Back Room Book Talk

About Back Room Book Talk

One indie bookstore, two readers, and infinite strong opinions. thistleandnightshade.substack.com (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Alyx Myers & Annie Gamboa

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

21 Aug 2025

Latest episode

17 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Chaos Reborn

   Come join Alyx and Annie as they try to keep it together. Maybe one day a podcast will not devolve into chaos. Books mentioned: Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle Delicious in Dungeon Devour Me by Emily Rath Stitched by Eli McCann There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson Frenchman Flat by Jon Else Love Virus by Jacci Turner Country of Under by Brooke Shaffner I Punched an Alien and Now We’re in Couple’s Therapy by Kimberly Lemming Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff Children of Ruin by Adrian Tchaikovsky The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean Jade City by Fonda Lee Babel by RF Kuang Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido A Little History of Economics by Niall Kishtainy The Devils by Joe Abercromie Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler Desert Talon by Karin Lowachee Vagina Obscura by Rachel Gross Out of the Neon Closet by Dennis McBride 10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40, vol 2 by Mamita Candy Color Paradox by Isaku Natsume Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Interview with Annie

   Alyx interviews Annie about romance novels! Alyx’s silly sections: * J.R. Ward and that rep tho * Sandra Brown and is it really dub con if it’s the 90s? * Karen Marie Moning and why you can totally drop into book 5 This is our final backlog…hopefully we’ve caught up by now! fingers crossed Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   15 Jul 2026

   An Interview with Alyx

   Alyx talks about Mars House (finally). Enjoy the chat (even though we’re microdosing hell). Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

4. 

   30 Jun 2026

   On Community

   Recorded on 3/22/26 We talk about community and why we think it’s so important! Hey! Three done in a row! Aren’t you so proud of us? There are many silly moments left in... it was a chaotic morning! XD Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

5. 

   16 Jun 2026

   What will you have achieved?

   Recorded on 2/8/26 Join us for a discussion on the point of books in dark times. Two videos referenced in the podcast: "The Strangers' Case" Speech from Sir Thomas More (https://youtu.be/2l2RqzVG4ag?si=qcu6s6DmXKpPZob-&t=1337) Stephen Colbert on Mike Johnson and Pope Leo XIV (https://youtu.be/6Irn2IPmGvk?si=8_-FNvqZbF2IMLA_&t=388) Definitely the only book referenced: Mars House by Natasha Pulley (Please count how many times Alyx brings up Mars House and let Annie know. Annie counted three… but definitely feels like it’s more!) Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

6. 

   2 Jun 2026

   Let's Talk History!

   Recorded on 2/8/26. Here we talk about history books! Also, we promise… one day… we’ll have a consistent schedule… maybe… Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

7. 

   27 Jan 2026

   Horniest Little Episode

   We are marking this one M for mature! We are going to be discussing spicy things and are being very explicit in the episode. 18+ and listen at your own discretion. Books mentioned: * North How Much is Your Love by Maem * Words of Silk by Sandra Brown * Hades Calculus by Maria Ying * I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming * The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward * Sex Wizards Series by Alethea Faust Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

8. 

   20 Jan 2026

   The First Back Room Book Talk of 2026

   Back Room Book Talk. One indie bookstore, two readers, infinite strong opinions. Sit with Alyx and Annie for a little reading catch up. Thanks for joining us! Books mentioned in this podcast: * A Little History of Music (https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-little-history-of-music-robert-philip/f5b59917fdc4d3ca?ean=9780300279085&next=t) Robert Philip * South Beside the Sky * There is No Antimemetics Division (https://bookshop.org/p/books/there-is-no-antimemetics-division-a-novel-qntm/62e1b65b6635badb?ean=9780593983751&next=t) by qntm * Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman * Before We Were Trans (https://bookshop.org/p/books/before-we-were-trans-a-new-history-of-gender-dr-kit-heyam/6a9d04b3255b18d8?ean=9781541605404&next=t) by Dr Kit Heyam PH D * Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic Eyes (https://bookshop.org/p/books/destiny-disrupted-a-history-of-the-world-through-islamic-eyes-tamim-ansary/68237c6e00f98b2f?ean=9781541706200&next=t) by Tamim Ansary * The Works of Vermin (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-works-of-vermin-hiron-ennes/3d36250fdd70771a?ean=9781250811219&next=t) by Hiron Ennes * Hades Calculus by Maria Ying * The Themis Files Trilogy by Sylvain Neuvel Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

9. 

   28 Oct 2025

   And That's on Physical Media... kinda...

   Back Room Book Talk. One indie bookstore, two readers, infinite strong opinions. Sit with Alyx and Annie to discuss the internet and why they think it ties into people’s desire for physical media. Thanks for joining us! Books mentioned in the podcast: Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI (https://bookshop.org/p/books/nexus-a-brief-history-of-information-networks-from-the-stone-age-to-ai-yuval-noah-harari/a3ae480345740f08?ean=9780593734223&next=t) by Yuval Noah Harari I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-am-not-your-perfect-mexican-daughter-erika-l-s-nchez/713e2447bbc54704?ean=9781524700515&next=t)by Erika L. Sánchez Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

10. 

    30 Sept 2025

    The Kids Can't F***ing Read

    Welcome to episode three of Back Room Book Talk! Join us today to discuss the literacy crisis and some steps you can take to help kiddos gain a love of reading. Here are some links for further reading: More about the current crisis: * https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/child-illiteracy (https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/child-illiteracy) * https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_10_2024.asp (https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_10_2024.asp) * https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/ (https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/) More about No Child Left Behind and the Every Child Succeeds Act: * https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/no-child-left-behind-an-overview/2015/04 (https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/no-child-left-behind-an-overview/2015/04) * https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-every-student-succeeds-act-an-essa-overview/2016/03 (https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-every-student-succeeds-act-an-essa-overview/2016/03) * https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-the-every-student-succeeds-act-and-no-child-left-behind (https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-difference-between-the-every-student-succeeds-act-and-no-child-left-behind) Resources for Families * https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/helping-kids-synthesize-information-for-reading-comprehension/ (https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/helping-kids-synthesize-information-for-reading-comprehension/) * https://www.k5learning.com/reading-comprehension-worksheets/first-grade-1/comprehension-exercises/who-what-where-when-why (https://www.k5learning.com/reading-comprehension-worksheets/first-grade-1/comprehension-exercises/who-what-where-when-why) * https://www.unr.edu/cll (https://www.unr.edu/cll) * https://nnlc.org/ (https://nnlc.org/) * https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/laws-preschool-grade-12-education/title-I (https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/laws-preschool-grade-12-education/title-I) * https://www.washoeschools.net/directory/business-financial-services/title-i (https://www.washoeschools.net/directory/business-financial-services/title-i) * https://www.washoeschools.net/directory/child-find (https://www.washoeschools.net/directory/child-find) * https://www.lexercise.com/tests/dyslexia-test (https://www.lexercise.com/tests/dyslexia-test) Nevada Authors mentioned in this episode: * Teri Farley, author of the Phantom Stallion Series * Brad McMullen, author and illustrator of Stitched Tales * Naseem Jamnia, author of The Glade * Jarret Keene, author of Decide & Survive * Nanda Reddy, author of A Girl Within A Girl Within A Girl Thanks for joining us! Hey all! Annie here! I wanted to expand some of my thoughts: 1) because I think a mile a minute and my brain can’t always keep up and 2) I was starting to get a cold when we recorded this and my brain was dead! Oral vs Written Word We have long had a history of discrediting oral storytelling in the West. This has often come at the expense of indigenous cultures. Their view of history, science, how the world was made was “less valid” then the written word (even though most of the ancient stories were an oral story first). So, when Jarret mentioned a shift away from the written word toward more oral forms of information, I had to pause and ask myself: Am I limiting my understanding of storytelling and information-sharing to a relatively recent invention? (Yes, writing is an invention.) As I mention in the podcast, ultimately I felt that they were actually two very different conversations. Yes, oral storytelling and information communication is a valid form of expression, but separately, we have an issue where an alarming amount of children cannot read at a functional level and cannot comprehend what they are consuming appropriately.* The People are Not Informed The No Child Left Behind Act was passed in 2002 and replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act in 2014. And yet, here’s what people focus on: “Bush left these kids behind.” But no, Bush isn’t the one leaving the kids behind—he left their parents, aunts, uncles, older brothers, sisters, and cousins, as well as other supportive adults behind. The Obama-era legislation that was supposed to fix the problem didn’t. Let’s be clear: people love their kids. Both pieces of legislation were passed with the idea that “the kids are our future.” But they both exposed the flaws of their respective parties. Bush’s approach was punitive, with strict adherence to standardized measures. Obama’s, while loosening federal oversight, still relied heavily on testing to make sure those measures were followed. Neither one addressed the real issues, and now—well, the kids still can’t fucking read. Language Talk with your kids! Have that back and forth conversation to help model language comprehension. “We are unlikely to understand something we read if we cannot understand the same ideas when they are spoken or read aloud to us” pg. 17 (from Moats, Louisa Cook, and Carol A Tolman. LETRS : Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling. Volume One. Units 1-4. Dallas, Tx, Sopris West Educational Services, 2019.) Science is Real! But… Maybe We Need to Trust Teachers? The Science of Reading is the current trend sweeping through the education system. It’s based on solid research and can be very effective in teaching kids how to read. But my concern is that this obsession with data-driven practices puts us in a cycle of bad curricula and wasted millions. How do we prove that a curriculum is working? By administering a test, of course! And so, the cycle of test-taking and test-failing continues, over and over. Instead of getting stuck in this loop, why not trust that we’ve been teaching kids to read for centuries? Yes, some of it is boring, repetitive rote work—but that’s part of the process. Many of these methods were pushed aside in favor of newer, supposedly more engaging ways to teach reading. The result? Kids paid the price. *I’m not sure how to cite a TikTok, but earlier today (9/29/25), Hank Green posted a video expressing alarm over a statistic circulating that 60% of people in the U.S. are functionally illiterate. This would mean they cannot read or write their own name, fill out basic forms, or function in everyday life. Hank was particularly frustrated that people were so concerned about this statistic, which, ironically, only proves the point both the statistic and I are trying to make: people are given information but lack the skills to properly interpret it and discern whether it’s real or not. That’s what reading comprehension is all about. And that is genuinely alarming. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

11. 

    2 Sept 2025

    Indie V. Trad Pub

    Welcome to week two of Back Room Book Talk! On this episode we discuss some differences between traditional publishing and indie publishing. For a deeper dive on some of the topics we discuss, check out the following links: To learn more about some imprints, check out this list of imprints from Penguin Random House (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/imprints). If you’d like to check out some smaller presses, here’s a link to Asterism (https://asterismbooks.com/)! Some of the books/Authors we discuss on this episode: * Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh * Follower of Flowers by Natalia Hernandez * Charlie Hernández and the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo * For Whom the Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn * DN Bryn * Claudie Arseneault * Al Hess Thanks for joining us! Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

12. 

    21 Aug 2025

    Book Wyrm and Book Dragon Chaos

    Back Room Book Talk. One indie bookstore, two readers, infinite strong opinions. Sit with Alyx and Annie in their joyful chaos and enjoy some bookish shenanigans. Thanks for joining us for our inaugural talk! Music Credit: Clips from Autumn In The Air by Lo-Fi Astronaut (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lo-fi-astronaut/lo-fi-and-beyond/autumn-in-the-air-lofi-nostalgic/) used throughout. Get full access to Thistle & Nightshade at thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe (https://thistleandnightshade.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact Back Room Book Talk

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.