Book Squad Podcast

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode, Polli and Adam discuss all of their favorite reads of 2023. Spoiler alert: we read a TON of good books this year, and plan on reading some excellent ones in 2024, too. Thanks for listening to our truly unhinged podcast. We'll see you in the new year.  Happy reading!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! We have a special guest joining us; our very own Spooky Queen, Christina! In this episode we'll talk about Halloween traditions, figure out whether Christina is Team Jacob or Team Edward, and hear all about Adam's weird pumpkin experiments. Spooky Season might be over, but our love for vampires is eternal.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode, we'll be talking all about the hot topic of banned books. How much have instances of books being banned increased over the years? What type of books do you typically find on Banned Books list? How can you make a difference by challenging these bans? You'll get answers to all that and more, including some of Polli and Adam's top picks for the...

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! It's been a couple minutes since we've last recorded an episode, and we're back with a bloody good one! In this episode we'll discuss some rumors featuring Taylor Swift, share all the details about our annual Booktoberfest extravaganza, and give some takes on Dracula that are just as spicy as paprika. And as an added bonus, Polli and Adam share their top pic...

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! This time around we're talking all things Summer Reading, including all of the cool prizes. (Spoiler alert: WE HAVE TOTEBAGS). We'll also be giving recommendations for a few of our favorite audiobooks, to help you reach your summer reading goals. Listen to this episode to hear which audiobook narrator Polli thinks is the emotional equivalent of butter, and t...

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! This month we're giving recommendations for Jewish American Heritage Month, but they're perfect picks for any time of the year. In this episode you'll find magical realism books, fairytales, messy coming-of-age stories, spicy romance, and more! There's something for everyone in this episode.  Happy reading!

In this episode, we talk about what first made us interested in becoming librarians and then we talk about books, some more books, and oh yeah, books! Listen to hear some of Polli and Adam's favorite books about books, and feel free to suggest synonyms for "sweet", "fascinating", and "lovely" in the comments.

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In today's episode we're touching grass. Listen to hear Polli expound on her dreams of visiting Maine, Adam complain about bugs, and for our special guest Shirley to talk about an exciting nature-related event happening later this month.  Happy reading!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode Adam and Polli talk about the books they're reading this month and what the book clubs have been up to lately. Stick around for a special guest and to hear more about the annual Squad Goals challenge. What's the first book you're planning to read this year?

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! We've reached the end of 2022 and it's finally time to talk about our favorite books of the year. From rom coms to, er, womp womps, we've got a ton of recommendations! Give the episode a listen to hear all the ~spicy~ opinions of your local bookish "experts". Happy holidays, and happy reading!

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! Grab your hot beverage of choice and settle in for a discussion of all things cozy. What feels comforting during the changing of the season? For Polli it's cookbooks (but maybe not cooking) and for Adam it's stories that fell like the emotional equivalent of wearing an old sweater. Listen to this month's podcast to discover Polli and Adam's favorite cozy rea...

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! It's finally autumn: the season of crunchy leaves, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, and scary the crap outta yourself while watching a scary movie. What drives people to watch and read horror stories? Join Book Squad members Polli Kenn, Adam Lopez and special guest Christina James as they talk about the possible reasons behind why some of us like getting...

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! In this episode we're give you all the insider information you need to celebrate Booktoberfest. Join Polli, Adam, and our special guest Leah to hear them ramble about Practical Magic, Welsh soccer, and Chris Pine being a dang snack. Be sure to register for all of the Booktoberfest events so you can show off your spooky 'fits and platform heels. We can't wait...

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! August is Read A Romance Month and in this episode Polli and Adam get on their soapbox and rant respectfully educate our listeners on all things Romance. Listen to hear all of Polli's spiciest takes, to hear Adam lament the loss of this past season of Love Island, and to discover why you, yes you, should be reading romance novels every month of the year. Hav...

This month is a delicious hors d'oeuvres of an episode, in which our intrepid librarians must bravely face their most challenging topic yet: keeping their chit chat to under thirty minutes. Will they succeed?! You'll have to listen to find out! In this episode you'll find little to no rambling, some discussions on our must-read books, and a Thor reference I BELIEVE everyone will enjoy. See what I...

Wanting AAPI book recommendations, with a generous side helping of chaos from the rag tag team you've come to know and love? Well, you're listening to the right podcast! Join our co-hosts as Polli and Adam (formerly Kimberly) talk a lot about a whole lotta books. Grab a snack and a cuppa, folks, this one's a long episode! For show notes, visit this link: lplks.org/blogs/post/058-title-tbd/

Welcome back to the Book Squad Podcast! Today's episode features a special guest to give you all the scoop on Read Across Lawrence. Listen to the end to hear all about it. You'll also get book recs for times of stress, and you'll get to listen to Kimberly finally master upspeak and Polli give a basic United States history lesson. It's John Wilkes Booth, not James Wilkinson Booth, by the way. For t...

Polli Kenn and Kimberly Lopez are back at it (again) for more shenanigans (again), and this time they have even more books to discuss! Listen to the podcast to hear Kimberly completely butcher the premise of The School for Good Mothers (the main character has to take care of a toddler doll, not a robot child, because this isn’t A.I.) and keep listening to hear Polli (definitely not) lose her mind...

We're back, we're back! The Book Squad Podcast is back! Kate Gramlich, our longtime cohost, has brazenly left the library for another job. (Everyone wave to Kate at her new job!)  So along with starting back recording, Book Squad member Kimberly Lopez has taken up the mantle of shenaniganizing about books with Polli Kenn and we had a great time starting again and starting afresh together! We're so...

As we're getting into the swing of things in this pandemic (what a weird thing to type), some of us are feeling more like revisiting our old friends - books. They're friends we don't have to sit 6ft apart from, and we might need them right now. Polli and Kate share some books they've been hearing others rave about, most of which are available digitally on Hoopla and/or Libby!  Show notes: https://...

What better to read during a time of great societal upheaval and the breakdown of basic norms and values than compelling novel that explores the psychology of dealing with a plague? That's what we thought, too! Tune in to our discussion of The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker, which we call "Apocalypse Lite." (Heads up: the book does not end in earth-shattering disaster.)  Show notes: https://lpl...

What does it mean to write a protagonist that is completely different from you? Are you a guest, a tourist, or an invader? How do you write correctly and thoughtfully? What happens when you get it wrong? Listen up as Polli and Kate share some dirt and some resources.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/052-dishing-the-american-dirt/ Two Book Minimum: How to Catch A Mole by Marc Hamer The Dir...

Want a read that's sweet but not sugary, and philosophical without making you feel dumb? Listen up, folks! Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/051-meet-me-at-the-podcast/ This episode is ALL about the She Said/She Said: Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson From Shelf Awareness: "What does one's life look like on paper? In hindsight? Through the eyes of a dear friend? These are the questions...

NEW YEAR NEW...RETURNING PODCAST There was a lil hiatus and we never really got to warn you, sorry! This episode, we jump back in with some bookish news, recommendations, and a chat about what's going on in Lawrence this spring! Turns out? Lots of stuff.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/050-welcome-back-you-bumptious-turdsworth Bookish News: According to LitHub, "Lord Byron used to call W...

In time for Día de los Muertos, Polli and Kate discuss a book about what it means to have a "good death" in many places around the world. Through Caitlin Doughty's From Here to Eternity, they encounter death houses, glowing Buddhas, Snow White-esque caskets, revered Angelitos, and more. Join us on an enlightening and surprisingly uplifting journey.  Show notes: https://lplks.org/blogs/post/049-wha...