Literary Podcasts Every Book Lover Should Listen To
Introduction
The best literary podcasts are a great way to stay on top of the latest and greatest in books, as well as just plain enjoy the spoken word. Whether you’re looking for book recommendations or just want to listen to a podcast about your favorite author, these 7 podcasts will keep you up-to-date with everything happening in publishing.
Book Riot Podcast
The Book Riot Podcast is a podcast about books, for book lovers. Each week, they discuss the latest news in publishing and literature, as well as interview authors and industry professionals. The host is Jeff O’Neal.
Bookish
Bookish is a podcast by the people behind The Rumpus, a literary magazine and website that covers books, culture and everything else in between. It’s one of my favorite places to hear author interviews, book reviews and discussions on current events in literature. The hosts are Sara Wachter-Boettcher and Maris Kreizman; they’ve been running since 2015 (and have over 500 episodes!).
Dear Book Nerd
Dear Book Nerd is a podcast hosted by Jess and Renee, two book bloggers who talk about books, reading, and book recommendations. The show has a fun, relaxed feel to it–it’s like you’re hanging out with your friends as they discuss their latest reads. The hosts are both funny and entertaining as they share their thoughts on what they’ve been reading lately. They also have an ongoing series of interviews with authors who have written books that they love (and sometimes hate).
If you’re looking for an easy way to get into literary podcasts but aren’t sure where to start or if you want something new after listening to Dear Book Nerd for awhile, check out some other great literary podcasts below:
The New Books Network Podcast
The New Books Network podcast is a great resource for book lovers who want to stay up-to-date on what’s new in literature. Each episode focuses on one new release and features an interview with the author, reviews from other critics, recommendations from listeners, and more. The hosts also discuss current events related to books and publishing in general, so it’s not just about reading–it’s also about being informed about what’s happening in your favorite genre!
Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Literary LiveCast
Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Literary LiveCast
The Modern Mrs. Darcy Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Elizabeth Gilbert and Steve Almond that explores the literary canon through the lens of current events, pop culture, and the personal lives of the hosts. In each episode you’ll hear them discuss everything from how much they hate Fifty Shades of Grey to their favorite authors (or books) to read while drinking wine on your couch after work. If you’re looking for something more lighthearted than some of our other recommendations, this is a great place to start!
Guilt Free Reading: For Lazy Readers Who Love Books and Wine, Too!
- Book reviews.
- Book recommendations.
- Bookish news.
- Wine pairings and reviews, especially for books that you’re reading or want to read!
- If there’s an author we haven’t featured yet, let me know!
The Readaholics Romance Novel Club Podcast!
The Readaholics Romance Novel Club Podcast is a great way to discover new books, as well as catch up on what you may have missed. The hosts are funny and entertaining, but they also know their stuff–they can talk about romance novels with the best of them!
If you love reading romance novels (or even if you’re just curious), I highly recommend this podcast!
The Guardian Books Podcast
The Guardian Books Podcast is a book podcast hosted by The Guardian. It features interviews with authors and critics about their work, as well as discussions of literary events and news. The podcast is available on iTunes, Google Play, and SoundCloud.
Each week a different critic hosts the show; past guests include Zadie Smith, Margaret Atwood and Roxane Gay.
SFF Audio
If you’re looking for a podcast that features interviews with authors and other people in the field of science fiction, fantasy and horror, SFF Audio is perfect. Hosted by John Joseph Adams (editor of Lightspeed Magazine), each episode focuses on a different topic such as “Best Books” or “New Authors”. The show also features book reviews from listeners as well as recommendations from other authors like Ursula K Le Guin who has appeared on SFF Audio several times. This podcast is informative, entertaining and fun!
The New Yorker Fiction Podcast
If you’ve ever wanted to listen to an interview with a writer or read a short story, The New Yorker Fiction Podcast is the place for you. Hosted by Deborah Treisman, the magazine’s fiction editor, this weekly podcast features stories from the magazine as well as interviews with authors about their work. There are also special episodes where editors select pieces that were originally rejected by The New Yorker but later published elsewhere–a great way to see what kind of writing might have been missed by editors at one of America’s most prestigious literary magazines!
How to Write a Novel with J.S. Morin
J.S. Morin is a writer, editor, and teacher who has been working in publishing for over 20 years. He’s currently the managing editor of Lit Hub and teaches at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
How to Write a Novel with J.S. Morin is an excellent podcast for aspiring authors who want to learn more about the craft of writing fiction–especially if you’re interested in learning from someone who has worked on both sides of the desk (as both an author/editor). The show features weekly discussions between Morin and his guests on different topics related to novel writing: how to create characters; what makes good dialogue; how do you find your voice? etc…
Literary Bent
In this podcast, two booksellers talk about books and the book industry. They interview authors and other book industry professionals, as well as talking about their own reading habits. They also host a monthly book club that you can join if you want to get in on the discussion!
This is one of my favorite podcasts because it gives me insight into what goes on behind-the-scenes in publishing houses and other places where books are made–and makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger than just being a reader myself.
Books on the Nightstand
You can listen to the podcast on the website, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play Music. You can also find it on Stitcher and TuneIn.
You can subscribe to the show in your favorite podcast app by searching for “Books On The Nightstand” or visiting http://www.booksonanthtlit.com/subscribe/.
Pod Save America
Pod Save America is a political podcast hosted by Jon Favreau, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor. It launched in 2017 and has since become one of the most popular podcasts in the country. The show focuses on current events and issues facing Americans today. The hosts are joined each week by guests from politics as well as entertainment to discuss current events from different perspectives.
The average length of an episode is 45 minutes long but there are some longer episodes that go up to an hour and a half depending on what topic they’re discussing that week (e.g., healthcare reform).
The Great American Read
The Great American Read is a PBS series that asks the question, “What is the best book ever written?” The show features 100 of America’s most beloved novels, and it’s up to viewers to vote on their favorites. The books that make it through each round will be narrowed down until only one remains as the ultimate winner.
The first season premiered in May 2018 with 10 books chosen by an expert panel of literary experts: Maya Angelou (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings), Jane Austen (Pride & Prejudice), Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird), JK Rowling (Harry Potter series), Ernest Hemingway (The Old Man and the Sea), William Faulkner (“A Rose for Emily”), James Baldwin (“Go Tell It On The Mountain”) John Steinbeck (“East Of Eden”), Mark Twain (“Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn”) Toni Morrison (“Beloved”) Stephen King (“It”).
Dear Sugars
Dear Sugars is a podcast hosted by Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond, who have been in a relationship for more than 20 years. The show takes on topics like love, sex and relationships; advice on how to be happy; current events affecting people’s lives (like mass shootings or gun violence); or anything else that comes up during their weekly recording sessions.
Dear Sugars started back in 2016 and has been running ever since with new episodes released every Monday at noon Eastern Time. You can listen to it on the Dear Sugars website or via iTunes or Stitcher if you prefer apps over web browsers!
What Should We Read Next?
The hosts of What Should We Read Next? are a husband and wife team who read books together. They have a background in education, which makes their podcast an excellent choice for those looking for book recommendations from people with experience teaching literature.
The hosts read books with a wide range of genres, including fantasy, science fiction and romance novels–and they discuss them! The discussions are often lively as they talk about plot points and characters’ motivations while also offering insight into why certain things were included in the story (or left out).
Word by Word Podcast
Word by Word is a podcast that interviews authors and discusses their writing process, including tips and tricks. The host, David Cranor, has a background in publishing and journalism so he’s well-versed on the subject matter. He also has an eye for detail; as an example of this, he often talks about how much time it takes for him to write his own book (which sounds like it would be pretty frustrating).
Example: “The other day I realized that I had written 10 pages of my book without actually sitting down at my desk.”
A list of the best literary podcasts
- Literary Disco
- The Writer’s Journey (by Elizabeth Minkel)
- Reading Glasses
- The Lit Up Show
Conclusion
So, what are you waiting for? Go out there and start listening to some of these amazing podcasts. You’ll be glad that you did!
