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!

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Get the People’s Guide to Publishing here, and the workbook here!
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What is marketing? | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

January 29, 2026

Marketing is made up many things. Direct outreach, broad social media posts, newsletters, and so much more all play a part, depending on what you do. But in the constant chase for analytics and making the numbers go up, it’s important to remember that first and foremost, marketing is about building relationships.

Today on the pod, check out a recent staff education session where we put some of our big brains together to learn the ins and outs of marketing, how it works for Microcosm, and more.

Can publishing fewer books mean more sales? | A People’s Guide to Publishing Podcast

January 22, 2026

Will publishing fewer books make more money? It feels counterintuitive, but when you look closer, it frees up the ability to market more specifically, edit more thoroughly, and generally give more care in attention to what you’ve got going on.

Find out how Joe & Elly made the decision to find Microcosm’s “optimal number” of titles per season, and how they’ve discovered that more isn’t always better.

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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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!
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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!