Best Screen Snark Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 198: Best of Thrillers with Anderson McKean of Page & Palette (@PagePalette) 53:53

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9d ago53:53

53:53

Ep. 198 is the second episode of our brand-new “Best of…” series. Anderson McKean of Page & Palette Bookstore joined me for the Best of Thrillers, with her all-time TOP TEN favorite thriller novels…and, a couple buzzy thrillers that didn’t work for her.⁠ Also, Anderson talks about how she started reading thrillers, the wide variety available in the…

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Ep. 197: Summer 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 50:18

23d ago50:18

50:18

Welcome to the Summer 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Catherine and Sarah share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing from June through mid-August. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show N…

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Ep. 196: Spring 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 49:07

30d ago49:07

49:07

In Episode 196, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 12 new releases they shared in the Spring 2025 Book Preview, now that they’ve read them. They share their reading stats, chat about what worked — and hash out which books didn’t work and why. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when …

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Ep. 195: 2025 Summer Reading Special with Susie (@NovelVisits) 1:08:25

1M ago1:08:25

1:08:25

In Ep. 195, Susie (@NovelVisits) and Sarah are back to share their favorite books that missed last year’s Summer Reading Guide and our #1 picks for each category featured in my 2025 Summer Reading Guide. Plus, they begin by sharing how their summer reading habits have evolved over the years. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a…

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Ep. 194: Bookish Time Capsule (2017) with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 52:15

2M ago52:15

52:15

In Ep. 194, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Sarah head back to the year 2017 in the book world with this second annual special retrospective episode! They share big bookish highlights for that year, including book news, award winners, and what was going on in the world outside of reading. They also talk about how their own 2017 reading shook out, inc…

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Ep. 193: Clare Leslie Hall (Author of Broken Country) + Book Recommendations 55:23

2M ago55:23

55:23

In Episode 193, author Clare Leslie Hall talks with Sarah about her US debut, Broken Country — a breakout hit and a Reese’s Book Club pick. A genre mash-up that is part love story and part murder trial, Clare talks about marketing Broken Country, how this came to be her first U.S. release, and the ways the novel evolved over time. Plus, Clare share…

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Ep. 192: Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 49:47

3M ago49:47

49:47

Welcome to the Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Catherine and Sarah share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing in April and May. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the …

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Ep. 191: Winter 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GIlmoreGuide) 56:43

3M ago56:43

56:43

In Episode 191, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 16 new releases they shared in the Winter 2025 Book Preview. They share their reading stats, chat about what they liked, and what didn’t work out. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLI…

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Ep. 190: Behind the Scenes of a Book-to-Screen Adaptation with Georgia Hunter (Author of One Good Thing) + Book Recommendations 1:07:34

3M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

In Episode 190, author Georgia Hunter returns to the podcast to chat with Sarah about her sophomore novel, One Good Thing, and go behind-the-scenes of her experience adapting her first novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, for Hulu. Georgia talks about her role as executive producer, the difference in writing a novel that wasn’t based on family history, a…

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Ep. 189: Karen Thompson Walker (Author of The Strange Case of Jane O.) + Book Recommendations 52:59

4M ago52:59

52:59

In Episode 189, author Karen Thompson Walker talks with Sarah about her career to date and her newest novel, The Strange Case of Jane O. Karen discusses her writing journey, including each book’s inspiration and research process. She also touches on the challenges of promoting her latest book without giving away too much and her current work in pro…

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Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) 55:49

4M ago55:49

55:49

In Ep. 188, we are kicking off our new “Best of…” series with Sarah’s Bookshelves Live team member, Chrissie, for the Best of Fantasy. Today, Chrissie brings you her all-time top ten favorite fantasy novels. Also, as a long-time reader and evangelizer of the genre, Chrissie talks about how she started reading fantasy, the wide scope of the genre, a…

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Ep. 187: State of the Publishing Industry in 2024 with Kathleen Schmidt of the Publishing Confidential Substack 50:29

4M ago50:29

50:29

In Ep. 187, Kathleen Schmidt, author of the popular Substack newsletter, Publishing Confidential, joins Sarah to dissect and discuss the State of the Publishing Industry in 2024. Between a high-level look back, talk about the top sales and book trends, to what Kathleen sees on the horizon for 2025 in the book world, this episode is packed with info…

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Ep. 186: The Best Backlist Books We Read in 2024 with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 52:53

5M ago52:53

52:53

In Episode 186, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Sarah share the best backlist books they read in 2024. They discuss their top 5 backlist books from last year, highlight some underrated backlist gems, and review their backlist reading statistics. Devoting an entire episode to backlist reading is now an annual tradition at Sarah’s Bookshelves Live — a …

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Ep. 185: Winter 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 55:27

5M ago55:27

55:27

Welcome to the Winter 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Catherine and Sarah share 16 of their most anticipated books releasing January through March. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on…

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Ep. 184: Best Books of 2024 Genre Awards with Susie (@NovelVisits) 1:13:43

6M ago1:13:43

1:13:43

In Episode 184, Susie (@NovelVisits) and I close out the year with our Best Books of 2024 Genre Awards. We reveal our Overall Best Books (Fiction and Nonfiction) and our full breakdown by genre, including: Best Literary Fiction, Best Romance, Best Brain Candy, Best Genre Mash-Up, and more! Plus, we’re sharing the winners for these same genres as ch…

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Bonus Episode: Behind the Scenes of Amazon’s Best Books of 2024 List with Al Woodworth, Senior Editor & Manager of Amazon Books Editorial 46:51

7M ago46:51

46:51

In this Bonus Podcast Episode, Al Woodworth, Senior Editor and Manager at Amazon Books Editorial, returns to the show to take listeners behind the scenes of Amazon’s Best Books of 2024, as chosen by the Amazon Editors! A fascinating glimpse into how the 2024 list was curated, how the rankings were determined, and what criteria guided the selections…

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Ep. 183: Best Books of 2024 Superlatives with Susie (@NovelVisits) 1:05:25

7M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

In Ep. 183, we’re starting the wrap-up of 2024 with the first of our two year-end episodes: Best Books of 2024 Superlatives with Susie (@NovelVisits). In this episode, we’re sharing our top books of the year across over 25 Superlative categories, including Most Deserving of the Hype, Best Pairing, an “Eat My Words” book, Most Memorable Cast of Char…

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Ep. 182: Chelsea Bieker (Author of Madwoman) + Book Recommendations 1:06:20

7M ago1:06:20

1:06:20

In Episode 182, author Chelsea Bieker discusss her new novel, Madwoman, with Sarah. Chelsea shares how her own childhood inspired the fictional characters in her book and what parts of the book differ from her own experience. They talk about the trajectory of this intense and personal novel that began as a “funny little book about motherhood” and m…

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Ep. 181: Fall 2024 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 54:20

8M ago54:20

54:20

In Episode 181, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 16 new releases they shared in the Fall 2024 Book Preview, now that they’ve read them. They share their reading stats, chat about what worked — and hash out which books didn’t work and why. Check out the episode for their full reviews on all their fall picks and get recom…

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Ep. 180: 2024 Debuts Special with Susie (@NovelVisits) 56:54

8M ago56:54

56:54

In Episode 180, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and Sarah return with the 4th annual Debuts Special! They’re sharing their favorite debuts, new and backlist — so far for 2024. Plus, their reading stats for debuts this year and the best sophomore novels of 2024. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a p…

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Ep. 179: From Corporate America to Indie Bookstore Owner with Gayle Weiswasser (Co-Founder of Wonderland Books) + Book Recommendations 1:13:53

9M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

In Episode 179, Sarah is joined by Gayle Weiswasser, co-founder of Wonderland Books, an independent bookstore in Bethesda, MD opening in November 2024. Gayle candidly shares her journey from her initial idea to being on the verge of opening the store. This behind-the-scenes episode offers a deep dive into everything from training and book buying to…

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Ep. 178: Behind the Scenes of Amazon's Best Books Lists with Al Woodworth, Senior Editor & Manager of Amazon Books Editorial + Book Recommendations 54:48

9M ago54:48

54:48

In Episode 178, Al Woodworth, Senior Editor and Manager at Amazon Books Editorial, goes behind the scenes of Amazon’s editorial division, including the start-to-finish process of building the “Best Books” lists, what “best” might mean, and what helps a book make the list. Plus, Al shares some of her book recommendations! This post contains affiliat…

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Ep. 177: Fall 2024 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 53:43

10M ago53:43

53:43

Welcome to the Fall 2024 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Catherine and I share 16 of our most anticipated books releasing mid-August through December. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on t…

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Ep. 176: Summer 2024 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 48:20

10M ago48:20

48:20

In Episode 176, Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books and I catch up on the 12 new releases from the Summer 2024 Book Preview. We share our reading stats, chat about what we liked, and what didn’t work out. Listen in as we share our reviews on these books and get some recommendations for your next read! This post contains affiliate links through whic…

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Ep. 175: 2024 Micro Genres We Love with Susie (@NovelVisits) 51:34

11M ago51:34

51:34

In Episode 175, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I explore our favorite Micro Genres for 2024. Over the past year, we’ve continued to refine our reading tastes and identify specific themes and types of books that resonate deeply with us. This year, Susie and I have a curated list of 10 all-new Micro Genres, along with standout books from each catego…

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Ep. 174: Unscripted | Auto-Buy Authors with Susie and Catherine 1:30:20

11M ago1:30:20

1:30:20

For Ep. 174, due to an unexpected change in our episode schedule, we’re bringing you an episode from our newest Patreon bonus series, Unscripted. This series is our sandbox for any bookish topic, whether it’s publishing news, behind-the-scenes insights from the podcast and our reading lives, or patron-submitted discussions. Most Unscripted episodes…

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Ep. 173: Circling Back to Micro Genres We've Loved (2024) with Susie (@NovelVisits) 53:13

11M ago53:13

53:13

For Ep. 173, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) joins me as we circle back to one of our favorite topics — niching down our reading into micro genres! In this special Circle Back, we revisit some previously shared micro genres from our two past Micro Genres We Love episodes and introduce two additional micro genres from a Patreon bonus episode not yet hea…

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Ep. 172: Best Books of 2024 (So Far) with Susie and Catherine 1:04:26

12M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

In Ep. 172, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits), Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide), and I are together for the first time on the big show to catch up on our 2024 reading — so far! We talk about the current publishing landscape, what books are topping bestseller lists to date, and our personal reading as it stands halfway through the year. We share our stat…

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Ep. 171: Rufi Thorpe (Author of Margo's Got Money Troubles) + Book Recommendations 57:00

1y ago57:00

57:00

In Episode 171, Rufi Thorpe she joins me to discuss her latest novel, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and her career arc in general. Rufi talks about her inspiration for Margo and the quirky elements she uses to explore deeper topics like loneliness, motherhood, untraditional family dynamics, money, and art — all with a great sense of humor. We also go…

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Special Announcement 1:37

1y ago1:37

1:37

Hey there Screen Beans! We have an important announcement. Please give it a listen. Thanks!

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Ep. 170: Summer 2024 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 46:58

1y ago46:58

46:58

Announcement One of the many benefits to joining our Patreon Community is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies avail…

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Ep. 169: Spring 2024 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 50:50

1y ago50:50

50:50

In Episode 169, Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books and I catch up on the 12 new releases from the Spring 2024 Book Preview. We share our reading stats, chat about what we liked, and what didn’t quite hit the mark. Tune in to hear our thoughts on these books and get some recommendations for your next read! This post contains affiliate links through…

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Ep. 168: 2024 Summer Reading Special with Susie (@NovelVisits) 1:09:35

1y ago1:09:35

1:09:35

Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I share our favorite books that missed last year’s Summer Reading Guide, some shorter books we think are great for summer reading, and our #1 picks for each category featured in my 2024 Summer Reading Guide. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cos…

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Ep. 167: Circling Back to 2018 in Books with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 54:46

1y ago54:46

54:46

In Ep. 167, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and I are circling back to 2018 in the book world with a special retrospective episode! We share big bookish highlights for that year, including book news, award winners, and what was going on in the world outside of reading. We also talk about our own 2018 reading and our favorite 2018 releases. Plus, you’ll h…

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Ep. 166: Andrew Boryga (Author of Victim) + Book Recommendations 48:29

1y ago48:29

48:29

In episode 166, author Andrew Boryga joins me to discuss his debut novel, Victim, a funny and gripping satire about success and identity. Through the adventures of Javier, Victim explores what “diversity” means, why society loves a victim narrative, and the pitfalls of chasing fame online. Boryga combines humor with biting social commentary without…

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Ep. 165: Spring 2024 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 49:37

1y ago49:37

49:37

Welcome to the Spring 2024 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! In this episode, Catherine and I share 12 of our most anticipated books releasing in April and May. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on …

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Ep. 164: Winter 2024 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 55:28

1+ y ago55:28

55:28

In today’s episode, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and I circle back to the 16 books we featured in the Winter 2024 Book Preview. We’ll be sharing our reading stats and thoughts on the books we’ve read (or attempted), to help you decide which ones to add to your reading list and which ones to skip. This post contains affiliate links through which I make…

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Ep. 163: Classics & Retellings 101 with Sara Hildreth (@FictionMatters) + Book Recommendations 1:10:24

1+ y ago1:10:24

1:10:24

In Episode 163, Sara Hildreth, from @FictionMatters and co-host of the podcast Novel Pairings, returns for her third appearance on our show as our expert for Classics & Retellings 101. Sara guides us through the sometimes intimidating world of timeless reads in an accessible way. She busted some myths about classics and changed my mind about some e…

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Ep. 162: BookTok 101 with Leigh Stein (Author & Journalist) + Book Recommendations 54:45

1+ y ago54:45

54:45

In Episode 162, Leigh Stein (author and journalist) joins me to jump into the world of BookTok, the bookish corner of TikTok. We talk about what early elements started this sensation, how creators and their content are different on this platform, and the main audience engaging with the app’s evolving algorithm. We also discuss the continuing gap in…

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Episode #140: Taylor Hicklen 1:05:34

1+ y ago1:05:34

1:05:34

Hey there Screen Beans! Time for an all new episode and this week we chat with the charming and funny, Taylor Hicklen! We chat with Taylor about his work in community management, web design and his love of writing. We also dive deep on Spaceballs, Dicks: The Musical and Very Important People! You can find the show on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram an…

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Ep. 161: Amanda Peters (Author of The Berry Pickers) + Book Recommendations 38:08

1+ y ago38:08

38:08

In Episode 161, author Amanda Peters joins me to discuss her surprise hit novel, The Berry Pickers. This debut novel (which was the 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Pick) seamlessly blends sadness and heartwarming moments. In our chat, Amanda shares what (or who) started her on this journey, the road to publication, and what she hopes readers take away…

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Episode #139: Tatum 1:01:03

1+ y ago1:01:03

1:01:03

Hey there Screen Beans! We're back from our break and we have a doozy of a guest. We're joined this week by PR mastermind and wonderful human, Tatum! We chat with them about how they got started working in PR as well as how they balance playing games for work and pleasure. We also deep dive on Five Nights at Freddy's, The Hunger Games franchise and…

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Ep. 160: The Best Backlist Books We Read in 2023 with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 55:51

1+ y ago55:51

55:51

In Episode 160, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and I share the best backlist books we read in 2023. We each discuss our top 5 backlist books from last year, highlight some underrated backlist gems, and review our backlist reading statistics. Devoting an entire episode to backlist reading is something we love doing and we've heard from you that you love …

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Ep. 159: Winter 2024 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) 56:02

1+ y ago56:02

56:02

Welcome to the Winter 2024 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! In this episode, Catherine and I share 16 of our most anticipated books releasing January through March. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Note…

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Ep. 158: Best Books of 2023 Genre Awards with Susie (@NovelVisits) 1:06:41

1+ y ago1:06:41

1:06:41

In Episode 158, we wrap up the year with our Best Books of 2023 Genre Awards with Susie (@NovelVisits). We reveal our Overall Best Books (Fiction and Nonfiction), and we have a full breakdown by genre, including: Best Literary Fiction, Best Romance, Best Brain Candy, Best Genre Mash-Up, and more! Plus, we’re sharing the winners for these same genre…

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Episode #138: Carli Velocci 58:57

1+ y ago58:57

58:57

Hey there Screen Beans! We're back at it and this time we are joined by the brilliant Carli Velocci! We chat with Carli about how they got started in journalism, some of their favorite things to write about, their podcast TOTAL MASSACRE, as well as their recent work with the folks over on REMAP. We also dive deep on Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, The Boy…

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Ep. 157: Best Books of 2023 Superlatives with Susie (@NovelVisits) 1:07:38

1+ y ago1:07:38

1:07:38

We’re gearing up to close out our year of reading with today’s podcast episode, featuring the Best Books of 2023 Superlatives with Susie (@NovelVisits). Our wrap-up is split into two episodes: today’s Superlatives and next week’s Genre Awards. Today, we’re diving into more than 25 Superlative categories, including Most Deserving of the Hype, Bigges…

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Episode #137: Lisa Foiles 1:02:34

1+ y ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Hey there Screen Beans! We're back with an ALL NEW episode and this week we are chatting with actor, singer, podcaster and all around delightful nerd, Lisa Foiles. We chat with Lisa about her podcast Temperamental with Lisa Foiles, her band Von Boldt as well as what it's been like writing music, playing live shows and producing a video and audio po…

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Ep. 156: 2023 State of the Industry with Sarah Landis (Literary Agent) 1:02:06

1+ y ago1:02:06

1:02:06

For our first annual 2023 State of the Industry episode, we’re welcoming back literary agent Sarah Landis for an overview and exploration of some hot topics in the book world this year. Taking stock of how this year panned out for the publishing industry, Sarah discusses top news stories, dives deep into how specific titles performed this year, and…

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Episode #136: Jala-chan 1:07:40

1+ y ago1:07:40

1:07:40

Hey there Screen Beans! We're back at it and this time we are joined by podcaster, personal trainer and incredible human Jala-chan! We chat with Jala about her podcast, Jala-chan's Place, community building and choosing podcast topics. We also deep dive on The Bear (Season 1), Kung Fury and The Expendables! You can find the show on Facebook, Twitte…