- 179
- Episodes
- 9
- Transcribed
- 67
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2023
- First episode
About Middle Grade Matters
On the Middle Grade Matters podcast, host Shannon Balloon talks to to authors and publishing professionals about all things middle grade. The show explores topics like the craft of writing, the journey to getting an agent and publishing a book, and why middle grade books should matter to everyone.
- Publisher
- Shannon Balloon
- Category
- arts · education · kids & family
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 7 Aug 2023
- Latest episode
- 25 Aug 2026
Latest episodes
9 of 179 episodes have a transcript.
25 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 115: Máire Roche / Mary E. Roach (Little Monsters) on Reimagining Little Women for Young Readers Who Love Spooky Stories
21 Jul 2026
Ep. 114: Perin Gurel (Laleh and the Language of the Birds) on Indie Publishing and Writing for Kids versus Academia
1 Jul 2026
Ep. 113: Fleur Bradley on Writing Mysteries (and Other Stories) for Kids and Teens
Inside a recent episode
Ep. 115: Máire Roche / Mary E. Roach (Little Monsters) on Reimagining Little Women for Young Readers Who Love Spooky Stories
Published 25 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] This is the first Little Women retelling, reimagining that I've ever read. And I have to say, having loved the original, it was really fun to see a spin on it, some flavor and yet to still have the nostalgia of those original characters and the setting and being a little, you know, Lori lives next door and things like that. So how did you feel writing this story? And do you have an attachment to Little Women? Yeah. I definitely have an attachment to Little Women. That was a big part of writing this story. And I wrote it in the fall, which was really fun. I wrote it in October, which is when the book is set. […]
Read the full transcript with a Pod Engine plan.
See plansWho has been a guest on Middle Grade Matters
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- Mary Roach
- Máire Roche
- Nancy Tandon
- Huda Al-Mirashi
- Tracy Wolff
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 5.0 / 5
- 43 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 24 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 91
- Social presence
- 94
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 82
Contact Middle Grade Matters
- Guest appearances
- Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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Questions about Middle Grade Matters
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Middle Grade Matters take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
9 of 179 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
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