Village Well Podcast

In this episode, we chat with Samuel C. Spitale, author of How to Win the War on Truth. We cover the history of propaganda, the creation of Public Relations, and the rise of think tanks in our politics. Samuel walks us through the history of psychology of misinformation in the US and helps us understand what we can do it about it. We hope you enjoy! Check out How to Win the War on Truth here: http...

In this episode, Jen and Shira sit down with DEI consultant Monique Marshall for a conversation about identity and belonging. Monique shares some excellent children's book recommendations for sparking conversations around identity with kids. She also discusses her own journey and offers suggestions for teaching children about DEI topics. Check out Monique's Website Monique’s Recommendation...

On this special holiday episode, the staff of The Village Well recommends gifts for 2025! See what we picked out below: Fiction King Sorrow by Joe Hill The True True Story of Raja the Gullible by Rabih Alameddine Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz Nonfiction Empire of AI by Karen Hao Stitching Freedom by Gary Tyler The Dry Season by Melissa Febos Kids/YA Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins Le...

On this episode, Judith sits down with Amy Tangerine to talk about her book Craft a Life You Love. It’s a “permission slip to be creative” and encourages readers to tap into artistic expression without all the judgement. You can check out more of Amy’s work at the links below: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/amytangerine/?hl=en YouTube https://www.youtube.com/amytangerine Website https://www.a...

This week on the pod, Jen sits down with author, advocate, and producer Kathy Eldon to chat about her new book Boundless. They had a great conversation, touching on justice, creativity, and healing from grief. We hope you enjoy! Check out Creative Visions: https://www.creativevisions.org/ Kathy’s Recommendations: Real Magic by Dead Radin https://villagewell.com/item/rgHmVQkJfJ5x-Tv7qbHSVw A New Ea...

In this episode, Tom Rubio, facilitator of the SciFi/Fantasy book club at Village Well, hosts a conversation with two of the club's regulars to discuss last month's pick, Katabasis by R. F. Kuang. Click here to grab a copy: https://villagewell.com/item/MEgaIBq6_d8cx8Dg3TPwTw The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Eac...

This week on the pod, Colin Hinckley (our very own author of ⁠ The Black Lord ⁠) sat down with author Sarah Langan to talk about her recent book ⁠ Pam Kowolski is a Monster! ⁠ , her upcoming work Trad Wives , and the joys and terrors of the horror genre. Check out Sarah’s Instagram and give her a follow! Sarah’s recommendations: Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte Flesh by David Szalay Horror Movie by...

On this episode, Tom sits down with members of the SciFi/Fantasy book club to discuss The Murderbot Diaries. They had a great conversation and saved all the spoilers till the end (don’t worry there’s a warning). If you’d like to grab a copy check out the link below: https://villagewell.com/item/MWp_c1qAP1yOIlKI7t1ZFQ The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week, Jen sat down with Andrea Tetrick from Publishers Group West and Two Rivers to talk about exciting releases for 2025. We hope you enjoy! Andrea's Picks: Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Mona's Eyes by Thomas Schlesser Heart the Lover by Lily King The Enduring Wild by Josh Jackson Rocks and Riches by Gary L Prost Britannica All New Kids' Encyclopedia edited by Christopher Lloyd...

This week on the pod, Jen and Brett sat down with writer, producer, and newly published author David Meyer. They chatted about his new book Five Minutes From a Meltdown, and got to the heart of poetry, or something like that. David's Recommendations: - You Don't Have to Have a Dream by Tim Minchin - How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur - Egghead by Bo Burnham The Village Well Podcast is brou...

This episode, Tobi sat down with two of our Book Club attendees to chat about last month’s pick: You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue. It’s a wild, surreal book about the historically-inspired first encounter between Cortez and Moctezuma. We hope you enjoy! If you’d like to purchase a copy of the book, check out the link below:https://shop.villagewell.com/item/wCIDqQu6pg-qiKBk_SDvkwThe Village...

This episode, Jen and Shira sat down with the wonderful Lil Miss Hot Mess, drag queen and professor at the University of Arizona. We recorded during Pride month, and had a great conversation about Drag Story Hour, Drag culture more broadly, and queer and trans rights. We hope you enjoy! Lil Miss Hot Mess's Recommendations: - Tabitha and Magoo Dress Up Too⁠ by Michelle Tea - The Queen Bees of Tybee...

This week on the pod, Jen and Brett sat down with Professor Mo Ogrodnik from NYU. They talked about Mo's new book Gulf, featuring stories from women in the Gulf States. They also covered the impact of international education, shifting geopolitics in the region, and Brett's experience as one of Mo's students. Mo's Recommendations: Secondhand Time by Svetlana Alexievich We Do Not Par...

On this very special Mother’s Day episode, Jen and her daughter Allie sat down with Angourie and Kate Rice to talk about their new book Stuck Up and Stupid, a contemporary YA adaptation of Pride and Prejudice . They talked about their work collaborating together, their relationship with each other, and their love for Jane Austin. We hope you enjoy! The Rices’ Recommendations: - The Art Thief by Mi...

This week on the pod, Anneliese Judge stopped by to chat with Brett and Neema! She talked about her love of reading, her experience as an actor on Sweet Magnolias, and her inspiration for starting a book club (Who to Judge). We hope you enjoy! Anneliese’s Recommendations: - The Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors - Daughter of Daring by Mallory O'Meara - Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty Cayouette...

This week on the pod, Josh and Sam sat down with Professor Leah Litman to talk about her new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. Leah is a professor of Law at the University of Michigan and co-host of the legal podcast Strict Scrutiny. She has a gift for breaking down complicated legal decisions into straightforward summaries, and she...

On this episode of the Village Well Podcast, we sat down with Dave Ehrlich, a Sales Rep from the book publisher Chronicle Books. We talked about the publishing world and exciting new releases for 2025. Dave's Picks for 2025: 100 Afternoon Sweets by Sarah Kieffer One Week in January by Carson Ellis Taste In Music by Luke Pyenson and Alex Bleeker Palace Costume by Mimi Haddon They Hold the Line by D...

On this special live episode of the Village Well Podcast, Colin Hinckley sits down with author Philip Fracassi to talk Sci-Fi, Horror, and time travel in his new book The Third Rule of Time Travel . This was a fun one! The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capt...

This week we sat down with Sophie and Andrea from Piece by Piece - a nonprofit that teaches those experiencing homelessness how to make mosaic art. We talk about the organization's founding, how its grown over time, and the healing power of art. If you'd like to learn more, head to piecebypiece.orgSophie and Andrea's Recommendations:- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle- Art is the Highe...

In this week's episode, we had a lovely chat with local LA Poet Kim Dower. We talked about her new book What She Wants, her experience as an artist and as a businesswoman, and the way the literary world has changed over the decades. Kim's Recommendations:- Exit Opera by Kim Addonizio- Revolutionary Letters by Diane di Prima- Lunch Poems by Frank O'HaraThe Village Well Podcast is brough...

Welcome to the Village Well Podcast. This week, we're recapping our SciFi/Fantasy Book Club's discussion of The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. Special thanks to our lovely Village Well customers Roshni and Joe for joining us! If you'd like to join any of our Book Clubs, check out our events page on villagewell.com. You can also head there to order the titles discussed each epis...

This week on the Village Well Podcast we sat down with American Ninja Warrior host and former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila! We talked about his book Everyone Can Be a Ninja which covers family, faith, and positive masculinity. Enjoy! Akbar's Recommendations: - Will by Will Smith - A Promised Land by Barack Obama - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Villa...

Welcome to the Village Well Podcast. This week, we're recapping our Book Club's discussion of Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Special thanks to our lovely Village Well customers Omari and Andy for joining us! If you'd like to join any of our Book Clubs, check out our events page on villagewell.com. You can also head there to order the titles discussed each episode. The Village Well Podcast...

This week’s guest is Aida Davis, founder of Decolonizing Design and chief people officer of the Sierra Club. Jen and Neema sat down with Aida to discuss her book Kindred Creation and the work of reclaiming African heritage in the Black community. Aida’s Recommendations: - Insight & Poems by Huey Newton and Ericka Huggins - By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho - Things Fall A...

Welcome to the Village Well Podcast. This week, we're recapping our Sci Fi/ Fantasy Book Club's discussion of Annihilation by Jeff Vander Meer. Special thanks to our lovely Village Well regulars Laura and Alex for joining us! If you'd like to join any of our Book Clubs, check out our events page on villagewell.com. You can also head there to order the titles discussed each episode. The Village Wel...