Welcome to the Bookum Author Talks Podcast!

In this episode, we sit down with culinary historian and James Beard Award winner Adrian Miller to explore the REAL history of soul food. We dive deep into Thanksgiving history and traditions, black food traditions, the soul food canon, and cooking through history. Adrian breaks down everything from cooking Thanksgiving dinner and the best soul food dishes to collard greens recipes and old world cooking techniques.

Discover the truth about soul food and how it's not slave food. Learn about mac and cheese history, the origins of chitlins, okra, hibiscus, neckbones, and how Caribbean food traditions connect to soul food culture. We also explore black and Asian chefs in the White House, the history of American BBQ, and the fascinating crossover between Asian cuisine and soul food.

Whether you're looking for collard greens recipes, want to understand black food traditions, or curious about cooking through history, this conversation has it all!

TIMESTAMPS:
1:12 - Thanksgiving + Soul Food Items
2:50 - History of Chitlins
5:10 - Starting Career in Culinary Writing
6:07 - Mac n Cheese History in Soul Food and Thanksgiving
8:14 - Soul Food Canon
9:43 - Preparing Collard Greens
12:01 - History of Hibiscus
13:21 - History of Okra
13:50 - History of Neckbones
14:52 - History of Gumbo
15:34 - Jamaican & Caribbean Foods
18:12 - Soul Food is NOT Slave Food
20:50 - Veganism in Soul Food
23:50 - Black Eye Peas on Stove for Holiday
25:45 - Black Chefs in the White House
29:02 - History of American BBQ
32:12 - Best BBQ City in America
32:45 - Asian Chefs in the White House
34:02 - Asian Cuisine & Soul Food Crossovers
36:12 - Documenting Family Recipes Histories
39:12 - Writing Process of A Cookbook
42:24 - Writing Food Reviews
45:01 - Rapid Fire Food Questions
46:42 - What Should Be in a Foodies Toolkit?

📚 ADRIAN MILLER'S BOOKS:
"Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time" (2013) https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Food-Surprising-American-Cuisine/dp/1469607352

"The President's Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas" (2017)
https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Kitchen-Cabinet-African-Americans/dp/1469630494

"Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue" (2021)
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Smoke-African-Americans-United/dp/1469663406

"Cooking to the President's Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History" (2025) - Co-authored with Deborah Chang
https://shop.whitehousehistory.org/products/cooking-to-the-presidents-taste

Adrian Miller Social Media:
Website - https://adrianemiller.com/
Twitter - https://x.com/soulfoodscholar
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soulfoodscholar/


Make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more author conversations!

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My guest today on the Bookum Author Talks Podcast is the generational powerhouse Cheryl McKissack Daniel. Cheryl is the President and CEO of McKissack & McKissack, a design and construction company founded by Moses McKissack in 1905. It is the oldest Black-owned architecture and construction company in the United States.

In this episode, Cheryl shares the incredible story of her family’s legacy spanning 5 generations, their impact on HBCU campuses, succession plans, major stadium projects, and lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship, and preserving family history.

This episode is full of history and business lessons!

Get Cheryl’s book: The Black Family Who Built America - https://www.simonandschuster.com/book...

Timestamps:

1:30 - Current Projects of McKissack & McKissack
3:18 - Family History of The McKissack
5:42 - Passing down family mottos
7:02 - Handling Succession in the Family
11:40 - Growing up in an affluent Black Family
14:10 - Building on HBCU campuses
16:38 - Working with Black Business
18:18 - Charlamagne tha God publishing the book
19:33 - Writing Process of the Book
20:10 - Building Stadiums
22:55 - Barclay Center in Brooklyn
24:12 - Being a role model as a Black woman builder
26:37 - Record Your Family's History
27:12 - What Should Be in A Builder's Toolkit?

Make sure Like, comment, and subscribe to our ‪@bookum‬  YouTube channel for more amazing conversations with authors and creators.

Download the Bookum App to join book-related discussions, connect with the community, and start your own book club at https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of Creators Talk Podcast, we sit down with  @classicallyclare Juilliard-trained pianist, book content creator, and host of Study Hall Book Club We discuss her journey from Singapore to New York (Back to Singapore), the power of collective reading, how to engage with classic books (The Tempest by William Shakespeare), and the connection between music, storytelling, content creation, and social media.

Make sure to like and subscribe to our youtube channel  @bookum  

Timestamps:

1:12 – Reading in Singapore
2:23 – New York Reading Culture
3:12 – Playing Music as a Kid
4:01 – Music and Content Creation
5:33 – The Connection Between Playing Music and Storytelling
6:44 – Defining Classic
8:33 – Getting Back Into Content Creation
10:12 – Relationship with Social Media
11:29 – Collective Learning
12:01 – Nuance and Critical Thinking
12:52 – Tools for Content Creation
13:21 – On Reviews
15:44 – Making Classic Literature Relatable
18:04 – On Community
19:02 – Book Club: Study Hall
21:12 – Shakespeare's Tempest
24:02 – Prospero: Hero or Villain
26:10 – Artist and the Audience
26:49 – Exploring Good and Bad
27:20 – On Writing: Fermata Blog
28:54 – Writing Process & Perfect Day of Writing
30:40 – Last, Now, Next Books
33:21 – How to Annotate Books
35:04 – Rapid Fire Book Questions
36:40 – What Would You Like to See More of in the Book World?
36:48 – What Would You Like to See Less of in the Book World?

Places to Find more from Clare: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classicallyclare/?hl=en
Blog - https://clareyeo.substack.com/?
Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@classicallyclare?

To start your own book club, make sure to download our Bookum App at https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

On this episode of Bookum Author Talks, we sit down with New York Times journalist and bestselling author Ken Belson to unpack how the NFL became a billion dollar empire. We cover stadiums, streaming, anti-trust battles, and social justice. This episode is for anyone who loves the NFL & is interested in the business, cultural impact and economics of football.

Timestamps
1:03 - The Mets and The World Series
1:52 - The Evolution of the NFL
4:03 - The Business Structure of the NFL
6:18 - Jerry Jones and His Role in the NFL
9:21 - Owners Owning Their Stadiums
11:40 - Relocations of NFL Teams
12:50 - Will We Get New Teams in the NFL
15:20 - NFL Anti-Trust
17:50 - The Super Bowl
19:20 - Colin Kaepernick and Social Justice
23:10 - Gambling in the NFL
26:02 - Streaming in the NFL
29:01 - Writing Process for the Book

Follow and Connect with Ken Belson:

Twitter: https://x.com/el_belson?lang=en
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/by/ken-belson

Bookum: https://www.bookumapp.com

If You Enjoyed This Episode
Please like, subscribe  @bookum   and click the bell to receive updates for future interviews with top creators and authors. Leave a comment below telling us what surprised you most about how the NFL works behind the scenes

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

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Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of Bookum Author Talks Podcast, we sit down with ESPN Senior Sports Writer Seth Wickersham to discuss his new book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback." We discuss the evolution of the NFL quarterback position, what separates the greatest QBs of all time, and the untold stories that shaped the game.

From Joe Montana's uniqueness to Tom Brady's Super Bowl championships, Patrick Mahomes' greatness gene, and the rise of Black quarterbacks in the NFL - Seth breaks down what truly goes on inside the helmet of elite quarterbacks and how the position has revolutionized over decades!

TIMESTAMPS:
1:01 - Current MVP
1:54 - Carson Wentz & Recovery from Injuries
2:34 - Daniel Jones & QB Resurgences
5:48 - What goes on in the helmet of a QB?
9:10 - Joe Flacco still having success
10:50 - Evolution of the QB Style
13:12 - What Makes QBs Unique? Meeting John Elway
14:10 - Joe Montana - Uniqueness
15:40 - Joe Namath - The Celebrity QB
16:40 - Caleb Williams - The Celebrity QB
18:08 - The Rise of Black Quarterbacks
19:50 - James "Shack" Harris Story
22:45 - Tom Brady & Ring Culture
26:03 - Patrick Mahomes Greatness Gene?
27:35 - Writing Process for the Book

GET THE BOOK:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/789617/american-kings-by-seth-wickersham/

FOLLOW SETH WICKERSHAM:
Twitter/X: https://x.com/SethWickersham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seth.wickersham/?hl=en

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB APP:
Want to discuss more books like this? Download Bookum and host your own book clubs - www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Recorded: Jun 13, 2024

Our Guest today is the Delightful Danielle Robay

Danielle is the Founder of PrettySmart & The Host of the Question Everything Podcast.

Pretty Smart is a love letter to women with something to say:

Danielle is also a TV Host, Journalist and has chatted with everyone from Taylor Swift to Jada Pinkett Smith.

Danielle is a storyteller, a card game creator, a conversational, an avid reader and Questions are her Love Language.

This episode of Founders Talk Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Make sure to like, comment and subscribe to our channel!

Timestamps:

1:00 - Going After Dreams
2:30 - Book Quotes
5:30 - Last Book that Made you Cry
7:20 - PrettySmart
12:12 - Maya Angelou
13:10 - Pop Culture & Cerebral Entertainment
16:17 - Friend circles
17:53 - Roc Nation
21:25 - Interviewing Famous People
23:25 - Jada Pickett Smith
24:50 - Silence and Interview styles
26:10 - Not asking questions in Interviews
28:20 - Content creation
30:40 - Hello Sunshine Collective
31:50 - The Bright Side - Daily Podcast
33:05 - Reese Witherspoon
34:20 - Last, Now, Next Books
35:50 - More/Less in the Book World

Places to Find Danielle Robay:

Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Danielle Robay Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/daniellerob...

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Tonya Mosley | Bookum Creators Talk Podcast ‪@bookum‬ @nprf

Join us on the Bookum Creators Talk Podcast with Tonya Mosley, Emmy award-winning journalist and co-host of NPR’s Fresh Air ‪@thisisfreshair‬  celebrating its 50th anniversary this month and one of public radio’s most popular programs.

Tonya is also the founder of TMI Productions and host of the Truth Be Told Podcast, an advice show exploring race, Black stories, and how to grow and thrive in America. TMI also produced the limited series She Has A Name, a deeply personal family mystery.

Timestamps:
1:20 - Favorite stories in 2025
3:24 - Favorite TV Shows & Movies
5:07 - Growing up in Detroit
6:28 - Mitch Albom's Impact on Tonya
9:38 - Storytelling in Detroit
12:02 - How to tell journalistic/investigative stories
14:32 - Styles of journalism
17:02 - Starting a production company
18:40 - The power of storytelling
20:21 - She Has A Name
23:12 - Connection to her sister Anita
24:02 - On loss, grief, and shame
28:01 - Interviewing authors and people
29:45 - On recording NPR Fresh Air
32:12 - Legacy brand of Fresh Air
35:12 - Changing media landscape
38:23 - Federal cutting of public radio budgets
39:45 - The state of media literacy
43:40 - Are podcasters journalists?
46:32 - Reporting on race
49:06 - How narratives catch fire
50:33 - Last, Now, Next books
52:32 - What would you like to see less of in the media world?

Books Mentioned:

The Blacker the Berry by Wallace Thurman
Makes Me Want to Holler by Nathan McCall
Nickelboys by Colson Whitehead
Zeal by Morgan Jerkins
All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert
Twice by Mitch Albom
Startlement: New and Selected Poems by Ada Limón
Toni Morrison

TV/Film Recommendations:

Dying for Sex
Nickelboys
Hoop Dreams

Where to Find Tonya:

Instagram:

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of the Founders Talk Podcast, we sit down with Jennifer Baker, seasoned publishing professional and host of the Minorities in Publishing Podcast, to reflect on 10 years of podcasting and the evolution of diversity in the publishing industry. Jennifer shares her insights on how the publishing world has changed, discusses what meaningful mentorship looks like, and dives into the challenges facing book production today.

Topics Covered:

Diversity in Publishing: Then vs. Now
The Role of Production in Book Publishing
Navigating the Marketing of Traditional Books
Tips for Breaking into the Publishing Industry
The Importance of Mentorship and Community in Publishing
Thoughts on Book Challenges and Banning
Tune in to hear Jennifer’s candid thoughts on the future of publishing and what she hopes to see more (and less) of in the industry.

Timestamps:

1:33 – Whole Foods & Cheese
3:14 – Celebrating 10 Years of Podcasting
7:45 – Diversity in Publishing in 2014 vs. Now
10:14 – Role of Production in Publishing
12:02 – More Diversity in Publishing
14:04 – Marketing Books
18:45 – Getting into Publishing as a Worker
24:23 – New York Times Article on Lisa Lucas
28:58 – Meaningful Mentorship in Publishing
36:10 – Do Books Get Lost When Acquisition Editor Positions Get Cut?
42:55 – Book Challenges and Banning
49:10 – Writing and Understanding Publishing
52:00 – What Does the Future Hold for Publishing?

Don’t miss this insightful conversation with Jennifer Baker—perfect for writers, publishing professionals, and anyone passionate about books!

Episode Aired Oct 10, 2024

#publishinglife   
#diversityinmedia  #bookworld  #mentorship  #bookproduction
#founderstalkpodcast #podcast

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this exclusive Bookum Founders Talk Podcast episode, we sit down with Rachelle Gardner, president of Gardner Literary Agency, to reveal the insider secrets that can transform your publishing journey.

About Rachelle Gardner:
Rachelle Gardner is the president of Gardner Literary Agency and has been a literary agent since 2007. She's negotiated over 300 contracts with more than 20 publishers and worked with over 200 authors to bring their books to publication. With nearly 30 years in publishing (since 1995), Rachelle brings unparalleled insider knowledge to help authors navigate the complex world of traditional publishing.

What You Will Learn:

- The exact elements of a successful query letter that agents actually want to see
- How to process rejection like a pro and when to pivot strategies
- Whether your book needs to be finished before querying literary agents
- What questions to ask potential literary agents during consultations
- How agents are detecting AI-written query letters in 2025
- The truth about building an audience before traditional publishing
- Real author success stories and what made them different from rejected manuscripts

Timestamps:
1:00 - The books that have shaped her life
3:03 - Books that got her into being a literary agent
4:22 - What is a Literary Agent?
5:30 - How to become a literary agent
6:20 - How many active clients at any time?
7:32 - How long do literary agents work with their author clients?
9:54 - The job of the literary agent
12:00 - Negotiation Film/TV and other rights
13:43 - Should an author also have a lawyer before traditional publishing?
15:20 - What does a successful query letter look like?
19:10 - How should an author process a rejection of their query letter?
22:01 - When should an author shift to another book or self-publish?
26:03 - Does your book need to be finished to submit a query letter?
27:14 - Detecting AI query letters and AI in Publishing
29:00 - Should successful self-published authors try traditional publishing?
31:48 - Should authors build an audience before seeking traditional publishing?
32:24 - What questions should an author ask a literary agent?
35:45 - Author success stories
39:13 - What happens after the literary agent gets a deal for the author?
43:12 - Rachelle's coaching program
44:48 - Last, Now, Next Books
46:01 - Rachelle's Reading Taste
46:54 - What Would You Like to See More of in the Book World?
47:34 - What Would You Like to See Less of in the Book World?
48:23 - Where to find more from Rachelle

Places to Connect With Rachelle Gardner:
Website: https://rachellegardner.com/
Facebok: https://www.facebook.com/gardner.literary
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rachelle_literary_agent
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gardner_literary
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelle_literary_agent/


About Bookum:
Start your own book club and connect with fellow readers! Download the Bookum app at www.bookumapp.com and discover your next favorite book or join a book club!

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

Award-winning filmmaker Felicia Pride, Co-Executive Producer of Bel-Air and founder of Honey Chile Production Company, joins Bookum Founders Talk to discuss why Black women over 40 represent television's biggest untapped audience. From her Hollywood breakthrough to launching her own production company, Pride shares the creative risks that transformed her career. Get an inside look at her new romance novella "Come Close" and discover how she's building an independent media empire focused on underrepresented stories.

Pride shares her journey from rejected scripts to executive producer, offering valuable advice for writers, creators, and entrepreneurs navigating the entertainment industry. Discover her unique perspective on healthy writer's rooms, optioning books to Hollywood studios, and the creator economy's influence on traditional media.

📚 GET FELICIA'S NEW BOOK "COME CLOSE": https://www.amazon.com/Come-Close-Romance-Felicia-Pride-ebook/dp/B0DWMM5VWC

JOIN OUR BOOK COMMUNITY: Download the Bookum app - your social book club and networking platform for book lovers! Connect with readers, discover new titles, and build meaningful relationships around books. https://www.bookumapp.com

TIMESTAMPS
1:20 - Movies to Watch & Art to Consume
2:03 - Sinners and The Clipse new album
3:18 - What makes a great story?
5:14 - Come Close New Novella
6:10 - Writing Romance in TV
6:42 - New Book (Come Close)
7:52 - Writing Process for the book
8:40 - Writing for 40+ Black Women
10:13 - Speaking directing to a target audience
12:47 - Writer's Room
14:18 - Healthy v. Unhealth Writer's Rooms
15:32 - Process to Option Books to Hollywood
17:02 - Shopping Books to Movie Studios
18:05 - On Promoting A Book v Movie
20:34 - On Community
21:25 - Podcast (Honey Chile)
23:02 - On Creativity Comeback
24:18 - Navigating a writing career
25:15 - All that wander aren't lost
26:21 - Balancing Being A Multi-Hyphenate
28:43 - Life advice "Never too late"
29:52 - Age Graceful Advice to 20 and 30 year olds
31:59 - Going independent and having ownership
33:41 - Creator Economy influence on Hollywood
34:23 - Taking creative risk

CONNECT WITH FELICIA PRIDE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feliciapride
Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/itshoneychile/
Twitter: https://x.com/feliciapride?lang=en
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@feliciapride
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feliciapride/
Website: https://www.feliciapride.com/

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!