A podcast about writing lives, reading books, and the people behind the literary scenes.
subwayreads.substack.com (https://subwayreads.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Chasing Your Obsessions featuring Kristin Vuković (20)
Before diving into this week’s interview, Leia and Rachel chat about their weeks in publishing and podcasting. Leia tells us about getting a sneak peak at her forthcoming novel’s interior design and a mystical thing called “meta-data.” Then Rachel shares a disastrous tale about pitching our podcast to some unimpressed Gen-Z booksellers (be prepared for second-hand embarrassment).
After a few laughs, we turn our conversation to Rachel’s interview with Kristin Vuković, author of The Cheesemaker’s Daughter (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9798888456828), who discusses founding the Adriatic Writers Conference (https://adriaticwritersconference.com/) in Croatia and the necessity of learning how to ask for what you want.
Then, as this IS a book podcast, after the interview, we present you with… book recommendations!
Kristin’s Subway Read: The Parisian Heist (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9798217046492) by Joe Piazza
Leia’s Pick: The Dangers of Smoking in Bed (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780593134092) by Mariana Enriquez
Rachel’s Pick: Moby-Dick (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780143105954) by Herman Melville
Other Books Mentioned in this Episode
Everyone Is Lying To You (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9798217046478) by Joe Piazza
The Sicilian Inheritance (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780593474181) by Joe Piazza
Slanting Towards the Sea (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781668078686) by Lidija Hilje
Dive into the whole conversation:
You can find the full episode recap of this and previous episodes on our Substack (https://subwayreads.substack.com), as well as listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/subway-reads/id6785910417) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/033HmrZFEgZM6XGx2Mweg8).
Hosted by: Leia Menlove and Rachel Reynolds Westerwelle
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit subwayreads.substack.com (https://subwayreads.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
3 Nov 2026
The Author-Agent Alchemy featuring Stephanie Delman (19)
Books, martinis, and the occasional toddler metaphor collide on today’s episode, as Leia sits down with her own literary agent, Stephanie Delman (https://www.trellisliterary.com/stephaniedelman) of Trellis Literary Management. They talk about what really happens behind the scenes from panic author emails to a real-life manuscript thief on the prowl. This is the episode for anyone who’s ever wondered what literary agents actually do and the relationship they have with their authors.
Then, as this IS a book podcast, after the interview, we present you with… book recommendations!
Stephanie’s Subway Reads: Heather (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781250400574) by Caitlin Mullen, John of John (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780802167194) by Douglas Stuart, and Bad Words (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781250431295), by Ríoghnach Robinson
Leia’s Pick: Notes on an Execution (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780063052741) by Danya Kukafka
Rachel’s Pick: Book Lovers (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780593334836) by Emily Henry
Other Books Mentioned in this Episode:
Vladimir (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781982187644) by Julia May Jones
I Have Some Questions For You (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780593490167) by Rebecca Makkai
Upcoming Debut Novels to Watch Out for Now:
Maria Maria (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9798217197736) by Jennifer Galvao
Charlotte Cane (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780063482814) by Susan Fox
Hello, World! (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9798217181018) by Karisa Tell
Dive into the whole conversation:
You can find the full episode recap of this and previous episodes on our Substack (https://subwayreads.substack.com), as well as listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/subway-reads/id6785910417) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/033HmrZFEgZM6XGx2Mweg8).
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit subwayreads.substack.com (https://subwayreads.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
27 Oct 2026
Hopping the Fence from Self-Publishing to Traditional featuring Abe Moss (18)
For our last spooky season episode, Leia shares a true horror story: taking author photos! (And her dearly beloved husband’s attempts at getting the perfect shot). Then Rachel interviews horror writer Abe Moss, whose novel Morsels (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781638935827) was acquired by the new horror imprint, Evil Twin (https://zandoprojects.com/imprints/evil-twin), after being a run-away self-published success.
Rachel and Abe get down to the bone of impostor syndrome, where our ideas come from, and the differences between the self-publishing and traditional routes (and why he isn’t giving up either, any time soon).
Then, as this IS a book podcast, after the interview, we present you with… book recommendations!
- Abe’s Subway Read: Old Soul (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9780593718308) by Susan Barker
- Leia’s Picks: Her Body and Other Parties (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781555977887) by Carmen Maria Machado and The Eye of Goliath (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781805680369) by Diego Muzio
- Rachel’s Pick: A Killing Cold (https://bookshop.org/a/122464/9781250343079) by Kate Alice Marshall
Dive into the whole conversation:
You can find the full episode recap of this and previous episodes on our Substack (https://subwayreads.substack.com), as well as listen on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/subway-reads/id6785910417) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/033HmrZFEgZM6XGx2Mweg8).
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit subwayreads.substack.com (https://subwayreads.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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Guest appearances
Books guests
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