Skylight Books Podcast Series

SKYLIT: Lili Anolik, "DIDION & BABITZ"

Ace interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis sits down with Lili Anolik to discuss Anolik's new book Didion & Babitz. Anolik talks about the complicated relationship between authors Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, their unique perspectives on the Feminist Movement, and how they were each consumed by and motivated each other. Anolik also tells the fascinating story of how she discovered the complexity of this relationship to begin with. If you're a fan of either author, this isn't an episode to miss!

Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck! The Piano Wire

SKYLIT: Danzy Senna, "COLORED TELEVISION"

Premier fiction interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis is back in conversation, this time with the amazing Danzy Senna, to talk about Senna's new novel Colored Television.

 

In this episode, Senna reads from her book, followed by an amazing talk about multicultural identity, Senna's relationship to humor, and who she would choose to soundtrack the novel.

 

Listen in and then stop by Skylight Books on Wednesday, September 4 to see Senna read in person!

 

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Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck the Piano Wire

SKYLIT: Geoff Shackelford, GOLF ARCHITECTURE FOR NORMAL PEOPLE

It's a golfing extravaganza as Geoff Shackelford joins Skylight's Tyler Austin to discuss his book Golf Architecture for Normal People! Together, they talk golf course design, the economic and ecological impacts of a golf course that people don't often think about, and how golf as a game is becoming more accessible to lower-class players. 

 

It's a great episode about golf...for normal people!

 

Produced by Mick Kowaleski and Tyler Austin

Music by Duck, the Piano Wire

SKYLIT: Maggie Nelson, LIKE LOVE

Join us for a conversation with Skylight favorite Maggie Nelson, whose newest collection of essays, Like Love, has already made its way into our booksellers' hearts. One of those booksellers, Elodie Saint-Louis, sat down with Maggie to talk about Like Love, her thoughts on genre distinctions with writing, and much more!

 

Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski

 

Music by Duck the Piano Wire

 

BUY LIKE LOVE HERE: https://www.skylightbooks.com/book/9781644452813

SKYLIT: Tommy Orange, WANDERING STARS

It's a sneak peek special! Skylight's own Elodie sits down with the incredible Tommy Orange (There, There) to talk about his new novel Wandering Stars (Feb. 27)...listen in for a reading of an excerpt, Tommy's thoughts on Native American representation and why he's hopeful for the future.

To pre-order Wandering Stars: https://www.skylightbooks.com/book/9780593318256

Edited by Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck the Piano Wire

SKYLIT: Will Harris, SURELY YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS

I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.

 

Resident film buff Tyler Austin sits down with Will Harris, pop culture journalist, to discuss the interviews that comprise Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane! Together, they discuss some of Will's favorite interviews and some truly great behind-the-scenes scoops from one of the greatest comedies of all time.

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Produced by Tyler Austin and Mick Kowaleski.

 

Music by Duck, the Piano Wire.

SKYLIT: Rosecrans Baldwin, EVERYTHING NOW

Skylight royalty Rosecrans Baldwin joins Elodie to talk about his Los Angeles classic Everything Now. He talks about what makes L.A. a city-state, what makes it such a beautiful and conflicting place to be, and his three quintessential L.A. reads! (Spoilers below!)

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Produced by Elodie Saint-Louis and Mick Kowaleski

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire

Closing music:  "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band

Rosecrans's Three L.A. Reads:

• Mike Davis, Ecology of Fear
• Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
• Myriam Gurba, Mean

 

SKYLIT: James Park, CHILI CRISP

Hello listeners! On this episode Tyler talks to James Park, food writer and author of the new cookbook "Chili Crisp: 50+ Recipes to Satisfy Your Spicy, Crunchy, Garlicky Cravings" about all things-- you guessed it-- chili crisp. 

 

Produced by Tyler Austin & Alena Saunders

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band

SKYLIT: Elliott Kalan, MANIAC OF NEW YORK

Hello listeners! In this episode, Tyler chats with Elliott Kalan, co-host of wildly successful bad movie podcast The Flop House, Emmy Award winning head writer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and the creative force behind the comics MANIAC OF NEW YORK and MANIAC OF NEW YORK: THE BRONX IS BURNING. 

Elliott discusses his earliest inspirations for Maniac Harry, a masked and immortal killer, whose murderous rampages become a semi-regular occurrence/nuisance to New Yorkers, his rules of satire and thoughts on storytelling as a vehicle for social messaging, plus why THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 is his favorite film and a glorious portrait of '70s New York. Lastly, Elliott gives some insight into the ongoing writer's strike and how to support those most impacted by it. 

Links to MANIAC OF NEW YORK and MANIAC OF NEW YORK: THE BRONX IS BURNING

https://www.skylightbooks.com/book/9781949028713 

https://www.skylightbooks.com/book/9781956731040

Link to the Entertainment Community Relief Fund: 

https://entertainmentcommunity.org/

Produced by Tyler Austin, Mick Kowaleski, & Alena Saunders

Opening music: "Optimism (Instrumental)" by Duck the Piano Wire
Closing music: "Rule of 3s (Solemnity Child)" by Elastic No-No Band

The Better Than the Movie guys will be at the American Cinematheque's FRIEND OF THE FEST! They'll be hosting a screening of Sally Potter's ORLANDO (1992) on Sunday, August 27th, at the Los Feliz 3. It's right next door to Skylight, come hang out and watch a movie with the BTTM gang! 

Tickets found here: https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/the-skylight-books-podcast-presents-orlando-8-27-23/

SKYLIT: Artem Mozgovoy, SPRING IN SIBERIA

Artem Mozgovoy discusses his debut novel, Spring in Siberia, with the managing editor of Red Hen Press, Dr. Kate Gale. The work has been praised by Publishers Weekly as a "superb debut", "touching and well written, genuinely compelling and convincing" by Sir Stephen Fry, and "a capacious work of vision, courage, and thoroughness" by Ocean Vuong.

Artem takes Kate through his childhood in central Siberia, his career starting as a cadet reporter at 16 and the editor-in-chief by 26, and, eventually, his shift into creative writing.

Produced by Tyler Austin and Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck the Piano Wire

SKYLIT: Millie De Chirico & Quatoyiah Murray, TCM UNDERGROUND

Cinephiles, tune in! In this episode, Tyler Austin hosts Millie De Chirico and Quatoyiah Murray, co-writers of TCM Underground, a movie-lover's guide to 50 of the most campy, kitschy, shocking, and weirdly wonderful cult films you need to see.

Millie and Quatoyiah take the Ty-Guy through the cult classics of the Turner Classic Movie series, and discuss everything from writing with a partner to buying Salo DVDs from the Italian Dark Web.

Produced by Tyler Austin and Mick Kowaleski

Music by Duck the Piano Wire.

SKYLIT: Charles Ardai of Hard Case Crime

Listen here, gumshoes and femme fatales, we’re gonna give you the straight story on the QT and very hush hush. Skylight’s own torpedo, Tyler, tangles with Charles Ardai, mystery writer and founder of Hard Case Crime, a publishing imprint re-releasing classics of the pulp underworld and modern takes on the time-tested genre. Charles spills the beans about his journey into the publishing world, what it’s like to meet and work with your literary heroes, how he writes his own fiction, and when he knew the whole endeavor would not only survive but thrive. Over nearly two decades, the beautifully hand-painted covers of Hard Case Crime paperbacks have become synonymous with a mark of quality and a stamp of approval for readers around the world. This is the inside scoop on how it all came to be.

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Produced by Mick Kowaleski and Tyler Austin

Music by Duck, the Piano Wire

SKYLIT: Alex Pappademas, QUANTUM CRIMINALS

Fire in the hole! Any major dude will tell you that this podcast is a hit. Were you thinking of skipping? Only a fool would say that! That's pretzel logic.

On this episode, we host king of the world Alex Pappademas as he discusses his new Steely Dan book QUANTUM CRIMINALS with the razor boy himself, Tyler Austin. Hop in your midnite cruiser, turn that heartbeat over again, and hang with Alex as he discusses doing the dirty work with illustrator Joan Lemay and everything and anything Steely! Then do it again, night by night. 

If you like this episode, make sure you stop by Skylight Books on May 31st to see Alex live and in person!

Produced by Mick Kowaleski.

Music by Duck the Piano Wire.

SKYLIT: Kristen Lopez, ”But Have You Read the Book?”

One-third of the Better Than the Movie gang, Tyler Austin, sits down with Kristen Lopez to talk about her book of 52 essential page-to-film adaptations. In But Have You Read the Book?, presented by Turner Classic Movies, Lopez explores just what makes these works classics of both the page and screen, and why each made for an exceptional adaptation—whether faithful to the book or exemplifying cinematic creative license.  

Produced by Mick Kowaleski and Tyler Austin

Music by Duck the Piano Wire.

Better Than the Movie, Ep. 3: THE SISTERS BROTHERS w/ Alena Saunders

It's Guest O'Clock, pardners! Skylight's own Alena Saunders (of LIT ANGELES fame) drops in to the back room to talk about one of her favorite books, The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt, and its 2018 film adaptation directed by Jacques Audiard. The conversation gets heated in this one...Conflict between the BTTM Boys?? Say it ain't so!

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Produced by Mick Kowaleski and Justin Remer

Music by Duck the Piano Wire.