

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 30, 2024 • 50min
Salman Rushdie on KNIFE
In his new memoir, Knife, Salman Rushdie tells the unforgettable (and life-affirming) story of the attempt on his life and the recovery and healing that would follow. Rushdie joins us to talk about writing such a personal work, the importance and beauty of art and the kinds of literature he loves 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) Knife by Salman Rushdie Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie Quichotte by Salman Rushdie Victory City by Salman Rushdie Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Apr 27, 2024 • 39min
Shannon Chakraborty on THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI
Shannon Chakraborty’s The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is a journey through magical lands and tempestuous seas with a crew of pirates that you won’t soon forget. Chakraborty joins us to talk about creating her unique and vibrant characters, writing about history (and magic), including important themes of identity and religion 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): The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig The Pasha of Cuisine by Saygin Ersin Godkiller by Hannah Kaner Flying Snakes and Griffin Claws by Adrienne Mayor

Apr 25, 2024 • 28min
Elaine U. Cho on OCEAN'S GODORI
Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho has it all — space, murder, romance and characters to love. Cho joins us to talk about what lead her to write the book, cultural identity in sci-fi, her inclusion of pop culture references and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Lu Green Frog by Gina Chung The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Apr 23, 2024 • 47min
Amy Tan on THE BACKYARD BIRD CHRONICLES
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan allows readers to experience through the author’s eyes and taps into the fascination we share with our avian friends. Tan joins us to talk about birdwatching and the creative process, the ways she came to writing the book, observation in the natural world and more with Miwa Messer, the 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): The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan The Kitchen God’s Wife by Amy Tan

Apr 20, 2024 • 40min
Crystal Hana Kim on THE STONE HOME
The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim is a story of mothers and daughters, secrets and lies, complicity and betrayal set in 1980s South Korea. Kim joined us to talk about the history that appears in her novel, oppression and storytelling, the importance of historical fiction 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): The Stone Home by Crystal Hana Kim If You Leave Me by Crystal Hana Kim Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich Paradise by Toni Morrison

Apr 18, 2024 • 50min
Amanda Montell on THE AGE OF MAGICAL OVERTHINKING
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell combines witty and playful analyses of the way our brains work in the nonstop information age with personal stories that will make readers feel like talking to a best friend. Montell joins us to talk about the truth about cognitive biases, her extensive research process, the effects our society has on our thinking and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. 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): The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell Cultish by Amanda Montell Wordslut by Amanda Montell The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion All Fours by Miranda July Mistakes Were Made (but Not By Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors White Feminism by Koa Beck Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Book of Delights by Ross Gay The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan

Apr 15, 2024 • 43min
Sarah Hart on ONCE UPON A PRIME
Once Upon a Prime by Sarah Hart connects mathematics and fiction, encouraging readers to dig deeper into why they like to read what they like to read, using math as a guide. Hart joins us to talk about her path to writing, the unexpected parallels between seemingly different disciplines, some of her favorite mathematical literature facts 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): Once Upon a Prime by Sarah Hart Moby Dick by Herman Melville The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer The Ruba'iyat of Omar Khayyam by Omar Khayyam The Eight by Katherine Neville When We Cease to Understand the World by Benjamin Labatut The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton Ulysses by James Joyce The Life of Pi by Yann Martel In Memoriam by Alice Winn

Apr 13, 2024 • 45min
Carys Davies on CLEAR
Clear by Carys Davies is a beautifully written short novel about the price of isolation and the desire for community. Davies joined us to talk about the importance of language in her writing, wilderness and western adaptations, writing concise stories and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Jamie. 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): Clear by Carys Davies West by Carys Davies The Mission House by Carys Davies In the Distance by Hernan Diaz Inland by Tea Obreht The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller At the Edge of the Woods by Kathryn Bromwich

Apr 11, 2024 • 42min
Maggie Nelson on LIKE LOVE
Like Love by Maggie Nelson features essays and conversations, advice and introspection, spanning the decades of her career. Nelson joins us to talk about her many influences, the role of love in art criticism, vulnerability in writing 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): Like Love by Maggie Nelson Bluets by Maggie Nelson The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson My 1980s and Other Essays by Wayne Koestenbaum Close to the Knives by David Wojnarowicz The Weather in Proust by Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Black and Blur by Fred Moten Index Cards by Moyra Davey Suicide Blonde by Darcey Steinke The Seas by Samantha Hunt

Apr 9, 2024 • 47min
Anne Lamott on SOMEHOW
Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott is full of empathy, heart and humanity, drawing on personal struggles and triumphs to showcase the wider truths of love and compassion. Lamott joined us to talk about the powers of connection, the impact of distractions in our lives, joy and wonder in creativity 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): Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron The Dry by Jane Harper A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin On Writing by Stephen King