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Required Reading

Erin Bowles
Vampire Academy
Measure For Measure
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
The Iliad
The Island Of Blue Dolphins
William Shakespeare
Malice (novel)
Ray Bradbury
Carrie (novel)
Frozen In Time
Jane Eyre
The Witch Of Blackbird Pond
Count Of Monte Cristo, The
Beverly Cleary
Goosebumps
The Curse Of the Mummy's Tomb
Cairo
Scott O'dell
Stephen King
The Martian Chronicles

Required Reading revisits the most impactful books from our childhood with a new guest every week.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes116Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Comedy InterviewsBooksComedyArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Required Reading

Latest Episodes

Sam Walt Jones returns to discuss the 16th Goosebumps book ONE DAY AT HORRORLAND by RL Stine from 1994.

Listen to Sam's first episode covering The Golden Compass!

Listen to more Goosebumps episodes!

* The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb

* Stay Out o... more

YouTube

Writer and podcaster Phillip Iscove joins me to discuss the 1979 vampire classic, BUNNICULA by James and Deborah Howe, a rabbit tale of mystery about a dog who can eat chocolate, a well-intentioned well-read cat, and a Snoopy-like bunny that drains v... more

YouTube

Lizzie Logan returns to discuss Scott O'Dell's Newbery Award winning book THE ISLAND OF BLUE DOLPHINS.

Based on a true story, when Karana's entire village leaves their island to escape raiders, she is left to fend for herself for over a decade.

Lis... more

YouTube

It's RL Stine's world and we're just living it. I'm back on another solo Goosebumps episode covering book 5 of the original series.

Check out some of our previous Goosebumps episodes:

The Horror of Camp JellyJam

Stay Out of the Basement

Welcome ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Lizzie Logan
Writer and podcaster, guest on the show
Self-hosted and writing pursuits
Episode: The Island of Blue Dolphins with Lizzie Logan!
Zannah Schorer
Guest, known for Fablehaven and The Tail of Emily Windsnap
Episode: The Iliad with Zannah Schorer
Josh Corey
Comedy writer and fledgling podcaster, guest discussing The Mouse and the Motorcycle and his own work
Self/Writer of From Writer To Fighter
Episode: The Mouse and the Motorcycle with Josh Corey
Liz Wiest
Returning guest
Episode: Vampire Academy 2: Frostbite with Liz Wiest
Kate Hagen
Writer and producer; has worked with Playboy, Letterboxd; TEDx speaker; co-creator of The Black List podcast
The Black List
Episode: Carrie with Kate Hagen!
Lev Francesca
Writer, YouTuber, content creator
Lisco2000 / BallisAfterlife
Episode: Malice with Lev Francesca
Tocarra Elise
Comedian, writer, and kid-lit enthusiast based in New York City
Episode: The Count of Monte Cristo with Tocarra Elise!
Courtney Young
Philadelphia-based film and television creative; has worked on projects for Netflix, HBO, Apple, and the NFL
Self/Various credits including Netflix, HBO, Apple, NFL
Episode: The Witch of Blackbird Pond with Courtney Young!
Mel Thomas
Writer and video essayist who recently published a piece on algorithm culture
Episode: The Martian Chronicles with Mel Thomas!

Host

Erin Bowles
Host of the show, introduces guests, guides conversational flow, and shares personal reading experiences.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • Lesbian club chats

    Yucky vibe for lesbians only

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    chubby baker
    United States10 months ago
  • Love this pod!

    Erin and her guests each week do a great job of catching you up if you haven’t read the book & they do a great job of CHOOSING books, especially if you were born in the 90s and experienced the hey day crazy times of YA novels in the aughts. Thoughtful, funny commentary! A lovely way to spend a commute or an afternoon cleaning your apartment ✨

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cassassyk
    United States2 years ago
  • Delightful First Ep! Can’t Wait for More!

    It’s day one if this show and I’m ready for next Wednesday. I’ve followed Erin online for years and it’s great to hear her in a longer format! Very charming, very chill, having a great time. You will too!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jonahpruitt
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show balances nostalgia with thoughtful analysis, appealing to both long-time fans and new listeners.
Listeners praise the host's warmth and ease in guiding conversations.
Guests are typically well-prepared and bring fresh perspectives to much-loved titles.
Episodes can spark interest in adaptations and related media beyond the book itself.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#90
Denmark/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#246
Denmark/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Count of Monte Cristo with Tocarra Elise!
Q: What modern media echoes did you find while revisiting the story?
The discussion touches on modern adaptations and parallels in TV and film, fan fiction, and serialized storytelling like Webtoon, illustrating how a multi-decade epic continues to inspire new forms of storytelling and audience participation.
The Count of Monte Cristo with Tocarra Elise!
Q: How does the book's treatment of forgiveness vs. vengeance influence your reading of the ending?
She notes that forgiveness is nuanced—Edmond forgives Mercedes but not the betrayers, and the finale leaves questions about Mercedes's fate and Edmond's future, emphasizing hope and the possibility of rebuilding beyond revenge.
The Count of Monte Cristo with Tocarra Elise!
Q: What drew you to this book as a source of personal and creative inspiration?
Tocarra discusses how the themes of transformation, resilience, and revenge resonate with her own experiences growing up and navigating identity. She highlights the makeover arc—from prisoner to cosmopolitan, wealthy adventurer—as a powerful metaphor for self-determination and reinvention.
Vampire Academy with Liz Wiest
Q: What is your story with this book?
Liz explains how Vampire Academy caught her interest during the early 2000s vampire boom, its Catholic-school setting, and how the book spoke to her as a teen, shaping how she saw female friendship and power.
The Island of Blue Dolphins with Lizzie Logan!
Q: Would you consider it required reading?
Yes, it serves as a versatile jumping-off point for biology, ecology, survival skills, as well as English and history, illustrating how a single narrative can foster multidisciplinary classroom discussion.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Required Reading

What is Required Reading about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show revisits influential books from childhood, pairing a consistent host with a rotating roster of guests to unpack themes, craft, and cultural context. Episodes blend nostalgic recollections with thoughtful analysis—covering literature, education, film/TV adaptations, and the broader impact of beloved titles across generations. A standout trait is the approachable yet insightful conversations that mix personal memory with scholarly or professional perspectives, making classics feel both intimate and relevant for today's audiences. A notable strength is the range of guests, from authors to critics and performers, which keeps the discussions both playful and deeply informed, appealing to listeners who love books and culture in equal mea... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Required Reading has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Required Reading?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Required Reading:

1. You're Wrong About
2. Maintenance Phase
3. Pod Save America

How many episodes of Required Reading are there?

Required Reading launched 3 years ago and published 116 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 Required Reading?

Recent guests on Required Reading include:

1. Lizzie Logan
2. Zannah Schorer
3. Josh Corey
4. Liz Wiest
5. Kate Hagen
6. Lev Francesca
7. Tocarra Elise
8. Courtney Young

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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