

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

Dec 14, 2023 • 39min
Gilbert Cruz, NYT Books Editor
“I think it's actually good for discussion, because you want to see a range of variety of books on these top 10 lists.” It’s been a great year for books! With best-of-the-year lists rolling out, Gilbert Cruz, Books Editor at the New York Times, sat down with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over, to discuss some favorites of the year, how the top lists are compiled, the joys of recommending books and more. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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): Lone Women by Victor LaValle Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton North Woods by Daniel Mason The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel Fire Weather by John Vaillant Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo The Wager by David Grann Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung The Bee Sting by Paul Murray The Fraud by Zadie Smith The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang Loot by Tania James Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead Whalefall by Daniel Kraus This Other Eden by Paul Harding

Dec 12, 2023 • 48min
Ned Blackhawk on THE REDISCOVERY OF AMERICA
Winner of the National Book Award for Nonfiction, The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk puts Indigenous history at the center to create a fuller and more accurate depiction of America’s past and future. Blackhawk joins us to talk about the erasure of Indigenous peoples from American history, retelling narratives from new perspectives, the surprises he found in his research and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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 Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk

Dec 9, 2023 • 43min
Sowmya Krishnamurthy on FASHION KILLA
Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy offers an in-depth look at the significant cultural intersection between hip-hop music and the world of fashion. Krishnamurthy joins us to talk about her career leading up to writing this book, the research she did, gender roles in hip-hop and fashion and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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): Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy

Dec 7, 2023 • 1h 3min
Lindsay Hunter and Roxane Gay
Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter is a raw and visceral novel that explores primal desires, shocking secrets and the effects they have on those that uncover them. Hunter is joined by her publisher, Roxane Gay, a prolific author in her own right including her new collection, Opinions. The two join us to discuss collaboration and revision, writing the gritty details of life, advice for writers 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 Executive Producer 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): Hot Springs Drive by Lindsay Hunter Opinions by Roxane Gay O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker Empty Theatre by Jac Jemc The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh The Need by Helen Phillips

Dec 5, 2023 • 42min
Emily Wilson on THE ILIAD
Emily Wilson’s new translation of The Iliad brings to life this divine tale of conflict, love and honor in a way that feels fresh and compulsively readable. Wilson joins us to talk about the universality of Homer’s work, working with gods and epic themes, translating for modern audiences and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson The Iliad translated by Emily Wilson

Dec 2, 2023 • 56min
Merlin Sheldrake on ENTANGLED LIFE: THE ILLUSTRATED EDITION
“It’s important for us to examine those inherited perspectives that … guide the way that we think and feel and imagine with regard to other life forms on the planet.” Entangled Life: The Illustrated Edition brings readers back to the wondrous realm of fungi, now with stunning photographs that illuminate this mysterious piece of our world in a new way. Sheldrake joins us to talk about adding a new medium to his work, the influences of fungi on culture, important conservation efforts and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake Entangled Life: Illustrated Edition by Merlin Sheldrake

Nov 30, 2023 • 49min
Ed Park on SAME BED DIFFERENT DREAMS
Ed Park’s Same Bed Different Dreams blends history, technology and pop culture in a novel that spans time and reality in an unforgettable way. Park joins us to talk about the long gap between his books, writing and identity, media connections in his work and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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): Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park Personal Days by Ed Park Big Bang by David Bowman The Notebook by Ágota Kristóf

Nov 28, 2023 • 43min
Helen Garner on THE CHILDREN'S BACH and THIS HOUSE OF GRIEF
With recent reprints of The Children’s Bach and This House of Grief, Helen Garner’s voice returns in two of her best works — a novel featuring the intricacies of complicated family life and a nonfiction account of one of Australia’s most shocking criminal cases. Garner joins us to talk about how she came to write each of these stories, keeping diaries, the complexities of human character and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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 Children’s Bach by Helen Garner This House of Grief by Helen Garner Monkey Grip by Helen Garner

Nov 23, 2023 • 34min
Jeff Tweedy on WORLD WITHIN A SONG
In Jeff Tweedy’s newest book World Within a Song, the accomplished musician shares fifty influential songs that have shaped his life and career and shows us how music can create connection for all. Tweedy joins us to talk about the impact of music on identity, the shared qualities between his different mediums, his thoughts on authenticity and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy This Is Not a Novel by David Markson The Tunnel by William H. Gass The World Within the World by William H. Gass

Nov 21, 2023 • 53min
Tracy K. Smith on TO FREE THE CAPTIVES
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith’s To Free the Captives combines the beauty of a memoir with a grander look at America’s history and future. Smith joins us to talk about family and cultural identity, race and belonging, the importance of poetry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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): To Free the Captives by Tracy K. Smith Such Color Tracy K. Smith Life on Mars Tracy K. Smith Wade in the Water Tracy K. Smith