Best Jessamine County Public Library Podcasts (2025)

1
Books in Translation: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 101 28:44

4h ago28:44

28:44

On this episode, we discuss books in translation, a prompt on the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. From Iceland to Argentina with several stops in between, come travel the world with us from the comfort of home. Carrie's Pick Miss Iceland by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir Pairing: Icelandic rice pudding Jacqueline's Pick The Beast Player…

1
Lynnell Edwards 18:22

17d ago18:22

18:22

Poet Lynnell Edwards enjoys using what she calls "external prompts" from other authors. But she believes that "ultimately as writers, we've got to have sort of internal prompts." On this episode, Lynnell shares questions that will help you create your own personalized writing prompts. Learn how to generate a series of poems, essays, or linked short…

1
Poetry and Novels in Verse: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 100 26:27

1M ago26:27

26:27

We're in a celebratory mood this April. Not only is it National Poetry Month, it's also our 100th episode! Whether you're a new or longtime listener, we appreciate you tuning in to our podcast. This episode, we discuss books of poetry and novels in verse, a prompt on the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Our picks include a book …

1
Tammy Oberhausen 18:01

2M ago18:01

18:01

When novelist Tammy Oberhausen feels "stuck or uninspired," she tends "to wallow around with it for a while and feel bad." Writing prompts help her ideas flow again. "Don't wallow too much," she says. "Get the prompt and go with it." On this episode, Tammy shares how to use your dreams—which she says are like "personalized prompts"—in your writing.…

1
Reading "Rednecks" by Taylor Brown: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 99 34:59

2M ago34:59

34:59

Join our discussion of Rednecks by Taylor Brown, winner of the 2025 Southern Book Prize! On this episode, Michael Cunningham, Carrie Green, and guest John David Hurley share their thoughts on this novel about the West Virginia Mine Wars of 1920-1921. Want to talk with other book lovers about the novel? Register for our in-person book club discussio…

1
Amelia Zachry 21:47

3M ago21:47

21:47

Amelia Zachry, author of Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood, didn't think anyone would want to read about her trauma. But being vulnerable about her experiences "invited people to be vulnerable" in return. "And so that is the power of the word from page to the reader," Amelia says, "that we can transform that sense of healing to ot…

1
Rad Reads: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 98 28:17

3M ago28:17

28:17

This month we're getting nostalgic with books set in the 1990s, one of the prompts in the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Teenagers all figure prominently in our picks: a YA mystery, a thriller that celebrates horror's babysitter trope, and a novel where two teens accidentally start a moral panic. Don't miss this episode—it's t…

1
Jessica Handler 19:56

4M ago19:56

19:56

Author Jessica Handler believes "that when we write well, we're writing about what matters to us." What matters to you? On this episode, Jessica shares a prompt that will help you understand what you're trying to do with your writing. It's one that she often used while working on her memoir, Invisible Sisters. Jessica also shares a prompt that will…

1
Wintry Reads: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 97 20:12

4M ago20:12

20:12

Start the new year with the Winter-Spring Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge! We hope our prompts will inspire you to read and have fun while doing it. Up first, we share wintry books perfect for reading by the fire. Our picks include an Irish Christmas story, a horror novel set in a Pennsylvania orphanage, and a YA fairy tale. Carrie's Pick Tim…

1
B. Elizabeth Beck 27:51

5M ago27:51

27:51

For poet and fiction writer B. Elizabeth Beck, "making sure that you are actively engaged in a community is... the salvation to your sanity and to your work." On this episode, Elizabeth discusses her participation in writing and music communities. She founded Teen Howl and Poetry at the/ˈtā-bəl/, two Lexington-based reading series where poets of al…

1
Wrap Up 2024: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 96 27:11

5M ago27:11

27:11

It's time to wrap up the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge! On this episode, we discuss books published in 2024. Our picks include a suspense novel that is also an immersive alternate reality game, a National Book Award-winning adaptation of an American classic, and a YA mystery by a bestselling author. Michael's Pick We Used to Liv…

1
Jacinda Townsend 21:08

6M ago21:08

21:08

Novelist Jacinda Townsend believes that "writing is a habit, and the imagination begets the imagination." Having a set writing routine helps her create because "the imagination is a kind of muscle." On this episode, Jacinda explains the steps she takes each morning to fire up her imagination, including using writing prompts. Her favorite prompt to …

1
Books about Chosen Family: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 95 25:34

6M ago25:34

25:34

On this episode, we discuss books about chosen or found family, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. According to library database NoveList, books with this theme focus on families "formed by choice, rather than birth." Close friends, nontraditional families, and people who bond over their circumstances can a…

1
Robert Gipe 18:21

7M ago18:21

18:21

Novelist Robert Gipe believes that when you use writing prompts, "you're just kind of fishing for something that works." If you're lucky, you might end up with "a couple of sentences that have some energy to them, that have some heat." Robert says those sentences can help you build a piece of writing "you feel good enough about to share with others…

1
Southern Gothic: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 94 26:48

7M ago26:48

26:48

On this episode, we discuss Southern Gothic books, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Southern Gothic is a sub-genre of Gothic fiction--or, as Michael says, it's "Gothic with a twang." According to Book Riot, some of the characteristics of Southern Gothic include, “eccentric, flawed characters, sinister eve…

1
Deidra White 22:49

8M ago22:49

22:49

When creative writer Deidra White feels stuck with her writing, she tells herself to "write the poem that you need to read." This exercise helps with one of the most challenging aspects of writing: visualizing your audience. Deidra shares several other ways she likes to jump start her writing. She also describes how she rediscovered her passion for…

1
Books with Kings or Queens: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 93 27:13

8M ago27:13

27:13

On this episode, we discuss books with kings and queens, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Our picks include a page-turning history of the Magna Carta; a novel about Mary, Queen of Scots; and a YA novel that imagines an American royal family. Michael's Pick Magna Carta: The Birth of Liberty by Dan Jones Da…

1
Silas House 26:31

9M ago26:31

26:31

Are you an aspiring writer who thinks you’ll write a novel when you have more time or your children are older? If so, author and Kentucky Poet Laureate Silas House has some advice for you. “Often you cannot create the perfect conditions for your writing,” he says. “I think if you wait around for that, you’re never going to get anything written.” Si…

1
Hybrid Genres: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 92 22:42

9M ago22:42

22:42

On this episode, we discuss books that are hybrids of at least two genres, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Jacqueline's favorite romantasy novels are a good example. They combine elements of romance and fantasy. Other books mash up elements of science fiction and horror or, in the case of both Michael's …

1
Kaitlyn Hill 25:11

10M ago25:11

25:11

Kaitlyn Hill, who writes young adult romantic comedies, didn't always take those stories seriously, even though she was drawn to them. "It was just really powerful for me to come to the realization that there is so much value in stuff that is fun and light and happy," she says. As Kaitlyn's writing prompt illustrates, she tries to keep fun in her p…

1
Books by Authors with Disabilities: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 91 27:04

10M ago27:04

27:04

July is Disability Pride Month! Learn more about the history, experiences, and contributions of the disabled community by reading books by authors with disabilities. On this episode, we also introduce the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Teens and adults, from now through December 30, 2024, keep track of books you read or listen t…

1
Sandra Gail Lambert 20:56

11M ago20:56

20:56

Sandra Gail Lambert, author of My Withered Legs and Other Essays, started writing in her forties. She believes her age helped her cope with the "rough and tumble world" of publishing. "There's so much rejection [in publishing], and there's so much feedback that is not necessarily accurate or kind," Sandra says. "And when we're older, we just have t…

1
Books with Maps: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 90 24:31

11M ago24:31

24:31

No matter the genre, when you read a book with a map, you're in for an adventure. This month, we share a YA historical fiction meets fantasy novel; a mystery set in 1920s Bangalore; and a dystopian novel set during a future American Civil War. Don't forget to turn in your bingo sheets for the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge…

1
George Ella Lyon 25:04

12M ago25:04

25:04

Do you wonder if you have a book inside you? According to Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame member George Ella Lyon, "you have to write to find out." George Ella says writers "have to dwell in uncertainty. Because that's the one thing that's certain, is that you'll be uncertain." George Ella, who writes for all ages in multiple genres, shares the promp…

1
Books by Asian American and Pacific Islander Authors: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 89 21:33

1y ago21:33

21:33

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with books by AAPI authors! It's one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. Our suggestions include an action-packed adventure tale, a YA romance, and a comic but realistic immigration story. Michael's Pick The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu by Tom Li…

1
Prompt to Page with Robin LaMer Rahija 17:18

1y ago17:18

17:18

If you're a writer who works another job to make a living, poet Robin LaMer Rahija has some advice for you. "I think ideas and thoughts and little tiny chunks of motivation come to all of us throughout the day," she says. "Just stop and write them down and save them for later. And get in the habit of not ignoring that impulse toward a creative act.…

1
Get Outside with a Good Book: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 88 23:10

1y ago23:10

23:10

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about the outdoors, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. We recommend a memoir by a teenage naturalist and environmental activist; a popular YA dystopian novel; and a horror novel set in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. Carrie's Pick Diary of a Young Naturalist i…

1
Prompt to Page with JC McPherson 19:33

1y ago19:33

19:33

Author and arts administrator JC McPherson is also a trained master electrician who approaches poetry with a troubleshooting mindset. He says that "writing a poem is no different than wiring up a new room, like putting new lights in the outlets. And it's a process." JC often returns to his favorite writing prompt because it "shakes something loose"…

1
Books for Women's History Month: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 87 29:33

1y ago29:33

29:33

On this episode, we celebrate Women's History Month with fiction and nonfiction about women's history, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. From a graphic novel about Soviet women fighter pilots to a page-turning book about the evolution of female bodies, we'll show you that there's nothing dull about …

1
Tracee de Hahn 21:04

1y ago21:04

21:04

On this episode, we talk to Tracee de Hahn, author of the Agnes Luthi mystery series and coordinator of the Carnegie Center's Author Academy. Tracee prefers "to think of a prompt as a possibility, but not necessarily a necessity." She's partial to the origin story as a writing prompt because it helps her understand the characters and places she's w…

1
In the Mood for Romance: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 86 23:17

1+ y ago23:17

23:17

On this episode, we discuss romance novels, one of the prompts on the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge. This popular book genre has something for everyone, even the horror fans among us! Jacqueline's Pick Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber is a young adult fantasy novel. Seventeen year old Evangeline had loving par…

1
Sean L. Corbin 25:58

1+ y ago25:58

25:58

On this episode of Prompt to Page, Sean L. Corbin, the Poetry Gauntlet Coordinator for the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, discusses his belief that "everything is a prompt." "If you sit down to write a poem, you don't just pour it out," he says. "Something had to prompt you to do that." If you've ever enjoyed Mad Libs or LEGO, you might…

1
Books You Can Read in One Sitting: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 85 23:56

1+ y ago23:56

23:56

On this episode, we ring in the New Year with the Winter-Spring 2024 Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge! From now through June 30, 2024, keep track of books you read or listen to by writing the title and author in the matching bingo square. Complete all 25 squares for a chance to win a $100 Joseph-Beth gift card or an Amazon Kindle. You’ll also …

1
Jay McCoy 25:31

1+ y ago25:31

25:31

On this episode of the Prompt to Page writing podcast, we talk to poet and visual artist Jay McCoy, author of The Occupation. Jay discusses his passion for researching his family history and how that research has inspired his recent poetry projects. He also shares two of his favorite writing prompts, including one from Linda Gregg's essay "The Art …

1
Books with Magic: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 84 23:04

1+ y ago23:04

23:04

This month, we discuss books with magic, our final prompt from the 2023 Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks include an anthology of witchy tales; a novel about the magic of sourdough starter, robot arms, and the human who works with both; and a YA fairytale set in contemporary times. If you’re participating in Books & Bites Bingo, do…

1
Terena Elizabeth Bell 16:08

1+ y ago16:08

16:08

On this episode of the Prompt to Page writing podcast, we talk to Terena Elizabeth Bell, author of Tell Me What You See. Terena discusses why the events of the last few years compelled her to write experimental short fiction, and she offers encouragement to listeners who want to write about current events. “You have to write with your voice, what y…

1
Books by Indigenous Authors: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 83 22:56

1+ y ago22:56

22:56

In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, we discuss books by Indigenous authors, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks are as varied as ever, with a ghost story set in a bookstore, a teen mystery, and, of course, horror! Jacqueline's Pick Firekeeper's Daughter is a young adult mystery by Angeline B…

1
Christopher Rowe 16:58

1+ y ago16:58

16:58

For Christopher Rowe, author of The Navigating Fox, writing prompts can help him generate work when he's feeling stuck. In fact, one of his first stories to be widely published, translated into a dozen different languages, and reviewed in The New York Times was based on a writing prompt. Christopher's favorite prompt will challenge you to rethink s…

1
Gothic Fiction: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 82 24:47

1+ y ago24:47

24:47

For October, we discuss Gothic fiction, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Our picks have all the creepy mansions, women in the attic, and brooding characters you could possibly want. Not to mention fungi! Carrie's Pick O Caledonia is a little-known classic that, according to the publisher, “has been compared to the …

1
Bryce Oquaye 22:59

1+ y ago22:59

22:59

Comic artist, writer, and animator Bryce Oquaye considers mentorship to be "the most important part" of his journey, whether he's receiving feedback from other creators or working with young people. "Because initially," he says, "I made what I made, and I shared it online, and that was helpful. But nothing helped me excel more than connecting with …

1
Music and Musicians: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 81 27:54

1+ y ago27:54

27:54

This month, we discuss books about music or musicians, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. From mixtapes to AI, music memoirs to YA novels, we share our thoughts on both music and books. Michael's Pick Michael recommends The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl. This memoir describes the passion that Gro…

1
David Arnold 22:38

1+ y ago22:38

22:38

For New York Times bestselling author David Arnold, reading with intention is a kind of writing prompt. "I think the most important thing about reading a lot is letting yourself become a sponge and soak in the words and soak in the pacing and soak in the stories," he says. "But...occasionally let's look at the mechanics of it, and what is it about …

1
Adventure Awaits: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 80 24:09

2y ago24:09

24:09

This month, we discuss adventure stories, one of the prompts on the Books and Bites Bingo Reading Challenge. Choose your own adventure, whether it's with a group of teens on a road trip, on top of Mount Everest, or on a pirate ship! Jacqueline's Pick Jacqueline enjoyed Five Survive by New York Times bestselling author Holly Jackson. Red Kenny is on…

1
Ashley Blooms 15:22

2y ago15:22

15:22

Ashley Blooms turned to writing prompts as “a way to reconnect” with her writing and “do some creative healing.” She believes that writers can be hard on themselves and prefers to emphasize self-compassion in her writing practice. “I think that creativity grows much better if you are being gentle with it,” she says, “than if you are using shame or …

1
Dig Into a Great Book: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 79 27:32

2y ago27:32

27:32

In honor of this year's summer learning theme, Dig In, we're digging into some authors we already know with the Books and Bites Bingo prompt, read another book by an author you love. Carrie's Pick Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, a coming of age story that satirizes Gothic novels. Seventeen year-old Catherine Morland visits Bath with family friends…

1
Elizabeth Kilcoyne 18:53

2y ago18:53

18:53

Elizabeth Kilcoyne, author of Wake the Bones, discusses her own complicated relationship to writing prompts. She used to think she was "anti-prompt," but now she appreciates their help with what she calls "the sticky bits of literature." In other words, she continues, "that part of your manuscript that you keep wanting to turn away from and keep wa…

1
LGBTQIA+ Authors: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 78 27:39

2y ago27:39

27:39

On this episode, we discuss books by LGBTQIA+ authors, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. We've got a diverse group of characters and settings for you, including a Splatterpunk novel set in 1990s New Orleans, a Booker Prize-winning novel set in the United Kingdom, and a YA novel set in 1987 El Paso, Texas. Michael's Pick Michael read Exqui…

1
Angela Jackson-Brown 13:22

2y ago13:22

13:22

For our twentieth episode, author Angela Jackson-Brown, the keynote speaker for the Carnegie Center's upcoming Books in Progress conference, discusses the importance of writing every day. "That doesn't mean sit down every day and write for three hours," she says. "But it does mean every day pick a time and write for 15 minutes. And then if you have…

1
Travel the World Through Books: Books and Bites Podcast, Ep. 77 24:36

2y ago24:36

24:36

On this episode, we discuss books set in or about a place you want to visit, one of the prompts for Books & Bites Bingo. Join us as we travel to Mexico City, Paris, and the English countryside--all with the help of some good books! Jacqueline's Pick If you dream of the City of Light, Jacqueline recommends The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor. T…

1
LeTonia Jones 19:00

2y ago19:00

19:00

For our nineteenth episode, poet LeTonia Jones shares two writing prompts that will help you write more mindfully. She also discusses her initial reluctance to call herself a poet. “The sooner you claim it, that it is true about you, the better it is for all of us,” she says. “Our words are medicine, and we never know when we have just the medicine…

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Jessamine County Public Library Podcasts

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