Poured Over

“That to me is part of the joy … of memoir, which is — it is all about looking back.” Beth Nguyen’s Owner of a Lonely Heart is a memoir about motherhood, loss and coming-of-age while navigating the refugee experience, told with a vivid and powerful voice. Nguyen joins us to talk about the feeling of writing nonfiction, the importance of names, generational impacts on the way we view life and more 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): Owner of a Lonely Heart by Beth Nguyen Stealing Buddha’s Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen Heavy by Kiese Laymon The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh  When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka  The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka  Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen The Committed by Viet Thang Nguyen  Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson is a novel of family and freedom as one young man navigates coming of age as a Londoner born to Ghanian parents. Nelson joins us to talk about the change and growth in his second book, visiting Ghana while writing, the importance of place and more.  In her short story collection, Temple Folk, Aaliyah Bilal examines and illuminates some of the realities of the Black Muslim experience through her stunning prose and deep characters. Bilal talks with us on how she came to short stories, the impact of community, the influences that shape her as an author and more.  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):  Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson  Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal  Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson  NW by Zadie Smith  Lot by Bryan Washington  Family Meal by Bryan Washington  Jazz by Toni Morrison  Corregidora by Gayl Jones  Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones  The Turner House by Angela Flournoy  The Sword and the Shield by Peniel Joseph 

“... what is it like to live your life through the books you read?"  The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt is a warm, introspective novel about a retired librarian who lives his life surrounded by books, and the impact he has on those around him. DeWitt joins us to talk about finding the story’s voice, balancing humor and melancholy, writing in different genres and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Jamie and Mary.     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): The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt French Exit by Patrick deWitt Ablutions by Patrick deWitt Stoner by John Williams Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller  Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Fifth Business by Robertson Davies The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson 

“What part of yourself is actually in each character?”  Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur is a family drama set on the shores of Cape Cod, full of complicated relationships, secrets and revelations. Brodeur joined us to talk about creating her detailed characters, writing intuitively, her career in the literary world 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):  Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur  Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy  The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese  Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  The Great Offshore Grounds by Vanessa Veselka Seven Steeples by Sara Baume 

Whether it’s to 18th century Prague or present-day Los Angeles, you’ll find yourself transported with these fast paced and thrilling reads and their complicated characters and dynamic plots. The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni is thriller unlike any other with its intricate web of enigmas and ancient mysteries that will keep you guessing until the very end. Trussoni joins us to talk about how she developed her characters and plots, the immense amount of research she did before writing, why we’re scared of lifelike dolls and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.  Ivy Pochoda returns with her newest novel, Sing Her Down, which follows the charged and often violent journey of two women released from prison in the height of COVID lockdown. Pochoda joins us to talk about female rage, writing during quarantine, the personality of LA and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.          Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).       Featured Books (Episode):   The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni Sing Her Down by Ivy Pochoda The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown These Women by Ivy Pochoda Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy Angels by Denis Johnson Mecca by Susan Straight Pity the Beast by Robin McLean 

“This whole life experience is just a ride, and occasionally we get to steer it.”  Jason Mraz’s new album Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride combines elements from his previous music with all new influences for this journey through sound. Mraz joins us to talk about writing new songs, his time on Broadway, his take on concert etiquette and more with Poured Over guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang.     New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.            Featured Titles (Episode): Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride by Jason Mraz The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur

“I didn't want to get sick of my work … let's write something that I'm going to enjoy.” Open Throat by Henry Hoke is a novel unlike any other. This propulsive and vulnerable story reflects humanity from the perspective of a queer mountain lion living under the Hollywood sign. Hoke and his editor, Jackson Howard, join to talk about the process of writing this book, the canon of queer literature, the setting of LA 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): Open Throat by Henry Hoke  100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell  Let the Record Show by Sarah Schulman  Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters  Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis  

“God, I was an idiot, but I had good legs.” Caroline O’Donoghue’s The Rachel Incident is a witty and emotional journey through friendships, first loves and all the challenges that come with being in your early 20s. O’Donoghue joins us to talk about her incredibly relatable characters, realistic love interests, writing for adults and YA and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.    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 Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O’Donoghue Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes

Elysha Chang’s debut, A Quitter’s Paradise, is the story of one woman’s journey through family secrets, grief and love told with humor and heart. Chang and her publisher, Sarah Jessica Parker, join us live at Barnes & Noble Union Square to talk about the challenges of writing this novel, what they look for in books, getting into the publishing industry 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):  A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha Chang  A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza  The Dinner by Herman Koch   A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra  Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters by J.D. Salinger 

“I found in nature that kind of the same appeal that I find in books which is: … they're both filled with these rich particularities and they're also … mysteriously universal.” Jennifer Ackerman’s What an Owl Knows is a compelling and vivid investigation into one of our world’s most beloved and mysterious animals. Ackerman talks with us about her journey to the world of birds, the incredible researchers she worked with on the book, the roles nature plays in daily life and more with guest host Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Mary.   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): What an Owl Knows by Jennifer Ackerman  The Bird Way by Jennifer Ackerman  An Immense World by Ed Yong  Sounds Wild and Broken by David Haskell  Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan Slaght  A Most Remarkable Creature by Jonathan Meiburg    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):  Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy  The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America by Matt Kracht