The Stacks

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do.  We continue our conversation on banned books with Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi . Senator Hashmi t...

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do. On today's episode we're joined by Alison Bechdel author of the frequently banned graphic memoir Fun Home , and...

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do. On today's episode we talk with the director of the Warren County - Vicksburg Public Library , Katrina Stokes ab...

Today we are joined by Tessa Miller, and author and journalist whose work focuses on chronic illness, disability, and health justice. We discuss Tessa's debut book, What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness - Lessons from a Body in Revolt and how publishing a memoir brought on a whole new level of anxiety and insecurities around being a writer and living with chronic illness. We also talk...

Today on The Stacks Book Club we're discussing Nella Larsen's 1929 classic novel Passing . We're joined again by Cree Myles , the creative force behind Penguin Random House' All Ways Black , to discuss this story racial passing in the 1920's. This episode touches on the history of passing, the 2021 film adaptation , and the central question of freedom. There are spoilers on this episode. Stay tune...

Today we're joined by Kendra James; writer, podcast producer, and editor, to discuss her debut book, Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School . We talk about Kendra's experiences as the first African American legacy student at the Taft School in Connecticut, the ways she came to terms with the racism she experienced, and who she is writing for. We also talk pettiness, writing in the bathr...

This week we've got a repeat guest, the unmatched talent that is, Jason Reynolds. We're talking about his new book, Ain't Burned all the Bright , a collaboration with his friend, artist, Jason Griffin. We talk today about creativity in 2020, working with collaborators, and our understandings and experiences around grief. You can hear Jason's first appearances on The Stacks here and here . The Stac...

Today we're joined by Cree Myles, the creative force behind Penguin Random Houses' All Ways Black , a platform that is focused on uplifting and centering the work of Black authors. We talk today about the competitive drive that keeps us motivated, balancing personal identity and reading choices, and the vibe we expect to find in heaven. The Stacks Book Club selection for December is Passing by Nel...

It's time for our final episode of The Stacks Book Club of the year, and we're taking on a favorite book of the year, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib. We are joined again by podcaster and TV writer Andrew Ti for this conversation which touches on cancel culture, Black cultural stereotypes, the skillful writing of the book, and so much more. Stay...

It's time for The Stacks' annual Best Books of 2021 episode. To help put together this list, we're joined by professional readers Lupita Aquino ( @lupita.reads ) and Morgan Hoit ( @nycbookgirl ). In addition to sharing our top 10 books of the year, we also discuss the trends we saw in 2021, reading for work, and the books we're excited about in 2022. The Stacks Book Club selection for December is&...

Kristen Radkte is the author of Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness , a work of graphic nonfiction that uses prose and images to explore the experience and portrayal of loneliness. It is spectacular. Kristen talks to us about the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our collective understanding of loneliness, what she wishes more people knew about graphic books, and how to connect wi...

Angelina Jolie, actor-director-humanitarian, and Indigenous activist Tokata Iron Eyes join Traci to discuss Jolie's book Know Your Rights an Claim Them: A Guide for Youth , which she wrote with Geraldine Van Bueren and Amnesty International. The conversation is a candid discussion with two people who are helping to shape the dialogue around activism, especially when it comes to the global rig...

Andrew Ti is the creator and co-host of the Yo, Is This Racist podcast, and a comedy and TV writer. He joins the show today to talk about his journey from a neuroscience major at Columbia to the writers room on mixed-ish . We also talk about his relationship to problematic white authors, his aversion to funny books, and more.  The Stacks Book Club selection for December is A Little Devil in A...

It is time for our annual Toni Morrison episode of The Stacks as part of The Stacks Book Club. We are discussing Morrison's third novel, Song of Solomon , and to help us dissect this sweeping story we've brought back author Dawnie Walton ( The Final Revival of Opal and Nev ). On the show we discuss this book as part of the conversation for "the great American novel", gush over our favorite charact...

On this episode we are joined by author, linguist, and podcast host Amanda Montell. Amanda is the author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language . We use her books as a lens to discuss the relationship of language to power and community, the ways women continue to be at the forefront of language innovation, and to look at cultural n...

Our guest today is Dr. Myisha Cherry, a philosopher, professor, and author, whose work focuses on emotions and attitudes in public life. Her latest book is The Case for Rage: Why Anger is Essential to Anti-Racist Struggle . Myisha shares why we must embrace our rage if we want to improve our society, how we've been socialized around anger, and how allies can cause harm. You can find links to every...

Our guest today is journalist and editor Dawnie Walton, she is the debut author behind one of this year's most talked about novels, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev . Dawnie shares her research process, how oral histories can elevate fictional characters, and the rock stars that inspired her own rock icon. You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https:/...

The last week of the month means it's time for The Stacks Book Club. This month we're joined again by author, poet, and podcast host, Nichole Perkins ( Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be ) to discuss Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan. On this episode we talk about the ways the book (and movie) have and haven't aged well, the depiction of friendship between Black women, and the lasting leg...

Today we are joined by debut author and minster, Danté Stewart to discuss his book, Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle . Our conversation carries us through and around the intersections of race, religion, and nationality as we discuss the stories we inherent around Blackness, the need for a more radical church, and the texts that give us meaning. You can find links to everything we discuss...

Today we're discussing Abolition for the People: The Movement for a Future Without Policing and Prisons , an anthology edited by Colin Kaepernick. We are joined by two contributors from the book, Bree Newsome Bass and Kiese Laymon. Bree is a filmmaker and activist, known for removing the confederate flag from South Carolina Capitol. Kiese is the author of Heavy and Long Division , and a friend of...

We're joined today by cultural critic, poet, podcaster , and author Nichole Perkins. Her new book, Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be is a memoir in essays that covers the intimate details of Perkins' life. We talk on this episode about sex writing, setting boundaries, and intended versus actual audience. You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: ht...

Today on The Stacks we discuss the book that inspired this podcast, Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson. We're joined by Derecka Purnell (activist and author of the forthcoming Becoming Abolitionists ) to delve into this Pulitzer Prize winning book; the coverup, the legacy, and the ways we rely on a superficial notion of justice. There are...

Today we're joined by sportswriter, journalist , and podcaster Dave Zirin to discuss his new book The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee, Changing the World . We talk about the impact of Colin Kaepernick's NFL protest in 2016, the psyche of young activists, and the best sports protest moments of all time.  You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https...

Jill Louise Busby is an writer, filmmaker, and the person behind the now defunct "Jill is Black" account on Instagram. She joins The Stacks to discuss her debut book, Unfollow Me: Essay in Complicity . Our conversation examines the complexities of audience in relation to worth, real life vs. internet life, and the need for balance. You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The...

Today we are joined by Pulitzer Prize winning author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy , Heather Ann Thompson. We discuss her process in researching and writing this epic civil rights story, and the legacy of the uprising 50 years later. The Stacks Book Club selection for September is Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by He...