The Stacks

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

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 Episode Transcript Connect with Myriam: 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.

*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/09/15/tsu-25-chicago-tour Connect with Samantha: 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.

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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/09/13/ep-284-stacey-abrams Episode Transcript Connect with Stacey: 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.

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

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 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.

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 Episode Transcript 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 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.

*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/25/tsu-24-oakland-tour Connect with Leila: Instagram | Twitter | Website Connect with Deesha: Twitter | 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.

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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/08/23/ep-281-jennifer-baker Episode Transcript Connect with Jennifer: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Minorities in Publishing 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.

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 Episode Transcript Connect with Andrew: 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.

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 Episode Transcript Connect with Nora: 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.

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 Episode Transcript 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 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.

*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/28/tsu-23-david-dennis-jr Connect with David: Instagram | Twitter 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.

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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/07/26/ep-277-watchmen Episode Transcript Connect with Joel: 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.

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 Episode Transcript Connect with Donovan: 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.

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 Episode Transcript Connect with Ricardo: 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.

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 Episode Transcript Connect with Joel: 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.

*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. JOIN THE STACKS PACK TO LISTEN You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/06/30/tsu-22-jamilah-mapp-erica-dickerson Connect with Jamilah: Instagram | Twitter Connect with Erica: Instagram Good Moms, Bad Choices: Podcast | 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.

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: https://thestackspodcast.com/2023/06/28/ep-273-oreo Episode Transcript Connect with Hannah: Instagram | Twitter | Loyalty Bookstores 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.

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 Episode Transcript Connect with Stacey: 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.