JONATHAN HILLENBRAND Podcasts

We Don’t All Need to Talk About Proust Sivan Hong was a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business and former partner at The Bridgespan Group. Today, she authors and illustrates the best-selling children’s book series The Super Fun Day Books, which focus on neurodiverse children who overcome their challenges with perseverance and b…

Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Do you have a book you want to tell me about? Go HERE to apply to be a guest on the Best Book Ever Podcast. Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram Guest: Lizbeth Meredith Website/Facebook/Instagram/Podcast Discussed in this episode: What Comes Next and How to Like It: A …

Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Do you have a book you want to tell me about? Go HERE to apply to be a guest on the Best Book Ever Podcast. Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram Guest: Liam Jenkins Website/Facebook/Instagram Discussed in this episode: Dylan McFinn & The Sea Serpent’s Fury by Liam Jenk…

“Jonathan Livingston Seagull” is one of those books that I’ve seen my whole life, but never actually picked up. I always thought it was a kids’ book. And it kind of is – it’s definitely assigned in a lot of schools. But many adults claim it as an all-time favorite. It’s often cited as the book that starts people on spiritual journeys. Today I am de…

I have loved implementing the lessons from “The Artist’s Way” over the years, and it was a delight to talk about it with someone who has an entirely different creative life than I do. Shay Dominguez is a comedian, podcaster, and mindfulness live event creator, and I absolutely loved talking to her about the vulnerability of an authentically creativ…

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is an incisionless weight-loss procedure that can help people with a BMI over 30 lose weight. Michael Ujiki, MD answers all of your questions about pain, recovery, insurance and most importantly, results. Patient Diane Helin explains how ESG changed her life. You can also read about Diane’s journey here. Join us…

I’ve never been a comics reader, and have been looking forward to the day when a guest chose a graphic novel for me to read. Led Bradshaw Brooklyn-born graphic artist who is quickly making a name for himself as one of New York’s up-and-coming black comic book illustrators. As the creator of Jetpulse Comics, his Flagship title “The New Adventures of…

Leah Carey is a Sex and Intimacy coach and host of the podcast “Good Girls Talk About Sex,” where she interviews people who grew up as little girls plus transgender women about their sex lives. As a coach, she works with people eager to explore new avenues of their sexuality and fulfill their greatest desires, like: learning to talk with current or…

Episode 091 Rohit Marawar on “Quiet” by Susan Cain Rohit Marawar is a father of two, a husband, a physician, and an immigrant. Rohit is also a self-described introvert. But nowadays he feels empowered by introversion and is attuned to its needs. However, this was not always the case. I had the best time talking to Rohit about living, parenting, and…

Jerry Fu is a conflict resolution coach who helps Asian American leaders advance in their career and life journeys. He’s also a voracious and wide-ranging reader, and I was delighted he joined me today to talk about a classic true story of survival and forgiveness, “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand. Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or o…

Today I’m thrilled to be joined by Stephen Pelton, artistic director of the Stephen Pelton Dance Studio in London, England. Stephen is, by his own admission, obsessed with Virgina Woolf, and today we talk about “Mrs. Dalloway” through the eyes of a dancer. He tells me how he uses literature in his choreography, and how Woolf is a surprisingly physi…

I can't even with how much fun this guest is. Can't. Even. Margit Sperling leads food tours in Madrid! And she's hilarious! And she reads books. I'm not saying she's the coolest person alive, but I'm not not saying it. Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Do yo…

I’ve always thought I was a voracious reader, until I met Liz Scully. Trust me – you really need to hear how much she reads, and how she does it. We also discussed the joys of an audiobook, and how they help us get through books we wouldn’t have attempted on paper. After that, Liz introduced me to a business strategy book. Even if you aren’t a busi…

I have been dying for someone to choose a Taylor Jenkins Reid book, and author Carly Heath didn’t let me down when she chose to tell me about the delicious tale of old Hollywood, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” and why it is the Best Book Ever. NOTE: I've bleeped out the name of the True Love character, so don't worry! You can listen spoiler fr…

Jaclyn Desforges is the author of Danger Flower, a poetry collection about nature, sexuality, reverse mermaids and mothering. She’s also the author of Why Are You So Quiet? a picture book about being an introverted kid. Her award-winning poems and stories have been published in literary magazines across Canada. Today, Jaclyn joined me to talk about…

Chris Angel Murphy (they/them) is a queer, trans, and nonbinary LGBTQ+ educator and consultant living in Denver, CO, but is originally from Los Angeles, CA. They have a background in social work and LGBTQ+ community organizing. Chris Angel started LGBTQ+ community organizing as a freshman in high school back in 2001 and has been speaking and presen…

Paige Larkin, PhD, Director of NorthShore Molecular Microbiology lab, explains why at-home tests issue false negatives, the best time to take the test, how to read the results and MORE. At-home tests are rapid, and can be ordered for free from the federal government at www.covidtests.gov. For a list of FDA-approved home tests you can purchase, plea…

It’s always a delight to talk to one of the readers I admire most: returning guest of the show Marion Hill. Today, Marion joined me to talk about the sci-fi classic “Parable of the Sower,” and we had a great discussion about repeated readings, what makes a book sci-fi, and how Octavia Butler transcends any genre. Support the Best Book Ever Podcast …

Today I'm talking to Jasmin Darznik, the New York Times bestselling author of The Bohemians, a novel that imagines the friendship between photographer Dorothea Lange and her Chinese American assistant in 1920s, San Francisco. Her debut novel, Song of a Captive Bird was a New York Times Book Review editor’s choice book, and a Los Angeles Times best …

Erica Appelros is a Doctor in Theology and Associate Professor in Philosophy of Religion with more than 20 years of experience as a teacher, coach and speaker, works as an associate professor in philosophy of religion at Lund University, Sweden. She is also a published author in Swedish and in English, and she is dedicated to creating courses, book…

I’m kicking off the New Year with a solo episode – a list of my favorite reads of 2020. Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram Do you have a book you want to tell me about? Go HERE to apply to be a guest on the Best Book Ever…

Malavika Praseed is the host of the Your Favorite Book Podcast, a show with a similar theme as the Best Book Ever, but with a different format and philosophy. She’s been my guest here a couple of times, and I love talking books with her. Today, we got together to talk about what it’s like to ask people about their favorite books. What episodes are …

Ambria Waller has one of my favorite Bookstagram and BookTube accounts – she’s funny, insightful, and always gives me great reading ideas. Today, she joined me to talk about “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones, an extremely popular book with some extremely unpopular characters. It was so much fun to re-read this modern classic and re-examine it …

It’s time for my favorite episode of the year – the Kids/YA gift Giving Guide! I invited a bunch of kids to tell me about their favorite books, and once again these kids are funny, thoughtful, wise, smart, and so interesting. If you have young people to buy for this holiday season, this episode will give you lots of great ideas. If you don’t have y…

Are kids little germ balls for COVID-19? What kind of reactions are they getting to the vaccine? Is the vaccine safe for little kids? NorthShore Infectious Disease Physician Jennifer Grant, MD, answers your questions and more. Jennifer Grant, MD is board certified in Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine. For information on how you can get your …

Lya Badgley has led a fascinating life, and talking to her about the role books have played in her life was a fantastic conversation. She introduced me to the atmospheric thrillers of Lawrence Osborne, who we’ll be hearing a lot more from in the near future – all of his books have been optioned for movies. Lya and I also discussed writers who commu…

What a delight to chat with world traveler and book lover Carol Yee about her favorite book. “The World Unseen” is a slim love story that manages to touch on racial, sexual, and political tensions, while somehow manages to also be a compelling love story. We also discuss how travel and reading are similar, and the rules of Turkish coffee. One note …

Bookworms, do you ever think to yourself, “I’m so glad I get to be alive at the same time as this magical person?” That was my exact thought after I talked with Adrian Cepeda, owner of the Golden Lab Bookshop in Queens, New York. His infectious love of books and commitment to celebrating diversity and inclusivity in literature is a joy to behold. A…

My, my, my, how the turn tables. Jaimie Morimoto is now a Romance reader, and I, for one, couldn’t be happier. We start by discussing what it means when we dismiss an entire genre/hobby/aesthetic because it is largely by and for women. Then we cover the strange experience of cringing at our old favorite books, movies, and TV shows. And we wrap it u…

What a thrill it was to chat with Robin Whitten, founder and editor of AudioFile Magazine. I rely on their reviews for all of the audiobooks I check out at my library (yes! You can check out audiobooks at your library). Today, Robin and I chatted about how a narrator can bring you deeper into a story or drag you further out of it, how a good narrat…

Housecalls ended in the 1960s. But today, doctors have the technology to do an exam in your home via a televisit. We talk to Family Medicine Physician Nadim Ilbawi, MD, who introduces us to TytoCare, new technology that helps make this happen. A TytoCare visit provides your physician with high-quality digital sounds of the heart and lungs, high-qua…

I had a hard time keeping my cool when I chatted with Jeremy Patlen, Director of Buying at Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver, Colorado, one of the world’s best bookstores in one of the world’s best cities. Jeremy and I talked about the artist’s life and the cities that sustain it, the joys of opera, and a heartbreaking and beautiful memoir by Patt…

Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and author of ten books, Joyce Fields joined me today to talk parenting, patience, and why she stopped reading fiction. I also got her to share her family favorite recipes. This episode is guaranteed to make you starving. Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book Ever Podcast on Insta…

Today I’m joined by the brainy and delightful bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author Lindsey Sparks, who got me to read a book that approximately one million people have recommended to me. Lindsey calls “A Discovery of Witches” a grown-up Twilight meets the Da Vinci Code, which I think is spot on. She also blew my mind when she explained how a good sci-…

I met librarian Lauren Regenhardt when I participated in my local “Book Connect” program, and I was thrilled to get a chance to ask so many questions without getting shushed! The Children/YA Librarian told me about how she abandoned her first career for the library and the different types of libraries for different industries. Or, as she puts it, “…

I don’t need to like the books my guests choose – the whole point is, it’s their favorite book. Not mine. But today someone chose one of my all-time favorites, a book that I honestly think will be taught in lit classes for generations. Today I’m talking to about Brit Bennet’s “The Mothers” with Taevia Norris, the brilliant mind behind Books and Bro…

I’ll never pass up a chance to talk to a bookseller! Marianne Reiner of Run for Cover Books in San Diego joined me to talk books today. We talked about the special handwritten notes she adds to the books she sells, and how a non-reading child can become a book obsessed adult if they can only find the right book. We also talked some heavy subjects, …

I hope you’re hungry, Bookworms – this episode is going to give you the munchies. Today’s guest Nikki Furrer is the author of “A Woman’s Guide to Cannabis.” She is also a cannabis lawyer, yoga teacher, and cannabis product developer. Nikki joined me today to talk about bookstores and cookbooks, learning to cook well instead of simply following a re…

In her podcast Word To Your Mama, Ritzy Periwinkle showcases diverse voices with common themes of non-linear career paths, normalizing mental health within marginalized communities, women in male dominated spaces, and much more. After years of working in various cubicles in the music industry, she decided to launch Ritzy Periwinkle, a moniker for p…

Why is it that horror writers are the nicest people you’ll ever meet? My guest this week has some theories. Mona Kabbani is a horror fan, writer, and reviewer obsessed with psychology and the human condition. An award-winning author, she emulates the conflict of the good versus the bad and all of the in between in her work while providing an entert…

The Kids and YA Gift Giving Guide (Episode 027) was my most popular episode last year, and it’s not hard to see why – kids are friggen awesome. Today I’m sharing something that’s usually reserved for my Patrons: the outtakes from that episode. I’m gearing up to start work on the 2021 Kid’s Episode, so if you know a young person who likes to read, s…

Listen, we don’t judge anyone for their book habits. But I came close when I heard about Lori’s book in the bathtub habits. After I revived myself from a dead faint, we discussed the strong female leads in Urban Fantasy books. Lori told me about how she is able to make reading a priority by changing the format of consumption depending on her life s…

I've been out of the office for a while, so instead of doing a new interview this week, I wanted to share an episode from one of my favorite bookish podcasts, The Your Favorite Book podcast. If that title sounds familiar, it's because I had the host Malavika Praseed as a guest on my podcast back in episode 29, when we talked about The Heart is a Lo…

Jasmine Vyas is an attorney, a privacy professional, a mother, and a serious bookworm. Which sounds like a Wonder Woman biography, doesn’t it? Interestingly, today she joined me to talk about laziness. Specifically, how toxic the “work harder” mentality can be, and how the book “Laziness Does Not Exist” changed her attitude toward work. Support the…

The doctor of the oldest American to summit Mt. Everest talks about caring for a world-class climber. In Part 2, you’ll hear from Art Muir’s orthopaedic surgeon, Mark Bowen, M.D., his reaction when Art Muir told him he was climbing Mt. Everest, how he helped Muir get stronger despite injuries and his advice for patients of any age who want to chase…

Music lovers, this one’s for you! My dear friend Mark Lefebvre is back, this time to discuss a book written by the drummer of his favorite band, Rush. Neil Peart wrote “Traveling Music” as a meditation on his life, traveling with a rock and roll band, experiencing huge professional wins and terrible personal loss, and all of the music that influenc…

Ellene Glenn Moore is a Philadelphia based, award-winning writer of poetry, lyric non-fiction, and critical essays. Her book How Blood Works won the 2020 Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize and will be published by Kent State University Press later this year. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy, because I love her careful, thoughtful way with words. Today …

Art Muir, 75, the oldest American to summit Mount Everest, shares his journey to the top of the world and how NorthShore University HealthSystem helped him to achieve his goals. In this first episode of a two-part series, listen to Art Muir, 75, the oldest American to summit Mount Everest, share his journey to the top of the world, what he did to p…

I’m so grateful that people like Chris Cochran exist – people with the giant brains for the tech world who are also committed to keeping the rest of us safe from the nefarious criminals. Lucky for us, Chris is a tech geek with a wicked book habit. I loved talking to him about “Ready Player One,” the appeal of gamer culture, and escaping into good s…

Today we’re getting real about mental well-being, and the women who make us laugh in the midst of our pain. We also touched on representation in YA and children’s literature, brutal, scary honesty, and how a person can be brave and terrified at the same time. Ashley Shannon is my own personal Jenny Lawson, is what I’m saying. Support the Best Book …