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The Los Angeles Review of Books Radio Hour is a weekly show featuring interviews, readings and discussions about all things literary. Hosted by LARB Editors-at-Large Kate Wolf, Medaya Ocher, and Eric Newman.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes500Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksSociety & CultureArts

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Artwork for LARB Radio Hour

Latest Episodes

A double header show on beauty, class, surgical intervention, media manipulation, and assimilation American style. First Kate Wolf and Medaya Ocher speak with debut novelist Sarah Wang about her book, New Skin, a mother-daughter story rendered in the... more

In this special episode, Kate Wolf, Medaya Ocher, and Eric Newman discuss the "honesty crisis" facing contemporary culture. Using a recent book by the philosopher Christian Miller for reference, the hosts examine the internet as an engine for dishone... more

Kate Wolf speaks to the Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Suzy Hansen about her new book, From Life Itself: Turkey, Istanbul, and a Neighborhood in the Age of Erdogan. It centers on Istanbul's neighborhood of Karagümrük, which Hansen first began re... more

Acclaimed filmmaker Lucrecia Martel joins Kate Wolf to discuss her documentary Nuestra Tierra, which follows a 2018 trial in Argentina over a crime in the remote northwestern region of Tucaman. In a showdown between a local landowner and the indigeno... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Suzy Hansen
Journalist and author of From Life Itself
Author, From Life Itself; former New York Times Magazine contributor
Episode: Suzy Hansen's "From Life Itself"
Lucrecia Martel
Filmmaker
Independent filmmaker, Nuestra Tierra
Episode: Lucrecia Martel "Nuestra Tierra"
Ann Scott
French author, author of Superstars; discussion about her book and writing process
Author, Les Insolents; translator/editorial context provided by the show
Episode: A Return to the Queer 90's
Hugh Ryan
Queer historian and author of When Brooklyn Was Queer; host of Queer History 101 Book Club
Author, Historian, Bennington College instructor
Episode: A Return to the Queer 90's
Patrick Radden Keefe
Staff writer at The New Yorker and author of London Falling
The New Yorker
Episode: Patrick Radden Keefe's "London Falling"
Karan Mahajan
Author of The Complex
Author
Episode: Karan Mahajan's "The Complex"
Reynaldo Rivera
Photographer and author of Propiedad Privada
Artist
Episode: Reynaldo Rivera's "Propiedad Privada"
Jonathan Shainin
Editor at Equator, journalist and editor with experience at The New Yorker, The Guardian, The New York Review of Books, and The Caravan
Equator, journalist
Episode: The War in Iran and the Limits of American Journalism
Devika Girish
Film Comment co-editor
Film Comment
Episode: LARB Radio Hour x Film Comment 2026 Oscars Preview

Hosts

Kate Wolf
Host of LARB Radio Hour
Eric Newman
Co-host of LARB Radio Hour
Medaya Ocher
Editor-in-chief at LARB

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 218 ratings
  • Los Angeles

    As filmmaker Thom Anderson says in his film, Los Angeles Plays Itself, it's not "LA" (cringe) it's Los Angeles.

    Audible
    3
    Anonymous
    United States4 months ago
  • As filmmaker Thom Anderson says in his film, Los Angeles Plays Itself, it's not "LA" (cringe) it's Los Angeles.

    Audible
    3
    Anonymous
    United States4 months ago
  • Happy Pride

    I really enjoyed the recent Pride episode. The interviews with Milo Todd and Vince Aletti were great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    chabad fan
    United Statesa year ago
  • huge fan!

    I love the variety and consistency of the LARB podcast — the hosts are well-informed and articulate and likeable, and I really enjoy listening to them. They are also very grounded somehow, which is nice for a podcast about books and the zeitgeist and so on. That balance seems difficult to strike and I’m glad this podcast exists!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sachita Nishal
    United States2 years ago
  • A missed opportunity

    I can tolerate a good amount of intellectualization, pontification, and high-falutin nonsense (and I hope you can too), but there are times during LARB’s podcast that I am aghast (aghast, I say) at the level of disconnection and incuriosity on full and unabashed display, all L.A. tropes aside. The more interesting bits occur when the conversation becomes so unmoored that you realize how preoccupied and stymied the hosts become by the sound of their own voice at the expense of any and all depth o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    B_squared
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism notes moments of over-narration or perceived repetitiveness, but these are relatively uncommon.
Many reviews highlight the breadth of guest topics, from literature to film and politics, and the show's thoughtful pacing.
Listeners praise the show for its intelligent, well-informed hosts and the high-quality conversations with authors and critics.
Overall, the audience seems to value depth, curiosity, and the ability to discover new authors and ideas through in-depth interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#159
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#240
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#108
Switzerland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#108
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#165
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#224
Hong Kong/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lucrecia Martel "Nuestra Tierra"
Q: Why did you feel that you wanted to make a non-fiction film here when some of the themes of this film already run throughout your entire body of work?
Martel explains that documenting the community's archive and legal documents came first, but the deeper impulse was to use documentary form to address the foundational myths of the nation and to reveal how language can mask oppression and inequality.
A Return to the Queer 90's
Q: Hugh, what makes the Queer Nineties a turning point in terms of internet culture and community formation?
Hugh argues the 90s were pivotal for the emergence of online spaces and physical gathering places, creating a dense, but fragile, sense of shared identity that has since transformed with technology.
A Return to the Queer 90's
Q: What was the writing process like when you moved from your first book to Superstars and then to more speculative later work?
Ann contrasts the autobiographical pressure of the early book with later books that shifted toward different narrative forms, including darker and more speculative plots, while still drawing on personal themes.
A Return to the Queer 90's
Q: Ann, how did you approach distance when writing Superstars, and how autobiographical do you consider the work?
Ann explains she wrote with minimal distance, often relying on diary details from her youth, and that elements of the relationship and heartbreak feel intensely personal, almost real-time in their texture.
Reynaldo Rivera's "Propiedad Privada"
Q: Well, let's start off with just a simple question, which is how did this collection come to be?
Rivera explains that the book grew out of a personal archive and a sense of documenting his life and the lives of people around him, evolving from private photographs to a project with broader public visibility, including a collaboration with a dealer who helped recognize the work's significance.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About LARB Radio Hour

What is LARB Radio Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A literary-focused interview show that features in-depth conversations with authors, critics, and artists about books, culture, and ideas. Episodes showcase long-form dialogue, deep dives into writing craft, and the cultural context surrounding contemporary literature, often pairing novelists with discussions of film, art, and political thought. Notable strengths include a consistently thoughtful host team, carefully curated guests, and a pacing that favors substantive dialogue over quick takes. The format often centers on book-centered discussions, with occasional readings and explorations of broader cultural themes, making it appealing to readers who value literary criticism, intellectual curiosity, and nuanced conversation.

Where can I find podcast stats for LARB Radio Hour?

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How many episodes of LARB Radio Hour are there?

LARB Radio Hour launched 11 years ago and published 500 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 LARB Radio Hour?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for LARB Radio Hour?

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What guests have appeared on LARB Radio Hour?

Recent guests on LARB Radio Hour include:

1. Suzy Hansen
2. Lucrecia Martel
3. Ann Scott
4. Hugh Ryan
5. Patrick Radden Keefe
6. Karan Mahajan
7. Reynaldo Rivera
8. Jonathan Shainin

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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