
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. Comedian and Poet Joshua Turek invites guests to grab a few books off their shelves and tell the world about them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Mar 3, 2025 • 1h 9min
Sonoran Desert Biologist Robert Villa on How We're All Roommates
Host Joshua Turek sits down with Desert Scientist and Reptile Expert, Robert Villa, who is also in Community Outreach at the University of Arizona Desert Labs at Tumamoc Hill in Tucson. Their conversation spans, Sonoran Desert books, Pablo Neruda poems, and the interdependence of all life on Earth. Joshua is going on comedy tour this summer! Check dates on his site joshuaturek.com so far tickets are already available for San Diego and Seattle. Bestiary-Pablo NerudaThe Desert -John Van DyckeBlue Desert - Charles BowdenKilling the Hidden Waters - Charles Bowden-ofelia ZepedaDebt - David Graeber Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 24, 2025 • 20min
What I'm Reading These Days w/ Joshua Turek
Host Joshua Turek returns with a solo episode of Turek Books after a few months hiatus and his relocation to Tucson. He discusses the very timely book, "Technofeudalism" at length as it was the first pick for a book club on his Turek Books IG live. He also gets into what else he's reading. "Debt" by David Graeber, "The Bible" by whoever wrote it, "All the Shahs Men" a book on U.S. interference in Iran, and "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry whom Joshua pines away about for awhile. Also mentioned are McMurtry's books "All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers" and "Moving On" and the next book club pick "The Death and Life of the Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs. Joshua is touring comedy this summer and releasing a new poetry book. Be sure to let him know which cities he should visit, follow his Substack @joshuaturek and be sure to check joshuaturek.com for tour dates and signed copies of his debut poetry book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 14, 2025 • 14min
Wildfire Edition w/ Joshua Turek
$5 from every poetry book sold on my website this week going to wildfire relief in la www.joshuaturek.com I sit in a park in Tucson and discuss this week’s events and my own strange unmoored evacuation and plans for the show. Thank you for listening and stay safebooks talked about includeSam Shepardlarry mcmurtryJane Jacobsmy poetry book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 3, 2024 • 59min
Used Bookseller Tim Conrad Horner Talks Found Objects
Used bookseller, musician, and writer, Tim Conrad Horner joins Joshua to talk paranoid books, books without faces on the covers, and a project he is building with objects he has found inside of old books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 26, 2024 • 1h 7min
Author Lexi Kent-Monning Brings Cookies
"Burden of Joy" author Lexi Kent-Monning joins host Joshua Turek to discuss her novel that Joshua loved. She talks about coming from a long line of book readers and writers and her Esalen hot springs adventures growing up in Central California. Lexi shares a wide ranging selection of books from the Divorce novel "Liars" to a YA novel that she hopes will make Josh fall in love with Los Angeles again. She also baked delicious coconut chocolate chip cookies.For all things Lexi Kent-Monning visit https://www.lexikentmonning.com/ and her ig https://www.instagram.com/lexicola/?hl=enFor Joshua Turek's tour dates and poetry book check out joshuaturek.com but also for more of his writing its free on his new Substack https://joshuaturek.substack.com/Books Talked About Include:Liars by Sarah MangusoAll Fours by Miranda JulyBruha wendy c ortizThe Burden of JoyThe Passion According to GH by Clarice LespecterA Fortune for Your Disaster by Hanif AbdurraqibRichard BrautiganHis daughters book about himDan Fante’s memoirDangerous Angels by Francesca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 19, 2024 • 49min
Steal Back Your Time w/ Poet Ceasar K Avelar
Poet Laureate of Pomona, CA, Ceasar K. Avelar joins Joshua to talk about reading poems on your lunch break and finding moments to be creative even when the world is encouraging the opposite. He and Joshua speak to the revolutionary act of reading and how the nerd stigma is only there to oppress the working class. Bozeman, Montana! Joshua is headlining two shows this friday 11/22/2024 at the Last Best Comedy Club tix here https://www.lastbestcomedy.com/events/friday-night-stand-up-with-joshua-turekFor all things Ceasar K. Avelar visit here: https://www.instagram.com/ceasarkavelar/ and for his book: https://www.elmartillopress.com/product-page/god-of-the-air-hose Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 12, 2024 • 1h 14min
Talent Manager Drew Shenfield talks Our Times of Conspiracy
Hollywood Talent Manager at Mosaic Entertainment and local journalist (@officialplayadelrey), Drew Shenfield talks with Joshua about becoming better men through reading books whose passages they can't remember, navigating a day and age ripe with conspiracy, and westerns. They discuss bell hooks "The Will to Change", the early 2000's book "Them" by Jon Ronson, and Adam Curtis documentaries. Also mentioned is their mutual love of public transit in Los Angeles and how they met playing beach volleyball.for all things Joshua visit his site joshuaturek.com and check out his new substack for longer form thoughts and fragments https://substack.com/@joshuaturek its free!Books talked about include:The Will to Change by bell hooksThem by Jon RonsonAdam Curtis Documentaries “Bitter Lake”Hate inc by Matt TaibiEmpire of Illusion by Chris HedgesSociety of the Spectacle by Guy Welcome to Hard TimesIslands of Abandonment Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.