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The Side Quest Book Club Podcast

Slava & Jonathan
Words Of Radiance
Crime and Punishment
Project Hail Mary
Vitalerium
The Girl With All the Gifts
Cradle
Red Seas Under Red Skies
Pride and Prejudice
Wintersteel
Uncrowned King Tournament
Brandon Sanderson
Raskolnikov
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Paper Roses
Kaladin
Cosmere
Pandora's Box
Indie Authors
Jane Austen
Great Man Theory

If you’re a reader looking for something deeper or an indie author working on your book, The Side Quest Book Club is for you. We skip the usual book reviews and ratings. Each episode turns fun side quests into real lessons, so you’ll leave not just entertained, but with a better understanding of why storytelling matters.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes183Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFictionScience Fiction

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Artwork for The Side Quest Book Club Podcast

Latest Episodes

He stocked shelves at Barnes & Noble and kept the A-slot open for a book he hadn't sold yet.

Crime thriller author Marc Avery on DISCIPLINE, ten years from first draft to physical book, and building an audience on Threads.

A hundred rejections in, ... more

She was offline for ten years. She came back and built an anti-piracy platform for authors.

Indie author and solo dev Jules Mourne on thing.pub — a free platform for sharing manuscripts without feeding them to AI.

Jules walks us through how thing.p... more

Evan Kidwell was born three months premature, always the smallest kid in the room and the easiest target. From grade school through junior year of high school, bullying was constant. Books were his escape. Fantasy worlds were where he survived.

Now ... more

Join us as we sit down with Mark Benson, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Writerly — the thriving community transforming writers into family.

In this interview, Mark shares his unconventional journey from Chicago's South Side to Marquette Univer... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Evan Kidwell
Indie author of Young Adult Fantasy, Timeaous Spark series
Author
Episode: Indie Author Evan Kidwell - Interview - Young Adult Fantasy
Mark Benson
Young adult writer, NASA ambassador and space enthusiast
NASA
Episode: Indie Author Interview - Mark Benson - Young Adult, Sci-Fi Thriller
Debbie Show
Author of Paper Roses and subject of the interview
Episode: Paper Roses Part 3 - Debbie Show - True Story - Thriller - Historical Fiction Book
Joseph Ramos
Special guest, known as JF on Instagram
Episode: Crime and Punishment Part 4 - Fyodor Dostoevsky - Classic Literature - Russian Literature
Debby Show
Author of Paper Roses; licensed therapist and psychologist
Debby Show (author)
Episode: Paper Roses - Author Interview with Debby Show
Nicholas Keating Casbarro
Author of Vitalerium series, guest on this episode
Author, Vitalerium series
Episode: Vitalerium: Descent into the Void Part 4 - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Sci-fi Cyberpunk Dystopian Book
Callie Schiavone
Author, creative world builder, audio drama creator and producer
Twenty Hills Publishing / audioepic.com
Episode: She Had Glass Eyes Part 2 - Indie Author Interview with C.S. Schiavone
Nicholas Casbarro
Author of Vitalerium series
Vitalerium series; Atmosphere Press
Episode: Author Interview - Nicholas Keating Casbarro - Vitalerium Decent into the Void with Special Surprise
Spencer Spensardum
Cosmere expert, returning guest
Cosmere community
Episode: Words of Radiance Part 9 - Brandon Sanderson - Fantasy Book - Progression Fantasy Book

Hosts

Slava
Host of the show, engages guests and drives the interview
Jonathan
Host of The Side Quest Book Club Podcast; co-host and interviewer

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Fun book club podcast

    Genuine and fun hosts discussing great books. Also good source to discover books I don’t think I would have otherwise known about from indie authors.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Citizen Unknown
    United States6 months ago
  • The “MUST LISTEN”

    I stumbled upon this show a few weeks ago and haven't stopped listening since. The chemistry between the hosts is incredible, and they have a way of making even complex topics feel easy to understand. If you're looking for something that is both entertaining and informative, this is it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RickyXdd
    India8 months ago
  • Great Podcast episode #54

    Great episode with Jonathan, Slava and Jess—so appreciated Jess’ contributions and her thoughts on Instagram poetry, Rupi Kaur and the role of aesthetics in gauging the health of a civilization.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Episode 54
    United States3 years ago
  • Great show

    Books and banter.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    theSlavas
    United States3 years ago
  • Interesting and fun

    Great show. I like the camaraderie between the hosts—makes for an enjoyable listen. Never heard of the first story they reviewed, but now I want to read it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J.Schuh
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is described as genuine, entertaining, and informative for readers and aspiring authors.
Audience enjoys the indie author focus and practical writing insights.
Listeners praise the chemistry between hosts and their ability to make complex ideas accessible.
Fans appreciate the banter and depth of book discussions, not just surface-level takes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#97
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#230
Norway/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Indie Author Evan Kidwell - Interview - Young Adult Fantasy
Q: Where can people find you and your work?
People can buy the book on Amazon, follow Evan Kidwell author on social media, join his newsletter, and watch for Book 2 titled Timeaous Spark and the Fragmented Protection, with updates on publication timelines.
Indie Author Evan Kidwell - Interview - Young Adult Fantasy
Q: How large is this series going to be?
The series is planned to be about seven to eight books, with a broad arc across the hierarchy system and each book touching on different aspects while advancing the overarching plot toward a final culmination.
Indie Author Evan Kidwell - Interview - Young Adult Fantasy
Q: If a kid who bullied you would pick up your book, what do you hope they would learn by the last page?
I hope they would see a bullied character who faces consequences for their actions and recognize the harm they caused, potentially reflecting on their own behavior and choosing to change. Ideally, the reader would understand the impact of bullying and feel moved to treat others with empathy, including their future children, if they have any.
Paper Roses Part 3 - Debbie Show - True Story - Thriller - Historical Fiction Book
Q: Can you share what you learned about creating a satisfying ending in a memoir-leaning project?
Debbie emphasizes that fiction requires a stopper for emotions and a conclusion that gives readers a clear ending, even if the real events wouldn't naturally provide one; beta readers helped refine the ending.
Paper Roses Part 3 - Debbie Show - True Story - Thriller - Historical Fiction Book
Q: Would you walk us through what that editor was like and how that journey shaped the book?
Debbie explains that the developmental editor acted as both reader and coach, helping to uncover holes in the autofiction, push for more empathy, and guide structural revisions over months and multiple drafts.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Side Quest Book Club Podcast

What is The Side Quest Book Club Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A literary-focused discussion show that treats books as springboards for real-world lessons. Across episodes, three co-hosts dissect themes, craft choices, and cultural impact in both classic literature and contemporary indie works, often weaving in author interviews and writing process insights. It stands out by skipping traditional reviews or ratings, instead turning conversations into actionable takeaways about storytelling, publishing, and audience engagement. Noteworthy is the emphasis on indie authors and author-led conversations, plus a lively, banter-heavy format that mixes literary analysis with personal storytelling and practical writing advice.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Side Quest Book Club Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Side Quest Book Club Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Side Quest Book Club Podcast have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Side Quest Book Club Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Side Quest Book Club Podcast:

1. StarTalk Radio
2. The Big Picture
3. The Joe Rogan Experience

How many episodes of The Side Quest Book Club Podcast are there?

The Side Quest Book Club Podcast launched 4 years ago and published 183 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 The Side Quest Book Club Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Side Quest Book Club Podcast?

Recent guests on The Side Quest Book Club Podcast include:

1. Evan Kidwell
2. Mark Benson
3. Debbie Show
4. Joseph Ramos
5. Debby Show
6. Nicholas Keating Casbarro
7. Callie Schiavone
8. Nicholas Casbarro

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