The Reading Culture Podcast

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The Reading Culture Podcast

The Reading Culture Podcast
co-founder Jordan Lloyd Bookey hosts conversations with author

12/27/2025

It wouldn't be a yearbook without a few superlatives, right? 🥁🥁🥁

Announcing our 2025 awards and superlatives! Thank you to everyone who listened throughout the year and let me know your favorite moments. It was basically impossible to choose these highlights from the year, but we did our best and took your feedback. Enjoy these little moments of joy and insight...take them into 2026 with you!

By the way, I think I deserved "best reaction" for my shriek in response to 's ghost story, but hey 😱 😂 . And check out the Yearbook episode in full at thereadingculturepod.com/yearbook-2025

P.S. I could have gone with "Most Conscientious," but no duplicates, right? 🤣🥰

12/23/2025

Three years strong! We’re back with our favorite tradition: The Reading Culture Yearbook.

As we close out 2025, we’ve gathered superlatives and stories that celebrate some of the memorable authors who joined us on the show this year.

This year’s edition features awards such as “Most Revolutionary,” “Grandma’s Hands,” “Scariest Story,” and, of course, “Best Reading Advice.”

I’m also saying a brief farewell as we go on hiatus for the winter. But don’t worry, we’ll be back later in 2026 with exciting things on the horizon. ❤️

Thank you for listening and being a part of this community. I wish you all a healthy and happy 2026!

12/16/2025

Books as little homes. 🥰 Thank you, for so perfectly encapsulating the comfort and magic of books.

12/10/2025

Home. It’s something we spend our whole lives building and rebuilding. Sometimes it’s made of walls and windows. Others, it’s made of words.

Sophie Blackall builds hers through imagination and community. The two-time Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator, known for works such as "Hello Lighthouse," "If You Come to Earth," and "Finding Winnie," has spent her life transforming that search into stories.

In this converation, Sophie shares about her nomadic childhood, why she is fixated on the idea of home and yet never feels settled, and what books she reaches for to feel safe. We also talk about Milkwood—the magical farm retreat she created for the children’s book community to cook, commune, and collaborate.

Settle in for a wide-ranging conversation that ruminates on the meaning we build into and out of our lives.

P.S. Thanks to this week’s featured librarian, Kimberly Thompson, the library media specialist at East Side Middle School in Bullock County, Kentucky. And double thanks to Tracy for connecting me with Sophie. :)

12/02/2025

One thing about ...he is going to acknowledge truth, struggle, and also all of his (s)heroes and predecessors. Ask Mychal about his own career, and he will always speak to his grandparents and then make sure we remember the people to whom he dedicates this work. You are absolutely carrying forth the legacies of those you seek to make proud, Mychal. Thank you. 🙏❤️📚🥹

11/25/2025

Welcome back to The Reading Culture podcast, Mychal Threets! 🐝💐💖📚🌈🤗

In this episode, we take a trip to St. Louis, where my conversation with Mychal was recorded live on stage at the American Association of School Librarians . You’ll hear all about how Mychal is stepping into his own rainbow-colored shoes while honoring LeVar Burton’s legacy, how he turned pain into purpose, and the ongoing importance and power of “library joy.” Oh, and you’ll find out who Mychal’s favorite Golden Girl is. And wow, the joy among the librarians in that convention hall, including two standing ovations for Mychal, was palpable.

Like so many of you, I am deeply grateful for and his message. Happy listening, and thanks again to the folks at AASL for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

11/14/2025

Expect words on wise words when talking with 🎤💙

11/12/2025

Nic Stone isn’t interested in staying in her lane.

A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Nic’s young adult and middle grade novels explore the nuances of racism, power and mental illness with clarity and compassion. Recently, she stepped into uncharted territory with Boom Town, her first adult novel. Set in a legendary Atlanta strip club, it’s a story about women, survival, and social power, and is a reflection of Nic’s own creative evolution.

In this Second Chapter conversation, Nic returns to the podcast and gets real about what it means to grow louder and freer, to become more yourself. She talks about lighting rage letters on fire, a recent existential crisis (hello, middle age), and the surprising way her new book helped her dad heal old wounds.

Settle in for a conversation that’ll make you want to live a little louder and embrace every chaotic (and beautiful) version of who you are.

11/05/2025

When I go into these second chapter conversations with authors, I generally have a few topics in mind to keep us focused. For , I intended to discuss the concept of limbo as it pertains to ghosts and the liminal space between living and dying. But our conversation took a different turn, and wow. The in-between. The limbo. Erin’s thoughts on this were emotional and captivating.

Catch the full conversation at thereadingculturepod.com or wherever you listen to podcasts

10/29/2025

Welcome back to The Reading Culture podcast, Erin Entrada Kelly! 📚🥰

There are seasons when life slows down, even as our minds continue to race. When we find ourselves caught somewhere between motion and stillness, haunted by what came before and reaching for what’s next. That tension has become deeply personal for two time Newbery medal 🏅 , National Book Award finalist, and all around fabulous person and author, Erin Entrada Kelly. After an aggressive cancer diagnosis, Erin found herself living in a space between who she was and who she was becoming.

In this episode, Erin returns to the show for a very special “Second Chapter” conversation. This time, Erin reflects on recovery, rest, and redefining momentum. She shares how illness has reshaped her creative process, the surprising calm she’s found in cinematic ASMR, and a haunting true story from a hotel in New Orleans that might just make you believe in ghosts. It certainly made me scream. 😱

Settle in for an honest, tender conversation about living in the in-between. 💓

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This week’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kimberly Thompson, the library media specialist at East Side Middle School in Bullock County, Kentucky. After all that talk about being stuck in limbo and building momentum, Kimberly shares a story of one reader who found his mo’.

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