

Poured Over
Barnes & Noble
Poured Over is a show for readers who pore over details, obsess over sentences and ideas and stories and characters; readers who ask a lot of questions, just like Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer, a career bookseller who's always reading. Follow us here for surprising riffs, candid conversations, a few laughs, and lots of great book recommendations from big name authors and authors on their way to being big names. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 9, 2026 • 56min
Emma Straub on AMERICAN FANTASY
American Fantasy by Emma Straub is a charming and comic story about the joys of middle age — and what lies beyond nostalgia. Emma joins us to talk about boybands, New Kids on the Block, parasocial relationships, fandom, finding freedom in cringe and more with cohost Brenda Allison. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): American Fantasy by Emma Straub This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub Country People by Daniel Mason

Apr 7, 2026 • 43min
Caro Claire Burke on YESTERYEAR
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke is a witty, dark debut about a tradwife social media influencer. Caro joins us to talk about likable characters, performance, social media, traditional living, surveillance and more with cohost Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates Whidbey by T Kira Madden The Secret History by Donna Tartt In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Apr 2, 2026 • 58min
Kevin Fedarko on A WALK IN THE PARK
A Walk in the Park by Kevin Fedarko is an inspired look at our beautiful world and where we fit in it. Kevin joins us to talk about setting off on his hike, the unique terrain of the Grand Canyon, perseverance, the beauty of the natural world, the National Park Service and more with cohost Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app Featured Books (Episode): A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon by Colin Fletcher

Apr 1, 2026 • 1h 4min
Jenny Lawson on HOW TO BE OKAY WHEN NOTHING IS OKAY
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson shares tips and tricks for all of life's messy bits. Jenny joins us to talk about the joys of reading, finding community, doom scrolling, empathy, expectations, Freud and more with cohost Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself by Jenny Lawson Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson Broken (in the best possible way) by Jenny Lawson Featured Books (TBR Top Off) How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay: Tips and Tricks That Kept Me Alive, Happy, and Creative in Spite of Myself by Jenny Lawson Joyful Recollections of Trauma by Paul Scheer The Creative Act: : A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

Mar 31, 2026 • 1h 7min
Yann Martel on SON OF NOBODY
Son of Nobody by Yann Martel is an imaginative retelling of the Trojan War from the bestselling author of Life of Pi. Yann joins us to talk about the Trojan War, studying the classics, writing epic poetry, structure, Greek mythology, storytelling and more with cohost Brenda Allison. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Son of Nobody by Yann Martel Life of Pi by Yann Martel The Iliad by Homer, translated by Stephen Mitchell The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison The Divine Comedy: The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso by Dante Alighieri, translated by John Ciardi The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati Waiting for Godot: : A Tragicomedy in Two Acts by Samuel Beckett The Iliad by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson Featured Books (TBR Top Off) Son of Nobody by Yann Martel What We Can Know by Ian McEwan Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Mar 28, 2026 • 45min
Kristen Arnett on STOP ME IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS ONE
Stop Me If You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett is a heartfelt and hilarious romp through Central Florida following an unlikely protagonist: a clown working the birthday circuit. Kristen joins us to talk about the polarization of clowns, following your creative intuition, the tourism economy, art, friendship, Florida, third spaces and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Stop Me If You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett With Teeth by Kristen Arnett It by Stephen King Brawler: Stories by Lauren Groff Alligator Tears: A Memoir in Essays by Edgar Gomez Whidbey by T Kira Madden Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden State of Paradise by Laura van den Berg

Mar 26, 2026 • 54min
Amal El-Mohtar on SEASONS OF GLASS AND IRON
Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal El-Mohtar features her award-winning folktales that invite readers into fantastic new worlds. Amal joins us to talk about Dungeons & Dragons, creating characters, long form vs short form writing, the life of the internet, creativity, birds and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories by Amal El-Mohtar The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm Jade City by Fonda Lee The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee Metal from Heaven by August Clarke

Mar 24, 2026 • 40min
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney on LAKE EFFECT
Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney is a witty and wry story about family, marriage—and happiness. Cynthia joined us live at The Grove to talk about the 1970s, women's agency, revisiting classic novels, Rochester and more with host Miwa Messer. 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 on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney The Great American Novel by Philip Roth Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Middlemarch by George Eliot North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse Intruder in the Dust by William Faulkner

Mar 21, 2026 • 53min
Tom Junod on IN THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH I WAS TOLD WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN
In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man by Tom Junod is a poignant reflection of fathers, sons and the complex bonds of family. Tom joins us to talk about growing up on Long Island, Mad Men, writing about his father, masculinity, Mr. Rogers and more with host Miwa Messer. 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 on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man by Tom Junod

Mar 19, 2026 • 53min
Andy Weir on PROJECT HAIL MARY
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is a tale of impending catastrophe, survival and interstellar adventure. Andy joins us to talk about his books being adapted into films, astrophysics, placing his characters in tricky situations, world building, The Beatles and more with cohost Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Martian by Andy Weir A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith The Time Machine by H.G. Wells Featured Books (TBR Top Off) Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi


