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Poured Over

Barnes & Noble
Friendship
Barnes & Noble
Grief
Identity
Motherhood
Poetry
Community
American Dream
Literature
Marriage
Toni Morrison
Writing
Family Dynamics
Art
Mental Health
Storytelling
World War II
Climate Change
New York City
Social Media

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

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Latest Episodes

Angel Down by Daniel Kraus explores the dark side of camaraderie and the eerie, supernatural forces that twist the meaning of survival in the face of horror. Daniel joins us to talk about language, structure, trust, research and more with cohost Jenn... more

Seek Immediate Shelter by Vincent Yu is a clever, thought-provoking story of survival, loyalty and betrayal that was inspired by real events. Vincent joins us to talk about writing his debut novel, studying evolutionary biology, character, community,... more

The Typing Lady by Ruth Ozeki is a captivating collection about life, art and storytelling. Ruth joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about leaving Easter eggs for longtime readers, humor, writing short stories, aging and more with host Miwa... more

Land by Maggie O'Farrell explores human resilience and a deep connection to the natural world with a sense of wonder. Maggie joins us to talk about mapping, ownership, displacement, time, research and more with cohost Jenna Seery.

This episode of ... more

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Recent Guests

Natalie Adler
Author of Waiting on a Friend
Author
Episode: Natalie Adler on WAITING ON A FRIEND
Paige Lewis
Poet extraordinaire and author of Canon
Author/Poet
Episode: Paige Lewis on CANON
Isaac Fitzgerald
Author and journalist
Author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts and American Rambler
Episode: Isaac Fitzgerald on AMERICAN RAMBLER
Pemi Aguda
Author of One Leg on Earth; National Book Award finalist for Ghost Roots
Author
Episode: 'Pemi Aguda on ONE LEG ON EARTH
Dimitry Elias Léger
Author of Death of the Soccer God
Author, God Loves Haiti; Death of the Soccer God
Episode: Dimitry Elias Léger on DEATH OF THE SOCCER GOD
Jon Krakauer
Author and climber, interviewed about his body of work and Everest
Author, Krakauer Ventures
Episode: Jon Krakauer on INTO THIN AIR
Patrick Cottrell
Author of Afternoon Hours of a Hermit and Sorry to Disrupt the Peace
Author
Episode: Patrick Cottrell on AFTERNOON HOURS OF A HERMIT
Tom Lin
Author of The Thousand Crimes of Meng Tzu and Babylon, South Dakota
Episode: Tom Lin on BABYLON, SOUTH DAKOTA
Portia Elan
Author of Homebound
Episode: Portia Elan on HOMEBOUND

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

4.7 out of 5 stars from 477 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
    Canada4 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 States4 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
#50
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#160
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#139
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#159
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#179
France/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#241
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dimitry Elias Léger on DEATH OF THE SOCCER GOD
Q: Why include jazz figures like Miles Davis and Coltrane as part of the fictional world?
Jazz serves as a sonic metaphor for the book's pacing and the protagonist's inner life—calm, then explosive, then reflective. Their music mirrors the tensions between restraint and intensity that define Gil's journey.
Joe Abercrombie on THE DEVILS
Q: What makes The Devils different from your earlier First Law books?
It's more focused on a single, cohesive group dynamic and a self-contained arc with a new set of battles and voices, while still exploring the same core themes of power, morality, and human complexity.
Joe Abercrombie on THE DEVILS
Q: How do you balance working between multiple character voices within the same scene?
I try to treat each viewpoint like a camera angle, ensuring distinct voice and rhythm for every character while keeping the scene moving and emotionally anchored to what matters to the central group.
Poured Over: Sarah Jessica Parker and Alexandra Oliva on The Radiant Dark at the LAT Festival of Books
Q: After serving as a Booker Prize judge, would you judge another literary prize?
I would have to ask my family first, because they supported me and sacrificed a lot during the year; it's a significant commitment.
Rick Steves on ON THE HIPPIE TRAIL
Q: How has travel philosophy evolved from the Hippie Trail era to today, particularly in relation to cultural understanding and fear?
The guest highlights a shift toward broader empathy and a critique of fear-driven travel narratives, advocating for openness, dual narratives, and engaging with people on both sides of conflicts to foster better understanding and peaceful engagement.

Audience Metrics

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

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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 Review
3. Book Riot - The Podcast
4. The Book Case
5. Writers on Writing

How many episodes of Poured Over are there?

Poured Over launched 5 years ago and published 712 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 Poured Over?

Recent guests on Poured Over include:

1. Natalie Adler
2. Paige Lewis
3. Isaac Fitzgerald
4. Pemi Aguda
5. Dimitry Elias Léger
6. Jon Krakauer
7. Patrick Cottrell
8. Tom Lin

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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