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This Week, Mike and Damien chat about what makes a good storyteller. How do you engage your players? What are some ways to bring your world to life? Why are kobolds the most feared monster? You can find all this and more within the pages of The Spellbook! Social media https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/magickalhack.bsky.socialShow Email Thespellbookshow@gmail.comDamien's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@magickalhackmakes4671Damien's Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/magickalhackhttps://www.cfru.ca/Listen-WEDNESDAYS at NOON AT CFRU 93.3 FMShow Notes:Your Geekmasters:Mike "The Birdman" - https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialAlex "The Producer" - https://bsky.app/profile/dethphasetwig.bsky.socialFeedback for the show?:Email: feedback@thisweekingeek.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/thisweekingeekBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekingeek.netSubscribe to our feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3571037/episodes/feediTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-geek/id215643675Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lit2bzebJXMTIv7j7fkqqWebsite: https://www.thisweekingeek.netFebruary 25, 2026
this month on the show, we are belatedly but excitedly discussing the first cinematic adaptation of one of our most reliable author's works - we're talking about the Netflix adaptation of The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. we are no strangers to the Emily Henry universe on this show, with past episodes on beach read, happy place and funny story. we'll discuss casting choices (preemptive formal apology to Emily Bader for the nonstop blathering about how beautiful she is), sound track, favourite scenes, best outfits and weirdly mention A Bug's Life more than you'd imagine. send us questions, things you want us to speak about or just say hi!choose our next podcast read by going here and voting in the first week of each month!make sure you subscribe to hear our groundbreaking thoughts as soon as they are unleashed. if you want to be on the same page as us, follow us at talklit.gethit on Instagram and TikTok.theme music born from the creative genius of Big Boi B.join talk lit, get hit podcast for deep dives into the hottest BookTok recommendations, trending contemporary fiction, and literary favourites! each episode features book discussions, spoiler-filled chats, and thoughtful literary analysis of novels everyone is talking about - from viral romance and fantasy to modern classics. whether you're looking for BookTok book reviews, author interviews, or a virtual book club experience, out podcast is your go-to space for readers who love stories and want to explore them in depth.talk lit, get hit are reading and recording on Giabal, Jagera, Jarowair & Turrbal lands. we acknowledge the cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and pay respect to Elders past, present and future. always was, always will be.
This was such a great chat if I do say so myself! I really loved the opportunity and because we recorded it a little while ago it was brand new to my editing ears this week and my questions didn't seem to grate like they do (honestly it's like listening to your voicemail message...) loved Fiona Hardy and adore Teddy and Alice! Old Games is out today, so you probably haven't read it yet, but fear not this is a spoiler free conversation ( I think!!) And to join our ReadA Book community head on over to www.readabook.com.au. We are a wonderful collective of like minded book lovers where you can mix and mingle and be, and together we can all enjoy reading more
Nowy odcinek w nowej formule.Anna Król i Julia Rzemek rozmawiają o renesansie małych księgarń, trendzie, który za granicą widać i czuć od kilku lat. A w Polsce? Posłuchaj rozmowy , która prezentuje fakty i po części demontuje efektowne tezy.Co sprawia, że ludzie znów (po latach ich ryzysu wywołanego m.in. popularnością internetowych sprzedawców) lgną do autorskich i niezależnych adresów książkowych? I czy to prawda, że małe księgarnie sprzedają więcej książek? Internet dawniej książkom szkodził, jak to się stało, że zaczął pomagać?Po co i dlaczego czytamy książki, czego szukamy w stacjonarnych księgarniach i co czytanie z nami - naprawdę - robi. Dziękujemy osobom, które wspierają powstawanie tego podcastu w Patronite. I zapraszamy kolejne osoby do tego grona, bo wspieranie naszej fundacji wiąże się z różnymi małymi przyjemnościami. Sprawdź i wspieraj kulturę czytania!https://patronite.pl/bigbookcafeDziękujemy Miastu Stołecznemu Warszawa za wsparcie w Stałym Programie Kulturalnym, także dzięki niemu tworzymy dla Was serwisy informacyjne w formach audio, wideo i newsletterowej.
In 2018, we released "A People's Guide to Publishing," detailing everything Joe and the Microcosm team had learned through the years about starting, running, and sustaining an independent publishing company.For Microcosm's 30th anniversary, we've released a second edition of the book, expanded to include even MORE lessons Joe's learned over the last few years, and how to apply them to your publishing company.This week on the pod, join Joe and Elly as they talk about what's new in the second edition of "A People's Guide to Publishing!Get the book here: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663************Thank you for catching the People's Guide to Publishing vlogcast! We post new episodes every Thursday about publishing, authors, and the book industry. You can also listen via your preferred podcast app, or by visiting linktree.com/microcosmGet the book: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663Get the workbook: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/10031More from Microcosm: http://microcosmpublishing.comMore by Joe Biel: http://joebiel.netMore by Elly Blue: http://takingthelane.comSubscribe to our monthly email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gIXT6vFind us on social media:Facebook: http://facebook.com/microcosmpublishingBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/microcosm.bsky.socialInstagram: http://instagram.com/microcosm_pub************
In this episode, Tamara and Classy dive into a detailed discussion of Mary Kubica's latest thriller, 'It's Not Her.' They explore the book's pacing, character dynamics, and the dual narrative structure that alternates between present and past perspectives. The conversation highlights the characters' lack of urgency and relatability, as well as the themes of manipulation and teenage relationships. They explore the twists and turns of a story, analyzing character motivations and the consequences of actions, and more.Ep 561Pick up a copy of today's book, It's Not HerFind all the essential links in one spot and follow Tamara!Connect with Tamara on social media:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/shelfaddiction/TikTok | @shelfaddictionConnect with Classy on social media:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebookishvirtualassistantTikTok | @classygreen1Join the SAO book club on BookClubs: https://bookclubs.com/shelf-addiction-book-club/join/Check out our sponsors and deals!
MIke and Damien sit down with the Superheroes behind Mutants and Masterminds 4th edition, and talk about favourite games, Superheroes game design, and more! Listen in to find out more about the Mutants and Masterminds Kickstarter, some of the campaign settings, and what Archetype The Tick would be!Mutants and masterminds Kickstarterhttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/greenroninpub/mutants-and-masterminds-4th-editionGreen Ronin Websitehttps://greenronin.com/Social media https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/magickalhack.bsky.socialShow email Thespellbookshow@gmail.comDamien's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@magickalhackmakes4671Show Notes:Your Geekmasters:Mike "The Birdman" - https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialAlex "The Producer" - https://bsky.app/profile/dethphasetwig.bsky.socialFeedback for the show?:Email: feedback@thisweekingeek.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/thisweekingeekBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekingeek.netSubscribe to our feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3571037/episodes/feediTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-geek/id215643675Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lit2bzebJXMTIv7j7fkqqWebsite: https://www.thisweekingeek.netFebruary 18, 2026
Send a textWe're fantasy readers! You can get us to believe anything! Almost… Today we're unpacking all those things in fantasy and romance books that have us thinking…
Loved this opportunity to chat with debut author Cassie Stroud. I loved Iluka! Talk about an atmospheric, character driven drama! I've tried SO hard to get rid of any spoilers!! And to join our ReadA Book community head on over to www.readabook.com.au. We are a wonderful collective of like minded book lovers where you can mix and mingle and be, and together we can all enjoy reading more
He Was Dying… Then the Government Turned Him Into a Weapon | PorTroyal Smith – The Rogue RecordingsHe was dying.Then the government offered him survival.The price? Becoming a weapon.In this episode of The USDN Podcast, we sit down with PorTroyal Smith (Nathan Lebens), author of The Rogue Recordings, to explore a superhero saga grounded in military realism, moral ambiguity, and the true cost of power.From operating missiles in North Dakota to building a layered narrative about government-created super soldiers, PorTroyal shares the journey behind Shadowalker and Shadowar — and the question that defines the series:When survival changes who you are… are you still the hero?We discuss:• Military influence in storytelling• Weaponized humanity• Power and moral consequence• The evolution from Shadowalker to Shadowar• Writing stories that deepen on a second read
This week, in honor of Black History Month, the ladies review Percival Everett's powerful and provocative novel The Trees. They begin with the book's gripping premise: when detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrive in Money, Mississippi to investigate a series of brutal murders, they discover something unsettling at each crime scene, a second body resembling Emmett Till. Met with resistance from local law enforcement and racist townsfolk, the detectives begin to suspect these killings are acts of retribution. As eerily similar murders begin unfolding across the country, it becomes clear that the past refuses to stay buried and that something larger is underway.In this bold and biting page turner, Everett confronts the legacy of lynching, white supremacy, and racial violence in America with sharp satire and unflinching honesty. The hosts unpack the novel's layered storytelling, dark humor, historical weight, and cultural commentary, discussing how it challenges readers while refusing comfort. It is a thought provoking conversation about memory, justice, and what it means when history demands to be reckoned with. Cheeers!SPOILERS & Trigger Warning: This book discusses the use of racial slurs, racial violence, racial hatred, lynchings, and other forms of racist behavior. Depictions of violence in this novel are graphic. *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To Carter G Woodson the father of Black History Month, to all the victims of racial violence in America and around the world past and present, to my mother in law, get well soon & I love you!Kat: To the man who found and returned my wallet in Kroger, thank you. To the series Wonder Man.About the book:https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-reviewThe Trees was published by Graywolf Press in 2021. The Trees was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2022. Pages: Approximately 288–320/8 hours Author:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31723. Percival Everett is the author of 22 novels. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and is a Guggenheim Fellow (2015).NPR Book Review:https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-reviewMoni learned a new word: Nescience: lack of knowledge or ignorance (nesh-ence)Other topics on the show:Monkey Obama Meme/Trump https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-shares-racist-video-depicting-obamas-monkeys-rcna257756Surrage mix up: https://people.com/couple-sues-fertility-clinic-after-welcoming-baby-girl-not-biologically-related-to-them-11895783Epstein Files: No blacks allowed https://www.ms.now/news/epstein-emailed-with-silicon-valley-elites-about-racist-eugenicist-ideas**Stranger than Fiction:
In 1996, Microcosm started a small closet poorly insulated house. It wasn't intended to be a job or an organization, or even a business. Thirty years later, this has turned out to be one Microcosm's strengths. We've always intended to solve a very real problem, no matter how unrealistic the set of circumstances and challenges.This week on the podcast, hang out with Joe and Elly as they take you through Microcosm's origins, how we got here, and what lessons they'll be taking into the next 30 years.************Thank you for catching the People's Guide to Publishing vlogcast! We post new episodes every Thursday about publishing, authors, and the book industry. You can also listen via your preferred podcast app, or by visiting linktree.com/microcosmGet the book: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663Get the workbook: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/10031More from Microcosm: http://microcosmpublishing.comMore by Joe Biel: http://joebiel.netMore by Elly Blue: http://takingthelane.comSubscribe to our monthly email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gIXT6vFind us on social media:Facebook: http://facebook.com/microcosmpublishingBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/microcosm.bsky.socialInstagram: http://instagram.com/microcosm_pub************
This week, Damien and Mike chat about genre TTRPGs. What are they? What do we like about them? Which ones could we do without? From Sci-fi to Horror, and Fantasy to Comedy, along with others in between. Come listen as we make jokes, talk about our favourite genres, and maybe pick up some tips along the way! Social media https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/magickalhack.bsky.socialShow Email Thespellbookshow@gmail.comDamien's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@magickalhackmakes4671Damien's Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/magickalhackhttps://www.cfru.ca/Listen-WEDNESDAYS at NOON AT CFRU 93.3 FMShow Notes:Your Geekmasters:Mike "The Birdman" - https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialAlex "The Producer" - https://bsky.app/profile/dethphasetwig.bsky.socialFeedback for the show?:Email: feedback@thisweekingeek.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/thisweekingeekBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekingeek.netSubscribe to our feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3571037/episodes/feediTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-geek/id215643675Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lit2bzebJXMTIv7j7fkqqWebsite: https://www.thisweekingeek.netFebruary 11, 2026
Send a textOn this month's episode, our former host visits to tell us about the best romance books coming out this season and joins us in a deep dive into the trends and tropes of the genre. We also discuss the phenomenon that has taken hold of the romance world (or maybe the world in general!) -- sports romances.We want to hear from our listeners! Email us at checked.in@davenportlibrary.comTo find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!Upcoming programs:Adults: Trader Broes - Thursday, February 12th @ 6pm | FairmountTeens/Tweens: Teen Advisory Board - Tuesday, February 10th @ 6:30pm | Fairmount Kids: Preschool Fair - Saturday, February 28th @ 10am | EasternHelpful links from our discussion:1000 Books Before Kindergarten"Crash and Burn: Has Romantasy Peaked?" (Book Riot article)Threadless (The Library's Merch) Library Links:Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!Info Cafe: The Library's Reference BlogBeanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!2026 Online Reading Challenge: Know Your History
Send a textToday we're diving right into book two in The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy: Glint. This book is the perfect journey story (both literal and figurative), and follow up to the polarizing book one. If you weren't hooked by the end of Gild, we hope you're hooked now, because these books have A LOT of important things to say. We give you our spoiler free star and spice ratings and faves and fails, then dive into the five sentence summary, the tea on the audiobook and all our unfiltered thoughts, and then discuss why and how fantasy books can help us process hard things like abuse and trauma in a safe, neutral space. And why Romantasy (and in particular Raven Kennedy) does that so well. Did we find Easter eggs? Do we have unanswered questions? What about plot holes? Are we excited to read the next one? We dive into all this and more, plus a smash or pass with our favorite treasure hoarder, and a luchador with a heart of gold. Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these narrator interviews? ⬇️Anthony Palmini gives us the lowdown on what it's like to voice act Rhysand, Kingfisher, AND Slade Ravinger! https://youtu.be/zcCyrlZ5Jcc?si=2k7ULbRPgZl_5pUJCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing!Ashley is wearing: Tye Dye Skeleton Hoodie | * https://go.magik.ly/ml/3hgv9/Liz is wearing : Our Crop Besties & the Books Anti Social Book Club Hoodie | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd/products/cropped-hoodie-besties-anti-social-crowAny link with an * is an affiliate link through the service Magic Links and is eligible for a commission to us with no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping support our podcast!Support the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix
Dr. Pedro Barata and Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe discuss the evolving treatment landscape in gastroesophageal junction and gastric cancers, including the emergence of organ preservation as a selective therapeutic goal, as well as strategies to mitigate disparities in care. Dr. Maduekwe is the senior author of the article, "Organ Preservation for Gastroesophageal Junction and Gastric Cancers: Ready for Primetime?" in the 2026 ASCO Educational Book. TRANSCRIPT Dr. Pedro Barata: Hello, and welcome to By the Book, a podcast series from ASCO that features compelling perspectives from authors and editors of the ASCO Educational Book. I'm Dr. Pedro Barata. I'm a medical oncologist at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and an associate professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I'm also the deputy editor of the ASCO Educational Book. Gastric and gastroesophageal cancers are the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Over the last decade, the treatment landscape has evolved tremendously, and today, organ preservation is emerging as an attainable but still selective therapeutic goal. Today, I'm delighted to be speaking with Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe, an associate professor of surgery and the director of regional therapies in the Division of Surgical Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Maduekwe is also the last author of a fantastic paper in the 2026 ASCO Educational Book titled "Organ Preservation for Gastroesophageal Junction and Gastric Cancers: Ready for Prime Time?" We explore these questions in our conversations today. Our full disclosures are available in the transcript of this episode as well. Welcome. Thank you for joining us today. Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: Thank you, Dr. Barata. I'm really, really glad to be here. Dr. Pedro Barata: There's been a lot of progress in the treatment of gastric and gastroesophageal cancers. But before we actually dive into some of the key take-home points from your paper, can you just walk us through how systemic therapy has emerged and actually allowed you to start thinking about a curative framework and really informing surgery decision-making? Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: Great, thank you. I'm really excited to be here and I love this topic because, I'm terrified to think of how long ago it was, but I remember in medical school, one of my formative experiences and why I got so interested in oncology was when the very first trials about imatinib were coming through, right? Looking at the effect, I remember so vividly having a lecture as a first-year or second-year medical student, and the professor saying, "This data about this particular kind of cancer is no longer accurate. They don't need bone marrow transplants anymore, they can just take a pill." And that just sounded insane. And we don't have that yet for GI malignancies. But part of what is the promise of precision oncology has always been to me that framework. That framework we have for people with CML who don't have a bone marrow transplant, they take a pill. For people with GIST. And so when we talk about gastric cancers and gastroesophageal cancers, I think the short answer is that systemic therapy has forced surgeons to rethink what "necessary" really means, right? We have the old age saying, "a chance to cut is a chance to cure." And when I started out, the conversation was simple. We diagnose the cancer, we take it out. Surgery's the default. But what's changed really over the last decade and really over the last five years is that systemic therapy has gotten good enough to do what is probably real curative work before we ever enter the operating room. So now when you see a patient whose tumor has essentially melted away on restaging, the question has to shift, right? It's no longer just, "Can I take this out?" It's "Has the biology already done the heavy lifting? Have we already given them systemic therapy, and can we prove it safely so that maybe we don't have to do what is a relatively morbid procedure?" And that shift is what has opened the door to organ preservation. Surgery doesn't disappear, but it becomes more discretionary. Necessary for the patients who need it, and within systems that can allow us to make sure that we're giving it to the right patients. Dr. Pedro Barata: Right, no, that makes total sense. And going back to the outcomes that you get with these systemic therapies, I mean, big efforts to find effective regimens or cocktails of therapies that allow us to go to what we call "complete response," right? Pathologic complete response, or clinical complete response, or even molecular complete response. We're having these conversations across different tumors, hematologic malignancies as well as solid tumors, right? I certainly have those conversations in the GU arena as well. So, when we think of pathologic CRs for GI malignancies, right? If I were to summarize the data, and please correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm not an expert in this area, the traditional perioperative chemo gives you pCRs, pathologic complete response, in the single digits. But then when you start getting smarter at identifying biologically distinct tumors such as microsatellite instability, for instance, now you start talking about pCRs over 50%. In other words, half of the patients' cancer goes away, it melts down by offering, in this case, immunotherapy as a backbone of that neoadjuvant. But first of all, this shift, right, from going from these traditional, "not smart" chemotherapy approaches to kind of biologically-driven approaches, and how important is pCR in the context of "Do I really need surgery afterwards?" Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: That's really the crux of the entire conversation, right? We can't proceed and we wouldn't be able to have the conversation about whether organ preservation is even plausible if we hadn't been seeing these rates of pathologic complete response. If there's no viable tumor left at resection, did surgery add something? Are we sure? The challenge before this was how frequently that happened. And then the next one is, as you've already raised, "Can we figure that out without operating?" In the traditional perioperative chemo era, pathologic complete response was relatively rare, like maybe one in twenty patients. When we go to more modern regimens like FLOT, it got closer to one in six. When you add immunotherapy in recent trials like MATTERHORN, it's nearly triple that rate. And it's worth noting here, I'm a health services-health disparities researcher, so we'll just pause here and note that those all sound great, but these landmark trials have significant representation gaps that limit and should inform how confidently we generalize these findings. But back to what you just said, right, the real inflection point is MSI-high disease where, with neoadjuvant dual-checkpoint blockade, trials like NEONIPIGAS and INFINITY show pCR rates that are approaching 50% to 60%. That's not incremental progress, that's a whole new different biological reality. What does that mean? If we're saying that 50% to 60% of the people we take to the OR at the time of surgery will end up having no viable tumor, man, did we need to do a really big surgery? But the problem right now is the gold standard, I think we would mostly agree, the gold standard is pathologic complete response, and we only know that after surgery. I currently tell my patients, right, because I don't want them to be like, "Wait, we did this whole thing." I'm like, "We're going to do this surgery, and my hope is that we're going to do the surgery and there will be no cancer left in your stomach after we take out your stomach." And they're like, "But we took out my stomach and you're saying it's a good thing that there's no cancer." And yes, right now that is true because it's a measure of the efficacy of their systemic therapy. It's a measure of the biology of the disease. But should we be acting on this non-operatively? To do that, we have to find a surrogate. And the surrogate that we have to figure out is complete clinical response. And that's where we have issues with the stomach. In esophageal cancer, the preSANO protocol, which we'll talk about a little bit, validated a structured clinical response evaluation. People got really high-quality endoscopies with bite-on biopsies. They got endoscopic ultrasounds. They got fine-needle aspirations and PET-CT, and adding all of those things together, the miss rate for substantial residual disease was about 10% to 15%. That's a number we can work with. In the stomach, it's a lot more difficult anatomically just given the shape of people's stomachs. There's fibrosis, there's ulceration. A fair number of stomach and GEJ cancers have diffuse histology which makes it difficult to localize and they also have submucosal spread. Those all conceal residual disease. I had a recent case where I scoped the patient during the case, and this person had had a 4 cm ulcer prior to surgery, and I scoped and there was nothing visible. And I was elated. And on the final pathology they had a 7 cm tumor still in place. It was just all submucosal. That's the problem. I'm not a gastroenterologist, but I would have said this was a great clinical response, but because it's gastric, there was a fair amount of submucosal disease that was still there. And our imaging loses accuracy after treatment. So the gap between what looks clean clinically and what's actually there pathologically remains very wide. So I think that's why we're trying to figure it out and make it cleaner. And outside of biomarker-selected settings like MSI-high disease, in general, I'm going to skip to the end and our upshot for the paper, which is that organ preservation, I would say for gastric cancer particularly, should remain investigational. I think we're at the point where the biology is increasingly favorable, but our means of measurement is not there yet. Dr. Pedro Barata: Gotcha. So, this is a perfect segue because you did mention the SANO, just to spell it out, "Surgery As Needed for Oesophageal" trial, so SANO, perfect, I love the abbreviation. It's really catchy. It's fantastic, it's actually a well-put-together perspective effort or program applying to patients. And can you tell us how was that put together and how does that work out for patients? Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: Yeah, I think for those of us in the GI space, we have SANO and then we also have the OPRA for rectum. SANO for the upper GI is what takes organ preservation from theory to something that's clinically credible. The trial asked a very simple question. If a patient with a GEJ adenocarcinoma or esophageal adenocarcinoma achieved what was felt to be a clinical complete response after chemoradiation, would they actually benefit from immediate surgery? And the question was, "Can you safely observe?" And the answer was 'yes'. You could safely observe, but only if you do it right. And what does that mean? At two years, survival with active surveillance was not inferior to those who received an immediate esophagectomy. And those patients had a better early quality of life. Makes sense, right? Your quality of life with an esophagectomy versus not is going to be different. That matters a lot when you consider what the long-term metabolic and functional consequences of an esophagectomy are. The weight loss, nutritional deficiencies that can persist for years. But SANO worked because it was very, very disciplined and not permissive. You mentioned rigor. They were very elegant in their approach and there was a fair amount of rigor. So there were two main principles. The first was that surveillance was front-loaded and intentional. So they had endoscopies with biopsies and imaging every three to four months in the first year and then they progressively spaced it out with explicit criteria for what constituted failure. And then salvage surgery was pre-planned. So, the return-to-surgery pathway was already rehearsed ahead of time. If disease reappeared, take the patient to the OR within weeks. Not sit, figure out what that means, think about it a little bit and debate next steps. They were very clear about what the plan was going to be. So they've given us this blueprint for, like, watching people safely. I think what's remarkable is that if you don't do that, if you don't have that infrastructure, then organ preservation isn't really careful. It's really hopeful. And that's what I really liked about the SANO trial, aside from, I agree, the name is pretty cool. Dr. Pedro Barata: Yeah, no, that's a fantastic point. And that description is spot on. I am thinking as we go through this, where can this be adopted, right? Because, not surprisingly, patients are telling you they're doing a lot better, right, when you don't get the esophagus out or the stomach out. I mean, that makes total sense. So the question is, you know, how do you see those issues related to the logistics, right? Getting the multi-disciplinary team, getting the different assessments of CR. I guess PETs, a lot of people are getting access to imaging these days. How close do you think this is, this kind of program, to be implemented? And maybe I would assume it might need to be validated in different settings, right, including the community. How close or how far do you think you see that being applied out there versus continuing to be a niche program, watch and wait program, in dedicated academic centers? Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: I love this question. So I said at the top of this, I'm a health equity/health disparities researcher, and this is where I worry the most. I love the science of this. I'm really excited about the science. I'm very optimistic. I don't think this is a question of "if," I think it's a question of "when." We are going to get to a point where these conversations will be very, very reasonable and will be options. One of the things I worry about is: who is it going to be an option for? Organ preservation is not just a treatment choice, and I think what you're pointing out very rightly is it's a systems-level intervention. Look at what we just said for SANO. Someone needs to be able to do advanced endoscopy, get the patients back. We have to have the time and space to come back every three to four months. We have to do molecular testing. There needs to be multi-disciplinary review. There needs to be intensive surveillance, and you need to have rapid access to salvage surgery. Where is that infrastructure? In this country, it's mostly in academic centers. I think about the panel we had at ASCO GI, which was fantastic. And as we were having the conversation, you know, we set it up as a debate. So folks were debating either pro-surveillance or pro-surgery. But both groups, both people, were presenting outcomes based on their centers. And it was folks who were fantastic. Dr. Molena, for example, from Memorial Sloan Kettering was talking about their outcomes in esophagectomies [during our session at GI26], but they do hundreds of these cases there per year. What's the reality in this country? 70% to 80% to 90%, depending on which data you look at, of the gastrectomies in the United States occur at low-volume hospitals. Most of the patients at those hospitals are disproportionately uninsured or on government insurance, have lower income and from racial and ethnic minority groups. So if we diffuse organ preservations without the system to support it, we're going to create a two-tiered system of care where whether you have the ability to preserve your organs, to preserve bodily integrity, depends on where you live and where you're treated. The other piece of this is the biomarker testing gap. One of the things that, as you pointed out at the beginning, that's really exciting is for MSI-high tumors. Those are the patients that are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy-based organ preservation. But here's the problem. If the patient isn't tested at time of initial diagnosis before they ever see me as a surgeon, the door to organ preservation is closed before it's ever open. And testing access remains very inconsistent across academic networks. And then there's the financial toxicity piece where, for gastrectomy, pancreatectomy, I do peritoneal malignancies, more than half of those patients experience significant financial toxicity related to their cancer treatment. We're now proposing adding at least two years, that's the preliminary information, right? It's probably going to be longer. At least a couple of years of surveillance visits, repeated endoscopies, immunotherapy costs. How are we going to support patients through that? We're going to have to think about setting up navigation support, geographic solutions, what financial counseling looks like. My patient for clinic yesterday was driving to see me, and they were talking about how they were sliding because it was snowing. And they were sliding for the entire three-hour drive down here. Are we going to tell people like that that they need to drive down to, right, I work at a high-volume center, they're going to need to come here every three months, come rain or snow, to get scoped as opposed to the one-time having a surgery and not needing to have the scopes as frequently? My concern, like I said, I'm an optimist, I think it is going to work. I think we're going to figure out how to make it work. I'm worried about whether when we deploy it, we widen the already existing disparities. Dr. Pedro Barata: Gotcha, and that's a fantastic summary. And as I'm thinking also of what we've been talking in other solid tumors, which one of the following do you think is going to evolve first? So we are starting to use more MRD-based assays, which are based on blood test, whether it's a tumor-informed ctDNA or non-informed. We are also trying to get around or trying to get more information response to systemic therapies out of RNA-seq through gene expression signatures, or development of novel therapeutics which also can help you there. Which one of these areas you think you're going to help this SANO-like approach move forward, or you actually think it's actually all of the above, which makes it even more complicated perhaps? Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: I think it's going to be all of the above for a couple of reasons. I would say if I had to pick just one right now, I think ctDNA is probably the most promising and potentially the missing piece that can help us close the gap between clinical and pathologic response. If you achieve clinical complete response and your ctDNA is negative, so you have clinical and molecular evidence of clearance, maybe that's a low-risk patient for surveillance. If you have clinical complete response but your ctDNA remains positive, I would say you have occult molecular disease and we probably need intensified therapy, closer monitoring, not observation. I think the INFINITY trial is already incorporating ctDNA into its algorithm, so we'll know. I don't think we're at the point where it alone can drive surgical decisions. I think it's going to be a good complement to clinical response evaluation, not a replacement. The issue of where I think it's probably going to be multi-dimensional is the evidence base: who are we testing? Like, what is the diversity, what is the ancestral diversity of these databases that we're using for all of these tests? How do we know that ctDNA levels and RNA-seq expression arrays are the same across different ancestral groups, across different disease types? So I think it's probably going to be an amalgam and we're going to have to figure out some sort of algorithm to help us define it based on the patient characteristics. Like, I think it's probably different, some of this stuff is going to be a little bit different depending on where in the stomach the cancer is. And it's going to be a little bit more difficult to figure out if you have a complete clinical response in the antrum and closer to the pylorus, for example. That might be a little bit more difficult. So maybe the threshold for defining what a clinical complete response needs to be is higher because the therapeutic approach there is not quite as onerous as for something at the GE-junction. Dr. Pedro Barata: Wonderful. And I'm sure AI, whether it's digitization of the pathology from the biopsies and putting all this together, probably might play a role as well in the future. Dr. Maduekwe, it's been fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us and also congrats again for the really well-done review published. For our listeners, thank you for staying with us. Thank you for your time. We will post a link to this fantastic article we discussed today in the transcript of this episode. And of course, please join us again next month on the By the Book Podcast for more insights on key advances and innovations that are shaping modern oncology. Thank you, everyone. Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: Thank you. Thank you for having me. Watch the ASCO GI26 session: Organ Preservation for Gastroesophageal and Gastric Cancers: Ready for Primetime? Disclaimer: The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement. Follow today's speakers: Dr. Pedro Barata @PBarataMD Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe @umaduekwemd Follow ASCO on social media: @ASCO on X (formerly Twitter) ASCO on Bluesky ASCO on Facebook ASCO on LinkedIn Disclosures: Dr. Pedro Barata: Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Luminate Medical Honoraria: UroToday Consulting or Advisory Role: Bayer, BMS, Pfizer, EMD Serono, Eisai, Caris Life Sciences, AstraZeneca, Exelixis, AVEO, Merck, Ipson, Astellas Medivation, Novartis, Dendreon Speakers' Bureau: AstraZeneca, Merck, Caris Life Sciences, Bayer, Pfizer/Astellas Research Funding (Inst.): Exelixis, Blue Earth, AVEO, Pfizer, Merck Dr. Ugwuji Maduekwe: Leadership: Medica Health Research Funding: Cigna
this month, we're taking on a TikTok favourite, new adult romance complete with steam, suspense and darker themes. heavy on the tropes and easy on the cover design, this month's pick alleges to include Grumpy/Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Brother's Best Friend, Morally Grey Heroes and of course, Billionaire Romance. this month, we're reading Twisted Love by Ana Huang. synopsis music by Lillibensend us questions, things you want us to speak about or just say hi!choose our next podcast read by going here and voting in the first week of each month!make sure you subscribe to hear our groundbreaking thoughts as soon as they are unleashed. if you want to be on the same page as us, follow us at talklit.gethit on Instagram and TikTok.theme music born from the creative genius of Big Boi B.join talk lit, get hit podcast for deep dives into the hottest BookTok recommendations, trending contemporary fiction, and literary favourites! each episode features book discussions, spoiler-filled chats, and thoughtful literary analysis of novels everyone is talking about - from viral romance and fantasy to modern classics. whether you're looking for BookTok book reviews, author interviews, or a virtual book club experience, out podcast is your go-to space for readers who love stories and want to explore them in depth.talk lit, get hit are reading and recording on Giabal, Jagera, Jarowair & Turrbal lands. we acknowledge the cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and pay respect to Elders past, present and future. always was, always will be.
W tym odcinku Big Book Podcast Bartosz Kamiński i Paulina Wilk rozmawiają o:-Newsach literackich (Azymut, Julian Barnes, Ian McEwan, Katarzyna Bonda)-Tym co nas czeka na rynku literackim w 2026-Jacek Dehnel "Historie łajdackie"-Katarzyna Grochola "Nigdy nie mów nigdy"-Zapowiedziach książek polskich autorów i autorek, m.in. Olgi Tokarczuk, Wojtka Chmielarza i Maćka Siembiedy-Nadchodzących premierach zagranicznych, w tym książkach Annie Ernaux, Georgiego Gospodinowa, Iana McEwana, Kiran Desai i Davida SzalayaBig Book Podcast powstaje dzięki Waszemu wsparciu w serwisie Patronite. Zapraszamy do grona osób, z którymi przyjaźnimy się w czytaniu! https://patronite.pl/bigbookcafeBig Book to dwa centra literackie, otwarty i bezpłatny program wydarzeń inspirowanych książkami, międzynarodowy festiwal i dużo więcej!Sprawdź, co się u nas dzieje.https://bigbookcafe.pl/Subskrybuj, komentuj, wspieraj. Dziękujemy za czytanie!
February honesty hits different. The motivation buzz fades, real life crowds in, and the question sharpens: are we building lives that actually fit? We ditch quick fixes for sturdy rules—starting with our favorite: never miss twice. Miss a day, reset the next. It's the cure for all-or-nothing thinking and the backbone of habits that last.We dig into the quiet power of privacy (not secrecy), better boundaries, and fewer explanations—and how that creates space for a true “year of impact.” From kinder no's and protected relationships to midlife glow-ups that go deeper than skincare (though yes, chemical peels and “don't cut bangs” still make an appearance), this episode is about moving from performance to alignment.Books, therapy, and responsibility thread it all together. Fiction as soul care. Clarity over buzzwords. Owning harm, apologizing when possible, and living honestly when life won't wrap things up neatly.If you're craving sustainable habits, better boundaries, and a midlife reframe that actually works, this one's for you.
PAGES the Reading Group presents Volume XXIIII:In this Volume, we explore the 'imagination' across a wide range of contexts—how it takes shape in childhood, fuels fantasy, and orients us toward possible futures. In this episode, we consider the ethical dimensions of imagining: how our inner worlds shape our values, inform our actions, and raise difficult questions about responsibility. Can we be held accountable for what we imagine? What do our imaginings reveal about who we are and the worlds we hope for—or fear? This conversation invites listeners to think carefully about the power and consequences of the imagination in everyday life.Mentioned in this Episode:Barney's Imagination Song"Imagining in Oppressive Contexts" - Robin ZhengThe Color of Kink - Ariane Cruz"When a Man Cries" - Leon BridgesThe Dictionary of Obscure SorrowsOther Life (Film)Follow us across our social media channels:IG- @PagestrgTikTok & Youtube- @PagesthereadinggroupWebsite- www.Pagestrg.com
Mike and Damien talk about their backgrounds, history with TTRPGs, and what makes them a popular pastime. Come listen to some anecdotes, some jokes, and maybe get a little advice along the way!Social media https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/magickalhack.bsky.socialShow Email Thespellbookshow@gmail.comDamien's Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@magickalhackmakes4671Damien's Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/magickalhackhttps://www.cfru.ca/Listen-WEDNESDAYS at NOON AT CFRU 93.3 FMShow Notes:Your Geekmasters:Mike "The Birdman" - https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialAlex "The Producer" - https://bsky.app/profile/dethphasetwig.bsky.socialFeedback for the show?:Email: feedback@thisweekingeek.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/thisweekingeekBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekingeek.netSubscribe to our feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3571037/episodes/feediTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-geek/id215643675Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lit2bzebJXMTIv7j7fkqqWebsite: https://www.thisweekingeek.netFebruary 4, 2026
She lost the marriage but she kept the receipts! Romance readers, don't miss this. Mia Heintzelman, author of The Divorcétante joins the Get Caught UP Podcast with hosts @krissygcu and @mzsassytheauthor to talk about this sizzling second-chance romance where rediscovery never felt so good! Air Date & Time:
Send us a textThis month Vicky and Kristen discuss The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman. Tune in for an insufferable FMC, a dull MMC, and the one guy who redeems it all.If you liked this episode, please give us a 5 star rating, like, and subscribe! We post a new episode every month. If you want more, including our monthly book picks and funny memes, follow us on TikTok and Instagram @goodmorningbookclubWe'd also love to hear from you, so if you have any suggestions, including a book you'd like us to read, shoot us an email at gmbookclubllc@gmail.comSee you on the next one!Music and Production by LVL 3 Entertainmentlvl3entertainment@gmail.com
What if the most important love story in your life isn't romantic at all?In our brand new episode, journalist and author Deepanjana Pal talks about her novel, Lightning in a Shot Glass. It's a witty, radical look at two Mumbai flatmates navigating love, life, and ambition on their own terms.Tara and Deepanjana dive into why female friendships are often the real love stories of our lives and how having chosen family keeps us grounded. They challenge the notion of genre hierarchies while showing that love stories can be smart and fun.Deepanjana also gets candid about the messier parts of life, from workplace politics and abuse of authority to age-gap and interfaith romance. By bringing these real-world messes into the conversation, she proves that fiction can be both joyful and deeply authentic at the same time.If you're looking to dive into something that's as smart and fun as it is unapologetically real, this episode is for you!Books and TV Shows mentioned in the episode:Younger (2015)Four More Shots Please! (2019)Call Me Bae (2024)Fleabag (2016)The Family Man (2019)A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie BrennanBeowulf: A New Translation by Maria Dahvana HeadleyThe Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana HeadleyThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran DesaiCat's Eye by Margaret AtwoodImagine spending five days of uninterrupted creativity in a serene, century-old Indo-Portuguese villa. Join an exclusive group of twelve writers for a transformative writing retreat. 5 seats left, apply now!Learn more: https://boundindia.com/retreats/annual-writers-retreatApply now: https://tinyurl.com/46rhn7hz‘Books and Beyond with Bound' is the podcast where Tara Khandelwal and Michelle D'costa uncover how their books reflect the realities of our lives and society today. Find out what drives India's finest authors: from personal experiences to jugaad research methods, insecurities to publishing journeys. Created by Bound, a storytelling company that helps you grow through stories. Follow us @boundindia on all social media platforms.
Send us a textOur 2025 Reading Wrap Up 2.0 is here in all of its spoiler free glory! We're giving you our one sentence star and spice rating for every book we read from July to December of last year, so get your pad and pencil out to add to your TBR… or to cross some things off… depending on how you look at it. We're bringing you over 100 book reviews and then going over our yearly bookish goal recap from 2025 and reset for 2026.First and foremost, we want to thank each and every one of you for coming along with us on this amazing podcast journey. As we go over our bookish goals of 2025, we realize that we were able to cross SO MANY off the list because of you, like interviewing dream authors, reaching 1k on YouTube, and doing four bonus series! We've already accomplished one big one of 2026: moderating author panels at RomantasyCon! We hope to meet even more of our reading and podcast goals this year so we can continue bringing you fun content, and we know we will because of our book besties.
When my reading habit falls apart, I don't try to brute-force it back into existence. I take a slower, kinder approach—and it works. In this episode, I explain why life disrupts reading, the two reader mindsets I see most often, and the exact process I use to start reading again without pressure. This is a practical guide for thoughtful readers who want depth, not guilt.Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions
Welcome to the Circle of the World Podcast! Join Harrison, George, and Jeffrey as we continue our coverage of Joe Abercrombie's First Law series! For this season, we read through Sharp Ends! In today's episode we will be covering Tough Times All Over. Meme of the week: https://www.reddit.com/r/HouseOfTheMemeMaker/comments/1qerqp2/crown_prince_ladisla_pushing_them_back_across_the/Leave us a commentSupport the showLeave us a commentSupport the show
[THE DISTINCTIVE EDGE CLIENT CASE STUDY] In this episode, Meg sits down with Leah Bryant, Podcast Growth Strategist and Coach, to talk about how clarifying her messaging—and fully owning her distinctive edge—helped her book multiple podcast audits and full podcast launches in a matter of weeks. Leah shares the honest reality of being five years into business, having already experienced success, and still realizing something was missing. After transitioning from an agency model to a solo business, Leah knew she was good at what she did—but wasn't clearly articulating why she was different in a saturated market. Inside this conversation, Leah breaks down how leaning into her background as a former fraud investigator (yes, really) changed everything—from her confidence to her conversions. If you've ever thought, "I know I'm good at what I do, but my message isn't landing," this episode is for you. In this episode, we cover: Why Leah almost didn't invest—and what helped her make a grounded, confident yes How podcast SEO can turn a show into an actual revenue-generating asset The mistake most podcasters make when trying to grow (and why tips alone don't convert anymore) How Leah transitioned from an agency voice to owning her voice as the brand Why owning your background and pattern-recognition skills builds instant trust What shifted when Leah stopped "sounding like everyone else" and showed more personality How clarity in messaging led to booked audits, paid launches, and inbound clients Why confidence—not just strategy—is the real multiplier in sales Quotes you'll hear echoed: "I knew I was good at what I did—I just wasn't owning it." "I was burned before, and I didn't want another program collecting dust." "Once I started being myself, everything shifted." Connect with Leah Bryant Website: https://leahbryantco.com/ Leah's Podcast: https://leahbryantco.com/podcasting-problem-solver/ Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahbryant_co/ Want to apply for The Distinctive Edge? DM Meg on Instagram @MeganYelaney or apply at https://meganyelaney.com/tde
Two friends unravel a Viking fantasy packed with prophecy, messy power, and a twist that flips hero and traitor. We argue about Freya's flaws, Bjorn's choices, and whether fate is faith or leverage, with plenty of heat, humor, and battle scars.• star ratings and first impressions• marriage politics, god-born privilege, village dynamics• duel reveal, shield maiden prophecy, forced ritual• raid strategy, ship burning, early chemistry cues• training, backstory, and anger versus agency• undead mountain trial and moral cost of winning• sacred summit, masks, storms, and spectacle• siege of Grindel, loss, rage, and restraint• family betrayals, public accusations, and control• the river leap, cave vows, and the allegiance twist• is Bjorn a traitor or a liberator• fate, free will, and who sets the rulesLike, share, subscribe, follow. Comment. Let us know. Come talk to us. We want to get to know you guys.Support the showEditing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.coMusic by @thundercatlouisMerch Here
Don't resist Pussy Sparkle because it's happening, and so is the Magic Reborn audio book. My take on the Taylor Swift leaked text messages and also female friendships in general. And my response to being ghosted. Join me for your First Cup of Coffee every Monday at 9:30AM and suggest a topic or ask a question here at The Morning Refill. Love, Lies, and Ley Lines is OUT NOW Support the showAmong the Thorns line edits are D-O-N-E DONE! Preorder here In case you missed it, Strange Familiar Audio Book is now available on Youtube ~ Listen for free here You can find the Owl Crate signed edition of Never the Roses here A very beautiful hardcover edition can be found here The audio book can be listened to here And Kindle Unlimited has Never the Roses digital version! Your friendly neighborhood author is doing author-ly things this upcoming month! Hummingbird House is officially OPEN FOR BOOKING Book your next writer retreat at Hummingbird House in Santa Fe here Upcoming Events ~ LoveLitCon is a weekend of romantasy and bookish fun and I will be attending! Buy LoveLitCon tickets here using LOVE8368 for $10 OFF! https://lovelit.com/ Tuscon Festival of Books is March 14th-15th this year! See you there *Wink* ...
this episode, we are once again opening our inboxes and hearts to our favourite people in the world, our listeners. we asked for your 2026 goals and aspirations (bookish or otherwise), the things you wanted to leave behind in 2025 and and anything else you wanted to get off your chest. we discuss goals to finish lengthy TBRs, how to read more in 2026, getting and staying off our phones, sapphic fiction (where is it and do we have any recommendations?), the modern classic (a marketing ploy or enduring praise?), DNF-ing books, describing our ideal book and so much more. send us questions, things you want us to speak about or just say hi!choose our next podcast read by going here and voting in the first week of each month!make sure you subscribe to hear our groundbreaking thoughts as soon as they are unleashed. if you want to be on the same page as us, follow us at talklit.gethit on Instagram and TikTok.theme music born from the creative genius of Big Boi B.join talk lit, get hit podcast for deep dives into the hottest BookTok recommendations, trending contemporary fiction, and literary favourites! each episode features book discussions, spoiler-filled chats, and thoughtful literary analysis of novels everyone is talking about - from viral romance and fantasy to modern classics. whether you're looking for BookTok book reviews, author interviews, or a virtual book club experience, out podcast is your go-to space for readers who love stories and want to explore them in depth.talk lit, get hit are reading and recording on Giabal, Jagera, Jarowair & Turrbal lands. we acknowledge the cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and pay respect to Elders past, present and future. always was, always will be.
Will publishing fewer books make more money? It feels counterintuitive, but when you look closer, it frees up the ability to market more specifically, edit more thoroughly, and generally give more care in attention to what you've got going on. Find out how Joe & Elly made the decision to find Microcosm's "optimal number" of titles per season, and how they've discovered that more isn't always better.************Thank you for catching the People's Guide to Publishing vlogcast! We post new episodes every Thursday about publishing, authors, and the book industry. You can also listen via your preferred podcast app, or by visiting linktree.com/microcosmGet the book: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663Get the workbook: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/10031More from Microcosm: http://microcosmpublishing.comMore by Joe Biel: http://joebiel.netMore by Elly Blue: http://takingthelane.comSubscribe to our monthly email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gIXT6vFind us on social media:Facebook: http://facebook.com/microcosmpublishingBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/microcosm.bsky.socialInstagram: http://instagram.com/microcosm_pub************
Sci fi fan fiction book. 3 of 5Key words: science fiction, Star Trek, fan fiction, outer space, Patrick Stewart, books, booktok. Please support my patreon.https://www.patreon.com/posts/148872905?utm_campaign=postshare_creator
We are ushering in 2026 with our safe word of the year. Because lets be honest, we should have had one last year. Who knew board game safe words could be a thing? Much like many of you we are still in cave mode. The bear is slumbering. The stirring and awareness of spring is on the horizon. Let us know if you are in cave mode or allowing spring to start now.Send us a textSupport the showConnect with usInstagram: https://bit.ly/ourIGpageTikTok: https://bit.ly/ourTiktokpageIntro and Outro music, Sexy Fashion Beat from Coma-Media
Send us a textWe're baaaaAAAk! And we're bringing you a very special episode to kick off the new year! Something we've never done in a standalone episode before… it's a book versus movie showdown with a deep dive into The Housemaid by Freida McFadden and a comparison deep dive into the 2025 movie adaptation starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. Which was better the book or the movie?Thrillers are a genre that we historically haven't covered much here on the podcast, but the hype surrounding this story encouraged us to go down the rabbit hole… and boy howdy a new type of episode was born. We give you the five sentence summary with a "Did that happen in the movie?!” twist, and an on the spot “Which was better?” We give star and spice ratings for both (spoiler free!) and then go over the tropes, reviews, the characters, and our favorite book vs. movie moments.Do we understand the hype and fandom surrounding The Housemaid after doing the research? Are we reading more Freida McFadden books? And do we have unanswered questions… that only sequels can answer? Stick around for our yap sesh all about fem rage and what we hope movies like his can do for the film industry as a whole. But not before a new year's goal fave and fail and a smash or pass with a follow up and a… punk rock turtle? Don't be shy, subscribe! New Podcasts every Tuesday!! (And sometimes Friday!…)Shop our Merch line | * https://besties-and-the-books-shop.fourthwall.comCheck out these author interviews? ⬇️Penn Cole talks with us about Strong Female Characters, Feminist Themes, and her debut bestselling Spark of the Everflame Series! https://youtu.be/7ukNImyoObw?si=7C3Y9kOUMN4hfcKbWe interviewed Callie Hart all about her NYT Bestseller Quicksilver! Watch it here! https://youtu.be/CED5s7qDBdQ?si=8xtIRO1IzX6Rsld4Check the official Follow Up Author Interview with Lindsay Straube of the Split or Swallow Universe all about Between Two Kings! https://youtu.be/OW1cxXTVcTc?si=oOxVIzbIheET_bNE____Shop Bookish Merch we are wearing:Ashley is wearing: A Kejari embroidered sweater from @TheBeanWorkshop (use our affiliate code “BOOKBESTIES10”) | * https://www.thebeanworkshop.store/BOOKBESTIES10 Liz is wearing : Our Besties And The BooSpeculative Fiction Writing Made Simple: Write, Edit, and Publish Your Debut NovelMost writing podcasts just inspire. This one teaches the craft skills that hook readers.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showYouTube | TikTok | Instagram | Podcast Platforms@BestiesandtheBooksPodcast Besties and the Book Club on Fable!https://fable.co/bestiesandthebookclub-474863489358Liz Instagram | TikTok@TheRealLifeVeganWife AshleyInstagram | TikTok@AshleyEllix
This week on A Novel Console, Chris and Karradyne catch up everyone on recent Gorbage obsessions, and some games Chris has played recently. Then, they go over the books and games they enjoyed the most in 2025.Sell us your games: consolesnstuff.comYou can contact us at:anovelconsole@gmail.comFacebook.com/anovelconsoleTwitter.com/anovelconsoleInstagram: @anovelconsolePatreon.com/anovelconsoleOther Streaming Platforms:anovelconsole.carrd.coGet more shows like this at Superpodnetwork.comSupport the show
synopsis music by Tunetankthis episode we are taking you on a journey to discover the self professed life changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about. it's a book that promises to deliver the fastest way to take control of your life and stop trying to control other people and focus on what you can control; yourself. in case it wasn't obvious, we're reading The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins.we discuss the never-ending loop that the let them theory sent us on, Mel Robbins' career, “those” plagiarism allegations and weigh in on a newspaper profile that has, somehow, never been scrubbed from the internet. we also chat about our 2026 ins and outs, goals and dreams and all the things we want to achieve with our reading both on and off the podcast. 39:05 - The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins discussing beginssend us questions, things you want us to speak about or just say hi!choose our next podcast read by going here and voting in the first week of each month!make sure you subscribe to hear our groundbreaking thoughts as soon as they are unleashed. if you want to be on the same page as us, follow us at talklit.gethit on Instagram and TikTok.theme music born from the creative genius of Big Boi B.join talk lit, get hit podcast for deep dives into the hottest BookTok recommendations, trending contemporary fiction, and literary favourites! each episode features book discussions, spoiler-filled chats, and thoughtful literary analysis of novels everyone is talking about - from viral romance and fantasy to modern classics. whether you're looking for BookTok book reviews, author interviews, or a virtual book club experience, out podcast is your go-to space for readers who love stories and want to explore them in depth.talk lit, get hit are reading and recording on Giabal, Jagera, Jarowair & Turrbal lands. we acknowledge the cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and pay respect to Elders past, present and future. always was, always will be.
Send us a textOn this month's episode, Beth, Brittany, and Stephanie look back on 2025 with their top titles of the year and what books they're looking forward to coming out in 2026. But first, they discuss their 2026 reading resolutions!We want to hear from our listeners! What are your reading goals for 2026? Email us at checked.in@davenportlibrary.comTo find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!Upcoming programs:All Ages: Winter Reading Challenge 2026Adults: Formal Wear Dropoff and Giveaway - Friday, January 30th & 31st | FairmountTeens/Tweens: Teen Book + Club: Accountable by Dashka Slater - Wednesday, January 28th @ 6:30 | Fairmount Kids: Cat Kid Comic Club - Tuesday, January 27th @ 4pm | Eastern Helpful links from our discussion:2026 Online Reading Challenge: Know Your History2026 Rock Island Arsenal Series - American Revolution on the 250th Anniversary of Our NationAdult Book ClubsLibrary of ThingsLibrary Links:Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!Info Cafe: The Library's Reference BlogBeanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!
In this episode, Tamara reflects on her reading goals for 2026, emphasizing the importance of personal joy over trend chasing in reading. She discusses her current read, 'The Scammer', and encourages listeners to set flexible reading goals that fit their lifestyles. Tamara also highlights the value of revitalizing one's bookshelf and invites listeners to join the interactive book club experience, fostering community engagement and shared reading experiences. She concludes with a call to action for listeners to explore their own bookshelves and make intentional reading choices this year.Ep 556Connect with Tamara on social media:Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/shelfaddiction/TikTok | @shelfaddictionJoin the SA book club on BookClubs: https://bookclubs.com/shelf-addiction-book-club/join/Check out our sponsors and deals!
Long before the animated adaptation unsettled generations of children, Dot and the Kangaroo began life as an 1898 children's book by Ethel C. Pedley — a purely Australian story that reflects how we once taught our youngest readers about nature, danger, and survival Down Under.Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the beginnings of Australian identity, the birth of a franchise, and one of the only surviving examples of an extinct animation style — all while riding through the bush on the back of a kangaroo.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
Edelweiss is known in the book industry as a powerful tool connecting booksellers and librarians with publishers and their titles. But in the last year, Edelweiss's new owners have made some changes in both the site's functionality and pricing. What does this mean for publishers, and how do we think it'll effect the industry? Jane Friedman of the Bottom Line is back this week to talk with Joe and Elly about her thoughts. ************Thank you for catching the People's Guide to Publishing vlogcast! We post new episodes every Thursday about publishing, authors, and the book industry. You can also listen via your preferred podcast app, or by visiting linktree.com/microcosmGet the book: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/3663Get the workbook: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/zines/10031More from Microcosm: http://microcosmpublishing.comMore by Joe Biel: http://joebiel.netMore by Elly Blue: http://takingthelane.comSubscribe to our monthly email newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gIXT6vFind us on social media:Facebook: http://facebook.com/microcosmpublishingBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/microcosm.bsky.socialInstagram: http://instagram.com/microcosm_pub************
Send us a textThis week Vicky and Kristen go on a Bookish Ramble about our year of books; what we loved, what we hated, and what we have to look forward to in the next year! If you liked this episode, please give us a 5 star rating, like, and subscribe! We post new episodes every Wednesday. If you want more, including our monthly book picks and funny memes, follow us on TikTok and Instagram @goodmorningbookclubWe'd also love to hear from you, so if you have any suggestions, including a book you'd like us to read, shoot us an email at gmbookclubllc@gmail.comSee you on the next one!Music and Production by LVL 3 EntertainmentInstagramTikTok
We celebrate our 100th episode with a look back on our podcast before diving into our favorites for 2025 (no reading required)! Wrapping up the episode, we share a heartfelt thank you to our listeners and a look at the future.
David Headley is joined by historical fiction titan, Bernard Cornwell OBE. From the enduring presence of Richard Sharpe to the creation of The Last Kingdom, Bernard reflects on how history and curiosity have shaped his writing life.Bernard opens up about why Sharpe still speaks to him after forty years, the challenge of writing around real history, and how a planned ending collapsed. From book collecting to acting on stage, enjoy this rare, personal insight into one of Britain's most beloved historical novelists.
Send us a textToday we FINISH our coverage of the entire Wicked universe and close our bonus “Are Books Political” series! And is Wicked Worth Reading?Wicked: For Good has officially been out for three weeks, and we are ready to yap about it with all of you. Which is better? The movies? The book series? Or the Broadway musical? We rank everything in the universe, give you our number one overall pick, and talk about all of the movie moments we thought were faves, and the ones that were fails.We discuss the completely different ending the books take and how that choice truly changed the tone of the entire story, if we have unanswered questions or “hot takes,” and if we think there's more to come. If you've stuck around this long, enjoy a special treat at the end of the episode where we spill the beans on our next bonus series coming in February of 2026! We'll give you two hints… Margo Robbie and Jacob Elordi may have inspired our choices.
Send us a textOn this last episode of the year, your hosts indulge in the annual Festivus, airing of grievances – book edition! They also give each other the gift of a reading recommendation, as well as share some of their favorite short reads for the shortest days of the year. To find out what books were mentioned in this episode, visit our Checked In LibGuide!Upcoming programs:Adults: Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center Grand Reopening Open House - Friday, December 12th @ 1:30pm Teens/Tweens: Teen Book + Club: Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis - Tuesday, December 30th @ 6:30pm | Eastern Kids: Glow-ga - Monday, December 22 @ 1:00pm | FairmountLibrary Links:Calendar of Events - Learn more about the events discussed in this episode and about what is coming up at the Library!Library Catalog - Place holds on all of the books discussed today!Beanstack - Sign up to participate in our reading challenges!2025 Online Reading Challenge
In this episode, Tamara and Casey reflect on their reading journey throughout 2025, discussing various fantasy series and standalone novels. They explore their experiences with different genres, the search for new favorites, and the challenges of finding engaging reads in a year that felt particularly long and difficult. The conversation highlights both the highs and lows of their reading selections, emphasizing the need for fresh and exciting stories to reignite their passion for books. Ep 553Find all the essential links in one spot and follow Tamara!Connect with Tamara:Instagram| https://www.instagram.com/shelfaddiction/TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@shelfaddictionX | https://x.com/ShelfAddictionConnect with Casey:Instagram| https://www.instagram.com/Casey_heartfullofinkTikTok| https://www.tiktok.com/@heartfullofinkX | https://x.com/DustMiteBunnyCheck out our sponsors and deals!
This week's episode is the Betches discussing the highly requested Hallmark Christmas book, Lovelight Farms. Will our resident Hallmark movie lover like this one?? Our third Christmas episode of the season! Find us on social media and let us know what you think of the episode! @books_n_betchesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
If you have ever wondered, "is a much older man for me?" The answer is yes if he is like our MMC. Could we convince if Daddy Krampus told you to "call in rich to work"? Today we are discussing the book Krampus Kruk. This story is really about feeling safe enough to let go. Immersion therapy via pleasure Dom. Sit back and enjoy your listening experience. Send us a textSupport the showConnect with usInstagram: https://bit.ly/ourIGpageTikTok: https://bit.ly/ourTiktokpageIntro and Outro music, Sexy Fashion Beat from Coma-Media
This week's episode is the Betches discussing the highly requested Christmas thriller? Murder mystery? Our second Christmas episode of the season! Find us on social media and let us know what you think of the episode! @books_n_betchesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.