Best Rare Book Chat Podcasts (2025)

1
Dining with Dali, Computer Liberation, and Bidding Against Yourself (an AI story) 29:45

15d ago29:45

29:45

Special guest! Hélène Golay of Capitol Hill Books joins Jeremy and Michael to discuss post-war diplomacy through fine dining, Jeremy's hungry cat leads to an impulsive purchase of an early manifesto on the personal computer, and Michael and Jeremy realize they are often competing with themselves for the price of a book. Enjoy the show! Please don't…

1
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Alyssa 14:37

5d ago14:37

14:37

We usually cover a different guest and topic each episode, but this week, we’re peeling back the curtain to get to know Alyssa: the show’s producer, right-hand lady, and longtime member of the community. In this special mini episode, Alyssa shares more about herself, from her life as a caregiver and mom to her love of swimming, salted caramel ice c…

1
Book Review: “How to Handle More Than You Can Handle” by Amanda Griffith-Atkins 24:30

12d ago24:30

24:30

What does it really mean to care for yourself while raising a disabled child? Not the bubble bath kind of self-care—but the kind that starts with naming your anger, your grief, your jealousy, and not pushing them down just because “good parents don’t feel that way.” In this episode, Amanda Griffith-Atkins joins Alyssa and I to talk about her new bo…

1
Mindfulness for Medical Parents w/ Chrissy McGuire 13:54

19d ago13:54

13:54

Meditation might seem like a luxury when you’re managing meds, appointments, and survival mode. But for some of us, it becomes a lifeline. In this episode, Chrissy McGuire shares how mindfulness helped her survive the NICU, find her footing as a single mom to two disabled kids, and notice the small moments of joy that still exist in the chaos. Chri…

1
A Magic Bible, and Smith with a "P" 20:09

1M ago20:09

20:09

Whose Bible would be more fun at a dinner party, Mick Jagger's or Harry Houdini's? And what about that curious Wodehouse manuscript coming up for auction? So much to think about, including Michael's feeling that there is an alarming lack of respect for comic literature in the rare book market. Thank you for listening! Do you have any ideas for us? …

1
192: Season 11 Finale | Poolside Chats with Texas ECI, Production Chaos, + Summer Mini Eps w/ Alyssa Nutile 40:36

1M ago40:36

40:36

Season 11 is coming to a close, and it’s been one of our most emotional seasons yet. From intense behind-the-scenes chaos to topics that pushed the boundaries of what we’ve covered before—this season stretched us in all the right ways. In this finale episode, I’m joined again by Alyssa to reflect on what made this season both overwhelming and meani…

1
191: Abortion + Parents of Disabled Kids w/ Alyssa Nutile 51:24

1M ago51:24

51:24

No one expects to be here. But many of us are. In this episode, Alyssa Nutile and I open up a raw and rarely discussed topic: abortion after a prenatal diagnosis. We talk about how these decisions are shaped by love, by fear, by systemic failures, and by the weight of what it means to bring a child into the world when you know what they might face.…

1
190: Colleen’s Story | Epilepsy, Brain Surgery, + Rage Hiking 39:04

2M ago39:04

39:04

Sometimes the only place big enough for the weight you’re carrying is the side of a mountain. That’s where Colleen—and dozens of other moms—learned how to let it out. In this episode, Colleen tells the story of her son Owen’s explosive onset epilepsy, her family's long search for answers, and the brain surgery that changed everything. She opens up …

1
189: Grief in Disability Parenting | What it is, Why It’s There, + How to Process It w/ Amanda Griffith-Atkins 55:35

2M ago55:35

55:35

Grief around our children’s disabilities can take many forms. Some of us are grieving the life we thought we’d have with our child that looks so very different now. Others of us are grieving the very real possibility of losing them too soon. In this episode, therapist and fellow disability parent Amanda Griffith-Atkins joins me to talk about the co…

1
A Prank Inscription, Bloody Relics, and Harry Potter Unbound 30:09

2M ago30:09

30:09

All about a book that was not inscribed by Calvin Coolidge to Ernest Hemingway, the gloves Lincoln wore the fateful night of the assassination, and a marvelous Harry Potter curiosity... Enjoy!By Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero

1
Mini-episode: Why We Are Delaying Our Next Few Episodes w/ Alyssa Nutile 21:35

2M ago21:35

21:35

For the first time in The Rare Life history... we need a little extra time to work on the next few episodes. Not because we haven’t been preparing and planning, but because some current events have thrown a wrench into the works. In this episode, Madeline and Alyssa talk generally about some of the recent events that have come up, how the community…

1
188: Belief Systems + Ways They’re Affected by Disability Parenting w/ Ali, Bethany, Melissa, and Rachel 1:11:18

2M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

When you’re the parent of a medically complex or disabled child, the experience touches every aspect of our life – including our faith, often in unique and surprising ways. Today, I’m sharing a vulnerable and tender episode, where I interviewed four different women, each coming to the table with their own different spiritual backgrounds, to share h…

1
187: Do You Miss Who You Used to Be Prior To Disability Parenting? w/ Alyssa Nutile 1:05:01

3M ago1:05:01

1:05:01

For a lot of us, the answer isn’t simple. You can miss your lighter, less-traumatized self and feel proud of who you’ve become. That’s the tension so many of us sit in as medical parents: grieving the carefree, well-rested version of ourselves while also seeing strength, resilience, and depth we didn’t know we had. In this episode, I’m joined by Al…

1
186: Leah’s Story | Faith, Nurturing Sibling Relationships, + NICU Boxes 59:12

3M ago59:12

59:12

When Leah Crum gave birth to her daughter Camilla, she had no idea she was about to be launched into a world of medical unknowns, an undiagnosed rare condition, and 118 days in the NICU. In this episode, Leah talks about the emotional whiplash of life in the NICU, the slow heartbreak of delayed diagnoses, and the grief that comes with being told yo…

1
BONUS: The Current Political Climate + How Disability Parents Feel About It w/ Alyssa Nutile 54:06

3M ago54:06

54:06

When the systems your child depends on are under threat, it doesn’t feel political—it feels personal. In this episode, Madeline and Alyssa unpack the deep unfairness of having to constantly justify your child’s worth while watching essential supports unravel in real time. They also discuss the fury that bubbles up when people call your fear “politi…

1
185: Medical Parent Trauma | Dealing with Triggers + Ongoing Trauma w/ Rosey Schaefermeyer, LCSW 49:15

3M ago49:15

49:15

There are certain moments that never leave you—the sight of your child turning blue, the smell of hospital-grade hand sanitizer, the feeling of helplessness as doctors take over. Medical trauma doesn’t just happen to our kids. It happens to us too. In this episode, therapist Rosey Schaefermeyer joins us for a deep dive into how medical trauma shape…

1
Lillian Ross & Her Very Ernest Hemingway 42:12

3M ago42:12

42:12

Special guest Sarah Funke Butler (funkeliterary.com) joins Jeremy and Michael to discuss a fascinating and newly unearthed trove of letters from Ernest Hemingway to the groundbreaking journalist Lillian Ross. You think you knew everything about Hemingway? Well, think again - this collection of letters has forced us to reconsider our understanding o…

1
184: Rachel’s Story | Widowed During Pregnancy, Misdiagnoses, + Sibling Dynamics 34:29

3M ago34:29

34:29

At 28 weeks pregnant with her third child, Rachel experienced the unimaginable—losing her husband in a sudden tragedy. What followed was a whirlwind of grief, survival mode, and a cross-country move while still carrying her son, Wells. But it wasn’t until after his birth that another challenge emerged: developmental delays, medical concerns, and th…

1
Crimes, Dimes, and Scat! 23:43

4M ago23:43

23:43

In this episode we talk about dime novels and the lurid crimes they depict, and the now forgotten authors of those gazillions of highly popular novels, as well as two items of scatological interest, one of which has a very distinguished provenance.By Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero

1
183: Epilepsy | Unpredictability + Emotional Toll it Takes on Parents w/ Hailey Adkisson 1:11:21

4M ago1:11:21

1:11:21

Imagine living on high alert, every second of every day. That’s life with severe, uncontrolled epilepsy. You’re always watching, always listening, always bracing for the next seizure. And when they happen multiple times a day, there’s no break. No way to ever fully relax. In Ep 183 of The Rare Life, Hailey Atkison shares the raw reality of parentin…

1
182: Hobbies for Disability Parents | Why We Need Them + How to Squeeze Them In w/ Amanda Griffith-Atkins 48:35

4M ago48:35

48:35

When your life revolves around medical schedules, appointments, and constant caregiving, hobbies can feel a little unnecessary. Where do we find the time? The energy? The mental bandwidth? It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that any time spent on ourselves is selfish. But for many of us, finding ways to adapt our hobbies to fit into our me…

1
181: Kait’s Story | Fertility Struggles, A Surviving Twin, + “What Could Have Been” 44:28

4M ago44:28

44:28

When Kait Parrish found out she was pregnant with twins, she imagined matching outfits, sibling giggles, and the life she had always dreamed of. Instead, at 24 weeks, she gave birth to two fragile babies fighting for survival in the NICU. Then, two weeks later, she lost one of them. In this raw and deeply personal episode, Kait shares the heartbrea…

1
Valentine's Day Episode (A Quickie!) 11:17

4M ago11:17

11:17

A quick chat about Valentine's Day gifts from the 19th century -- and the all important question of whether love was even possible in the olden days. Plus, a little more (but not much!)By Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero

1
180: Does Disability Parenting Ever Get Easier? Survival Mode, Burnout Mode, and Beyond w/ Erica Stearns and Alyssa Nutile 59:30

4M ago59:30

59:30

The age old question: Does this life ever get easier? And if so, when? Just as you might expect, the answer isn’t quite cut and dry, but in this episode, I’m joined by Erica Stearns and Alyssa Nutile to sort through this complex question. Using their Caregiver Continuum framework, they offer a way for you to orient yourself and gain footing as a di…

1
179: The Exhaustion of Being a Disability Parent w/ Alyssa Nutile 1:09:23

5M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

The exhaustion that comes with disability parenting isn’t just about sleep deprivation. It’s everything else too: the mental exhaustion of managing a child’s entire medical life. The weight of being the only one who knows all the details. The grief. The fear. The constant pressure of doing everything right with so little support. And that’s just sc…

1
178: Jessica Fein’s Story |Adoption, a Progressive Disease, + The Illusion of Control 56:47

5M ago56:47

56:47

When Jessica Fein’s daughter, Dalia, was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease (MIRF syndrome) after a long diagnostic process, she was thrown into a world of medical uncertainty, impossible decisions, and the heartbreaking reality of watching Dalia’s abilities slowly fade. In this episode, Jessica shares her adoption story with Dalia, the amb…

1
177: Kicking Off Season 11 | Episode + Fundraiser Sneak Peeks w/ Alyssa Nutile 26:26

5M ago26:26

26:26

It’s time to officially kick off Season 11! This season, we’re diving deep into how this life affects you—the parent. From mental health to medical trauma to grief, and even hobbies, this season is all about how the experience of parenting a medically complex or disabled child shapes our lives too. We’re also launching our second annual Friends and…

1
Holiday Mini 6: Find Your Community in TRL Discussion Groups 12:18

6M ago12:18

12:18

Building connections can feel impossible when life is alreadyoverwhelming. That’s where The Rare Life discussion groups come in. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on our discussiongroups—virtual gatherings that feel more like a book club than anything else. You’ll hear from three amazing facilitators about the friendships, resources, an…

1
Holiday Mini 5: The New Year for Disability Parents 9:53

6M ago9:53

9:53

For disability parents, the New Year doesn’t always meanlofty resolutions or big changes. It might mean survival mode, holding boundaries, or simply getting through the day. In this episode, I’m sharing your thoughts on New Year’sresolutions—why they’re hard, how they shift, and what really matters when life is unpredictable. From survival mode to …

1
Holiday Mini 4: 2024 for Medical Parents | Highs and Lows 19:20

6M ago19:20

19:20

What if the hardest part of your year was also the one that shaped you the most? In this special mini-episode, I read submissions from the community that capture the resilience, heartache, and triumphs we’ve all experienced this year (includinga few entries that count as both highs AND lows.) From the heartbreaking realities of denied services and …

1
Holiday Mini 3: The Silent Suffering | A Poem Reading + Discussion w/ Kara Berasi 18:05

6M ago18:05

18:05

What if the hardest part of your journey was the part no one saw? The silent suffering that happens behind closed doors, in the dark hours of the night, when the mask comes off and the tears flow. In this mini-episode, I’m joined by Kara Berasi, who shares her powerful poem, The Silent Suffering. We talk about the emotional weight of caregiving, th…

1
Einstein's Frubber Face, Plath's Favorite Cook Book, Kafka's Earliest Scribbling, & the Kelmscott Press 49:19

6M ago49:19

49:19

We begin this episode with Michael bemoaning a missed opportunity to buy the head of Albert Einstein, and then we welcome Darren Sutherland, Senior Specialist in the Fine Books and Manuscripts at Bonhams Auctions, to discuss two upcoming sales. The first is a fascinating single-owner complete collection of books from the Kelmscott Press, assembled …

1
Holiday Mini 2: Gift Giving Grief for Disability Parents w/ Amanda Griffith-Atkins 25:00

6M ago25:00

25:00

Holidays are supposed to be full of joy, right? But for disability parents, gift-giving can bring a whole mix of feelings: grief, frustration, and why did they buy this moments. Instead of magic, we’re juggling unconventional (or maybe not age-appropriate) toys for our kids, therapy equipment wrapped in bows, and family members who just don’t get i…

1
Holiday Mini 1: Boredom, G-Tubes, + Chatterboxes | What We’re Deeply Grateful For Because of Disability Parenting 10:39

7M ago10:39

10:39

So many parts of this life are difficult, traumatic, and honestly just unfair for us and our children... but there are bright spots and things we find ourselves grateful for, despite the hardship. So to prepare for this episode, we asked you about those things you’re most grateful for in this life, and boy, did you all deliver. You mentioned things…

1
176: Season 10 Finale | A Spicy Season, Sticker Club Tallies, + What’s Coming Next w/ Alyssa Nutile 30:13

7M ago30:13

30:13

Season 10 is coming to a close, and it’s been a good one! While a little shorter than seasons in the past, we covered some big topics from hospitalizations to crunchy medical parenting to online bullying with some amazing stories mixed in. Outside of the podcast, we added two new board members, and we had our most successful round of Sticker Club y…

1
Episode 9: Gold Rush Diaries, Delicious Urine, and Old Uncle Abraham 32:09

7M ago32:09

32:09

Welcome back to another episode of Rare Book Chat, where we dive into the delightful world of historical curiosities and the sometimes grim realities behind them. This week, we have a rollicking discussion that swings from the California Gold Rush to 17th-century plague remedies, and more —because, why not? Gold Rush Diary: We kick things off with …

1
SC Mini #3 | The Last Day of Sticker Club & What It Takes to Make One Episode of The Rare Life with Alyssa Nutile 30:15

7M ago30:15

30:15

It’s our final Sticker Club mini episode, and today, Alyssa Nutile, producer and doer-of-all-the-things at The Rare Life, is here to break down what production looks like for each episode of the podcast, from start to finish. (It’s probably a lot more than you would think!) And for the sake of transparency, we’re also sharing our mission here at Th…

1
175: Our Children’s Medical Trauma w/ Katie Taylor, CCLS 1:04:41

7M ago1:04:41

1:04:41

Watching our children go through pain in a medical setting, even when we know it’s what is best for them, can be difficult for parents to navigate. We want to help, but sometimes it can be hard to know what is actually easing instead of compounding the trauma. Fortunately, there’s a specialty that focuses on this exact problem: enter the Child Life…

1
Episode 8: The Man Who Did Too Much 30:11

7M ago30:11

30:11

In this episode, Jeremy and Michael discuss William Morris, wallpaper, and the birth of fantasy literature, with an analysis of Morris's influence on J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis in particular. Then a game of would you rather - a spectacular copy of Orwell's 1984, or a mini-collection of dystopian novels? Also a half-hearted stab at the big questi…

1
SC Mini #2 | Behind the Heart of a Listener and Supporter 22:59

7M ago22:59

22:59

Summary: On this special mini episode, we’re hearing from a long-time listener turned board member, Carolina! We got to chat about what led Carolina to The Rare Life, what The Rare Life has meant to her, how she helped plan this year’s Sticker Club as part of our fundraising committee, and how she’s helping us grow and reach new communities via a S…

1
174: A Case Against Silencing Disability Parents on Social Media w/ Alyssa Nutile 1:40:25

8M ago1:40:25

1:40:25

We all have stories to tell, and we all have a right to tell them... but on social media, sometimes it feels like we have to do it in a specific way. Because if we don't use the perfect words and the right framing, we risk a small but vocal cohort of other disability parents and disabled adults coming into our space, monitoring our content, and som…

1
Episode 7: A Tea Party, a Traveling Salesman, and Artificial Ants 21:38

8M ago21:38

21:38

In this episode, we explore a delightful tea party invitation that connects Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, and Michael Faraday. The conversation then transitions to a rare first edition from 1832, which addresses a fundamental challenge in computational theory, one so perplexing that researchers have enlisted artificial ants to help sniff out a sol…

1
SC Mini #1 | Disability Parenting Book Recommendations w/ Amanda Griffith-Atkins 13:13

8M ago13:13

13:13

Sticker Club 2024 is live!! And to celebrate, we’ll be handing out a book bundle of six amazing disability parenting books in a giveaway sponsored by Amanda Griffith-Atkins. In this episode, we’re sharing the titles of these disability parenting books, what we love about them, and how you can enter the giveaway to win this book bundle! (Spoiler: jo…

1
173: Everything You Need to Know About Sticker Club 16:19

8M ago16:19

16:19

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for... The Rare Life Sticker Club is back and better than ever! In case you missed it last year, Sticker Club is an annual fundraiser for listeners to help support the show by signing up for a monthly donation (and as a thank you, we send you stickers!) In this episode, we’re telling you all about the new des…

1
Episode 6: The World Series Episode: A Very Rare Book that Revolutionized Baseball... and more! 25:01

8M ago25:01

25:01

In this episode of Rare Book Chat, we're diving into the revolutionary impact of Bill James's work on baseball and far beyond. Known to us (with affection) as the "Pork and Beans Man," Bill James transformed the way we think about baseball analytics, introducing statistical evaluation in sports with his groundbreaking work, "The Baseball Abstract."…

1
172: Nikole’s Story | Diagnosis Misinformation + Never Giving Up 45:23

8M ago45:23

45:23

Nikole’s delivery for her daughter Chloe was... less than ideal for quite a few reasons. Nikole’s health was in jeopardy, Chloe was delivered nearly two months early, and according to one especially rude NICU doctor, Chloe “looked funny.” This difficult experience reached a crescendo when Nikole was given the news of Chloe’s rare diagnosis, Wolf Hi…

1
Episode 5: Constitution Recap... a Bargain at $11M? 29:58

8M ago29:58

29:58

In this episode we discuss the sale price of a the extremely rare ratification printing of the US Constitution sold at Brunk Auctions last week. Was $11M high or low? Listen to the episode to find out why it was probably a bargain.By Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero

1
171: The Financial Strain of Medical Parenting w/ Amanda Griffith-Atkins + Alyssa Nutile 1:05:32

8M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

It’s no secret that parenthood is expensive. But when it comes to parenting a medically complex kid, the dial is turned up to 100. Everything with an “accessible” label is marked up 10x. We have to make renovations to our homes and vehicles with little to no financial assistance. And that’s often on top of career and work changes that have made our…

1
Episode 4: The Most Important Printed Document in American History? 46:57

8M ago46:57

46:57

In this episode of Rare Book Chat, hosts Michael DiRuggiero and Jeremy O'Connor discuss a rare ratification copy of the US Constitution with Seth Kaller, the pre-eminent dealer of rare and important American historical documents. The conversation explores the document's historical significance, the complexities of its journey from creation to ratif…

1
Episode 3: Marx, Darwin, Smith, and Mutton 32:21

9M ago32:21

32:21

In this episode of Rare Book Chat, hosts Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero explore the fascinating world of rare books, spotlighting three legendary first editions: Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations, Karl Marx’s Das Kapital, and Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. They discuss what makes these books so valuable, why Jeremy thinks Das K…

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