

The Stacks
Traci Thomas
The Stacks is your one stop shop to talk books and reading. Guests will join the host, Traci Thomas for lively discussions about books and the ways they have shaped their lives, and they way we all understand culture, race, politics, and more. The last Wednesday of each month Traci and guest will break down a book in detail as part of The Stacks Book Club. Make sure to check the website www.thestackspodcast.com for more details, including upcoming The Stacks Book Club picks.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 26, 2021 • 1h 9min
Ep. 165 Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy -- The Stacks Book Club (Jenny Lee)
Today is The Stacks Book Club day and we’re finally discussing Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy with author Jenny Lee. Jenny’s books Anna K and Anna K Away are modern day retellings of Anna Karenina which makes her the perfect person to do a deep dive into this mega-novel. Please be warned there are a lot of spoilers in the episode. Also, a huge thank you to everyone who read along with us, it's no small feat, and we’re honored you took the time to read along with us!There are spoilers on this episode.Be sure to listen until the end of the podcast to find out The Stacks Book Club pick for June!You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/05/26/ep-165-anna-kareninaSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 19, 2021 • 54min
Ep. 164 Breaking a Story with Patrick Radden Keefe
Our guest today is staff writer at The New Yorker, and award winning author Patrick Radden Keefe. We talk about his newest book Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, and the ways the opioid crisis was directly connected to their drug OxyContin. We also discuss Patrick’s thinking around breaking a story, writing after the success of his bestselling book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland, and his foray into podcasting with his show Wind of Change.The Stacks Book Club selection for May is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. We will discuss the book with Jenny Lee on Wednesday May 26th.You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/05/19/ep-164-patrick-radden-keefeSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 12, 2021 • 1h 2min
Ep. 163 Pushing the Boundaries of Understanding with Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Today we're joined by Chanda Prescod Weinstein, a theoretical physicist specializing in early universe cosmology. She is the author of The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred. We talk today about science anxiety, the ways politics play into science, and how the cosmos are part of all of our lives.The Stacks Book Club selection for May is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy we will discuss the book with Jenny Lee on Wednesday May 26th.You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/05/12/ep-163-chanda-prescod-weinsteinConnect with Chanda: Twitter | Instagram SUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 5, 2021 • 1h 12min
Ep. 162 Adapting a Classic with Jenny Lee
Today on The Stacks we’re talking with TV writer and author Jenny Lee. Jenny is the author of Anna K a modern retelling of Anna Karenina set in the world of New York City’s teenage elite. Her brand new book is a sequel to the bestselling Anna K entitled, Anna K Away. We talk today about adapting a classic, what happens when the source material runs out, and the very real struggle of not always liking your work. The Stacks Book Club selection for May is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy we will discuss the book with Jenny Lee on Wednesday May 26th.Click here to be part of The Stacks fundraiser for Million Book Project.You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/05/05/ep-162-jenny-leeSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 28, 2021 • 1h 20min
Ep. 161 The Tradition by Jericho Brown -- The Stacks Book Club (Reginald Dwayne Betts)
On today's episode of The Stacks we're talking with poet, lawyer, and activist, Reginald Dwayne Betts about The Tradition by Jericho Brown for The Stacks Book Club. We discuss poems as fact or fiction, what happens when you hear a poem out loud, and the ways different poems can take on different meanings to different people. Click here to be part of The Stacks fundraiser for Million Book Project.You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/04/28/ep-161-the-traditionSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 21, 2021 • 1h 7min
Ep. 160 Black People Doing Spectacular Things with Hanif Abdurraqib
On this week's episode we're joined by Hanif Abdurraqib. Hanif is an author, poet, music and cultural critic, and the host of the podcast Object of Sound. We talk today about his newest book, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance. We talk today about how Hanif expanded the definition of performance, restraint as a tool in writing, and finding gratitude amidst grief. Click here to be part of The Stacks fundraiser for Million Book Project.You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: Connect with Hanif: InstagramSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 14, 2021 • 57min
Ep. 159 Surviving the White Gaze with Rebecca Carroll
Our guest today Rebecca Carroll. Rebecca is a writer, cultural critic, and podcaster. She is the author of multiple books including her memoir which came out in February and is titled Surviving the White Gaze. We discuss her life as a Black child adopted into a white family, how she continues to interrogate the white gaze, and her 2020 podcast Come Through with Rebecca Carroll.There are no spoilers on this episode.For the month of April, The Stacks is raising $50,000 for Million Book Project to bring books into prisons nationwide. Click here to donate.Connect with Rebecca: Twitter | InstagramSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 7, 2021 • 1h 9min
Ep. 158 Reaching for Answers with Reginald Dwayne Betts
On today's episode we talk with poet, author, activist, and attorney Reginald Dwayne Betts (Felon). In the conversation we explore the ways we police and punish ourselves and the people around us, the conditions of worthiness, and the balance between form and word choice in poetry. Dwayne also shares about his nonprofit, Million Book Project, and the work they do to bring books into prisons.Click here to be part of The Stacks fundraiser for Million Book Project. The Stacks Book Club selection for April is The Tradition by Jericho Brown, we will discuss the book with Reginald Dwayne Betts on Wednesday April 7th.You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/04/07/ep-158-reginald-dwayne-bettsSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 31, 2021 • 52min
Ep. 157 Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh -- The Stacks Book Club (Nic Stone)
It's time for The Stacks Book Club conversation about our March pick, 2020 National Book Award Finalist, Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh. We are joined by prolific YA author, Nic Stone (Dear Martin, Dear Justyce). Our conversation explores what makes a book "good" or "bad", the complexity of finding one's self, and the power and value in our bodies.There are spoilers on this episode.Be sure to listen until the end of today’s episode to find out our book club picks for BOTH April and May!You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/03/31/ep-157-every-body-lookingConnect with Nic: InstagramSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mar 24, 2021 • 45min
Ep. 156 Pursuing a Passion with Brandon Hobson
Brandon Hobson is a National Book Award Finalist, and the author of a brand new novel called The Removed. The book is about one family and the lasting impacts from the murder of their son at the hands of a police officer. Today we talk about how The Removed challenges stereotypes around Native Americans, creating a career from passions, and the writers who inspire Brandon.There are no spoilers on this episode.The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh, we will discuss the book with Nic Stone on March 31st.You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/03/24/ep-156-brandon-hobsonConnect with Brandon: TwitterSUPPORT THE STACKSTo support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.


