Episode 287 - The Stuff of Dreams (ft. Leah Hager Cohen)
The DTALKS Podcast
Have you ever wondered about what goes on at your local community theatre? Or have you, yourself, participated in community theatre and wished someone covered it in a book? Today's guest of the podcast, Leah Hager Cohen, set out to do just that in her 2001 release "The Stuff of Dreams". This book covered a specific performance in a season of plays for her local community theatre, dubbed one of the oldest community theatres in the country. Despite having many other fantastic releases since her '01 release, she's on the show today because 'The Stuff of Dreams' was a formative book for Joe...
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Episode 286 - The Picasso Curse (ft. Dan Gutman)
The DTALKS Podcast
What would you do if you found out you accidentally bought a priceless work of art? Would you sell it? Would you donate it? Would you get rid of it? Or would you keep it secret? In Dan Gutman's latest book, 'The Picasso Curse', Edwin discovers he's bought a Picasso original piece of art hidden behind a $10 Kobe Bryant poster. Little does he know this discovery is about to change his whole life! We're thrilled to welcome back Dan Gutman to the podcast to discuss all things about art, Picasso, and a lot of 'what ifs!?' Enjoy! New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Dan...
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Episode 285 - Bear and the Three Goldilocks (ft. Patrick Horne)
The DTALKS Podcast
Do you like fractured fairy tales? You know, when the story you think you know gets flipped turned upside down!? Yeah you do, you know you do and today's guest has got a fun one! On this episode of the podcast author Patrick Horne stops by to share his debut release, "Bear and the Three Goldilocks" and what path he took to get to this point. It's a fun conversation we think you'll really like so pull up a chair and enjoy! I've worn many hats throughout my adult life. I've been a tennis coach, a teacher and more recently a children's book author. Every experience...
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Episode 284 - The Last Voyage (ft. Brian McLaren)
The DTALKS Podcast
He's back but this time, he's going to Mars! Mars!? That's right, MARS! Good friend and author Brian McLaren returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book and first in the start of a brand-new sci-fi trilogy, The Last Voyage! Brian and I discuss the timeliness of this book and how it compares to his first fiction trilogy, 'A New Kind of Christian'. I think you'll really enjoy the episode and get ready to dive into a wonderful world of science fiction that, eerily, may not be that far fetched, enjoy! Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A...
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Episode 283 - Cults Like Us (ft. Jane Borden)
The DTALKS Podcast
Are you in a cult? Are you sure? Are you really sure? According to guest Jane Borden, our entire country was founded by a doomsday cult, the Puritans. Aaaaand if that didn't get your curiousity piqued for this latest episode of the podcast, then I don't know what will! In the latest episode of The DTALKS Podcast, Joe and Jane get into a conversation about the definition of a cult, some of the earliest examples, and how the world around us uses "Us vs Them" logic to drive people further and further apart. It's a startling realization in an age where everything seeks to divide us. It's a...
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Episode 282 - Guy talk (ft. Ben Feller)
The DTALKS Podcast
What do guys talk about? How do male friendships work? How can you be vulnerable in an environment where you've been conditioned to "bottle it up" and not share what's really on your mind? That's the topic of this episode of the podcast as we welcome back former guest, Ben Feller, to the show to discuss his latest project, the new podcast "Pour It On". Joe and Ben get into a great conversation about Ben's podcast, how much it means to him, and what he hopes listeners of the podcast get out of it. Enjoy! Ben Feller is an award-winning writer who covered two presidents and now...
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Episode 281 - Four Mothers (ft. Abigail Leonard)
The DTALKS Podcast
What is your perspective on motherhood? How does it change depending on where in the world you are? What would new mothers in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America have in common vs what would be unique to them? These are some of the talking points in Abigail Leonard's latest book, "Four Mothers" which highlights 4 different women's first year of motherhood. On the heels of both Mother & Father's Day, it's a great opportunity to discuss what a parent-child relationship looks like from day one. Enjoy! Abigail Leonard is an award-winning international reporter and news...
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Episode 280 - The Incorruptibles (ft. Lauren Magaziner)
The DTALKS Podcast
Are you ready for the next YA book series to completely obsess over!? That's what's in store for you when you pick up Lauren Magaziner's latest book, The Incorruptibles! Lauren stopped by the show this week to share her background as an author, working on this (among many other) projects, and some of her favorite memories writing this book. Check it out! Lauren is the internationally bestselling author of the Case Closed series, The Mythics series, the upcoming series The Incorruptibles (June 10, 2025), and three other stand-alone books for middle grade...
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Episode 279 - The Lemonade War (ft. Jacqueline Davies)
The DTALKS Podcast
Are you ready for Summer? Are you ready for Lemonade? Are you ready for a Lemonade WAR!? In this latest episode of the podcast, Joe sits down with author Jacqueline Davies to discuss the graphic novel adaptation of her book, 'The Lemonade War'. Joe and Jacqueline get into a fabulous conversation about the book that you won't want to miss! Enjoy! Jacqueline Davies has lived more places than she has fingers and toes. She moved six times before fifth grade, and she credits all that moving around with making her an excellent observer of people and life. (She’s also very good at...
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Episode 278 - A Risky Game (ft. Alyson Gerber)
The DTALKS Podcast
Have you always considered yourself a 'storyteller' but don't consider yourself a writer? That was the conundrum Alyson Gerber found herself in when Molly Ringwald (yes, THE Molly Ringwald) convinced her she needed to write! After Alyson wrote several books which her inner self needed to read, she turned her attention to mystery! Alyson, today (no foolin'!) released the second book in her best-selling 'The Liars Society' series, 'A Risky Game'! Alyson goes into detail about The Liars Society, her writing process, and how her love of storytelling guiding her through all the impostor syndrome...
info_outlineDo you ever find yourself consumed with the 'voice inside your head'?
How do you separate out what is helpful vs what is harmful?
When do you speak up to obtain the necessary tools and resources to come out of a difficult situation?
These are some of the topics discussed in the latest episode of the podcast!
Author John Schu stops by the podcast to discuss his latest book 'Louder Than Hunger' and he and Joe get into a deep conversation about how to navigate some of life's most difficult times growing up.
Also, because John is a librarian there are plenty of discussions around libraries, enjoy!
John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. He was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for his dynamic interactions with students and his passionate adoption of new technologies as a means of connecting authors, illustrators, books, and readers. He is the children’s librarian for Bookelicious, a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University, and shares his love of reading with countless educators and students around the world. He served as the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs for almost 6 years.
He is the author of This Is a School (Candlewick Press, 2022) illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison, This Is a Story (Candlewick Press, 2023) illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo, Louder Than Hunger (Candlewick, 2024) and The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life (Stenhouse, 2022). He is a contributor to The Creativity Project (Little, Brown, 2018), edited by Colby Sharp. John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois.
Revered teacher, librarian, and story ambassador John Schu explores anorexia—and self-expression as an act of survival—in a wrenching and transformative novel-in-verse.
But another voice inside me says,
We need help.
We’re going to die.
Jake volunteers at a nursing home because he likes helping people. He likes skating and singing, playing Bingo and Name That Tune, and reading mysteries and comics aloud to his teachers. He also likes avoiding people his own age . . . and the cruelty of mirrors . . . and food. Jake has read about kids like him in books—the weird one, the outsider—and would do anything not to be that kid, including shrink himself down to nothing. But the less he eats, the bigger he feels. How long can Jake punish himself before he truly disappears? A fictionalized account of the author’s experiences and emotions living in residential treatment facilities as a young teen with an eating disorder, Louder than Hunger is a triumph of raw honesty. With a deeply personal afterword for context, this much-anticipated verse novel is a powerful model for muffling the destructive voices inside, managing and articulating pain, and embracing self-acceptance, support, and love.
Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website!
Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast!
AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast:
