Best Bel Canto Podcasts (2024)

1
Christopher Ward CEO Mike France on the game-changing Bel Canto 56:02

27m ago56:02

56:02

Today, we sit down with Mike France, co-founder and CEO of Christopher Ward, the UK-based direct-to-consumer brand that has (you may be shocked to learn) been around since 2004. We chat to Mike about the early days of the brand and how they evolved from a design-led microbrand into the fully-fledged brand they are today, with in-house watchmaking e…

1
Ann Patchett Revisits Bel Canto 43:02

1h ago43:02

43:02

Ann Patchett burst on the scene with Bel Canto twenty three years ago. Bel Canto was not her first novel, but many still consider it to be her best (although she disagrees). This week she releases an Annotated Edition of Bel Canto and in it she rereads and notes her triumphs and mistakes on every page. Seriously. A great novel, a great writer makin…

1
Bel Canto Book Club 1:02:36

7d ago1:02:36

1:02:36

October Book Club is here! It's time to share our feelings about Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. We covered our reading experience, the real-life stories that inspired the book, side characters we loved, and if we enjoyed the controversial epilogue, and more! If you liked this book, you may like Anxious People by Fredrik Backman! Obsessions Olivia: Andr…

1
November 2024 Three Things 1:12:30

2h ago1:12:30

1:12:30

We’re keeping things light this week by sharing a fun batch of Three Things! Becca’s Things The Real Housewives of New York City Diving into the Holiday Season ‘The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books’ in The Atlantic Olivia’s Things Netflix’s upcoming holiday programming: Hot Frosty, The Merry Gentleman, Is it Cake Holiday, and Carry-On (h…

1
Episode 081: Pride and Prejudice 1:00:14

4h ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Welcome Dear Readers. This month we are discussing Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. You are listening to Time to Read, a Winnipeg Public Library podcast book club. We are recording today from the Millennium Library, located in Treaty One Territory, the home and traditional lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), and Dakota peoples, and…

1
Danzy Senna Creates Worlds She Wants to See 40:35

27m ago40:35

40:35

Danzy Senna has written a seriously funny and thought provoking book in Colored Television. It will make you laugh, but also make space for anger, pain and frustration as she skewers race, Hollywood, authentic voice, the publishing industry, the Kardashians, navel gazing, philosophy….you name it, there is satire in this book for everyone. Great wri…

1
Marc Montagne on Investing in Watches in 2024 46:42

7d ago46:42

46:42

We thought we knew what we were getting into when we asked Marc Montagne, author of 'Invest in Watches: The Art of Watch Collecting' onto the pod. We prepared questions around market motility, hot models and the ethics of flipping, but it quickly became apparent that it wasn't going to be that kind of interview. Marc, a watch industry professional,…

1
Dwayne Betts Is Proof That A Book Can Change Your Life 31:37

6d ago31:37

31:37

Reginald Dwayne Betts is on a mission is to put a curated library in the cell block of every prison in America. A survivor of the system himself, he has obtained a college degree, a law degree from Yale, and a MacArthur Genius grant. Looking to bring hope to America’s most hopeless places, Bates has founded Freedom Reads, an organization that bring…

1
A Moving Retrospective 55:20

7d ago55:20

55:20

This week, we’re reflecting on Olivia’s move to the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York! Covering everything from why she chose the location, house renovation updates, how to make friends in a new place, and when the house started to feel like a home. If you’re in the area, come to our event at Lasting Joy Brewery in Tivoli New York! Obsessions Olivi…

1
Paula Hawkins is a Mystery Master 44:56

13d ago44:56

44:56

Paula Hawkins is a master of the mystery, and her new one, The Blue Hour, has one of the best opens and closes to a mystery we have ever read. An author who knows mood and atmosphere, this book will keep you turning the pages long after you told yourself to go to bed. Our bookstore this week is a revisit with one of our favorites, Beacon Hill Books…

1
The Great Read-Alike Roundup 1:11:07

23d ago1:11:07

1:11:07

In celebration of our backlist fall, we’re dedicating this episode to sharing our recommendations for what to read if you want to capture the energy of a popular book! Romance If you liked The Idea of You by Robinne Lee, you may like Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff and Seven Days in June by Tia Williams If you like Emily Henry's books, you may like Y…

1
Richard Osman Begins a New Series 40:12

27d ago40:12

40:12

Richard Osman has one of the most successful literary mystery series of all time: The Thursday Murder Club (just finished filming as a major motion picture too). So why start a new series and why do we love it so much? First, we will read anything this man writes, including his address book, but second, because it’s good, AND funny. We ask Richard …

1
How the Pod Sausage Gets Made 1:23:13

21d ago1:23:13

1:23:13

Have you ever wondered how we choose episode topics? Our intentions behind our book club picks? Our dream guests? How we want to grow the podcast? This is the episode for you! We’re sharing all the details about how our podcast sausage gets made. Obsessions Olivia: Sand + Fog Honeycrisp Harvest Candle Becca: Diddy conspiracy TikTok What we read thi…

1
Episode 080: Kiss of the Fur Queen 48:18

26d ago48:18

48:18

Welcome Dear Readers. This month we are discussing Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway. You are listening to Time to Read, a Winnipeg Public Library podcast book club. We are recording today from the Millennium Library, located in Treaty One Territory, the home and traditional lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), and Dakota peoples…

1
James Kennedy - Managing Director and CEO of Kennedy Watches & Jewellery 1:06:10

1M ago1:06:10

1:06:10

This week's guest is James Kennedy, the Managing Director and CEO of Kennedy Watches & Jewellery, one of Australia's leading luxury retailers. We chat with James about what it's like to be an Authorised Dealer for some of the world's most prestigious and desirable watch brands/ James shares (in detail) about how he turned a small family business in…

1
Wright Thompson Investigates His Home State 36:51

27d ago36:51

36:51

This week's book case: Emmitt Till’s murder has been a seminal moment in American history ever since it occurred in 1955. Wright Thompson’s new book “The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi” looks at the horror through a whole new prism. Thompson loves his native land of Mississippi but is haunted by the barn where Emmitt Till was m…

1
A Very Autumnal Three Things 1:01:26

1M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

In this round of Three Things, we’re keeping our topics strictly fall-based (prepare to hear Olivia at her full power!) We cover everything from Halloween costumes to sweater storage to cozy fall hobbies and more! Olivia’s Things A Perfect Fall Sunday Fall Goals Getting a Hallmark+ Subscription (First watches will include: 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost, H…

1
All Fours Book Club 1:05:48

1M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for, our All Fours by Miranda July Book Club! There’s been a lot of discussion about the book in our Facebook and Geneva groups, and we’re so pumped to dive in! We shared our expectations for the book before we read it, why we thought it was so polarizing, the themes of aging and menopause, how we related to the m…

1
Katherine Rundell Believes in Children’s Lit 32:28

1M ago32:28

32:28

The United Kingdom has given us some amazing children’s authors: C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter...and may we add Katherine Rundell. Her newest, Impossible Creatures, is a sensation in Britain, and was declared an instant classic even before its U.S. release. It delivers all the magic promised in the fantastical title. Tune in…

1
How Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo Started a Romance Publishing Imprint 1:12:17

2M ago1:12:17

1:12:17

This week, we’re chatting with the founders of 831 Stories (and hosts of the fantastic A Thing or Two podcast) Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo! They share what drew them to the romance genre, why they started a romance entertainment company, and what makes a good sex scene. They also give us the scoop on 831’s first novella, Big Fan by Alexandra Roma…

1
Chris Hall from The Fourth Wheel 38:48

2M ago38:48

38:48

One of OT:’s very favourite people is Chris Hall, the guy behind The Fourth Wheel Substack — which bills itself as an honest, opinionated and informative insight into watches and the business around them. Given that every week or so we’re Chris’ newsletter on the pod, we thought it was high time to get him back on and talk about his approach to rep…

1
Elizabeth Strout Unites Beloved Characters 37:01

2M ago37:01

37:01

If you aren’t an Elizabeth Strout fan yet, Tell me Everything, her newest novel, is going to wow you. If you are already devoted fans, like we are, then you are in for a real treat. In Tell Me Everything, she brings together two beloved characters: Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge. The results are truly magical. Our bookstore this week is Snowbound…

1
Julia Whelan Tells Us How an Audiobook Gets Made 1:07:07

2M ago1:07:07

1:07:07

This week we’re joined by a person The New Yorker has called “The Adele of Audiobooks!” You guessed it, we’re exploring the ins and outs of audiobooks with none other than novelist, screenwriter, actor, and iconic audiobook narrator, Julia Whelan. She gives us a behind the scenes peek at the the recording process, what makes a standout audiobook pr…

1
Episode 079: The Best Laid Plans 57:21

2M ago57:21

57:21

Welcome Dear Readers. This month we are discussing The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis. You are listening to Time to Read, a Winnipeg Public Library podcast book club. We are recording today from the Millennium Library, located in Treaty One Territory, the home and traditional lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), and Dakota peoples, an…

1
Spoken Word Poets Write Their Catharsis 47:45

2M ago47:45

47:45

This is a special episode dedicated the art of spoken word poetry. One of our listeners wrote to us mentioning the name of Rudy Francisco and from there we fell down the rabbit hole of spoken word and slam poetry. We talk to Rudy and two other greats of the art, Bianca Phipps and Neil Hilborn. They are going to perform one work each and we will rou…

1
Virgo Season: School Supply Nostalgia & Office Obsessions 1:14:30

2M ago1:14:30

1:14:30

It’s back-to-school season! We don’t have a school to go back to, but that won’t stop us from stocking up on new office supplies for a little refresh. We talk about our love for back-to-school shopping, wrapping books vs book socks, finding the perfect bookbag, statement pens, Lisa Frank, and the “school supplies” we use in our adult lives. Olivia …

1
Dr. Fei-Fei Li Explains AI 35:21

2M ago35:21

35:21

Dr. Fei-Fei Li is one of the most important scientists of our time. Her book, The Worlds I See, chronicles her pioneering efforts in Artificial Intelligence. Does AI scare you? Us too. But read this book and listen to this episode. The book is not just the compelling story of Dr. Li herself, who immigrated as a girl speaking no English but who unde…

1
One-Star Romance Book Club 1:04:29

2M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Happy August Book Club Day! We’re diving into our thoughts on One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin. (Spoiler: we adored it!) We talk about the balance of the romance versus friendship plotlines, the relatability of the debut novelist interior monologue, and how the pandemic was incorporated into the plot. Also, the author calls in to answer a listener …

1
Jodi Picoult Envisions A Woman Behind Shakespeare's Work 36:40

2M ago36:40

36:40

Have you ever heard the rumor that Shakespeare didn’t write his own plays? So had we, but By Any Other Name, the new novel by Jodi Picoult, may make the best case for it we have ever read. This novel puts forth a theory that Emilia Bassano wrote at least some of them, and she is an unforgettable character. This book succeeds on so many levels — a p…

1
Listener Three Things: Sleepover Movies, Alternate Lives, and Single Serving Tortilla Chips 1:17:44

2M ago1:17:44

1:17:44

This week, we let YOU pick the Things for us to cover this episode! We’re excited to dive into your obsessions, pop culture news, alternate lives, and more! Listener Things What alternate lives would you want to live for a day? The lack of single-serving tortilla chips It Ends With Us Sleepover Movies Flip Phones Heiney Hiders Obsessions Becca: Ker…

1
Matteo Violet-Vianello, founder of Anoma Watches 59:26

3M ago59:26

59:26

In this episode, we chat with the man behind one of 2024’s most-discussed watch brands, Anoma. Matteo Violet-Vianello developed his love of free-form vintage watch aesthetics while working at A Collected Man, and decided he wanted to create his own watch. Despite having no formal design training, Anoma’s debut watch, the A1, is an assured and sophi…

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