Rephonic
Artwork for The Book Show

The Book Show

ABC Australia
Climate Change
Literature
Booker Prize
Jane Austen
Love
Writing Process
Immigration
Australia
World War II
Mental Health
Australian Literature
Identity Politics
Prophet Song
Percival Everett
Orbital
Parenting
Motherhood
International Space Station
London
James

Your favourite fiction authors share the story behind their latest books.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes463Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Book Show

Latest Episodes

Michael Winkler tells Claire Nichols why life might be better as a dog, particularly if you're middle aged and depressed like the main character in his new novel, Griefdogg. And British poet, performer and novelist Kae Tempest explains why he "writes... more

David Malouf was a giant of Australian writing who was known and loved for his iconic debut novel, Johnno, about a young Brisbane man during World War 2; a book partly inspired by his own life.

In a career spanning more than 50 years, David wrote pl... more

Twins separated by the role of a dice, the rise of AI, and a mystery behind lives trying to hold it together in a lonely fractured world. These are just a few of the themes discussed with Claire Nichols about A Rising of the Lights, the latest darkly... more

A fun wild ride here on the Book Show where Claire Nichols meets American Chinese writer Jenny Tinghui Zhang who has tapped into the K-Pop phenomenon with her latest novel Superfan. A knock-off American K-Pop group are set to make history, but at wha... more

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 Bookshelf
The BookshelfABC Australia
Big Ideas
Big IdeasABC Australia
Secret Life of Books
Secret Life of BooksSophie Gee and Jonty Claypole
A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
A Podcast of One's Own with Julia GillardA Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
Chat 10 Looks 3
Chat 10 Looks 3Chat 10 Looks 3

Recent Guests

Steve Toltz
Author of A Rising of the Lights
Penguin Books (publisher)
Episode: Steve Toltz rolls the dice
Ian Kemish
Former Australian diplomat, novelist
Two Islands (novel)
Episode: Steve Toltz rolls the dice
Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Author of Superfan, exploring fandom and obsession in a K-pop context
Author, Superfan
Episode: K-Pop thrills and Vampire kills with Jenny Tinghui Zhang and Shaun Micallef
Shaun Micallef
Author of De'ath Takes a Holiday, comedian and writer-producer
Author, De'ath Takes a Holiday
Episode: K-Pop thrills and Vampire kills with Jenny Tinghui Zhang and Shaun Micallef
Debra Adelaide
Australian author of When I Am 64
Author
Episode: Debra Adelaide on the life and death of Gabrielle Carey
Emma Styles
Author of The Shark
Author
Episode: Debra Adelaide on the life and death of Gabrielle Carey
Patmeena Sabit
Afghan-born Canadian-based author
Virago (publisher)
Episode: Colm Tóibín can't stop naming his characters Paul
Daniyal Mueenuddin
Australian-based Pakistani author
Author of This Is Where the Serpent Lives
Episode: Daniyal Mueenuddin's changing Pakistan
Claire Thomas
Author of On Not Climbing Mountains
Author
Episode: Daniyal Mueenuddin's changing Pakistan

Host

Claire Nichols
Host focusing on bringing diverse author insights and literary discussions regarding their publications.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 253 ratings
  • The Book Show

    One of two of the best podcasts around about reading and authors. Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Itsallhistory
    Australia2 months ago
  • Love the show and host

    Great interviews of great books 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nat Fig
    Australia6 months ago
  • Brilliant show

    I love this show and the passion and knowledge of the program host Claire Nichols. Her ability to tap in to all different authors is amazing. One of my go to shows.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paula Rogers
    Australiaa year ago
  • Fave Australian book podcast

    Been a fan since the beginning but especially enjoying the My Biggest Book series. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    shmonblah
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love the show!

    I’m really enjoying listening to your show. Your interviews are always insightful and you manage to engage so warmly with your subjects. I’m also particularly loving the music that’s used, so congrats also to whoever is on the controls behind the scenes. Thankyou!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    All the time on the world
    Australia5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The host's passion for literature and ability to highlight diverse perspectives is frequently commended.
There are some criticisms regarding the length of episodes, with calls for shorter segments.
Overall, the podcast is viewed as a treasure trove for book lovers who are looking to expand their reading lists.
Listeners praise the insightful interviews with notable authors and the rich discussions about literary themes.
Listeners appreciate the engaging format that combines personal stories with in-depth literary critiques.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#179
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#4
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#15
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#43
Denmark/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#46
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#131
New Zealand/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Steve Toltz rolls the dice
Q: How do you balance dark themes with humor in your writing?
He describes his default style as darkly humorous, aiming to reflect the complexity of life where tragedy and comedy often coexist, and to make readers feel the weight and warmth of human experience.
K-Pop thrills and Vampire kills with Jenny Tinghui Zhang and Shaun Micallef
Q: What was the appeal of vampires for your book De'ath Takes a Holiday?
Shaun describes using vampires to critique contemporary capitalism and colonial history, giving the vampire an origin story and situating the narrative within a satire-rich Victorian framework that allows for both humor and critique.
K-Pop thrills and Vampire kills with Jenny Tinghui Zhang and Shaun Micallef
Q: When did you realize this could become a novel?
Jenny explains that obsession and loneliness she observed in fandom seeded the idea for Superfan, evolving from essay-like musings to a narrative exploring community, parasocial bonds, and the costs and joys of fandom.
K-Pop thrills and Vampire kills with Jenny Tinghui Zhang and Shaun Micallef
Q: How big a K-pop fan are you?
Jenny shares how binge-watching and deep fandom inspired Superfan, including the personal emotional pull and community aspects of following a group like BTS, while also acknowledging the intense, sometimes overwhelming nature of fandom.
Daniyal Mueenuddin's changing Pakistan
Q: How did you know when a book wasn't working and when it was?
You feel it in your gut when the piece won't move; you know when it clicks into place, especially after spending years on a different manuscript that doesn't come alive.

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 Book Show

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

This podcast features engaging conversations with prominent fiction authors as they discuss the themes and narratives behind their latest works. Episodes include in-depth discussions about various genres, writing processes, and personal stories that inspire their literature as well as explorations of complex topics such as identity, motherhood, and social issues. Notably, the podcast emphasizes the importance of storytelling and cultural reflections, making it compelling for avid readers and those interested in contemporary literature. The unique combination of author insights and literary critique positions this series as a valuable resource for book enthusiasts and budding writers alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Book Show?

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

How many listeners does The Book 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 Book 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 Book Show?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Book 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 Book Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Book 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 Book Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Book Show:

1. The Bookshelf
2. Big Ideas
3. Secret Life of Books
4. A Podcast of One's Own with Julia Gillard
5. Chat 10 Looks 3

How many episodes of The Book Show are there?

The Book Show launched 8 years ago and published 463 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 Book 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 Book Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Book 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 Book Show?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Book 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 Book Show?

Recent guests on The Book Show include:

1. Steve Toltz
2. Ian Kemish
3. Jenny Tinghui Zhang
4. Shaun Micallef
5. Debra Adelaide
6. Emma Styles
7. Patmeena Sabit
8. Daniyal Mueenuddin

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