Podcasts about oprah's book club

In 2003, when the author James Frey published his first book, A Million Little Pieces—a gut-punch account of his experience with addiction and rehab—nobody could have expected what would come next. Thanks to an Oprah Book Club endorsement, A Million Little Pieces was instantly catapulted to bestseller status, but soon blew up in scandal after Frey admitted to having falsified certain portions of the book, which had been marketed as a memoir. The drama that ensued sparked a media controversy—one that now, around 20 years later, feels petty and misplaced, especially in the context of today's cancel-culture climate. More than 10 million copies of A Million Little Pieces have sold since, and Frey is still at it, writing, publishing, and pushing the boundaries of his art. His latest novel, Next to Heaven, is a rollicking, raunchy, absurd-yet-not satire about money, murder, and the all-too-human desires for power, pleasure, and greed. On the episode—our Season 11 finale, in which Frey sat lotus for the entire duration—he reflects on the A Million Little Pieces saga; his long-term study of Taoism; writing as a gateway to vulnerability; and why love, for him, is the greatest drug there is.Special thanks to our Season 11 presenting sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes:James Frey[5:08] “Tao Te Ching”[5:08] Lao Tzu[5:08] Stephen Mitchell[5:08] Taoism[8:51] Cubism[13:11] “A Million Little Pieces” (2003)[14:16] “Next To Heaven” (2025)[14:16] New Canaan, Connecticut[17:14] Jackie Collins[17:14] “Hollywood Wives” (1983)[17:14] Danielle Steel[21:35] Honoré de Balzac[29:37] “Katerina” (2018) [29:37] “Full Fathom Five” (1947) by Jackson Pollock[37:14] “Larry King Live” (2006)[39:09] “Tropic of Cancer” (1971)[42:24] “Up to Me” (1985)[44:20] “Kissing a Fool” (1998)[52:22] “My Friend Leonard” (2005)[52:22] “Bright Shiny Morning” (2008)[52:22] “The Final Testament” (2011)[58:56] “Author Is Kicked Out of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club”[58:56] “James Frey: ‘I Always Wanted to Be the Outlaw'”[01:03:18] Bret Easton Ellis[01:03:18] Jay McInerney[01:03:18] Norman Mailer[01:10:54] Rashid Johnson[01:10:54] HBO's “Native Son” (2019)

#1 New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb, celebrated for two prior Oprah Book Club selections, returns with the third Oprah pick, “The River is Waiting.” The new novel follows a young father grappling with unbearable tragedy as he searches for hope, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness.Wally Lamb will discuss the book and his work on Wednesday night in Saratoga Springs, New York at 6 PM at the Saratoga City Center for a Northshire Bookstore Event.

Honor Jones' debut novel, “Sleep,” begins in the damp undergrowth of a blackberry bush, where main character Margaret is playing a game. It's a quintessential childhood moment that ends with trauma that marks her forever. But like many kids, Margaret doesn't quite know how to hold this painful thing, and the adults in her life are no help. So she stuffs it and believes it will stay buried, where it can harm no one.And then she becomes a mother. Jones asks many psychological questions in “Sleep.” Maybe the most poignant: How does a parent keep their own trauma from hurting their kids? How do you raise a child to be safe without infecting them with a sense of fear?This week, on Big Books and Bold Ideas, Jones joins host Kerri Miller to talk about that, as well as the power of secrets, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and the tenuous balance between protection and hypervigilance. Guest: Honor Jones is a senior editor at The Atlantic and a writer. Her debut novel, “Sleep,” was named “one of the best summer reads of 2025” by the Oprah Book Club.Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and we're kicking it off with one of our most powerful episodes yet.This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by special guest co-host Jennifer Perry, Executive Director of the Children's Action Network and Co-Founder of FosterMore. Jennifer's tireless advocacy has brought national attention to the urgent needs of the 108,000+ children in U.S. foster care currently waiting for adoptive families.Together, they sit down with Lara Love Hardin, author of The Many Lives of Mama Love—a 2024 Oprah Book Club selection and New York Times bestseller. In this profoundly moving conversation, Lara shares her remarkable journey through opioid addiction, incarceration, the devastating loss of her children, and how she fought her way back to rebuild her life.This episode is a raw and inspiring look at:The transformative power of storytellingThe realities of addiction, incarceration, and recoveryThe broken pieces of the foster care system—and how we can fix themThe power of second chances and redemption

Can one decision be the fulcrum of a life?Or is destiny really millions of tiny choices swirled with events out of our control? That's one of the many questions at the heart of Eric Puchner's gorgeous new novel, “Dream State.” It's received a dizzying amount of praise since it was released in February — making the New York Times best seller list, becoming an Oprah Book Club pick. But despite the buzz, the novel is deceptively hard to pin down. Set in rural Montana, the book begins with two college buddies, as one of them, Charlie, prepares to marry the love of his life. But when Cece heads to the family cabin early to prepare for the wedding and meets no-nonsense best friend Garrett, her world wobbles. What happens next — amidst a wedding besieged by norovirus — launches the next 50 years, as the three friends remain intertwined by regrets and grief, possibilities and love. Puchner joins host Kerri Miller for a wide-ranging conversation on this week's Big Books and Bold Ideas. Among topics of discussion: why so few authors write about male friendship, why meeting friends from your beloved's past can be so perilous and why setting “Dream State” in a Montana cabin was so crucial to the plot. Guest:Eric Puchner is an associate professor in the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University and the author of the novel “Model Home,” as well as several short stories. His new book is “Dream State.” Subscribe to Big Books and Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS or anywhere you get your podcasts.Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.

Why knowing your tendency can improve your life.   Susan Cain is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, and Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole, which was also an Oprah Book Club selection. She has spent the last twenty years exploring a particular realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful, the bittersweet. It has always seemed clear to her - and to her millions of readers - that this way of being can lead to a richer, deeper form of happiness. Susan has also been named one of Watkins' Most Spiritually Influential Living People in the World. Her books have been translated into 40+ languages, and her record-smashing TED talks have been viewed over 50 million times on TED and YouTube combined. Susan is the host of the bestselling Audible series, A Quiet Life In 7 Steps, and the Quiet Life online community. Her Kindred Letters newsletter is read by people in all 193 countries and all 50 American states. Join her at TheQuietLife.net.     In this episode we talk about: How to know if you're an introvert or extrovert The strengths of introversion – and how these can you no matter where you are on the introvert / extrovert spectrum  Techniques to improve your relationships and work life  How to design your life around where you do your best – including figuring out your true goals The perks of exposing ourselves to the things we fear the most The paradox of anxiety and shyness And why introverts and extraverts often get along so well—something Susan calls “introvert/extrovert synergy”     Related Episodes: What Is Sadness Good For? | Susan Cain   Sign up for Dan's newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Ten Percent Happier online bookstore Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes   Additional Resources:  The Quiet Life with Susan Cain | Substack  

David Wroblewski is the author, most recently, of the novel Familiaris, his followup to the internationally bestselling The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle, an Oprah Book Club pick, Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, winner of the Colorado Book Award, Indie Choice Best Author Discovery award, and Midwest Bookseller Association's Choice award, in addition to being selected as one of the best books of the year by numerous magazines and newspapers. This was recorded live at TACAW in Basalt, Colorado. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edwidge Danticat is the author of several books, including Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection, Krik? Krak!, a National Book Award finalist, The Farming of Bones, The Dew Breaker, Brother, I'm Dying, Create Dangerously, Claire of the Sea Light, The Art of Death, Everything Inside, a Reese's Book Club selection and National Book Critics Circle Awards winner. She is also the editor of The Butterfly's Way: Voices from the Haitian Dyaspora in the United States, Best American Essays 2011, Haiti Noir, and Haiti Noir 2. She has written seven books for children and young adults. Her new essay collection is We're Alone. She teaches at Columbia University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, Writers for Blue is offering a special opportunity to learn about writing your first pages. We'll have four award-winning authors, including myself, Aaron Hamburger, Nancy Johnson, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Jayne Anne Phillips, workshopping seven first-page writing submissions in support of electing Kamala Harris, our first female president—and our 47th. We'll also hear about ways you might use your words in the upcoming election cycle, including how to write politically-charged topics, canvassing, and more, from writers Charles Coe, Rishi Reddi, Daphne Kalotay, Julia Rold, and Gish Jen.   All of these authors have donated their time, energy, and talents in support of this event. We're hoping you might follow suit and consider donating to our Writers for Blue campaign. Go to writersforblue.com to get started. And, if you're looking for specific links and resources mentioned during the event, see below.AUTHORS FEATURED:Charles Coe, author of five books of poetry and one novel, teaches in the Newport MFA writing program, and is renowned both as a writer and a performer; we are honored to have him speaking as well as kindly reading aloud our sample pages.Aaron Hamburger is author of four acclaimed books of fiction, winner of the Rome Prize and a 2023 Lambda Literary prize; his new novel HOTEL CUBA has been featured on NPR; Aaron does political activism with Swing Left and is on the faculty at Stonecoast MFA.Author of nine acclaimed books, most recently a ‘best book' choice by the Oprah Book Club, NPR and the New Yorker, Gish Jen writes about charged issues with humor and heart, as in her latest collection, THANK YOU, MR NIXON.Nancy Johnson's acclaimed debut novel THE KINDEST LIE, was a New York Times Editor's Choice and Indie Booksellers choice; Nancy's also an Emmy-nominated award-winning journalist as well as author of the forthcoming 2025 novel, PEOPLE OF MEANS.Daphne Kalotay is the author, most recently, of the story collection THE ARCHIVISTS, winner of the Grace Paley Prize, a Boston Authors Club “Notable Book” and long-listed for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and Massachusetts Book Award. National bestselling author of NIGHT SWIM and WOMEN IN BED; Jessica Keener is the Co-Chair with Randy Susan Meyers and, from the start, the driving force of Writers for Blue.From the iconic story collection BLACK TICKETS through 6 more indelible books of fiction to her 2024 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, NIGHT WATCH Jayne Anne Phillips is—as Caroline Leavitt said on A Mighty Blaze—‘everyone's literary heroine.'Rishi Reddi is the PEN New England award winning author of KARMA AND OTHER STORIES and the novel PASSAGE WEST; when not writing, she is an environmental lawyer and lobbies for sound climate policy in her day-job. Julia Rold is a writer, playwright and Novel Incubator alum who has worked on political campaigns in Massachusetts, NH, NY, Florida, and her home state of Kentucky.LINKS TO RESOURCES:DIRECT LINK TO WritersForBlue DONATION PAGE.WRITERS FOR BLUE website: https://writersforblue.com/Our partners:WRITERS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION (WDA)A MIGHTY BLAZEMarkers for Democracy: https://markersfordemocracy.org/postcarding (get out the vote cards to Democratic voters. has a monthly writing bootcamp online)Swing Blue: https://swingbluealliance.org/ (coordinating with Working America on postcard campaign focused on Healthcare for independent voters in PA)VoteForward: https://votefwd.org/instructions (letter-writing you can download yourself. Excellent examples of positive, nonpartisan "let's go vote!" messages)More suggested messages (specifically for postcards to swing state voters), stats to support the effort, and ways to order postcards: https://turnoutpac.org/If folks are interested in supporting Dems in Arizona, Wednesday night at 7pm ET, my Swing Left group is hosting an Arizona Zoom Fundraiser. Sign up here. Door-to-door canvassing resources.Canvassing in NH:  https://www.mobilize.us/massdems/event/627702/Canvassing in PA: https://www.mobilize.us/2024pavictory/event/645465/https://www.31ststreet.org sends out weekly emails with canvassing, donating, phone banking, and letter writing opportunities. Sign up!One way of targeting critical races is to think about donating to Crimson Goes Blue. It's a Harvard group, but don't be put off by that! They do great research, and their record in giving to races that turned out to be super tight, and where money made the difference is impressive. Highly recommended! Here's a Slide with a lot of resources about door-to-door canvassing.  LISTS OF AND INFO ON BANNED BOOKS:https://socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/banned-books/SWING LEFT: VOLUNTEER IN A VARIETY OF WAYS— LETTER-WRITING, POST-CARDING, CANVASSING, PHONE-CALLING and MORE for DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT:PEN AMERICA, sponsoring many activities such as WRITING LETTERS to free political prisoners around the world and teaching writing in prisons; also programs addressing online abuse and misinformation:Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

Shana interviews NYT best-selling author and Oprah Book Club pick Lara Love Hardin. They discuss the themes of her book, The Many Lives of Mama Love-- themes like shame, belonging, hope, and growth. Lara brings openness and warmth to a conversation about how our biggest mistakes and challenges can lead us to new possibilities for growth and connection. #podcast, #videopodcast, #writingpodcast, #writing, #writingcommunity, #womenwhowrite, #femalewriter, #femalefriendships, #womenover50, #essay, #essaywriting, #community, #mother, #parenting, #vulnerability, #values, #creativejourney, #writingworkshop, #videoessay, #applepodcasts, #spotifypodcasts, #boundaries, #brenebrown, #kellycorrigan, #glennondoyle, #wecandohardthings, #brutiful, #growth, #growthmindset, #womenpodcasters, #essaywriting, #midlifepodcast, #podcastforessaywriters, #podcastforwritersover50, #youtubepodcast, #creativewriting, ##podcastforwriters, #femalefriendships, #shareyourstory, #nextchapter, #shame, #recovery, #growth

It's become a tradition at TRADITION that each year we turn to our esteemed editorial board for endorsements for summer reading (read this year's picks here). This summer our friend and colleague Mali Brofsky highlighted the work of author Susan Cain, specifically in her recent #1 NY Times Bestseller (and Oprah Book Club selection) “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole” (Crown). Mali wrote that Cain's book “examines the experience of melancholy or poignancy that she calls Bittersweet. She wonders about the emotions of loss and longing that seem so unavoidable in this world, and that often accompany not only experiences of suffering, but also moments of transcendent beauty. Cain observes that this experience of longing is ultimately a marker for the universal experience of yearning for the transcendent and the Divine. She explores how suffering can be transformed into meaning, purpose, and creativity, arguing that this pain is unavoidable and should not be ignored or explained away. Cain ultimately concludes that when loss is accepted, it can lead us to greater empathy for each other as we connect to our common experience of pain.” In reviewing Bittersweet Mali drew lessons, strength, and encouragement following the events of Simchat Torah and throughout this year's long war. After publishing this summer's endorsement we were delighted that Susan Cain reached out to us, thanking TRADITION for the review. She wrote: “It truly meant the world to me. I so appreciate the linking of the book to the post-October 7 experience. That is how I think of it too, even though of course I had no idea what would happen when I wrote it. I also wanted to especially thank Mali Brofsky for so perfectly capturing what I tried to convey in ‘Bittersweet’—it's an inherently ineffable topic, and Mali's is the best description I've yet read.” We thought it would be interesting to record a conversation between Mali and Susan and to explore how Bittersweet has special meaning for our religious community. Named one of the top ten influencers in the world by LinkedIn, Susan Cain is a renowned speaker and author of the award-winning books “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking” and “Bittersweet.” Her TED Talk on the power of introverts has been viewed over forty million times. Follow her work at SusanCain.net and join her “Quite Life Community” (housed at SubStack). Mali Brofsky, an editorial board member at TRADITION, is a senior faculty member at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim, teaches at Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Hebrew University, and runs a clinical social work practice.

An inspiring conversation with two-time Oprah Book Club pick David Wroblewski. His first novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, was a #1 New York Times best-seller, and now, 16 years later, he's back with his second novel, Familiaris.  We discussed (1) his writing process of overwriting, then pulling back (2) the unique ways novels seep into readers' lives, and (3) how writing, like computer programming, is ultimately about having “a conversation with the material.” Order Mark's novel Bunyan and Henry. All episodes of The Thoughtful Bro aired live originally on A Mighty Blaze. The Thoughtful Bro is proudly sponsored by Libro.fm.

For episode 246, Susan Cain makes her first appearance on the Metta Hour!Susan is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Quiet, and Bittersweet, which was also an Oprah Book Club selection. She has spent the last twenty years exploring a particular realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful, the bittersweet. Susan's record-smashing TED talks have been viewed over 50 million times and she the host of the Quiet Life online community.In this conversation, Susan and Sharon discuss:How Susan approaches writingVIA character strength testDoes great art have to come from great painHow suffering brings us togetherSusan embracing her “differences”The Quiet Life CommunityWhy sadness is a bridge to connectionThe Dalai Lama the DarwinistMoral elevationDipa Ma telling Sharon she would teachLeonard Coen as Susan's patron saintBeauty in the broken worldNever be ashamed of your sufferingThe history of the word “loser”Susan learning Lovingkindness meditationLovingkindness and boundariesChocolate and Brussels sproutsSusan closes the conversation with a guided reflection. You can join Susan's Quiet Life Community right here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SPOILER ALERT: Today we are discussing an Oprah Book Club pick. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese was recommended by a friend. He had done it for his book club. His thoughts are recorded towards the end when he joined us briefly. This book is long and so is our discussion. It was good to hear everyone's point of view. Here's the ⁠⁠⁠Be Seen Podcast⁠⁠⁠ episode I was in. ⁠Get a Libro.FM credit bundle⁠ for yourself and/or that special person in your life. Credit bundles are perfect for any occasion or just because. ⁠Check out ⁠WriteSeen⁠⁠. It's a creative social connection platform that connects writers and other creatives to industry professionals. Join the creative community. It does take a lot of effort to produce these episodes.  Your support means the world to me. How about ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠, I would greatly appreciate it. THANK YOU. If you have any questions about this or any other episode, please contact me by email at ⁠livingalifethroughbooks@gmail.com⁠. If you enjoyed this episode or any of my previous episodes, please write me a positive review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.  I thank you for it. ⁠My website⁠ is finally done. Super excited about it. It only took me a few years. LOL. On Instagram I'm @livingalifethroughbooks and @drshahnazahmed On TikTok and Twitter I'm @drshahnazahmed. On Threads, I'm on both @livingalifethroughbooks and @drshahnazahmed --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/livingalifethroughbooks/message

Henrico County's long-running literary event All Henrico Reads will return Thursday, March 28, with bestselling and award-winning author Cheryl Strayed discussing her 2012 memoir Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Strayed will appear at 7 p.m. at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, 11000 Telegraph Road. The event is free and open to the public, with no tickets required. Strayed's presentation will be followed by book sales and signings. "Wild" was a yearslong New York Times Bestseller and an Oprah Book Club selection. In 2014, it was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film, starring Reese Witherspoon....Article LinkSupport the show

In the spotlight is Cornell University professor of literature Robert Morgan, who will discuss the life, times and writings of famed novelist Thomas Wolfe. Morgan has a good deal in common with the author. Thomas Wolfe hails from Asheville, N.C., and Robert Morgan hails from Henderson County, just south of Asheville. They have the same birthday (Oct. 3), and both are graduates from the Chapel Hill campus of the University of North Carolina, an both lived most of their adult lives in the northern U.S.  Robert Morgan is himself a poet, short story writer, novelist and author of nonfiction books — 15 books of poetry, nine volumes of fiction, and three nonfiction books. His bestselling novel “Gap Creek” was an Oprah Book Club selection.  We discuss:  >> Being interviewed by Oprah Winfrey >> What people don't get about poetry >> The sound and voice of poetry >> Learning to be reckless with one's prose >> Aline Bernstein, Thomas Wolfe's mistress and muse >> Southerners and storytelling? >> Etc.  Learn more about Robert Morgan's writing and books here: https://www.robert-morgan.com/   Learn more about Robert Morgan's professorship at Cornell University here: https://english.cornell.edu/robert-morgan  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol, author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt and the Culinary Crime of the Century” and “Hardwood: A Novel About College Basketball and Other Games Young Men Play.” Buy them on any major bookselling site. Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com. We hope you will subscribe and share the link with any family, friends or colleagues who might benefit from this program.

Wun Tsun Tam Mellon Professor of the Humanities in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University, Edwidge Danticat joins us to discuss her work and particularly the design and intent in her course, "Writing in the Presence of Ancestors.” Edwidge received her B.A. in French Literature from Barnard College and her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Brown University. She is the author of seventeen books, including Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection, Krik? Krak!, a National Book Award finalist, The Farming of Bones, an American Book Award winner; the novels-in-stories, The Dew Breaker, Claire of the Sea Light, and The Art of Death, a National Book Critics Circle finalist for Criticism. She has written seven books for children and young adults, a travel narrative, After the Dance, and a collection of essays, Create Dangerously. Edwidge is a 2009 MacArthur Fellow, a 2018 Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow, a 2018 winner of the Neustadt Prize, a 2019 winner of the Saint Louis Literary Award, a 2020 United States Artist Fellow, a 2020 winner of the Vilceck Prize, and a 2023 winner of the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story. Her story collection, Everything Inside, was a 2020 winner of the Bocas Fiction Prize, The Story Prize, and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Prize. Her essay collection We're Alone is forthcoming from Graywolf Press in Fall 2024, and a novel, The Once and Future Dead, from Knopf in 2025. Tune in for this special broadcast on Wednesday, February 7 @ 6pm EST!

In this episode of the Books for Men podcast, host Douglas Vigliotti discusses the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. He explains that while self-help is often dismissed, and for good reason in many cases, it is a genre that encompasses a wide range of topics and can still benefit personal growth. Vigliotti shares his own spiritual journey and how he finds solace in Eastern philosophical thought. He highlights three key concepts from The Power of Now: observing one's thoughts and emotions, detaching from time, and practicing radical acceptance. Vigliotti encourages listeners to give the book a chance to see if it resonates. He also reminds them to share the podcast with others, visit the website to sign up for the newsletter, and remember they could connect with him on Instagram @douglasvigliotti.If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting the podcast. Any of the three things below will help provide awareness for the initiative—inspiring (more) men to read and bringing together men who do. (Ladies, of course, you're always welcome!)Share with a friend or on social mediaSubscribe or follow on your favorite podcast platformLeave a rating or reviewVisit BooksforMen.org to sign up for the Books for Men newsletter, a monthly round-up of every episode with full book and author info, all the best quotes, and newsletter-only book recommendations!

This week, playwright, poet, and author Pearl Cleage discusses her life and career with Remy Bumppo Theatre Artistic Director Marti Lyons. Remy Bumppo staged Cleage's Blues for an Alabama Sky in the fall of 2023. This conversation originally took place September 26, 2023 and was recorded live via Zoom. AWM PODCAST NETWORK HOME More about the speakers: Pearl Cleage (she/her/hers) is an Atlanta-based writer whose plays include POINTING AT THE MOON, WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS, FLYIN' WEST, BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY, and BOURBON AT THE BORDER, commissioned and directed by Kenny Leon at the Alliance Theatre. She is also the author of A SONG FOR CORETTA, written in 2007 during Cleage's time as Cosby Professor in Women's Studies at Spelman College. Her play, THE NACIREMA SOCIETY REQUESTS THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE AT A CELEBRATION OF THEIR FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS, was commissioned by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and premiered in 2010, in a joint production by the ASF and Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, directed by Susan Booth. Her plays have also been performed at Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Huntington Theatre, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Long Wharf Theatre, Just US Theatre, True Colors Theatre, Bushfire Theatre, the Intiman Theatre, St. Louis Black Repertory Company, and Seven Stages. She is also an accomplished performance artist, often working in collaboration with her husband, writer Zaron W. Burnett, Jr. They have performed at the National Black Arts Festival, the National Black Theatre Festival, and colleges and universities across the country. Cleage and Burnett also collaborated with performance artists Idris Ackamoor and Rhodessa Jones on the script for THE LOVE PROJECT, which premiered at the National Black Theatre Festival in 2008, and is currently touring the country. Cleage is also an accomplished novelist. Her novels include “What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day,” a New York Times bestseller and an Oprah Book Club selection, “I Wish I Had a Red Dress,” “Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do,” “Babylon Sisters,” “Baby Brother's Blues,” “Seen It All and Done the Rest,” and “Till You Hear from Me.” She is also the author of “Mad at Miles: A Blackwoman's Guide to Truth,” a groundbreaking work of race and gender, and “We Speak Your Names,” a praise poem commissioned by Oprah Winfrey for her 2005 celebration of legendary African American women and written in collaboration with Zaron Burnett. Cleage has also written for magazines, including “Essence,” “Vibe,” “Rap Pages,” and “Ms.” In addition to her work as the founding editor of “Catalyst” magazine, a literary journal, she was a regular columnist for the Atlanta Tribune for ten years, winning many awards for her thought-provoking columns. She has also written for TheDefendersOnLine.com. Cleage has been awarded grants in support of her work from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fulton County Arts Council, the Georgia Council on the Arts, the Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs, and the Coca-Cola Foundation. Her work has earned her many awards and honors, including an NAACP Image Award for fiction in 2008. Pearl Cleage is represented by Ron Gwiazda at Abrams Artists Agency in New York City. Her website is www.PearlCleage.net. She also maintains a Facebook fan page. www.pearlcleage.net. Marti Lyons (she/her/hers) most recently directed the world-premiere of Galileo's Daughter by Jessica Dickey at Remy Bumppo, Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberly at Northlight Theatre, Wife of a Salesman by Eleanor Burgess at Milwaukee Rep, Sense and Sensibility adapted by Jessica Swale at American Players Theatre and the world-premiere of John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower at Studio Theatre in D.C. Marti's other productions include The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess at Writers Theatre; Cymbeline at American Players Theatre; The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe and both the stage and audio productions of Kings by Sarah Burgess at Studio Theatre; the world-premiere of How to Defend Yourself by liliana padilla, a Victory Gardens and Actors Theatre of Louisville co-production; Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee at Victory Gardens and City Theatre; Witch by Jen Silverman at Geffen Playhouse and Writers Theatre (LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Direction); Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías at Victory Gardens; Botticelli in the Fire by Jordan Tannahill at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company; I, Banquo at Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Title and Deed by Will Eno at Lookingglass Theatre Company; Laura Marks' Bethany and Mine at The Gift Theatre. Marti is also an ensemble member at The Gift Theatre, and a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. martilyons.com

Discover an extraordinary journey of redemption on this episode of Motherhood Unstressed. New York Times bestselling author Lara Love Hardin shares her gripping transformation from suburban soccer mom to opioid addict, her time behind bars, and her remarkable resurgence as a thriving ghostwriter. Join us for a riveting discussion about her candid memoir, "The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing." Lara's story is a rollercoaster of resilience and humor that you won't want to miss. Tune in now for this incredible tale of hope and recovery. Connect with Lara Love Hardin Web https://www.laralovehardin.com Instagram @laralovehardin Facebook @lara.l.hardin Find out more about Lara's non-proft The Gemma Project Connect with Liz Website: https://www.motherhoodunstressed.com Instagram @motherhoodunstressed Twitter @lizziecarlile No one expects the police to knock on a million-dollar, two-story home in a picture-perfect cul-de-sac. But soccer mom Lara Love Hardin has been hiding a shady secret: she is funding her heroin addiction by stealing her neighbors' credit cards. Until it all comes crumbling down. Lara is convicted of thirty-two felonies and becomes inmate S32179. She learns that jail is a class system with a power structure that is somewhere between an adolescent sleepover party and Lord of the Flies. Furniture is made from tampon boxes, and Snickers bars are currency. But Lara quickly discovers that jailhouse politics aren't that different from the PTA meetings she used to attend, and she climbs the social ladder to become the "shot caller" and earns the nickname “Mama Love.” When she's released, harnessing lessons learned from women she was incarcerated with, she reinvents herself as a ghostwriter and successful agent. Now legally co-opting other people's identities through her writing, she goes on to meet Oprah, meditate with The Dalia Lama, and have dinner with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. But the shadow of her past follows her. Shame is a poison worse than heroin—there is no way to detox. Lara must learn how to forgive herself and others, navigate life as a felon on probation, and prove that she is more good than bad. The Many Lives of Mama Love is a heartbreaking, tender, and ultimately inspiring journey from shame to redemption, despite a system that makes it almost impossible for us to move beyond the worst thing we have ever done.   Praise for The Many Lives of Mama Love   “A suburban mom weathers addiction, jail, and parole in this roller-coaster debut memoir…Hardin mixes despair and comedy in her evocative prose: “I carefully pick through the bottom-of-purse debris until I find some small brown chips.... I don't know if I'm smoking heroin or food crumbs or lint, but I feel the anxiety slowly leave my chest.” This redemption story feels well earned.”—Publishers Weekly   “In addition to revealing the struggles of female felons in a misogynist justice system, the author celebrates her own determination to accept herself and begin again. A courageous and inspiring memoir.”—Kirkus   “A hilarious and heartbreaking confession that will not let you go until it is done—and then it will haunt you. It will give you hope in what is possible for each of us if we allow others—and ourselves—to move beyond our shame, find redemption, and write a new, more inspiring story of our lives.”—Lori Gottlieb, author of the New York Times bestseller, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone   “Lara Love Hardin writes with the same humor and bravery that helped her navigate incarceration, sobriety and a daunting return to the community to regain her place in her children's lives. This beautifully told story flies in the face of assumptions about substance use disorder and incarcerated women and shows how community and connection help people rebuild themselves for the better.”—Piper Kerman, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Orange is the New Black   “A compelling and timely rebuttal to the perverse and unjust notion that people who are convicted of crimes can only be criminals. This critically important idea is essential for a nation that has been so derailed by destructive “law and order” narratives that have left us both less just and less safe.”—Bryan Stevenson, author of the New York Times bestseller Just Mercy   “The Many Lives of Mama Love is a masterclass in perseverance. This brilliant memoir is a reminder and inspiration that sometimes the only way out of suffering is to go straight through it. This book will leave you inspired and empowered to reveal your own most authentic self.”—Rich Roll, bestselling author of Finding Ultra and host of The Rich Roll Podcast   “Laced with penetrating wit, written with unsparing honesty and manifesting irrepressible resilience, The Many Lives of Mama Love is a book to intrigue, enchant, instruct, entertain and inspire readers of all ages and backgrounds. It speaks to our common human experience of suffering and the healing that can follow.” —Gabor Maté M.D., author of the New York Times bestseller, The Myth of Normal   “Start this thrilling, heartrending, funny book, and you won't stop. I couldn't. From page one, I was swept into Hardin's remarkable, un-put-down-able, artfully told story of suffering and redemption. This book can help anyone who's struggled and felt hopelessness (and who hasn't?). shows that not only can we survive the bleakest times, but we can thrive in them and because of them.”—David Sheff, author of #1 New York Times bestseller, Beautiful Boy   “Hardin reveals who we truly are deep inside: infinite souls of limitless possibility. We are far more than the sum of what we have done and not done, what we have and do not have. In her profound, moving memoir, Hardin is honest, courageous, and challenges us to exceed the limiting definition we impose on ourselves and one another. We all can be redeemed.”—Dr. Lisa Miller, psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller, The Spiritual Child “This book will make you laugh, cry, and realize that everyone deserves a chance and, sometimes more than one. A powerful, poignant memoir filled with grace, enlightenment and love.”—Dr. James Doty, author of the New York Times bestseller, Into The Magic Shop AUTHOR BIO: LARA LOVE HARDIN is a literary agent, author, prison reform advocate, and president of True Literary. Prior to founding True Literary, she was the co-Ceo of Idea Architects. She has an MFA in creative writing and is a four-time New York Times bestselling collaborative writer, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life, and 2018 Oprah Book Club pick, The Sun Does Shine, which she coauthored with Anthony Ray Hinton about his 30 years as an innocent man on Alabama's death row. In 2019, she won a Christopher Award for her work “affirming the highest values of the human spirit,” nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and short-listed for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Love Hardin lives in La Selva Beach, California, with her husband, Sam. She has four children, two stepchildren, five dogs, three cats, twenty-one chickens, and four ducks. For more information, visit her website at laralovehardin.com.

Jason and Brett talk to Lara Love Hardin (The Many Lives of Mama Love) about her journey from soccer mom, to opiate addict with 32 felonies, to literary agent turned bestselling author. They talk about the complexities of shame, identity, and empathy, reflect on the power of storytelling, and the courage it takes to confront one's past. And they laugh a lot, too, if you can imagine. Lara Love Hardin is a literary agent, author, and president of True Literary. Prior to founding True Literary, she was the co-CEO of Idea Architects. She has an MFA in creative writing and is a four-time New York Times bestselling collaborative writer, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life, and 2018 Oprah Book Club pick, The Sun Does Shine, which she coauthored with Anthony Ray Hinton. In 2019 she won a Christopher Award for her work “affirming the highest values of the human spirit.” In 2019 she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award and short-listed for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Love Hardin lives in La Selva Beach, California, with her husband, Sam. She has four children, two step-children, five dogs, three cats, twenty-one chickens, and four ducks.- Register for Lara's event in conversation with Jason HERE- Watch Lara's TED Talk HERE- Learn about Lara's organization The Gemma Project HERE**BOOKS!** Check out the list of books discussed on each episode on our Bookshop page:https://bookshop.org/shop/gaysreading | By purchasing books through this Bookshop link, you can support both Gays Reading and an independent bookstore of your choice!Join our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Purchase your Gays Reading podcast Merch! Follow us on Instagram @gaysreading | @bretts.book.stack | @jasonblitmanWhat are you reading? Send us an email or a voice memo at gaysreading@gmail.com

In Episode 147, Lara Love Hardin joins me to discuss her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love. Lara shares her journey from opioid addict (funded through credit card theft) to successful ghostwriter. Her warm and candid storytelling touches on themes of forgiveness, redemption, and unwavering resilience, demonstrating people's ability to triumph over life's darkest moments.  This was a five-star book for me, and I am thrilled to explore such a deeply felt journey with Lara. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights Lara's overview of  The Many Lives of Mama Love without spoilers. Her decision to open up publicly about her past. Shame, its debilitating effects, and the fears Lara faced prior to her book's release. The impact of the memoir on Lara's family. Complexities of motherhood alongside her struggles with addiction. Why Lara views going to jail as the best thing that ever happened to her and how it shaped her perspective on life. How her time in jail cultivated empathy, which she considers the most important quality to be a good ghostwriter. The heartwarming story of Lara's struggle to land a good job during her parole and how one person believing in you can change your life. The original title of The Many Lives of Mama Love and the evolution of the book's identity. A potential topic for an upcoming book. Lara's Book Recommendations [33:59] Two OLD Books She Loves Ma and Me by Putsata Reang | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:48] In the Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:03] Two NEW Books She Loves Yellowface by R. F. Kuang | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:22] Identity by Nora Roberts | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:07] One Book She Didn't Love Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:47] Two NEW RELEASES She's Excited About Safe by Mark Daley (January 30, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:18] Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner (January 23, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:07] Last 5-Star Book Lara Read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:45] Other Links Ep. 142: Summer 2023 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) About Lara Love Hardin Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Lara Love Hardin is the President and Founder of True Literary a full-service boutique literary agency.   Hardin has an MFA in creative writing and is a 4-time New York Times bestselling writer, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life by Dave Evans and Bill Burnett, and 2018 Oprah Book Club pick, The Sun Does Shine, which she co-authored with Anthony Ray Hinton about his 30 years as an innocent man on Alabama's death row. There are well over a million copies sold of the many books she has written, and you can find her on the title page and in the acknowledgments of books by Nelson Mandela, John Gottman, Evy Poumpouras, and other luminary authors on the Idea Architects roster. In 2019 she won a Christopher Award for her work “affirming the highest values of the human spirit.”  In 2019, she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award, won the Moore Prize in the UK, and was short-listed for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. In 2020, she launched her own division within Idea Architects (Idea Architects: True) as a literary agent specializing in memoir. She lives in La Selva Beach, California with her third husband, three dogs, three cats, and three teenagers. She also has 21 chickens, four ducks, and three adult sons who live at home on holidays and big laundry days.

Oprah sits down with New York Times bestselling author Dr. Abraham Verghese for a compelling six-part conversation on his latest book, The Covenant of Water. In this episode, Oprah and Abraham discuss his journey into medicine and how he crafted this epic tale. Abraham answers questions from readers about the title's meaning while Oprah shares why this is her 101st Oprah Book Club pick. Want more podcasts from OWN? Visit https://bit.ly/OWNPodsYou can also watch Oprah's Super Soul, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more of your favorite OWN shows on your TV! Visit https://bit.ly/find_OWN  

Welcome to The B-Side, from The Film Stage. Here we talk about movie stars! Not the movies that made them famous or kept them famous, but the ones they made in between. Today, we chat about one of the most famously beautiful (and talented!) actors of all time: Michelle Pfeiffer! We're honored to have Veronica Fitzpatrick - of Brown University and The Bright Wall/Dark Room Podcast - on to talk Pfeiffer B-Sides Sweet Liberty, Tequila Sunrise, Wolf, and The Deep End of the Ocean. We discuss what makes Michelle so iconic, how hard she had to work to push past being dismissed as just a pretty face, the incredible roles she's turned down in her career, the extreme range she's boasted during her time in the spotlight, and her willingness to take challenging roles. The propensity of Oprah Book Club film adaptations in the late ‘90s/early 2000s (and Michelle's propensity to star in them) is dished on, as is the beautiful lurid-ness of Wolf. Finally, we dig into why Whoopi Goldberg got some much criticism for her role in The Deep End of the Ocean, the interesting filmography of Ulu Grosbard, and Alan Alda's decade of creative decadence. Two podcasts recommended and used for research: The Mixed Reviews Podcast & This Had Oscar Buzz. Please check both of these linked Pfeiffer-focused episodes out! Be sure to give us a follow on Twitter and Facebook at @TFSBSide. Also enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. We are also now on Spotify and Stitcher. Enjoy!

In his iconic bestseller, renowned spiritual teacher Gary Zukav reveals how to become the authority in your own life, how to change the way you see the world and how to interact with others.  The Seat of the Soul is the ultimate path to connecting with your deepest spiritual self.  Tyzer cover a general overview of the book and his top 3 takeaways that were impactful. Buy there book here: https://amzn.to/3XREm26+++++Subscribe to the Podcast!▶︎ PODCAST: https://bit.ly/3qpki6YFollow us on Social Media:▶︎ WEBSITE | https://thebooklegion.com▶︎ YOUTUBE  |  http://bit.ly/2MZJ3Io▶︎ INSTAGRAM  |  https://instagram.com/thebooklegion▶︎ FACEBOOK  |  https://facebook.com/thebooklegionCheck out Tyzer Evans' other Podcast, Grind Sell Elevate here: https://bit.ly/3bU6D3lCheck out our sponsor Odin's Rune Clothing Co.: https://bit.ly/odinsrune, clothing for those who want to burn the boats to live a purpose-driven lifeDo you love Coffee? Our sponsor Coffee. Love. Hope. Has fun coffee mugs and shirts for gifts! Check out their store here: https://etsy.me/3gTBVfZ

Welcome to the Green Room Meditations Podcast, presented by the Indiana Repertory Theatre and hosted by Devon Ginn.   About Pearl Cleage: Pearl Cleage is an Atlanta based writer whose work has won commercial acceptance and critical praise in several genres. An award winning playwright whose Flyin' West was the most produced new play in the country in 1994, Pearl is also a best selling author whose first novel, What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day, was an Oprah Book Club pick and spent nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Her subsequent novels have been consistant best sellers and perennial book club favorites. I Wish I Had A Red Dress, her second novel, won multiple book club awards in 2001. Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do was a “Good Morning America!” book club pick in 2003, and Babylon Sisters made the ESSENCE Magazine best seller list in 2005. Her most recent novel, Baby Brother's Blues, was the first pick of the new ESSENCE Book Club and an NAACP Image Award winner for fiction in 2007. In the March 2007 issue of ESSENCE, Pearl had two books on the best seller list, Baby Brother's Blues and We Speak Your Names, a poetic celebration commissioned by Oprah Winfrey and co-authored with her husband, writer Zaron W. Burnett, Jr. The poem was also an NAACP Image Award nominee in 2007. Pearl was a popular columnist with The Atlanta Tribune for ten years and has contributed as a free lance writer to ESSENCE, Ms., Rap Pages, VIBE and Ebony. Her recent play, A Song for Coretta, played to sold out audiences during its Atlanta premiere in February of 2007 and was produced at Atlanta's Seven Stages Theatre in February of 2008 before a national tour. Pearl is married to Zaron W. Burnett, Jr., with whom she frequently collaborates. She has one daughter, Deignan, and two grandchildren, Chloe and Michael.   About the Indiana Repertory Theatre: Founded in 1971, the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) is the largest professional not-for-profit theatre in the state and one of the leading regional theatres in the country. The mission of the Indiana Repertory Theatre is to produce top-quality, professional theatre and related activities, providing experiences that will engage, surprise, challenge, and entertain people throughout their lifetimes, helping us build a vital and vibrant community. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA): The IRT strives to celebrate and serve the diverse people and cultures that make up our whole community. The IRT is committed to providing access for all; to creating and maintaining an antiracist theatre that is inclusive, safe, and respectful. https://www.irtlive.com/ 

Anna and Annie discuss their predictions for the 2022 Booker Prize Shortlist. Our book of the week is Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley.  This novel about a young woman in Oakland has been described as 'an electrifying debut' (Dave Eggers). It is a New York Times Bestseller, an Oprah Book Club pick and is longlisted for the Booker Prize. We think it more than lives up to the hype! Coming up: Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down and Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra. Follow us! Instagram: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie Facebook: Books on the Go Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Twitter: @abailliekaras and @mister_annie Litsy: @abailliekaras Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

This is a replay with the amazing Glennon Doyle. We recorded this in the depths of the 2020 lockdown. She is the author of Love Warrior (which was an Oprah Book Club selection), as well as her New York Times bestseller Carry On, Warrior. In this episode, we are discussing her new book "Untamed. Stop pleasing, start living" which then went on to becoming a #1 New York Times bestseller and (a Reese's Book Club selection), and Adele herself endorsed the book on her Instagram, saying “this book will shake your brain and make your soul scream.”Get your copy of Untamed: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/153/9781785043352My Substack page, come and say hi: https://thehyphen.substack.com/My books: https://uk.bookshop.org/contributors/emma-gannonBooks mentioned on Ctrl Alt Delete podcast: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-mentioned-on-ctrl-alt-delete-podcastTwitter: Twitter.com/emmagannonInstagram: Instagram.com/emmagannonuk Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's finally here! Pub Day for Beautiful Writers: A Journey of Big Dreams & Messy Manuscripts—with Tricks of the Trade from Bestselling Authors. To celebrate this happy day, I invited a few of my fave writers to join me for a writer's roundup for good vibes as we talk about the things we did that WORKED. The details we want to remember to do next time. There's always resistance, sure. But so much magic, too, and that's what I wanted to focus on today.You'll hear on the show why I chose this group of brilliant humans and what they've each meant to me on my writing path.For the quickie bios, we've got Martha Beck, NYT bestselling author of a bunch of books, the most recently, The Way of Integrity, a 2022 Oprah Book Club pick.There's the legendary Steven Pressfield, author of a bible in our field, The War of Art, and other massive hits, including his new riveting read: Put Your Ass Where Your Heart Wants to Be, and a few movies, too.The incredible novelist, writing teacher, and ex-Hollywood marketing mind Aditi Khorana is here (and promises to blow your mind with her cutting-edge thoughts on time and the creative process).And we're so blessed to have New York Times bestselling memoirist Elizabeth Lesser who co-founded the famed Omega Institute, where she's been supporting creatives and leaders like Oprah hands on in a big way for decades.We had such a blast together. (I might have to schedule roundups more often!) I think you will find that whatever stage you're in with your writing, they will bring you ah-has and RELIEF. As often as I've had them on the show or read their work, they continue to surprise me.THANK YOU for celebrating with me, with us. Thank you for being part of my cherished writing community. I have felt your love and cheerleading at every stage.And thank you for buying my sweet book baby (and hopefully recommending it to your people). In so doing, you'll be supporting sustainable paper choices, my greatest writerly dream. How cool is that? I hope that the information in the book will likewise make it easier to realize whatever dreams you are holding close. That would make my heart so happy.Go to BeautifulWritersPodcast.com for all the links to this episode. And, of course, you'll find all sorts of book buying links over on BookMama.com or BeautifulWritersPodcast.com.LOVE you, beyond. Write on!Lindagrateful x

“I really wanted to depict the ways that young Black girls are made adults by a culture that sees us that way,” says Leila Mottley of her debut novel “Nightcrawling." The 2018 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate started writing the book when she was 17 and three years later, has received glowing reviews and a spot in the Oprah Book Club. Set in Oakland, “Nightcrawling” tells the story of Kiara, a character who offers an unflinching and lyrical portrayal of what it is to be poor, Black and a young woman. We talk to Mottley about her book. Guests: Leila Mottley, author, "Nightcrawling" --Mottley was the 2018 Oakland Youth Poet Laureate.

For the Season 6 Premiere, we're going big! Jacqueline Mitchard is the beloved, bestselling author of 22 novels, including the first Oprah Book Club pick, THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN, all the way up to her latest: THE GOOD SON. She discussed it all in depth with fellow author and AMB Cofounder Caroline Leavitt. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Perhaps no guest has infatuated Oprah as much as Toni Morrison. We break down Morrison's appearances on the show, her place in the Oprah Book Club, and how Oprah served as a bridge between Morrison's work and wider audiences for decades and decades. Special Guest: Dennis Tyler of Fordham University, who teaches a course on Oprah's Book Club! Find lots more on our website — Oprahdemics.com Producer Nina Earnest, Executive Producer Jody Avirgan. Artwork by Jonathan Conda. Oprahdemics is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories. If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: Oprahdemics.com

Subscribe to Quotomania on Simplecast or search for Quotomania on your favorite podcast app!Edwidge Danticat is the author of several books, including Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection, Krik? Krak!, a National Book Award finalist, The Farming of Bones, The Dew Breaker, Create Dangerously, Claire of the Sea Light, and Everything Inside. She is also the editor of The Butterfly's Way: Voices from the Haitian Dyaspora in the United States,  Best American Essays 2011,  Haiti Noir and Haiti Noir 2. She  has written seven books for  children and young adults, Anacaona, Behind the Mountains, Eight Days, The Last Mapou, Mama's Nightingale, Untwine, My Mommy Medicine, as well as a travel narrative, After the Dance. Her memoir, Brother, I'm Dying, was a 2007 finalist for the National Book Award and a  2008 winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for autobiography.  She is a 2009 MacArthur fellow, a 2018 Ford Foundation  “The Art of Change” fellow, and the winner of the 2018 Neustadt International Prize and the 2019 St. Louis Literary Award. From https://edwidgedanticat.com/about. For more information about Edwidge Danticat:Previously on The Quarantine Tapes:Edwidge Danticat on The Quarantine Tapes: https://quarantine-tapes.simplecast.com/episodes/the-quarantine-tapes-018-edwidge-danticatJames McBride about Danticat, at 14:05: ​​https://quarantine-tapes.simplecast.com/episodes/the-quarantine-tapes-092-james-mcbrideIbram X. Kendi about Danticat, at 13:40: https://quarantine-tapes.simplecast.com/episodes/the-quarantine-tapes-087-ibram-x-kendiCreate Dangerously: https://edwidgedanticat.com/non-fiction#/books/create-dangerously“It Wants to Be Told: An Interview with Edwidge Danticat”: https://kenyonreview.org/2019/10/it-wants-to-be-told-an-interview-with-edwidge-danticat/“An Interview, Edwidge Danticat”: https://www.bkreview.org/fall-2018/an-interview-with-edwidge-danticat/

Shani is back for the last episode of 2021. We talk about how there are so many NEW Black Christmas Movies coming out this year. We talk about not finishing books (not because they are not good, but because we get tired of reading). We also talk about book clubs like Oprah Book Club. Synopsis: Clair is concerned that Cliff will embarrass her at the book club. Meanwhile, Sondra and Elvin have friends to stay for the night. Shani's Instagram Shani's Twitter Follow this Podcast Instagram : @blacktvshowspod Twitter: @blacktvshowspod --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/blacktvshowpodcast/message

Uwem Akpan'd short stories and autobiographical pieces have appeared in the special editions of The New Yorker, the Oprah magazine,Hekima Review, the Nigerian Guardian, America, etc. His first book, Say You're One of Them, was published in 2008 by Little, Brown. It made the "Best of the Year" list at People magazine, Wall Street Journal, and other places. The New York Times made it the Editor's Choice, and Entertainment Weekly listed it at # 27 in their Best of the Decade.  Say You're One of Them won the Commonwealth Prize (Africa Region), the Open Book Prize, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award.  The collection of short stories was the 2009 Oprah Book Club selection. A New York Times and Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, it has been translated into 12 languages. His second book and first novel, New York, My Village, was published on November 2, 2021, by WW Norton. In this immigrant story, Uwem writes about NYC with the same promise and pain we saw in his African cities of Say You're One of Them.  Uwem teaches in the University of Florida's MFA program

Lexi & Ben get literary AF with their first ever book club episode! Dork book club? Book dork club? Whatever. Listen in as they dork out about some of the formative books that made them the dorks they are today.SHOW NOTES:Books we talked about:The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas  (Lexi)Catacombs by Paul McCusker (Ben)It Happened in Boston? by Russell H. Greenan (Lexi)The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (Ben)Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins (Ben)Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (Lexi)Redwall by Brian Jacques (not Jeph Jacques) (Ben)Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (Lexi & Ben)Every book ever written by David Sedaris (Lexi)The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett (Ben)Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Ben)Important references:Scotish snowplowsReading Rainbow (We  love you LeVar)Jonathon Frakes libidoChristian Persecution ComplexEveryone is DEADCletusToonie (ferreal)Margaret AtwoodTheodore Mouse Goes to Sea"A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one"Becky ChambersBONUS MATERIAL:Producer Jess' formative book picks and explanations:Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones. I wasn't really much of a reader until I was turned on to the Harry Potter series, but this was the first book I read before even those ones that made me interested in fantasy, and was ultimately what put me on the path of being a lifelong book lover (Gail Carson Levine also falls under this umbrella as another kickass fairytale fantasy writer)A Complicated Kindness, Miriam Toews. I think YA is grossly underrated and books like this prove that; I also think the idea that YA has to have a happy ending is ridiculous and this is a book that proves that because it's decidedly melancholic throughout all the way to the end (but honestly that is how teenagerdom felt for me, so I appreciate that)Nightwood, Djuna Barnes. From a stylistic perspective it's unlike any other book I've ever read (it's a story with no plot, really - contemporary of TS Eliot if that gives any context) and it fundamentally changed the way I think about love and sexualityThe Waves, Virginia Woolf. My favourite of Woolf's work, this is the first time I ever got to read an experience of depression that felt like my ownThe Good Earth, Pearl S. Buck. Yes, this is an Oprah Book Club book that was given to me by my mother as an "easy read" because I was feeling overwhelmed crushing out a shitload of classics readings in my undergrad, but this is a book that I re-read probably once a year. It just kind of makes you feel good despite the fact that it's about the cyclical folly of man, and I love that Difficult Women, Roxane Gay - I love short stories as much as I love novels, and this is one of the best collections I've ever read, period. Every single one of these stories completely captures the terror and power of what it means to be a womanGrief is the Thing with Feathers, Max Porter - I don't think I've ever cried so hard reading before (like had to stop because I couldn't see the page crying) but you feel really cathartically better after because if you've ever experienced any death in your life this is a heartbreakingly true articulation of how truly awful it is to lose someone you love SOCIALS:Here's where you can find us!Lexi's website and twitter and instagramBen's website and instagram and where to buy his book: Amazon.ca / Comixology / Ind!go / Renegade ArtsDork Matter's website(WIP) and twitter and instagramIf you're enjoying Dork Matters, we'd really appreciate a nice rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your pods. It would very much help us get this show to the other dorks out there.“Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold."

Honorée Fanonne Jeffers is the author of five poetry collections, including The Gospel of Barbecue, Red Clay Suite, and The Age of Phillis, which was longlisted for the 2020 National Book Award for Poetry and won a 2021 NAACP Image Award. Critic at Large for The Kenyon Review and a professor of English at the University of Oklahoma, Jeffers has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Antiquarian Society. Additionally, Jeffers has been honored with the Harper Lee Award for Literary Distinction and with induction into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. An instant New York Times bestseller and an Oprah Book Club selection, her debut novel The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois chronicles the centuries-spanning journey of a Black American family from the days of the colonial slave trade to our own unsteady era. The director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, Kevin Young is also the poetry editor for The New Yorker, where he hosts the Poetry Podcast. He is the author of the poetry collections Brown, Blue Laws, Book of Hours, and Jelly Roll, a finalist for the National Book Award. His nonfiction books include Bunk and The Grey Album: On the Blackness of Blackness, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. The former director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library, Young has been honored with the Lenore Marshall Prize for Poetry, an American Book Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize. Stones is the newest collection from Young, ''one of the poetry stars of his generation'' (Los Angeles Times). (recorded 10/18/2021)

Kim Racon talks with debut novelist Honorée Fanonne Jeffers about her novel, and Oprah Book Club pick, THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DUBOIS.

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joined Bob Sirott to talk about the latest news in entertainment. He talks about Oprah’s new book club selection, Trevor Noah announcing he will take the summer off, Beauty and the Beast prequel is coming and much more!

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the world of books, offers writing tips, and interviews Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean, the inaugural selection of Oprah's Book Club, later made into a film with Michelle Pfeiffer, and many other novels.Chapter 1: IntroductionChapter 2: Newsa) Amazon launches Vella for self-publishing serialized fictionhttps://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GR2L4AHPMQ44HNQ7b) Harper Collins buys Houghton Mifflinhttps://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/29/business/media/harpercollins-houghton-mifflin-harcourt.htmlc) Pew Research finds YouTube the most popular social media platformd) Clubhouse allows direct payments to authorse) ProWritingAid hosts Crime Writers Weekf) Register your username on the new Likewise rating app.Chapter 3: Interview with Jacquelyn MitchardThis bestselling author discussesa) how to find the courage to writeb) the Oprah Book Club experiencec) seeing her novels adapted to filmd) finding a writing routine that workse) overcoming social anxietyand much more.Chapter 4: Parting Wordsa) William Bernhardt is presenting talks on great mystery novels at Context Learninghttps://www.contextlearning.com/products/scene-crime-course?_pos=4&_psq=william-bernhardt&_ss=e&_v=1.0b) Register for Bernhardt's summer writing retreat in Eureka Spring July 7-11https://williambernhardt.com/writing-retreats/Remember Red Sneaker Writers—you cannot fail if you refuse to quit.www.williambernhardt.comwillbern@gmail.com

Warning:  There is a lot of shit-talking in this episode as Crista is joined by Pink Eye Productions.  Pink Eye Productions = JT from The Takedown Podcast + Jake Moody from The Neighbors Upstairs + Eric from Another Booty Lickin Track.  This league of extraordinary gentlemen help Crista dissect the book The Game, by Neil Strauss. The New York Times Best Seller shares advice on how to “seduce” and “pick up” women. Think the Oprah Book Club meets the Howard Stern Show. It's so good it's a 2-parter. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-good-milf/support

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=167VsZRaotc Final thoughts in a 3 video series from Brian about Robert Kiyosaki's classic, Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant. Transcription The 3rd Lesson from CASHFLOW Quadrant. Hi I'm Brian Pombo, welcome back to Brian J. Pombo Live. It's an old copy of mine of, Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant, by Robert Kiyosaki classic, absolute classic. I have two other videos that I discussed the first two lessons that I learned from this book directly. This third lesson has to do with the reason why this book caught me. This book slammed me against the head and dragged me to the ground. And that third lesson that I got from this book, is the reason why it was popular in the first place. It's the reason why, when I was working at Barnes & Noble bookstore, they had a separate section all set up with Robert Kiyosaki stuff. It wasn't because of all of the claim that he had built up until that point, because he was relatively new, in general to most people. This is the year 2000. And this book was popular got so much more popular, even though it was his second major book. His first major book was Rich Dad, Poor Dad, his second major one was Cash Flow Quadrant. Even though it came second in line, it was extremely popular and got a lot of play out. There was a New York Times Best Seller was a best seller across the board. The reason why is one major reason there were a whole lot of things that led to Robert Kiyosaki growth, oops, excuse me, a whole lot of things grew. That allowed him he, he got in early to the network marketing scene, and was able to use networks that were already in place, and was able to get his books out there and get promoted as a speaker and so forth. A lot of that built his early fame, big time, but the fact that his that his book was able to get to this one particular person, and the fact that she was able to read it and then promote it made all the difference in the world. And who is that person? That person is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey had Robert Kiyosaki on her program in early 2000. And that is what propelled him to superstardom at the time. What gave Oprah so much control over the American psyche? Well, she had that Oprah Book Club, she had the ability to promote people she had them on her afternoon show is the afternoon show, it's a is a syndicated show, it was on across the world at that time, is very popular with a very particular sector of the market of you know, housewives and people that were home at the time. And she just had a real huge amount of influence. Very similar today, you don't see a singular person that has quite so much influence, you see a couple larger ones, Joe Rogan, if you can get on the Joe Rogan podcast, that's a huge thing right now, when, when I'm filming this in 2021, there's a handful of people like that, that if you're able to break through, that could be enormous for you, and everybody else that really get it has been brought down into even smaller sectors than what Oprah had. Very small, niche sectors that each unto themselves are huge, very powerful places. But that influencer term that is discussed in the movie fake famous, which you really ought to see, it's on Netflix, Fake Famous, I have a review on my on my page, so go check that out. But that movie talks about the power of influencers. And it I think it does. It doesn't go in deep enough into the history of influencers, and Oprah was a super influencer. I mean, she still is to an extent, but not quite where she was in the late 90s, early 2000s. Anybody that got on there could become an absolute monster, huge person in the public side, just by being blessed by Oprah and she had him on a full show there. It made a huge difference. And it made all of his books from that point on. It got them to a larger audience. It got more attention than you would ever imagine. You could find interviews out there, you could see that interview.

On this episode we welcome the inspirational Sarah Gwonyoma to the show to talk to us about her life experiences with grief after suddenly losing her brother & also her husband in a short period of time. We discuss how she took the plunge to finally leaving her career in International Development and following her passion for reading and books; launching her infamous book club and community called What Sarah Read Next and the inspirational path that brought her to this place in life. She’s such an engaging personality and someone I could talk to for hours on end. Enjoy the listen.Follow Sarah: www.instagram.com/whatsarahreadnext/Podcast on her journey of motherhood can be heard here: https://www.borntogether.co.uk/episode-16-sarah-gwonyoma

The inaugural episode of CHATASTROPHE has Chunky Larry sitting down with SModcast Internet Radio's Trent Hunsaker (of Netheads fame) for a totally-not-gay but extremely bromantic conversation. The fellas talk about the Oprah Book Club, rapey trees on SVU starring Ice-T, Roger Moore's exploratory fingers, talent shows, Jamba Juice parking lots, and much, MUCH more! You have to listen to the episode to find out Chunky Larry's CB handle and inspiration for GoftheI's next Tshirt.

If you think Oprah’s book club is cool, you haven’t seen anything yet. Reading is not just a subject, it is a life skill and an opportunity for everybody to ...

Janet Fitch is the author of the #1 national bestseller White Oleander, a novel translated into 24 languages, an Oprah Book Club book and the basis of a feature film, Paint It Black, also widely translated and made into a 2017 film, and her epic novels of the Russian Revolution, The Revolution of Marina M. and Chimes of a Lost Cathedral. Please give us a follow on Instagram/Twitter - - @writingfriction - - and make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share!!!

Ayana Mathis, author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Recorded in January 2013. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie revolves around the matriarch of a black family of the Great Migration and her children and grandchildren, and was an Oprah Book Club selection. From the New York Times review: “Hattie Shepherd, the title character of Ayana Mathis's piercing debut novel, is at once a tragic heroine with mythic dimensions and an entirely recognizable mother and wife trying to make ends meet. Her story, set in 20th-century Philadelphia, is one of terrible loss and grief and survival, a story of endurance in the face of disappointment, heartbreak and harrowing adversity.” This was a debut novel. The post Ayana Mathis: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie appeared first on KPFA.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Announcements. Pride 2020: Playbill/Pride Plays: The Men from the Boys by Mart Crowley, directed by Zachary Quinto, streams through June 29, 2020. Pride Spectacular Sunday June 28,2020 at 5 pm Pacific. Global Pride live stream, focusing on Black Lives Matter, and featuring guests ranging from Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi to Adam Lambert and Lavern Cox and the Dixie Chicks, starts Saturday June 27, 2020 at 7:30 am Pacific time, continuing through Sunday. San Francisco Pride is hosting two days of live events, with multiple streams featuring musical guests, panel discussions and more, starting Saturday morning and continuing through Sunday. Sunday main stream special guest is singer Thelma Houston, along with W. Kamau Bell and BLM co-founder Alicia Garza. A second stream features community programmed stages The Oasis Pride Drag Show starting on Saturday June 27th at 7 pm. Theatre Rhino  Post-pride Zoom community mixer with Peaches Christ on Monday June 29 , 7 pm. Register at therhino.org New Conservatory Theatre Center A Night Out with Katya Smirnoff Skyy Tues., June 30, 6 pm. Other Announcements. The Playground is presenting, in honor of Black Lives Matter, a Juneteenth Theatre Justice Project: Polar Bears, Black Boys & Prairie Fringed Orchids by Vincent Terrell Durham, Streaming through June 30th. Co-sponsored by 30 companies, including Berkeley Rep, Marin Theatre Company, Custom Made Theatre, Cal Shakes, Cutting Ball, etc. Bay Area Book Festival. Merlin Sheldrake and Michael Pollan on Entangled Life, Tuesday July 7, 2020, noon Pacific. The Booksmith lists its entire June on-line schedule of interviews and readings on their website, which includes Lockdown Lit every Tuesday at 11 am. Book Passage author events: Dominique Crenn, Sat. June 27, 4 pm Pacific; Jill Biden, Sun. June 28, 4 pm Pacific. Registration required. Theatre Rhino Thursday play at 8 pm June 11, 2020 on Facebook Live is Frank Kameny: Eyes on the Stars, conceived and performed by John Fisher. The Death of Ruby Slippers by Stuart Bousel, on Zoom, July 7, 2020, 7 pm, register in advance. Shotgun Players. Streaming: The Claim, workshop production. The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess, July 9-12, 7 pm. Registration required. San Francisco Playhouse.Every Monday, SF Playhouse presents Zoomlets, a series of short play table reads. Monday June 29, 7 pm: Rules of Comedy by Patricia Cotter. Kepler's Books presents Refresh the Page, on line interviews and talks, June 25, 7:30 Mohsin Hamid. June 30, 7 pm: Joyce Carol Oates with Leila Lalami National Theater At Home on You Tube: A Midsummer Night's Dream.   Bookwaves Ayana Mathis, author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky. Recorded in January 2013. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie revolves around the matriarch of a black family of the Great Migration and her children and grandchildren, and was an Oprah Book Club selection. From the New York Times review: “Hattie Shepherd, the title character of Ayana Mathis's piercing debut novel, is at once a tragic heroine with mythic dimensions and an entirely recognizable mother and wife trying to make ends meet. Her story, set in 20th-century Philadelphia, is one of terrible loss and grief and survival, a story of endurance in the face of disappointment, heartbreak and harrowing adversity.” This was a debut novel. Complete 44-minute Radio Wolinsky podcast.   Arts-Waves Mart Crowley, author of “The Boys in the Band” and its sequel, “The Men from the Boys,” in conversation with Richard Wolinsky on October 31, 2002. Mart Crowley's play The Boys in the Band, which deals with the lives of gay men in the 1960s burst upon the off-Broadway scene in 1968 and ran for a thousand performances, becoming a film directed by William Friedkin two years later. In 2002, he wrote a sequel titled The Men from the Boys, which took place 35 years later, after Stonewall and after the AIDS epidemic. It premiered at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre on November 9, 2002. This past year, Broadway saw a revival of The Boys in the Band, featuring Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannels and Jim Parsons. Several members of that cast, including Mario Cantone and Denis O'Hare return to their roles for a live stream of The Men From the Boys, directed by Zachary Quinto, streams through June 29, 2020 on playbill.com/prideplays Mart Crowley died of a heart attack on March 7, 2020 at the age of 84. Complete 62-minute Bay Area Theater podcast.     The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 25, 2020: Ayana Mathis – Mart Crowley appeared first on KPFA.

The “This Is Us” finale. A new show called “Rise” could be the next hit. New details on Justin Theroux and his new gal pal. Guest is Tayari Jones, author of Oprah Book Club selection, “An American Marriage”.

Colson Whitehead, is the author of Zone One; Sag Harbor; The Intuitionist, a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway award; John Henry Days, which won the Young Lions Fiction Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; and Apex Hides the Hurt, winner of the PEN Oakland Award. Colson is interviewed by Kobo's Nora Parker about his latest book, The Underground Railroad, which is an Oprah's Book Club pick. Whitehead's decision to play with the quirky premise of “what if the underground railroad was a real railroad?” The navigation of research and how it gets interwoven into the fiction; but the fact that this is not a historical novel and that it doesn't stick to any real world chronology The freeing aspect of not being beholden to reality when crafting a novel The manner by which the novel addresses the two opposing viewpoints and biases that take the same passage(s) from the bible and use it to either oppose or support slavery The choice of the opening setting in North Carolina and the different arenas for Cora to be tested, and how that allowed for the examination of different types of racism and social structures The concepts of racism in pre-Civil War America to the concepts of racism as it exists today in modern America The historic use of rendering of dialect in the dialogue between white and black characters compared to how it is done in this novel The music Whitehead listens to while writing, when he listens to Purple Rain from Prince and Debut Nation from Sonic Youth and how David Bowie is in every book How Whitehead felt about being selected for the Oprah Book Club The adept characterization and relationships of the kids in Whitehead's novel Sag Harbor and how the characters evolved from inspiration from real people into their own unique fictional characters within the novel KWL Director Mark Lefebvre talks about the concept of writers listening to music while working and then asks KWL listeners to share their own habits and practices when it comes to listening to (or not listening to) music or other ambient noises while writing.