Skylight Books Podcast Series
Books & Literature
About
The Skylight Books podcast presents author conversations and other audio snapshots from the world of Skylight Books. Our Los Angeles bookstore has served the historic neighborhoods of Hollywood, Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Echo Park for over a quarter century (plus an expanded audience online). This podcast is made by booksellers for all to listen and enjoy.
Episodes
- SKYLIT: Ted Adams, THE ULTIMATES: AN EXPLORATION (MARVEL AGE OF COMICS)
In the early 2000s, Marvel Comics decided to create a new line of books that would set aside four decades of continuity and offer modern readers fresh entry points into their classic characters. The Ultimates was their new Avengers title t…
- SKYLIT: Nic Brown, VIOLENT FEMMES (33 1/3)
This podcast will go down on your permanent record! Novelist Nic Brown joins the podcast to discuss his new nonfiction book on the self-titled debut album, Violent Femmes . This acoustic post-punk landmark is an album that took nearly a de…
- SKYLIT: Anna Dorn, AMERICAN SPIRITS
Calling all Dornstars! You're going to love this loose and lively chat about Anna Dorn's new novel, American Spirits . It's the story of a superfan who becomes the assistant of her favorite pop star as a stepping stone for her own twisted…
- Better Than the Movie 31: A FACE IN THE CROWD w/ Buzzy Cohen
JEOPARDY! champion Buzzy Cohen returns to Better Than the Movie for a third short-story-to-film adaptation discussion. This time it's the tragicomic showbiz/political tale A FACE IN THE CROWD (1957), written by Budd Schulberg and directed…
- SKYLIT: Hannah Lillith Assadi, PARADISO 17
Novelist Hannah Lillith Assadi makes her podcast debut to discuss her new book, Paradiso 17 , about a Palestinian man's restless lifelong search for home. Writer and bookseller Sina Grace talks with Assadi, who is a longtime friend, about…
- SKYLIT: Jes Battis, IT'S ONLY FOREVER: LABYRINTH
Jes Battis discusses their new book, "It's Only Forever: Labyrinth," which analyzes the 1986 film Labyrinth as a queer narrative. The discussion touches on the film's anniversary and its cultural impact.
- SKYLIT: Wes Locher, WHO IS "WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC?
Wes Locher, author of the middle-grade biography
- Better Than the Movie 30: WUTHERING HEIGHTS w/ Paige Gresty
The Better Than the Movie podcast discusses Emerald Fennell's film "WUTHERING HEIGHTS" and Emily Brontë's novel, with guest Paige Gresty. They also briefly discuss the 1939 film adaptation.
- SKYLIT: Simona Supekar, STOCK PHOTO (OBJECT LESSONS)
Simona Supekar discusses her book "Stock Photo" with bookseller Justin Remer, examining the impact of image keywords on perceptions of beauty, race, gender, and cultural heritage. Supekar also touches on her past work in stock photo keywor…
- SKYLIT: Stuart Moore, DOCTOR STRANGE: A DECADE OF DARK MAGIC (MARVEL AGE OF COMICS)
Novelist Stuart Moore discusses his book, Doctor Strange: A Decade of Dark Magic, focusing on the character's first ten years, its connection to 1960s counterculture, and its publishing history. The episode also touches on the Toxic Avenge…
- SKYLIT: Eileen G'Sell, LIPSTICK (OBJECT LESSONS)
Eileen G'Sell discusses her book
- SKYLIT: Chris Ryall, DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN - AN EXPLORATION (MARVEL AGE OF COMICS)
Chris Ryall, comics writer and editor, discusses his new book "Daredevil: Born Again - An Exploration," which examines the classic Daredevil story arc by Frank Miller and David Mazzuchelli. The episode also touches on the Marvel Age of Com…
- Better Than the Movie 29: LORD OF ILLUSIONS / THE LAST ILLUSION w/ Garon Cockrell
It's the end of an era - or a trilogy - or something. Author and podcaster Garon Cockrell ( Demonic and Other Tales ) returns for his third guest appearance on BTTM to talk Clive Barker! This crew previously reviewed Nightbreed (BTTM episo…
- SKYLIT: Matthew Blackwell, PLUNDERPHONICS (GENRE: A 33 1/3 SERIES)
As a music genre, plunderphonics is somewhat misunderstood. While the genre is based on samples, much like hip-hop, it isn't just music made from other music. It utilizes samples to push the boundaries of copyright -- what is fair use, wha…
- Better Than the Movie 28: THE RUNNING MAN
The BTTM guys are running their mouths about THE RUNNING MAN. Allan, Tyler, and Justin dig into the recent Edgar Wright-directed film and the same-named 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger star vehicle, which are both adapted -- to different degree…
- SKYLIT: Dusty Henry, 20TH CENTURY AMBIENT (GENRE: A 33 1/3 SERIES)
Ambient Music, as a genre, is one that is meant to be experienced consciously or unconsciously. It can be focused upon or ignored. It can feed your soul, brighten your day, or just counterpoint the din of the everyday. Dusty Henry, in his…
- Better Than the Movie 27: VINELAND / ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER w/ Rene Franco
Ocean waves, ocean waves. One of the best-loved movies of the fall has been Paul Thomas Anderson's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. The Better Than the Movie crew is joined by Rene Franco, the head of Skylight's Rabbit Hole Reading Club , to disc…
- Better Than the Movie Halloween Special 2: GIVE YOURSELF GOOSEBUMPS!
Mwahahaha! The Better Than the Movie crew have gathered again to celebrate R.L. Stine's GOOSEBUMPS horror series for young readers. Rather than just talk ABOUT the books, as they did on the last Halloween special, they talk THROUGH a book.…
- SKYLIT: Marie Lu, RED CITY
In Angel City, alchemy is everything. Red City is the new fantasy novel from Marie Lu ( Legend , Stars and Smoke ). Bookseller Keila Cone-Uemura talks to Lu about the difference between writing for an adult audience and for a YA audience.…
- Better Than the Movie - Friend of the Fest 2025 Special: JOHNNY MNEMONIC
In advance of the screening of Johnny Mnemonic in Black & White that the BTTM crew is hosting for the American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest 2025, Allan and Justin get together to discuss the film and the William Gibson short story tha…
- SKYLIT: Alisha Mughal, IT CAN'T RAIN ALL THE TIME: THE CROW
Abashed the devil stood, and felt how awful goodness is. The Crow (1994) is a one-of-a-kind film, borne out of tragedy and thought to be cursed. Critic and culture writer Alisha Mughal takes a look at the film, its graphic novel origins, i…
- Better Than the Movie 26: HOLES w/ Sophia Benoit
Author and comedian Sophia Benoit ( Well, This Is Exhausting ) joins the Better Than the Movie crew to discuss a modern children's book classic, HOLES by Louis Sachar, and its 2003 live-action Disney adaptation, which was scripted by Sacha…
- SKYLIT: Pete Crighton, THE VINYL DIARIES
Don't drink? Don't smoke? What do you do? THE VINYL DIARIES follows Pete Crighton's journey from a closeted goody two shoes to a blissfully self-possessed lover of queer community, queer joy, and queer sex, while keeping track of the key p…
- SKYLIT: Veronica Litt, UGH! AS IF! CLUELESS
This is so unexpected, we didn't even have a speech prepared. Author Veronica Litt joins us to talk about her new book in ECW Press's Pop Classics series, Ugh! As If! , on Amy Heckerling's classic film comedy Clueless . This is the 30th An…
- Better Than the Movie 25: THE DEAD w/ Conor Holt
The Old Man WAS Still Alive! Film writer and physical media enthusiast Conor Holt returns to Better Than the Movie to discuss a pair of classics: John Huston's film The Dead (1987), adapted from the short story by James Joyce, which first…
- SKYLIT: Matthew Reed Baker, 1970s JAZZ FUSION (GENRE: A 33 1/3 SERIES)
From BITCHES BREW to "Feels So Good" and beyond, author Matthew Reed Baker delves into the funky, smooth, and transcendent records that resulted from the merging of jazz with R&B, pop, rock, and much much more in the 1970s. Miles Davis, We…
- Better Than the Movie 24: WOMAN IN THE DUNES w/ Emily VanKoughnett
Abe is Bae? The wonderful Emily VanKoughnett (Los Angeles Review of Books; LIT ANGELES ) returns to Better Than the Movie with a classy pick: Kobo Abe's existential psychological thriller The Woman in the Dunes . The novel, from 1962, was…
- SKYLIT: Sina Grace, WEST HOLLYWOOD MONSTER SQUAD
Award-winning graphic novelist and illustrator Sina Grace ( Superman: The Harvests of Youth ) joins host Tyler Austin to discuss his new book, West Hollywood Monster Squad . A ragtag crew must make their way across West Hollywood after som…
- Better Than the Movie 23: THE NATURAL w/ Jonah Lipton
Happy Opening Day! Baseball is back, and BTTM is back with another baseball-themed book adaptation. Bookseller and writer Jonah Lipton joins the crew to discuss Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel THE NATURAL, and its 1984 film adaptation starrin…
- SKYLIT: Marya E. Gates, CINEMA HER WAY
Film journalist and critic Marya E. Gates talks with Justin about her new book, Cinema Her Way: Visionary Female Directors In Their Own Words . The book is a stylishly illustrated collection of interviews with 19 film directors, including…
- Better Than the Movie 22: HELLRAISER (1987) / THE HELLBOUND HEART w/ Garon Cockrell
Come to... Pod-dy? We're straining for puns over here, but we've got a fun remote-recorded episode today, featuring the return of author and podcaster Garon Cockrell ( Demonic and Other Tales ). It's a follow-up to last year's Nightbreed e…
- SKYLIT: Leah Kardos, KATE BUSH'S HOUNDS OF LOVE (33 1/3)
We're podcasting... Yeah yeah yay-yo! Justin speaks with Leah Kardos, the author of the new 33 1/3 book on Kate Bush's Hounds of Love . Together, they discuss the impact of the album and Kate Bush's undersung influence as a record producer…
- Better Than the Movie 21: TOTAL RECALL (1990) w/ Buzzy Cohen
An episode so good, it'll make you wish you had three ears. Buzzy Cohen ( Baby Got Facts: Totally '90s Trivia ) returns for another delightful episode, breaking down Philip K. Dick's short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" and t…
- Better Than the Movie 20: THE POLAR EXPRESS w/ Natalie Freeman & Allison Woodnutt
Like the proverbial Christmas miracle, the BTTM crew is back just in the (Saint) nick of time for a holiday-themed final episode of 2024. At the behest of Natalie Freeman and Allison Woodnutt (who you may remember from last year's A HAUNTI…
- Better Than the Movie 19: GHOST WORLD w/ Chris Andersen
It's America, dude, learn the rules! Chris Andersen (Your Favorite Bad Movie Podcast) joins the BTTM crew to discuss the 2001 adaptation of the Daniel Clowes graphic novel GHOST WORLD , directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Bad Santa). They di…
- SKYLIT: Lili Anolik, "DIDION & BABITZ"
Ace interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis sits down with Lili Anolik to discuss Anolik's new book Didion & Babitz . Anolik talks about the complicated relationship between authors Joan Didion and Eve Babitz, their unique perspectives on the Femin…
- Better Than the Movie 18: THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH w/ Mark Rennie
What Price Vincent? Writer and improviser Mark Rennie (The Big Gay Movie Spreadsheet, Eat Pray Dunk) returns for a second appearance on BTTM, just in time for Spooky Season. Under discussion is the Edgar Allan Poe classic "The Masque of th…
- Better Than the Movie 17: THE SWIMMER w/ Buzzy Cohen
THIS... IS... JEOP-BUZZY! Jeopardy! champion Buzzy Cohen ( Baby Got Facts: Totally 90s Trivia ) drops in to talk about John Cheever's small slice of suburban surrealism, "The Swimmer." Burt Lancaster headlines the 1968 film adaptation, scr…
- SKYLIT: Danzy Senna, "COLORED TELEVISION"
Premier fiction interviewer Elodie Saint-Louis is back in conversation, this time with the amazing Danzy Senna, to talk about Senna's new novel Colored Television . In this episode, Senna reads from her book, followed by an amazing talk ab…
- Better Than the Movie Special: TANK GIRL (Friend of the Fest Preview)
The Better Than the Movie boys are hosting a screening of TANK GIRL (1995) on August 24, 2024, as part of American Cinematheque's Friend of the Fest 2024 podcast film festival. So here is a free-floating (read: CHAOTIC) chat about this und…
- SKYLIT: Matt Singer, OPPOSABLE THUMBS (Siskel & Ebert)
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert are arguably the most influential American film critics of the 20th Century. Clips from their movie review TV show continue to circulate on social media and Youtube to the delight of new viewers and old fans ali…
- Better Than the Movie 16: PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER w/ Elisa Garcia
We've got a classic on BTTM today that's all killer. DJ and bookseller Elisa Garcia selected PERFUME, the 1985 German novel by Patrick Süskind that was originally deemed unfilmable. But co-screenwriter and director Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN…
- SKYLIT: Geoff Shackelford, GOLF ARCHITECTURE FOR NORMAL PEOPLE
It's a golfing extravaganza as Geoff Shackelford joins Skylight's Tyler Austin to discuss his book Golf Architecture for Normal People ! Together, they talk golf course design, the economic and ecological impacts of a golf course that peop…
- Better Than the Movie 15: PLANET OF THE APES
It's a madhouse! The BTTM fellas are on their own this month, talking PLANET OF THE APES. The main focus is the original feature film, directed by Oscar winner Franklin J. Schaffner and scripted by fellow Oscar winner Michael Wilson and TW…
- SKYLIT: Maggie Nelson, LIKE LOVE
Join us for a conversation with Skylight favorite Maggie Nelson, whose newest collection of essays, Like Love , has already made its way into our booksellers' hearts. One of those booksellers, Elodie Saint-Louis, sat down with Maggie to ta…
- Better Than the Movie 14: THE GREEN KNIGHT / SIR GAWAIN AND... w/ Conor Holt
Happy Dev Patel Season to all who celebrate! Mr. Patel's directing debut, MONKEY MAN, is in theaters now, but we decided to look back a few years at his great work in THE GREEN KNIGHT, adapted from the chivalric romance SIR GAWAIN AND THE…
- Better Than the Movie 13: MONEYBALL w/ Michael Chin
Happy Opening Day! And coincidentally, Tyler has selected a baseball classic for his birthday pick: Michael Lewis's MONEYBALL: THE ART OF WINNING AN UNFAIR GAME and the Oscar-nominated film adaptation co-written by Aaron Sorkin and directe…
- Better Than the Movie 12: THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY w/ Emily VanKoughnett
How's the peepin', Tommy? Netflix's RIPLEY series is still more than a month away from dropping, but guest Emily VanKoughnett (Los Angeles Review of Books; LIT ANGELES ) joins the BTTM crew to discuss Patricia Highsmith's classic murder st…
- SKYLIT: Tommy Orange, WANDERING STARS
It's a sneak peek special! Skylight's own Elodie sits down with the incredible Tommy Orange ( There, There ) to talk about his new novel Wandering Stars (Feb. 27)...listen in for a reading of an excerpt, Tommy's thoughts on Native American…
- SKYLIT: Eric Wolfson, FIFTY YEARS OF THE CONCEPT ALBUM IN POPULAR MUSIC
From The Beatles to Beyoncé! Author Eric Wolfson discusses his new book on the shifting identity of the concept album in rock, pop, and hip-hop music with bookseller (and, yes, friend) Justin Remer. The book breaks down 25 albums across fi…