Bay Area Book Festival Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Short Cuts: Bridgette Yang of Youth Speaks - Workshops and Open Mic at the Festival! May 18, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet Bridgette Yang who talks to us about YouthSpeaks and the programs they are contributing to the Festival in 2026

Saturday, May 30th Teen Poetry Workshop - rsvp required Youth writer/poet workshop - rsvp required

Sunday, May 31 Teen Open Mic!

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

To find out more about Youth Speaks, go to https://youthspeaks.org/

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

Short Cuts: Rob Liu-Trujillo: YouthLit at BABF 2026 Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet Rob Liu-Trujillo who talks to us about what it's like being an author/illustrator for kids, and about organizing for Social Justice Children's Book Fair (SJCBF). SJCBF and BABF have collaborated on the 6 Youthlit Stages that you cna enjoy through the BABF weekend, and two of those programs will be moderated by Rob himself.

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

To fin out more about SJCBF, please go to https://socialjusticechildrensbooks.org/

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

Short Cuts: Tamika Thompson - The Curse of Hester Gardens Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet Tamika Thompson who talks to us about her new novel The Curse of Hester Gardens https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/804756/the-curse-of-hester-gardens-by-tamika-thompson/

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

Short Cuts: The 2026 Festival Schedule is LIVE! Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode you get to hang out with our hosts Dora and Sam, who break down how the schedule came about, what the Festival weekend will hold, and walk you through some of the many ways to enjoy the upcoming weekend.

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

Short Cuts - Bushwick Book Club Oakland: opening for all headliners of 2026 Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

Bushwick Book Club Oakland (BBCO) is a community event series co-produced by Claire Calderón, Nikki Bonsol, and Mia Pixley where Bay Area musicians from a wide range of genres compose and debut brand new original songs inspired by books. They will contribute to the Bay Area Book festival by opening up each headline event with a specially composed song inspired by the headliners.

find our more about BBCO on their instagram, https://www.instagram.com/bushwickbookcluboakland

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

Short Cuts: Boutique Book Retreats - A Romance Renaissance at BABF! Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet Tiina and Lauren who talks to us about the renaissance in romance fandom and how they came to help us curate some romance panels for the forthcoming festival. https://www.instagram.com/boutiquebookretreats/

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

#romancebooks #BayArea #Literature #Podcast #BookFestival #booktok #booktube #romantasy #romancerecs #romancereading

Short Cuts: MK Chavez - Poetry Stages Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet MK Chavez who talks to us about her process of curating programs for bith of our poetry stages for the Festival. She is also the leader of the Mixed race Affinity lit Group for the Bay Area Book festival.

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

#MKChavez #BayArea #Literature #Poetry #Podcast #BookFestival #booktok #booktube

Short Cuts: Terria Smith - I Love You So Many Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet Terria Smith who talks to us about her forthcoming memoir I Love You So Many, which will be on early sale at the Bay Area Book Festival! https://www.heydaybooks.com/catalog/i-love-you-so-many/

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

#TerriaSmith #BayArea #Literature #Podcast #BookFestival #booktok #native #memoir #travel

Short Cuts: Jeremy Engels - On Mindful Democracy Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet Jeremy Engels who is talking to us about his book On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World https://www.parallax.org/product/on-mindful-democracy/

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work! https://givebutter.com/writingthefuture

#JeremyEngels #BayArea #Literature #Podcast #BookFestival #booktok #booktube #booktube #mindfulness #democracy

Short Cuts: Renee Swindle - Francine's Spectacular Crash and Burn Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

BABF Short Cuts is a Podcast of the Bay Area Book Festival where we introduce some of the authors and partners who will join us for the 2026 Festival in Berkeley from May 29–May 31.

In this episode, you get to meet Renee Swindle who is talking to us about her book Francine's Spectacular Crash and Burn.

You can find more 2026 festival authors and upcoming events at www.baybookfest.org.

Please support our work!

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