Are you burned out on video chat, webinars, online meetings? My screen time increased exponentially during these COVID-times. There were many days I found myself exhausted from watching or participating in another video-related activity. Enter another form of media that totally changed the game: podcasts.
Podcasts can be a great addition to your go-to entertainment. One can multitask while listening to a podcast and has a choice as to when one wants to listen. I love podcasts so much that I, too, started one, in hopes I can reach others in finding their creative inspirations through in-conversations with other creators.
Here are my weekly go-to podcasts:
My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope
My Imaginary Friends with L. Penelope
L. Penelope is an author of epic fantasy and paranormal romance, and her weekly podcast is my must-listen every week. She shares her process at every step of her book’s journey and lets us in on her best practices. Also reposted on her YouTube channel, writers everywhere can get such wonderful insight from Leslye.
Shelf Love Podcast: A Romance Novel Podcast
Shelf Love Podcast: A Romance Novel Podcast
Hosted by Andrea Martucci, it’s exactly as her tagline says: “A podcast that has fun taking romance novels seriously.” Her podcast critically evaluates romance novels and dissects their texts for relevancy and validity in today’s world. Her guest line-up consists of authors and academics, and Andrea is such an excellent interviewer that one walks away from each episode even prouder to be part of the romance genre community.
First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy
First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy
A casual podcast hosted by fantasy and romance author Jeffe Kennedy, it’s packed with Jeffe’s updates about the flora/fauna in her backyard, her candid thoughts on publishing and some solid advice for authors. The podcast posts several times per week, which makes it something for me to look forward to as I’m having my own first cup of coffee.
What to Read Next Podcast
Laura Yamin’s line-up of author guests is impressive, ranging from bestsellers to debuts. In addition, she features episodes with other book influencers and their book recommendations! And here’s the most exciting part: she posts more than once a week, which means we get to know more of our beloved authors.
The Wicked Wallflowers Club
The duo behind this podcast, Jenny Nordback and Sarah Hawley, has such chemistry, and the result is a podcast that one can relax into. I find myself laughing and nodding along with their author interviews, wishing the podcast didn’t have to end. They have also created their own community on Facebook where they’ve cultivated a greater love for the romance genre.
Friends & Fiction
This podcast is hosted by five bestselling authors: Mary Kay Andrews, Kristin Harmel, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe. And if that doesn’t bring you on to listen, add other bestselling authors as their guests. It is star-studded, but at the same time, very down to earth. Friends & Fiction started as a weekly video series, and the podcast is a recording of their conversations, which is a gift for us audio-lovers.
Black Romance Podcast
Though a fairly new podcast, Julie Moody-Freeman hit the ground running with a jaw-dropping interview with romance legend Sandra Kitt, and since then, has brought out guests who have been trailblazers in the romance genre. Julie is a stellar interviewer, which results in sincere, fun and enlightening conversations. I can’t wait to see who she brings in next.
The Liars Club Oddcast
In their very casual and fun podcast, Kelly Simmons, Jon McGoran, Gregory Frost, Keith Strunk, Merry Jones and Fran Wilde interview the gamut of authors in all genres as they discuss their inspiration and process. It’s fast-paced, pithy, and covers a lot of ground in under 45 minutes.
Print Run Podcast
Hosted by literary agents Erik Hane and Laura Zats, Print Run Podcast lets us in on their thoughts as publishing professionals through various hot topics. It’s a wonderful bookend for writers in all stages of their work, whether in the traditional or indie space, for a greater perspective in this literary world.
Smart Podcast
Hosted by Sarah Wendell, also a published author, Smart Podcast, Trashy Books grew out of the long-running romance blog which Sarah co-founded, Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. A podcast of over four hundred episodes and a vibrant Patreon community, it’s the podcast I look to for author in-conversations, interviews with book people and book recommendations.
