Podcast Episodes

Catherine Newman’s witty, warm and wary Rocky returns in ‘Wreck’

In Catherine Newman’s bestselling novel, “Sandwich,” main character Rachel (nicknamed Rocky), her unflappable husband and newly adult kids decamp to …

10 months, 3 weeks ago

Mary Lucia shares it all in 'What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To'

For 17 years, Mary Lucia was the voice of The Current, MPR’s music-first radio station. Her afternoon drive shifts were beloved for their rock-and-ro…

11 months ago

Talking Volumes: Kate Baer asks 'How About Now'

Kate Baer wore sequins to Talking Volumes.

It was a fitting close to the 2025 season — and not-so-subtle reminder that today is all we are promised. M…

11 months, 1 week ago

Oyinkan Braithwaite talks curses, karma and the power to change fate in 'Cursed Daughters'

Curses have long animated literature.

Cassandra labors under a curse in “The Iliad.” Although her prophecies are true, she is never believed. Shakesp…

11 months, 2 weeks ago

The Minnesota author whose book inspired the movie 'Nuremberg'

“Nuremberg” opens in the spring of 1945. Hitler is dead. Many of his henchmen have died by suicide, have been arrested or have fled. The world is jus…

11 months, 3 weeks ago

John Grisham talks justice, his new book and why he doesn't write sex

The Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul was packed with John Grisham fans on Thursday, Oct. 23, when the prolific author made his debut at Talking Volumes…

1 year ago

Anna North's new novel sees an ancient body as sacred treasure in 'Bog Queen'

The two women at the center of Anna North’s new novel, “Bog Queen,” are separated by time but inexorably bound. One is a druid who lived during the I…

1 year ago

Talking Volumes: Misty Copeland on ballet, ‘Bunheads’ and what comes next

Even before Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to be named a principal dancer at the illustrious American Ballet Theatre, she electrified th…

1 year ago

Kate DiCamillo marvels at 25 years of 'Because of Winn-Dixie'

Twenty-five years ago this fall, a generation of readers met 10-year-old India Opal Buloni and her loveable, scruffy dog, Winn-Dixie — so named becau…

1 year ago

Talking Volumes: Patricia Lockwood's new novel is a COVID-induced fever dream

When Patricia Lockwood contracted COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, she lost touch with reality. For months, she floated through her days, dealing with…

1 year ago