Rephonic
Artwork for Shoulda Books
The Outsiders
The House Of the Spirits
Jane Eyre
Isabel Allende
Kite Runner
Ishmael
When Breath Becomes Air
Conversations With God
Letting Go: the Pathway Of Surrender
Never Let Me Go
Left Behind
The Artist's Way
Call Me By Your Name
Life Of Pi
Media Theory
The Disappointment
Shoulda Books
Anthony Bourdain
David Foster Wallace
Classic Books

The podcast about all the books you shoulda read by now.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes31Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducationBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Shoulda Books

Latest Episodes

Ryan W. Garcia (Try Guys, Big Nate, Krapopolis) graciously allows me to record in the lovely studio for his podcast Big Theatre Kid Energy. We discuss leveling up, reading the signs of the universe, and protecting your voice when you're out there in ... more

Zachary Donohue is the co-writer of the horror film Passenger, in theaters now. He shares 3 books that shaped him and his career, even though none of them are technically horror books.

Check out the ad-free, extended episode–where we discuss Stephe... more

Khaled Hosseini's debut novel The Kite Runner has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 2003. What made it achieve such a stratospheric level of popularity? Is the story just that good? Or is there something else at play?

Review by H... more

Rainie Toll explains why "The Giver" and "The Catcher in the Rye" are more similar than you might think. We also talk about mushrooms, OCD, John Green, and why it's okay to not finish a book.

On the Patreon version of this episode, we talk about li... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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

Jimmy Wong
Actor, musician, video creator, and YouTube personality
Self/Various creative ventures
Episode: 22. talking about God with Jimmy Wong
Cailyn Hoertz
Guest on Shoulda Films episode discussing The Outsiders adaptations
Episode: PATREON UNLOCK: "The Outsiders" film is mid (w/ Cailyn Hoertz)
Annie Rauwerda
Depths of Wikipedia creator
Depths of Wikipedia
Episode: 21. Annie Rauwerda (Depths of Wikipedia) loves The Power Broker (and MORE)
Merle Shane O'Neal
YouTuber, filmmaker, and actor based in Los Angeles
Episode: 16. your friends are right about The Artist's Way
Ash Perez
Screenwriter, author, audio book creator
Ash Perez (writer/creator)
Episode: 14. do you really want to live forever? (Ash Perez on "Tuck Everlasting" + MORE)
Andrew Martin
Author of Down Time
Author (Downtime)
Episode: 13. showing generosity to your characters (w/ Andrew Martin)
Scott Broker
Author of The Disappointment, writer, bookseller, and teacher based in Los Angeles
Author, Bookseller, Teacher
Episode: 12. the interior made exterior w/ Scott Broker (author of "The Disappointment")
Jonny Cakes Manganiello
Hyper-realistic cake maker and performer, guest on the episode
Self (Jonny Cakes/Manganiello)
Episode: 11. getting too h*rny at Thoreau camp (w/ Jonny Cakes)
Emilie Friedlander
Writer, editor, and digital strategist; co-host of The Culture Journalist
Culture Journalist
Episode: 9. why do some (GOOD) ideas not stick? ("There Is No Antimemetics Division" + more)

Host

Jonathan Shoulda Books
Host of Shoulda Books; leads conversations about essential reads and book club formats.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 57 ratings
  • love

    listen to every episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GRATEFUL LISTENER!!!!!!!!!!!
    United States2 months ago
  • loving the pod and the recs!

    I’m a pretty big reader but tend to stick to my common genres. This year I’m challenging myself to read more outside of those genre’s and this podcast has been a great source of inspiration/recommendations!

    So far I’ve read 1984 (depressing lol but very much a worthwhile read) and am excited to read the book of the month for January next and listen to that episode.

    Can’t wait to see what other reads come out of this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maxandthepurpledinos
    Canada4 months ago
  • Love

    I love reading but more than anything I love people talking about forms of art and creativity with a passion and boy- this really does that in a natural way. However, it does not help my perpetually growing tbr.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Icy comparison
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent!

    This podcast is so thoughtful and a great way to hear book recommendations from lots of different people. Loved the guests so far and looking forward to the first book club episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    emmajeanne93
    United States5 months ago
  • really enjoying it so far!

    loved the most recent episode. looking forward to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fastcarxx
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise thoughtful, accessible book discussions and varied guests.
Positive feedback on the host's engaging, friendly hosting style.
Guests are consistently well-received and add diverse perspectives.
Audiences enjoy the community feel and book recommendations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#51
Indonesia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#115
Indonesia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#202
Austria/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

6. these nonfiction books will make you cry ("Tuesdays with Morrie" + MORE)
Q: What are some things from these books that you want to leave with people?
The guest emphasizes being present, valuing close relationships, and finding a balance between doing and learning, encouraging readers to slow down and reflect.
6. these nonfiction books will make you cry ("Tuesdays with Morrie" + MORE)
Q: How did you come across this book?
The guest explains a chance encounter in a Boulder bookstore after hearing about the book through Goodreads recommendations, which led to reading it and forming a lifelong appreciation.
6. these nonfiction books will make you cry ("Tuesdays with Morrie" + MORE)
Q: What are you reading these days?
The guest describes revisiting the discussed books and how they helped him recenter on personal relationships and meaning, while also noting practical library and bookstore experiences.
5. we're kind of IN "The House of the Spirits"
Q: When did you read this book and how did you come to it?
Sam explains that he read a large portion in the past year, supplemented by summaries to prepare, and that he wanted to bring more Latin American perspectives into the discussion.
4. choosing better stories (w/ Tori Dunlap | Her First $100K)
Q: What is your second book?
The host prompts for a second pick, leading to a discussion of Life of Pi and its themes, including storytelling, survival, and the tension between fact and fiction.

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 Shoulda Books

What is Shoulda Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on reading culture, personal favorites, and meaningful conversations about books that shape who we are. Episodes feature intimate, book-club style discussions with writers, editors, and fellow readers, often highlighting a mix of classics and contemporary novels. A recurring strengths are the warm host dynamic, candid reactions to favorite titles, and a willingness to explore big ideas through literature. A notable trait is the evolving format that invites guests to share three must-reads and, over time, audience participation in book selections, which adds a communal, participatory layer to the listening experience.

Where can I find podcast stats for Shoulda Books?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Shoulda Books. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Shoulda Books and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Shoulda Books get?

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What are the audience demographics for Shoulda Books?

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How many subscribers and views does Shoulda Books have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Shoulda Books 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 Shoulda Books?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Shoulda Books:

1. Perfect Person
2. So True with Caleb Hearon
3. Happy Wife Happy Life
4. A Hot Dog Is a Sandwich
5. Dear Hank & John

How many episodes of Shoulda Books are there?

Shoulda Books launched 7 months ago and published 31 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 Shoulda Books?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Shoulda Books?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Shoulda Books from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Shoulda Books?

Recent guests on Shoulda Books include:

1. Jimmy Wong
2. Cailyn Hoertz
3. Annie Rauwerda
4. Merle Shane O'Neal
5. Ash Perez
6. Andrew Martin
7. Scott Broker
8. Jonny Cakes Manganiello

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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