The Sober Travel Handbook w/Teresa Bergen | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

January 15, 2026 — by Abby Rice

This week on the pod, Teresa Bergen, author of the zine (and now paperback book!) “Sober Travel Handbook” joins Joe, Elly, and Bernie talk traveling without drinking, the rise in mocktail culture, sobriety and recovery, and everything that went into developing the zine into a full book.

Get “Sober Travel Handbook”: https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/47854

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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AI, Closures, Tariffs, and More: 2025 in Publishing | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

January 08, 2026

We are far from the only ones saying it, but 2025 was an ass-kicker of a year. From tariffs to Baker and Taylor closing to AI, publishing felt like a roller coaster for much of the year.

How did it impact Microcosm, and publishing culture? This week on the pod, Joe, Elly, and special guest Bernie the Office Dog recap 2025 in the book industry.

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!

What do Edelweiss changes mean for book publishers? w/Jane Friedman | People’s Guide to Publishing

January 02, 2026

Edelweiss is known in the book industry as a powerful tool connecting booksellers and librarians with publishers and their titles. But in the last year, Edelweiss’s new owners have made some changes in both the site’s functionality and pricing. What does this mean for publishers, and how do we think it’ll effect the industry? Jane Friedman of the Bottom Line is back this week to talk with Joe and Elly about her thoughts.

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!

Knowing What YOU Want When Making a Personal Budget | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

December 26, 2025

How do you set a personal budget, even if thinking about money feels like the worst thing ever? What if you’re allergic to spreadsheets, or your family set you up with a ton of anxiety and expectations around finances?

Joe Biel, founder and CEO of Microcosm and regular host of the pod, did a little seminar for Microcosm staff on setting a personal budget and Joe’s favorite tips for money management. We got so much out of it, we wanted to share it with you!

If you want more tips on where to get started with your finances, check out UNF*CK YOUR WORTH by Dr. Faith Harper

Should you innovate your publisher? w/ Jane Friedman | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

December 19, 2025

“Innovation” is one of the biggest words you hear in just about any industry, especially with the rise of our new AI overlords. It can be so tempting to make big changes just for the sake of making changes! But what is real innovation, and how do you know when it needs to happen? How do you innovate with intention? Is innovation even right for you? Jane Friedman of The Bottom Line is back with Joe and Elly this week to talk about branding, change, innovation, and how to go about it all thoughtfully. (Does “innovation” sound like a word to you anymore?)

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!

From Solo to Supported: How authors find community (w/Jessie Kwak) | A People’s Guide to Publishing

December 04, 2025

Being an author can often be an isolating experience. From writing to marketing, you’re often running solo.

Jessie Kwak, author of FROM CHAOS TO CREATIVITY and FROM SOLO TO SUPPORTED, joins us on the podcast this week to talk about building community as a freelance author, making connections as an introvert, and leaning into what people will notice about you.

Get FROM SOLO TO SUPPORTED 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!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

How Can Book Publishers Utilize Bookstore Coop? w/Jane Friedman | A People’s Guide to Publishing

November 26, 2025

Early episode drop this week due to the holiday!

Put simply, bookstore co-op is a tool publishers can use to incentivize bookstores for ordering and featuring their books, or hosting events with their authors. Is co-op right for your publisher? How do you best use it? Jane Friedman of The Bottom Line is back to chat with Joe and Elly about co-op, Microcosm’s experience with it, and how to communicate with buyers and reps about it.

Check out The Bottom Line 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!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

What is in a good book contract? | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

November 20, 2025

It’s a throwback episode! Contracts are no one’s favorite part of publishing, no matter which side of the table you’re sitting on. This week on the pod, we revisit a classic People’s Guide to Publishing episode where Joe and Elly walk you through why contracts are important, how to navigate them as an author, and what makes a good publishing contract.

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!

It doesn’t have to be perfect: Punk, Art & DIY w/Ashley Rowe Palafox | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

November 13, 2025

It’s the 20 year anniversary Ashley Rowe Palafox’s original “Barefoot and in the Kitchen” vegan cookzine! This week on the pod, Ashley joins us to talk about the inception of the zine, how punk helps you let go of perfectionism, and updating the zines for the new collection, “Cook Your Own F*cking Life.”

Get “Cook Your Own Fucking Life” here.
Check out Ashley’s other works 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!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!

We Are Stronger Than Censorship: Book Bans & Empathy w/ Lee Wind | People’s Guide to Publishing

November 06, 2025

This week on the pod, Lee Wind of the Independent Book Publisher’s Association is here to talk about the We Are Stronger Than Censorship campaign, book bans, and a few fun side quests like microwaves and 90s movies.

For more on the We Are Stronger Than Censorship campaign, click here.

To get the stickers, 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!
Want to stay up to date on new podcast episodes and happenings at Microcosm? Subscribe to our newsletter!