Best KMUW Podcasts (2025)

1
We're Gonna Party Like It's 1985 35:04

24h ago35:04

35:04

1985 may not seem like a long time ago, but people back then had some pretty different ideas about how to speak "properly."By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
You’ve seen this one before, but maybe not quite like this 2:32

2d ago2:32

2:32

Fletcher Powell says to stop him if you've heard this one before.By Fletcher Powell

1
Jo Harkin on her historical novel, 'The Pretender' 18:22

4d ago18:22

18:22

When Jo Harkin was in the middle of writing a science fiction novel, she took a procrastination break to read a book about kings and queens. That’s when she came across the name Lambert Simnel in footnotes of British history, a known pretender to Henry VII’s throne. In her novel, "The Pretender," Harkin elevates Simnel from the footnotes to an imag…

1
'Ordinary Time' underscores the idea that a quiet, small-town life can be magical 1:37

5d ago1:37

1:37

'Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put' is a memoir in essays by Annie B. Jones, the owner of an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. It explores small-town living and the idea that you don't have to do big things in a big city to have a meaningful life.By Suzanne Perez

1
Tulip Mania! 35:50

8d ago35:50

35:50

What does the stock market have to do with piracy in the West Indies? The Dutch, of course! (Really!)By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
A baseball movie that gets it 2:31

10d ago2:31

2:31

Fletcher Powell says a new baseball movie understands a fundamental part of the game.By Fletcher Powell

1
Andrew Porter on his new novel, 'The Imagined Life' 14:11

12d ago14:11

14:11

How much do we really want to know about our parents' past lives? Author Andrew Porter recently told KMUW's Beth Golay that this is just one question addressed in his novel, "The Imagined Life."By Beth Golay

1
Katie Kitamura's 'Audition' will leave you puzzling long after the final page 1:40

13d ago1:40

1:40

Katie Kitamura's newest novel, “Audition,” is a slow-burn psychological thriller that you can’t stop reading, even though you’re not exactly sure what’s going on.By Suzanne Perez

1
Where Are the Beeves? 32:20

15d ago32:20

32:20

The plural of thief is thieves, so why isn't the plural of chief chieves? And as the old woman once said, where are the beeves??? On today's show, we tackle the tricky nuance of plurals and synonyms that aren't actually synonyms.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Funk, it is forever stanky 2:35

17d ago2:35

2:35

Fletcher Powell says one new movie is a shining example of its genre.By Fletcher Powell

1
Visiting poet Michael Prior on his two collections 'Model Disciple' and 'Burning Province' 24:13

19d ago24:13

24:13

The Writing Now | Reading Now: Reading with visiting poet Michael Prior will begin at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 8th at the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University following a 5:30 pm reception.By Beth Golay

1
'The Float Test' offers superb writing, but it's hard to keep the story straight 1:40

20d ago1:40

1:40

Lynn Steger Strong's new novel, "The Float Test," is the story of four siblings who come together in Florida after the unexpected death of their mother.By Suzanne Perez

1
The Letter of the Day is E! 33:01

22d ago33:01

33:01

We return to our series looking at the most enigmatic, evil words ever found on the SAT.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Sarah Kay on her poetry collection, 'A Little Daylight Left' 35:33

22d ago35:33

35:33

Beth Golay recently spoke with Sarah Kay about her new collection of poetry, A Little Daylight Left.By Beth Golay

1
See this movie in a packed house (or you probably don’t need to bother) 2:33

24d ago2:33

2:33

KMUW's Fletcher Powell says there's only one way to see one new movie.By Fletcher Powell

1
'Secrets of Adulthood' packs a lot of wisdom into just a few pages 1:35

27d ago1:35

1:35

In her new book, "Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives," author Gretchen Rubin distills decades of research into a collection of easy-to-remember life hacks.By Suzanne Perez

1
Spring Has Sprung! 33:50

29d ago33:50

33:50

We're talking about some words of the season as the temperatures have fortunately turned for the better and allergies unfortunately have not.By Fletcher Powell

1
Ron Currie on his new novel, 'The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne' 24:17

1M ago24:17

24:17

Beth Golay recently spoke with Ron Currie about "The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne." Currie will be at Watermark Books & Cafe for an author event on Friday, March 28th at 6 pm.By Beth Golay

1
'Tilt' recounts one woman's journey through post-earthquake devastation 1:39

1M ago1:39

1:39

Emma Pattee's debut novel, "Tilt," is a powerful, fast-paced literary thriller that will have you pondering human nature and your own capacity to carry on.By Suzanne Perez

1
We're looking to the past 29:22

1M ago29:22

29:22

Today we're taking a trip back into the past — past tense, past participles... When we try to tell someone about something that already happened, it can be trickier than we might think.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
A new documentary finally places Andy Kaufman in context 2:24

1M ago2:24

2:24

Fletcher Powell looks at a new documentary about a subject who's hard to pin down.By Fletcher Powell

1
Evie Wyld on 'The Echoes' 16:34

1M ago16:34

16:34

Beth Golay recently spoke with Evie Wyld about her novel, 'The Echoes,' which touches on the indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history in Australia.By Beth Golay

1
'Integrated' explores the problematic legacy of school desegregation 1:38

1M ago1:38

1:38

In her new book, "Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children," scholar Noliwe Rooks unpacks the questionable legacy of the Brown v. Board of Education decision.By Suzanne Perez

1
Happy 200! 30:56

1M ago30:56

30:56

We celebrate our 200th episode (!) by taking a trip back in time to look at some words that popped up 200 years ago.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
A groundbreaking filmmaker takes on Manson 2:15

2M ago2:15

2:15

Fletcher Powell looks at the new movie from a groundbreaking documentary filmmaker.By Fletcher Powell

1
Karen Russell on her new novel, 'The Antidote' 32:08

2M ago32:08

32:08

Beth Golay recently spoke with Karen Russell about where her novel "The Antidote" began for her.By Beth Golay

1
Kim Fay's new novel is a love letter to books and reading 1:40

2M ago1:40

1:40

Kim Fay's "Kate & Frida" is a heartwarming epistolary novel that follows the unexpected friendship between two young women in the early 1990s who bond over food and books.By Suzanne Perez

1
Let's Get Fancy 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

Put on your best evening wear, we're getting fancy! Or maybe we're just getting stuffy. This week we're looking at language that's grammatically correct, but that sounds like you're just trying to impress.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘Queen of the Ring’ doesn’t rise high enough for its fascinating subject 2:22

2M ago2:22

2:22

Fletcher Powell says a new movie could have done a lot more for its subject.By Fletcher Powell

1
Nathaniel Ian Miller on his new novel, 'Red Dog Farm' 21:59

2M ago21:59

21:59

Beth Golay recently poke with Nathaniel Ian Miller about the relationship dynamics in "Red Dog Farm," and how he accidentally wrote a second book set in a cold and remote environment.By Beth Golay

1
'Rebel Girls' celebrates 10 years with more stories of extraordinary women 1:39

2M ago1:39

1:39

A new, 10th-anniversary edition of 'Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls' includes 22 new profiles of women, including Greta Thunberg, Judy Blume and Taylor Swift.By Suzanne Perez

1
Mailbag Day! 36:07

2M ago36:07

36:07

We answer listeners' most burning language questions, including one about how the letter "R" seems to disappear and reappear in the strangest places, and about whether or not anything can ever be called "epic" ever again.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Sophie Madeline Dess on her debut novel, 'What You Make of Me' 18:57

2M ago18:57

18:57

Beth Golay recently spoke with Sophie Madeline Dess about the different artistic mediums featured in her debut novel, "What You Make of Me."By Beth Golay

1
Enough With the Latin Already! 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

Latin may be a dead language, but it sure seems to come up a lot! This week, we'll look at some common Latin phrases that we think we understand, but that we may not get quite right.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
The Oscar Shorts are back! 2:24

2M ago2:24

2:24

KMUW's Fletcher Powell talks about one of his favorite annual movie traditions.By Fletcher Powell

1
Eric Puchner on his new novel, 'Dream State' 17:13

2M ago17:13

17:13

In his new novel, author Eric Puchner's "Dream State" explores the effects of climate change through a multi-generational saga. As he tells KMUW's Beth Golay, it begins when two people fall in love.By Beth Golay

1
With ‘Three Days in June,’ Anne Tyler gives us more characters to love and root for 1:38

2M ago1:38

1:38

'Three Days in June' reflects author Anne Tyler’s signature wit and flair for dialogue. This is her 25th novel.By Suzanne Perez

1
Getting a D on the SAT 30:47

2M ago30:47

30:47

We return to our series looking at the most devilish words ever found on the SAT.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘All We Imagine as Light’ is a gentle, beautiful triumph 2:38

2M ago2:38

2:38

Fletcher Powell says a new movie tells a gently beautiful story.By Fletcher Powell

1
Tova Mirvis on her new novel, 'We Would Never' 17:05

3M ago17:05

17:05

Beth Golay recently spoke with Tova Mirvis about her novel "We Would Never," inspired by the discovery of a true crime story.By Beth Golay

1
‘Memorial Days’ is a heartfelt memoir on marriage and mourning 1:39

3M ago1:39

1:39

Author Geraldine Brooks explores death and grief in her new memoir, "Memorial Days." It recounts the days, months and years following the sudden death of Brooks' husband, Tony Horwitz.By Suzanne Perez

1
We'll Never Give You the Cold Shoulder 31:06

3M ago31:06

31:06

We celebrate the season by looking at some winter-related idioms.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Highlights from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival 2:25

3M ago2:25

2:25

KMUW's Fletcher Powell brings us a few highlights from the Sundance Film Festival.By Fletcher Powell

1
Mischa Berlinski on Shakespeare, actors and 'Mona Acts Out' 23:49

3M ago23:49

23:49

"Mona Acts Out" by Mischa Berlinski is a novel set in the world of theatre in New York City, specifically, Shakespearean theatre. KMUW's Beth Golay visited with Berlinski about his novel, and how the #MeToo movement affected his characters and his plot.By Beth Golay

1
‘Good Dirt’ is a well-researched tale, but suffers from too much of a good thing 1:39

3M ago1:39

1:39

"Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson tells the story of a well-to-do Black family who settled on the coast of New England.By Suzanne Perez

1
Canadian English 29:23

3M ago29:23

29:23

We've tackled the differences between American and British English, but let's not forget Canadians also have a language of their own.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘A Real Pain’ is a major leap for Eisenberg 2:02

3M ago2:02

2:02

Fletcher Powell looks at a movie that's now available for rental that he says is a major leap forward for a well known actor-turned-director.By Fletcher Powell

1
Lola Kirke on her new book, 'Wild West Village' 13:45

3M ago13:45

13:45

Lola Kirke grew up feeling like an outsider in her larger-than-life family of creatives. In her new book titled "Wild West Village," she details some of the memories of growing up in that family, and, as she told KMUW's Beth Golay, how the experience influenced who she is today - an actress and country music singer.…

1
Ready for more figure skating drama? 'The Favorites' offers an epic love story on ice 1:38

3M ago1:38

1:38

Layne Fargo's new novel, "The Favorites," explores the dazzling but brutal world of elite ice dancing.By Suzanne Perez

1
The Norman Conquest of the English Language 30:28

3M ago30:28

30:28

The year is 1066: William the Conqueror lands upon the shores of England and changes the course of the English language forever. So what does that mean for us?By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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