Episodes

  • Nathalia Holt - THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS

    Nathalia Holt - THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS
    Jul 15 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Nathalia Holt about ⁠The Beast in the Clouds⁠⁠, how the panda bear was the large mammal unknown to science, the Roosevelt brothers' unlikely but successful excursion, how they changed the way the world viewed conservation, how she learned about this story, finding a publisher for this tale, and much more. Nathalia's recommended reads are: Palace of Deception by Darrin Lunde On a Mission: The Smithsonian History of U.S. Women Astronauts by Valerie Neal Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠The Beast in the Clouds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Bruce Holsinger - CULPABILITY

    Bruce Holsinger - CULPABILITY
    Jul 11 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Bruce Holsinger about Culpability,⁠ why his publishing date moved up by three months (now we know it's an Oprah pick!), the research he conducted for this one, P(doom) numbers, his stunning cover, and much more. Bruce's recommended reads are: Dream State by Eric Puchner Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte Trust by Hernan Diaz Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner Small Rain by Garth Greenwell Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Culpability⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Lidija Hilje - SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA

    Lidija Hilje - SLANTING TOWARDS THE SEA
    Jul 9 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Lidija Hilje about ⁠⁠⁠Slanting Towards the Sea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, writing about present day Croatia, her father's health and how it inspired this story, writing in her second language and why she chose to write the book in English, her title and cover, and much more. Lidija's recommended reads are: The Anthropologists by Aysegul Savas We Were the Universe by Kimberly King Parsons Joanna's Room by James Baldwin Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slanting Towards the Sea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Laura Wood - LET'S MAKE A SCENE

    Laura Wood - LET'S MAKE A SCENE
    Jul 1 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Laura Wood about ⁠⁠Let's Make a Scene⁠⁠, the challenges she faced while writing her first dual timeline and dual POV book, her favorite tropes, her fascination with how fame impacts a person in today's world, referencing her favorite rom-coms in this one, giving cameos to the character from Under Your Spell, the title drama, and much more. Laura's recommended reads are: The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Let's Make a Scene⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • Kelly Hooker - June's Real Time Reading

    Kelly Hooker - June's Real Time Reading
    Jun 27 2025
    Kelly Hooker joins me for June's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last: Everything is TB The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro Now: Culpability by Bruce Holsinger Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Next: What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon Buckeye by Patrick Ryan DNFs or Didn't Like: Sunburned by Katherine Wood Book Mail Highlights: Heart the Lover by Lily King A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan Cindy's Selections: Last: Mrs. Spy by MJ Robotham This American Woman: A One-in-a-Billion Memoir by Zarna Garg Now: Silver Elite by Dani Francis The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell Next: Anne of Avenue A by Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding The Secret History by Donna Tartt DNFs or Didn’t Like: The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards Through an Open Window by Pamela Terry Book Mail Highlights: History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠ Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • Travis Kennedy - THE WHYTE PYTHON WORLD TOUR

    Travis Kennedy - THE WHYTE PYTHON WORLD TOUR
    Jun 24 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Travis Kennedy about ⁠⁠⁠The Whyte Python World Tour⁠, his inspiration for this book, creating Rikki Thunder, what surprised him as he wrote this one, screen adaptation plans, determining when during the Cold War to set the book, his research, and much more. Travis's recommended reads are: The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne by Ron Currie Jr. Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison The Boys of Riverside by ⁠Thomas Fuller Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠⁠for a set price here⁠⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Whyte Python World Tour⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Hazel Gaynor - BEFORE DOROTHY

    Hazel Gaynor - BEFORE DOROTHY
    Jun 17 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Hazel Gaynor about ⁠⁠Before Dorothy, why this story appeals to everyone not just The Wizard of Oz fans, The Wizard of Oz book is celebrating 125 years, how she was a fan of the book first, the title and cover, why she chose the setting she did, and much more. Hazel's recommended reads are: Elphie by Gregory Maguire The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or ⁠for a set price here⁠ via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Before Dorothy can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Karen Dukess - WELCOME TO MURDER WEEK

    Karen Dukess - WELCOME TO MURDER WEEK
    Jun 10 2025
    In this interview, I chat with Karen Dukess about ⁠Welcome to Murder Week, writing a mystery versus standard fiction, her trip that inspired this book, the popularity of BritBox mysteries, what surprised her the most, and much more. Karen's recommended reads are: The Original by Nell Stevens Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle Looking for some great summer reads? Check out my printable 18-page Summer Reading Guide ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a tip of your choice or for a set price here via credit card with over 60 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this summer - books you will not see on other guides. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Donate to the podcast ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠on Venmo⁠⁠⁠. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Literary Lookbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. ⁠Welcome to Murder Week⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buzz Reads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my article about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠older protagonists in fiction⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins