Books That Make You Podcast

What if your stepfather was one of the most misunderstood yet spiritually profound composers of the 20th century—and your mother spent years writing his story? In this episode, Bill Holst shares the extraordinary journey behind Alan Hovhaness: Unveiling One of the Great Composers of the 20th Century, a memoir built fro

How do you go from writing a Star Trek episode to launching rockets, facing crocodiles, and eventually healing through writing? Chester L. Richards returns to the show to share moments from his second memoir, The Trek Continues: More Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist. This lively interview explores how a vivid dream led to

What do a dead goldfish, Pat Boone, and crème de menthe have in common? For acclaimed memoirist Sue William Silverman, they're all part of her deeply personal and poetic exploration in her latest book, Selected Misdemeanors: Essays at the Mercy of the Reader. In this conversation, Sue opens up about the emotional misst

What happens when you're diagnosed with breast cancer at 67—just after building your dream home and planning your wedding? For Shelley Malicote Stutchman, you write about it with raw honesty, a whole lot of humor, and just enough sass to make people gasp. In this episode, Shelley joins us to talk about her memoir, Peek

What if your favorite authors weren't just names on book spines, but people you could meet in person? Joe Solari, managing director of Reader Nation and Writer Nation, shares why the upcoming Reader Nation event in Las Vegas is more than just a book signing. It's a real-world book community coming to life. Held at the

What happens when your family identity, religious upbringing, and personal truth collide? In this compelling conversation, author Bill Hulseman shares the deeply personal stories that shaped his life and inspired his book six to carry the casket and one to say the mass: reflections on life, identity, and moving forward