Books That Make You Podcast

What happens when your father creates a cult, and you’re left to raise yourself in a decaying mansion filled with spiritual seekers and chaos? That’s the world of Naked Girl, the powerful novel by Janna Brooke Wallack. In this conversation, Janna delves into the unconventional childhood that inspired her book, her thou

Can you really publish a book on your own? What does it take to be a successful indie author today? In this episode, we sit down with Jim Azevedo, a key figure in the self-publishing revolution and part of the team at Draft2Digital. Jim shares the fascinating journey from Smashwords to Draft2Digital, and how the indust

How do schools shape our understanding of race—intentionally or not? Dr. Laura C. Chávez-Moreno joins us to discuss her groundbreaking book How Schools Make Race, which examines the ways educational systems reinforce racial identities and hierarchies. Through her research in a bilingual education program, Dr. Chávez-Mo

What if the truth about extraterrestrials and hidden government projects was right in front of us? Author Paul Vecchiet joins us to discuss The Disclosure Paradox, a novel that blurs the line between fiction and reality. Inspired by his experiences with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Paul shares insights into secret

What happens when you blend On the Road with The X-Files? You get Skunk Ape Semester, a thrilling yet thoughtful road trip through paranormal Americana. Award-winning author Mike Robinson joins Books That Make You to discuss his latest novel, his fascination with Bigfoot, and how speculative fiction can explore humanit

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Sara Winokur, geneticist-turned-author, as she delves into the inspiration behind her thrilling novel, Ivory Bones. Drawing from her ancestry, which traces back to a Barbary pirate, and her extensive career in genetics, Sara weaves together a murder mystery that’s as grounded