Rephonic
Artwork for Shoulda Books
The Outsiders
The House Of the Spirits
Jane Eyre
Isabel Allende
Parable Of the Sower
Kite Runner
Ishmael
When Breath Becomes Air
The Kite Runner
Conversations With God
Letting Go: the Pathway Of Surrender
Never Let Me Go
The Artist's Way
Left Behind
Call Me By Your Name
Life Of Pi
Media Theory
Pachinko
The Odyssey
Mary Oliver

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes41Founded10 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Shoulda Books

Latest Episodes

today I'm talking about the most challenging book I've read so far in 2026, Toni Morrison's Beloved.

for early, ad-free, extended episodes, sign up for the Shoulda Books Patreon: www.patreon.com/cw/ShouldaBooks

books discussed below. thes... more

filmmaker Jason Nguyen talks mythology, Cormac McCarthy, and the…interesting place where he loves to read most.

follow Jason on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jasonnguyentv/?hl=en

check out Room 105: room105media.com/

for early, a... more

Will Witwer returns to answer listener questions, respond to hot book takes, and rant/rave in general about our "twist-based" society.

follow Will on Instagram because he's going to learn how to dunk: www.instagram.com/wwitwer/?hl=en

for ... more

Today, I'm examining Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey, comparing it to the film, and taking a look at the relevance of oral storytelling in a world where no one reads anymore.

for early, ad-free, extended episodes, sign up for the Shoulda ... 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

Jason Nguyen
Writer, director and co-founder of Room 105 Productions
Room 105 Productions
Episode: 35. no country for old podcasters
Will Witwer
Returning guest on Shoulda Books
Episode: 34. reacting to your hot book takes w/ Will Witwer
Jessica M. Felleman
Author of Last Kiss of Summer
Penguin Teen (Putnam Young Readers imprint)
Episode: 32. turns out nature's pretty great (Mary Oliver, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, and MORE)
Luke Goebel
Novelist, screenwriter, producer and publisher
Red Hen Press (publisher of Kill Dick)
Episode: 31. going underground w/ author Luke Goebel (Kill D*ck)
Sarah Bonsignore
Writer and actor
Episode: 29. how STONER changed Sarah Bonsignore's life
Kirsten King
Author and screenwriter
Author, A Good Person
Episode: 27. doommaxxing with Kirsten King (author of "A Good Person")
Ryan W. Garcia
Actor, Try Guy, podcast host
The Try Guys
Episode: 26. Dungeon Crawler Carl might get you reading again (w/ Ryan W. Garcia)
Zachary Donohue
Screenwriter and filmmaker, co-writer of Passenger
Passenger
Episode: 25. horror screenwriter Zachary Donohue (PASSENGER) talks time loops and Kurt Cobain
Jimmy Wong
Actor, musician, video creator, and YouTube personality
Self/Various creative ventures
Episode: 22. talking about God with Jimmy Wong

Host

Jonathan
Host of the show, guides conversation and anchors discussions with guests

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 139 ratings
  • love

    listen to every episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GRATEFUL LISTENER!!!!!!!!!!!
    United States5 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
    Canada7 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 States7 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 States7 months ago
  • really enjoying it so far!

    loved the most recent episode. looking forward to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fastcarxx
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the thoughtful, humanistic book discussions and the sense of a literary community.
Guests are consistently strong, bringing diverse perspectives on books and creativity.
The host maintains a warm, approachable style that invites exploration and personal connection.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#207
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#73
Belgium/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#181
Belgium/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#233
Austria/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

35. no country for old podcasters
Q: You walk into a bookstore. Where's the first place you're going?
The guest explains they head straight to a bespoke mythology section to browse selected mythic materials.
29. how STONER changed Sarah Bonsignore's life
Q: Your last book—what is it?
The River of Doubt by Candice Millard, a gripping history narrative about Teddy Roosevelt navigating the Amazon after politics with a focus on risk, leadership, and human endurance.
29. how STONER changed Sarah Bonsignore's life
Q: What is the next book that you think everyone should read?
The next pick is Fear of Flying by Erica Jong, a feminist anthem from the 70s that explores sexuality and empowerment, especially from a female perspective.
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.

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 conversations around books, reading habits, and the craft of storytelling, often featuring authors, editors, educators, and creators who bring deep literary analysis and personal experience to the discussion. Episodes frequently blend book recommendations with broader themes like creativity, meaning, and culture, sometimes exploring film, musicals, or other media adaptations to illuminate how stories travel across formats. A standout trait is the host's warm, inquisitive style and an emphasis on books as catalysts for personal growth, curiosity, and meaningful conversations, making it feel like a literary community or book club with thoughtful guests.

What makes this program stand out is its consistent pairing of classic a... more

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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. The TryPod
3. Smosh Mouth
4. Fesspool
5. URL

How many episodes of Shoulda Books are there?

Shoulda Books launched 10 months ago and published 41 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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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. Jason Nguyen
2. Will Witwer
3. Jessica M. Felleman
4. Luke Goebel
5. Sarah Bonsignore
6. Kirsten King
7. Ryan W. Garcia
8. Zachary Donohue

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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