Poured Over

Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya reflects on the books that change the way we think about life and literature. Chihaya joins us to talk about these "Life Ruiner" books, the way we connect to stories at different points in our lives, the way our reading shapes us and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.             ...

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey delves into the wilderness in this tender, bold and enchanting fabl e set in Alaska. Ivey joins us to talk about her personal connections to the setting, themes of community and family ties, the complexities of parenthood and more with guest host Allyson Gavaletz .    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.           ...

Loca by Alejandro Heredia is a stunning novel about identity, home, life and love that   takes readers through one epic, life-changing year alongside two unforgettable protagonists. Heredia joins us to talk about his use of language in the book, his writing practice, his family connection to the story and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Me...

Cleavage by Jennifer Finney Boylan interrogates modern and relevant themes of gender and sexuality with writing that is both entertaining and educational. Boylan joins us to talk about her personal connections to the topic, influential authors, the importance of storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Lia...

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks explores what it means to truly grieve — a moving account of what it is to love, to lose and to heal. Brooks joins us to talk about her relationship with her late husband, Tony Horwitz, how writing this book helped process her grief, themes of isolation, growth and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer an...

Isola by Allegra Goodman is a story of courage and isolation and a sweeping tale of companionship against all odds. Goodman joins us to talk about the real historical events that inspired the novel, her meticulous research process, her unique experience writing this book and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Jamie and Donald.   This episod...

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson takes us from New England to West Africa and France on a quest to uncover the secrets of the past and build a new future. Wilkerson joins us to talk about the history in the novel, the importance of storytelling, balancing heavy tones in her writing and more with guest host Brenda Allison.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Har...

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a breathtaking journey of grief, love and history about a woman that loses her twin brother in a freak accident. Young joins us to talk about her descriptive and atmospheric style, what it's like to write for both adults and young people, creating the connection between twin characters and more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. This episode of Poured...

In Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People Imani Perry studies the color blue in all its history and hues in this remarkable analysis. From West Africa to the American South,   Black in Blues  examines the color's relation to Blackness and culture. Perry joins us to talk about the symbolic history of the color blue, her research process, the role of storytelling in identity and mo...

The Nickel Boys , the Pulitzer P rize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead , is a story of injustice and ultimately hope about two young men at a Florida reform school. We love this interview with Miwa Messer and Whitehead from the novel's release in 2019.     This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                       New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays...

How to Sleep at Night is a tender and timely novel telling a heartfelt story about marriage, love and politics. Harris joined us live to talk about writing about people who are challenging their values, how her characters surprised her, the effects of being a journalist on pacing and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harr...

The Naming of the Birds by Paraic O'Donnell takes readers back to dark and gloomy Victorian London with a relentless killer on the loose. O'Donnell joins us to talk about continuing a series, balancing tone with humor, his writing process and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Donald and Marc.   This episode of Poured Over was hoste...

Good Girl by Aria Aber is a coming-of-age novel featuring the daughter of Afghan immigrants set against the backdrop of Berlin's creative scene.  Aber joins us to talk about themes of identity and exile, speaking and reading in multiple languages, her literary influences in prose and poetry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mi...

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor is a novel about what it means to be a storyteller , told in an ingenious blend of sci-fi and literary fiction. Okorafor joins us to talk about what freedom means, technology and authenticity, the personal nature of this story and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.   This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.      ...

The Note by Alafair Burke is a page-turning thriller that springs into action when one small decision leads a group of friends to question what they know about each other and the secrets we keep from those around us. Burke joins us to talk about the themes in the novel, writing a character driven story, her real-life connections to her stories and more with cohost Jenna Seery. This episode of Pour...

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due is sharp, tragic, heartbreaking and terrifying, taking readers back in time to an all-boys school in the 1950s American South.   Due joins us to talk about her personal connection to the novel, entertainment in horror storytelling, creating memorable characters and more with cohost Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Har...

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight is a sharp coming-of-age journey set in a glamorous world of high academia, old money and one eccentric upper-class family. Knight joins us to talk about how she crafts her characters, themes of friendship and motherhood, her literary favorites and more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz...

A.O. Scott, critic at The New York Times Book Review joins us to talk about what he looks for in literature, why we read the things we do, his path to a career in journalism and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and...

The Work of Art is a series of in-depth conversations from artists, poets, musicians and more on how they make their art and what goes on inside their heads with Adam Moss, former editor of New York magazine. Moss joins us to talk about his time as a painter, how he decided the composition of the book, changing how we appreciate art over time and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This ep...

Lili Anolik's Didion and Babitz takes a look at the fraught relationship between two iconic women of literature. Anolik joins us to talk about how she decided to tell this story, the literary landscape of LA, her influences and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesdays a...

Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson is the fifth book in the best-selling Stormlight Archive — a story of honor, battles won and lost and a race to save Roshar.  Sanderson joins us to talk about writing this crucial book in the series, why he loves fantasy, the connections between his work and more with cohost, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Er...

Author James Everett and director Cord Jefferson sat down live to discuss Book of the Year, James . Everett and Jefferson join us to talk about adapting novels for film, finding humanity in serious stories, the power of art and storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episode...

The Memory Palace by Nate DiMeo presents a collection of stories from history highlighting both quiet and significant moments with a personal and captivating lens. DiMeo joins us to talk about adapting his podcast into the written word, some of his favorite moments and why remembering our history is so important and more with cohost, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna See...

Soups, Salads, Sandwiches by Matty Matheson showcases the culinary star's favorite meals with flavorful twists on kitchen basics. Matheson joins us to talk about putting together another cookbook, some of his go-to recipes, his influences and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.                     New episodes land Tuesda...

The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgaard continues the story of a world where change is set in motion when a new star appears in the sky and the lives of those affected. Knausgaard joins us to talk about creating his many characters, crafting a narrative across many books, writing from points of transition and conflict and more with cohost, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenn...