Best KMUW Podcasts (2024)

1
Electoral Confusion 29:13

1h ago29:13

29:13

With the U.S. election upon us, Kathy and Ross quiz Fletcher on the pronunciation and origins of some words related to our democratic process.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘MadS’ shows the horror of the beginning of the end 2:22

10h ago2:22

2:22

For Halloween, KMUW's Fletcher Powell tells us about one of the season's best new horror movies.By Fletcher Powell

1
Holly Wilson on her debut novel, 'Kittentits' 23:29

1d ago23:29

23:29

Holly Wilson will be at the Ulrich Museum on Wednesday, October 30, beginning at 5:30 pm for the Writing Now Reading Now program.By Beth Golay

1
Another option for spooky-season reading: Mason Coile's 'William' explores AI gone awry 1:37

2d ago1:37

1:37

Mason Coile's 'William' offers a Hitchcock-meets-cyber-noir level of intensity. It’s definitely one of those stories that, once you start, is impossible to put down.By Suzanne Perez

1
It's Getting Spoooooky Again 29:23

4d ago29:23

29:23

Just in time for Halloween, we're talking about some of the creepy parts of the language world, including ghost words and some horrifying hyphens.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Tallgrass is back! 2:14

6d ago2:14

2:14

The 22nd Tallgrass Film Festival begins today. KMUW's Fletcher Powell gives us a rundown of some of this year's featured movies.By Fletcher Powell

1
Anna Montague on her debut novel, 'How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund?' 17:02

8d ago17:02

17:02

Beth Golay recently spoke with Anna Montague about her debut novel "How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Ecklund?" and the complexities of grief, friendship, and self-discovery explored through the lens of a therapist.By Beth Golay

1
In 'The Night We Lost Him,' Laura Dave offers suspense along with a bittersweet love story 1:40

9d ago1:40

1:40

Fans looking for a lightning-paced thriller won’t find that in Laura Dave's "The Night We Lost Him." But what the novel lacks in jaw-dropping plot twists it more than makes up for in soulful romance and family drama.By Suzanne Perez

1
Italian Food! 29:22

11d ago29:22

29:22

We're looking at the differences between what people in Italy call their food and what they call it in one very specific place in the world (here's a hint: Tony Soprano has a lot to say about this).By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘Forgiveness’ is never entirely clear 2:27

15d ago2:27

2:27

Fletcher Powell says the subject of a new movie is hard to pin down.By Fletcher Powell

1
Charles Baxter on his new book, 'Blood Test: A Comedy' 20:12

20d ago20:12

20:12

Beth Golay recently spoke with Charles Baxter about comedic writing and some of the real world businesses that predict our future actions in order to make money.By Beth Golay

1
Stanley Tucci is back with another delectable memoir 1:40

16d ago1:40

1:40

Author, actor and famous foodie Stanley Tucci has released another memoire, "What I Ate in One Year (and Related Thoughts," which chronicles one gastronomical year in his life.By Suzanne Perez

1
Make No Mistake 29:23

23d ago29:23

29:23

We return to one of our favorite topics: mistakes that aren't really mistakes, even though a whole lot of people will tell you they're mistakes.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
'Mountains' quietly tells an important story 2:19

25d ago2:19

2:19

Fletcher Powell says a new movie tells a common, but important, story.By Fletcher Powell

1
Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin on their new book for young readers, 'The Bletchley Riddle' 21:31

22d ago21:31

21:31

Beth Golay recently spoke with Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin about "The Bletchley Riddle," their first collaboration with each other.By Beth Golay

1
Rivers Solomon's 'Model Home' is literary horror at its finest 1:40

28d ago1:40

1:40

Book reviewer Suzanne Perez says Rivers Solomon's newest novel, 'Model Home,' confronts heavy topics like race, class, identity and mental health alongside a constant hum of psychological dread.By Suzanne Perez

1
The "Most" Words 29:24

30d ago29:24

29:24

A Merriam-Webster poll sets off our conversation today as we make our picks for the most overrated word, the most underrated word, the most pleasant word to say, and a number of other mosts, bests, and worsts.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Saoirse Ronan shines in ‘The Outrun’ 2:22

27d ago2:22

2:22

Fletcher Powell says a new movie is a showcase for its magnificent lead.By Fletcher Powell

1
‘How easy is that?’ Not very. Ina Garten relates a life of hard work and bold decisions 1:40

1M ago1:40

1:40

Celebrity chef Ina Garten's new memoir, "Be There When the Luck Happens," is perfect for fans of foodie memoirs and anyone interested in the tricky business of building a brand.By Suzanne Perez

1
Of Course! A Mere Trifle. 29:22

1M ago29:22

29:22

There are a whole lot of things you can say when someone thanks you for something... But what do they all really mean?By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Clooney and Pitt take ‘Wolfs’ to another level 2:45

1M ago2:45

2:45

KMUW's Fletcher Powell says a new movie's two leads make everything a whole lot better.By Fletcher Powell

1
Sarah Smarsh on her collection of essays, 'Bone of the Bone' 20:13

1M ago20:13

20:13

Beth Golay recently spoke with "Bone of the Bone" author Sarah Smarsh.By Beth Golay

1
‘Graveyard Shift’ is classic M.L. Rio, but not the fully-developed follow-up we’ve been waiting for 1:41

1M ago1:41

1:41

M.L. Rio's new novella, "Graveyard Shift," centers on five friends who work the late shift in a college town. It’s atmospheric and eerie, but at less than 150 pages, it leaves true Rio fans wanting more.By Suzanne Perez

1
The Hidden World of Syllable Stress 29:24

1M ago29:24

29:24

We continue our fascination with rules we don't know we know with a look at the importance of where we put the stress when we say words out loud.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘His Three Daughters’ does a whole lot with just a little 2:23

2M ago2:23

2:23

Fletcher Powell says a new movie does a whole lot with just a little.By Fletcher Powell

1
Lauren Elkin on her novel, 'Scaffolding' 20:45

1M ago20:45

20:45

Beth Golay recently spoke with "Scaffolding" author, Lauren Elkin, about exploring grief, desire, love and fidelity.By Beth Golay

1
‘There are Rivers in the Sky,’ explores the transcendent power of water — and humanity 1:41

2M ago1:41

1:41

In her newest novel, “There Are Rivers in the Sky,” Elif Shafak weaves characters and storylines together with a single raindrop that falls, freezes, evaporates and reappears across time.By Suzanne Perez

1
Let's Hop Across the Pond 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

Jump in your estate car and head to the chemist, this week we're looking at some British equivalents of American English words.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘I Saw the TV Glow’ is stunning and difficult 2:26

2M ago2:26

2:26

KMUW's Fletcher Powell says "I Saw the TV Glow" is as stunning as it is difficult.By Fletcher Powell

1
Melissa Petro on her book, 'Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification' 22:35

2M ago22:35

22:35

Beth Golay recently spoke with "Shame on You" author Melissa Petro about her experience with shame and the unique ways women experience different forms of shame in her book.By Beth Golay

1
Marcus Kliewer's 'We Used to Live Here' will get your fall reading off to a scary start 1:40

2M ago1:40

1:40

Marcus Kliewer’s debut novel began life as a serialized short story on Reddit, where it won an award for Scariest Story of 2021. It's a deliciously twisty haunted house tale with nods to Shirley Jackson and Jordan Peele.By Suzanne Perez

1
Getting an A on the SAT 29:22

2M ago29:22

29:22

The letter of the day is "A"! We're getting you (or your kids) ready for the SATs with some tricky vocabulary from the beginning of the alphabet.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘Good One’ is worth the trip 2:23

2M ago2:23

2:23

Fletcher Powell says it's worth a bit of a drive to see one new movie.By Fletcher Powell

1
Colm Tóibín on his new book of essays, 'On James Baldwin' 29:48

2M ago29:48

29:48

On what would have been James Baldwin's 100th birthday, KMUW's Beth Golay spoke with Colm Tóibín about his new collection of essays, "On James Baldwin."By Beth Golay

1
Coco Mellors on her new novel, 'Blue Sisters' 22:28

2M ago22:28

22:28

KMUW's Beth Golay speaks with author Coco Mellors about family, grief and addiction in her novel 'Blue Sisters'.By Beth Golay

1
We Simply Must Talk About Modal Verbs 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

Must, could, should, shall, might, may... We dig into the weird, wiggly, weaselly world of modal verbs.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘War Game’ plays out an ominous scene 2:27

2M ago2:27

2:27

Fletcher Powell says what's at stake in a new documentary could hardly be more important.By Fletcher Powell

1
Amanda Jones on being 'That Librarian' 21:10

2M ago21:10

21:10

When school librarian, Amanda Jones, spoke out against censorship at a public library board meeting in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, she had no idea she would later see her own image in a targeted attack on social media.By Beth Golay

1
'That Librarian' tells the story of a school librarian who fought back against book banning 1:39

2M ago1:39

1:39

'That Librarian: The Fight Against Book-Banning in America' tells the story of Louisiana school librarian Amanda Jones, who sued harassers for defamation when they attacked her on social media. Jones has led the fight against efforts to censor books in school and public libraries.By Suzanne Perez

1
Let's Hit the Beach 29:24

2M ago29:24

29:24

Grab your swimsuit! Or your bathing suit. That's up to you. We're heading to the beach for a look at the language of tides, waves, and other things beachy.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘Chronicles of a Wandering Saint’ tackles big questions with quiet humor 2:25

2M ago2:25

2:25

Fletcher Powell looks at a new movie that causes us to ask big questions in small, quiet ways.By Fletcher Powell

1
Priscilla Morris on her novel, 'Black Butterflies' 31:04

2M ago31:04

31:04

Beth Golay recently spoke with "Black Butterflies" author, Priscilla Morris, about the impact of art during conflict, the challenges faced during the Siege of Sarajevo, the humanizing portrayal of war refugees in the novel, and more.By Beth Golay

1
'Hum' offers an anxious ride through an AI-driven world 1:40

3M ago1:40

1:40

Author Helen Phillips says plot points in her latest novel, "Hum," are just slightly exaggerated versions of recent facts or statistics. And that's precisely what makes it so terrifying.By Suzanne Perez

1
Now is the winter of our discontent made brat summer 29:01

3M ago29:01

29:01

With Charli XCX sparking a summer phenomenon, we take a look at the nature of slang: who uses it, why we use it, and how we need to be very careful with it.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
Joan Chen elevates a sweet coming-of-age story 2:09

3M ago2:09

2:09

KMUW's Fletcher Powell looks at a movie that he says speaks to both teens and parents.By Fletcher Powell

1
Kristopher Jansma on his new novel, 'Our Narrow Hiding Places' 37:19

3M ago37:19

37:19

Beth Golay recently spoke with Kristopher Jansma about the hardship and lasting effects of generational trauma in "Our Narrow Hiding Places."By Beth Golay

1
‘All Fours’ explores weighty themes, but in the end it’s more cringey than clever 1:41

3M ago1:41

1:41

Book reviewer Suzanne Perez says Miranda July's new novel, "All Fours," is a mid-life-crisis story that's part artistic discovery, part bizarre sexcapades — with a whole lot of kinky and sometimes grotesque episodes that are not for the faint-hearted.By Suzanne Perez

1
Back-formations 29:24

3M ago29:24

29:24

Today we look at words that came from other words even though we think the second word should have come first.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

1
‘Cuckoo’ never quite comes together 2:25

3M ago2:25

2:25

Fletcher Powell says a new movie can't quite decide how far to go.By Fletcher Powell

1
Chris Whitaker's ‘All the Colors of the Dark’ reads like poetry but tells a harrowing tale 1:40

3M ago1:40

1:40

At about 600 pages, Chris Whitaker's new novel, "All the Colors of the Dark," takes its time to paint detailed characters and a complex story over 25 years. But its dramatic plot and micro-chapters move the story along at a lightning pace.By Suzanne Perez

Podcasts Worth a Listen

KMUW Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide