

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 27, 2023 • 35min
Tom Hanks on THE MAKING OF ANOTHER MOTION PICTURE MASTERPIECE
Tom Hanks (yes, that Tom Hanks) returns to the world of fiction with The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece — a loving look at what (and who) it takes to make a movie, told through the lens of America’s changing history. Hanks joins us to talk about why he writes, how he finds his voice 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. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks Featured Books (TBR Topoff): The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon Adventures in the Screen Trade by William Goldman

May 25, 2023 • 50min
R.F. Kuang on YELLOWFACE
“I've become increasingly cynical about the industry's ability to change itself and how it deals with representation and marginalization.” R.F. Kuang’s new novel, Yellowface, tackles cultural appropriation, the challenges of the world of publishing and what it means to be a writer with a wit all her own. Kuang joins us to talk about what lead her to writing this novel, who gets to tell our stories, publishing her first literary fiction novel and more live at Barnes & Noble Union Square with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. 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): Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Babel by R.F. Kuang The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu Jade City by Fonda Lee

May 23, 2023 • 58min
Brandon Taylor on THE LATE AMERICANS
“I am a firm believer in consequences.” Brandon Taylor’s new novel, The Late Americans, finds a group of young people at a crossroads and follows as they face uncertainty and confront decisions that will affect the trajectory of their lives. Taylor joins us to discuss connections between his previous works, his love of revision and rewriting, starting a new career journey and more with Poured Over host Miwa Messer. 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. Follow us here for New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor Real Life by Brandon Taylor The American by Henry James Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Ohio by Stephen Markley All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

May 20, 2023 • 45min
Katy Hessel on THE STORY OF ART WITHOUT MEN
“In 1649, Artemisia Gentileschi wrote, ‘I'll show you what a woman can do.’” In The Story of Art Without Men, Katy Hessel recounts the legacy of the women that have shaped the history of art — largely without recognition. Hessel joins us to talk about how she started this massive project, what surprised her while writing, some of the women that inspire her and more with guest host Allie Ludlow. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson and Jamie. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allie Ludlow and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): The Story of Art Without Men by Katy Hessel The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich Featured Books (TBR Topoff): How To Suppress Women’s Writing by Joanna Russ Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? By Linda Nochlin

May 18, 2023 • 1h 18min
Samantha Irby on QUIETLY HOSTILE
Few people are as funny as Samantha Irby, and her new collection of essays, Quietly Hostile, proves it. Irby joins us to talk about representation in media, the importance of paperback books, writing for television and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Madyson 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): Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby Meaty by Samantha Irby Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Dear Girls by Ali Wong Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan

May 16, 2023 • 46min
Emma Cline on THE GUEST
Emma Cline, author of the The Girls, returns with her propulsive new novel, The Guest. This is the story of a singular young woman — a con artist drifting through Long Island’s high society in the heat of summer. Cline joins us to talk about trauma math, reasons to write complicated characters, how this book was influenced by John Cheever and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. 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): The Guest by Emma Cline The Girls by Emma Cline Daddy by Emma Cline The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

May 13, 2023 • 52min
Mary Beth Keane on THE HALF MOON
Mary Beth Keane’s new novel, The Half Moon, follows a small-town couple navigating the uncertainties of marriage and starting a family. Keane joins us to talk about how she creates her characters, why she chose to tackle tough themes, writing during the pandemic and more with guest host, Allyson Gavaletz. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Allyson Gavaletz and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays). Featured Books (Episode): The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Opened Ground by Seamus Heaney Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Trespasses by Louise Kennedy Booked on a Feeling by Jayci Lee

May 11, 2023 • 51min
Ramona Emerson on SHUTTER
“When I was working forensics, I always thought, we do this work for the people who need us to do this work — it's not always the easiest thing.” Ramona Emerson’s Shutter is not your typical procedural — join an unforgettable crime scene photographer with the ability to speak to the dead in a mystery that will keep you guessing. Emerson joined us to talk about her own career in forensics, the importance of Native American representation in fiction and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Shutter by Ramona Emerson Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

May 9, 2023 • 43min
Brinda Charry on THE EAST INDIAN
“I have to transport myself, and only then I can transport my reader.” Brinda Charry’s novel, The East Indian, transports readers to Colonial Virginia to follow the life and adventures of a young Indian boy coming of age in the New World. Charry joins us to talk about her intensive research process, the effects of colonialism on the story, her love of world literature and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson. 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 East Indian by Brinda Charry A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Featured Books (TBR Topoff): David Copperfield by Charles Dickens She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

May 6, 2023 • 44min
John Wray on GONE TO THE WOLVES
“It's more than responsibility. It's fear of just sucking — I don't want to write some garbage that people are going to dismiss.” John Wray’s new novel Gone to the Wolves brings the world of heavy metal to the masses, following a group of young people on a nonstop ride from teenage angst to the dark recesses of doomsday cults. Wray joins us to talk about the responsibility of writing about subcultures, his vibrant characters, music you can listen to while you write and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson. This episode of Poured Over was produced and hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang. Poured Over is brought to you by Executive Producer Miwa Messer and the booksellers of Barnes & Noble. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Gone to the Wolves by John Wray Godsend by John Wray Lowboy by John Wray The Biography of X by Catherine Lacey Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Y/N by Esther Yi Louder than Hell by Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman