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Circulating Ideas

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

the librarian interview podcast

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes101Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Circulating Ideas

Latest Episodes

In this special episode, Steve chats with some of the team behind the PBS series “Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books,” director Leah Bleich, producer Lori Benitez, and featured student Maryan Liban. They talk about how the documentary came together, plann... more

Steve chats with Gene Ambaum, creator and writer of the webcomic Library Comic, about his new Library Game on Kickstarter, the origins and mechanics of the game, collaborating with his Library Comic artist Willow Payne to create the cards, and how re... more

Steve chats with Bobbi L. Newman and Sam Helmick about their recent Inside Higher Ed article, “The Case for a Professional Foundation in Librarianship,” about their spirited defense of the MLS degree, the shared ethical foundation that library school... more

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

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

Lori Benitez
Producer of the PBS series “Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books”
Roadtrip Nation
Episode: 324: Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books
Maryan Liban
Aspiring librarian and creator of Maryan's List
Episode: 324: Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books
Leah Bleich
Director of the PBS series “Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books”
Roadtrip Nation
Episode: 324: Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books
Gene Ambaum
Writer of Library Comic; creator of Library Game
Library Comic
Episode: 323: Library Game Kickstarter with Gene Ambaum
Bobbi Newman
Librarian, author, professor, and consultant
Librarian/Academia
Episode: 322: The Case for a Professional Foundation in Librarianship, with Bobbi L. Newman and Sam Helmick
Sam Helmick
Community and Access Services Coordinator at Iowa City Public Library; former ALA president
Iowa City Public Library
Episode: 322: The Case for a Professional Foundation in Librarianship, with Bobbi L. Newman and Sam Helmick
Erin Jones
Editor of the 11th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual
American Library Association – Office for Intellectual Freedom
Episode: 321: Intellectual Freedom Manual, with Erin Jones
Alma Katsu
Author
Author of Incarnate
Episode: 320: Incarnate by Alma Katsu – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026
Araminta Hall
Author of Unreliable Narrator
Author
Episode: 319: Unreliable Narrator by Araminta Hall – Summer Reading Spectacular 2026

Host

Steve Thomas
Librarian and interviewer

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.

Listeners praise Steve Thomas's thoughtful interviewing and strong choice of guests.
Listeners appreciate the range of professional perspectives and timely discussions of issues affecting libraries and communities.
The librarian-focused conversations are valued by library workers and students, as well as listeners in education and public service.
The summer author interviews and accompanying read-alike recommendations are a recurring draw.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

324: Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books
Q: What would you say to someone who's considering librarianship, but they're not even to the point where you guys were at the beginning of this, how would you encourage them to let them know that there is a place for them in librarianship?
Maryan Liban says libraries need people with different interests and talents, and encourages aspiring librarians to bring their authentic selves while recognizing that the work includes difficult days as well as joy.
324: Roadtrip Nation: Beyond Books
Q: For anybody who hasn't seen it yet, what do you want people to understand about libraries?
Leah Bleich says the series aims to show the care and variety of experiences behind libraries and to challenge narrow stereotypes about librarianship.
323: Library Game Kickstarter with Gene Ambaum
Q: How is fulfillment and add-ons handled for Kickstarter backers?
They use BackerKit to manage add-ons and shipping, aiming to set prices closer to actual costs and offering backers the option to add items and review shipping impact before finalizing orders.
323: Library Game Kickstarter with Gene Ambaum
Q: What were the biggest design considerations during development?
Balancing the spectrum of problem patrons and staff, translating comic characters into playable cards, and deciding how to reveal contents in preview materials without spoiling surprises.
323: Library Game Kickstarter with Gene Ambaum
Q: Where did the idea for a Library Game come from?
It sprang from wanting a game about libraries that is easy to teach but has enough depth, using mechanics inspired by games like Five Crowns and letting library staff and problem patrons clash in fun, chaotic ways.

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 Circulating Ideas

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

Conversations with librarians, authors, educators, and other information professionals explore the work of libraries and the ideas shaping their communities. Regular host Steve Thomas conducts interviews that move between professional questions, personal career paths, and practical challenges, including library education, intellectual freedom, censorship, privacy, and access. The format also makes room for conversations with fiction writers about their books and creative processes, often paired with librarian-led read-alike recommendations. Guests range from working librarians and association leaders to documentary makers, journalists, and novelists. A distinctive strength is the connection between library practice and wider cultural life: ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Circulating Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Circulating Ideas:

1. Code Switch
2. Up First from NPR
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
4. Library Land Loves
5. The Daily Show: Ears Edition

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.

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What guests have appeared on Circulating Ideas?

Recent guests on Circulating Ideas include:

1. Lori Benitez
2. Maryan Liban
3. Leah Bleich
4. Gene Ambaum
5. Bobbi Newman
6. Sam Helmick
7. Erin Jones
8. Alma Katsu

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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