Host Jo Reed talks with contributor Laura Rossi about three Earphones Award–winning audiobooks whose narrators transport listeners in strikingly different ways. Recorded live before audiences across the country, The Land and Its People captures David Sedaris at his best: His impeccable timing and disarming honesty create an immersive listening experience that can be as moving as it is funny. Andrew Sean Greer's Villa Coco, read by Edoardo Ballerini, carries listeners to Tuscany, where Ballerini's exceptional performance turns a wonderful book into an unforgettable listen. Jo and Laura close by previewing Hallie Cantor’s novel, Like This, but Funnier, with Helen Laser’s deft narration capturing both the wit and vulnerability of a flawed screenwriter at a professional crossroads. From David Sedaris’s unmistakable voice to Edoardo Ballerini’s immersive storytelling and Helen Laser’s razor-sharp comic timing, this episode celebrates narrators whose performances don't simply accompany a book—they shape the entire listening experience.

Audiobooks Discussed:

The Land and Its People, written and read by David Sedaris (Hachette Audio)

Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer, read by Edoardo Ballerini (Random HouseAudio)

Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor, read by Helen Laser (Simon & Schuster Audio)

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