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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
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BooksSociety & CultureArts

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Latest Episodes

Kate Wolf is joined by two of today's finest film critics to discuss the current state of Hollywood—including the sale of Warner Brothers Discovery—the art of writing about movies, and some of the year's best films. Up first is critic A.S. Hamrah, au... more

It's that time of the year again! Hosts Kate Wolf, Medaya Ocher, and Eric Newman look back on some of the bright lights from a pretty dark year with a rundown of their favorite books, movies, TV shows, music, and scandals from 2025. For a full list o... more

Medaya Ocher and Eric Newman speak with director Julia Loktev about her new documentary My Undesirable Friends. Filmed in 2021, just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the five-hour epic follows independent journalists at TV Rain as they navigate e... more

Kate Wolf and Eric Newman speak with Robin Coste Lewis about her new poetry collection, Archive of Desire. The four part collection emerged out of a collaboration with other artists commissioned by the Onassis Foundation to celebrate the 160th birthd... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

A.S. Hamrah
Film critic and author
N Plus One Magazine
Episode: Tales from Two Critics: A.S. Hamrah and Melissa Anderson on the Year in Film
Melissa Anderson
Film editor and author; former senior film critic at the Village Voice
Four Columns
Episode: Tales from Two Critics: A.S. Hamrah and Melissa Anderson on the Year in Film
Julia Loktev
Director and writer known for her work in documentary and scripted drama
Episode: Julia Loktev "My Undesirable Friends"
Robin Coste Lewis
Former poet laureate of Los Angeles and multi-award winning author
Episode: Robin Coste Lewis's "Archive of Desire"
Brandon Taylor
Critically celebrated author of the novels Real Life and The Late Americans, as well as the short story collection Filthy Animals.
Episode: Brandon Taylor's "Minor Black Figures"
Angela Flournoy
Author of 'The Wilderness' and 'The Turner House', her debut novel shortlisted for the National Book Award.
Episode: Angela Flournoy's "The Wilderness"
Grace Byron
Writer and cultural critic whose work has appeared in major publications.
LA Review of Books
Episode: Grace Byron's "Herculine"
Chris Kraus
Writer and critic, known for her influential works including 'I Love Dick'.
Semiotext(e)
Episode: Chris Kraus's "The Four Spent the Day Together"
J. Hoberman
Film critic and author known for his insights on the avant-garde and cultural criticism
The Village Voice, The New York Times
Episode: J. Hoberman's "Everything is Now: Primal Happenings, Radical Music, Underground Movies, and the 1960s New York Avant-Garde"

Hosts

Eric Newman
Host and Co-Host of LARB Radio Hour, known for engaging literary discussions.
Medaya Ocher
Editor-in-chief at LARB, Co-host of LARB Radio Hour, known for insightful analysis of literature.
Kate Wolf
Host of LARB Radio Hour, noted for her intelligent inquiries into contemporary literature.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 212 ratings
  • 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 States6 months 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago
  • Excellent.

    Tackles some weighty subjects with wit and humour. The presenters are great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jed_-
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Five stars!

    The LARB Radio Hour is the most consistently intelligent yet down to earth podcast about books and ideas. And the best part is that I never know what I’m going to get when I tune in. How is it always interesting??

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alchfjwlskdbewl
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the podcast is seen as a treasure for those interested in intelligent dialogue about the arts and literature.
Many commend the depth and accessibility of the conversations, making complex themes relatable.
Some express a desire for a wider variety of genres and topics to be discussed.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions with authors and critics that cover a range of literary and social topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#129
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#68
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#116
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#192
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#227
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#229
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Julia Loktev "My Undesirable Friends"
Q: How did you start working on this project?
I had no idea what I was walking into when I started this film, but I thought this is disturbing when journalists have to start marking themselves everywhere as suspect, as foreign agents.
Robin Coste Lewis's "Archive of Desire"
Q: Can you talk about the origins of this collection?
The project stemmed from a commission by the Onassis Foundation for Cavafy's 160th birthday, where our team aimed to celebrate his life and work through a festival and my poetry.
Robin Coste Lewis's "Archive of Desire"
Q: Robin, could you tell us when you first came across Cavafy's poetry?
I was at Sisterhood Bookstore, Westwood, probably 16 years old, and what struck me was the elegance of his lines and his ability to connect desire with exquisite lyricism.
Kelly Reichardt's "The Mastermind"
Q: How did the idea for The Mastermind come about?
The concept arose from researching art heists and discovering a local story about an incident involving young women in Massachusetts.
Chris Kraus's "The Four Spent the Day Together"
Q: What do you see as the reason for the hollowing out of certain areas of America?
Kraus mentions a lack of community and the effects of mass digital culture that contribute to isolation and disenfranchisement.

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?

This podcast features engaging discussions focused primarily on literature and the arts, offering insights from a diverse array of guests including authors, filmmakers, and academics. Episodes often explore contemporary themes such as identity, representation, and the nuances of the creative process, as well as the societal and political implications of various literary works. Listeners can expect a blend of thoughtful interviews, critical discussions, and book recommendations, all anchored in a vibrant community of voices from the literary world. The show is notable for balancing intellectual depth with an accessible tone, making it an appealing choice for both avid readers and casual listeners interested in culture and ideas.

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How many listeners does LARB Radio Hour get?

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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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for LARB Radio Hour?

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What guests have appeared on LARB Radio Hour?

Recent guests on LARB Radio Hour include:

1. A.S. Hamrah
2. Melissa Anderson
3. Julia Loktev
4. Robin Coste Lewis
5. Brandon Taylor
6. Angela Flournoy
7. Grace Byron
8. Chris Kraus

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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