Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine

Latest Episodes:

FULL THROTTLE by Joe Hill, read by Zachary Quinto, Wil Wheaton, Kate Mulgrew, Neil Gaiman, Ashleigh Cummings, Joe Hill, Laysla De Oliveira, Nate Corddry, Connor Jessup, Stephen Lang, George Guidall Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

Though Halloween inspired today's audiobook pick, these 13 dark and creepy stories will linger much longer than one all hallows eve. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile editor Robin Whitten discuss Joe Hill's new short story collection—and the star-powered cast of narrators. Published by Harper Audio.

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Join New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan for a seven-part original podcast – Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis – and explore in depth the improbable and beautiful love story between C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. Learn more at www.becomingmrslewispodcast.com.

HEART OF BARKNESS by Spencer Quinn, read by Jim Frangione Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

Why does Chet's canine point of view work so well as an audiobook? Jim Frangione's performance and the wordplay of Quinn's Chet & Bernie mysteries make for great listening—and a good topic for this conversation between host Jo Reed and editor Robin Whitten. Published by Recorded Books.

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CHARLOTTE'S WEB by E.B. White, read by Meryl Streep and a Full Cast Oct 29, 2019

Show notes

How does the dazzling new full-cast recording of White's classic compare to the original recording by the author? In this episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile editor Robin Whitten talk about performances beloved by generations of listeners. Published by Listening Library.

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THE WATER DANCER by Ta-Nehisi Coates, read by Joe Morton Oct 28, 2019

Show notes

Debut fiction from the author of Between the World and Me that moves into the realm of magical realism. Jo Reed and editor Robin Whitten talk about how this work fits into the canon along with the work of Colson Whitehead and Toni Morrison. Hiram Walker is a young man with remarkable gifts working on The Underground Railroad. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE INSTITUTE by Stephen King, read by Santino Fontana Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

Compulsively entertaining and dazzlingly performed. AudioFile's Jonathan Smith and Host Jo Reed discuss Stephen King's latest horror audiobook. Santino Fontana does wonders with a diverse lineup of characters, including supernaturally gifted children trapped at The Institute, and the many voices of their menacing adult captors. If you're looking for an unforgettable story of kids confronting evil, or new sinister listening for your weekend, look no further. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BOOKS by Leah Price, read by Elisabeth Rodgers Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

Perfect listening for book lovers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Jonathan Smith discuss the history of the book as told by Rutgers English professor Leah Price. Narrator Elisabeth Rodgers's eloquent narration lets the wide-ranging content take center stage. Take a world tour of an iconic object — the book — and a deep dive into the history of reading. Published by Hachette Audio.

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DAD'S MAYBE BOOK by Tim O'Brien, read by Tim O'Brien Oct 23, 2019

Show notes

A wise guide through life's challenges from a father to his sons. AudioFile's Jonathan Smith and host Jo Reed talk about this collection of advice from the author of THE THINGS THEY CARRIED, Tim O'Brien. This memoir and tribute are made all the more meaningful with O'Brien's gravelly delivery and tone of love and hope. The author's father had always been a mystery to him, and this memoir provides "scattered glimpses" of the author for his sons. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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TALKING TO STRANGERS by Malcolm Gladwell, read by Malcolm Gladwell Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

How do our biases about others make us misread strangers? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Jonathan Smith discuss the latest audiobook from Malcolm Gladwell. In an Earphones Award-winning performance, Gladwell's narration skills add sparkling energy to his writing. His examination of interactions with people we don't know will intrigue. Woven into the listening experience is audio from many of those scientists, criminologists, and psychologists he interviewed, creating a listen that's part audiobook and part podcast. Published by Hachette Audio.

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HERE WE ARE by Aarti Namdev Shahani, read by Aarti Namdev Shahani Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

NPR reporter Aarti Shahani shares her family's American Dream — and American nightmare. In today's episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile's Jonathan Smith talk about Shahani's moving memoir. Shahani reports on Silicon Valley for NPR and is the daughter of an immigrant who served time when caught up in a money laundering scheme. Shahani shifts seamlessly between the multiple languages her family speaks to narrate her family's story of struggle, hardship, family strife, and finally achieving that elusive American Dream. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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AN AMERICAN SUNRISE by Joy Harjo, read by Joy Harjo Oct 18, 2019

Show notes

Beautifully written and performed poetry from the first Native American to be poet laureate of the United States. Jo Reed and AudioFile Publisher Michele Cobb talk about Harjo's Earphones Award-winning poetry collection, filled with emotions and moments of song. The poems are even more moving thanks to the author's vivid and emotional interpretations. Joy Harjo is in the front rank of poets—and poetry readers—working in English today. Published by Blackstone Publishing.

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