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Turek Books Podcast

Ninth Planet Audio
Literature
Books
Los Angeles
Infinite Jest
Mental Health
Poetry
David Foster Wallace
Capitalism
Reading
Comedy
Community
Grief
Comedians
Wildfires
Tucson
Entertainment
Punitive Spirituality
Personal Growth
Writing
Joan Didion

We’re never going to have enough time to read all the books we want, but hearing about them from an interesting person is its own valid form of experiencing their stories. Comedian and Poet Joshua Turek invites guests to grab a few books off their shelves and tell the world about them.

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PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes63Founded2 years ago
Categories
ArtsSociety & CultureBooks

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Artwork for Turek Books Podcast

Latest Episodes

Comedian and writer Zach Pugh joins host Joshua Turek to discuss Moby Dick, Don Delillo, Denis Johnson, being attracted to grimey literatrue, The Fort Bragg Cartel and Chris Hedges, the need for pretentiousness to return to our society among other th... more

YouTube

Author and Comedian Amy Silverberg joins host Joshua Turek to discuss the reasons why we live creative lives, her love of books including her debut novel First Time Long Time, and Josh's impending fatherhood. Originally recorded 1/12/2026

Books Tal... more

YouTube

Author of "Beyond All Reasonable Doubt Jesus is Alive" Melissa Lozada-Oliva talks literary influences, books she's put down, and enjoying the act of reading before we're too old to see the pages anymore.

Books Talked About Include:

tana french

Lad... more

YouTube

Filmmaker and actor David Hull (Crazy Ex) joins host Joshua Turek to discuss books about eels, wolves, the dust bowl, politics gone wrong and ketamine therapy.

Recorded Dec 6, 2025

Books Talked About Include:

Slumberland, Sell Out, Tuff, White Boy... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host

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Recent Guests

Zach Pugh
Comedian and writer
Comedian and writer based in New York City
Episode: "Humanizing the Fringes" w/ comedian Zach Pugh
Amy Silverberg
Novelist and comedian, author of First Time Long Time
Episode: Second Time Long Time w/ Amy Silverberg
David Hull
A writer, director, actor, and father.
Independent
Episode: Eels and Unions w/ Actor David Hull (Crazy Ex)
Liz Vazquez
Filmmaker and astrologer
Episode: "A Societal Cosmos" w/ Astrologer Liz Vazquez
Lauren Lavin
Writer and friend of Joshua Turek, discusses her new book 'The Third Beat' and her experiences in the literary world.
Autofocus Books
Episode: Creative Friendships with writer Lauren Lavin
Brian Recker
Writer and speaker focused on spirituality and personal growth
Episode: Escaping Punitive Christianity with Brian Recker
Lily Eagla
Political commentator and activist, engaged in discussions about mutual aid and community support
Episode: Mutual Aiding with Political Commentator Lily Eagle
Larry Charles
Writer and author of memoir 'Comedy Samurai'
Episode: Resurrecting Collections with writer/director Larry Charles
Yasha Levine
Journalist and co-director of the documentary Pistachio Wars
Episode: Confronting Reality w/ author Yasha Levine

Host

Joshua Turek
Host of Turek Books Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 225 ratings
  • Solid five stars!

    Easy, humane, no-nonsense — what’s not to love about this show? Give it a try!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Signora Magnani
    Netherlandsa year ago
  • Like a friend that doesn’t know they’re your friend

    This podcast is the equivalent to a warm blanket on a cold February morning. I find his philosophy and voice incredibly soothing. Thanks for existing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DoomGeneration777
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love this podcast

    This podcast has renewed my love of books and poetry

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NOFREEMARKET
    United Statesa year ago
  • Intelligent, entertaining, digestible, important, comforting.

    Podchaser
    5
    Kel Danelle
    a year ago
  • Found through Instagram clips- love it

    I was struck by the profundity of the IG clips, a welcome respite from the fitness influencers and business weirdos crowding my feed. The long form version did not disappoint! Insightful, engaging and not snobby. Pumped to see this thing grow!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Terenceisnoahsroommate
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's thoughtful, calming interview style and the depth of literary discussion.
Comments often highlight the high quality guests and the balance between humor and serious analysis.
Fans note the show feels like a warm, inclusive book club with smart, accessible conversations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#44
Poland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#95
Poland/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Life Wants You Dead" with Evan Waite
Q: What is your approach to writing humor, especially in this book?
I aimed to create a character who views everything in the world as a threat, allowing for a humorous exploration of fear.
"Life Wants You Dead" with Evan Waite
Q: What inspired your book, 'Life Wants You Dead'?
The book was inspired by the pandemic and the shift in people's relationship to fear, including my own.
Women Writing Men w/ Biniam Bizuneh (Dave FX)
Q: How do you usually dive into each book?
Joshua reads books like TV channels, with multiple books at a time, and chooses the most entertaining one.

Audience Metrics

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

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Turek Books Podcast

What is Turek Books Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, book-centered conversations with authors, editors, filmmakers, and artists who bring a wide range of literary tastes and lived experiences to the discussion. Episodes blend literature with personal reflections, humor, and social issues, often unpacking how books shape creativity, identity, and worldview. The format centers on guests sharing a few favorite books and the stories behind them, yielding warm, approachable, and thoughtful discourse that appeals to serious readers who enjoy accessible, human conversations about culture and society.

Where can I find podcast stats for Turek Books Podcast?

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How many listeners does Turek Books Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Turek Books Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does Turek Books Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Turek Books Podcast 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 Turek Books Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Turek Books Podcast:

1. The Daily
2. One Song

How many episodes of Turek Books Podcast are there?

Turek Books Podcast launched 2 years ago and published 63 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 Turek Books Podcast?

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 Turek Books Podcast?

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Turek Books Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Turek Books Podcast?

Recent guests on Turek Books Podcast include:

1. Zach Pugh
2. Amy Silverberg
3. David Hull
4. Liz Vazquez
5. Lauren Lavin
6. Brian Recker
7. Lily Eagla
8. Larry Charles

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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