YA Podcast

Hosted ByTeffer Adjemian, Kadi Diop, Bailey Eastwood & Eunice Hong

A podcast about young adult lit and what it can teach us at any age. Join us as we review new releases, revisit old classics, bring you hot lists, hotter casting choices, and more!


All Episodes

96. A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

This week, we plunge into some magical realism, exploring a world where sirens, merpeople, and gargoyles inhabit Portland. This book feels extremely relevant right now; we talk about the role of fantasy in social commentary, the current protests and police violence in Portland, and the cohesive look Morrow takes at misogynoir through her world building.

95. Kristina Forest on Renovating

This week, Kristina Forest joins us for a conversation about why she writes YA, how she started out, and where she gets her inspiration. We talk about preserving the things she loves in YA while adding the representation the genre needs, some of the books that have inspired her, and what it really means to write a coming of age story.

94. Now That I’ve Found You by Kristina Forest

This week is full of new stuff! We have a new host, Eunice Hong, and our first review of an upcoming release! We talk about the role of tropes in comfort reading, what makes an author an “automatic buy,” and how the YA landscape has improved since our highschool days.

93. The Good Luck Girls by Charlotte Nicole Davis

This week, we’re talking about one of our favourite fantasy books to date. We get into different approaches to worldbuilding, and have a long conversation about the impact of the fantasy brothel trope on conversations about sex work.

85. Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M.

In our final Anne of Green April episode, we take on a book written twenty years after Anne of Green Gables. We talk about lesbians, fashion-forward fan fiction, lesbians, letter writing, lesbians, saviour complexes, and lesbians.

84. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

This week our Anne series continues, with Anne going to college and falling in love. We talk about what distinguishes this series as a turn of the century work and the ways growing up makes us revise and reconsider our expectations. We also revisit our discussion of Anne… what happens when she’s not the quirkiest girl in the room?

83. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery

In our second installation of Anne of Green April, Kadi warms up to Anne a little, we talk about approaches to child care, make our predictions for the series, and talk about what makes YA, YA. Also, is Anne a Manic Pixie Dream Girl?!

82. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

We’re reading through the first four Anne of Green Gables books! Join us for a fresh take through totally virgin eyes, and passionate analysis from a long time fan! Help us decide… just how queer IS this book?

176. A Final Bow

After almost 5 wild and wonderful years, the YA Podcast is coming to an end. Join Kadi, Teffer, and Bailey as we reminisce over the years, the books, and the friendships we’ve shared. Stay in touch!