The BookSmarts Podcast, with Joshua Tallent

For university presses of all sizes, technology adoption is a constant necessity—yet the process can feel daunting, confusing, and even disruptive. Jana Faust (University of Nebraska Press) and Rachel Lee (UCANR) join the podcast to share their insights on technology adoption and change management. Rachel Lee is Director of Publishing at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (https://ucanr.edu), where she leads a dedicated team that publishes California Agriculture journal, books, and open access publications showcasing ANR's research and extension work. Outside the office, she enjoys trail running, biking, and exploring new destinations. anrpublications.orgJana Faust is the Manager of Digital Assets and IT at the University of Nebraska Press, where she leads initiatives in publishing technology. She manages projects ranging from ebook remediation to ensure compliance with the European Accessibility Act, to system implementations that improve transparency and efficiency across departments. In her spare time, Jana likes to read, knit, and crochet. nebraskapress.unl.edu

6/1/26 • 25:27

Andrea Fleck-Nisbet is Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), where she leads the largest nonprofit trade association serving independent publishers. With more than 20 years of experience in publishing, she has held leadership roles at Harper Horizon, Workman Publishing, and Ingram Content Group.On this week’s episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Andrea discusses the evolution of the IBPA and its mission to serve a diverse membership of independent publishers and author-publishers. She provides a deep dive into the recent merger with PubWest, the advocacy efforts the IBPA is leading against censorship and book bans, and the upcoming Publishing University (PubU) in Portland, Oregon. The conversation also explores how the IBPA provides a space for peer-to-peer learning and the massive catalog of member benefits that help independent voices thrive in a consolidated market.To learn more about the Independent Book Publishers Association and their advocacy work, visit ibpa-online.org. You can also find details on the upcoming conference at publishinguniversity.org.

5/11/26 • 22:37

Joe Biel is an independent publisher who draws origins, inspiration, and methods from punk rock to sell millions of books. He is the founder and CEO of Microcosm Publishing, a Publishers Weekly's fastest-growing publisher from 2022-2024. Biel has been featured in Time, Esquire, Forbes, Bulletproof Radio, Spectator (Japan), G33K (Korea), as well as NPR and PBS. He is the author of A People's Guide to Publishing (and cohost of the podcast by the same name), Autism Relationships Handbook, Unfuck Your Business, Enduring Legacy of Portland's Black Panthers, (and dozens more), and the director of five feature films, including Aftermass: Bicycling in a Post-Critical Mass Portland, $100 & a T-Shirt, and hundreds of short films. Joe joined us from the floor of the London Book Fair to discuss Microcosm's 30-year anniversary and what makes them stand out from other publishers. He also discusses their move from traditional publishing distribution to independent self-distribution, touching on how it has positively impacted their book sales and improved the company as a whole.To learn more about Microcosm Publishing, visit their website. Also, check out their People's Guide to Publishing podcast on any of your favorite podcast apps. You can find Joe on substack and LinkedIn.

4/20/26 • 21:33

Jeff Crosby is the president and CEO of ECPA, the trade association of Christian publishers and has worked in bookselling and publishing roles for more than four decades. He is also an author of several books, including World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading (Paraclete Press, 2025), The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts (Broadleaf, 2023) and Days of Grace Through the Year (IVP, 2007).His next book, titled The Spirit in the Sky: The Power of Music in Our Search for Graceland, will be published in September by Bloomsbury. His work has appeared in numerous magazines and trade journals, including CRUX, Conversations Journal, Living Lutheran, Publishers Weekly, and CRA Today.Jeff joined us on the Booksmarts Podcast to discuss the history and mission of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), as well as their three annual publishing events they host to bring Christian publishers, leaders, and speakers together. He also discusses the emerging challenges and opportunities facing Christian publishing—from AI and market consolidation to global growth in regions like Brazil. To learn more about ECPA, visit their website.

3/16/26 • 22:35

Prashant Pathak is the Co-Founder and Director of Publishers Without Borders, a global and non-commercial community supporting publishing professionals through collaboration and knowledge-sharing. With 20 years of experience across publishing, licensing, printing, EdTech, and gaming, Prashant brings a cross-sector perspective to building content, partnerships, and global markets.Prashant joined us on the Booksmarts Podcast to discuss how the London Book Fair has evolved—from 2010's concerns regarding ebooks to today's focus on AI and new technology. He also shares practical advice on turning a busy three days into real outcomes, and explains how Publishers Without Borders fosters genuine human connection beyond the show floor. To learn more about Publishers Without Borders, click here. You can find Prashant Pathak on most social networking platforms, including LinkedIn.

2/17/26 • 26:26

Ken Jones is an experienced book publishing software expert. Before founding Circular Software, he served as the Technical Production Manager, software trainer, and automation developer at Penguin. Circular Software is a UK company that specializes in software, training, and strategic guidance for publishers—including Quarto Group, Bonnier Books, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and Pan Macmillan—helping them get the most from their print and digital workflows.Ken joined us on the Booksmarts Podcast to discuss the role of fixed-layout EPUBs in modern publishing exploring how they differ from reflowable ebooks and PDFs, along with their design, content, and accessibility considerations. During the conversation, he referenced a recent Circular Software article on Groundbreaking No-Code Accessibility for Fixed-Layout EPUB, which highlights how the company helped Pottermore Publishing achieve top quality accessibility standards in their eBook conversion of the Bloomsbury Pocket Potters series.He also recommended Canva's Affinity Studio as a free alternative to Adobe—a highly valuable resource for publishers that can accommodate ebook capabilities.To learn more about Circular Software, visit their website.

1/20/26 • 27:21

Marit Vagstad has worked in the book publishing industry for more than 20 years in marketing, sales, and product management roles. She currently is the Director of CoreSource, Ingram Content Group’s digital distribution solution and manages teams responsible for Key Account Management and Product Success.She joined us on the Booksmarts Podcast to discuss the pivotal role CoreSource plays in data distribution, the evolving challenges in metadata management, and how Ingram is leveraging technology to help publishers thrive amid rapid changes in discoverability and accessibility. To learn more about Ingram CoreSource, visit their website.

11/17/25 • 28:10

Brooke Dobson is Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Shimmr AI, a fully automated platform for publishers that creates automated advertising for discovery and sales of books. With expertise in economic forecasting, marketing analytics, and AI technologies, Brooke brings a unique view into AI applications in publishing.She joined us on the Booksmarts Podcast to discuss how advancements in AI are transforming book marketing, as well as the importance of metadata and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and practical strategies publishers can use to boost discoverability, connect with readers, and enhance their marketing through automation. Learn more about Shimmr, visit their website and be sure to read their recent article—featuring Joshua Tallent: How to Make Your Books AI Discoverable: A Publisher's Guide to GEO.

10/21/25 • 27:07

Gavin Marcus is the CEO and co-founder of Storywise. He spent 10 years running an indie book publishing and distribution business before launching Storywise. Jeremy Esekow is Storywise's Chief Product Officer and co-founder. He has a Doctorate in Behavioral Psychology and an extensive background in business and finance.They joined us on the Booksmarts Podcast to discuss the creation and importance of Storywise, their platform that helps publishers and authors manage submissions, discover stories, and improve manuscripts for both fiction and nonfiction titles. Learn more about Storywise on LinkedIn or at storywisepublishers.com.

9/29/25 • 27:21

Phil Madans is a seasoned publishing executive with over 42 years of experience in trade publishing, including more than a decade as Executive Director of Digital Publishing Technology at Hachette Book Group.Throughout his career, Phil has championed the use of technology to enhance—not complicate—the publishing process, bringing deep expertise in publishing systems, metadata, workflow optimization, and digital strategy. He has led major enterprise system implementations, overseen the integration of large-scale acquisitions, and played a pivotal role in developing and promoting industry standards. Phil has been an active member of the publishing community, particularly the Book Industry Study Group, where he has volunteered for more than twenty years and currently serves on its Board of Directors.Phil is available for consulting engagements and can be reached on LinkedIn or at philipjmadans@gmail.com.

8/19/25 • 27:00

Ann Kjellberg is the Founding Editor of the Book Post book review, an innovative newsletter-based book review service which delivers thoughtful, in-depth literary criticism from distinguished writers directly to subscribers' inboxes.With nearly 30 years of experience at the New York Review of Books, Kjellberg brings a wealth of expertise to the evolving world of literary journalism. She joins the BookSmarts Podcast to explore the changing landscape of book reviewing, offering a unique perspective on the challenges facing book reviews in the digital age. This episode delves into the decline of traditional book reviews, the limitations of short-form content platforms like BookTok and Bookstagram, and the critical mission of preserving the influence of book reviewing for the future. Subscribe to the Book Post newsletter at books.substack.com or bookpostusa.com. Follow them on all social media platforms at @bookpostUSA.

7/22/25 • 23:09

Len Edgerly is the host of the Kindle Chronicles podcast, a long-running show dedicated to exploring digital reading technologies and publishing innovations.He joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of e-reader technology, sharing insights from his 15 years of covering Kindle and digital reading developments. Len offers a unique perspective on the future of reading, including potential AI integrations and the importance of maintaining a focused reading experience. If you're interested in following Len's work, check out his Morning Journal on Alexa flash briefings or his Substack newsletter at lenedgerly.substack.com. Find Len Edgerly on his Kindle Chronicles podcast and explore his latest digital publishing insights today!

6/17/25 • 26:10

Kristina Radke is the Senior Vice President of Business Growth and Engagement at NetGalley. She joins the BookSmarts Podcast to launch of Booktrovert, a new consumer marketing platform for publishers and authors. Booktrovert allows for easy creation of marketing campaigns with digital giveaways and interactive tools for readers, designed to complement the existing NetGalley platform. If you're interested in becoming a Booktrovert publisher, reach out to concierge@netgalley.com. Find Kristina Radke on LinkedIn and click here to sign up for Booktrovert today!Learn about Booktrovert: What is Booktrovert?Types of Booktrovert CampaignsWho is a Booktrovert?

5/19/25 • 21:01

Daniel Berkowitz is the Ad Sales Director for Bookshop.org, an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. He is also the founder of AuthorPop, a one-stop shop for every author's digital needs.He joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss the importance of book advertising for both publishers and authors. He has worked with authors at all stages of their careers to help build their audience and increase discoverability, and previously spent several years at Open Road Integrated Media as Executive Director of Paid Marketing, where he worked with both authors and publishers to drive discoverability of their titles through targeted advertising solutions. Find Daniel Berkowitz on LinkedIn and click the following links to learn more about Bookshop.org and AuthorPop.

4/21/25 • 28:50

Bryan Heathman is the CEO of Made for Success Publishing, a book publishing company that specializes in selling audiobooks. .He joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss how AI technology is transforming the audiobook industry, specifically regarding AI narration for audiobooks. We discuss the future of audiobooks and the benefits of using AI narration vs. traditional narrators, as well as common misconceptions and consumer hesitations regarding AI narration, and technological advancements with AI and audiobooks. Bryan discussed this topic in detail at the 2024 Publishing Innovation Forum. To learn more and request a PDF of his presentation, visit madeforsuccess.com/contact.

3/17/25 • 28:50

Margaux Weisman is the former Director of Business Development at DropCap Inc., a tech-enabled rights agency and a global rights marketplace used by rights agents and acquisitions around the world to find great books.She joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss the importance & process of foreign rights for independent authors and small publishers. We discuss why foreign rights are a valuable source of revenue for authors and publishers, how DropCap helps indie authors and smaller publishers navigate foreign rights deals, markets that show the biggest demand for U.S. books, and the typical advance ranges for foreign rights deals. To learn more, visit dropcapmarketplace.com. You can also follow them on Instagram @DropCapAgency. Margaux left Dropcap not long after this recording was made, but if you have questions you can reach out to Lindsay Jones, Dropcap's CEO, at lindsay@dropcap.com.

2/18/25 • 21:35

Rebecca Burgoyne is the Executive Director of Business Systems Integrations for the United Methodist Publishing House. She joins the BookSmarts Podcast discuss what Lean Six Sigma is and why book publishers should be incorporating this type of knowledge work, along with the importance of understanding workflows, reducing waste, and more! Rebecca discussed Lean Six Sigma for Knowledge Work at the 2024 Publishing Innovation Forum. To learn more, feel free to reach out to her on LinkedIn or Twitter. You can also look into articles she's written on medium, including Lean Six Sigma for Knowledge Work!

1/21/25 • 24:35

David Hetherington is the Vice President of Global Business Development at Books International, a leading provider of US and International book manufacturing, print and digital distribution services for the book publishing industry. With over 40 years of experience in the book publishing industry, David has served as a Board Member for the Book Industry Study Group, Book Manufacturers Institute, and PubWest, along with the Pace University Graduate School of Publishing. As a publishing veteran, David joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss how to establish practices that ensure your business is more resilient in times of crisis. We discuss how publishers should address common risks, how to prepare for those risks in advance, lessons learned from the pandemic as well as other known book publisher challenges, and the importance of building relationships in the industry to better prepare for potential crises. David will be speaking at the Association of Catholic Publishers event in April and will also have an upcoming BISG webinar about managing through the next crisis. To contact David, email d.hetherington@booksintl.com.

11/13/24 • 21:28

Jason Brockwell is the President of National Book Network, one of the largest independent book distributors in the United States. With titles in nearly every bookstore category, NBN has helped a broad variety of publishers with their distribution needs since its founding in 1986. Before becoming an executive at the company, Jason was a national account manager calling on several large customers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble for NBN and also worked as a field sales rep in the the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This episode of the BookSmarts Podcast was recorded live at the 2024 Publishing Innovation Forum. Jason Brockwell attended the conference to lead a discussion on "Distribution in the Digital Age: Supply Chains, Marketing, Sustainability, and More". We appreciate Jason allowing us to record this session and replay it for you on our podcast! Jason discusses how National Book Network helps publishers, how COVID has (still) affected the distribution industry, successful digital strategies for distributors, sustainability concerns, and more! National Book Network is an independent and full-service sales, marketing and distribution company serving book publishers from around the world. Click here to learn more!

10/21/24 • 33:16

Michael Johnson is the Vice President of Content at Benetech. In this role, he works directly with publishers, conversion houses, technology platforms, retailers, and educational institutions to help them understand and implement processes that allow for fully accessible content to get from authors all the way through to the end reader. He also has a long-time relationship to publishing standards having sat on several ISO, NISO, BISG, and MARC standards committees throughout his career and currently sits on the Board of Directors for DAISY. With almost 40 years of experience in the technology, publishing, and distribution markets, Michael joins us on the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss the services that Benetech offers to create accessible ebooks, such as Bookshare, and provides advice on how to make books GCA (Global Certified Accessible) certified.Visit the following links to learn more: Benetech: benetech.org  Bookshare: bookshare.org  Born Accessible: bornaccessible.org

9/16/24 • 23:53

Kristina Radke is the Vice President of Business Growth and Engagement at NetGalley, a service that helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies and audiobooks to book advocates and industry professionals, including reviewers, booksellers, librarians, educators, media/journalists, and other book trade professionals. With over 15 years of experience in book marketing, publicity, and client relationships, Kristina joins us on the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss NetGalley's expansion into the audiobook market, along with trends and strategies for publishers to be aware of when uploading audiobooks to NetGalley. Kristina will be providing training for NetGalley users and publishers at the Publishing Innovation Forum, September 24-26, in Nashville, TN! This conference is open to the entire publishing community and will focus on the many changes our industry has faced, and how to prepare and adapt for the future. Follow Kristina Radke on LinkedIn! Visit NetGalley.com for more information on their service.

8/19/24 • 28:34

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

7/15/24 • 22:04

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

6/17/24 • 24:40

Beat Barblan is the General Manager of Bowker, the official ISBN agency for the United States and Australia. As a senior level publishing technology and international standards executive, Beat joins us on the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss Bowker's evolving role in the publishing industry and their efforts to support authors and publishers, as well as the important of metadata in book discoverability. To learn more about Bowker or to get in touch with Beat, visit myidentifiers.com.

5/20/24 • 30:46

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

4/15/24 • 27:14

The show producer has not yet provided a description for this episode.

3/18/24 • 20:56

Tom Richardson has been the Bibliographic Manager for BookNet Canada since 2008 and currently serves on the BISG Metadata Committee. As BookNet Canada’s ONIX subject specialist, Tom joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss ONIX best practices in detail, as well as some of the issues seen with how sales rights and market data is being delivered from a Canadian perspective.BookNet Canada is a non-profit organization comparable to BISG or BIC that develops technology, standards, and education to serve the Canadian book industry. They also represent the ONIX/Thema National Group for Canada and are heavily involved in the industry standards for ONIX.Learn more about BookNet Canada at www.booknetcanada.ca. If you’re interested in learning more of Tom’s perspective regarding ONIX best practices and standards, subscribe to their eNews and visit the BookNet Canada blog.

2/20/24 • 24:09

According to a report released by the American Library Association, Gen Z and Millennials are visiting public libraries at higher rates than previous generations, and also prefer print books over other formats. Dr. Kathi Inman Berens and Dr. Rachel Noorda from Portland State University authored this annual survey to capture how these younger generations read and discover books. They joined the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss their findings in detail and talk about what some of the results mean for book publishers.  The survey is titled: Gen Z and Millennials: How They Use Public Libraries and Identify Through Media Use. Results from the survey include (but are not limited to):  How Gen Z and millennials prefer to discover books (i.e. recommendations from friends/talent/influencers, streaming media adaptations from books, etc.) Percentage of Gen Z and millennials that identify as readers, gamers, fans, and writers.  How book advertising impacts Gen Z and millennials Challenges that libraries and publishers face when it comes to these generations Recommendations on how to reach and connect with Gen Z and millennial Dr. Kathi Inman Berens is a U.S. Fulbright Scholar of digital culture, former Annenberg Innovation Lab Fellow, prize-winning author, and Associate Professor of Book Publishing and Digital Humanities at Portland State University. Dr. Rachel Noorda is Director

1/29/24 • 30:36

Miriam Warren is a Director at The Fisher Company, which provides international mergers and acquisition services for print and digital publishing media and technology sectors. Her eleven years in academic publishing give her a comprehensive knowledge of a publisher’s specific needs, from acquisition and peer review process through print and ebook production. Miriam also served as President of the Board of Directors for PubWest for nearly six years. She joins the Booksmarts Podcast to discuss the process of The Fisher’s Company’s mergers and acquisitions and gives advice to publishers thinking about selling their company or acquiring an additional one. Learn more about The Fisher Company at www.thefishercompany.com. Email them today for a free consultation! 

11/20/23 • 16:51

Victoria Sutherland is the Founder and Publisher of Foreword Magazine, Inc., and Director of Children’s Books USA. She joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss how Foreword Magazine can help smaller, independent publishers with their marketing endeavors. The mission of Foreword Magazine, Inc. is to help booksellers and librarians discover great books from indie presses through an artistic magazine dedicated to book reviewing. Victoria has spent many years of her career focusing on independent publishers and small press authors, and currently serves as Treasurer of the Independent Book Publishers Association. She discusses marketing trends that she’s discovered throughout her career as well as the process and positive outcomes of their book reviews. Learn more about Foreword Magazine at forewordreviews.com, as well as their LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.

10/16/23 • 22:10