Get smarter about your books! The BookSmarts podcast features discussions about the publishing industry and interviews with industry experts, deep thinkers, and doers, bringing you insights that will help you sell more books.
Joshua Tallent is an acclaimed teacher and guide on the role of data in publishing, and a vocal advocate for high quality book metadata. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys playing complex board games, playing Minecraft, and fiddling with his 3D printer.
Episode 69: Reader Communities & Discovery Trends with Booktrovert
Tarah Theoret (http://www.linkedin.com/in/tarahtheoret) is the Vice President, Community Growth & Engagement for NetGalley and Booktrovert. Bringing over two decades of publishing experience from major trade publishers—including HarperCollins and Penguin Young Readers Group—and holding an MS in Publishing from Pace University, Tarah leads audience expansion and community engagement. In her role, she drives strategic growth across both sites, overseeing community initiatives, partner promotions, and reader-first product features that deepen reader engagement and build lasting community connection.
On this episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Tarah joins Joshua Tallent to discuss Booktrovert, NetGalley's reading lifestyle platform. Tarah gives a behind-the-scenes look at how Booktrovert helps readers track, discover, and celebrate their reading lives through interactive stacks, daily bookish games, and digital "Shelfie" showcases. The conversation explores how publishers and authors—from debut indies to major bestsellers like Abby Jimenez—are leveraging Booktrovert’s sweepstakes, giveaways, and targeted campaigns to build pre-pub buzz, engage loyal fanbases, and drive pre-orders right around launch day. Tarah also shares insights on community growth, top reader genres, and upcoming features planned for the platform.
To learn more about Booktrovert and explore how it can support your title marketing strategy, visit BookTrovert.com (https://booktrovert.com) or follow them on Instagram @booktrovert_com (https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/booktrovert_comm/). If you are a NetGalley client, you can also reach out directly to your account representative to discuss campaign options.
17 Aug 2026
Episode 68: Publishing Workflows & Trends with Westchester Publishing Services
Tyler Carey has worked in publishing and technology for over 20 years, with a background including work at Wolters-Kluwer and Harris Connect. His roles have included account management, sales, marketing, product development, social media management, and technology consulting. He is an experienced conference speaker, often presenting on the impact of technology on different industries, sharing strategies to adapt emerging technologies into more traditional organizations. In 2017, Tyler was promoted to Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing the company’s sales, marketing, and business development efforts as well as the growing staff supporting those initiatives.
On this episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Tyler discusses the ever-growing complexities of managing publishing workflows in a fast-paced, digital world. He provides a deep dive into the recent influx of industry regulations like ADA Title II, the push to get trend-driven books to market more quickly, and the universal challenge of inbox and time management. The conversation also explores practical tools for organizing the chaos—from Gen AI assistants to analog bullet journals—and the importance of community, mentorship, and mental health resources to combat stress in the publishing industry.
To learn more about Westchester Publishing Services and how they help publishers with their editorial and production workflows, visit westchesterpublishingservices.com (https://www.westchesterpublishingservices.com/). You can also connect with Tyler on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercarey/) or catch him in person at upcoming industry events like the IPG Autumn Conference.
20 Jul 2026
Episode 67: Merchandising Insights from Books-A-Million’s Kathy Gagliano
Kathy Gagliano is the Executive Vice President of Merchandising at Books-A-Million, America’s second-largest book retailer. Bringing a wealth of experience from major retailers like Parisian, Inc., Federated Department Stores, and Saks, Inc., Kathy joined Books-A-Million in 2007. Today, she helps guide the vision and strategy for the beloved company that started as a humble 1917 street corner newsstand in Florence, Alabama, and has since expanded into over 220 stores across 32 states.
On this week’s episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Kathy sits down to discuss the evolving landscape of physical book retail. We dive into how Books-A-Million is adapting to a rapidly changing consumer demographic and welcoming the massive wave of younger readers fueled by BookTok. Kathy also shares her insights on viewing the bookstore as a real-time cultural barometer and reveals the heart behind their localized, "shop-in-a-shop" community hubs. Finally, we explore the company's current expansion into new markets and offer fantastic, tactical advice on how publishers can better partner with physical retailers to capture today's readers.
To learn more about Books-A-Million and follow along with their continued growth, visit booksamillion.com. You can also reach out to Kathy directly at gaglianok@booksamillion.com.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
27
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
81
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