Rephonic
Artwork for Kobo in Conversation
AI In Publishing
Toronto Raptors
Rakuten Kobo
Cherry Baby
Mental Health
Spotify
We the Raptors
Water Borne
Creativity
To the Moon and Back
Métis
Quantum Mechanics
Space-Time
Natalie Zina Walschots
Good Guys
Charity
Mood Machine: the Rise Of Spotify and the Cost Of the Perfect Playlist
Pick a Colour
Liberty Street
Shy Girl

From Rakuten Kobo, the digital bookseller and maker of eReaders beloved by readers around the world, Kobo in Conversation brings you in-depth conversations with authors about how and why they write, the books and authors they admire, and so much more. Plus, occasional takes on what's going on in the business of books. And year-end roundups of reading recommendations from the Kobo staff.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes176Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureBooksArts

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Artwork for Kobo in Conversation

Latest Episodes

Nathan Maharaj spoke with novelist Sharon Bala, author of the award-winning 2018 novel, The Boat People. Her new book is called Good Guys. It's about a nearly bankrupt international aid charity called Children of the World, and how their stumbling in... more

This week we're bringing you a conversation Michael Tamblyn had in 2021 with Natalie Zina Walschots about her extremely fun novel called Hench. It's about a world where superheroes are out there saving the day in super ways, while villains, who are a... more

YouTube

Nathan Maharaj spoke with physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, author of the 2021 book The Disordered Cosmos, a highly personal reflection on the human and inherently flawed practice of scientific inquiry and her career as a Black Jewish scientist. He... more

YouTube

Hosts Michael Tamblyn and Nathan Maharaj dove deep on the controversy around the book Shy Girl, which was cancelled by its publisher who alleged it was largely AI-generated.

Links on Shy Girl:

• The video from January 2026 that seems to have led... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Sharon Bala
Author of The Boat People and Good Guys
Author
Episode: Sharon Bala on the absurdity of so-called Good Guys
Natalie Zina Walschots
Poet, game writer, and author of Hench and Hedge
Author
Episode: Natalie Zina Walschots on good bosses and bad guys [encore]
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Physicist and author of The Edge of Space-Time and The Disordered Cosmos
Physicist and author
Episode: Why Chanda Prescod-Weinstein sees hope in cosmic curiosity
Heather Marshall
Author of Liberty Street
Author, Liberty Street
Episode: How Heather Marshall brings readers into places of the past
Rainbow Rowell
Author of Cherry Baby, Eleanor & Park, Fangirl, Slow Dance
Author
Episode: Why Rainbow Rowell's Cherry Baby had to be her sexiest book yet
Tara Gereaux
Author of Wild People Quiet and Saltus
Author
Episode: Tara Gereaux on finding the words for an unspoken identity
Eliana Ramage
Author of To the Moon and Back
Author, To the Moon and Back
Episode: How Eliana Ramage set her sights on the stars for her debut novel
George Newman
Cognitive scientist and associate professor at Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
Episode: George Newman on getting good at bad ideas—so great ideas can happen
Leanne Toshiko Simpson
Novelist, author of Never Been Better
Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writers Prize winner
Episode: Leanne Toshiko Simpson on self-care and writing a prize-winning rom-com

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 35 ratings
  • Bailey and Jones!

    What a great duo. Poignant questions, impressive answers and a totally fabulous interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yesthesefeminists
    Canada6 years ago

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#15
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#37
Finland/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#62
Taiwan/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#163
Taiwan/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#209
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#218
Spain/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tara Gereaux on finding the words for an unspoken identity
Q: What drew you to structure the novel around beadwork in four elements?
Beading provides a tangible framework for telling complex histories; the four elements correspond to a life cycle and give form to themes of memory, culture, and resilience.
Tara Gereaux on finding the words for an unspoken identity
Q: Why set the story in 1946? Why is this moment important for Métis lives?
The 1946 setting mirrors postwar social shifts, where men return and women lose jobs, creating a tense backdrop for a Métis woman navigating visibility, dignity, and community belonging.
Tara Gereaux on finding the words for an unspoken identity
Q: Can we start with some scene setting? Tell me about this town, Tour du Val.
Tour du Val is a cookie-cutter, fatefully blank slate of a town where Florence's carefully curated life could be upended by a single encounter, highlighting the tension between place and personal history.
MORE of the best books we read in 2025
Q: How did this book reach you and why did it stand out?
It aligned with the interviewer's interest in the tech/music publishing intersection and offered a provocative, well-researched look at streaming, which resonated with Kobo's indie and publishing communities.
MORE of the best books we read in 2025
Q: What is the best book you read this year?
A non-fiction title about the music industry (Mood Machine) that critically examines Spotify's business model while offering optimism and practical suggestions for supporting artists.

Audience Metrics

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Which podcasts are similar to Kobo in Conversation?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Kobo in Conversation:

1. Now That We Think About It Podcast
2. Fully Booked by Kirkus Reviews
3. Book Riot - The Podcast

How many episodes of Kobo in Conversation are there?

Kobo in Conversation launched 7 years ago and published 176 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 Kobo in Conversation?

Recent guests on Kobo in Conversation include:

1. Sharon Bala
2. Natalie Zina Walschots
3. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
4. Heather Marshall
5. Rainbow Rowell
6. Tara Gereaux
7. Eliana Ramage
8. George Newman

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