Show Notes
Many of us were told or taught that the internet would be permanent — that the things we post, whether on social media or a blog or even a real-life website like Literary Hub, would last forever. But much of the last decade or so has proved that that's not true! Things can disappear at the blink of an eye — or the flash of a very rich person's temper. Maria Bustillos is no stranger to the disappearing internet, and she joins us this week to discuss her recent CJR piece "The Bigger Threat to Books Than Bans" as well as the hope provided by communally run organizations like Flaming Hydra. Then, a sneak peek at the latest addition to the Lit Hub Radio line-up: Culture Schlock, hosted by Olivia Rutigliano! We've got an exclusive excerpt from the first episode, featuring Samantha Hunt talking about discovering Nikola Tesla and the unfortunate dissonance of the poorly-run car company sharing his name. And finally, a phone call from Kate Broad (Greenwich) about the importance of third spaces!
Hosted by Drew Broussard Music by Dani Lencioni of Evelyn A Lit Hub Radio Podcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More from The Lit Hub Podcast
It was foretold... and now it is here! Yes, that's right: some audio most-anticipated action, featuring some Lit Hub staffers on books that they're super-duper excited about for the back half of 2026. Hope you're all having a nice summer! Lit Hub's Most Anticipated Books of 2026, Part Two (Lit Hub) "The End of Reading is Here" by Rose Horowitch (The Atlantic)
Tomorrow is Independent Bookstore Day! (If you're listening to this on release day, anyway.) So, in the spirit of heading out to support your local indie(s), we have a very indie-forward episode for you this month. First, Philomena Polefrone from the ABA stops by to explain HR 7661 (the national book ban bill) and why supporting indie bookstores and libraries is more important now than it has ever been! Then, Meg Reid of Hub City Press drops in to chat about more affordable options for hardcovers (namely: paper-over-boards!) and more thoughts on book design from the frontlines of publishing AND bookselling. And finally, Drew delivers a little recommendation corner as well as an update on the future of the pod. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Slop-pocalypse now! Oh yes, folks, the AI nonsense continues to accelerate and Drew has some feelings about it and why you (yes you!) should also be a stick in the mud about it. Then, Sara Yasin joins James Folta to talk about launching The Key, the new lit magazine produced by the Palestine Festival of Literature. Calvin Kasulke also drops by to chat with Drew about Lit Hub's post-Pamela-Paul-corrective of thirteen book reviews that should have run at the NYTBR during the noted transphobe's tenure. To close it out, Casey Scieszka (author of The Fountain) reads her essay "When the Fountain Runs Dry" and Oliver Scialdone recommends diving into Filthy Loot Press. IN THIS EP: * "Horror Novel "Shy Girl" Cancelled Over Suspected AI Use" * "The People Getting Falsely Accused of Using AI" * The Key * "What Was Lost: A Queer Accounting of the New York Times Book Review, 2013-2022" * "Good-bye Pamela Paul" * "When the Fountain Runs Dry: On Aging, Immortality, and the Illusion of Everlasting Youth" * Filthy Loot Press See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
It's the end of February already! Thank goodness! Drew's reporting in from Pittsburgh, at the annual conference hosted by the American Booksellers Association, and boy oh boy do we have a lot of bookish goodness for you, including... * the weirdness of early-year reading * a conversation between Lit Hub's Brittany Allen and Colette Delawalla (CEO of Stand Up for Science) about the Trump Administration's ongoing attempts to gut NASA's research library * Drew chatting with bookseller Fisher Nash (of Carmichael's in Louisville KY) about the state of bookselling and the wildness of Winter Institute (the aforementioned conference) * a voicemail from Adam Colman sharing insights into the new season of The Cosmic Library (hint: it involves Proust!) * Michael Welch on "What We Lose When Our Independent Bookstores Close" * and a book recommendation from Lit Hub's James Folta! See you in March! ----- The Lit Hub Podcast is hosted and produced by Drew Broussard The Lit Hub Podcast theme was written and performed by Dani Lencioni of Evelyn The Lit Hub Podcast is a production of Literary Hub and a part of the Lit Hub Radio network See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When we launched The Lit Hub Podcast in 2024, we promised you a weekly dive into the behind-the-scenes of the literary world—and what a series of weeks it has been! But 2026 looks a lot different than 2024, in so many ways, and so we're going to try something new. Starting this month (February!) we're shifting the podcast release schedule to monthly, on the last Friday of the month. It'll be the same vibe you've come to know and love, but you can expect longer episodes, with more staff voices and in-depth explorations—a monthly, instead of weekly, digest of what's been happening at the site and in the larger book-world. Thanks so much for listening so far, and we'll see you at the end of the month! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.