Free Daily Podcast Summary
Curious Readers: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Curious Readers
A bi-weekly bookchat podcast by Joseph Dance and Amanda Moulson, two time-poor curious readers with eclectic TBRs. Every two weeks we meet to talk all things books and deliver some recommendations for new, classic, and contemporary titles you might want to read next. We cover everything from backlist to frontlist, prize winners to debuts, and we are generally spoiler free. Follow us on Instagram @curiousreaderpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago1h 5m
Ep 36: We Have Opinions - Our 2026 Mid-Year Reading Check-In
Where have the last six months gone? Join Amanda and Joseph as they check in on the reading goals they set themselves in January. Find out if they’ve stuck to their promises, or if they’ve bombed out on their reading resolutions. Plus, they talk about more prize news, and as always, what they’ve been reading recently and what they hope to pick up next. Bookish NewsHay FestivalTaiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi (translated by Lin King)John of John by Douglas Stuart @douglas_stuartRuth Ozeki @ozekilandCarol Shields Prize for FictionCanon by Lee Lai @_leelaiHellions by Julia Elliott @jelliottic6A Guardian and A Thief by Megha Majumdar @megha.majWomen’s PrizeThe Booker PrizeRecent ReadsFamesick by Lena Dunham @lenadunhamMay We Feed The King by Rebecca Perry @poorsasquatchStone Fruit by Rebecca PerryOur Mid-Year Reading GoalsBuckeye by Patrick Ryan @patrickryanycThe Benefactors by Wendy Erskine @wednesdaywerskinYesteryear by Caro Claire Burke @caroclaireburkeThe Wreck by Lizzy Stewart @lizzy_stewartPrairie Oyster by Sophoe Robinson @sophiepoetryLondon Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefeDominion by Addie E. Kitchens @addie_citchensThe Correspondent by Virgina Evans @virginia.l.evansLost Lambs by Madeline Cash @madelinecashMiddlemarch by George EliotThe Guardian’s ‘100 Best Novels of All Time’The Little Friend by Donna TarttOrdinary People by Haldor LaxnessDeath’s End by Cixin LiuGirl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert @sophiegilbertwritesA World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness by Michael Pollan @michael.pollanYou With the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate @christinapplegateIndignity by Leah YpiWinter In The Blood by James WelchThe Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones @stephengrahamjonesThe Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down by Anne FadimanThe Oldest Bitch Alive by Morgan Day @yeah_okdayThe Sleep Thief by Ibtisam Azem @ibitisam.azemCharco Press 2026 Fiction Bundle @charcopressDie, My Love by Ariana Harwicz @arianaharwiczwKingfisher by Rozie Kelly Angel Down by Daniel Kraus @kraus_authorKin by Tayari Jones @tayariEvery One Still Here by Liadan Ní ChuinnOn The Calculation of Volume series by Solvej BalleTheir Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale HurstonPractice by Rosalind BrownLand by Maggie O’Farrell @maggieofarrellofficialThe Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout @lizstroutauthorSophie, Standing There by Meg MasonExit Party by Emily St John Mandel @emilystjohnmandelWhat We’re Reading NextJohn of John by Douglas StuartThe Left and the Lucky by Willy VlautinAlso mentionedCurious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast and Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 2 weeks ago1h 6m
Ep 35: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Deep Dive)
It seems everyone is talking about Yesteryear, and now Joseph and Amanda are too. Join them for their latest deep dive into the most hotly anticipated debut of the year, and hear about what they've been reading recently and which books they hope to pick up next.Bookish NewsThe Hay FestivalHayplayerRecent ReadsCannon by Lee Lai @_leelaiThe Correspondent by Virginia Evans @virginia.l.evansDominion by Addie E Citchens @addie_citchensDeep DiveThe Stepford Wives by Ira Levin (adapted for screen by Bryan Forbes)Trad Wife by Sarah Langan @sarahlanganTrad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer @saratogaishereThe Trad Wife by Carrie Hughes @carriehughesbooksYesteryear by Caro Claire Burke @caroclaireburkeDiabolical Lies podcastGone Girl by Gillian Flynn @thegillianflynnWhat We’re Reading NextRiver Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer @eleanorbshearerKingfisher by Rozie KingThe Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson @marxia1Prairie Oyster by Sophie Robinson @sophiepoetryAlso mentionedRamsgate Literary Festival @ The Book Hotel, RamsgateCurious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast and Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- May 9, 202656 min
Ep 34: Beyond the Countryside - How Nature Writing Asks Us to Pay Attention
Join Amanda and Joseph for this week’s episode as they delve into the best that nature writing has to offer. Plus, as always, they talk about their current reads and what they're looking forward to picking up next, as well as the latest from the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist. Bookish NewsWomen’s Prize shortlistRecent ReadsPearl Oyster by Sophie Robinson @sophiepoetry London Falling, by Patrick Radden Keefe @praddenkeefeTilt by Emma Pattee Nature WritingHelm by Sarah HallBewilderment by Richard PowersThe Overstory by Richard PowersA World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness by Michael Pollan @michael.pollanCrow Planet by Lyanda Lynn Haupt @lyandahauptWalden by Henry David Thoreau Silent Spring by Rachel CarsonThe Sea Around Us by Rachel CarsonH is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald @emerillonRaising Hare by Chloe Dalton @chloedaltonukBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer @robinwallkimmererAn Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed YongI Contain Multitudes by Ed YongSoundings: Journeys In The Company of Whales by Doreen Cunningham @doreenwritingMy Family and Other Animals by Gerald DurrellWintering by Katherine May @katherinemay_Intertidal: A Coast And Marsh Diary by Yuvan Aves @a_naturalists_columnThe Peregrine by J.A. Baker The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd Underland: A Deep Time Journey by Robert Macfarlane @robertmacfarlaneDart by Alice OswaldWhat We’re Reading Next California Gold by Jodie Chapman @jodiechapmanThe Italian Girl by Iris MurdochThe Bell by Iris MurdochThe Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch Also mentionedCurious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast and Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Apr 25, 20261h 8m
Ep 33: Crime Fiction After Agatha - Whodunit Got A Whole Lot Weirder
Join Amanda and Joseph for this week’s episode as they delve into the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, remember Agatha Christie and talk about their favourite mysteries. This time, they really try to be spoiler free! Bookish NewsInternational Booker Prize shortlist short flims Helen DeWitt and Windham Campbell Literary AwardRecent ReadsThere Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm (Sam Hughes)The Wreck by Lizzy Stewart @lizzy_stewartAlison by Lizzy Stewart The Novels of Agatha Christie and Golden Age Detective FictionSnow Upon the Desert by Agatha ChristieMurder On The Orient Express by Agatha ChristieDeath On The Nile by Agatha ChristieEvil Under The Sun by Agatha ChristieAnd Then There Were None by Agatha ChristieThe Murder of Roger Akroyd by Agatha ChristieA Murder is Announced by Agatha ChristieA is for Arsenic by Kathryn HarkupV is for Venom by Kathryn HarkupThe Knox DecalogueS.S. Van Dine’s CommandmentsFair Play by Louise HegartyOur Favourite MysteriesIn the Woods (The Dublin Murder Squad series) by Tana French @tanafrenchwritesThe Trees by Percival EverettThe Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett @r.jackson.bennettThe Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett @janice.hallettThe Thursday Murder Club by Richard OsmanThe Whitstable Pearl by Julie WassmerThe No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith‘Only Murders in the Building’The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo HigashinoMiss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter HøegThe Girl in the Maze by R K Jackson @randal.jackson1The Water is Wide by Pat ConroyNone of This Is True by Lisa JewellListen for the Lie by Amy TinteraI Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai @rebeccamakkaiWhat We’re Reading Next Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek ShanbhagThe Oldest Bitch Alive by Morgan Day @yeah_okdayPrairie Oyster by Sophie Robinson @sophiepoetry Also mentionedCurious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast and Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Apr 10, 202655 min
Ep 32: Spring Preview - 10 Upcoming Books We Want To Read Next
Join Joseph and Amanda as they discuss the reads they are most looking forward to this Spring, plus a few more updates from prize season. We also introduce a new segment – DNF corner, where we talk about the books we couldn’t wait to put down. Bookish NewsWomen’s Prize for Non-Fiction shortlistInternational Booker Prize shortlistRecent ReadsThe Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross BenjaminTyll by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross BenjaminThe Discomfort of Evening by Lucas RijneveldThe Winner by Teddy WayneCompanion Piece by Ali Smith Joan Is Okay by Weike WangTop Ten Reads for SpringYesteryear by Caro Claire BurkeLand by Maggie O’FarrellHamnet by Maggie O’FarrellKin by Tayari Jones The Vanishing Half by Britt BennettAmerican Marriage by Tayari JonesSilver Sparrow by Tayari JonesDevotions by Lucy CaldwellOpenings by Lucy CaldwellIf We Cannot Go At The Speed Of Light by Kim Cho-yeop, translated by Anton HurTranscription by Ben LernerLeaving the Atocha Station by Ben LernerMy Year In Paris With Gertrude Stein by Deborah LevyYou With The Sad Eyes by Christina ApplegateFamesick by Lena Dunham‘Too Much’ by Lena Dunham‘Girls’ by Lena DunhamYour Presence Is A Danger To Your Life by Samar Yazbek, translated by Leri PriceSecond Hand Time by Svetlana AlexivichLondon Falling: Death in a Gilded City and a Family’s Search for Truth by Patrick Radden KeefeEmpire of Pain by Patrick Radden KeefeTell Noone by Patrick Radden Keefe Ghost Stories: A Memoir by Siri HustvedtMother Mary Comes To Me by Arundhati RoyOne Aladdin, Two Lamps by Jeanette WintersonDNF Corner My Friends by Frederick BackmanBritt-Marie Was Here by Frederick BackmanWorkhorse by Caroline Palmer Also mentionedCurious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast and Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Mar 27, 202655 min
Ep 31: The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine (Deep Dive) & the Carol Shields Prize Longlist
Join Amanda and Joseph for their next deep dive into Wendy Erskine’s debut novel, The Benefactors, a polyphonic story about a sexual assault and the lengths that three mothers will go to to keep their sons from being held accountable. Along the way, they discuss the latest prize news, with the Carol Shields Prize longlist topping the episode.Bookish NewsCarol Shields Prize for Fiction longlistRecent ReadsThe Brittle Age by Donatella Di PietrantonioThe books of Elena FerranteThe Only Story by Julian BarnesDeep DiveThe Benefactors by Wendy ErskineSweet Home by Wendy ErskineDance Move by Wendy ErskineClose to Home by Michael MageeMagnolia, written and directed by Paul Thomas AndersonThe Bee Sting by Paul Murray What We’re Reading NextWaiting For The Fear by Oguz AtayThe Door by Magda SzaboIndignity by Lea Ypi Also mentionedCurious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast and Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Mar 13, 202658 min
Ep 30: The Books That Made Us & International Booker Prize Longlist
This week, join Amanda and Joseph for one of their most personally revealing episodes yet, as they discuss the books that made them: the teenage obsessions, the gateway reads, and the unforgettable titles, passages and writers that made us the readers they are today. Bookish News The Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist Gloria Don't Speak by Lucy Apps @lucy.emma13 The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson @marxia1 The International Booker Prize Longlist The Nights Are QuietIn Iran by Shida Bazyar Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur Taiwan Travelogue Yáng Shuāng-zǐ Recent Reads Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert @sophiegilbertwrites The Missing Ink by Philip Hensher @philiphensher The Books That Made Us The Odyssey by Homer (various translations including Robert Fagles and Emily Wilson) O’ Brother, Where Art Thou directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen 'Penelope' by Carol Ann Duffy The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper Elidor by Alan Garner His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman The Odyssey directed by Christopher Nolan The Continuous Life: Poems by Mark Strand The Colour Purple by Alice Walker The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter Gilead by Marilyn Robinson A Passage North by Anuk Arudpragasam In the Distance by Hernan Diaz What We’re Reading Next No Friend of This House by Natalie Haynes @nataliehaynesauthor One Aladdin, Two Lamps by Jeanette Winterson Main Street by Sinclair Lewis EveryDay Is For The Thief by Teju Cole @_tejucole Also mentionedTate Modern, Nigerian Modernism (on until 16 April 2026)Curious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Instagram @curiousreaderspodcast and Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Feb 27, 202657 min
Ep 29: Romance For Cynics & Women's Prize For Non-Fiction Longlist
This week, Joseph and Amanda tackle romance. But this is romance with a twist, no tropes or formulas, just good writing that even the most hard-hearted cynic can enjoy. And before that, as Prize season is upon us, they dish the latest on prestigious longlists, and top and tail the episode with current and future reads. Bookish news The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction Indignity: A Life Reimagined by Lea Ypi Ask Me How It Works: Love in an Open Marriage by Deepa Paul @storiesbydeepa The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet @lyse.doucet Mother Mary Comes to Me a memoir by Arundhati Roy @arundatiroyauthor International Booker Prize The National Book Critics Circle Awards (NBCC) Dublin Literary Award What I Know About You by Eric Chacour @ericchacour The Creation of Half-Broken People by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu Live Fast by Brigitte Giroud Recent Reads Every One Still Here by Liadan Ní Chuinn Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash @madelinecash Romance for Cynics Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid @rachelreidwrites Emma & Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Persuasion by Jane Austen Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Villette by Charlotte Bronte The books of Lily King @lilykingbooks Minor Black Figures & The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor @brandonlgtaylor Memorial: A Novel by Bryan Washington Normal People by Sally Rooney @sallyrooneyofficial You Are Here by David Nicholls @davidnichollswriter Happy All The Time by Laurie Colwin Reasons To Be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe @ninastibbe Crush by Ada Calhoun @adacalhoun Good Material by Dolly Alderton @dollyalderton The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller @madeline.e.miller The Disenchantment by Celia Bell The Lovers by Paolo Cognetti Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason @meg_mason_writer Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey @monicaheisey You, Again by Kate Goldbeck @kategoldbeck Heartburn by Nora Ephron What We’re Reading Next Midnight Is Not In Everyone’s Reach by António Lobo Antunes @antonio.lobo.antunes White Spines: Confessions of a Book Collector by Nicholas Royle @nicholasroyle Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones @tayari Kin by Tayari Jones My Friends by Frederik Backman @frederickbackman The Winner by Teddy WayneThe Benefactors by Wendy Erskine @wednesdaywerskinCurious Readers is mixed by the incredibly talented James Whiting @fishislandstudioFollow us on Bluesky @curiousreaderspod.bsky.social for more recommendations in between episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About Curious Readers
A bi-weekly bookchat podcast by Joseph Dance and Amanda Moulson, two time-poor curious readers with eclectic TBRs. Every two weeks we meet to talk all things books and deliver some recommendations for new, classic, and contemporary titles you might want to read next. We cover everything from backlist to frontlist, prize winners to debuts, and we are generally spoiler free. Follow us on Instagram @curiousreaderpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Curious Readers in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Curious Readers daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Curious Readers as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Curious Readers podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Curious Readers product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Curious Readers.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
What topics does Curious Readers cover?
Curious Readers covers topics including Arts, Books. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Curious Readers summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.