Bad On Paper

Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter host Bad On Paper every Wednesday, and at over 410 episodes, they have turned what could have been a straightforward book podcast into something much more layered. Yes, they talk about books -- they run a proper book club with monthly picks and dedicated discussion episodes. But the show is equally about the cultural conversations that books spark, personal interests, and the kind of observations that come up when two smart, well-read friends get together. Their monthly Three Things episodes are a highlight, where each host shares three things they have been into, annoyed by, or thinking about lately. These range from niche internet drama to beauty products to essays they read. The book club episodes are substantive without being academic -- they treat reading as a pleasure and a conversation starter, not homework. Author interviews round out the mix. Bad On Paper has a 4.8 rating from over 4,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts, which puts it in rare company for a book-adjacent show. The audience is largely millennial women who read a lot and want to talk about it with people who take books seriously but not too seriously. Becca and Olivia have a natural rapport that makes the show feel effortless, and they are not afraid to have strong opinions about a book while still respecting people who disagree. It is the book club you wish you had in real life.