“You have to decide for yourself. It is you who must live with the outcome.” ― Dhonielle Clayton
TOP5 Literary BIPOC Podcasts
Written by: Christine B.
May 20, 2021
There’s no joy like reading a good book. But when life pulls you away from your cozy reading chair, literary podcasts are the next best thing to scratch that literary itch. From discussions with authors to the light-hearted conversations of serious bibliophiles, here are 5 of the best literary podcasts by BIPOC creators.
Deadline City
In the Deadline City podcast, two New York-based authors unravel the mysteries of the publishing universe. They dig into subjects like YA fiction, editing, reading reviews, burnout, and so much more. The podcast is currently on its fourth season. Authors Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova are the hosts of this literary podcast. Between the two of them, they have 40 books published and under contract.
Dhonielle Clayton is the New York Times bestselling author of The Belles, and co-author of the Tiny Pretty Things series. A former teacher and middle school librarian, Dhonielle is co-founder of CAKE Literary, a creative development company whipping up decidedly diverse books for a wide array of readers, and COO of the non-profit, We Need Diverse Books.
Zoraida Córdova is the author of many fantasy novels including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate, and the Brooklyn Brujas series. Zoraida’s most recent release, Labyrinth Lost, won an International Latino Book award, was named a Best Book of 2016, and has been optioned by Paramount Studios. Zoraida is also the author of the upcoming Incendiary, to be published by Disney Hyperion in 2020.
Minorities in Publishing
Minorities in Publishing is an interview-format podcast from publishing professionals Bev Rivero & Jenn Baker, and other industry insiders, on diversity (or lack thereof) in the industry. In addition to talking about the greater systemic issues of marginalized representation in media, Minorities in Publishing also discusses guests’ personal experiences in their respective fields as well as what to expect as an emerging writer/professional in this business. Featured guests include VPs and executive editors, literary agents, marketers, authors, illustrators, and more. The podcast has been running bimonthly since 2014.
Jennifer Baker has almost 20 years of experience in publishing in a range of roles and is an instructor for Bay Path University’s Creative Nonfiction MFA. Her short story “The Pursuit of Happiness” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for 2017 by Newtown Literary Journal. Her YA novel “Forgive Me Not” will publish with Putnam Books for Young Readers in 2022.
Read or Dead
Read or Dead is a bi-weekly mystery fiction podcast dedicated to the worlds of mystery and thriller literature. Hosts Rincey Abraham and Katie McLain talk about everything related to mysteries, thrillers, suspense books, and even some book-adjacent news and topics. Listeners can expect to find thrilling book recommendations as well as conversations on genre-centric tropes and topics.
Reading Women Podcast
The Reading Women Podcast is grounded in its love of books by or about women. The bi-weekly podcast hosts author interviews from women around the world, each sharing their unique perspective on the world and literature. Each month features two episodes on the same theme—one highlighting a range of titles and one discussing two titles more in-depth—and two author interviews with women writers whose work we’ve loved. As well as the podcast, there’s also a weekly newsletter, a yearly Reading Women Award, and much more.
Black Chick Lit Podcast
The Black Chick Lit Podcast features in-depth discussions of the latest works penned by and for black women. Bibliophiles Danielle and Mollie talk prose, drink wine, and judge literary characters. The podcast has been running bi-monthly since August 2016.
