Poured Over Podcast

Public Access Afterworld, a harrowing mystery from filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun, follows a content moderator who discovers the horrific realm beyond the television static. Jane joins us to talk about creating a mythology, nostalgia, screenwriting and more with cohost Jenna Seery.

The Occidental Book of the Dead by T. Jeronimo Johnson is a sharp-eyed look at America which follows George Washington Jonson across two decades of his life as a Black cop in Atlanta. T. Geronimo joins us to talk about class, community, belonging, and empathy with host Miwa Messer.

Luna, Phoenix, Queen is Julie Orringer's latest, a thoughtful, and thought-provoking novel about the stories we tell about ourselves—and who gets to tells them. Julie joins us to talk about autonomy, memory, patience, and her adopted dog, Hazel with cohost Jenna Seery.

Music Against the Night is an epic story about love and betrayal, music and power, creativity and lust, that cuts across time and countries, from Yiyun Li, the acclaimed author of The Book of Goose. Yiyun joins us to talk about Hilary Mantel, the Age of Revolution, movement and music, laughter and more with host Miwa Messer.

After the global sensation, Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus delivers a charming and funny novel about a young man searching for his place in the world in Peck & Peck. Bonnie joined us live in New York to talk about her dog Friday, the magic of poetry, and the future of the arts with host Miwa Messer.

When a dark secret comes to light after his mother’s death, Jay sets out to uncover the truth in Mystery Play, a haunting tale steeped in Dracula lore from master storyteller, Elizabeth Kostova. Elizabeth joins us to talk about seances, mysticism, the theater and Indiana Jones with cohost Jenna Seery.

In Look What the Cat Dragged In by Jason Rekulak, after agreeing to pet sit, a cartoonist becomes haunted by violent nightmares and starts to find disturbing imagery in her art. Jason joins us to talk about demonic possession, viral videos, collaborating with Doogie Horner and Will Staehle on the book's illustrations, and more with cohost Chris Gillespie.

Man in the Mirror by Anand Giridharadas is a meticulously reported, empathetic and urgent account of America at a crossroads, where mental health and systemic failure intersect. Anand joins us to talk about his reporting process, compassion, civic engagement, and the questions of democracy with host Miwa Messer.

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw is a scandalous, messy satire about a pageant for the wives of megachurch pastors, following Scharisse Freeman, a church "First Lady" who gets caught between childhood secrets and her public image. Deesha joined us live at B&N City Center in Philadelphia to talk about creating humor on the page, obedience, faith, and her skepticism of forgiveness with host Miwa Messer.

Pulitzer Prize winner Barbara Kingsolver returns with Partita, an unforgettable story of resilience, possibility and the transformative power of music. Barbara joins us to talk about her craft, her passion for classical music, and her Appalachian heritage with host Miwa Messer.

Every Story is a Love Story by Imbolo Mbue is a smart and tender exploration of grief following a man who meets the person responsible for his wife’s fatal car accident. Imbolo joins us to talk about faith, community, regret, and forgiveness with cohost Brenda Allison.

In Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hernan Diaz's Ply, centuries from now, society has adapted to a new way of life as humans mend their relationships to the world…and each other. Hernan joined us live in Philadelphia to talk about subjectivity, selfhood and identity; particle physics; and Charles Dickens with host Miwa Messer.

The acclaimed, bestselling author of Pachinko, Min Jin Lee returns with American Hagwon, a modern classic about ambition and love, family and finding home. Min Jin joined us live at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church to talk about education and ambition, the 19th Century social novel, compressed modernity, and trying to be a good person in an anxious world with host Miwa Messer.

In The French Illusion by John Grisham, a honeymoon unravels into terror as newlyweds Paul and Chelsea get snatched from the French countryside, prompting a puzzling investigation. John joins us to talk about his time in law school, his prolific writing career, and his advocacy for the wrongfully convicted with cohost Chris Gillespie.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author, Ayad Akhtar joins us to talk about craft, the campus novel, autofiction, and his latest book, The Radiance, with host Miwa Messer.