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Artwork for Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry

Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry

David Naimon, Milkweed Editions
Poetry
Colonialism
Identity
Literature
Grief
Memory
Memoir
Feminism
Language
Death
Ecology
Palestine
The Story Game
Trans Rights
Theory & Practice
Tone
Duet For One
Reincarnation
Family Dynamics
Women's Literature

BOOKS ∙ WORKSHOPS ∙ PODCAST

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes345Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionBooksArts

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Artwork for Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry

Latest Episodes

Lisa Robertson’s Riverwork twins the mysterious disappearance of the great aunt of our protagonist, Lucy Frost, and that same aunt’s interest in a long-disappeared river, buried under the streets of Paris. As Lucy searches for traces of her aunt, by ... more

Today’s archival episode with Richard Powers, about The Overstory, was recorded in 2019 in the studios of KBOO community radio in Portland, Oregon. Unusually, that same night I appeared with Richard at a live ticketed event at Revolution Hall to disc... more

Dionne Brand says of Giada Scodellaro debut novel, winner of the prestigious Novel Prize: “Ruins, Child takes us to the crumbling architecture of a future past; a future past that is possibly now. In this work of fractal seeing, we encounter women in... more

YouTube

Martyr Loser King, the debut graphic novel of poet, musician, actor and director Saul Williams, with art by Morgan Sorne, not only exists in the same world as his feature film Neptune Frost, but also that of three of his albums, one of his poetry col... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Richard Powers
Writer, author of The Overstory
Author of The Overstory
Episode: From the Archives : Richard Powers : The Overstory
Giada Scodellaro
Writer and artist, author of Ruins, Child
New Directions; FitzCarraldo Editions; Jiromondo
Episode: Giada Scodellaro : Ruins, Child
Saul Williams
Writer, poet, musician, director, actor and more
Episode: Saul Williams : Martyr Loser King
Maura Finkelstein
Anthropologist and author of The Archive of Loss, Lively Ruination in Mill Land, Mumbai
Episode: Saul Williams : Martyr Loser King
Danez Smith
Poet and former guest of the show
Episode: Saul Williams : Martyr Loser King
Noor Hindy
Palestinian American poet
Episode: Saul Williams : Martyr Loser King
Zadie Smith
Novelist and essayist, author of Grand Union
Writer
Episode: From the Archives : Zadie Smith : Grand Union
Molly Crabapple
Writer and artist specializing in movement history and graphic journalism
Author of Here Where We Live Is Our Country, The Story of the Jewish Bund
Episode: Molly Crabapple : Here Where We Live Is Our Country : The Story of the Jewish Bund
Lily Brooks-Dalton
Author of Ruins
Author
Episode: Lily Brooks-Dalton : Ruins

Host

David Naimon
Host of the show, known for deeply researched, close-reading style conversations with writers across fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 895 ratings
  • So Good

    As others have written this podcast is to be greatly admired. David, the host, has clearly done a huge amount of reading/ research prior to each episode so the explorations with each of the authors interviewed are so rewarding to listen to. I am immensely grateful to be able to listen to this podcast and wholly recommend it to anyone who is / might be interested in literature. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PineGroveCharlie
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • What a gift!

    I decided to go back to the beginning while I wait for a new conversation. I’m so grateful for the expansive archive you’ve built and made accessible. And I’m re-listening, too. I’m going back for another dose of you and Brandon Shimoda. We need a kind of club for these chats. I don’t even know where to start with that. I feel bereft after each podcast. Every last one.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jobitek
    Canada3 months ago
  • Thrilling and thought-provoking

    Thank you for the episode with the glorious Robin Coste Lewis

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lisa Blumenfeld
    United States7 months ago
  • Incredibly rich and deep

    Absolutely gorgeous guests, thoughtful preparation and profound conversations. My only request would be for the host to speak about 40% less to let the guests take up more time. While David’s questions are often so rich and steeped in care, sometimes they tend to center him and his thinking instead of the guest. I still found both episodes I listened to deeply moving and transcendent but I did find myself craving more of the guest’s voice. Thank you though that this exists what a gift!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LLaurenne
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best Lit Podcast out there

    One time I thought this podcast was being cancelled and I literally sank to the kitchen floor in tears. David Naimon does so many writers so much justice and you can hear it in their responses

    to his incredibly thoughtful questions. This podcast is a beautiful portal to webs of writers dreaming and writing towards better worlds !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lolalou89
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's preparation and the depth of conversation, calling episodes rewardingly rigorous and expansive.
Patrons highlight the episode breadth and the quality of author interviews.
Show is valued as a unique, highly researched literary resource with broad, global perspectives.
Guests are described as deeply insightful with substantial background and thought-provoking ideas.
Some listeners occasionally critique the host for speaking too much and want more guest voice in long conversations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#61
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#181
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#46
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#89
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#135
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#236
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Giada Scodellaro : Ruins, Child
Q: Could you talk about the threshold moments in your writing where language moves beyond literal meaning into a space of perception, memory, and imagination?
Giada explains that such thresholds appear when the language starts to behave like a field of attention rather than a tool for naming, and she leans into instances where sentence structure opens a space in which perception shifts, memory becomes tactile, and imagination seizes the moment.
From the Archives : Zadie Smith : Grand Union
Q: How do you balance autobiography and fiction when you drop autobiographical details into Grand Union, and how does that affect readers' perception of the 'real you' in your stories?
I use myself as a rhetorical device, not as a definitive self-representation. I want readers to feel the emotional truth without assuming the personal is the factual. The self on the page is a performance that can illuminate wider human experiences without binding me to one fixed identity.
From the Archives : Zadie Smith : Grand Union
Q: You've talked about how your writerly sensibilities are formed by early reading experiences rather than deliberate intentions. Could you reflect on what that means for your approach to Grand Union?
I describe a process where early reading, rather than a conscious plan, shapes how I listen to voices in fiction and how I allow multiplicity of selves to emerge in stories. The eye on the page is not fixed; it can shift, which lets me explore different identities and perspectives without being tied to a single voice or truth.
Molly Crabapple : Here Where We Live Is Our Country : The Story of the Jewish Bund
Q: Can you speak to the role of humor in tackling heavy political subjects without diminishing the gravity of the history?
Humor acts as a counterbalance to solemnity, helping readers engage difficult truths while revealing the absurdities and contradictions that many activists navigated, which is essential for sustaining critique and imagination.
Molly Crabapple : Here Where We Live Is Our Country : The Story of the Jewish Bund
Q: What drew you to emphasize Yiddish culture as central to the Bund's modern relevance?
Yiddish represented a pluralistic, multicultural democratic vision that resisted assimilationist pressures and provided a cultural foundation for organizing across differences, which remains a powerful template for cross-cultural solidarity.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dedicated literary interview series that centers detailed conversations with writers across fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Episodes frequently explore craft, form, and the socio-political dimensions of literature—ranging from Indigenous memory and diaspora to science fiction, gender, race, and justice—often pairing archival materials with rigorous close reading. Noteworthy is the host's extensive preparation and breadth of guests, which makes it a rich resource for listeners who crave nuanced analysis, cross-genre insights, and historical context in literary work.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. London Review Bookshop Podcast
2. Otherppl with Brad Listi
3. The New Yorker: Poetry
4. The Shakespeare and Company Interview
5. Poetry Off the Shelf

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 345 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Richard Powers
2. Giada Scodellaro
3. Saul Williams
4. Maura Finkelstein
5. Danez Smith
6. Noor Hindy
7. Zadie Smith
8. Molly Crabapple

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