Required Reading

By Erin Bowles

Required Reading revisits the most impactful books from our childhood with a new guest every week.

... more

5

77 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Required Reading:

How many episodes does Required Reading have?

The podcast currently has 89 episodes available.

Required Reading episodes:

September 10, 2025 James and the Giant Peach with Jenny Bicks
Mind-blowing writer Jenny Bicks (Welcome to Flatch, Sex and the City) joins me to discuss our second Roald Dahl book JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. Fun fact: same year as Phantom Tollbooth!
Little James finds himself inside a giant peach, surrounded by several very large and very friendly bugs!
Support the podcast!
...more
34min
September 03, 2025 The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with Kelly Krauter
Bellbottoms, capris, cargos: its the summer of pants. Kelly Krauter joins me to discuss Ann Brashare's 2001 immortal classic THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS. And don't you dare roll your eyes.
Best friends Carmen, Tibby, Lena, and Bridget are about to spend a summer apart for the first time in their 15 years of life. Just before they go their separate ways they find a magical pair of jeans that fits them all, despite their varying body sizes. They vow to mail the jeans back and forth to each other over the course of the summer to keep the girls in each other's hearts...and also denim.
Kelly and I met making a short film which you should watch HERE because we WON THE FESTIVAL, OK?
Listen to Kelly's song LOBOTOMY!
Follow Erin!
Support the show!
As of September 2 2025, ads on this show have earned $5.05 thanks to viewers like you! THANK YOU!
...more
48min
August 27, 2025 Theater Geek with Kelsey Buckley
Kelsey Buckley returns to wrap up our summer camp series with a nonfiction book: THEATER GEEK.
Theater Geek by Mickey Rapkin chronicles one summer at renowned theater camp Stagedoor Manor.
Follow Kelsey!
Follow Erin!
Support the podcast!
As of this writing (8.26.25) we have earned $3.56 from ad revenue! Thank you for listening!
...more
42min
August 20, 2025 Harriet the Spy with Joanna Truman
Writer Joanna Truman joins me to discuss one of the most iconic characters in children's literature: Harriet M Welsch AKA Harriet the Spy!!
From Louise Fitzhugh in 1964, Harriet the Spy follows Manhattanite 11 year old kid spy Harriet M Welsh as she writes infinitely in her trusty notebook about her pesky classmates in order to survive the departure of her dear nanny, Ole Golly.
Follow Joanna!
Follow Erin!
Support the podcast!
...more
51min
August 13, 2025 The Phantom Tollbooth with Maggie Winters
Comedian Maggie Winters joins me to discuss THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster with illustrations from Jules Feiffer!
The Phantom Tollbooth follows bored schoolboy Milo as he enters a mystical and very unreasonable land in search of the princesses of Rhyme and Reason!
AND - episode 100 is approaching! Let me know what you'd like me to do! I have very few ideas!
Follow Maggie!
Follow Erin!
Support the podcast!
...more
37min
August 06, 2025 Required Viewing: Camp Rock with Natalie Ortega
Broadway's Natalie Ortega returns to discuss another entry in Camp Required Reading: CAMP ROCK!
From 2008, the DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie, of course) Camp Rock follows Mitchie (Demi Lovato) at the celebrated music camp where dreams are made, as long as no one finds out her mom is the new cook!
Follow Natalie!
Support the podcast!
Follow Erin!
...more
54min
July 30, 2025 Goosebumps: The Horror at Camp Jellyjam with Keara Sullivan
Keara Sullivan returns to Required Reading to go to camp and, frankly, it's horrifying. We dive into Goosebumps THE HORROR AT CAMP JELLYJAM by RL Stine.
Wendy and her brother Elliot fall off their parent's car, down a mountain, and into Camp Jellyjam where something STINKS.
Follow Keara!
Read her Substack!
Support the podcast!
Follow Erin!
...more
44min
July 16, 2025 Fear Street: Lights Out with Victoria Harley
Camp Required Reading is BACK, campers!
Victoria Harley (A Breath of Fresh Movie podcast) joins me to discuss RL Stine's 12th book in the Fear Street saga: Lights Out.
Holly doesn't like the outdoors, but she'll be a camp counselor to help her uncle save his failing camp - but someone's trying to sabotage it all!
Check out some of our other camp episodes: Sunkissed and Goosebumps: Welcome to Camp Nightmare!
Listen to Victoria's podcast A Breath of Fresh Movie!
Follow Erin!
Support the podcast!
...more
46min
July 09, 2025 Eragon with Madeline North
Author, creator, and marketing maven Madeline North returns to discuss a dragon classic: ERAGON by Christopher Paolini.
Young Eragon finds a dragon egg and quickly Saphira the dragon hatches. All matter of mayhem breaks loose as forces from throughout the kingdom seek out the egg.
Follow Madeline!
Check out Madeline's new marketing agency!
Listen to Madeline's previous episode on The Princess Bride!
Follow Erin!
Support the podcast!
...more
55min
June 25, 2025 Goosebumps: Welcome to Camp Nightmare with Chelsea Pope
It's week two of Camp Required Reading and Chelsea Pope returns to discuss Goosebumps #9: Welcome to Camp Nightmare!
The food at Camp Nightmoon isn't great. The counselors are a little strange. And the camp director, Uncle Al seems sort of demented. OK, Billy can handle that. But when other campers disappear... and his parents don't answer his letters... Camp Nightmoon is turning into Camp Nightmare! (Google Books)
Check out Chelsea's previous episode on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!
Check out Chelsea's podcast A Breath of Fresh Movie!
Follow Chelsea on Instagram and TikTok!
Follow Erin!
Support the podcast!
...more
47min

FAQs about Required Reading:

How many episodes does Required Reading have?

The podcast currently has 89 episodes available.

More shows like Required Reading

Classic Audiobooks w/ Mr. Young by Brian Young

Classic Audiobooks w/ Mr. Young

24 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,535 Listeners