Turek Books Podcast

"Humanizing the Fringes" w/ comedian Zach Pugh

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:34:06 GMT

Comedian and writer Zach Pugh joins host Joshua Turek to discuss Moby Dick, Don Delillo, Denis Johnson, being attracted to grimey literatrue, The Fort Bragg Cartel and Chris Hedges, the need for pretentiousness to return to our society among other things. Get Joshua's new poetry book "Ugly Whimsy" out April 10th! Preorder first edition now!

The Fort Bragg Cartel

Moby Dick

The Failures of Nonviolence

Underworld by Don Dellilo

Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges

Europe Central by William T Volman

Rainbow Stories by William T Volman

Jesus Son by Denis Johnson

Drag Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead

Long Live the Post Horn

it by stephen king

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Second Time Long Time w/ Amy Silverberg

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:01:00 GMT

Author and Comedian Amy Silverberg joins host Joshua Turek to discuss the reasons why we live creative lives, her love of books including her debut novel First Time Long Time, and Josh's impending fatherhood. Originally recorded 1/12/2026

Books Talked About Include:

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

100 years of solitude by marquez

a visit from the goon squad by jennifer egan

A Confederacy of Dunces

debt by david graeber

a peoples history of the united states

grapes of wrath

So far gone by jess walter

Flesh by David Zalay

Beauty Land by Burtino

Rock Hawk by Robinson Jeffers

Headshot by Rita Bullwinkle

Middlemarch by George Elliott

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"Beyond All Reasonable Doubt" w/ Writer Melissa Lozada-Oliva

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:01:28 GMT

Author of "Beyond All Reasonable Doubt Jesus is Alive" Melissa Lozada-Oliva talks literary influences, books she's put down, and enjoying the act of reading before we're too old to see the pages anymore.

Books Talked About Include:

tana french

Lady Chatterly’s Lover

Debt by David Graeber

Grapes of Wrath

Autobiography of Macolm X

Somebody Walks Over Your Grave by Marian Enriquez

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Dispossessed by Ursula K Leguin

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Eels and Unions w/ Actor David Hull (Crazy Ex)

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:00:44 GMT

Filmmaker and actor David Hull (Crazy Ex) joins host Joshua Turek to discuss books about eels, wolves, the dust bowl, politics gone wrong and ketamine therapy.

Recorded Dec 6, 2025

Books Talked About Include:

Slumberland, Sell Out, Tuff, White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty

James, Erasure, American Fiction, God’s Country by Percival Everett

Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden by Steinbeck

Notes From Underground - Dostoevsky

Book of Eels Patrick Sphenson

Frost Lines by Neil Shea

The Cigarette

American Dreamer by Henry Wallace

A Kim Jong Il Production

The Wicker Man

The Day of the Locust

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"A Societal Cosmos" w/ Astrologer Liz Vazquez

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:01:00 GMT

Astrologer and Filmmaker Liz Vazquez joins host Joshua Turek to discuss books documenting our pressing issues and outer space and how they're all related.

originally recorded January 26, 2026

Books talked about include

Trickster makes the world by Lewis Hyde

Shiver by Junji Ito

Who I am and What I want by David Shimley

The Problem with Work

Carceral Capitalism

Nechro Politics Achille Mbembe

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn

The History of Forgetting by Norman Klein

Becoming Human by Zakiyah Iman Jackson

Black shirts and reds by Michael Parenti

Inventing Reality

American Fascists by Chris Hedges

Loaded by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz

Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnes

American Cosmic - Diana Walsh Pasulka

The Administration of Fear by Paul Verilio

The Information Bomb

Shambhala

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Creative Friendships with writer Lauren Lavin

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 08:01:00 GMT

Author Lauren Lavin, of the upcoming essay collection "The Third Beat", joins host Joshua Turek to talk about books her friends and contemporaries have written, comics, zines, and the mutuality of creative relationships and how they've fostered her own journey as a writer.

books talked about include:

until it feels right - emily costa

girl on girl

House Next Door - Anne Rivers Siddons

Comet Bus #57 by Aaron Comet Bus

I wish that there was something I could quit

popgun war - Ferrel Dalrimple

Girl in the World - Caroline Cash

It’s too late to say I’m sorry by Joey Comeau

The Girl Who Couldn’t Come - Joey Comeau

Still Alive by LJ Pemperton

Service by John Tottenham

Double Black Diamond by Miles Klee and Mads Gobbo

Lulu in Hollywood - Louise Brooks

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Escaping Punitive Christianity with Brian Recker

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:44:42 GMT

Host Joshua Turek is joined by guest Brian Recker, author of the new book "Hell Bent" (How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love). They discuss the books Brian read while researching his own, which details redefining his own spirituality and Christian beliefs. Discussing masculinity and softening the world, the two detail their own unique paths toward similar conclusions.

to sign up for Josh’s next Zoom weekend poetry workshop on Jan 18&19 check joshuaturek.com

Books Talked About Include:

Debt by David Graeber

Hell Bent by Brian Recker

Adam’s Return by Richard Rohr

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the Wheel by Renate Wind

A Peoples History of the United States by Howard Zinn

the will to change bell hooks

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Mutual Aiding with Political Commentator Lily Eagle

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:01:18 GMT

Political commentator Lily Eagla joins host Joshua Turek to discuss mutual aid, retraining the offline world back into your brain, and books that radicalized her.

books

mutual aid by dean spade

Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini

The Year of Living Biblically

Our American Israel

100 years was on palestine by rashid kalidi

the autobiography of malcolm x

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Resurrecting Collections with writer/director Larry Charles

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:01:00 GMT

Guest Larry Charles and host Joshua Turek talk SF and LA noir, science fiction grounded on Earth, Larry's new memoir Comedy Samurai . They talk personal growth, the transformative power of literature and how reading can serve as both a source of pleasure and a means of preserving sacred knowledge.

for Josh's poetry books, they're on sale until the end of the year, signed copies available domestically at joshuaturek.com

Books Talked About Include:

Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson

City of Night by John Reshy

crime writers: edward bunker, jim thompson, david goodis, raymond chandler, dashiell hammet

The Woman Chase by Charles WIliford

The Ripley Books by Patricia Highsmith

In a Lonely Place by Dorothy Hughes

The Motel Life by Willy Vlauten

The Stochastic Man by Robert Silverberg

Service by John Tottenham

Ablutions by Patrick Dewitt

Days of the Locust by Nathaniel West

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Confronting Reality w/ author Yasha Levine

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:01:17 GMT

Guest Yasha Levine and Host Joshua Turek discuss everything from technofeudalism to pistachios.

San Francisco! For tickets Nov 1 to see Yasha's new documentary at Roxie Theater with live Q&A hosted by Joshua Turek here

For Josh's poetry books and his weekend Zoom workshop on Nov 8 & 9 visit his site

Books Talked About Include

Society of the Spectacle - Guy Debord

Surveillance Valley - Yasha Levine

The Image - Daniel Boorstijn

Neil Postman - Amusing ourselves to death

Raven Rock

Dead Cities - Mike Davis

Moderan - David Bunch

Shadow of the torture - Gene Wolf

The Dying Earth Series - Jack Vance sci fi

Cadillac Desert

The American Genocide

The End of th Myth

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The Beauty of the Ordinary with filmmaker Maddy Power

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:01:00 GMT

Recorded remotely from Bad Animal Books in Santa Cruz, CA. Joshua Turek and Maddy Power Maddy shares her personal experience of losing her home and books in the Eaton Canyon Fire in Alta Dena and the two books she grabbed before evacuating

To sign up to Joshua's Zoom Poetry Weekend Workshop visit joshuaturek.com

Books talked about include:

Werener Herzog's Guide for the Perplexed

Agnes Varda interviews

David Sedaris “Theft and Finding”

bell hooks "The Will to Change"

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What I'm Reading on My Comedy Tour

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 22:53:21 GMT

On a pit stop in Santa Cruz with family between dates on my comedy tour (Get your tickets to my San Diego show Friday and L.A., SF, Eureka, next week then Seattle and Portland) before heading up the west coast. I get into a little of what I'm reading, my favorite bookstores so far on this trip, and why I took this podcast off of Spotify (hint they're evil). Come to my shows if I'm in your city!

All my shows

7/11 San Diego

7/16 L.A.

7/18&19 SF

7/20 Eureka

7/25 Seattle

8/15 Portland

8/21-23 Boise

8/27 Tulsa

8/28 Kansas City

8/29 New Orleans

9/6 Tucson

Books Talked About:

The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

Meet Me in the Bathroom

Perfect Victims - Mohammed El Kurd

Our American Israel - Amy Kaplan

One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This - Omar El Akkad

Blue Desert - Charles Bowden

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Field Trip to The Strand Bookstore in New York City

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 02:54:44 GMT

Officially on my comedy tour across the United States during particularly distressing times. It took six nights and five days but the morning after my first headlining show at Rodney's in Manhattan I managed some time to visit the staple bookstore of NYC "The Strand". CHICAGO my show at Zanies is tonight! Tickets are getting low. You can use discout code TUREK10 for $15.75 tickets here. The rest of my tour is here with more dates and cities to come so follow my bandsintown to get notified for when I come to yours. Tour dates below.

6/24 CHICAGO

6/27 PHILADELPHIA

6/29 DALLAS

7/11 SAN DIEGO

7/16 L.A.

7/18&19 SF

7/20 EUREKA

7/25 SEATTLE

8/15 PORTLAND

8/21-23 BOISE

8/27 TULSA

8/28 KANSAS CITY

8/29 NEW ORLEANS

9/6 TUCSON

9/18 TAMPA

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Infinite Jest Digest with podcaster Cam George (Talking Talk Tuah)

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:05:00 GMT

Comedian Cam George of Talking Talk Tuah now Talking Talk podcast discusses being mystified by Infinite Jest and encountering this red flag memed book with new eyes.

Joshua's U.S. comedy tour starts this Saturday in New York City. That's Saturday night June 21 at Rodney's on the Upper Eastside. Followed by Chicago on Tuesday June 24 at Zanies. Philadelphia June 27. Dallas June 29 and more. Get tickets now! For all things Joshua Turek go to joshuaturek.com

Books Talked About Include:

Infinite jest

sound and the fury

all the pretty horses

blood meridian

lonesome dove

confederacy of dunces

hunger games

girl with the dragon tattoo

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EMT Hugo of Seize the Means Shirts

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:56:02 GMT

Catch Joshua on tour! New York City show is in two weeks at Rodney's on 6/21! Chicago at Zainies 6/24! Philly at Next in Line Comedy 6/27! And More....Just added New Orleans! Boise! Coming soon with more dates. Follow my Bandsintown to be notified! And order signed copies of my poetry book

EMT and Political Creator Hugo of Seize the Means Shirts talks reading 70 books a year with host Joshua Turek. Hard to stomach nonfiction and breezy science fiction.

Books talked about include

autobiography of malcom x

how to hide an empire

jakarta method

assada

The word for world is forest

the poppy fields

parable of the sower

parable of the talents

naomi klein shock doctrine

Washington Bullets

King Leopolds ghost

Cobalt Red

the rediscovery of america

the indigenous peoples history of the united states

black against empire

manufacturing consent

inventing reality

fight like hell

uprising by haddix

Braiding sweetgrass

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Writer Evgenia Kovda on Philip K. Dick

Fri, 23 May 2025 07:01:00 GMT

Catch Joshua Turek on comedy tour this summer of 2025. To get notified of cities and dates follow his bandsintown and to buy signed copies of his new poetry book "Of Dumb Importance" on joshuaturek.com

Writer and filmmaker Evgenia Kovda goes in depth with host Joshua Turek on sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick. Did this troubled man predict the future we are living in now or was he the architect of it for bad actors? Evgenia and Joshua discuss the writings of Dick as well as their own serendipitous interactions with each other in changing neighborhoods over the years as well as Josh's visit to her podcast with Yasha Levine "In Bed with the Russians". Check out Evgenia and Yasha's Substack it's a favorite of Turek Books!

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Musician and Author Britt Warner (Josh's sister)

Wed, 14 May 2025 07:01:00 GMT

Josh's sister musician and author Britt Warner brings books that make her miss L.A. and her own novella "Swimming with Horses".

For tickets to Josh's Summer of Discontent Comedy Tour 2025 click here and to get a signed copy of the new poetry book "Of Dumb Importance" click here international friends who want to pay normal shipping for the book can get it here

Books talked about include:

Swimming with horses: Britt Warner

Slow Days and Fast Company : Eve Babitz

Didion vs Babitz book

Of Dumb Importance by Joshua Turek

James Gandolfini Bio : Jason Bailey

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Comedian Steve Hernandez on Defying Conventional Narratives

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 13:19:30 GMT

Comedian and producer of Chatterbox comedy, Steve Hernandez, talks books about rich men seducing young women, polyamory, his own experiences with fatherhood, open relationships, comedy, and navigating his passions toward the shrinking prizes of industry. For even more on Steve check him out here

Joshua Turek is going on a 2025 summer comedy tour! New York City is first on June 21! Chicago, Philly, Dallas, San Diego, L.A., Eureka, Portland, Seattle, Tulsa, Kansas City, with more dates soon! Follow for tickets and new dates on his bandsintown or to buy tickets directly on his web site where his new poetry book "Of Dumb Importance" should be out any second now and is available for pre-order!

Books Talked About Include:

Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams fb tell all book

My Life in Heavy Metal by Steve Almond

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy

Open by Rachel Krantz

More by Molly Roden Winter

Writers and Lovers by Lily King

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Zealot by Reza Aslan

The Bible the book of James

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Musician and Sign Language Interpreter Dominique Matelson On the Idea of a Fantasy

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:01:00 GMT

Catch Joshua Turek on his comedy tour this summer! Tickets are up for shows in NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, L.A., Eureka, Seattle, Portland, Kansas City with more dates and cities coming soon at joshuaturek.com . First 3 in each city to send proof of tickets to acalmquietplace@gmail.com get a free copy of Josh's new poetry book after the corresponding show!

Musician and sign language interpreter Dominique Matelson joins host Joshua Turek to discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of fantasy and how books from I Spy to Clarice Lespecter have helped her integrate her well being and creativity. Check out Dominique here https://www.instagram.com/dominiquematelson/ also wait until the very end to hear the song of hers "When I Told a Lie" they reference at the beginning of the conversation (music video on YouTube).

Books Talked About Include:

Books talked about include

I SPY Fantasy/Mystery

Clarice lespecter’s Complete Stories

No One Belongs Here More Than You Miranda July

All Fours Miranda July

Crime and Punishment

Confederacy of Dunces

Dunce Mary Ruefle

Alex’s journal Alex Cleo Rouboud

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Bibliomancy with Author Sophie Strand

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 07:01:00 GMT

Catch Joshua Turek on comedy tour this summer! Tickets are up for shows in NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego, L.A., Seattle, Portland, Kansas City with more dates and cities coming soon at joshuaturek.com

Author of "The Body is a Doorway", Sophie Strand talks with host Joshua Turek about her memoir, mycellial networks, books as guides to our psychic lives, and how both of them want to open bookstores. Check out Sophie's work here https://sophiestrand.com/

Books talked about include:

Plants in the imaginale realm

Ursula Leguin The Language of the Night

A Distant Mirror by Barbara Tuchman

Joan of Arc by herself and her witnesses

Red Rising Series by Pierce Brown

Lonesome Dove Larry McMurtry

Books by Larry Mcmurtry

the One Inside Sam Shepherd

Joseph Campbell myth books

Confederacy of Dunces

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Filmmaker Joe Carnahan and I Eventually Get to Books

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 07:05:00 GMT

Film Director Joe Carnahan (The Grey, Narc, RIP -new movie starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) and host Joshua Turek discuss a wide range of topics from the LA wildfires to never meeting your heroes. Joe brings a Noam Chomsky book and tells of why he can't read James Ellroy books anymore. They get into Trump and Biden and the U.S. imperial apparatus but also have a good time.

Want to see Joshua Turek performing live? Visit joshuaturek.com for summer comedy tour dates! So far, San Diego, Seattle, Kansas City tickets are available with L.A., New York and more coming soon!

Check out Joe Carnahan's new movie "Shadow Force" and upcoming after that "RIP" starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

Books Talked About Include:

The Myth of American Idealism noam chomsky

Martyr Kaveh Akbar

Jonathan Franzen The Corrections and Freedom

All The Shahs Men Stephen Kinzer

Books by Larry McMurtry

Some New Kind of Kick by Kid Congo Powers

Werner Herzog Every Man For Himself and God Against All

God Is Not Great Christophr Hitchens

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Sonoran Desert Biologist Robert Villa on How We're All Roommates

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 07:05:00 GMT

Host Joshua Turek sits down with Desert Scientist and Reptile Expert, Robert Villa, who is also in Community Outreach at the University of Arizona Desert Labs at Tumamoc Hill in Tucson. Their conversation spans, Sonoran Desert books, Pablo Neruda poems, and the interdependence of all life on Earth.

Joshua is going on comedy tour this summer! Check dates on his site joshuaturek.com so far tickets are already available for San Diego and Seattle.

Bestiary-Pablo Neruda

The Desert -John Van Dycke

Blue Desert - Charles Bowden

Killing the Hidden Waters - Charles Bowden

-ofelia Zepeda

Debt - David Graeber

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What I'm Reading These Days w/ Joshua Turek

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:01:00 GMT

Host Joshua Turek returns with a solo episode of Turek Books after a few months hiatus and his relocation to Tucson. He discusses the very timely book, "Technofeudalism" at length as it was the first pick for a book club on his Turek Books IG live. He also gets into what else he's reading. "Debt" by David Graeber, "The Bible" by whoever wrote it, "All the Shahs Men" a book on U.S. interference in Iran, and "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry whom Joshua pines away about for awhile. Also mentioned are McMurtry's books "All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers" and "Moving On" and the next book club pick "The Death and Life of the Great American Cities" by Jane Jacobs. Joshua is touring comedy this summer and releasing a new poetry book. Be sure to let him know which cities he should visit, follow his Substack @joshuaturek and be sure to check joshuaturek.com for tour dates and signed copies of his debut poetry book.

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Wildfire Edition w/ Joshua Turek

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 23:59:05 GMT

$5 from every poetry book sold on my website this week going to wildfire relief in la www.joshuaturek.com I sit in a park in Tucson and discuss this week’s events and my own strange unmoored evacuation and plans for the show. Thank you for listening and stay safe

books talked about include

Sam Shepard

larry mcmurtry

Jane Jacobs

my poetry book

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Used Bookseller Tim Conrad Horner Talks Found Objects

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:18:11 GMT

Used bookseller, musician, and writer, Tim Conrad Horner joins Joshua to talk paranoid books, books without faces on the covers, and a project he is building with objects he has found inside of old books.

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Author Lexi Kent-Monning Brings Cookies

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 08:01:48 GMT

"Burden of Joy" author Lexi Kent-Monning joins host Joshua Turek to discuss her novel that Joshua loved. She talks about coming from a long line of book readers and writers and her Esalen hot springs adventures growing up in Central California. Lexi shares a wide ranging selection of books from the Divorce novel "Liars" to a YA novel that she hopes will make Josh fall in love with Los Angeles again. She also baked delicious coconut chocolate chip cookies.

For all things Lexi Kent-Monning visit https://www.lexikentmonning.com/ and her ig https://www.instagram.com/lexicola/?hl=en

For Joshua Turek's tour dates and poetry book check out joshuaturek.com but also for more of his writing its free on his new Substack https://joshuaturek.substack.com/

Books Talked About Include:

Liars by Sarah Manguso

All Fours by Miranda July

Bruha wendy c ortiz

The Burden of Joy

The Passion According to GH by Clarice Lespecter

A Fortune for Your Disaster by Hanif Abdurraqib

Richard Brautigan

His daughters book about him

Dan Fante’s memoir

Dangerous Angels by Francesca

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Steal Back Your Time w/ Poet Ceasar K Avelar

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:32:32 GMT

Poet Laureate of Pomona, CA, Ceasar K. Avelar joins Joshua to talk about reading poems on your lunch break and finding moments to be creative even when the world is encouraging the opposite. He and Joshua speak to the revolutionary act of reading and how the nerd stigma is only there to oppress the working class.

Bozeman, Montana! Joshua is headlining two shows this friday 11/22/2024 at the Last Best Comedy Club tix here https://www.lastbestcomedy.com/events/friday-night-stand-up-with-joshua-turek

For all things Ceasar K. Avelar visit here: https://www.instagram.com/ceasarkavelar/ and for his book: https://www.elmartillopress.com/product-page/god-of-the-air-hose

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Talent Manager Drew Shenfield talks Our Times of Conspiracy

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 08:05:39 GMT

Hollywood Talent Manager at Mosaic Entertainment and local journalist (@officialplayadelrey), Drew Shenfield talks with Joshua about becoming better men through reading books whose passages they can't remember, navigating a day and age ripe with conspiracy, and westerns. They discuss bell hooks "The Will to Change", the early 2000's book "Them" by Jon Ronson, and Adam Curtis documentaries. Also mentioned is their mutual love of public transit in Los Angeles and how they met playing beach volleyball.

for all things Joshua visit his site joshuaturek.com and check out his new substack for longer form thoughts and fragments https://substack.com/@joshuaturek its free!

Books talked about include:

The Will to Change by bell hooks

Them by Jon Ronson

Adam Curtis Documentaries “Bitter Lake”

Hate inc by Matt Taibi

Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges

Society of the Spectacle by Guy

Welcome to Hard Times

Islands of Abandonment

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Dublin Doppelganger w/ Killian Sunderman

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 08:05:45 GMT

Author of new book "Country Fail" Irish comedian, Killian Sundermann joins Joshua to talk about Irish authors, how he learned parents are people too, In-N-Out Burger, his time living in New York City and the process of writing his first book for a legendary publisher.

To find Killian's work visit his instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/killersundy/?hl=en

Hosted by Joshua Turek

Books Talked About Include:

Country Fail by Killian Sundermann

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

A Moveable Feast - Hemmingway

A Swim Two Birds - Flan O'Brien

A Tired Policeman

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Motley Crue to bell hooks w/ Danielle Henderson

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 07:05:12 GMT

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/@joshuaturek

For more on Danielle Henderson check her out here http://daniellehenderson.net/

Books talked about include:

Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart

Bad Pharma - Ben Goldacre

All Fours - Miranda July

The Dirt - Motley Crue

The Road - Cormac Mccarthy

Feminist Theory from margin to center - bell hooks

Killing the Black Body - Dorothy Roberts

Angela Davis Books - All of them, Abolition Democracy, Freedom is a Constant Struggle

Amelia Gray - Museum of the Weird

The Sellout - Paul Beatty

Running with Scissors - Augusten Burroughs

Villette - Charlotte Bronte

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Deepening the Mystery w/ Darby Hudson (Poet)

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 07:05:16 GMT

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/13607144

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

for 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 city

For Darby Hudson's work check out https://www.darbyhudsonart.com/ and his instagram https://www.instagram.com/darby_hudson/?hl=en

Books Talked About Include:

Earth Abides - Josh

The Road - Cormac

Red Dragon - Thomas Harris

The Housemaid Freida Mcfadden

The Broom of the System DFW - Josh

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

The Bedtime Leunig by Michael Leunig

Bukowski

Celine

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A Redrawn Map w/ Larry Charles (Seinfeld, Curb, Borat, YouTube)

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:05:55 GMT

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/13607144

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

for signed copies of Joshua's poetry book his site joshuaturek.com

For 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 Brown

Confessions of a Cultist by Andrew Sarris

Catch 22

Last Exit to Brooklynn

All Fours by Miranda July (Josh)

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Miranda July in October w/ Ruby Caster (Screenwriter)

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 07:05:43 GMT

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 July

The Ego Tunnel by Thomas Metzinger

Bluets by Maggie Nelson

Star Child

Joshua 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/13607144

CHICAGO 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=odcleoeventsincollection

for Josh's poetry book etc visit: joshuaturek.com

For updates on Ruby Caster's work check out her ig: https://www.instagram.com/rubycaster/?hl=en

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Semisonic's Lead Singer Dan Wilson (Songwriter of Closing Time, Someone Like You, Not Ready to Make Nice)

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:15:04 GMT

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/13607144

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

for 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_music

Books Talked About Include:

The Real Book

Parable of the Sower

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Saltines and Ginger Ale with Aubrey Bellamy (Writer)

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 07:05:34 GMT

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.com

For Aubrey Bellamy's work please check out her twitter https://x.com/aubreybell

Books talked about include:

Overdue by Amanda Oliver

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Golden Days by Carolyn See

U Up? by Catie Disabato

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Characters Having a Hard Time w/ Cory Loykasek (Dress Up Gang)

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 07:05:53 GMT

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.com

For 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/

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Chekhov’s Uber Drivers w/ Chris Gorbos (Comedian)

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 07:05:03 GMT

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.com

Chris 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/

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Sex Quacks and Esoterics with Dian Hanson (Taschen Books)

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 07:03:40 GMT

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

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Summer is a Slog with Lisa Kwon (Teen Vogue)

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 07:05:50 GMT

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.com

Lisa’s writing can be found first at https://www.instagram.com/lisaskwon?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

books talked about include:

”The Guest” by Emma Cline

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan

The Image by Daniel J Boorstin

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Women Writing Men w/ Biniam Bizuneh (Dave FX)

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:30:33 GMT

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=en

Books talked about include

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarhos

Sapiens

The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P by Adelle Waldman

Replay by Ken Grimwood

Empire of Illusions by Chris Hedges

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

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R Rated Jurassic Park with Simon Gibson (Amazon's Inside Jokes)

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 07:30:21 GMT

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=en

Web Site: https://simongibsonisfunny.com/

Signed copies of Josh's debut poetry book and tour dates are here:

joshuaturek.com

Books talked about include:

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

How to Succeed Without Really Crying by Carol Leifer

God of the Air Hose by Cesar Avelar

L.A. Confidential by Elmore Leonard

Kurt Vonnegut's first book

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Jurassic Honeymoon with Noah Findling ("Platonic" writer)

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 07:05:28 GMT

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.com

Check out Noah on instagram @noahbuilttheark and noahfindlingcomedy.com

Books talks bout include:

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

The Sphere by Michael Crichton

Portnoy's Compaint by Philip Roth

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

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Books Are Bad Punishment with Harper-Rose Drummond (Tea Time Podcast)

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 07:05:46 GMT

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=en

podcast yt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HhYu0Ui4io

Signed 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-studios

Please 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. Maas

A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sara J. Maas

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

The Image by Daniel J Boorstin

Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges

Jumping the Nail by Eve Bunting

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Irish Goodbyes to Ride the Bus with Miles Klee (Rolling Stone)

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 07:05:26 GMT

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 Turek

for touring dates and his debut poetry book visit joshuaturek.com

Books 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

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One Love Live Laugh with Allen Strickland Williams (Finding My Audience Podcast)

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 07:10:41 GMT

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 Tallent

Driven to Distraction by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey

Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman

Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut

Dead Cities by Mike Davis

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

You can find all things Allen Strickland WIlliams here https://www.allenstricklandwilliams.com/

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Keeping Your Gold with Justin Simien (Dear White People)

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 07:10:00 GMT

"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!

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Actor and Activist Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs)

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 07:15:07 GMT

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.

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Admiring Inaccesible Brilliance with Aparna Nancherla (Bojack Horseman)

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 07:15:36 GMT

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.

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Last Time Someone Read to You with Jamie Lynn Harris

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 07:15:20 GMT

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 Include

An Apprenticeship or the Book of Pleasures by Clarice Lispecter

Passing by Nella Larsen

The Sellout by Paul Beatty

Anna Karenina by Tolstoy

Say I Am You by Rumi

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Illegal Thought Experiments with Megan Koester (Grifthorse Podcast)

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 07:15:07 GMT

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!

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Bake That Sh*t Out with Kimberly Clark

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 07:15:17 GMT

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 memoir

Dilla Time biography by Dan Charnas

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Slumberland by Paul Beatty

Black is the New White memoir by Paul Mooney

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Come On Kindle Light My Fire with Peter Ditzler and Cam George

Tue, 28 May 2024 07:35:03 GMT

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!

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Dolphins Might Be Aliens with Bridey Elliott

Wed, 22 May 2024 07:30:14 GMT

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 SA

Books Talked About Include:

Five Personality Patterns byt Steven Kessler

Voices in the Ocean by Susan Casey

Walking Through Clear Water in a Pool Painted Black by Cookie Mueller Memoir

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

Kinship with All of Life J. Allen Boone

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Love in the Time of Tolstoy with Jeff Loveness (Antman Quantumania, Rick and Morty)

Tue, 14 May 2024 08:53:51 GMT

"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!

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Trees and Spider Aliens w/ Kurt Braunohler

Tue, 07 May 2024 08:25:18 GMT

“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

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"Life Wants You Dead" with Evan Waite

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:16:11 GMT

“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 Ascher

LIFE WANTS YOU DEAD by Evan Waite

THE STENCH OF HONOLULU by Jack Handy

WATCHMEN by Alan Moore

FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS by Hunter S. Thompson

AMERICA by Jon Stewart and team

IS THIS ANYTHING? by Jerry Seinfeld

48 LAWS OF POWER by Robert Greene

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Every Book a NYT Bestseller with Ali Macofsky

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:06:16 GMT

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

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A Fine Cry, Long and Loud with Ellory Smith

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 08:32:27 GMT

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.

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Hotter Before Social Media with JT Parr (Chad and JT)

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:34:42 GMT

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 Leonard

THE GREAT MOVIES by Roger Ebert

JFK: COMING OF AGE IN THE AMERICAN CENTURY 1917-1956 by Fredrik Logevall

JOE COLLEGE by Tom Perrotta

EROSION by Terry Tempest Williams

AMERICAN BACHELORS by Michael Rababy

INFINITE JEST, A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'll NEVER DO AGAIN, BROOM OF THE SYSTEM etc by David Foster Wallace

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Sally Rooney with Alyssa Limperis

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:16:00 GMT

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

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Comedian Chris Estrada (This Fool)

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:16:05 GMT

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.

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Even JLo Has a YouTube with Akilah Hughes

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 08:11:24 GMT

Akilah Hughes is a writer, actor, author, and podcast host who joins Joshua to talk about how they both re-read “The Great Gatsby” after high school and enjoyed it a lot more when there wasn’t a test involved. They discuss her memoir “Obviously” and the evolution of her feelings toward it five years after its publishing and the tragic loss of her collaborator on it. Also covered are the impactful books of her adulthood, delving into everything including James Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time” to the Bojack Horseman creator’s book (Raphael Bob Waksberg) “Someone Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory” and David Graeber’s “Debt: The First Five Thousand Years” which made Joshua feel a lot better about his credit score!

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I Always Assume People Like Me with comedian Amy Silverberg

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 08:45:31 GMT

The multi-talented writer, comedian, and professor joins Joshua to talk about how authors like Joan Didion and Lorrie Moore helped open her eyes to the life experiences she could one day write about as a renowned short story author herself and soon to be published novelist. Books talked about include but are not limited to "Birds of America" by Lorrie Moore, "Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion, "Sing To It" by Amy Hempel, "Why Did I Ever?" by Mary Robison "Willful Creatures" by Aimee Bender and "A Swim in a Pond in the Rain" and "CivilWarLand in Bad Decline" by George Saunders because Turek Books will begin and won't ever stop with Saunders.

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