DC Public Library Podcast

In this episode, we’re coming into spooky season. In Get Lit Chris Stevenson interviews Amber Sparks about her debut novel “Happy People Don’t Live Here” which is now in paperback. After that we’ll briefly hear from Vichike, library associate at MLK library as he announces his new writing group “The Terry Club,” a year long venture to make sure you get your writerly juices flowing. And then in Stacks in the City,  Donna Arrendell has a chat with the folks over at the Five Minute Five Dollar Horror movie workshop.

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Credits:

Underscore by Spires That in the Sunset Rise is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Spires_That_in_the_Sunset_Rise/Curse_the_Traced_Bird/Underscore/

Java Pop by Spires That in the Sunset Rise is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Spires_That_in_the_Sunset_Rise/Curse_the_Traced_Bird/Java_Pop
 

CobWebs by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/horseless-headman-halloween-beats/cobwebs/ 

Ghostly Music Box by Universfield  is licensed by Royalty-free Music - Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/mystery-ghostly-music-box-167993/ 

Horror Background Music by OceanFrameMusic is licensed by Royalty-free Music- Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/horror-scene-horror-background-music-515472/

Connect with us!

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We’re coming into September in full swing!

Christopher Stevenson and Get Lit ask the recently reopened Petworth Library Manager Alberto Jacome, Children’s Librarian Yuri Casas, and Library Associate Katherine Tirado for their staff picks in celebration of Hispanic heritage month.

Donna Arrendell brings us Stacks in the City for September 2026. From massive outdoor music festivals to literary deep dives, the library is serves as the cultural heart of the city this month. 

DCPL Civic Engagement Coordinator Diana Veiga chats with Meaghan O'Connor, DCPL's Director of Service Design & Engagement, about the upcoming Concopian Chamber of Wonders Exhibit that will open at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on September 9 and runs until October 22.

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Yuri's Book:

My Papi Has a Motorcycleby IsabelQuintero 

https://catalog.dclibrary.org/search/card?id=a0ccfe8a-3629-5eb0-884c-05f6a3e38c06&entityType=FormatGroup

Katharine's Book:

Pepita es especialby FabiolaArroyo Ozores

https://catalog.dclibrary.org/search/card?id=2799c053-9571-5e53-9b63-0f1ea1daf472&entityType=FormatGroup

Alberto's book:

I am, yo soyby Gabriela Orozco Belt

https://catalog.dclibrary.org/search/card?id=cffbd8c8-e39f-5915-b2d3-b040fb2ab748&entityType=FormatGroup

Credits: 

All music from Pixabay and in the public domain. 

Soft Samba Horizon by CocosMusicCocosMusic

https://pixabay.com/music/bossa-nova-soft-samba-horizon-296703/

Music for Puzzle Gameby Ivantraveso

https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-music-for-puzzle-game-146738/

Funky Discoby NverAvetyanMusic

https://pixabay.com/music/funk-funky-disco-140046/

Ethnic Islamic Oriental Background Musicby Alex Morgan

https://pixabay.com/music/arabic-ethnic-islamic-oriental-background-music-587395/

Event - Golden Hour_30Secby vibemode

https://pixabay.com/music/funk-event-golden-hour-30sec-581684/

Atmosphere by Kulikova

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-atmosphere-275618/

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In this episode, we’re getting ready to go Back to School!

In our newest segment, Stacks in the City, Donna Arrendell sits down with Damian Carroll and Ramiro Hernandez from Vision to Learn, an organization that provides free eye exams and glasses to students in grades four through twelve.

In our Get Lit segment, host Chris Stevenson chats with Elaine Pelton, Assistant Manager at the Northeast Library and a children’s literacy expert. She shares her top reading recommendations for kids and their families.

And finally, in All Things Local, Olubunmi Bakare speaks with Dr. Amber N. Wiley about her book Model Schools in the Model City: Race, Planning, and Education in the Nation’s Capital, which explores the history and evolution of education in Washington, DC, and how architecture and urban planning have been used in efforts to fight racism.

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Elaine's picks:

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex

Teacher's Pet by Anica Mrose Rissi

Merci Suarez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

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Credits:

All music is from Pixabay and is used in their content license. 

LoFi Relax by Kulakovka

https://pixabay.com/music/lofi-lofi-relax-570489/

Upbeat Morning Café by sleepvolume

https://pixabay.com/music/bossa-nova-upbeat-morning-caf%C3%A9-233023/

Chillhop lofi beats by lofidreams

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chillhop-lofi-beats-400375/

静かな希望の響き by Lin_Hoyasi

Lofi Jazz - Study Music by alex-morgan

https://pixabay.com/music/modern-jazz-lofi-jazz-study-music-564256/

Lofi Jazz Hip Hop by VibeHorn

https://pixabay.com/music/lofi-lofi-jazz-hip-hop-479218/

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In this episode celebrating 250 years of America, we explore how the nation’s identity has been shaped locally and nationally. First, Olubunmi Bakare talks with Monica Miller about the DC Public Library’s new exhibition, “District Vibes: American Pride – How DC Changed American Culture.” Then, Chris Stevenson interviews David McKean and Todd Bennett about their book “The Flag Was Still There,” examining how the U.S. has lived up to its founding ideals across five major anniversaries.

Music used in this episode

"Smooth Chill Jazzy Music" by AllWorldMusic

https://pixabay.com/music/smooth-jazz-smooth-chill-jazzy-music-275395/

"The Washington Post" Music by John Philip Sousa performed by the "The Presidents Own"  United States Marine Band

https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Audio-Resources/The-Complete-Marches-of-John-Philip-Sousa/The-Washington-Post-March/

"Summer Lounge In The City" by myshoun

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-summer-lounge-in-the-city-223397/

"The Star Spangled Banner" performed by Jake Shimabukuro

https://dn720308.ca.archive.org/0/items/js2006-06-09/js2006-06-09d1t13.mp3

Jazzy Lofi - Calm background Loop by Sonican

https://pixabay.com/music/smooth-jazz-jazzy-lofi-calm-background-loop-541849/

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This Month we talk to  Emily Mitchell about her new book The Divine Church of Electricity (UW Press) and to Tyler Dempsey, host of Another F@cking Podcast.

Credits:

All music is from Pixabay and is used in their content license. 

Chill Trip Hop (Short Version) by BoDleasons https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-trip-hop-short-version-401932/

Velvet Silence (Ambient Pop) by 9JackJack8

https://pixabay.com/music/ambient-velvet-silence-ambient-pop-419531/

Debussy - Clair de Lune - L. 75 - Arranged for Music Box (Version 2) by Debussy performed by GregorQuendel

https://pixabay.com/music/lullabies-debussy-clair-de-lune-l-75-arranged-for-music-box-version-2-228857/

For Her Chill Upbeat Summel Travel Vlog and IG Music Royalty Free Use by Anonymous

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-for-her-chill-upbeat-summel-travel-vlog-and-ig-music-royalty-free-use-202298/#/

Connect with us!

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In this episode, Chris Stevenson talks to four writers with emphasis on why they write and what to do about it.  We also get to hear excerpts from Tracy Cross’s A Gathering of Weapons and Lacey N. Dunham’s The Belles. 

Credits:

Tracy Cross

Melissa Flores Anderson

Lacey Dunham

Spencer Fleury

Music: 

All music is from Pixabay and is used in their content license. 

Psychedelic Chilled Trip Hop Full by catch22music

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-psychedelic-chilled-trip-hop-full-366217/

Debussy - Clair de Lune - L. 75 - Arranged for Music Box (Version 2) by Debussy performed by GregorQuendel

https://pixabay.com/music/lullabies-debussy-clair-de-lune-l-75-arranged-for-music-box-version-2-228857/

Halloween Piano~Nightmare Friday by pianocafe_Kumi

https://pixabay.com/music/modern-classical-halloween-pianonightmare-friday-366032/

Chill Trip Hop (Short Version) by  BoDleasons

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-chill-trip-hop-short-version-401932/#/

For Her Chill Upbeat Summel Travel Vlog and IG Music Royalty Free Use by Anonymous

https://pixabay.com/music/beats-for-her-chill-upbeat-summel-travel-vlog-and-ig-music-royalty-free-use-202298/#/

Vampiric Heritage - Victorian Gothic Piano by Joel Fazhari https://pixabay.com/music/modern-classical-vampiric-heritage-victorian-gothic-piano-music-241158/

Dreadful Darlings (horror trailer) by MYCATWROTETHIS 

https://pixabay.com/music/horror-scene-dreadful-darlings-horror-trailer-285546/

Je vais trouver by olleaugust

https://pixabay.com/music/electronic-je-vais-trouver-441385/#/

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Please be advised that this episode contains explicit language. 

Join us this month as  we talk to "Sarah Gray, who has a memoir out with HarperOne titled, A Life Everlasting: The Extraordinary Story of One Boy's Gift to Medical Science – A Powerful Memoir of Loss, Discovery, and Organ Donation."

We also have the director of my old Alma Mater, the Jimenez Porter Writers House at the University of Maryland. Ross Angelella. He is an award winning novelist and screenwriter. 

Then we talk with the prolific (over 200 books written) Best-Selling and self-published author Valerie Lennox. We talk to her about work and writing and the work of writing.

Then we finish up with indie favorite Kyle Seibel, whose latest book Hey You Assholes (from Clash Books)! Is catching buzz everywhere. We talk to him about work, working and writing, and the work of writing.  

Credits 8/12/2025

Java Pop by Spires That in the Sunset Rise is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Spires_That_in_the_Sunset_Rise/Curse_the_Traced_Bird/Java_Pop/

Washington, DC by The Nighttime Adventure Society is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society/Chapter_One_The_First_Chapter/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society_-_Chapter_One-_The_First_Chapter_-_01_Washington_DC/

$x4 (MicroSong) by sthm is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/x4_MicroSong/

Re-Function! by junior85 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/junior85_-_08_-_Re-Function/

Radiate Instrumental (GLASS).mp3 by Nuisance is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/nuisance/glass-instrumental/radiate-instrumental-glassmp3/

zate it with a spork by Uncle Milk is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/zate_it_with_a_spork_1516/

Connect with us!

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Join us this month as we talk with author Denise S. Robbins who has a new book out called The Unmapping; the Washington Writers Publishing House co-president Caroline Bock and Jona Colson, who are celebrating WWPH’s 50th anniversary; author Rion Amilcar Scott who reads from his book, The World Does Not Require You; and indie lit legend Brian Allen Carr, author of Bad Foundations, Opioid, Indiana, Short Bus, and others. 

Denise S. Robbins is from Madison, Wisconsin, the city where she grew up and to which she returned after sixteen years of living and working in climate activism on the East Coast. In Madison, she lives with her husband in a yellow house circled by oaks and pines and two owls, and works as a consultant for several climate advocacy groups. She is a Pushcart Prize–nominated author whose stories have been published in literary journals including The Barcelona Review, Gulf Coast, and many more. Her debut novel, The Unmapping, was published in June 2025 from Mareas at Bindery Books. It is number 2 on People Magazine’s top reads for the summer.  The Unmapping is on order at DCPL. You can place a hold for when it arrives. 

Caroline Bock’s short story collection, Carry Her Home, received the 2018 WWPH Fiction Prize. She is the author of two critically acclaimed young adult novels, LIE and Before My Eyes, from St. Martin’s Press. In addition to her role as co-president, she is the prose editor at WWPH Writes, our bi-weekly literary journal, and the co-editor of our 2021 anthology This Is What America Looks Like Fiction and Poetry from D.C. Maryland, and Virginia. Her new novel, THE OTHER BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. (Regal House Publishing) will be published on June 2, 2026.

Jona Colson’s poetry collection, Said Through Glass, won the 2018 Jean Feldman Poetry Prize from WWPH. He teaches English at Montgomery College. Notably, in addition to his role as co-president, he is the poetry editor of WWPH Writes, our bi-weekly literary journal, and the co-editor of This Is What America Looks Like: Poetry and Fiction from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. He is also the translator for Aguas/Waters by Miguel Avero, our first work in translation, published in May 2024.

Rion Amilcar Scott was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. His parents are from Trinidad and came to the United States to study at Howard University. He graduated from George Mason University and teaches at The University of Maryland, College Park. His book Insurrections: Stories is available from DCPL

2019:The World Doesn't Require You  is available from DCPL

Brian Allen Carr is an Aspen Words Finalist and two time Wonderland Book Award winner.

His books include Opioid, Indiana, Bad Foundations and several others.

He is from Texas and lives in Indiana.

His novel Sip is available through DCPL.

His novel Opioid, Indiana is available through DCPL.

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Credits 

Dream Pop by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/only-in-the-milky-way-part-3/dream-pop/

Dark Ambient Music (Death And Forever) by TheBoseDeity

 is licensed under the Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 License.

https://freesound.org/people/TheBoseDeity/sounds/395691/

Java Pop by Spires That in the Sunset Rise is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Spires_That_in_the_Sunset_Rise/Curse_the_Traced_Bird/Java_Pop/

Washington, DC by The Nighttime Adventure Society is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society/Chapter_One_The_First_Chapter/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society_-_Chapter_One-_The_First_Chapter_-_01_Washington_DC/

kalas by Uncle Milk is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/kalas_1886/

Function! by junior85 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/junior85_-_07_-_Function/

 Re-Function! by junior85 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/junior85_-_08_-_Re-Function/

Tipping Point by Ellennerv is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/Tipping_Point/

Pasty Cline “I’m Gonna Walk Some Dog” is in the public domain and is an official record of the United States Army. Armed Forces Radio Service.  

Arkansas Traveler by ecfike is licensed under a CC0 license

https://freesound.org/people/ecfike/sounds/135127/

All audio comments are consented to by the The Labs Consent and Release form. 

Chorale by Andrew Christopher Smith is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

Orbiting A Distant Planet by Quantum Jazz is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.

Palimpseste by Iliaque is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.

Times square 1700.m4a by olofguf is licensed under CC0. 

https://freesound.org/people/olofgud/sounds/639703/

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Join us as we celebrate the publication of Grit and Gravity, volume 11 of the Grace and Gravity series, a series dedicated to women writers in the DC area.  Christina Tudor and Cynthia Via are two of the excellent writers in the series. (and are both alums of the DC Public Library writers workshops). We chat briefly with Melissa Scholes Young, the editor of the series. As part of a new spot on writers and their jobs and the business of writing, we talk to OF Cieri.    

Credits 

Dream Pop by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/only-in-the-milky-way-part-3/dream-pop/

Dark Ambient Music (Death And Forever) byTheBoseDeity

 is licensed under the Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 License.

https://freesound.org/people/TheBoseDeity/sounds/395691/

Java Pop by Spires That in the Sunset Rise is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Spires_That_in_the_Sunset_Rise/Curse_the_Traced_Bird/Java_Pop/

Washington, DC by The Nighttime Adventure Society is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society/Chapter_One_The_First_Chapter/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society_-_Chapter_One-_The_First_Chapter_-_01_Washington_DC/

 Inside the Crystal Cave by Kate Kody is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/kate-kody/single/inside-the-crystal-cave/

$x4 (MicroSong) by sthm is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/x4_MicroSong/

kalas by Uncle Milk is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/kalas_1886/

Function! by junior85 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/junior85_-_07_-_Function/

 Re-Function! by junior85 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/junior85_-_08_-_Re-Function/

Tipping Point by Ellennerv is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/Tipping_Point/

Pasty Cline “I’m Gonna Walk Some Dog” is in the public domain and is an official record of the United States Army. Armed Forces Radio Service.  

Arkansas Traveler by ecfike us licenssed under a CC0 license

https://freesound.org/people/ecfike/sounds/135127/

All audio comments are consented to by the The Labs Consent and Release form. 

Connect with us!

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This month we have local writers Austin Ross and Joey Hedger, both with books out with Malarkey Books. We also have Alan Good, editor of Malarkey Books, who has published a slew of DC writers. 

Credits

Java Pop by Spires That in the Sunset Rise is licensed under a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Spires_That_in_the_Sunset_Rise/Curse_the_Traced_Bird/Java_Pop/

Washington, DC by The Nighttime Adventure Society is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society/Chapter_One_The_First_Chapter/The_Nighttime_Adventure_Society_-_Chapter_One-_The_First_Chapter_-_01_Washington_DC/

Always Faithful by Ketsa is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/cc-by-free-to-use-for-anything/always-faithful/

Bantu by Sneaky Club is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/sneaky-club/single/bantu/

Cellar Door by HoliznaCC0 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/lo-fi-and-chill/cellar-door/

zate it with a spork by Uncle Milk is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/zate_it_with_a_spork_1516/

Re-Function! by junior85 is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/microSong_Challenge/2015021275957958/junior85_-_08_-_Re-Function/

CHASIN' IT by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/CHASIN_IT_________________________1-14/

BACK TO THE WOODS by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/BACK_TO_THE_WOODS____1-03/

SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR by Jason Shaw is licensed under a Attribution 3.0 United States License.

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jason_Shaw/Audionautix_Acoustic/SOLO_ACOUSTIC_GUITAR_3-11/

Connect with us!

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@dcpl on X

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