Today we're joined by Greta Johnsen, host and producer of the Nerdette podcast from WBEZ Chicago, at host of HBO's House of the Dragon recap podcast. We get into Greta's positive approach to reviewing books and how she currates all things nerd. We also hold a grilled cheese debate and discuss the art of balancing book criticism with never having written a book.

The Stacks Book Club selection for December is True Biz by Sarah Nović. We will discuss the book on December 28th with Greta Johnsen.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website: https://thestackspodcast.com/2022/12/07/ep-244-greta-johnsen




Episode Transcript

Connect with Greta: Instagram | Twitter 

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe

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Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 244 Relentlessly Positive with Greta Johnsen

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.&nbsp; 
 Make sure to check the website www.thestackspodcast.com for more details, including upcoming The Stacks Book Club picks. 


Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Arts

Literature

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Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

Books

Writer and podcaster Carvell Wallace joins us to discuss their debut memoir Another Word for Love. Carvell describes the challenge of writing a trauma memoir without making it all about the trauma, and reveals how they thought about connecting with their audience. We also talk about how Carvell's past as an actor impacts the way they think about writing stories. 

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/15/ep-319-carvell-wallace




Episode Transcript

Connect with Carvell: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Subscribe




SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 319 The Vulnerability Is the Point with Carvell Wallace

Today the prolific and award-winning children's book and Young Adult author Paula Yoo joins us. Her new nonfiction book is Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire. Paula explains why she wants to write these stories from recent American history for young people, and how she teaches her readers without being condescending or preachy. She also shares stories that didn't make the book but still left an impact on her.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/08/ep-318-paula-yoo




Episode Transcript

Connect with Paula: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Subscribe




SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 318 Compassion, Justice, and Anger Are Not Mutually Exclusive with Paula Yoo

Today we are joined by Yahdon Israel - writer, founder of Literaryswag Book Club, and Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster. A Brooklyn native and community-builder, Yahdon breaks down the distinction between the literary world and the publishing industry. Plus, Yahdon breaks down how he thinks about audience as who are you writing to, and who are you writing for?

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/01/ep-317-yahdon-israel




Episode Transcript

Connect with Yahdon: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Literaryswag

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Subscribe




SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 317 The Ill Is Not the Outcome with Yahdon Israel

It's The Stacks Book Club day and writer Hala Alyan is back to discuss this month's pick, The January Children by Safia Elhillo. It is an award-winning poetry collection by the Sudanese-American poet Safia Elhillo. We examine the prevailing themes of displacement and duality, the urgency with which a poet writes, and we ask, how should one judge poetry?

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our May book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/24/ep-316-the-january-children




Episode Transcript

Connect with Hala: Instagram | Website

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Subscribe




SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 316 The January Children by Safia Elhillo — The Stacks Book Club (Hala Alyan)

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

If you've ever felt like you didn't "get it" when it comes to poetry, The Stacks is here for a little poetry therapy featuring five spectacular poets breaking down their favorite poems. We are joined by José Olivarez, Morgan Parker, Saeed Jones, Nate Marshall and Gabrielle Bates. Each has selected a poem to read with Traci; then they discuss what they notice, how it works, and why it excites them. This episode is for folks who love poetry, those who cower in fear, and everyone in between. 

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.




JOIN PATREON OR SUBSTACK TO LISTEN

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/19/tsu-33-poetry-therapy




Connect with José: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

Connect with Morgan: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Saeed: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

Connect with Nate: Instagram | Website | Substack

Connect with Gabrielle: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Substack | Subscribe

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 244 Relentlessly Positive with Greta Johnsen

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