Podcasts
Book friends forever
Hosts: Grace Lin and Alvina Ling
This podcast, active since 2019, is hosted by Taiwanese-Americans and childhood friends Grace Lin and Alvina Ling. Grace Lin is an award-winning author/illustrator of picture books and middle grade novels. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. She also has two more podcasts: KidLit Women (now archived) and Kids Ask Authors. Alvina Ling is the VP at Little, Brown Books for Readers and a top editor of award-winning books, from picture books to young adult novels. She is also on Twitter and Instagram. Both of these women are very well-known in their field and are active in speaking out about their Asian heritage. Their podcast has a 4.9 rating from 140 reviews on Apple Podcasts. They post an episode once a week, and in a friendly, conversational style, these friends discuss the children’s book publishing industry, conversations about diversity and heritage, book reviews and recommendations, and more about their lives in the KidLit world. Book Friends Forever is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
Books and boba
Hosts: Marvin Yueh and Reera Yoo
This book club and podcast, active since 2016, focuses on Adult and YA books written by Asian or Asian American authors. Episodes released two to three times a month include book reviews and discussions of their monthly book club pick, along with author interviews and publishing news. It is hosted by Marvin Yueh who is of Taiwanese and Chinese descent and Reera Yoo of Korean American descent. Yueh is the founder & executive producer of HappyEcstatic Media, as well as the co-founder and manager of the Potluck Podcast Collective. Yoo has years of experience as a writer, editor, filmmaker, and podcast host with many projects focused on centering the Asian American community. Both of them can also be found on Twitter and Instagram. Their podcast has a 4.9 rating from 58 reviews on Apple Podcasts. Books and Boba is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts, and Radio Public.
Kidlit these days
Hosts: Nicole Young and Nusrah Javed
This Book Riot podcast, active since 2019, focuses on showcasing the best of children’s literature (including middle grade, YA, and more!) along with current events. Episodes include book reviews, author interviews, and discussions of how the children’s literature publishing industry is adapting to world news and trending issues. Many episodes feature diverse authors or books and provide a nuanced, informative lens for listeners to gain education and understanding. The podcast has gone through a few host changes in the past year, formerly being led by Karina Yan Glaser and Matthew Winner, but it is currently hosted by Nicole Young and Nusrah Javed, both of whom can also be found on Twitter and Instagram. Young is a Black writer, educator, and education policy activist, and Javed is an Emirian contributing editor and digital marketing strategist for Book Riot. Their podcast has a 4.7 rating from 56 reviews on Apple Podcasts. KidLit These Days is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
Deadline city
Hosts: Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova
This podcast, active since 2019, is hosted by two authors and provides content centered on writing and publishing in the middle grade and YA industry. Episodes include author interviews, discussions of issues and trends in publishing, including diversity and #OwnVoices, book reviews, and writing tips. It is currently on its fourth season with a new episode being released once a week. Clayton is a Black author and former teacher and librarian. She is also co-founder of CAKE Literary and COO of the non-profit, We Need Diverse Books. Córdova, originally from Ecuador, is an author of acclaimed middle grade and YA literature centering Latinx characters. They can both also be found on Twitter and Instagram. Their podcast has a 4.9 rating from 113 reviews on Apple Podcasts. Deadline City is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
Minorities in publishing
Host: Jenn Baker
This podcast, active since 2015, provides in-depth interviews with diverse or underrepresented members of the publishing industry, including many middle grade and YA authors. The focus of the show is on highlighting diversity or its absence in the publishing world, and it provides a great way to be introduced to new authors and books. A new episode is released once a month. Jenn Baker, the creator and host, is Black and an acclaimed publishing professional and author, as well as an educator and senior editor at Amistad Books. She also formerly worked as the social media manager for We Need Diverse Books. Baker can also be found on Twitter and Instagram. The podcast has a 4.7 rating from 24 reviews on Apple Podcasts. Minorities in Publishing is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Google Podcasts.
More:
Lifelines: Books that Bridge the Divide (Last updated Oct. 2019)