Book review podcasts are a long-time staple of podcasting. I recall shows about books in the early days before the iPod and Zune. These podcasts follow a predictable pattern because listeners expect it this way and it works. The podcast host, or hosts, interview an author who has a new book coming out. Then, there's the podcast about industry news and reading, such as the long-running and informative Book Riot.
Today's selection is unique because of its, well, uniqueness. I must be running out of words! Anyway, The Book Imprint podcast, hosted by Rebecca Thandi Norman, explores books that profoundly impacted guests before the age of 25, discussing how these formative reads shaped their lives and perspectives, with recent seasons covering topics from The Copenhagen Trilogy to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
It's a show for book lovers who want to understand the powerful
connection between early reading and personal development.
What makes the podcast so intriguing, besides the novel format, is the refusal of creator/host Rebecca Thandi Norman to do the painfully obvious. Have guests discuss only the classics. Something like this: "You know, Rebecca, Moby Dick truly impacted me because later in life I dedicated myself to have a whale of a good time!"
No, I don't believe for a second that Ms. Norman would accept such intellectual sophistry. Instead, we have an episode where Nashville-based
songwriter Bonnie J. Baker explains her roots from an ultra-conservative Christian
background and knew she had to leave there. It was Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel The
Handmaid's Tale gave her the push she needed, reflecting back to her the
oppressive system she lived in, allowing her to identity it and
understand that she wasn't alone.
In the episode, Bonnie Baker and
host Rebecca Thandi Norman discuss how reading this book in college was a
seminal moment in Bonnie's life, the history it reflects, and the
future it foreshadows for us in the U.S. right now. They touch on the
pathetic nature of power, Atwood's cut-glass writing style, and the
differences between reading this book as a young person and later in
life.
Rebecca Thandi Norman is an American, native-English speaking freelance writer,
communication specialist, host, and podcaster working in Copenhagen,
Denmark. Her
communication work includes copy in both a B2B and B2C context,
newsletters, and product descriptions. She writes articles on design,
fashion, culture, art, travel, and lifestyle, both online and in print.
Rebecca
co-founded and is the Editor-in-Chief of Scandinavia’s premier
English-language website, Scandinavia Standard. She is the creator and
host of the Tea & Murder: An Agatha
Christie Podcast. Tea & Murder is a part book club, part interview show. Each
episode explores a part of Agatha Christie's universe by focusing on a
single book or story. It's an irreverent, analytical look at Agatha
Christie mysteries that asks: why do we love the things we
love?
After three successful seasons, Norman folded the show in September and introduced the Book Imprint podcast.
Rebecca says: "I'm an American writer and editor
working in Denmark. While I have a Master of Science degree in Global Health and previously
worked in the NGO world, I have been writing since college. I studied in Denmark as an exchange student in 2008, which is when I met my (Danish) husband."
Rebecca continues: "I co-founded a digital media company called Scandinavia Standard, the first English-language website on Scandinavian design and lifestyle, in 2013; my co-founder and I recently sold & exited the business in November 2025. I continue to work as a freelance writer on both the media side, writing for magazines including Wallpaper, Dwell, Kinfolk, ARK, and mostly for design companies."
In the first episode of the Book Imprint podcast in January 2025, Rebecca welcomed Josh Gondelman, who is an Emmy Award-winning comedian, author, producer, and writer known for his work on shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Desus & Mero, and as a regular panelist on the NPR news quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Gondelman chose Sideways Stories from Wayside School as his book.
is a classic, humorous children's book by Louis Sachar, about a bizarre, vertically-built school (30 stories high, one classroom per floor) where the 30th-floor students and teachers have funny, surreal adventures, focusing on quirky characters like John (reads upside down) and Mrs. Jewls, in short, funny chapters that explore silly situations and mild life lessons, making it a beloved early reader series starter
As an indie podcaster, Rebecca has plenty of support, telling us: "I run two podcasts along with a producer and sound engineer (together we are called Oddy Productions) I do not want podcasting to be my full-time job, but I would like for it to be part of my overall full-time work. If we were making enough money to dedicate one to two days per week to it, that would be ideal."
Rebecca adds: "Podcasting is not part of my regular-hours job (and it doesn't pay
much!), so finding the time to do it in the evenings or on weekends can
be quite challenging."
Rebecca has held live podcast events and concludes: "I loved the live events! They went really well, both in terms of the interview and the guests. We are excited to hold more of these."
In addition to the distinctive premise of Book Imprint, the show benefits from strong sound design, an inquisitive and delightful interviewing style by Rebecca Thandi Norman, and her choice of guests and their impactful books.
One of the many strengths of the show is its ability to ask listeners via its premise, "What book that you read before age 25 has the most impact upon you?" Podcasts that can relate to listeners' inner voice and core values are the most valuable and sonically attractive.
Being an avid reader, I am endlessly fascinated by how books impact people and their lives. This podcast is a must-listen for long-time readers, BookTok enthusiasts and book club members.
Rebecca adds: "I live in Roskilde, Denmark, with my husband, two young kids, and our 13-year-old dog."
For more podcast reporting, check out Ear Worthy on Forbes magazine.
Frank Racioppi’s Books (fiction & nonfiction) can be found here.
Check out the Best Independent Podcasts of 2026
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