Poured Over

Latest Episodes:

Bonnie Garmus on PECK & PECK Oct 17, 2026

Show notes

After the global sensation Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus delivers a charming and funny novel about a young man searching for his place in the world in Peck & Peck. When he stumbles into a job at an unconventional New York City poetry journal, Batter Gray discovers the transformative power of language and a community he never knew he needed. Bonnie joined us live in New York to talk about her dog Friday, the magic of poetry, and the future of the arts with host Miwa Messer.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books & Poets:

Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant

Robert Lowell

Sylvia Plath

Jericho Brown

Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Elizabeth Kostova on MYSTERY PLAY Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

When a dark secret comes to light after his mother's death, Jay sets out to uncover the truth in Mystery Play, a haunting tale steeped in Dracula lore from master storyteller, Elizabeth Kostova. Elizabeth joins us to talk about seances, mysticism, the theater and Indiana Jones with cohost Jenna Seery.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books & Authors:

Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Booth by Karen Joy Fowler

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Henry James

Robert Louis Stevenson

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

Arthur Conan Doyle

Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

King Lear by William Shakespeare

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare

Jason Rekulak on LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

In Look What the Cat Dragged In by Jason Rekulak, after agreeing to pet sit, a cartoonist becomes haunted by violent nightmares and starts to find disturbing imagery in her art. Jason joins us to talk about demonic possession, viral videos, collaborating with Doogie Horner and Will Staehle on the book's illustrations, and more with cohost Chris Gillespie.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

Look What the Cat Dragged In by Jason Rekulak

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Baby-Sitters Club Graphix Series

The Adventures of Invisible Boy by Doogie Horner

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

Cujo by Stephen King

Dead Zone by Stephen King

Christine by Stephen King

Carrie by Stephen King

The Shining by Stephen King

The Green Mile by Stephen King

Jaws by Peter Benchley

Pet Semetary by Stephen King

Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix

Anand Giridharadas on MAN IN THE MIRROR Oct 13, 2026

Show notes

Man in the Mirror by Anand Giridharadas is a meticulously reported, empathetic and urgent account of America at a crossroads, where mental health and systemic failure intersect. Anand joins us to talk about his reporting process, compassion, civic engagement, and the questions of democracy with host Miwa Messer.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

Man in the Mirror by Anand Giridharadas

The Persuaders by Anand Giridharadas

Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas

Evicted by Matthew Desmond

There Is No Place for Us by Brian Goldstone

Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder

Invisible Child by Andrew Elliott

Deesha Philyaw on THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF THE FIRST LADY FREEMAN Oct 10, 2026

Show notes

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw is a scandalous, messy satire about a pageant for the wives of megachurch pastors, following Scharisse Freeman, a church "First Lady" who gets caught between childhood secrets and her public image. Deesha joined us live at B&N City Center in Philadelphia to talk about creating humor on the page, obedience, faith, and her skepticism of forgiveness with host Miwa Messer.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Phillyaw

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw

The Sellout by Paul Beatty

The Prophets by Robert Jones

Barbara Kingsolver on PARTITA Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Kingsolver returns with Partita, an unforgettable story of resilience, possibility and the transformative power of music. Barbara joins us to talk about her craft, her passion for classical music, and her Appalachian heritage with host Miwa Messer.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. The episode features musical accompaniment from pianist and musicologist, César Reyes.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

Partita by Barbara Kingsolver

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver

The Death of the Hired Man by Robert Frost

Imbolo Mbue on EVERY STORY IS A LOVE STORY Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Every Story is a Love Story by Imbolo Mbue is a smart and tender exploration of grief following a man who meets the person responsible for his wife's fatal car accident. Imbolo joins us to talk about faith, community, regret, and forgiveness with cohost Brenda Allison.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Brenda Allison and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

Every Story is a Love Story by Imbolo Mbue

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundathi Roy

Monkey Boy by Francisco Goldman

The Country of the Blind by Andrew Leland

The Laughter by Sonora Jha

Hernan Diaz on PLY Oct 03, 2026

Show notes

In Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hernan Diaz's Ply, centuries from now, society has adapted to a new way of life as humans mend their relationships to the world…and each other. Hernan joined us live in Philadelphia to talk about subjectivity, selfhood and identity; particle physics; and Charles Dickens with host Miwa Messer.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

Ply by Hernan Diaz

Trust by Hernan Diaz

In the Distance by Hernan Diaz

The Bostonians by Henry James

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Moderation by Elaine Castillo

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

Min Jin Lee on AMERICAN HAGWON Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

The acclaimed, bestselling author of Pachinko, Min Jin Lee returns with American Hagwon, a modern classic about ambition and love, family and finding home. Min Jin joined us live at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church to talk about education and ambition, the 19th century social novel, compressed modernity, and trying to be a good person in an anxious world with host Miwa Messer.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Can You Forgive Her? By Anthony Trollope

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

The Risk of Compressed Modernity by Chang Kyung-Sup

Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu

John Grisham on THE FRENCH ILLUSION Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

In The French Illusion by John Grisham, a honeymoon unravels into terror as newlyweds Paul and Chelsea get snatched from the French countryside, prompting a puzzling investigation. John joins us to talk about his time in law school, his prolific writing career, and his advocacy for the wrongfully convicted with cohost Chris Gillespie.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Chris Gillespie and mixed by Harry Liang.

New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays) here and on your favorite podcast app.

Featured Books:

The French Illusion by John Grisham

The Law Student by John Grisham

Time to Kill by John Grisham

Pelican Brief by John Grisham

The Innocent Man by John Grisham

Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham & Jim McCloskey

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger