Episodes 198
Avg. Duration 26m
Activity Active
Apple Rating 4.9 (17)
Since Jul 2020
Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Every 2 Weeks
Format
Episodic
Consistency
60%
Hosting
www.tpr.org

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Book Public is a Texas Public Radio podcast about books. At Book Public we believe books have the power to enlighten and entertain us. Listen in as we talk to authors about their books and why and how they wrote them. At Book Public we’re committed to connecting listeners to books that help us understand today’s world—and each other—a little bit better.

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Recent Episodes

Book Public: 'The Things We Never Say' by Elizabeth Strout

May 20, 2026 8m

What are the mysteries behind the quiet routines of one Artie Dam, a high school history teacher in Elizabeth Strout’s latest novel? The Things We Never Say explores isolation and the painful,…

Book Public: 'A History of Heartache' by Patrick Strickland

May 06, 2026 25m

Patrick Strickland discusses his story collection "A History of Heartache." These are stories set in North Texas that chart the small moments of grace, and the almost insurmountable mistakes boys…

Book Public: 'Ghosts of Fourth Street' by Laurie Hertzel

Apr 08, 2026 26m

Laurie Hertzel's memoir is an open, frank rumination on a brother's death and its reverberations throughout a family.

Book Public: 'Ashland' by Dan Simon

Feb 22, 2026 39m

Dan Simon discusses his debut novel, "Ashland." Six characters tell their story about living in this mill town in New Hampshire. They share resonant, unforgettable stories about the place they all…

Book Public: 'One Sun Only' by Camille Bordas

Feb 08, 2026 33m

Camille Bordas discusses her story collection, One Sun Only. She also shares her thoughts on writing about loss, reading nonfiction for inspiration for writing fiction and balancing humor with the…

Book Public: 'To Absent Friends: Eudora Welty’s Correspondence with Frank Lyell’

Jan 04, 2026 6m

On this episode, Yvette Benavides shares a reflection on ‘To Absent Friends: Eudora Welty’s Correspondence with Frank Lyell’ selected and edited by Julia Eichelberger.

Book Public: 'Time of the Child' by Niall Williams

Dec 01, 2025 7m

The village of Faha in Ireland in 1962 is the setting of the latest novel by Niall Williams, Time of the Child. The protagonist, Dr. Jack Troy, is a quiet, serious man who lives alone with his eldest…

Book Public: Giving thanks through poetry

Nov 23, 2025 11m

Prayers, grace, words of gratitude. Doesn’t it seem like Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday for poetry? Yvette Benavides, the host of 'Book Public,' shares some of her favorite poems about giving…

Book Public: 'The Art of Jacques Pépin'

Nov 09, 2025 18m

The Art of Jacques Pépin celebrates the master chef and 99 of his all-time favorite recipes, paired with his signature artwork spanning the last 60 years.

Book Public: 'Startlement' by Ada Limón

Nov 02, 2025 26m

Ada Limón served as the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States. Her latest book, Startlement: New and Selected Poems, is a retrospective spanning two decades and also includes 21 new poems. The book…

Book Public: 'At Last' by Marisa Silver

Oct 26, 2025 27m

Marisa Silver joins Yvette Benavides on Book Public to discuss her latest novel, At Last. Helene and Evelyn are two women who are bound together because they happen to be the mothers of two people…

Book Public: 'A Guardian and a Thief' by Megha Majumdar

Oct 19, 2025 19m

Megha Majumdar's novel, A Guardian and a Thief, is set in the near future in Kolkata amid a climate crisis. There are two families from very different stations in life struggling to survive. But…

Book Public: 'Girl Warrior' by Joy Harjo

Oct 12, 2025 24m

In Girl Warrior, Joy Harjo shares stories about her own coming of age to bring to light pivotal moments of becoming—among them, forgiveness, failure, falling, rising up, honoring those who came…

Book Public: 'Starting from Here' by Paula Saunders

Oct 05, 2025 31m

Paula Saunders discusses her novel Starting from Here. It's a coming-of-age story about 15-year-old René. She leaves a home that is tense and difficult in order to pursue a career in ballet. But the…

Book Public: 'Kaplan's Plot' by Jason Diamond

Sep 28, 2025 37m

In Jason Diamond's novel, Kaplan's Plot, Elijah’s mother is dying, and she is sharing some family secrets he never knew before— including that the family owns a cemetery and his grandfather was a…

Book Public: 'The Waterbearers' by Sasha Bonét

Sep 21, 2025 23m

Sasha Bonét’s intergenerational memoir, The Waterbearers, offers us the idea that the journey of Black American motherhood is like a complex, powerful river. As you read, you travel through…

Book Public: ‘Weepers’ and ‘Exhibitionist’ by Peter Mendelsund

Sep 07, 2025 47m

Peter Mendelsund has two new books out. His latest novel is Weepers—about card-carrying members of a union of people who cry for a living. His memoir is Exhibitionist: 1 journal, 1 Depression and 100…

Book Public: ‘Tonight in Jungleland’ by Peter Ames Carlin

Aug 31, 2025 26m

Peter Ames Carlin discusses his latest book— Tonight in Jungleland—about the making of the iconic album Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. The album was released in 1975. Carlin provides us close…

Book Public: 'The Gossip Columnist's Daughter' by Peter Orner

Aug 22, 2025 40m

This one is for all the lonely voices out there. We’ve got a podcast crossover on this episode. Peter Orner from The Lonely Voice podcast joins Yvette Benavides on Book Public to discuss his already…

Book Public: 'The End is the Beginning' by Jill Bialosky

Aug 15, 2025 26m

In this tender, brave and heartrending memoir, Jill Bialosky shares the story of her mother—in reverse chronology. It is an elegy and a story of her resilience—and the legacy of love she left behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Book Public have?

Book Public has published 198 episodes since July 2020, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is Book Public still active?

Book Public is currently active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 26m.

How do I contact Book Public for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Book Public, including email and social media links.

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