

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

Aug 5, 2023 • 1h 36min
Poured Over Double Shot: Khashayar J. Khabushani and Jamel Brinkley
I Will Greet the Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani is the story of a young Iranian American boy growing up in the San Fernando Valley with his brothers. With basketball, his family and the influences around him, he begins to understand his identity. Khabushani joins us to talk about the different realities within L.A., the rewriting process, what he learned as a teacher and more. With ten rich and beautifully crafted stories, Jamel Brinkley’s collection Witness shows a glimpse of life for people in pivotal times against the backdrop of New York City. Brinkley joins us to talk about the importance of short stories as an art form, his writing process, ghost stories and more. Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): I Will Greet the Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani Witness by Jamel Brinkley Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe Stay True by Hua Hsu A Lucky Man by Jamel Brinkley I Am Not Your Negro by James Baldwin

Aug 3, 2023 • 47min
Susan Casey on THE UNDERWORLD: JOURNEYS TO THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN
"My overarching goal is to enchant people the way I am enchanted." Explore the ocean and its wonders in Susan Casey’s The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean. With an eclectic cast of scientists and enthusiasts along with the author’s firsthand experience diving into the unknown of the deep, this is a one of a kind look at one of the most important features of our planet. Casey joins us to talk about the fascinating geography and animal life she’s seen, the importance of connecting with nature, the threats that face the ocean 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 Underworld by Susan Casey The Devil’s Teeth by Susan Casey The Wave by Susan Casey

Aug 1, 2023 • 1h 42min
Poured Over Double Shot: Ann Patchett and Jimin Han
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett is a rich, multidimensional story of family, love and summer stock theater. Patchett joins us to talk about the wealth of influences that inspired this novel, wanting to write a happy book, being an author and a bookseller and more. Jimin Han’s The Apology follows a surprising and funny 105-year-old woman as she fends off an intergenerational curse. Han joins us to talk about the humor in her characters, claiming space as a writer, what she’s learned while teaching and more. Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Marc. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Our Town by Thornton Wilder Fool for Love by Sam Shepard The Dutch House by Ann Patchett Commonwealth by Ann Patchett Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III The Color of Water by James McBride Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead Do Tell by Lindsay Lynch Loot by Tania James Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal The Apology by Jimin Han The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee Trust by Hernan Diaz Featured Books (TBR Topoff): A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

Jul 29, 2023 • 47min
Colin Walsh on KALA
"There's always this thing that makes you kind of gravitate towards an idea… that you just feel this kind of throb or this pulse that's there within it.” Colin Walsh’s debut novel, Kala, bridges the literary and the thrilling with a group of friends confronting their teenage years as the unraveling of a mystery from their past throws one small Irish town into turmoil. Walsh joins us to talk about creating his characters’ voices, weaving together multiple timelines, the challenges and nostalgia of teenage friendships and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc. 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): Kala by Colin Walsh Frank Sinatra Has a Cold by Gay Talese My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley Featured Books (TBR Topoff): When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain Devil House by John Darnielle

Jul 27, 2023 • 45min
Pierce Brown on LIGHT BRINGER
"The fantastical worlds, the science fiction worlds offer a place where they can explore..." Light Bringer, the 6th installment in Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series, will bring fans back to beloved worlds and characters as the space opera saga hurtles forward. Brown joins us to talk about what other works inspired these books, how this genre can offer space for the outsiders, working toward the conclusion of the series and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Marc. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): Light Bringer by Pierce Brown Red Rising by Pierce Brown Antigone by Sophocles The Republic by Plato Dune by Frank Herbert The Afghan Campaign by Steven Pressfield Open Throat by Henry Hoke Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Nevernight by Jay Kristoff Hyperion by Dan Simmons

Jul 25, 2023 • 50min
Richard Russo on SOMEBODY'S FOOL
“If you're going to go to dark places… then you better go armed with humor.” Pulitzer Prize Winner Richard Russo returns to upstate New York with Somebody’s Fool, which reunites readers with beloved characters as they continue their lives in North Bath. Russo joins us to talk about the idea of a regional writer, getting the atmosphere of small towns, writing humor and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was produced and 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): Somebody’s Fool by Richard Russo Nobody’s Fool by Richard Russo Everybody’s Fool by Richard Russo Heartland by Sarah Smarsh

Jul 22, 2023 • 49min
Christine Pride and Jo Piazza on YOU WERE ALWAYS MINE
Writing duo Christine Pride and Jo Piazza return with You Were Always Mine, a timely, tender and thought-provoking novel about race, motherhood and family ties. They joined us to talk about the challenges and surprises of cowriting, how they balance responsibilities and deadlines, the responses of their families to the book and more, live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): You Were Always Mine by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza

Jul 20, 2023 • 43min
David Lipsky on THE PARROT AND THE IGLOO
“I feel this book is really about America.” David Lipsky’s The Parrot and the Igloo is not the climate change story you might expect — with a distinct and even humorous narrative voice and a wild story you’ll need to read to believe, this book will change the way we look at one of our most pressing issues. Lipsky joins us to talk about why he decided to approach the topic in this way, the importance of balancing levity with a serious subject, his favorite literary influences 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 Parrot and the Igloo by David Lipsky Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Birds of America by Lorrie Moore

Jul 18, 2023 • 25min
Rachel Cargle on A RENAISSANCE OF OUR OWN
“And I'm grateful for the times I got to ask questions. I got to be curious, I got to say, Hey, this looks different over there.” A Renaissance of Our Own is both memoir and manifesto; a rallying cry to reimagine how we exist and interact with the world and each other. Author and activist Rachel Cargle joined us to talk about ambition and curiosity, imposed expectations, grief and joy, her work with the Loveland Foundation, finding what we value most and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books: A Renaissance of Our Own by Rachel Cargle The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Jul 15, 2023 • 37min
Michael Finkel on THE ART THIEF
“Every reader can have a different opinion at the end between admiration and disgust and nobody's wrong.” The Art Thief by Michael Finkel is the stranger-than-fiction true story of Stéphane Breitweiser’s infamous and incredible career as — you guessed it, one of the world’s most notorious art thieves. Finkel joined us to talk about his own interactions with Breitweiser, the notion of obsession, how we should start viewing art and more with guest host, Allie Ludlow. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Art Thief by Michael Finkel The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel