Best Apropos Podcasts (2025)

1
Ep. 372 Apropos of Nothing, There’s This Book with Frederick Joseph 1:05:28

11d ago1:05:28

1:05:28

This week on the Stacks, we are joined by author and essayist, Frederick Joseph, to discuss his newest book (and his first foray into YA fiction), This Thing of Ours. He shares with us about how he’s able to write every day without writer’s block, and why he decided not to sell his books in Target. We also spend time exploring Frederick’s favorite …

1
Ep. 373 Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley — The Stacks Book Club (Kara Brown) 1:01:19

4d ago1:01:19

1:01:19

It’s the Stacks’ Book Club Day, and we’re discussing Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley with returning guest, Kara Brown. We share our thoughts on the story’s twists and turns, especially the big reveal. Then we dive deeper to discuss the significance of this book on the literary landscape, and what about the novel does and doesn’t hold up when…

1
Unabridged: Poptimism in the Age of Beyoncé with Sam Sanders 15:49

16d ago15:49

15:49

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser, click here for the full episode* It's Cowboy Carter SZN and we're breaking down Beyoncé's latest tour with friend of the pod and podcast host extraordinaire Sam Sanders. We talk about Queen Bey's latest tour, the good and the not so good, plus our thoughts on Blue Ivy's exposure and the future of st…

1
Ep. 371 How We Choose Who We Become with Daria Burke 56:05

18d ago56:05

56:05

Today we are joined by Daria Burke, an award-winning business leader, investor, speaker, and now author. She is here to discuss her memoir, Of My Own Making, which is about how she healed from childhood trauma to build her life. Daria talks about how systemic and personal harms are intertwined, how she engaged with leading experts in the fields of …

1
Simple Steps to Saving the Song Birds 30:28

23d ago30:28

30:28

Have you heard song birds are in trouble? As stewards of our own space, we’ve never been more empowered to make a difference to help save the song birds. Brian shares some simple steps you can implement to make a difference, no matter where you live.By Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc.

1
Ep. 370 Between Oprah and Obama with Kara Brown 1:05:00

25d ago1:05:00

1:05:00

Today on The Stacks, we’re talking with screenwriter and producer, Kara Brown. She shares what she looks for when adapting a book to the screen, and the key to making sure an adaptation is a success. We also discuss Kara’s love of massive tomes, the three writers that inspired her career, and her problematic fave. The Stacks Book Club pick for May …

1
Episode 28 INSPIRING FRIENDSHIPS: A Throwback Thursday Celebration of Spiritual Friendships 27:17

1M ago27:17

27:17

Welcome to Inspiring Friendships! In this special Throwback Thursday episode of the Radiant Joy with Christine Boersma Smith podcast, we honor the remarkable bonds that shape our spiritual journeys and celebrate the gift of sisterhood. Join us as we revisit illuminating moments shared with three incredible women whose stories not only inspire Chris…

1
Ep. 369 Blessing the Boats by Lucille Clifton — The Stacks Book Club (Tiana Clark) 1:05:41

1M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

It’s the Stacks’ Book Club Day, and we’re discussing Blessing the Boats by Lucille Clifton with returning guest, Tiana Clark. We discuss how Clifton welcomes audiences usually excluded from poetry and how her work still manages to have urgency 25+ years later. We also work through some of the poems that were challenging for us, and uncover some hid…

1
Ep. 368 The Homelessness Myth Doesn’t Match Reality with Brian Goldstone 1:05:32

1M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Today on The Stacks, Brian Goldstone is here to talk about his book, There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America. The book examines the growing phenomenon of the "working homeless"—people who work full time and still remain unhoused—by following five families in Atlanta over the course of a few years. Goldstone explains how he connect…

1
Happy 420 - Cornbread Anyone? 55:25

1M ago55:25

55:25

In this special 420 episode, the High Ladies light one up and take a trip down cannabis history lane with the wild true story of the Cornbread Mafia — the biggest domestic marijuana syndicate you've (maybe) never heard of. Join us as we celebrate cannabis culture, resilience, and the rebels who paved the way. Buckle up, it's a ride full of weed, wh…

1
Unabridged: Remaining Human with Kiese Laymon 15:40

1M ago15:40

15:40

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser, click here for the full episode* In this episode of The Stacks Unabridged, we are joined once again by author Kiese Laymon, to discuss his first children’s book, City Summer, Country Summer, and the emotional resonance of sports narratives. We also share how we’re staying human in the midst of so mu…

1
Ep. 367 What Does It Mean to Know a Celebrity with Giaae Kwon 58:57

2M ago58:57

58:57

This week, food and culture writer, Giaae Kwon joins us to discuss her debut book, a collection of essays, I'll Love You Forever: Notes from a K-Pop Fan. We talk about what defines K-pop and the aspects of its fandom: from parasocial relationships to the exoticization of K-pop and its "idols." The Stacks Book Club pick for April is Blessing the Boa…

1
Native Plant Program & Perks 37:39

2M ago37:39

37:39

Does it matter where you source your native plants? It turns out—yes, it does. Brian is joined by Mary Phillips, Head of Habitat/Native Plant Impact & Certifications for the National Wildlife Federation, to explain why. They dig into native plant trends, the importance of sourcing responsibly, and what keystone plants are—plus how they benefit both…

1
Ep. 366 The Evolution of “Girl Power” with Geri Halliwell-Horner 39:16

2M ago39:16

39:16

This week, we’re joined by Geri Halliwell-Horner, also known as Ginger Spice from the Spice Girls. She discusses her second installment in the Rosie Frost series, Rosie Frost: Ice on Fire. Determined to learn her family history with Bloodstone, Rosie must discover what she’s really made of as a new danger puts her new home and all she that she love…

1
#27 How Faith & Art Connect: Infusing Godly Wisdom into Your Art 39:53

2M ago39:53

39:53

Christine Smith welcomes award-winning watercolorist and workshop teacher Paula L. Moore, the author of HIS ART: God’s Messages of Truth to Us through the Elements and Principles of Design. Based on her study, practice, scripture, and revelation, Paula says God’s provided all we need to know about art design. Her lessons bless seasoned artists & cu…

1
Ep. 365 The Poets that Make Me Understand Myself with Tiana Clark 1:07:02

2M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

This week, we're kicking off National Poetry Month with poet and essayist Tiana Clark. Tiana's newest collection, Scorched Earth: Poems, explores themes of heartbreak, identity, and radical self-acceptance. In this conversation, Tiana reflects on what it means to be vulnerable in poetry, how she approaches the lyric “I,” and what she looks for when…

1
Ep. 364 They Were Her Property by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers — The Stacks Book Club (Tembe Denton-Hurst) 1:04:57

2M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

It’s The Stacks Book Club Day, and we’re discussing They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers with returning guest Tembe Denton-Hurst. We highlight the moments in the book that really stood out to us, from the brutality to the pervasiveness of slavery, and consider how white women have be…

1
Unabridged: We’re in a Gender Straitjacket with Emily St. James 14:46

2M ago14:46

14:46

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser, click here for the full episode* In this episode of The Stacks Unabridged, we’re joined by author and critic Emily St. James to discuss her new book, Woodworking. We explore the recent evolution of anti-trans legislation, what it tells us about the current political moment, and trans rep in pop cult…

1
Ep. 363 Gender and Genre Are the Same Word with Torrey Peters 1:01:34

2M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

This week, we’re joined by author Torrey Peters to discuss her new book, Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories, a collection that explores the complexities of desire, identity, and gender. Torrey shares how she freed herself to write after the success of her debut novel, Detransition, Baby, discusses her thoughts on the relationship between gender and gen…

1
The More the Merrier 19:24

3M ago19:24

19:24

How many bird species visit your yard? Brian shares that now is the perfect time to prepare to attract more bird species to your yard and how it will enhance your enjoyment of the hobby and your well-being.By Wild Birds Unlimited, Inc.

1
Ep. 362 Colonialism Is Not an Abstraction with Omar El Akkad 1:00:02

3M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

This week, we’re joined by author and journalist Omar El Akkad to discuss his new book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, which serves as a powerful reckoning with what it means to live in a West that betrays its fundamental values. Omar shares how writing nonfiction compares to his novels, how he anticipates and thinks about po…

1
Episode 26: Dialing Heaven: How to Reach God and Get Results! 57:07

3M ago57:07

57:07

Join us for an enlightening episode of Radiant Joy with Christine as we welcome Arabah Joy, a Jesus-loving mentor with 27 years of experience in guiding women in their walk with God. An accomplished author and online writer, “AJ” has a wealth of wisdom to share, particularly about the transformative power of intentional prayer. In this episode, we …

1
Ep. 361 Reading Black Writers Gave Me Heritage with Tembe Denton-Hurst 1:03:47

3M ago1:03:47

1:03:47

This week, we’re joined by Tembe Denton-Hurst, staff writer at New York Magazine’s The Strategist and author of the novel Homebodies. Tembe shares why she thinks it is important to read in community with others, how seeing herself on the page changed her life, and the popular book she can’t stand. The Stacks Book Club pick for March is They Were He…

1
Ep. 360 Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov — The Stacks Book Club (Ira Madison III) 1:03:37

3M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

It’s The Stacks Book Club Day, and we’re unpacking Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov with returning guest Ira Madison III. This literary classic is widely studied, but why? We explore what makes this novel a classic, why it’s still taught today, and what Nabokov wanted readers to take away from his most infamous work. There are spoilers on this episode. B…

1
Ep. 359 It’s Rooted in Our Past with Rebecca Nagle 57:39

3M ago57:39

57:39

This week, journalist and activist Rebecca Nagle joins us to discuss her debut book, By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land. We discuss her decision to expand her podcast, This Land, into a book, the deliberate erasure of Indigenous people in the United States, and how she approaches the idea of "objectivity" in…

1
Unabridged: Kendrick’s “Great American Game” with David Dennis Jr. 17:00

4M ago17:00

17:00

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser* In this episode of The Stacks Unabridged, author and ESPN writer David Dennis Jr. joins us to break down Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show. We get into the performance itself, the layers behind it, and how it fits into his ongoing beef with Drake. Plus, we discuss the reaction to the show an…

1
Ep. 358 The Purpose of Schools with Eve L. Ewing 1:09:50

4M ago1:09:50

1:09:50

This week, scholar and author Eve L. Ewing joins us to discuss her new book, Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism. We examine the differences between schooling and education, the purpose of schools and how their design perpetuates inequality, and how we can change them for the better…

1
GBBC & Bird ID 34:56

4M ago34:56

34:56

Brian is joined by special guest, Becca Rodomsky-Bish, leader of the Great Backyard Bird Count at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Together, they explore how you can have fun while making a difference for birds. Tune in for expert bird identification tips, helpful resources, and inspiration to join this global birdwatching event!…

1
Resting in God’s Timelessness: Embracing His Plans for Our Lives 21:21

4M ago21:21

21:21

In this enlightening episode of Radiant Joy with Christine, we dive into the profound concept of rest as God intended, going far beyond mere sleep or breaks from our busy lives. Christine shares her personal journey of discovering God’s call to embrace His plans and directives during and after her recent, very productive, writing season. The same i…

1
Ep. 357 We Love the Tea with Ira Madison III 54:23

4M ago54:23

54:23

This week, writer and host of the podcast Keep It!, Ira Madison III joins us to discuss his essay collection, Pure Innocent Fun. We talk about nostalgia, how the book has changed Ira’s identity as a writer, and why he considers literature to be the ultimate form of gossip. The Stacks Book Club pick for February is Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. We wil…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Apropos Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide