How do you solve a problem like romantasy? What is it like to have written the most banned book in the country? Jenny Hamilton chats about her Reactor essay "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Romantasy?" and George M. Johnson talks banned books, being banned, and their new podcast Fighting Words. * "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Romantasy?"* "Natalie's Theory of Urban Fantasy" * Fighting Words* All Boys Aren't Blue* The ALA's Top Ten Banned Books ListSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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42:17
May 23, 2025
Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and that means: summer reading! Yes, it's true, you can wear white and it's officially summer. Even if it's already been summer where you live, temperature-wise or white-clothing-wise. Drew kicks us off with a bit of a tear about the AI-generated summer reading lists that got syndicated to papers this week (and mentions his own ongoing summer-reading-rec Bluesky offer, which has become unmanageable in a great way) before bringing on Molly Odintz to talk about some books that are exciting for summer.Then, Calvin Kasulke talks to friend and writing buddy Isaac Fellman about their unique writing relationship and how it helped influence both Calvin's Several People Are Typing and Isaac's latest book Notes from a Regicide. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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35:25
May 16, 2025
Mrs. Dalloway turns 100 this week and it has Drew thinking about old books—and, more specifically, discovering old books. After a lightly eerie reverie, he chats with Nathan Connolly of Dead Ink Books about the pleasures of running a small press and creating a real-life, real-time literary hoax with the Eden Book Society. (If you aren't backing the 1993 collection on Kickstarter, do you even like literary joy?) Then, James Folta chats with Shea Dunlop and Sarah Robbins from Abrams about the in-process unionization vote at Abrams, their experience with a weird union-buster, what they're reading, and why unions make us strong.* Mia Manzulli on teaching Mrs. Dalloway to high schoolers in 2025* 100 covers of Mrs. Dalloway* Dead Ink Books* The Eden Book Society — 1993 on Kickstarter* James' "The Abrams Union wants a "more equitable, ethical, and transparent” publisher."* The Abrams Union on Instagram* "The Persuaders: Workers Wanted A Union. Then The Mysterious Men Showed Up." by Dave Jamieson on HuffPostSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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44:00
May 9, 2025
This week saw the announcement of the 2025 Pulitzer Prizes—which, if you've been following along at home, I had some questions regarding! Unsurprisingly, that's also where we start the show this week. Then, Marie-Helene Bertino (Exit Zero) drops by to talk about vampires, Sinners, and the pitfalls of immortality and Meg Reid of Hub City Writers wraps up with a helpful explainer of just what it means that the NEA has suddenly cancelled funding for non-profit presses and other arts organizations. No Pope stuff, though. Missed the filing deadline by a couple hours."Did the Pulitzer Board just overrule the Jury to give Percival Everett the prize?""Viola in Midwinter" by Marie-Helene Bertino (from our "One great short story..." series this month)SinnersHub City Writersthe NEA Grant Termination Spreadsheet from Annie DorsenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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48:10
May 2, 2025
Yesterday was May Day and it was a big one for us: Lit Hub finally got to add to the canon of "Why I'm Leaving Twitter" posts! Jonny Diamond kicks us off to explain the rationale behind why and why now. Then, we wrap up our National Poetry Month coverage with a small-press interview: Eric Amling and Sarah Jean Grimm of After Hours Editions tell Drew about running a small poetry press and looking for the strange pizzas. And finally, we thought we'd add to the "books for men" discourse by getting some guys together to talk about guys and books. Listen closely for a great business idea, because Calvin and James and Drew are waiting by the phone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
A weekly behind-the-scenes dive into everything interesting, dynamic, strange, and wonderful happening in literary culture—featuring Lit Hub staff, columnists, and special guests! Hosted by Drew Broussard.The Lit Hub Podcast is a production of Lit Hub RadioMusic by Dani Lencioni of EvelynEngineering and production by Stardust House
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