Best Required Reading Comics Podcasts (2025)

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The Ambassador, the President, and Me: an Unlikely Reunion in India 21:44

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3M ago21:44

21:44

Author Charmaine Craig had always felt mysteriously drawn to India—pulled by childhood family legends of ancestors who arrived there centuries ago and copper plates inscribed with ancient privileges that still hang in a Kochi synagogue. But it would take a chance encounter at a dinner party—and the power of old friendship—to finally help her explor…

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'Pack Light' Is a Lie: What a 16-Year-Old Learned About Travel (and Life) in Guatemala 32:30

3M ago32:30

32:30

When 16-year-old Jayla Nicholas from New York City packed her one carry-on suitcase for Guatemala, she thought she had everything figured out. A seasoned city kid who loves the smell of airports and dreams of seeing the world, Jayla was ready for her second international trip, an adventure through Afar's Learning Afar program with Global Leadership…

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Replay: Why a Wildlife Biologist Traded Mice for the World's Most Dangerous Predator 24:14

3M ago24:14

24:14

When polar bear biologist Alysa McCall was growing up in Kamloops, British Columbia, watching black bears raid fruit trees outside her living room window, she never imagined she'd dedicate her life to their Arctic cousins. But sometimes the most profound career changes happen when you least expect them—like when a world-renowned scientist responds …

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What 400 Miles of Hitchhiking the Oregon Coast Taught Me About Home 27:11

3M ago27:11

27:11

When Santi Elijah Holley, writer and author of An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created, was 25, he took the ultimate travel leap of faith: He hitchhiked 400 miles from Northern California to Portland through small-town Oregon. But for Holley—who had just moved to Portland from Michigan—it wasn't just about getting a ride. After …

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Wait, Coleslaw Is What? The Surprising Tales of Classic American Foods 34:53

4M ago34:53

34:53

Dr. Jessica B. Harris⁠, renowned food historian and author of High on the Hog, which later became a hit Netflix series of the same name, reveals the shocking truth about American cuisine—it's not what you think. From her couch in Brooklyn with a Siamese cat wandering by, Dr. Harris unpacks the surprising origins of beloved American classics and int…

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Summer Replay! The Surfer Who Feels Everything 36:28

4M ago36:28

36:28

This is a replay episode from Season 4 featuring Ryan Knighton's journey to Kaua'i. Ryan Knighton, AFAR contributing writer, TV writer for Billions, and author of Cockeyed: A Memoir, takes us on an extraordinary adventure to surf Hawaii's legendary Hanalei Bay. Despite being blind since his early twenties, Ryan has never let that stop him from expl…

1
Space, Sea, and the Nudge That Saved His Life 51:18

4M ago51:18

51:18

Jim Kitchen, professor of entrepreneurship at UNC Chapel Hill, has visited all 193 countries, rocketed 66 miles into space with Blue Origin, and descended seven miles to the ocean's deepest point—but his most important journey was learning to connect rather than just collect experiences. From childhood road trips in a wood-paneled station wagon to …

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The Woman Who Turned Dancing into a Passport to the World 37:44

4M ago37:44

37:44

Mickela Mallozzi, Emmy award-winning host of PBS's Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, transforms strangers into dance partners across seven continents. Whether learning sean-nós in Ireland or celebrating Matariki in New Zealand, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Mickela reveals how asking permission opens doors to authentic cultural experience…

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A Ride Through South Dakota’s Most Misunderstood Festival 22:02

4M ago22:02

22:02

Jaymee Sire⁠, host of Food Network Obsessed podcast, trades tasting menus for throttle grips at the legendary Sturgis Motorcyle Rally in South Dakota. Whether riding two-up through the Black Hills or bonding over leather stamping and welding with a multigenerational crew of women riders, in this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Jaymee reveals the s…

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What Touring America Taught a Southern Comic About Reading a Crowd 32:06

5M ago32:06

32:06

Kentucky native and comedian Katherine Blanford takes us on a hilarious journey across America, sharing how different regions react to humor and why the Pacific Northwest has become her performing paradise. From childhood road trips to Cracker Barrel to navigating regional comedy crowds, Katherine reveals the art of connecting with audiences nation…

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In the Warming Arctic, These Inuit Traditions Refuse to Disappear 28:52

5M ago28:52

28:52

When Métis writer Debbie Olsen heard the haunting sounds of Inuit throat singing for the first time, she felt an unexpected connection to her own Indigenous roots. In northern Quebec's remote Inuit region of Nunavik, she discovered how an entire community is fighting to preserve cultural traditions that were once banned—while adapting to a rapidly …

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I Solo Hiked 7,500 Miles from Cape Town to Cairo—and Found Connection at Every Step 42:50

5M ago42:50

42:50

When Turks and Caicos native Mario Rigby landed in Cape Town with nothing but a backpack, a pair of worn-in sneakers, and a dream to walk the length of Africa, he thought maybe he'd made the worst mistake of his life. But actually walking across Africa? That brought peace and a deeper understanding of the power of hospitality, movement, and self di…

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Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Ate Around the World With Your Favorite Celebrities. These Are the Meals That Still Haunt Him 33:22

9M ago33:22

33:22

Antoni Porowski, our favorite culinary expert from Queer Eye, takes you behind-the-scenes of his new National Geographic show, No Taste Like Home (premiering February 23, 2025). In this episode, he shares the connection that sent him crying off camera with Awkwafina, the dish that defeated his adventurous palate with Henry Golding, and how his Poli…

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‘So Cold’ and ‘You Gotta Eat’ on Read This Book! 2:37

11M ago2:37

2:37

Lisa Von Drasek recommends two books in this installment of Read This Book: “So Cold” — by John Coy, Illustrated by Chris Park — an engaging children’s book about a father and son who practice science experiments using household objects outside on a snowy day. “You Gotta Eat: Real-Life Strategies for Feeding Yourself When Cooking Feels Impossible,”…

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The Spontaneous (Travel!) Story of How Afar Came to Be 1:03:55

1y ago1:03:55

1:03:55

No plan. No luggage. Five weeks in India. Joe Diaz and Greg Sullivan, dreamed up Afar on a beach in Goa more than 15 years ago. In this candid episode from our sister podcast, Unpacked, they reflect on what they’ve learned by helping people travel deeper. From the spontaneous trips that honed the company’s values to how they’ve helped shape the tra…

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Want to Get to the Soul of Switzerland? Jump Into a River. 20:58

1y ago20:58

20:58

Not only can you swim in the rivers of Bern and Basel— but thousands of locals regularly take the plunge. From a morning commute to a relaxing weekend escape, discover how rivers are at the heart of everyday Swiss life. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim, follows the currents of Switzerland's alpine rivers i…

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Only 10 People Have Walked Around the World—and One Dog. 48:35

1y ago48:35

48:35

Tom Turcich and his dog, Savannah, completed their world walk in 2022. On this week’s episode of Travel Tales, we hear their story. We first talked with Tom and Savannah back in 2021, when they were in Kyrgyzstan, six years into their journey, which began in 2015. They had been held up by the pandemic, which was only one of many ordeals they faced …

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A Cross-Country Road Trip Helped Make the World Safer (and More Fun!) for Queer Travelers 18:49

1+ y ago18:49

18:49

Road trips are such funny things. They allow more room for whimsy and spontaneity. They can inspire frank conversation, sitting side by side with someone, looking out at endless stretches of highway. And they can be dull (all that endless highway) in a way that somehow opens your mind to other possibilities and maybe even other lives. That’s what h…

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I Traveled the World With President Obama. Now, I Help Give Young Women the Same Chance. 23:59

1+ y ago23:59

23:59

Deesha Dyer never thought she’d wind up in the White House. As a kid growing up in Philadelphia, she desperately wanted to travel but it always felt out of reach. Until she landed a coveted internship in the Obama administration, working in the office that arranged all of the president’s travel. Over the next eight years, she would travel around th…

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When Zebras Taught Me to Drive in Namibia 34:38

1+ y ago34:38

34:38

Imagine this: You’re slowly driving through Etosha National Park, Namibia’s renowned conservation area. There are elephants and zebras and antelopes and lions all around you. In fact, you’ve been warned not to exit your car because of those very lions, which are pros at camouflaging themselves in the desert landscape. And then your car stalls—becau…

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Is This Europe’s Most Underrated Food Tradition? 24:31

1+ y ago24:31

24:31

Some of our favorite travel moments are the ones you’d never in a million years expect. These are where the best travel stories are born. And this week, Afar’s executive editor, Billie Cohen, has a very delicious, very serendipitous story for us. As you’ll hear in the episode, Billie was in Estonia (one of Afar’s picks for where to travel in 2024) …

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In Mumbai, Everyone Thought I Was a Local. Here’s How I Became One. 19:42

1+ y ago19:42

19:42

When Afar editorial director Sarika Bansal was 22, she moved to Mumbai. As you’ll hear in her Travel Tale this week, she grew up in New York and visited India (where her parents were born) frequently. Yet the visits often felt cloistered. But many years later in Mumbai, she didn’t have to worry about meeting family expectations, and she was free to…

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The Unexpected Magic of a Turkish Barbershop 20:35

1+ y ago20:35

20:35

When it comes to relationships, often there’s the planner—and then there’s the go-with-the-flow-er. And today’s episode of Travel Tales by Afar is all about what happens when the planner hesitantly chucks the travel to-do list and lets serendipity lead the way. Beth Santos is the planner in this particular story. She’s the founder of Wanderful, an …

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Replay: Comedian Michelle Buteau, "I Got Stood Up in Paris!" 23:43

1+ y ago23:43

23:43

This week, we’re replaying one of our favorite Travel Tales episodes: Comedian and actress Michelle Buteau—and her best friend—fly to Paris to meet their supposed French boyfriends. Only things don’t exactly go to plan . . . Michelle Buteau is a comedian and actress, known for her roles in Always Be My Maybe, The First Wives Club, Someone Great, Ru…

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Why This Man Biked Across the United States—Without Any Food or Money 35:36

1+ y ago35:36

35:36

In late 2016, Daniel Troia was struggling with grief. Grief over the loss of his parents and grief over the division he saw unfolding on his TV, night after night. It made him angry, and that made him want to do something to change things, or at least to change his perception of things. So, in 2018, he set out on a cross-country bike ride. His plan…

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A Poet’s Pilgrimage to Italy’s Violin-Making Capital 30:27

1+ y ago30:27

30:27

When poet Tess Taylor’s son, Bennett, was three years old, he heard the violin for the first time. For weeks afterward, every day he asked her for a violin, so finally she took him into a local violin shop and asked for help. The shop owner put a tiny violin and bow in his hands and Bennett asked, “But how do I make it sound beautiful?” Fast-forwar…

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‘Writing Boxes’ and ‘I’m From’ on Read This Book!

1+ y ago

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Lisa Von Drasek and Erin McBrien discussed the children’s books, “Writing Boxes” and “I’m From” on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Von Drasek is the author of “Writing Boxes” and “I’m From” was written by Gary R. Gray Jr. and illustrated by Oge Mora. About Lisa Von Drasek and Erin McBrien Lisa Von Dras…

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Big Animals, and Even Bigger Adventures, in a Part of Argentina Few Travelers Visit 33:16

1+ y ago33:16

33:16

When most of us think about nature in Argentina, our minds go immediately to Patagonia—which is a spectacular place worth visiting (it’s one of the most memorable places I’ve been to). But in this week’s episode, we’re exploring two regions in Argentina that most travelers miss: El Impenetrable National Park in the north and Patagonia Azul in the s…

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I’ve Made Polar Bears My Life’s Work. Here's Why Everyone Should Travel to See Them. 25:13

1+ y ago25:13

25:13

Today we’re launching Travel Tales, season five. And we’re kicking off this season with a roar, although the subjects of today’s episode (polar bears) are much quieter than you’d imagine. Nearly two years ago, host Aislyn Greene attended a TED Talk event in New York, held in partnership with the Canadian tourism board. There she met environmentalis…

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‘First Words’ discussed on Read This Book! 5:01

1+ y ago5:01

5:01

Erin McBrien and Lisa Von Drasek discuss “First Words” by Joyce Sutphen in this episode of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. About Lisa Von Drasek and Erin McBrien Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Erin McBrien is Interim Curator of the…

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‘The Midnight Library’ reviewed on Read This Book! 4:07

2y ago4:07

4:07

Jessica Abbazio and Lisa Von Drasek discuss “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Library. About Lisa Von Drasek and Jessica Abbazio Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries and host of Read This Book…

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‘A Darker Wilderness’ reviewed on Read This Book! 6:11

2y ago6:11

6:11

Davu Underwood Seru discussed with Lisa Von Drasek the book, “A Darker Wilderness” on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The book was edited by Erin Sharkey. About Lisa Von Drasek and Davu Seru Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections, home of the Kerlan Collection,…

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The Plus-Size Traveler on a Mission to Change the World 37:08

2y ago37:08

37:08

How often do you do something that scares you? This week on Travel Tales by AFAR, Jeff Jenkins—host of the National Geographic show Never Say Never—reminds us that life begins where our comfort zone ends. On his show, Jeff tests the limits of his physical and mental abilities. He climbs mountains, cave dives, learns to sumo wrestle, races in a Maor…

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A Canadian Grizzly Bear Changed My Life 35:43

2y ago35:43

35:43

The Great Bear Rainforest is one of the most spectacular, pristine protected places in Canada. But it wasn't always this way. Kevin Smith, a boat captain who grew up in British Columbia and now owns and operates Maple Leaf Adventures, was instrumental in helping turn the local economy from extraction (logging) to tourism. Since then, he's guided th…

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Life Lessons From a Dutch Art Movement 31:57

2y ago31:57

31:57

Can geometric shapes heal the world? That's what the artists of the De Stijl movement—which came of age in the Netherlands after World War I—believed. Piet Mondrian is one of the most famous members of this group, which forbade circles and embraced light, color, and geometry as a way to move past the chaos of the war. As AFAR contributing writer Ch…

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A Blind Surfer Takes on Kauai’s Legendary Waves 38:05

2y ago38:05

38:05

For writer Ryan Knighton, surfing is one of the rare occurrences where he feels completely free. Because, in addition to being an excellent writer, a dad, and a curious individual, Ryan is blind. But that's never stopped him from exploring the world. So more than a decade ago, he learned to surf and has been riding the waves near his home in Britis…

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‘Hairs / Pelitos’ reviewed on Read This Book! 6:12

2y ago6:12

6:12

“Hairs / Pelitos” was reviewed by Patricia Izek and Lisa Von Drasek on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. “This jewel-like vignette from Sandra Cisneros’s best-selling The House on Mango Street shows, through simple, intimate portraits, the diversity among us.” —Goodreads About Lisa Von Drasek and Patrici…

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On France’s Newest Food Trail, Life Is One Long, Gorgeous Meal 32:32

2y ago32:32

32:32

What's it like to eat your way along France's Vallée de la Gastronomie, a 400-mile food trail that begins in Dijon and ends in Marseille? That's the question we're exploring in this week's episode of Travel Tales by AFAR. Host Aislyn Greene, who spent some formative time in France as a 20-something, returns to hunt truffles, meet famous French cows…

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Dolly Parton Went From a One-Room Cabin to a Smoky Mountains Empire 22:23

2y ago22:23

22:23

The Great Smoky Mountains have had an outsized impact on Dolly Parton—they shaped the way she grew up, influenced her music, and are the only place where she feels truly restored. Which is why she has spent her adult life giving back to the region, primarily through tourism. On this week's episode, we travel to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for the unve…

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A Food Writer Returned to Nigeria. The Experience Helped Her Reclaim Her Roots. 26:01

2y ago26:01

26:01

After 15 years of living in the United States, food writer—and author of the new cookbook My Everyday Lagos—Yewande Komolafe finally revisited her home city: Lagos, Nigeria. In this episode of Travel Tales by AFAR, we hear the story of that journey and how it helped her heal, and how it helped her reconnect with the Nigerian foods she grew up with.…

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Facing Mountains, Loss, and My Inner Overachiever on Slovenia’s Newest Hiking Trail 36:45

2y ago36:45

36:45

Writer and avid hiker Peggy Orenstein is exactly the kind of person you should send off into the wilderness with an iPhone and a pair of hiking boots. And for this episode, we did just that. In October 2022, Slovenia rolled out the 167-mile Juliana Trail, a route that circles Slovenia's Triglav National park and the Julian Alps and takes walkers ba…

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Traveling With the Ghosts of Mumbai 28:10

2y ago28:10

28:10

How does a place change when the person who defined it for you is now gone? That's the question we're exploring in this week's episode of Travel Tales by AFAR. Author Shruti Swamy grew up in the United States, but her parents grew up in Mumbai, India, so she has a unique relationship with the city, in some ways intimate and in some ways totally dis…

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50 Years After Picasso’s Death, I Retraced His Life in Europe 37:56

2y ago37:56

37:56

50 years after Picasso’s death, AFAR associate editor Mae Hamilton traveled to Spain and France to retrace his life in Europe. She started in Málaga, Spain, where Picasso was born, and ended in Mougins, where Picasso spent his final days. As an art lover, she believes that art is one of the best ways to get to know a place. In this week's episode o…

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Comedian Baratunde Thurston Travels From Oregon to Maine to Tell a Better Story of America 44:26

2y ago44:26

44:26

Comedian and writer Baratunde Thurston wants to tell a better story of us. The narrative around the United States is often one of fracture and discord. So in his PBS show, America Outdoors, he travels around the United States to better understand Americans' deep connections with nature—and how that tells a more positive story of the country. In thi…

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And We're Back! Introducing Travel Tales, Season 4 2:14

2y ago2:14

2:14

Tales Tales is back! Starting Thursday, October 5th, each week, we’ll share a story of someone who took a trip—and came home transformed. We’re going to be hearing about a whirlwind Picasso art pilgrimage, what it’s like to eat your way through France, how a blind surfer navigates new waves, and so much more. And this season, host Aislyn Greene is …

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‘The Golden Enclaves’ on Read This Book! 6:27

2+ y ago6:27

6:27

Jennie Burroughs and Lisa Von Drasek discuss “The Golden Enclaves” by Naomi Novik in this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. “Saving the world is a test no school of magic can prepare you for in the triumphant conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy that began with “A Deadly Education” and “The La…

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‘The Vinyl Detective’ reviewed on Read This Book! 4:37

2+ y ago4:37

4:37

Jason Roy and Lisa Von Drasek discussed “The Vinyl Detective” on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota! About Lisa Von Drasek and Jason Roy Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections, home of the Kerlan Collection, at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Jason Roy is the Director…

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‘The Revolutionary Samuel Adams’ 5:42

2+ y ago5:42

5:42

“The Revolutionary Samuel Adams” by Stacy Schiff was reviewed on this installment of Read This Book, from the University of Minnesota Libraries. Bill Pederson from the UMN Music Library shared his thoughts with Read This Book host, Lisa Von Drasek, who is also curator of the UMN Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature. Pulitzer Prize–winning bio…

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‘The Searcher’ reviewed on Read This Book! 4:39

2+ y ago4:39

4:39

‘The Searcher’ — A New York Times bestselling thriller — is reviewed on Read This Book by University of Minnesota Dean of Libraries Lisa German and host Lisa Von Drasek. About Lisa Von Drasek and Lisa German Lisa Von Drasek is the Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries and host of Read Thi…

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Conan Doyle’s Wide World discussed on Read This Book! 4:32

3y ago4:32

4:32

Sherlock Holmes curator Tim Johnson's discusses Andrew Lycett's book, "Conan Doyle's Wide World," on this installment of Read This Book from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The post Conan Doyle’s Wide World discussed on Read This Book! appeared first on UMN Libraries News & Events.By Read This Book!