
Skylight Books Podcast Series
Enjoy recent author events, interviews, and bookseller series. Visit our website to learn more: www.skylightbooks.com
Latest episodes

Jun 13, 2024 • 59min
SKYLIT: Geoff Shackelford, GOLF ARCHITECTURE FOR NORMAL PEOPLE
It's a golfing extravaganza as Geoff Shackelford joins Skylight's Tyler Austin to discuss his book Golf Architecture for Normal People! Together, they talk golf course design, the economic and ecological impacts of a golf course that people don't often think about, and how golf as a game is becoming more accessible to lower-class players.
It's a great episode about golf...for normal people!
Produced by Mick Kowaleski and Tyler Austin
Music by Duck, the Piano Wire

May 23, 2024 • 1h 27min
Better Than the Movie 15: PLANET OF THE APES
It's a madhouse! The BTTM fellas are on their own this month, talking PLANET OF THE APES. The main focus is the original feature film, directed by Oscar winner Franklin J. Schaffner and scripted by fellow Oscar winner Michael Wilson and TWILIGHT ZONE creator Rod Serling. The fellas compare this classic to the lesser known source novel by Pierre Boulle that inspired the whole franchise. But most things APES get touched upon in this episode too, from the new release in theaters, KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, the failed Tim Burton reboot in 2001, and even the '70s cartoon show. Let Allan, Tyler, and Justin drive you bananas, won't you?
Hosted by Allan Traylor, Tyler Austin, and Justin Remer.
Produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab.
Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solmenity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band

May 17, 2024 • 58min
SKYLIT: Maggie Nelson, LIKE LOVE
Join us for a conversation with Skylight favorite Maggie Nelson, whose newest collection of essays, Like Love, has already made its way into our booksellers' hearts. One of those booksellers, Elodie Saint-Louis, sat down with Maggie to talk about Like Love, her thoughts on genre distinctions with writing, and much more!
Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski
Music by Duck the Piano Wire
BUY LIKE LOVE HERE: https://www.skylightbooks.com/book/9781644452813

Apr 18, 2024 • 1h 21min
Better Than the Movie 14: THE GREEN KNIGHT / SIR GAWAIN AND... w/ Conor Holt
Happy Dev Patel Season to all who celebrate! Mr. Patel's directing debut, MONKEY MAN, is in theaters now, but we decided to look back a few years at his great work in THE GREEN KNIGHT, adapted from the chivalric romance SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT by writer-director David Lowery (PETER PAN & WENDY). Filmmaker and VHS enthusiast Conor Holt joins Allan and Justin to talk King Arthur stories and much more!
Hosted by Allan Traylor and Justin Remer. (Feel better, Tyler!)
Produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab.
Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solmenity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band

Mar 28, 2024 • 1h 14min
Better Than the Movie 13: MONEYBALL w/ Michael Chin
Happy Opening Day! And coincidentally, Tyler has selected a baseball classic for his birthday pick: Michael Lewis's MONEYBALL: THE ART OF WINNING AN UNFAIR GAME and the Oscar-nominated film adaptation co-written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Bennett Miller. How did they turn those stats into a movie!?! Guest Michael Chin (Great Wave Goods) helps break down the differences between page and screen.
Hosted by Tyler Austin, Allan Traylor, and Justin Remer.
Produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at Tyler's house on Tyler's couches.
Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.

Feb 29, 2024 • 1h 19min
Better Than the Movie 12: THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY w/ Emily VanKoughnett
How's the peepin', Tommy? Netflix's RIPLEY series is still more than a month away from dropping, but guest Emily VanKoughnett (Los Angeles Review of Books; LIT ANGELES) joins the BTTM crew to discuss Patricia Highsmith's classic murder story from 1955, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, and the 1999 film adaptation from writer-director Anthony Minghella, starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow... and the incomparable Philip Seymour Hoffman. TOMMY! (There's a little chat about 1960's PURPLE NOON too, but everybody didn't watch that one.)
Hosted by Tyler Austin, Justin Remer, and Allan Traylor.
Produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab.
Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing Music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.

Feb 22, 2024 • 36min
SKYLIT: Tommy Orange, WANDERING STARS
It's a sneak peek special! Skylight's own Elodie sits down with the incredible Tommy Orange (There, There) to talk about his new novel Wandering Stars (Feb. 27)...listen in for a reading of an excerpt, Tommy's thoughts on Native American representation and why he's hopeful for the future.
To pre-order Wandering Stars: https://www.skylightbooks.com/book/9780593318256
Edited by Mick Kowaleski
Music by Duck the Piano Wire

Feb 8, 2024 • 1h 7min
SKYLIT: Eric Wolfson, FIFTY YEARS OF THE CONCEPT ALBUM IN POPULAR MUSIC
From The Beatles to Beyoncé! Author Eric Wolfson discusses his new book on the shifting identity of the concept album in rock, pop, and hip-hop music with bookseller (and, yes, friend) Justin Remer. The book breaks down 25 albums across five eras, and Eric and Justin get into many of them here. A great chat for veteran music nerds and new fans alike.
Produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at LAPL Octavia Lab.
Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.

Feb 6, 2024 • 1h 5min
SKYLIT: Will Harris, SURELY YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS
I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.
Resident film buff Tyler Austin sits down with Will Harris, pop culture journalist, to discuss the interviews that comprise Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! Together, they discuss some of Will's favorite interviews and some truly great behind-the-scenes scoops from one of the greatest comedies of all time.
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Produced by Tyler Austin and Mick Kowaleski.
Music by Duck, the Piano Wire.

Jan 25, 2024 • 1h 15min
Better Than the Movie 11: NIGHTBREED / CABAL w/ Garon Cockrell
Happy New Year! BTTM is back for 2024 with a birthday pick from Allan: Clive Barker's NIGHTBREED, based on the horror novella CABAL by Barker himself! Tyler is the opposite of a gorehound, so he is really mad at Allan for making this pick. Our guest is the delightful -- and delighted -- Garon Cockrell (of the podcasts Never Not Funny and How to Survive with Danielle and Kristine).
Hosted by Tyler Austin, Justin Remer, and Allan Traylor.
Produced by Justin Remer.
Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab.
Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire.
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.