The SSR Podcast

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Alli is joined by romance author Alana Albertson to dish about Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Tune in to hear them chat about everything from cheating love interests and the meaning of home to film adaptations and privilege. They also talk quite a bit about the romance genre, touching on the sexist nature of the way it’s often criticized, how love stories are plotted, and so much more.

Alana Quintana Albertson has written thirty romance novels, rescued five-hundred death-row shelter dogs, and danced one thousand rumbas. Her latest book Ramón and Julieta is now available. Follow her on Instagram (@authoralanaalbertson) and Twitter (@AlanaAlbertson).

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On this very exciting episode, Alli is joined by linguist and cult expert Amanda Montell for a conversation about the eighty-second book in Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High series, Kidnapped By the Cult!, in which they discover that the SVH portrayal of cults is actually pretty accurate. You’ll learn about the history and language of cults, Amanda’s first impression of the Wakefields, teen brain chemistry, and so much more. Plus, Alli and Amanda reminisce on high school angst and mall hangs!

Amanda Montell is a writer, linguist, and author of the critically acclaimed books Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language. Her writing has appeared in publications like Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, and others. She is also the creator and co-host of the “comedy-cult” podcast Sounds Like a Cult. Amanda grew up in Baltimore, holds a degree in linguistics from NYU, and lives in Los Angeles with her partner, plants, and pets. Follow her on Instagram (@amanda_montell). 

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For the grand finale of Manuary 2022, Alli finally returns to a book that she’s been wanting to discuss on the pod for years: Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl. Will it live up to her memories and expectations? You’ll have to listen to find out! On this episode, Alli and her guest chat about fairy lore, antiheroes, bathroom humor, racism in fantasy, office politics, law enforcement in literature, boy geniuses, and Santa Claus.

Zack Loran Clark is a writer and editor of children’s books. He is the author of The Lock-Eater and co-author of The Adventurers Guild trilogy, with Nick Eliopulos. Follow Zack on Instagram (@zacktly) and Twitter (@zackloranclark).

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Take one eager canine narrator, a well-read cat, and a seemingly harmless rabbit who might *actually* be a vampire, and you’ve got yourself Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery, the 1979 children’s novel by James and Deborah Howe that started a beloved series. For the third week of Manuary 2022, Alli and her guest laugh their way through a discussion of vampire lore, neurotic pets, and animal antics. They also talk about the Bunnicula origin story and the way the story has been adapted over the years. They wrap things up with an important discussion about how to prevent the banning of books.

Lev Rosen — AKA L.C. Rosen — is the award-winning, beloved author of books for people of all ages, including Camp and Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts). His next book, Lavender House, will be released in the fall of 2022. Follow him on Instagram (@levacrosen) and Twitter (@LevACRosen).

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It’s Week 2 of Manuary 2022 and Alli and her guest turn their attention to Beverly Cleary’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, Dear Mr. Henshaw. Their discussion covers everything from Beverly Cleary’s legacy and the way the book offers an unfiltered look at divorce from a child’s perspective to writing advice and class. Guest Jeff Zentner also shares how he’s been influenced by Dear Mr. Henshaw and Beverly Cleary.

Jeff Zentner is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed author of The Serpent King, In the Wild Light, Goodbye Days, and Rayne and Delilah’s Midnite Matinee. Follow him on Instagram (@jeffzentner) and Twitter (@jeffzentner).

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On Episode 175, Alli and her guests — the hosts of the Overdue podcast — kick off a new year and the fourth-annual Manuary with a conversation about The Story of Dr. Dolittle, which was written by Hugh Lofting and originally published in 1920. And if you thought the Dr. Dolittle universe was all about talking animals, you’re very mistaken! In fact, the book inspires discussions about everything from animal personhood and colonialism to socialism and the various ways talking animals are portrayed on-screen.

Overdue is a podcast about the books you’ve been meaning to read, hosted by Andrew Cunningham and Craig Getting. New episodes drop every Monday on your favorite podcast player! Follow the pod on Instagram (@overduepod) and Twitter (@OverduePod). Follow hosts Andrew (@AndrewWrites) and Craig (@MCgetting) on Twitter, too!

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Happy holidays and happy (almost) new year!

To wrap up 2021, we’re once again inviting SSR listeners to join the fun on the show! Listeners share about their favorite childhood books, the books the pod has ruined for them (sorry!), the books they’ve discovered from SSR, the books they’d most liked to see adapted for film or TV, and so much more.

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For the final book episode of 2021, Alli and her guest experience a new-to-them classic, Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s Finding My Voice, which was first published in 1992 and reissued in 2021. The book explores the universal questions of identity and race and tackles the unfortunately still-relevant matter of racism, specifically against the Asian-American community. It inspires conversations about the immigrant experience, popularity, people pleasing, and how we’ve been conditioned to react to the “cool guy.”

Jane Igharo is the author of The Sweetest Remedy and Ties That Tether, as well as the forthcoming Worth Having (out September 2022). Follow her on Instagram (@jane_igharo) and Twitter (@VictoriousJane).

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After an amazing month of New Reads November 2021, it’s time we get back to throwback reads, starting with Zoey Dean’s The A-List! On Episode 172, Alli and her guest return to the era of all things wealth and mean girls. They discuss the appeal of this very ‘00s genre, the rampant slut shaming and fatphobia they see in the book, reinvention in YA, nuanced parent/daughter relationships, and so much more.

Zakiya Dalila Harris is the New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl. Her essays and book reviews have appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. Follow her on Instagram (@zakiyadalilaharris) and Twitter (@zakiya_harris).

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This week, New Reads November 2021 comes to its grand finale with a conversation about Emiko Jean’s Tokyo Ever After. Tune in for discussions about the importance of representation in publishing, the differences in book covers from one country to the next, tabloid culture, fantastic literary parents, the tensions between tradition and progress, and The Princess Diaries.

Talia Hibbert is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Get a Life, Chloe Brown; Take a Hint, Dani Brown; and Act Your Age, Evie Brown. Follow her on Instagram (@taliahibbert) and Twitter (@TaliaHibbert).

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