
Turek Books Podcast
We’re never going to have enough time to read all the books we want, but hearing about them from an interesting person is its own valid form of experiencing their stories. Turek Books invites comedians and writers on as guests to grab a few books off their shelves that they really want to tell the world about. The compelling nature of chatting about the books we read becomes a springboard to revealing ourselves. The show’s subject matter ranges from inspirational favorites to petty grievances with all kinds of layers peeled back in between. Mostly, each guest returns to the good reads, those ones we can’t forget that rattle our souls for the better. Joshua Turek is a comedian, poet, and factotum whose viral rants on social media have found a home talking about his great passion of reading books. Turek Books Podcast, because all the clever names were already taken. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Nov 5, 2024 • 57min
Dublin Doppelganger w/ Killian Sunderman
Author of new book "Country Fail" Irish comedian, Killian Sundermann joins Joshua to talk about Irish authors, how he learned parents are people too, In-N-Out Burger, his time living in New York City and the process of writing his first book for a legendary publisher.To find Killian's work visit his instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/killersundy/?hl=enHosted by Joshua TurekBooks Talked About Include:Country Fail by Killian SundermannIntermezzo by Sally RooneyA Moveable Feast - HemmingwayA Swim Two Birds - Flan O'BrienA Tired Policeman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 29, 2024 • 1h 27min
Motley Crue to bell hooks w/ Danielle Henderson
Danielle Henderson, author of the memoir "The Ugly Cry" and tv writer on shows like "Maniac" starring Emma Stone, joins host Joshua Turek to talk about living on a farm in upstate New York to keep her grandmother company. She revisits the toxic time capsule that was the 80's by reading the Motley Crue tell-all and how she found an awakening in intersectional feminism after going back to school at 30 and reading bell hooks. Josh talks about how the new Miranda July divorce novel upset him more than the dystopian books he's been reading it.CHICAGO come see Joshua perform stand up comedy at The Comedy Bar 11/8/24 and 11/9/24 https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879 and catch his poetry book at joshuaturek.com and new free Substack here https://substack.com/@joshuaturekFor more on Danielle Henderson check her out here http://daniellehenderson.net/Books talked about include:Shuggie Bain - Douglas StuartBad Pharma - Ben GoldacreAll Fours - Miranda JulyThe Dirt - Motley CrueThe Road - Cormac MccarthyFeminist Theory from margin to center - bell hooksKilling the Black Body - Dorothy RobertsAngela Davis Books - All of them, Abolition Democracy, Freedom is a Constant StruggleAmelia Gray - Museum of the WeirdThe Sellout - Paul BeattyRunning with Scissors - Augusten BurroughsVillette - Charlotte Bronte Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 22, 2024 • 1h 13min
Deepening the Mystery w/ Darby Hudson (Poet)
Poet Darby Hudson joins host, Joshua Turek one day in the future from Melbourne, Australia to discuss giving into books that are like "ice cream for the mind." He speaks of how he was raised by divorced parents, one who indulged the low brow while the other sought more challenging reads. The two poets and instagram video dudes discuss their remote friendship and get into everything from David Lynch to the Neverending Story.Seattle and Chicago! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities soon!SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879for signed copies of Joshua's poetry book his site joshuaturek.com and if you want him to perform in your city sign up to his email list on there and suggest a cityFor Darby Hudson's work check out https://www.darbyhudsonart.com/ and his instagram https://www.instagram.com/darby_hudson/?hl=enBooks Talked About Include:Earth Abides - JoshThe Road - CormacRed Dragon - Thomas HarrisThe Housemaid Freida McfaddenThe Broom of the System DFW - JoshThe Neverending Story by Michael EndeThe Bedtime Leunig by Michael LeunigBukowskiCeline Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 15, 2024 • 1h 49min
A Redrawn Map w/ Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Curb, Borat, YouTube)
Seinfeld writer and Curb director Larry Charles who also directed Borat, Bruno, and Dangerous World of Comedy, sits down with host Joshua Turek to discuss growing up in Brooklyn and how the books he read in his younger years expanded his sense of the world. Larry talks working with Bob Dylan and Larry David and the similarities between the two men. Larry discusses how through career successes he managed to find his way back to knowing the price of a loaf of bread. He also talks the Library Cop episode of Seinfeld which he wrote!Chicago and Seattle! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities soon!SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879for signed copies of Joshua's poetry book his site joshuaturek.comFor Larry Charles check out his YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPH7P8UM2_uXsRhpp3Z4UQA and IG: https://www.instagram.com/larrycharles/Books Talked About Include:Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude BrownConfessions of a Cultist by Andrew SarrisCatch 22Last Exit to BrooklynnAll Fours by Miranda July (Josh) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 8, 2024 • 1h 11min
Miranda July in October w/ Ruby Caster (Screenwriter)
Sundance Award Winning Screenwriter, Ruby Caster joins Joshua to talk Miranda July's new book "All Fours" and the quest for mutual understanding. The two find an agreed upon reality as they discuss how one goes about that.Books Talked About Include:All Fours Miranda JulyThe Ego Tunnel by Thomas MetzingerBluets by Maggie NelsonStar ChildJoshua Turek Stand up Tour Updates: SEATTLE on 10/25 Joshua will be headlining at the Here-After. Tickets available: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO to see Joshua Turek headlining four shows on 11/8 & 9 at The Comedy Bar tickets:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-november-8-joshua-turek-tickets-1005397851037?aff=odcleoeventsincollectionfor Josh's poetry book etc visit: joshuaturek.comFor updates on Ruby Caster's work check out her ig: https://www.instagram.com/rubycaster/?hl=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 1, 2024 • 1h 12min
Tolkien and Band Names w/ Dan Wilson (Songwriter of Closing Time, Someone Like You, Not Ready to Make Nice)
Dan Wilson is the lead singer of Semisonic and writer of hit songs like Closing Time, Someone Like You (with Adele), Not Ready to Make Nice (with the Chicks) and also a prolific reader. He and host Joshua Turek discuss how Dan revisits "Lord of the Rings" and discovers new meanings according to where his own life is at the moment. He talks of reading voraciously as a child and the books that were most impactful along the way. Dan also gets into a few of the science fiction books that have rekindled his love for the genre and his thoughts on the role of AI in art and the future.Chicago and Seattle! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities! SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879for Joshua's poetry book hit up his site joshuaturek.com For Dan Wilson's work please check out his instagram https://www.instagram.com/danwilsonmusic/?hl=en and links to all his sites here https://linktr.ee/danwilson_musicBooks Talked About Include:The Real BookParable of the Sower Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 24, 2024 • 1h 2min
Saltines and Ginger Ale with Aubrey Bellamy (Writer)
Writer Aubrey Bellamy joins host Joshua Turek to discuss books about grief, growing up in L.A., and how Buy Nothing groups on Facebook might be the only hope for humanity. Aubrey and Josh are longtime friends on Twitter who meet for the first time.Chicago and Seattle! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879 and SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144 for Joshua's poetry book hit up his site joshuaturek.comFor Aubrey Bellamy's work please check out her twitter https://x.com/aubreybellBooks talked about include:Overdue by Amanda OliverParable of the Sower by Octavia ButlerGolden Days by Carolyn SeeU Up? by Catie Disabato Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 17, 2024 • 1h 11min
Characters Having a Hard Time w/ Cory Loykasek (Dress Up Gang)
Dress Up Gang Member (TBS, Cute House) and Molly Bro comedian, Cory Loykasek joins host Joshua Turek to talk Shawshank Redemption, Cormac McCarthy, Sapiens, and an ill-titled self help book called "The Way of the Superior Man". The longtime friends get deeper into books than they ever have in all their professed long conversations. Cory rightfully gives Josh crap for his terrible intro, Joshua tells Cory he loves him and reveals he was a fan of Cory before they were friends Cory might also take another stab at the Brothers Karamazov..Chicago and Seattle! Joshua Turek's going to be doing comedy in your cities CHICAGO Nov. 7 & 8 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879 and SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144 for Joshua's poetry book hit up his site joshuaturek.comFor Cory Loykasek's work please check him out on ig https://www.instagram.com/coryloykasek/?hl=en and Molly Bro https://www.instagram.com/officialmollybro/ plus Dress Up Gang https://www.instagram.com/dressupgang/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 10, 2024 • 1h 18min
Chekhov’s Uber Drivers w/ Chris Gorbos (Comedian)
Comedian, Venice Surfer, Bar Owner, Chris Gorbos starts with Anton Chekhov short stories and ends with Jack Reacher headbutting his way through cheap paperbacks. He and Joshua talk the passive joys of public transportation and how being in a good place in life helps with their reading. The two friends exchange ride sharing experiences they felt were unexpectedly profound and how they relate them to the story of a horse and buggy driver that Chris reads every year. Chris holds Josh's feet to the fire over how the idealist expects to build a better world and they both agree that reading shouldn't be a pretentious experience.TOUR UPDATES: Joshua will be in Richmond, California September 16 & 18th doing stand up at the Factory Bar and in Chicago November 7 and 8 at the Comedy Bar downtown. Information and tickets available here: joshuaturek.comChris Gorbos can be found on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/chrisgorbos/?hl=en and his comedy theater in Santa Monica is here https://www.westsidecomedy.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 3, 2024 • 53min
Sex Quacks and Esoterics with Dian Hanson (Taschen Books)
Editor of erotic fine art books for Taschen, Dian Hanson has shepherded works from legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ren Hang along with numerous adult photo books of high repute. She brings a few books from her esoteric collection of adult oddities and attempted encylopedias. Dian and Joshua discuss everything from Gen Z to sexual dysfunctions of the 1800's. TW: Adult Content and possible graphic disturbing imagery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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