We're setting up Seth Rubin, a queer, trans, and nonbinary Los Angeles-based comedian and writer. Seth’s writing has been published in The New Yorker, The Onion, Reductress, McSweeney’s, and more. They currently write full-time for Jackbox Games and they were named one of Gold Comedy’s 22 Comedians to Watch in 2022. With a PhD in geology up their s…

For our first episode of Season Three, we're setting up Julio Alvarez, creator of the Let’s Go with Julio podcast and founder of Out in Tech, the largest LGBTQ+ tech networking community in the world. After working at several Silicon Valley companies, Julio struck out on his own to become a coach and speaker. Julio recently read and enjoyed The Gar…

Looking to cozy down with a book this winter? In this episode, we discuss the definition of a "winter read" (and if there is one), and share our picks for books to read this season. Books Mentioned The Secret History by Donna Tartt Winter's Tale by Mark Helprin Babel by R.F. Kuang St. Sebastian's Abyss by Mark Haber The Library at Mount Char by Sco…

On this special bonus episode of Blind Date With a Book, we sit down with Meghan Phillips to discuss our favorite boarding school novels. Meghan is the author of the upcoming flash fiction chapbook Abstinence Only. Titles mentioned include: The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik The …

On this episode, we're setting up Sterling Melcher. Sterling is an multidisciplinary artist who lives in Philly. His work investigates the connections between performance, absurd philosophy, hard sciences, and the political landscape. He also manages a restaurant, so his weekends and nights are usually busy. Sterling’s favorite season is fall, for …

Today, we're setting up Nicole Brinkley, Bookseller and Manager at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, NY (and host of the Misshelved podcast). Nicole read and recently loved Year of the Witching and A Spindle Splintered, and she’s Oblong’s resident specialist for kids and SciFi Fantasy books. She loves autumn, and is impressed by other people’s generosity …

This episode, we're setting up Chelsey Hill, chorus manager and New York City-based illustrator. Chelsey’s work is often inspired by eccentric New Yorkers, as well as legendary musicians and performers. Her work has been featured as part of the LinkNYC Urban Haiku program, the Women Conductor’s Series, and clients include the Met Opera Chorus, Broa…

Rachel chats with Emi Nietfeld, author of the debut memoir, ACCEPTANCE. ACCEPTANCE comes out on August 2, 2022, and follows Emi during her young adulthood, through the foster care system, mental health facilities, residence at an arts high school, temporary homelessness, and more on her way to college and beyond. Emi talks about the process of writ…

On this week's show, we're setting up Bria Schirripa. Bria is a product manager by day and a writer and creator by night. She documents the latest happenings in New York’s charming West Village neighborhood on her page, the Bleecker Street Beat. Naturally, her dream Saturday consists of a walk in the neighborhood, in addition to drinking an overpri…

On this week's show, we're setting up John-Paul Gurnett, a multidisciplinary artist. JP is the co-founder of Queer Nite and serves as communications director for BFF Omaha, both now long-running queer institutions in Nebraska. When not building community through arts engagement, he taught English as a Second Language in a high school. JP recently r…

On this week's show, we're setting up Shalita Grant, actress and founder of the company Four Naturals Hair. Shalita is a Tony-award nominated actress whose career on the stage has included runs at The Public Theater and Lincoln Center Theater, including originating the role of Cassandra in Christopher Durang's comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and S…

Today, we're setting up Celia Aniskovich, New York City-based director and producer, well known for her co-production of How to Fix a Drug Scandal and her production of Surviving Jefferey Epstein. In 2021, she released a six-part podcast series for Wondery called the Spy Affair about Maria Butina and is working on a feature length film about disabi…

Today, we're setting up Molly Armstrong, a social justice analyst who focuses on child welfare issues. She has received the prestigious Kathryn A McDonald Award in Service in the NYC Family Court and was a Root-Tilden Scholar at NYU School of Law. She enjoys relaxing with a long walk, good book, and a delicious meal– but you probably won’t watch he…

Bonus episode with the fabulous, and hilarious, Ginny Hogan (who is always on Twitter). Rachel and Ginny talk about her new book, I'm More Dateable than a Plate of Refried Beans, out May 3rd, plus discuss dating while funny, writing humor, and some book recommendations. Books talked about on this episode include: A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backma…

This episode, our guest is Aparna Shewakramani. Aparna is a lawyer from Houston, who was a cast member of the Netflix show Indian Matchmaking. Her book, “She’s Unlikeable and Other Lies that Bring Women Down” came out in Spring 2022, and she’s also the founder of the travel company, My Golden Balloon. She recently read and loved Homegoing and The V…

In this special bonus episode, Kristen talks with Adrienne Celt, a novelist and cartoonist. Celt is the author of the novels End of the World House, Invitation to a Bonfire, and The Daughters, which won the 2015 PEN Southwest Book Award for Fiction and was named a Best Book of the Year by NPR. She has also published a collection of comics, Apocalyp…

On this week's show, the start of season two, we're setting up Pia Wilson, a playwright and writer of the new fiction podcast, If I Go Missing, the Witches Did It. She is the recipient of dozens of awards and fellowships, including being a 2015 Sundance Fellow, receiving a 2020 Newark Creative Catalyst grant, and being playwright in residence at Ma…

In honor of Valentine's Day, we're serving up a range of books about love—from the romantic to the erotic thriller. We hope this holds you over until the second season of Blind Date With a Book arrives this spring. Here are the books mentioned during this episode. The Object of My Affection by Stephen McCauley The Guncle by Steven Rowley The Book o…

On this week's episode, we set up a literal matchmaker with six books. Yeah, it's meta. This also happens to be the final episode of our first season. Thank you for listening, and stay tuned. The guest: Matchmaker Maria is a business owner, matchmaker dating coach, host of Ask a Matchmaker Podcast, frazzled super mom, happy wife, mother’s caretaker…

In this episode, we match up Jaime Green, a freelance writer and editor, with six books. Jaime wrote a romance recommendations column for The New York Times and is a series editor for Best American Science and Nature Writing. Her book about the ways we imagine life beyond Earth in science and science fiction. Look will be published by Hanover Squar…

Looking for a chill to run up your spine? We recommend six of our favorite spooky reads, right in time for Halloween. We've ordered the picks from least to most scary. And keep your ear peeled for three bonus recommendations, too. Books mentioned Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch by Rivka Galchen Night Rooms by Gina Nutt My Soul to Keep by Tana…

We match up Ben Stein, a communications manager for a public policy think tank in Ohio. Ben’s on the hunt for some smart nonfiction, and tells us a bit about how his MFA program changed him and what it’s like to take up the ukelele. The guest: Ben Stein The picks: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Calamities by Renee Gladman Seek You by Kr…

Lisa Stardust is a writer and astrologer in New York City. On this week’s episode, we recommend some cultish, occult, and starry reads to help break up her routine, plus you learn the rising signs of all the hosts and why that makes us a good team! The guest: Lisa Stardust The picks: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur The Tenth Muse by C…

Niko Maragos is a makeup artist and writer. He's drawn to deep, difficult reads—and his taste sometimes means that reading can feel like work, for better or for worse. To meet the challenge, we try to find books that are intellectual and compelling. On this week’s episode, we learn some shocking news about eyebrow trends, plus recommend some books …

Episode 5: Show notes A senior TV writer at Refinery29, Ariana Romero should be your your go-to person for enthusiastic show recommendations and thoughtful takes on TV's latest on and off-screen drama. She specializes in streaming TV, reality shows like The Bachelor, and Latinx-led entertainment. She loves brunch, does not love classic books, and c…

Episode 4: Show notes A humor writer and editor for McSweeney’s, Lucy Huber loves pop culture, summer weather, and the kind of reads that pair well with a beach umbrella. We talk audiobooks versus podcasts, what it’s like to edit for one of the most popular humor sites out there, and finding time to read after having a baby. The guest: Lucy Huber T…

Rachel was thrilled to have Isle McElroy on the podcast to chat about bagels and bookstores, plus cults and more. Their debut novel, The Atmospherians debuted in 2021. The Atmospherian is a satire which follows a cult to reform problematic men. (Please note that this episode was recorded using a different first name for the author.) Isle’s reading …

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions. In each episode, hosts Kristen Evans, Rachel Mans McKenny, and Elena Nicolaou go head-to-head to give the best recommendation. The guest: Chris Gonzalez, author of the forthcoming collection I'm Not Hungry but I Could Eat The…

Apologies for the editing weirdness in the first few minutes! I promise, the juice is worth the squeeze. Rachel talks with Julia Fine about her new novel, The Upstairs House, writing about two historical literary figures, tattoos, and more. The books recommended in this episode: Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened By the Moon by Leonard S. Marcus Who Tel…

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions. In each episode, hosts Kristen Evans, Rachel Mans McKenny, and Elena Nicolaou go head-to-head to give the best recommendation. This week’s show also features a discussion of Moby Dick in quarantine and what it’s like to be in…

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions. In each episode, hosts Kristen Evans, Rachel Mans McKenney, and Elena Nicolaou go head-to-head to give the best recommendation. The guest: Alexa Nicolaou The picks: The Mercies by Kiran Milwood Hargrave. (https://www.prairiel…

This is Blind Date With a Book, the podcast that matches guests up with their literary soulmates using dating app questions.