Poured Over

Latest Episodes:

Ron Chernow on MARK TWAIN May 15, 2025

Show notes

Mark Twain by Ron Chernow is a deep dive into the life of one of America's literary geniuses through the eyes of a master biographer. Ron joins us to talk about his research process, understanding the inner and outer life of Mark Twain, viewing Twain through a modern lens, the future of biographies and more with guest host 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 (Episode): Mark Twain by Ron Chernow Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Chasing the Last Laugh by Richard Zacks

Featured Books (TBR Top Off): Mark Twain by Ron Chernow James by Percival Everett The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf

Ocean Vuong on THE EMPEROR OF GLADNESS May 13, 2025

Show notes

There are the books you read and then there are the books you experience, like The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. Poet, photographer and bestselling author, Vuong's novels are spun from gorgeous prose and vibrant, original imagery. Ocean joins us to talk about autofiction, language, wonder, characterization and more with 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 (Episode): The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong Suttree by Cormac McCarthy Another Country by James Baldwin The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger The Adventures of Augie March by Saul Bellow Ways of Seeing by John Berger

Featured Books (TBR Top Off): The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong Dayspring by Anthony Oliveira My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende

Florence Knapp on THE NAMES May 08, 2025

Show notes

The Names by Florence Knapp is a stunning story about the power of family, legacy, language and lineage. Florence joins us to talk about writing in alternate timelines, the power of a name, fate vs choice, parenting and more with guest host 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 (Episode): The Names by Florence Knapp This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Jemimah Wei on THE ORIGINAL DAUGHTER May 06, 2025

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The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei is a story about the dawn of the internet, budding influencer culture and complicated family ties. Jemimah joins us to talk about Singapore, sisterhood, ambition, the rise of social media and more with 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 (Episode): The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin A Heavy Feather by A.L. Barker A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood The Most by Jessica Anthony Heaven by Mieko Kawakami The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Michael Luo on STRANGERS IN THE LAND May 03, 2025

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Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo is a gripping history of Chinese immigrants in America, from the nineteenth century to modern times. Michael joins us to talk about researching archives, the Chinese Exclusion Act, writing narrative nonfiction, working as a journalist and more 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 (Episode): Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo The Cycles of American History by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe The Wager by David Grann The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan

Shelby Van Pelt on REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES May 01, 2025

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is the big-hearted tale of a detective octopus helping a grieving aquarium employee solve the mystery of her missing son. Shelby joins us to talk about living in an octopus renaissance, small towns, feeling uprooted, writing about grief, creating chapter titles and more 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 (Episode): Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Charlotte's Web by E. B. White A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Omar El Akkad On Writing Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

Omar El Akkad began writing fiction while working as a journalist, leading to two novels and an essay collection: American War, What Strange Paradise and One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Omar joins us to talk about the relationship between journalism and fiction writing, worldbuilding, living in translation, interiority and inversion 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 (Episode): American War by Omar El Akkad What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan There's Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib

Denne Michele Norris on WHEN THE HARVEST COMES Apr 26, 2025

Show notes

When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris is a story about fathers and sons, love, life and inheritance. Denne joins us to talk about capturing music on the page, sibling relationships, literary influences, Ohio and more 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 (Episode): When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris Going to Meet the Man by James Baldwin Light Years by James Salter Ghana Must Go by Taiye Selasi The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Andrew Porter on THE IMAGINED LIFE Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter is a novel about fathers and sons, complex family mythologies and buried secrets. Andrew joins us to talk about finding the right tone for his novel, writing about the 1980s, Proust, the evolution of language and more 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 (Episode): The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee The Crack-Up by F. Scott Fitzgerald Swann's Way by Marcel Proust

Suleika Jaouad on THE BOOK OF ALCHEMY Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

If you've ever wanted to start journaling, we've got you covered. The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad is filled with inspiration, advice and anecdotes from a lifelong journaler and bestselling author. Suleika joins us to talk about flexing your creative muscles, the importance of constancy over output, finding community in reading and writing, navigating uncertainty and more 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 (Episode): The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

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