Podcast appearances and mentions of Bill Bryson

In this episode of the Anglotopia Podcast, Jonathan Thomas is joined by Brendan Dowd — West Point graduate, Iraq War veteran, government consultant, and host of History Nerds United, one of the most respected history book podcasts in the business with over 220 episodes — for a pure, unfiltered book nerd conversation. Both hosts came with a stack of their favorite British history books and took turns sharing their picks, debating the merits, going gloriously off-topic about Darkest Hour, the new Wuthering Heights film, Bridgerton, and Dan Jones's upcoming castles book, and building what amounts to a British history reading list that will keep you busy for years. Between them, Jonathan and Brendan recommend over 20 books spanning Alfred the Great, the Tudors, the Regency, Victorian London, World War II, Thatcher, the Iranian Embassy Siege, and the hidden history of English wolves — plus a peek at what's sitting on each of their TBR piles right now. Links History Nerds United ~History Nerds United Podcast~ ~History Nerds United on YouTube~ ~Brendan's Top Episode: Helen Castor on Joan of Arc~ (update with direct episode link) ⠀Jonathan's Picks ~Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson~ ~The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson~ ~Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts~ ~My Early Life by Winston Churchill~ ~A Very English Scandal by John Preston~ ~London: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd~ ~Citizens of London by Lynne Olson~ ~Empireland by Sathnam Sanghera~ ~Empireworld by Sathnam Sanghera~ ~The Iron Lady by John Campbell~ ~The Last Wolf by Robert Winder~ ~The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy by David Cannadine~ ~Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh~ ~The Regency Years by Robert Morrison~ ~Churchill's Citadel by Katherine Carter~ ⠀Brendan's Picks ~Alfred the Great by Justin Pollard~ ~The Six Loves of James I by Gareth Russell~ ~Battle for the Island Kingdom by Don Hollway~ ~Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII by Jane Marguerite Tippett~ ~The Greatest Knight by Thomas Asbridge~ ~Henry V by Dan Jones~ ~Thomas More: A Life by Joanne Paul~ ~The Stolen Crown by Tracy Borman~ ~The Crown's Silence by Brooke Newman~ ~The Eagle and the Hart by Helen Castor~ ~The Invention of Charlotte Brontë by Graham Watson~ ~London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe~ ~The Siege by Ben Macintyre~ ⠀Also Mentioned ~Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe~ ~Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe~ ~Secrets of Great British Castles with Dan Jones on Netflix~ ~Darkest Hour (2017)~ ~Young Winston (1972)~ ⠀Anglotopia ~101 Oxford Travel Tips and Tricks by Jonathan Thomas~ (update with direct product link) ~Anglotopia Guide to the World of Bridgerton~ (update with direct product link) ~Friends of Anglotopia Club~ (update with correct URL) ⠀ Takeaways Both Jonathan and Brendan started their podcasts for exactly the same reason — frustration at the quality of existing coverage in their field — and both were shocked to discover how generous, enthusiastic, and collegial the history author community turned out to be. Brendan's gateway into British history was Alfred the Great by Justin Pollard — a compact, accessible biography of the only English monarch to earn the title "the Great," which he recommends as the perfect gateway drug for readers who think history books are intimidating. Jonathan's most-reread British book is Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island — a definitive outsider's portrait of British culture from the early 1990s that remains beloved by British readers themselves, and the book that most shaped his vision for Anglotopia. Andrew Roberts's one-volume Churchill biography is both Jonathan and Brendan's recommended starting point for anyone wanting a modern, comprehensive, and myth-busting account of Churchill — and Roberts's Napoleon biography is equally essential. Helen Castor is independently named by Brendan as one of his very favorite history writers — her Eagle and the Hart on Richard II and Henry IV, and her Joan of Arc episode of his podcast, are both highlighted as exceptional examples of humanizing complex historical figures without sanitizing them. Both hosts agree that the best history books share a quality: they humanize their subjects — showing the positive and the negative — rather than either condemning or canonizing them. The books they admire most leave the reader to make their own moral judgments. Empireland by Sathnam Sanghera and The Crown's Silence by Brooke Newman both generated significant controversy — particularly in British publications — but both Jonathan and Brendan recommend them as essential, rigorously evidenced correctives to popular myths about the British Empire and the monarchy's role in the slave trade. Ben Macintyre's The Siege — on the 1980 Iranian Embassy siege in London that made the SAS famous — is Brendan's pick for best recent true British history read, praised for building unbearable tension over hundreds of pages before releasing it all in a single extended final chapter. The new Wuthering Heights film gets a thumbs-down from both hosts — "it looks beautiful but just didn't land" — while Darkest Hour generates a spirited debate about the Underground scene that ends with both agreeing it's historically wrong but emotionally right. Both hosts are currently working through books about the interwar period, Cold War espionage, and upcoming releases from Dan Jones and Thomas Asbridge — and both agree that the single greatest problem with loving history books is that the TBR pile never gets shorter. ⠀ Soundbites "I lost it. I said, there's gotta be a better way. I don't want to continually torture my family with all my rants about books. So I started the blog." — Brendan on the one-star Amazon review that launched History Nerds United. "I sent 10 emails on the first day thinking if I get one back I'll be ecstatic. I got eight back within three days. And I've now sat on a boat with Dan Jones having drinks, overlooking Omaha Beach. Nobody tell me it didn't happen." — Brendan on the unexpected magic of the history community. "I have yet to interview a jerk. Everyone has been unfailingly nice and so excited to be there and just so game to talk about whatever." — Brendan on 220+ episodes of History Nerds United. "My long-term goal is to be like Bill Bryson. I've actually met him. He's a very nice chap. I can only hope to be 10% as good as him one day." — Jonathan on Notes from a Small Island and his writing ambitions. *"If you want to understand why everything is happening in Downton Abbey, read *The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy. I read it as research for a novel I was writing in college and it has never left me." — Jonathan on David Cannadine's masterwork. "Churchill wouldn't have done that. He was not that type of person. But you put Churchill in a period tube carriage, surrounded by Londoners during the Blitz, and it captures the essence of what the story is trying to tell. Was it real? Heck no." — Jonathan and Brendan on the Underground scene in Darkest Hour. "Helen Castor is constantly teaching you, but you feel like you're just having a conversation within the book. At the end of it, you hear Helen get emotional talking about this teenager burned at the stake — how scared she must have been, even with all her faith. She makes her human instead of an icon." — Brendan on his favorite episode of History Nerds United. "The thesis is that because Britain hunted wolves to extinction, it unleashed the economic powerhouse of sheep farming and wool — and as a consequence of that led to so much of what we know as Britain. I read it and I wanted to read it all over again immediately." — Jonathan on The Last Wolf by Robert Winder. "She stayed laser focused on the Elizabethan succession and somehow it's still interesting all the way through. She mentions the Spanish Armada for about three sentences. I said in my review: this book has been written. We don't need any more on this subject." — Brendan on Tracy Borman's The Stolen Crown. "No author has ever made me feel more lazy than Catherine Grace Katz — she wrote *Daughters of Yalta* while she was in law school. If you told me that I would one day be sitting there with Marsha Clark from the OJ Simpson trial, I would have called you a liar. But that's what this world does." — Brendan on the surreal privilege of the history podcast community. ⠀ Chapters 00:00 Introduction — Jonathan sets up the book conversation episode and introduces Brendan Dowd 01:41 How a Tank Platoon Leader Got a 220-Episode History Podcast — Long commutes, bad Amazon reviews, and one unexpected email 05:58 The History Author Community — Why everybody wants you to win, and the generosity of historians 08:10 Dan Jones on a River Cruise — Brendan's honeymoon, Omaha Beach, and a surreal life moment 09:01 What History Nerds United Is — The format, the philosophy, and why Brendan calls himself the laziest podcaster 10:26 BOOK PICKS BEGIN 10:39 Brendan Pick #1: Alfred the Great by Justin Pollard — The George Washington of England and the perfect gateway drug 12:18 Jonathan Pick #1: Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson — The definitive outsider's portrait of British culture and Jonathan's most-reread book 14:28 Brendan Pick #2: The Six Loves of James I by Gareth Russell — A party animal king, Scottish trauma, and the most uncomfortable compliment Gareth ever received 16:58 Jonathan Pick #2: Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts — The one-volume biography that settles the argument 18:15 Andrew Roberts's Napoleon — A brief but enthusiastic detour to France 18:56 Brendan Pick #3: Battle for the Island Kingdom by Don Hollway — 1000 to 1066, the most disgusting assassination in history, and setting up everything 20:05 Jonathan Pick #3: My Early Life by Winston Churchill — The only autobiography, the Boer War escape, and the Gary Stiles connection 21:50 Darkest Hour Debate — The Underground scene: historically wrong, emotionally right, and why it works anyway 23:18 The Perfect WWII Double Bill — Darkest Hour followed by Dunkirk as a single evening 23:50 Brendan Pick #4: Henry V by Dan Jones — Present tense biography, the greatest medieval king, and writing something when you feel ready for it 25:29 Jonathan Pick #4: A Very English Scandal by John Preston — Jeremy Thorpe, a murder plot, a dead dog, and the British establishment 26:57 John Preston's Robert Maxwell Book — And a certain imprisoned daughter 27:26 Brendan Pick #5: Thomas More: A Life by Joanne Paul — Saints, hair shirts, comedy gold, and debunking 500-year-old myths 29:24 Jonathan Pick #5: London: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd — The definitive history of London and the gateway to a great corpus 30:25 Brendan Pick #6: Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII by Jane Marguerite Tippett — He wasn't a Nazi, and the documentation proves it 32:03 Jonathan Pick #6: Citizens of London by Lynne Olson — Americans in London during the Blitz and how they helped save Britain 33:24 Brendan Pick #7: The Stolen Crown by Tracy Borman — The Elizabethan succession, new evidence, and calling Henry VIII a few four-letter words 34:56 Tracy Borman on Inside the Tower of London — And Dan Jones's upcoming Castles book 36:03 Jonathan Pick #7: Empireland by Sathnam Sanghera — Deconstructing myths of the British Empire and why the author quit social media 37:32 Brendan Pick #8: The Crown's Silence by Brooke Newman — The monarchy's direct financial involvement in the slave trade and British publications' predictable response 39:34 Jonathan Pick #8: The Iron Lady by John Campbell — The definitive Thatcher biography and why she's Churchill's true successor 41:45 Brendan Pick #9: The Greatest Knight by Thomas Asbridge — William Marshal, four kings, King John, and a life that reads like a Hollywood script 43:22 Jonathan Pick #9: The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy by David Cannadine — The book that explains Downton Abbey and everything behind it 44:29 Brendan Pick #10: The Eagle and the Hart by Helen Castor — Richard II, Henry IV, and why taking the crown makes you a marked man 46:48 Jonathan Pick #10: Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh — Fiction that illuminates aristocratic decline and the companion read to Cannadine 48:18 Brendan Pick #11: The Invention of Charlotte Brontë by Graham Watson — Jane Eyre as a gateway, the weird genius of the Brontë family, and more autobiography than you realized 50:18 Wuthering Heights Film Discussion — Brendan defers, Jonathan gives a verdict: beautiful but it didn't land 51:43 Jonathan Pick #11: The Last Wolf by Robert Winder — No wolves, lots of sheep, and the surprising hidden springs of Englishness 53:10 Brendan Pick #12: London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe — A body off a balcony opposite MI5, true crime that leaves you profoundly uneasy 54:54 Jonathan buys London Falling at Barnes & Noble — And finds it in the fiction section 55:24 Jonathan Pick #12: The Regency Years by Robert Morrison — What Bridgerton gets wrong, what Jane Austen's world actually was, and the Anglotopia Bridgerton guide 56:23 Bridgerton vs. The Patriot — Two hosts agree: know your genre, leave accuracy at the door 58:15 Brendan Pick #13: The Siege by Ben Macintyre — The Iranian Embassy siege, the SAS, and a final chapter that takes an hour to read 1:00:06 Jonathan Pick #13: Churchill's Citadel by Katherine Carter — Chartwell as weapon, the wilderness years, and the best first book Jonathan has read in years 1:01:31 What's on the TBR Right Now — Ike and Winston, Three Weeks in July, A Shellshocked Nation, the Nord Stream conspiracy, Dan Jones's Castles, and more 1:07:37 The Book Neither Host Can Find Anyone to Write — Brendan's gap in the market involving Joan of Arc's most disturbing companion 1:10:24 The Book Jonathan Should Write — Brendan makes his pitch; Jonathan firmly declines 1:11:06 Jonathan's Gap in the Market — Churchill's second term as Prime Minister: underexplored, fascinating, partially covered by The Crown 1:12:29 John Lithgow as Churchill — Too tall, earned it on The Crown, also very scary in Dexter 1:12:36 Brendan's Proudest Episode — Helen Castor on Joan of Arc, two hours that felt like twenty minutes 1:16:52 Wrap-Up — Where to find History Nerds United, the full book list in the show notes, and promises of a return visit Video Version

Notes and Links to Isaac Fitzgerald's Work     Isaac Fitzgerald is the New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts (winner of a New England Book Award and the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Book of the Year Award). He appears frequently on The Today Show and is also the author of the bestselling children's book How to Be a Pirate as well as the co-author of Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them and Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos (winner of an IACP Award). His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Esquire, GQ, The Guardian, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, and numerous other publications. He lives with his wife, Kelly Farber, and their two dogs on the North Fork of Long Island. His next book, American Rambler, is forthcoming from Knopf. Buy American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed    Isaac Fitzgerald's Website   Review for American Rambler in The Boston Globe     At about 3:20, Isaac talks about the book as “braided” and positive feedback he's gotten from independent booksellers At about 4:40, Isaac gives background on his rich reading and writing life from childhood At about 7:00, Isaac talks about a few catalysts for American Rambler, including Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods… Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn, and An American Story by Howard Means At about 8:55, Pete shouts out Matt Bell's Appleseed, and Isaac reflects on the “mythification” of Johnny Appleseed  At about 13:20, Pete cites a beautiful quote on the connection between parents and storytelling and expands on how his parents and their travels and their storytelling thrilled him At about 17:00, Pete tells about his own experience with childhood stories, and Isaac shares his thoughts on oral storytelling and its connection to real-life experiences for children winning out over continued screen time At about 19:10, Isaac responds to Pete's asking about his mother and father as opposites in many ways At about 23:00, Pete compliments the book's first line and asks Isaac about the book's first hike: Isaac refers to the book as a “coming-of-middle-age” At about 28:10, Isaac responds to Pete's questions about Swedenborgism and its influence on Johnny Appleseed At about 33:10, The two discuss the balance between the social and the solitary  At about 35:50-John Freeman shoutouts! Isaac talks about important advice/editing from John Freeman with AA Knopf At about 38:20, The two discuss reading as a collaborative pursuit-a “two-person technology” At about 39:00, Pete and Isaac talk about Old Man and the Sea and the idea of a “comfort read” At about 40:15, Pete cites two examples of Isaac's work in connection to David Foster Wallace's work in complimenting Isaac's work in opposition to the “flyover country” ethos; Isaac cites Rabin's Old Glory: An American Voyage   At about 45:40, Pete and Isaac highlight a particularly charismatic person who was featured in the book At about 48:25, Isaac talks about his great experience with the Fort Wayne Tin Caps in the book At about 50:50, Isaac responds to Pete asking about the passages from the book where he shared profundity with Ashley C. Ford and Saeed Jones At about 51:25, It gets defecatory!  At about 52:15, Isaac expands on how his time staying with writer friends is in a Kerouac-ian tradition  At about 55:40, Isaac talks about his process that allowed him to  “writing conversationally” and the importance of reading his work aloud At about 57:20, Pete and Isaac reflect on the idea of the public intellectual and the balance between social media communities and authentically celebrating exploration and wonderful art    You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave me a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Jeff Pearlman, a recent guest, is up now at Chicago Review.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    This month's Patreon bonus episode deals with short, powerful poems and prose that pack a punch-take that, alliteration! The episode features meaningful and resonant work from Robert Hershon, Mosab Abu Toha, Ernest Hemingway, Sara Abou Rashed, Khaled Juma, Andrea Cohen, and Marwan Makhoul.    Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 343 with Steven Thrasher, whose writing has been widely published by Scientific American, The New York Times, Nation, The Journal of American History, BuzzFeed News, Esquire and New York magazine. In 2019, Out Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential and impactful people of the year and in 2020, the Ford Foundation awarded him a grant for Creativity and Free Expression. The Viral Underclass, his first book, was widely-awarded and acclaimed, and his second book, The Overseer Class: A Manifesto, will be the focus of the podcast conversation.    The episode airs on May 14, and the book has a May 19 Pub Date.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.    You can also donate at chuffed.org, World Central Kitchen, and so many more, and/or you can contact writer friend Ursula Villarreal-Moura directly or through Pete, as she has direct links with friends in Gaza.

Lauren Roerick, known on trail as Longway, is a long-distance backpacker, filmmaker, and outdoor educator who has hiked across North America, Europe, and Oceania. From the Pacific Crest Trail to New Zealand's Te Araroa, and becoming the first North American woman to thru-hike France's 3,034 km HexaTrek, Lauren shares her adventures and the lessons they've taught her. In this episode, she talks about stepping into the world of long-distance hiking in her 30s, navigating challenges on remote trails, making decisions in the moment, and learning to trust herself. Through her storytelling and filmmaking, Lauren inspires women to build confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection with the outdoors—proving that it's never too late to take that first step. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Lauren Long distance backpacker and film maker Currently in California, but normally based out of Vancouver, Canada Her early year growing up in a small city in Southern Alberta called Lethbridge Not getting into backpacking until her 30s Playing a lot of sports, being a gymnasts, playing rugby and doing jujitsu  What changed in her 30s A walk in the books by Bill Bryson - the classic thru-hiker read  Having the courage to take the step to make her dreams come true Why the first step is the hardest  You get one life…. Being willing to sacrifice the other things  What's really important to you Support from family  March 2020 and being on the trail when the pandemic started  Moving in with her mum in Southern California for 4 months  Making the decision to leave the trail  Why it wasn't an easy decision to make  Heading back the following year (2021) and not knowing if she would get the chance to hike again Being made redundant after 6 months  Finding a southbound permit for the PCT at the end of June  Being drawn to hike on long trails  Making life long friendships and building community while hiking  Starting to document her hikes as soon as she started Vlogging for THE TREK Being a documenter - but not having experience in vlogging  Her biggest challenge while being on the PCT  The fires, the weather and needing to adapt to the trail Making the decision to fly to Colorado to hike the Colorado Trail  Doing back to back hiking since 2023 Wanting to make a career out of this  Needing to go all in  Deciding that it was ok to be tired Her love for the trails Taking things a little slower when you need to  Finding a balance that works for her Deciding to hike the HexaTrek  Choosing a trail off the beaten track  Not speaking French  HexaTrek is a 3034 km hiking trail, connecting 14 of the most beautiful nationals parks and crossing France from the Vosges to the Pyrenees. The people on the trail  Wanting to make more solo decisions and building those skills Making decisions when you don't have good options  Trusting her gut and intuition  Learning acceptance while on the trail  Thoughts on the Hexatrek and why it's not a beginner trail Spending 4 months on the trail (121 days) Feeling strong and fit at the end of the trail Having 3 months before heading out to New Zealand to hike the Te Araroa Trail  Heading NOBO on the TA - starting in Bluff and heading to Cape Reinga (the non traditional way) Highlights from the trail and why it's such an interesting trail  The hut system in New Zealand Why it's not just about the hiking  The logistics off the trail - and why it was frustrating  The lessons learned from hiking the TA  Changing from a purist hiker to a hike your own hike, hiker. Making it her own adventure, doing side quests and making the adventure unique to her Sharing her stories online and hiking while being observed  People expectations of her while hiking  Figuring out what works for you  Hiking in Georgia - and loving it! Transcaucasian Trail Nutrition and food while on the trail Eating the same food day after day and being ok with it Wearing trainers on the trial  Hiking Plans for 2026 Hiking with a group of content creators - The Drakensberg Grand Traverse, South Africa  Working with Jack Wolfskin  The Wolf Trail  Being booked out until October  Feeing excited about the future  Advice and tips for new hikers - the tropics that should be talked about me Don't get overwhelmed by the whole trail How to connect with Lauren online Final words of advice for women to step outside their comfort zone  It's okay to want things for yourself. It's okay to prioritise yourself and your dream - even it that sometimes means putting them ahead of other people's goals.   Social Media Website: www.laurenroerick.com  Instagram: @laurenroerick Youtube: @laurenroerick  Patreon www.patreon.com/laurenexplores  

This sermon explores the biblical metaphor of the church as the body of Christ, emphasizing that just as the human body is made up of many unique and essential parts working together in harmony, so too is the church a diverse community where every individual has a vital role. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 12, Will Dyer highlights that church is not about buildings or programs, but about people—each uniquely gifted by God to contribute to the whole. The message challenges the idea of professionalized ministry, insisting that all believers are called to participate actively, not just spectate. Using examples from Bill Bryson's book on the human body, the sermon illustrates the wonder of both physical and spiritual bodies, urging listeners to discover and use their unique gifts to bring life to the church community. Ultimately, the church is portrayed as a living, breathing organism animated by the Spirit of God, where every member matters and is invited to serve for the good of all.

On this episode of Currently Reading, we are revisiting an episode from season 1! On episode 8, Meredith and Kaytee discussed reading slumps and how to get through them. Kaytee is bopping around the world, so we hope you enjoy this blast to the past. (head on over to the original show notes HERE to see the photos Meredith references in her bookish moment) Bookish Moments: lovely neighbors and bucket list trips with friends Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: reading slumps, how we deal with them, and some book recs to help get you through them Books We Want To Press Into Your Hands: each host brings a book they want everyone to read Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . .   5:12 - Moonlight in Vermont AirBnB in Stowe, VT 6:54 - Bear Pond Books in Stowe, Vermont 7:45 - The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (Kaytee) 7:58 - Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin 10:22 - A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (Meredith) 10:30 - Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson 13:00 - Siblings without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (Kaytee) 13:25 - How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish 13:30 - How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish 15:51 - Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman 17:24 - Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips (Meredith) 20:12 - A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult (Kaytee) 21:40 - Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult 25:36 - Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (Meredith) 27:13 - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin 28:00 - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 28:42 - The Vanderbeeker's of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser 33:28 - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee 34:11 - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 39:40 - Calypso by David Sedaris 40:39 - Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 41:13 - Theft by Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 by David Sedaris 43:47 -Max: Best Friend. Hero. Marine. by Jennifer Li Shotz 43:53 - Hero by Jennifer Li Shotz 46:15 - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. April's IPL is brought to us from a new to us bookstore, Two Friends Books in Bentonville, Arkansas Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads | Substack | Youtube The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Kevin's been to see author Bill Bryson talk this week, and he has some astonishing facts to share with Jack. He's also coming to Auckland this weekend to see the NZ Polo Open in Clevedon, and his wife Linda is particularly excited to see the horses in action. Listen to Kevin and Jack catch up on the week's antics, and hear some potentially eye-opening facts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gerald Howard is the author of The Insider: Malcolm Cowley and the Triumph of American Literature, available from Penguin Press. Howard retired in 2021 as executive editor and vice president of Doubleday Books. He received the 2009 Maxwell E. Perkins Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Field of Fiction and has worked over the years with authors such as Paul Auster, Don DeLillo, David Foster Wallace, Debby Applegate, Hanya Yanagihara, Pat Barker, Sean Wilentz, and Bill Bryson. Howard's essays and reviews have appeared in Bookforum, The New York Times Book Review, The American Scholar, London Review of Books, n+1, Slate, and other publications. *** ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Otherppl with Brad Listi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a weekly podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers. This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ulys.app/writeabook to download Ulysses, and use the code OTHERPPL at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription. Available where podcasts are available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, etc. Get ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How to Write a Novel,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ the debut audio course from DeepDive. 50+ hours of never-before-heard insight, inspiration, and instruction from dozens of today's most celebrated contemporary authors. Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brad's email newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com The podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠proud affiliate partner of Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, working to support local, independent bookstores. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Bri Books podcast! In this episode, we explore six captivating books from 2025 that span memoir, history, culture, and personal growth. From surviving illness abroad to uncovering hidden royal power plays, from the quiet history of our homes to the question of who we're meant to become, these books invite us to see the world, and ourselves, more clearly. If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Books Discussed in This Episode Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career by Suzy Welch. A practical and reflective guide to discovering your true values and aligning them with your career and life choices. Welch offers tools and frameworks to help listeners clarify who they are, what they want, and how to build a life that fits. Mastesr of the Word: How Media Shaped History by William J. Bernstein. Bernstein traces the sweeping history of media, from the invention of writing in ancient Mesopotamia to the rise of the mobile internet. From the spread of alphabets and vernacular Bibles to the printing press, mass media, and digital networks, the book shows how shifts in information access have fueled empires, revolutions, democracy, and dissent. At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson.  A fascinating room-by-room exploration of how everyday domestic life evolved. Bryson uses his own home as a jumping-off point to uncover surprising histories behind bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and the objects we take for granted. The World in a Wineglass: The Insider's Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now by Ray Isle. A global tour of wine told through people, place, and philosophy. Ray Isle highlights independent, sustainability-minded winemakers and shows how wine reflects culture, geography, and values — not just tasting notes. Stitching Freedom: A True Story of Injustice, Defiance, and Hope in Angola Prison by Gary Tyler. Gary Tyler — who was wrongfully incarcerated for nearly 42 years — tells a powerful story of survival, justice, and creative resistance. While imprisoned, Tyler turned to quilting as a means of expression, healing, and political testimony, transforming fabric into visual records of racism, resilience, and hope. The book explores how art can become a lifeline under extreme conditions and how storytelling, even when stitched rather than spoken, can reclaim dignity and freedom in the face of systemic injustice. Surviving Paris: A Memoir of Healing in the City of Light by Robin Allison Davis.  A deeply personal memoir about moving to Paris in search of reinvention — and instead confronting breast cancer far from home. Allison Davis reflects on illness, identity, friendship, and resilience while navigating a foreign healthcare system and rebuilding her sense of self in the City of Light. The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit, and the Death of the Tudor Dynasty by Tracy Borman. Royal historian Tracy Borman challenges long-held assumptions about the English succession after Queen Elizabeth I's death. Using new archival evidence, she reveals a far more fragile and politically charged transfer of power than history has traditionally acknowledged. If you're new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Please tell me where you're traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Staffers Sarah, Desirae and Brynne talk about the best books they read the past year. Books mentioned: A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko; The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey; The Wrong Daughter, One Small Mistake, The Perfect Match and The Wedding Vow by Dandy Smith; All Fours by Miranda July; The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo; and Love, Mom by Iliana Xander.Also mentioned: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson; Wild by Cheryl Strayed; The Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim by Pete McBride; the documentary Into the Canyon; Biography of X by Catherine Lacey; The Last Word by Taylor Adams; author Freida McFadden; Ninth House, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo; Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke; and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.Check out books, TV shows and movies at countycat.mcfls.org, wplc.overdrive.com, hoopladigital.com and kanopy.com/en/westallis. For more about WAPL, visit westallislibrary.org.Music: Tim Moor via Pixabay

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  

In the latest episode of Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin, famed chef Yotam Ottolenghi talks finding the joy of cooking and talks his stage show coming to New Zealand in 2026. We hear from Black Grace Dance Company founder Neil Ieremia as the group celebrates 30 years of stunning performances. Plus Bill Bryson talks revisiting and revising his iconic book A Short History of Nearly Everything. Great Chats with Francesca Rudkin brings you the best interviews from Newstalk ZB's The Sunday Session. Listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his hit 2003 pop science book, A Short History of Nearly Everything, writer Bill Bryson took readers on a journey from the birth of the universe to the inner workings of a cell, and had them laughing along the way. Over 20 years on, Bryson joins Piya Chattopadhyay to explain why he's now updating his seminal work to explore what's changed, what hasn't, and what still amazes him, even in times of existential dread.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Globe and Mail's Tony Keller about how Canada's desire for immigrants gave way to debate, writer Bill Bryson brings wonder to science in a refresh of his seminal work A Short History of Nearly Everything, former national security analyst and policy advisor Dennis Molinaro explores the complicated history of Canada-China relations, and comedian Charles Demers finds the funny in Canadianisms that define us – from goose poop to butter chicken.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Nash Falls by David Baldacci Walter Nash is a sensitive, intelligent and kindhearted man. He has a wife and a daughter and a very high-level position at Sybaritic Investments, where his innate skills and dogged tenacity have carried him to the top of the pyramid in his business career. Despite never going on grand adventures, and always working too many hours, he has a happy and upscale life with his family. However, following his estranged Vietnam-veteran father's funeral, Nash is unexpectedly approached by the FBI in the middle of the night. They have an important request: become their inside man to expose an enterprise that is laundering large sums of money through Sybaritic. At the top of this illegal operation is Victoria Steers, an international criminal mastermind that the FBI has been trying to bring down for years. Nash has little choice but to accept the FBI's demands and try to bring Steers and her partners to justice. But when Steers discovers that Nash is working with the FBI, she turns the tables on him in a way he never could have contemplated. And that forces Nash to take the ultimate step both to survive and to take his revenge: He must become the exact opposite of who he has always been. And even that may not be enough. A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 by Bill Bryson Bill Bryson can't contain his curiosity about the world around him. A Short History of Nearly Everything 2.0 is the result of his quest to understand everything that has happened from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization – how we got from being nothing at all to what we are today. Now fully updated to reflect the many scientific discoveries in the last twenty years since this book was first published, it explains among much else: Why Pluto is no longer a planet How the number of moons in the solar system has more than doubled in 20 years How scientists used advances in genetics to discover previously unknown species of early humans Why we still don't know what most of the universe is made of How the little Higgs boson transformed physics This journey through time and space will inform a new generation of readers, young and old, as well as those who read this book on first publication with a new perspective based on what we know now. Written in his inimitable style, Bryson makes complex subjects fascinating and accessible to everyone with an interest in the world around them. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 332 For only the second time, the genome of an ancient Denisovan has been sequenced - thanks to the discovery of a 200,000-year-old tooth found in a Siberian cave. This ancient member of the human family has long been a mystery, so this genome is being described as a bombshell moment, revealing an early stage of Denisovan history. We explore how this reshapes our understanding about the origins of our species. Some 95 per cent of us have a dormant virus, lurking in our bodies - waiting to strike when the moment's right. Epstein-Barr virus causes glandular fever - also known as mono or kissing disease - but only in a small number of people. Though new evidence is showing that even dormant viruses may still cause long term health problems. Formula E electric race cars may have surpassed their fossil fuel counterparts. From greater efficiency to faster acceleration, this is a big turning point for the sport - but they don't have the edge on F1 cars in all areas just yet. We find out where they're winning and where they're falling behind - and how this could translate to better electric road cars for us. And the legendary science writer Bill Bryson joins the team to discuss the process of revising his bestselling book A Short History of Nearly Everything. He explores some of the most fascinating (and surprising) facts he's had to update in the 20 years since the book came out. Chapters: (00:00) Intro (01:45) Second Denisovan genome sequenced (11:15) We all have dormant viruses that are causing diseases (18:37) Are Formula E cars faster than F1? (27:17) Bill Bryson on revising his bestselling book Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet, with guests Bill Bryson and Alec Luhn. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Check out the CoLab feature with DEEP at https://newscientist.com/deep  Shop our Black Friday sale at www.newscientist.com/sale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything has sold millions of copies since its initial publication in 2003, but a lot has changed since then. Bryson had initially retired, but he's since revised his best known work with updated information - and he's set to do a speaking tour, with Auckland and Wellington events to take place in February. He says a massive amount has changed in the 22 years since writing the book and updating it was a bigger project than expected. "It was fun, I enjoyed it a lot - I've been kind of retired for a few years and this is why I came out of retirement, to do this. And I really had a good time doing it, it made me remember the joys of actually working." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 9 November 2025, Bill Bryson's book 'The Short History of Nearly Everything, is the best selling science book of the 21st century. This week he tells Francesca why he came out of retirement to rewrite it after 23 years. Neil Ieremia is credited with changing dance in New Zealand. This year his company, Black Grace turns 30 and he joins Francesca to talk about celebrating the milestone. ZB commentator Elliott Smith on a tight win for the All Blacks this morning at Murrayfield, Francesca applauds the Government's film rebates as a step in the right direction. And off the back of the announcement that Michelin reviewers are going to rate New Zealand restaurants for the first time, resident chef Mike Van de Elzen shares why chasing a star was never important to him. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep. 208 brings the third installment of our “Best of…” series. Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop joined Sarah for the Best of Narrative Nonfiction, sharing her ALL-TIME TOP books in this genre. Plus, she brings a few popular nonfiction reads that didn't work for her.⁠ This episode is chock-full of fantastic book recommendations to get you ready for Nonfiction November or just your next nonfiction pick. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights How Elizabeth got started with narrative nonfiction. How the pull of “real stories” has her returning to this category again and again. Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn't work for her. Elizabeth picks a book from her list that would be a good starter book for those new to the genre. All books mentioned in this episode are linked through Fabled Bookshop or Libro.FM. If you decide to purchase, we'd love for you to use our Fabled links in the show notes — if your budget allows.  As a bonus, use promo code SARAH at checkout on Fabled's website for 10% off your order! Prefer audio? You can find the titles on Libro.fm and select Fabled as the store you'd like to support. You can also find a list of Elizabeth's books from this episode on both Fabled's website. Elizabeth's Favorite Narrative Nonfiction Sub-Genres [9:53] NATURAL DISASTER STORIES In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides (2014) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [10:42] The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin (2004) | Fabled | Libro.FM [11:13] The Vortex by Scott Carney and Jason Miklian (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [11:29] The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown (2009) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [12:18] What Stands in a Storm by Kim Cross (2015) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [13:11] Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson (1999) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [13:33] LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS One Summer by Bill Bryson (2013) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [14:24] Pappyland by Wright Thompson (2020) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [15:05] The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [15:43] POP SCIENCE Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport (2019) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [16:54] The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [17:50] Replaceable You by Mary Roach (2025) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [18:35] HISTORY TOLD IN INTERESTING WAYS Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [19:03] The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon (2017) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [20:21] The Big Rich by Bryan Burrough (2009) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [21:17] In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton (2001) | Fabled  [21:43] Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (2010) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [22:11] ORDINARY PEOPLE MEMOIRS Red Notice by Bill Browder (2015) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [22:32] Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin (1988) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [23:06] GOTCHA / PEOPLE BEHAVING BADLY Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [24:22] Bad City by Paul Pringle (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [24:24] Bully Market by Jamie Fiore Higgins (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [24:31] Elizabeth's All-Time Top Narrative Nonfiction [26:07] Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr. (2013) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [26:56] The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (2006) | Fabled | Libro.FM [28:07] The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (2016) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [29:13] Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard (2011) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [30:57] The Deepest South of All by Richard Grant (2020) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [33:03] Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall (2019) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [35:01] All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg (1991) | Fabled | Libro.FM   [37:41] Sudden Sea by R. A. Scotti (2003) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [39:52] The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede (2002) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [43:09] High-Profile Narrative Nonfiction That She Didn't Love [47:37]  In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1965) | Fabled | Libro.FM  [47:52] When the Sea Came Alive by Garrett M. Graff (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM [49:19] Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM [50:48] Other Books Mentioned Finding Flora by Elinor Florence (2025) [4:51] Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose (1996) [5:21] The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (2013) [12:22] Patty Reed's Doll by Rachel K. Laurgaard (1956) [12:59]   In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross (2023) [13:15] The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (2024) [17:45] Grunt by Mary Roach (2016) [18:27] Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin (1984) [23:48] Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (2018) [25:10] I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (2018) [25:39] A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan (2023) [28:57] The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan (2016) [29:02] Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (1994) [33:48] Natchez Burning (Natchez Burning, 1 and Penn Cage, 4) by Greg Iles (2014) [34:49] Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (2009) [35:21] My Southern Journey by Rick Bragg (2015) [39:03] Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce (2023) [41:45] A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams (2013) [42:33] The Only Place in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff (2019) [45:44] The Devil Reached Toward the Sky by Garrett M. Graff (2025) [50:41] Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham (2019) [42:33]

Join The Momentum Circle writing community - applications close on Sept 30th!CLINK THE LINK FOR MORE INFOHi, I'm Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.In this episode I'm joined by Alan Green, debut author of Sound Advice, a fascinating book that digs into the hidden life lessons of 1980s pop music. Alan shares how redundancy after nearly three decades at a law firm sparked a complete life reset and gave him the time to explore his idea. We talk about the joys of music as a catalyst for change, the conservatism of traditional publishing, and the creative routines that transformed his Mondays from something to dread into his favourite day of the week.Alan also opens up about keeping himself out of the book so readers could focus on their own lives, the tricky business of copyright and song lyrics, and how rejection letters ultimately helped him find the perfect publishing home at Salt.As always, we cover our regular segments including The Book That Saved Your Life, where Alan highlights Carl Sagan's Cosmos, Merlin Sheldrake's Entangled Life, and his admiration for Bill Bryson's writing.Whether you're a music lover, a writer, or someone in need of a little sound advice of your own, this is a really inspiring conversation. You can find Alan's book here.Episode HighlightsUsing 80s pop as a prism for universal themes like love, work, ageing and worryWhy Alan deliberately left himself out of the bookHow originality can be a tough pitch in publishingThe power of small daily habits in building a creative lifeAlan's book choices in The Book That Saved Your LifeWayne Kelly offers self-publishing packages and mentoring for writers at wkwproductions.co.uk/selfpublishing.

Send us a textNews events around the world right now is far from 'happiness'. In the face of all the despair, fear and suffering, who better to give us some hope and positivity than a happiness and resilience expert. So this is our re-release of Episode 74 featuring the incredible and inspiring story of Marie Skelton, who after finding true grit and resilience following an accident that nearly took her life, has now dedicated herself to helping people find happiness and resilience. Marie is author, speaker, elite athlete, podcaster and mental wellbeing advocate whose message for you is simple: unless you plan on hiding under a rock for the rest of your life, you will face a major life change at some point, if you haven't already – so be prepared. [03:33s] From journalism to competitive volleyball to change management  [09:14s] A story of true grit and resilience   [13:18s] Of change and of mental wellbeing      [29:50s] ‘Happiness for Cynics' [42:28s] Mental health and inclusivity – The future [44:54s] RWL: Marie recommends READ‘Happier' by Tal Ben-Shahar; ‘The Happiness Advantage' by Shawn Achor | WATCH Ted Talks Dan Gilbert: The surprising science of happiness; Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness; Carol Dweck: The Power of Believing That You Can Improve | LISTEN audiobooks ‘A short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson; ‘Mating in Captivity' by Esther Perel Follow Marie's work on www.marieskelton.comListen to her podcast ‘Happiness for Cynics' Connect with Marie on LinkedIn Connect with Vinay on LinkedIn What did you think about this episode? What would you like to hear more about? Or simply, write in and say hello! podcast@c2cod.comSubscribe to us on your favorite platforms – Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.  This podcast is sponsored by C2C-OD, your Organizational Development consulting partner ‘Bringing People and Strategy Together'. Follow @c2cod on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook 

Pain is a signal that something is wrong.Pain whispers, shouts, and screams, “Pay attention. Be careful. Something is wrong.”Jean Marzollo wrote a children's poem in 1948 that romanticized Christopher Columbus. It inspired a generation of children during the Captain Kangaroo years. Her proud poem begins,“In fourteen hundred ninety-twoColumbus sailed the ocean blue”Bill Bryson wrote an insightful summary of that famous voyage on page 205 of his book, “At Home.”“Columbus's real achievement was managing to cross the ocean successfully in both directions. Though an accomplished enough mariner, he was not terribly good at a great deal else, especially geography, the skill that would seem most vital in an explorer. It would be hard to name any figure in history who has achieved more lasting fame with less competence. He spent large parts of eight years bouncing around Caribbean islands and coastal South America convinced that he was in the heart of the Orient and that Japan and China were at the edge of every sunset. He never worked out that Cuba is an island and never once set foot on, or even suspected the existence of, the landmass to the north that everyone thinks he discovered: the United States.”We learn the meaning of pain as children, but we train ourselves to ignore it as adults.Why do we do that?I'm talking to you about the pain of your Google spend.Is there a chance that you should pay attention – and be careful – because something is wrong?Twenty years ago, Google inspired and electrified American business owners with their promise of “holding ad budgets accountable” by making advertising results, “identifiable, measurable, and scalable.”Business owners romanticized Google by shouting,“Hooray! Advertising will now become just another mathematical equation! Hooray! Hooray! To double my customer count, all I will have to do is double my ad budget!”I watched a friend of mine raise his monthly Google budget from $20,000/mo. to $70,000/mo because he was convinced that he would get three-and-a-half times as many leads. When it didn't work, I asked him to look closely at how many clicks he had purchased and compare that number to the total population of his trade area.Have you done that math?I watched another friend of mine elevate her Google budget until she was spending $90,000 a month. Her business was no longer profitable. I asked her to look at how many clicks she had purchased and compare that number to the total population of her trade area.Have you done that math?Have you ever raised your Google budget and had Google say to you, “We're sorry, but it is not possible to spend that much money on your LSA. There simply aren't enough people each day who are searching for what you sell.”Do the math.The past two decades have been the Captain Kangaroo years for millions of business owners.Bill Bryson wrote that Columbus was, “convinced that he was in the heart of the Orient and that Japan and China were at the edge of every sunset.”How many years have you been believing that your big payday from Google was at the edge of every sunset? Have you been saying,“All we need to do is tweak our plan a little. As soon as we figure out the Google algorithm, we're going to be rich.”A business owner from a major American city recently spent a day with me. He had been spending $100,000 on Google ads each month for the past few years because he was convinced that he could not afford mass media in his city.His budget could easily have made his name a household word by using television or radio. I know the town well. I have had clients there for many years.His budget would reach more than 2 million...

Seems like King in the North Andy Burnham fancies his chances of taking over Labour and giving the troubled government new direction. Is talk of a leadership fight just pot-stirring – or is Starmer in real trouble? And who else is in the frame? Plus, that video where maverick crimefighter Robert Jenrick chases faredodgers was roundly mocked. But is it smart politics in the Tories' battle with Reform over the soul of Pissed-Off Britain? And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people, we read Sarah Vine's Westminster tell-all so you don't have to.  • Don't miss the latest Crime Scene: Should Britain decriminalise cannabis? ESCAPE ROUTES • Rachel recommends Giant with John Lithgow at the Harold Pinter Theatre.  • Jonn recommends Murderbot by on Apple TV+. • Marie recommends Neither Here Nor There by Bill Bryson. • Alison recommends Fred And Rose: A British Horror Story on Netflix.  • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Presented by Alison Phillips with Rachel Cunliffe, Jonn Elledge and Marie le Conte. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Theme music by Cornershop. Produced by Chris Jones. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill Hodges and Dave McArthur discuss the 1998 A Walk in the Woods while drinking moonshine and taking slight digressions into their own wilderness experiences

Hi, I'm Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.In this episode, I'm joined by the brilliant Hannah Murray – a seasoned radio and TV presenter, passionate book lover, and co-host of the Marbella with Him and Her podcast. Based in Marbella, Spain, Hannah brings a wealth of experience from over two decades in broadcasting, including her popular book show on Talk Radio Europe and her regular appearances on Good Morning Spain TV.We had a fascinating and wide-ranging chat covering:How Hannah built a career in radio and TV after moving to Spain.Her love of books, reading, and interviewing writers from all over the world.Lessons learned from interviewing major authors like Jilly Cooper, James Patterson, and Jeffrey Archer.Practical advice for writers who want to promote themselves and their books effectively.Insights into writing, creativity, and the importance of finishing that all-important first draft.The Book That Saved Her Life Hannah chose Down Under by Bill Bryson – a funny and vivid travel memoir that deepened her love for travel and great storytelling.About Hannah MurrayHannah Murray is a veteran broadcaster with over twenty years of experience. She hosts TRE in the Afternoon and The Book Show on Talk Radio Europe and is a regular contributor to Good Morning Spain TV. Alongside her husband, she also co-hosts the light-hearted lifestyle podcast Marbella with Him and Her. A passionate reader, interviewer, and lifelong lover of words, Hannah shares her enthusiasm for books and storytelling through her work on radio, television, and digital platforms.Find Out More About Hannah:

Morning Show 04-11-25 Hiur 2 Dale Lee, Bill Bryson by The Watchdog

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Simon & Schuster, Bill Bryson, and The Hunger Games. Then, stick around for a chat with Adam Nevill!ADAM L. G. NEVILL was born in Birmingham, England, in 1969 and grew up in England and New Zealand. He is an author of horror fiction. Of his novels, The Ritual, Last Days, No One Gets Out Alive and The Reddening were all winners of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel. He has also published three collections of short stories, with Some Will Not Sleep winning the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection, 2017. Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen. The author lives in Devon, England. 

What's the worst thing you ever saw at a sports game? Someone throw a battery at a Make-a-Wish kid? Sure, if you're from Philly, but what if you were from California.On today's episode: we'll talk about zombies and crucifictions and collapsing buildings before we even get into it; we're going to watch the shortest baseball game of all time; and we're going to cut off one of your limbs in one of the more claustrophobic ways possible.And if you were listening on Patreon… you would hear of one of the most extreme, but very different kind of arm-severing examples of self-rescue in history; the story of a must-have, closed-casket-funeral-friendly rescue device and the absolutely brutal, very public early use of it; and a really dirty, smutty explanation how earthquakes work.By popular request, we present The Loma Prieta Earthquake Disaster of 1989! So, we'll end up talking about my history with zombies and a popular crucifixion and a slowly collapsing building - two of three events set in San Francisco itself – all before we settle in to watch the shortest baseball game of all time.Not just that, we're actually going to (for the first time ever) interrupt a safety segment with a Patreon-exclusive retelling of the shockingly horrific and awful just-kill-me-now-already story of Aron Ralston. You might remember him as the guy who chewed his arm off after an 800 pound boulder pinned him to a canyon wall in Utah. He didn't actually chew his arm off though. What he did was at least a thousand times worse.We'll also do a little retelling of the great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Can't not do a San Francisco Earthquake disaster without at least bringing it up.Celebrity guest appearances include world famous author and travel enthusiast, Bill Bryson; crucified magician and Jesus' friend, Saint Andrew; real estate suckers Joe Montana and Kevin Durant; all four Beatles; sports broadcasters, Al Michaels and Tim McCarver; newscaster, Ted Koppel; crosstown World Series players Dave Stewart, Mike Moore, Jose Canseco, Dave Parker and Terry Kennedy.All older episodes can be found on any of your favorite channelsApple : https://tinyurl.com/5fnbumdw Spotify : https://tinyurl.com/73tb3uuw IHeartRadio : https://tinyurl.com/vwczpv5j Podchaser : https://tinyurl.com/263kda6w Stitcher : https://tinyurl.com/mcyxt6vw Google : https://tinyurl.com/3fjfxatt Spreaker : https://tinyurl.com/fm5y22su Podchaser : https://tinyurl.com/263kda6w RadioPublic : https://tinyurl.com/w67b4kec PocketCasts. : https://pca.st/ef1165v3 CastBox : https://tinyurl.com/4xjpptdr Breaker. : https://tinyurl.com/4cbpfayt Deezer. : https://tinyurl.com/5nmexvwt Follow us on the socials for moreFacebook : www.facebook.com/doomsdaypodcast Instagram : www.instagram.com/doomsdaypodcast Twitter : www.twitter.com/doomsdaypodcastTikTok:  www.tiktok.com/@doomsday.the.podcastIf you like the idea of your podcast hosts wearing more than duct tape and bits of old Halloween costumes for clothes and can spare a buck or two, you can now buy me a coffee atwww.buymeacoffee.com/doomsday or join the patreon at www.funeralkazoo.com/doomsday

Matthew Bannister on Oleg Gordievsky, the KGB agent who defected to Britain and became a valued source of secret intelligence during the 1970s and 80s.Renee Goddard, the actress and TV commissioner who fled Nazi persecution only to be interned in Britain.Professor Richard Fortey, the palaeontologist who used his expertise in trilobites to tell stories about the origins of life on earth. Bill Bryson pays tribute.Sofia Gubaidulina, the composer whose large scale religious works attracted criticism from the Soviet authorities. Producer: Gareth Nelson-DaviesArchive: Friendly Enemy Aliens, BBC Radio 4, 1980; Kaleidoscope: Simon's War, BBC Radio 4, 1984; Year of the Great Betrayal, BBC Radio 4, 1977; Reni and the Brownshirts, BBC Radio 4, 2002; Lisel, BBC Radio 4, 1955; Desert Island Discs : Oleg Gordievsky, Radio 4, 10/02/2008; In the Psychiatrist's Chair : Oleg Gordievsky, BBC Radio 4, 26/07/2015; BBC News, 15/12/1984; BBC News, 15/10/1990;

March 8th, 2025 The Appalachian Trail marks an iconic and historic ideal in outdoor recreation- inspiring some 4,000 hikers each year to hike the entirety of the 2,197 mile long trail within a period of about six months. The window opens at the end of February, and typically runs until the beginning of October, when hikers can expect to reach the end of the trail. There is scarcely a greater accomplishment in the world of long distance backpacking. Today we are joined by Matt Long, who hiked the entire trail in 2005, is back on the Carolina Outdoors to give a clue into what through hiking is like. Matt is a lifetime outdoorsman, inspired initially by a poster on the wall in his geography classroom, built up by his life in Scouting and continued by his own passion and family into today. Segment Highlights: Through hiking, Section hiking, and 'Continuous Section Hiking'- the difference between them all The beauty of accomplishing the trail in short amounts of time, and the accomplishment of doing it over a lifetime Matt's inspiration to hike the trail and why he did it How Matt and other thru-hikers 'prepare' for the trail, mentally and logistically The importance of exercising before the journey begins What matters more? Logistical prep or mental prep? Budgeting concerns and situations Bill Bryson's 'A Walk in the Woods' the book Matt used and valued most in preparing for his experience. Things You'll Learn by Listening: This podcast episode details essential parts of the planning, preparation, experience and aftermath of any great outdoor adventure. Matt's stories of Appalachian Trail glory and Iron Man race prep can inspire anyone toward their next adventure, or help them remember the best parts of those already passed. Jesse Brown's Is your one-stop-shop for any hike you're planning, whether 2 miles or 2,000. Come on in for your next pair of hiking boots, maps, or just plain old advice!

SUMMARY: (A Dave and Kellen episode!) This book is full of incredible trivia about the human body, beautifully and hilariously written. For instance, did you know that every one of your organs is being played by a tiny little Phantom of the Opera? When your stomach is rumbling, that's him telling Christine to “Sing, angel!” If you release gas as you sleep, that's simply the music of the night! Fun.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!MAR 16 New Bremen, OHMAR 20 PittsburghMAR 28 Bakersfield, CAPR 2-4 St Pete, Clearwater, & Delray Beach, FLAPR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

As we kick off the new year, Martin takes a moment to reflect on the incredible adventures, stories, and insights shared on Papa Bear Hikes over the past year. He extends heartfelt thanks to Outdoor Vitals for their continued support, making it possible to inspire and connect with the hiking community week after week.In this episode, Martin also offers a brief review of the film A Walk in the Woods, based on Bill Bryson's humorous and heartfelt memoir. From its stunning Appalachian Trail scenery to its moments of camaraderie and self-discovery, Martin shares his take on why this film resonates with hikers and adventurers alike.Join us for this celebratory episode, filled with gratitude and inspiration to hit the trails in 2025!Avalon Publicity & Business Services Increasing the Digital Footprint of Content Creators via Modern Publicity and Social Media ServicesSupport the showGet outside, have fun and be safe!Martin Armitage, Host of the Papa Bear Hikes Podcasthttps://www.papabearhikes.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/papa-bear-hikes/id1541491746https://www.instagram.com/papabearhikes01/

“In El Salvador, I dropped $5 out of my pocket at the border, and some guy came running up to me. At the beginning of the trip I would have been surprised by that. But by that point I would have been surprised if it didn’t happen.” —Matt Savino In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Matt talk about how the first version of his travel book was way too long, and what he ended up editing out (6:00); the origins of Matt’s Central America road trip, why he ended up turning it into a book, and how he ended up taking Rolf’s Paris class (12:00); how Matt’s “Spreadsheet of Pain” helped him edit his book down to manageable size, and how historical research helped his narrative (17:00); how he wrote about a road trip that didn’t actually reach its objective, and how he tried to model his narrative on Bill Bryson’s writing (26:00); how Matt used a hybrid publisher to get his travel book into the world in two years (31:00); the challenges, idiosyncrasies, and creative joys that come with creating a hybrid published book (39:00); how AI bots determined that Matt had “plagiarized” what turned out to be his own book (54:00); and Matt’s advice for people interested in hybrid publishing (60:30). Matt Savino (@ushuaia_or_bust) is the author of Land Without a Continent: A Road Trip through Mexico and Central America. He can be contacted via his website. Notable Links: Paris travel memoir writing workshop (Rolf’s writing classes) Matt’s Spreadsheet of Pain (note explainer tab at the bottom) No Baggage Challenge (Rolf’s 2010 blog and video series) Justin's elephant-poop cold remedy (2010 video) Walking every single street in NYC (Deviate episode) The Sweet Superstition of Rooting for the Royals, by Rolf Potts (essay) Van Life Before #VanLife (Deviate episode) Developmental editing (pre-publication writing support) Hybrid publishing (assisted self-publishing) Jew (comedy special by Ari Shaffir) Perhapsing (nonfiction narrative strategy) Illumify Media (hybrid publisher) Cliff Clavin (fictional character on Cheers) IngramSpark (self-publishing book company) Kindle Direct Publishing (e-book publishing platform) Authors, books, and agents mentioned: Bill Bryson (author) Julie Pesano (travel writer and teacher) Cole Kazdin (writer and writing coach) Who Killed the Bishop? by Francisco Goldman (book) Blood of Brothers, by Stephen Kinzer (book) Turning the Tide, by Noam Chomsky (book) A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson (book) Chloe Cooper Jones (author) Eddy L. Harris (travel author) James Faccinto (book publicist and former Paris student) April Eberhardt (literary agent and publishing consultant) AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, by David Miller (book) Pati Jinich (chef, author, and TV host) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“In El Salvador, I dropped $5 out of my pocket at the border, and some guy came running up to me. At the beginning of the trip I would have been surprised by that. But by that point I would have been surprised if it didn’t happen.” —Matt Savino In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Matt talk about how the first version of his travel book was way too long, and what he ended up editing out (6:00); the origins of Matt’s Central America road trip, why he ended up turning it into a book, and how he ended up taking Rolf’s Paris class (12:00); how Matt’s “Spreadsheet of Pain” helped him edit his book down to manageable size, and how historical research helped his narrative (17:00); how he wrote about a road trip that didn’t actually reach its objective, and how he tried to model his narrative on Bill Bryson’s writing (26:00); how Matt used a hybrid publisher to get his travel book into the world in two years (31:00); the challenges, idiosyncrasies, and creative joys that come with creating a hybrid published book (39:00); how AI bots determined that Matt had “plagiarized” what turned out to be his own book (54:00); and Matt’s advice for people interested in hybrid publishing (60:30). Matt Savino (@ushuaia_or_bust) is the author of Land Without a Continent: A Road Trip through Mexico and Central America. He can be contacted via his website. Notable Links: Paris travel memoir writing workshop (Rolf’s writing classes) Matt’s Spreadsheet of Pain (note explainer tab at the bottom) No Baggage Challenge (Rolf’s 2010 blog and video series) Justin's elephant-poop cold remedy (2010 video) Walking every single street in NYC (Deviate episode) The Sweet Superstition of Rooting for the Royals, by Rolf Potts (essay) Van Life Before #VanLife (Deviate episode) Developmental editing (pre-publication writing support) Hybrid publishing (assisted self-publishing) Jew (comedy special by Ari Shaffir) Perhapsing (nonfiction narrative strategy) Illumify Media (hybrid publisher) Cliff Clavin (fictional character on Cheers) IngramSpark (self-publishing book company) Kindle Direct Publishing (e-book publishing platform) Authors, books, and agents mentioned: Bill Bryson (author) Julie Pesano (travel writer and teacher) Cole Kazdin (writer and writing coach) Who Killed the Bishop? by Francisco Goldman (book) Blood of Brothers, by Stephen Kinzer (book) Turning the Tide, by Noam Chomsky (book) A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson (book) Chloe Cooper Jones (author) Eddy L. Harris (travel author) James Faccinto (book publicist and former Paris student) April Eberhardt (literary agent and publishing consultant) AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, by David Miller (book) Pati Jinich (chef, author, and TV host) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

Bill Bryson says "We are just a collection of inert components, the same stuff you would find in a pile of DIRT." How does dirt write poems, produce films, make music, design rockets, engineer software, practice medicine, choreograph ballets or patent inventions? The short answer is Genesis 2:7. Genesis 2:7 credits the Lord God as the One who created us, designed us, and animated us. Listen as Pastor Mark explores the miraculous components of LIFE in God's creation.

As parents, we can get better at picking our moments. Not everything needs to be a battle. 

Strange and funny-ish is the paranormal world! Joining me is a great storyteller and Hudson Valley native, Thomm Quakenbush! Thomm was born in Cold Spring, NY. He is an American author of speculative fiction including his Night's Dream series. He lives and teaches in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York. https://thommquackenbush.com/LIKE, share your thoughts, and subscribe to support the Mystic Lounge channel!Please leave a review on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Thank you!Quakenbush grew up reading the works of Kurt Vonnegut, Neil Gaiman, Anne Rice, and Terry Pratchett. He later became a fan of humorous non-fiction, such as the works of David Sedaris and Bill Bryson, all of which has informed his style. He was raised in the Hudson Valley during the famous UFO Flap on the middle 1980s, igniting an interest in the paranormal, causing him to read widely about fortean phenomena. Additionally, he devoted himself to pagan religions in childhood, giving him a wide background in supernatural theories and the particulars of witchcraft, which he incorporates heavily in his works, most notably the Night's Dream series. In 2010, he received his contract for We Shadows. He subsequently published three sequels and has several others in the works. In 2011, SyFy Channel solicited the rights to We Shadows, though the deal did not proceed further. He has worked on comics with DC Comics artist Dezi Sienty under the now-defunct label of Cave Drawing Ink. He is known for askew takes on commonplace myths and the history of the Hudson Valley.PLEASE HELP THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL GROW ☕️ SUBSCRIBE, like, comment, and click the Notification Bell so you don't miss a show. Thank you! https://www.youtube.com/mysticloungeHALF LIGHT documentary: https://tubitv.com/movies/678744/half-lightCheck out other fantastic Un-X shows at https://www.unxnetwork.com/show

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in July. You get 10% off your books when you order your August Reading Recap Bundle. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie's favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (type “Episode 492” into the search bar and tap enter to find the books mentioned in this episode), or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand It Had to Be You by Eliza Jane Brazier What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci (releases 10/15) Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger (releases 10/29) Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson (unavailable to order) Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman JFK Jr. by Rosemarie Terenzio and Liz McNeil Annie's August Reading Recap Bundle - $69 The Perfect Couple by Elin Hildebrand Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found below. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is listening to It Wasn't Roaring It Was Weeping by Lisa Jo Baker. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Jennifer Bannerton, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Susan Hulings, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, and Amanda Whigham.  

Summary: Welcome to the final stop on our Summer Road Trip Series, friends! Today, Holly and Devin sip some tea while sheltering from the Seattle rain in Washington State. With cozy vibes that can quickly turn sinister, this state is ripe with potential for stories in either wheelhouse for our hosts. Culturally and literally this state is rooted in nature and the natural world, which can highlight the most epic loves or the darkest, chilling terrors. We're so delighted you joined us for our road trip and are excited to dive into Spooky Season with you next!  Topics Discussed: The Heart (4:08): Devin discussed Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur, a sapphic romance following Darcy Lowell and Elle Jones after a disastrous first date turns into a fake-dating relationship of convenience. Both trying to escape pressures from family, the no-nonsense actuary Darcy and the earnest astrologer Elle agree to play the part of lovers through the holiday season, but fate (and the stars?) have a different plan for them. Devin's key takeaways are: This novel takes place in Seattle and everything about it from the location descriptions to the characters themselves speak to that quirky, offbeat but sincere culture. Things are a bit slower, the rain creates a vibe, and everyone is more in-tune with their feelings in this neck of the woods.  Astrology is a major player in the entire trilogy by Bellefleur. The book has fun astrological tidbits woven throughout (what song are you based on your astrological sign, etc.) and is a huge part of Elle's career, life etc. and how Darcy ends up authentically connecting with her.  This story was one of Devin's favorite “opposites attract” and “fake dating” trope stories she's run into for the last several years. Elle and Darcy are both so authentic, their issues so valid and their situation so feasible feeling that it's impossible not to buy in.  The Dagger (16:27): Holly discussed The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean, a crime fiction story centered around Ellie Black - a 19 year-old who stumbles out of the Washington State woods and back into the world from which she disappeared when she was kidnapped two years prior. Detective Casey Calhoun works with Ellie and is determined to get to the bottom of what happened to her, but has a hard time getting straight answers. With personal investment in uncovering the truth, Calhoun must discern if it's trauma or if Ellie is hiding something. Holly's key takeaways were: The concept and tropes in this book aren't groundbreaking–disappearing girls, seasoned detective determined to solve it–but somehow Jean made the story feel fresh with fantastic execution. Jean deeply established the characters themselves, which balanced well with the story that unravels in alternating POVs and timelines. Jean examines themes like misogyny and misplaced affection; Ellie's perspective is told as though she's speaking to someone, although we're not sure who, if it's the detective or someone else. It goes back and walks the reader through what she experienced while kidnapped, which is pretty chilling. There was a decent sense of place as being in the Pacific Northwest, especially when experiencing the vastness of the woods that Ellie is held within and from which she emerges. Hot On the Shelf (31:40): Holly: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon Devin: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson What's Making Our Hearts Race (37:13): Holly: Frasier Devin: Getting creative with a glass blowing class!    Instagram: @heartsanddaggerspod Website: www.heartsanddaggerspod.com   If you like what you hear, please tell your friends and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that we can find our perfect audience.

Rabbi Dunner explores the modern paradox of choice, using observations from travel writer Bill Bryson and insights from psychologist Barry Schwartz to highlight how excessive options often lead to frustration and poor decisions. Drawing on the wisdom of Parshat Re'eh, Rabbi Dunner proposes the value of clear decisive action and the narrowing down of choices to find true fulfillment.

This week Shawn Wilkie and Dr. Ivan Zak welcome Dr. Jacob Adams, Chief Scientific Officer at Noxsano, to talk about their innovative approach to wound healing using nitric oxide and how it saves time and money for veterinary professionals.   Learn more about Noxsano. Clinical Trial: The use of a novel nitric oxide wound dressing in acute traumatic wounds in dogs. Dr. Jacob Adams recommends “A Short History of Nearly Everything” by Bill Bryson.

If you read the news, it feels like the world is falling apart. Zoom out. Take a sideways glance. Get the outside of the issue, the problem, the day's events. Seek perspective.Ask DS:How do we know when we are sticking to our values versus leaving them behind? What can we learn from President Carter's campaigning versus his leadership while in office? Does Ryan Holiday think there are any major pitfalls or flaws in Stoicism?

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2771: Nick Maggiulli's exploration of "The Price of Greed" illustrates the perils of unchecked ambition through historical and modern examples, revealing how greed, often driven by a desire for status, can lead to devastating financial and personal consequences. By highlighting the stories of figures like Eli Whitney and Jesse Livermore, Maggiulli emphasizes the importance of balancing ambition with wisdom to avoid the high costs of greed. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ofdollarsanddata.com/the-price-of-greed/ Quotes to ponder: "The irony is that this is a money game and money is the way we keep score. But the real object of the Game is not money, it is the playing of the Game itself." "People start being interested in something because it's going up, not because they understand it or anything else. But the guy next door, who they know is dumber than they are, is getting rich and they aren't." Episode references: 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson: https://www.amazon.com/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021 The Money Game by Adam Smith (George Goodman): https://www.amazon.com/Money-Game-Adam-Smith/dp/0394721039 At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson: https://www.amazon.com/At-Home-Short-History-Private/dp/0767919394 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chapter 1:Summary of at home Book"At Home: A Short History of Private Life" is a book by Bill Bryson that explores the history and evolution of the modern home and its various rooms. Published in 2010, the book takes readers on a journey through Bryson's own home, an old English rectory, using it as a departure point for a series of historical digressions that explain how domestic life evolved over the centuries.Each chapter is centered around a different room or function of the house, such as the kitchen, the bedroom, or the nursery, and delves into the origins and transformations of everyday items and household concepts. Bryson's narrative is rich in historical anecdotes and trivia, ranging from the development of architecture and furniture to the stories of the inventors, adventurers, and visionaries who shaped the way we live today.Throughout "At Home," Bryson mixes humor and fascinating facts to uncover how societal changes, technological advancements, and historical events have influenced our domestic habits and living spaces. He discusses everything from the evolution of plumbing and heating, to the changing roles of men and women within the household, to the impact of political and economic shifts on home life.The book is not only an informative and entertaining look at the history of the house but also a reflection on how the concept of home has fundamentally shaped human history and culture. As always, Bryject in tags. Bill Bryyon's engaging prose and eye for detail make "At Home" both an enjoyable read and a thought-provoking exploration of the commonplace surroundings that we often take for granted.Chapter 2:the theme of at home Book"At Home: A Short History of Private Life" by Bill Bryson, published in 2010, is a non-fiction book that delves into the history and evolution of the domestic aspects of daily life. While the book might not possess a traditional narrative with characters and a plot, it is structured around an exploration of Bryson's own home, a Victorian parsonage in Norfolk, England. Each chapter is centered around a different room or part of the house, which then serves as a springboard for diving into wide-ranging historical anecdotes and examinations. Here's how the book addresses key thematic ideas and other elements: Key Plot Points- Introduction to the House: Bryson starts by introducing the reader to his house in Norfolk, explaining how his curiosity about its history led him to research and write about the broader subject of private life.- Exploration by Room: Each chapter focuses on a different room (e.g., the kitchen, the bedroom, the nursery), using it to explore various historical aspects and evolutions of common household items and practices.- Wide Historical Context: Bryson weaves many historical periods and facts into his narrative, covering topics like architecture, medicine, fashion, and technology, thus uncovering how societal changes impacted private life. Character Development- Historical Figures: Rather than traditional character development, Bryson discusses numerous historical figures, providing insight into their contributions to domestic life. Architects, inventors, and ordinary people who influenced how homes have evolved are profiled.- Bill Bryson as Narrator: Bryson's own character comes through as a curious, engaging, and humorous narrator who guides the reader through the sprawling history and fascinating trivia of domestic life. Thematic Ideas- The Significance of Domestic Space: A major theme is the importance of understanding how everyday objects and spaces have evolved. Bryson argues that the history of private life is as important as the history of great public events and movements.- Innovation and Technology: Throughout the book, Bryson highlights the technological innovations that have transformed...

In this episode, we sit down with Audrey Payne, a long-distance backpacker, acclaimed writer, and nature enthusiast who calls Boulder, Colorado, her home. Audrey's incredible journey from overcoming a debilitating back injury to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) forms the heart of our conversation. Raised in Upstate New York and inspired by her transformative experiences abroad in New Zealand and Madagascar, Audrey has always had a deep love for the outdoors. Her passion led her to pursue environmental science and journalism, but the pressures of her studies and early career eventually led to burnout and a severe back injury. Undeterred, she found inspiration in Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" and set her sights on the AT, a journey she chronicles in her newly published memoir. Throughout our chat, Audrey shares the highs and lows of her trail life, from the supportive community she found to the physical and mental challenges she faced. We explore her trail name ‘Glowstick,' her trail family dynamics, and the lessons learned from her trek. Audrey also opens up about the post-trail depression she experienced and how writing her memoir helped her process the journey. As she plans future hikes, including the possibility of tackling the Pacific Crest Trail, Audrey's story is a powerful reminder of resilience and the joy of embracing life's adventures. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and gain insights into the life of a dedicated thru-hiker and nature lover. ***  Don't miss the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 AM UK time!  Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.  This episode of the Tough Girl Podcast is proudly sponsored by INOV8, pioneers in cutting-edge sportswear. Use code TOUGHGIRL15 to get your 15% discount.  Click here: https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/marchdailymile  *** Show notes Who is Audrey  Being a hiking and backpacking enthusiast  Living in Boulder Colorado, USA Growing up in Upstate New York Her early years and her passion for the outdoors Spending a summer abroad in New Zealand at 16  How it changed her life Spending time in Madagascar for a semester abroad during college Staying environmental science and journalist with a minor in anthropology  Dealing with burnout and how it happened.  Moving to Washing DC to study for a Masters Degree in Public Relations.  Working for an entertainment communications firm  Dealing with a back injury while having to work all the time Starting to think about the Appalachian Trail (AT) Getting inspired by Bill Bryson and his book; Walk in the Woods Making the decision to start taking the first steps towards achieving her goal of walking the AT Getting to the start line  Landing her dream job at World Wildlife Fund Connecting with an old friend from college who also wanted to hike the trail Having a good boss 1 month before the start! On the start line of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 Loving every moment and feeling so happy and grateful Getting her trail name, ‘Glowstick' Day to day life on the trail and being part of a trail family Food and nutrition on the trail and eating on a budget Craving and what it's telling your body The ice cream challenge… Key lessons learned from taking on this challenge Dealing with conflict on the trail and the break up of the trail family Being anaemic  Wear and tear on your body on a thru-hike Writing her book 5 years after the hike Post Trail Depression/Post Trail Blues  Getting the urge to write and writing non stop Hiking on a regular basis and making it apart of her life Future hiking dreams and planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the future  Hiking the John Muir Trail and why the PCT might be the wrong trail for her Taking the time to figure out which trail to walk in the future How you can connect with Audrey and follow along with her future journeys  Why you should keep an open mind  Grab the opportunities when they arrive   Social Media Website: sunstrucksite.wordpress.com  Instagram: @audipayne  Facebook: @audipayne  YouTube: @AudreyAdventures  Book: Where the Rhododendrons Bloom: A Thru-Hiking Adventure on the Appalachian Trail     

Jake Wallace was born and raised in the corn fields of Iowa where he learned how to fix fences, build barns and generally throw hay bales larger than cows with ease.  Life has been nothing but an adventure for Jake. In addition to working for NOLS Wilderness Medicine, he works as a professional mountain guide which takes him around the world to beautiful mountains and rivers alongside amazing people. Facebook​ ​Twitter​ ​Instagram​ Love the show? Subscribe, ​rate, review, and share!​ Sign up for my Newsletter ​HERE​ I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here: ​rick@theoutdoorbizpodcast.com Show Notes 00:00 Experiencing outdoor adventures sparked lifelong enthusiasm. 03:59 Jake enjoys diverse pursuits and follows people they admire in various fields, such as outdoor education, leadership, and medicine. They believe in imparting wisdom and following the example of respected individuals. 07:04 Trauma where a dear friend was killed spurred career change and led to helping others outdoors. 11:13 Appreciating diverse cultures during travel. 15:52 Swift water rescue training in California, accident injures teammate. 18:13 Took first responder course, met friends, and kept up with instructors. 21:23 Wilderness medicine course with three instructors, 30 students, hands-on training, high exam pass rate. 25:32 It's important for groups and guides to push comfort levels for growth. 26:16 Learning to manage risk as I age, considering family and recovery ability and the importance of open communication in decision-making. 29:43 The future looks promising with growing outdoor interest, but time and money constraints may affect long outdoor courses like NOLS. 34:47 Advice for aspiring outdoor industry professionals: Respect the community, follow your passion, and learn from experienced mentors. 37:16 Favorite gear under $100: I've got this really old stuff sack that I think it was for a pair of skins from 15, 20, 20 years ago. That stuff sack always has all of my favorite snacks in it, so I think my favorite thing is my snack bag. 38:15 Do you have a favorite book or two? Yeah, I read a lot. One of my favorite authors is Bill Bryson and a walk in the woods. Another I can't think of right now. I think it's called the Emerald Mile. 40:42 Thanks for listening to the Outdoor Biz Podcast with Rick Saez. Visit our website for more info and subscribe. Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe and spread the word! Learn More You can follow up with Jake at jake_wallace@nols.edu and NOLS on their website. Next Steps If you enjoy interviews devoted to the outdoor industry, find us online at ricksaez.com/listen. We love likes and comments, and if you know someone who is also an outdoor enthusiast, go ahead and share our site with them, too. And be sure to Subscribe to our newsletter Keywords #NOLS, #wilderness EMT training, #Lander, Wyoming, #risk mitigation, #outdoor activities, #Pale Blue Earth batteries, #outdoor safety, #Devil's Lake, #mountain river guide, #outdoor education, #outdoor gear, #risk management, #environmental stewardship, #Wilderness Medicine, #swift water rescue, #instructor training. Podcast produced using Descript, CastMagic Podcast hosted by Libsyn use code 'outdoorbizpod' for 20% OFF Show Notes powered by Castmagic Website powered by Wordpress Note: As an Affiliate of Amazon and others, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The inimitable Visakan Veerasamy returns for a characteristically wide-ranging discussion… Important Links: Visa's Website Visa's Twitter  Visa's Youtube Visa's Previous Episode Visa's Post-Episode Thread Show Notes: Life as a Dad A Conversation With David Deutsch Change, Courage, Curiosity & Creativity Possibility Space & the Problem of Wretchedness A Good Blog Post Can Change the World The Outdated Language of Counterculture Colliding Our Reality Tunnels Imperfection Breeds Creativity We Are Co-Creators Status Quo Soldiers The Power of Noticing Visa as Emperor of the World MUCH more! Books & Articles Mentioned: Friendly Ambitious Nerd; by Visakan Veerasamy Introspect; by Visakan Veerasamy status quo soldiers lose in the long run; by Visakan Veerasamy The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations That Transform the World; by David Deutsch The Thinker and The Prover; by Jim O'Shaughnessy Leonardo Da Vinci; by Walter Isaacson Ninety-five Theses; by Martin Luther Alice's Adventures in Wonderland; by Lewis Carroll The News: A User's Manual; by Alain de Botton Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man; by Marshall McLuhan Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behaviour; by David R. Hawkins How I Accidentally Started The Sixties; by Howard Bloom One Summer: America 1927; by Bill Bryson

“We ‘massage’ the truth to make it fit the narrative we need it to fit in our lives.”  –Andrew McCarthy In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Andrew talk about how Andrew got started in travel writing, and how writing himself on the page helped him see himself in the world (2:30); when he does and doesn’t conflate certain details in the interest of a good story, and how he balances the “micro” and the “macro” elements of a travel story (12:30); how he decides who to write about, among the many people he meets on the road, which details do and don’t drive the narrative forward, and what it’s like to meet travelers who recognize him from his acting days (23:30); how Andrew structures his travel stories, and what travel storytelling in common with his work as a TV director (31:00); how he balances his writing and non-writing work in life, and how he mixes personal details with place details in his travel writing (38:00); and how memory can be fallible, and how to best write about family members (47:00). Andrew McCarthy (@AndrewTMcCarthy) is an actor, television director and writer of such books as The Longest Way Home and Brat. His newest book is Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain. Notable Links: Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf’s travel memoir classes) Andrew McCarthy on travel (Deviate episode) Andrew McCarthy Proust questionnaire (Deviate episode) Paul Theroux (travel writer and novelist) “Chasing the Black Pearl,” by Andrew McCarthy (Tahiti article) Gustav Mahler (classical composer) Don George (travel writer and editor) The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen (book) “A Slice of Paradise,” by Andrew McCarthy (Hawaii article) “A Slice of Ireland,” by Andrew McCarthy (Ireland article) “Steeped in Darjeeling,” by Andrew McCarthy (India article) Osprey (species of bird) Finisterre (peninsula in Spain) Communitas (unstructured community of equals) A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson (book) Less than Zero (1987 film starring Andrew McCarthy) Nut graph (journalism term) Joan Didion (American writer) Marco Polo Didn’t Go There, by Rolf Potts (book) Claude Chabrol (French film director) Henry Miller (American novelist) Alison Steele (New York DJ known as “The Nightbird”) Vin Scelsa (broadcaster) Oliver Sacks (British neurologist and writer) Rob Lowe (American “Brat Pack” actor) “Courting Vienna,” by Andrew McCarthy (Austria article) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

“We ‘massage’ the truth to make it fit the narrative we need it to fit in our lives.”  –Andrew McCarthy In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Andrew talk about how Andrew got started in travel writing, and how writing himself on the page helped him see himself in the world (2:30); when he does and doesn’t conflate certain details in the interest of a good story, and how he balances the “micro” and the “macro” elements of a travel story (12:30); how he decides who to write about, among the many people he meets on the road, which details do and don’t drive the narrative forward, and what it’s like to meet travelers who recognize him from his acting days (23:30); how Andrew structures his travel stories, and what travel storytelling in common with his work as a TV director (31:00); how he balances his writing and non-writing work in life, and how he mixes personal details with place details in his travel writing (38:00); and how memory can be fallible, and how to best write about family members (47:00). Andrew McCarthy (@AndrewTMcCarthy) is an actor, television director and writer of such books as The Longest Way Home and Brat. His newest book is Walking with Sam: A Father, a Son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain. Notable Links: Paris Writing Workshops (Rolf’s travel memoir classes) Andrew McCarthy on travel (Deviate episode) Andrew McCarthy Proust questionnaire (Deviate episode) Paul Theroux (travel writer and novelist) “Chasing the Black Pearl,” by Andrew McCarthy (Tahiti article) Gustav Mahler (classical composer) Don George (travel writer and editor) The Snow Leopard, by Peter Matthiessen (book) “A Slice of Paradise,” by Andrew McCarthy (Hawaii article) “A Slice of Ireland,” by Andrew McCarthy (Ireland article) “Steeped in Darjeeling,” by Andrew McCarthy (India article) Osprey (species of bird) Finisterre (peninsula in Spain) Communitas (unstructured community of equals) A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson (book) Less than Zero (1987 film starring Andrew McCarthy) Nut graph (journalism term) Joan Didion (American writer) Marco Polo Didn’t Go There, by Rolf Potts (book) Claude Chabrol (French film director) Henry Miller (American novelist) Alison Steele (New York DJ known as “The Nightbird”) Vin Scelsa (broadcaster) Oliver Sacks (British neurologist and writer) Rob Lowe (American “Brat Pack” actor) “Courting Vienna,” by Andrew McCarthy (Austria article) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE for The Bodyhttps://amzn.to/49pRTV1*Have you ever laughed while reading a book about the human anatomy (and not just with giggles and pointing)? Bill Bryson writes in an almost magical style about the wonders of what we do and do not understand about our insides.*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: an exciting look at a book to film preview Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: bossing two listeners' TBRs The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  .  1:35 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:07 - The Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 5:42  - Our Current Reads 6:01 - The Broken Girls by Simone St. James (Meredith) 10:53 - Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver (Kaytee) SKIP TO 16:30 IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS SETUP 13:52 - Storygraph 13:54 - Reel by Ezeekat about trigger warnings of Butcher & Blackbird 16:48 - Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death by M.C. Beaton (Meredith) 21:26 - The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon 22:25 - Landlines by Raynor Winn (Kaytee, Blackwell's UK link) 22:30 - A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson 23:42 - The Salt Path by Raynor Winn  27:00 - Mrs. Quinn's Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford (Meredith) 28:18 - Fabled Bookshop 28:20 - @wacoreads on Instagram 29:04 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 31:19 - All About Love by Bell Hooks (Kaytee) 33:48 - Deep Dive: Boss My TBR From Wendy T. 34:25 - The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon 34:28 - The City We Became by N.K. Jemison 34:31 - The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson 34:34 - The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett 34:37 - House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas 37:10 - @birdbrainbooks on Instagram 37:18 - The Hearts and Daggers Pod on Instagram From Sarah O. 41:03 - Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro 41:06 - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett 41:08 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 41:11 - Death in the Family by Tessa Wegert 41:14 - Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman 43:31 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 46:47 - Scythe by Neal Shusterman (a follow up from a previous Boss My TBR they loved!) 47:09 - Meet Us At The Fountain 47:26 - Cabin in the Woods by Sarah Alderson 48:26 - I wish to see more blurbs from Netgalley readers on books instead of author blurbs. (Meredith) 50:18 - I wish it were easier to find fandom recommended reading order for authors with series that are within the same universe. (Kaytee) 52:44 - @birdbrainbooks on Instagram 53:08 - The Hearts and Daggers Pod on Instagram 53:27 - Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. February's IPL is brought to you by Booktenders in Huntington, West Virginia. Trope Thursday with Kaytee and Bunmi - a behind the scenes peek into the publishing industry All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the special insights of an independent bookseller The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!