Podcasts about reading life

Parents often wonder if pushing through difficult books is worth the tears and late nights. In this episode, Davies Owens is joined by Sara Osborne, author of Reading for the Long Run, as she explains why classics feel hard, how to discern real obstacles from attitude or context, and practical steps to move forward with confidence.

Today marks a major milestone: the 500th episode of What Should I Read Next! To celebrate, Anne is joined by two guests today. First, you'll hear her in conversation with our What Should I Read Next Patreon Community Manager Shannan Malone as they explore what's new in our Patreon community space. Then, Anne welcomes one of our previous guests back to the show to talk about how her reading life has evolved since their first conversation nearly two and a half years ago. Michelle Acierno Loftus joined Anne back in episode 378 to share her experience of rediscovering the joy of reading via her YA book club. As we mark 500 episodes of talking all things books and reading, it seemed a great moment to look back at just one way that What Should I Read Next has shaped an individual's life. While much has changed in Michelle's life since her last conversation with Anne, as you'll hear, her reading life is still going strong. And yet, it's also shifted. Today, she and Anne discuss Michelle's recent explorations into nonfiction and character-driven, introspective stories. They also dive into how Anne's previous recommendations for Michelle landed, what's working for her these days, and what she's looking for right now in her reading life. Anne shares recommendations for Michelle, and each of them recommend titles that might work for many readers. Find the full list of the titles mentioned today and share a comment to help us celebrate our 500th episode on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/500. If you'd like to hear from more past guests or experience the bonus episodes Anne and Shannan discuss at the top of today's show, please come over and join us on Patreon. That's where we share bite-size insights into the reading life and a behind-the-scenes look into the podcast, as well as book recommendations galore. To all of the readers who support us on Patreon, thank you. We couldn't do this without you. If you'd like to join us there, you'll find all the details at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm behind in my reading. Does that ever happen to you? Let's chat about why it happens, how it messes with the brain, and how to get back on track without all the reader's guilt and drama.In this episode, I share:Why we get behind as readersHow it weighs on us mentallyTips for getting back on trackA book recommendationI also take a moment in the middle to talk about some of the coffee that I sell at my bookstore. I love this stuff, as it fuels my reading day.This Episode's Sponsor: Edgewater Bookstore CoffeeThe Deep Read (dark roast great for espresso) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/the-deep-readAnthology (Medium roast great for french press and pour-over) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/anthologyProse (Light roast from Ethiopia) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/prosePlot Twist (Light roast that changes monthly) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/plot-twistSend Me a Text Message with Your Questions

As we head into Labor Day weekend, I'm flexing one of my superpowers: organizing information.   In this episode of The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast, I share the story behind my book binder — a simple but powerful system that helps me keep track of dozens of book recommendations and the 20–30 books I read each year. You'll hear how I went from barely finding time to read as a busy mom to becoming an audiobook enthusiast with a binder full of possibilities.   I'll also share 26 books currently on my “to be read” list (plus the Spy School series I'm enjoying with my son Kraig). Maybe you'll discover your next great read from this podcast episode!   Even if books aren't your thing, you'll walk away with this takeaway: what makes you weird might actually be your superpower. For me, it's organizing information. For you, it could be something else entirely — and when you embrace it, life gets easier, less stressful, and more fun. You just might help other people too!  

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Roxanna are discussing: Bookish Moments: introducing book club friends to niche romance + romance-related jewelry Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: using AI as your bookish sidekick to improve your reading life The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  01:31 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 2:11 - Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe 3:20 - Unhinged by Vera Valentine [Amazon link]  3:30 - Spooned by Ruth Cardello [Amazon link] 3:37 - Forked by Ruth Cardello [Amazon link] 5:11 - Book earrings from Etsy 07:33 - Our Current Reads 07:53 - These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (Roxanna) 13:09 - The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (Kaytee) 18:37 - Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin (Roxanna) 19:11 - Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin  19:42 - Peek Freans [Wikipedia link] 26:31 - Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala  26:32 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman  26:54 - Three Holidays and A Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley 28:04 - Ghost Music by An Yu (Kaytee) 32:45 - The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman 32:42 - The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller (Roxanna) 39:56 - A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell, 1) by Deanna Raybourn 40:15 - Currently Reading: Season 3, Episode 12 42:23 - Take What You Can Carry by Gian Sardar (Kaytee) 50:55 - Deep Dive: Three tips from Roxanna on using AI to be your bookish sidekick and improve your reading life 51:15 - Currently Reading: Season 7, Episode 37 56:23 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 58:14 - Good Talk by Mira Jacob 1:07:40 - Meet Us At The Fountain 1:07:47 - I wish listeners would think about some friction that you're facing in your reading life and see what tips and tricks you can find to smooth it out a bit. (Roxanna) 1:10:51 - I wish Kindle settings would have the option to toggle on the option to begin our Kindle books at the cover. (Kaytee) 1:12:02 - Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. August's IPL comes to us from our founding Indie Press List store: Fabled Bookshop in Waco, TX! Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: readerly badges and DNFing books Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we check in on our reading lives and press book into the other's hands The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  2:19 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 8:02 - Our Current Reads 8:30 - A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke by Adriana Herrera (Kaytee) 8:46 - A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera 8:49 - CR Season 5: Episode 1 8:53 - Cafe Con Libros 8:55 - An Island Princess Starts A Scandal by Adriana Herrera 8:57 - CR Season 6: Episode 6 12:29 - With A Vengeance by Riley Sager 14:09 - Home Before Dark by Riley Sager 14:10 - Lock Every Door by Riley Sager 14:14 - The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager 14:20 - Survive the Night by Riley Sager 14:52 - Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie 14:54 - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 15:11 - Nine Lives by Peter Swanson 18:29 - Uncommon Measure by Natalie Hodges (Kaytee) 22:29 - The Midsummer Bride by Kati Wilde (Meredith) 25:43 - A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer 28:02 - Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (Kaytee) 31:19 - The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher 32:05 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 33:42 - The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Meredith) 37:17 - This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar (Meredith mistakenly titled this book. This is the correct one!) 39:21 - Reading Life Temp Check + Pressing Books Into Each Other's Hands 40:19 - Uncommon Measure by Natalie Hodges 51:38 - Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby 52:01 - All The Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby 54:49 - Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros 56:13 - Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff 57:32 - Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros 57:54 - Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. June's IPL is brought to us by one of our anchor stores, Schuler Books in Michigan Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Nonfiction books often change the way that readers see the world, and today's guest Evan Carlson is on the hunt for fiction that packs the same punch as the nonfiction works he loves. Evan's joining Anne from Chicago, where he lives and works as an actor and poet. He's found that reading poetry and nonfiction helps him challenge his ways of thinking, and he really enjoys this experience. While Evan has read fiction that's worked for him before, too often it leaves him feeling bored. Evan's confident he's just not finding the right fiction picks, and today he and Anne talk about what he's really looking for and how he might find the titles that will excite and engage him. Find the list of titles mentioned today and share your recommendations for Evan on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/481. Stock up on our new summer merch, including new stickers, tees, hats, and more in our online shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello! Welcome to this unusual, audio only, third Monday edition of Greatheart's Table. This is the third and last of our Rainy Day Conversation with my two friends, Adam and Byron discussing books. And though our initial focus was on pastoral reading habits, all of these conversations apply widely to all Christians.  In this episode […]

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Sara Osborne, the author of Reading for the Long Run: Leading Struggling Students into the Reading Life and Assistant Professor of English and Director of Classical Education at College of the Ozarks in Missouri. They examine the claims that classical education is elitist and explore how classical schools can position themselves to challenge that perception. Sara shares her journey teaching her children how to read and some of the challenges that come with meeting different students' needs. They dive into anecdotes and insights from her book, including the importance of viewing literacy as an individual journey. 

Readers, if you are feeling burned out right now, you are not alone. In our team meeting last week, we talked about the fact that things are hard right now. That's why this feels like a great time to revisit a favorite past episode from another time not so long ago when we were also feeling burned out. Today we're sharing Anne's May 2021 conversation with journalist Anne Helen Petersen, which originally aired back then as Episode 284. Anne Helen writes the weekly email newsletter Culture Study and she knows a lot about burnout because she literally wrote a book about it: Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation. In today's episode, Anne Helen shares her personal experience with reading during a grueling season, advice and hope for readers who feel stuck in burnout, and a handful of backlist favorites from her own bookshelves. No matter how your reading life has evolved over the last few years, or even if it hasn't, we think you'll find comfort and insight in today's episode. Find the full list of titles mentioned today at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/474. We've been working hard behind the scenes to prepare your 2025 Summer Reading Guide! This year will be our 14th annual Summer Reading Guide, and we kick off the celebration with our live unboxing before continuing with all sorts of bonus reading adventures in Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club and in our Patreon community. Order your Summer Reading Guide at modernmrsdarcy.com/srg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to this third Monday edition of a “Rainy Day Conversation around Greatheart's Table.”  This episode is a continuation of a conversation that began on March 31 on the reading life of pastors (and other humans). If you missed that first episode you can go back and listen to it first, or you can dive […]

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Meredith are discussing: Bookish Moments: reading what we want and bookish get togethers Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we check in on our reading lives The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:40 - Our Bookish Moments Of The Week 2:17 - The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie 4:19 - Warwick's 5:29 - Our Current Reads 8:03 - The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda (Meredith) 13:37 - Confessions by Kanae Minato 14:25 - Mrs. Death Misses Death by Salenda Godden (Kaytee) 15:05 - Foyles Bookstore 19:52 - The Joy of Watercolor by Emma Block (Meredith) 21:43 - The Big Book of Watercolor by Mallery Jane 22:27 - Keeping a Creative Sketchbook by Emma Block 28:36 - House of Frank by Kay Synclaire (Kaytee) 28:48 - Ezeekat on Instagram 28:57 - Ezeekat Press 34:14 - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 34:18 - Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune 34:49 - Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard (Meredith) 36:40 - Blackwell's UK 38:46 - The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard 38:48 - 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard 38:52 - Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard 40:21 - The Resurrectionist by A. Raye Dunlap (Kaytee) 40:38 - Fabled Bookshop 40:43 - Aardvark books 46:04 - James by Percival Everett 47:04 - Our Reading Life Temp Checks 58:54 - Meet Us At The Fountain 59:19 - I wish there was a “previously in” page for series books. (Meredith) 1:00:49 - I wish for a reading repair manual. (Kaytee) 1:02:13 - Safe and Sound by Mercury Stardust 1:02:25 - The Pool Care Handbook by Swim University   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. March's IPL comes to you from An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Jeff is out this week reading on a beach, so we are sharing this rerun from the First Edition podcast in which Jeff talks to Stephen Graham Jones about his reading life. Stephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author of thirty-five or so novels and collections, and there are some novellas and comic books in there as well. Most recent are Earthdivers and I Was a Teenage Slasher. His new book, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, is out now. Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello, everyone. Welcome to another “Rainy Day Conversation around Greatheart's Table.” Unlike the short content that is normal for this space, in these conversations I invite other voices to share their observations and expertise regarding pastoral practice, ministry, or the Christian life in general.  These have been fun to produce, and they have introduced me […]

Over the past few years, today's guest has been on a journey of self-discovery. Florida reader Casey has been working on coming to terms with her perfectionism and along the way, she's been noticing what it means for her reading life. Casey's noticed she tends to save highly anticipated books for later: some uncertain time down the road when circumstances make the timing at long last completely perfect to pick up that book she's really been wanting to read. But Casey knows firsthand that our time is limited, and it is a certainty she'll run out of time to read everything she wants to. So, how to decide what should she read right now, and how can she prompt herself to actually read those books? Today, she and Anne explore these readerly struggles, with special emphasis on finding backlist titles that are a little bit weird, a little bit whimsical, and that just might take Casey by surprise. Find the list of titles mentioned today and leave your suggestions for Casey over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/471. Many of Patreon Community members enjoy the flexibility of Patreon, which lets them tune in to Bonus Episodes and other features on their own schedule. When you join us on Patreon, you'll get our weekly bonuses right in your podcast feed just like our Tuesday morning episodes, and all our live events are recorded so you can take part on your schedule. Patreon is also a tangible way to support everything we do here at What Should I Read Next?. Find out more and join us at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlocking Your Spiritual Growth: Kelle Sparta's Transformative Seer Reading with AmyIf you would like to learn more please book a Discovery Call here: https://kellesparta.com/discovery-call/In this episode, host Kelle Sparta, a transformational shaman and spiritual coach, conducts a detailed spiritual evolution energy review, also known as a seer reading, with guest Amy. Delving into Amy's energy field, Kelly unveils a massive growth cycle, the significance of Amy's aura, and the importance of foundational deconstruction.Key Topics Include:reading root chakraintuitionfeminine energyenhanced creativitynavigating mind on overdrivebenefits of a wild woman embodiment practice for spiritual alignmentpractical advice and actionable stepsdeep dive into personal transformation and energetic clarity00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:47 Starting the Seer Reading with Amy01:29 Encountering a House Ward03:38 Massive Growth Cycle12:49 Channeling and Father's Message17:07 Clearing Energy Blocks32:51 Invisibility and Career Reflections37:14 Understanding Emotional Defense Mechanisms37:58 The Process of Opening the Heart Chakra38:39 Learning to Receive Love from Strangers39:52 Addressing Grief and Emotional Release41:03 Exploring Identity and Self-Perception01:01:29 Embracing the Wild Feminine Self01:11:08 Navigating Empathy and Boundaries01:14:51 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsKeywords:seer readingspiritual energy reviewtransformational shamanempath healingfeminine embodimentchakra alignmentspiritual coachingidentity crisisspiritual awakeningancestral messagesspiritual growth journeyhealing from griefintuitive developmentenergy field readingLicensing and Credits:“Spirit Sherpa” is the sole property of Kelle Sparta Enterprises and is distributed under a Creative Commons: BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. For more information about this licensing, please go to www.creativecommons.org. Any requests for deviations to this licensing should be sent to kelle@kellesparta.com. To sign up for, or get more information on the programs, offerings, and services referenced in this episode, please go to www.kellesparta.com.

The director Steven Soderbergh has just released his second film of 2025: the spy thriller "Black Bag," starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett. In January 2024, Soderbergh spoke with host Gilbert Cruz about some of the more than 80 books that he read in the previous year. (This episode is a rerun.)Books discussed:"How to Live: A Life of Montaigne," by Sarah Bakewell"Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining,'" by Lee Unkrich and J.W. Rinzler"Cocktails with George and Martha," by Philip GefterThe work of Donald E. Westlake"Americanah," by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie"Pictures From an Institution," by Randall Jarrell"Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will," by Robert M. Sapolsky Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Every year on the Modern Mrs Darcy blog, Anne shares a post about what's saving her life right now, and today she's joined by team member Shannan Malone to talk about what's saving their reading lives lately. Shannan is our What Should I Read Next Patreon community manager, and also our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club co-host. Today, she and Anne explore the books and habits that are making their reading lives feel good at the moment. While preparing for this conversation, we also reached out to our Patreon community members and invited them to share what's saving their reading lives right now. We loved reading all of those responses, and we've woven a few of those comments into this episode. Shannan and Anne wrap up today by touching on what's saving their lives beyond their reading lives, too. We hope you'll hear an idea or two that helps support your reading life, or share your own observations by leaving a comment over at our show notes page. You'll find that at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/465. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the start of a new year, we are overwhelmed with the phrase “New Year, new you!” And of course, we want to be better wives, better mothers, and better people. This desire to improve ourselves filters into our reading lives, too. It's easy to justify a lot of our reading if it helps us be better for our families and communities. But what about reading for fun? What about reading fiction? When you're a busy mom, is it worth it to carve out time to read just for the fun of it? And how would you even make that time?But reading for delight is like stopping for water on a long, dusty hike. It's a lifesource for us mamas. Today, RAR Community Manager Kelsey Murphy joins me to talk about how to be refreshed by your reading life.In this episode, you'll hear: How stories nourish us in essential waysWhy you have to give yourself permission to quit books that aren't working for youThe way reframing reading for pleasure will help you make time and model a rich reading life for your kidsLearn more about Sarah Mackenzie:Read Aloud RevivalWaxwing BooksSubscribe to the NewsletterFind the rest of the show notes at: readaloudrevival.com/you-can-be-refreshed To join us for the "Reading as Refreshment" Retreat on 1/31-2/1, join RAR Premium.