Reading Writers

Charlotte Shane and Jo Livingstone started Reading Writers in 2024, and in just a couple of years it has become one of the freshest voices in literary podcasting. The format is simple but effective: each episode begins with the two hosts catching up on what they've been reading lately, then a guest writer joins to talk passionately about a book that matters to them. The guest picks are often surprising and always specific, which keeps things from ever feeling like a generic recommendation show. Recent guests have included Hanif Abdurraqib discussing Gloria Naylor's The Women of Brewster Place, Torrey Peters on a book about plant intelligence, and Jamie Hood making a case for Doris Lessing's The Golden Notebook. Season 3 brought a partnership with Bookforum Magazine, which has sharpened the show's critical edge. Shane and Livingstone are both working writers with distinct tastes, and they're not afraid to disagree with each other or push back on a guest's take. That honesty gives the show a texture that more established podcasts sometimes lose over time. With 34 episodes across three seasons and a 4.8-star rating, Reading Writers is still building its audience, but the people who've found it tend to become devoted listeners. It's the kind of podcast where you finish an episode and immediately add three books to your reading list. Hosted on Acast with Patreon support available for those who want more.