Rephonic
Artwork for Book Club

Book Club with Michael Smerconish

SiriusXM
Donald Trump
Social Media
Ronald Reagan
Mental Health
Covid-19
John F. Kennedy
Vietnam War
Hillary Clinton
2016 Presidential Election
FBI
Barack Obama
CIA
United States
Russia
Free Speech
Cold War
Nelson Demille
Joe Biden
Siriusxm
Communication

Reading for Independent Minds. Unlike many author interviews, if Michael didn't actually read the book, you won't hear about it. If he read it, you'll hear it and you'll love it. Insights into a wide range of topics, including many titles you've probably never heard of. The perfect book is just one listen away.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes542Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsDaily NewsNewsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Book Club

Latest Episodes

Michael welcomes retired four-star Admiral James Stavridis to discuss "2084: A Novel of Future War", the gripping finale to his bestselling trilogy co-written with Elliot Ackerman. From great power conflict and artificial intelligence to climate cata... more

As conspiracies about whether any of the three assassination attempts on President Donald Trump were staged or not, Michael speaks with Dartmouth professor Russell Muirhead, co-author of "A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assau... more

In this episode of Book Club with Michael Smerconish, Michael speaks with psychiatrist and author Dr. Nassir Ghaemi about the surprising connection between mental illness and exceptional leadership. Drawing from Dr. Ghaemi’s books "A First-Rate Madne... more

Michael welcomes USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page to discuss her bestselling book "The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History." From Ronald Reagan’s close friendship with Queen Elizabeth II to Donald Trump’s fascina... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Russell Muirhead
Robert Clements Professor of Democracy and Politics at Dartmouth College; co-author of A Lot of People Are Saying
Dartmouth College
Episode: Russell Muirhead: "A Lot of People Are Saying"
Nassir Ghaemi
Professor of Psychiatry and author of Soul on Fire
Boston University/Emory University (as applicable from context)
Episode: Dr. Nassir Ghaemi on The Psychology of Great Leaders: The Creative Power of Mental Illness
Susan Page
Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today; author of The Queen and Her Presidents
USA Today
Episode: Susan Page: "The Queen and Her Presidents"
Robert Putnam
Harvard political scientist and author of Bowling Alone
Harvard University
Episode: Robert Putnam Revisits "Bowling Alone" with The Mingle Project
Sarah Isgur
Author, editor at SCOTUSblog, host of Advisory Opinions Podcast
SCOTUSblog
Episode: Sarah Isgur: "Last Branch Standing"
Jonathan Zimmerman
Professor of Education and History at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: Jonathan Zimmerman: "Free Speech - And Why You Should Give A Damn"
Lanny Davis
Author of Finding the Third Way, longtime political figure
Former White House Counsel to Bill Clinton
Episode: Lanny Davis: "Finding The Third Way"
Melissa S. Kearney
Gilbert Schaeffer Professor of Economics, University of Notre Dame; author of The Two-Parent Privilege
University of Notre Dame
Episode: Melissa S. Kearney: "The Two-Parent Privilege"
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld
Senior Associate Dean for Leadership Studies and Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management at Yale
Yale University
Episode: Jeffrey Sonnenfeld: "Trump's Ten Commandments"

Host

Michael Smerconish
Host of Book Club with Michael Smerconish

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 110 ratings
  • Audio quality

    I like this podcast when I can hear it. Unfortunately, most of the episodes I’ve listened to have had terrible audio quality on the quests. They should have been able to figure out smooth audio by now.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    printedvintage
    Canada4 months ago
  • Interview with a vanLier

    When you choose to interview Tapper it’s the same as playing with pigs. You get muddy and realize you’re playing with a pig.

    Sorry you put yourself in the role of joining Tapper and his lies. Was he lying when he said Biden just had a stutter and was sharp or is he lying now that he wishes he had covered the story?

    Many good books out there with authors who have knowledge, integrity, and have done hard work. This book is the product of none of that.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    moving on-missu
    United Statesa year ago
  • New To Bookclub

    I listen to Michael on SiriusXM, but only recently found the book club podcast. It is great! I put it on while I’m doing things around the house and just let it play one episode to the next. The variety I’m authors and topics is amazing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jkguhcdf
    United States2 years ago
  • Too rushed

    Interviews are way too short. When he does actually have an interesting guest it’s over in no time.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Project Pratt
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audio quality and episode length are variable according to reviews.
Guests and book variety attract new listeners, though some critique rushed interviews.
Listeners praise the host for book-first conversations and practical insights.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#188
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#51
Russia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#118
Indonesia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#121
Russia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#128
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#227
Taiwan/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dr. Nassir Ghaemi on The Psychology of Great Leaders: The Creative Power of Mental Illness
Q: What initially put you on this path when you published in 2011 the original book?
I combined clinical experience with historical research, documenting how mood disorders appeared in leaders and arguing that some depressive and manic traits could contribute to effective crisis leadership, which led to the development of A First-Rate Madness.
Russell Muirhead: "A Lot of People Are Saying"
Q: Beyond mingling, what else is prescriptive in the book for preserving democracy?
The speakers argue for skepticism toward power with vigilance, while also encouraging trust in credible witnesses and evidence, and maintaining a balance between healthy skepticism and reasonable trust in a broader democratic ecosystem.
Russell Muirhead: "A Lot of People Are Saying"
Q: Is Russell Muirhead saying we need to mingle?
Yes. The conversation stresses the importance of interpersonal exchange and civic engagement as a counterbalance to conspiracist thought, advocating for social mingling and constructive dialogue as a democratic safeguard.
Robert Putnam Revisits "Bowling Alone" with The Mingle Project
Q: What do we do about it?
Putnam argues for a three-part approach: invest in youth (Go Young), strengthen local, bottom-up institutions (Go Local), and cultivate a moral framework that reinforces communal obligations (Go Moral). He also highlights practical steps like expanding youth-serving organizations, supporting public education, and reforming governance and campaign finance to reweave social fabric.
Susan Page: "The Queen and Her Presidents"
Q: What did the author uncover about the Queen's view of the presidents?
The author reveals nuanced relationships, suggesting the Queen valued connections with certain presidents (e.g., Reagan and Obama) more deeply, while also using anecdotes to illustrate diplomacy, affection, and the subtle power of royal protocol.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Book Club

What is Book Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show presents author interviews and book-oriented conversations anchored by a moderator who emphasizes prepared, book-first discussions. Episodes cover a wide spectrum of titles—from literary fiction to nonfiction exploring politics, culture, science, and society—often tying insights to current events and personal narratives. Listeners can expect thoughtful inquiries, a strong preference for guests who can illuminate ideas with evidence and storytelling, and a candid, no-nonsense style that favors substance over hype. A notable strength is the host's insistence on knowing whether a guest has actually read the book, which can lead to in-depth, insightful dialogue when preparations pay off. This makes it appealing to curious, intellectua... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Book Club?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Book Club. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Book Club and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Book Club get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Book Club, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Book Club?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Book Club, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Book Club have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Book Club has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Book Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Book Club:

1. The Smerconish Podcast
2. Smerconish on CNN
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Takeout with Major Garrett
5. The Al Franken Podcast

How many episodes of Book Club are there?

Book Club launched 5 years ago and published 542 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Book Club?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Book Club?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Book Club from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Book Club?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Book Club. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Book Club?

Recent guests on Book Club include:

1. Russell Muirhead
2. Nassir Ghaemi
3. Susan Page
4. Robert Putnam
5. Sarah Isgur
6. Jonathan Zimmerman
7. Lanny Davis
8. Melissa S. Kearney

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days