Welcome to Professional Book Nerds Podcast

A podcast for book lovers, by book lovers.

We’re not just book nerds, we’re professional book nerds.

 
 

A podcast for book lovers,
by book lovers

Listen now

A podcast for book lovers,
by book lovers

Listen now

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June 19, 2025

Behind the Mic: Narrators, Authors, and Producers on the Magic of Audiobooks

Welcome to the very first episode of Book Lounge by Libby! We’re kicking things off with an ode to audiobooks—the voices, the stories, and the behind-the-scenes magic that makes them so special.  First up, our host Joe chats with thriller author Carter Wilson, narrators Allyson Ryan and Patrick Zeller, and audiobook producers Catherin Bucaria and Almeda Beynon from Sourcebooks Audio to dig into what it really takes to bring a story from the page to your headphones and their work on Carter’s book TELL ME WHAT YOU DID. Then, Jason Reynolds and Dan Zitt join the lounge to talk about the creative process behind Jason’s audio-exclusive project, SOUNDTRACK.  In the second half of the show, guest hosts Carmen, Jananie K. Velu, Kayla, and Meara stop by with some truly excellent audiobook recommendations to keep you listening all year long.  Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!    Guest Host Recommendations:   Carmen's Picks: 
  • Oye - Melissa Mogollon  
Jananie’s Picks:  Kayla’s Picks:   Meara’s Picks:   Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:   Part 1:  
  • Catherine Bucaria & Almeda Beynon, Sourcebooks Audio – Instagram 
Part 2:  
  • Dan Zitt, Penguin Random House Audio – Instagram 
Segment 2:   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram  Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  

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What we do

We’re not just book nerds, we’re Professional Book Nerds® (PBN) who work at OverDrive, the industry-leader for ebooks and audiobooks through your local library and school. With over 2 million downloads, readers and librarians turn to the PBN team for weekly expert book recommendations, author interviews and all things books.

Meet the nerds

Joe Skelley

Joe Skelley has always been a lover of reading and the library. His love of libraries brought him to OverDrive where he works on the Marketing & Events team and hosts the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Joe loves to read horror, thrillers, magical realism, and the broad spectrum of YA! When he’s not working, Joe’s listening to audiobooks, working on a DIY project, and (most importantly) hanging out with his Boston Terrier, Roscoe.

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