Episodes 48
Avg. Duration 31m
Activity Declining
Apple Rating 5.0 (1)
Since Nov 2021
Latest Episode Dec 2025

Publishing Details

Schedule
Monthly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
88%
Hosting
feeds.megaphone.fm

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz sit down with authors to discuss their latest works, from fiction to non-fiction, today's political analysis to ancient thought.

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Recent Episodes

The Seven Rules of Trust

Dec 20, 2025 32m

David Plotz talks with Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales about his new book The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last. They discuss how Wikipedia’s culture of assuming good…

Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History

Nov 15, 2025 1h 5m

John Dickerson talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation. Recorded live at the 92nd…

The Radical Fund That Rewired American Progress

Oct 18, 2025 30m

Emily Bazelon talks with Yale law professor John Witt about his new book The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America. They explore the remarkable story of the…

The Recent Past of Prison Punishment

Sep 20, 2025 24m

Emily Bazelon talks with author and Yale professor Judith Resnik about her new book, Impermissible Punishments: How Prison Became a Problem for Democracy. They discuss the history of the prison…

The Four Years That Changed New York City Forever

Aug 16, 2025 40m

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazelon talks with Jonathan Mahler about his new book, The Gods of New York. They discuss the unraveling of Mayor Ed Koch’s New York City; how the city’s current mayoral…

A Beach Read for the Outraged

Jul 19, 2025 26m

David Plotz talks with author Carl Hiaasen about his new book, Fever Beach. Fever Beach is a political satire that follows a couple of dimwitted white supremacists, a corrupt congressman, and the…

Alison Bechdel Explains Selling Out the Progressive Way

Jun 21, 2025 29m

David Plotz talks with author Alison Bechdel about her new book, Spent. They discuss what’s memoir and what’s less than memoir in the comic novel, David’s own contribution to the book, and…

How to Create an Exceptional Family

May 17, 2025 34m

Emily Bazelon talks with author Susan Dominus about her new book, The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. They discuss the commonalities among families that have multiple…

How to Turn the Creative Process Into “Good Trouble”

Apr 19, 2025 46m

John Dickerson talks with author Maggie Smith about her new book, Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life.  They talk about the essential elements of all creative…

The Day the Challenger Fell From the Sky

Mar 15, 2025 35m

David Plotz talks with author Adam Higginbotham about his new book, Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space. They discuss the feats of engineering that took place, the…

A Former Haitian President’s Grandson Lives the Modern Immigrant Experience

Feb 15, 2025 32m

Emily Bazelon talks with author Rich Benjamin about his new book, Talk to Me: Lessons From a Family Forged by History. They delve into Rich’s complex family history— particularly the experiences of…

Finding Connection in the Aftermath of History’s Horrors

Jan 18, 2025 29m

Emily Bazelon talks with author Yael van der Wouden about her debut novel, The Safekeep. They discuss why Yael chose a queer love story, how Yael’s own Dutch and Jewish heritage influenced her…

The Life and Legacy of John Lewis

Dec 21, 2024 34m

Slate Political Gabfest host David Plotz talks with author David Greenberg about his new book, John Lewis: A Life. They discuss how Lewis went from marching with Martin Luther King, Jr. to an iconic…

How Two Rivals Shaped Birth Control in America

Nov 16, 2024 29m

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazelon talks with author Stephanie Gorton about her new book, The Icon & The Idealist.They discuss racism and prudishness in the early suffragist movement, how…

Finding Happiness During This Election Year

Oct 19, 2024 46m

Political Gabfest host John Dickerson talks with author Dan Harris about his re-released book, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found…

A Murder Mystery that Uncovers the Excitement in the Everyday and Ordinary

Sep 21, 2024 22m

On this month’s edition of Gabfest Reads, Political Gabfest host David Plotz talks with author Elizabeth Strout about her new book, Tell Me Everything. They discuss how Strout conceives of…

Where Does the American Jewish Experience Go from Here?

Aug 17, 2024 56m

Political Gabfest host Emily Bazalon talks with author Joshua Leifer about his new book, Tablets Shattered: The End of An American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life. They discuss Leifer’s…

Understanding the World Through Notebooks

Jul 20, 2024 37m

John Dickerson talks with author Roland Allen about his new book, The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper. They discuss the historical origins of notebooks, how to keep a notebook and their own…

When a Sex Robot Catches Feelings

Jun 15, 2024 21m

David Plotz talks with author Sierra Greer about her new book, Annie Bot. They discuss how much discomfort Annie (a “Cuddle Bunny” type of robot) can feel, how the story of a robot is really about…

Why Americans Care About Animals

May 18, 2024 33m

Emily Bazelon talks with authors Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy, about their new book, Our Kindred Creatures: How Americans Came to Feel the Way They Do About Animals. They discuss the evolution of…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Gabfest Reads have?

Gabfest Reads has published 48 episodes since November 2021, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is Gabfest Reads still active?

Gabfest Reads is currently declining with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 31m.

How do I contact Gabfest Reads for sponsorship or guest appearances?

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

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