

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

May 25, 2024 • 38min
Hari Kunzru on BLUE RUIN
Blue Ruin by Hari Kunzru is a novel about how we live now, the price we pay for the choices we make, and who gets to call themself an artist. Kunzru joins us to talk about structure and character development, identity and culture, authenticity in 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 episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Blue Ruin by Hari Kunzru White Tears by Hari Kunzru Red Pill by Hari Kunzru The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

May 23, 2024 • 42min
R.O. Kwon on EXHIBIT
Exhibit by R.O. Kwon weaves together themes of identity, artistry, and desire in a powerful story of women searching for meaning. Kwon joins us to talk about the dangers of ambition, the power of creating art, her connection to this novel and more with guest host 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): Exhibit by R.O. Kwon The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon The Man Who Could Move Clouds by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

May 21, 2024 • 50min
Sebastian Junger on IN MY TIME OF DYING
In My Time of Dying, Sebastian Junger’s deeply personal memoir, follows the author’s own harrowing journey to answer his questions about death and dying. Junger joins us to talk about his own near-death experience, the impact it had on his perspectives, mental health and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff recommendations from Marc and Mary. 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 My Time of Dying by Sebastian Junger The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger Tribe by Sebastian Junger Freedom by Sebastian Junger Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs Everything Happens for a Reason by Kate Bowler

May 18, 2024 • 51min
Carvell Wallace on ANOTHER WORD FOR LOVE
Carvell Wallace’s memoir Another Word for Love recounts life growing up Black and queer with beautifully crafted, emotional storytelling. Wallace joins us to talk about vulnerability, authenticity and liberation, his literary 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 and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Another Word for Love by Carvell Wallace The Sixth Man by Andre Iguodala & Carvell Wallace Good Lord Bird by James McBride Heavy by Kiese Laymon Colored Television by Danzy Senna Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar

May 16, 2024 • 48min
Aimee Nezhukumatathil on BITE BY BITE

May 14, 2024 • 44min
Miranda July on ALL FOURS
All Fours by Miranda July is a funny and unflinching look at one woman’s existence as she faces changes in her life and relationships. July joined us to talk about aging as a woman, societal pressures on identity and motherhood, her writing process and more with guest host, 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): All Fours by Miranda July The First Bad Man by Miranda July No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July Cleanness by Garth Greenwell Acts of Infidelity by Lena Andersson A Lover’s Discourse by Roland Barthes

May 11, 2024 • 51min
Zoë Schlanger on THE LIGHT EATERS
The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger is a journey through the complexity and beauty in the world of plants. Schlanger joins us to talk about the possibility of communicating plants, new research breakthroughs, her connection to climate science and more with guest host, 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) The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins The Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

May 9, 2024 • 40min
Rachel Khong on REAL AMERICANS
Rachel Khong’s Real Americans is a family story that weaves class and race with forgiveness and identity in a story with rich and warm characters. Khong joined us live at The Grove to talk about heritage and culture in writing, nostalgia and memory, community building 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 on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Real Americans by Rachel Khong Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

May 7, 2024 • 51min
Colm Tóibín on LONG ISLAND
Colm Tóibín’s Long Island features family secrets and complicated choices in the sequel to his beloved novel, Brooklyn. Tóibín joins us to talk about choosing to continue this story, creating his characters and themes of identity and community 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 on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Long Island by Colm Tóibín Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy Victory by Joseph Conrad The Golden Bowl by Henry James The Blackwater Lightship by Colm Tóibín Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín

May 2, 2024 • 33min
Genevieve Kingston on DID I EVER TELL YOU?
Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston is an intimate and compelling story of grief and love, family, and the reverberating impact of what we leave behind. Kingston joins us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about her connection to her mother, grieving and healing, crafting a memoir 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 on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman Smile by Sarah Ruhl The Bee Sting by Paul Murray Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett