Best Jaye & NK Podcasts (2025)

1
N.K. Jemisin on Truth, Education, and Speculation 22:02

1d ago22:02

22:02

N.K. Jemisin is a New York Times-bestselling science fiction and fantasy writer. She’s a Brooklynite, the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and the first author to win three Best Novel Hugos in a row. We talked to her about Octavia Butler’s influence on her writing, and how she processes the present moment in her own fiction. You can re…

1
What Parable of the Sower Taught Us About the Future 27:12

9d ago27:12

27:12

In these unfathomable moments, when the world seems to be falling apart—we often turn to stories for guidance. For the folks in Southern California earlier this year, that story was Parable of the Sower. Readers are returning to the book today because it shows us how speculation – and Afrofuturism in particular – can help us move through the world …

1
Introducing: Borrowed and Returned 2:14

23d ago2:14

2:14

Borrowed and Returned is a new podcast series that examines what our reading public borrowed in the past, and what we’re all reading now. In conversations with library workers, authors and readers across the country, we’ll return to the books that changed us, and changed America, too. First episode drops July 8, with new episodes coming out weekly.…

1
Tracing the Legacy of Slavery in Brooklyn 14:37

29d ago14:37

14:37

A new exhibit at BPL's Center for Brooklyn History explores the history and legacy of slavery here in Brooklyn. The team at CBH gathered documents and accounts from people who were touched by slavery in Brooklyn, and traced the descendants of both the enslaved and enslavers. "Trace/s" is up at the Center for Brooklyn History (128 Pierrepont Street)…

1
A New Year’s Plunge (Rebroadcast) 11:59

7M ago11:59

11:59

As 2024 comes to a close, we wanted to share with you an episode that we produced all the way back in 2020. That year, we went to Coney Island to record the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, the group of swimmers that congregate on Coney Island every Sunday in winter to swim in the frigid ocean as a way to renew themselves. It’s a fun one, and we hope …

1
Why We Still Read Together: The Joy of Book Clubs 18:57

8M ago18:57

18:57

Graphic novels, Haitian-American book bingo, and The Power Broker. These are just a few of the book clubs happening at Brooklyn Public Library! This episode, we take a tour around the borough to listen in on our patrons' reading habits and ask why we still read together. Read a transcript of this episode here. Further resources: Check out our book …

1
Book Sanctuaries, Buttons and Bouncy Houses 15:16

9M ago15:16

15:16

We're pulling out all the stops for the first annual Freedom to Read Day of Action on Saturday, October 19th! Hear from libraries in Los Angeles, San Diego, Hoboken, NJ and Austin, TX about what they're doing to promote the freedom to read. And, if you're in Brooklyn, meet us on the steps of Central Library this Saturday for a book rally! You can r…

1
Banned Books Week: All for a Library Card 27:37

10M ago27:37

27:37

For Banned Books Week this year, we’re returning to our award-winning series, Borrowed and Banned. Because the fight isn’t over. In 2023, the American Library Association documented a 65% increase in the number of book titles challenged across the country. Listen to the first episode of the series about what happened in one Oklahoma town when their…

1
Rebroadcast: Blocks and Brownstones 25:31

11M ago25:31

25:31

Bedford-Stuyvesant is perhaps one of Brooklyn’s most iconic neighborhoods. Its tree-lined streets and grand brownstones have been here for over 150 years. This episode, a re-broadcast from 2019, tells the story of Bed-Stuy through the lives of three women who set down roots here in different ways: activist Hattie Carthan, writer Paule Marshall, and…

1
Bed-Stuy Tea: An Interview with Cookbook Author Nicole A. Taylor 29:48

12M ago29:48

29:48

Splitting her time between Athens, Georgia and Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, Nicole A. Taylor is a food writer and author of several cookbooks. She sat down with BPL’s Bed-Stuy Tea podcast to discuss finding and preserving her Southern voice, the pleasures of restaurant research, and her favorite local spots to eat and drink. Read a transcript of this episod…

1
Explore Your City This Summer! 12:12

1y ago12:12

12:12

It's summer and school's out! No matter what age you are, you can spend your summer at the library with book lists and activities galore. We go over the facts and stats of BPL's popular Culture Pass program, which has helped thousands of New Yorkers visit museums and performance spaces in the city ... for free! Read a transcript of the episode here…

1
Drag Story Hour 15:27

1y ago15:27

15:27

Brooklyn Public Library has been hosting Drag Story Hours since 2016. It's one of our most popular, colorful, and well-attended events for kids. In this episode, we explore why Drag Story Hour is important, and how it’s had to change in recent years in response to an increasingly tense political climate. More resources: June is Pride Month! Celebra…

1
Say His Name: Arthur Miller 17:44

1y ago17:44

17:44

Outside of Brooklyn, Arthur Miller's name has largely faded from memory. On this episode, we tell the story of the Black community leader who was killed by NYPD chokehold in 1978, the movement pushed forward as a result of his death, and the ways that Brooklyn Public Library’s Center for Brooklyn History helps to keep the story alive. Further resou…

1
When the Library's a Stage 17:24

1y ago17:24

17:24

Listen in on one of BPL's most popular art programs: a theater workshop where, once a week, budding thespians come together to read plays, talk about character motivations, and dig into some surprisingly emotional and political topics. Read a transcript of this episode on our website. Join fellow thespians at Central Library's theater workshop. Or,…

1
Rebroadcast: Secret Lives of Librarians 17:23

1+ y ago17:23

17:23

We revisit an episode from January 2021 in honor of National Library Workers Day, and ask: what do librarians do all day? When they're not planning programs or working the reference desk, these librarians are also obscure trivia players, birders and ... sword fighters! Read a transcript here. Have a minute? Vote for Borrowed and Banned in the Webby…

1
Bridging the Gap 13:02

1+ y ago13:02

13:02

Teens and older adults are perhaps the two age groups you might think have the least in common. But a new program at BPL seeks to bring the two generations together ... by having them debate. Read a transcript of this episode on our web page. Resources mentioned on this episode: Learn more about services for older adults at BPL and programs for tee…

1
Browse the Branches 14:58

1+ y ago14:58

14:58

Brooklyn has 62 neighborhood libraries, each with a distinct architecture, culture, and soul. To kick off the new season and to celebrate our audio stories coming home to Brooklyn, we'll take a tour of the borough with the help of our neighborhood libraries and some of our stalwart patrons who visited all 62 of them ... in a matter of days! Read a …

1
The Challenge 30:22

1+ y ago30:22

30:22

Student activists in York, Pennsylvania organized a silent protest when hundreds of books were banned from their classrooms, paving the way for lasting change in their community. In this final episode of the series, we tackle the challenge head-on: from encouraging open dialogue about the books on our shelves to the ongoing work of protecting the f…

1
On the Frontlines 26:54

1+ y ago26:54

26:54

Library workers often risk their livelihoods when they speak out against censorship, spurring community members to pick up the fight for intellectual freedom. We tell the story of how one Louisiana parish came together to defend their library amidst book challenges, tip lines, and even sign burning. Read the transcript here. Our call to action for …

1
An Interview with Maia Kobabe 19:40

1+ y ago19:40

19:40

Maia Kobabe's debut memoir, Gender Queer, was the most frequently banned book in 2021 and 2022. We talked with em about what it's like to be on the recieving end of so many challenges, and the importance of public libraries. Read the transcript here. More resources: Check out Gender Queer. Find Maia's resources for defending Gender Queer, and eir r…

1
Beloved Blues 24:39

1+ y ago24:39

24:39

Despite being one of the most frequently banned authors, Toni Morrison’s work has inspired countless others to tell stories outside the mainstream. We take a closer look at Morisson's writing, her legacy, and her impact on the anti-censorship movement. Read the transcript here. Our call to action for this episode: Learn how you can support and defe…

1
An Interview with George M. Johnson 17:06

1+ y ago17:06

17:06

George M. Johnson talks about their debut Young Adult memoir All Boys Aren't Blue, the support of their family, their love of Toni Morrison, and the importance of standing against book bans. Read the transcript here. Resources: Check out All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson. Read about Johnson's family supporting their book when it was challen…

1
Battle of the Classics 21:19

1+ y ago21:19

21:19

Our call to action for this episode: Talk about the books that are important to you, even if they aren’t challenged. Stay informed about what books are being challenged in your area by subscribing to Book Riot's Literary Activism Newsletter. Each week, journalist Kelly Jensen writes about the latest in book banning trends, stories, and reports from…

1
An Interview with Mike Curato 18:29

1+ y ago18:29

18:29

Mike Curato talks about his award-winning graphic novel Flamer, his writing practice, and how it feels to have his story vaulted into national headlines as parents, politicians, and school boards campaign to remove his book from school and library shelves. Read the transcript here. Resources: Check out Flamer from BPL, or other books by Mike Curato…

1
Of Parents and School Boards 28:45

1+ y ago28:45

28:45

Over the past few years, school board races have become more heated and more political — and books have become the center of that political storm. We look at what happened in Keller, Texas when an ultra-conservative group took over the school board. You can read a transcript of this episode here. Our call to action for this episode: Find out when t…

1
This Day in Esoteric Political History: United States vs One Book Called Ulysses (1933) 21:27

1+ y ago21:27

21:27

It’s an off-week for Borrowed and Banned, but we do have something special to share. We’re doing a collaboration with PRX’s Radiotopia, and they sent along an episode from one of their shows that is really relevant to our series. This Day in Esoteric Political History is a podcast that tells the story of one moment from US history that took place o…

1
Seen and Obscene 27:50

2y ago27:50

27:50

The birth of obscenity laws in the 1870s provides a cautionary tale for the present moment, when far-right conservatives incorrectly label books “sexually explicit” as a way to provoke outrage in communities nationwide. This episode, we delve into the parallels that history can reveal and hear from students in Texas fighting for their freedom to re…

1
All for a Library Card 28:19

2y ago28:19

28:19

When a high school teacher in Norman, Oklahoma shared a QR code with her students that would grant them access to BPL’s digital collection, she took a stand against a restrictive state law. That act of resistance made her first day of school ... also her last. Our call to action for this episode: Get a library card! Wherever you live, sign up for a…

1
Introducing: Borrowed and Banned 4:19

2y ago4:19

4:19

Last year, over 2,500 unique titles were challenged in libraries across the country. That’s the highest number in over 20 years. On Borrowed and Banned, we tell the story of America’s ideological war with its bookshelves by talking with the people most impacted: the students on the frontlines, the librarians and teachers whose livelihoods are endan…

1
An Episode from Grown: Culture and Identity 30:27

2y ago30:27

30:27

We’re doing something a little bit different today and sharing an episode from a totally different podcast we love … it’s called Grown, and it’s from the Moth. Grown is all about the experience of growing up. There's conversations, true stories told live, and young people grappling with big questions. Read more about Grown and subscribe at grownpod…

1
Jay-Z at the Library 8:22

2y ago8:22

8:22

Over 14,000 patrons have signed up for their first library card since Jay-Z's exhibit came to Central Library in mid-July. We talk to Brooklynites traveling around the borough to collect all 13 Jay-Z library cards, and ask what The Book of HOV means to them. Learn more about the exhibit and our signature library cards: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/…

1
Pathways to Leadership 14:21

2y ago14:21

14:21

Kesha Powell and Amen Emile have been working at BPL for over 20 years in various roles, from public safety to circulation manager. Thanks to BPL's Pathways to Leadership program—a scholarship and mentorship initiative designed to diversify the field of librarianship—they will soon be fully-certified librarians. Read the transcript and find further…

1
Meet Our (Almost) Six-Year-Old Librarian 9:48

2y ago9:48

9:48

If you ask Hannah Jean what would be her greatest wish, she will say running Brooklyn Public Library. Last month, she got to do just that. Read the transcript and check out our book list: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/meet-our-almost-six-yearBy Brooklyn Public Library

1
The Teens are Offline 14:31

2y ago14:31

14:31

Meet the Luddite Club, a group of library-loving, flip-phone-toting teenagers in Brooklyn who come together every week out of a shared sense that social media and smart phones just aren't working for them. Read the transcript and check out additional resources here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/teens-are-offline Listen to Undiscarded: Stor…

1
Seeking Asylum 25:01

2y ago25:01

25:01

Asylum seekers continue to arrive in New York City. We look at how one faith-based organization is responding to the continuing crisis in the hope that these personal narratives offer a window into the experience of migrants in Brooklyn today. For a transcript of this episode in English and links to resources, visit: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/po…

1
Buscando Asilo 25:30

2y ago25:30

25:30

Este episodio es sobre los solicitantes de asilo en la ciudad de Nueva York. Estamos compartiendo estas narrativas personales con la esperanza de que escucharlas devuelva la humanidad a esta crisis. Para leer el episodio en inglés y más recursos: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/buscando-asiloBy Brooklyn Public Library

1
A Place of Refuge 17:52

2y ago17:52

17:52

Last year, New York City began to see an increase in the number of migrants seeking asylum. The library is a small part of the city-wide response to help those seeking refuge. This episode, we'll talk about library and city efforts with Manuel Castro, the Commissioner at the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Affairs. Links to resources and the epiosde t…

1
What's Your Library Worth? 10:22

2+ y ago10:22

10:22

Did you know there are some public libraries that loan out snowshoes? And cement mixers? And Santa suits? This episode, we try to calculate what your public library is worth, and ask how you can give back to support public libraries. Read the transcript and find more resources here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/whats-your-library-worth…

1
Go, Robots, Go! 9:57

2+ y ago9:57

9:57

With tablets, Legos, and coding, these fourteen teams from library branches across Brooklyn met at Central Library to compete in the final championship of Brooklyn Robotics League — resulting in what is surely one of our loudest stories ever. Read a transcript and check out our book list here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/go-robots-go…

1
Happily Ever After 15:51

2+ y ago15:51

15:51

We love love at the library, so for Valentine's Day this year, we're devoting the episode Romance Novels! We'll learn how Romance covers hint at what's between them, and chat with writer Nichole Perkins about how the genre is diversifying. Read the transcript and check out our book list here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/happily-ever-after…

1
La Hora Mágica 11:29

2+ y ago11:29

11:29

La Hora Mágica has been the heart of Sunset Park’s storytime programming for a decade now, highlighting songs and stories in Spanish and English for speakers of all different languages. Read the transcript here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/la-hora-m%C3%A1gicaBy Brooklyn Public Library

1
Dyker Singers, Dyker Lights 11:15

2+ y ago11:15

11:15

Dyker Heights, Brooklyn is a destination this time of year, with houses decked out in lights drawing visitors from all around the world. And inside Dyker Library, a strong community gathers to sing, play mahjong, do yoga, and so much more. You can find a transcript of this episode here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/dyker-singers-dyker…

1
Rebroadcast: Work in Progress 20:38

2+ y ago20:38

20:38

From “the most expensive pigeon roost in the world” to one of the world’s most unique libraries, Brooklyn’s Central Library has many stories to tell. We’ll dive into the history of Central Library, hear from Brooklynites starting small businesses, and one patron’s path from homelessness to determined author. Find the transcript and book list here: …

1
Family Meal 13:14

2+ y ago13:14

13:14

This Thanksgiving, meet the people who run Central Library's café and get a peak into their kitchen on the Library's third floor, where fourteen students speaking seven different language meet every day. This episode is a collaboration with Emma's Torch, a workforce development program that empowers refugees through the culinary arts and job placem…

1
Stories of Service 17:55

2+ y ago17:55

17:55

In honor of Veterans Day, we are bringing you four stories of service, from veterans who served in World War II, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Iraq. Three voices come to us from interviews collected at BPL for the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. Check out our book list and transcript here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts…

1
Rebroadcast: Weathering the Storm 22:10

2+ y ago22:10

22:10

To honor the tenth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, we are returning to an episode we produced in 2019 about the impact of the storm on our library system, and how libraries can become information centers, shelters and community spaces in the wake of natural disaster. Check out our book list and transcript here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcast…

1
School's Out! Time for a Pop Quiz 29:22

3y ago29:22

29:22

Will you visit your library this summer? To kick off a season of reading, we thought we'd have some fun! How many Brooklyn and library trivia questions can you answer correctly? Want to learn more about topics brought up in this episode? Check out the following links! Listen to our new podcast for kids! Page Flippers Take on the World is a wacky li…

1
Books Unbanned 25:58

3y ago25:58

25:58

Book bans and challenges have been on the rise in the past few years. When BPL launched a free eCard to give out-of-state teens access to our eBook collection, including many banned titles, we saw an incredible response. We look at the impact of that initiative, and our own history of censorship over the past 125 years. Check out our book list and …

1
A Library Sounds Like This 26:48

3y ago26:48

26:48

From defunct recording technology to vinyl’s comeback, we've been through a lot of media changes over the last 125 years. And we're still not done changing! We talk about audio's next great frontier with the world's first two podcast librarians. Read the transcript and check out our listening list here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/library…

1
World Wide Web 23:21

3+ y ago23:21

23:21

In 1996, we were one of the first libraries in the nation to connect our patrons to the internet. Today, we're extending our WiFi reach down the block, loaning hotspots, and archiving hyperlocal websites for the future. Read the transcript and check out our book list here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/podcasts/world-wide-web…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jaye & NK Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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