Shows / From the Front Porch
From the Front Porch
Welcome to From the Front Porch, a weekly conversational podcast on books, small business, and life in the South, produced by The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia.
Episodes
- From the Front Porch
Episode 80 || July Reading Recap
Annie and Chris recap the books Annie read in July, plus they chat about what to do when you're in a reading rut. Books discussed include: + Commonwealth by…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 79 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 4
Can't decide if you love or hate a book? This is the podcast series for you. Annie once again joins frequent podcast contributors Hunter McLendon and Rebekah…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 78 || Jo Dee Messina, Audiobooks, and Jane Austen with a Southern Accent
Love books, music, and the South? Then we've got the episode for you. Annie and Chris met with the guys of Audible Discernment, a music podcast out of nearby…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 77 || Multi-Tasking and Reading in Multiples
Annie and Chris deep dive into reading more than one book at any given time... And some book therapy ensues. They mention: + Commonwealth by Ann Patchett + The…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 76 || June Reading Recap
Looking for your next summer read? Look no further. Annie and Chris chat about the books Annie read in June, including: + The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis (rel…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 75 || Going to Haiti with Dot Products
Earlier this month, Annie traveled to Haiti with Dot Products, a school supply company based out of Jackson, Mississippi. This episode, Chris and Annie chat…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 74 || Anton DiSclafani + the Small-Town South
New York Times bestselling author Anton DiSclafani (The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, The After Party) drops by the podcast to talk about life in a small…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 73 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 3
Ever wondered if a particular book is worth reading? In our Love It or Loathe It episodes, we debate newly released titles and whether they're worth adding to…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 72 || Empowering Small Businesses
Turns out design is pretty much what makes the world -- and small businesses -- go 'round. Learn all about marketing and the ups and downs of social media as…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 71 || May Reading Recap
Chris asks Annie about the books she read in May, including: + Brighton by Michael Harvey (releases June 14) + Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam (releases June 7)…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 70 || The Art of Making Art
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of those Instagram accounts we all follow? Annie and Chris chat with Lindsay Hopkins of Pen and Paint, an…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 69 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 2
Want to know if a book's for you? Welcome to Love It or Loathe It, episodes where Bookshelf staffers and friends tell you exactly what they think about a newly…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 68 || Our Feelings on the News
What do you get when you have a bookstore staffer who's also a news junkie? A very special episode of this podcast. Chris and Annie chat with bookseller…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 67 || April Reading Recap
We're living in a post-Gone Girl world, which means not all thrillers are created equal. Annie and Chris chat about the books she read in April, including a…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 66 || Breaking Bad in Stars Hollow: Our Favorite TV Shows for Readers
News flash: Some TV shows are better than others. Chris and Annie wax philosophical about their favorite TV shows for readers, including: + Gilmore Girls +…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 65 || Rose-Colored Glasses: How Traditions Build Communities
Thomasville is the City of Roses, and spring is the town's time to shine! Each year, Thomasville hosts the Rose Show and Festival, and Chris and Annie talk to…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 64 || Making of a Music Festival
One perk of life in a small town: You can try something just to see if it works. And if it does? Then you've established a new town tradition, like…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 63 || Cultivating Creativity
How do you raise creative kids? Do small towns foster creativity better than big cities do? Annie and guest Emily McKenna chat about these questions, plus book…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 62 || A New Host + March Reading Recap
The podcast introduces a new co-host with a familiar voice, and Annie recaps the books she read in March, including: - Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 61 || March Madness, Vol. 2
Which book wins this year's Out of Print Book Bracket? Listen as Annie and frequent podcast contributor Jordan Jones duke it out over their favorite…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 60 || Book Clubs + Guys
Ever wondered why guys aren't in book clubs? Listen as Annie and Grassroots Coffee roaster Peyton Hodges chat about co-ed book clubs, plus Peyton schools Annie…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 59 || Path to a Presidency
Small-town virtues to the Oval Office? Jimmy Carter's presidency may have inspired our current political climate, and Annie interviews author Robert Buccellato…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 58 || February Reading Recap
Annie recaps the books she read in February, including: - Let's Just Say It Wasn't Pretty - My Name Is Lucy Barton - The Good Goodbye - The Interestings -…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 57 || Oscar-Nominated Books
Annie and Bookshelf staffer Chris share their love for the Oscars and this year's Oscar-inspired books, plus they chat briefly about Harper Lee and what her…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 56 || Love It or Loathe It, Vol. 1
Ever read a book you hated? Annie, Rebekah, and Hunter discuss the new suspense novel Perfect Days by Raphael Montes. (Spoiler-free discussion, with five…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 55 || January Reading Recap
Annie recaps the books she read in January, including several ARCs, a couple of thrillers, and a YA novel. (Full list with titles and authors here.) Instagram…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 54 || Reading Resolutions, Vol. 2
What are your reading goals for 2016? Annie chats reading resolutions with returning podcast guest Hunter McLendon. Annie and Hunter also make their way…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 53 || On-Stage Adaptations
Have you ever wondered how your favorite book would play out on-stage? Annie interviews Jana Mohr, president of Thomasville On Stage and Company, Thomasville's…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 52 || Best Books of 2015
We're back with our first episode of 2016, and Annie's recapping her favorite books of 2015. (You can find the full list here.) Local listeners may want to…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 51 || Where You're From Matters
Where we're from affects how we read. Annie chats with blogger, podcaster, and aspiring author Science Mike about science, faith, and the many nuances of the…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 50 || November Reading Recap
Annie reviews the six books she read in November: Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber; Distance from Me to You by Marina Gessner; The Clasp by Sloane…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 49 || Why Is David Sedaris Funny?
What makes David Sedaris so funny? Annie chats with Atlanta author, blogger, and comic Jim Hodgson about the ever-changing publishing industry, urban fantasy…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 48 || The Thanksgiving Table
What's on your table this Thanksgiving? Annie and fellow bookseller Chris Jensen discuss food and food writing, including whether cookbooks are becoming…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 47 || Partyin' Small-Town Style
What do all those different festivals do for their cities? Annie chats with Laura Beggs, the main street coordinator for the city of Thomasville. They discuss…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 46 || October Reading Recap
Annie reviews the books she read in October, including Tribal by Diane Roberts and Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell. Rank and review us on iTunes here…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 45 || Spine-Tingling Reads
Annie and Rebekah list their favorite spooky reads for the season and even recommend a creepy podcast or two (including Criminal, Lore, and The Black Tapes…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 44 || The Happiness Project + Gretchen Rubin
What one book would you make your community read? Annie interviews New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin; they chat about habits, happiness, and…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 43 || September Reading Recap
Annie shares her reviews of the books she read in September. One Book tickets and information can be found online here.
- From the Front Porch
Episode 42 || Open Door Adoption + Bob Goff
Annie chats with the ladies from Open Door Adoption Agency -- Lauren Fielding and Sarah Taylor -- about adoption, Bob Goff, and life in Thomasville. Bob Goff…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 41 || Creative Outlets
What do small towns offer for their creatives? Annie chats with Bookshelf favorite, Hunter McLendon, about books and art and life in a small town. Hunter…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 40 || Turning Sorrow Into Story
What do you do with grief? Annie chats with author Prissy Elrod turning sorrow into story, navigating the publishing industry -- including her publishing…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 39 || Books for Creatives
Ever wonder what it's like to live as a creative in the South? Annie interviews Emily Arwood, artist-in-residence at the Thomasville Center for the Arts. They…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 38 || August Reading Recap
Annie recaps the books she read in August, including "super science-y" The Martian and R-rated Ally Hughes Has Sex Sometimes, plus shout-outs to book…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 37 || Childhood Favorites
Annie and Jordan talk about their favorite books from childhood and the impact those characters have had on their adult lives, ranging from The Boxcar…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 36 || Entrepreneurship + The New South
Annie chats with Florida State University entrepreneur-in-residence Christine Nieves; the two discuss porch swings and creativity, the importance of…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 35 || PhDs in Bookselling
Ever wonder what it's like to be a bookseller? Annie chats with new Bookshelf staffer and PhD student Chris Jensen. Their conversation covers everything from…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 34 || July Reading Recap
Annie recaps the books she read in July, including KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST and GO SET A WATCHMAN. (Want more GO SET A WATCHMAN discussion? Check out…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 33 || Adventures on the Coast
Learn about Florida's coastal islands as Annie interviews author and naturalist Sue Cerulean. Sue's newest book, COMING TO PASS, both inspires and informs…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 32 || Reading Rhythms
Annie and Katie discuss the importance of establishing a reading rhythm and debate reading in bed, plus reference book blogger Modern Mrs. Darcy and this…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 31 || June Reading Recap
Annie lists the books she read in June, including The Rocks by Peter Nichols, The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, and Station Eleven by Emily St…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 30 || Reading Post-Charleston
Annie and Katie discuss the events in Charleston and books about race in America; start with Shauna Niequist's original question on Instagram, then read…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 29 || Introversion + Extroversion
Annie and her husband Jordan discuss extroversion, introversion, and the influence of Susan Cain (and her book Quiet) on our daily lives. This episode have you…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 28 || Fifty Shades + Literary Guilty Pleasures
Annie and Katie talk about the Fifty Shades of Grey books and why they're so popular (maybe because we're repressed?), plus they tackle their own literary…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 27 || May Reading Recap
Annie reviews the books she read in May, including Mamrie Hart's You Deserve a Drink and Erik Larson's Dead Wake. Don't forget to rank and review the podcast…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 26 || Audiobooks
Annie chats with husband and frequent podcast contributor Jordan about audiobooks: he loves them, but she's not a fan. Where do you stand? (Some of Jordan's…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 25 || Narrative Nonfiction
Annie and Katie chat about narrative nonfiction, the ones we love and the ones we hate, including The Lemon Tree, author Erik Larson, The Immortal Life of…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 24 || April Reading Recap
Annie reviews the books she read in April, including A Little Life (reviewed by Books on the Nightstand here) and Emma, part of The Austen Project. Rachel Held…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 23 || The Localist
Annie chats with author and entrepreneur Carrie Rollwagen in this 45-minute interview episode. They chat about local shopping and eating, Leslie Knope, and…
- From the Front Porch
Episode 22 || March Reading Recap
Annie reviews the books she read in March, including Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before (recapped in its own podcast episode here) and Hey Natalie Jean.
- From the Front Porch
Episode 21 || Word of South
Annie and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra CEO Amanda Stringer chat Tallahassee's first-ever Word of South festival (Ann Patchett, Tony Hale, Julia Reed, J.K…