Dmpl Podcast

AViD Author J. Ryan Stradal joins host Aaron Gernes on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Stradal will be at the Central Library on Monday, May 1, at 7 PM for the program. During the podcast, Stradal talks about what he misses about the midwest, the Succession-esque struggles of family business, and how the first chapter in Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club was inspired by emotional events that occurred in his own life. Show Notes AViD Presents: J. Ryan Stradal J. Ryan's Books Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club (2023) The Lager Queen of Minnesota (2019) Kitchens of the Great Midwest (2015) J. Ryan's Suggestions: The Overstory, by Richard Powers They're Going to Love You, by Meg Howrey The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships, by Ali Bryan  

Innocence Project attorney and criminal justice advocate M. Chris Fabricant takes part in the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Fabricant is the author of Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System, a book that highlights the flaws and outright fabrications inherent in forensic sciences and how they put innocent people not only behind bars, but on death row. Fabricant talks with host Aaron Gernes ahead of his visit to the Central Library on Saturday, April 29. The program will start at 12:30 PM. You can also watch the podcast on YouTube. Show Notes Author Spotlight: M. Chris Fabricant at the Central Library (Saturday, April 29, 12:30 PM) Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System at the library "What If the Worst Crime Never Happened?" - The New Republic piece mentioned in the podcast featuring Michael West and Steven Hayne

Jes and Sarah are back for another episdoe of Beyond the Shelves! This month, they're talking about cross-genre book picks and discussing how you can use the free database Novelist to find books you'll enjoy. Show Notes Novelist Books mentioned Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones Upgrade by Blake Crouch Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn On the Savage Side by Tiffany McDaniel Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly  Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles Exalted by Anna Dorn Big Swiss by Jen Beagin Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty The Sweetness of Water, by Nathan Harris Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon Our Best Intentions by Vibhuti Jain The Viscount Made Me Do It by Diana Quincy The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews  

AViD author Sarah Penner joins Aaron Gernes on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Penner is coming to Des Moines to kick off the 2023 Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) series on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Show Notes Sarah Penner at AViD The DSM Book Festival Sarah's Books The London Séance Society (2023) The Lost Apothecary (2021) Sarah on the Web Publisher's Weekly review of The London Séance Society Reviews of The Lost Apothecary NPR New York Times ​​​​​​​The London Séance Society buzz Goodreads - most anticipated books of 2023 Good Housekeeping - best books of 2023 Social Links ​​​​​​​Sarah Penner | Website Sarah Penner | Twitter Sarah Penner | Instagram Sarah Penner | Facebook

On the newest epsidoe of Beyond the Shelves, hosts Jes and Sarah talk about the 2023 Authors Visiting in Des Moines lineup. Then, in the spirit of the Oscars, they discuss their favorite and least-favorite book-to-film (and TV) adaptations before doing buy, borrow, or skip with Lessons in Chemistry.

Travel writer Sara Broers joins the DMPL Podcast today to discuss here 2022 book, 100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die. Sara talks about how she chose the items in her book, her favorite Iowa hidden gems, and what you should do in order to find some off-the-map hidden treasures when you travel.   Show Notes 100 Things to Do in Iowa Before You Die at the Library TravelwithSara.com Midwest Travel Network Sara's Social feeds Facebook Twitter Pintrest Instagram

Welcome to Beyond the Shelves, a new podcast hosted by the Des Moines Public Library! This podcast is hosted by DMPL Librarians Brooklyn and Jes, both of whom are on the Book Chat team. In this first episode, they introduce themselves and talk about their reading goals this year, while also providing recommendations to each other in regards to those goals. Beyond the Shelves will be released monthly. You can find it in the DMPL Podcast feed.

The latest episode of the DMPL Podcast features Des Moines author Sean Adams. Sean wrote the 2020 acclaimed novel The Heap, and released his newest novel, The Thing in the Snow, this month. He's also the moderator for the upcoming author visit from Stephen Markley. Markley recently released The Deluge, and previously has written Ohio. Adams talks about his book, his friendship with Markley, and what he's excited to ask Markley about. Show Notes Author Spotlight: Stephen Markley | Saturday, January 28, 7 PM | Central Library Stephen Markley Books at the Library New York Times review of The Deluge Interview with Seth Myers Website Instagram Facebook Sean Adams Books at the Library Website

Victor D.O. Santos, author of several children's books, including My Dad, My Rock, joins the DMPL Podcast today. Victor will be taking part in the Des Moines Public Library's Iowa Author Series this Thursday, November 17. The program begins at 5:30 PM at the Central Library and is free to all! On the podcast, Victor talks about getting started as a children's author two years ago, the process of independently publishing children's books, and why he and his wife are raising their children in a trilingual household. Show Notes Victor at the Iowa Author Series Borrow My Dad, My Rock Victor on Instagram Victor's other books

Crashing waves, falling leaves, a shadowy forest - books that provide a strong sense a place are what we're talking about on the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast. Book Chat team member Rebecca talks about three new books that she thinks of when she thinks "atmosphere." Rebecca's Picks What Moves the Dead, by T. Kingfisher Daisy Darker, by Alice Feeney Our Wives Under the Sea, by Julia Armfield   Other Book Suggestions Her Body and Other Parties, by Carmen Maria Machado Crooked House, by Agatha Christie Just Like Home, by Sarah Gailey White is for Witching, by Helen Oyeyemi Black Rabbit Hall, by Eve Chase Wilder Girls, by Rory Power Moon of the Crusted Snow, by Waubgeshig Rice Five Little Indians, by Michelle Good Once There Were Wolves, by Charlotte McConaghy Stephen Graham Jones books Alice Hoffman books

Iowa Author Award Honoree Heather Gudenkauf is the latest guest on the DMPL Podcast! She discusses her newest book, The Overnight Guest, as well as her 14-year career.  Gudenkauf is one of three honorees at the 2022 Iowa Author Awards Dinner, which takes place Friday, October 14, at 6:30 PM at the Embassy Suites in downtown Des Moines. The program, titled The Magic of Libraries, will also feature honorees Art Cullen and Nate Staniforth.  Show Notes 2022 Iowa Author Awards Heather Gudenkauf books Authors Heather mentions: Kimberly Bell Lisa Unger Pam Jenoff Kristina McMorris Books Heather mentions: My Ántonia, by Willa Cather Autopsy, by Patricia Cornwell Night Will Find You, by Julia Heaberlin Where Coyotes Howl, by Sandra Dallas

This week is Banned Books Week! Veronica Fowler, the ACLU of Iowa Communications Director, joins us to discuss Banned Books and the Freedom to Read. This is one of many things happening at the library this week celebrating the Freedom to Read. Check out our social media accounts, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, to see videos from staff discussing banned books and which are their favorites. Check out our Banned Books site, for a Q&A with our Director, Susan A. Woody. And then be sure to check out our new Raygun store, where you can purchase a “I Read Banned Books” shirt!

Rachel Mans McKenny, author of The Butterfly Effect, is the newest guest on the DMPL Podcast! Rachel stopped by as she gets ready to appear at the Iowa Author Spotlight Series on Thursday, September 15, at 5:30 PM at the Central Library. The Butterfly Effect was selected as the 2022 All Iowa Reads book. During the podcast, Rachel and host Aaron Gernes chat about writing about Central Iowa, the ways in which writing a novel is different than short pieces, and how the pandemic impacted the cover of The Butterfly Effect. Show Notes The Iowa Author Spotlight Series Presents Rachel Mans McKenny Thursday, September 15, 5:30 PM | Central Library The Butterfly Effect at the library Blind Date with a Book (a podcast Rachel co-hosts)

AViD author Karin Slaughter joins host Aaron Gernes on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! Karin will be in Des Moines on Wednesday, August 24, at 7:00 PM as part of the AViD series. Her best selling novels include Cop Town, Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her, among others. Her newest book, Girl, Forgotten, arrives at the library and in bookstores on Tuesday, August 23. Show Notes Event Info Karin's Book Recs Empire of the Summer Moon, by S.C. Gwynne Things We Do in the Dark, by Jennifer Hillier

What's the "spark" that shaped the lives of our local leaders? Each month, librarian Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez as they share their "Spark Story," the specific experience that sparked them to create change in the community. In addition, we’ll hear details about the work they are doing and what keeps them motivated to stay involved.  Previously a video series, Elizabeth is bringing the series to podcast form each month, found on the DMPL Podcast feed. This month's guest is Dr. Richard L. Deming. Dr. Deming is the Medical Director of MercyOne Cancer Center in Des Moines and the founder of of Above + Beyond Cancer, a nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating the lives of those touched by cancer.

It's Iowa State Fair time, and the latest episode of the DMPL Podcast is sure to make you hungry to head to the fairgrounds. Kay Fenton Smith is the author of Baking Blue Ribbons: Stories and Recipes from the Iowa State Fair Food Competitions. Smith and host Aaron Gernes talk about what happens during the food competitions, popular foods throughout history, and some of her favorite recipes in the book.   Show Notes Baking Blue Ribbons at the Library Blue Ribbon Foundation Elwell Family Food Center  

Author Chuy Renteria joins the DMPL Podcast to talk about his memoir, We Heard It When We Were Young.' The book details Chuy's life growing up Mexican-American in West Liberty, Iowa, the first minority-majority town in Iowa. During the talk, Chuy and host Aaron Gernes talk about his experience dancing as a "b-boy," long summer nights in a small town, and how growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s was a different expereince than what kids have today. SHOW NOTES We Heard It When We Were Young at the library Chuy Renteria in Little Village Magazine

On today's DMPL Podcast, Sarah from the Book Chat team is talking about some of her favorite recent romance reads. Listen to the podcast, and then be sure to come to Meet Cute, Book Chat's romance event on Wednesday, June 15!  Show Notes Meet Cute: Reading Romance with Denise and Elisa Come to the Franklin Avenue Library on Wednesday, June 15, at 6:00 PM to learn about romance books from people who know them best! Meet local author Denise Williams (The Fastest Way to Fall and other titles) and Bookstagramer @LovinglyRead Sarah's Picks The Viscount Made Me Do It, by Diana Quincy Love in Color, by Bolu Babalola Spanish Love Deception, by Elena Armas

AViD Author Jason Mott joins us on the newest episode of the DMPL Podcast! During this chat, he talks about the development of Hell of a Book, including when how the special cameo by Nic Cage came to be. He also talks about the book's amazing reception and what surprising nonfiction topic he enjoys reading. Mott will take part in Authors Visiting in Des Moines on Wednesday, May 25, at 7:00 PM at the Central Library. The event is free and open to the public. Learn more on our AViD page. Show Notes Jason Mott's Books Hell of a Book (2021) The Crossing (2018) The Wonder of All Things (2014) The Returned (2013) Jason Mott | Website Jason Mott | Facebook Jason Mott | Twitter Books Mentioned Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius