Podcast
Skylight Books Podcast Series
Hosted by Skylight Books · EN
Enjoy recent author events, interviews, and bookseller series. Visit our website to learn more: www.skylightbooks.com
37episodes
Episodes
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SKYLIT: Mark Wilkerson, PUB ROCK (GENRE: A 33 1/3 SERIES)
2w ago00:46:17Tap to summarizeOnce upon a time, Joe Strummer was known as Woody Mellor... (because he was such a Woody Guthrie fan). Before the UK music scene made international headlines with punk rock, there was another movement of musicians who were tired of the prog rock and glam that was dominating the culture. Their back-to-basics music was performed in tiny pubs, so it became known in the press as pub rock. In this episode, writer Mark Wilkerson (Hollywood Dream, Pearl Jam 20) discusses, Pub Rock, his new book in the GENRE series from 33 1/3. The discussion with bookseller and writer Justin Remer touches on bands like Brinsley Schwarz (featuring Nick Lowe on bass), the 101ers (Joe Strummer's pre-The Clash band), The Stranglers, Dr. Feelgood, Ducks Deluxe, Kursaal Flyers, and much more. Pick up a copy of Mark Wilkerson's book from Skylight or order the audiobook version (street date August 6) from Libro.fm. If you enjoy this episode, check out another Genre discussion from our podcast. Maybe, 1970s Jazz Fusion with Matthew Reed Baker? Hosted and produced by Justin Remer. Recorded remotely via Zencastr. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →SKYLIT: Fran Hoepfner, THE FIELD GUIDE TO NEPO BABIES
4w ago01:04:00Tap to summarizeNepo babies are a necessary byproduct of our modern world. They've been with us always, and yet only recently have they become fodder for internet scuttlebutt, thinkpieces, and the like. Vulture writer and comedian Fran Hoepfner has provided the average joe with the public service of her handy new book, The Field Guide to Nepo Babies, a fully illustrated, often tongue-in-cheek guide to unpacking the phenomenon of nepotism in public life. Bookseller Tyler Austin talks with Fran Hoepfner about her book, and about sorting the innocuous and good nepo babies (actors, musicians) from the harmful and evil (politicians, corporate and tech scions). Also, if you enjoy this episode, check out Tyler's discussion with Kliph Nesteroff about the book Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars for another thoughtful chat about pop culture history. Hosted by Tyler Austin. Produced by Justin Remer, Tyler Austin, and Fran Hoepfner. If you like podcasts, maybe you would enjoy audiobooks too. Please check out the Skylight Books Podcast playlist of audiobooks featured in our recent Skylit author interviews, on Libro.fm. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →Better Than the Movie 32: JURASSIC PARK w/ Val Lesser
Jun 1101:30:39Tap to summarizeYou may be hyped for Disclosure Day, but the BTTM crew is taking you back 65 mill-- well, 33 years to another of director Steven Spielberg's iconic summer blockbusters: Jurassic Park! Writer, artist, and bookseller Val Lesser joins the podcast to discuss the classic film and its Michael Crichton source material. Allan also watched all seven (!) Jurassic movies in the lead-up to this episode, so you can probably spare 90 minutes to listen to it. Right? Also, if you like this one, search back in the feed for Better Than the Movie, Ep. 5: Jaws w/ Kristen Lopez. That episode was a real blockbuster too. Hosted by Allan Traylor, Justin Remer, and Tyler Austin. Produced by Justin Remer. Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. Check out the "Better Than the Movie" audiobook playlist on Libro.fm - https://libro.fm/playlists/skylight-better-than-the-movie Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band
Transcribe →SKYLIT: Jim Rugg, WOLVERINE: WEAPON X (MARVEL AGE OF COMICS)
Jun 400:55:02Tap to summarizeCartoonist and illustrator Jim Rugg (Street Angel, The Plain Janes) joins comics creator (and Skylight's own) Sina Grace to talk about Rugg's forthcoming book in the Marvel Age of Comics criticism series: Wolverine: Weapon X - An Exploration (street date June 11). From the iconoclastic Barry Windsor-Smith, Weapon X is a brutal look at the long-secretive and hazy origins of mutant superhero Wolverine. Rugg goes deep and discursive in discussing Windsor-Smith's work and his own. Pick up a copy of Jim Rugg's book from Skylight or order the audiobook version from Libro.fm. Hosted by Sina Grace. Produced by Sina Grace and Justin Remer. Recorded remotely via Zencastr. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →SKYLIT: George Grella, Jr., MINIMALIST MUSIC (GENRE: A 33 1/3 SERIES)
May 2100:48:51Tap to summarizeMinimalist music is not about minimal materials. It's about time. It's a process that puts the experience of time into sound. In discussing Minimalist Music, his new book for 33 1/3's GENRE series, musician and critic George Grella, Jr. (Miles Davis' Bitches Brew) looks at the classical music history that pushed composers like Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Meredith Monk, and Arvo Pärt to pursue a musical approach that shunned early 20th Century academic trends and brought classical music back to the public. He also talks about the ways this music interacts with pop culture, through film scores and soundtracks and appearances on TV shows like The Simpsons and Ted Lasso. Hosted and produced by Justin Remer. Recorded remotely via Zencastr. If you like podcasts, maybe you would enjoy audiobooks too. Please out the Skylight Books Podcast playlist of audiobooks featured in our recent Skylit author interviews, on Libro.fm. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →SKYLIT: Ted Adams, THE ULTIMATES: AN EXPLORATION (MARVEL AGE OF COMICS)
May 1400:45:20Tap to summarizeIn the early 2000s, Marvel Comics decided to create a new line of books that would set aside four decades of continuity and offer modern readers fresh entry points into their classic characters. The Ultimates was their new Avengers title that would prove enormously influential, helping shape the future of the superhero genre - in comics, in movies, and on TV. In this episode, IDW Publishing co-founder Ted Adams discusses his new book, which examines the combined work of Ultimates writer Mark Millar and artists Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, and Paul Neary to revitalize these characters - and their stories - for the 21st Century. Hosted and produced by Justin Remer. Recorded remotely via Zencastr. If you like podcasts, maybe you would enjoy audiobooks too. Please check out the Skylight Books Podcast playlist of audiobooks featured in our recent Skylit author interviews, on Libro.fm. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →SKYLIT: Nic Brown, VIOLENT FEMMES (33 1/3)
May 700:52:46Tap to summarizeThis podcast will go down on your permanent record! Novelist Nic Brown joins the podcast to discuss his new nonfiction book on the self-titled debut album, Violent Femmes. This acoustic post-punk landmark is an album that took nearly a decade to go platinum -- and then it appeared briefly on the Billboard Top 200 Albums charts. Tunes like "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone" have gone from secret rock talismans to mainstream classics. Brown discusses interviewing the band now about the strange and scrappy writing and recording of this early '80s album and the countless unexpected stories he wound up uncovering. Hosted and produced by Justin Remer. Recorded remotely via Zencastr. If you like podcasts, maybe you would enjoy audiobooks too. Please check out the Skylight Books Podcast playlist of audiobooks featured in our recent Skylit author interviews, on Libro.fm. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →SKYLIT: Anna Dorn, AMERICAN SPIRITS
Apr 2300:52:59Tap to summarizeCalling all Dornstars! You're going to love this loose and lively chat about Anna Dorn's new novel, American Spirits. It's the story of a superfan who becomes the assistant of her favorite pop star as a stepping stone for her own twisted ambition. Bookseller David Kimbel talks with Anna Dorn about fan cultures, Pitchfork writers, Reddit communities, Millennials who look young, Gen Zers who look old, and much much more. Strap in. Pick up a copy of the book at Skylight or order the audiobook version from Libro.fm. Hosted by David Kimbel. Produced by David Kimbel and Justin Remer. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →Better Than the Movie 31: A FACE IN THE CROWD w/ Buzzy Cohen
Apr 1601:29:22Tap to summarizeJEOPARDY! champion Buzzy Cohen returns to Better Than the Movie for a third short-story-to-film adaptation discussion. This time it's the tragicomic showbiz/political tale A FACE IN THE CROWD (1957), written by Budd Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan, based on Schulberg's short story, "Your Arkansas Traveler." Future lovable sitcom dad Andy Griffith stars as Larry "Lonesome" Rhodes, a vagabond singer who becomes a TV sensation and fledgling demagogue. It's a film chock full of great performances that also acts as a sad reflection on the times -- both then and now. There are lots of Lonesome Rhodes in the world, at varying points of the good-evil continuum. Some of the Lonesomes the BTTM crew discuss here include Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, Bruce Springsteen, and Dhar Mann. You won't want to miss this one. Hosted by Tyler Austin, Allan Traylor, and Justin Remer. Produced by Justin Remer. Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. Check out the "Better Than the Movie" audiobook playlist on Libro.fm - https://libro.fm/playlists/skylight-better-than-the-movie Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band
Transcribe →SKYLIT: Hannah Lillith Assadi, PARADISO 17
Apr 900:35:20Tap to summarizeNovelist Hannah Lillith Assadi makes her podcast debut to discuss her new book, Paradiso 17, about a Palestinian man's restless lifelong search for home. Writer and bookseller Sina Grace talks with Assadi, who is a longtime friend, about the process of funneling the grief from the recent passing of her father into a novel that is partly his story and partly her own. They talk character, they talk process, and they even digress into a long tangent on Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights (we just can't stop talking about it on this podcast!). Pick up a copy of the book at Skylight or order the audiobook version from Libro.fm. Hosted by Sina Grace. Produced by Justin Remer. Recorded at the LAPL Octavia Lab. Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire. Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band.
Transcribe →