Behind The Stack
A book podcast with book lover Brett Benner of bretts.book.stack
on instagram and youtube.
Author interviews and bookish conversations to help add more to your TBR pile!
Watch/Listen to Behind the Stack on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/bretts.book.stack
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bretts.book.stack
Email:
brettsbookstack@gmail.com
Bookshop.org:
https://www.bookshop.org/shop/brettsbookstack
Episodes
41 episodes
Jonathan Park-Ramage, It's Not The End Of The World
In this episode Brett sits down with author Jonathan Parks-Ramage for his novel, "It's Not The End of he World". They discuss the incident that inspired this, children in the story and in life, and the central question he asked himself while wr...
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Season 2
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Episode 41
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41:07
Lucas Shaeffer, The Slip
In this episode Brett sits down with Lucas Shaeffer to discuss his debut novel,'The Slip'. They talk about the wide range of characters inhabiting the story's boxing gym, the town of Austin, the many facets of identity, and a possible fascinati...
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Season 2
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Episode 40
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44:12
Nicola Dinan, Disappoint Me
In this episode Brett sits down with Nicola Dinan to talk about her sophomore book, "Disappoint Me". They discuss identity and assimilation, what good fiction can do, food writing, and a serendipitous episode of "The White Lotus".Nicola...
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Season 2
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Episode 39
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52:34
Summer Book Vibes With Bernie Lombardi & Christopher Metts
In this episode Brett is joined again by bookstagram favs Bernie Lombardi & Christopher Metts to discuss books that play with the idea of summer whether as a vibe, an escape, or something you just might not be able to put down. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 38
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31:26
Jemimah Wei, The Original Daughter
In this episode Brett sits down with Jemimah Wei to talk about her debut book, "The Original Daughter". They discuss the competitive Singapore educational system, the currency of self in social media, and the importance of telling your own stor...
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Season 2
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Episode 37
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51:58
Milo Todd, The Lilac People
In this episode Brett sits down with Milo Todd to talk about his debut book, "The Lilac People". They discuss Berlin in the 30s before the ascension of Hitler, The Institute for Sexual Science, Hitler's enemy number one, and the explanation of ...
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Season 2
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Episode 36
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46:06
Virginia Evans, The Correspondent
In this episode Brett sits down with Virginia Evans to talk about her new book, "The Correspondent". They discuss a trip that changed her life, the gift of correspondence, and the absolute perfect actress to play Sybil. Virginia's i...
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Season 2
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Episode 35
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44:57
Jo Harkin, The Pretender
In this episode Brett sits down with author Jo Harkin for her novel, "The Pretender". They discuss her jump from speculative to historical fiction, bawdiness in the Tutor age, and the books that inspired her while writing this.
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Season 2
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Episode 34
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28:46
Sarah Damoff, The Bright Years
In this episode Brett sits down with author Sarah Damoff for her debut novel, "The Bright Years" The discuss her work as a social worker, her unique path to publishing the book, the challenge of loving someone with an addiction, and finding gra...
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Season 2
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Episode 33
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38:28
Denne Michele Norris, When The Harvest Comes
In this episode Brett sits down with Denne Michele Norris to discuss her debut novel, "When The Harvest Comes". They discuss introverts vs extroverts, finding freedom within the form of writing, fathers and their queer children, and the perfect...
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Season 2
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Episode 32
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39:57
Seán Hewitt, Open Heaven
In this episode Brett sits down with writer Seán Hewitt to talk about his debut fiction novel, "Open Heaven". They discuss the power of longing, the rite of passage of first crushes, and examine the relationship between gay and straight men.&nb...
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Season 2
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Episode 31
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38:48
Ray Nayler, Where the Axe Is Buried
In this episode Brett sits down with writer Ray Nayler for his new book, "Where The Axe is Buried". They discuss what fiction does well, the success in getting a book to engage you and parallels with current events, and what helps him stay hope...
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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36:18
Bonus EP! First Quarter Favs with Renee from ItsBookTalk
In this bonus episode Brett sits down with returning guest, Renee from ItsBookTalk where we discuss some of our first quarter favs as well as revisit books we spoke about at the beginning of the year we were looking forward to. Rene...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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57:16
Paul Rudnick, What Is Wrong With You?
In this episode Brett sits down with author Paul Rudnick to discuss his new book, "What Is Wrong With You?" They talk about the fun of writing a wide variety of characters, tech bros and technology, as well as the best junk food for the sweet t...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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43:02
Kristen Arnett, Stop Me If You've Heard This One
In this episode Brett sits down with author Kristen Arnett to discuss her new book, "Stop Me If You've Heard This One". They talk about clowns of course, the great state of Florida, but also following a non traditional writing path that can sti...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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37:12
Syed M Masood, The Last Man In Paradise
In this episode Brett sits down with author Syed M. Masood to discuss his new book, The Last Man In Paradise. They talk about religious conservatism in current times, blending comedy and tragedy in writing, and take a nostalgic walk through sit...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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29:44
Emily St. James, Woodworking
In this episode Brett sits down with Emily St. James to discuss her debut novel 'Woodworking' They talk about the title of the book and its relevance today, growing up in rural South Dakota, trans people in history, and why a sequel won't happe...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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42:17
Charlotte McConaghy, Wild Dark Shore
In this episode Brett sits down with Charlotte McConaghy to discuss her new book, 'Wild Dark Shore'. They talk about the island that inspired the fictional one from the novel, the way she visualizes her characters, the far reaching effects of c...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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31:01
Allison Epstein, Fagin The Thief
In this episode Brett sits down with Allison Epstein to discuss her new book, Fagin The Thief. They talk about the reimagining of literary characters, her inspiration for taking on Fagin, and agree on a pretty awful song from the musical Oliver...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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30:01
Alejandro Heredia, Loca
This week Brett sits down with author Alejandro Heredia to discuss his debut novel, 'Loca'. They talk about immigration, the book that made him a reader, creating characters not defined by race, gender or sexuality, and the importance of findin...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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30:24
Olivia Wolfgang-Smith, Mutual Interest
In this episode Brett sits down with Olivia Wolfgang-Smith to discuss her new novel, "Mutual Interest" which is an Indie Next Pick for February. We talk about the books third person narrative, gender roles, found families, capitalism, and findi...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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34:31
Kristin Koval, Penitence
In this episode Brett sits down with Kristin Koval to discuss her debut novel, “Penitence” which is the Barnes and Noble Discover pick for February. She talks about her former career as a lawyer, her path to becoming a writer, empathy...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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31:27
Cynthia Weiner, A Gorgeous Excitement
In this episode Brett sits down with Cynthia Weiner to discuss her debut novel, A Gorgeous Excitement. They talk about New York in the eighties, the shocking inspiration behind the book, and we learn if Cynthia is more an optimist or pessimist....
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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32:10
Tom Lamont, Going Home
In this episode Brett sits down with writer Tom Lamont to discuss his debut novel, "Going Home". They talk about the all consuming challenges of raising kids, writing as a novelist vs journalist, fathers, faith and being Jewish. To...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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32:55
2025 Book Preview With Renee from ItsBookTalk
On this first ep of the new year Brett is joined once again by Renee of ItsBookTalk to discuss ten books we're looking forward to in the upcoming year. Join us for a wide range of choices that promise to make 2025 another fantastic year in publ...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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30:06
