It seems everyone these days is getting into the podcast game, from the Durham Performing Arts Center to the Pope (seriously).
And why not? Podcasts and audiobooks are a great way to entertain yourself while doing something mindless, and the best of these offer something additional through their audio production.
A few new literary podcasts have dropped recently, so we thought we’d highlight some with a literary bent. Enjoy!
6-Minute Stories
Everybody loves a good story. Hear true, personal stories by many writers on themes of “making do, bearing up, and overcoming adversity†and “discoveries, challenges, adventure,†appearing in the latest anthologies, Bearing Up and Exploring, from the Personal Story Publishing Project (www.DanielBooneFootsteps.com). Featuring some NCWN members.
Bookin’
Hosted by Jason Jeffries through Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, this podcast features author interviews and more.
Charlotte Readers Podcast
Hosted by longtime NCWN member Landis Wade, this podcast features Charlotte area authors and those who visit the Queen City. Guests read from and discuss their work, including many NCWN members.
Kenyon Review Podcast
From the esteemed literary journal, recent guests have included Maureen McClane, Ann Patchett, and Shane McCrae.
Literary Latte Podcast
The podcast with a Southern accent on writing. Each episode is a jolt of inspiration fueled by engaging conversations with best-selling Southern authors and publishing industry pros who give real-world advice on the craft and business of writing. Hosted by Lynda Bouchard.
My Dad Wrote a Porno
Not new, but, as you can imagine from the title, both hilarious and naughty. Definitely R-rated, and not for those bothered by extreme sexual content, but the real highlights of this show happen when the hosts dissect the half-baked and careless writing to unearth universal lessons for how to be better writers.
A Phone Call from Paul
Also not new (in fact, it’s gone away and happily returned), but one of the best literary focused podcasts out there. Hosted by Paul Holden Graber, who literally calls literati on the telephone for wide-ranging and incredibly smart conversations about books and life.
Shitty First Drafts
From Sundress Publications, a podcast made for and by writers, which playfully investigates the creative processes of different artists to determine how a finished draft gets its polish.
The Slowdown
Five minutes of poetry every weekday. Tracy K. Smith, the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019, is part of the production team.
Please note, this list is far from exhaustive, and a mention here does not equal an official endorsement from NCWN.
Enjoy!