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Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Audiobook Reviews
Audiobooks
Audiobook
New York City
Science Fiction
Audiobook Narration
Horror
Family Dynamics
Audiofile Magazine
Narration
True Crime
Mental Health
Big Chief
New York
Racism
Aging
A Study In Scarlet Women
Whoopi Goldberg
Dark Academia
Kimberly Farr
Mary Oliver

Kirkus Audiobook Reviews Find your next great audiobook on Behind the Mic with Kirkus Reviews. Every Thursday, host Jo Reed and her guests discuss what they’ve been listening to and recommend the very best audiobooks. It’s the perfect way to keep up with new releases and hear about the ones you may have missed. Launched by AudioFile magazine in 2018, Behind the Mic now has its home at Kirkus Revie... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1920Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsPerforming Arts

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Artwork for Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Latest Episodes

Host Jo Reed talks with contributor Kendra Winchester about

three audiobooks that explore disability and offer distinct perspectives on

community, resilience, and belonging. They begin with Mother Tongue by

Sara Nović, narrated by Lisa Flanagan, a me... more

YouTube

Host Jo Reed and Kirkus young readers’ editor Laura Simeon

discuss three audiobooks for young listeners that use sports to explore

identity, family, culture, and social change. In Medicine Wheels by

Byron Graves, narrator Meegwun Fairbrother captures... more

YouTube

Three audiobooks explore people whose patience, curiosity, and determination changed how we understand—and protect—the natural world. Contributor Alan Minskoff joins host Jo Reed to discuss Homesick for a World Unknown: The Life of George B. Schaller... more

YouTube

Host Jo Reed talks with contributor Alex Richey about three audiobooks whose outstanding narrators bring emotional depth to stories of ghosts, murder, and terrifying change. They begin with The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean, in which Nat... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Alan Minskoff
Contributor
Episode: The Call of the Wild
Alex Richey
Contributor on audiobooks for Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
Episode: The Many Faces of Horror
Patricia Cornwell
Author of the Kay Scarpetta series, memoirist
Patricia Cornwell
Episode: Writing a Life, Reading It Aloud
Lena Dunham
Creator of Girls, memoirist
Lena Dunham
Episode: Writing a Life, Reading It Aloud
Arsenio Hall
Actor, comedian, memoir author
Arsenio Hall
Episode: Writing a Life, Reading It Aloud
Robert Petkoff
Narrator of Ghost Town
Self/Voice Actor
Episode: Three Very Different Roads Through Fiction
Derbhle Crotty
Narrator of The News From Dublin
Self/Voice Actor
Episode: Three Very Different Roads Through Fiction
Darragh Shannon
Narrator of The News From Dublin
Self/Voice Actor
Episode: Three Very Different Roads Through Fiction
Ramiz Monsef
Narrator of Wolvers
Self/Voice Actor
Episode: Three Very Different Roads Through Fiction

Host

Jo Reed
Host of Behind the Mic with Kirkus Reviews

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 172 ratings
  • Make it part of your morning routine!

    Great show. It’s a part of my daily morning podcast routine along with NPR’s Book of the Day.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hachimitzu
    United Statesa year ago
  • The Ads???!

    Would have easily been a four star but for the AIPAC ads.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    duckpat
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great content but ads are far too long for the length of the podcast

    If you have a 5-minute podcast, please don’t add 2-3 minutes of ads onto it.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    janeycanuck
    Canada2 years ago
  • An excellent resource that’s fun to listen to

    I love listening to these reviews and the sheer joy that the host and guests share for this Format. I’ve been introduced to narrators I’ve never heard before and have discovered must listen audiobooks.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MayWJ
    United States2 years ago
  • Honest reviews

    I like that Jo adds a personal comment, occasionally negative, on the selections.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    PSDExpat
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate insider industry context and guest expertise from narrators, editors, and authors.
Some listeners note ads can feel lengthy relative to episode length.
Listeners praise concise, bite-sized explorations of audiobook narration with accessible sample clips.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Many Faces of Horror
Q: How does Natalie Naudus's narration influence the listening experience of The Girl with a Thousand Faces?
Jo and Alex discuss her emotional precision and ability to navigate the novel's unusual structure, making complex perspective shifts feel natural for listeners.
The Many Faces of Horror
Q: Tell me, what attracts you about horror?
Alex explains that horror allows a safe space to confront real-world issues by exaggeration, making it easier to examine troubling topics without direct-real-world harm.
Kids Confront a Changing World
Q: How does the narration style contribute to the book's emotional accessibility?
Emma Ladji's performance is calm and measured, with distinct yet cohesive voices that provide a sense of safety and intimacy, helping listeners process difficult topics without being overwhelmed.
Kids Confront a Changing World
Q: So tell us a little bit about Phoenix and why it resonates for both kids and adults?
The book balances tough themes like family separation and animal welfare with careful, off-page handling of violence and a narration that feels like a supportive, warm guide through the story, making it approachable for younger listeners while still meaningful for adults.
Lauren Groff: In Her Own Voice
Q: Have you ever considered narrating any of your novels?
She says novels require a different voice and that her first-person stories in Brawler align with autofiction, while her novels demand voices closer to the narrative and character register.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

What is Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show focused on audiobooks and narration, featuring hosts who review and discuss recent releases, narration quality, production decisions, and behind-the-scenes stories. Episodes frequently cover multi-narrator casts, author involvement, casting choices, pacing, sample clips, and industry partnerships, with a steady stream of author, narrator, editor, and publisher guests providing practical insights for listeners who love audio storytelling. A notable pattern is the blend of craft analysis with behind-the-scenes production notes and sponsor/partnership context, making it useful for audiobook enthusiasts, pros in audio production, and booksellers scouting audiobook recommendations.

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Which podcasts are similar to Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews:

1. NPR's Book of the Day
2. Well-Read
3. Poured Over
4. The Book Case
5. Totally Booked with Zibby

How many episodes of Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews are there?

Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews launched 8 years ago and published 1920 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews?

Recent guests on Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews include:

1. Alan Minskoff
2. Alex Richey
3. Patricia Cornwell
4. Lena Dunham
5. Arsenio Hall
6. Robert Petkoff
7. Derbhle Crotty
8. Darragh Shannon

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