Poured Over

Latest Episodes:

Kwame Alexander on THIS IS THE HONEY Feb 03, 2024

Show notes

"I feel like these poems tell stories in and of themselves. And perhaps as an entire collection, they tell a greater story. … We're human beings — people laugh, love, hope, dream, dance, smile, live, die, just like everybody else. And Black people need to be reminded of that, and everybody else needs to be reminded of that."

This Is the Honey is the new poetry collection edited by Kwame Alexander featuring carefully curated poems from contemporary Black poets. Alexander joins us on the show to talk about compiling a collection of pieces, his own connections to this work and themes of identity and community with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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):

This Is the Honey edited by Kwame Alexander

Why Fathers Cry at Night by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Dolly Alderton on GOOD MATERIAL Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

What can we do when our storybook romance ends? Good Material lets us laugh our way through the thick of heartbreak with sharp wit, the warmth of friendships and all too relatable moments from the throes of a breakup. Alderton joins us to talk about writing from the male perspective, the things we all do when our hearts get broken, the unspoken grief when relationships don't work and more with guest host, Jenna Seery. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Mary.

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

Featured Books (Episode):

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

Featured Books (TBR Topoff):

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

Ruha Benjamin on IMAGINATION: A MANIFESTO Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

"My writing is always trying to open that up and to say — you can start here; you can start now."

Imagination: A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin reminds us that our imaginations already know what a better world looks like. From education to challenging our systems of oppression and more, this insightful work shows a new place for us all to start from. Benjamin joins us to talk about the split between imagination and technology, changing our narratives to tell new stories, the importance of community and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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):

Imagination: A Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin

Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin

Kyle Chayka on FILTERWORLD: HOW ALGORITHMS FLATTENED CULTURE Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

Filterworld by Kyle Chayka investigates one of our most prevalent yet often unnoticed influences — the algorithms that shape our online experiences from social media to shopping and more. Chayka joins us to talk about his own internet evolution, the concept of passive consumption and what we lose when the algorithms take over our feeds with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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):

Filterworld by Kyle Chayka

The Longing for Less by Kyle Chayka

Sabrina Imbler on HOW FAR THE LIGHT REACHES Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

"I really wanted to find connection with these creatures that I'll never meet…"

Sabrina Imbler's How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures is as unique and intriguing as the animals it explores. This book combines personal themes of race, gender, and family with reflections from the natural world in an unforgettable series of essays. Imbler joins us to talk about how they started writing about nature, the incredible and interesting creatures featured in their work, the connection between science and memoir and more with guest host, Jenna Seery.

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

Featured Books (Episode): How Far the Light Reaches by Sabrina Imbler

The Underworld by Susan Casey

Bitch by Lucy Cooke

Vagina Obscura by Rachel E. Gross

The Women's House of Detention by Hugh Ryan

Kaveh Akbar on MARTYR! Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

"I hope that when there is laughter, it's laughter made wise by having known real grief — and when there is grief, it is made wise by having known real joy."

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar is the story of a young Iranian American man searching for meaning through art, addiction, and connection. Akbar joins us to talk about writing both poetry and prose, collaboration with other novelists, creating compassion through writing and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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): Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Calling a Wolf a Wolf by Kaveh Akbar

Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe

Poured Over Double Shot: Marie-Helene Bertino and Claire Oshetsky Jan 20, 2024

Show notes

Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland gives insight into the human experience through the eyes of a young woman (who may or may not be an extraterrestrial) and reflects the joys and heartaches of life in way that will resonate with all readers. Bertino joins us to talk about her unforgettable character, looking at the world from an outsider's perspective, the mysticism of a fax machine and more.

Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky starts with a childhood game ending in the unimaginable and sets off on a journey of grief, acceptance and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Oshetsky joins us to talk about the inception of the novel, the themes of healing and connection, and writing in the natural world.

Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery.

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

Featured Books (Episode):

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino

Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky

Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawn Walton

Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz

Chouette by Claire Oshetsky

The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld

The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes

Jericho Brown on HOW WE DO IT Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill is edited by Jericho Brown and contains diverse and expansive essays and other works on the craft of writing from acclaimed Black authors like Nikki Giovanni, Barry Jenkins, Jacqueline Woodson and more. Brown joins us to talk about identity and language, the necessity of treating yourself like a writer, creating a new form of poetry and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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):

How We Do It: Black Writers on Craft, Practice, and Skill by Jericho Brown

Black on Black by Daniel Black

The Tradition by Jericho Brown

The New Testament by Jericho Brown

Dan Kois on VINTAGE CONTEMPORARIES Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois is a fiction debut that blends a coming-of-age story with the themes of lasting friendship and what it takes to be an artist. Kois joins us to talk about the publisher that inspired the novel's title, some of the important influences on his work, what he does in his day jobs and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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):

Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois

Asa, as I Knew Him by Susanna Kaysen

Bad Behavior by Mary Gaitskill

Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin

Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin

I Am Homeless If This Is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore

Angels in America by Tony Kushner

The World Only Spins Forward by Isaac Butler & Dan Kois

Eat Your Mind by Jason McBride

The Zone of Interest by Martin Amis

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Bonnie Jo Campbell on THE WATERS Jan 13, 2024

Show notes

Bonnie Jo Campbell's The Waters follows the interwoven and often complicated lives of a family of women inhabiting an island in a Michigan swamp. Campbell joins us to talk about the challenges in crafting this novel, matching her unique characters with an equally intriguing setting, small-town storytelling and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Executive Producer 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 Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell

Once Upon a River by Bonnie Jo Campbell

American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell

King Lear by William Shakespeare

The Beans of Egypt, Maine by Carolyn Chute

Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver