

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

Sep 11, 2025 • 46min
Maggie Smith and Saeed Jones on THE PEOPLE'S PROJECT
The People's Project by Maggie Smith and Saeed Jones is a carefully curated collection of poetry, essays and art from some of our greatest voices. Maggie and Saeed join us to chat about finding community in poetry, the challenge of vulnerability, using metaphor as a tool, writing across genres and more with host Miwa Messer. 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 People's Project by Maggie Smith and Saeed Jones Dear Writer by Maggie Smith How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith Generations by Lucille Clifton Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jones Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith

Sep 10, 2025 • 34min
Dan Brown on THE SECRET OF SECRETS
The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown is another mind-bending, globe-spanning maze of a story featuring Robert Langdon. Dan joins us to talk about revisiting his characters, the study of human consciousness, trusting your own taste, puzzles, Prague and more with guest host Chris Gillespie. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie 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 Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Angels and Demons by Dan Brown The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Sep 9, 2025 • 50min
Andrew Joseph White on YOU WEREN'T MEANT TO BE HUMAN
You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White is a gritty and guttural story of an alien invasion in the mountains of West Virginia. Andrew joins us to talk about reading horror novels, the catharsis of writing, world building, Appalachia, characterization and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White Cows by Matthew Stokoe Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum

Sep 6, 2025 • 48min
Stephen Greenblatt on DARK RENAISSANCE
Dark Renaissance by Stephen Greenblatt is a riveting look into the mysterious life of the brilliant and oft-misunderstood writer, Christopher Marlowe. Stephen joins us to talk about writing for the stage, literacy in the 1500s, the freedom of the theater, living in a time of extremes and more with cohost 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): Dark Renaissance by Stephen Greenblatt Tamburlaine by Christopher Marlowe Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe Edward II by Christopher Marlowe Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt

Sep 4, 2025 • 45min
Eliana Ramage on TO THE MOON AND BACK
To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage is a sweeping story of a woman's journey to become the first Cherokee astronaut. Eliana joins us to talk about her research process, balancing comedy with tragedy, family stories, ambition, community and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville 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 the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage LaRose by Louise Erdrich The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich

Sep 2, 2025 • 1h 1min
Patrick Ryan on BUCKEYE
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan is an intimate portrait of small-town, midcentury America. Patrick joins us to chat about writing family mythologies, the passage of time, forgiveness, Ohio, craft and more with guest host Brenda Allison. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Buckeye by Patrick Ryan House of Beth by Kerry Cullen Atomic Hearts by Megan Cummins The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Buckeye by Patrick Ryan All the Broken Places by John Boyne The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg

Aug 30, 2025 • 43min
Dana A. Williams on TONI AT RANDOM
Toni at Random by Dana A. Williams takes readers into the inner world of Toni Morrison as a literary editor. Dana joins us to chat about language, the editorial process, Toni Morrison's lasting legacy and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Toni at Random by Dana A. Williams The Black Book by Middleton A. Harris Sula by Toni Morrison Beloved by Toni Morrison Divine Days by Leon Forrest Sally Hemings by Barbara Chase-Riboud Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara They Came Before Columbus by Ivan Van Sertima

Aug 28, 2025 • 50min
Miriam Toews on A TRUCE THAT IS NOT PEACE
A Truce That is Not Peace by Miriam Toews is a heartfelt and hopeful memoir about life and art. Miriam joins us to talk about why she writes, silence, language, living in translation and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): A Truce That is Not Peace by Miriam Toews Fight Night by Miriam Toews Sandwich by Catherine Newman Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Middlemarch by George Eliot

Aug 26, 2025 • 40min
R.F. Kuang on KATABASIS
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang is a gripping tour de force that takes us into the depths of the underworld alongside two rival academics. Kuang joins us to talk about finding solace in writing, being a genre chameleon, characterization and more with cohost Isabelle McConville. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Isabelle McConville and mixed by Harry Liang. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app. Featured Books (Episode): Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Babel by R.F. Kuang Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney Inferno by Dante Alighieri Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

Aug 23, 2025 • 44min
Alexis Okeowo on BLESSINGS AND DISASTERS
Blessings and Disasters by Alexis Okeowo is a riveting and empathetic portrait of a misunderstood U.S. state. Alexis joins us to talk about growing up in Alabama, building community, contradictions of the South, rhetoric vs propaganda, journalism and more with host Miwa Messer. 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): Blessings and Disasters by Alexis Okeowo Where I Was From by Joan Didion The Yellow House by Sarah M. Broom


