Rogue Librarians

About Rogue Librarians

Since 2021, an unprecedented number of Young Adult books, especially ones with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC characters, have been removed from libraries across the country. In this podcast, our mission is to provide clarity and context during this period of record-breaking book challenges by discussing banned books. Please join us for our conversations! Books are meant to be read.

Publisher

Rogue Librarians

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

17 Oct 2022

Latest episode

31 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

95 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Oct 2026

   86. Bonus: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (Just for Fun)

   In this, our last bonus episode for our banned books month extravaganza, we celebrate the freedom to read while discussing Kate Quinn’s The Astral Library, a magical library-centered novel that doubles as a love letter to libraries and the people who use them. We discuss the book’s sanctuary theme, the rules of the Astral Library, the tension around library boards, and why libraries matter as real-world places of refuge, access, and community support. The following subjects came up during our discussion: Louise Penny’s Three Pines (https://www.thebookishbulletin.com/blog/gamache-series?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22384316595&gbraid=0AAAAA-uyUURv16LJpxUBUNJdrMvepAGFA&gclid=CjwKCAjw0fbWBhBkEiwAwJuQ8WbjNlLMUtM402reX_zwPwrm31e03LRdrPjwQIeejaFzMK4XMVwzyxoC7XcQAvD_BwE) series featuring Inspector Gamache Former Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden’s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Hayden) time as director of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enoch_Pratt_Free_Library), where she kept the library open during the 2015 protests (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Baltimore_protests) over the death of 25 year old Black man Freddy Gray (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Freddie_Gray) while in police custody. Information on Library Boards The ALA’s “The Role of Library Trustees (https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/united/content/The%20Role%20of%20Library%20Trustees.pdf)”  and Pennsylvania’s Office of Commonwealth Libraries document Public Library Operations and Board Governance: Governing the Library (https://pa-gov.libguides.com/public-library-operations-board-governance/governing-the-library) The defunding of the Samuels Public Library in Front Royal, Virginia. (https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/samuels-public-library-in-rift-with-county-loses-funding) Louisiana school librarian, Amanda Jones, author of That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America (https://bookshop.org/p/books/that-librarian-the-fight-against-book-banning-in-america-amanda-jones/6982ee47c758825d?ean=9781639737246), Rogue Librarians Episode 42: Interview with Librarian and Author Amanda Jones (https://open.spotify.com/episode/6p6riZbqA99sw2zwYylqIl?si=6BFRYSwuQ2SjDLZXGXRVsw) Images of some amazing book dresses (https://www.instagram.com/popular/book-dress/?hl=en) that may or may not have inspired Kate Quinn. If you would like to join the conversation, please check out our website, theroguelibrarians.com (http://theroguelibrarians.com). Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/roguelibrarianspod), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/roguelibrarianspod), BlueSky (https://www.facebook.com/roguelibrarianspod), TikTok at Rogue Librarians Pod. Please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts, and please leave us a rating and review. If you would like to support us financially, please join our Patreon at patreon.com/roguelibrarians. This podcast was produced by us, Marion and Dorothy. Sound editing by Dorothy, Assistant Producer Heather, Social Media Director Simon, and music by Chris. Special thanks to Alana the Lioness, our co-founder and forever host, Lizzie, the obstinate, headstrong girl who taught us all about sound editing, and our loyal Patreon supporters. Finally, thanks to all of you for reading with us, because, "Any book worth banning is a book worth reading." ~Isaac Asimov.

2. 

   21 Oct 2026

   85. Bonus: Interview with Ashley Hope Perez and Elana K. Arnold about the anthology "Banned Together"

   When you’re fighting censorship, the goal isn’t just to say “this is bad.” It’s to make sure kids can still find the books, the stories, and themselves.   In our conversation with authors Ashley Hope Pérez and Elana K. Arnold, we talk about how the anthology Banned Together (https://bookshop.org/p/books/banned-together-our-fight-for-readers-rights-debbie-fong/27267390b0a8054f?ean=9780823458301) helps librarians, teachers, readers, and writers stand up for the freedom to read—and build community along the way.  What are you protecting right now: a book, a voice, or a space? The following things came up during our discussion. Rogue Librarians Episode 10. Out of Darkness: Interview with Ashley Hope Pérez (https://www.theroguelibrarians.com/episodes/episode/200008cb/10-out-of-darkness-interview-with-ashley-hope-perez) Rogue Librarians Episode 23. Interview with Author Elana K. Arnold   (https://www.theroguelibrarians.com/episodes/episode/233417da/23-interview-with-author-elana-k-arnold) Libro.fm (http://libro.fm): a digital audiobook platform that lets you buy audiobooks while sharing its profits with a local independent bookstore of your choice. It serves as an ethical alternative to services like Audible, offering a massive catalog of titles that you truly own How to Defend Books and Why: Book Bans and How We Fight Them (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241445024-how-to-defend-books-and-why), by Danny Caine Accountable:  The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, (https://bookshop.org/p/books/accountable-the-true-story-of-a-racist-social-media-account-and-the-teenagers-whose-lives-it-changed-dashka-slater/428af358547cb799?ean=9780374314347) by Dashka Slater Grandad's Pride (A Grandad's Camper LGBTQ Pride Book for Kids in partnership with GLAAD) (https://bookshop.org/p/books/grandad-s-pride-a-grandad-s-camper-lgbtq-pride-book-for-kids-in-partnership-with-glaad-harry-woodgate/636b36567d96fb28?ean=9781499814613), You can find Ashley Hope Perez via her website: Home - Ashley Hope Pérez (https://ashleyperez.com/); email: novels@ashleyperez.com (mailto:novels@ashleyperez.com); Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ashleyhopeperez (https://twitter.com/#!/ashleyhopeperez); Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashley-Hope-P%C3%A9rez/167177466648492 (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashley-Hope-P%C3%A9rez/167177466648492); Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4394044.Ashley_Hope_P_rez (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4394044.Ashley_Hope_P_rez); Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyhopeperez/ (https://www.instagram.com/ashleyhopeperez/) You can find Elana K. Arnold via her website: elanakarnold.com (http://elanakarnold.com); Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElanaKArnold/ (https://www.facebook.com/ElanaKArnold/); Twitter: https://twitter.com/elanakarnold (https://twitter.com/elanakarnold); Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elanakarnold/ (https://www.instagram.com/elanakarnold/)

3. 

   14 Oct 2026

   84. Bonus: Interview with Amber McBride

   Week, schmeek, we’re celebrating  Banned Books Month and our freedom to read throughout October.  This week we talk with author and poet Amber McBride about her novel in verse, The Leaving Room, which turns big questions about death, story, and spirit into something tender and human.  Our conversation ranges from books and storytelling to censorship and the comfort literature can offer young readers. Amber reminds us that reading can be joy, resistance, and freedom all at once.  And yes — the freedom to choose what we read matters more than ever.  We are not saying read everything.  We are saying people should have access, choice, and context. That distinction changes everything. You can find Amber McBride at  amber-mcbride.com (http://amber-mcbride.com) and on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ambsmcbride/#), Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@ambsmcbride), and Threads (https://www.threads.com/@ambsmcbride)@ambsmcbride Books and media we discussed during our conversation include: Tar Beach (https://bookshop.org/p/books/tar-beach-faith-ringgold/c9fc98ebcbe4b5d5?ean=9780517885444), by Faith Ringgold Where the Wild Things Are (https://bookshop.org/p/books/where-the-wild-things-are-maurice-sendak/180eeadb66af3201?ean=9780812413748), by Maurice Sendak Anything at all by Judy Blume (https://bookshop.org/beta-search?bkshp-astro=t&keywords=Judy+Blume) Films The Shape of Water (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580390/?ref_=fn_t_1) and Frankenstein (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312221/?ref_=fn_t_1)directed by Guillermo del Toro, The Poem “Literal” from Ani DiFranco Verses (https://bookshop.org/p/books/ani-difranco-verses-ani-difranco/4a66c445ebade83e?ean=9781609800208), by Ani DiFranco Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (https://bookshop.org/p/books/wicked-musical-tie-in-edition-the-life-and-times-of-the-wicked-witch-of-the-west-gregory-maguire/b504aff8e1a6e564?ean=9780060987107)  by Gregory Maguire The Oz Books (https://bookshop.org/p/books/oz-the-complete-paperback-collection-boxed-set-oz-the-complete-collection-volume-1-oz-the-complete-collection-volume-2-oz-the-complete-colle/87de35872fe095ec?ean=9781442489028) by L. Frank Baum The Netflix Documentary High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14540468/?ref_=fn_t_2) based on the book High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America (https://bookshop.org/p/books/high-on-the-hog-a-culinary-journey-from-africa-to-america-jessica-b-harris/27ce6e97a8a3a7b5?ean=9781608194506) by Jessica B. Harris

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

11 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

15 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

63

Social presence

91

YouTube

0

Engagement

71