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!

On this episode of Bookum Creators Talk Podcast, Professor Timothy Welbeck from Temple University explains why Kendrick Lamar's music has become college curriculum and how hip-hop education is transforming academic discourse. 

In this comprehensive interview, we explore hip-hop as a scholarly discipline, the cultural impact of Kendrick Lamar, and the current state of rap journalism. From analyzing the Kendrick vs Drake beef to discussing what makes a "classic" hip-hop album, Professor Welbeck breaks down the intersection of hip-hop culture and higher education.

🎓 About Professor Timothy Welbeck:

Hip-hop scholar and educator at Temple University
Teaches courses on Kendrick Lamar and hip-hop culture
Author, musician, and cultural critic

Connect with Professor Welbeck:
🌐 Website: https://www.timothywelbeck.com/timothy
🎵 Music: https://www.timothywelbeck.com/music

Download the Bookum App to start your own book club or join one: www.bookumapp.com

TIMESTAMPS
1:05 - Current Music to listen to
2:33 - How do you define a "Classic" Hiphop Album
4:40 - Music that changed his life
6:53 - Teaching Hiphop as a College Course
9:20 - Hiphop and Black Culture Course
11:50 - Books to read to better understand hiphop
13:33 - Group v. Independent Listening
16:20 - Kendrick Lamar Course
19:15 - Preparing for the Kendrick Course
20:34 - How the students prepare for the class?
22:39 - The Text for the Kendrick Course
23:45 - Kendrick being a recluse
24:50 - Kobe & Kendrick Lamar Comparisons
26:02 - Kendrick Lamar impact on Pop Culture
30:02 - Kendrick's Personas
33:01 - Protest Music in Hiphop
35:58 - Kendrick & Drake Beef
38:30 - Drake Lawsuit
42:21 - The State of Hiphop Journalism & Media at large
46:30 - Engaging with New Music / Avoiding becoming an oldhead
49:30 - Timothy's writing process & Music practice
52:02 - Timothy's music making process
54:20 - Artist navigating current music landscape
58:30 - Rapid-Fire Questions
1:01:20 - Hiphop Fans Toolkit

📚 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Hip-Hop History & Culture:

Can't Stop Won't Stop by Jeff Chang (Hip-hop History Book)
Black Noise by Tricia Rose (History of Hip-hop)
Prophets of the Hood by Imani Perry
The Tanning of America by Mim Eichler Rivas and Steve Stoute

Cultural Context & Analysis:

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander (Topical Hip-hop Discussions)
Racial for Profit (Housing Segregation)
Works by Sam Anderson

Kendrick Lamar Studies:

The Butterfly Effect by Marcus J. Moore (Kendrick Lamar)

🎵 MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS
Contemporary Picks:

Odyssey - "In Routine"
Little Simz - "Lotus"
Clipse - "Let God Sort Em Out"
Two Live Crew

Soul & Funk Foundations:

James Brown - "I Got You"
Aretha Franklin - "I've Never Loved a Man"
Booker T. & the M.G.'s - "Green Onions"
Sade - "Love Deluxe"
Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On"

Global & Spiritual Influences:

Osibisa - "Woyaya"
Osibisa - "Osibisa"
Mahalia Jackson
Bebe Winans
CeCe Winans
Yolanda Adams
Mississippi Mass Choir

Underrated Artists to Discover:

Odyssey
Maya Youssef

Essential Albums:

To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar (Kendrick's Magnum Opus)
Innervisions - Stevie Wonder (Studio Session You Wish You Were In)
Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder (Studio Session You Wish You Were In)

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!

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

My Guest to Today is the Spectacular Stacy Spikes. Stacy is the Author of Black Founder - The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider. Stacy is also the co-founder of MoviePass.  MoviePass is a subscription-based movie ticketing service. Prior to MoviePass, Stacy worked at Motown Universal and was VP of Marketing at Miramax. He has worked with everyone from Eddie Murphy to Stevie Wonder.

Timestamp:

1:27 - MoviePass Documentary
3:07 - MovieGoing Experience
4:12 - Inspiring Black People in Film/Music
5:59 - Favorite Movies Growing Up
7:20 - Blade Runner
8:10 - Acting - stereotypical roles
10:13 - Clarence Avant
14:45 - Soundtracks Vs. LP Albums
16:00 - Spike
17:10 - Film Festivals and Urbanworld
20:44 - On Marketing
25:00 - Getting early users: MoviePass
28:02 - Founders Mindset
29:10 - Founder-Investor Relationships
31:05 - Get 117K users in 48hrs
33:33 - Returning to MoviePass
35:12 - Seasonality of Movies
37:12 - Writing "Black Founder" Book
40:40 - Movies you want to see on the Screen
45:22 - Founder's Toolkit
48:40 - Outsider's Toolkit
51:00 - Get the Book

Get your copy of "Black Founder: The Hidden Power of Being an Outsider by Stacy Spikes today - https://www.amazon.com/Black-Founder-...

Download our new book club app at www.bookumapp.com

Episode aired Jul 30, 2024

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 Mishayla Twyman, founder and creator of Your Local Book Club ATX, to explore how she built a thriving book community of over 1,500 members in Austin, TX.

From childhood favorites to her top book club picks, Mishayla shares her book‑picking process, collaboration tips, and the behind‑the‑scenes of community‑building. Discover how she turned her passion into an inclusive, dynamic literary space.

Timestamps:
0:55 - Childhood Reading
2:55 - Austin, Texas Reading Culture
4:07 - Starting "Your Local Book Club"
6:43 - Early Members of the book club
8:30 - Picking the Right Books
10:20 - First Big Book Club
11:50 - Day-to-Day operations
13:14 - On Community
15:00 - Book Club + collaborations
17:20 - Marketing the Book Club online
18:33 - Content Creating for the book club
20:44 - The Reading Room
23:36 - Genres of the Reading Rooms
25:10 - Advice for Hosting Book Clubs
26:40 - Chartering the book club
28:40 - Last, now, next books
30:45 - Great Book Club Picks
32:02 - Picking Bad Books
33:33 - What Would You Like to See More of in the book world?
34:20 - What Would You Like to See Less of in the book world?

Follow Mishayla & Your Local Book Club ATX:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourlocalbookclubatx/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourlocalbookclubatx
Website: https://www.yourlocalbookclub.org/

Books Mentioned in the Conversation:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (The Book That Got Her Back into Reading)
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (Childhood Books)
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Recent Read Book Club)
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (Last book read outside of book club)
The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Current Read Book Club)
Verity by Colleen Hoover (Great Book Club Discussion Book)
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy (Great Book Club Discussion pick)
Atomic Habits by James Clear (Great Self‑Help Books // Discussions)
The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest (Great Self‑Help Books // Discussions)
Loud by Drew Afualo (Book Club Pick)
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (Underrated Book Club Pick)

🚀Make sure  Download our new social book club & networking app at 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 the Author Talks Podcast, we sit down with crime fiction writer Marc Avery to break down how he built suspense, voice, and character in his new thriller Discipline. From writing villains to navigating the publishing process, Marc shares what it takes to write a killer crime thriller set in the heart of Philadelphia. If you're into suspense fiction, crime thrillers, or looking for the best thriller books to read, this one's for you.

📚 Timestamps
0:58 – Book Tour
2:44 – Character Development
4:23 – Writing Villains
6:39 – Premise of Discipline
7:23 – Setting the Book in Philly
9:23 – Worldbuilding in a Real City
9:45 – Michael Connelly
10:40 – Creating Voice
12:02 – Character Voices Not Blending
13:05 – Setting the Beginning of the Book
15:45 – Jogging Time Jumps as a Writer
16:50 – Films and Books
18:55 – Dream Cast for the Movie
20:04 – Navigating the Publishing Process
21:46 – Marketing as an Author
27:55 – On Community
29:29 – Persevering as an Author
30:33 – Perfect Day as a Writer
31:34 – What He’d Like to See More of in the Book World
33:40 – What He’d Like to See Less of in the Book World
37:01 – What Should Be in a Writer’s Toolkit

📕 Buy Marc Avery’s new crime thriller Discipline:
https://www.amazon.com/Discipline-Marc-Avery/dp/1957950722

Follow Marc Avery
Website: https://www.iammarcavery.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammarcavery
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@iammarcavery

Join the conversation on Bookum
Bookum is the social book club and book networking app built for readers, authors, and book content creators. Discover your next favorite book and the people who love talk about it!
👉 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!

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Khaya Fraites the voice behind Violet Sorrengail in the beloved Fourth Wing Dramatized Audiobook series. As a writer, director, and voice actor, Khaya shares her unique perspective on bringing characters to life across multiple creative mediums.

In this episode, we dive deep into her journey from theater to voice acting, the preparation that goes into voicing iconic characters like Violet, and how she navigates the business side of the industry. We also explore her work as a filmmaker, her writing process, and how AI is impacting voice actors today.

Whether you're a Fourth Wing fan curious about the voice behind Violet or an aspiring creator looking to learn from a multi-talented artist, this conversation offers valuable insights into the creative process.

TIMESTAMPS:
1:02 Sundance and Films 
2:14 Theatre Acting v. Voice 
3:22 Favorite books growing up 
4:33 Popcorn Reading 
5:32 Becoming a Voice Actor 
7:12 Preparation for Voice Acting 
8:18 Bring Characters to Life 
9:43 Preparing your Voice 
11:30 How to Direct Voice Actors 
12:42 Playing Violet Sorrengail in Empyrean Series
14:24 The Pressure of Playing Violet Sorrengail 
16:02 Recording Iron Flame and Onyx Storm 
16:43 Zodiac Academy 
17:24 Recording Time 
17:39 Business Side of Voice Acting 
18:14 Marketing Yourself as an Actor 
20:15 On Community 
21:23 Being Underestimated as an Actor 
23:10 People Using AI on Her Voice 
24:36 Navigating the AI world as a Voice Actor 
28:03 Acting Advice 
29:42 Making Short Films 
33:12 Self-Financing Films 
34:34 Writing, Acting & Directing 
37:02 Writing Process 
39:02 On Potentially Writing A Book 
40:12 Last, Now, Next Books 
41:45 Rapid Fire Questions 
43:38 Favorite Line by Violet Sorrengail 
45:36 What would you like to see more of in the book world? 
45:49 What would you like to see less of in the book world?

CONNECT WITH KHAYA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khayafraites/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@khayafraites
Website: https://www.khayafraites.com/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/khayafraites

🔗 CONNECT WITH US:
Download Bookum to start your own book club: www.bookumapp.com

📚 ABOUT BOOKUM CREATORS TALK:
A podcast exploring the creative minds behind your favorite books, content, and stories.

#fourthwing  #voiceacting  #bookpodcast  #creativeprocess  #audiobook  #booktok

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!