Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine

Latest Episodes:

ALAN CUMMING: LEGAL IMMIGRANT by Alan Cumming, read by Alan Cumming Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

Grab a front-row seat for a live performance by the incomparable Alan Cumming. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Robin Whitten discuss this entertaining audiobook from the talented entertainer, recorded live at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York City. Cumming is superb as he sings and monologues and doesn't shy away from politics. His natural charm and sense of humor shine. He offers perceptive insights on being a naturalized American citizen, especially as he grows older. Published by Audible, Inc.

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Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from GraphicAudio, A Movie In Your Mind. Unique Audio Entertainment featuring a Full Cast and Imaginative Sound Scapes with new releases such as Brent Weeks Lightbringer Saga 5, Michael J. Sullivan's Riyria Revelations, S.M Stirling's Emberverse, and over 1,300 more full cast titles available only at www.GraphicAudio.net

ON THE PLAIN OF SNAKES by Paul Theroux, read by Joseph Balderrama Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

AudioFile's Robin Whitten and host host Jo Reed discuss veteran travel writer Paul Theroux's immersive look at Mexico, enlivened on audio by narrator Joseph Balderrama. Theroux's journey through Mexico is enlightening and thorough, including border towns that are sites of high tension, neighborhoods of Mexico City, and rural areas of Oaxaca. Balderrama's fluency in Spanish adds to his eloquent narration. Takeaways abound, but none are more englighting than the fact that travel is more about people than landscape. Published by Recorded Books.

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MOBITUARIES by Mo Rocca, read by Mo Rocca Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

Mo Rocca is delightfully obsessed with under-appreciated dead people—and dragons. AudioFile's Jonathan Smith tells host Jo Reed why he enjoyed listening to author Rocca share a seemingly endless supply of interesting facts and observations. Rocca's naturally enthusiastic performance enhances the drama and entertainment value of his excellent research and tight storytelling. CBS Sunday Morning viewers and NPR listeners will recognize Rocca as a regular contributor, and anyone who shares his interest in perusing obituaries and celebrating the under-appreciated will love this audiobook. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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OSLO by J.T. Rogers, read by a Full Cast Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

A superb audio adaptation of the 2017 Tony Award-winning play, OSLO. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Jonathan Smith discuss this L.A. Theatre Works production that stands the complex issue of Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy on its head. The play reveals that high-wire diplomacy is a very human process, and is performed by an outstanding cast of internationally acclaimed actors. Published by L.A. Theatre Works.

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SONTAG by Benjamin Moser, read by Tavia Gilbert Jan 01, 2020

Show notes

Listen to a new biography about Susan Sontag, of the most interesting thinkers of her time. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Jonathan Smith discuss this audiobook narrated with empathy by Tavia Gilbert. Author Benjamin Moser isn't afraid to draw a true picture of Sontag's thoughts and life, which were both extraordinarily complex. Listeners gain a deeper understanding of both. Published by Harper Audio.

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A MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT by David Baldacci, read by Brittany Pressley, Kyf Brewer Dec 31, 2019

Show notes

A fast-moving story of love, hate, and redemption. AudioFile's Jonathan Smith discusses David Baldacci's latest audiobook with host Jo Reed. A MINUTE TO MIDNIGHT is narrated by a talented duo. Brittany Pressley portrays a troubled FBI agent Atlee, whose idyllic childhood was interrupted by her sister's kidnapping. And now, a serial killer is on the loose. Kyf Brewer's narrations are intertwined with Pressley's, narrating as FBI agent Eddy, and several other characters. The narrators blend their styles seamlessly, making for a tense and edgy listen. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Support for Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine comes from Paperback Classics, a new imprint from Oasis Family Media, bringing the best pulp and vintage paperbacks to audio, including 1960s cult-classic series Dark Shadows and Flash Gordon.

THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2019 by Anthony Doerr, Heidi Pitlor [Eds.], read by an Ensemble Cast Dec 30, 2019

Show notes

A collection of short stories performed by narrators as diverse and vivid as the stories themselves. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Jonathan Smith discuss the magic of short stories. Every year the Best American Short Stories make for a vibrant collection, and hearing these stories on audio with perfectly paired narrators is a delight. Whether characters are living on the edge in America or trying to make sense of a dystopian world, the narrators' performances make the stories come alive. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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MY FAKE RAKE by Eva Leigh, read by Zara Hampton-Brown Dec 27, 2019

Show notes

A hilarious and heartfelt historical romance. AudioFile's Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about all the many reasons she loved MY FAKE RAKE, including Zara Hampton-Brown's delightful narration. Lady Grace is a herpetologist more comfortable in the library than the ballroom after a disastrous debut. When she suddenly has to find a husband, she and her friend Sebastian hatch a plan. Hampton-Brown doesn't miss a comical beat as they work to transform Sebastian from a scholarly anthropologist into a dashing rake. As Grace and Sebastian spend more and more time together to try and convince would-be suitors that she is a catch, simmering feelings derail their plans. Published by Harper Audio.

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FREEDOM SOUP by Tami Charles, read by Bahni Turpin Dec 26, 2019

Show notes

Celebrate the new year and freedom with a new children's audiobook on tradition, family, and remembrance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Emily Connelly discuss the Haitian Kompa music, the subtle sound effects, and Bahni Turpin's skilled narration that mix together so well. Every year, Ti Gran makes FREEDOM SOUP to celebrate the Haitian Revolution, and this is the first year that Belle is invited into the kitchen to help. A great listen for young listeners to highlight the fun of cooking in the kitchen and learning from our elders, while also introducing the history of the fight for freedom from slavery in Haiti. Published by Dreamscape Audio.

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RESISTANCE REBORN by Rebecca Roanhorse, read by Marc Thompson Dec 25, 2019

Show notes

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…" Star Wars fans are flocking to the big screen this week to see THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. AudioFile's Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about how RESISTANCE REBORN tells the story of what came after THE LAST JEDI — and how Marc Thompson's endless well of voices combined with immersive sound effects makes for an impressive listening experience. Rebecca Roanhorse's new addition to the Star Wars canon is perfect listening for those who can't get enough of these epic stories. Published by Random House Audio.

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