Ada Calhoun is the bestselling author of several nonfiction books and now her first novel, Crush. She told us about what she’s learned about structure from writing- ghostwriting- over 30 books; how she avoids the “fallow field mode” that some writers (e.g. Alice and Julie) experience between books; and the feedback that helped her make Also a Poet such a success.

Julie Satow and Alice Robb sit down with Laura McGrath, the author of Middlemen to tell the surprising story of how literary agents went from magazine brokers to the most powerful figures in American publishing. Through archival sleuthing, vivid fieldwork, and data that brings catalogs and auction-room drama to life, this episode traces pivotal moments — from the first auctions to the birth of the super agent — and the intimate, sometimes fraught relationships that shape what readers get to see on shelves.

Listen as they weave anecdotes about deals, loyalty, and gatekeeping with sharp reporting on today’s shifts: agents as editors, agents on Substack, and the ways technology and consolidation are rewriting old rules. It’s a fast-moving, character-driven narrative that reveals not just how books get made, but who gets to decide.

Have you ever wondered about speakers' bureaus and how they work? Or wondered whether they might make sense for you? Speakers' bureaus can be controversial, with some authors adamant that they are not worth the cost, while others are big believers in the benefit of increased visibility.

Join Alice and Julie as they talk with Christie Hinrichs, the Director & Events Agent at Authors Unbound, a full-service literary speakers bureau that represents more than 300 authors and manages nearly 1,000 events every year. Christie, who lives with her partner and teenage son in Bend, Oregon, managed several Visiting Author Series and worked as an independent booking agent before founding Authors Unbound in 2018. She talks with Alice and Julie about what sorts of authors are a good fit for her company, what authors can do to book more speaking gigs, and what Authors Unbound brings to the table.