5 Podcasts Bookworms Need to Listen To

In an age where almost any form of media is possible, another one that’s becoming increasingly popular today is podcasts. They are a collection or series of digital audio files available for anyone to listen to online. What’s great about podcasts is that they cover a wide range of topics that will satisfy the preferences of various listeners, such as world history, politics, and pop culture.

Because of this, the number of podcast listeners is also growing. A survey published on Pew Research revealed that the share of Americans who listen to podcasts has increased over the last decade. As of 2021, 41% of Americans ages 12 or older have listened to a podcast in the past month. So if you’re a bookworm looking for a new hobby aside from reading, listening to podcasts about literature might pique your interest.

Here are five podcasts that talk about all things related to books and literature:

---

The Penguin Podcast

The Penguin Podcast is one of the most popular podcasts available today. Every two weeks, the show invites leading writers and pioneering thinkers to discuss and explore their inspirations, aspirations, and struggles they’ve faced along the way. Their recent guests include Alexander McCall Smith, Adam Kay, and Yomi Sode. Their recent episode with Yomi Sode discussed how pop culture influences poetry and dissected cultural appropriation in literature. The podcast is a great place to start your literature podcast journey since it provides new perspectives and ideas that enable you to be a critical reader.

---

Books Between Podcast

If you’re looking for a podcast where you can get book recommendations for kids, Books Between Podcast is the show you must check out. The program aims to help teachers, parents, and librarians connect kids to books they’ll appreciate and will help promote their love for reading. Because of this, it’s considered one of the highest-rated featured podcasts on Scribd. And even if you’re looking for a children’s book for yourself, the podcast is open to listeners of all ages. In addition, the podcast also discusses relevant topics, such as the benefits of rereading books. If this sounds like your cup of tea, it’s time to catch up with their episodes.

---

Books & Boba

Another niche podcast available is Books & Boba. They conduct interviews with Asian and Asian-American authors to talk about their real-life stories, book inspirations, and struggles as writers from the minority. In their latest interview with author Tracey Lien, they conversed about her debut novel, All That’s Left Unsaid, as well as her inspirations and journey to becoming a novelist. The show also releases book reviews from genres like historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, YA, nonfiction, thrillers, and graphic novels. So if you’re planning to expand your knowledge of Asian and Asian American authors, Books & Boba is the podcast for you.

---

The Great Books Podcast

The Great Books Podcast should also be on your list if you’re into classic literature. The show discusses classic works within the Western literary canon and is hosted by journalist and academic John Miller. In most of his episodes, an array of esteemed literary experts join him in his show to dive deep into literature’s greatest classics, from the work of Evelyn Waugh, Herman Melville, and James Joyce to Charles Dickens and Shakespeare. One of the show’s episodes includes the analysis of Miller on Thomas Hobbes’s book Leviathan with professor Andrew Latham of Macalester College.

---

AudioShelf

Lastly, AudioShelf is a podcast dedicated entirely to audiobooks. Hosted by Brad and Britney, the show invites narrators and authors and discusses industry news in a lighthearted and enthusiastic manner. They also share honest audiobook reviews on recent literature releases, ranging from various genres such as romance, psychological thrillers, fantasy, and contemporary. The relaxed atmosphere of the podcast makes the show more entertaining to listen to when you want a break from reading. Lastly, the podcast is available on their YouTube channel if you want to see them in action.

---

One Book More offers honest reviews and interviews with various authors. In a previous interview with Bruce Calhoun, we talked about his literary influences, unique writing habits, and inspirations in writing Ardennia. Check out the website to learn more about your favorite authors and receive book recommendations.

For more articles on books and literature, visit the latest posts on One Book More.