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The Stacks is your one stop shop to talk books and reading. Guests will join the host, Traci Thomas for lively discussions about books and the ways they have shaped their lives, and they way we all understand culture, race, politics, and more. The last Wednesday of each month Traci and guest will break down a book in detail as part of The Stacks Book Club. Make sure to check the website www.thestackspodcast.com for more details, including upcoming The Stacks Book Club picks.

Location:

United States

Description:

The Stacks is your one stop shop to talk books and reading. Guests will join the host, Traci Thomas for lively discussions about books and the ways they have shaped their lives, and they way we all understand culture, race, politics, and more. The last Wednesday of each month Traci and guest will break down a book in detail as part of The Stacks Book Club. Make sure to check the website www.thestackspodcast.com for more details, including upcoming The Stacks Book Club picks.

Language:

English


Episodes

Ep. 310 The Absence of Story with Tommy Orange

3/13/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Tommy: Twitter Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:57:46

Ep. 309 Chasing Artificial Standards with Elise Hu

3/6/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Elise: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack | TED Talks Daily Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:02:36

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

2/28/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Uché: Instagram | Twitter Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:59:08

Unabridged: No One Wants to Talk About the Sex with Kiley Reid

2/23/2024
*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/02/23/tsu-31-kiley-reid Connect with Kiley: Instagram | Twitter | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:12:50

Ep. 307 A Story We Tell Backward with Lauren Markham

2/21/2024
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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/02/21/ep-307-lauren-markham Episode Transcript Connect with Lauren: Instagram | Twitter | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:00:10

Ep. 306 I Love Our Romance Community with Tia Williams

2/14/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Tia: Instagram | Twitter | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:48:48

Ep. 305 Going from Pet to Threat with Uché Blackstock

2/7/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Uché: Instagram | Twitter Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:55:21

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

1/31/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Zach: Instagram | Twitter | Vibe Check Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:02:11

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

1/26/2024
*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/26/tsu-30-2024-most-anticipated Connect with Cree: Instagram | Twitter | All Ways Black Connect with Sara: Instagram | Fiction Matters | Novel Pairings Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:14:24

Ep. 303 The Culmination of My Psycho-Spiritual Self with Kaveh Akbar

1/24/2024
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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/01/24/ep-303-kaveh-akbar Episode Transcript Connect with Kaveh: Instagram | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:03:10

Ep. 302 We Shouldn't Be Asking You This Question with Carolina Ixta

1/17/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Carolina: Instagram | Twitter | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:01:35

Ep. 301 What Makes a Recipe Good with Sohla El-Waylly

1/10/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Sohla: Instagram | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:59:43

Ep. 300 A Lover of Place with Zach Stafford

1/3/2024
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Zach: Instagram | Twitter | Vibe Check Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:59:00

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

12/29/2023
*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/29/tsu-29-la-tour Connect with Chelsea: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Glamorous Trash Connect with Rachel: Instagram | Twitter | Higher Learning Connect with Sam: Instagram | Twitter | Into It | Vibe Check Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:13:54

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

12/27/2023
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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/27/ep-299-romeo-and-juliet Episode Transcript Connect with Farah: Twitter Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:13:01

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

12/20/2023
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 Episode Transcript Connect with MJ: Instagram | Twitter Connect with Adam: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Debutiful Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:11:34

Ep. 297 It's a Policy of Neglect with Nathan Thrall

12/13/2023
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Nathan: Twitter | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:01:06:12

Unabridged: The NYC Late Show with Kiese Laymon

12/8/2023
*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/08/tsu-28-nyc-tour-2 Connect with Kiese: Instagram | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:09:04

Ep. 296 Gatekeeping Around Shakespeare with Farah Karim-Cooper

12/6/2023
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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/12/06/ep-296-farah-karim-cooper Episode Transcript Connect with Farah: Twitter Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:59:48

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

11/29/2023
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 Episode Transcript Connect with Mitchell: Instagram | Twitter | Website Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe SUPPORT THE STACKS Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon 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.

Duration:00:58:46