Podcasts about books are magic

Last month, the Wall Street Journal declared this summer to be the era of the “man band.” Those would be boy bands who've grown up — think New Kids on the Block, Boys II Men and the Jonas Brothers — along with their fans, who now have more disposable income to fork out. Exhibit A: The Backstreet Boys residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas last summer grossed more than $55 million.But it's about more than the money. It's about the mostly middle-aged women who are no longer afraid of the cringe — and the mostly middle-aged boys-turned-men who are no longer afraid to embrace the passion of their fans. Novelist Emma Straub saw that fandom first hand when she went on a New Kids on the Block cruise several years ago — and was blown away by the intensity and camaraderie of the now adult “Blockheads.” That visit inspired her new novel, “American Fantasy,” which is a deep dive into the lucrative world of a fictional ‘90s-era boy band named Boy Talk and the woman who still worship them. Straub joins Kerri Miller on this week's Big Books and Bold Ideas to talk about boy bands, the pleasure of enjoying them without shame and how aging changes our perceptions of our past — and current — selves.Guest:Emma Straub is is a New York Times-bestselling author and the owner of a Brooklyn-based bookstore, Books Are Magic. Her latest novel is “American Fantasy.” Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.

Hello Wholigans! On today's episode of Who's There, our weekly call-in show, we talk about the Whos at the Knicks game, Ethan and Ariana's split, Audrey Hobert's brother Malcolm Todd, Alessia Cara's “Giant Desk” concert, Homer James Jigme Gere's bargain with Ryan Murphy, and a whole lot more! Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/WhoWeekly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Preorder BOBBY'S new novel WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and preorder OUR upcoming book I WANT TO BE FAMOUS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! PLUS see us chat at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn next week by getting tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you see P!nk host the Tony Awards? Spoiler: she flew. This week we're getting a Choupette Update

Emma Straub is the New York Times-bestselling author of seven books for adults: the novels American Fantasy, This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of three picture books: Gaga Mistake Day, which she co-wrote with her mother, Mama Hug, and Very Good Hats. She is a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and her work has been published in more than 20 languages. Emma and her husband own Books Are Magic, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. Listen ad-free, pitch-free with thank you gifts each month by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/firstdraftwriters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello Wholigans! On today's episode of Who's There, our weekly call-in show, we talk about Andy Cohen's new boyfriend "Kevin

We think we've "cracked" the mysterious Susan Boyle #ad — could it be... [REDACTED]? Other mysteries we're facing: Why exactly the Cyrus sibs are renting apartments from each other... Why the Daily Mail keeps using "towering over" in their headlines... Why Dakota Johnson isn't selling her famous limes house to us... Why Joan Cusack walked the Toy Story 5 red carpet after 15 years (of not doing red carpets)... Why Suki Waterhouse made the cover of Variety... Why Marcia Cross posted a #rareselfie... Whether Tia Mowry's post is a hard or soft launch... The questions are endless! Don't worry! We'll solve them all. Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/WhoWeekly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Preorder BOBBY'S new novel WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and preorder OUR upcoming book I WANT TO BE FAMOUS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! PLUS see us chat at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn next month by getting tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello Wholigans! Sorry for missing you Tuesday, but we're BACK with another episode of Who's There, our weekly call-in show. We begin with some updates on two major ("major") Who stories: Katie Price's husband's drama, and Pattie Gonia's Patagonia lawsuit. Moving on, we take your calls about Caleb Shomo coming out as gay, Thora Birch coming out as bi, and the Jonas Brothers coming out as podcast hosts. We also accept a Wholigan's challenge to NAME 100 WOMEN!!!! (SPOILER: we succeed.) Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/WhoWeekly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Preorder BOBBY'S new novel WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and preorder OUR upcoming book I WANT TO BE FAMOUS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! PLUS see us chat at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn next month by getting tickets ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello Wholigans! On today's episode of Who's There, our weekly call-in show, we CELEBRATE TWO WHOLIGANS (ERICA AND JOSHUA) FOR WINNING WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S EPISODE OF POP CULTURE JEOPARDY!!! (Streaming now on Netflix!!) Then we take your calls about Dina Manzo's daughter, Raye's sister Absolutely, Absolutely's fiancé NOAH NOAH, Obsession's Inde Navarrette, Bobby's suggestions for next season's Traitors cast, and a whole lot more! Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/WhoWeekly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Preorder BOBBY'S new novel WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠, and preorder OUR upcoming book I WANT TO BE FAMOUS ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! PLUS see us chat at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn next month by getting tickets ⁠⁠here⁠⁠! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pam Grier's long-ass orgasm talking point, why Brooke Hogan's all over Bobby's algorithm and Spencer Pratt's mayoral run gets... spooky. Plus, Bethenny Frankel is feuding with Dina Manzo's daugther, the nepo babies are graduating and Pete Davidson and his gf Elsie Hewitt are officially dunzo. Alex Cooper is pregnant ("Call Her Mommy, etc.), Barbara Palvin is pregnant, Angelina Pivarnick might be pregnant (we're not sure) and Lainey Wilson married Duck. Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/WhoWeekly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Preorder BOBBY'S new novel WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠, and preorder OUR upcoming book I WANT TO BE FAMOUS ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! PLUS see us chat at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn next month by getting tickets ⁠⁠here⁠⁠! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello Wholigans! On today's episode of Who's There, our weekly call-in show, we talk about one of our favorite gossip email newsletters before taking your calls about the Savannah Bananas (again) and our Big Larry Mistake before answering questions about Q'orianka Kilcher's lawsuit against Disney/James Cameron, Dua Lipa's lawsuit against Samsung, Chaka Khan's new song, Sam Asghari's new partnership, the St. Louis arch, and more! Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/WhoWeekly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Preorder BOBBY'S new novel WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, and preorder OUR upcoming book I WANT TO BE FAMOUS ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠! PLUS see us chat at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn next month by getting tickets ⁠here⁠! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is the bestselling author Emma Straub. Her books include 'This Time Tomorrow,'  'Modern Lovers,'  'The Vacationers,'  and more. And with her husband, Michael Fusco, she co-owns the beautiful Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic.I'm so thrilled to have her on because, not only is she a wonderful writer, but Key Change is a series about music fandom and identity. And Emma's newest novel 'American Fantasy' is also about music fandom and identity. That story is set on a cruise ship centered around a nineties boy band and their fans.But today, Emma's going to tell me her story about her own relationship with the music of The Magnetic Fields. Stephin Merritt from the Magnetic Fields was just named one of the greatest living American songwriters by the New York Times, and Emma's introduction to their music was their 1999 triple album, '69 Love Songs.' For more info, visit songexploder.net/emma-straub.

Hello Wholigans! On today's episode of Who's There, our weekly call-in show, we chat about some notable Whos from the Met Gala (namely, Aariana Rose Philip and Jordan Roth), the Blake/Justin settlement, Hayden Panettiere's jorts, Yung Lean's viral new video, famous Shannons, and a whole lot more. Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content over on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/WhoWeekly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Preorder BOBBY'S new novel WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY ⁠⁠here⁠⁠, and preorder OUR upcoming book I WANT TO BE FAMOUS ⁠⁠here⁠⁠! PLUS see us chat at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn next month by getting tickets here! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emma Straub plays many roles as a leader in the literary world: independent bookstore owner, award-winning novelist, and children's book author, to name a few. Straub is a Guggenheim Fellow, a New York Times best-seller, and the owner of Brooklyn's Books Are Magic, where she helps celebrate our vibrant literary world through countless readings and events.Straub's new novel, American Fantasy, has been named one of the most anticipated books by Time, The New York Times, People, and Harper's Bazaar. Set on a nineties-boy-band-themed cruise, Straub's characters explore the intersections of aging, nostalgia, memory, and possibility, creating a hilarious, intimate portrait of the surprises and reawakenings that life can provide.On April 11, 2026, Emma Straub came to the Sydney Goldstein Theater in San Francisco to talk on stage with Ayelet Waldman. Waldman is the author of A Really Good Day, My Marriage, and the essay collection Bad Mother. Her new novel A Perfect Hand will be published in May. She was one of the creators of the Netflix show Unbelievable, and was an executive producer for the show Star Trek: Picard. 

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Emma Straub with her new novel, American Fantasy. Emma is the New York Times-bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than twenty languages. She and her husband own one of our favorite indie bookstores, Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling Author Emma Straub's new book American Fantasy has pulled into port! The acclaimed writer joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss her joyful writing process, the kindness and power of nostalgia, being kind to yourself as a creator and more. This episode features: Why Emma Straub's book American Fantasy meets the current moment, thanks to a healthy dose of nostalgia Embracing the "uncool-ness" of being a passionate fan Creating community with her bookstore Books Are Magic in Brooklyn How vulnerability can unlock kindness, creativity and more Emma Straub is the New York Times-bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats.  Her books have been published in more than twenty languages.   She and her husband are also the beloved owners of Books Are Magic, an iconic independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us: ⁠⁠artofkindnesspodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠ Follow Emma @emmastraub Follow us ⁠⁠@artofkindnesspod⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠@robpeterpaul⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠! (⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok⁠) Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to us about the cognitive dissonance, joy, and research process behind her highly anticipated next novel AMERICAN FANTASY. Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than 20 languages. Her latest novel, American Fantasy (Available on Apr 07, 2026), is described as “... an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you're already an adult.” NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, PEOPLE, TIME, HARPER'S BAZAAR AND OPRAH DAILY #1 New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, called it “…a fun, delicious, big-hearted book.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell wrote, “You don't have to be a fan of something to love American Fantasy, but if you've ever truly devoted yourself to a boy band or a TV show or even a series of books, you will feel so understood by this novel.” Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, the popular independent bookstores in Brooklyn, New York.  [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emma Straub, Milena and I discussed: How an annual NKOTB fan cruise inspired the latest Writing a book about time, love, and loss and why her mom called it her "sexiest book" Why you can't reverse-engineer the perfect novel What happened when her book appeared in Season Three of the White Lotus Hanging out at with Lin-Manuel Miranda And a lot more!  Show Notes: American Fantasy: A Novel – April 7, 2026 by Emma Straub (Bookshop.org) ⁠emmastraub.net⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Straub on Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Emma Straub on Instagram⁠⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Natalie Haynes is a writer, broadcaster and “rock star mythologist.” Her retelling of the Trojan War, A Thousand Ships, was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction and has been translated around the globe. She's out now with No Friend to This House, a reimagining of the story of Medea. In today's episode, Annmarie and Natalie poke fun at Perseus, demystify Greek myths, and discuss the relevance of classic literature in our modern world.  Episode Sponsors: Pocket Books – An independent, queer, feminist bookstore committed to the idea that bookstores are places for communities to share knowledge, wisdom, resources, and connections. We stock an intentional and eclectic selection of books that we hope will help you feel safe exploring something new. Pocket Books is a place of discovery where readers find support for their ideas and new interests. Stop by one of our Lancaster, Pennsylvania locations or shop online at pocketbooksshop.com. Books Are Magic⁠ – A family-owned independent bookstore in Brooklyn, committed to being a welcoming, friendly, and inclusive space for all people. We believe that books are indeed magic and that literature is one of the best ways to create empathy, transportation, and transformation. Stop by or shop online at ⁠booksaremagic.net⁠. Titles by Natalie Haynes:  No Friend to This House A Thousand Ships The Children of Jocasta Stone Blind Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths Additional Titles Mentioned in This Episode  The Overstory, Playground, and Bewilderment, all by Richard Powers O Brother, Where Art Thou? Official Trailer Clash of the Titans (1981) Official Trailer Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics Follow Natalie Haynes: Facebook: @nataliehaynesstandupclassicist Twitter/X: @officialnhaynes Instagram: @NatalieHaynesAuthor Threads: @nataliehaynesauthor Bluesky: @NatalieHaynes nataliehaynes.com **Writing Workshops:  If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing together, please consider the opportunities below.  For women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, you can sign up here.  For anyone interested in an evening class to jumpstart your creative practice, you can sign up here. And if you'd like to travel with your writing, Annmarie is co-leading a writing retreat in Paris this June. Join us!Photo Credit: James Betts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In anticiapation of the second part in this series! New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to me about why everything in life is timing, how to write a book for yourself, time travel, and her latest This Time Tomorrow. Emma is the bestselling author of six novels — including All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures — the short story collection Other People We Married. Her books have been published in 20 countries.  Her latest, This Time Tomorrow, has been named One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by Vogue, Oprah, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Reader's Digest, Today, Parade, Thrillist, Pop Sugar, Lithub and more. Described as "...a moving father-daughter story and a playful twist on the idea of time travel," author Michael Chabon called the book "...a beautifully made, elegant music box of a novel that sets in motion its clever clockwork of delight—then breaks your heart with its bittersweet, lingering song.” Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, a popular independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York. [This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to⁠⁠ ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠⁠⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."] [Discover⁠⁠ The Writer Files Extra⁠⁠: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at⁠⁠ writerfiles.fm⁠⁠] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please⁠⁠ click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews⁠⁠. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Emma Straub and I discussed: Why getting an MFA helped her slow down her writing How she met everyone in publishing at an indie bookshop  The unique perspective of Xennials How to find confidence and pages while being off-balance  Why she'd drink less Olde English if she could go back  And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ... ⁠emmastraub.net⁠ ⁠This Time Tomorrow a Novel by Emma Straub⁠ ⁠'This Time Tomorrow' is the time travel book millennials need⁠ - USA Today ⁠Emma Straub on Facebook⁠ ⁠Emma Straub on Instagram⁠ ⁠Emma Straub on Twitter⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer⁠ ⁠diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram⁠ ⁠Kelton Reid Instagram⁠ ⁠Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're listening to Burnt Toast! I'm Virginia Sole-Smith. Today, my conversation is with Debra Benfield, RDN.Deb is a registered dietitian/nutritionist with 40 years of experience helping people heal their relationship with food, movement and their bodies. Her work sits at the intersection of anti-ageism, body liberation and trauma-informed care, offering a radically compassionate alternative to diet and wellness culture—especially for those in midlife and beyond. After turning 60, Deb began questioning the dominant narratives around aging, vitality and beauty, and quickly realized the majority of resources still centered weight loss and youthful appearance as the ultimate goals. In response, she created what she couldn't find: A framework for nourishing the body that honors body respect, prioritizes liberation and embraces the full spectrum of aging. Deb is the author of the beautiful new book Unapologetic Aging: How to Mend and Nourish Your Relationship with Your Body.  Deb came on the podcast back in 2023 and we had what was really the first, or certainly one of the first, conversations we've had on Burnt Toast about the intersection of ageism and anti-fat bias. That discussion helped lay the foundation for how we're continuing to talk about those issues. Deb is someone I always turn to for resources and wisdom as we're navigating those conversations here. I am so thrilled to have Deb back on the podcast today, to talk about her new book, how diet culture has hijacked the menopause discourse, and why peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are actually giving you all the protein you need.  Unapologetic Aging comes out on December 16, so now is the perfect time to pre-order it as a holiday gift for yourself, your mom, or anyone you know in midlife and beyond! And don't forget that if you've bought Fat Talk from Split Rock Books, you can take 10% off your purchase of Unapologetic Aging there too — just use the code FATTALK at checkout.And if you value this conversation, a paid subscription is the best way to support our work!Join Burnt Toast!

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author Quiara Alegría Hudes discusses her new novel, The White Hot. The novel is written in the form of a letter from a mother to her daughter, explaining why, for a brief period, she decided to leave. Hudes is speaking with Lin Manuel Miranda on November 11 at St. Ann's Church with Books Are Magic, and at Joe's Pub on November 24.

The new memoir Destroy This House tells the story of author Amanda Uhle's experience growing up with a mother with a hoarding disorder and an unstable father. Uhle joins to discuss, and listeners share their own experience with hoarding.*Amanda Uhle is speaking September 12 with Books Are Magic. 

A new cookbook acts as a guide to drinking (and eating) like a Korean! There are recipes for cocktails, bomb shots, drinking food, hangover cures, and simple snacks like salty and sweet Honey-Butter Bar Nuts. Author and journalist Irene Yoo joins us to discuss her new cookbook, Soju Party.*Irene Yoo has an event with New York Times food columnist Eric Kim and Brooklyn-based writer and artist Carolyn Yoo at Books Are Magic tonight.

It can feel intimidating to host a dinner party, but cookbook author Dan Pelosi has a new guide to help you create a stress-free evening. His new cookbook is titled Let's Party: Recipes for Celebrating Every Day, and it includes complete menus for dinner parties of every kind. Plus, some great tips for decoration, prepping in advance, and more. Pelosi joins to discuss, and take calls from listeners. Pelosi will be speaking Tuesday night with Books Are Magic at St. Ann's in Brooklyn, at 7 pm.

This episode was recorded prior to Scott Adams' announcement of his cancer diagnosis. As always, Thick Lines wishes good mental, spiritual, and physical health to all creators and createes. Enjoy the full episode at patreon.com/thicklinespod  Joining Sally today is the business pleasure that is Mattie Lubchansky: former associate editor of The Nib, author of Boys Weekend and the rapidly impending release, Simplicty has had work appearing in Mad Magazine, The Hairpin, The Toast, Eater, New York Magazine, as well as every other publication you've ever enjoyed. Today we read Mattie's pick: Dilbert, a comic strip you may be familiar with by being alive? Topics include: webcomics, going insane, Jewess hairdo representation, the sexier side of Dilbert, and most important of all: Bill Griffith and Scott Adams' comic strip beef. See Mattie on tour! July 29th at Thespis Theater The Newtown Stage 25-02 Newtown Ave Long Island City, NY   or July 31st at BOOKS ARE MAGIC 122 MONTAGUE ST BROOKLYN, NY 11201-3481 August 2nd you can find them at Riffraff Bookstore and Bar 60 Valley St #107A Providence, RI She has many more tour dates along the east coast you can peruse here

This episode was recorded prior to Scott Adams' announcement of his cancer diagnosis. As always, Thick Lines wishes good mental, spiritual, and physical health to all creators and createes. Joining Sally today is the business pleasure that is Mattie Lubchansky: former associate editor of The Nib, author of Boys Weekend and the rapidly impending release, Simplicty has had work appearing in Mad Magazine, The Hairpin, The Toast, Eater, New York Magazine, as well as every other publication you've ever enjoyed. Today we have a short interview with Mattie and a special guest, then we read Mattie's pick: The Far Side by Gary Larson! Your favorite! Topics include: cows, cat eye glasses, Joey Alison Sayers, The Vegan Agenda, parents allowing questionable reading material, and desert islands. See Mattie on tour! July 29th at Thespis Theater The Newtown Stage 25-02 Newtown Ave Long Island City, NY   or July 31st at BOOKS ARE MAGIC 122 MONTAGUE ST BROOKLYN, NY 11201-3481 August 2nd you can find them at Riffraff Bookstore and Bar 60 Valley St #107A Providence, RI She has many more tour dates along the east coast you can peruse here

We continue our week of beach reads with a debut novel from Katie Yee, called Maggie: Or, a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar. The story follows a woman who finds out her husband has been having an affair with a woman named Maggie... and that she has also been diagnosed with cancer. Yee discusses the novel, which is out on July 22, and will be speaking on 'pub day' at Yu and Me Bookstore at the NYPL Chatham Square Branch, and on July 24 with Books Are Magic at the Melissa Joy Manning Jewelry Store.  

Looking for your next read to take on holiday, or the commute, or to read before bed? Then Nat and Phil have got you covered. Here they talk you through 10 new books they are either currently reading, or want to read - that's 5 choices from Nat, and 5 from Phil. There's a range of genres from mystery to memoir, love story to thriller, and hopefully at least one of these will be the next book you want to reach for too.The recommendations are:Giovanni's Room by James BaldwinNever Flinch by Stephen KingThe Compound by Aisling RawleMust You Go by Antonia FraserThe Director by Daniel KehlmannBlack Water Lilies by Michel BussiCity of Night Birds by Juhea KimWhat the Night Brings by Mark BillinghamSwept Away by Beth O'LearyGalway Confidential by Ken BruenWith a special mention to Books Are Magic, a Brooklyn bookstore, whose hat Nat was coincidentally wearing for this recording!

Dear wonderful readers,Today, we have the ultimate treat for you all! This week, two shameless sex writers on Substack sat down to share our personal experiences of what it's really like to publish the details of our intimate lives on the internet.Share the steam with a spicy-minded friend

In Kevin Nguyen's latest novel, a series of violent attacks leads the United States government to incarcerate all Vietnamese Americans in various camps throughout the country. The novel, titled My Documents, follows a group of cousins sent to different camps who attempt to figure out how to change their circumstances. Nguyen talks about his book ahead of an April 9 event at Books Are Magic.

SUBCRIBE TO READING THE CITYOrder Tyler Wetherall's novel AmphibianAbout Reading the City "Reading the City" is a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC, a weekly diary of upcoming New York literary life on a need-to-know basis. No long blurbs, no reviews, just book events of all stripes. "Reading the City" links to the author's books, website, or social pages when possible. Tyler Wetherall, the founder and editor, is a believer in the  power of the literary community to raise each other up, champion one another, and help make the site an inclusive and welcoming space for all writers and readers. Tyler Wetherall is a  Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and teacher, and the author of No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run (St. Martin's Press) and Amphibian (forthcoming from Virago).   She arrived in New York from London in 2014, knowing just three people. She  carried with her a manuscript she had  written alone in a Victorian outhouse at the end of her mother's garden in Devon. Her entire experience of the writerly life thus far was solitary—and pretty cold. She found herself in a  very special place called the Oracle Club (RIP) in Long Island City, and there  she met real life authors for the first time. After staying up late and  talking craft, drinking gin, and playing records, or reading poetry and howling into the night, she had  found her community, and through that community the practical and intellectual resources she needed to become an author myself. Photo credit:  Sammy DeighElizabeth Howard, Producer and Host of the Short Fuse Podcast Elizabeth Howard is the producer and host of the Short Fuse Podcast, conversations with artists, writers, musicians, and others whose art reveals our communities through their lens and stirs us to seek change. Her articles related to communication and marketing have appeared in European Communications, Investor Relations, Law Firm Marketing & Profit Report, Communication World, The Strategist, and the New York Law Journal, among others.  Her books include Queen Anne's Lace and Wild Blackberry Pie, (Thornwillow Press, 2011), A Day with Bonefish Joe (David Godine, 2015) and Ned O'Gorman:  A Glance Back (Easton Studio Press, 2016). She leads reading groups at the Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York.  @elizh24 on InstagramThe Arts Fuse The Arts Fuse was established in June, 2007 as a curated, independent online arts magazine dedicated to publishing in-depth criticism, along with high quality previews, interviews, and commentaries. The publication's over 70 freelance critics (many of them with decades of experience) cover dance, film, food, literature, music, television, theater, video games, and visual arts. There is a robust readership for arts coverage that believes that culture matters.The goal of The Arts Fuse is to treat the arts seriously, to write about them in the same way that other publications cover politics, sports, and business — with professionalism, thoughtfulness, and considerable attitude. The magazine's motto, from Jonathan Swift, sums up our editorial stance: “Use the point of your pen … not the feather.” The Arts Fuse has published over 7,000 articles and receives 60,000+ visits a month. This year they are celebrating their 5th birthday, a milestone for a small, independent magazine dedicated to covering the arts.Why The Arts Fuse? Its birth was a reaction to the declining arts coverage in newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. When the number of news pages shrink in the mainstream media, attention is paid. But the continual whittling down of arts coverage has been passed over in silence. Editor-in-Chief Bill Marx started the magazine to preserve the craft of professional arts criticism online, while also looking at new and innovative ways to evolve the cultural conversation and bring together critics, readers, and artists.Serious criticism, by talking about the strengths, weaknesses, and contributions of the arts, plays an indispensable role in the cultural ecology. Smaller, newer organizations need a response. When they are ignored as they are by the mainstream media, they fail to gain an audience. And without an audience, they fold, further weakening the entire ecosystem.Assist The Arts Fuse in their  mission: to keep arts and culture hale and hearty through dialogue rather than marketing.SUBSCRIBE to the weekly e-newsletterLIKE The Arts Fuse on Facebook, FOLLOW  on TwitterHELP  The Arts Fuse thrive by providing underwriting for the magazine. Even better — make a tax deductible donation.  

Suzy Hopkins was taken by complete surprise when her husband of 30 years decided to leave her and begin a relationship with an old flame from 30 years prior. So, she decided to write a book about her experience, What to Do When You Get Dumped: A Guide to Unbreaking Your Heart. The book features illustrations from her daughter, New Yorker cartoonist Hallie Bateman. They join us to discuss the book, and take your calls.Event: Hopkins and Bateman will be at Books Are Magic tonight at 7 pm. 

Today Virginia is chatting with Helen Rosner. Helen is a staff writer at The New Yorker. She has been covering food for more than a decade as a writer and editor, and won a 2024 James Beard Award for her weekly restaurant-review column, The Food Scene. She is an expert on sandwiches and many other important subjects. And I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Helen last month at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn (hi Emma Straub thank you so much for having us!!), at a live event to celebrate the paperback release of Fat Talk. (They should still have a few signed copies in stock if you need one!)We talked about the book, of course, but we talked about so many other fat- and food-adjacent topics, that I knew I wanted to bring it to you as a podcast episode.(Bear with some imperfect audio, since we weren't recording with our usual set-up — but Tommy worked his magic as usual so it's still highly listen-to-able!)If you find today's episode valuable, please consider supporting our work with a paid subscription!Guest interviews are always free on Burnt Toast, but paid subscriptions enable us to pay guests for their time, labor and expertise. (This is extremely rare in the world of podcasting, but key to centering marginalized voices!)To tell us YOUR thoughts, and to get all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, as well as a complete transcript, visit our show page.If you want more conversations like this one, please rate and review us in your podcast player! And become a paid Burnt Toast subscriber — subscriptions are just $7 per month! —to get all of Virginia's reporting and bonus subscriber-only episodes. And don't forget to check out our Burnt Toast Podcast Bonus Content! Disclaimer: You're listening to this episode because you value my input as a journalist who reports on these issues and therefore has a lot of informed opinions. Neither my guest today nor I are healthcare providers, and this conversation is not meant to substitute for medical or therapeutic advice.FAT TALK is out in paperback! Order your signed copy from Virginia's favorite independent bookstore, Split Rock Books (they ship anywhere in the US!). Or order it from your independent bookstore, or from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, or Kobo or anywhere else you like to buy books. You can also order the audio book from Libro.fm or Audible.CREDITSThe Burnt Toast Podcast is produced and hosted by Virginia Sole-Smith and Corinne Fay. Follow Virginia on Instagram, Follow Corinne  @SellTradePlus, an Instagram account where you can buy and sell plus size clothing and subscribe to Big Undies.Our theme music is by Farideh.Tommy Harron is our audio engineer.Thanks for listening and for supporting anti-diet, body liberation journalism.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe

Singer-songwriter Neko Case is known for her beautiful voice and her fierce and haunting lyrics that convey emotional truths. In her new memoir, The Harder I Fight, the More I Love You, she charts her evolution from being "raised by two dogs and a space heater" in rural Washington state by two teenage parents, to becoming an internationally acclaimed musician. She discusses her book as well as her latest project, writing songs for a musical theater adaptation of "Thelma and Louise." *Neko Case will be in conversation with Emma Straub at Books Are Magic tonight at 7.

As we approach our 500th episode, we are bringing back two memorable episodes from 2018, our first year of the podcast. Samin Nosrat is a chef and the author of the legendary cookbook Salt Fat Acid Heat. This episode was our very first, and it was recorded at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn on July 12, 2018. We talked to Samin about “too-mami” (cooking with too much umami), angry letters, and the differences between brands of kosher salt—that is, not all kosher salt is the same. Also on the show is a great conversation with Flynn McGarry. He's the chef-owner of Gem Wine and Gem Home in New York City. In this episode, we discuss his time working at Los Angeles restaurant Alma at age 13, while being homeschooled, and his famous pop-ups even earlier in his career. The journey is all documented in the great film Chef Flynn, and we get into Flynn's many travels and eventual business opening in NYC—the most competitive and cutthroat restaurant city in America.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Kristina Cho discusses her latest cookbook, Chinese Enough: Homestyle Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Stir-Fries, and More, which combines her Cantonese roots with her American upbringing. Cho will be speaking at Farm to People with Books Are Magic tonight.

In this episode of the Watchung Booksellers Podcast, Margot Sage-EL sits down with author Emma Straub, owner of Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, to talk about writing and running a bookstore.Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of two picture books, Gaga Mistake Day, which she co-wrote with her mother, and Very Good Hats. She is a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and her work has been published in more than 20 languages. Emma and her husband own Books Are Magic, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York,Margot Sage-EL is the owner emeritus of Watchung Booksellers. She continues to work on author events and bookstore activities. When not at the store, she is busy running around town with her grandkids.Resources:WORD BookstoreBooks Are MagicBookCourt Closing Greenlight BookstoreCommunity BookstoreEast Side MagsBooks:A full list of the books and authors mentioned in this episode is available here. Register for Upcoming Events.The Watchung Booksellers Podcast is produced by Kathryn Counsell and Marni Jessup and is recorded at Silver Stream Studio in Montclair, NJ. The show is edited by Kathryn Counsell and Bree Testa. Special thanks to Timmy Kellenyi and Derek Mattheiss. Original music is composed and performed by Violet Mujica. Art & design and social media by Evelyn Moulton. Research and show notes by Caroline Shurtleff. Thanks to all the staff at Watchung Booksellers and The Kids' Room! If you liked our episode please like, follow, and share! Stay in touch!Email: wbpodcast@watchungbooksellers.comSocial: @watchungbooksellersSign up for our newsletter to get the latest on our shows, events, and book recommendations!

In the latest novel from acclaimed writer Rachel Kushner, a 34-year-old woman becomes a spy who infiltrates a mysterious eco-commune. Kirkus calls it "a deft, brainy take on the espionage novel," and the book was longlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize. Creation Lake is out now, and Kushner joins us to discuss it ahead of her event tonight with Emma Straub at Books Are Magic, and her event Wednesday night at The Remarque Institute.

Lauded debut author, Isabel Banta, spoke to me about working at Books Are Magic with Emma Straub, her love of Britney Spears, and capturing Y2K era pop superstardom in her debut novel HONEY. Isabel Banta is a writer, book publicist, and indie bookseller at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. Her debut novel is HONEY, named a 'GMA' Buzz Pick and described as “...a coming-of-age story about a pop star in the late '90s and early 2000s who's determined to find and claim her own identity.” Honey was named a best book of the summer by PEOPLE, ELLE, PureWow and Our Culture, as well as a Goodreads Editor's Choice and IndieNext Pick. New York Times bestselling author Emma Straub said of the book, "Honey is a sexy swagger of a debut." LitHub named it one of 18 Books to Read this Summer, “A delightfully bubblegum novel of hot summer nostalgia that also lands some serious blows to the patriarchal mores of a cultural milieu we still haven't fully shaken off.” [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you're a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Isabel Banta and I discussed:  Why she loves talking about and promoting other writers The surreality of finally publishing her own book How she approached the subject of the commodification of young stars in the music industry Why you need to pivot POVs as a novelist Her writing routine And a lot more! Show Notes: isabelbanta.com Honey: A Novel By Isabel Banta (Amazon) Isabel Banta on Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ATTENTION NEW YORKERS: Come see Bobby chat with writer Isaac Fitzgerald about his new novel Four Squares NEXT MONDAY June 17th at Books Are Magic! Tickets are available here. Hello Wholigans! On today's episode of Who's There, our weekly call-in show, we play your comments about advancements in ankle monitor technology, golf couple reconciliations, and June 4th birthdays before moving onto pressing questions of the hour covering topics including Forest Whitaker's daughter True, Jojo Siwa's "feud" with someone named Anneliese van der Pol, Keke Palmer's new girl group, Glenn Powell's commitment to believing women, and a whole bunch of famous Martins. As always, call in at 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns for a future episode of Who's There?. Want more of what you heard today? Get a TON of bonus content over on Patreon.com/WhoWeekly. And pre-order Bobby's upcoming novel FOUR SQUARES, out 6/18, right now! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ATTENTION NEW YORKERS: Come see Bobby chat with writer Isaac Fitzgerald about his new novel Four Squares NEXT MONDAY June 17th at Books Are Magic! Tickets are available here. ALMOST FORGOT TO WRITE THIS! (Would you have missed it?) Happy Pride! Nicole Kidman's niece gets hit on by Austin Butler on the red carpet (maybe), Anna Delvey bedazzles her ankle monitor, Nina Dobrev gets in an e-bike accident :(, Jason Derulo disrespects an Ibiza fire??? Plus, Jelly Roll is NOT named after a Jelly Roll????? Porsha Williams give us 25 Things and we play a Famous Birthdays Game for June! Mystery Women, dueling Summer House cheese snack #spon, Gabourey Sidibe gives an exclusive to Shutterstock (???), Stormi Bree doesn't actually shade her ex's new wife (aka Nara Smith), Trina McGee is pregnant at 54! Speaking of, Darren Criss and Trisha Paytas gave their newborns unforgettable names. You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out what they are. It's worth it. As always, call in at 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns for a future episode of Who's There?. Want more of what you heard today? Get a TON of bonus content over on Patreon.com/WhoWeekly. And pre-order Bobby's upcoming novel FOUR SQUARES, out 6/18, right now! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're invited to The Big Magical Cult Show!!! Catch host Amanda on tour this April to celebrate her new book, The Age of Magical Overthinking. Half the events are star-studded bookstore stops (where she'll be in conversation with the likes of Molly Ringwald and Pauline Chalamet!), and the other half are these wacky, witchy variety shows, featuring cult-followed podcasters (like Kelsey from Normal Gossip and Ceara & Griff from Petty Crimes), drag burlesque, musical guests, and more. There will be book signings, audience Q&As, and Amanda's first-ever merch collection, available only at these live events!!! Get your tickets below :) April 9: Los Angeles, CA — Barnes & Noble at The Grove, in conversation with Pauline Chalamet (tickets here) April 11: NYC, NY — The Strand, in conversation with Molly Ringwald (tickets here) April 12: Brooklyn, NY — Littlefield with Books Are Magic, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Ceara & Griff from Petty Crimes (tickets here) April 13: Boston, MA — wbur cityspace, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Sasha Sagan (tickets here) April 15: Washington DC — Solid State Books (tickets here) April 16: Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts with Uncle Bobbie's, “The Big Magical Cult Show” feat. Kelsey McKinney from Normal Gossip (tickets here) April 17: Portland, OR — Powell's Books, in conversation with Chelsea Bieker (free, no ticket needed)

NOTE: This is an updated replay of my amazing chat with Emma Straub, the New York Times-bestselling author of six books for adults, including her novel This Time Tomorrow … She is also the author of three picture books, the first of which, Very Good Hats, was published in January 2023. Congrats Emma! Enjoy … New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to me about why everything in life is timing, how to write a book for yourself, time travel, and her latest This Time Tomorrow. Emma is the bestselling author of six novels — including All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, and Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures — the short story collection Other People We Married. Her books have been published in 20 countries.  Her latest, This Time Tomorrow, has been named One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2022 by Vogue, Oprah, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Reader's Digest, Today, Parade, Thrillist, Pop Sugar, Lithub and more. Described as "...a moving father-daughter story and a playful twist on the idea of time travel," author Michael Chabon called the book "...a beautifully made, elegant music box of a novel that sets in motion its clever clockwork of delight—then breaks your heart with its bittersweet, lingering song.” Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, a popular independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York.  In this file Emma Straub and I discussed: Why getting an MFA helped her slow down her writing How she met everyone in publishing at an indie bookshop  The unique perspective of Xennials How to find confidence and pages while being off-balance  Why she'd drink less Olde English if she could go back  And a lot more! Stay calm and write on ... emmastraub.net This Time Tomorrow a Novel by Emma Straub 'This Time Tomorrow' is the time travel book millennials need - USA Today Emma Straub on Facebook Emma Straub on Instagram Emma Straub on Twitter Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zadie Smith joins us to discuss her new historical novel, The Fraud, which follows a white woman and a formerly enslaved Black man whose lives intersect as a result of a British court case in which a butcher claims he is the long-lost relative of a dead baronet, and should receive his fortune. Events: Smith will be speaking tonight at Books Are Magic with Hua Hsu, and on Thursday at Cooper Union with Yaa Gyasi.

Celebrated novelist Lauren Groff is back with a new historical novel. The Vaster Wilds follows a girl in colonial era America who has to figure out how to survive on her own in the wilderness. Groff joins us to discuss the novel. Event: Groff will be speaking at Books Are Magic on 9/12 in conversation with Miranda July.

In this episode, I chat with author Jenny Xie about her debut novel Holding Pattern, exploring intimacy through cuddling, negative space, and books.Jenny Xie is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree whose debut novel, Holding Pattern, is forthcoming from Riverhead Books in June 2023.Her short fiction has appeared in AGNI, Ninth Letter, Joyland, Adroit Journal, Narrative, The Offing, and the Best of the Net Anthology, among other publications. Her writing on design, travel, and culture has been featured in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, Them, and Dwell, where she was previously the Executive Editor.Jenny holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins University and is the grateful recipient of fellowships from Bread Loaf, MacDowell, Yaddo, Kundiman, Aspen Words, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Loghaven, and other organizations.Born in Shanghai and hailing from California, Jenny is currently based in Brooklyn, New York.  JennyXieHolding Pattern, Jenny XieSea Change, Gina ChungDykette, Jenny Fran DavisEsquire magazine article on cuddling by Jenny XieSupport the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links

To send off our lovely host Alison Stewart on medical leave, as she donates a kidney to her sister, we solicit recommendations from you, our listeners, for what she should be reading, watching, or listening to as she recovers! Plus, we take recommendations from some great friends of the show. Emma Straub, author and Books Are Magic owner, gives some book recommendations, and Kathryn Van Arendonk, Vulture TV critic, tells Alison want shows she should be binging. Have some recs or well-wishes for Alison? Comment below!

The Brooklyn restaurant Sofreh is one of the most popular dining spots in the city. Now, chef Nasim Alikhani is bringing her modern Persian cuisine to home cooks with her new cookbook Sofreh: A Contemporary Approach to Classic Persian Cuisine. She joins us to discuss. Alikhani will be speaking tonight at Books Are Magic with Helen Rosner and tomorrow at Rizzoli bookstore, in conversation with Nilou Motamed.

Celebrated poet and author Maggie Smith suspected something might be going on with her husband, and when she went through his briefcase she found evidence he had been having an affair. In her new memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Smith unpacks her feelings of betrayal, sadness, bitterness and the painful process of going through a divorce with two small children. She joins us to discuss the memoir. Later tonight, Smith will be speaking at Books Are Magic in conversation with Leslie Jamison.

Surprise! It's another throwback episode! On today's walk down memory lane we're revisiting some of our favorite segments about Whos + Food throughout the years. Remember when Emily Ratajkowski writhed around in bucatini? Remember when you couldn't open TikTok without seeing Tabitha Brown saying, "Like so, like that!" Remember the Panera Beverage Station? REMEMBER THE PUMPKIN CAN? Regardless of how you answered those questions, this is the episode for you. And when you listen to our audio from back in the day, don't think of it as "low quality," think of it as "filled with texture." Call 619.WHO.THEM to leave questions, comments & concerns, and we may play your call on a future episode. Support us and get a ton of bonus content (INCLUDING THIS WEEK'S EMERGENCY EPISODE ABOUT DON'T WORRY DARLING) over on Patreon.com/WhoWeekly. ALSO: Pre-order Bobby's debut novel THE OLD PLACE here, and if you're in Brooklyn, buy tickets to the 9/20 event at Books Are Magic here! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Straub's new novel, This Time Tomorrow, is a time-travel fantasy about a 40-year-old woman who's tending to her ailing father — until, that is, the day she's transported to her childhood home on her 16th birthday. Straub owns the independent bookstore Books Are Magic in Brooklyn. She spoke with contributor Tonya Mosley about pre-grieving, rejection, and what she'd tell her 16-year-old self. Also, Justin Chang reviews Top Gun: Maverick.