Rephonic
Artwork for Book Riot

Book Riot - The Podcast

Book Riot
Publishing Industry
Book Riot
Literary Fiction
Books
Book Recommendations
Literature
Fourth Wing
Neil Gaiman
Book Banning
Book Riot Podcast
Diversity In Literature
Censorship
Pulitzer Prize
Audiobooks
George Saunders
Vigil
Colleen Hoover
Book Bans
Diversity In Publishing
Patreon

News in the world of books and reading, including hot industry releases, adaptations, publishing industry events, and more with Book Riot’s Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky. Book Riot is the largest independent editorial book site in North America and home to a host of media, from podcasts to newsletters to original content, all designed around diverse readers and across all genres.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes929Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsTV & Film

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Book Riot

Latest Episodes

Jeff and Rebecca tackle the most difficult It Books month yet.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening.

Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular up... more

Jeff and Rebecca note the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry before talking about a data analysis of men in literature, bookstore etiquette, recent reading (including The Book of M by Rachel Cusk) and more.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podca... more

Jeff and Rebecca do a temperature check on the books that are topping charts, winning awards, getting adaptations, stirring discussion, and otherwise in the mix this month.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot ... more

Rebecca and Vanessa discuss news of a Theo of Golden adaptation, the results of our audience survey about what counts as AI-written, a new platform for finding local literary events, and more.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.... more

Key Facts

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.

Well-Read
Well-ReadAnn Cox and Halle Carlson
Book Talk, etc.
Book Talk, etc.Tina @tbretc and Hannah @hanpickedbooks
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
Sarah's Bookshelves LiveSarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves

Recent Guests

Rachel Noorda
Professor of Media Studies, Portland State University
Portland State University
Episode: UPDATED The Latest Research on Gen Z's Reading Habits
Kathi Inman Berens
Literature Professor, Portland State University
Portland State University
Episode: UPDATED The Latest Research on Gen Z's Reading Habits
Dr. Maria McCauley
New president of the American Library Association
American Library Association
Episode: Best Books of the Year So Far Lists Have Begun. PLUS: Dr. Maria McCauley of the ALA
Cathy Galliano
Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Books-A-Million
Books-A-Million
Episode: MCD Shutters, Audible's Story House, and More of the Week's Book News.
Vanessa Diaz
Managing editor, Book Riot
Book Riot
Episode: You Have Heard of Lord Byron. But You Have No Idea.
Louise Erdrich
Author of Python's Kiss, longtime author and writer
Author
Episode: Wait, How Many Books Were Published in 2025? PLUS: Louise Erdrich!
Markus Zusak
Australian author, author of The Book Thief
Author
Episode: Markus Zusak on THE BOOK THIEF at 20
Martha Hickson
Participant in 'The Librarians', recipient of the 2022 Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity
Episode: Librarians on the Front Lines
Carolyn Foote
Retired Texas school librarian, co-founder of the Texas Freedom Fighters
Episode: Librarians on the Front Lines

Hosts

Jeff O'Neal
Host with co-host role, long-time Book Riot contributor. Appears across multiple shows with a focus on book industry news, trends, and culture.
Rebecca Schinsky
Co-host and editor, frequently leads discussions on books, industry news, and reader culture.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • My Incentive to Read More

    Jeff and Rebecca are not only extremely well read and erudite, but have real chemistry together. A highly informative podcast with a fun, funny, light touch that makes this feel like anything but intellectual kale, which it easily could have been.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BradleyLegit
    United States25 days ago
  • Ad problem

    I like this podcast but the eleven reader ads along with the AI odyssey are so off putting, esp that you don’t say that it’s AI (but it’s quite obvious from how it sounds).

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    BeckyReader123
    United States2 months ago
  • Love the Chemistry but sometimes out of touch.

    Love the chemistry between Jeff and Rebecca. Whenever there is an episode where one of them switches out (usually for vacation to some amazing location) I skip it. But when they are on together I love it. A little out of touch at times regarding politics or how ‘regular’ people think. And sometimes they miss obvious book news. But their chemistry keeps me coming back.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Vester+70
    United States2 months ago
  • Correction pu Pulitzer episode parentheses the correspondent

    Rebecca mentioned that the correspondent has received no awards or recognition. That is not correct. It is a finalist for the women’s prize for fiction. It won the pin Hemmingway debut novel of the year. There’s no comparison between the correspondent and Theo of Golden. I agree Theo is right contrite. With weak writing, but that is certainly not the case with the correspondent she is a serious talented writer. It would certainly be worth your time to read it.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Hikingreader
    United States4 months ago
  • My bookish friends

    I’m more into books than most of the people I know- and I work in a library, so I know a lot of bookish people. I’m so into books that recently, after a gummy when I randomly opened Goodreads, I let the FEELINGS of so many books I’ve loved wash over me for awhile. I’m so into books that I’m still angry that my favorite book reviewer, Ron Charles, was fired by The Washington Post, and I signed up for his Substack about a minute after I found out about his firing. I discover a book by a favorite a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dianabolical
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners LOVE the chemistry between Jeff and Rebecca and tune in for banter-filled conversations.
Many praise the show's insider look at publishing trends and book culture.
Critiques often mention ad load or pacing, but chemistry and depth keep audiences coming back.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#28
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#85
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#34
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#100
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#222
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#37
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Best Books of the Year So Far Lists Have Begun. PLUS: Dr. Maria McCauley of the ALA
Q: How does the ALA view the current landscape of censorship and book challenges, and what strategies are in place to counter it?
Censorship is on the rise; the ALA tracks challenges and supports coordinated advocacy, including Unite Against Book Bands and cross-sector coalitions to defend intellectual freedom and fund libraries.
Best Books of the Year So Far Lists Have Begun. PLUS: Dr. Maria McCauley of the ALA
Q: Could you give us a brief overview of what the mission of the ALA is?
The ALA exists to empower library workers to serve their communities, promote the right to read, and advocate for libraries through funding and policy work.
Why Literary Agents Matter with Laura McGrath
Q: What is the core function of a literary agent beyond securing a book deal?
Agents serve as matchmaking conduits who understand editors, imprints, and market taste, ensuring a project is positioned for the right audience and long-term career growth rather than just a one-off sale.
MCD Shutters, Audible's Story House, and More of the Week's Book News.
Q: What is Books-A-Million doing to bring communities into stores and keep them engaged?
Cathy Galliano explains the 'third space' concept, noting large in-store and offsite events in historic theaters, which foster community and turn bookstores into social hubs.
Wait, How Many Books Were Published in 2025? PLUS: Louise Erdrich!
Q: What ending in the story made you cry?
Erdrich says almost every ending in Python's Kiss brought her to tears, highlighting how emotional closure and character resolution can be deeply affecting, with particular attention to how the stories unfold and land emotionally for the reader.

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 Riot

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

Two book-focused hosts discuss the latest in publishing, book news, trends, and culture, blending industry analysis with lively debates and practical recommendations for readers. Episodes frequently cover publishing deals, AI's role in writing and media, adaptations, awards chatter, and market signals across fiction and nonfiction, often interspersed with sponsor segments and book recommendations. A defining trait is the banter-filled, conversational style that makes complex industry topics approachable while still delivering actionable insights for listeners who want to track what's hot in books and reading culture.

Noteworthy aspects include a strong emphasis on industry dynamics (deals, AI, adaptations), a willingness to critique and ce... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Book Riot?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Book Riot. 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 Riot and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Book Riot get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Book Riot, 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 Riot?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Book Riot, 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 Riot have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Book Riot 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 Riot?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Book Riot:

1. All the Books!
2. Well-Read
3. Book Talk, etc.
4. Zero to Well-Read
5. Sarah's Bookshelves Live

How many episodes of Book Riot are there?

Book Riot launched 13 years ago and published 929 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 Riot?

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 Riot?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Book Riot 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 Riot?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Book Riot. 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 Riot?

Recent guests on Book Riot include:

1. Rachel Noorda
2. Kathi Inman Berens
3. Dr. Maria McCauley
4. Cathy Galliano
5. Vanessa Diaz
6. Louise Erdrich
7. Markus Zusak
8. Martha Hickson

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