, and now he is bringing us a definitive tribute to the glamor and character of a beloved icon, Audrey Hepburn. In Audrey Hepburn: A Life of Uncertainty, Tom shares rarely published details, photographs and stories about that will amaze you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Susan Morrison, author of the all-new biography, LORNE: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. Susan Morrison is the articles editor of The New Yorker, former editor in chief of the New York Observer, and an original editor of SPY magazine. In her latest work, she studies Lorne Michaels and his fifty-year helm as creator and producer of Saturday Night Live. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in time for Mother's Day, we are celebrating two, very special mothers this week…educator, mother (of 8), grandmother (of 13) and dear friend, Barbara Forste, and her daughter, award-winning actress, producer and publisher, Sarah Jessica Parker. Barbara Forste is a lifelong supporter of the arts and of literacy and education. She worked in market research for Procter & Gamble, as a second grade teacher, and as a child-wrangler at the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera and the American Ballet Theater. She is a co-founder and director of The Children's Circle, a national association for the education of young children. Her very busy daughter, Sarah Jessica Parker, has worked in theater since 1976 from the title role in Annie, to most recently with her husband, Matthew Broderick, in the revival of Neil Simon‘s comedy play, Plaza Suite. From theater to television and film, Sarah Jessica is known most widely for her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City and its sequel, And Just Like That; as well as the films based on the show, Sex and the City, and Sex and the City 2. Sarah Jessica is the publisher of SJP Lit, her own imprint in partnership with Zando Books. She recently executive produced the documentary, The Librarians, a film highlighting librarians across the country who have been fighting against book bans. It will be available for streaming soon.  Adelphi University hosted us at their annual Writers & Readers Festival this year where we were delighted to hold this conversation in front of a live audience of students, teachers, readers and writers. The Writers & Readers Festival was founded by Adelphi alumna and bestselling novelist Alice Hoffman. This is a conversation about how mothers can pass down their love of reading to change their children's lives and ours.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're in our kitchen! On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by two cookbook authors, television personalities, and beloved chefs, Rachael Ray and Anna Francese Gass. You know and love Rachael Ray from her Emmy-award winning daytime talk show, Rachael Ray, for 17 seasons, from her incredibly popular Food Network series 30 Minute Meals, and also from Rachael Ray's Italian Dream Home. Rachael joins us today with Anna Francese Gass, host of the all-new Hulu cooking show, Instant Italian. Anna is also the author of bestselling cookbooks, Heirloom Kitchen, and Italian Snacking, which we discuss in this conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this week on You Are What You Read, we had a conversation with Liz Moore, author of GOD OF THE WOODS and LONG BRIGHT RIVER, which is now a television series starring Amanda Seyfried. Liz Moore adapted the novel with writer/producer/director Nikki Toscano, who joins us on the podcast today. Nikki has brought us unique and thrilling television in her career: Paramount+'s THE OFFER, Amazon's conspiracy drama thriller, HUNTERS, and now Peacock's LONG BRIGHT RIVER. Nikki teamed up with Liz Moore to give readers and viewers a gripping suspense thriller that follows Mickey (Amanda Seyfried), a police officer in a Philadelphia neighborhood hit hard by the opioid epidemic. As a string of murders unfolds, Mickey begins to uncover disturbing connections between her past and the case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Liz Moore. Liz is the author of the latest thriller sweeping the globe, God of the Woods. God of the Woods was voted Book of the Month Club's Book of the Year and has received praise from The New York Times, People Magazine, NPR, and TIME Magazine to name a few. Liz is also the author of the bestselling novel, Long Bright River, a Good Morning America Book Club Pick, one of Barack Obama's favorite books, and now the hit Peacock television series starring Amanda Seyfried. Later this week, we will have a conversation with producer of Long Bright River, Nikki Toscano, who co-wrote the series with Liz.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Holy Saturday edition of You Are What You Read, we are bringing back a conversation fitting for this time of year. Father James Martin is a Jesuit priest, writer, author and editor-at-large of America magazine who joined us recently for a conversation about eternal life. We were so moved, and so were all of you, by Father James' wisdom and counsel about living with more empathy, curiosity and faith. Please feel free to share this with a friend who needs to hear it. As the Lenten season comes to a close we wanted to reflect on this episode of You Are What You Read once more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Elizabeth Hanks, also known as E.A. Hanks, with her memoir, The 10: A Memoir of Family and the Open Road. The daughter of Tom Hanks, Elizabeth writes a beautiful, deeply felt memoir about her family and her late mother, Susan Dillingham. Elizabeth recounts her solo, cross-country journey across the American southwest on a mission to discover who she is—where her mother ends and she begins. Formerly a staffer at Vanity Fair, Elizabeth has contributed to Time, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others. The 10 is available today wherever books are sold.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by author, playwright and screenwriter Paul Rudnick. Paul is the author of seven books, including Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style and most recently, What is Wrong With You? His plays have been produced on and off Broadway and include Jeffrey, I Hate Hamlet, Regrets Only, and The New Century. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Esquire, and more. You know and love his screenplays, Addams Family Values, Coastal Elites, In & Out, Sister Act, and the film adaptation of Jeffrey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, author of the blockbuster Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus, joins us for a conversation about the book, which is available in a newly-designed paperback edition today. Lessons in Chemistry took the world by storm when it hit bookshelves in 2022. A #1 Global Bestseller with more than 8 million copies sold, the book received great acclaim from the Good Morning America Book Club and was named “Best Book of the Year” by Barnes & Noble, The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, and Newsweek. The book went on to become a series on Apple TV+ where it is now available to stream.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, world-renowned journalist Graydon Carter joins us for a conversation about his memoir, When the Going Was Good, which hits shelves today. Graydon is the founder of Air Mail. Before this, he was a staff writer for both Time and Life. He cocreated Spy, edited The New York Observer, and for twenty-five years was the award-winning editor of Vanity Fair. He is also the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer of more than a dozen documentaries and one hit Broadway play.  Subscribe to AirMail: https://airmail.news/ Enter to win one of 30 advanced copies of The View from Lake Como now on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/404916-the-view-from-lake-como-a-novel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by bestselling author and dear friend Bernice McFadden. Bernice is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Tulane University and the author of the critically acclaimed novels Sugar, Gathering of Waters, The Book of Harlan, and Praise Song for the Butterflies. Today, she joins us with her first-ever memoir, Firstborn Girls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest on You Are What You Read is Henry Alford, a humorist and journalist who has written for The New Yorker for more than two decades. A former columnist for The New York Times and a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, he is the author of seven books, including And Then We Danced, How to Live, and Big Kiss, an account of his attempts to become a working actor, which won a Thurber Prize. In his most recent work, I DREAM OF JONI, Henry studies the beloved singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, Joni Mitchell.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of You Are What You Read, we are diving into a conversation about publishing with someone at the top of the game, the former publisher and CEO of Macmillan, John Sargent. Before he was a leader in the world of books, John was raised on a ranch in Wyoming. He worked at three different publishers before going to Simon and Schuster to run the children's book division at the age of twenty-nine. He spent six years there, followed by three years as the CEO of DK Publishing. In 1996, he went to work as the CEO of St Martin's Press. Three years later, he was put in charge of Holtzbrinck's US publishers and was responsible for forming the company that is today's Macmillan. He worked there as CEO until the end of 2020. All of this is chronicled in John's memoir, Turning Pages, which we discuss in this episode.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, #1 New York Times bestselling author joins us for a LIVE conversation about her new novel, The Familiar, a historical romantasy set during the Spanish Inquisition. Leigh is also the author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Leigh is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello dear listeners! Over the years, we have had the opportunity to speak with some of the most influential authors of our time…one of them being James Patterson. James Patterson has written more than 200 novels, including the Alex Cross series, the Women's Murder Club, the Maximum Ride series and more. He has co authored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton. James is also crazy about his fabulous wife, Susan Solie Patterson. Susan joined us for a conversation about her novel, Things I Wish I Told My Mother, which she co-authored with Susan DiLallo. Susan is a former All-American swimmer from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We loved getting to know Mr. and Mrs. Patterson in these two conversations and hope you do too.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, award-winning actor, singer and comedian, Josh Gad, joins us for a conversation about his memoir, In Gad We Trust. You know Josh as the voice of Olaf in the Frozen franchise. He also starred as Elder Arnold Cunningham in the Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon, and LeFou in the live-action adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. This is a conversation about books, theater and stories that built Josh into the beloved actor he is today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rock and roll icon Dion DiMucci joins us for this week's episode of You Are What You Read. Dion was the lead singer of Dion and the Belmonts and a prominent solo artist with signature hits, “Runaround Sue”, “The Wanderer”, “Ruby Baby”, and “Lovers Who Wander”. In 1989, he was inducted by our good friend Stevie Van Zandt into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame with The Rolling Stones and is one of only two artists (along with Bob Dylan) to be on the cover of The Beatles Classic—Sgt. Pepper's. He joins us this week with his memoir, DION: THE ROCK AND ROLL PHILOSOPHER. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are sitting down with bestselling author Julie Gilbert for a conversation about her beloved aunt, Edna Ferber. Julie writes about her Edna Ferber in the biography, Edna Ferber and Her Circle, and in her latest book, Giant Love: Edna Ferber, Her Best-selling Novel of Texas, and the Making of a Classic American Film. Julie has taught Creative Writing at New York University's School of Continuing Education and currently heads The Writers Academy at The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida. In this episode, Julie walks us through the Golden Age of Hollywood from the writer's desk of her aunt Edna Ferber, the Pulitizer Prize-winning novelist, short story writer and playwright.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Yarros is topping best seller lists with her sweeping, Empyrean fantasy romance series, Fourth Wing, Iron Flame and now Onyx Storm. On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we get to know Rebecca beyond the page. She tells us about her journey to becoming an author, her relationship with her dedicated readers, and the inspiration from her big, beautiful family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Jesuit priest, Father James Martin, for a conversation that will lift your spirits and, hopefully, provide some healing in 2025. Father Jim is editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, and Come Forth.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-three novels, Lisa Jewell. Lisa is sweeping the nation right now on her paperback tour of None of this is True, and we know some of you are on your way to see her. Lisa has connections with her fans like no other author. In this conversation, we talk about her continued support from readers, from her debut novel, Ralph's Party, to her most recent thrillers: The Family Upstairs, Then She Was Gone, Invisible Girl and Watching You. Her next novel, Don't Let Him In, hits bookshelves June 24th, 2025.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are kicking off 2025 with leading physician, scientist, speaker, and author Dr. Will Li with his book, EAT TO BEAT YOUR DIET, this week on You Are What You Read. Are you looking for better ways to monitor your health in the new year? Are you experimenting with new recipes to supplement your diet? Dr. Will Li has the tips and tricks for you, and he lays it all out in this episode. Dr. Li is best known for leading the Angiogenesis Foundation. His groundbreaking work has impacted more than seventy diseases, including cancer, diabetes, blindness, heart disease, and obesity. We hope you take away Dr. Li's healthful advice from this conversation and check out his other book, EAT TO BEAT DISEASE.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This New Years Eve we are spotlighting some stand-out titles of 2024 with our dear friend and executive editor of Riverhead Books, Jake Morrissey…and Jake knows books. Jake publishes both fiction and nonfiction in history, science, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and literary and historical fiction. He works with a wide range of bestselling and award-winning authors, including Daniel H. Pink, Anne Lamott, James McBride, Priya Parker, Michele Harper, and Marlon James, with whom he cohosts the podcast Marlon & Jake Read Dead People. Books mentioned in this episode:  Jake's Books: ENTITLEMENT Rumaan Alam COLORED TELEVISION Danzy Senna SOMEHOW Anne Lamott ALL FOURS Miranda July THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE The Matt Haig WHY WE LOVE FOOTBALL by Joe Posnanski THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride WE SOLVE MURDERS Richard Osman FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston GOOD ENERGY by Casey Means SONNY BOY by Al Pacino COUNTDOWN 1960 by Chris Wallace JOLLY OLD SANTA CLAUS Adriana's Books:  THE STORY OF SILENT NIGHT I CAPTURE THE CASTLE by Dodie Smith THE WAY YOU WEAR YOUR HAT by Bill Zehme REPRIEVE by Agnes DeMille THE RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN STORY by Stanley Green WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES by Michael McDonald WALK THROUGH FIRE by Sheila Johnson THE HISTORY OF THE SNOWMAN by Bob Eckstein GIANT LOVE by Julie Gilbert MORNINGSIDE by Aran Shetterly WHEN WOMEN RAN FIFTH AVENUE by Julie Satow SICILIAN AVENGERS (books one and two) by Stephen Riggio TO DIE FOR by David Baldacci THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah THE STORY OF THE FOREST by Linda Grant THE QUEEN OF STEEPLECHASE PARK by David Ciminello ROOTS, WINGS AND RECIPES by The Origin Project students ITALIAN SNACKING by Anna Francese Gass Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ, we are joined by special guest Poppy Harlow with her adorable Christmas story, THE BIGGEST LITTLE BOY, illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki. In the spirit of the holiday season, we wanted to bring you a conversation for the kids too! Poppy Harlow is the former co-anchor of CNN This Morning and also known for her reporting on Forbes.com. Poppy has been nominated for multiple Emmy awards throughout her career. She often reports from the field during breaking news. She was sent to cover the 2015 Paris terror attacks and anchored from the ground there for two weeks. Poppy also anchored extensive coverage of the Boston marathon bombings. Poppy's proudest role, however, is to be the mother of her daughter Sienna and son Luca who inspired her to write this book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are remembering a dear friend who passed recently, beloved nun Sister Bernadette Kenny. Sister Bernie grew up in Boston and entered the order of the Medical Missionaries of Mary in 1957. For fifteen years, Sister Bernie traveled from Ireland to Tanzania as a midwife, and then moved to Southwest Virginia in 1978 by request of the Richmond Diocese. In 1982, Sister Bernie founded the Health Wagon, a single mobile unit, traveling through small towns to community locations and even providing care in families' backyards to the medically underserved populations of Southwest Virginia. From preventative care, women's health, and chronic disease management (the list goes on), to parenting classes, economic health, and even technical education, the Health Wagon has become an invaluable lifesaving resource across the five main counties it serves, and beyond. In 2019, Sister Bernie co-wrote "Better for Being with You: A Philosophy of Care" with Tauna Gulley who worked alongside Sister Bernie in Clinchco, Virginia. In the book, Sister Bernie and Tauna recount three decades of health care work in Southwest Virginia. The great Father John Rausch once said if you want to meet a modern-day saint, have a conversation with Sister Bernie Kenny. We hope you enjoy this conversation with her.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode, we are delighted to have award-winning writer and New Yorker cartoonist Bob Eckstein with us. Bob's illustrations are iconic, immediately recognizable and always hilarious. His work has been exhibited in the Cartoon Art Museum of San Francisco, the Smithsonian Institution, The Cartoon Museum of London, among many others. His work has also appeared in MAD, McSweeney's, National Lampoon, The New York Times, Reader's Digest, SPY, Wall St. Journal and publications worldwide. He has taught at the School of Visual Arts, New York University, Pratt Institute and Yonsei University in South Korea. Bob has worked on over 50 books as either a writer or illustrator or both. A few of his titles include The History of the Snowman, The Complete Book of Cat Names, Footnotes from the World's Greatest Bookstores, and Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums, which we will be discussing at The Bookmark Shoppe in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday, December 18th at 7pm.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling novelist and award-winning journalist Jennifer Egan joins us on this week's episode of You Are What You Read. You know Jennifer's work: Manhattan Beach, A Visit from the Goon Squad, Candy House, and more. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, Jennifer's books are the gold standard. It's no wonder they have also been included in the New York Times's 100 Best Books of the 21st Century and among President Barack Obama's favorite reads. Jennifer's writing also appears in The New Yorker and The New York Times. In this conversation, we get to know Jennifer beyond the page and the crucial steps she took to become a writer- her gap year between high school and college thinking she would be an archeologist, her career as a model, her time spent as a temp in New York City…and her many stories in between.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by one of the most important and interesting visionaries in media, Josh Sapan. Josh was CEO of AMC Networks for 25 years during which he took the company from a classic movie channel to one of today's leading entertainment destinations featuring Emmy and Golden Globe-winning shows… Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead, Portlandia, The Night Manager and Top of the Lake. Under Josh's leadership, he also owned and operated the popular and award-winning brands: IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films, helping to popularize independent cinema. Josh now leads Sapan Studio, boutique film, television and media investment company, in partnership with IFC Films. Josh's books include CABLE TV, THE BIG PICTURE: AMERICA IN PANORAMA, and THE THIRD ACT: REINVENTING YOUR NEXT CHAPTER, which explores the lives of extraordinary people—including Gloria Steinem, Rep.James Clyburn, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno, Robert Redford, Norman Lear and Alan Alda—and their accomplishments and discoveries in aging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beloved children's book author, Kate DiCamillo, joins us on this week's episode of You Are What You Read with her latest New York Times bestseller, The Hotel Balzaar. Kate is the author of Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor book), The Tiger Rising (a National Book Award finalist), and The Tale of Despereaux (a Newbery Medal Winner). She recently completed a series of early chapter books about a pig named Mercy Watson. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was the winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. In this conversation, we get to know Kate, revisit her childhood filled with books, and examine her process developing some of the greatest characters of our time.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are in conversation with the great American poet Billy Collins with his all-new book of poetry, Water, Water. Billy served as Poet Laureate of the United States from 2001 to 2003 and as New York State Poet from 2004 to 2006. In 2016, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Billy is a former distinguished Professor at Lehman College of the City University of New York.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poet, educator, Emmy-winning producer and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 41 books, Kwame Alexander, joins us this week on You Are What You Read for a conversation about his brilliant children's book, An American Story. Kwame's titles include Becoming Muhammad Ali (which he co-authored with James Patterson), Rebound, (which was shortlisted for the prestigious UK Carnegie Medal), and The Undefeated (a National Book Award nominee, recipient of the Newbery Honor, and a Caldecott Medal-winning picture book illustrated by Kadir Nelson). Kwame is also the Emmy Award- winning Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Writer of The Crossover TV series, based on his Newbery-Medal winning novel of the same name. We'd like to thank our sponsor, Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Master Craftsman Alice Hoffman invents the world of Anne Frank before the war. On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by the great Alice Hoffman for a conversation about her new book, When We Flew Away, a story exploring the details of Anne Frank's life before the worst happened to her. Alice is also the author of over thirty novels including The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, The Book of Magic, and Practical Magic, which was adapted to the blockbuster film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and directed by Griffin Dunne (you can listen to our conversation with Griffin here on You Are What You Read). This episode highlights the research and the heart that goes into every Alice Hoffman book, and the importance of honoring our histories.  We'd like to thank our sponsor, Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maggie dives into her process in writing the global bestseller, Hamnet, the story of William Shakespeare's son in the times in which they lived. In illuminating prose and superb storytelling, she takes us into the world of a centuries-old story that has impact today. O'Farrell is an international superstar who makes the most historical of stories come alive in the moment. Hamnet was the winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award Winner.  We'd like to thank our sponsor, Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by one of the most celebrated guitarists in rock history, Peter Frampton, for a conversation about his memoir, Do You Feel Like I Do? Peter's 1976 album, Frampton Comes Alive!, remains one of the top-selling live records of all time. He co-founded one of the first supergroups, the seminal rock act Humble Pie, and he has collaborated with legends… George Harrison, David Bowie, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Wyman, Ringo Starr, and most recently with the great Dolly Parton. In 2007, Peter won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album for Fingerprints, and in 2014 he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. In this conversation, Peter tells us about his path to stardom from an early age… his enduring friendship with David Bowie…as schoolmates and later on, as performers. He also tells us about the obstacles he's had to overcome to continue to play and pour his heart into music. We'd like to thank our sponsor, Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julianna Margulies joins us for a bonus conversation this week on You Are What You Read to talk about her memoir, Sunshine Girl. You can see Julianna now as Delia Ephron in Left on Tenth on Broadway, based on Delia's bestselling memoir. Julianna is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild award winner. She starred as Alicia Florrick on the long-running hit CBS show The Good Wife, which she also produced, and is also well known for her role as one of the original cast members of ER. In this conversation, Julianna tells us about her rise to stardom…Her complicated relationships, difficult choices, and overwhelming rejections. But also about the moments where fate, faith, and talent aligned, leading to unforgettable roles, both professionally and personally. We'd like to thank our sponsor, Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on You Are What You Read, we have the talk of the town with us… Delia Ephron's bestselling memoir, Left on Tenth, is now on Broadway starring Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher and directed by Susan Stroman. Delia Ephron is a bestselling author, screenwriter, essayist, and playwright. Her novels include Siracusa and The Lion Is In, and her movie credits…You've Got Mail, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, This is My Life, Michael, and Hanging Up (based on her novel). Her play, “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” written with her sister Nora Ephron (based on the book by Ilene Beckerman), ran for two years off Broadway. In this conversation, Delia chronicles the events that led to her late-in-life love story. After losing her sister, Nora, and then her husband, Jerry, both to cancer, Delia struggled through years of heartbreak…but it turned out romance was the healer when a man named Dr. Peter Rutter came into the picture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by beloved wife, mother, friend and bestselling author of the Shopaholic series, Sophie Kinsella, for a conversation about her most personal books yet, What Does It Feel Like? At the end of 2022, Sophie was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer, and being the masterful writer she is, Sophie turned her own life into a narrative. In What Does It Feel Like?, we meet Eve, a successful novelist who wakes up one day in a hospital bed with no memory of how she got there. Her husband, never far from her side, explains that she has had an operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. What follows is an unforgettable story about learning to live and love anew.  We'd like to thank our sponsor, Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicholas Sparks: A look back on his greatest books Episode description: On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by one of the world's most beloved storytellers and author of 23 New York Times bestsellers, Nicholas Sparks. Nicholas' books have been adapted into some of the most iconic films of our time… The Notebook, The Choice, The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven, The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John and The Last Song. In this conversation, we discuss his blockbuster best seller, Dreamland. His 24th novel, Counting Miracles, is out today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Moon Unit Zappa, daughter of the businesswoman, Gail Zappa, and world-famous musician and entertainer, Frank Zappa. Moon Zappa gave her father the biggest commercial hit of his career, “Valley Girl” when she was just 14. Since then, Moon has firmly established herself as a writer, actress, comedian, artist, podcaster, tea merchant, and now, author of her brilliant memoir, EARTH TO MOON, the story of Moon's upbringing in the shadows of Frank Zappa, in a sexually free, but also dysfunctional world in 1970s Los Angeles. Moon was a writer raised in a home bursting with creativity and yet denied artistry. She is now a lover of words with a facile and terrific talent to record her life experience on the page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Academy Award®, Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award winning writer and director, Susanne Bier. Susanne's new Netflix limited series THE PERFECT COUPLE, adapted from Elin Hilderbrand's global bestselling murder-mystery book, stars Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, Liev Schreiber and Eve Hewson. Susanne is also known for directing Netflix's 2018 hit film BIRD BOX starring Sandra Bullock (which went on to become the most-watched film in Netflix history), THE UNDOING, THE FIRST LADY, THE NIGHT MANAGER and more. In this conversation, we get to know the Susanne Bier story behind the camera and her unique POV to catch life on the screen.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by one of the most highly acclaimed signers of our time, Renée Fleming, Renée is a musical treasure- a 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, a winner of five Grammy awards and the US National Medal of Arts. She has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. In 2014 she became the first classical artist ever to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. Known for bringing new audiences to classical music and opera, she has sung not only with Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli, but also with Elton John, Paul Simon, Sting, Josh Groban, and Joan Baez. Renée's voice is featured on the soundtracks of Best Picture Oscar winners The Shape of Water and The Lord of the Rings.  In this conversation, we discuss Renée's brilliant anthology, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness. As Artistic Advisor to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Renée created the Music and the Mind program, a collaboration between America's national cultural center and the National Institutes of Health. With the anthology, Renée curated a collection of essays from leading scientists, artists, creative arts therapists, educators, and healthcare providers about the powerful impacts of music and the arts on health and the human experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the history of American literature, there is only one John Grisham. On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by the "master of the legal thriller" and author of fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers that have been translated into 50 languages. You know his blockbuster bestsellers… A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Rainmaker, and so many more. In his latest novel John Grisham takes us back to paradise for the third book in his Camino series with Camino Ghosts. (We hope you listen to the audiobook narrated by the great Whoopi Goldberg.) In his upcoming work of nonfiction, Framed, John teams up with Jim McCloskey to share ten harrowing true stories of wrongful convictions. John is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction. When he's not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries.  We'd like to thank our sponsor, Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by literary sensation and incomparable storyteller, Margaret Atwood. Margaret is the author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry, and critical essays, including the award-winning, The Handmaid's Tale, The Testaments, Cat's Eye, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin, and more. Margaret has won the Booker Prize, the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. In this conversation, we discuss Margaret's glorious and hilarious short story collection, Old Babes in the Wood, a deep look into family, marriage, loss and aging, and what it means to spend a life with those you love.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by award-winning television and film actor, bestselling author, and champion of Parkinson's Research, Michael J. Fox. You know Michael from his notable roles as Alex P. Keaton on the sitcom Family Ties, Marty McFly in Back to the Future, and more… The Secret of My Success, Doc Hollywood, Casualties of War, and The American President. Michael returned to television in his award-winning lead role in Spin City, and also appeared in Rescue Me, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Good Wife. His many awards include five Emmys, four Golden Globes, one Grammy, two Screen Actors Guild awards, the People's Choice award, and GQ Man of the Year. In 2000, Michael launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which is now the leading Parkinson's organization in the world. He is the author of four New York Times bestselling books: Lucky Man, Always Looking Up, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future, and No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality. Our dear friend Nelle Fortenberry also joins the conversation to talk about her longtime work with Michael as his producer and creative partner. Nelle is on the board of directors for the Michael J. Fox Foundation and won an Emmy as the Executive Producer of Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by author Gabrielle Zevin for a conversation about her blockbuster bestselling novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Gabrielle's novel was an instant New York Times best seller, one of the New York Times's 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, and Book of the Month's Book of the Year. Gabrielle's other novels include The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, Young Jane Young, and Elsewhere. Her books have been translated into over forty languages. In this conversation, we learn about Gabrielle's creative process, her journey as a writer, and the captivating characters from her beloved novels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Academy Award winning actor and New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey for a conversation about his memoir, Greenlights.  You know Matthew from his iconic roles in films like Dallas Buyers Club, A Time to Kill, Dazed and Confused, countless rom coms, and more. In 2009, Matthew and his wife, Camila, founded the just keep livin Foundation, which helps at-risk high school students make healthier mind, body, and spirit choices. Matthew is a professor of practice at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as Minister of Culture/M.O.C. for the University of Texas and the City of Austin. He is also brand ambassador for Lincoln Motor Company, an owner of the Major League Soccer club Austin FC, and co-creator of his favorite bourbon on the planet, Wild Turkey Longbranch. In this exclusive conversation for the Arizona Women's Board Erma Bombeck Luncheon, Matthew and I discuss the important stuff… family, work, faith, and, of course, livin'. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors! This episode of You Are What You Read is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/WHATYOUREAD today to get 10% off your first month. Get it off your chest, with BetterHelp. We'd also like to thank Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey… otherwise known as Pam Beesly and Angela Martin from The Office. Beloved for their roles as a receptionist and an accountant at Scranton's ‘Dunder Mifflin Paper Company', Jenna and Angela have garnered Emmy nominations, Screen Actors Guild Awards and more. In this conversation, Jenna and Angela take us through their nine seasons filming The Office and the friendship they built beyond the show. Now as hosts of the hit podcast, Office Ladies, Jenna and Angela share their plans to continue entertaining Office fans with hilarious behind-the-scenes stories and interviews.  Thanks to our wonderful sponsors! This episode of You Are What You Read is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/WHATYOUREAD today to get 10% off your first month. Get it off your chest, with BetterHelp. We'd also like to thank Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, five-time Grammy Award winner, and platinum selling singer-songwriter, Michael McDonald. Michael was an essential member of Steely Dan and was then invited to join the Doobie Brothers. You know Michael as their trademark singer, keyboardist, and songwriter on numerous Top 40 singles… “Listen to the Music”, “What a Fool Believes”, “Takin' It to the Streets”, “I Keep Forgettin'”, “Peg”, “It Keeps You Running”, and “You Belong to Me”.  In this episode, we discuss Michael's memoir, What a Fool Believes, which he co-wrote with Paul Reiser. Bestselling novelist Lisa Patton, Michael's former assistant, also joins us for the story of our hilarious first meeting. This is a conversation you won't want to miss about Michael's unforgettable journey in music and in finding himself.  Thanks to our wonderful sponsors! This episode of You Are What You Read is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/WHATYOUREAD today to get 10% off your first month. Get it off your chest, with BetterHelp. We'd also like to thank Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by literary wonder woman, Joyce Carol Oates. Joyce is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the National Book Award, and the Jerusalem Prize for Lifetime Achievement, among others, and has been nominated several times for the Pulitzer Prize. Joyce has written some of the most enduring fiction of our time, including the national best sellers We Were the Mulvaneys, Blonde, and The Falls. She is the Roger S. Berlind '52 Distinguished Professor of the Humanities Emerita at Princeton University and has been a member of The American Academy of Arts and Letters since 1978. In this conversation, we learn why Joyce writes and what has brought her to the page for 64 novels, 47 short story collections, plays, librettos, children's novels, books of poetry and more. There are even a few beauty tips!  Thanks to our wonderful sponsors! This episode of You Are What You Read is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/WHATYOUREAD today to get 10% off your first month. Get it off your chest, with BetterHelp. We'd also like to thank Book of the Month.  Head over to bookofthemonth.com and use Promo Code ADRI to get your first book for just $9.99. Thank you for listening, and thank you for reading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices