Rephonic
Artwork for The Avid Reader Show

The Avid Reader Show

Samuel Hankin
Artificial Intelligence
Sake
Memory
False Memories
Kepler Mission
Episodic Memory
Justice System
Exoplanets
Experience Society
Wellington Square Bookshop
Hippocampus
Cognitive Psychology
Astrophysics
Quantum Mechanics
Psychotherapy
NASA
Physics
Political Rhetoric
Neuroscience
Bohr-Einstein Debate

The Avid Reader is a podcast for book lovers. Tune in for interviews, recommendations, and insider news from Sam Hankin, host and owner of independent bookstore Wellington Square Bookshop - www.wellingtonsquarebooks.com

PublishesDailyEpisodes802Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksFictionArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Avid Reader Show

Latest Episodes

In Ancient Algorithms, Katrine gaard Jensen mistranslates, rewrites, and remixes her award-winning translations of Danish Ursula Andkj r Olsen's poetry based on a series of self-imposed rules and rituals in collaboration with poets Sawako Nakayasu, A... more

YouTube

Told in an exceptional literary voice, mixing comedy and tragedy, Elegy in Blue is a hymn to New York, memory, loyalty, and love.

High in a subsidized studio apartment, the unnamed 82-year-old narrator of Elegy in Blue looks out across the rooftops ... more

YouTube

In praise of parasites, a surprising exploration of the profound impact of biological freeloaders on human history and our daily lives.

Parasites and parasitic relationships are fundamental to life on Earth and to human history. Our Bodies, Our Pla... more

YouTube

Manga didn’t begin in the 20th century — it emerged from a rich, inventive world of illustrated books in early Japan. 🇯🇵📚 In Japan’s Manga Revolution, art historian Andreas Marks takes us through the playful, dramatic, and groundbreaking works tha... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Big Picture
The Big PictureThe Ringer
Σκληρές αλήθειες
Σκληρές αλήθειεςLIFO PODCASTS, ΑΡΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΙΔΗΣ

Recent Guests

Katrine Øgaard Jensen
Danish poet and translator; collaborator on Ancient Algorithms
Independent/translator
Episode: Episode 787: Ancient Algorithms - Katrine ØGaard Jensen
Mark Helprin
Author of Elegy in Blue
Author
Episode: Episode 786: Elegy in Blue - Mark Helprin
Marcus Hall
Author of Our Bodies, Our Planet: Parasite's History of Us
Reaction Books (publisher)
Episode: Episode 785: Marcus Hall - Our Bodies, Our Planet: A Parasite's History of Us
Eric C. Rath
Professor of Japanese History at the University of Kansas and a scholar of Japanese culinary traditions.
University of Kansas
Episode: Episode 783: Eric Rath - Kanpai: The History of Sake
Dr. Steve Ramirez
Neuroscientist pioneering work on memory manipulation at MIT and Boston University
Episode: Episode 782: Steve Ramirez - How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist's Quest To Alter The Past
James Barrat
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and author
Author of The Intelligence Explosion
Episode: Episode 780: James Barrat - The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans At Everything
Michaela Vieser
Author of 10 books including 'Tea with Buddha'
Episode: Episode 779: Michaela Vieser & Isaac Yuen - The Sound Atlas: A Guide to Strange Sounds across Landscapes and Imagination
Isaac Yuen
Author of 'Utter, Earth: Advice on Living in a More Than Human World'
Episode: Episode 779: Michaela Vieser & Isaac Yuen - The Sound Atlas: A Guide to Strange Sounds across Landscapes and Imagination
Svend Brinkmann
Author of 'The Experience Society', psychologist and professor
Aalborg University, Denmark
Episode: Episode 777: Svend Brinkmann - The Experience Society: Life Beyoned Subjectivity

Hosts

Sam Hankin
Host of The Avid Reader, owner of Wellington Square Bookshop
William O. Stephens
Author and philosopher featured on multiple episodes

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Maybe stick to the authors and books?

    I listened to the Nathan Hill episode after searching Spotify for

    “The Nix.” I loved the insight into the novel, however, the host kept bringing politics into the conversation. I am unconcerned about how the host feels about conservatives, and the host presented himself as a disdainful, intolerant bully. Mr. Hill was tactful, the host was not. If the podcast included only the book discussion, my rating would be better.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jennifer (gangiebluth)
    United States2 years ago
  • Tone deaf & repugnant.

    Hankins 2/14/19 interview should be pulled. Not only does he make mention, twice, with 2:25 left that he didn’t like the book, his smug interview style drips with white privilege. The questions he asks and his tone are condescending and not empathic. Nor does it seem like he really got the gist of what Stephanie experienced. It would serve him well to pull down this episode. I’ll certainly never listen to him again.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    better_user
    United States4 years ago
  • The host is terrible

    I know writers have to publicise everywhere but the host is honestly terrible and insensitive.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    hellpnearth
    United Kingdom5 years ago
  • Awesome Podcast!!!

    Samuel, host of The Avid Reader Show Podcast, highlights all books, fiction, arts and more in this can’t miss podcast! The host and expert guests offer insightful advice and information that is helpful to anyone that listens!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    roweereyes
    Philippines5 years ago
  • Great show!

    The host of the Avid Reader Show podcast, highlights all aspects of good books and more in this can’t miss podcast! The host and expert guests offer insightful advice and information that is helpful to anyone that listens!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    malfoxley
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive sentiment often highlights the show's book selections and host-guest conversations as insightful and engaging.
Some episodes draw critiques about tone or pacing; sound quality and directness are common focus areas for feedback.
Listeners praise in-depth author interviews and thoughtful questions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#161
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#158
Finland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 785: Marcus Hall - Our Bodies, Our Planet: A Parasite's History of Us
Q: How does the Sardinia case inform our understanding of global malaria history?
Sardinia provides a temperate, historical case study where malaria shaped settlement, architecture, and public health strategies, illustrating how disease regions influence social and scientific developments and how a region can reveal universal dynamics of host-parasite interactions.
Episode 785: Marcus Hall - Our Bodies, Our Planet: A Parasite's History of Us
Q: What sparked your shift from viewing parasites as purely harmful to considering mutualistic or symbiotic aspects?
The long coevolution of humans with parasites like malaria shows adaptive responses in both parasite and host, suggesting a complex relationship where some parasite activities ultimately contribute to ecological and biological feedbacks that can be beneficial under certain conditions, challenging a purely antagonistic view.
Episode 785: Marcus Hall - Our Bodies, Our Planet: A Parasite's History of Us
Q: You define a parasite in multiple historical senses; for a lay reader, how would you define a parasite today?
Parasites are organisms that rely on a host to live and reproduce, but the relationship can be more nuanced than simply harming the host; there can be exchange and interdependence, and sometimes the relationship benefits both sides. The term can apply across scales from microbes to larger organisms, and even to humans viewing Earth as a potential host in a broader sense.
Episode 787: Ancient Algorithms - Katrine ØGaard Jensen
Q: Do you have your own definition of what poetry is?
Poetry is translation; it is a translation of experiences that comes into a format, and the act of translating can be as much about the translator as about the original text, making poetry a mutable, evolving process.
Episode 786: Elegy in Blue - Mark Helprin
Q: Why do you think he would be vilified?
He argues that after acts of terror and in a fraught social climate, readers can perceive him as a dangerous figure, yet the narrative frames his actions as a form of moral courage in the face of violence, complicating simple judgments about heroism.

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 The Avid Reader Show

What is The Avid Reader Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A literary interview show that centers on deep dives with authors, scholars, and thinkers across fiction, history, science, and culture. Conversations typically explore a book's ideas, writing process, and broader themes, often linking literature to memory, philosophy, technology, and society. Notable guests bring interdisciplinary perspectives, from ancient philosophy to AI, memory science to soundscapes, offering listeners thoughtful context and book recommendations that appeal to serious readers and curiosity-driven professionals. The format often blends rigorous questions with accessible storytelling, making it a strong fit for book lovers who enjoy learning alongside authors and subject-matter experts.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Avid Reader Show?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Avid Reader Show. 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 The Avid Reader Show and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Avid Reader Show get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Avid Reader Show, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Avid Reader Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Avid Reader Show, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Avid Reader Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Avid Reader Show 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 The Avid Reader Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Avid Reader Show:

1. The Big Picture
2. Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club
3. Σκληρές αλήθειες

How many episodes of The Avid Reader Show are there?

The Avid Reader Show launched 15 years ago and published 802 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 Avid Reader Show?

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 The Avid Reader Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Avid Reader Show from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Avid Reader Show?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Avid Reader Show. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Avid Reader Show?

Recent guests on The Avid Reader Show include:

1. Katrine Øgaard Jensen
2. Mark Helprin
3. Marcus Hall
4. Eric C. Rath
5. Dr. Steve Ramirez
6. James Barrat
7. Michaela Vieser
8. Isaac Yuen

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days