Best KMUW Podcasts (2025)

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Pet Peeve-a-Palooza! (Part 1) 34:41

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3h ago34:41

34:41

We've been asking, you've delivered! It's time to tackle our pile of listener pet peeves. Get ready to be annoyed! (In a good way.)By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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A decent little thriller that gets in its own way 3:00

3h ago3:00

3:00

Fletcher Powell says one new movie causes itself some unnecessary problems.By Fletcher Powell

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'Dominion' is a provocative look at the crushing power of patriarchy 3:30

2d ago3:30

3:30

Author Addie E. Citchens was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and raised as a church kid, and that background breathes life into her debut novel, "Dominion."By Suzanne Perez

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Calques 30:17

4d ago30:17

30:17

We look at word-for-word translations from other languages that become common phrases in English.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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Jane Hamilton on her new novel, 'The Phoebe Variations' 29:23

4d ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay recently spoke with Jane Hamilton about "The Phoebe Variations."By Beth Golay

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Performances carry pitch-black ‘Adulthood’ 2:14

6d ago2:14

2:14

Fletcher Powell looks at a new dark comedy.By Fletcher Powell

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'The Wilderness' explores the pitfalls of life and the value of found family 3:59

9d ago3:59

3:59

Angela Flournoy's sophomore novel, "The Wilderness," follows five Black women over the course of a 20-year friendship, from young adulthood into middle age. It recently made the longlist for the National Book Award for Fiction.By Suzanne Perez

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Getting an F on the SAT 33:08

11d ago33:08

33:08

No, this time the F isn't for for Fail, it's for Fun! And Fantastic! And Fabulous! We return to our series looking at the hardest words ever found on the SAT with a dive into the English alphabet's sixth letter.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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John Boyne on his new novel, 'The Elements' 29:23

11d ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay recently spoke with author John Boyne about his new novel, The Elements, which is a collection of four stories that examines sexual abuse from four perspectivesBy Beth Golay

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You may have to add a new movie to your list of holiday favorites 3:13

13d ago3:13

3:13

Fletcher Powell says you may soon have a new holiday favorite.By Fletcher Powell

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Elizabeth Gilbert's new memoir explores the darker sides of friendship, love and addiction 3:26

16d ago3:26

3:26

"All the Way to the River" is an impressive mashup of Elizabeth Gilbert’s candid storytelling, along with poems, drawings, prayers and doodles that she crafted during her partner's death and her own recovery from sex and love addiction.By Suzanne Perez

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A message from You're Saying It Wrong 2:53

18d ago2:53

2:53

Hey everyone, a little bit of bad news this week. We weren’t able to record a new show due to some unforeseen circumstances. But you can always dive back into our podcast feed and catch up on past episodes. We'll be back with a new episode next week.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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Poet Kevin Young on his new collection, 'Night Watch' 29:23

18d ago29:23

29:23

Beth Golay recently spoke with “Night Watch” author Kevin Young about the themes of loss and memory in his latest poetry collection and the influences of Dante, African American spirituals and nature on his work.By Beth Golay

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‘Twinless’ threads a tricky needle 2:08

21d ago2:08

2:08

Fletcher Powell says a new movie threads a tricky needle.By Fletcher Powell

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Darkly comic 'Discontent' follows the inner world of a mid-level marketing executive 3:34

24d ago3:34

3:34

Beatriz Serrano's new novel, "Discontent," follows the life of a mid-level marketing executive who reflects the ennui of so many disillusioned millennials.By Suzanne Perez

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Jessica Francis Kane on her new novel, 'Fonseca' 29:49

23d ago29:49

29:49

Beth Golay recently spoke with "Fonseca" author Jessica Francis Kane about her love for Penelope Fitzgerald and her real-life relationship with Fitzgerald’s grown children.By Beth Golay

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Irish Names Are My Pet Piamh 32:21

26d ago32:21

32:21

A listener email prompts us to try to get a handle on Irish spellings and pronunciations. It doesn't go well!By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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‘Thursday Murder Club’ largely does what it sets out to do, however modest that may be 2:11

28d ago2:11

2:11

Fletcher Powell says one new movie has modest aims and mostly hits that mark.By Fletcher Powell

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'The Hounding' is an atmospheric tale that explores misinformation and toxic masculinity 1:40

30d ago1:40

1:40

"The Hounding" by Xenobe Purvis is a debut novel set in 18th-century England that explores themes of misinformation, toxic masculinity and mob mentality.By Suzanne Perez

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An E-Prime Cut of Beef 34:25

1M ago34:25

34:25

What happens when you remove an entire verb from the English language? Chaos! Well, not quite. But it used to cause Kathy quite a bit of consternation. Also: we try to nail down the correct spellings of various grunts and murmurs.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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‘Relay’ has an idea, even if it’s a terrible one 2:35

1M ago2:35

2:35

KMUW's Fletcher Powell says one new movie takes a highly questionable approach.By Fletcher Powell

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Janice Graham on her new spy novel, 'Red Lily' 23:40

1M ago23:40

23:40

Janice Graham's new novel, Red Lily, begins when her main character discovers that he's inherited an estate from his aunt's who just died. One problem, he thought she was already dead. And another problem, she's not dead at all. KMUW's Beth Golay spoke with Graham about her novel set in the world of espionage.…

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‘When the Cranes Fly South’ speaks to our human need for autonomy and agency 1:38

1M ago1:38

1:38

Book critic Suzanne Perez says Lisa Ridzen's debut novel, "When the Cranes Fly South," which was Sweden's Book of the Year in 2024, is a poignant study on aging and end-of-life issues.By Suzanne Perez

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In the Heighths 33:07

1M ago33:07

33:07

We tackle a few listener emails about some unusual pet peeves, including people tacking an extra sound on the end of the word "height," and another wondering why people say they want to "try and" do something.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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A new ghost story comes from an unexpected angle 2:13

1M ago2:13

2:13

Fletcher Powell says a new ghost story works more often than it doesn't.By Fletcher Powell

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Emily Adrian on her new novel, 'Seduction Theory' 13:10

1M ago13:10

13:10

Beth Golay recently spoke with Emily Adrian about her book, Seduction Theory, which explores the limits of a marriage.By Beth Golay

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'The Frequency of Living Things' explores the bonds — and sacrifices — of family 1:40

1M ago1:40

1:40

Book critic Suzanne Perez says Nick Fuller Googins's sophomore novel, "The Frequency of Living Things," is a well-written exploration of parenting, sisterhood and forgiveness.By Suzanne Perez

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Petty Pet Peeves for Persnickety Pedants 31:33

2M ago31:33

31:33

We'll dive into some common mistakes and pet peeves we have regarding the literary world, and then Kathy and Ross challenge Fletcher to another round of "Related... Or NOT??"By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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‘The Pickup’ failed before it even began 2:24

2M ago2:24

2:24

Fletcher Powell says one new movie dooms itself from the get-go.By Fletcher Powell

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Ally Carter on 'The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold' 26:13

2M ago26:13

26:13

Beth Golay recently spoke with Ally Carter about her love of all things spy, how her books have evolved, and what’s next for her.By Beth Golay

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'Angel Down' offers a brutal and breathless look at warfare 1:39

2M ago1:39

1:39

KMUW's Suzanne Perez says the new novel by Daniel Kraus, "Angel Down," is a brutal descent onto a World War I battleground.By Suzanne Perez

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The Graham Cracker Rule of 'Those Ones' 29:25

2M ago29:25

29:25

Pet peeves, grammar groaners, and other language catastrophes are on the agenda this week, as we come up with a rock-solid rule grammatical rule that no one will ever question or disagree with.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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‘She Rides Shotgun’ comes from a much more serious place 2:27

2M ago2:27

2:27

Fletcher Powell says a new thriller takes things a little more seriously.By Fletcher Powell

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Stephanie Wambugu on her debut novel, 'Lonely Crowds' 11:45

2M ago11:45

11:45

Beth Golay recently spoke with Stephanie Wambugu about her debut novel, Lonely Crowds, which follows a decades-long friendship between Ruth and Maria, from childhood to adulthood.By Beth Golay

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Elif Shafak on her novel, 'There Are Rivers In the Sky' 37:15

2M ago37:15

37:15

Beth Golay recently spoke with Elif Shafak about how "The Epic of Gilgamesh" in part inspired "There Are Rivers In the Sky," and the challenges of holding on to history.By Beth Golay

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The Secret of -nym 35:16

2M ago35:16

35:16

Homonyms, synonyms, antonyms... we'll look at some "wordly" similarities and differences, and explore the vague space in between.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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‘Sorry, Baby’ is one of the year’s best 2:29

2M ago2:29

2:29

Fletcher Powell says an excellent new movie tells an all-too-common story with uncommon nuance.By Fletcher Powell

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Kate Russo on her new literary thriller, 'Until Alison' 15:01

2M ago15:01

15:01

Beth Golay recently spoke with Kate Russo about her novel, from character development to craft.By Beth Golay

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Horror novelist Paul Tremblay delivers middle-grade scares with ‘Another’ 1:38

2M ago1:38

1:38

Much as he does in his adult horror novels, Paul Tremblay masters the atmosphere of creeping dread with his middle-grade debut, "Another." Youngsters who love "Goosebumps" and scary stories around the campfire will want to add this novel to their collections.By Suzanne Perez

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It's Summertime, and the Etymology is... Questionable 29:26

2M ago29:26

29:26

We'll look at the surprising origins of some common summer-related words, phrases, and idioms.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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‘Dogs’ won’t let you take the easy route 2:24

2M ago2:24

2:24

Fletcher Powell says a new movie won't make things easy on you.By Fletcher Powell

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'Vera, or Faith' looks at a broken world through the eyes of a child 1:39

2M ago1:39

1:39

Gary Shteyngart's new novel, "Vera, or Faith," tells the story of an anxiety-ridden Korean American girl growing up in a dystopian America.By Suzanne Perez

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American History Needs a Little Copy Editing 29:25

3M ago29:25

29:25

We'll look at some questionable language decisions the American Founding Fathers made when writing some of the country's most important documents.By Fletcher Powell

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Offerman and ‘Sovereign’ are both good, but never quite great 2:26

3M ago2:26

2:26

Fletcher Powell says a new movie has plenty to admire, but never completely comes together.By Fletcher Powell

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Ayşegül Savaş on her new story collection, 'Long Distance' 15:23

3M ago15:23

15:23

Beth Golay visits with Ayşegül Savaş about her collection of stories titled 'Long Distance,' which are all set in vibrant locales, and typically feature young people who are trying to figure things out, and who are as she puts it, “yearning for communion.”

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'A Marriage at Sea' pairs a harrowing survival tale with a quirky love story 1:36

3M ago1:36

1:36

Sophie Elmhirst's new book, "A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck," tells the harrowing story of a young British couple whose boat sinks on the Pacific Ocean.By Suzanne Perez

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Suffix Fight! 34:56

3M ago34:56

34:56

Collectable or collectible? Why is it a computer and not a computor? Or is it? We look at the confusing and sometimes (seemingly) chaotic world of suffixes.By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras

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Amy McCulloch on her new novel, 'Runner 13' 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

When writing thrillers, author Amy McCulloch likes to write about what she knows, whether it's climbing one of the world's tallest mountains, exploring Antartica, or the adventure that inspired her latest book, running an ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert. McCulloch recently spoke with KMUW's Beth Golay about the thriller, "Runner 13."…

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Jess Walter's 'So Far Gone' is a funny, timely romp through a divided America 1:37

3M ago1:37

1:37

The ultimate genius of Jess Walter's new novel, "So Far Gone," is the author's talent for relating our fractured modern society with humor and hope.By Suzanne Perez

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The Debatables 29:23

3M ago29:23

29:23

When we disagree about what a word means or how to pronounce it, how do we know who's right and who's wrong? And what if we're both right?By Fletcher Powell, Kathy Petras & Ross Petras