Unban Coolies advocates for artists and authors facing censorship, amid a surge in book bans, with librarians in the middle of the crossfire. Host Christopher Lau leads interviews with acclaimed authors and rockstar librarians, illuminating the dangers of book banning. Lau ensures each episode is filled with intriguing and thoughtful questions, guiding the conversations. Together, we champion diverse voices, ensuring our literary landscape mirrors the richness of human experiences. Brace yourself for inspiring narratives and boundless love for literature.
Patricia McCormick, the groundbreaking author behind "Sold" and co-author of "I Am Malala," sits down for a conversation that goes deep into the fight against censorship. She reveals what it's like to be one of the most banned authors in America and the shocking moment she found a sliver of common ground with her challengers.
Patricia McCormick is a two-time National Book Award finalist who gives a voice to the voiceless. She is the acclaimed author of "Sold," a groundbreaking novel about human trafficking that became a feature film, and "Never Fall Down," the true story of a boy who survived the Cambodian Killing Fields. She also collaborated with Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai as the co-author of the young readers edition of "I Am Malala." Her work, consistently featured on "Best Of" lists from the New York Times and NPR, masterfully bridges journalism and literature to reveal profound stories of survival and hope. Visit her website: https://www.patriciamccormick.com/ CALL TO ACTION: What's a book that changed your perspective on a difficult topic? Share your story in the comments below. We read every single one.
10 Nov 2025
A Long Walk to $4 Million
What happens when a children's book becomes a force for global change? We sit down with Newbery Medal-winning author Linda Sue Park to discuss the astonishing real-world ripple effect of her novel, A Long Walk to Water. Inspired by the true story of Salva Dut, one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan, the book has sparked a movement. Linda Sue reveals how student readers, moved by Salva's mission to bring clean water to his homeland, have now raised over 4 MILLION DOLLARS to build hundreds of wells, serving millions of people.
We're also on the front lines of the book ban debate, where Linda Sue argues that these challenges are not about books, they are about power. She shares her perspective on why every child deserves to see themselves in a story and how literature acts as a vital training ground for empathy, resilience, and building a better world.
This is a conversation about the quiet revolution that happens when readers are inspired to act, proving that a single story can be both a mirror and a map.
Linda Sue Park is a celebrated author of children's and young adult literature, best known for her Newbery Medal-winning book, A Single Shard. Born in Illinois to Korean immigrant parents, she began writing poetry and stories as a child and published her first novel, Seesaw Girl, in 1999. Her body of work often explores Korean history and diverse cultures, bringing untold stories to light with depth and compassion. Beyond her historical fiction, her novel A Long Walk to Water has become a modern classic in schools, inspiring a massive, ongoing humanitarian effort.
A dedicated advocate for intellectual freedom and diverse representation in literature, Park lives in Western New York and continues to write stories that serve as both mirrors for young readers to see themselves and windows into the wider world. Visit her website: https://lindasuepark.com/ (https://lindasuepark.com/)
3 Nov 2025
Why Are They So Afraid Of This Book? | Maia Kobabe
What happens when a deeply personal story about identity becomes a national target? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Maia Kobabe, the author and illustrator of the award-winning and heavily challenged graphic memoir, Gender Queer.
Maia opens up about the journey of creating a book that has become a lifeline for countless queer and questioning readers, while also finding itself at the center of a firestorm of censorship. We discuss the surprising, heartfelt responses from readers that convinced em to share eir story with the world, the painful reality of being targeted by bad-faith critics, and eir passionate defense of the freedom to read.
This is a conversation that goes beyond the headlines, exploring how a single book can help people find the language for their own identity, open up crucial conversations with family, and become an act of quiet resistance. Join us for an honest look at art, authenticity, and the ongoing fight for the stories that matter.
Discover more of Maia Kobabe: https://redgoldsparkspress.com/
Who has been a guest on Unban Coolies
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jack Gantos
Jacqueline Woodson
Christopher Paul Curtis
Rita Williams-Garcia
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
269,205
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
178 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
61
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
81
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