“Resked.”

David’s on the road, and featured author Zain Asher is under the weather, so Jamie McIntyre and Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman join Torie for a mid-summer chat. They gush about COB fave Deesha Philyaw and debate the so-called best sellers of all time. Jud debriefs the epic Gaithersburg Book Festival, and they discuss – happily -- the growth in independent book stores. Zain will be back in August to talk about her memoir, “Where the Children Take Us,” that is tribute to a love story, a phenomenal mother and profoundly important culture.

“Hat trick.”

Chatter goes all books with David, Torie and Jamie. They answer listener emails and agree they would generally not read anything by or about Harvey Weinstein. Debut novelist Vauhini Vara zooms in to share “The Immortal King Rao.” It’s really three novels in one, expertly intertwined to tell the stories of an immigrant’s rise to world power and the consequences of his inventions.

Favorite sister Liz Clarke joins Torie and David for a breakdown on the French Open (Rafael and Coco rock!) and more. Pulitzer Prize winner John Branch zooms in to share “Sidecountry,” his amazing collection of essays about the unique and funny and sometimes tragic stories on the edge of sports. COB fave Susan Orlean says John writes “the best of American portraiture.”  Yep. 

“It’s about choices.”

Chatter rolls into summer. David kicks things off with a report on the NBA and Torie’s future trophy husband. NYT star Joe Drape joins (who knew he wrote “In the Hornets’ Nest?) for a Belmont preview and chat about “Black Maestro,” his wonderful book about the last Black jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. COB fave Louis Bayard zooms in to share “Jackie and Me,” his fascinating take on Jack and Jackie Kennedy’s courtship through the eyes of Lem Billings, lifelong JFK friend.

“Thank you.”

A very special edition of Chatter kicks off at the Gaithersburg Book Festival in blistering heat and wonderful book fans. Torie and David have a great chat with Brendan Slocumb, classically trained and internationally acclaimed violinist. He also weaves a great mystery tale of ambition and resilience in “The Violin Conspiracy.” 

“Put on earth to write.”

Torie kicks off the show with David and Washington Post book critic Ron Charles. Ron debriefs on the rise in book banning efforts and people fighting back. Award winning author of eight novels Susan Straight zooms in to talk about her latest, “Mecca.” A sweeping saga of intertwined lives, race, history and family, “Mecca” sets a high bar for anything about California and American culture.

Torie kicks off the show with Mayor Jud Ashman. Jud gives the back story on the Gaithersburg Book Festival and how he got into public service. Former Navy seal and multiple best selling author (and very forgiving) Jack Carr zooms in to talk about his latest, “In the Blood.” Over 20 years in Naval Special Warfare inform Carr’s fast paced and highly believable novel about tracking down a Mossad agent’s killer and walking into a highly sophisticated trap with global implications. Come for the action; stay for the smart geopolitical thinking.

“Riveting.”

Torie kicks off the show with David and COB fave Angie Kim with – yes – another Dolly update. Angie shares her next book, and Angie and Torie score kid points by grilling David on the NFL. Lan Samantha Chang, award-winning author and first female director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop zooms in to talk about “The Family Chao.” It’s an unforgettable look at an immigrant family tackling emotions, rivalries and ambition in small-town America.

Torie, David and COB alum Marc Sterne kick off the show with Dolly. David wins the “Classics redone by YA” pop quiz. Once an aspiring cartoonist and now a best selling author several times over, Erik Larson zooms in to talk about “The Splendid and the Vile,” his spell-binding take on Churchill and the battle to save Britain. Meticulous research and immensely readable writing bring readers into Churchill’s most inner circle during the darkest days. Comparisons to Zelensky are inevitable.

Today’s pop quiz is famous quotes from Pulitzer Prize winning books. David wins!