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Books with Betsy

bookswithbetsy
Chicago
Libraries
Fantasy
Reading Life
Horror Literature
Books
Audiobooks
So Many Damn Books
Literature
Chicago, United States
Book Recommendations
Reading Habits
Lost Children Archive
Project Hail Mary
Indie Authors
Literary Fiction
Dark Romance
Diverse Authors
Science Fiction
Booker Prize

Books with Betsy is a podcast that celebrates the reading life of all readers. Each week, Betsy interviews a different person about their reading life. Listen for book recommendations, reading tips, and to join in the joy that reading brings. And remember, anyone who reads is a reader.

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Latest Episodes

On this episode, David Nilsen & Emily Swank, hosts of the HopLit podcast, talk about their work combining their love for beer and books. We also talk a lot about awards, get a little spicy making a literary and beer comparison, and they share some gr... more

On this episode, Tatiana, a recent graduate, talks about how she’s renewing her love of reading after finishing school, her blog focusing on making scientific research accessible, and the ways that books have met her in exactly the right time.

Tatia... more

On this episode, Kate Sutton, owner of the Lit Wagon in the Chicago area, talks about how she brings books to people all over the city, how her work as a therapist influences her book choices, and the kinds of emotional wreckage she expects from a re... more

On this episode, Grace Hughes, author and avid fantasy reader, discusses her specific criteria for naming genres, how her work as a writer affects her reading life, and we talk about a lot of fantasy series. If you’re ready to pick up a fantastical t... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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

Kate Sutton
Owner of The Lit Wagon, therapist
The Lit Wagon
Episode: Episode 113 - The Lit Wagon with Kate Sutton
Grace Hughes
Author and avid fantasy reader
Author
Episode: Episode 112 - You Need the Right Person with Grace Hughes
Molly Page
Writer and Chicago Public Library branch-visiting project participant
Instagram: @MollyPG
Episode: Episode 110 - Chicagoan by Choice with Molly Page
Brady Parkin
Bookseller at Books by Brady on Instagram
Books by Brady
Episode: Episode 109 - A Slow Burn to a Big Fire with Brady Parkin
Lydia Plahn
Journalism student at Northwestern
Northwestern University
Episode: Episode 108 - Forced to Read with Lydia Plahn
Maggie Brennan
Book club member
Episode: Episode 107 - Book Club - Girl, Woman, Other
Sam Luxinger
Book club member
Episode: Episode 107 - Book Club - Girl, Woman, Other
Sirenna Blas
Siren Bee Reads and Things on Instagram
Siren Bee Reads and Things
Episode: Episode 106 - Do You Even Like Reading with Sirenna Blas
Vanessa Diaz
Managing Editor at Book Riot
Book Riot
Episode: Episode 105 - The Absolute Most with Vanessa Diaz

Host

Betsy Tomczak
Host of Books with Betsy; leads conversations about reading life, book recommendations, and community reading experiences.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • Love your show!

    Love listening to your show and always learning about new books ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mferw
    United States10 months ago
  • New discovery

    I just listened to your Melissa Julwan episode. Yay! I am so glad to have found you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ansleystreetpress
    United Statesa year ago
  • Never knew how much fun I could have listening to readers talk about the books they love!

    The concept is so simple: ask avid readers how and what they like to read. And I’m loving it! In the several episodes I’ve listened to so far, I’ve found something to ponder and something in common with each of the readers, leaving me feeling connected to the reading community. Keep up the great work, Betsy!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chelsey_S
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great book podcast

    Really loving this pod. The host is incredibly well read and always has such a great rapport with guests. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KeenLit25
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Enjoyed my first episode!

    I found this podcast by searching author Ann B Ross of the Miss Julia series. I started out with an audiobook purchased for $1 at my local library. I have since read about 1/2 the series as I need audio or large print books. It was fun listening to the guest describe her experience with the series and especially listing favorite recommendations. I don’t belong to a book club but this podcast gave me the feeling of being a podcast book club member!! Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    happiereview
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are well-aligned with readers seeking diverse voices and thoughtful recommendations.
Listeners appreciate the warm, relatable style and the feeling of being part of a book club.
The host balances breadth of topics with practical reading tips and personal anecdotes.

Top Books Podcasts

The Book Club
The Book ClubGoalhanger
The Book Review
The Book ReviewThe New York Times
Myths and Legends
Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
Selected Shorts
Selected ShortsSymphony Space
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy FangirlsFantasy Fangirls

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 61 - Never as Good as the Book with Katie Blechle
Q: What role does reading play in your life as a mom and teacher?
Reading is integrated into daily life, informs parenting and teaching practices, and serves as a personal refuge and a tool for understanding herself and others through various genres and self-help titles.
Episode 61 - Never as Good as the Book with Katie Blechle
Q: How do you source your books?
She uses a broad mix: libraries, Book of the Month subscriptions, bookstores, online purchases, and even Pinterest for discovery; she avoids relying heavily on awards and popularity.
Episode 61 - Never as Good as the Book with Katie Blechle
Q: What do you like to read and what are your preferred book vibes?
Katie gravitates toward historical fiction with strong female leads set in WWII contexts, followed by psychological thrillers with twists, and some romance to cleanse the palate. She also enjoys a mix of genres depending on mood.
Episode 112 - You Need the Right Person with Grace Hughes
Q: What makes you excited about your upcoming projects?
She discusses her debut When the Sky Breaks, its primary-world fantasy setting with a speculative horror overlay, and hints at a parallel standalone dark military fantasy as a separate project.
Episode 112 - You Need the Right Person with Grace Hughes
Q: So what are you reading or how do you approach your TBR right now?
Grace describes a quarterly, genre-aware approach, balancing big fantasy romance titles with lighter or indie works to maintain variety in length, tone, and sub-genre.

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 Books with Betsy

What is Books with Betsy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the reading life of a broad community of readers, featuring candid conversations with guests about their personal reading habits, book recommendations, and ways to fit reading into everyday life. Episodes cover a wide range of genres and formats—from literary fiction and graphic novels to YA and nonfiction—while highlighting libraries, book clubs, and community events. Noteworthy is the strong emphasis on sharing accessible, practical reading tips and celebrating diverse voices, with a friendly, club-like vibe that makes listeners feel part of a larger reading community.

Where can I find podcast stats for Books with Betsy?

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

How many listeners does Books with Betsy get?

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What are the audience demographics for Books with Betsy?

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How many subscribers and views does Books with Betsy have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Books with Betsy 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 Books with Betsy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Books with Betsy:

1. The Perks Of Being A Book Lover Podcast
2. Well-Read
3. Book Talk, etc.
4. Literally Reading
5. All the Books!

How many episodes of Books with Betsy are there?

Books with Betsy launched 2 years ago and published 115 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 Books with Betsy?

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 Books with Betsy?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Books with Betsy from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Books with Betsy?

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What guests have appeared on Books with Betsy?

Recent guests on Books with Betsy include:

1. Kate Sutton
2. Grace Hughes
3. Molly Page
4. Brady Parkin
5. Lydia Plahn
6. Maggie Brennan
7. Sam Luxinger
8. Sirenna Blas

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.

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