Book Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good Read
Episodes
Episode 250 - In podcasting years, we’re older than America250
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 250! We joke that we turned “250” before “America250,” the moniker given to the United States’s anniversary celebration....
Episode 249 - It’s Our Ninth Anniversary!
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 249–we are now NINE! That’s right, December is our anniversary month. Episode 1 launched on December 6, 2016, and we’ve pub...
Episode 248 - Author Spotlight with Natalie Dykstra
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 248! This episode is a bit different. We have an Author Spotlight with biographer Natalie Dykstra. If you’ve been listening to ...
Episode 247 - 2025 Holiday Gift Ideas & Q4 Readalong (How to Sell A Haunted House)
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 246 - A Flock of Words
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 246! We recap some fun Biblioadventures in this episode. Emily got to see Mel Rosenthal in conversation with Virginia Evans about ...
Episode 245 - Henry James is dead (to us)
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 245! A highlight of this episode, if you want to call it that, is our discussion of Henry James’s ghost story, “The Jolly Corn...
Episode 244 - Spooky Stories with Our Mystery Man
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 244! In years past, the cooler temps and changing leaves were indicators that the year was winding down. This year, we also have T...
Episode 243 - Ghosts, Ghosts, and More Ghosts
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 243! Rejoice, it's officially fall, which we think is the best time of the year to read ghost stories! In the last episode, when ...
Episode 242 - Announcing the Q4 Readalong!
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 242! It’s great to know we have some risk takers among us! We dared readers of our monthly newsletter to sign up for the fourth ...
Episode 241 - The Yellow Wallpaper
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 241! Some highlights of this episode include a discussion of our third quarter readalong, THE UPSTAIRS HOUSE by Julia Fine, and it...
Episode 240 - The Nightmare Touch
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 240! It’s another 10th episode, which means we’re giving away a book as we do every tenth episode. One lucky newsletter subsc...
Episode 239 - Playwright Spotlight with Laura Thoma
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 239! Playwright Laura Thoma joins us to talk about her first commissioned play, Letter to My Soul, which will premiere at the Gree...
Episode 238 - Author Spotlight with Clare Beams
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 238 which features an Author Spotlight with the wonderfully creepy Clare Beams! To clarify: it’s her work that’s creepy, in a g...
Episode 237 - From Connecticut to Carbondale
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 237 where we DO NOT talk about the scheduled ghost story, “Thrawn Janet” by Robert Louis Stevenson due to human error. We’ll ...
Episode 236 - From Nyack to Nebraska
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 236, where we are both back at Book Cougars HQ and happy to be sitting across the table from one another again. We did some Bibli...
Episode 235 - Hello, Pittsburgh Calling!
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chris and Emily recorded Episode 235 over Zoom. Emily was holding down the fort at Book Cougars HQ in Connecticut and Chris dialed in from Pittsburgh,...
Episode 234 - Author Spotlight with Elissa Altman
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 234, featuring an Author Spotlight with memoirist Elissa Altman. We talk about her writing process, including the use of two partic...
Episode 233 - Author Spotlight with Matthew Goodman
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Episode 233, we are thrilled to welcome back, MATTHEW GOODMAN! We are so grateful that Zoom and, before them, Skype (remember them?) opened up the ...
Episode 232 - Author Spotlight with Eowyn Ivey
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We were thrilled to talk with author Eowyn Ivey about her new book, BLACK WOODS BLUE SKY. During our conversation, Eowyn shared her writing habits, in...
Episode 231 - Author Spotlight with Ruth Franklin
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We were thrilled and a little nervous to sit down with Ruth Franklin to talk about her work and share our origin story. The Book Cougars may not have ...
Episode 230: "Come for the Skiing, Stay for the Library"
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 230 where we talk about some books. As this is another tenth episode, we are also hosting a giveaway! One lucky newsletter subscri...
Episode 229 - Announcing our 2nd Quarter Readalong in our year of reading Ghost Stories
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 229! We kick off this episode with the announcement of our second quarter readalong pick for our year of reading Ghost Stories. We...
Episode 228 - Q1 Readalong: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 228! 2025 is the year of the Ghost Story. We’ve created a tab on the website to keep you up-to-date on our quarterly readalongs,...
Episode 227 - Spotlight with Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Megan Marshall
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 227, featuring an author spotlight with Megan Marshall discussing her new collection of essays, After Lives: On Biography and the M...
Episode 226 - A Book-Packed Episode including Listener Top Ten Reads of 2024
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a book-packed episode! Because we had not recorded a regular episode in a month due to our annual top ten with Russell (see Episode 225), we h...
Episode 225 - Top Ten Books of 2024 with Russell from Ink and Paper Blog
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 225, featuring our Top Reads of 2024 with Russell from Ink and Paper Blog. This is an annual tradition, and we’ve been doing this...
Episode 224 - Author Spotlight with Pamela D. Toler
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are thrilled to feature Dr. Pamela D. Toler who joined us to talk about her new book, THE DRAGON FROM CHICAGO: THE UNTOLD STORY OF AN AMERICAN REPO...
Episode 223 - Author Spotlight with Brian D. Kennedy
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 222 - 2024 Holiday Gift Ideas
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Holiday Season is upon us! In Episode 222, we continue our annual tradition of sharing bookish holiday gift ideas. We’ve given these items to lo...
Episode 221 - Trial by Ambush with Marcia Clark and John Valeri
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We had the good fortune to talk with Marcia Clark and John Valeri about TRIAL BY AMBUSH, Marcia’s first foray into the true crime genre, for which J...
Episode 220 - A Shocking Buddy-Read with Our Mystery Man John Valeri
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 220 – It’s another 10th episode, which means it’s giveaway time! One lucky newsletter subscriber will win copies of The Garde...
Episode 219 - Exploring Picture Book Art
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 219! In this episode, we recap some exciting Biblio Adventures, including trips to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, the M...
Episode 218 - Playwright Spotlight with Laura Thoma
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 218, featuring a Playwright Spotlight with Laura Thoma about her new Christmas play, MISS MARGARET’S BARTON COTTAGE CHRISTMAS SUR...
Episode 217 - Author Spotlight with James R. Benn
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We are thrilled to welcome James R. Benn, author of the Billy Boyle World War II mystery series. The nineteenth book in the series, THE PHANTOM PATROL...
Episode 216 - Guest Spotlight with Michael Kelleher, Director of the Windham Campbell Prizes
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emily is back in Connecticut, which means she and Chris were able to record this episode together at Book Cougars HQ. We are grateful for long-distanc...
Episode 215 - The Midwest Episode
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re calling this episode “The Midwest Episode” because we recorded it while both of us were visiting the Midwest. Emily is spending time with ...
Episode 214 - Biblio Adventure Extravaganza
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 214! This episode contains a lot of biblio adventuring. Emily is in Traverse City, Michigan, helping her daughter, getting to kno...
Episode 213 - "I'll Have What You're Reading" with Booktuber Shawn Breathes Books
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 213! BookTuber Shawn Breathes Books joins us to celebrate Jenny Colvin and “I’ll Have What You’re Reading,” the memorial b...
Episode 212 - Author Spotlight with Juliet Grames
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 212! This episode is different from all of our previous shows because Emily was unexpectedly called out of town to attend her gran...
Episode 211 - Deep Dive Into Summer Reading
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We dove into summer with our first big Biblio Adventure of the season! It involved art by kids inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Hope is the th...
Episode 210 - Getting Cozy with Our Mystery Man, John Valeri
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 210, where we have the pleasure of welcoming back Our Mystery Man, John Valeri! For those of you who are new to the Book Cougars, J...
Episode 209 - Author Spotlight with Sara Paretsky
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 209! We were thrilled and honored to talk with New York Times bestselling author, mystery legend, and social justice advocate Sara ...
Episode 208 - Author Spotlight with Sara B. Franklin
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 208, which features a fantastic author spotlight with Sara B. Franklin. Her new biography, THE EDITOR: HOW PUBLISHING LEGEND JUDITH...
Episode 207 - Spotlight with Author & Rare Book Dealer Rebecca Romney
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 207. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with rare book dealer and author Rebecca Romney. Her first book was PRINTER’...
Episode 206 - Author Spotlight with Rebecca Rego Barry
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 206 where we have a fantastic conversation with Rebecca Rego Barry, author of THE VANISHING OF CAROLYN WELLS: Investigations into a...
Episode 205 - Author Spotlight with Yulin Kuang
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 205! April is National Poetry Month and we are here for it. Emily is currently reading YOU ARE HERE: Poetry in the Natural World, a...
Episode 204 - Author Spotlight with Allison Pataki
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We begin Episode 204 with the announcement of our second quarter readalong in our year of reading romance and end with a delightful conversation with ...
Episode 203 - Romance Readalong with INDIGO by Beverly Jenkins
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 203! Some highlights of this episode: Emily dives into the pages of THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon and the delicious world of b...
Episode 202 - Author & Editor Spotlight with Jessica Pryde
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 202 of the Book Cougars, featuring an Author and Editor Spotlight with Jessica Pryde. Chris and Emily are enjoying and learning fr...
Episode 201 - A Great Last Night with Luanne Rice
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 201 featuring an Author Spotlight with LUANNE RICE recorded at the beautiful and welcoming Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme...
Episode 200 - Two Books We Can't Wait for You to Read (times 18!)
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thank you for listening over the years and helping us reach our 200th episode! To celebrate this milestone, we invited special guests to call the Book...
Episode 199 - Our 2024 Reading Intentions
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 199! We have read A LOT since our last regularly recorded episode in December, so be prepared! In our “Just Read” segment, we t...
Episode 198 - Top Ten Reads of 2023 with BookTuber Russell Gray of Ink and Paper Blog
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our fourth annual Top Ten Reads of the Year episode with BookTuber Russell Gray of Ink and Paper Blog! We each talk about our top ten reads...
Episode 197 - Author Spotlight with Pip Williams
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our last episode of the year! We reflect on our 2023 reading intentions, announce our 2024 readalong theme, and have a delightful conversat...
Episode 196 - Trying Not To Go Viral
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Once again, we are grateful for the miracle of modern technology that allowed us to record this episode from two locations. Chris was recovering from ...
Episode 195 - Hooked by Nonfiction November & 2023 Holiday Gift Ideas
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our 8th Annual Bookish Holiday Gifts episode! The first time we recommended holiday gift ideas was on Episode 2, way back in December 2016...
Episode 194 - Author Spotlight with Sarah MacLean
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 194 is bookended by Poetry and Romance. We begin with the poem “Only Love” by James Crews from the poetry collection, THE PATH TO KINDN...
Episode 193 - Book Club Fundamentals with Davina Morgan-Witts Founder & Publisher of BookBrowse
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chris and Emily were thrilled to sit down and talk with Davina Morgan-Witts, the Founder and Publisher of BookBrowse. Founded in 1998, BookBrowse is o...
Episode 192 - Author Spotlight with Fancy Feast
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Author Spotlight: Chris and Emily have a great time talking with Fancy Feast about her new (and debut) essay collection, NAKED: ON SEX, WORK, AND OTHE...
Episode 191 - Something So Good It Can Never Be Enough with Poet Shuly Cawood
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chris and Emily are happy to welcome back author SHULY CAWOOD to talk about her new poetry collection, SOMETHING SO GOOD IT CAN NEVER BE ENOUGH. Shuly...
Episode 190 - Haunted by Hawthorne & The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s another 10th episode which means we’re hosting a giveaway for newsletter subscribers! One lucky winner will receive a copy of DEMOCRACY IN CH...
Episode 189 - Author Spotlight with Laurie Lico Albanese
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Book Cougars are thrilled to welcome Laurie Lico Albanese, author of HESTER, our second readalong for Scarlet Summer. Laurie dishes on Hawthorne, ...
Episode 188 - Author Spotlight with Erin Flanagan and Katrina Kittle
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We had a great time talking with Erin Flanagan and Katrina Kittle. Both authors have new books coming out: COME WITH ME (8/22) and MORNING IN THIS BRO...
Episode 187 - Author Spotlight with Alli Frank & Asha Youmans
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A Book Cougars first: we interview a writing duo! In our Author Spotlight segment, we talk with Alli Frank and Asha Youmans about their new novel THE ...
Episode 186 - The Long Afterlife of The Scarlet Letter
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 186! We chat about what we’re currently reading (How to Take Smart Notes by Sönke Ahrens and Come with Me by Erin Flanagan) and ...
Episode 185 - Book Cougars Prowling in the Midwest
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We both recently headed to the Midwest for some family & friend time. Chris went to Chicago and met up with Colleen, our guest on Episodes 27 and 14...
Episode 184 - Author Spotlight with Bethanne Patrick
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
SCARLET SUMMER kicks off Independence Day weekend! Nathaniel Hawthorne’s birthday is July 4th, so we consider it an auspicious start for our summer-...
Episode 183 - Author Spotlight with Sara Nisha Adams
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mushrooms! Librarians! Serial killer victims brought back to life! New friends and life reinvigorated through reading! We’ve had some good reads sin...
Episode 182 - Biblio Adventure Bonanza: Making Lemonade Out of Lemons
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 182! There is a lot of Biblio Adventure recapping in this episode, from author events (Mary Beth Keane at R.J. Julia) to movies (t...
Episode 181 - Author Spotlight with Sharon Salzberg
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 180 - Travels with Chris, Emily, and Charley
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We talk about a bunch of books and biblioadventures in Episode 180. What’s new, right? #wink Some highlights include books we just read, which took...
Episode 179 - Deep Dive with Poet Shuly Cawood
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy National Poetry Month! We kick off this episode with Emily reading Lucille Clifton’s poem, “Climbing,” and end with an in-depth conversat...
Episode 178 - Author Spotlight with Jennifer Savran Kelly
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 178! We are currently reading a variety of genres: Fiction (CHASE OF THE WILD GOOSE by Mary Gordon and VOYAGER by Diana Gabaldon)...
Episode 177 - Author Spotlight with Amy Tector
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are books and bookstores galore in this episode! Some highlights include – Emily went to see Aunt Ellen in Berkeley, CA, and together they vi...
Episode 176 - We're in a New York State of Mind
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On Episode 176 Chris and Emily give a full recap of their two-day Biblio Adventure in New York City. The trip was inspired by a research project that ...
Episode 175 - He’s BAAACK! Our Mystery Man, John Valeri
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We just read a stack of books with an interesting variety of subjects! In between mushrooms and swimming, we spent time with an Australian rare book e...
Episode 174 - Author Spotlight with Jenna Miller
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On Episode 174, we share LISTENER TOP 10s of 2022. Thanks to the 70+ listeners who contributed their top 10 lists. Out of 427 books, Emily shares not ...
Episode 173 - Emily's Hidden Reading Slump and Chris's Return to Practical Magic
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Emily started 2023 with a bit of a reading slump, but you’d never know it! Some of the books she enjoyed since our last regular episode are Oona Out...
Episode 172 - Top Ten Reads of 2022 with BookTuber Russell Gray
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! Welcome to our third annual TOP TEN READS of the year episode with our special guest, BookTuber RUSSELL GRAY of Ink and Paper Blog. Em...
Episode 171 - Author Spotlight with Marcie R. Rendon
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our last episode of 2022! We surprised each other this week with some reading kismet. Each of us arrived at Book Cougars HQ with a poetry ...
Episode 170 - 2022 Holiday Gift Ideas and Author Spotlight with Malinda Lo
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 169 - Author Spotlight with Marcia Clark and Our Mystery Man John Valeri
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We were apart again while recording this episode. Emily was in Colorado visiting her son and daughter-in-law. She also shared part of her salad with a...
Episode 168 - Author Spotlight with Blair Braverman
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 168 - Blair Braverman joins us to talk about her debut novel, SMALL GAME (out now from Ecco Press). It's about five contestants on a survival ...
Episode 167 - Author Spotlight with Kelcey Ervick
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We have been hitting the books and hitting road & rails! Emily had a week-long vacation on Martha’s Vineyard and read a ton. She also visited Bunch...
Episode 166 - All Things Audiobooks
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 166 is all about audiobooks! Chris and Emily talk about audiobooks in their lives and then have a wonderful chat with Karen Farmer and Craig S...
Episode 165 - Author Spotlight with Diane Wilson
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 165! We can’t wait for you to listen to our Author Spotlight with DIANE WILSON! We were honored to talk with Diane about her mo...
Episode 164 - Talking About the Booker Prizes with Russell Gray from Ink and Paper Blog
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Book Tuber Russell Gray of Ink and Paper Blog joins us to talk about his reading of this year’s Booker Prize nominees. He’s read all thirteen book...
Episode 163 - Author Spotlight with Shelley Puhak
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Episode 163! Both of us had some solo Biblio Adventures, but we also went on an EPIC Joint Jaunt to New Hampshire. We visited all three Toa...
Episode 162 - Just Us and the Insects (or not)
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chris and Emily sit down for a good old fashioned book chat. There’s no interview this episode, just us. Emily is reading an advance copy of Elizab...
Episode 161 - Rachel Barenbaum Author of ATOMIC ANNA
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 161 features fictional mermaids, bears, and time travel adventure to stop the not so fictional nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl. We talk with Rac...
Episode 160 - A "Horrifying" Chat with the Editors of OTHER TERRORS: Vince Liaguno and Rena Mason
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every tenth episode we do a giveaway and here we are again with not one, but TWO giveaways! All you have to do to be entered to win is be a newsletter...
Episode 159 - On the Prowl Summer 2022
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We have both done some traveling since the last episode. Emily was in Colorado and Utah and Chris was in North Carolina and Illinois. You know we hit ...
Episode 158 - Author Spotlight with Andrea Wang and Debbi Michiko Florence
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 157 - A Chat with AudioBook Narrator Simon Vance
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Some highlights in this episode: Emily and Chris have kicked off their reading for Sue Jackson’s Big Book Summer reading challenge! Both Book Cougar...
Episode 156 - Announcing Our Big Summer Books with Sue Jackson
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We dedicate this episode to Jenny Colvin, host of the Reading Envy podcast. We were stunned and deeply saddened to learn of her sudden death. Jenny wi...
Episode 155 - Death on the Nile with Our Mystery Man John Valeri
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#BuddyRead! We had a fun time talking with our Mystery Man, JOHN VALERI, about Agatha Christie’s DEATH ON THE NILE, both her novel and Kenneth Brana...
Episode 154 - Biblio Adventure to NYC and Author Spotlight with Jess Montgomery
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A big welcome back to JESS MONTGOMERY! We have a lovely chat about the new entry in her Kinship Series, THE ECHOES: A Novel. Emily and Chris are both...
Episode 153 - Author Spotlight with Amy Bloom
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Emily and Chris were honored to have the opportunity to talk with author Amy Bloom about her new memoir, IN LOVE: A Memoir of Love and Loss about Amy ...
Episode 152 - Author Spotlight with Kathleen Courtnay Stone
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Announcing our second quarter readalong! TWO OLD WOMEN: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis. Emily recaps her trip to...
Episode 151 - Spring is in the air and the Book Cougars are on the prowl!
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Spring is in the air and the Book Cougars are on the prowl! Translation: Biblioadventures are ramping up as the weather gets better and Covid rates co...