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The Stacks

Traci Thomas
Toni Morrison
Identity
Books
Poetry
Mental Health
Climate Change
Pop Culture
Literature
Harlem Renaissance
Literary Fiction
Family Dynamics
Parable Of the Sower
Romance Novels
Racism
Jazz
Book Recommendations
Shakespeare
Social Media
K-Pop
A Love Song For Ricki Wilde

The Stacks is your one stop shop to talk books and reading. Guests will join the host, Traci Thomas for lively discussions about books and the ways they have shaped their lives, and they way we all understand culture, race, politics, and more. The last Wednesday of each month Traci and guest will break down a book in detail as part of The Stacks Book Club.

Make sure to check the website www.thes... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes503Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Stacks

Latest Episodes

Today on The Stacks, we’re joined by best-selling author Mary H.K. Choi to discuss her newest novel, Pool House. Set against the backdrop of Hollywood, this book explores the complex relationship between Stevie and her mother, Moon, as they share the... more

It’s The Stacks Book Club Day, and we’re once again joined by award-winning author, theoretical physicist, and cosmologist, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, to discuss Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu. Set in the early ‘90s, this book traces the decades-l... more

YouTube

Today on The Stacks, we’re joined by author Imani Thompson to discuss her debut novel, Honey. This book follows Yrsa, a Black PhD student whose accidental murder of a problematic male professor awakens her thirst for killing men in the name of femini... more

YouTube

*Patreon and Substack-only bonus episode teaser, click here for the full episode*

In this bonus episode, I’m joined by writer, editor, and translator Daniel Hahn to discuss his newest book, If This Be Magic: The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Transl... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Imani Thompson
Debut author of Honey
Author, Honey
Episode: Ep. 425 Why Do People Repeatedly Kill with Imani Thompson
Daniel Hahn
Author of If This Be Magic, The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation
Author, translator
Episode: Unabridged: What's in a Translation with Daniel Hahn
MJ Corey
Writer, psychotherapist, podcast host and creator of the Kardashian Colloquium
Kardashian Colloquium; author of Deconstructing the Kardashians
Episode: Ep. 424 Why Kim Kardashian Is the Icon of Our Time with MJ Corey
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Award-winning theoretical physicist and cosmologist
University affiliations referenced in episode (as discussed) and author of The Edge of Space-Time
Episode: Ep. 423 Normalize Bringing Up Quantum Field Theory with Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Adrienne Thurman
Debut romance novelist
Episode: Ep. 421 What I Love About Love with Adrienne Thurman
José Olivarez
Poet, founder of the Poetry Therapy Institute
Poet and Institute Founder
Episode: Unabridged: Poetry Therapy 2.0
Ada Limón
award-winning poet, former U.S. Poet Laureate
U.S. Poet Laureate, Book: Against Breaking
Episode: Ep. 420 We Read One Poem at a Time with Ada Limón
Patrick Radden Keefe
Award-winning New Yorker staff writer and investigative journalist
The New Yorker
Episode: Ep. 419 I Don’t Want You to Know Where I’m Going with Patrick Radden Keefe
Mahogany L. Browne
Poet, author, organizer, educator
Poet and author; The Stacks guest
Episode: Ep. 418 I Write and Speak Unlawfully with Mahogany L. Browne

Host

Traci Thomas
Host of The Stacks

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Traci is the BEST

    An excellent show if you're into books, especially non-fiction and literature... But honestly, Traci is such a compelling interviewer... I think any book person will find something here.

    Traci is my favorite interviewer in book land currently. She's smart and responsive and also has some wonderful questions she asks everybody.

    Seriously why aren't you listening already?!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    James-X-W
    United States2 months ago
  • Enriches my reading life

    I’ve been listening to the Stacks for years. This podcast has helped me discover so many new books and has encouraged me to read more non-fiction. Traci is a great interviewer. Often I listen to an author interview for a book I haven’t read yet. Then, when reading the book, my reading is enriched by the authors thoughts and process. Often, I’ll go back and re-listen to an author interview after finishing the book. I just finished Tayari Jones’s Kin and kept thinking about character names which w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Abshammy
    United States2 months ago
  • Traci is the BEST

    An excellent show if you're into books, especially non-fiction and literature... But honestly, Traci is such a compelling interviewer... I think any book person will find something here.

    Traci is my favorite interviewer in book land currently. She's smart and responsive and also has some wonderful questions she asks everybody.

    Seriously why aren't you kidding already?!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    James-X-W
    United States3 months ago
  • The book club I wish I was in

    Traci is so much smarter than any of my dumb friends (sorry if you’re my friend and reading this, but also you are welcome for the podcast recommendation). Excellent book recommendations, and hearing their conversations are such a good treat after reading each book. It’s like I’m in school again but this time I did the reading. Thanks for a great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LaurenFern
    United States3 months ago
  • Not worth my money

    The episode was supposed to be ALL THINGS Bad Bunny and a review of the halftime show. I never heard another point of view as these two ladies are clearly fans.

    I was hoping to hear something a little more moderate esp in light of the outrage over the Epstein files and children being trafficked that there would be a discussion about scantily clad young girls twerking while a man stood over them grabbing his crotch and then we broadcast this during a family show?

    Point well taken about Puerto Ri... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DelsneyJane
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners wish for more moderated takes on controversial topics but still recognize the show's thoughtful discussions.
Listeners consistently praise the host's interview style and engagement with guests.
Many reviews highlight the show's ability to illuminate authors and works through deep, accessible conversations.
Fans value diverse guests and book recommendations that broaden reading horizons.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#66
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#202
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#142
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#58
India/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#65
Indonesia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#68
Philippines/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Unabridged: What's in a Translation with Daniel Hahn
Q: Will you just tell people what the book is about in a nutshell?
The book uses Shakespeare as a case study to explain translation, showing how translators examine lines closely, discuss cadence and syllables, and in doing so reveal how language works overall, not just how to translate individual words.
Ep. 425 Why Do People Repeatedly Kill with Imani Thompson
Q: How did the setting of Cambridge influence the satire and thematic exploration?
The institution's colonial past and its dynamic Black perspectives created a fertile ground for satire and for exploring gender, race, and power within an academic space.
Ep. 425 Why Do People Repeatedly Kill with Imani Thompson
Q: What drew you to the theory of Afro-pessimism and how did it influence the plot?
The theory underpins the narrative arc about power, violence, and the possibility of liberation through death, helping to shape Yrsa's actions and the book's ending.
Ep. 425 Why Do People Repeatedly Kill with Imani Thompson
Q: Why did you choose third-person close narration for Honey?
Imani explains that the closeness preserves psychological detail while the distance of a narrator allows for historical breadth and scenes that pull back from the protagonist.
Ep. 421 What I Love About Love with Adrienne Thurman
Q: But you had like a whole life before this. What was it that you did? What was your world and how did you decide I want to write books, I want to write a romance novel?
Adrienne describes a winding path—from pre-med to various jobs across cities, marriage, motherhood, and finally writing picture books before venturing into romance, driven by a love of words and a desire to tell deeply human stories.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Stacks

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

A thoughtful, literature-forward show that features in-depth author interviews, poet spotlights, and book-club style discussions that connect books to culture, race, politics, and society. Guests range from debut novelists and poets to academics and critics, often exploring craft, writing process, and the social impact of literature. Regular book-club episodes blend detailed close reading with personal storytelling, making highbrow topics accessible while highlighting diverse voices and cutting-edge ideas in books and media. Noteworthy strengths include a consistently engaging host, a wide-range guest roster, and format variations that mix solo author conversations with collaborative readings and community-focused discussions.

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How many listeners does The Stacks get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Stacks?

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How many subscribers and views does The Stacks have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Stacks 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 Stacks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Stacks:

1. Vibe Check
2. The Sam Sanders Show
3. Book Riot - The Podcast
4. Reading Glasses
5. NPR's Book of the Day

How many episodes of The Stacks are there?

The Stacks launched 8 years ago and published 503 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 Stacks?

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 Stacks?

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What guests have appeared on The Stacks?

Recent guests on The Stacks include:

1. Imani Thompson
2. Daniel Hahn
3. MJ Corey
4. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
5. Adrienne Thurman
6. José Olivarez
7. Ada Limón
8. Patrick Radden Keefe

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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