Rephonic
Artwork for Big Books & Bold Ideas

Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Minnesota Public Radio
CIA
Familect
Women In Intelligence
Poetry
Mother Nature
Liza Mundy
Nature
Language
Etymology
Political Polarization
January 6th Insurrection
Aldrich Ames
Counterterrorism
Osama Bin Laden
LGBTQ+ Rights
Authoritarianism
Democracy
Voter Suppression
Chaos
Gina Haspel

Where Readers Meet Writers. Conversations on books and ideas, Fridays at 11 a.m.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes157Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Big Books & Bold Ideas

Latest Episodes

Bad omens abound.

But it’s not enough to dissuade 13 tourists on a luxury cruise to Antarctica — including protagonist Striker, a Black film scout on the ship to search for a location to shoot a movie about Ernest Shackleton — from a kayak excursio... more

In Catherine Newman’s bestselling novel, “Sandwich,” main character Rachel (nicknamed Rocky), her unflappable husband and newly adult kids decamp to a ramshackle cottage in Cape Cod for a week of sprawling on the sand, late night swims and lazy morni... more

For 17 years, Mary Lucia was the voice of The Current, MPR’s music-first radio station. Her afternoon drive shifts were beloved for their rock-and-roll vibes, unpredictable humor and human connection.

But then a stalker exploited Lucia’s on-air vul... more

Kate Baer wore sequins to Talking Volumes.

It was a fitting close to the 2025 season — and not-so-subtle reminder that today is all we are promised. Might as well wear the sequins.

Talking Volumes: Kate Baer

*

*

*

*

*

Baer’s latest book... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
The Book Review
The Book ReviewThe New York Times
The Interview
The InterviewThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Quan Barry
Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and author
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Episode: Looking for a chill? 'The Unveiling' is spooky, discomforting literary horror
Catherine Newman
Author of many books, including Waiting for Birdie, and the new novel Wreck.
Episode: Catherine Newman’s witty, warm and wary Rocky returns in ‘Wreck’
Mary Lucia
Former DJ at The Current and program advisor at the University of Minnesota's Radio K
The Current
Episode: Mary Lucia shares it all in 'What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Weirder and Harder to Relate To'
Oyinkan Braithwaite
Author of Cursed Daughters and My Sister, The Serial Killer
Author
Episode: Oyinkan Braithwaite talks curses, karma and the power to change fate in 'Cursed Daughters'
Jack Elhi
Author of 'The Nazi and the Psychiatrist'
Episode: The Minnesota author whose book inspired the movie 'Nuremberg'
James Vanderbilt
Director of the film 'Nuremberg' based on Elhi's book
Episode: The Minnesota author whose book inspired the movie 'Nuremberg'
Anna North
Author of the new novel 'Bog Queen'
Episode: Anna North's new novel sees an ancient body as sacred treasure in 'Bog Queen'
Patricia Lockwood
Author and poet known for her unique narrative style and exploration of contemporary issues.
Episode: Talking Volumes: Patricia Lockwood's new novel is a COVID-induced fever dream
Patrick Ryan
Editor-in-chief of One Story and novelist
One Story
Episode: Patrick Ryan's 'Buckeye' is a sweeping drama set in a small town in Ohio

Host

Kerri Miller
Host of engaging literary discussions, providing insights and fostering conversations with authors and thought leaders.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 217 ratings
  • Happy to have this podcast

    I miss hearing Kerri Miller more often. And Tom Weber too. I do like Angela Davis’ show but also miss the former hosts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    e85gal
    United States2 years ago
  • A brilliant broadcaster

    I started listening to Kerri when I first moved to North Dakota in 2006. I continued to do so for all of my 10 years in the USA. When I retired back to Australia in 2016 I had to take Kerri with me. She is a consummate broadcaster. An amazingly beautiful voice with a wonderful intelligence. Essential listening and an ornament to public broadcasting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cetigne
    Australia3 years ago
  • Insightful and well read

    Thanks so much for the insightful questions and conversation which are based on the perceptions of well read and thoughtful readers

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    APFineday
    United States4 years ago
  • defund MPR

    biased leftist garbage, these democrat activists need to be defunded

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MnReview
    United States4 years ago
  • Too biased!

    I know it’s harder than ever to find unbiased reporting and conversation, I guess I just have high expectation for a “public” funded organization. One star is far more generous than this public personality deserves. I vote to defund biased reporting and Leftist leaning conversations that our tax dollars fund. What a joke Kerri Miller, maybe it’s time to take a look inward and make some much needed reflections!! I will never support this biased nonsense again! I truly hope this show goes in the t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Trace off
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some comments express concern about a perceived political bias in recent episodes, citing that they expected more diverse viewpoints.
Overall, the podcast is regarded as an essential listen for those passionate about literature and social issues, offering a rich exploration of ideas.
Listeners praise the engaging conversations, often highlighting the depth and insightfulness of the topics discussed.
Kerri Miller is recognized as a talented interviewer who fosters thoughtful dialogue with her guests.

Top Books Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Looking for a chill? 'The Unveiling' is spooky, discomforting literary horror
Q: Striker believes in omens. Was there ever a moment when you thought, 'This is a bad idea'?
Even after recognizing the bad luck, she felt compelled to press on with her expedition.
Talking Volumes: Kate Baer asks 'How About Now'
Q: What was going on in your life when you wrote Undivided Attention?
I wrote that poem for And Yet during a time when I was feeling overwhelmed by parenting demands and realized that what my kids really wanted was just my presence.
Oyinkan Braithwaite talks curses, karma and the power to change fate in 'Cursed Daughters'
Q: What do you think would happen if the person just refused to be cursed?
Braithwaite theorized that if you don't believe in it, the curse wouldn't hold power, reflecting her perspective on the significance of belief.
Oyinkan Braithwaite talks curses, karma and the power to change fate in 'Cursed Daughters'
Q: How can a curse affect descendants if they had nothing to do with the initial action?
Braithwaite explained that while karma is linked to direct actions, curses often unfairly extend the consequences beyond the original act.
Oyinkan Braithwaite talks curses, karma and the power to change fate in 'Cursed Daughters'
Q: What do you want that curse to sound like to the reader?
Braithwaite wanted the curse to invoke strong feelings and reflections on fairness, particularly regarding how it affects future generations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Books & Bold Ideas

What is Big Books & Bold Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations center around literature and the creative minds behind popular books, exploring both fiction and non-fiction works. Themes of family dynamics, personal identity, and societal issues often emerge, with guests ranging from authors discussing their latest publications to experts debating relevant contemporary topics. The discussions encourage listeners to engage with complex ideas while highlighting the nuances of human experience, making it an engaging option for both avid readers and those interested in cultural discourse.

Noteworthy is the blend of humor and emotional depth that guests bring, with each episode weaving in personal anecdotes that resonate with listeners. This format not only emphasizes the literary journey of t... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Big Books & Bold Ideas?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Big Books & Bold Ideas. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Big Books & Bold Ideas and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Big Books & Bold Ideas get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Big Books & Bold Ideas, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Big Books & Bold Ideas?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Big Books & Bold Ideas, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Big Books & Bold Ideas have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Big Books & Bold Ideas has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Big Books & Bold Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Big Books & Bold Ideas:

1. Fresh Air
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. The Book Review
4. The Interview
5. NPR's Book of the Day

How many episodes of Big Books & Bold Ideas are there?

Big Books & Bold Ideas launched 20 years ago and published 157 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Big Books & Bold Ideas?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Big Books & Bold Ideas?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Big Books & Bold Ideas from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Big Books & Bold Ideas?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Big Books & Bold Ideas. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Big Books & Bold Ideas?

Recent guests on Big Books & Bold Ideas include:

1. Quan Barry
2. Catherine Newman
3. Mary Lucia
4. Oyinkan Braithwaite
5. Jack Elhi
6. James Vanderbilt
7. Anna North
8. Patricia Lockwood

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days