Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

AudioFile is revisiting some of our favorite long-form interviews this week. Here, host Jo Reed interviews Robert Bathurst, the actor and narrator who brings Louise Penny’s beloved Chief Inspector Gamache to life on audio. Robert has won AudioFile Earphones Awards and Audie Awards for his work on the Three Pines series. Listen to hear more about the long-running series, his journey to narrating au...

AudioFile’s revisiting favorite episodes of Behind the Mic this week, with great last-minute audiobook gifts in mind. Today’s recommendation is for a captivating fantasy audiobook for kids, TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY by Kwame Mbalia, read by Amir Abudllah. Hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly as they talk about this thrilling listen for kids and families. The best part —...

This week on the podcast we’re revisiting favorite audiobooks from our years on Behind the Mic. Today’s discussion is about Kiley Reid’s SUCH A FUN AGE, an Earphones and Audie Award winner read by Nicole Lewis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the memorable debut novel on race, privilege, and money and the lively narration that will keep anyone glued to their earbuds. An excellent...

AudioFile is revisiting some favorite audiobooks this week, with your holiday gift lists in mind. Today’s audiobook discussion has AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and host Jo Reed talking all about babkas, bagels, and more culinary delights from the iconic New York deli, Zabar’s. Erin Bennett narrates this family memoir that’s also a slice of New York City history, bringing the right blend of appreciati...

We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes this week on the podcast, with holiday gift giving in mind. Today’s discussion has host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talking about the perfect gift for any animal lover, natural history nerd, or budding scientist in your life. Ed Yong’s narration of his AN IMMENSE WORLD is full of charm and enthusiasm, and the audiobook is packed with facts...

AudioFile is revisiting some of our favorite episodes this week, this time with holiday gift giving in mind. Listen to hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI, Rinker Buck’s tale of an unusual journey narrated by Jason Culp. It makes for an ideal gift for a history lover in your life, as Buck recounts his 2016 journey down the Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississi...

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the new audiobook from Marie Kondo centered around “kurashi,” or “way of life.” There’s a quiet enthusiasm in Traci Kato-Kiriyama’s narration that elicits calm and inspiration—emotions that are fitting for kurashi at home. Both the author and narrator make it sound easy to tap into our ideal vision for our life and space and to incorporate the hab...

Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) displays her magical acting talents throughout her bold narration of this adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s short story, “Magnolia Flower,” for young listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Ralph’s resonant, full voice. Ralph delights listeners as she breathes additional life into this story of love and freedom. The wise river tells the...

Robert Bathurst performs this 18th Inspector Gamache mystery with the assurance of one who knows the village of Three Pines and its (mostly) gentle residents well, and fans are in for a treat. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss returning to Three Pines, where, years after Gamache and Beauvoir investigated the murder of a mother, her two adult children arrive in the village. Their s...

Author and Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk all about writing and narrating THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, a romance between two narrators that earned a spot on our list of 2022 Best Audiobooks. Hear about what it was like to narrate her own work and how Julia thought about all of the character voices as she was writing and developing their stories. Listen to dis...

Golden Voice narrator January LaVoy joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss C.L. Polk’s fantasy EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END. Her captivating talents are on full display as she voices this romantic, fantastical noir mystery that is on AudioFile’s list of 2022 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy audiobooks. Hear from January about how she approached the challenges presented by this audiobook, what she...

Narrator Brian Nishii joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss Genzaburo Yoshino’s HOW DO YOU LIVE?, a Japanese classic from 1937 with a new translation by Bruno Navasky. Named one of AudioFile’s Best Children & Family Listening audiobooks, HOW DO YOU LIVE? remains surprisingly relevant today, intertwining the adventures of a young teenager with philosophical conversations with his beloved uncle...

Narrator Deepti Gupta joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss her co-narration of a powerful novel for teens, Sabaa Tahir’s ALL MY RAGE. The National Book Award winner earned a spot on AudioFile’s list of Best Young Adult audiobooks this year for the impact of its performance, narrated in turn by Deepti, Kamran R. Khan, and Kausar Mohammed. Listen to hear how Deepti approached narrating this lay...

Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk about one of our 2022 Best Mystery Audiobooks—Harini Nagendra’s THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB. Soneela paints a vibrant listening experience that launches listeners into a new series. Soneela tells listeners how she approached narrating this historical mystery set in 1920s colonial Bangalore, and about the fun and challen...

Golden Voice narrator Robin Miles joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss her empathetic and moving narration of Zora Neale Hurston’s YOU DON’T KNOW US NEGROES. Hear about why Robin Miles believes Hurston’s work is still so relevant to listeners today, her approach to narrating Hurston’s audiobooks, and more observations on the rich variety of topics covered in Hurston’s essays. Read the full r...

Actor, author, and film director Lake Bell joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to learn more about Bell’s intriguing audio-only title, INSIDE VOICE. Listen to hear how Lake developed the idea to explore the power of voice in this audiobook packed full of archival material, recordings of people on the street, and interviews with experts. Hear what surprised her about what she learned about voices, and w...

Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to tell listeners about narrating NIGHTCRAWLING. Leila Mottley’s powerful debut novel is one of AudioFile’s 2022 Best Fiction Audiobooks for its immersive listening experience crafted beautifully by Joniece. Listen to hear about the emotional intimacy of Joniece’s performance, how she prepared to narrate the moving dialogue, and what’s...

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed to talk about the 2022 Best Audiobooks — listen to hear about how these audiobooks were chosen out of the thousands reviewed this year, to learn about Robin’s favorites from the list, and to find out about upcoming interviews with narrator’s of some of this year’s honored titles. Jo and Robin also share the list of 2022 Best Memoirs, including some big...

It’s a delight to listen to warm and witty actor Lauren Graham, of “Gilmore Girls” and “Parenthood,” share her insights and reminiscences of her family and professional life in her second memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this collection of essays about little things, told in her natural and engaging voice. Humor infuses the entire audiobook, adding a light counterpoint to...

Narrating his memoir, actor Matthew Perry sounds like his beloved Chandler character, but with far less enunciation. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Perry’s story detailing his lifetime of struggles with addiction, including while playing his iconic role on “Friends.” Listeners can hear how tough life has been on his body, but he comes across as a generous person hoping to share...

Michelle Obama performs the follow-up to her bestselling memoir, BECOMING, giving listeners another peek behind the curtain into her life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss getting to hear from Obama as she inspires listeners to become their best selves. Obama tells deeply personal stories to show listeners how she overcame obstacles and gives insights into how she and her family w...

Lisa Flanagan narrates journalist Margaret Sullivan’s memoir/manifesto authoritatively. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Flanagan’s serious narration that fits the story of a journalist whose career has included running a newsroom, being the public editor at the New York Times, and her recent stint at the Washington Post. Flanagan captures Sullivan’s spirited point of view—she’s...

Bob Dylan’s momentous work takes listeners deep inside the emotional narratives and cultural ethos behind 60 pop songs from the past seven decades. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Dylan’s raspy and compelling narration, as well as the all-star cast called upon to voice his essays. Almost as one voice, the narrators create a flow of energy that adds immeasurably to the...

As Robert Fass narrates this wintry audiobook, he invigorates the characters through intelligent pacing and a fine storyteller’s tone and empathy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Peter Geye’s audiobook that gives the listener the inside scoop on ski jumping, a little known sport, and tells a fascinating family story as well. The most impressive passages capture the exquisite spo...

The lovely and engaging voice of Julia Atwood gives protagonist Mazzy Goodwin satisfying emotion. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Alan Heathcock’s dystopian fantasy of a climate catastrophe. Mazzy is a soldier, and Atwood’s cadence subtly moves the suspenseful action of the story forward. Heathcock depicts an America in crisis—political, environmental, and religious—an...