Poured Over

Latest Episodes:

Emily Wilson on THE ILIAD Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Emily Wilson's new translation of The Iliad brings to life this divine tale of conflict, love and honor in a way that feels fresh and compulsively readable. Wilson joins us to talk about the universality of Homer's work, working with gods and epic themes, translating for modern audiences 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):

The Odyssey translated by Emily Wilson

The Iliad translated by Emily Wilson

Merlin Sheldrake on ENTANGLED LIFE: THE ILLUSTRATED EDITION Dec 02, 2023

Show notes

"It's important for us to examine those inherited perspectives that … guide the way that we think and feel and imagine with regard to other life forms on the planet."

Entangled Life: The Illustrated Edition brings readers back to the wondrous realm of fungi, now with stunning photographs that illuminate this mysterious piece of our world in a new way. Sheldrake joins us to talk about adding a new medium to his work, the influences of fungi on culture, important conservation efforts and more with guest host, Chris Gillespie.

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

Featured Books (Episode):

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Entangled Life: Illustrated Edition by Merlin Sheldrake

Ed Park on SAME BED DIFFERENT DREAMS Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Ed Park's Same Bed Different Dreams blends history, technology and pop culture in a novel that spans time and reality in an unforgettable way. Park joins us to talk about the long gap between his books, writing and identity, media connections in his work 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):

Same Bed, Different Dreams by Ed Park

Personal Days by Ed Park

Big Bang by David Bowman

The Notebook by Ágota Kristóf

Helen Garner on THE CHILDREN'S BACH and THIS HOUSE OF GRIEF Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

With recent reprints of The Children's Bach and This House of Grief, Helen Garner's voice returns in two of her best works — a novel featuring the intricacies of complicated family life and a nonfiction account of one of Australia's most shocking criminal cases. Garner joins us to talk about how she came to write each of these stories, keeping diaries, the complexities of human character 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 Children's Bach by Helen Garner

This House of Grief by Helen Garner

Monkey Grip by Helen Garner

Jeff Tweedy on WORLD WITHIN A SONG Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

In Jeff Tweedy's newest book World Within a Song, the accomplished musician shares fifty influential songs that have shaped his life and career and shows us how music can create connection for all. Tweedy joins us to talk about the impact of music on identity, the shared qualities between his different mediums, his thoughts on authenticity 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): World Within a Song by Jeff Tweedy

How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy

Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy

This Is Not a Novel by David Markson

The Tunnel by William H. Gass

The World Within the World by William H. Gass

Tracy K. Smith on TO FREE THE CAPTIVES Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith's To Free the Captives combines the beauty of a memoir with a grander look at America's history and future. Smith joins us to talk about family and cultural identity, race and belonging, the importance 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):

To Free the Captives by Tracy K. Smith

Such Color Tracy K. Smith

Life on Mars Tracy K. Smith

Wade in the Water Tracy K. Smith

Gabriel Bump on THE NEW NATURALS Nov 18, 2023

Show notes

"My favorite parts of this book are when you have two characters … talking about what they want from the world and how they can achieve it."

The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump showcases a cast of relatable and deeply human characters as they attempt to create a perfect society in an imperfect world. Bump joins us to talk about his writing process, creating characters that feel messy and real, grief and hope 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 New Naturals by Gabriel Bump

Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel Bump

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Finnegans Wake James Joyce

The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro

Divine Days by Leon Forrest

Sigrid Nunez on THE VULNERABLES Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez reflects our complicated and constantly changing world, featuring unlikely connections and even a parrot named Eureka. Nunez joins us to talk about the autobiographical details in her works, her unique writing process, incorporating humor into her novels 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 Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez

The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez

A Feather on the Breath of God by Sigrid Nunez

Sempre Susan by Sigrid Nunez

Sleepless Nights by Elizabeth Hardwick

My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley

First Love by Gwendoline Riley

Seven Steeples by Sarah Baume

Michael Cunningham on DAY Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Set on one day in April in three different years, Day by Michael Cunningham is an intimate analysis of family love and connection. Cunningham joins us to talk about translating his writing from thoughts to words, writing a pandemic novel that isn't really a pandemic novel, using literature as a connection to the world 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): Day by Michael Cunningham

Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

Death in Venice by Thomas Mann

The Hours by Michael Cunningham

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

By Nightfall by Michael Cunningham

Melissa Broder on DEATH VALLEY Nov 11, 2023

Show notes

"Shift in perception is a miracle"

Death Valley by Melissa Broder is part desert survival story, part examination of grief — mixing the absurd with the profoundly human in a feat of imagination. Broder joins us to talk about the realities of anticipatory grief, incorporating fantastical elements into the real world, including humor in her work 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):

Death Valley by Melissa Broder

The Pisces by Melissa Broder

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder

The Babysitter at Rest by Jen George

Open Throat by Henry Hoke

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls

Leave Society by Tao Lin

The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

Correction by Thomas Bernhard