Poured Over
Poured Over is a show for readers who pore over details, obsess over sentences and ideas and stories and characters; readers who ask a lot of questions, just like Poured Over's host, Miwa Messer, a career bookseller who's always reading. Follow us here for surprising riffs, candid conversations, a few laughs, and lots of great book recommendations from big name authors and authors on their way to being big names. New episodes land Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional bonus episodes on Saturdays).
Show episodes
A Long Game by Elizabeth McCracken is a thoughtful and engaging guide to the craft of writing filled with tips, tricks and personal anecdotes from an acclaimed author. Elizabeth joins us to talk about breaking story rules, short stories vs novels, character physicality, setting, plot, dialogue and more with host Miwa M
Small Rain by Garth Greenwell is a haunting story of one man's emotional reckoning. Garth joins us to talk about bewilderment, memory, interiority, James Baldwin, home ownership, intimacy and more with host Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.
Good Things by Samin Nosrat — our 2025 Gift Book of the Year — is a unique guide to forming a deeper sense of connection through food, paired with gorgeous photos and heartwarming anecdotes. Samin joins us to talk about reconnecting with cooking, writing recipes, teaching new thought processes in the kitchen, sharing a
Girls Play Dead by award-winning journalist Jen Percy is a powerful and poignant portrait of women and survival. Jen joins us to talk about understanding trauma, PTSD, gender expectations, wartime reportage, self-preservation, research and more with host Miwa Messer. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messe
Heart the Lover by Lily King is a gripping story of family, identity, life and love from the bestselling author of Writers & Lovers. Lily joined us live at B&N Upper West Side to talk about crafting an emotional arc, writing little moments between characters, details, process, vulnerability and more with host Miwa Mess
Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century by author and critic W. David Marx is a gripping retrospective that examines our culture today — and questions where we might be headed. David joins us to talk about living in Tokyo, the internet, merging art and commerce, nostalgia, smartphones and more with
