Yellow Shelf Podcast: Authors And Their Books In 10 Minutes Or Less

 Book review or author review podcasts are typically lengthy shows, averaging at one hour. As we know, stereotypes and convention can be broken by the most intrepid people. Australian businesswoman Johanna Fink is that pioneer.  

Johanna can tell you about her show. "Welcome to Yellow Shelf Media. Yellow Shelf shares thoughtful short interviews with global authors, and podcast hosts. Our goal is to connect readers, listeners, and storytellers. We're a creative hub for collaborations and partnerships with global creators."

A "yellow shelf" usually refers to a section in a grocery store with yellow tags, meaning items are on sale, clearance, or nearing expiration, signaling a discount for shoppers. 

 Johanna had the idea to create a platform for more than a decade before its launch, but it really came together in 2023 when Johanna took the idea for the Yellow Shelf Platform through a 16-week accelerator program, where it was shaped and tested during the idea and discovery phase. 

The accelerator program supported her to move beyond concept refining the problem Yellow Shelf solves, exploring viable business models, and clearly identifying an audience, ideal clients and customers. 

This process turned the idea into a podcast and content platform focused on curated, snackable interviews that serve a global community of book and podcast lovers. 

The accelerator journey helped Yellow Shelf transform from an early idea into a focused platform designed for curious, time-poor readers and podcast listeners, while also serving all genres of authors, and podcast hosts seeking meaningful visibility.

The Yellow Shelf Podcast was created to solve a very specific problem, Johanna noticed from personal experience: feeling overwhelmed by endless book and podcast recommendations and not having an easy way to decide what to read or listen to next 

Johanna explains: "The purpose of the podcast was to help curious but time-poor people find their next great read or listen. Johanna realized that many people love books and podcasts but often don’t know what to choose next, especially with so many options and long recommendations out there."
 
Yellow Shelf focuses on short, 10-minute interviews with current global book authors and podcast hosts, so listeners can quickly connect with new content. By asking guests about what their work is about, what inspired them, and how to connect with them, the podcast highlights creative voices and helps audiences make better discovery choices. 

Currently releasing 4–5 episodes per week, Johanna aims to scale the Yellow Shelf Podcast to a daily episode release in early 2026.
Johanna’s career journey has been a 25 year+ corporate background prior to her work as a founder and podcast host. 

Yellow Shelf is an Australian based business; Johanna lives on the East Coast of Australia with her family. 

Johanna says: "We focus on short-form interviews because discoveries don’t need to be long to be meaningful. Many book and podcast interviews are deep and extended, but Yellow Shelf was designed for curious, time-poor listeners who want to quickly connect with a creator before deciding what to buy, read, or listen to next."

According to Johanna, by keeping interviews to around 10 minutes, the podcast respects listeners’ limited time while still offering genuine insight, helps audiences quickly understand who the creator is and what their work is about, and acts as a discovery gateway rather than a deep dive. 

Johanna personally invited authors and podcast hosts from around the world to share their work on Yellow Shelf, laying out the foundation for a trusted discovery platform for curious, time-poor audiences.
As the platform has become more globally known, creators now reach out directly or are referred by other creators. This organic growth has helped build a continuous, trusted network of guests across books and podcasting.

Johanna believes that, "Yellow Shelf exists to help people choose, not overwhelm them."

 Like many curious readers and listeners, Johanna found herself constantly referred too many books and overwhelmed by endless podcast recommendations.

The question was ... what should I choose next?

Yellow Shelf was created to solve that problem. 

 It is worth noting ...Yellow Shelf Podcast episodes are rarely edited by design. 

Like so many independent podcasts, Yellow Shelf is, and has always been, a fully bootstrapped business. Built without external funding, the platform grew through the strength of Johanna Fink’s global LinkedIn network, and her polite yet bold approach to cold outreach. 

Johanna observes: "Discovery is the hardest part of books and podcasts. That’s where Yellow Shelf lives. Our media partnerships and advertising are designed for meaningful exposure inside trusted conversations with authors, podcasters and listeners who actually care."

Johanna adds: If your brand belongs in the discovery space, let’s explore what partnership could look like with Yellow Shelf,

Yellow Shelf also partners with global publishers, indie publishers, book authors, indie podcasters, podcasters and podcast hosts who value thoughtful conversation and authentic connection with listeners.

Yellow Shelf-curated Newsletter is now in its third year, and has been well-received. It's FREE and on her weekly Substack, Johanna carefully curates books worth your attention, and globally diverse podcast shows.  

You can Subscribe here https://yellowshelf.substack.com/

 

One of my favorite episodes is the April 12th, 2025 show --My Invisible Battle: with #MultipleSclerosis -- with author Shruti Ghate.

On the show, Grate explains that Multiple Sclerosis doesn't wear a face that others can easily see. "There is no bandage for numbness, No cast for fatigue, No visible wound for loss of control. At 30 years old, my journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) began quietly." 

Ghate writes from the heart about living with multiple sclerosis, a battle most cannot see. In ‘My Invisible Battle’, her debut memoir, she writes an honest, unfiltered account of resilience, hope and finding strength in life’s most difficult moments. Ghate wrote My Invisible Battle to remind readers that they are not alone, that their pain has purpose, and that healing is possible even when the world doesn’t see their struggle. 

 Another favorite show was called The Truth About Love, with author Mark Worthington, on December 16, 2025. In the interview, Worthington says: "We all want to find, and keep, love. Some of us may even become obsessed with finding 'true love' with our one and only soul mate."

Worthington continues: "Yet, this fairytale experience seemingly eludes most of us. Why? And how can we improve our chances of discovering and keeping the wonders of love in our lives? Despite our best efforts, love cannot be controlled or created like we think it can. It controls us, in ways we can't imagine, and actively creates separations from loved ones as important steps on our journey to true love."

Johanna Fink of Yellow Shelf has developed a unique formula for indie podcasting success. The 10-minute author interview to help listeners to discover new books. Since the show started less than four years ago, Johanna has produced and released nearly 340 episodes. That's incredible. Johanna's podcast strategy, business prowess, interviewing slill, and determination and work ethic make Yellow Shelf a book podcast you do not want to miss.