Poured Over

Dream State by Eric Puchner is a story spanning fifty years, with three best friends grappling with life, love, family and climate change set against the Montana terrain. Puchner joins us to talk about what inspired the novel, his writing process, what he loves about storytelling 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): Dream State by Eric Puchner To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson Light Years by James Salter North Woods by Daniel Mason The End of Vandalism by Tom Drury Skylark by Dezső Kosztolányi Stoner by John Williams Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell

Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya reflects on the books that change the way we think about life and literature. Chihaya joins us to talk about these “Life Ruiner” books, the way we connect to stories at different points in our lives, the way our reading shapes us 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): Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison The Morningside by Téa Obreht Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson The Lover by Marguerite Duras A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen Possession by A.S. Byatt Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie The Ferrante Letters by Sarah Chihaya The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey delves into the wilderness in this tender, bold and enchanting fable set in Alaska. Ivey joins us to talk about her personal connections to the setting, themes of community and family ties, the complexities of parenthood and more with 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 Books (Episode):  Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey  The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey  Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich  David Copperfield by Charles Dickens  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver  The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson   Ulysses by James Joyce  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain  James by Percival Everett 

Loca by Alejandro Heredia is a stunning novel about identity, home, life and love that takes readers through one epic, life-changing year alongside two unforgettable protagonists. Heredia joins us to talk about his use of language in the book, his writing practice, his family connection to the story 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): Loca by Alejandro Heredia White Teeth by Zadie Smith NW by Zadie Smith A Visitation of Spirits by Randall Kenan

Cleavage by Jennifer Finney Boylan interrogates modern and relevant themes of gender and sexuality with writing that is both entertaining and educational. Boylan joins us to talk about her personal connections to the topic, influential authors, the importance of storytelling 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): Cleavage by Jennifer Finney Boylan Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult Good Boy by Jennifer Finney Boylan She’s Not There by Jennifer Finney Boylan Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner Intermezzo by Sally Rooney All Fours by Miranda July Skippy Dies by Paul Murray Ulysses by James Joyce A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel Clear by Carys Davies James by Percival Everett Colored Television by Danzy Senna North Woods by Daniel Mason The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks explores what it means to truly grieve — a moving account of what it is to love, to lose and to heal. Brooks joins us to talk about her relationship with her late husband, Tony Horwitz, how writing this book helped process her grief, themes of isolation, growth 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): Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks Horse by Geraldine Brooks Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks Who is Government? by Michael Lewis

Isola by Allegra Goodman is a story of courage and isolation and a sweeping tale of companionship against all odds. Goodman joins us to talk about the real historical events that inspired the novel, her meticulous research process, her unique experience writing this book and more with cohost Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Jamie and Donald.  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):  Isola by Allegra Goodman  Sam by Allegra Goodman  Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe  Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel  Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift  Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson  Featured Books (TBR Top Off):  Burial Rite by Hannah Kent  Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor 

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson takes us from New England to West Africa and France on a quest to uncover the secrets of the past and build a new future. Wilkerson joins us to talk about the history in the novel, the importance of storytelling, balancing heavy tones in her writing 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):  Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson  Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson  Orbital by Samantha Harvey  James by Percival Everett  The Grand Paloma Resort by Cleyvis Natera  Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Nater

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a breathtaking journey of grief, love and history about a woman that loses her twin brother in a freak accident. Young joins us to talk about her descriptive and atmospheric style, what it’s like to write for both adults and young people, creating the connection between twin characters and more with 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 Books (Episode): A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

In Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People Imani Perry studies the color blue in all its history and hues in this remarkable analysis. From West Africa to the American South, Black in Blues examines the color's relation to Blackness and culture. Perry joins us to talk about the symbolic history of the color blue, her research process, the role of storytelling in identity 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): Black in Blues by Imani Perry South to America by Imani Perry Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib Cannibal by Safiya Sinclair The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Native Son by Richard Wright Black Boy by Richard Wright Looking For Lorraine by Imani Perry