Poured Over

Latest Episodes:

Brian Goldstone on THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

As timely as any book can possibly be, There Is No Place for Us is a sweeping and comprehensive journalistic investigation into a troubling new trend in American cities. Brian Goldstone joins us to talk about the realities of housing insecurity, on-the-ground reporting, narrative structure and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

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):

There is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America by Brian Goldstone Nickel and Dime: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich Evicted by Matthew Desmond Invisible Child by Andrea Elliot Rachel and Her Children: Homeless Families in America by Jonathan Kozol

Revisiting Hilary Mantel on THE MIRROR AND THE LIGHT Mar 22, 2025

Show notes

The Mirror and the Light is the final book in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall Trilogy, showcasing the final years of Thomas Cromwell. Before you watch the newest season of the tv show, listen to Mantel talk about crafting her beloved series, her unique approach to historical fiction, planning the end of the trilogy and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Top Off book recommendations from Marc and Donald.

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 Mirror and The Light by Hilary Mantel

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel

Featured Books (TBR Top Off):

Firebrand by Elizabeth Fremantle

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

Chris Bohjalian on THE JACKAL'S MISTRESS Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian is a sweeping tale of humanity and hope centered on two remarkable characters faced with a gruesome time in American history. Bohjalian joins us live at BN UWS to talk about his new book, his writing process and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

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 Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Lauren Christensen on FIRSTBORN Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Firstborn by Lauren Christensen is a memoir of tragedy and hope that depicts grief and love with tenderness and heart. Christensen joins us to talk about deciding to tell this story, the impact of writing the book on herself and those close to her, her healing process and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

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):

Firstborn by Lauren Christensen

An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination by Elizabeth McCracken

Blue Nights by Joan Didion

North Woods by Daniel Mason

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Good Girl by Aria Aber

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

Scaachi Koul on SUCKER PUNCH Mar 15, 2025

Show notes

Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul is a witty and wise collection of essays on family, love, divorce and healing. Koul joins us to talk about what lead her to telling this story now, the vulnerability of writing a memoir, exploring challenging themes 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):

Sucker Punch by Scaachi Koul

One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul

No Fault by Haley Mlotek

This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Karen Russell on THE ANTIDOTE Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

The Antidote by Karen Russell is a transportive story about history, American ideology, and community. Russell joins us to talk about creating her cast of characters, her research process and historical inspiration, writing short stories vs. novels 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 Antidote by Karen Russell

Swamplandia! by Karen Russell

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich

Stag Dance by Torrey Peters

Dust Bowls of Empire by Hannah Holleman

Canon by Paige Lewis

The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino

Portalmania by Debbie Urbanski

The Ghost Variations by Kevin Brockmeier

Torrey Peters on STAG DANCE Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Stag Dance by Torrey Peters is a series of short stories and a novel that examine gender identity, pushing societal boundaries and more. Peters joins us to talk about exploring complicated themes, creating understanding for complex characters and a unique use of literary form 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):

Stag Dance by Torrey Peters

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Laughter in the Dark by Vladimir Nabokov

Nevada by Imogen Binnie

A Safe Girl to Love by Casey Plett

I've Got a Time Bomb by Sybil Lamb

A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

True Grit by Charles Portis

Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower

When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris

Trauma Plot by Jamie Hood

Aggregated Discontent by Harron Walker

Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyen

Realistic Fiction by Anton Solomonik

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Tai-Pan by James Clavell

The Sound of Things Falling by Juan Gabriel Vásquez

The Shape of the Ruins by Juan Gabriel Vásquez

Chloe Dalton on RAISING HARE Mar 08, 2025

Show notes

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton is the inspiring and extraordinary story of an unlikely connection between a woman and a wild hare. Dalton joins us to talk about how her life changed after encountering the leveret, her transformed perspective on nature, finding a sense of wonder 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):

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Watership Down by Richard Adams

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell

Karen Thompson Walker on THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O. Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker is a mesmerizing story about motherhood, memory and complicated family ties based on case notes from Oliver Sacks. Walker joins us to talk about returning to the theme of time in her work, her writing process, her teaching career and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

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 Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Blindness by José Saramago

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

Laila Lalami on THE DREAM HOTEL Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami is an engrossing, dire and dystopian story about authoritarianism, survival and the fight for privacy in a surveillance state. Lalami joins us to talk about the idea that inspired the novel, worldbuilding, creating her characters and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

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 Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey

The Moor's Account by Laila Lalami