What is the show's north star?
This podcast is a love letter to books...the reading of them, the amassing of them, and the curating of them, but especially the literal and figurative places they take us.
Why did you start this podcast?
After several years in corporate America and the recent passing of both of my parents in quick succession, it was undeniably time to devote my energy towards creating something for fellow lovers of the written word that is symbiotic with my greatest passions in life outside of my family: books, history, and travel.
What is the typical format of an episode?
Every episode is designed to be a fun and immersive - but also structured - experience lasting around a half hour. It includes three recognizable segments each week:
- In THE MAIN REVIEW, we dive straight into a spoiler-free review centered on the vibe, setting, and atmosphere of what I consider to be a good or great historical fiction book. We will go lighter on plot and heavier on it's ability to immerse the reader in our reviews.
- In UNEARTHED, we uncover some interesting historical insights designed to entertain and to enhance - but never spoil - your reading experience of that book.
- In THE TAVERN, we serve up one dish each week in this rotating section. Selections usually include either a bonus book review (often non-historical fiction), literal and armchair travel, book adjacent discussions, or perhaps the origin story behind a germane turn of phrase or word.
Do you accept Advanced Review Copies (ARCs) or publisher submissions?
Yes. We welcome inquiries from publishers and authors. We handle all review requests via an initial email exchange. Please contact us at thebookandthevibe@gmail.com and provide the book's core metadata (title, author, publisher, release date, and genre), a brief synopsis, comparable titles (comps), and available formats.
To maintain the integrity of the show, we usually do 1-2 book reviews per episode, and only books we finish completely are featured in those slots.
Accepting a copy does not guarantee a review on the podcast, and I generally do not feature books in The Main Review slot that I did not genuinely enjoy at approximately a "4 out of five star level" or above.
It is also highly helpful to include a couple of sentences in your initial outreach as to why you believe the book fits the specific vibe and focus of our show. If it sounds like a fit with our vibe and we want to read it, we are happy to try and time it with a release date if helpful and if it is a win/win for our listeners.
We want to connect books to the right readers!
How do you ensure your reviews remain unbiased?
Authenticity and transparency are foundational to the show. Every review reflects an honest opinion. If a book doesn’t resonate, I may say so constructively while highlighting the type of reader who might enjoy it instead. Our listeners' trust and listening experience comes first. We do not accept payments or sponsorships in exchange for book reviews.
Are you open to sponsorships or advertising partnerships?
We are selectively accepting sponsorship proposals (host read/evergreen spots) from brands that want to align with our target audience of travelers, readers of historical fiction, history buffs.
To preserve the immersive listening experience of our show, we do not plan to include produced/announcer-read placed advertisements. Our intention is to grow organically and respond to our listeners input in the early days.
We prefer to include host-read ad integrations that are genuinely relevant to our listeners or complement the natural flow of the episode.
Our short Media & Ad Kit is available upon request by emailing thebookandthevibe@gmail.com.
Are you available for media invitations, event coverage, or travel partnerships?
Yes. We welcome inquiries regarding appearing on other podcasts!
We also will consider media trips, historic site tours, literary festivals, and cultural or literary tourism opportunities that align with our focus on historical fiction, history, atmosphere, and content that would enhance the listener experience.
Please reach out to thebookandthevibe@gmail.com with any information, or just an initial idea of how we might work together. We'd love to hear form you!