What is some good Indigenous Punk? w/ Al Carroll | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

May 14, 2026

Al Carroll is Associate Professor of US, American Indian, and Latin American History at Northern Virginia Community College, and a former Senior Fulbright Scholar in Indonesia. His latest book is “Indigenous Punk: A Definitive Guide to the Native, Aboriginal, and Pacific Islander Metal and Rock ‘n’ Roll Musicians Who Changed Music.”

This week on the pod, Al joins Joe and Elly to talk about Native punk and metal history, his favorite bands (incredible recs galore!), and how the book came together. (and keep an eye on the background for an adorable special guest appearance)

Grab a copy of Indigenous Punk here.

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Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Are middle-aged punks still cool? w/J. Hunter Bennett | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

April 30, 2026

The punks, despite all the best efforts of society and time, are still kicking around, and we love that for them/us.

This week on the pod, J. Hunter Bennett, author of “More Punk than the Public Library,” joins Joe and Elly to talk about middle-aged punk life, starting a little free punk rock library during the pandemic outside his house on a well-trafficked corner of Chevy Chase, D.C., and more.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How does a book warehouse work? | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

April 23, 2026

Where would we be without our lovely warehouse staff? (Lost, confused, bookless, most likely.) This week on the pod, join Joe and Elly as they talk about our warehouses, how they work, and the hardworking systems nerds that keep it going.

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Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Mia Ballard, Shy Girl, and AI in Publishing, w/ Jane Friedman | A People’s Guide to Publishing

April 16, 2026

If you’re keeping up with publishing news at all, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the “Shy Girl” controversy, where Mia Ballard’s book was pulled by the publisher after claims it was written by AI. More and more stories like this are hitting the feeds all the time, from authors to book reviewers.

What does this mean for the industry, and are AI detectors even reliable? Jane Friedman of The Bottom Line is back on the pod this week with Joe and Elly to talk about the AI buzz!

Want more industry insights from Jane? Check out The Bottom Line at https://janefriedman.com/

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Romantasy, Horror, Microstores: Bookstore Trends w/ Maureen Karb | A People’s Guide to Publishing

April 03, 2026

Maureen Karb is a field sales rep and with Como Sales, a rep group that focuses on indie publishers selling to indie bookstores. Because of what she does, Maureen has a great knowledge and perspective on what’s new and trending at bookstores. From romantasy and horror to new types of bookstores opening all over the country, this week on the pod, join Maureen, Joe, and Elly to talk about what’s hot (and what’s not) in book world.

Do book reviews matter anymore? w/Jane Friedman | People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

March 26, 2026

It’s been said more and more frequently that reviews from trade publications don’t sell books the way they used to. Why is that, and what DOES sell books?

This week on the pod, Jane Friedman of the Bottom Line is back to talk with Joe and Elly about the movement away from book critique to book content, what book reviews are good for, and what, if anything, they can do to help sell books.

For more valuable insights about the book industry from Jane, check out The Bottom Line.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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What can you do about book bans? (w/Danny Caine) | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

March 19, 2026

Danny Caine, author of “How to Resist Amazon and Why“, “How to Protect Bookstores and Why“, and the new “How to Defend Books and Why” is a writer, speaker, and former bookstore owner.

This week on the podcast, join Danny, Elly, and Joe as they talk about the interplay of book bans and freedom movements the world over, how you can defend books, and the work and the conversations and interviews that shaped “How to Defend Books.”

Get Danny’s books on the Microcosm website, or your local indie bookstore!

To find out more about book bans and challenges, click here.

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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How do you take care of your air? w/Melissa Wrolstad | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

March 16, 2026 — by Abby Rice

At this point, most of us are familiar with checking the air quality when we go outside during certain times of the year, or ventilating when using chemicals or it’s the flu season. But how familiar are you with the air in your home on a day to day basis? From radon, ozone, particulate matter, and more, there’s a lot you can do to keep breathing easy, and we’ve got a book to help!

This week on the podcast, “Air Self-Care Handbook” author Melissa Wrolstad joins Joe & Elly to talk about development of the book and how to take care of your air.

Get “The Air Self-Care Handbook” here: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/987

Do Book Awards Matter? | People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

February 26, 2026

Book awards! There are a lot of them out there. Our books have even won a couple! But are they success indicators? Does a book or author winning an award mean anything for the publisher? How can a publisher use an award in their marketing?

Jane Friedman of The Bottom Line is back to chat with Elly and Joe about awards, cash grabs, and the array of experiences out there.

Want more industry insights? Check out The Bottom Line!

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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Organizing Inclusive Events & Conferences w/ Dr. Alex Ketchum | People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

February 06, 2026 — by Abby Rice

A LOT goes into the planning of conferences, signings, and basically every event. How do you make sure it’s accessible to everyone who wants to come? It goes beyond just making sure your space is ADA accessible!

Dr. Alex D. Ketchum’s new book, “How to Organize Inclusive Events & Conferences,” is full of practical tips, templates, and guidance for organizing accessible, inclusivity-oriented events. This week on the pod, Alex joins Joe and Elly to talk about accessibility, favorite feminist restaurants, and, of course, planning inclusive events and conferences.

Get the book!

Prefer an audio experience? Listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app.
Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!