A LITTLE TOO QUIET: THE FERNDALE LIBRARY PODCAST

The Soundtrack of Our Lives

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the podcast, we're running through some of the most important (& some of our favorite) albums from our "formative years," nearly all of which...

What’s All This, Then? Banned Books

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're checking in on some of the latest bits of news, particularly here in Michigan, concerning challenges to the collections of public libraries. 

Tabletop RPGs (Role-Playing Games)

29 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, our Youth Librarians take over the show, once again, turning it into "A Little Too Loud." This episode is all about RPG games, or tabletop role...

J. Ryan Stradal - Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We spoke with NY Times Bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal (Kitchens of the Great Midwest) about his 3rd novel, Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper ...

Shakespeare

22 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Your one-stop podcast for all-things-Shakespeare: marking the occasion of his death and birth? Enjoy this episode, in which "...two literature studen...

Spring Reads

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kricket and Sarah are back with plenty of amazing new reading recommendations, perfect for the Spring time! Picks include: Everybody Was So Young - Am...

Divining: A Memoir in Trees by Maureen Dunphy

15 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In sixteen essays, each named after a species of tree, Maureen Dunphy explores the nature of human-arboreal relationships, and how each of these trees...

The ”Yes, And...” Nature of Youth Librarianship

08 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two particularly creative Ferndale Librarians from the Youth Department are taking over the podcast this week, regaling their approach to programming ...

Singer/songwriter Mike Ward

01 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mike Ward: Psychosongs | Performing here at the library on April 7 AND releasing a new album, Love Never Rests.  Ward is performing here as part of ...

Women’s Wrongs in Classic Literature

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

At the end of Women's History Month, we're here not only to celebrate Women's Rights but Women's WRONGS....or the perceived "wrongs" of classic litera...

Allegories: From Andor to Spirited Away

25 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's our 200th episode! Which...., we don't mention that during the actual episode because we only realized it after we'd finished recording. But plea...

Alma Katsu - Red London

18 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're chatting with author Alma Katsu about Red London, the second installment in her new spy/thriller series following protagonist Lindse...

Litigating Classic Lit: Romeo & Juliet, Odyssey, and Moby Dick

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Above all else, we're here to encourage anyone and everyone who have NOT (ever) read either of the three titles discussed today (Romeo & Juliet, Odyss...

Linda Nemec Foster - Bone Country

11 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We chatted with author/poet Linda Nemec Foster about her new collection of prose poetry, Bone Country.  All of the pieces are inspired by other part...

Pancho Villa’s Skull

04 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Metro Detroit-based brother-duo Pancho Villa's Skull performs at the Ferndale Library on Friday, March 10 at 7:30 pm - Pancho Villa’s Skull was sta...

Best Pictures with Staying Power

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We look back at 20 years' worth of Best Picture winners and nominees with film enthusiast/lecturer Greg Black. Greg will be HERE on March 7 for his an...

C.J. Box - Storm Watch

25 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

C.J. Box is an award-winning N.Y. Times Bestselling author, famous for his long-running Joe Pickett series about a Wyoming Game Warden. His latest is ...

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great MUSICALS Debate of 2023

18 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the podcast, Rodi, Mary Grahame, Simon and Kricket discuss their favorite musicals, as well as some of their least favorites... This is all a...

(Long Live the) Rom-Coms

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of our upcoming Rom-Com Movie Trivia Night, here in Ferndale, we're having a panel discussion all about our favorite Rom-Coms! (www.fadl.org/tri...

The Baking Episode

04 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our annual BAKE SALE is coming up on February 13! If you live in Ferndale and you want to sign up to bake, click here: www.fadl.org/bakesale | Today o...

Interview with Ethos (Detroit-based indie-rock)

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ethos is a Detroit-area indie-rock band led by singer/songwriter Christian Burke; they'll be performing HERE at the Ferndale Library on Friday, Febru...

Grady Hendrix - How To Sell a Haunted House

28 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, we're talking to one of the most unique and imaginative authors on the contemporary horror scene: Grady Hendrix. The bestsel...

MI Right to Read Miniseries- Part One

21 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're here today, once again, to talk about attempts to ban books from libraries. We'll look back at last year, especially some of the instances that ...

Adaptations...that are actually GOOD

14 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We always hear how "the book was better..." But sometimes the film or tv adaptation is actually QUITE GOOD. And perhaps even sometimes the adaptation ...

Interview with artist Mike Ross

07 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Detroit-based painter/artist/musician Mike Ross currently has new/recent works up on display inside the Ferndale Library. Ten years ago, to the day, J...

Author Interviews - Lisa Scottoline & Jonathan Evison

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's our last recap/rerun episode of the year, looking back to conversations we had with Lisa Scottoline (author of 'What Happened About The Bennetts'...

Author Interviews: Brit Bennett & Mohsin Hamid

17 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're listening back to two of our favorite interviews from 2022: Brit Bennett (The Vanishing Half) and Mohsin Hamid (The Last White Man). ...

Winter Reads

10 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the podcast, our librarians are back for MORE seasonally-inspired reading recommendations! Winter is coming!  Titles discussed include: Bod...

Reverse Ready Reference (Game)

03 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're playing a game, and YOU can play along! Often, our librarians have to help someone find a book but are only provided scant or scatter...

Laura E. Weymouth: A Consuming Fire

26 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're talking with author Laura E. Weymouth about her new YA novel, A Consuming Fire. https://lauraeweymouth.com/  Laura Weymouth is a Ca...

Our Favorite Albums

19 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the podcast, we're looking back on some of our "favorite" albums that we selected to be featured on our library's website! Visit our Rea...

Favorite Books (etc) of the Year

12 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Grahame & Rodi are back on the pod and they have LISTS.  Titles Discussed Include:  House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson Dracula by Bram Stoker...

The Manga Episode

05 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're talking about our favorite Manga series. Manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan--and over the years, public librar...

Author Interview: Ophelia Crane

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're talking to author Ophelia Crane about her latest work of fantasy/horror, 'I Hope Your Abuser Dies.' Crane has written a handful of novels ...

What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?

28 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An entire podcast dedicated to horror films. Jeff and Simon unpack the progression of horror films from the 1920s through the 2020s, singing the prai...

Keanu Reeves

22 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We circulate nearly every popular film that Keanu Reeves has ever made... And, now that we have at least ONE tie-in to a library resource there, we'r...

Don’t Quote Me On That

15 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Iconic? Well, we'll see... Jeff is performing lines from films, books (and..., inevitably, films adapted from books!) We have a panel of three contest...

(Scary) Movies (But Also, Just MOVIES)

08 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the podcast, we're talking about movies! Specifically our DVDs and Blu-Rays, and the upcoming Movie Trivia Night we're hosting. But beyond th...

Scary Books

01 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah wanted to round up recommendations of "scary books for scaredy cats," but we're not sure if Simon and Jeff's picks perfectly fit those criteria...

Beverly Jenkins (Romance Part Three)

24 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Completing a trilogy of episodes on the romance genre, we have an interview with award-winning Michigan-based romance author BEVERLY JENKINS. https://...

Autumn Book Recommendations

17 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ensconce yourself in a really cozy nook and read these books! Kricket, Jeff and Sarah are sharing reading recommendations for the Fall!  The Secret H...

Something For Everyone: MI Right To Read

10 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, ahead of Banned Books Week, we're talking about the new grassroots coalition, MI Right To Read, organized by the Michigan Library Associati...

Library History & the Sci Fi Book Club

03 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

[ENCORE] This week, we're listening back to our 2nd episode ever, way back in January of 2020, talking about the modern history of our library with Ke...

Narrative Nonfiction

27 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Finally, an episode for the nonfiction fans. Today, we're talking about our favorite narrative nonfiction books - books that tell true stories but are...

Approximately Accurate

20 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Can our librarians describe Top Gun having never seen it? Today on the podcast, our staff are playing a little game: trying to accurately describe a p...

Romance Part Two

13 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mary Grahame & Rodi join Jeff to, once again, discuss the romance genre. We talk about the Flea Bag-ification of Jane Austen adaptations; the Failure ...

Graphic Novels

06 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We've started a new Graphic Novel Book Club! (First meeting is August 16).  So, this week on "A Little Too Quiet," we're discussing GRAPHIC NOVELS! J...

Mohsin Hamid - The Last White Man

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Joining us on our podcast this week is acclaimed bestselling author Mohsin Hamid ('Exit West'), discussing his latest book, 'The Last White Man.' In ...

Marvel: It’s Not Just A ”Phase” w/April Baer

30 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Aby welcome April Baer, award-winning broadcast journalist and host of Michigan Radio (91.7)'s Stateside--explicitly to discuss ALL THINGS M...

Disney’s Filmography

23 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on the podcast, Rodi, Jeff, and Mary Grahame discuss DISNEY, particularly their favorite films and their least-favorite films. What's worked? S...

Video Games

16 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this week's episode, Damon, Jeff, Kerrie and Simon are discussing VIDEO GAMES, which is one of the many items that our library circulates! We're t...

Kayla Cottingham - My Dearest Darkest

09 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kayla Cottingham is a Boston-based YA author and librarian. She is passionate about connecting young people with books featuring diverse voices so the...

An Anime for Everyone

02 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Rodi and Jeff welcome Aby back to the podcast to discuss anime & manga. We particularly talk a lot about our favorite anime shows, genre breakdowns, f...

Audiobooks / Interview with Dan John Miller (Professional Narrator/Performer)

25 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff and Kelly discuss some of their favorite audiobooks, particularly their appreciation for each title's narrator! Then, in the second half of the e...

Sci-Fi & Fantasy: Dipping Our Toe......into Outer Space!

18 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tune in to hear sci-fi and fantasy recommendations from two librarians, specifically presenting books for readers who haven't tried either of these ge...

Villains: Part Two

11 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're at it again! Rodi and Mary Grahame join Jeff to discuss why we are drawn (or repulsed) by certain antagonistic characters, or villains, in liter...

Summer Reading 2022

04 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Librarians Sarah Bowman & Kricket Hoekstra join Jeff to discuss "beach reads," along with some of this summer's most anticipated books. We also delve ...

Cindy Hunter Morgan - Far Company

28 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Far Company, we hear Cindy Hunter Morgan thinking about the many ways we carry the natural world inside of us as a kind of embedded cartography. Ma...

Guillermo & the Gothics

21 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"Ding ding on the 'Gothic Bell'"  |  We started out talking about the films of Guillermo del Toro but quickly realized just how much of a similarity...

Game On

14 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're talking about games! The incredible variety of board games and video games that are fun for ALL AGES, and particularly the titles that a...

The Twilight Zone w/Josh Malerman

07 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

"You're traveling through another dimension -- a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind...." Journey with us, as Rodi and Jeff welcome Josh...

Music in the Library

30 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Music in a library! It's not a novel-ty... And we encourage all the artists who perform here to be as loud as possible! Take a trip down memory lane w...

Retellings

23 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're talking about twice-told tales and retellings. We go from Greek Mythology to Fairy Tales to Shakespearean Plays, and quite a bit of A...

School Librarians

16 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're chatting with school librarian Julie Saunders, who serves students in Ferndale Public Schools' Lower & Upper Elementary! What are some m...

Jim Roll’s Film Soup Process

09 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ypsilanti-based photographer Jim Roll talks about incorporating a bit of chaos and the subconscious into his process, as well as the double-exposure "...

Mysteries & More

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Librarian Susan Paley joins us again to talk about her favorite books of the year..., so far! That includes three mystery titles from the collection s...

Librarians on Screen

02 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're talking about our favorite and least favorite depictions of librarians (& libraries) on screen, through movies and television, from The M...

”Let’s Learn Something! Let’s Have Fun!”

26 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we're talking about what it was like to become a Youth Librarian in the midst of a pandemic, whilst also reflecting on everything we learned fr...

Lisa Scottoline - What Happened to the Bennetts

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Bestselling legal thriller author Lisa Scottoline returns to the podcast, discussing the common thematic elements that are threaded through all of her...

James Kennedy - Dare To Know

19 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This former Michigander, now based in Chicago, recently published his first novel for adult readers and it's a time-bending/mind-bending amalgam of a...

Kelsey Ronan - Chevy in the Hole

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Author Kelsey Ronan joins us to discuss her debut novel Chevy in the Hole, a series of interconnected vignettes spanning generations of two families...

Classic Literature

12 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Host Rodi Brown welcomes Librarians Sarah Bowman and Kricket Hoekstra to the podcast to discuss #classicliterature, and it inevitably becomes a bit of...

Donald Levin - Savage City

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Author Donald Levin joins us to talk about his latest novel, a work of historical fiction centering around a tumultuous week in Depression-era Detroi...

Lisabeth Posthuma - Baby & Solo

05 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lisabeth Posthuma was a teacher, photographer, and (most importantly) video rental clerk before becoming a writer. ~ And a video store is the central ...

Lynn Crawford - Paula Regossy

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Paula Regossy is a detective novel by literary artist Lynn Crawford. The inspiration for the novel began with a painting by artist Peter Williams, whi...

Villains

26 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Well, this was quite an epic episode! Who doesn't love a good villain? Tune in for our nearly comprehensive dissertation featuring library staffers Ro...

See The Cites: Wikipedia and Information Literacy

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The modern librarians' take on Wikipedia and how it relates to/concerns information literacy.  This is a free/open-access multilingual online encyclo...

Brit Bennett

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Acclaimed author Brit Bennett joins us to talk about The Vanishing Half (out on paperback), as well as what draws her to the themes explored in both o...

Personal/Home Libraries (Library Staff on Owning Books)

12 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeff, Rodi and Mary Grahame talk about what's been happening to our impulses to curate 'home libraries...' To buy or not to buy? Should we check out A...

Supriya Kelkar

05 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Supriya Kelkar is an author, illustrator, and screenwriter who grew up in the Midwest, where she learned Hindi as a child by watching three Hindi mov...

Book Matchmaking - The Wizardry of Readers Advisory

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Librarian Sarah Bowman joins Jeff and Rodi to talk about the delicate art of recommending books. In this episode, both Jeff and Rodi will receive four...

Lisa Gardner - ’One Step Too Far’

22 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lisa Gardner's new protagonist, Frankie Elkins, is driven to help find missing persons from old/forgotten cold cases; in this latest novel she's ventu...

Jonathan Evison - ’Small World’

14 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Evison’s Small World is an epic novel for now. Set against such iconic backdrops as the California gold rush, the development of the transc...

Ferndale’s Zero Waste Program Coordinator Claire Dion

08 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're talking about Ferndale's efforts to encourage sustainable habits with new Zero Waste Program Coordinator Claire Dion. When it comes to "the thre...

Aaron Blatt - On Cultivating Joy & Culturally Responsive Teaching

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Blatt teaches English Language Arts at Ferndale Middle School; he's been teaching for 20 years and has experience as a reading specialist. Blatt...

Joel Stone - ‘100 Years of the Detroit Historical Society‘

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Since its founding in 1921, the Detroit Historical Society (DHS) has been dedicated to safeguarding the history of our region so that current and futu...

There Is A Happy Ending; That‘s The Point! - Romance Novels

25 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Staff discuss the joys of reading romance novels, as well as addressing previously stereotyped tropes and celebrating the new wave of contemporary aut...

Peter Markus - When Our Fathers Return to Us as Birds

18 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Markus is the author of the novel, “Bob, or Man on Boat,” as well as three books of short fiction, the most recent of which is “We Make M...

Genevieve Gornichec - The Witch‘s Heart

11 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We're chatting with Cleveland-based author Genevieve Gornichec about her debut novel, The Witch's Heart: "When a banished witch falls in love with th...

Jeffery Deaver - ”The Midnight Lock‘

04 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jeffery Deaver RETURNS to the podcast, talking about his latest thriller 'The Midnight Lock,' featuring his beloved protagonists Lincoln Rhyme and Ame...

Series of Fantastic Events

27 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Aby and Rodi from the Ferndale Library's Circulation Dept join us to discuss all manner of fantasy & sci-fi series, especially the attempts to adapt t...

Linda A. Jordan - ‘In Waves‘

20 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Waves features original poetry, lyric essay, and watercolor paintings by Linda A. Jordan. Linda is an attorney, activist, and writer interested in...

Stephanie Gizicki - Reading Specialist / Read Woke Book Club

13 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stephanie Gizicki is a teacher in the Language Arts Dept of Ferndale High School, serving as the Reading Specialist; she was recently awarded Teacher ...

Tim Paré - Michigan Stage

06 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Paré is a writer, director, and actor, based here in metro Detroit and he founded the new nonprofit, Michigan Stage to fulfill a mission of produ...

EMU Archives w/Alexis Braun Marks

30 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What does an archivist do? Tune in today to hear our chat with Alexis Braun Marks, Eastern Michigan University Archivist, from the Halle Library on EM...

Thisbe Nissen - ‘How Other People Make Love‘

23 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thisbe Nissen is originally from New York, but she lived in Iowa for 11 years before settling in rural Michigan. In How Other People Make Love, Thisbe...

Fleda Brown - ‘Mortality, With Friends‘

17 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mortality, With Friends is a collection of lyrical essays from Fleda Brown, a writer, and caretaker. Memoir in feel, the book muses on the loss of lif...

Vincent James Perrone - on Poetry & Writing

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Vincent James Perrone is an award-winning writer, editor, musician, and visual artist. He is the author of the full-length book of poetry, Starving R...

Kay Kay - ‘Bully Friends‘

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Written by a woman who dealt with bullying and bully friendships during grade school, Bully Friends teaches everyone (even the bully!) about how da...

Kristy Cooper -‘I Was a Stripper Librarian‘

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For years, Kristy hid her stripping history to fit into the mold of a respectable librarian, but as time went on she realized this wasn't something sh...