A weekly behind-the-scenes dive into everything interesting, dynamic, strange, and wonderful happening in literary culture—featuring Lit Hub staff, columnists, and special guests! Hosted by Drew Broussard.

September means back-to-school! Hooray for learning! Hooray for fall! There’s definitely not anything bad or weird going on as relates to education, the weather, spooky season, or anything else…

First up this week, Joelle Renstrom talks with Drew about being a teacher in 2025 and her recent essay for the site about Cliffs Notes. Then, Molly Odintz joins Drew to chat with Max Booth III about Ghoulish Books in San Antonio getting harassed by MAGA types for a saucy chalkboard and, more broadly, about the state of horror in these horrifying times. Finally, Michael Kelly (publisher of Undertow Publications) calls in from Canada to give listeners some updates on what’s going on with shipping between Canada (or, really, everywhere…) and the US.

Oh also, Drew’s book rec of the week: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, now available as an Olive Edition!

The Lit Hub Podcast is a production of Lit Hub Radio and is available wherever you get your podcasts; music by Dani Lencioni of Evelyn; Engineering and production by Stardust House.