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Artwork for Poured Over

Poured Over

Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Grief
Motherhood
Poetry
Identity
Friendship
Community
Mental Health
Literature
Writing
Family Dynamics
Art
Storytelling
Toni Morrison
American Dream
Family
Books
Humor
Cultural Identity
New York City

Poured Over is a show for readers who pore over details, obsess over sentences and ideas and stories and characters; readers who ask a lot of questions, just like Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer, a career bookseller who's always reading. Follow us here for surprising riffs, candid conversations, a few laughs, and lots of great book recommendations from big name authors and authors on their way to ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes720Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for Poured Over

Latest Episodes

Take Me to Your Leader by Neil deGrasse Tyson is a fascinating look into the possibility of extraterrestrial life and what to do if they come knocking. Dr. Tyson joins us to talk about gathering data during potential alien encounters, human intellige... more

YouTube

Ghost-Eye by Amitav Ghosh follows a woman whose memories stretch beyond a single lifetime. Amitav joins us to talk about the Sundarbans, past life memories, near death experiences, folklore, the natural world and more with host Miwa Messer.

This e... more

YouTube

Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi follows the unraveling of a mother and daughter's lives in Hollywood. Mary joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about fame, family, Los Angeles, performance and more with host Miwa Messer.

This episode of Poure... more

YouTube

Vermeer by Andrew Graham-Dixon dives into the life and vibrant work of one of the greatest painters from the Dutch Golden Age. Andrew joins us to talk about combing through historical archives, Remonstrants, analyzing Vermeer's paintings, context, fa... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Daniel Kraus
Award-winning author
Author
Episode: Daniel Kraus on ANGEL DOWN
Vincent Yu
Debut author of Seek Immediate Shelter
Norton Publishing
Episode: Vincent Yu on SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER
Ruth Ozeki
Author of The Book of Form and Emptiness and The Typing Lady stories
Author
Episode: Ruth Ozeki on THE TYPING LADY
Maggie O'Farrell
Author of Land
Author
Episode: Maggie O'Farrell on LAND
Michelle Huneven
Author of Bug Hollow
Author
Episode: Michelle Huneven on BUG HOLLOW
Ruta Sepetys
Award-winning author of historical fiction; adult debut author of A Fortune of Sand
Author, A Fortune of Sand
Episode: Ruta Sepetys on A FORTUNE OF SAND
Virginia Evans
Author of The Correspondent
Crown (publisher)
Episode: Virginia Evans on THE CORRESPONDENT
Rebecca Solnit
Writer and activist
Writer (The Beginning Comes After the End)
Episode: Rebecca Solnit on THE BEGINNING COMES AFTER THE END
Matt Haig
New York Times bestselling author
Author (The Midnight Library, The Midnight Train, etc.)
Episode: Matt Haig on THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN

Hosts

Miwa Messer
Host and producer with deep background in bookselling and literary curation.
Jenna Seery
Co-host of the show, bookseller with Barnes & Noble, active in interview format.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 482 ratings
  • Fantastic, love listening to Miwa

    Thorough and engaging interviews that broaden one’s understanding of the context and meaning of a work. Reminds us that art doesn’t happen in a vacuum; all the content we love, that moves and changes us, is carefully nurtured and shepherded by people who got there before us and are welcoming us in. Grateful for this sophisticated podcast and for Miwa’s velvety voice. Also, hearing Annie Leibovitz call someone a legend is all the recommendation I’ll ever need.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maine bookworm
    United States3 months ago
  • Warm, insightful, always interesting

    Listening to Miwa is like sitting down with a smart, charismatic friend and eavesdropping on great conversation.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brooklyn Heights
    United States3 months ago
  • My favorite book podcast

    I count on Poured Over to point me to my next great read. I’ve discovered so many talented, interesting authors through these amazing interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    booklover7389
    United States3 months ago
  • Loving this podcast

    As an avid reader, it’s wonderful to be able to listen to these episodes and hear both the authors insights and the carefully crafted questions and commentary. I appreciate that the books are current which adds to my reading experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sher8888
    Canada5 months ago
  • Great guests, but host wants spotlight

    Really enjoy this podcast except when host, Miwa Messer, is the interviewer. She constantly interrupts the authors and seems to be always struggling to say what she thinks is the most profound statement of all time.

    Sadly, the George Saunders episode was one where she must have told us (annoyingly) that she’s been a “bookseller forever” a bazillion times, and she interjected herself needlessly throughout.

    Worse still, she completely tramples over Heather Ann Thompson with long pauses and un... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Annie and Wilson
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback notes the host can dominate airtime; others find the interviews highly informative and well-curated.
Guests and topics are consistently engaging for serious readers and writers.
Listeners praise in-depth, well-researched conversations and strong host preparation.
Audience enjoys discovering new authors and book recommendations through thoughtful questioning.
Recruiting a guest should emphasize strong craft storytelling, clear thematic hooks, and a willingness to discuss historical or cultural contexts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#65
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#188
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#137
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#143
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#86
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#113
India/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Maggie O'Farrell on LAND
Q: What was the process of researching Ireland's famine and mapping history like for you?
The author describes a mix of library-based study, field visits to sacred wells, and on-the-ground exploration in Ireland, using discoveries to spark scenes while avoiding overloading the narrative with factual exposition.
Maggie O'Farrell on LAND
Q: How did the concept of maplessness and the act of naming shape the narrative of Land?
Land is presented as something with agency and voice, and the maplessness theme invites readers to imagine a world where borders and names are unsettled, which in turn deepens the emotional connection to the characters and their choices.
Rebecca Solnit on THE BEGINNING COMES AFTER THE END
Q: How do you define Hope in the context of ongoing social and environmental struggles?
Hope is an orientation of the spirit grounded in history and the understanding that change happens through collective, incremental action, not guaranteed happy endings. It involves recognizing possibilities, sustaining effort, and refusing surrender even when outcomes are uncertain.
Ruth Ozeki on THE TYPING LADY
Q: How does the process of writing short stories differ from writing a novel?
Short stories feel tighter and more like polished stones, offering a compact window into the before and after, whereas novels function more like compost heaps, accumulating material over a longer arc and expanding the world.
Vincent Yu on SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER
Q: How did you approach including a bluegrass chapter and dreaming up Nick's arc?
I used Nick's journey to explore how becoming new or breaking from tradition can clash with established norms, using music as a metaphor for belonging and reinvention.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Poured Over

What is Poured Over about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This book-focused interview series leans into in-depth conversations with authors across fiction, memoir, poetry, and literary nonfiction, often exploring craft, process, and the cultural moments surrounding each work. Episodes tend to thread together writing technique, influences, and the author's lived experience, with a strong emphasis on character, place, and language. A recurring strength is the host's preparation and historical context, which yields nuanced discussions that appeal to serious readers, writers, and publishing professionals who crave thoughtful, literature-rich dialogue. A distinctive note is the bookstore-hosted interview format, which often blends editorial oversight, personal anecdotes, and a sense of community around... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Poured Over?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Poured Over:

1. NPR's Book of the Day
2. The Book Case
3. Book Riot - The Podcast
4. The Book Review
5. Well-Read

How many episodes of Poured Over are there?

Poured Over launched 5 years ago and published 720 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 Poured Over?

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What guests have appeared on Poured Over?

Recent guests on Poured Over include:

1. Daniel Kraus
2. Vincent Yu
3. Ruth Ozeki
4. Maggie O'Farrell
5. Michelle Huneven
6. Ruta Sepetys
7. Virginia Evans
8. Rebecca Solnit

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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