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Among Books

Among Books

Written by: Kouvenda Media
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Among Books is a passion project about reading and more. The show brings the spirit of Kouvenda — a Greek word for chat, talk, conversation — front and center. With a focus on reading, guests discuss various books and share aspects of their lives in conversations that unfold from the lighthearted to the profound and everything in between. Produced and hosted by Stephanie Marudas of Kouvenda Media and mixed by Brad Linder, Among Books is recorded in person at the cozy Hilltop Books in Northwest Philadelphia. Show notes for episodes include reading lists based on the conversations. For more about Kouvenda Media: https://www.kouvendamedia.com/ For more about Hilltop Books: https://hilltopbooks.org/2025 Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Among Books with John Lobron | Ep 6

    Among Books with John Lobron | Ep 6
    Oct 24 2025
    John Lobron sits down at Hilltop Books for an Among Books conversation with Stephanie Marudas. John is the librarian and a social studies teacher at Central High School in Philadelphia. To learn more about John: https://centralhighalumni.com/2016/12/students-dont-know-todays-library-can-set-back/ Episode hosted and produced by Stephanie Marudas of Kouvenda Media and mixed by Brad Linder. For more about Kouvenda Media and Hilltop Books: https://www.kouvendamedia.com/ https://www.instagram.com/kouvendamedia/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/kouvendamedia https://hilltopbooks.org/ https://www.instagram.com/hilltopbooksphilly/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/hilltopbooksphilly/ POST-SHOW READING LIST The Underground Railroad By  Colson Whitehead The East Indian By Brinda Charry Curious George By Margret Rey and H.A. Rey The Hobbit By J.R.R. Tolkien Biographies of  Thomas Alva Edison, Ben Franklin, Amelia Earhart, Henry Ford National Geographic Magazine The Grapes of Wrath By John Steinbeck The Pearl By John Steinbeck Two Years Before the Mast By Richard Henry Dana Jr. "There's a Very Good Reason College Students Don't Read Anymore" By Jonathan Malesic Guest Essay published in The New York Times October 25, 2024 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/opinion/college-university-students-reading.html The Bible The Quran Billy Budd, Foretopman By Herman Melville ***Additional titles John shared after the recorded conversation: The Name of the Rose By Umberto Eco Meditations By Marcus Aurelius A Farewell to Arms By Ernest Hemingway The Old Man and the Sea By Ernest Hemingway The Sun Also Rises By Ernest Heminway The Fire Next Time By James Baldwin Go Tell it on the Mountain By James Baldwin Notes of a Native Son By James Baldwin Native Son By Richard Wright Small Things Like These By Claire Keegan The Hunter By Tana French The Searcher By Tana French In the Woods By Tana French The Heather Blazing By Colm Tóibín Brooklyn By Colm Tóibín Heart, Be at Peace By Donal Ryan The Queen of Dirt Island By Donal Ryan From a Low and Quiet Sea By Donal Ryan The Spinning Heart By Donal Ryan The Thing About December By Donal Ryan All We Shall Know By Donal Ryan A Slanting of the Sun: Stories By Donal Ryan History Through Literature booklist that John discussed on the episode: https://sites.google.com/philasd.org/history-through-literature
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    34 mins
  • Among Books with Daralyse Lyons | Ep 5

    Among Books with Daralyse Lyons | Ep 5
    Oct 17 2025

    Daralyse Lyons sits down at Hilltop Books for an Among Books conversation with Stephanie Marudas.

    Until recently, Daralyse was the publisher and executive director of The Chestnut Hill Local, an independent weekly newspaper serving Northwest Philadelphia and Southeastern Montgomery County. This conversation was recorded earlier this year when she was still in that position. Daralyse is now Chief Revenue Officer for The Bucks County Beacon.

    To learn more about Daralyse:

    https://www.daralyselyons.com/

    Episode hosted and produced by Stephanie Marudas of Kouvenda Media and mixed by Brad Linder. For more about Kouvenda Media and Hilltop Books:

    https://www.kouvendamedia.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/kouvendamedia/?hl=en

    https://www.facebook.com/kouvendamedia

    https://hilltopbooks.org/

    https://www.instagram.com/hilltopbooksphilly/?hl=en

    https://www.facebook.com/hilltopbooksphilly/

    POST-SHOW READING LIST

    The Red Tent

    By Anita Diamant

    Can't Stop Thinking: How to Let Go of Anxiety and Free Yourself from Obsessive Rumination

    By Nancy Colier

    Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors

    By Rudine Sims Bishop

    *Essay was published in Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vo. 6., no. 3. Summer 1990

    https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

    Video with Rudine Sims Bishop

    https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=rudine+bishop+mirrors&mid=31495DB44F953A75790231495DB44F953A757902&FORM=VAMTRV

    Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person

    By Shonda Rhimes

    The Emotional Yoga Experience: Use Your Body to Heal Your Mind

    By Daralyse Lyons

    The EFT Manual

    By Gary Craig

    A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles"

    By Marianne Williamson

    *Includes the poem "Our Deepest Fear"

    The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Englightenment

    By Eckhart Tolle

    The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

    By Mark Manson

    Do or Do Not: How to Improvise Like a Jedi

    By Mary C Carpenter

    Bridge to Terabithia

    By Katherine Paterson

    ***Remember Reading podcast episode about Bridge to Terabithia produced by Kouvenda Media***

    https://pod.link/1447897366/episode/dGFnOnNvdW5kY2xvdWQsMjAxMDp0cmFja3MvNjMyMTc5NjY1

    Number the Stars

    By Lois Lowry

    Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

    By John Steptoe

    Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti

    By Gerald McDermott

    The Art of Memoir

    By Mary Karr

    Summer Sisters

    By Judy Bloom

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    28 mins
  • Among Books with David Woo | Ep 4

    Among Books with David Woo | Ep 4
    Oct 10 2025

    David Woo sits down at Hilltop Books for an Among Books conversation with Stephanie Marudas.

    David is an actor and serves on the Philadelphia local board of the SAG-AFTRA union.

    To learn more about David:

    https://www.southcamdentheatre.org/how-the-light-gets-in/

    https://www.sagaftra.org/philadelphia-0

    https://whyy.org/articles/audio-of-radio-times-program-featuring-weavers-ways-david-woo/

    Episode hosted and produced by Stephanie Marudas of Kouvenda Media and mixed by Brad Linder. For more about Kouvenda Media and Hilltop Books:

    https://www.kouvendamedia.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/kouvendamedia/?hl=en

    https://www.facebook.com/kouvendamedia

    https://hilltopbooks.org/

    https://www.instagram.com/hilltopbooksphilly/?hl=en

    https://www.facebook.com/hilltopbooksphilly/

    Post-Show Reading List

    Democracy in America

    By Alexis De Tocqueville

    Jack Ryan Series

    By Tom Clancy

    The Brotherhood of War Series

    By W.E.B. Griffin

    Boards That Make a Difference: A New Design for Leadership in Nonprofit and Public Organizations

    By John Carver

    The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

    By Michelle Alexander

    Respect for Acting

    By Uta Hagen with Haskel Frankel

    National Cooperative Business Association: NCBA CLUSA

    https://ncbaclusa.coop/

    Weavers Way Co-Operative Association: The First 50 Years, published in The Germantown Crier, 2023

    By Thomas F. Boyle

    *Related article published in The Shuttle, the newspaper of Weavers Way Co-op

    https://share.google/kD3X0V5XkxdyTwLO0

    In Wake of financial scandal, Weavers Way looks to implement additional oversight

    By Aaron Moselle

    https://share.google/Mvq8ZS7tTH5l4YEqN

    Encyclopedia Britannica

    https://www.britannica.com/

    Gen. Robert E. Lee owned slaves

    https://apnews.com/article/archive-fact-checking-9009420680

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    37 mins
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