Backlisted

Andy Miller and John Mitchinson started Backlisted in 2015 with a simple mission: champion overlooked and forgotten books that deserve another look. Ten years and 260-plus episodes later, they've built one of the most thoughtful literary podcasts around. Each episode focuses on a single book -- typically a novel, but sometimes poetry, graphic novels, or nonfiction -- and brings in a guest writer, critic, or academic who has a personal connection to the work. The conversations run long, usually about 70 minutes, and they take their time. This isn't a quick recommendation show. Miller and Mitchinson genuinely know their stuff -- Miller is an author and former bookseller, while Mitchinson spent years as head of research for the British quiz show QI. Their combined knowledge gives the discussions real depth without ever feeling academic or stuffy. The guests tend to be excellent too, often arriving with the kind of passion for a book that's contagious. The show celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025 with its first-ever live shows in the United States, recording at 92NY in New York. It holds a 4.7-star rating from nearly 570 reviews, and the Patreon community offers ad-free episodes and bonus content. Backlisted publishes biweekly, so you get time to actually read the book before the discussion drops. That pacing is intentional and refreshing. If your reading list has gotten predictable, this is the podcast most likely to send you hunting through secondhand bookshops for something you'd never have found on your own.