Three Literary Heavyweights: Smith, Banville, and Pynchon

Host Jo Reed and contributor Alan Minskoff dive into three remarkable audiobooks: Zadie Smith’s Dead and Alive, John Banville’s Venetian Vespers, and Thomas Pynchon’s long-awaited Shadow Ticket. They explore Smith’s incisive essays, read by the author with clarity and authority; Venetian Vespers, with Luke Thompson navigating Banville’s long, sinuous sentences; and Pynchon’s noir caper, handled with virtuosic range by Edoardo Ballerini. It’s a conversation filled with sharp insights into writing, narration, and what makes these audiobooks such compelling listens.   Audiobooks Discussed:  Dead and Alive, written and read by Zadie Smith (Penguin Audio) Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon, read by Edoardo Ballerini (Penguin Audio) Venetian Vespers by John Banville, read by Luke Thompson (Random House Audio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Michele Cobb joins host Jo Reed to dig into audiobooks built on backstory, beginning with Expert Witness, where Gabra Zackman delivers Anne Wolbert Burgess’ account of trauma, justice, and the evolution of expert testimony with clarity and restraint. Next, they turn to A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever, a joyful, detail-packed oral history of the 1984 film Spinal Tap—an ensemble cast production led by Rob Reiner, where seemingly spontaneous commentary makes the audiobook the definitive way to experience the story. The episode closes with We Did OK, Kid, a reflective memoir in which Kenneth Branagh’s elegant narration frames Anthony Hopkins’s vulnerable reflections on craft, ambition, and a life shaped by performance. Together these audiobooks show how lived experience—whether in the courtroom, on a film set, or across a lifetime in acting—gains depth and resonance when shaped by a narrator who knows when to be restrained, playful, or quietly vulnerable. Audiobooks Discussed: Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance by Ann Wolbert Burgess with Steven Matthew Constantine, read by Gabra Zackman A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap, written and read by Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer  We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir by Sir Anthony Hopkins, read by Kenneth Branagh with the author Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Cummings joins host Jo Reed to talk about Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s immersive dual biography of Amelia Earhart and George Putnam, The Aviator and the Showman; Elliot Ackerman’s unlikely and darkly comic caper, Sheepdogs; and Mike Albo’s candid, audio-exclusive memoir, Hologram Boyfriends. Cummings reflects on what surprised him about each audiobook and why these very different works held his attention to the end. Altogether, the conversation highlights how form, tone, and performance shape the listening experience.   Audiobooks Discussed: The Aviator and the Showman by Laurie Gwen Shapiro, read by Stefanie Powers (Penguin Audio) Sheepdogs by Elliot Ackerman, read by Chris Andrew Ciulla (Random House Audio) Hologram Boyfriends, written and read by Mike Albo (Macmillan Audio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contributor Alex Richey joins Behind the Mic host Jo Reed to talk about three fantastical audiobooks and how their different forms shape the listening experience. The conversation moves from Brandon Sanderson’s story collection Tailored Realities to two intergenerational stories centered on daughters—Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite and As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel—where voice and perspective carry particular emotional weight. As Alex observes, these audiobooks demonstrate how narration can enhance both broad narrative structures and more focused, character-driven works. Books Discussed: Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson, read by Dion Graham, January LaVoy, Michael Kramer, Ray Porter, Andre Santana, Avi Roque, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Imani Jade Powers, MacLeod Andrews, Shahjehan Khan, and Stephanie Nemeth Parker Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, read by Weruche Opia, Nnei Opia Clark, and Diana Yekinni As Many Souls as Stars, written by Natasha Siegel, read by Kristin Atherton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile Magazine is now part of Kirkus Reviews, and Behind the Mic marks the moment with a conversation with the magazine’s founder and longtime editor Robin Whitten. Robin reflects on a life spent listening, how audiobooks and audiobook reviewing has evolved, and her excitement that the work begun by AudioFile will continue and flourish at KirkusReviews. It’s a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation about continuity, change, and the enduring joy of listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed is joined by narrator Karen Murray to talk about HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander, one of our picks for the Best Children and Family Audiobooks of 2025. Karen shares how she dove into this musical exploration of Black music in America, which “felt like home to her.” The experience begins with a poem as the listener is guided through the talking drums of Africa, to the blues, jazz, funk, and soul, and eventually hip-hop. Jo and Karen share why this listen is perfect for families, even down to the final, fascinating glossary.  Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook Published by Hachette Audio.  AudioFile’s 2025 Best Children & Family Listening are: AND SHE WAS LOVED by Andrea Davis Pinkney, read by Andrea Davis Pinkney BAD BADGER by Maryrose Wood, read by Chris Devon MILLIE FLEUR SAVES THE NIGHT by Christy Mandin, read by Elizabeth Knowelden THE POISONED KING by Katherine Rundell, read by Sam West HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander, read by Karen Murray WHALE EYES by James Robinson, read by James Robinson Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator Greta Jung joins host Jo Reed to discuss narrating ALL THE TOMORROWS AFTER by Joanne Yi, one of AudioFile’s picks for Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2025. Greta discusses her connection to the Korean language and her own childhood, both of which helped her deliver an impactful, emotional performance. Jo and Greta also talk about the importance of stories that are especially resonant for children and teen listeners.  Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook Published by Simon & Schuster Audio AudioFile’s 2025 Best Young Adult Audiobooks are: AMONG GHOSTS by Rachel Hartman, read by Will Watt ONE STEP FORWARD by Marcie Flinchum Atkins, read by Chanté McCormick SISTERS IN THE WIND by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc (S)KIN by Ibi Zoboi, read by Bahni Turpin, Robin Miles UNDER THE SAME STARS by Libba Bray, read by January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Major Curda ALL THE TOMORROWS AFTER by Joanne Yi, read by Greta Jung Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Narrator and actor Christine Lakin joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss one of this year’s Best Romance Audiobooks, SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter. Christine goes behind the scenes with Michele to reveal how she established the tone of certain characters and the unique challenges of being a romance narrator when they’re often recording alone in a booth. Together they dive into new trends in current romance audiobooks and discuss how natural it felt for Christine to perform Abby Jimenez’s words. Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook Published by Hachette Audio. AudioFile’s 2025 Best Romance Audiobooks are: GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan MISDIRECTED by Lucy Parker, read by Nicola Coughlan, Gwilym Lee PIONEER SUMMER by  Elena Malisova and Kateryna Sylvanova, [Translated from Russian by Anne O. Fisher] Read by Edoardo Ballerini  PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, [Adapt.] Lulu Raczka, read by Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson, Glenn Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Bill Nighy, Sophie Wilde, Will Poulter, Jessie Buckley, Toheeb Jimoh, Patricia Allison, Bertie Carvel, Leah Harvey, David Gyasi, Rosalind Eleazar SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin, Matt Lanter THE WOLF KING by Lauren Palphreyman, read by Zara Hampton-Brown and Shane East Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed is joined by narrator Maggi-Meg Reed to chat about her performance in one of AudioFile’s selections for Best Multi-Voice audiobooks of 2025: THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, read by Maggi-Meg Reed with an ensemble. Maggi-Meg talks about how she narrated this nuanced story about a 73-year old woman who is slowly going blind, while also dealing with a surprising DNA test. Together they discuss how a performer rides the line between a written conversation and a spoken one and the unique challenges that come with multi-voice narrations. Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook Published by Random House Audio.  AudioFile’s 2025 Best Multi-Voice Audiobooks are: THE BIG FIX by John Mankiewicz, Jamie Napoli, Daniel Pyne, Katie Pyne, and Aaron Lipstadt, performed by Jon Hamm, Ana de la Reguera, Erin Moriarity, Omar Epps, Alia Shawkat, et al. THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, read by Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Peter Ganim, Jade Wheeler, Jim Seybert, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, et al. THE DEVIL REACHED TOWARD THE SKY by Garrett M. Graff, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, Adam Grupper, Brian Nishii, Kevin R. Free, Matthew Lloyd Davies, Mirai, Rob Shapiro, Saskia Maarleveld, Vikas Adam, et al. LES NORMAUX by Janine Janssen and S. Al Sabado, performed by Janine Janssen, S. Al Sabado, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Jean Brassard, Xavier Casals, Alexander Cendese, Kyla Garcia, Ramón de Ocampo, Abby Manning, Christopher Salazar, André Santana, Devon Sorvari, Jeanne Syquia OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove read by, Chris Devon, Emana Rachelle, Charlie Albers, Eve Passeltiner, Zura Johnson, Cary Hite, Gail Shalan SOUNDTRACK by Jason Reynolds, performed by Nile Bullock, Mekhi Hewling, Jade Williams, Brandon Miles, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Amir Royale, et al. Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb sits down with award-winning narrator Eunice Wong to discuss one of our picks for the Best Science Fiction & Fantasy audiobooks of 2025: DOWN IN THE SEA OF ANGELS by Khan Wong. This cinematic collision of past and future comes together in a dystopian fantasy which is also part historical fiction and sci-fi. We’ll hear about how Wong approached narrating three different timelines, and how a very special jade teacup connects them all. Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook Published by Dreamscape.  AudioFile’s 2025 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks are: DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor, read by Liz Femi, Anthony Oseyemi, Jason Culp, Chris Djuma DOWN IN THE SEA OF ANGELS by Khan Wong, read by Eunice Wong THE HYMN TO DIONYSUS by Natasha Pulley, read by Sid Sagar KATABASIS by R.F. Kuang, read by Morag Sims, Will Watt  THE RAVEN SCHOLAR by Antonia Hodgson, read by Daphne Kouma THE WINTER GODDESS by Megan Barnard, read by Aoife McMahon, Aidan Kelly Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices