Reader's Corner
Boise State Radio
Welcome to Reader's Corner, a weekly radio show hosted by Boise State University president emeritus Bob Kustra that features lively conversations with some of the nation's leading authors about issues and ideas that matter today.
Support for this podcast comes from Saint Alphonsus Orthopedic and Sports Medicine
Location:
Boise, ID
Networks:
Boise State Radio
Description:
Welcome to Reader's Corner, a weekly radio show hosted by Boise State University president emeritus Bob Kustra that features lively conversations with some of the nation's leading authors about issues and ideas that matter today. Support for this podcast comes from Saint Alphonsus Orthopedic and Sports Medicine
Twitter:
@boisestateradio
Language:
English
Contact:
1910 University Dr. Boise, ID 83725-1916 (208) 426-3663
Email:
jbrown2@boisestate.edu
Episodes
“Everybody Loses” by Danny Funt
2/6/2026
An interview with Danny Funt, author of Everybody Loses. The book is a stunning exposé on the massive and perilous world of American sports gambling.
Duration:00:30:54
“Dirtbag Billionaire” by David Gelles
1/30/2026
An interview with David Gelles, author of Dirtbag Billionaire. The book reveals how Patagonia became a global leader via its unorthodox and socially-responsible business practices and how other companies are adopting its principles.
Duration:00:31:21
“Fair Doses” by Dr. Seth Berkley
1/23/2026
An interview with Dr. Seth Berkley, author of Fair Doses. The book gives the history of how vaccines became the world's most powerful health intervention, and the story of the race to deliver COVID-19 vaccines globally.
Duration:00:35:18
“Fighting the Night” by Paul Hendrickson
1/16/2026
An interview with Paul Hendrickson, author of the book, Fighting the Night. The book is a moving story of his father’s wartime service as a night fighter pilot, and the prices he and his fellow soldiers paid for their selfless acts of service.
Duration:00:30:23
“The Predicament” by William Boyd
1/9/2026
An interview with William Boyd, author of the thrilling new novel, The Predicament. The book is Boyd’s second installment in the bestselling espionage trilogy starring Gabriel Dax.
Duration:00:30:02
“So Far Gone” by Jess Walter
1/2/2026
An interview with Jess Walter, author of the new novel, So Far Gone. The book follows a man reemerging from seclusion only to find himself thrust into small-town intrigue, against the backdrop of a fractured nation.
Duration:00:31:52
“Mr. Dickens and His Carol” by Samantha Silva
12/26/2025
An interview with Samantha Silva about her novel, “Mr. Dickens and His Carol.” The book re-imagines the twists and turns that led Charles Dickens to write what has been described as “the second most famous Christmas story.”
Duration:00:29:55
“Scrim” by Kaye Courington
12/19/2025
An interview with Kaye Courington, author of Scrim: A New Orleans Story of Resilience and Rescue. The illustrated book tells the true story of a scrappy terrier-mix rescue who defied the odds and became an instant hero.
Duration:00:30:00
“The Mission” by Tim Weiner
12/12/2025
An interview with Tim Weiner, acclaimed journalist and author of the new book, The Mission. The book is comprehensive look at the CIA in the 21st century, based on interviews with six former CIA directors and scores of spies and station chiefs.
Duration:00:29:59
“The Folly of Realism” by Alexander Vindman
12/5/2025
An interview with Alexander Vindman, author of The Folly of Realism. The book offers a chilling analysis of how Western indecision made possible the return of brutal Russian expansionism with terrifying consequences.
Duration:00:30:01
“A Certain Amount of Madness” by Amber Murrey
11/28/2025
An interview with Amber Murrey, author of A Certain Amount of Madness. Published on the 30th anniversary of his assassination, the book illustrates how Thomas Sankara’s legacy continues to provide lessons and hope for decolonisation struggles today.
Duration:00:29:56
“Preparing for War” by Bradley Onishi (Part II)
11/21/2025
An interview with Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War. The book is an engrossing account of the years-long campaign of White Christian nationalism that led to the insurrection of January 6.
Note: This is the second half of a two-part interview. This is also an encore edition of Reader’s Corner - the episode originally aired in March 2023.
Duration:00:32:00
“Preparing for War” by Bradley Onishi (Part I)
11/14/2025
An interview with Bradley Onishi, author of Preparing for War. The book is an engrossing account of the years-long campaign of White Christian nationalism that led to the insurrection of January 6.
Note: This is the first half of a two-part interview.
Duration:00:29:31
"Daughters of the Bamboo Grove” by Barbara Demick
11/7/2025
An interview with Barbara Demick, author of the new book, Daughters of the Bamboo Grove. The book tells the heartbreaking story of twin sisters torn apart by China’s one-child policy and the rise of international adoption.
Duration:00:30:02
"We the People" by Jill Lepore
10/31/2025
An interview with Jill Lepore, celebrated historian and author of We the People. The book offers a totally new look at the history of the U.S. Constitution, by amendment and interpretation.
Duration:00:30:00
"Medicine River" by Mary Annette Pember
10/24/2025
An interview with Mary Annette Pember, author of Medicine River. The book is a wide-ranging and deeply personal account of Native American boarding schools in the United States, taking a hard look at their intent and legacy of abuse.
Duration:00:30:12
"Afterlives" by Abdulrazak Gurnah
10/17/2025
Bob Kustra interviews Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Prize winner and author of the novel, Afterlives. The book is a multi-generational saga of displacement, love and loss, set against the brutal colonization of east Africa.
Note: This is an encore edition of Reader's Corner. The episode originally aired in February 2023.
Duration:00:37:45
"Looking at Women Looking at War" by Victoria Amelina
10/10/2025
An interview with Joanna Kakissis, joining the program to talk about the late Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, and her book, Looking at Women Looking at War.
Duration:00:32:06
"Twist" by Colum McCann
10/4/2025
An interview with Colum McCann about his latest novel, Twist. A book of rupture and relationships in the digital age, the story dives into the hidden world at the bottom of the ocean.
Duration:00:30:10
"The Ride" by Kostya Kennedy
9/26/2025
An interview with Kostya Kennedy, author of The Ride. The book offers a fresh perspective of Paul Revere’s historic ride, with new research into little-known aspects of the story many Americans have heard since childhood.
Duration:00:30:12