I thought I’d send a short email today with some of my favourite podcasts related to comics and libraries.

ALIA Graphic Podcast

Full disclosure, I’ve been the main producer of the ALIA Graphic Podcast since 2020.

The ALIA Graphic Novels and Comics special interest group formed in February 2020, as the world shut down due to Covid a month later, ALIA Graphic decided to start a blog and a podcast. The ALIA Graphic Podcast was the first podcast by an ALIA SIG. Put together haphazardly and with a budget of $0, it has now published 123 episodes.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in our 123 episode run. The roundup episodes focus on news, while the creator chat series focuses almost exclusively on long interviews with Australian creators discussing their love of comics and their latest graphic novel. The latest episode, for example, is an excellent conversation with Eleri Harris and Shay Mirk, both of them award winning editors of The Nib, who have now published Making Nonfiction Comics: A Guide to Graphic Narratives. An extraordinary collection of comics, interviews, essays and more all about making nonfiction comics.

The podcast has also published other special episodes like:

• recordings of webinars: there are a few but I’ll highlight one, episode 66 on nurturing and inspiring reading and creativity using graphic novels and manga

• In September 2022, we also had a panel talk with members of the American Library Association’s Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable’s Addressing Comic Book Bans & Challenges Committee, definitely one of our most interesting episodes and one I’m really proud of.

• and a series of episodes focusing on comics librarianship like episode 118 with Matt Noe, Lead Collection and Knowledge Management Librarian at Harvard Medical School, focusing on Graphic Medicine.

While I may be the producer of the podcast, there’s no way I could do it without the incredible support of the ALIA Graphic Committee and of all the guests and I look forward to more in 2026.

For the Love of Libraries

This is a brand new podcast, which is produced by the ALIA Schools Special Interest Group. The first episode, Leading with Values: Cathie Warburton on School Library Impact and Advocacy, is hosted by Rosie Maher and it’s an excellent conversation with ALIA CEO Cathie Warburton.

In this episode they discuss Cathie’s transition from law into becoming the ALIA CEO, her passion for libraries, the vital importance of school libraries and quiet leadership.

An excellent listen and an instant subscribe for me as a librarian and former high school teacher.

Booklist’s Shelf Care Podcast

This is a podcast produced by Booklist from the American Library Association. They usually interview librarians and discuss readers’ advisory, collection management and topical issues in library-land.

Comic Boom: The Comics in Education Podcast

This podcast is quite sporadic, the last episode was in June. But they have published excellent conversations before with a very clear focus on comics in education. Great listen for teacher librarians and children and youth services librarians.

Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast

This is one of my favourite podcasts. David Harper is a great host and his long form interviews with comic book creators are always insightful. He has interviewed so many of my favourite creators too. Definitely a must for any comic book lover.

Surviving the Stacks Podcast

This is an essential listen for anyone working in libraries who cares about their well being and the well being of all of their colleagues. We love libraries, we love our colleagues and patrons, but let’s be honest, sometimes there are challenging behaviours. Dr Beth Wahler and Jane Garner do an excellent job of exploring issues around well being, mental health, serving the community’s needs, working with the homeless and so much more. Episodes are sporadic but always worth a listen.

I do listen to more podcasts but those are my current favourites when it comes to libraries and comics. If I’ve missed a podcast that I should really listen to, please let me know. There are so many these days!

When my parents moved to Donostia (unfortunately known as San Sebastian to anyone who doesn’t speak Basque), I was totally against it. Moving away from my hometown, from my friends, was a big no-no. But, one of the things that I loved was living close to the sea, and I often went out and walked by the sea shore listening to the waves and enjoying the sunset. In this case, I’m taking the photo but that guy sitting in between the two lights with his eyes lost at sea, yeah, that used to be me.

And that’s all I have this week. It’s been a punishing week. There will be more in the future.