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Artwork for Book Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good Read

Book Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good Read

Book Cougars
Books
Literature
The Haunting Of Hill House
Ghost Stories
Murder In the Smithsonian
Judith Jones
Carolyn Wells
Literary Adventures
Grief
Picture Book Art
How To Sell A Haunted House
True Crime
Book Banning
Feminism
Willa Cather
Publishing
Gender Pay Gap
Frankenstein
Margaret Fuller
Windham Campbell Prizes

Chris and Emily discuss books and literary adventures

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes262Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

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Artwork for Book Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good Read

Latest Episodes

lcome to Episode 262! We had a fantastic discussion with an enthusiastic group of listeners about our second quarter readalong, Fannie Flagg’s novel FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE. We talk about both the book and the movie. If you’re c... more

Welcome to Episode 261! It looks like our first quarter readalong title, FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley, has not lost its grip on us. We both finally watched and in this episode discuss The Bride!, written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Wow. It is ... more

Welcome to Episode 260! It’s another 10th episode, which means we have a GIVEAWAY for newsletter subscribers. One lucky subscriber of our free monthly newsletter will win hardcover copies of: Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For by Leonie Swann, tr... more

Welcome to Episode 259! We got a lot of reading done since the last episode: 📖 Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum, translated by Shanna Tan 📖 The Body Farm: Scarpetta #5 by Patricia Cornwell 📖 The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth... 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.

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Recent Guests

Heather Harper Ellett
Author; Therapist by Day
Datura Books (crime imprint); Watkins Media (UK)
Episode: Episode 258 - Author Spotlight with Heather Harper Ellett
Emily Franklin
Author of Love And Other Monsters
HarperCollins? (publisher referenced in interview)
Episode: Episode 257 - Author Spotlight with Emily Franklin
Sara Catterall
Author of Amelia Bloomer, Journalist, Suffragist, Anti-Fashion Icon
University of Maine (researcher/biographer focus)
Episode: Episode 256 - Author Spotlight with Sara Catterall & Q2 Readalong Announcement
Tiya Miles
Michael Garvey Professor of History and Radcliffe Alumni Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.
Harvard University
Episode: Episode 254 - Author Spotlight with Tiya Miles
Sharon M. Harris
Professor Emerita and author of "Her Life in Ink, Elizabeth Jordan, Journalist, Editor and Mystery Author"
University of Connecticut
Episode: Episode 253 - Author Spotlight with Sharon M. Harris
Natalie Dykstra
Biographer and Professor Emerita of English at Hope College
Hope College
Episode: Episode 248 - Author Spotlight with Natalie Dykstra
Clare Beams
Author of The Garden
Episode: Episode 238 - Author Spotlight with Clare Beams
Elissa Altman
Memoirist and author of 'Permission'
Episode: Episode 234 - Author Spotlight with Elissa Altman
Matthew Goodman
Author of Paris Undercover and other historical works
Episode: Episode 233 - Author Spotlight with Matthew Goodman

Hosts

Emily Fine
Co‑host of Book Cougars, actively involved in book discussions, author events, and reading adventures.
Chris Wallach
Co‑host of Book Cougars, known for insightful commentary, interviews, and biblio adventures.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 168 ratings
  • Thoughtful

    They discuss books I wouldn’t have known about otherwise, including classics and « backlist » titles.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TO~JK
    Canada2 years ago
  • My favorite podcast!

    My favorite podcast! Thoughtful reviews, excellent interviews, and great thoughts on the reading life.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ESnow1126
    United States3 years ago
  • Top of the list

    I listen to several podcasts but this is one of only two or three that I actually look forward to. I always come away with a better appreciation of an author or a new title (or more) to check out.

    Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Twofer6
    United States3 years ago
  • I love this podcast!

    Chris and Emily are so fun, interesting and real. I love all the laughing, the intelligent conversation, book jaunt ideas and events, and the lack of pretense. I can’t believe it took me so long to discover what has become my favorite podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andrea G 2727
    United States4 years ago
  • So great!

    I absolutely love this show! Every episode is engaging and fun, and I always walk away with a longer reading list than I came with. Don't miss it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Arlie K
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the hosts' warmth, chemistry, and engaging conversations.
Fans appreciate broad reading tastes and practical book recommendations.
Audiences highlight the show's charm, humor, and insightful context around literature and biographical works.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#203
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#145
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 260 - Buddy Reading with Our Mystery Man John Valeri
Q: What sparked the idea for Buddy Reads with Patricia Cornwell's work?
John explains that Buddy Reads emerged from a desire to create community around reading, pairing fiction with nonfiction, and exploring an author's body of work in a collaborative way that enhances understanding.
Episode 258 - Author Spotlight with Heather Harper Ellett
Q: How did you approach endings and the idea of a multiverse in your revisions?
She describes negotiating an ending that felt unsatisfactory, then using the editor's input to explore alternate endings across editions, including a context-based ending in the new version.
Episode 258 - Author Spotlight with Heather Harper Ellett
Q: Why was the book being published again in a new edition, and what changed between editions?
The author explains that Polis Books shut down, the manuscript found a new home at Datura Books, and editors helped reshape the ending and overall prose, effectively creating two different texts and two timelines within the same story.
Episode 257 - Author Spotlight with Emily Franklin
Q: How do letters function in your narrative, and why are they important to the pacing?
The guest describes letters as a structural device to move time forward, provide alternative viewpoints (Claire, Byron, Mary), and offer moments of relief from a single viewpoint, all while staying true to historical communication methods.
Episode 257 - Author Spotlight with Emily Franklin
Q: What drew you to Claire Clairmont as a central figure for Love And Other Monsters?
Franklin explains that Claire's position as Mary Shelley's stepsister and her role as a go-between in the Shelley-Byron circle offer a unique lens on the Frankenstein origin story, plus the opportunity to explore a girl's perspective within a famous literary circle.

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 This Podcast

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

Two midlife hosts share a car‑ride vibe of enthusiastic, wide‑ranging book talk, blending personal reading journeys with author spotlights, readalongs, and book‑culture road trips. Episodes frequently feature lively recommendations, interviews or author insights, and a strong emphasis on community, libraries, and literary adventures across both classic and contemporary titles. A recurring strength is the warm, approachable banter that makes deep dives into books feel like chatting with friends, with notable moments around readalong projects, traveling to events, and exploring the process behind biography and literary history. Potential listeners can expect thoughtful discussions, broad reading tastes, and plenty of practical book suggestion... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Well-Read
2. Sarah's Bookshelves Live
3. Literally Reading
4. Book Talk, etc.
5. From the Front Porch

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 10 years ago and published 262 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. Heather Harper Ellett
2. Emily Franklin
3. Sara Catterall
4. Tiya Miles
5. Sharon M. Harris
6. Natalie Dykstra
7. Clare Beams
8. Elissa Altman

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