From the Front Porch
Episodes
Episode 77 || Multi-Tasking and Reading in Multiples
14 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Chris deep dive into reading more than one book at any given time... And some book therapy ensues. They mention: + Commonwealth by Ann...
Episode 76 || June Reading Recap
07 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for your next summer read? Look no further. Annie and Chris chat about the books Annie read in June, including: + The Dollhouse by Fiona ...
Episode 75 || Going to Haiti with Dot Products
30 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this month, Annie traveled to Haiti with Dot Products, a school supply company based out of Jackson, Mississippi. This episode, Chris and Anni...
Episode 74 || Anton DiSclafani + the Small-Town South
23 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times bestselling author Anton DiSclafani (The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, The After Party) drops by the podcast to talk about life i...
Episode 73 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 3
16 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered if a particular book is worth reading? In our Love It or Loathe It episodes, we debate newly released titles and whether they're worth a...
Episode 72 || Empowering Small Businesses
09 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Turns out design is pretty much what makes the world -- and small businesses -- go 'round. Learn all about marketing and the ups and downs of social m...
Episode 71 || May Reading Recap
02 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Chris asks Annie about the books she read in May, including: + Brighton by Michael Harvey (releases June 14) + Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam (...
Episode 70 || The Art of Making Art
26 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of those Instagram accounts we all follow? Annie and Chris chat with Lindsay Hopkins of Pen and Paint, an...
Episode 69 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 2
19 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Want to know if a book's for you? Welcome to Love It or Loathe It, episodes where Bookshelf staffers and friends tell you exactly what they think ab...
Episode 68 || Our Feelings on the News
12 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What do you get when you have a bookstore staffer who's also a news junkie? A very special episode of this podcast. Chris and Annie chat with booksell...
Episode 67 || April Reading Recap
05 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We're living in a post-Gone Girl world, which means not all thrillers are created equal. Annie and Chris chat about the books she read in April, incl...
Episode 66 || Breaking Bad in Stars Hollow: Our Favorite TV Shows for Readers
28 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
News flash: Some TV shows are better than others. Chris and Annie wax philosophical about their favorite TV shows for readers, including: + Gilmor...
Episode 65 || Rose-Colored Glasses: How Traditions Build Communities
21 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Thomasville is the City of Roses, and spring is the town's time to shine! Each year, Thomasville hosts the Rose Show and Festival, and Chris and Annie...
Episode 64 || Making of a Music Festival
14 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
One perk of life in a small town: You can try something just to see if it works. And if it does? Then you've established a new town tradition, like Th...
Episode 63 || Cultivating Creativity
07 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
How do you raise creative kids? Do small towns foster creativity better than big cities do? Annie and guest Emily McKenna chat about these questions, ...
Episode 62 || A New Host + March Reading Recap
31 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The podcast introduces a new co-host with a familiar voice, and Annie recaps the books she read in March, including: - Readers of Broken Wheel Reco...
Episode 61 || March Madness, Vol. 2
24 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Which book wins this year's Out of Print Book Bracket? Listen as Annie and frequent podcast contributor Jordan Jones duke it out over their favorite c...
Episode 60 || Book Clubs + Guys
17 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why guys aren't in book clubs? Listen as Annie and Grassroots Coffee roaster Peyton Hodges chat about co-ed book clubs, plus Peyton s...
Episode 59 || Path to a Presidency
10 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Small-town virtues to the Oval Office? Jimmy Carter's presidency may have inspired our current political climate, and Annie interviews author Robert ...
Episode 58 || February Reading Recap
03 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Annie recaps the books she read in February, including: - Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty - My Name Is Lucy Barton - The Good Goodbye - The Intere...
Episode 57 || Oscar-Nominated Books
25 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Bookshelf staffer Chris share their love for the Oscars and this year's Oscar-inspired books, plus they chat briefly about Harper Lee and wh...
Episode 56 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 1
11 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ever read a book you hated? Annie, Rebekah, and Hunter discuss the new suspense novel Perfect Days by Raphael Montes. (Spoiler-free discussion, with...
Episode 55 || January Reading Recap
04 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Annie recaps the books she read in January, including several ARCs, a couple of thrillers, and a YA novel. (Full list with titles and authors here.) ...
Episode 54 || Reading Resolutions, Vol. 2
28 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
What are your reading goals for 2016? Annie chats reading resolutions with returning podcast guest Hunter McLendon. Annie and Hunter also make their w...
Episode 53 || On-Stage Adaptations
21 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how your favorite book would play out on-stage? Annie interviews Jana Mohr, president of Thomasville On Stage and Company, Tho...
Episode 52 || Best Books of 2015
14 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with our first episode of 2016, and Annie's recapping her favorite books of 2015. (You can find the full list here.) Local listeners may ...
Episode 51 || Where You're From Matters
23 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Where we're from affects how we read. Annie chats with blogger, podcaster, and aspiring author Science Mike about science, faith, and the many nuances...
Episode 50 || November Reading Recap
17 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie reviews the six books she read in November: Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber; Distance from Me to You by Marina Gessner; The Clasp by...
Episode 49 || Why Is David Sedaris Funny?
03 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What makes David Sedaris so funny? Annie chats with Atlanta author, blogger, and comic Jim Hodgson about the ever-changing publishing industry, urban...
Episode 48 || The Thanksgiving Table
19 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What's on your table this Thanksgiving? Annie and fellow bookseller Chris Jensen discuss food and food writing, including whether cookbooks are becomi...
Episode 47 || Partyin' Small-Town Style
12 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What do all those different festivals do for their cities? Annie chats with Laura Beggs, the main street coordinator for the city of Thomasville. They...
Episode 46 || October Reading Recap
05 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie reviews the books she read in October, including Tribal by Diane Roberts and Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. Rank and review us on...
Episode 45 || Spine-Tingling Reads
29 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Rebekah list their favorite spooky reads for the season and even recommend a creepy podcast or two (including Criminal, Lore, and The Black...
Episode 44 || The Happiness Project + Gretchen Rubin
15 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What one book would you make your community read? Annie interviews New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin; they chat about habits, happine...
Episode 43 || September Reading Recap
08 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie shares her reviews of the books she read in September. One Book tickets and information can be found online here.
Episode 42 || Open Door Adoption + Bob Goff
01 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie chats with the ladies from Open Door Adoption Agency -- Lauren Fielding and Sarah Taylor -- about adoption, Bob Goff, and life in Thomasville. ...
Episode 41 || Creative Outlets
24 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What do small towns offer for their creatives? Annie chats with Bookshelf favorite, Hunter McLendon, about books and art and life in a small town. Hun...
Episode 40 || Turning Sorrow Into Story
17 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do with grief? Annie chats with author Prissy Elrod turning sorrow into story, navigating the publishing industry -- including her publis...
Episode 39 || Books for Creatives
10 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what it's like to live as a creative in the South? Annie interviews Emily Arwood, artist-in-residence at the Thomasville Center for the Ar...
Episode 38 || August Reading Recap
03 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie recaps the books she read in August, including "super science-y" The Martian and R-rated Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes, plus shout-outs to boo...
Episode 37 || Childhood Favorites
20 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Jordan talk about their favorite books from childhood and the impact those characters have had on their adult lives, ranging from The Boxca...
Episode 36 || Entrepreneurship + The New South
13 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie chats with Florida State University entrepreneur-in-residence Christine Nieves; the two discuss porch swings and creativity, the importance of c...
Episode 35 || PhDs in Bookselling
06 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what it's like to be a bookseller? Annie chats with new Bookshelf staffer and PhD student Chris Jensen. Their conversation covers everyth...
Episode 34 || July Reading Recap
30 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie recaps the books she read in July, including KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST and GO SET A WATCHMAN. (Want more GO SET A WATCHMAN discussion? Check...
Episode 33 || Adventures on the Coast
23 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Learn about Florida's coastal islands as Annie interviews author and naturalist Sue Cerulean. Sue's newest book, COMING TO PASS, both inspires and inf...
Episode 32 || Reading Rhythms
08 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Katie discuss the importance of establishing a reading rhythm and debate reading in bed, plus reference book blogger Modern Mrs. Darcy and...
Episode 31 || June Reading Recap
02 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie lists the books she read in June, including The Rocks by Peter Nichols, The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, and Station Eleve...
Episode 30 || Reading Post-Charleston
26 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Katie discuss the events in Charleston and books about race in America; start with Shauna Niequist's original question on Instagram, then re...
Episode 29 || Introversion + Extroversion
18 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and her husband Jordan discuss extroversion, introversion, and the influence of Susan Cain (and her book Quiet) on our daily lives. This episo...
Episode 28 || Fifty Shades + Literary Guilty Pleasures
11 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Katie talk about the Fifty Shades of Grey books and why they're so popular (maybe because we're repressed?), plus they tackle their own li...
Episode 27 || May Reading Recap
03 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie reviews the books she read in May, including Mamrie Hart's You Deserve a Drink and Erik Larson's Dead Wake. Don't forget to rank and review...
Episode 26 || Audiobooks
20 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie chats with husband and frequent podcast contributor Jordan about audiobooks: he loves them, but she's not a fan. Where do you stand? (Some of Jo...
Episode 25 || Narrative Nonfiction
13 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Katie chat about narrative nonfiction, the ones we love and the ones we hate, including The Lemon Tree, author Erik Larson, The Immortal Lif...
Episode 24 || April Reading Recap
06 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie reviews the books she read in April, including A Little Life (reviewed by Books on the Nightstand here) and Emma, part of The Austen Project. R...
Episode 23 || The Localist
22 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie chats with author and entrepreneur Carrie Rollwagen in this 45-minute interview episode. They chat about local shopping and eating, Leslie Knope...
Episode 22 || March Reading Recap
16 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie reviews the books she read in March, including Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before (recapped in its own podcast episode here) and Hey Natalie Je...
Episode 21 || Word of South
08 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra CEO Amanda Stringer chat Tallahassee's first-ever Word of South festival (Ann Patchett, Tony Hale, Julia Reed...
Episode 20 || Better Than Before
01 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Katie discuss habit tendencies, the power of Gretchen Rubin, activity trackers, and goal-setting worksheets.
Episode 19 || March Madness, Vol. 1
26 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Jordan tackle literary bracketology, BOOK MADNESS 2015, and John Green.
Episode 18 || Writing as a Career
18 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and author/journalist Jodi Helmer discuss pining for publication in the New York Times, marathon-running nuns, Farm Fresh Georgia, and why writi...
Episode 17 || The Future of Retail
13 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Katie discuss The Localist, kindred spirit Carrie Rollwagen, shopping locally in Thomasville, "perfect as enemy of the good," the future of...
Episode 16 || February Reading Recap
05 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie reviews the books she read in February, including Bon Appetempt and its author Amelia Morris.
Episode 15 || Bloggers with Books
25 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and fellow Bookshelf staffer Sidney Webb chat about book clubs, Bon Appetempt, food-blogging goddess Molly Wizenberg, and other bloggers with bo...
Episode 14 || Harper Lee + Southern Literary Towns
18 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Annie and Katie chat about the controversy swirling around the discovery of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman, what makes Southern stories so special, th...
Episode 13 || January Reading Recap
12 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
This episode, Annie reviews the books she read in January (eight in all... hooray!). A complete list of titles and reviews can be found on The Booksh...
Episode 12 || The Fuzzy Goat
04 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Annie interviews fellow entrepreneur Cadence Kidwell, owner of the new knitting shop The Fuzzy Goat, located in downtown Thomasville,...
Episode 11 || The Girl on the Train
28 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
We're back with Episode 11 of From the Front Porch! This episode, Annie is joined by Bookshelf staffers Sidney and Rebekah; they're talking about the ...
Episode 10 || Reading Resolutions
21 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
We're back after a holiday hiatus! This episode, Annie and Katie discuss their reading resolutions and their words of the year. - Annie's currently re...
Episode 9 || Shonda Rhimes and Med School
19 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered if Grey's Anatomy is an accurate portrayal of med school? Annie interviews Sidney Webb, communications specialist at The Bookshelf. Si...
Episode 8 || Books vs. Movies
12 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Annie is joined by guest Rebekah Arwood, manager of The Bookshelf in Thomasville. Rebekah and Annie chat about that ever-controversial topic: Is the b...
Episode 7 || Fall Favorites
12 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a cup of tea, because this episode, Annie and Katie talk about married-lady crushes, poetry before bedtime,...
Episode 6 || One Book
07 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Annie and her attorney husband Jordan discuss the ramifications of wrongful convictions, a topic central to the plot of Picking Cotto...
Episode 5 || A Chat on Education
23 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The podcast is back this month after a brief summer hiatus, and Annie and Katie are talking about their favorite books on education. They're covering ...
Episode 4 || The Art of Being a From Away
05 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Annie sat down with author CJ Hauser to discuss the ups and downs of living in a small town and what it means to be a "from away" (read: someone not f...
Episode 2, Part 2 || How to Use a Cookbook
16 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
In Part Two of the eating local podcast, Katie and Annie discuss how to properly read a cookbook. Plus, Annie tells about some of her favorite food me...
Episode 2, Part 1 || Farm Fresh
16 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Jodi gives Annie the scoop on which Georgia farms will let you spend the night and how to shop at a Farmer's Market. From pig farms and corn mazes to ...
Episode 1 || Thrive
29 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Discussion of Arianna Huffington's new book Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder. ...