Poured Over

Latest Episodes:

Stephanie Land on CLASS Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

"I think the bigger stuff isn't going to happen if we can't change the fact that we're not really seeing each other."

Class by Stephanie Land is a portrait of motherhood, the institutions of education, and the realities of life for those under the poverty line, full of heart, compassion and wit. Land joins us to talk about her hopes for the book, her experiences with secondary education and motherhood, her identity as a writer 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): Class by Stephanie Land

Maid by Stephanie Land

Viet Thanh Nguyen on A MAN OF TWO FACES Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

Viet Thanh Nguyen's new memoir, A Man of Two Faces, is an unconventional and impeccable personal narrative that tackles the author's own life alongside larger themes of culture and colonization. Nguyen joined us live at The Grove to talk about understanding his own story through writing, his interpretations of memory 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):

A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston

Alix E. Harrow on STARLING HOUSE Nov 04, 2023

Show notes

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow is a haunted house story for those of us who love books, creepy fairy tales and Southern Gothic themes. Harrow joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, the ties to children's literature, the differences in writing novels vs. short stories and more with guest host, Kat Sarfas.

This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Kat Sarfas and mixed by Harry Liang.

Featured Books (Episode):

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker-Chan

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Alice McDermott on ABSOLUTION Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

"It does come down to that moment, when as a reader or as a writer entering into a story we say — it's not about me, it's about you."

Alice McDermott's Absolution shines a light on the dynamic lives of American women as they navigate the tumultuous era of the Vietnam War. McDermott joins us to talk about the untold pieces of American history, the evolution of her career as a writer, the power and impact of language in fiction 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):

Absolution by Alice McDermott

The Quiet American by Graham Greene

The Ninth Hour by Alice McDermott

A Flag for Sunrise by Robert Stone

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard

Family Meal by Bryan Washington

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Amanda Peters on THE BERRY PICKERS Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

"There's nothing truer than fiction, because you can always find yourself in the work."

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters is the story of a Mi'kmaq girl who goes missing and the grief, turmoil and hope that they find as they move forward. Peters joins us to talk about her personal connections to the novel, crafting her characters, connection through storytelling 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 Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart

The Circle by Katherena Vermette

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga

Poured Over Double Shot: K-Ming Chang and Anbara Salam Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang connects lyrical, dreamy prose and visceral reality in the story of two girls who navigate their complicated friendship in a world they build with feral dogs and otherworldly connection. Chang joins us to talk about writing in a nonlinear way, creating personal and cultural mythologies and finding connection through literature.

Anbara Salam's Hazardous Spirits explores the mystical, opulent and sometimes dangerous world of Spiritualism in 1920s Scotland. Salam joins us to talk about writing the time period after a crisis and its connection to today, the specificity of her research and creating stories that may not wrap up neatly.

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):

Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang

Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam

Bestiary by K-Ming Chang

Gods of Want by K-Ming Chang

Belladonna by Anbara Salam

Affinity by Sarah Waters

Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Jhumpa Lahiri on ROMAN STORIES Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

In Roman Stories Jhumpa Lahiri translates her own writing from Italian in a feat of language and a love and connection to Rome itself. Lahiri joins us to talk about the role of a translator in literature, language and identity, exophonic authors 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):

Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Translating Myself and Others by Jhumpa Lahiri

Trick by Domenico Starnone

Metamorphoses by Ovid

Jesmyn Ward on LET US DESCEND Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

"I think that messy, sort of evolving spiritual element of Black Americans' lives ... has allowed us to survive, and not only to survive, but also to thrive."

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward balances grief and injustice with joy and reclamation in a sweeping, lyrical novel that brings often overlooked history into the light. Ward joins us to talk about exploring historical fiction, writing beyond the world we can explain, and finding the connections between literature, grief, connection and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.

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):

Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

Featured Books (TBR Topoff):

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

Rick Riordan on THE CHALICE OF THE GODS Oct 21, 2023

Show notes

Percy Jackson returns at long last in The Chalice of the Gods. Rick Riordan brings back the characters that started it all in a new adventure as they face down one of their toughest challenges yet — getting into college. Riordan joins us to talk about the return to his beloved series, collaborating with incredible authors in his publishing imprint, adapting his work for the screen and more with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Marc and Madyson.

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 Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The Sun and the Star by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

Featured Books (TBR Topoff):

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Choksi

Poured Over Double Shot: Sy Montgomery with Matt Patterson and Margaret Renkl Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson brings these wondrous creatures to the forefront as we learn about their personalities, complex ecosystems and their connections to humanity in a variety of ways. Montgomery and Patterson join us to talk about their love of turtles, the importance of local conservation and rescues, what we can learn from turtles and nature in general and more.

Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year is a literary devotional featuring beautiful artwork that follows the natural world week by week through the splendor of a year. Renkl joins us to talk about the importance of slowing down to appreciate the world around us, connecting to the plants and animals in our surroundings, the impacts of changing climate and more.

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):

Of Time and Turtles by Sy Montgomery with illustrations by Matt Patterson

The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl

Late Migrations by Margaret Renkl

Graceland, At Last by Margaret Renkl

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

How To Be A Good Creature by Sy Montgomery