Best Photobooks Podcasts (2024)

1
A Jazz Kissa Fairytale 46:05

1M ago46:05

46:05

We are back with more stories, but before we get into our latest adventures in Kyushu and beyond, we have an extra special episode with some incredibly exciting news! Listen in to find out how you help all of James's stars align at once...Shout out as ever to Brian from Grooves Ahead for all his assistance.…

1
Erik Kessels - say no and get disrupted 44:47

1M ago44:47

44:47

In this episode of The Photo Vault, we discuss with Dutch artist and editor Erik Kessels why it is important to have an opinion and dislike things, as well as why it is most important that young artists get paid. Erik is a prolific book and exhibition maker, known for his narrative creation through appropriated images. Take a look as well at Erik’s…

1
Thomas Sauvin - a mine full of silver 39:59

2M ago39:59

39:59

Follow French editor and artist Thomas Sauvin on his journey from a Chinese language student to the collector and editor of an enormous archive that he continually augments from a dumpsite in Beijing. With his project, Beijing Silvermine, he has produced humorous and intelligent publications over the last 10 years, granting us access to a specific …

1
Everyday imaging - the analogue and the digital realm 26:30

3M ago26:30

26:30

In this episode, we delve into a talk event on Vernacular Photography that took place in November 2023. Our host, Lukas, was one of the speakers and has encapsulated a myriad of ideas, thoughts, and practices surrounding everyday imaging that were presented during the event. The talk was organized by the Eidolon Center in Budapest, a new institutio…

1
Thweep Rittinaphakorn - learning about yourself through collecting 35:49

3M ago35:49

35:49

In this episode, we meet Thweep Rittinaphakorn, also known as Ake, in Bangkok, and explore his collection of photographs from Myanmar during the colonial era. Ake is an expert in Myanmar textiles who ventured into collecting photography and released a photobook from a very different background. His collection is fascinating and multi-layered, as he…

1
Annebella Pollen - rejects are the majority and why we should study packaging 44:57

4M ago44:57

44:57

This episode of The Photo Vault prompts us to question the world around us by examining product packaging, which often reinforces and perpetuates stereotypical norms in various aspects of our lives. Our guest, Annebella Pollen, a professor of Visual and Material Culture, author of numerous books, and an avid collector, delves into some of her proje…

1
Lucy Sante - on being a bilingual writer and how vernacular photography changed her life 35:17

4M ago35:17

35:17

In this episode, we hear thoughts, ideas, and stories from writer, critic, educator, and artist Lucy Sante. She has a fascinating history and engagement with photography, writing on photography, and collecting. She has turned some of her collections into books and tells us about how she retrieved the photographs that went into titles such as 'Evide…

1
A Bag of Bricks 32:59

4M ago32:59

32:59

We take a more free jazz approach to this episode as we waffle unashamedly for about half an hour and reflect on what's been a truly incredible year for the project. James continues to reframe the English language in his own image.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his patience and assistance.…

1
Joachim Schmid - on authorship, Flickr and NOT collecting 48:00

4M ago48:00

48:00

In this episode of The Photo Vault, we discuss with artist, photographer, and book publisher Joachim Schmid why he is not a collector but a gatherer. We also delve deep into computer history and Joachim’s first contact with Apple computers, as well as why he likes to create low-quality photobooks, explore Flickr, and engage in gardening. Joachim Sc…

1
The Last Waltz 33:55

5M ago33:55

33:55

April's trip comes to an intimate end, not in that way, and we wrap up things with two stunning, and stunningly different places in the drinking lanes of the oddly tropical-feeling city of Kochi.Thank as ever to Brian for the sound mix and Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Natasha Christia - Three books that inspired you / Emmanuell Carrere / Ariella Azoulay 6:03

5M ago6:03

6:03

In today's Three Books that inspired you special, we hear Greek curator and writer Natasha Christia talk about the important role of literature in her work and also what inspired her in theoretical writing. Her three recommendations are: Emmanuel Carrère Ariella Azoulay - the civil contract of photography / potential history: unlearning imperialism…

1
Cemre Yeşil Gönenli - seeking the hidden in photography and being an artist in todays Istanbul 48:48

5M ago48:48

48:48

In this episode, we are meeting with Cemre Yeşil Gönenli, an Istanbul-born and -based artist, photographer, and educator. She gives us insight into her quest for finding the invisible through photography, by looking at what cannot be seen in images. Cemre also talks about the current difficult situation for artists in Turkey and why inflation makes…

1
Erik Kessels - Three Books that inspired you 7:34

5M ago7:34

7:34

In our first Three Books that inspired you special we asked Dutch artist Erik Kessels about photo-books that enriched his way of thinking The books are: Chantal Rens - YOU RUN AROUND TOWN LIKE A FOOL AND YOU THINK THAT IT'S GROOVY, published by PANTOFLE BOOKS, 2916 Christian Boltanksi, KADISH. Paris: Musée d'Art Modern; München: Gina Kehayoff Verla…

1
Uptown Funk 1:02:19

5M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

We are in Shikoku at last as James continues to expand his palate while Philip comes to grips with an unexpected response (and not James' this time...).Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Geoffrey Batchen on vernacular photography and appreciating the banal 42:25

5M ago42:25

42:25

In this episode, we have the great pleasure to meet with Professor Geoffrey Batchen, an expert in the history of photography. He has taught in his native Australia, the United States, and currently holds a position at Oxford in the UK as a professor of the history of art. He has curated exhibitions in renowned institutions such as the ICP in New Yo…

1
[Version française] Inauguration du Vernacular Social Club et du journal REVU 14:51

6M ago14:51

14:51

Nous publions, donc nous existons ! Voici le premier épisode de The Photo Vault. Découvrez la proposition éditoriale de ce podcast, ainsi que la façon de vous engager auprès du Vernacular Social Club, votre plateforme dédiée à la photographie vernaculaire, aux archives photographiques, aux collections et aux livres de photos. Dans cette introductio…

1
Smoke Gets in Your Ice Pt.4 1:06:15

6M ago1:06:15

1:06:15

A powdered-up James eats mountains of the shaved stuff as Philip tentatively dips his toe in the lesser-known jazz kissa art world in this last part of our three-day Kansai adventure. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Inauguration of the Photo Vault & definition of what Vernacular Photography is 17:06

6M ago17:06

17:06

We publish; therefore, we exist! This is our first episode of The Photo Vault. Find out what to expect from this podcast in the future, as well as how to engage with the Vernacular Social Club, your platform for Vernacular Photography, Archives, Collecting, and Photo-books. In this introduction, you will hear the voices of collector, editor, and ar…

1
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Pt.3 1:38:13

6M ago1:38:13

1:38:13

All editing prudence goes to the wall as we fall down a deep, deep Kansai-shaped hole in this feature-length episode which is the third of a four-parter...strap in! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Pt.2 46:35

7M ago46:35

46:35

Disagreement is the name of the game in this second instalment of a four-parter over three hectic days in Kansai.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance and to Louie Lastic for our music track.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Pt.1 54:41

7M ago54:41

54:41

Edible insects, jazz double entendres and some unreal Osaka joints in this first of a four-parter where we spend three hectic days in Kansai. Thanks to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance and to Louie Lastic for our music track.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
The Curtain, The Sword & The Samurai 49:26

8M ago49:26

49:26

After his daring diversion into curry a few weeks ago in Masako, James reverts to the old anti-jazz kissa food ways as we get back into town for a good old-fashioned Tokyo episode with three cracking Tokyo joints!This episode is dedicated to the inimitable Natori-san of Osaka's legendary Bird/56, who sadly passed away on August 7, 2023.Thanks as al…

1
The North Remembered Pt. 4 39:16

9M ago39:16

39:16

James continues to offend in the last of a four-parter trip up north: this time it's just the whole of the European continent. Philip recaps on some book launch party highlights in Belfast while James murders French words. And we visit the epic Paragonian run by the inimitable Hiroshi!By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
The North Remembered Pt.3 50:43

9M ago50:43

50:43

James pisses off another regional tourist board as we hit the snowless spring streets of Aomori for another couple of contrasting but equally brilliant joints.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
The North Remembered Pt.2 38:21

10M ago38:21

38:21

In this second of four on a northern tour, we visit Morioka, officially the next best city after NYC apparently, for two great joints. And Philip has a serendipitous encounter with a certain Johnny...Thanks to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his help with all things sound.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
The North Remembered Pt.1 53:53

10M ago53:53

53:53

It's the turn of James to live vicariously in this first episode of a four-part sojourn to colder climes with teachers, taxi and a treasure trove of joints. Oh yeah, and The Crusaders.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Das Buch! 44:08

10M ago44:08

44:08

James chats to Philip about the mind-blowing experience he had seeing the Tokyo Jazz Joints photobook finally being born at the printers near Heidelberg in Germany! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Reunion! 49:00

11M ago49:00

49:00

Two men weep uncontrollably as they meet in a Shibuya hotel and finally recommence what they love doing most. Five years later, post-pandemic, we reunite to hit three Tokyo joints that symbolise the old and the new, and somewhere with the best of both!Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.…

1
Days of Wine and Roses 50:56

1y ago50:56

50:56

A recap of the incredible support we have had with the book project, the next steps, and a couple of tantalising Tohoku pitstops. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Book-er TJJ & the MG's 48:06

1+ y ago48:06

48:06

James (probably) offends all of Finland, and we have a quick catch up before announcing our big news!Buy the book! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/philiparneill/tokyo-jazz-jointsThanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Crochet & Croquet 36:12

1+ y ago36:12

36:12

We're back with some stories and updates and while James swans about Kyushu and Honshu visiting jazz joints, Philip lives vicariously through the stories from the other side of the world...Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Six Kyushu Joints Pt.2 48:40

2y ago48:40

48:40

The second part of James' solo trip on the island with a trip down memory lane and a distant brush with a famous Fred.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Six Kyushu Joints Pt.1 46:39

2y ago46:39

46:39

Pork 'belly' politics, Sony Rollins on the beach and a mixture of the new and old as James heads south on a solo mission.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.By Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

1
Alec Soth 57:20

2y ago57:20

57:20

Alec Soth is so beautifully human and also a brilliant photographer, and one so obviously begets the other. But if you don't take a listen for the insight into his art practice, new body of work, and upcoming photobook , come for the ping pong stories. Alec Soth (b. 1969) is a photographer born and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has published …

1
Andres Gonzalez 1:12:55

2+ y ago1:12:55

1:12:55

This is a really special episode. Andres Gonzalez talks about American Origami, which not only happens to be an extraordinarily impactful and important project, but also the most dynamically designed photobook. . . maybe ever. Andres is thoughtful, passionate, and extremely talented. Prepare to be inspired and more than a little in awe. Andres Gonz…

1
David Chickey 54:52

2+ y ago54:52

54:52

To continue our short streak of publisher/designers, I interviewed David Chickey for the podcast. I have often said that I want to be Dave Chickey when I grow up. While we are similar in age, I'd need decades to even come close to his talent and accomplishments. And of course, he couldn't be more lovely or more sincere. (Sidenote: How cool is it th…

1
Jason Koxvold 44:12

2+ y ago44:12

44:12

Jason Koxvold is the kind of person you would hate if he wasn't so smart and talented and thoughtful and kind. Oh, and charming. Did I mention charming? Yeah, he's the worst. Jason Koxvold (b. 1977, Liege, Belgium) received his BSc in Social Science from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2000. His fine art practice focuses on the shared spac…

1
Alan Rapp 1:01:13

2+ y ago1:01:13

1:01:13

This is a super special podcast - mostly because Alan Rapp is an incredible fount of knowledge about the photobook publishing business, but also because we go deep talking shop, and he somehow pulled a switcheroo midway through and started asking me about my process for selecting projects. If you're interested in photobook publishing, and if you're…

1
Gail Albert Halaban 28:00

2+ y ago28:00

28:00

I have been a fan of Gail Albert Halaban's Out My Window series for years, so it was a delight to get to speak with her about this long-term project that began in her city, New York, and has since gone global. Tune in to hear about building community through photography and the interesting connections to be made when you look into your neighbors' w…

1
Louie Palu 48:49

2+ y ago48:49

48:49

Louie and I met in 2011. He was just back from Afghanistan with the most gorgeous silver portraits of soldiers he was embedded with. Six years later, we would publish those portraits as part of the deconstructed photobook, Front Towards Enemy. We had many adventures in between and even more since, including sitting 10 feet from Andrew McCarthy duri…

1
Matthew Brandt 51:25

2+ y ago51:25

51:25

Matthew Brandt is a mad scientist/brilliant image-maker/pure delight. Oddly, we talk about poo a lot on this episode, but it kind of works. We also talk a lot about the creative process and parsing out the good ideas from the not-good-yet ideas. It's human and inspiring. Take a listen. Calling his approach "a little bit messy and experimental," Mat…

1
Carolyn Drake 34:48

3y ago34:48

34:48

I cannot get enough of Carolyn Drake - her talent, her intentionality, her grounded and inspiring words. But alas, I gush. We talk about collaboration and books (surprised?), and she has a lot of brilliance to share on both topics. Carolyn Drake works on long term photo-based projects seeking to interrogate dominant historical narratives and creati…

1
Assembly (Ashlyn Davis Burns & Shane Lavalette) 28:18

3y ago28:18

28:18

These two! A powerhouse duo of talent, passion and all-around art do-goodness. They are pooling their wide ranging skills to deliver a new model to help artists become creatively and financially successful. Learn all about Assembly in this episode! Ashlyn Davis Burns has worked to support lens-based artists for the past decade through curatorial, e…

1
Diana Markosian 25:50

3y ago25:50

25:50

Diana Markosian is staggeringly talented, thoughtful, creative and articulate. We had some technical difficulties on our first recording, so I got to be overwhelmed by her amazingness TWICE. She is brave, both in an "I'm going to sneak across this contested border" way and an "I'm going to dig deeper than deep into this personally painful territory…

1
Kelli Connell 35:39

3y ago35:39

35:39

Doing this podcast has really just been a way for me to geek out on photography and give me an excuse to talk with artists whose work I adore, and getting to talk with Kelli Connell was a highlight. The time and focus and introspection she devotes to her long-term projects is remarkable, and she also happens to be the loveliest of human beings. Kel…

1
Aaron Schuman 47:15

3y ago47:15

47:15

I had never met Aaron Schuman before this recording, and I'm pleased to report that we are now best friends. His deep love for all things photography and his thoughtful and inquisitive approach to both his own work and others' is infectious and inspiring, and I can't wait for our next conversation and all the ones after that. Aaron Schuman is Ameri…

1
Hans Gremmen 48:44

3y ago48:44

48:44

Witness my biggest fan-girl moment so far in this interview with the immensely talented and innovative photobook designer, Hans Gremmen. He has the winning and enviable combination of being creatively brilliant and also incredibly down to earth. Speaking with him was so inspiring. Hans Gremmen is a graphic designer based in Amsterdam. He works in p…

1
Daniel Milnor 42:30

3y ago42:30

42:30

If you want to be inspired to break your addiction to social media, live the #vanlife, and still do all kinds of badass photography-related projects, listen to this episode with Daniel Milnor, creative evangelist for Blurb. If you've ever met him, you're still buzzing from the interaction, and he not only remembers you, but everything you talked ab…

1
Abelardo Morell 37:42

3y ago37:42

37:42

Sharp, curious and hilarious, Abe Morell's got the most enviable spark for life and creating, and he does it all with wit and charm. We talk about being Cuban, the role of play in art-making, and his favorite hip hop club in Atlanta. Prepare to be enchanted. Abelardo Morell was born in Havana, Cuba in 1948. He immigrated to the United States with h…

1
Alejandro Cartagena 42:46

3y ago42:46

42:46

In this episode of Perfect Bound, we learn that Alejandro Cartagena still has the pen I lent him six years ago in the pocket of his winter coat. We also learn he has 35 book projects in mind to be developed and that he has been able to harness a personal, inner tension to inspire a life's work in photography. Dominican-born photographer Alejandro C…

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