The Stacks &#8211; Traci Thomas

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Ep. 342 Evangelizing Abortion Rights with Jessica Valenti Oct 23, 2024

Author and activist Jessica Valenti joins The Stacks to discuss her latest book, Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win. In today’s conversation, we explore why the left struggles to effectively talk about abortion and the impact of abortion bans on maternal healthcare. Jessica explains the significance of “states' rights” in this debate, why she believes compromise around abortion is impossible, and how her Abortion, Every Day newsletter differs from the book.

The Stacks Book Club pick for October is The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. We will discuss the book on October 30th with Franklin Leonard returning as our guest.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/10/23/ep-342-Jessica-Valenti

Connect with Jessica: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Unabridged: One for the Books with Danzy Senna and Zach Stafford Oct 18, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

This is an abridged version of Traci’s live show “One for the Books.” This time, she’s joined by two incredible guests, Danzy Senna and Zach Stafford, for a conversation on Danzy's newest book Colored Television, passing narratives, and the word "mulatto". It's an evening filled with big laughs and even bigger questions around what it means to be mixed in America.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/10/18/tsu-39-danzy-senna-zach-stafford

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Ep. 341 Am I Supposed to Be Here with Jason De León Oct 16, 2024

This week, we’re joined by anthropologist and author Jason De León to discuss his latest book, Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling. We explore the ethical complexities of ethnography, the distinctions between human smuggling and trafficking, and Jason’s decision to place himself as a character in his work. Jason also shares how his experiences at the U.S.-Mexico border have shaped his approach to storytelling and what he believes could help address the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The Stacks Book Club pick for October is The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. We will discuss the book on October 30th with Franklin Leonard returning as our guest.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/10/16/ep-341-jason-de-leon

Connect with Jason: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 340 Conspiracy Theories Are Not About the Truth with Jesselyn Cook Oct 09, 2024

Journalist and author Jesselyn Cook joins The Stacks this week to discuss her new book, The Quiet Damage: QAnon and the Destruction of the American Family. In this episode, we dive into the origins of QAnon, how the conspiracy theory has evolved since its inception in 2017, and why certain individuals are more vulnerable to these beliefs. Jesselyn also breaks down how to approach conversations with loved ones who have fallen into the QAnon rabbit hole, offering insight into the far-reaching effects conspiracy theories have on our relationships and communities.

The Stacks Book Club pick for October is The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. We will discuss the book on October 30th with Franklin Leonard returning as our guest.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/10/09/ep-340-Jesselyn-Cook

Connect with Jesselyn: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 339 A Hype Man for the Writing Community with Franklin Leonard Oct 02, 2024

Actor and producer Franklin Leonard joins The Stacks this week to discuss his groundbreaking work with The Black List. Known for revolutionizing the way Hollywood discovers screenplays, Franklin recently expanded The Black List into the world of fiction. This new initiative gives writers a platform to showcase unpublished manuscripts and connect with key players in the publishing industry. In today’s episode, we dive into why Franklin wanted to venture into the book world, how The Black List works, and what this expansion means for emerging writers.

The Stacks Book Club pick for October is The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. We will discuss the book on October 30th with Franklin Leonard returning as our guest.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/10/02/ep-339-franklin-leonard

Connect with Franklin: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 338 Jazz by Toni Morrison — The Stacks Book Club (Eve Dunbar) Sep 25, 2024

It’s The Stacks Book Club Day, and we’re discussing Jazz by Toni Morrison. Professor Eve Dunbar joins us to explore the lives of Joe and Violet Trace, as their relationship is tested by love, betrayal, and violence in 1920s Harlem. In today's discussion, we dive into the significance of the book’s title and how it informs the novel’s improvisational style. We also examine Morrison’s relationship with her characters, the power of naming, and her exploration of closeness through violence.

There are spoilers on today's episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our October book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/09/25/ep-338-jazz

Connect with Eve: Twitter

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Unabridged: Queer Icons & Banned Books with George M. Johnson Sep 20, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

In this episode of The Stacks Unabridged, we’re joined by George M. Johnson, author of Flamboyants, to explore the often-overlooked Black queer icons of the Harlem Renaissance. George discusses why they chose to write about these influential figures and how they used rumors and gossip as historical sources to bring these stories to life. We also dive into the current wave of book banning, exploring what’s truly driving it and the common misconceptions surrounding this troubling trend. It’s a powerful conversation about history, censorship, and resilience.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

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You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/09/20/tsu-38-george-m-johnson

Connect with George: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 337 We Love an Ethical Scam with Laci Mosley Sep 18, 2024

Actor and comedian Laci Mosley (iCarly, A Black Lady Sketch Show) joins The Stacks to discuss her new book, Scam Goddess: Lessons from a Life of Cons, Grifts, and Schemes, a hilarious and subversive essay collection inspired by her podcast of the same name. Today, we talk about the scams that shape our world and why Laci wanted to write this book. Laci offers up her takes on the different types of scams, why not all scams are bad, and how scamming has shaped her career and personal life.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our next book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Laci: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 336 Blackness Is the Ingredient with Danzy Senna Sep 11, 2024

Danzy Senna joins The Stacks to discuss her latest novel, Colored Television, a satirical take on one novelist's attempt to leave books behind and strike it rich in Hollywood. Today, Danzy explains why she uses the word "mulatto" in her work, how humor is integral to the mixed experience, and why all her characters make such bad decisions.

Don't forget, The Stacks Book Club pick for September is Jazz by Toni Morrison. We will discuss the book on September 25th with Eve Dunbar.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/09/11/ep-336-danzy-senna

Connect with Danzy: Facebook | Website

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Ep. 335 This Thing Called Satisfaction with Eve Dunbar Sep 04, 2024

English professor Eve Dunbar is here to discuss her forthcoming book, Monstrous Work and Radical Satisfaction: Black Women Writing under Segregation. Eve shares how libraries played a pivotal role in her childhood relationship to reading, and how that love of reading eventually led her to focus her academic work on African-American literature. We also delve into resistance and satisfaction as a way to fight white supremacy, and the book she most loves to teach.

The Stacks Book Club pick for September is Jazz by Toni Morrison. We will discuss the book on September 25th with Eve Dunbar returning as our guest.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/09/04/ep-335-eve-dunbar

Connect with Eve: Twitter

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Ep. 334 Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo — The Stacks Book Club (Jay Ellis) Aug 28, 2024

It’s The Stacks Book Club Day, and we’re discussing Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo. We’re joined by actor and author Jay Ellis to explore the story of The Crafts, a husband-and-wife duo who escaped slavery by pretending to be a white man and his slave in 1848. We discuss why we think this story fell out of the collective consciousness, how the horrors of slavery are often minimized, and the complicated nature of familial relationships in the midst of chattel slavery.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our next book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/08/28/ep-334-master-slave-husband-wife

Connect with Jay: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Unabridged: What Makes a Book Cover Pop with Luvvie Ajayi Jones Aug 23, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

Today we are joined by author Luvvie Ajayi Jones to discuss the all-important topic of book cover design and book marketing. Luvvie regularly works with aspiring new authors through her Book Academy, guiding them all the way through the publishing process. We also play a game where we predict whether or not a book will sell based on the title and cover (see the covers here).

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

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You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/08/23/tsu-37-luvvie-ajayi-jones

Connect with Luvvie: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 333 Writing a COVID Novel with Regina Porter Aug 21, 2024

Today we’re joined by author Regina Porter to discuss her new book, The Rich People Have Gone Away. She explains what made her hesitant to write a COVID novel and why she eventually changed her mind. She shares the role of humor in her work, and what made exploring the trope of missing white women exciting to her.

The Stacks Book Club pick for August is Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo. We will discuss the book on August 28th with Jay Ellis.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Regina: Instagram

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Ep. 332 For the Black Boys with LaDarrion Williams Aug 14, 2024

Today we’re joined by the multitalented LaDarrion Williams about his fantasy debut Blood at the Root, which re-imagines a magical academy as an HBCU. LaDarrion explains how being a playwright differs from being a novelist, how he has navigated criticism from readers, and why he wanted to write a Young Adult story for Black boys.

The Stacks Book Club pick for August is Master Slave Husband Wife by Ilyon Woo. We will discuss the book on August 28th with Jay Ellis.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/08/14/ep-332-ladarrion-williams

Connect with LaDarrion: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 331 Imagination, Creativity, and Play with Jay Ellis Aug 07, 2024

Jay Ellis, star of HBO's Insecure, joins The Stacks to discuss his new memoir, Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?: Adventures in Boyhood. We talk about how this book came to be, where Jay’s imaginary friend came from and the purpose he served in his life. We also consider productivity versus creativity, and the books that made Jay fall in love with reading.

The Stacks Book Club pick for August is Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom by Ilyon Woo. We will discuss the book on August 28th with Jay Ellis.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/08/07/ep-331-jay-ellis

Connect with Jay: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 330 Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler — The Stacks Book Club (Emily Raboteau) Jul 31, 2024

It’s The Stacks Book Club Day, and we are discussing the classic post-apocalyptic novel Parable of the Sower, which is set now, in July 2024. We’re joined again by Lessons for Survival author Emily Raboteau. We talk about what we think of Lauren, the book’s main character, and what we make of the religious and romantic elements in the story. We also contextualize the book’s iconic author, Octavia E. Butler.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our August book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/07/31/ep-330-parable-of-the-sower

Connect with Emily: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 329 What Does It Mean to Be Unseen with Mateo Askaripour Jul 24, 2024

Author Mateo Askaripour is back on The Stacks to talk about his sophomore novel, This Great Hemisphere, a work of speculative fiction about an invisible woman on a mission to solve a high profile political murder. Mateo explains how he built the book’s world - set 500 years in the future - and why he doesn’t think about genre with his work. We also discuss the performance of political discourse and how this book compares to his debut, Black Buck.

The Stacks Book Club pick for July is Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. We will discuss the book on July 31st with Emily Raboteau.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/07/24/ep-329-mateo-askaripour

Connect with Mateo: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Unabridged: That New York Times List Discussed and Debated Jul 19, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

This edition of The Stacks Unabridged is dedicated to the New York Times’ 100 Best Books of the 21st Century. First we talk with Gilbert Cruz, the editor of the NYT Book Review, about the creation of the list and all the excitement it generated. Then, we welcome a panel of readers - Sara Hildreth, Hunter McClendon and Lupita Aquino - to discuss and debate the list, sharing our biggest takeaways, what we loved and hated, and which books we would add. We also try to figure out what the list says about US culture at large.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

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You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/07/19/tsu-36-nyt-100

Connect with Gilbert: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Sara: Instagram | Novel Pairings | Substack

Connect with Hunter: Instagram | Website | Substack

Connect with Lupita: Instagram | Twitter | Substack

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Ep. 328 An Impulse to Explore with Adam Higginbotham Jul 17, 2024

We are joined by journalist and author Adam Higginbotham, whose new book is Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space. Adam explains why he wanted to tell the story of the Challenger, and the importance of focusing on its crew. He also reveals how he kept all the people and puzzle pieces straight, and tells a wild story about an unpublished memoir that he discovered in his research.

The Stacks Book Club pick for July is Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. We will discuss the book on July 31st with Emily Raboteau.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Adam: Twitter | Website

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Ep. 327 Lots of Big Nights in Our Future with Katherine Lewin Jul 10, 2024

We are joined by Katherine Lewin, founder of the hosting shop Big Night in NYC, to discuss her new cookbook Big Night: Dinners, Parties & Dinner Parties. Katherine explains how she makes hosting feel easy and welcoming and shares the keys to having a successful Big Night. We also learn about her development process and how she decided on which recipes to include in the book.

The Stacks Book Club pick for July is Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. We will discuss the book on July 31st with Emily Raboteau.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/07/10/ep-327-katherine-lewin

Connect with Katherine: Instagram | Website | Big Night IG

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Ep. 326 You Can’t Opt Out with Emily Raboteau Jul 03, 2024

Today author and essayist Emily Raboteau joins The Stacks to discuss her book Lessons for Survival: Mothering Against "The Apocalypse." Emily explains what has changed for her since writing this meditation on justice, race and the environment. And we learn why it’s so important to talk about climate change with the people in our lives.

The Stacks Book Club pick for July is Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. We will discuss the book on July 31st with Emily Raboteau.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/07/03/ep-326-emily-raboteau

Connect with Emily: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 325 It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover — The Stacks Book Club (Melissa Mogollon) Jun 26, 2024

For this edition of The Stacks Book Club, Melissa Mogollon returns to dissect the popular romantic novel It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. We unpack the book itself - its writing style and depiction of domestic violence - along with the public perception of its author. We also discuss the upcoming film adaptation starring Blake Lively, and so much more. There are lots of spoilers in this one.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our July book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/06/26/ep-325-it-ends-with-us

Connect with Melissa: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Unabridged: The Performance of Gender with Aaron Jay Young Jun 21, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

Los Angeles photographer Aaron Jay Young visits The Stacks Unabridged to discuss Queen, a portrait book celebrating the art of drag. We learn how his book came to be and what he’s learned about the performance of gender through photographing drag queens. Aaron also reveals how he approaches his subjects to get the right shot.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

JOIN PATREON OR SUBSTACK TO LISTEN

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

http://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/06/21/tsu-35-aaron-jay-young

Connect with Aaron: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Queen the Book

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https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/06/19/ep-324-akwaeke-emezi

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Ep. 324 The Psychology of Evil with Akwaeke Emezi Jun 19, 2024

Author and multimedia artist Akwaeke Emezi joins us with their latest novel Little Rot, set in the underworld of a Nigerian city. We unpack the psychology of evil, and what is interesting to Akwaeke about exploring different genres. We also discuss their moral boundaries when it comes to writing about difficult subjects.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. We will discuss the book on June 26th with Melissa Mogollon.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Akwaeke: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 323 You’ve Got to Want Depth with Chelsea Devantez Jun 12, 2024

Friend of The Stacks Chelsea Devantez is here to tell us about her debut memoir I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This (But I’m Going to Anyway). Chelsea explains how podcasting about celebrity memoirs has impacted her writing, and what she found important to include in her own story. Plus we learn how the structure of Chelsea’s book is a reflection of one major event in her life.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. We will discuss the book on June 26th with Melissa Mogollon.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/06/12/ep-323-chelsea-devantez

Connect with Chelsea: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Glamorous Trash

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Ep. 322 I Think Voicy is Great with Melissa Mogollon Jun 05, 2024

Today we are speaking with Melissa Mogollon about her debut novel Oye, a tragicomic family drama told in a series of one-sided phone calls from one sister to another. Melissa shares her approach to writing a book all in dialogue, and what it was like to write from a teenager’s POV. We also talk about the term "voicy" and whether or not it is a pejorative.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover. We will discuss the book on June 26th with Melissa Mogollon.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/06/05/ep-322-melissa-mogollon

Connect with Melissa: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 321 No Name in the Street by James Baldwin — The Stacks Book Club (Yahdon Israel) May 29, 2024

It is The Stacks Book Club Day, and we're celebrating James Baldwin and his centennial year by reading his book, No Name in the Street. We're joined again by Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster- and founder of Literaryswag- Yahdon Israel. We talk about the delicate balance between public and private, in life and in memoir. We also examine the usefulness of public beefs, and Baldwin’s lasting legacy.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our June book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/29/ep-321-no-name-in-the-street

Connect with Yahdon: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Literaryswag

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Unabridged: The Best Books of 2024…So Far with Cree Myles and Sara Hildreth May 24, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

For today’s Unabridged, book lovers Cree Myles (All Ways Black) and Sara Hildreth (Fiction Matters) are back by popular demand to discuss the best books 2024, so far. We also get into our most disappointing reads, our favorite backlist titles, and what we’re most looking forward to for the rest of the year.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

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You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

http://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/05/24/tsu-34-best-so-far

Connect with Cree: Instagram | Twitter | All Ways Black

Connect with Sara: Instagram | Fiction Matters | Novel Pairings

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Ep. 320 It’s Really Hard to Change the Patriarchy with Sierra Greer May 22, 2024

Sierra Greer is the novelist behind the new speculative fiction book Annie Bot, about what happens when an AI robot designed to be the perfect girlfriend learns to become human. We talk today about how this novel came to Sierra, why she chose to write under a pen name for this book, and how she was thinking about race and feminism throughout the novel.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Sierra: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 319 The Vulnerability Is the Point with Carvell Wallace May 15, 2024

Writer and podcaster Carvell Wallace joins us to discuss their debut memoir Another Word for Love. Carvell describes the challenge of writing a trauma memoir without making it all about the trauma, and reveals how they thought about connecting with their audience. We also talk about how Carvell's past as an actor impacts the way they think about writing stories.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/15/ep-319-carvell-wallace

Connect with Carvell: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

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Ep. 318 Compassion, Justice, and Anger Are Not Mutually Exclusive with Paula Yoo May 08, 2024

Today the prolific and award-winning children's book and Young Adult author Paula Yoo joins us. Her new nonfiction book is Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire. Paula explains why she wants to write these stories from recent American history for young people, and how she teaches her readers without being condescending or preachy. She also shares stories that didn't make the book but still left an impact on her.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/08/ep-318-paula-yoo

Connect with Paula: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 317 The Ill Is Not the Outcome with Yahdon Israel May 01, 2024

Today we are joined by Yahdon Israel - writer, founder of Literaryswag Book Club, and Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster. A Brooklyn native and community-builder, Yahdon breaks down the distinction between the literary world and the publishing industry. Plus, Yahdon breaks down how he thinks about audience as who are you writing to, and who are you writing for?

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/01/ep-317-yahdon-israel

Connect with Yahdon: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Literaryswag

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Ep. 316 The January Children by Safia Elhillo — The Stacks Book Club (Hala Alyan) Apr 24, 2024

It's The Stacks Book Club day and writer Hala Alyan is back to discuss this month's pick, The January Childrenby Safia Elhillo. It is an award-winning poetry collection by the Sudanese-American poet Safia Elhillo. We examine the prevailing themes of displacement and duality, the urgency with which a poet writes, and we ask, how should one judge poetry?

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our May book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/24/ep-316-the-january-children

Connect with Hala: Instagram | Website

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Unabridged: Poetry Therapy Apr 19, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

If you've ever felt like you didn't "get it" when it comes to poetry, The Stacks is here for a little poetry therapy featuring five spectacular poets breaking down their favorite poems. We are joined by José Olivarez, Morgan Parker, Saeed Jones, Nate Marshall and Gabrielle Bates. Each has selected a poem to read with Traci; then they discuss what they notice, how it works, and why it excites them. This episode is for folks who love poetry, those who cower in fear, and everyone in between.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

JOIN PATREON OR SUBSTACK TO LISTEN

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/19/tsu-33-poetry-therapy

Connect with José: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

Connect with Morgan: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Saeed: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

Connect with Nate: Instagram | Website | Substack

Connect with Gabrielle: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 315 Pete Rose: The Great Anti-hero with Keith O'Brien Apr 17, 2024

Journalist and bestselling author Keith O'Brien joins this episode to talk about his new book Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball. Keith reveals his thoughts on Rose's complex story, which is anything but black and white. We also discuss the steroid era of baseball, Pete Rose's legacy around race, and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is The January Children by Safia Elhillo. We will discuss the book on April 24th with Hala Alyan.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Keith: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 314 Being Chesty with Andrew Boryga Apr 10, 2024

First-time novelist and award-winning writer Andrew Boryga talks about his new book Victim, a satirical take on diversity initiatives, self-promotion and the art of the hustle. Andrew reveals how he thought about audience while composing the book, and discusses the difference between attention and privilege.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is The January Children by Safia Elhillo. We will discuss the book on April 24th with Hala Alyan.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/10/ep-314-andrew-boryga

Connect with Andrew: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 313 Auditioning for Empathy with Hala Alyan Apr 03, 2024

Writer, poet and psychologist Hala Alyan joins this episode to discuss her newest poetry collection The Moon That Turns You Back. We hear about how she thinks about form, and cultivating empathy in art. Hala also talks about her experience promoting a book during the ongoing violence attacks on Gaza, and what it's like for her therapy patients to read her work.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/03/ep-313-hala-alyan

Connect with Hala: Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Unabridged: Ask Me Anything, Hosted by Mr. Stacks Mar 29, 2024

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

This episode of The Stacks Unabridged is a special AMA session with your host in the hot seat. We collected questions from social media and our Patreon and Substack communities, and Mr. Stacks asked Traci everything you wanted to know. You'll hear about how Traci reads for work versus pleasure, her favorite musicals, 2024 baseball predictions, and much more.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

JOIN PATREON OR SUBSTACK TO LISTEN

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/29/tsu-32-ask-me-anything

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/27/ep-312-interior-chinatown

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Ep. 312 Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu -- The Stacks Book Club (Elise Hu) Mar 27, 2024

Flawless author Elise Hu returns to discuss our March book club pick Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We talk about the satirical novel's themes of assimilation, the performance of imposed identity and the myth of the model minority. We also ask, who gets to be "American"?

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our April book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Elise: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack | TED Talks Daily

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Ep. 311 They Say We Die Twice with Pamela Prickett & Stefan Timmermans Mar 20, 2024

Sociologists and co-authors Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans join The Stacks to talk about their book The Unclaimed: Abandonment and Hope in the City of Angels. The book follows four people whose bodies go unclaimed after their deaths, and how and why this happens. We also discuss how Pamela and Stefan think ethically about reporting and writing about the dead, why being claimed matters, and how they took care of themselves while spending eight years with this subject matter.

The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We will discuss the book on March 27th with Elise Hu.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/20/ep-311-pamela-prickett-stefan-timmermans

Connect with Pamela: Twitter | Website

Connect with Stefan: Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 310 The Absence of Story with Tommy Orange Mar 13, 2024

Tommy Orange joins The Stacks today to discuss his new novel Wandering Stars. We talk about writing this prequel/sequel to his debut nove,l the Pulitzer Prize finalist, There There. Tommy reveals how he thinks about the relationship between faith and addiction, and why he writes about Oakland. He also talks about waiting until adulthood to finally see himself represented in popular culture, and how not seeing himself is a driving force in his work. Traci also asks Tommy if he has any plans to write nonfiction.

There are no spoilers in this episode.

The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We will discuss the book on March 27th with Elise Hu.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/13/ep-310-tommy-orange

Connect with Tommy: Twitter

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To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 309 Chasing Artificial Standards with Elise Hu Mar 06, 2024

Author and TED Talks Daily host Elise Hu joins The Stacks to discuss her book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. Elise explains how Korea became a pop culture superpower, and how she approached writing about a culture outside of her own. We also discuss "cultural technology" and anti-Blackness in Korean beauty standards, and Elise slips into journalist mode to interview Traci.

The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. We will discuss the book on March 27th with Elise Hu.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/03/06/ep-309-elise-hu

Connect with Elise: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack | TED Talks Daily

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 308 Viral Justice by Ruha Benjamin -- The Stacks Book Club (Uché Blackstock) Feb 28, 2024

Physician and bestselling author Uché Blackstock returns to discuss the memoir-manifesto Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want by Ruha Benjamin. We talk about viral justice and viral injustice, and how American individualism is one of the biggest challenges to the work of abolition. We also unpack why we struggle with owning the power we have, and how viral justice can show up in our communities, from education to labor and beyond.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our March book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/02/28/ep-308-viral-justice

Connect with Uché: Instagram | Twitter

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Unabridged: No One Wants to Talk About the Sex with Kiley Reid Feb 23, 2024

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

This episode features audio from a February live show at Vroman's Bookstore with NYT bestselling novelist Kiley Reid (Such a Fun Age, Come and Get It). Kiley talks about her approach to character development and satire; she also reveals what she hopes her audiences take away from her work, and why she primarily cares about being entertaining.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/02/23/tsu-31-kiley-reid

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Kiley: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/02/21/ep-307-lauren-markham

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Ep. 307 A Story We Tell Backward with Lauren Markham Feb 21, 2024

This episode features a discussion with journalist and writer Lauren Markham about her new book A Map of Future Ruins: On Borders and Belonging. She explains why Greece interested her as a base for her writing about immigration, and how the border is used as a tool for autocracy. We also talk about the criminalization of migrants and refugees and what abolition in immigration could look like.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is Viral Justice by Ruha Benjamin. We will discuss the book on February 28th with Uché Blackstock.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Lauren: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 306 I Love Our Romance Community with Tia Williams Feb 14, 2024

Romance novelist Tia Williams visits the show to discuss her latest book A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. Tia shares why she wanted to venture into historical romance, how being a beauty editor has helped her create characters, and why telling this fated-mates story forced her to work even harder than usual. Plus, we break down trends in romance covers.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is Viral Justice by Ruha Benjamin. We will discuss the book on February 28th with Uché Blackstock.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/02/14/ep-306-tia-williams

Connect with Tia: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 305 Going from Pet to Threat with Uché Blackstock Feb 07, 2024

Physician, educator and author Uché Blackstock shares her New York Times Bestselling book Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine. The book is both a memoir and an indictment of disparities in our healthcare system. We hear what legacy means to Uché, and how racism shows up in medicine for Black doctors. We also talk about her most beloved books, and the Pet to Threat phenomenon.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is Viral Justice by Ruha Benjamin. We will discuss the book on February 28th with Uché Blackstock.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/02/07/ep-305-uche-blackstock

Connect with Uché: Instagram | Twitter

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 304 Erasure by Percival Everett -- The Stacks Book Club (Zach Stafford) Jan 31, 2024

Vibe Check host Zach Stafford returns to discuss our January book club selection, the 2001 satirical novel Erasure by Percival Everett. Our conversation today delves into ownership of art and stories, what the joke of the novel is, the title of the book, and we even dabble (spoiler-free) into the movie based on the book, American Fiction.

There are spoilers for the book, Erasure, on today's episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our January book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/31/ep-304-erasure

Connect with Zach: Instagram | Twitter | Vibe Check

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unabridged: Our Most Anticipated Books of 2024 with Cree Myles and Sara Hildreth Jan 26, 2024

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

For today's Unabridged, book lovers Cree Myles (All Ways Black) and Sara Hildreth (Fiction Matters) join us to reveal their most anticipated reads for the first half of 2024. We talk about our reading goals for the year, list a few 2024 books we've already liked, and get into the books we're most looking forward to.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/26/tsu-30-2024-most-anticipated

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Cree: Instagram | Twitter | All Ways Black

Connect with Sara: Instagram | Fiction Matters | Novel Pairings

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/24/ep-303-kaveh-akbar

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 303 The Culmination of My Psycho-Spiritual Self with Kaveh Akbar Jan 24, 2024

We are joined by poet and debut novelist Kaveh Akbar to discuss his book Martyr!, the story of a newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants on a quest for answers and meaning. Kaveh explains how fonts play into his revision process, and why he wanted to proselytize the art he likes most in the book. He also reveals what he found most difficult about prose, compared to writing poetry.

The Stacks Book Club selection for January is Erasure by Percival Everett. We will discuss the book on January 31st with Zach Stafford.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Kaveh: Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 302 We Shouldn't Be Asking You This Question with Carolina Ixta Jan 17, 2024

Educator and author Carolina Ixta joins The Stacks to discuss her debut novel Shut Up, This is Serious. Set in East Oakland, the story explores teen friendship, generational cycles and authenticity. Carolina talks about the process of writing about sex in Young Adult fiction, and confronting anti-Black racism in Latine communities.

The Stacks Book Club selection for January is Erasure by Percival Everett. We will discuss the book on January 31st with Zach Stafford.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/17/ep-302-carolina-ixta

Connect with Carolina: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 301 What Makes a Recipe Good with Sohla El-Waylly Jan 10, 2024

Chef, restaurateur and media personality Sohla El-Waylly joins to talk about her debut cookbook, Start Here: Instructions for Becoming a Better Cook: A Cookbook. We find out how Sohla balances difficulty, time, and ingredients while writing recipes for home chefs. She also shares how having a child has changed the way she thinks about food and feeding people, and shares tips for cooking related resolutions (including one that Traci is committed to).

The Stacks Book Club selection for January is Erasure by Percival Everett. We will discuss the book on January 31st with Zach Stafford.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/10/ep-301-sohla-el-waylly

Connect with Sohla: Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 300 A Lover of Place with Zach Stafford Jan 03, 2024

Writer, Vibe Check cohost, and Tony winning Producer, Zach Stafford joins The Stacks to discuss being a journalist, his many jobs over the year, and of course, books!. Zach reveals his surprise problematic favorite book, explains how his love of geography has informed his entire professional career and addresses the challenge of squaring his upbeat personality with being a serious journalist.

The Stacks Book Club selection for January is Erasure by Percival Everett. We will discuss the book on January 31st with Zach Stafford.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/03/ep-300-zach-stafford

Connect with Zach: Instagram | Twitter | Vibe Check

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unabridged: The LA Live Show with Chelsea Devantez, Rachel Lindsay and Sam Sanders Dec 29, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

This edition of The Stacks Unabridged features audio from our Los Angeles stop on the Live in The Stacks tour. We were joined by Chelsea Devantez, Rachel Lindsay and Sam Sanders in a discussion of celebrity memoirs, pop culture gossip and book recommendations.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/29/tsu-29-la-tour

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Chelsea: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Glamorous Trash

Connect with Rachel: Instagram | Twitter | Higher Learning

Connect with Sam: Instagram | Twitter | Into It | Vibe Check

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Ep. 299 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare -- The Stacks Book Club (Farah Karim-Cooper) Dec 27, 2023

Author and Shakespeare scholar Farah Karim-Cooper returns for our final book club episode of the year to discuss the Bard's most famous play - Romeo and Juliet. We ask questions around why this play became William Shakespeare's most well known, and why we teach it in schools. We also share the characters we love and hate, and unpack the way race plays into the text.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our January book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Farah: Twitter

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To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Ep. 298 The Best Books of 2023 with MJ Franklin and Adam Vitcavage Dec 20, 2023

New York Times Book Review editor MJ Franklin and Debutiful's Adam Vitcavage join The Stacks for our annual best books of the year episode. We reveal our personal picks for the ten best books of 2023, and predict trends we anticipate for 2024. Plus, we discuss all the books we're most looking forward to reading in the new year.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. We will discuss the book on December 27th with Farah Karim-Cooper.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/20/ep-298-best-books-of-2023

Connect with MJ: Instagram | Twitter

Connect with Adam: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Debutiful

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Ep. 297 It's a Policy of Neglect with Nathan Thrall Dec 13, 2023

Journalist and author Nathan Thrall joins us to discuss his book A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy. Nathan explains why he wanted to tell this story in 2023, and how the events of October 7th changed how his book about life for a Palestinian family was received. Nathan also shares what folks can do to impact change in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. We will discuss the book on December 27th with Farah Karim-Cooper.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/13/ep-297-nathan-thrall

Connect with Nathan: Twitter | Website

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Unabridged: The NYC Late Show with Kiese Laymon Dec 08, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

We're back with friend of The Stacks, Kiese Laymon, with audio from the second New York live show on our national tour. Kiese discusses writing about real people in his life, and reveals what he would change about his memoir Heavy if he could revise it. Plus, we talk about first kisses, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/08/tsu-28-nyc-tour-2

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Kiese: Instagram | Website

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https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/06/ep-296-farah-karim-cooper

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Ep. 296 Gatekeeping Around Shakespeare with Farah Karim-Cooper Dec 06, 2023

Author and professor Farah Karim-Cooper joins The Stacks to talk about her book The Great White Bard: How to Love Shakespeare While Talking about Race. Farah reveals how she came to be a Shakespeare and race scholar, and how her work has been received thus far. We also discuss her favorite plays by Shakespeare, and the ways in which his legacy doesn't match up with who he was in his life.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. We will discuss the book on December 27th with Farah Karim-Cooper.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Farah: Twitter

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 295 Severance by Ling Ma -- The Stacks Book Club (Mitchell S. Jackson) Nov 29, 2023

Author Mitchell S. Jackson returns for our book club discussion of Ling Ma's post-apocalyptic novel Severance. On this episode we try to piece together the story's timeline, unpack the ending, and we cast the TV show adaptation. We also discuss quote marks, capitalism, and the role of religion throughout the novel.

There are spoilers on this episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our December book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/29/ep-295-severance

Connect with Mitchell: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Unabridged: The NYC Early Show with Kiese Laymon Nov 24, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

This Unabridged is a conversation with author and friend of The Stacks Kiese Laymon from our early show in New York City. We hear from Kiese about how he knows when his work is ready for an audience, and get intel on his forthcoming book. We also get into sports, hot topics, and the unmatched confidence of New Yorkers.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/24/tsu-27-nyc-tour-1

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Kiese: Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/22/ep-294-ali-stroker

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Ep. 294 People Just Have Never Seen It with Ali Stroker Nov 22, 2023

Tony Award Winner Ali Stroker discusses her new middle grade novel Cut Loose!, co-written with Stacy Davidowitz. Ali reveals why she avoided having friends with disabilities in her youth, how she translates choreography for her wheelchair, and how her thinking around accommodations has changed over time. We also hear how she thinks about storytelling versus teaching her audience.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Severance by Ling Ma. We will discuss the book on November 29th with Mitchell S. Jackson.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Ali: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 293 Progress Is not Linear with Beto O'Rourke Nov 15, 2023

Texas politician and author Beto O'Rourke joins The Stacks to talk about his book We've Got to Try: How the Fight for Voting Rights Makes Everything Else Possible. We learn why Beto thinks voting rights is the most important battle we're currently fighting, what he says to people who don't feel represented or served by politicians, and whether he plans to run for office again.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Severance by Ling Ma. We will discuss the book on November 29th with Mitchell S. Jackson.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/15/ep-293-beto-orourke

Connect with Beto: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Ep. 292 Writing Toward Beauty with Jesmyn Ward Nov 08, 2023

Award-winning author Jesmyn Ward joins The Stacks to discuss her latest novel Let Us Descend. She reveals how the book came to her, and how audience plays into her writing process. We also learn why Jesmyn changed her normal writing process for this book, how she writes to the center of emotions in her fiction, and how her level of success impacts her ability to write.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Severance by Ling Ma. We will discuss the book on November 29th with Mitchell S. Jackson.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/08/ep-292-jesmyn-ward

Connect with Jesmyn: Instagram | Twitter

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 291 I've Never Read for Pleasure with Mitchell S. Jackson Nov 01, 2023

Award-winning author Mitchell S. Jackson joins the show to discuss his new book Fly: The Big Book of Basketball Fashion. He explains why he wanted to write about the intersection of basketball and fashion in this hybrid of lookbook and cultural commentary. We also get into basketball's best and worst dressed, what winning the Pulitzer has meant to Mitchell and why he never reads for pleasure.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Severance by Ling Ma. We will discuss the book on November 29th with Mitchell S. Jackson.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/11/01/ep-291-mitchell-jackson

Connect with Mitchell: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 290 Tar Baby by Toni Morrison -- The Stacks Book Club (Minda Honey) Oct 25, 2023

It's time for our annual Toni Morrison read for The Stacks Book Club! Author, Minda Honey is back to discuss Tar Baby, a novel about colorism, the class divide and gender roles. We dig into the book's title, unpack the ending and question who we were rooting for throughout the book.

There are spoilers on today's episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our November book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/10/25/ep-290-tar-baby

Connect with Minda: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Unabridged: The DC Live Show with Jason Reynolds Oct 20, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

This Unabridged episode features audio from our Washington DC stop of The Stacks Tour, featuring bestselling author and friend of the show Jason Reynolds. We discuss Jason's bath routine, the real story behind his book Ghost and our favorite guest on The Stacks.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/10/20/tsu-26-dc-tour

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Jason: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/10/18/ep-289-oliver-jeffers

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 289 Changing the Stories We Tell Ourselves with Oliver Jeffers Oct 18, 2023

Children's book author and artist Oliver Jeffers joins to discuss his first all-ages illustrated book Begin Again: How We Got Here and Where We Might Go - Our Human Story. So Far. We talk about cultivating a sense of optimism, the relationship between distance and perspective and the importance of the stories we tell ourselves. We also ask what reconciliation and justice look like if we want to move forward together, and what kind of world Oliver hopes for.

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Tar Baby by Toni Morrison. We will discuss the book on October 25th with Minda Honey.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Oliver: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 288 Just Presenting the Facts with Michael Harriot Oct 11, 2023

Columnist and commentator Michael Harriot joins The Stacks to talk about his book Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America. Michael reveals why he wanted to write a book about American history told from the perspective of Black people, how he thinks of connecting to his audience, and what makes this moment different than other moments in American history.

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Tar Baby by Toni Morrison. We will discuss the book on October 25th with Minda Honey.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/10/11/ep-288-michael-harriot

Connect with Michael: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 287 Ending Racism with Minda Honey Oct 04, 2023

Political and relationship essayist Minda Honey is here to discuss her new book The Heartbreak Years: A Memoir. We talk about Minda's experience of being Black and Filipina, colorism and the internet's lack of nuance, how her exes have taken her writing about them and how she cured racism with this book. Also, we hear about Minda's reading tracker and annual mega-reading challenge.

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Tar Baby by Toni Morrison. We will discuss the book on October 25th with Minda Honey.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/10/04/ep-287-minda-honey

Connect with Minda: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 286 Monsters by Claire Dederer -- The Stacks Book Club (Brittany Luse) Sep 27, 2023

We're thrilled to welcome back podcaster Brittany Luse to discuss Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer for The Stacks Book Club. We discuss how race does and doesn't show up in the book, and what worked for us versus what didn't. We also consider the nature of punishment and redemption when it comes to monstrous celebrities, and ask whose genius we miss out on when we make space for the monsters.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our book club pick will be for October 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/09/27/ep-286-monsters

Connect with Brittany: Instagram | Twitter | It’s Been a Minute

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 285 A Page Is Not Wild with Myriam Gurba Sep 20, 2023

Myriam Gurba visits The Stacks to discuss her new essay collection Creep: Accusations and Confessions. Myriam describes how a question about catharsis inspired the book, how she knows when she's ready to write about a topic or an event, and how thinking about her audience informs her writing. We also learn how humor plays into Myriam's work, and how her ancestors showed up in her writing process.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer. We will discuss the book on September 27th with Brittany Luse.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/09/20/ep-285-myriam-gurba

Connect with Myriam: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unabridged: The Chicago Live Show with Samantha Irby Sep 15, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

This episode of The Stacks Unabridged features audio from our Chicago show on the Live in The Stacks tour. Humorist, TV writer and author Samantha Irby joins to talk about her new book Quietly Hostile: Essays. We also discuss books we love, books we hate and Hunter Biden's memoir. This is an edited version of the live show, so if you want more, come join us on tour! Get your tickets here.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/09/15/tsu-25-chicago-tour

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Samantha: Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/09/13/ep-284-stacey-abrams

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 284 Romance and Politics with Stacey Abrams Sep 13, 2023

Politician, activist and author Stacey Abrams joins us to discuss her romantic suspense novel The Art of Desire, written under her pen name Selena Montgomery. We learn where her pseudonym came from and why she chose to re-release the book. We also talk about how Stacey's political life is influenced by her creative life and vice versa, what comes next for her, and how romance writing has changed in the last 20 years.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer. We will discuss the book on September 27th with Brittany Luse.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Stacey: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 283 The Curiosity Never Ends with Brittany Luse Sep 06, 2023

Today we're joined by award-winning journalist and cultural critic Brittany Luse upon her first anniversary as host of NPR's It's Been a Minute. We discuss curiosity as a foundational principal of Brittany's life, and what comes easily versus what's more difficult as a veteran podcaster. We also hear about how she decides what to cover on the show, and Brittany's book club with her niece.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer. We will discuss the book on September 27th with Brittany Luse.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/09/06/ep-283-brittany-luse

Connect with Brittany: Instagram | Twitter | It's Been a Minute

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Introducing: Vibe Check with Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford Sep 01, 2023

Introducing Vibe Check, a podcast where hosts Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford make sense of what’s going on in news and culture – and how it all feels. On this episode of Vibe Check, Sam, Saeed and Zach talk about the literary works that they turn to frequently, what purpose they serve in each of their lives, and why.

You can find Vibe Check on every podcast listening platform.

*This is a special episode from the Vibe Check hosts, all friends of The Stacks.*

Connect with Sam: Instagram | Twitter

Connect with Saeed: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Zach: Instagram | Twitter

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 282 You Made A Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi -- The Stacks Book Club (Sam Sanders) Aug 30, 2023

Podcaster and journalist Sam Sanders returns to discuss You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi for The Stacks Book Club. In our conversation of this romance novel, we wonder if the book actually qualifies as such under the rules of romance novels. We also discuss how the story feels like real life because it mirrors the messiness of actual love stories, who we are rooting for, and we brainstorm casts for the upcoming screen adaptation.

There are spoilers on today's episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our book club pick will be for September 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/30/ep-282-you-made-a-fool-of-death

Connect with Sam: Instagram | Twitter | Into It | Vibe Check

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unabridged: The Oakland Live Show with Leila Mottley Aug 25, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

This Unabridged features audio from our first stop on The Stacks tour in Oakland with Leila Mottley. We talk about her book Nightcrawling and share our reality TV hot takes. We also give audience book recommendations with a special guest. This is an edited version of the live show, so if you want more, come join us on tour! Get your tickets here.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/25/tsu-24-oakland-tour

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Leila: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Deesha: Twitter | Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/23/ep-281-jennifer-baker

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 281 The Characters Came Quickly with Jennifer Baker Aug 23, 2023

Podcaster and author Jennifer Baker discusses her YA novel Forgive Me Not, how she created its alternate juvenile justice system and what she wanted to teach young people about incarceration and grief. Plus, we hear about how Jennifer and her editor worked together to edit the book, the many ways in which publishing has changed and stayed the same, and who decides who the villain is.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. We will discuss the book on August 30th with Sam Sanders.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Jennifer: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Minorities in Publishing

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 280 Blind Thought with Andrew Leland Aug 16, 2023

After living with the retinitis pigmentosa for decades, Andrew Leland; writer, audio producer, and teacher, decided to write about blindness in his debut book, The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight. We discuss how he thought about specificity while addressing a broad audience and why writing about ableism felt so risky to him. We also talk about the concept of "blind thought" and the ongoing debate around blindness being a neutral characteristic.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. We will discuss the book on August 30th with Sam Sanders.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/16/ep-280-andrew-leland

Connect with Andrew: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 279 Inaction Is a Form of Police Brutality with Nora Neus Aug 09, 2023

Emmy-nominated journalist Nora Neus is here to discuss her illuminating new book 24 Hours in Charlottesville: An Oral History of the Stand Against White Supremacy. The book chronicles the events of 2017, where armed neo-Nazi demonstrators descended on the University of Virginia campus and downtown Charlottesville. Nora explains why she didn't interview white nationalists for the book, how she found her subjects and sources, and how she navigated objective versus subjective truth while telling this story.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. We will discuss the book on August 30th with Sam Sanders.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/09/ep-279-nora-neus

Connect with Nora: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 278 We're Giving Him Drugs with Sam Sanders Aug 02, 2023

Sam Sanders, host of the Into It and Vibe Check podcasts, joins us to discuss the history of objectivity in journalism, what identity is and how people wield it, and what it's like having co-hosts and working with friends. We also hear how Sam decides which books to feature on his podcasts and how much he should share with his audience.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. We will discuss the book on August 30th with Sam Sanders.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/02/ep-278-sam-sanders

Connect with Sam: Instagram | Twitter | Into It | Vibe Check

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Unabridged: Talking HBO's Watchmen Series with David Dennis Jr. Jul 28, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

Friend of The Stacks David Dennis Jr. is back to help us break down the 2019 HBO limited series Watchmen, in honor of our July book club episode about Alan Moore's iconic graphic novel. We discuss David's obsession with the show, its pivotal race moments and one special ingredient that the series added to its source material.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/28/tsu-23-david-dennis-jr

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with David: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 277 Watchmen by Alan Moore -- The Stacks Book Club (Joel Christian Gill) Jul 26, 2023

Cartoonist and author Joel Christian Gill returns for book club day to discuss the graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. We dissect this 12 part comic and learn about the thematic and formal elements in play. We also talk about the role of God, Batman, and women in the book, and finally Joel shares why Watchmen is considered to be the greatest comic of all time?

There are spoilers in this episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our book club pick will be for August 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Joel: Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 276 How We Keep Each Other Alive with Donovan X. Ramsey Jul 19, 2023

Journalist Donovan X. Ramsey joins us to talk about his illuminating narrative nonfiction book When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era. Donovan explains exactly what crack is, talks about the disparities in crack sentencing, and the ways the media and rap music influenced the era.

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. We will discuss the book on July 26th with Joel Christian Gill.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/19/ep-276-donovan-x-ramsey

Connect with Donovan: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 275 We're on the Extreme Side with Ricardo Nuila Jul 12, 2023

Physician and writer Ricardo Nuila joins The Stacks to discuss The People's Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine, about Ben Taub county hospital in Houston, TX. Dr. Nuila breaks down the difference between public and private hospitals, how medical costs are calculated, and what individuals can do to help change the healthcare system. He also shares why he thinks we need both public and private care options.

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. We will discuss the book on July 26th with Joel Christian Gill.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/12/ep-275-ricardo-nuila

Connect with Ricardo: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 274 Comics Is a Medium Not a Genre with Joel Christian Gill Jul 05, 2023

Cartoonist and educator Joel Christian Gill joins us to talk about his new book Stamped from the Beginning: A Graphic History of Racist Ideas in America, an illustrated adaptation of Ibram X. Kendi's 2017 release. He gives us a brief history of comics in American culture and discusses the medium as a sneaky way to teach people things. We also get into color theory, the difference between comics and graphic novels, and more!

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. We will discuss the book on July 26th with Joel Christian Gill.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/05/ep-274-joel-christian-gill

Connect with Joel: Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Unabridged: I'm a New Bitch Every Month with Jamilah Mapp and Erica Dickerson Jun 30, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

Podcasters and co-authors Jamilah Mapp and Erica Dickerson join Unabridged to talk about their new book A Good Mom's Guide to Making Bad Choices. We get into their collaborative process, how they've embraced changing their minds in public and they explain how they navigate privacy with their daughters, plus more!

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/06/30/tsu-22-jamilah-mapp-erica-dickerson

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Jamilah: Instagram | Twitter

Connect with Erica: Instagram

Good Moms, Bad Choices: Podcast | Instagram | Twitter | Website

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https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/06/28/ep-273-oreo

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Ep. 273 Oreo by Fran Ross -- The Stacks Book Club (Hannah Oliver Depp) Jun 28, 2023

Loyalty Bookstores owner Hannah Oliver Depp returns to discuss our June book club pick Oreo by Fran Ross. We talk about the history and context of this 1974 satire, including the story of Fran Ross herself. We wonder how to categorize this novel about a Black and Jewish teenaged girl who finds her self in man precarious situations, and we ask what to make of a book that pokes fun at just about everyone.

There are spoilers in this episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our book club pick will be for July 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Hannah: Instagram | Twitter | Loyalty Bookstores

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 272 Cold Butter and Cold Emails with Stacey Mei Yan Fong Jun 21, 2023

Today we speak with Stacey Mei Yan Fong, creator of the project which spawned her new book 50 Pies, 50 States: An Immigrant's Love Letter to the United States Through Pie. We discuss how Stacey's thinking about America changed while creating this road trip of a cookbook, and we hear how she navigated the darker parts of America while celebrating the country. She also gives us her best baking tips, and we fight over a pie not included in the book.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is Oreo by Fran Ross. We will discuss the book on June 28th with Hannah Oliver Depp.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/06/21/ep-272-stacey-mei-yan-fong

Connect with Stacey: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 271 The Paradox of Visibility with Tre'vell Anderson Jun 14, 2023

Award-winning journalist, podcaster, and author Tre'vell Anderson joins The Stacks to discuss their new book We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film. We talk about how the media portrayal of trans people impacts individuals and the conversation around trans rights, and the relationship between trans women and drag queens on screen. We also discuss the types of trans stories that have deemed acceptable for audiences.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is Oreo by Fran Ross. We will discuss the book on June 28th with Hannah Oliver Depp.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/06/14/ep-271-trevell-anderson

Connect with Tre'vell: Instagram | Twitter | Website | FANTI

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 270 My Whole Self Is Here with Hannah Oliver Depp Jun 07, 2023

Today we're joined by the owner of Loyalty Bookstores, Hannah Oliver Depp. We hear about Hannah's road to owning her own bookstores in the Washington D.C. area, how she decides what to have in stock, and how indie bookstores influence the publishing world. We also discuss the best ways to support indie bookshops, and where the name Loyalty came from.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is Oreo by Fran Ross. We will discuss the book on June 28th with Hannah Oliver Depp.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/06/07/ep-270-hannah-oliver-depp

Connect with Hannah: Instagram | Twitter | Loyalty Bookstores

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 269 This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris -- The Stacks Book Club (Nicole Chung) May 31, 2023

Author Nicole Chung returns to discuss our May book club selection This Boy We Made: A Memoir of Motherhood, Genetics, and Facing the Unknown by Taylor Harris. We discuss the importance of specificity in memoir, and how much likability and reliability matter. We also talk about where this book shines and where it falls short.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our book club pick will be for June 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/05/31/ep-269-this-boy-we-made

Connect with Nicole: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Unabridged: The Best of 2023...So Far with Lupita Aquino, Liberty Hardy, and Greta Johnsen May 26, 2023

*patron-only bonus episode teaser*

Here by popular demand is our first Unabridged mid-year best of's (so-far) episode, featuring a trio of our favorite bookish friends - Book Riot's Liberty Hardy, Lupita Aquino (aka @Lupita.Reads) and Nerdette's Greta Johnsen. We list and discuss our favorite 2023 releases we've read, the backslist we're obsessed with, and a few picks we're looking forward to in the back half of the year.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon. To join this community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/05/26/tsu-21-best-of-2023-so-far/

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Liberty: Instagram | All the Books!

Connect with Lupita: Instagram | Twitter

Connect with Greta: Instagram | Twitter | Nerdette

SUPPORT THE STACKS

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/05/24/ep-268-roxanna-asgarian

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 268 Over Burdened and Under Funded by Roxanna Asgarian May 24, 2023

Journalist and author Roxanna Asgarian joins The Stacks to talk about her new nonfiction book, We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America. We find out how Roxanna pushed back against true crime culture in writing about the 2018 Hart family tragedy. We also discuss how birth families are treated versus adoptive parents, how race and class factor into American child welfare and the financial implications of the system.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris. We will discuss the book on May 31st with Nicole Chung.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

Connect with Roxanna: Instagram | Twitter

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 267 The Pull to Make Art with Vashti Harrison May 17, 2023

Bestselling author and illustrator Vashti Harrison joins us to talk about Big, her new storybook educating children on growth and self-love. We discuss how Vashti explored the adultification of black girls, and how she utilized the color pink throughout the book. She also explains how she thinks about parents and kids as her target audience, and the process of linking an author to an illustrator in the world of children's books.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris. We will discuss the book on May 31st with Nicole Chung.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/05/17/ep-267-vashti-harrison

Connect with Vashti: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 266 We Are the Ones Who Make the World with Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah May 10, 2023

Award-winning author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah joins us for a spoiler-free discussion of his new novel Chain-Gang All Stars. He shares the pressures of releasing his second book on a topic that asks so much from the reader, and his trepidation around serving the cause of abolition in the prison space. Plus, we find out what makes revision so important to Nana, and how he thinks about employing violence in the book to help tell this story.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is This Boy We Made by Taylor Harris. We will discuss the book on May 31st with Nicole Chung.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/05/10/ep-266-nana-kwame-adjei-brenyah

Connect with Nana: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 265 Deep Comfort Reads with Nicole Chung May 03, 2023

Bestselling author Nicole Chung joins The Stacks to discuss her new book A Living Remedy: A Memoir. We talk about her process of writing and talking about grief in the midst and aftermath of COVID, and what it's like as a memoirist to be publicly known for her family life. We also hear what it's meant for Nicole to become a full-time writer, and how she uses vibes to organize her books.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is This Boy We Made: A Memoir of Motherhood, Genetics, and Facing the Unknown by Taylor Harris. We will discuss the book on May 31st with Nicole Chung.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/05/03/ep-265-nicole-chung

Connect with Nicole: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 264 Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay -- The Stacks Book Club (Clint Smith) Apr 26, 2023

Poet and Above Ground author Clint Smith returns to discuss our April book club selection Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, a poetry collection by Ross Gay. We discuss the moment of the book's release and why it's important within the context of the Black Lives Matter movement. We also argue that successfully engaging with a poem doesn't require understanding what a poem is about, and we ask how much the author's intent actually matters in poetry.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our book club pick will be for May 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/04/26/ep-264-catalog-of-unabashed-gratitude

Connect with Clint: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 263 Revisiting Waco 30 Years Later with Jeff Guinn, Stephan Talty, and Kevin Cook Apr 19, 2023

Today marks thirty years since the last day of the FBI siege on the Branch Davidians of Waco, Texas. We hear from three authors who released books on the events this year: Jeff Guinn (Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage), Stephan Talty (Koresh: The True Story of David Koresh and the Tragedy at Waco) and Kevin Cook (Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias) They address why they chose to tell this story now, what exactly happened in Waco (and why), and why this story is still relevant today.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay. We will discuss the book on April 26th with Clint Smith.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/04/19/ep-263-waco

Connect with Jeff: Website

Connect with Stephan: Twitter | Website

Connect with Kevin: Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 262 Joy, Surprise, and Uplift with Ari Shapiro Apr 12, 2023

Today, award-winning host of NPR's All Things Considered, and now New York Times bestselling author, Ari Shapiro joins us to discuss his new book The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening. We discuss how Ari brings his identity to his storytelling, the difference between illuminating and influencing in journalism, and how he approaches writing interview questions.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay. We will discuss the book on April 26th with Clint Smith.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/04/12/ep-262-ari-shapiro

Connect with Ari: Instagram | Twitter

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 261 All at Once with Clint Smith Apr 05, 2023

Today we welcome author Clint Smith to The Stacks to talk about his new poetry collection Above Ground, a tribute to being a parent amidst the chaos of life. We discuss how he handled the pressure to follow up the bestselling and award-winning How the Word is Passed. We also get into how parenting has animated all facets of life, and how competition has facilitated Clint's relationship to literature.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay. We will discuss the book on April 26th with Clint Smith.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/04/05/ep-261-clint-smith

Connect with Clint: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 260 Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay -- The Stacks Book Club (Shanita Hubbard) Mar 29, 2023

Professor and Ride or Die author Shanita Hubbard returns to discuss the 2014 book of essays Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. We look back at the collection and ask, how did the book hold up? Its mix of personal memoir, political commentary and pop culture references have us examining our relationship to the text from a new perspective in this spoiler-free episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our book club pick will be for April 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/03/29/ep-260-bad-feminist

Connect with Shanita: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 259 How Innocent Are They with Joseph Earl Thomas Mar 22, 2023

Writer and Philadelphia native Joseph Earl Thomas joins the show to discuss his new book Sink: A Memoir, about coming of age amid chaos and finding a way through. He talks about why he wanted to write a memoir that centers childhood without growing into adulthood, the challenge of writing his story in the face of respectability politics and the push to write about "Black joy."

The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. We will discuss the book on March 29th with Shanita Hubbard.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/03/22/ep-259-joseph-earl-thomas

Connect with Joseph: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 258 Long-Suffering Basketball Fans with José Olivarez Mar 15, 2023

Today we're joined by poet, writer and educator José Olivarez to discuss his new book Promises of Gold, a collection of poems exploring all forms of love, including friendship, romantic and cultural. We find out why José had someone else translate his collection into Spanish when Spanish is his first language. We also discuss how he thinks about organizing his poems on the page and in the book, and why balance in a collection is so important.

The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. We will discuss the book on March 29th with Shanita Hubbard.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/03/15/ep-258-jose-olivarez

Connect with José: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 257 The Hardest Book I Had to Write with Carol Anderson Mar 08, 2023

Prolific author, historian and educator Dr. Carol Anderson joins us to discuss her book The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America. We talk about what sparked her interest in writing it, and dissect the role of anti-blackness in the formation and upholding of the second amendment. Carol reveals how she thinks of her writing in terms of persuasion versus education, and why this is the hardest book she has ever written.

The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. We will discuss the book on March 29th with Shanita Hubbard.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/03/08/ep-257-carol-anderson

Connect with Carol: Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 256 Centering Us with Shanita Hubbard Mar 01, 2023

Today professor and author Shanita Hubbard speaks with The Stacks about her book Ride or Die: A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women. We discuss the cultural erasure of Black women and why the idea that they will "save the world" is manipulative. We also note how Black female essayists have been weaving together scholarly and pop cultural commentary in the most complex and delightful ways.

The Stacks Book Club selection for March is Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay. We will discuss the book on March 29th with Shanita Hubbard.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/03/01/ep-256-shanita-hubbard

Connect with Shanita: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 255 The Round House by Louise Erdrich -- The Stacks Book Club (Mina Kimes) Feb 22, 2023

It's The Stacks Book Club Day, and we're joined again by Mina Kimes of ESPN, to discuss Louise Erdrich's novel The Round House. This page-turning coming-of-age story is set in 1988 North Dakota and follows a boy and his friends seeking justice for a horrific crime. Today we talk about the merits of vengeance, the relationship between coming into ones sexuality and understanding consent, and the flaws in the criminal legal system especially in regard to American tribal lands.

There are spoilers in this episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our book club pick will be in March 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/02/22/ep-255-the-round-house

Connect with Mina: Instagram | Twitter | The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 254 Heartbreak is Pivotal to Romance with Camonghne Felix Feb 15, 2023

Communications strategist and poet Camonghne Felix joins The Stacks to discuss her brand new memoir Dyscalculia: A Love Story of Epic Miscalculation. We talk about heartbreak as a kind of trauma, trying to understand the world, and the meaning of dyscalculia. We also get into Camonghne's experiences as a political speechwriter, and what that entails.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is The Round House by Louise Erdrich. We will discuss the book on February 22nd with Mina Kimes.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/02/15/ep-254-camonghne-felix

Connect with Camonghne: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 253 I Tend to Write About It with Lamya H. Feb 08, 2023

Today we're joined by Lamya H., who has just released their debut book Hijab Butch Blues - a memoir about coming of age as a queer Muslim immigrant, that uses figures from the Quran as reference points. We discuss what is gained and what is lost from writing under a pseudonym, the complexities of choosing to be religious, and how Lamya approached the decision to include known religious figures in their storytelling.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is The Round House by Louise Erdrich. We will discuss the book on February 22nd with Mina Kimes.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/02/08/ep-253-lamya-h

Connect with Lamya: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 252 Begging to Go to the Library with Mina Kimes Feb 01, 2023

Award-winning ESPN reporter Mina Kimes joins the show to share her love of reading and the one book that inspired her career. Mina reveals how she ended up in sports journalism, how she handles online harassment, and what she would change if she were suddenly appointed NFL commissioner.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is The Round House by Louise Erdrich. We will discuss the book on February 22nd with Mina Kimes.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/02/01/ep-252-mina-kimes

Connect with Mina: Instagram | Twitter | The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny

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Ep. 251 The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey -- The Stacks Book Club (Chelsea Devantez) Jan 25, 2023

Chelsea Devantez, host of the Celebrity Book Club podcast, returns to discuss our January Book Club pick The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey with Michaela Angela Davis. In breaking down her memoir, we get into Mariah's relationships, her experience of race and her dynamic with her parents. We also couldn't help but compare aspects of Mariah's story to what Prince Harry shares in his new memoir Spare.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our book club pick will be in February 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/01/25/ep-251-the-meaning-of-mariah-carey

Connect with Chelsea: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Celebrity Book Club

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Ep. 250 A Litany of Abuses with Ali Winston and Darwin BondGraham Jan 18, 2023

Today we're joined by two award-winning journalists from the field of criminal justice and police misconduct. Ali Winston and Darwin BondGraham have coauthored the book The Riders Come Out at Night: Brutality, Corruption, and Cover-Up in Oakland, an exposé following many years of investigation. We get into why they wanted to write about the Oakland Police Department in the first place, and ask whether the police can be reformed. We also discuss how the authors feel their own identities played into their writing of the book.

The Stacks Book Club selection for January is The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey with Michaela Angela Davis. We will discuss the book on January 25th with Chelsea Devantez.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/01/18/ep-250-ali-winston-darwin-bondgraham

Connect with Ali: Twitter

Connect with Darwin: Twitter

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Ep. 249 The Vibe is Really Gnarly with Aubrey Gordon Jan 11, 2023

Author, activist and podcaster Aubrey Gordon talks to us today about her brand new second book - "You Just Need to Lose Weight": And 19 Other Myths about Fat People. She addresses the challenge of writing a book for both fat and thin people, and explains why she was initially apprehensive about "myth-busting." We also discuss what's wrong with how we frame fatness, why BMI is unreliable, and the problem with body positivity.

The Stacks Book Club selection for January is The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey with Michaela Angela Davis. We will discuss the book on January 25th with Chelsea Devantez.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/01/11/ep-249-aubrey-gordon

Connect with Aubrey: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Maintenance Phase

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Ep. 248 For the Love of Celebrity Memoirs with Chelsea Devantez Jan 04, 2023

Comedian and Emmy-nominated TV and film writer Chelsea Devantez joins our first Stacks episode of 2023. Her Celebrity Book Club podcast breaks down celeb memoirs with a roster of Chelsea's funniest friends. We get into how Chelsea started the show, and why she wants to spend time lifting up the stories of the rich and famous. We also ask ourselves why we love to hate these books so much.

The Stacks Book Club selection for January is The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey with Michaela Angela Davis. We will discuss the book on January 25th with Chelsea Devantez.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/01/04/ep-248-chelsea-devantez

Connect with Chelsea: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Celebrity Book Club

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Ep. 247 True Biz by Sara Nović -- The Stacks Book Club (Greta Johnsen) Dec 28, 2022

For our final book club pick of 2022, Greta Johnsen is back to discuss True Biz by Sara Nović, a novel about the teachers and students of a boarding school for the Deaf. We ask who the audience is for this book, and whether the Deaf community should have to teach hearing people about themselves. We also get into the topic of consent with children and parents, especially when it comes to medical decisions.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our book club pick will be in January 2023.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/12/28/ep-247-true-biz

Connect with Greta: Instagram | Twitter | Nerdette

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Ep. 246 The Best Books of 2022 with Andrew Limbong Dec 21, 2022

NPR Arts Desk reporter and Book of the Day podcast host Andrew Limbong joins The Stacks to count down his five favorite books of 2022. Traci shares her own list, making it our official top ten of the year. We also get into the trends we saw throughout 2022, and what we're looking forward to in 2023.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is True Biz by Sarah Nović. We will discuss the book on December 28th with Greta Johnsen.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/12/21/ep-246-best-books-of-2022

Connect with Andrew: Instagram | Twitter | Book of the Day

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Ep. 245 The Worst Moments of His Life with Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa Dec 14, 2022

Washington Post reporters Robert Samuels and Toluse Olorunnipa join The Stacks to discuss their book His Name Is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice. We talk about giving George Floyd the "presidential" biography treatment, and why they chose to tell his story now. They reveal how they tackled writing such a massive book with over 400 interviews, and what the fact-checking process was like. We also ask, 'who is the audience for this book?'

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is True Biz by Sarah Nović. We will discuss the book on December 28th with Greta Johnsen.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/12/14/ep-245-robert-samuels-toluse-olorunnipa

Connect with Toluse: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Robert: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 244 Relentlessly Positive with Greta Johnsen Dec 07, 2022

Today we're joined by Greta Johnsen, host and producer of the Nerdette podcast from WBEZ Chicago, at host of HBO's House of the Dragon recap podcast. We get into Greta's positive approach to reviewing books and how she currates all things nerd. We also hold a grilled cheese debate and discuss the art of balancing book criticism with never having written a book.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is True Biz by Sarah Nović. We will discuss the book on December 28th with Greta Johnsen.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/12/07/ep-244-greta-johnse n

Connect with Greta: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 243 Prison by Any Other Name by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law -- The Stacks Book Club (Mariame Kaba) Nov 30, 2022

Today anti-violence activist and author Mariame Kaba returns to discuss Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law for The Stacks Book Club. We highlight the depth of knowledge that this book provides about the history and current state of criminalization, and unpack the idea that prison is something that ties us all together. We ask why so many so-called reforms look like prison and policing, and what solutions might work in their place.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our December book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/11/30/ep-243-prison-by-any-other-name

Connect with Mariame: Twitter | Website

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Ep. 242 Lurching from Disaster to Disaster with Steven W. Thrasher Nov 23, 2022

Journalist and academic Steven W. Thrasher joins the show to discuss his eye-opening new book The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide. Steven explains the idea of the viral underclass - those most societally vulnerable to disease transmission - and the criminalization of the sick. We also discuss his comparison of COVID-19 and HIV responses throughout the book and his positionally as a Black and queer writer discussing disease.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law. We will discuss the book on November 30th with Mariame Kaba.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/11/23/ep-242-steven-w-thrasher

Connect with Steven: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 241 Names on Top of Names on Top of Names with Jonathan Abrams Nov 16, 2022

Today Jonathan Abrams joins The Stacks to discuss his third book The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop. In unpacking the massive undertaking, the NYT staff writer and sports reporter addresses what goes into crafting a good oral history, and why he wanted to tell this particular story now. Plus, we get into the best diss tracks and rap beefs of all time.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law. We will discuss the book on November 30th with Mariame Kaba.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://www.thestackspodcast.com/2022/11/16/ep-241-jonathan-abrams

Connect with Jonathan: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 240 Hold the Powers that Be Accountable with Jemele Hill Nov 09, 2022

Renowned sports journalist Jemele Hill joins the show to discuss her powerful new book Uphill: A Memoir. We talk about how she organized and thought about telling her story, how she cultivated he sources as a journalist. Jemele also reveals how she navigates the challenging relationship between her own identity as a Black woman and the world of sports.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reforms by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law. We will discuss the book on November 30th with Mariame Kaba.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: thestackspodcast.com/2022/11/09/ep-240-jemele-hill

Connect with Jemele: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 239 The Purpose of a System Is What It Does with Mariame Kaba Nov 02, 2022

Today we welcome Mariame Kaba - activist and author of the book We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice, and her latest, No More Police: A Case for Abolition, which she cowrote with Andrea J. Ritchie. In discussing her lifelong devotion to anti-violence, we learn why Mariame doesn't center herself in the work toward abolition, and why she does not consider herself a writer. She also explains the difference between punishment and consequences and shares some incredible book recommendations.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Prison By Any Other Name by Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law. We will discuss the book on November 30th with Mariame Kaba.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/11/02/ep-239-mariame-kaba

Connect with Mariame: Twitter | Website

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Ep. 238 Fairest by Meredith Talusan -- The Stacks Book Club (Anthony Christian Ocampo) Oct 26, 2022

Today professor and author Anthony Christian Ocampo returns to unpack the memoir Fairest by Meredith Talusan. The book is about Talusan's childhood in the Philippines, immigration to the US, experiences at Harvard, and eventual transition. Traci and Anthony discuss the subjective nature of beauty, and what it means to have an author reckon with their past in a memoir. They differ considerably on their opinions of the book, and lean into a conversation about critique, representation, and responsibility.

Be sure to listen all the way to end of the episode to find out what our November book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/10/26/ep-238-fairest

Connect with Anthony: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 237 Girl Fear with Kamila Shamsie Oct 19, 2022

Today we welcome Pakistani-British writer Kamila Shamsie, author of the new novel Best of Friends and past The Stacks Book Club pick, Home Fire. We discuss the shifting of global political climates, the idea of 'girl fear' and Kamila stresses the importance of giving new writers a chance to mature, and we tackle the question, "How do you write after success?"

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Fairest by Meredith Talusan. We will discuss the book on October 26th with Anthony Christian Ocampo.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/10/19/ep-237-kamila-shamsie

Connect with Kamila: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 236 I Thought I Was the Problem with Brandon Kyle Goodman Oct 12, 2022

Actor, activist and Traci's very dear college friend Brandon Kyle Goodman joins The Stacks to talk about their new book You Gotta Be You: How to Embrace This Messy Life and Step Into Who You Really Are. Together, we ponder its central question: "Who would I be if society never got its hands on me?" We also discuss manipulative friendships, chosen family, pronouns and Brandon's experiences coming into their non-binary identity.

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Fairest by Meredith Talusan. We will discuss the book on October 26th with Anthony Christian Ocampo.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/10/12/ep-236-brandon-kyle-goodman

Connect with Brandon: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 235 Filipinx Literary Renaissance with Anthony Christian Ocampo Oct 05, 2022

This episode, we speak with Anthony Christian Ocampo, Ph.D - sociology professor and author of Brown and Gay in LA: The Lives of Immigrant Sons, an homage to second-generation gay men of color. We discuss the delicate art of writing as an academic while making the work accessible to laypeople, and why Anthony puts himself in his work. We also cover talking bad about books, and current renaissance of Filipinx literature.

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Fairest by Meredith Talusan. We will discuss the book on October 26th with Anthony Christian Ocampo.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/10/05/ep-235-anthony-ocampo

Connect with Anthony: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 234 The Trees by Percival Everett -- The Stacks Book Club (Lisa Lucas) Sep 28, 2022

Today, publisher Lisa Lucas returns to help us break down the 2021 crime novel The Trees by Percival Everett. In discussing the page-turning thriller, we admire the brilliance of the humor and history on every page, and the mastery Percival Everett himself. We also ask questions around the future, past, and present of the United States in the face of palpable political tensions.There are spoilers on this episode.

Be sure to listen all the way to end of the episode to find out what our October book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/09/28/ep-234-the-trees

Connect with Lisa: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 233 A Grieving Apocalyptic Historian with Saeed Jones Sep 21, 2022

Today we speak with Saeed Jones - award-winning author of the new poetry collection Alive at the End of the World. Our conversation covers the art of embracing chaos and finding humor, and how Saeed considers his poems in relation to the reading and the performance of poetry. Saeed also explains why he thinks of all his poems as traps.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is The Trees by Percival Everett. We will discuss the book on September 28th with Lisa Lucas.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/09/21/ep-233-saeed-jones

Connect with Saeed: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 232 What Should the Rules Be with Andrea Elliott Sep 14, 2022

Andrea Elliott joins us to discuss her investigative reporting career and her Pulitzer Prize winning book Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City. We go over how this remarkable story came to be, and how it shifted from what Andrea first anticipated. We also get into what can and should change about the ethics of journalism, and the challenge of protecting children from themselves in the media.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is The Trees by Percival Everett. We will discuss the book on September 28th with Lisa Lucas.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/09/14/ep-232-andrea-elliott

Connect with Andrea: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 231 At the End of Every Day There's a Book with Lisa Lucas Sep 07, 2022

Lisa Lucas, Senior Vice President at Pantheon and Schocken, is our first ever book publisher to join the podcast. We discuss the path that led Lisa to her current role and how she sees book purchasing as integral to the push for diversity in publishing. We also talk about what inclusivity does and should mean in the world of books.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is The Trees by Percival Everett. We will discuss the book on September 28th with Lisa Lucas.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/09/07/ep-231-lisa-lucas

Connect with Lisa: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 230 How to Write an Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee -- The Stacks Book Club (Ingrid Rojas Contreras) Aug 31, 2022

Author Ingrid Rojas Contreras joins us again to talk about our book club selection How to Write An Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee. Our discussion of this essay collection covers the artists' relationship to critical reviews, and how much day jobs and everyday life inform art. We also ask, how important is truth to fiction, and what constitutes a life well-lived?

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/08/31/ep-230-how-to-write-an-autobiographical-novel

Be sure to listen all the way to end of the episode to find out what our September book club pick will be!

Connect with Ingrid: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 229 Destabilizing Whiteness with Mohsin Hamid Aug 24, 2022

Award-winning novelist Mohsin Hamid joins this episode of The Stacks to talk about his newest book The Last White Man. We discuss what inspired the story, his exploration of how whiteness works through fiction, and the ongoing conversation between a reader and the author. We also get into Mohsin's monastic writing rituals, his elite professors, and how his writing fills a need in his understanding of life.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is How To Write An Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee. We will discuss the book on August 31st with Ingrid Rojas Contreras.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/08/24/ep-229-mohsin-hamid

Connect with Mohsin: Website

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Ep. 228 Grief is Love with Marisa Renee Lee Aug 17, 2022

Today we're joined by entrepreneur and author Marisa Renee Lee, whose book Grief is Love: Living with Loss offers a framework for healing after tragedy. We discuss grief's connection to capitalism and white supremacy, and how our relationship with love is connected to our relationship with loss. We also ask, how can we help people who are grieving, and why are Americans so bad at it?

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is How To Write An Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee. We will discuss the book on August 31st with Ingrid Rojas Contreras.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/08/17/ep-228-marisa-renee-lee

Connect with Marisa: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 227 Funny but Not F*cking Around with W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz Aug 10, 2022

Emmy Award winner W. Kamau Bell and bestselling author Kate Schatz visit The Stacks to discuss their joint effort Do the Work!: An Antiracist Activity Book. They break down how the process of co-writing, how they decided to write for white audiences, and explain why we need an adult activity book for antiracism in the first place. We also ask, what do we do when we mess up; what makes a good apology?

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is How To Write An Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee. We will discuss the book on August 31st with Ingrid Rojas Contreras.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/08/10/ep-227-w-kamau-bell-and-kate-schatz

Connect with W. Kamau: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Kate: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 226 A Literal Relationship with the Past with Ingrid Rojas Contreras Aug 03, 2022

We're joined today by novelist and essayist Ingrid Rojas Contreras, whose new book The Man Who Could Move Clouds combines memoir with rich storytelling and an excavation of family and Colombian history. We discuss magical realism as a nonfiction genre, why it's useful to believe in ghosts, and ask the question, what responsibility do we owe to our pasts?

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is How To Write An Autobiographical Novel by Alexander Chee. We will discuss the book on August 31st with Ingrid Rojas Contreras.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/08/03/ep-226-ingrid-rojas-contreras

Connect with Ingrid: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 225 Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih--The Stacks Book Club (Elamin Abdelmahmoud) Jul 27, 2022

It's The Stacks Book Club day, and we're discussing the classic Sudanese novel, Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih. We're joined again by Elamin Abdelmahmoud, author of Son of Elsewhere, to break down this novel that explores the tensions at the heart of colonialism. We also discuss the ways we project current events onto classic literature, how important an author's own biography is to understanding the text, and that ending!

There are spoilers in today's episode. Be sure to listen all the way to end of the episode to find out what our August book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/07/27/ep-225-season-of-migration

Connect with Elamin: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 224 Writing with Duende with Erika L. Sánchez Jul 20, 2022

Poet and author Erika L. Sánchez joins The Stacks to discuss Crying in the Bathroom, her new memoir about growing up in the 90s as a misfit daughter of Mexican immigrants. We talk about religion and mental health, being loud and funny, and finally feeling ready to write about difficult topics.

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih. We will discuss the book on July 27th with Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/07/20/ep-224-erika-l-sanchez

Connect with Erika: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 223 Our Existence as Protest with Caleb Gayle Jul 13, 2022

Today we speak with journalist and professor Caleb Gayle about his new book We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power. In our discussion of his career and American history, we cover Black people in the Creek Nation, forty acres and a mule, and what it means to be a citizen. We also ask why we are so consistently taught not to remember, and who benefits from our forgetting?

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih. We will discuss the book on July 27th with Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/07/13/ep-223-caleb-gayle

Connect with Caleb: Twitter | Instagram

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Ep. 222 Living in Between with Elamin Abdelmahmoud Jul 06, 2022

Our guest for this episode is Elamin Abdelmahmoud - political and cultural commentator, Buzzfeed News senior culture writer and author of the new essay collection Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces. We discuss the meaning of "elsewhere" in his work, and the complexity of loving something that doesn't align with your politics. We also get into Black music, and great books on music.

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is Season of Migration to the North by Tayeb Salih. We will discuss the book on July 27th with Elamin Abdelmahmoud.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/07/06/ep-222-elamin-abdelmahmoud/

Connect with Elamin: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 221 White Negroes by Lauren Michele Jackson -- The Stacks Book Club (David Dennis Jr.) Jun 29, 2022

Journalist and author, David Dennis Jr. returns to discuss our June Book Club pick White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue... And Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson. Together we unpack writing for the white gaze, our feelings about (anti) racism since 2020, and the long tradition of categorizing Black artists as "urban" and white artists as "mainstream" no matter how similar their work. Plus, a peanut butter and jelly taste test to start things off.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our July book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/06/29/ep-221-white-negroes/

Connect with David: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 220 Spread Love It's the Brooklyn Way with Justin Tinsley Jun 22, 2022

Today we're joined by Justin Tinsley, senior culture writer at ESPN’s Andscape and author of the new book It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him. We talk about the culture, legends, women, and controversies that shaped The Notorious B.I.G.'s life, and place his story into a greater context. Justin also shares how he worked on multiple projects while writing this book, and what he thinks comes next.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue … and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson. We will discuss the book on June 29th with David Dennis Jr.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/06/22/ep-220-justin-tinsley

Connect with Justin: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 219 Genre Redlining with Leila Mottley Jun 15, 2022

This episode we talk with Oakland native and 2018 youth poet laureate Leila Mottley about writing her debut novel Nightcrawling at 17, and the process of adapting a true story to fiction. Leila imagines how it would be different if she wrote the book now, and insists she's really not exceptional among the countless talented young writers out there.

*Note: This was recorded shortly before the announcement of Nightcrawling as an Oprah's Book Club pick.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue … and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson. We will discuss the book on June 29th with David Dennis Jr.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/06/15/ep-219-leila-mottley

Connect with Leila: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 218 Hungry for History with Michael Eric Dyson Jun 08, 2022

Today we speak with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson - academic, minister and author - about his new book Unequal: A Story About America, which he co-wrote with Marc Favreau. We discuss the lies around bootstrap politics and personal responsibility, and our culture's hunger for all things history (except when it's by or about Black people). We also examine how the white gaze shapes how Black history is taught.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue … and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson. We will discuss the book on June 29th with David Dennis Jr.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/06/08/ep-218-michael-eric-dyson

Connect with Dr. Dyson: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 217 Surviving in the Face of Death with David Dennis Jr. Jun 01, 2022

This episode we hear from cultural critic David Dennis, Jr - Senior Writer at ESPN’s Andscape and author of the new book The Movement Made Us: A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride. We talk about the similarities and differences between Black Lives Matter and the Civil Rights Movement, the book that inspired David's storytelling, and what it means to survive when you're planning to die.

The Stacks Book Club selection for June is White Negroes: When Cornrows Were in Vogue … and Other Thoughts on Cultural Appropriation by Lauren Michele Jackson. We will discuss the book on June 29th with David Dennis Jr.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/06/01/ep-217-david-dennis-jr

Connect with David: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 216 Shine Bright by Danyel Smith - The Stacks Book Club (Novena Carmel) May 25, 2022

It's The Stacks Book Club Day! Novena Carmel, musician and cohost of KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, joins us again to unpackShine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith. We talk about Danyel as a cultural icon, what it takes to be a superstar. and the joy of disco as a threat to whiteness.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our June book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/05/25/ep-216-shine-bright

Connect with Novena: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 215 It's Kind of Wonderful, but it's Kind of Awful with Danyel Smith May 18, 2022

Today we're joined by Danyel Smith, author of this month's book club pick, Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. Danyel is an award-winning journalist, the creator and host of the Black Girl Song Book podcast, and former editor and chief of Vibe, and editor at Billboard. This episode gets into the erasure of black women in pop music, holding music institutions accountable, and the cost of crossing over to the "mainstream".

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith.We will discuss the book on May 25th with Novena Carmel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/05/18/ep-215-danyel-smith

Connect with Danyel: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 214 How You Look and How You Feel Have to Meet with Van Lathan Jr. May 11, 2022

This week, we speak with Van Lathan Jr., prolific podcaster, Oscar winning producer, and author of the new memoir Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales from the Trenches of Transformation. Our conversation covers vulnerability, feeling [un]comfortable in our own skin, and the struggle of loving our bodies. We also get into mourning the future, and the journey of becoming who we think we need to be.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith.We will discuss the book on May 25th with Novena Carmel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/05/11/ep-214-van-lathan

Connect with Van: Twitter | Instagram

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Ep. 213 Curating a Vibe with Novena Carmel May 04, 2022

Today we're joined by musician and DJ Novena Carmel, cohost of KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. We get into our childhood reading habits, Novena's radio show experience, and curating a playlist for the city. We also discuss finding one's own rhythm, being the daughter of a music legend, and the power of vibrations.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop by Danyel Smith.We will discuss the book on May 25th with Novena Carmel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/05/04/ep-213-novena-carmel

Connect with Novena: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 212 Doppelgangbanger by Cortney Lamar Charleston - The Stacks Book Club (Nate Marshall) Apr 27, 2022

We welcome back Nate Marshall today to discuss Cortney Lamar Charleston's poetry collection Doppelgangbanger, which grapples with the tensions that impact a Black boy's struggle through self-destructive definitions of manhood. We discuss the narratives around coming of age in the suburbs and the city, and ask ourselves, is there really such a thing as an objectively good poem?

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our May book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/04/27/ep-212-doppelgangbanger/

Connect with Nate: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 211 A Radical Shift with Julie Otsuka Apr 20, 2022

Today we're speaking with Julie Otsuka, whose nationally-bestselling novel The Swimmers explores what happens to a group of obsessed recreational swimmers when a crack appears at the bottom of their local pool. Our conversation covers the art of crafting sentences and finding the right voice. We also discuss the joy of writing in cafes, and the element of surprise.

There are no spoilers on this episode.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/04/20/ep-211-julie-otsuka

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is Doppelgangbanger by Cortney Lamar Charleston. We will discuss the book on April 27th with Nate Marshall.

Episode Transcript

Connect with Julie: Website

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Ep. 210 A Warm Hug with Danny Pellegrino Apr 13, 2022

Today we're joined by the delightful Danny Pellegrino, author of How Do I Un-Remember This?: Unfortunately True Stories, a collection of essays about growing up as a closeted gay kid in small-town Ohio. We discuss the need to spotlight books in pop culture, the responsibility of media to tell stories that include gay characters, and how we handle grief. Traci also urges Danny to start his own LGBTQIA+ book club, watch out Reese!

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is Doppelgangbanger by Cortney Lamar Charleston. We will discuss the book on April 27th with Nate Marshall.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/04/13/ep-210-danny-pellegrino/

Connect with Danny: Instagram | Twitter | Podcast | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

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Ep. 209 A Poem is About Wonder with Nate Marshall Apr 06, 2022

In this episode we speak with the lauded writer, educator and MC Nate Marshall, whose latest poetry collection Finna was named one of NPR's best books of 2020. We discuss poetry's early-2000s pop culture heyday, its evolving cultural voice and our first introductions to the oft-intimidating, wonder-evoking art form.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is Doppelgangbanger by Cortney Lamar Charleston. We will discuss the book on April 27th with Nate Marshall.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/04/06/ep-209-nate-marshall

Connect with Nate: Twitter | Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

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Ep. 208 A Mercy by Toni Morrison -- The Stacks Book Club (Imani Perry) Mar 30, 2022

Today on The Stacks Book Club we speak again with Imani Perry, author of the New York Times bestselling South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon Line to Understand the Soul of a Nation. In our discussion of Toni Morrison's novel A Mercy, we talk destroying ourselves over heartbreak, treating people tenderly and the book's central metaphor of the house. We also touch on the seduction of beauty, and breathlessness.

There are spoilers on this episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our April book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/03/30/ep-208-a-mercy

Connect with Imani: Twitter | Instagram

SUPPORT THE STACKS

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Ep. 207 Breaking Through the Black/White Binary with Julissa Arce Mar 23, 2022

Today we're joined by Julissa Arce, author, and education and immigration activist. On this episode we have a conversation around Julissa's third book, You Sound Like a White Girl: A Case for Rejecting Assimilation. We talk about the myths around U.S. citizenship, colorism in Latine communities, plus the histories that the Black-white binary excludes.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is A Mercy by Toni Morrison, we will discuss the book on March 30th with Imani Perry.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/03/23/ep-207-julissa-arce

Connect with Julissa: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

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Ep. 206 Who Are You Loving When You Write with Destiny O. Birdsong Mar 16, 2022

Our guest today is author and poet Destiny O. Birdsong. Destiny's debut novel, Nobody's Magic, is about three Black women with Albinism in Shreveport, LA. We talk about the ways Destiny approached representation and nuance when writing about Albinism, her personal training ground for crafting dialogue, and the pressures people can feel around grief.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is A Mercy by Toni Morrison, we will discuss the book on March 30th with Imani Perry.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/03/16/ep-206-destiny-o-birdsong

Connect with Destiny: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 205 Finding Ways to Heal with Stephanie Foo Mar 09, 2022

Stephanie Foo is a writer and radio producer, most recently on This American Life, and she is the author of What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma. Today we talk about Stephanie's journey toward healing from Complex PTSD , fighting model minority stereotype, and the lasting impact of generational trauma.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is A Mercy by Toni Morrison, we will discuss the book on March 30th with Imani Perry.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/03/09/ep-205-stephanie-foo

Connect with Stephanie: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 204 A Journey South with Imani Perry Mar 02, 2022

Imani Perry is the author of seven books including her latest, the New York Times bestselling, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon Line to Understand the Soul of a Nation. She is an American interdisciplinary scholar of race, law, literature, and African-American culture, and the Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. Imani shares with us today about her writing process, inspirations, and sweet tooth.

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is A Mercy by Toni Morrison, we will discuss the book on March 30th with Imani Perry.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/03/02/ep-204-imani-perry

Connect with Imani: Twitter | Instagram

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Ep. 203 I Live a Life Like Yours by Jan Grue -- The Stacks Book Club (Tessa Miller) Feb 23, 2022

Today for The Stacks Book Club we're discussing I Live a Life Like Yours, a memoir by Jan Grue, which explores his experiences as a wheelchair user in Norway. We are joined by author and journalist, Tessa Miller (What Doesn't Kill You) for this conversation on the importance of community, accessibility, and pushing back against stereotypical depictions of disabled people.

There are no spoilers on today's episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what our March book club pick will be!

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/23/ep-203-i-live-a-life-like-yours

Connect with Tessa: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 202 Even the Bachelorette Gets Insecure with Rachel Lindsay Feb 16, 2022

Our guest today is Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette and author of Miss Me with That: Hot Takes, Tidbits, and a Few Hard Truths. Rachel is also co-host of the podcast Higher Learning and a corespondent on Extra. We talk today about her experiences in Bachelor Nation, working with a ghost writer, and when she knew she was ready to write this book.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/16/ep-202-rachel-lindsay

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is I Live a Life Like Yours by Jan Grue, we will discuss the book on February 23rd with Tessa Miller.

Connect with Rachel: Instagram | Twitter | Higher Learning

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Day 5 -- Banned Books in The Stacks with Kiese Laymon Feb 11, 2022

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do.

To wrap up Banned Books in The Stacks we've brought back friend of the podcast Kiese Laymon to help us make sense of this entire week of programming. Kiese is the author of the banned book, Heavy, as well as Long Division and How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America. We talk today about how it feels to have your work banned, what children have a right to know, and what else Kiese sees as tied to this wave of book

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/11/banned-books-day-5

Connect with Kiese: Twitter | Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

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Day 4 -- Banned Books in The Stacks with Timya Wright and Azar Nafisi Feb 10, 2022

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do.

We start today's episode with Mississippi high school student Timya Wright. Timya shares how she feels about adults telling young people what books they can have access to and the kinds of books she wishes were taught in school. Then we're joined by Azar Nafisi, the bestselling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran and the forthcoming Read Dangerously:The Subversive Power of Literature in Troubled Times. We talk about Azar's about the need to nurture freedom. We also hear about authors Rebecca Carroll, R. Eric Thomas, and R. O. Kwon's favorite banned books.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/10/banned-books-day-4

Connect with Azar: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Day 3 -- Banned Books in The Stacks with Ghazala Hashmi and Hannah Oliver Depp Feb 09, 2022

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do.

We continue our conversation on banned books with Virginia State Senator Ghazala Hashmi. Senator Hashmi talks about the legality of book banning as well as the efforts that the governor of her state has put in place to report teachers for "divisive" lessons . Then we talk with Hannah Oliver Depp, owner of Loyalty Bookstores, about censorship versus curation.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/09/banned-books-day-3

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Day 2 -- Banned Books in The Stacks with Alison Bechdel and Kelsey Reynolds Feb 08, 2022

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do.

On today's episode we're joined by Alison Bechdel author of the frequently banned graphic memoir Fun Home, and she shares why she hates having to talk about the banning of books. Then we get into a conversation about the comfort level of students with high school English teacher Kelsey Reynolds. We also hear from TV writer and actor Brandon Kyle Goodman, and actress and podcast host Becca Tobin, about their favorite banned books.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/08/banned-books-day-2

Connect with Alison: Website | Instagram | Twitter

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The Stacks Book Club selection for February is I Live a Life Like Yours by Jan Grue, we will discuss the book on February 23rd with Tessa Miller.

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Day 1 -- Banned Books in The Stacks with Katrina Stokes and Thursday Williams Feb 07, 2022

In light of the recent wave of book bannings taking place across The United of States, The Stacks is spending all week talking with people who are impacted by the bannings, ranging from students to educators, authors, and more, to help us think about what is at stake and what we can do.

On today's episode we talk with the director of the Warren County - Vicksburg Public Library, Katrina Stokes about curating a collection and the process of banning a book in public libraries. Then we talk with Thursday Williams, an actor from the Broadway play What the Constitution Means to Me, and a current college student, about what's at stake for young people and the things we aren't taught in school. We also hear from authors Hanif Abdurraquib and Tessa Miller about their favorite banned books.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/07/banned-books-day-1

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The Stacks Book Club selection for February is I Live a Life Like Yours by Jan Grue, we will discuss the book on February 23rd with Tessa Miller.

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Ep. 201 The Language of Chronic Illness with Tessa Miller Feb 02, 2022

Today we are joined by Tessa Miller, and author and journalist whose work focuses on chronic illness, disability, and health justice. We discuss Tessa's debut book, What Doesn't Kill You: A Life with Chronic Illness - Lessons from a Body in Revolt and how publishing a memoir brought on a whole new level of anxiety and insecurities around being a writer and living with chronic illness. We also talk about graphic language, writing for multiple audiences, and prioritizing books by disabled and/or chronically ill authors.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/02/02/ep-201-tessa-miller

The Stacks Book Club selection for February is I Live a Life Like Yours by Jan Grue, we will discuss the book on February 23rd with Tessa Miller.

Connect with Tessa: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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Ep. 200 Passing by Nella Larsen -- The Stacks Book Club (Cree Myles) Jan 26, 2022

Today on The Stacks Book Club we're discussing Nella Larsen's 1929 classic novel Passing. We're joined again by Cree Myles, the creative force behind Penguin Random House' All Ways Black, to discuss this story racial passing in the 1920's. This episode touches on the history of passing, the 2021 film adaptation, and the central question of freedom.

There are spoilers on this episode.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode to find out what our February Book Club pick will be.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/01/26/ep-200-passing

Connect with Cree: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 199 A Tapestry of Microaggressions with Kendra James Jan 19, 2022

Today we're joined by Kendra James; writer, podcast producer, and editor, to discuss her debut book, Admissions: A Memoir of Surviving Boarding School. We talk about Kendra's experiences as the first African American legacy student at the Taft School in Connecticut, the ways she came to terms with the racism she experienced, and who she is writing for. We also talk pettiness, writing in the bathroom, and figure skating.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is Passing by Nella Larsen, we will discuss the book on January 26th with Cree Myles.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/01/19/ep-199-kendra-james

Connect with Kendra: Twitter | Instagram

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Ep. 198 We'll Be Okay with Jason Reynolds Jan 12, 2022

This week we've got a repeat guest, the unmatched talent that is, Jason Reynolds. We're talking about his new book, Ain't Burned all the Bright, a collaboration with his friend, artist, Jason Griffin. We talk today about creativity in 2020, working with collaborators, and our understandings and experiences around grief. You can hear Jason's first appearances on The Stacks here and here.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is Passing by Nella Larsen, we will discuss the book on January 26th with Cree Myles.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/01/12/ep-198-jason-reynolds

Connect with Jason: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 197 All Ways Black, Always with Cree Myles Jan 05, 2022

Today we're joined by Cree Myles, the creative force behind Penguin Random Houses' All Ways Black, a platform that is focused on uplifting and centering the work of Black authors. We talk today about the competitive drive that keeps us motivated, balancing personal identity and reading choices, and the vibe we expect to find in heaven.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is Passing by Nella Larsen, we will discuss the book on January 26th with Cree Myles.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/01/05/ep-197-cree-myles

Connect with Cree: Instagram | Twitter

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Ep. 196 A Little Devil in America by Hanif Abdurraqib -- The Stacks Book Club (Andrew Ti) Dec 29, 2021

It's time for our final episode of The Stacks Book Club of the year, and we're taking on a favorite book of the year, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib. We are joined again by podcaster and TV writer Andrew Ti for this conversation which touches on cancel culture, Black cultural stereotypes, the skillful writing of the book, and so much more.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode to find out what our January 2022 Book Club pick will be.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/12/29/ep-196-a-little-devil-in-america

Connect with Andrew: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 195 The Best Books of 2021 with Lupita Aquino and Morgan Hoit Dec 22, 2021

It's time for The Stacks' annual Best Books of 2021 episode. To help put together this list, we're joined by professional readers Lupita Aquino (@lupita.reads) and Morgan Hoit (@nycbookgirl). In addition to sharing our top 10 books of the year, we also discuss the trends we saw in 2021, reading for work, and the books we're excited about in 2022.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib, we will discuss the book on December 29th with Andrew Ti.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/12/22/ep-195-best-books-of-2021

Connect with Lupita: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Morgan: Instagram | Website

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Ep. 194 How We Understand Loneliness with Kristen Radtke Dec 15, 2021

Kristen Radkte is the author of Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness, a work of graphic nonfiction that uses prose and images to explore the experience and portrayal of loneliness. It is spectacular. Kristen talks to us about the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our collective understanding of loneliness, what she wishes more people knew about graphic books, and how to connect with the lonely in our lives.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib, we will discuss the book on December 29th with Andrew Ti.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/12/15/ep-194-kristen-radtke

Connect with Kristen: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 193 Betting on the Kids with Angelina Jolie and Tokata Iron Eyes Dec 08, 2021

Angelina Jolie, actor-director-humanitarian, and Indigenous activist Tokata Iron Eyes join Traci to discuss Jolie's book Know Your Rights an Claim Them: A Guide for Youth, which she wrote with Geraldine Van Bueren and Amnesty International. The conversation is a candid discussion with two people who are helping to shape the dialogue around activism, especially when it comes to the global rights of children, and the ways activism permeates all facets of life.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib, we will discuss this book on December 29th with Andrew Ti.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/12/08/ep-193-angelina-jolie-tokata-iron-eyes

Connect with Angelina: Instagram

Connect with Tokata: Instagram

Connect with Amnesty International: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Website

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Ep. 192 Yo, Is This Racist with Andrew Ti Dec 01, 2021

Andrew Ti is the creator and co-host of the Yo, Is This Racist podcast, and a comedy and TV writer. He joins the show today to talk about his journey from a neuroscience major at Columbia to the writers room on mixed-ish. We also talk about his relationship to problematic white authors, his aversion to funny books, and more.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib, we will discuss the book on December 29th with Andrew Ti.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/12/01/ep-192-andrew-ti/

Connect with Andrew: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 191 Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison -- The Stacks Book Club (Dawnie Walton) Nov 24, 2021

It is time for our annual Toni Morrison episode of The Stacks as part of The Stacks Book Club. We are discussing Morrison's third novel, Song of Solomon, and to help us dissect this sweeping story we've brought back author Dawnie Walton (The Final Revival of Opal and Nev). On the show we discuss this book as part of the conversation for "the great American novel", gush over our favorite characters and scenes, and so much more.

There are spoilers on this episode.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/11/24/ep-191-song-of-solomon

Be sure to listen to the end of the episode to hear what our December book club pick will be.

Connect with Dawnie: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 190 Getting Cultish with Amanda Montell Nov 17, 2021

On this episode we are joined by author, linguist, and podcast host Amanda Montell. Amanda is the author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. We use her books as a lens to discuss the relationship of language to power and community, the ways women continue to be at the forefront of language innovation, and to look at cultural normativity.

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, we will discuss the book on November 24th with Dawnie Walton.

Connect with Amanda: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Sounds Like a Cult Podcast

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Ep. 189 Embracing Rage with Myisha Cherry Nov 10, 2021

Our guest today is Dr. Myisha Cherry, a philosopher, professor, and author, whose work focuses on emotions and attitudes in public life. Her latest book is The Case for Rage: Why Anger is Essential to Anti-Racist Struggle. Myisha shares why we must embrace our rage if we want to improve our society, how we've been socialized around anger, and how allies can cause harm.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/11/10/ep-189-myisha-cherry

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, we will discuss the book on November 24th with Dawnie Walton.

Connect with Myisha: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 188 Creating an Icon with Dawnie Walton Nov 03, 2021

Our guest today is journalist and editor Dawnie Walton, she is the debut author behind one of this year's most talked about novels, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev. Dawnie shares her research process, how oral histories can elevate fictional characters, and the rock stars that inspired her own rock icon.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/11/03/ep-188-dawnie-walton

The Stacks Book Club selection for November is Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, we will discuss the book on November 24th with Dawnie Walton.

Connect with Dawnie: Twitter | Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

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Ep. 187 Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan -- The Stacks Book Club (Nichole Perkins) Oct 27, 2021

The last week of the month means it's time for The Stacks Book Club. This month we're joined again by author, poet, and podcast host, Nichole Perkins (Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be) to discuss Waiting to Exhaleby Terry McMillan. On this episode we talk about the ways the book (and movie) have and haven't aged well, the depiction of friendship between Black women, and the lasting legacy of this modern classic.

There are minor spoilers on this episode.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/10/27/ep-187-waiting-to-exhale

Be sure to listen to the end of today's episode to find out what The Stacks Book Club pick for November will be!

Connect with Nichole: Twitter | Instagram | Website | This is Good for You Podcast

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Ep. 186 We Need Better Voices with Danté Stewart Oct 20, 2021

Today we are joined by debut author and minster, Danté Stewart to discuss his book, Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle. Our conversation carries us through and around the intersections of race, religion, and nationality as we discuss the stories we inherent around Blackness, the need for a more radical church, and the texts that give us meaning.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/10/20/ep-186-dante-stewart

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan, we will discuss the book with October 27th on Nichole Perkins.

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To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Ep. 185 Abolition for the People with Bree Newsome Bass Kiese Laymon Oct 13, 2021

Today we're discussing Abolition for the People: The Movement for a Future Without Policing and Prisons, an anthology edited by Colin Kaepernick. We are joined by two contributors from the book, Bree Newsome Bass and Kiese Laymon. Bree is a filmmaker and activist, known for removing the confederate flag from South Carolina Capitol. Kiese is the author of Heavy and Long Division, and a friend of this podcast.

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan, we will discuss the book with October 27th on Nichole Perkins.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/10/13/ep-185-bree-newsome-kiese-laymon

Connect with Bree: Twitter | Instagram | Website

Connect with Kiese: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 184 The Desire Advocate Is In with Nichole Perkins Oct 06, 2021

We're joined today by cultural critic, poet, podcaster, and author Nichole Perkins. Her new book, Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be is a memoir in essays that covers the intimate details of Perkins' life. We talk on this episode about sex writing, setting boundaries, and intended versus actual audience.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/10/06/ep-184-nichole-perkins

The Stacks Book Club selection for October is Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan, we will discuss the book with October 27th on Nichole Perkins.

Connect with Nichole: Twitter | Instagram | Website | This is Good for You Podcast

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To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

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Ep. 183 Blood in the Water by Heather Ann Thompson -- The Stacks Book Club (Derecka Purnell) Sep 29, 2021

Today on The Stacks we discuss the book that inspired this podcast, Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson. We're joined by Derecka Purnell (activist and author of the forthcoming Becoming Abolitionists) to delve into this Pulitzer Prize winning book; the coverup, the legacy, and the ways we rely on a superficial notion of justice.

There are minor spoilers on this episode.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/09/29/ep-183-blood-in-the-water

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out our book club pick for October!

Connect with Derecka: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 182 Athletes and Activism with Dave Zirin Sep 22, 2021

Today we're joined by sportswriter, journalist, and podcaster Dave Zirin to discuss his new book The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee, Changing the World. We talk about the impact of Colin Kaepernick's NFL protest in 2016, the psyche of young activists, and the best sports protest moments of all time.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/09/22/ep-182-dave-zirin

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson. We will discuss the book with Derecka Purnell on Wednesday September 29th.

Connect with Dave: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 181 We Don't Have to Agree with Jill Louise Busby Sep 15, 2021

Jill Louise Busby is an writer, filmmaker, and the person behind the now defunct "Jill is Black" account on Instagram. She joins The Stacks to discuss her debut book, Unfollow Me: Essay in Complicity. Our conversation examines the complexities of audience in relation to worth, real life vs. internet life, and the need for balance.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/09/15/ep-181-jill-louise-busby

The Stacks Book Club selection for September is Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson. We will discuss the book with Derecka Purnell on Wednesday September 29th.

Connect with Jill: Instagram | Website

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Ep. 180 Fifty Years After Attica with Heather Ann Thompson Sep 08, 2021

Today we are joined by Pulitzer Prize winning author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy, Heather Ann Thompson. We discuss her process in researching and writing this epic civil rights story, and the legacy of the uprising 50 years later.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September isBlood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson. We will discuss the book with Derecka Purnell on Wednesday September 29th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/09/08/ep-180-heather-ann-thompson

Connect with Heather: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Ep. 179 Imagining Better with Derecka Purnell Sep 01, 2021

Our guest today is lawyer, writer, activist, organizer, and author Derecka Purnell. Derecka joins us to discuss her forthcoming debut book, Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom out October 5th. Our conversation is an inspiring discussion around police abolition, imagination, and the books that have informed Derecka’s thinking.

The Stacks Book Club selection for September isBlood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson. We will discuss the book with Derecka Purnell on Wednesday September 29th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/09/01/ep-179-derecka-purnell

Connect with Derecka: Twitter | Instagram | Website

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Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

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Ep. 178 Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi -- The Stacks Book Club (Juliet Litman) Aug 25, 2021

It is The Stacks Book Club day, and we are discussing Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. To help us talk about this YA romance we have brought back the wonderful Juliet Litman, host of the Bachelor Party and Jam Session podcasts, as well as head of development at The Ringer. Today we talk about men who are not emotionally available, important messages for young people, and the acknowledgement section in books.

There are spoilers on today’s episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out our book club pick for September!

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/08/25/ep-178-emergency-contact

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

Connect with Juliet: Twitter | Instagram | The Ringer

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To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 177 Defining the American Dream with Roger Bennett Aug 18, 2021

If you’re in America and you love soccer, you know and love today’s guest, Roger “Rog” Bennett, the co-host of The Men in Blazers Show. Rog joins us to discuss his book, a New York Times #1 Bestseller, (Re)Born in the USA: An Englishman’s Love Letter to His Chosen Home. We talk about what it means to consider yourself an American, the dreams of our younger selves, and of course, a little soccer.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. We will discuss the book with Juliet Litman on Wednesday August 25th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/08/18/ep-177-roger-bennett

Connect with Rog: Twitter | Instagram | Website | Podcast

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To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 176 Leaving a Record of History with Adam Serwer Aug 11, 2021

Today we welcome Adam Serwer to the podcast. Adam is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The New York Times bestseller The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump’s America. We talk about the historical record, Democracy as a means of managing conflict, running as creative routine, and much more.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. We will discuss the book with Juliet Litman on Wednesday August 25th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/08/11/ep-176-adam-serwer

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 175 Chatty Books with Juliet Litman Aug 04, 2021

Our guest today is Juliet Litman. Juliet is the host of the podcasts Bachelor Party and Jam Session on The Ringer network. She is also the head of production at the Ringer. We talk today about the similarities between television and books, why Juliet loves “chatty” novels, and what changes should be made to The Bachelor franchise.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. We will discuss the book with Juliet Litman on Wednesday August 25th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/08/04/ep-175-juliet-litman/

Connect with Juliet: Twitter | Instagram | The Ringer

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 174 The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui -- The Stacks Book Club (Mira Jacob) Jul 28, 2021

It’s The Stacks Book Club day and we’re discussing our first ever graphic memoir on the show. The book is The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui, and our guest is graphic memoirist (Good Talk), novelist (The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing), and cultural critic, Mira Jacob. We talk today about the moment that a good book makes the reader examine themselves, books that don’t feel like reading, and the distillation of history for the sake of narrative.

There are no spoilers on this episode.

Be sure to listen until the end of the podcast to find out The Stacks Book Club pick for August!

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/07/28/ep-174-the-best-we-could-do

Connect with Mira: Twitter | Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 173 Living with Less with Christine Platt Jul 21, 2021

Today we welcome author and decluttering expert Christine Platt, also known as The Afrominimalist. We talk today about Christine’s latest book The Afrominimalist’s Guide to Living with Less. We discuss mistakes, unique aesthetics, and how the language around minimalism doesn’t have to be so scary.

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui. We will discuss the book with Mira Jacob on Wednesday July 28th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/07/21/ep-173-christine-platt

Connect with Christine: Instagram | Twitter | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 172 The Art vs. The Artist with Quentin Tarantino Jul 14, 2021

Our guest today is Academy Award winning screenwriter and director Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained). He joins us to talk about his debut novel, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, a novelization of his film with the same title. We discuss the art versus the artist, the challenges of writing a novel, and if Tarantino really plans to retire from filmmaking after his next film.

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui. We will discuss the book with Mira Jacob on Wednesday July 28th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/07/14/ep-172-quentin-tarantino

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 171 Trusting in Optimism with Mira Jacob Jul 07, 2021

Mira Jacob is a cultural critics and the author and illustrator of the graphic memoir, Good Talk. Today we talk with Mira about the ways optimism is a form of bravery, the alignment of form, function, and story, and the system that leads to authors writing blurbs for books.

The Stacks Book Club selection for July is The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui. We will discuss the book with Mira Jacob on Wednesday July 28th.

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/07/07/ep-171-mira-jacob

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

Connect with Mira: Twitter | Instagram | Website

SUPPORT THE STACKS

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 170 The Undying by Anne Boyer -- The Stacks Book Club (Mychal Denzel Smith) Jun 30, 2021

It’s time for another installment of The Stacks Book Club. This month we’re discussing The Undying: A Meditation on Modern Illness by Anne Boyer with Mychal Denzel Smith (Stakes is High). Our conversation explores the commodification of cancer, the ways sexism is entrenched in the language of breast cancer, and how form and content can work together and fight against one another in the same text.

There are no spoilers in this episode.

Be sure to listen until the end of the podcast to find out The Stacks Book Club pick for July!

You can find links to everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' Website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2021/06/30/ep-170-the-undying

Connect with Mychal: Twitter | Instagram | Website | Open Form Podcast

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