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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
Nintendo

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes803Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FictionBooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Avid Reader Show

Latest Episodes

An exuberant, behind-the-scenes look at the designers and the company that brought us Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, and so much more, illuminating Nintendo's singular ethos, its massive cultural impact, and the innovative solutions behind its creative trium... more

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

Key Facts

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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

Keza MacDonald
Author of Super Nintendo, Games Journalist/Author
The Guardian (previous editor)
Episode: Episode 788: Keza MacDonald - Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play
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

Host

Samuel Hankin
Host of The Avid Reader, owner of Wellington Square Bookshop

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 64 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 States5 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.

Listeners praise lengthy, in-depth author conversations and thoughtful questions.
Some reviews note sound quality and pacing issues affecting experience.
Positive feedback highlights breadth of topics and the host's enthusiasm for books.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#230
Denmark/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 788: Keza MacDonald - Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play
Q: Why is Zelda considered a landmark in storytelling within games?
Zelda shifted focus from purely action-based goals to an expansive world with multiple paths, timelines, and character dynamics, making the game a more complex narrative experience that invites personal interpretation and long-term engagement.
Episode 788: Keza MacDonald - Super Nintendo: The Game-Changing Company That Unlocked the Power of Play
Q: What was the sea change between Mario and Zelda, and what difference did that make?
Mario is a bright, kinetic platformer that emphasizes joyful movement, while Zelda introduced player-driven exploration and non-linear progression, inviting players to chart their own path through a living world and solve puzzles in novel ways.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Avid Reader Show

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

This show centers on in-depth author interviews and literary exploration, with conversations ranging from classic philosophy and history to contemporary fiction and artistic collaboration. Guests are often authors, historians, translators, and researchers who bring historical context, craft insights, and cultural analysis to books and ideas. The host's bookstore connection and emphasis on deep, thoughtful discussion tend to favor nuanced storytelling, literary craft, and interdisciplinary perspectives that appeal to serious readers, scholars, and book lovers seeking context beyond plot summaries. Notable strengths include long-form, intimate interviews; a focus on how books influence culture and society; and accessibility through conversati... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Avid Reader Show?

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

1. Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More
2. Off Air with Jane & Fi

How many episodes of The Avid Reader Show are there?

The Avid Reader Show launched 16 years ago and published 803 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 The Avid Reader Show?

Recent guests on The Avid Reader Show include:

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

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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