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On this episode we hear a recording of panel on Women’s Health & Empowerment that took place at the Northside Library in August.

Katie read The Travelers by Regina Porter and Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

Abby read Circe by Madeline Miller

Next we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library in August. Representatives from The Women’s Initiative, UVA’s Women’s Center, Sentara Martha Jefferson, the Sexual Assault Resource Agency, and the Shelter for Help in Emergency discuss their organization’s services and pertinent current issues concerning women’s health and empowerment. 

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a library event discussing the South’s most influential grassroots legal team that challenged racial segregation in mid-century America.

Katie read Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

Abby read Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan and Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Next we hear a recording of an author event that took place at the Northside Library in July.  Journalist and historian, Margaret Edds discusses her latest book We Face the Dawn, the story of Virginians Oliver Hill, Spottswood Robinson, and the legal team that dismantled Jim Crow. 

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website. A special thanks to our friends at Virginia Humanities and the With Good Reason team for allowing us access to their equipment to improve our sound. Be sure to subscribe to With Good Reason to catch all of their fascinating episodes.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a library event featuring the reflections of several participants in the 2018 Charlottesville Community Civil Rights Pilgrimage.

• Katie read The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
• Abby read On the Come Up By Angie Thomas (and mentioned her debut novel, The Hate U Give)

Next, we have a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library during June. We hear from six participants of the Charlottesville Community Civil Rights Pilgrimage last summer as well as one of the organizers, Dr. Jalane Schmidt. 

Resources related to the Charlottesville Community Civil Rights Pilgrimage

• Digital Exhibit
• Encyclopedia Virginia Entry
• Equal Justice Initiative Lynching in America Report
• Albemarle County/EJI Community Remembrance Project
• Pilgrimage Facebook Page
• C-Ville Weekly Article

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear answer questions about summer reading and JMRL’s Summer Challenge. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read Lost and Wanted by Nell Freudenberger
• Abby read Shout By Laurie Halse Anderson (and mentioned her debut novel, Speak.)

Next, we sit down with Young Adult Services Manager, Tim Carrier, to talk about JMRL’s summer challenge.

• You can read more about the Summer Challenge here. You can download the first summer challenge sheet in English, Spanish, or Farsi.
• Tim also talked to us about a book he enjoyed – Lovely War by Julie Berry.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of an event at the Northside library featuring local singer-songwriter Devon Sproule and poet Laura Eve Engel. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read The Falconer by Dana Czapnik
• Abby read Dream Country by Shannon Gibney

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Tuesday, March 19th. Local acclaimed singer-songwriter Devon Sproule and poet Laura Eve Engel performed their work.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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*CONTENT WARNING* This episode contains descriptions of thoughts of self-harm.

On this episode we hear a recording of a panel of local veterans from various wars, moderated by Captain Bob Abbott, host of WINA’s Coming Home Well. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig (a follow-up to his memoir, Reasons to Stay Alive)
• Abby read The Sisterhood by A.J. Grainger.

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Thursday, November 8th. Captain Bob Abbott, the host of WINA’s Coming Home Well, moderated a panel discussion with local veterans from various wars over the past 60 years who shared their stories of the challenges of war the trials of returning home. We are sharing it now due to the upcoming re-dedication of the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial during the Dogwood Festival.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording soul singer and songwriter Nathaniel Star discussing the rich history of African-American music and performing his original songs. We also talk about what we’re reading.

Katie read Vox by Christina Dalcher ( we mentioned the VA Festival of the Book event featuring Christina Dalcher)

Abby listened to A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Tuesday, February 19. Nathaniel Star, a soul singer and songwriter discusses the rich history of African-American music and the artists who influenced his own unique sound. He also performs some of his original songs.

Find out more about Nathaniel Star:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Bandcamp

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a lecture by UVa’s Dr. John Edwin Mason, discussing the social, political, and artistic impact of acclaimed African-American photographer, writer, and filmmaker, Gordon Parks. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
• Abby read The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz (and mentioned his earlier young adult novel, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

Next, we hear a recording of an event that took place at the Northside Library on Thursday, February 21. Dr. John Edwin Mason, an associate professor with UVa’s Department of History, discusses the social, political, and artistic impact of acclaimed African-American photographer, writer, and filmmaker, Gordon Parks.

Dr. Mason mentions

• Family Photo Day at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
  • Images and information about the photos
• Upcoming event at the Virginia Festival of the Book
• Rufus Holsinger’s photography
• Books by Gordon Parks
• Gordon Parks’ interpretation of Ellison’s Invisible Man for Life Magazine

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a discussion about the philosophical and scientific consequences of artificial intelligence and their effects on society. We also talk about what we’re reading.

• Katie read The Incomplete Book of Running by Peter Sagal
• Abby read Check Please! By Ngozi Ukazu

Next, we hear a recording of two UVA professors discussing the philosophical and scientific consequences of artificial intelligence and their effects on society. This event took place  at the Northside Library on Oct 6. In it you’ll hear Paul Humphreys, UVa Commonwealth Professor of Philosophy, and Worthy Martin, UVa Associate Professor of Computer Science.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.

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On this episode we hear a recording of a discussion and performance led by Emily Morrison, the founder Charlottesville’s roots music school, The Front Porch. We also talk about what we’re reading.

What we read:

• Katie read The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
• Abby read Lost Soul, Be at Peace by Maggie Thrash. She also mentioned Maggie Thrash’s debut, Honor Girl.

Next, we hear recording of a program that took place at the Northside Library on September 20th. It features a discussion performance led by Emily Morrison, the founder Charlottesville’s roots music school, The Front Porch. She is joined by guest musicians to describe and play a selection of folk music.

If you have books you’d like to recommend we read and discuss please email us at podcast@jmrl.org.

This podcast is made possible through generous support from the Friends of the Library. If you’d like to learn more or join the friends please head to their website.