In this episode, hosts Karen Farmer and Craig Silva chat with comedian, actor, and debut author Adrian Bliss. Adrian shares his journey from creating online comedy sketches to writing The Greatest Nobodies of History, which explores humorous and mostly factual stories of overlooked historical figures, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s ferret and Henry VIII’s Groom of the Stool. Adrian reflects on the shift from immediate online feedback to the publishing process and discusses creating an audiobook, collaborating with voice actors, and transitioning from short-form content to long-form storytelling. Plus, he shares his love for history, photography, and his favorite historical tidbits.

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About Adrian: Adrian Bliss is a British comedian, writer, and filmmaker known for his quirky and imaginative humor, often shared through viral sketches on social media. He gained popularity with his humorous historical and literary videos, blending absurdity with a touch of educational satire.

Get Adrian's new book: The Greatest Nobodies of History

Books discussed on today’s episode:

• William by Mason Coile
• Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang
• The River of Doubt by Candice Millard

In this episode, Philomena Polefrone, PhD discusses her role in advocating for intellectual freedom through the ABA. The conversation touches on book bans, censorship, and the role of bookstores as spaces for activism. The discussion covers the history of book bans, grassroots organizing, and the legal challenges involved in defending diverse literature.

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Use promo code: SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get two additional credits to use on any audiobooks—meaning you’ll have three from the start.

About Philomena: Philomena Polefrone is the Advocacy Associate Manager at the American Booksellers Association, where she champions intellectual freedom and free expression. With a background in bookselling and a decade in academia, Philomena brings a unique perspective to her work, blending literature and activism. She leads initiatives like the Set Books Free Project, aimed at combating book bans and promoting access to diverse, often censored literature. Her passion for defending the right to read makes her a key advocate in the fight against censorship.

Books discussed on today’s episode:

• Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
• Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson & Peter Parnell
• The 1619 Project by Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman & Jake Silverstein
• Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
• Temple Folk by Aaliyah Bilal
• Catalina by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

On today’s episode of the Libro.fm Podcast, we dive into literacy for young readers with graphic novelist Huda Fahmy and children’s bookshop owner Anna Hersh. We dive into school reading lists, storytime at bookshops, building confidence, the process of turning graphic novels into audiobooks, and even a mischievous cat with a knack for escaping in baby strollers.

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Use promo code: SWITCH when signing up for a new Libro.fm membership to get two additional credits to use on any audiobooks—meaning you’ll have three from the start.

About Huda Fahmy: Huda Fahmy grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, and has loved comics since she was a child. She taught English to middle and high schoolers for eight years before she started writing about her experiences as a visibly Muslim woman in America and was encouraged by her older sister to turn these stories into comics. Huda was a finalist for the National Book Award for her YA graphic novel, Huda F Cares?.

About Anna Hersh: Anna is the co-owner and animal care coordinator at Wild Rumpus Bookstore in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before Wild Rumpus she worked with exotic animals in sanctuaries.

Books discussed on today’s episode:

• Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy
• Huda F Cares by Huda Fahmy
• As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
• Not Quite a Ghost by Anne Ursu
• Run by Blake Crouch
• Endgame by Frank Brady