Join us on the Book Creators Talk Podcast as Jerid P. Woods, the force behind A Black Man Reading, shares his journey from devouring Little Golden Books at age 3 to becoming a cultural catalyst for creative resistance. In this raw, unfiltered conversation, he dives into:

Early Reading & Moments That Made Him Come Alive: From 50 pages an hour to life-changing quotes like "What will you do for free?"

Books & Culture: How books influence pop culture, ignite discussions, and shape the future of Black literature.

Hip-Hop & Media: His take on Kendrick’s halftime show and the evolving landscape of music journalism.

Community, Confidence & Creative Resistance: Building a community for his haters, engaging young readers, and transforming education through literature.

Tune in for rapid-fire book recommendations, candid insights on creativity, and a bold vision for a world where books empower and protect culture.

Timestamps:
1:01 – Early Reading
5:20 – Moments That Made Him Come Alive
7:40 – Heroes Growing Up
10:40 – Dr. Black
11:28 – What A Black Man Reading Means
14:40 – Creating Different Pages as a Creator
15:55 – Books Are Pop Culture
17:50 – Kendrick Halftime Show
22:25 – Music Journalism
25:35 – Telling the Truth About History
30:20 – Everything We Are
35:00 – Humor in Content Creation
37:33 – Engaging with Literature
39:44 – Building Community
42:33 – Going Viral as a Creator
44:33 – Dealing with Trolls
46:17 – Encouraging and Teaching the Youth
49:33 – Helping Kids Build Confidence as Readers
51:55 – Classroom Reading Culture
53:36 – Writing Process – Perfect Day of Writing
58:40 – Last, Now, Next Books
1:02:45 – Rapid Fire Book Questions
1:06:22 – What Would You Like to See More of in the Book World?
1:07:24 – What Would You Like to See Less of in the Book World?

Places to find more from Jerid:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablackmanreading/?hl=en
Website - https://ablackmanreading.com/

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

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In this candid conversation, Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks podcast, shares her unfiltered thoughts on the literary world, pop culture, and what readers can expect in 2025. From her personal writing philosophy to her favorite book-to-screen adaptations, Traci offers insights that challenge conventional views and spark meaningful discussions.

Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose by Keith O'Brien (Sports Book Rec)
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (Sports Adjunct)
Coming Home by Brittany Griner (Sports Book Rec)
The Sixth Man: A Memoir" by Andre Iguodala and Carvell Wallace (Sports Book Rec)
Another Word for Love by Carvell Wallace
The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh (Kyle Pick)
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Conclave by Robert Harris( Book-to-Movie Adaptations - Enjoyed)
Erasure by Percival Everett (Book-to-Movie Adaptations - Did not Like)
Killers of the Flower Moon (Book-to-Movie Adaptations - Did Not Like)
Oppenheimer by J. Robert Oppenheimer (Enjoyed Book-to-Movie Adaptations - Enjoyed)
Original Sins by Eve Ewing (Author Most Likely to Breakout in 2025)
The Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin (Author Most Likely to Breakout in 2025)
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (Book with Great Social Commentary)
The Color of Trouble by Martha S. Johnson (Author Most Likely to Have a Renaissance in 2025)
Black in Blues by Imani Perry
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar New Book
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Classic Most Likely to Have A Revival)
City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon (Authors You Are Excited to See Step into a New Genre)
Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green (Authors You Are Excited to See Step into a New Genre)
Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi (Authors You Are Excited to See Step into a New Genre)
Authority Essays by Andrea Long Chu (Most Anticipated Book of 2025)

Connect with Traci Thomas and The Stacks:

Website: The Stacks Podcast
Instagram: @thestackspod
Twitter: @thestackspod
TikTok: @thestackspod

For more engaging book discussions and insights, subscribe to The Stacks podcast and join the conversation on social media.

This episode is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Please make sure to like, comment and subscribe to our channel.

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode, I sit down with Randy Winston, Creative Director of Fiction at The Black List, to discuss the publishing industry, the craft of writing, and how writers can stand out. We dive into the creative process, the role of The Black List in fiction, traditional vs. hybrid publishing, and what truly makes a great fiction story.

If you're a writer looking to navigate the publishing world or just love great storytelling, this conversation is for you!

📌 Timestamps:
1:03 - Revisiting old creative work
3:04 - Finding your creative path
4:37 - Navigating the publishing industry
8:25 - What is The Black List?
9:40 - On Franklin Leonard
11:20 - The Black List Fiction
14:50 - The traditional route of writing a book
18:20 - The Black List’s role in publishing
24:20 - How authors are evaluated
28:25 - Hybrid vs. Traditional publishing
33:01 - Mixing genres in fiction



📢 Follow Randy Winston:
🔗 Substack - https://substack.com/@randywinston/no...
🔗 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_rwinstonsw...
🔗 For Writing Feedback - Submit your Writing to The Black List: https://blcklst.com/fiction

🔔 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on writing, publishing, and storytelling - @bookumapp

Download our new Book Club app at www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this exclusive interview, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Eig joins us to discuss his groundbreaking biography, King: A Life.

We dive deep into the real Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—his struggles, triumphs, and the misconceptions that history has perpetuated.

📌 Timestamps:
1:04 - MLK Day in 2025
2:34 - Montgomery Bus Boycott
4:03 - MLK Sr.’s Influence on MLK Jr.
5:38 - Sweet Auburn Ave. Black Affluent Neighborhood
8:02 - MLK’s Mentors & Influences
10:25 - Coretta Scott King’s Role
12:12 - Building the Organization
14:02 - Humanizing Dr. King
18:25 - How the Movement Evolved
19:50 - What Modern Movements Can Learn from the Civil Rights Movement
21:20 - President Kennedy, RFK, LBJ and FBI Surveillance
23:20 - The Mental Pressure on MLK
26:10 - MLK’s Infidelity & FBI Surveillance
27:40 - FBI tapes released on MLK
28:55 - Selma
31:20 - Losing the Confidence of Younger Activists
33:00 - Religion and Global Impact of King
34:30 - "I Have a Dream" Speech & Legacy
37:10 - Interview People That Knew MLK Jr.
38:55 - The Pressure of Writing the Book
42:40 - Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community?

📖 About the Book: King: A Life is the first major biography of MLK in decades, offering a deeply human portrayal of the man behind the legend.

Get your copy here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374719678/kingalife/

🔔 Subscribe for more insightful interviews and discussions: @bookum

Twitter: @jonathaneig - https://x.com/jonathaneig
Instagram: @jonathaneig - https://www.instagram.com/joneig/

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of the Book Creators Talk Podcast, we sit down with Lupita Aquino (@lupita.reads), a passionate advocate for Latine literature and vibrant bookish content creator. Known for her work uplifting diverse voices through the #ReadLatineLit Challenge and La Comunidad Reads Book Club, Lupita shares her journey, creative process, and insights into the literary world.

✨ Highlights from the conversation:

1:04 - Favorite books from Childhood
4:18 - Becoming a Book Content Creator
8:05 - Echo-Chamber of Literary space
12:10 - American Dirt Drama
16:55 - Naviagate being a voice people want hear from on major topics
19:50 - Content Creation Process
23:16 - On Writing content
26:16 - Bookish Collaborations
28:46 - On Community
32:26 - On Algorithm
33:00 - Read Latine Lit
36:20 - Latine Authors
39:50 - Book Criticism
44:16 - Meeting Oprah
46:20 - Last, Now, Next Books
48:50 - Rapid Fire Book Questions
53:40 - What would you like to see more of in the book world?
54:21 - What would you like to see less of in the book world?


📚 Books mentioned in this episode:

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right by Paola Ramos
How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz
Magical/Realism by Vanessa Angélica Villarreal
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Black in Blues by Imani Perry

➡️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with your favorite bookish creators!

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this episode of the Founders Talk Podcast, Tanya Sam shares her incredible journey from building a 10K+ member book club to launching a publishing company focused on amplifying women’s voices. Tanya opens up about her entrepreneurial path, the importance of community, and her mission to support diverse voices in publishing. If you’re a female entrepreneur, book lover, or looking for inspiration to grow your own community, this episode is for you!

Timestamps:

0:15 - Intro
1:25 - Reading Growing Up
3:02 - Toronto & Cultural Upbringing
5:05 - Being a Founder with a lot of talents
5:50 - Tanya Time Book Club
6:40 - On Community
7:45 - Selecting books for the Book Club
8:40 - Process of Hosting Book Club
14:18 - Traveling Book Clubs
16:50 - Ghana & London Book Club Trip
21:20 - Tips for Building a Successful Book Club
22:10 - Starting a Publishing Company (Elizabeth & Minnie)
28:03 - Publishing Fundamentals
30:15 - Author Submissions to Elizabeth & Minnie Process
33:28 - On Marketing Books
37:30 - The Connection Between Book Clubs & Being a Publisher
39:01 - Author Deals & Advances
41:30 - Book-to-Screen Adaptations
44:02 - Books Are IP
44:58 - AI in Book Publishing
48:40 - Last, Now, Next Books
50:20 - Best Page-Turner
51:55 - Rapid-Fire Book Questions
56:20 - Legacy Tanya Wants to Leave Behind
57:00 - Founder's Toolkit
57:35 - Book Club's Toolkit
58:10 - Upcoming Events for Tanya
Follow Tanya Sam on Social Media:

Books Tanya Mentions:

Nancy Drew series
Little Mysteries
The Fabulous Four by Enid Blyton
Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal
Babysitters Club series
Judy Blume books
Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campell (Last Book)
The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji(Current)
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Current)
The Alchemist (Current)
We Are Not Like Them by Christina Pride & Jo Piazza (Book Club Pick)
Gary Janette Autobiography
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie (Audiobook)
Authors Tanya Mentions:

Judy Blume
Tia Williams
Peace Adzo Medie
Kimberly Bell
V.E. Schwab
Octavia Butler
Alice Walker
Nikki Giovanni
Oprah Winfrey

Instagram: @itstanyasam
Twitter: @itstanyasam
Website: tanyasam.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!