Audible Free Trial Link: https://www.audibletrial.com/c/6793257/1059353/12951In this episode of The Margins Podcast, we mark Black History Month by diving into the audiobook The Prophecy by Randy McKinnon. Told through a full-cast production, the story sits at the crossroads of faith, science, and fear.We talk about how the book fits into spiritual fiction, why audiobooks change the way stories land, and how The Prophecy reflects cultural anxieties that feel especially current. The conversation blends character analysis, personal reflection, and big-picture questions about belief, power, and storytelling, before moving into a spoiler discussion of the plot and its implications.KEY MOMENTS00:00 – 2:44 Intro2:45 – 5:14 Book of Eli movie tangent5:15 – 7:48 Back to the book7:49 – 12:03 Host check-in12:04 – 17:00 Genre and category discussion17:25 – About the author18:05 – 38:02 5 Hard Questions38:03 – 46:52 Deep dive discussion46:52 – 52:48 Spoiler zone52:49 – End Wrap-up

In this episode of The Margins Podcast, we unpack My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney, a psychological thriller built on shifting identities, fractured trust, and competing versions of the truth.We break down the characters, the unreliable narration, and the way perspective drives the tension forward. As the story unfolds, we talk through the choices each character makes, what they reveal, and how the book plays with reader expectations.The conversation moves from early impressions and author insight into a full spoiler discussion, examining the twists, revelations, and emotional fallout at the center of the novel.Key Moments00:00 – 6:37 | Intro and Host Check-In6:38 – 8:16 | Between the Wines8:21 – 11:00 | Micro Synopsis and Entry into Discussion11:20 – 14:00 | About the Author14:40 – 26:36 | 5 Hard Questions26:37 – 39:00 | Deep Dive Discussion39:00 – 1:00:00 | Book Discussion with Spoilers1:00:01 – End | Wrap-Up#MyHusbandsWife #AliceFeeney #BookPodcast #PsychologicalThriller #BookDiscussion #BookTube #ThrillerReads #TheMarginsPodcast

In this episode of The Margins Podcast, we dive into Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio, the opening book in The Sun Eater series.We talk about why this story moves at a deliberate pace, how its memoir style shapes the reading experience, and why Hadrian Marlowe’s journey rewards patience. From questions of class and power to personal growth and fractured relationships, this book asks you to sit with reflection rather than chase constant action.We also explore the role of language and education, and how influence shapes identity over time. If you enjoy character driven sci fi with long arcs and big ideas, this one is worth the conversation.Key Moments00:00 – 2:04 | Intro and what we’re covering2:05 – 4:01 | About the author and Empire of Silence4:02 – 6:09 | Similar book recommendations6:10 – 17:56 | Structure, pacing, and characters17:57 – 26:47 | 5 Hard Questions27:46 – 38:12 | Deep dive on plot with light spoilers38:15 – 42:00 | Themes and final thoughts42:00 – End | Wrap up#EmpireOfSilence #SunEater #SciFiBooks #SpaceFantasy #BookPodcast #TheMarginsPodcast

In this episode of The Margins Podcast, we dive into The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, a sequel that expands Kvothe’s legend while digging deeper into what makes him compelling, frustrating, and impossible to ignore.We break down Rothfuss’s writing style, character work, and worldbuilding, then get into the big questions: what it means to believe in yourself, why empathy matters, and why loving something (or someone) despite the flaws is its own kind of maturity.We talk favorite quotes, the “three things a wise man fears,” Kvothe’s choices, and why the wait for book three still feels personal.

KEY MOMENTS

00:00 – 2:07 | Intro

2:09 – 5:23 | Host Check-In

5:34 – 7:03 | Micro Synopsis

7:05 – 8:45 | Believe in Yourself

8:55 – 14:23 | Prose, Characters, and Worldbuilding Breakdown

14:31 – 18:49 | Book 2 Banter

18:51 – 20:15 | Book 1 or Book 2 Kvothe?

20:40 – 23:32 | Why Is He Still Poor?

23:50 – 28:48 | Favorite Quote and “Loving Broken Things”

28:49 – 29:40 | Three Things a Wise Man Fears

29:42 – 33:59 | Top 3 Academia Books

34:00 – 59:20 | 5 Hard Questions

59:21 – 1:13:49 | Spoilers

1:13:50 – End | Wrap-Up

#TheWiseMansFear #PatrickRothfuss #KingkillerChronicle #FantasyBooks#BookPodcast #TheMarginsPodcast

In this episode of The Margins Podcast, we break down Beartown by Fredrik Backman, a story about a small town built around one thing: hockey.But this book isn’t really about the sport. It’s about community pressure, reputation, loyalty, and what happens when people protect what they love at the cost of what’s right. We talk about friendship, parenting, identity, and accountability, and why Backman’s character work hits so hard.

We also discuss Backman’s writing style, the power of echoes and refrains in storytelling, and why Beartown feels so relevant even outside the world of sports. Content note: this episode includes discussion of sexual assault and its aftermath.

Key Moments

00:00 – 1:04 | Intro

1:05 – 2:42 | Why Beartown?

2:43 – 5:35 | Host Check-In and New Year’s Resolutions

5:36 – 8:11 | About the Book and Author

8:12 – 23:55 | Synopsis, Plot Focus, and Key Characters

37:37 – 40:05 | Backman’s Prose and Reading Across Languages

40:30 – 59:37 | 5 Hard Questions

59:38 – 1:15:00 | Deep Dive Discussion

1:15:05 – End | Wrap-Up

#Beartown #FredrikBackman #BookPodcast #BookDiscussion #TheMarginsPodcast

In this recap episode of The Margins Podcast, we slow things down and take stock. We talk about the stories that stayed with us, the authors who shaped our reading year, and the conversations we want to make room for going forward.This episode is less about breaking down a single book and more about reflecting on why we read, how our tastes shift, and what kinds of stories feel worth carrying into the next year. We also revisit 5 Hard Questions, talk goals for 2026, and outline the kinds of books and conversations we want to keep at the center of the podcast.Key Moments00:00 – 2:20 | Intro2:21 – 4:05 | Host Check-In4:06 – 8:02 | 2026 Goals8:03 – 9:54 | Favorite Authors from 20259:55 – 12:05 | Between the Wines12:06 – 29:31 | Reflection Questions29:32 – 42:10 | 5 Hard Questions42:11 – 44:47 | Stories We Want to Cover This Year44:48 – 50:16 | Conversations and Books We Want to Make Room for in 202650:17 – End | Wrap-Up#BookPodcast #ReadingRecap #ReadingGoals #TheMarginsPodcast #BooksAndReading

In this New Year’s Day episode of The Margins Podcast, we sit with The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran — a book many people encounter at different points in their lives and read differently every time.We talk about why this book feels timeless, how its poetic structure invites non linear reading, and why its reflections on love, friendship, work, and self knowledge still resonate. Rather than treating it like a philosophy text, we connect its ideas to lived experience, personal growth, and the way meaning shifts as you age.This is a quieter episode by design. One meant for reflection, perspective, and starting the year with intention.Key Moments00:00 – 1:25 | Intro1:29 – 4:10 | About the Author and the Book5:01 – 9:01 | Host Check-In9:02 – 9:59 | Book Structure and Style10:00 – 28:53 | Synopsis and Who This Book Is For28:54 – 54:30 | 5 Hard Questions55:00 – 59:55 | Excerpts from the Book1:00:00 – End | Wrap-Up and Final Reflections#TheProphet #KahlilGibran #BookPodcast #ClassicLiterature #ReflectiveReading #TheMarginsPodcast