Rephonic
Artwork for Brattlecast: A Firsthand Look at Secondhand Books

Brattlecast: A Firsthand Look at Secondhand Books

Brattle Book Shop
Brattle Book Shop
Boston
Books
East Africa
Time Zones
Science Fiction
Cuba
Robert Frost
Nairobi, Kenya
Railroads
Used and Rare Books
Real Photo Postcards
Computers
Appraisal
Ice Cream Diet
Automobile Catalogs
Bookstore Entrepreneurship
Estate Sale
Gift Giving
Farmers' Almanac

At one of America's oldest bookshops, there are just as many stories to be told outside the pages as in them. Join Brattle Book Shop proprietor Kenneth Gloss and co-host Jordan Rich as they share insightful and entertaining conversations and histories surrounding Boston's favorite spot for bibliophiles. Topics range from military autobiographies to regional cookbooks and everything in between. Upd... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & CultureBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Brattlecast: A Firsthand Look at Secondhand Books

Latest Episodes

This week we’re taking a look at one of the shop’s most distinctive features: our outdoor sale lot. Open year-round in extreme New England weather, the lot presents some unique operational challenges for the Brattle crew (not many booksellers have to... more

YouTube

As a secondhand book shop, the thing that really drives our business isn’t selling books—it’s buying them. That’s why we venture out almost every day—to houses, libraries, and storage units throughout New England—searching for good books and the occa... more

YouTube

This week we’re talking about one of the shop’s longest book buys—a deal that took over thirty years to seal. In the late ‘70s Ken was called out to a local library, where he made a bid on some really excellent books. They said that the board of trus... more

YouTube

Before the implementation of standardized time zones in the United States, every town pretty much decided what time it was on their own. This wasn’t that big of a deal when you had to walk everywhere, but it created some major problems as communicati... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Ken Gloss
Owner of Brattle Book Shop
Brattle Book Shop
Episode: Brattlecast #222 - The Gift of Books
Kenneth Gloss
Proprietor of the Brattle Bookshop
Brattle Book Shop
Episode: Brattlecast #211 - Photo Ops

Host

Jordan Rich
Co-host guiding conversations with warmth and curiosity; helps frame shop-life, history, and book-market stories.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 97 ratings
  • Great Podcast

    Very entertaining and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lynda32
    United States2 years ago
  • Amazing

    We love this podcast. Very informative

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rinormie
    United States2 years ago
  • Intriguing

    I thoroughly enjoy listening and visiting Brattle Book Shop. Every book I have purchased has been unique and interesting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ValnetinaRossi
    United States6 years ago
  • Informative, Interesting

    A must listen for book collectors, you'll learn so much. Love Ken's stories!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kimtisha
    United States6 years ago
  • Absolute gem to listen to

    The stories and presentation are wonderful and a great listen. Facinating the stories tied to the old store.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JRmn32
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's warmth and knowledge about books and Boston history.
The show blends practical book-buying guidance with entertaining anecdotes and shop-life color.
Many comments highlight Ken Gloss as a compelling storyteller who brings history to life.

Top Books Podcasts

The Book Review
The Book ReviewThe New York Times
Myths and Legends
Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
The Book Club
The Book ClubGoalhanger
Selected Shorts
Selected ShortsSymphony Space
The Currently Reading Podcast
The Currently Reading PodcastMeredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy FangirlsFantasy Fangirls

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Brattlecast #217 - CBS Saturday Morning
Q: What was the restaurant featured in the episode's restaurant segment?
The restaurant shown was Oleana, a detail that the guest highlighted as a nice local connection and something they could share with visitors.
Brattlecast #210 - Appraisal Stories
Q: How should someone approach getting an appraisal for a valuable book?
He says to seek out an expert who will provide a thorough, well-documented appraisal, and to be clear about whether you want a quick identification or a formal written report, as the latter requires more time and carries a higher expectation of accuracy.
Brattlecast #210 - Appraisal Stories
Q: What makes a high-end appraiser good at what they do?
Ken explains that doing the work well hinges on knowing what you don't know, having a network of trusted colleagues to consult, and years of hands-on experience that let you spot the unusual item and verify details quickly.
Brattlecast #223 - So You Want to Own a Book Store
Q: And you get that question occasionally. Can I get into the bookstore business? What do you tell people these days?
I tell them it is a wonderful, fun line of work but first and foremost a business that must make money; you need a clear plan for stocking, pricing, and staying engaged with the market, plus a willingness to hustle and learn continuously.
Brattlecast #229 - Special Interests
Q: But let's talk a little bit about what you've noticed with people who have certain interests and how those interests can develop into passions for collecting, things like that.
Ken Gloss describes how interests grow into collecting by shifting from casual curiosity to a curated habit, driven by personal connections, family ties (his daughter's life in East Africa), and the thrill of assembling tangible objects that tell stories. He emphasizes the joy of finding items that resonate with a person's experiences and history, rather than chasing only the rare or expensive pieces.

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 hosts from a historic Boston bookstore share long-running, story-driven conversations about the world of rare and used books. Episodes weave behind-the-scenes shop life with vivid anecdotes about book collecting, appraisal, and sourcing, alongside affection for local history, libraries, and cultural institutions. The show consistently highlights practical advice for buyers and sellers, hands-on storytelling, and the human side of running a small business in a beloved neighborhood spot. Notable strengths include charismatic hosting, deep domain expertise, and a strong emphasis on provenance, community, and the joy of discovering hidden gems among stacks.

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

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

How many listeners does this podcast get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, 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 this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Grammar Girl: For Writers and Language Lovers.
2. Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
3. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
4. Sidedoor
5. Travel with Rick Steves

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 100 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Ken Gloss
2. Kenneth Gloss

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