Turek Books Podcast

“Bananas Podcast” co-host and voice on BOB’S BURGERS, stand up comedian, Kurt Braunohler joins Joshua to talk about how his kids read more than him by virtue of them exhausting him. The two discuss their shared love of trees prompted by book “The Overstory” that Kurt says is one of his all time favorites even if he hasn’t finished it yet. Their conversation ranges from a book about dishwashing to imagining Raymond Carver’s stories as cartoonishly overwritten without his famed editor Gordon Lisch. They also discuss the stunted feelings of the cursed white male rugged individualists and CIA interference in U.S. art institutions and literature. Ultimately, it’s about reading what you love, no matter if it’s spiders in outer space science fiction or 70’s NYC musician junkie memoirs.Books talked about include:“What People Talk About When They Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver“The Overstory” by Richard Powers“Dishwasher” by Pete Jordan“I Dreamed I was a Very Clean Tramp” by Richard Hell“Children of Time” by Adrian Tchaikovsky

“Family Guy” writer/producer Evan Waite joins Turek Books to talk about his time writing for “The Onion” and his new book “Life Wants You Dead”. Evan and Joshua bond over used book sales at libraries and avoiding social media witch hunts. Evan talks about how reading “48 Laws of Power” was the impetus to creating a writer’s group at the Strand Bookstore in New York City. He also discusses making the leap from teaching English in China to finding his way into comedy writing. And how he drew inspiration in penning his book about fear from a book about the inner workings of New York City.Books talked about include:THE WORKS: ANATOMY OF A CITY by Kate AscherLIFE WANTS YOU DEAD by Evan WaiteTHE STENCH OF HONOLULU by Jack HandyWATCHMEN by Alan MooreFEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS by Hunter S. ThompsonAMERICA by Jon Stewart and teamIS THIS ANYTHING? by Jerry Seinfeld48 LAWS OF POWER by Robert Greene

Comedian Ali Macofsky joins Joshua to talk about both being child actors and Jeanette McCurdy’s bestselling book about that life “I’m Glad My Mom is Dead”.  Longtime friends, they discuss growing up in Southern California and Steve Martin being a magician at Disneyland. Their conversation threads through subjects like public transportation, stand up comedy, old substance slang like “crank”, and reaching out to people you admire on Instagram.Books Talked About Include:“Born Standing Up” by Steve Martin“I’m Glad My Mom is Dead” by Jeanette McCurdy“The Maid” by Nita Prose“Crank (Trilogy) by Ellen Hopkins“Trees of Santa Monica” by George Hastings

Emmy nominated writer and comedian Ellory Smith joins us to talk about being a George Saunders superfan and trying to identify the hypocrisy of the world as a means of illuminating a better one. She and Joshua get into conspiracy theories about hippies and PETA, Toni Morrison and Magic Bullet blenders. Their conversation ranges from nature reclaiming Chernobyl to the graffiti artists doing the same to the abandoned high rises in downtown LA. This conversation skips the small talk and goes right into grief, the world’s problems, and how literature gets us into reflecting on what’s right and wrong in our own lives.

Joshua is joined by comedian and stoke activist JT Parr from Chad and JT Go Deep on Netflix, a comedic duo known for their amazing viral videos, often addressing city councils across America with urgent pleas for services like public yachts. Beneath his comedic characters, JT is lowkey well-read. He and Joshua discuss Elmore Leonard, life before social media, David Foster Wallace after cancellation, Mary Karr's devastating poem about DFW, JFK's legendary status, and learning to own our issues and apologize for past mistakes as bullies and the ones bullied. Joshua talks about a Terry Tempest Williams book that made him cry for 3-5 seconds the night before and a photo book about bros he bought his girlfriend for Christmas.Books Discussed Include:CUBA LIBRE by Elmore LeonardTHE GREAT MOVIES by Roger EbertJFK: COMING OF AGE IN THE AMERICAN CENTURY 1917-1956 by Fredrik LogevallJOE COLLEGE by Tom PerrottaEROSION by Terry Tempest WilliamsAMERICAN BACHELORS by Michael RababyINFINITE JEST, A SUPPOSEDLY FUN THING I'll NEVER DO AGAIN, BROOM OF THE SYSTEM etc by David Foster Wallace

Comedian, writer, and actor, Alyssa Limperis whose special “No Bad Days” is airing on Peacock, joins Joshua to tell him about her hang ups toward having to finish things in life and how it makes the commitment of choosing a book treacherous. Josh tells Alyssa about his emotional support books on his nightstand and how he reads multiple books like others surf tv channels. Alyssa shares her appreciation for Sally Rooney books and how they were all she read one year and this sparks lighthearted conversation about the recent Paul Mescal dating rumors. The guest and host also get into enduring a similar loss at the same time, grief and how it shapes our reading behaviors, and how Alyssa is mortified Joshua visits a student dentist, “A student hairdresser, maybe!” They also give each other books!Books talked about include:“Normal People” by Sally Rooney “Three Women” by Lisa Taddeo, “Them” by Jon Ronson“Letters to a Young Poet” by Rilke“The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig“Of Walking In Ice” by Werner Herzog