Unabridged: Meet The Stacks Team

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: The Stacks – Unabridged: Meet The Stacks Team

Host: Traci Thomas
Date: November 21, 2025

---

Main Theme / Purpose

In this bonus “Unabridged” episode, host Traci Thomas pulls back the curtain to introduce listeners to the behind-the-scenes team that makes The Stacks podcast possible. Traci sits down with each of her three team members: assistant Sahara Clement, jack-of-all-trades Cherie Marquez, and editor Christian Duenas. The conversation focuses on their roles, their backgrounds, the inner workings of the podcast, and, of course, their connections to books and reading. This episode is both a celebration of teamwork and a candid look at the labor and love that keeps The Stacks thriving.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet the Team: Focus on Sahara Clement

(00:00–11:21)

• Introduction: Traci introduces the concept for this special episode and the team members who keep The Stacks running.

  • "I am talking to the three people who make up the team here at the Stacks who are not named Tracy Thomas." (00:33, Traci)

• Team Structure: Sahara is the first guest, described as the “brand new assistant” and a Philadelphia native.

  • “I've just been calling myself like editorial assistant. Executive assistant?” (02:18, Sahara)

• How Sahara Joined: Traci and Sahara recount how Sahara was referred to the show by author Trey Johnson.

  • "He was like, I know just the person. And he did know just the person because it was literally you." (03:59, Traci)

• Sahara’s Background: Former book editor, worked on a book of essays about Black Panther and edited the graphic novel Wash Day Diaries—a recognized favorite among listeners.

  • “It's like my. One of my favorite things I've ever edited. It was so good.” (06:00, Sahara)

• Challenges in Publishing: Sahara honestly discusses the difficulties of being a person of color in a predominantly white publishing industry and the shortcomings of 2020’s diversity promises.

  • “It's difficult for a person of color to be in that industry... I found it hard to stay genuine to my goal as an editor, but also operate within a system that I didn't feel like was designed to support us.” (05:00, Sahara)

• Her Day Job(s): Sahara splits her time as a copy editor for fashion and beauty digital publications and her work for The Stacks.

2. What Does an Assistant Do at The Stacks?

(06:25–10:58)

• Weekly Workflow: Ensuring episodes are uploaded is “the biggest thing everyone's responsible for.”

  • “The meat and potatoes of The Stacks is, believe it or not, a podcast.” (06:40, Traci)

• Show Notes and Admin: Sahara decodes and formats show notes, writes episode descriptions, updates the website, manages the Bookshop page, and maintains the Substack newsletter.

  • “You upload the episodes, but you also do all the show notes. You link all the show?” (06:58, Traci)

• Episode Descriptions: Sahara describes the creative process for writing episode descriptions, often pretending to have read the books discussed.

  • "Even though...I haven't read, like, any of the books that...you've talked about, it's kind of fun to pretend I have." (08:10, Sahara)

• Process Coordination: Detailed overview of the workflow from recording to editing to final publishing.

  • “I get on the thing. We record the episode. I upload it to a Dropbox, Christian...edits everything...I listen through the full episode edit, and I give Christian notes...I send it over to Zahara, and I say, do your best.” (08:23, Traci)

3. The Joys and Challenges of the Job

(09:18–11:21)

• Deciphering Traci’s Notes: Sahara shares her sometimes detective-like role in decoding Traci’s sometimes cryptic notes for book titles.

  • “My favorite was when you said, like, that one book by that one lady. And I was like, I. I'm trying so hard. Can't figure this out.” (09:37, Sahara)

• Satisfaction and First-Look Perks: Sahara enjoys being among the first to review the episode transcripts, even though the process is time-consuming.

  • “Honestly, it takes a while. But it's also kind of fun because I feel like I'm getting, like, a first look at the episode.” (10:58, Sahara)

• Making it All Happen: Sahara outlines the last steps—linking everything, scheduling, and making sure distribution happens smoothly.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Team Titles:

  • “I've just been calling myself like editorial assistant. Executive assistant?” (02:18, Sahara)
  • “Does that make me an executive?” (02:29, Traci)
  • “Yeah, you're an exec.” (02:31, Sahara)

• On Industry Challenges:

  • “It's difficult for a person of color to be in that industry...I found it hard to stay genuine to my goal as an editor, but also operate within a system that I didn't feel like was designed to support us.” (05:00, Sahara)

• On Editing Fun:

  • “Even though...I haven't read, like, any of the books that...you've talked about, it's kind of fun to pretend I have.” (08:10, Sahara)

• On Deciphering Notes:

  • “That one book by that one lady. And I was like, I. I'm trying so hard. Can't figure this out.” (09:37, Sahara)

• On the Privilege of Teamwork:

  • “Having help is such a privilege and such an honor and such a joy for me. But also I forget that, like, you have to decipher my nonsense.” (10:15, Traci)

---

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Traci opens the episode, sets up the team interviews | | 02:18 | Sahara introduces herself and her ambiguous job title | | 03:05 | Story of how Sahara was referred to The Stacks | | 05:00 | Sahara on challenges in the publishing industry | | 06:00 | Discussion of Wash Day Diaries as an editing highlight | | 06:25 | Sahara’s current job and duties at The Stacks | | 08:10 | Writing episode descriptions—improvising when needed | | 08:23 | Traci breaks down the show’s episode production workflow | | 09:37 | Memorable “that one book by that one lady” moment | | 10:58 | Sahara describes the fun and logistics of her role | | 11:21 | End of preview, call to subscribe for full episode |

---

Tone & Style

The episode maintains Traci’s characteristic warmth and humor, blending behind-the-scenes candor with appreciation for her team’s personalities and professionalism. The conversation is informal and lively, peppered with laughter and inside jokes—creating an inviting, relatable atmosphere, especially for long-time listeners.

---

Summary Conclusion

This Unabridged episode offers listeners an engaging deep dive into the real people and collaborative processes that make The Stacks possible. Through personal stories, candid reflections about work and industry challenges, and a generous helping of team camaraderie, Traci and Sahara demystify podcast production while reaffirming the value of community and shared creative labor. To hear more from the rest of the team—including Cherie Marquez and Christian Duenas—listeners are encouraged to subscribe for access to the full conversation and all bonus episodes.

Transcript

[A]

Hey, everybody, it's me, Tracy, host of the Stacks. I am here with another episode of the Stacks Unabridged, which is our bonus exclusive podcast episode for members of the Stacks Pack on Patreon and subscribers to Unstacked, my newsletter on Substack. Today's episode, I am so excited about. We have never done this, but I've always wanted to, which is I am talking to the three people who make up the team here at the Stacks who are not named Tracy Thomas. So that is my incredible assistant, Sahara Clement, my jack of all trades. And you'll hear us talk about why we don't have a name for her, Cherie Marquez. And my beloved and also oftentimes disgruntled editor, Christian Duenas. I get to talk to each of them and ask them about what they do here at the podcast, our relationship, and also the books that they love. Of course, this is also a great way for you at home to hear what your money at Patreon and Substack goes to support. Because without you, I could not have this amazing team. Now listen, if this episode cuts off after about 10 minutes or so, that means you're not a paid subscriber to the Substack or the Patreon, and that's super easy to remedy. You can go to patreon.com the stacks to join the stacks pack, or go to Tracy thomas.substack.com to subscribe to the newsletter at the paid tier. You're going to get monthly bonus episodes like this, plus a bunch of other perks, Community Hot Takes, mega reading Challenge, reading tracker, all sorts of things. So go to those places, subscribe to the work here. Know that your subscription means that I can have this amazing team you're about to hear from, and I can continue to make the Stacks Podcast free to all, every single week. All right, enough of me. We are going to dive into this conversation with each member of the Stacks team. I am starting with my brand new assistant, the wonderful Sahara Clement. All right, everybody, I'm so excited to introduce you to Stacks Team. First up is actually you. Introduce yourself, tell everybody your name, where you're from, and what your title is, even though nobody really has titles around here except for me, idiot in charge. But who are you?

[B]

No, I am Sahara. I'm from Philly, and I have just been calling myself, like, editorial Assistant. Executive Assistant?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

Does that make me an executive?

[B]

Yeah, you're an exec.

[A]

Can't you tell? And you are the newest team member. You have only been here since September.

[B]

Like, yeah, maybe like, end of September.

[A]

Yeah, definitely.

[B]

It feels like it's been, like, three days, but it has fully been, like, two months.

[A]

But you're doing great, sweetie.

[B]

Thank you so much. You're thriving.

[A]

Okay. You're sort of an interesting employee here because everyone's been referred, but you were referred by it. Kind of like a cool person.

[B]

Who referred you to Trey Johnson, author of Black Genius?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And my friend.

[A]

How do you know Trey?

[B]

We actually worked on a book together. So I used to be a book editor, and I was editing a book of essays about the significance of Black Panther, the movie, and he had written a ton of pieces about Black Panther, so we reached out to him. It was right when I had moved back to Philly, and it was so funny. We had, like, one conversation where we, like, Kiki Ed, and then he was like, do you want me to help you move? I was like, oh, lovely. We're friends now. Yeah.

[A]

I mean, that's how I feel about Trey. He did the podcast, but before I even invited him on the show, he was like, I'm gonna be in LA for my book tour. Can we. Like, I'd love to meet you. And I was like, okay. And I was like, but I'm not promising I have a spot for you on the show. But then I did have a spot for him, and then he came, and then we did lunch. So he didn't bribe me with lunch. That's not a way to get on the show, people. I just want to let you know.

[B]

But only if you're Trey Johnson.

[A]

Yeah. And then we're talking at lunch, and I was like, I need an assistant. And he was like, I know just the person. And he did know just the person because it was literally you. And now here you are working on the show. My executive assistant, because I'm an executive. Wait, are you from Philadelphia originally?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Where did you come back to Philadelphia from? New York?

[B]

No, Oakland.

[A]

Wait, did we not. Did we talk about that?

[B]

I don't know if we talked about this.

[A]

You know that's where I live from.

[B]

Yeah. I lived in Oakland for, like, four years.

[A]

I don't think we talked about this. I feel like that's something I would remember.

[B]

Probably.

[A]

Maybe not. Maybe when I was interviewing you, I was, like, too hot, trying hard to be like. Like, I was like, use your brain.

[B]

You're just ignoring everything I said.

[A]

Yeah. I was like, what is that? What does it sound like? Can she take a crazy person being in charge of her? Okay, I want to go back to your previous Job. Well, actually, let's just go there. Why did you leave being an editor? Because I feel like there are people who are listening to this who are probably like, that sounds like a dream job.

[B]

It's a little complicated. I think that it's difficult for a person of color to be in that industry in general. It is like a white dominated industry. And I think as much progress that was promised in 2020, a lot of companies haven't quite lived up to that. So I was in my last job, I was in a position where I was specifically championing black books and black stories or diverse stories. And I think I found it hard to stay genuine to my goal as an editor, but also operate within a system that I didn't feel like was designed to support us.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But before you left editing, you were the editor of Wash Day Diaries, which is sort of a favorite around these parts. A lot of stacks. Packers have read and loved that graphic novel. Graphic novel, yeah.

[B]

Yeah. It's like my. One of my favorite things I've ever edited. It was so good.

[A]

It's so cute. It's so good. And now what do you do when you're not with me because you have a real job that's not with me?

[B]

Yeah, I'm a copy editor for a bunch of different, like fashion and beauty digital publications like who, what, where? Marie Claire and. Yeah, I just make basically make sure it sounds good.

[A]

And now you copy edit here. So. Okay. Tell people about what you, what you're responsible for here at the Stacks.

[B]

I feel like the biggest thing I'm responsible for is making sure the episodes are uploaded every week.

[A]

Well, that's the biggest thing everyone's responsible for because that's actually what we do here. All the other stuff just bonus. But the meat and potatoes of the Stacks is, believe it or not, a podcast. So yeah, you upload the episodes, but you also do all the show notes. You link all the show?

[B]

Yes, I decode your show notes and I link them out. I do like some of the ad. A lot of the admin, I guess behind the scenes, like updating the website. Updating bookshop. Yeah, and linking out substack.

[A]

You confirm the guests?

[B]

I do, I confirm the guests.

[A]

You write the episode copy, which, yes, I feel like for people who have been listening to the show for a long time, if you want to play a fun game, it would be go back through the episodes and figure out when I stopped doing it. And then I've had other assistants and then Sahara's here. Now you can like Figure out when things change based on the way the episode copy is written. I swear, because everyone has, like, a slightly different style, and I try to, like, keep my hand in it to be like, would I say it like that? But you're such a better writer than me that usually when you send the copy over, my only notes are just like, oh, can you include the title of the book? Or, like, can you include this? Other times I'm like, can you totally rework this whole thing? Because it doesn't sound like me, but I think it's really funny. I feel like you could. I can tell, but maybe it's because I'm so close to it.

[B]

Yeah. No, I mean, I like writing the episode descriptions honestly. Even though, like, I haven't read, like, any of the books that we. That you've talked about, it's kind of fun to pretend I have.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Myself in that mode.

[A]

And I leave you Channel my inner Tracy. I leave you a few notes. I tell you what's in the episode, like, when I listen through. So for people who are at home, who are like, how does this work? Here's how it works. We book the guest. Sahara confirms them with their publicist or with them directly. I get on the thing. We record the episode. I upload it to a Dropbox, Christian, who y' all will hear from later. He edits everything. He sends it back to me. I listen through the full episode edit, and I give Christian notes. If there are any, like, take this part out or what happened to that part when I was being funny, Put that back in, obviously. And then while I'm listening through, I'm taking notes on two things. I'm taking, like, little notes on what we talked about for the episode description. And then I'm also writing down everything we mentioned for the show notes. At that point, I send it over to Zahara, and I say, do your best.

[B]

So she goes through.

[A]

She goes through all the bullets for the show notes, and she formats them correctly. So sometimes I might just leave her something that says, like, you know, blood in the Water by Heather. And she'll go back through and be like, find the full title. Or I'll be like, the Attica book by a lady named Heather. And she has to go figure out that it's Blood in the Water by Heather Ann Thompson.

[B]

My favorite was when you said, like, that one book by that one lady. And I was like, I. I'm trying so hard. Can't figure this out.

[A]

Well, because sometimes. Okay, so in that case, I actually thought that I was Gonna go back through the notes quickly before I sent them out, but I forgot to do that. But sometimes you can kind of piece together what I'm talking about, because it'll be.

[B]

No, usually I can.

[A]

It'll be like a series. Like, the conversation is going in a direction. So it'll like. It's usually like that one book about dogs by the guy, whatever. But I forgot to put the qualifier.

[B]

And sometimes I'll, like, be listening to the. Like, I will have already, like, looked at the transcript. So it's like, okay, I can figure out.

[A]

You can kind of figure out where I'm going.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

But sometimes I forget that someone else is following me because I used to do it all myself. So now, like, having help is such a privilege and such an honor and such a joy for me. But also I forget that, like, you have to decipher my nonsense. Okay. So that I pass it on to you. And then what do you do?

[B]

You pass it on to me. I link everything. I format the Squarespace webpage the way that it's supposed to. To look. I upload everything to the distribution platform. And you do transcripts? Yeah, yeah. Go through the transcript, which is like. Honestly, it takes a while. But it's also kind of fun because I feel like I'm getting, like, a first look at the episode.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Sneak peek, which is. Yeah, a little sneak peek. Yeah. I go through the transcript and. Is that. I think that's basically it. I basically make sure everything is, like, scheduled on the right day. I say that's basically it, but, like, it's so much. It is so much more than it sounds.

[A]

All right, that is the end of this bonus teaser. If you were liking what you were hearing, you can listen to the entire episode by going to either patreon.com the stacks and joining the Stacks pack, getting access to the Discord, being able to participate in our virtual book club and. Or you can go to tracythomas.substack.com and subscribe to Unstacked, where you're going to get my writing about books, pop culture, you're going to get other exclusive author interviews, and, of course, these bonus episodes. So go to one of those two places, join us, get to hear the rest of this episode, and support the work that I do by being a part of these wonderful communities. Thank you so much, and I'll see you in the stacks.