Minorities in Publishing
Society & Culture
About
Bimonthly podcast from publishing professionals Bev Rivero & Jenn Baker, and other industry insiders, on diversity (or lack thereof) in the industry.
Episodes
- Episode 143: Interview with Literary Agent Alia Hanna Habib
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] "Platform alone will not persuade an editor [to acquire your book]." --Alia Hanna Habib During pub week for Take It From Me: An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfic…
- Episode 142: Interview with "In Open Contempt" author Irvin Weathersby Jr.
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] "I think human nature is always enamoured by it's own reflection. But to what end?" --Irvin Weathersby Jr. Irvin Weathersby Jr. is the author of In Open Contempt:…
- MiP Returns to StoryFest 2025!
[This episode was recorded by Westport Library on-site in Westport, Connecticut.] Last Fall, the MiP Podcast returned to Westport Library for their annual StoryFest! Jenn was joined by fellow debut authors / pub professionals Lauren Morrow…
- Episode 140: Interview with EiC and Debut Author Denne Michele Norris
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] "Your sentences are your vehicle." --Denne Michele Norris Denne Michele Norris ( When the Harvest Comes and Both/And ) returns to the MiP podcast to discuss every…
- The Power of Storytelling | MiP & IIRP Collaborative Episode
The Power of Storytelling is a special collaboration episode between Minorities in Publishing and the Restorative Works! Podcast . Through the power of storytelling, we aim to engage powerful leaders and activists in conversations around k…
- Episode 138: Interview with debut author Cherry Lou Sy
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] "Writing has extracted from me this idea of exorcising demons, but also exercising a self that felt so erased." -Cherry Lou Sy In the first MiP episode of 2025, J…
- Episode 137: Meet you in The Stacks with Traci Thomas!
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] Jenn spoke with the most avid of readers and the most bountiful of hosts, Traci Thomas (The Stacks podcast), about The Stacks origins and Traci's deep love of boo…
- MiP Live at StoryFest 2024 - Westport Library
This is a live recording of the Minorities in Publishing podcast hosted at The Westport Library on September 21st as part of the 2024 StoryFest line up. Audio was provided by Travis Bell (The Westport Library). StoryFest 2024 welcomed Jenn…
- Episode 136: Interview with MacArthur Fellow Jason Reynolds
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] Newly anointed MacArthur Fellow and best-selling, award-winning author Jason Reynolds returns to the MiP podcast for the 10th anniversary year! His new book, Twen…
- Episode 135: Interview with Book Influencer Lupita Aquino
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] Continuing the podcast's 10th anniversary year, Jenn speaks with book influencer--bookstagrammer and booktoker elite-- Lupita Aquino ! Lupita keeps it real about…
- Episode 134: Interview with Debut Rom-Com Author Danica Nava
[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] As the 10th-anniversary year continues, Jenn welcomes debut author Danica Nava ( The Truth According to Ember ) for some laughs around romance shenanigans! Danica…
- Episode 133: Interview with horror writer Nick Medina
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes Nick Medina to the podcast! Nick Medina is the author of the novels Indian Burial Ground and Sist…
- Episode 132: Interview with Newbery-honor author Veera Hiranandani
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation. Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat] Continuing the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes another Newbery honor…
- Episode 131: Interview with Newbery-honor author Alicia D. Williams
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation. Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat] (Content Warning: At around the 20-minute mark there is mention of the video of Ahmaud Arbery'…
- Episode 130: Interview with Newbery honored author/illustrator Pedro Martín
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes recent Newbery honoree and Pura Belpré winning author/illustrator Pedro Martín! Pedro talks about…
- Episode 129: Interview with bestselling author Renée Watson
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes back best-selling & award-winning author Renée Watson for her fourth episode (in a year she has 4…
- Episode 128: Interview with young adult author Matt Mendez
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn speaks with author Matt Mendez about his new young adult novel, The Broke Hearts, a companion to his debut…
- Episode 127: Interview with graphic novelist Elizabeth Agyemang
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with editor and graphic novelist/author Elizabeth Agyemang ( Fibbed ) about her debut middle grade, finding space for her professional and creative lif…
- Episode 126: Interview with Publicity & Outreach at Candlewick Books!
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with Candlewick publicity manager Jamie Tan (a 2020 PW StarWatch honoree and CBC Diversity Achievement Awardee ) and former Candlewick outreach manager…
- Episode 125: Interview with debut novelist Namrata Poddar
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with debut novelist Namrata Poddar about her book Border Less (longlisted for the 2022 Center of Fiction First Novel Prize), pursuing publication with…
- Episode 124: Interview with Kashana Cauley
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with TV writer and journalist Kashana Cauley author of the debut novel The Survivalists out now from Soft Skull Press. Kashana talks about the many dra…
- Episode 123: Members of the HarperCollins Union Speak Out
[This interview was conducted via Zoom with several participants, so there may be some audio variation.] Ten days into the HarperCollins Union strike, four employees and union members--Doris, Genessee, Ahmunet, and Parrish--spoke to Jenn a…
- Episode 122: Interview with assoc. production editor Kaitlyn San Miguel
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with associate production editor, Kaitlyn San Miguel , about her switch from editorial to production in children's lit, adapting to a white collar and…
- Episode 121: Interview with production editor Carla Benton
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with production editor, Carla Benton, about the specifics of the role of the production editor in trade publishing, how more remote positions may help…
- Episode 120: Interview with author/illustrator Kate Gavino
[This interview was conducted online and is an overseas conversation so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with illustrator/author, Kate Gavino about her latest graphic novel A Career in Books will publish on August 2nd. Kate…
- Episode 119: Interview with Zakiya Jamal
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation. Please note there's also a dog in the background.] Jenn speaks with former senior social media manager, In the Books IGLive host, and writer Zakiya Jamal about the…
- Episode 118: Interview with Samira Ahmed
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] New York Times bestselling author, Samira Ahmed, speaks to Jenn about her new YA novel Hollow Fires, the reasons why diversity panels should always have been craft…
- Episode 117: Interview with Erin Entrada Kelly
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] The many award-winning author/illustrator Erin Entrada Kelly author of the new middle grade novel, Those Kids From Fawn Creek. She discusses her new book, reading…
- Episode 116: Interview with Bethany C. Morrow
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Bethany C. Morrow discusses her writing practice of prioritizing Black and Brown femmes, the ways that canonization can (and has) erased marginalized people and st…
- Episode 115: Interview with Daphne Palasi Andreades
[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with debut author of the novel Brown Girls, Daphne Palasi Andreades about selling (and pubbing) a book during a pandemic, her MFA experience as a BIPOC…
- Episode 114: 2021 Wrap-Up!
[This interview was conducted via Zoom so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with Electric Literature EiC Denne Michele Norris and freelance development/copyeditor Jon Reyes about the travails of publishing over 2021 including…
- Episode 113: Interview with Regina Flath
This month, Jenn speaks with former colleague and Assistant Art Director for young adult covers, Regina Flath about the arduous and import work of design, creating & leading super helpful DEI initiatives in the workplace, and the discussio…
- Episode 112: Interview with Anton Treuer
(Please note this interview was recorded via phone so audio quality may be muffled.) Jenn speaks with Professor Anton Treuer about the young reader's edition of his well-known work Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afrai…
- Episode 111: MiP + Desi Books Podcast Collab
This month is a podcast collaboration/discussion with Jenny Bhatt (author of Each of Us Killers and Ratno Dholi ) and creator/host of the Desi Books podcast . Jenn and Jenny discussed creating platforms to celebrate marginalized writers, i…
- Episode 110: Interview with Anjali Enjeti
Jenn speaks with debut author, in two genres(!), Anjali Enjeti about her essay collection Southbound and novel The Parted Earth . She discusses relevant themes in both her fiction & nonfiction, her growth as a writer when considering the e…
- Episode 109: Interview with Angeline Boulley
Jenn speaks with #1 New York Times bestselling author Angeline Boulley (member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) about her debut novel Firekeeper's Daughter, how's she's been able to prepare to engage with audiences, the r…
- Episode 108: Interview with Fauzia Burke
Jenn speaks with FSB Associates founder Fauzia Burke about her 20+ years experience in book promotion, running her own firm focused on digital marketing, and tells authors what they should ask (and expect) from those they hire to get the w…
- Episode 107: Interview with Porscha Burke
This episode was recorded online and may have some audio variation. Assistant Director of Publishing and editorial maven Porscha Burke joins the podcast to discuss her entry into publishing from the music industry, the work of some legacy…
- Episode 106: Interview with Chris Gonzalez
Jenn speaks with ebook production specialist, literary mag editor, and author Chris Gonzalez about the balancing act of working in publishing and his creative pursuits, how he built a literary community when coming to New York City, and ab…
- Episode 105: Interview with Mike Sakasegawa
In the last episode for 2020, Jenn speaks with podcaster and photographer Mike Sakasegawa about producing not one but two literary podcasts--LikeWise Fiction and Keep the Channel Open--the work this entails and forging one's own definition…
- Episode 104: Interview with Na Kim
Art director and 2019 PW Star Watch honoree, Na Kim, joins Jenn to discuss how she got into book publishing, the benefits of making mistakes, and the core role of book designers in book publishing. [Transcript of this episode can be found…
- Episode 103: Interview with Dr. Yusef Salaam and Ibi Zoboi
Punching the Air collaborators Ibi Zoboi and Dr. Yusef Salaam discuss their latest bestselling book; the roles adults, especially educators, play in young people's lives; the introspective nature of young people that needs to be respected…
- Episode 102: Interview with Fin Leary
WNDB Communications manager and writer Fin Leary returns to the MiP podcast to discuss ableism in the workplace, how remote working has been possible but not available in publishing, and what progress he's observed in the industry. Transcr…
- Episode 101: Interview with Kelly Yang
[CW: This episode discusses sexual assault.] Jenn speaks with bestselling author Kelly Yang ( Front Desk ) about her new young adult novel Parachutes centering two teen perspectives on sexual assault. Kelly speaks to the importance of thes…
- Episode 100: Interview with Liara Tamani
Yes we have reached episode 100 of Minorities in Publishing! Holy cow! This milestone episodes features guest Liara Tamani ( All the Things We Never Knew and Calling My Name ). We discuss the ideology behind success and striving to stay af…
- Episode 99.5: Interview with Hannah Oliver Depp (during Covid)
In a follow-up conversation, Jenn and Loyalty Bookstore owner Hannah Oliver Depp discuss the importance of campaigns like saveindiebookstores.com to get funds directly to Indie Bookstores when federal grants may not and ways we can continu…
- Episode 99: Interview with Hannah Oliver Depp
[This episode was recorded online. Audio variation may occur.] Jenn speaks to owner of Loyalty Bookstores (in the DMV area) Hannah Oliver Depp on running a small business, the challenges facing booksellers as business owners through econom…
- Episode 98: Interview with Renée Watson
MiP welcomes back Renée Watson who has had quite the trajectory since she first appeared on the podcast five years ago this month. She talks about her new book from Bloomsbury Ways to Make Sunshine , writer's block & imposter syndrome, and…
- Episode 97: Interview with Connor Goldsmith
Jenn speaks with literary agent Connor Goldsmith (Fuse Literary) on his path to agenting from film casting, why publishing/agenting would make a bad reality show, and the financial realities of agenting and how privilege comes into play wi…
- Episode 96: Interview with Abigail Hing Wen
[This interview was conducted over Skype so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with debut author (and recent NYT bestseller) Abigail Hing Wen about her book Loveboat, Taipei, combating Asian stereotypes in her work, pursuing w…