Host Jacob Shymanski and Red Széll reflect on authors who take big risks in their storytelling, everything from subject matter to writing styles and killing off significant characters. Books mentioned in this episode include: • “The First Law Series” and “The Heroes” by Joe Abercrombie • “Brighton Rock” and “The End of the Affair” by Graham Greene • “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman • by Joe Abercrombie • “The Road” and “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy • “Flesh” by David Szlay • “Game of Thrones” by George R.R. Martin • “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” and “The Adventure of the Empty House” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle • “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by J. K. Rowling • “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie • “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift • “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn • “Patriot” by Alexei Navalny • “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov • “Ball Four” by Jim Bouton and Leonard Shecter This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

In 2025, music writer Niko Stratis released “The Dad Rock That Made Me a Woman,” a memoir-in-essays on transness, dad rock, and the music that saves us. Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Nico to learn about her journey as a trans woman through, her love for bands like Wilco, and her experience with narrating the audiobook. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll explore the complex modern cultural significance of books. They examine books as status objects, books as a refuge of long-form content and the way the publishing industry culturally punches above its weight. In the latter portion of the show, Jacob chats with Penny Leclair about her new book “Life with Jefferson: A Biography of a Guide Dog.” This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

This summer, Jess Janz is coming out with a new essay collection “The Table Where We Meet.” The book reflects on ‘Dinner with Strangers,’ an initiative she created that encourages strangers to gather and learn more about each other without ever talking about their work or jobs. Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Jess about the world of human interaction and belonging. She also reflects on her experience writing and narrating the audiobook. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Imani Thompson’s debut novel “Honey” is a wickedly funny and suspenseful thriller about a graduate student who murders bad men and justifies it in the name of feminism. Host Jacob Shymanski catches up with Imani to learn how the book explores issues of racialized systems and the Manosphere. In addition, Imani reflects on her research and process for writing her debut novel. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Host Jacob Shymanski celebrates Global Accessibility Awareness Day which is recognized on May 21. He looks back on past interviews with: Matisse Hamel-Nelis, co-author of the educational book called “Accessible Communications: Create Impact, Avoid Missteps and Build Trust” Craig Fitzpatrick, a blind ice hockey player who published an audiobook called “Finding the Puck: Leadership Lessons from My Journey Through Blind Hockey” Mark Pearson, the co-founder of the audiobook platform Libro.fm and Lachi, a recording artist and musician who released “I Identify as Blind: A Brazen Celebration of Disability Culture, Identity, and Power” This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Author Judy Batalion joins host Jacob Shymanski to talk about her debut historical fiction “The Last Woman of Warsaw.” The novel tells the story of two very different Jewish women in Warsaw in the late 1930s as they unexpectedly come together in search of their missing mentor. Judy and Jacob chat about the research she did to capture 1930s Warsaw, including the fashion, art and architecture. She also describes the real-life experiences that influenced the story and its characters. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

The monomyth, otherwise known as the “hero’s journey” is a story structure popularized by Joseph Campbell in his book “The Hero With A Thousand Faces.” It’s a classic storytelling pattern that has been repeated time and time again from myths around the world. Host Jacob Shymanski and guest Red Széll explore the concept of the monomyth and debate if it really is the human story society craves. In the latter portion of the show, Red reflects on his 100th episode of the “My Life In Books” podcast. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

Jennifer Chevalier’s fiction novel “The Winter Witch” captures the story of two sisters fleeing a curse aboard a bride ship from Normandy to 17th-century Quebec. Along the way they meet a mysterious witch who forces them to confront the truth of their past. Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Jennifer about the research she did to create the book’s setting and characters. She also shares a Shelfie, her three favourite books with a magical theme. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.

“Fireflies in Winter” is the latest novel by Eleanor Shearer. The book explores themes of survival, love and freedom and follows a Jamaican Maroon orphan and an escaped slave hiding in the wilderness. Host Jacob Shymanski chats with Eleanor about why she chose to write a historical literary fiction set in 17th century Nova Scotia. She also describes why she deliberately presented the book in a lyrical style of writing. This episode was produced by Andrika De Lanerolle.