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Circulating Ideas

Steve Thomas
Libraries
Horror Literature
Carl Sagan
The Last Kids On Earth
Where You're Planted
Education
Children's Literature
Dungeons & Dragons
Long-Term Relationships
Artificial Intelligence
American Library Association
Science Communication
Generative AI
Weird Sad and Silent
Hurricane Harvey
Human Resources
Time Travel
Community Engagement
Grief
Bosnian War

the librarian interview podcast

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes101Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Circulating Ideas

Latest Episodes

Steve chats with Erin Jones, editor of the new 11th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual from the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, about her winding path from theater studies into librarianship, how she reshaped th... more

Steve chats with Alma Katsu, author of the new book Incarnate, about her CIA background into early social media research, AI’s threat to creativity and authenticity, the story’s parallels with Picture of Dorian Gray, and the diversity of voices in th... more

Steve chats with Araminta Hall, author of Unreliable Narrator, about the literary concept of an “unreliable narrator,” what it means for writers to be “burglars of life,” how teaching writing changes her own writing, what it was like to have a previo... more

Steve chats with Kerri Maher, author of Summer of Love, about why this novel is her most personal, intergenerational trauma, researching California’s wine history, her writing process, and her friendship / collaboration with her audiobook narrator. T... more

Key Facts

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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

Araminta Hall
Author of Unreliable Narrator
Author
Episode: 319: Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Kerri Maher
Author of Summer of Love
Author
Episode: 318: Summer of Love by Kerri Maher – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Laura Sims
Librarian and author of The Man
Episode: 317: The Man by Laura Sims – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Zach Weinersmith
Creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal; author of Sawyer Lee and the Quest to Just Stay Home
Independent author/creator
Episode: 316: Sawyer Lee and the Quest to Just Stay Home by Zach Weinersmith – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Camille Perri
Author of Social Animals
Episode: 314: Social Animals by Camille Perri – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Catherine Kurtz
Author of Feast
Author
Episode: 313: Feast by Catherine Kurtz – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Steve Thomas
Host and interviewer
Circulating Ideas
Episode: 313: Feast by Catherine Kurtz – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Hayley DeRoche
Author of Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe, a Handbook for the Sad Beige Parent
Author, Public Librarian
Episode: 312: Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe by Hayley DeRoche – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Jarrett Dapier
Librarian and author of Wake Now in the Fire
Episode: 311: Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier

Host

Steve Thomas
Host of Circulating Ideas

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 47 ratings
  • Love the summer author interview

    Hi Steve,

    Longtime listener. Just want to say I’m really enjoying the summer author series, especially the read-alike suggestions and Novelist tips.

    Kirsten

    Librarian in Ontario.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Smith613
    Canada2 years ago
  • Thanks to Circulating Ideas!

    Thank to Steve for giving a voice to librarians & the issues that impact our communities!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Librarian Troy
    United States5 years ago
  • đź’ˇ Love it! đź’ˇ

    Steve’s thoughtfulness shines through in each episode and I always find a gem (or several) in every discussion. Although library-centric, people in government, education, and evening social services professions will also benefit from list being this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LibraryHillary
    United States7 years ago
  • Timely and Informative

    Steve always picks great guests and topics to discuss. I am not a librarian, but I still find this show fascinating and look forward to hearing the variety of educational and intellectual voices on the pod. I highly encourage anyone who is interested in library science, education, publishing, or cultural discussion to give this a listen.

    The more podcasts like this, the better off we will all be.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Monarchist
    United States8 years ago
  • Terry Gross of Librarians

    This is quintessential listening to librarians and those who are interested in the library field. Steve is a great interviewer with excellent guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    yolaleah
    United States10 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is a must-listen for librarians and library students.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful interviewing style and robust library focus.
Guests consistently receive high praise for expertise and relevance to library culture.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

320: Incarnate by Alma Katsu – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Q: What is Incarnate about?
It's about a young woman who, amid personal struggles and a desire to become a VFX artist, is drawn into creating virtual identities online, leading to dangerous ethical choices and a Rumpelstiltskin-like bargain.
320: Incarnate by Alma Katsu – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Q: How did this story start from you? Was it the technology end of it or the emotional part of it?
Alma says the origin was tech-driven, rooted in her CIA tech research and early social media analysis, which evolved into a cautionary tale about how digital tools can distort reality and influence behavior.
318: Summer of Love by Kerri Maher – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Q: Can you introduce listeners to just the story of Summer of Love and the three women at the heart of it?
The book follows a dual timeline: the 1967 Summer of Love in San Francisco with Winnie and Miranda, two sisters with interconnected destinies around wine, art, and a family mystery, and a 2015 storyline focused on Dawn, Miranda's daughter, who grapples with sobriety while uncovering a hidden literary mystery tied to a fictional Vineland series.
315: Three Hitmen and a Baby by Rob Hart – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Q: For listeners who might be new to the series, what is the underlying concept of the Assassins Anonymous series, and then what's the setup for this new book?
Hart explains that the series centers on a twelve-step style recovery program for killers, following a core group led by Mark as they navigate personal redemption, with each book expanding the ensemble and deepening emotional stakes.
312: Dress Your Baby in Sage and Taupe by Hayley DeRoche – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Q: Before we get into the book, you are a public librarian. How did you get started in the field? What drew you to the field?
Hayley describes growing up as a home-schooled kid, discovering libraries as a second home, and pursuing English in college, which naturally led to a career in libraries and a parallel path in comedy and content creation.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Circulating Ideas

What is Circulating Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Circulating Ideas centers on in-depth conversations with librarians, authors, archivists, and information professionals, with a recurring focus on libraries, archives, censorship, education, and publishing. Episodes pair author interviews with library-driven perspectives, exploring writing craft, information literacy, and the role of libraries in media and culture. A distinctive element is the Cirque Desk/Desk segments that offer read-alikes and actionable recommendations, making it useful for listeners who want concrete book suggestions and context around library and education topics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Circulating Ideas?

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

How many listeners does Circulating Ideas get?

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What are the audience demographics for Circulating Ideas?

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How many subscribers and views does Circulating Ideas have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Circulating Ideas 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 Circulating Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Circulating Ideas:

1. Book Riot - The Podcast
2. The Daily
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Book Review
5. The New Yorker: Fiction

How many episodes of Circulating Ideas are there?

Circulating Ideas launched 15 years ago and published 101 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 Circulating Ideas?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Circulating Ideas?

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What guests have appeared on Circulating Ideas?

Recent guests on Circulating Ideas include:

1. Araminta Hall
2. Kerri Maher
3. Laura Sims
4. Zach Weinersmith
5. Camille Perri
6. Catherine Kurtz
7. Steve Thomas
8. Hayley DeRoche

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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