Danielle Henderson, author of the memoir "The Ugly Cry" and tv writer on shows like "Maniac" starring Emma Stone, joins host Joshua Turek to talk about living on a farm in upstate New York to keep her grandmother company. She revisits the toxic time capsule that was the 80's by reading the Motley Crue tell-all and how she found an awakening in intersectional feminism after going back to school at 30 and reading bell hooks. Josh talks about how the new Miranda July divorce novel upset him more than the dystopian books he's been reading it.CHICAGO come see Joshua perform stand up comedy at The Comedy Bar 11/8/24 and 11/9/24 https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879 and catch his poetry book at joshuaturek.com and new free Substack here https://substack.com/@joshuaturekFor more on Danielle Henderson check her out here http://daniellehenderson.net/Books talked about include:Shuggie Bain - Douglas StuartBad Pharma - Ben GoldacreAll Fours - Miranda JulyThe Dirt - Motley CrueThe Road - Cormac MccarthyFeminist Theory from margin to center - bell hooksKilling the Black Body - Dorothy RobertsAngela Davis Books - All of them, Abolition Democracy, Freedom is a Constant StruggleAmelia Gray - Museum of the WeirdThe Sellout - Paul BeattyRunning with Scissors - Augusten BurroughsVillette - Charlotte Bronte Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poet Darby Hudson joins host, Joshua Turek one day in the future from Melbourne, Australia to discuss giving into books that are like "ice cream for the mind." He speaks of how he was raised by divorced parents, one who indulged the low brow while the other sought more challenging reads. The two poets and instagram video dudes discuss their remote friendship and get into everything from David Lynch to the Neverending Story.Seattle and Chicago! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities soon!SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879for signed copies of Joshua's poetry book his site joshuaturek.com and if you want him to perform in your city sign up to his email list on there and suggest a cityFor Darby Hudson's work check out https://www.darbyhudsonart.com/ and his instagram https://www.instagram.com/darby_hudson/?hl=enBooks Talked About Include:Earth Abides - JoshThe Road - CormacRed Dragon - Thomas HarrisThe Housemaid Freida McfaddenThe Broom of the System DFW - JoshThe Neverending Story by Michael EndeThe Bedtime Leunig by Michael LeunigBukowskiCeline Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seinfeld writer and Curb director Larry Charles who also directed Borat, Bruno, and Dangerous World of Comedy, sits down with host Joshua Turek to discuss growing up in Brooklyn and how the books he read in his younger years expanded his sense of the world. Larry talks working with Bob Dylan and Larry David and the similarities between the two men. Larry discusses how through career successes he managed to find his way back to knowing the price of a loaf of bread. He also talks the Library Cop episode of Seinfeld which he wrote!Chicago and Seattle! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities soon!SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879for signed copies of Joshua's poetry book his site joshuaturek.comFor Larry Charles check out his YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPH7P8UM2_uXsRhpp3Z4UQA and IG: https://www.instagram.com/larrycharles/Books Talked About Include:Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude BrownConfessions of a Cultist by Andrew SarrisCatch 22Last Exit to BrooklynnAll Fours by Miranda July (Josh) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sundance Award Winning Screenwriter, Ruby Caster joins Joshua to talk Miranda July's new book "All Fours" and the quest for mutual understanding. The two find an agreed upon reality as they discuss how one goes about that.Books Talked About Include:All Fours Miranda JulyThe Ego Tunnel by Thomas MetzingerBluets by Maggie NelsonStar ChildJoshua Turek Stand up Tour Updates: SEATTLE on 10/25 Joshua will be headlining at the Here-After. Tickets available: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO to see Joshua Turek headlining four shows on 11/8 & 9 at The Comedy Bar tickets:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/friday-november-8-joshua-turek-tickets-1005397851037?aff=odcleoeventsincollectionfor Josh's poetry book etc visit: joshuaturek.comFor updates on Ruby Caster's work check out her ig: https://www.instagram.com/rubycaster/?hl=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Wilson is the lead singer of Semisonic and writer of hit songs like Closing Time, Someone Like You (with Adele), Not Ready to Make Nice (with the Chicks) and also a prolific reader. He and host Joshua Turek discuss how Dan revisits "Lord of the Rings" and discovers new meanings according to where his own life is at the moment. He talks of reading voraciously as a child and the books that were most impactful along the way. Dan also gets into a few of the science fiction books that have rekindled his love for the genre and his thoughts on the role of AI in art and the future.Chicago and Seattle! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities! SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879for Joshua's poetry book hit up his site joshuaturek.com For Dan Wilson's work please check out his instagram https://www.instagram.com/danwilsonmusic/?hl=en and links to all his sites here https://linktr.ee/danwilson_musicBooks Talked About Include:The Real BookParable of the Sower Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer Aubrey Bellamy joins host Joshua Turek to discuss books about grief, growing up in L.A., and how Buy Nothing groups on Facebook might be the only hope for humanity. Aubrey and Josh are longtime friends on Twitter who meet for the first time.Chicago and Seattle! Joshua is going to be headlining comedy shows in your cities CHICAGO Nov. 8 & 9 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879 and SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144 for Joshua's poetry book hit up his site joshuaturek.comFor Aubrey Bellamy's work please check out her twitter https://x.com/aubreybellBooks talked about include:Overdue by Amanda OliverParable of the Sower by Octavia ButlerGolden Days by Carolyn SeeU Up? by Catie Disabato Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dress Up Gang Member (TBS, Cute House) and Molly Bro comedian, Cory Loykasek joins host Joshua Turek to talk Shawshank Redemption, Cormac McCarthy, Sapiens, and an ill-titled self help book called "The Way of the Superior Man". The longtime friends get deeper into books than they ever have in all their professed long conversations. Cory rightfully gives Josh crap for his terrible intro, Joshua tells Cory he loves him and reveals he was a fan of Cory before they were friends Cory might also take another stab at the Brothers Karamazov..Chicago and Seattle! Joshua Turek's going to be doing comedy in your cities CHICAGO Nov. 7 & 8 he will be headlining at The Comedy Bar tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/november-8-9-joshua-turek-3613879 and SEATTLE Oct. 25 at the Here-After tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/joshua-turek-here-after-tickets/13607144 for Joshua's poetry book hit up his site joshuaturek.comFor Cory Loykasek's work please check him out on ig https://www.instagram.com/coryloykasek/?hl=en and Molly Bro https://www.instagram.com/officialmollybro/ plus Dress Up Gang https://www.instagram.com/dressupgang/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, Venice Surfer, Bar Owner, Chris Gorbos starts with Anton Chekhov short stories and ends with Jack Reacher headbutting his way through cheap paperbacks. He and Joshua talk the passive joys of public transportation and how being in a good place in life helps with their reading. The two friends exchange ride sharing experiences they felt were unexpectedly profound and how they relate them to the story of a horse and buggy driver that Chris reads every year. Chris holds Josh's feet to the fire over how the idealist expects to build a better world and they both agree that reading shouldn't be a pretentious experience.TOUR UPDATES: Joshua will be in Richmond, California September 16 & 18th doing stand up at the Factory Bar and in Chicago November 7 and 8 at the Comedy Bar downtown. Information and tickets available here: joshuaturek.comChris Gorbos can be found on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/chrisgorbos/?hl=en and his comedy theater in Santa Monica is here https://www.westsidecomedy.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Editor of erotic fine art books for Taschen, Dian Hanson has shepherded works from legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ren Hang along with numerous adult photo books of high repute. She brings a few books from her esoteric collection of adult oddities and attempted encylopedias. Dian and Joshua discuss everything from Gen Z to sexual dysfunctions of the 1800's. TW: Adult Content and possible graphic disturbing imagery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teen Vogue journalist Lisa Kwon joins Joshua to talk about her contempt for summer and the joys of winter as represented by her book choices. She tells of one novel about a Red Lobster closing (timely) while another one “The Guest” by Emma Cline follows one woman’s purgatory through a summer in the Hamptons. Lisa and Joshua talk about both growing up on the periphery of L.A. and their feelings about palm trees.check out Josh’s comedy tour dates (Bay Area and Chicago coming up!) and signed copies of his poetry book at joshuaturek.comLisa’s writing can be found first at https://www.instagram.com/lisaskwon?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==books talked about include:”The Guest” by Emma ClineLast Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’NanThe Image by Daniel J Boorstin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian and TV writer for "Dave" on FX, Biniam Bizuneh visits the podcast to talk about time travel, the power of the mind and placebo effect, coping with an unnatural world, the book "Fourth Wing" which he describes as "Harry Potter" meets "Game of Thrones" and starting an ayuhuasca smoothie bowl cafe.For Josh's poetry book and tour dates visit joshuaturek.com he'll be in Portland Oregon on August 24th, 2024!To check out Biniam's work go to his instagram https://www.instagram.com/biniambiz/?hl=enBooks talked about includeFourth Wing by Rebecca YarhosSapiensThe Holographic Universe by Michael TalbotThe Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle WaldmanReplay by Ken GrimwoodEmpire of Illusions by Chris HedgesBetween the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi CoatesBig Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Simon Gibson has been seen on Amazon and NBC's Canonball, he joins Joshua to talk about the show they are co-headlining in Portland Oregon on Saturday night August 24th, 2024 so tell your Portland friends tickets are available here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/85326006/simon-gibson-joshua-turek-portland-mississippi-studios . They also discuss books, Simon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles graphic novels he has had since he was 5 years old and might not be worth the millions he thought? A memoir on stand up comedy he wishes he had read twice at different moments in his career. While Simon also explains how on of Josh's poems in his new debut poetry book reminds him of his time selling outdoor trailer campers during lockdown. Simon passionately opines about the Jurassic Park book by Michael Crichton that last week's guest Noah also talked about. Josh shares how a poet on instagram sent him his book and it was so good he almost cried on the bus ride over.Simon Gibson can be found here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simeygibson/?hl=enWeb Site: https://simongibsonisfunny.com/Signed copies of Josh's debut poetry book and tour dates are here:joshuaturek.comBooks talked about include:Jurassic Park by Michael CrichtonHow to Succeed Without Really Crying by Carol LeiferGod of the Air Hose by Cesar AvelarL.A. Confidential by Elmore LeonardKurt Vonnegut's first book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer on the Seth Rogen television series "Platonic", Noah Findling stops by to talk about how he rekindled his love affair with reading by bringing "Jurrassic Park" on his honeymoon. He and Joshua get into their anxieties over the future, doomsday prepping, and how 401k plans might not be necessary in 30 years. Joshua talks starting the famous sci fi L.A. dystopian novel "Parable of the Sower" and Noah tells of how Philip Roth's bodily obsessions aligned with his own upbringing. We also read recommendations from listeners!Portland Oregon and Richmond California get tickets to Joshua's upcoming comedy shows and for signed copies of his debut poetry book on JoshuaTurek.comCheck out Noah on instagram @noahbuilttheark and noahfindlingcomedy.comBooks talks bout include:Jurassic Park by Michael CrichtonThe Sphere by Michael CrichtonPortnoy's Compaint by Philip RothParable of the Sower by Octavia Butler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-host of the Tea Time podcast, comedian Harper-Rose Drummond joins Joshua Turek to talk about crying over books and finding security in having three of them on your bed at all times. She describes falling in love with reading again during the pandemic and doing acid with her dad at a Grateful Dead concert right before that. Joshua brings a couple of downer books about the decay of the American empire while Harper sings the praises of a fantasy series called "The Assassins Blade". They also discuss the ethics of reading the popular erotic novel "A Court of Thorns and Roses" on a train.Harper Rose-Drummond's instagram and podcast can be found here:ig: https://www.instagram.com/harperrosed/?hl=enpodcast yt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HhYu0Ui4ioSigned copies of Joshua's debut poetry book and a list of his comedy tour dates can be found at joshuaturek.com PORTLAND, OREGON get tickets to his show August 24th at Mississippi Studios Theater here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/85326006/simon-gibson-joshua-turek-portland-mississippi-studiosPlease remember to rate this podcast and click that follow button if you enjoy it!Books talked about include:The Assassin's Blade by Sara J. MaasA Court of Thorn and Roses by Sara J. MaasThe Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerWalk Two Moons by Sharon CreechThe Image by Daniel J BoorstinEmpire of Illusion by Chris HedgesJumping the Nail by Eve Bunting Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rolling Stone journalist Miles Klee brings a selection of French melancholia, Jamaica Kincaid, and tells how Mark Twain inspired Wil E. Coyote and Looney Tunes. He and Joshua briefly bond over riding the bus in L.A. to get to the podcast recording and delve into the joy of an Irish Goodbye. After listening to Miles tell of a story where the protagonist hates being at a party in one of his books, Joshua even wonders if the entire pleasure for introverts at a party isn't building up enough tension to feel the relief of leaving.Remember to rate the podcast! (if you like it)(if you don't go rate someone elses podcast who you do like bc it helps us) and subscribe if you haven't!Hosted by Joshua Turekfor touring dates and his debut poetry book visit joshuaturek.comBooks Talked About Include:"True False" and "Ivyland" by Miles Klee"Lucy" by Jamaica Kincaid"Roughing It" by Mark Twain"Downstream" by Joris-Karl Huysmans"1984" "Down and Out in Paris and London" "Animal Farm" by George Orwell"Any Person is the Only Self" by Elisa Gabbert"The Voice Imitator" by Thomas Bernhard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy Central Half Hour Comedian and Finding My Audience podcast host, Allen Strickland Williams joins Joshua to discuss books written by his friends including one he calls the best book about comedy since Steve Martin's "Born Standing Up". They get into the best French Dip sandwich in downtown Los Angeles, a little Mike Davis per usual for Joshua, and how Allen's favorite Kurt Vonnegut book seems to be no one elses.Books talked about include:Running the Light by Sam TallentDriven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John RateyCall Me By Your Name by Andre AcimanSlapstick by Kurt VonnegutDead Cities by Mike DavisBorn Standing Up by Steve MartinYou can find all things Allen Strickland WIlliams here https://www.allenstricklandwilliams.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Dear White People" writer/director Justin Simien joins Joshua Turek to discuss the book "Hollywood Black" which was the source material for his new docu-series of the same name. At the top of the Hollywood ladder but still dissatisfied, it was the books of Hollywood historian, Donald Bogle, specifically his Black history pieces which inspired Justin to become conduit of untold contributions to cinema by Black filmmakers by making a documentary telling their stories. He also discusses the book "The War of Art" and its heavy influence on breaking through his own creative resistances to getting the work done and finally completing his Sundance film "Dear White People" which also later became a show on Netflix. Lastly, he shares "Inner Gold" by Robert A Johnson, a Jungian self help book made simple for the people, dealing heavily in how to understand your own power in a world constantly asking you to give it away. All these books form a tapestry for how Justin approaches his art and life, his conversation is lively and illuminating. Enjoy! And be share to rate the podcast if you are enjoying it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reservation Dogs and Fallout's, Dallas Goldtooth joins Joshua to discuss North American Indigenous history and his love of sci-fi. How his decades working as an organizer and activist taught him that a powerful story is a necessity to instigate change in the world. Dallas talks how books are a therapeutic escape but also a way for him to comb stories for morsels of imagining a more vibrant way of living. He and Joshua examine how story can exist in a compelling but non-violent way in a more ideal world and Dallas lends an example through a myth of his people involving a snow giant and a trickster as allegory for the very real dangers of the winter cold. This is the first remote episode of the podcast, Joshua records from inside a study room at the library and Dallas from his son's room. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BoJack Horseman's, Aparna Nancherla joins Joshua to talk about her favorite formative books "A House on Mango Street" and "The Phantom Tollbooth". The comedian, author, and actor delves into the struggles she faced with Imposter Syndrome while writing her memoir "Unreliable Narrator" about the very trials of that very Imposter Syndrome. She and Joshua explore how the end result to a story about yourself is not an end at all, and how an honest conclusion can be an open one. They share their mutual love of libraries and the prolific comedian pulls out a wide array of contemporary fiction and nonfiction from the tote bag she was given at the Miami Beach Book Fair, an unlikely festival for such a beach forward city. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV writer Jamie Lynn Harris joins Joshua to reminisce over the last time someone read erotica written by a radio DJ to her on a beach in Spain. She and Joshua bond over their shared love of "Anna Karenina" and Paul Beatty's "The Sellout". She goes into lush detail about the sapphic novel of race and identity in the late 1920's "Passing" by Nella Larsen. And tells of how she is catching up on the canonical authors whose names she heard thrown around in grad school like Clarice Lispecter. Jamie also goes against the grain by speaking fondly over the books she had to read in high school and mourns how students these days are being required to read less and less. Josh also talks about a Rumi book specifically a poem about dogs being gateways into the eternal. PLEASE be sure to rate this podcast (If you like it) and Subscribe and Follow!!!Books Talked About IncludeAn Apprenticeship or the Book of Pleasures by Clarice LispecterPassing by Nella LarsenThe Sellout by Paul BeattyAnna Karenina by TolstoySay I Am You by Rumi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, writer and co-host of the Grifthorse Podcast, Megan Koester joins Joshua Turek to discuss her favorite books about magazines and how to harvest the California state flower into opium. The two frequent collaborators recount climbing around the Hollywood Hills a couple months into the pandemic with a fruit picker to gather neglected avocados off rich people's trees and while making a video about it. They get into self publishing zines and talk Josh's new self published poetry book which sold out of its first edition! Also included are two book recommendations from listeners! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix comedian Kimberly Clark gets deep into music with a memoir she's currently reading by jazz legend Thelonious Monk and a biography she loved about the late music producer J Dilla. She and Josh discuss morality and greatness and how to reconcile your admiration of deeply flawed artists. "Confederacy of Dunces" is another one of her picks, she likens the main character to Larry David and discusses how the book was given to her just before she began performing stand up comedy. She also brings Paul Mooney's memoir and discusses how the prolific comedy writer for acts like Richard Pryor and Dave Chapelle shaped her own approach and even encouraged her while she was working at The Laugh Factory in Hollywood. Kimberly and Joshua agree to disagree about David Sedaris and she also brings in the next book she wants to read. Thanks for listening!Books Talked About Include:Thelonious Monk memoirDilla Time biography by Dan CharnasA Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy TooleSlumberland by Paul BeattyBlack is the New White memoir by Paul Mooney Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode Joshua is joined by his first Gen Z guests, the comedy duo behind Content.Channel, Cam George and Peter Ditzler. Not only have these two been helping with the podcast, they've also been kindred readers with Joshua sharing similar tastes in books since they met. They get into their shared love of Mike Davis, particularly his book about the geology of Los Angeles and modern day conflicts with it in "Ecology of Fear". Eve Babitz is discussed as are some of the pivotal figures in the modern day city like Mulholland, D.W. Griffith, and Aimee Semple McPherson. But first Cam and Pete pitch Joshua hard on their love of e-readers and how to mimic the scrolling on their phones helps trick their brains into doing something productive on their Kindles. We also get into book recommendations from listeners! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor and Sundance Festival Filmmaker, Bridey Elliott joins Joshua to discuss self help, the people who believe dolphins are aliens, NASA experiments gone wrong, and how Bridey throws away every journal she ever finishes. Their book conversation ranges from parasocial relationships, a lesbian psychosexual love affair in the novel “Big Swiss” to the short fiery life and memoir of author Cookie Mueller, all the way out to the spiritual watery depths of a dolphin lover named Joan Ocean who Bridey went and visited in Hawaii after reading a book featuring her. They also read listener book recommendations at the end! TW: Book plot description of Big Swiss briefly mentions SABooks Talked About Include:Five Personality Patterns byt Steven KesslerVoices in the Ocean by Susan CaseyWalking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black by Cookie Mueller MemoirBig Swiss by Jen BeaginKinship with All of Life J. Allen Boone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" writer Jeff Loveness (Rick and Morty, Jimmy Kimmel Live) brings our biggest stack of books yet and talks with Joshua about everything from Anthony Bourdain books to the Teenage Bible. He and Joshua bring the same final novel of Tolstoy, "Resurrection" and joke about the time they bro'd out at the Alamo Theater and watched the emotionally heavy movie "Past Lives". Joshua also gives a sneak peek at his soon to be released poetry book "On the Outside Looking Up" and reads two book recommendations written in from listeners of the show!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Bananas Podcast” co-host and voice on BOB’S BURGERS, stand up comedian, Kurt Braunohler joins Joshua to talk about how his kids read more than him by virtue of them exhausting him. The two discuss their shared love of trees prompted by book “The Overstory” that Kurt says is one of his all time favorites even if he hasn’t finished it yet. Their conversation ranges from a book about dishwashing to imagining Raymond Carver’s stories as cartoonishly overwritten without his famed editor Gordon Lisch. They also discuss the stunted feelings of the cursed white male rugged individualists and CIA interference in U.S. art institutions and literature. Ultimately, it’s about reading what you love, no matter if it’s spiders in outer space science fiction or 70’s NYC musician junkie memoirs.Books talked about include:“What People Talk About When They Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver“The Overstory” by Richard Powers“Dishwasher” by Pete Jordan“I Dreamed I was a Very Clean Tramp” by Richard Hell“Children of Time” by Adrian Tchaikovsky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Family Guy” writer/producer Evan Waite joins Turek Books to talk about his time writing for “The Onion” and his new book “Life Wants You Dead”. Evan and Joshua bond over used book sales at libraries and avoiding social media witch hunts. Evan talks about how reading “48 Laws of Power” was the impetus to creating a writer’s group at the Strand Bookstore in New York City. He also discusses making the leap from teaching English in China to finding his way into comedy writing. And how he drew inspiration in penning his book about fear from a book about the inner workings of New York City.Books talked about include:THE WORKS: ANATOMY OF A CITY by Kate AscherLIFE WANTS YOU DEAD by Evan WaiteTHE STENCH OF HONOLULU by Jack HandyWATCHMEN by Alan MooreFEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS by Hunter S. ThompsonAMERICA by Jon Stewart and teamIS THIS ANYTHING? by Jerry Seinfeld48 LAWS OF POWER by Robert Greene Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Ali Macofsky joins Joshua to talk about both being child actors and Jeanette McCurdy’s bestselling book about that life “I’m Glad My Mom is Dead”.  Longtime friends, they discuss growing up in Southern California and Steve Martin being a magician at Disneyland. Their conversation threads through subjects like public transportation, stand up comedy, old substance slang like “crank”, and reaching out to people you admire on Instagram.Books Talked About Include:“Born Standing Up” by Steve Martin“I’m Glad My Mom is Dead” by Jeanette McCurdy“The Maid” by Nita Prose“Crank (Trilogy) by Ellen Hopkins“Trees of Santa Monica” by George Hastings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emmy nominated writer and comedian Ellory Smith joins us to talk about being a George Saunders superfan and trying to identify the hypocrisy of the world as a means of illuminating a better one. She and Joshua get into conspiracy theories about hippies and PETA, Toni Morrison and Magic Bullet blenders. Their conversation ranges from nature reclaiming Chernobyl to the graffiti artists doing the same to the abandoned high rises in downtown LA. This conversation skips the small talk and goes right into grief, the world’s problems, and how literature gets us into reflecting on what’s right and wrong in our own lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joshua is joined by comedian and stoke activist JT Parr from Chad and JT Go Deep on Netflix, a comedic duo known for their amazing viral videos, often addressing city councils across America with urgent pleas for services like public yachts. Beneath his comedic characters, JT is lowkey well-read. He and Joshua discuss Elmore Leonard, life before social media, David Foster Wallace after cancellation, Mary Karr's devastating poem about DFW, JFK's legendary status, and learning to own our issues and apologize for past mistakes as bullies and the ones bullied. Joshua talks about a Terry Tempest Williams book that made him cry for 3-5 seconds the night before and a photo book about bros he bought his girlfriend for Christmas.Books Discussed Include:CUBA LIBRE by Elmore LeonardTHE GREAT MOVIES by Roger EbertJFK: COMING OF AGE IN THE AMERICAN CENTURY 1917-1956 by Fredrik LogevallJOE COLLEGE by Tom PerrottaEROSION by Terry Tempest WilliamsAMERICAN BACHELORS by Michael RababyINFINITE JEST, A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'll NEVER DO AGAIN, BROOM OF THE SYSTEM etc by David Foster Wallace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, writer, and actor, Alyssa Limperis whose special “No Bad Days” is airing on Peacock, joins Joshua to tell him about her hang ups toward having to finish things in life and how it makes the commitment of choosing a book treacherous. Josh tells Alyssa about his emotional support books on his nightstand and how he reads multiple books like others surf tv channels. Alyssa shares her appreciation for Sally Rooney books and how they were all she read one year and this sparks lighthearted conversation about the recent Paul Mescal dating rumors. The guest and host also get into enduring a similar loss at the same time, grief and how it shapes our reading behaviors, and how Alyssa is mortified Joshua visits a student dentist, “A student hairdresser, maybe!” They also give each other books!Books talked about include:“Normal People” by Sally Rooney “Three Women” by Lisa Taddeo, “Them” by Jon Ronson“Letters to a Young Poet” by Rilke“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig“Of Walking In Ice” by Werner Herzog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stand up Comedian and Co-Creator and star of “This Fool” on Hulu, Chris Estrada brings in a stack of graphic novels and converts Joshua into a fan of the form. They get into their childhood shoplifting stories and Chris attempting to solve the Black Dahlia murder mystery after a particularly bad break-up in his 20’s. Books discussed include “Julio’s Day” by Gilbert Hernandez, “Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life” by Uli Lust, “Monica” By Daniel Clowes as well as the legendary L.A. skewering “City of Quartz” by Mike Davis and punk oral history “Our Band Could Be Your Life” by Michael Azerrad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.