SSR Podcast

SSR Podcast

Inspired by a little something called Silent Sustained Reading that was a staple of her elementary school days, host Alli Hoff Kosik launched The SSR Podcast — used mostly unofficially here to stand for Sh*t She Read — to create a place for candid conversations about the books we loved in middle and high school

(For the record, we might love them a little less after they get the SSR treatment. You’ve been warned!)

Each week, Alli will challenge a guest to reread a literary throwback or to experience for the first time ever a book they may have missed as a kid. After that, they’ll be asked to spill all the feels and all the opinions about that book on the air for your podcast-listening pleasure. A glass of wine is not required, but it’s certainly allowed.

Podcast About Books? Sign us Up!

I first heard about the SSR Podcast through my favorite social media platform, Instagram. Alli hadn’t even launched yet, but I was instantly obsessed! A podcast devoted to talking about the books we read as kids? Heck yes! I’m all about it!

Nostalgia Never Gets Old

I’m telling y’all I’ve been on a nostalgia kick for the last few months. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m turning 35 soon, but it’s like I’m trying to relive part of my youth. Mid-Life crisis, anyone? I recently spent $50 on old Fear Street novels & have been begging my daughter to read Baby-Sitter’s Club books with me. The books, shows & experiences we have at a young age seem to really shape us. That’s one of the reasons I love SSR Podcast. It allows me to revisit my old favorites with a fresh look. I also love hearing what kind of books and characters other people are Really Into.

Alli Hoff Kosik

Let me tell you something, Alli knows her books! I read a lot as a kid, but damn if she doesn’t have me beat! Alli is also a fantastic interviewer. I can tell she really does her research on the featured author & she asks such thoughtful questions. I’m serious! Alli brings up points, themes & ideas that would have never crossed my mind. I’ve listened to a few episodes featuring books I haven’t read. After listening, I find myself wanting to read the book to see what Alli & her featured guest are talking about.

SSR Podcast- The Early Episodes

The first episode, Alli is talking all about Harriet the Spy. I remember Nickelodeon promoted the hell out of the movie, but honestly, I never read the book. Hearing Alli & her guest, Brittney talk about it is WILD! We learn Alli’s dad took her out of the movie theatre when they went to see the movie!

Next up is The Princess Diaries & one of my all times favorites, Matilda! Alli & her guest, Alexandra delve into the gender dynamics surrounding a young girl obsessed with books who happens to have a bit of superpower. Again, it’s been so long since I read Matilda, it made me think of the book in a different way. Episode 4 features From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler & Episode 5 gets deep with Nancy Drew & The Secret of the Old Clock. Oh, to be Nancy in my fancy car solving small town mysteries & looking fab while doing it! I particularly loved this episode! Episode 6 features Sloppy Firsts, another book I didn’t read, but it sounds really great! Alli & her guest, Maddie talk about reading a book they knew their parents likely wouldn’t approve of. Then, I had a flashback of my Dad throwing out a Christopher Pike novel he deemed inappropriate!

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This SSR Podcast! It’s so much fun, Alli is a dream & it’s about books! What more could I ask for?  I’m really looking forward to August where Alli revisits my all time fave series, The Baby-Sitters Club!

Also, SSR Podcast is a nice treat away from my usual dark fare like Dirty John & SKS.

What are some of your favorite books from childhood you may like to read again?

Connect with SSR Podcast

So get cozy and warm up to the SSR community. We’ve got a lot to talk about.

Instagram: @ssrpod
Twitter: @ssrpod
Facebook group/community: The SSR Podcast

More About Alli Hoff Kosik & the SSR Podcast

Alli is a rock star! Here’s a bit of her unofficial bio & the more official bio is listed below. Now, I want to know what embarrassing TV she watches!

After five years of living the corporate life in New York City, I quit my job in publishing to pursue freelance writing full-time! Since then, I’ve written for outlets like Marie Claire, Racked, Refinery29, Bustle, Brit + Co, Real Simple, The Kitchn, and more — and I’m still balancing that with the podcast! I also run half marathons and watch really embarrassing reality TV in my spare time 🙂

Now a full-time freelance writer, Alli spent five years working in the book publishing industry, two of which were focused on children’s books. During that time, she had the chance to dive back in to many of the stories that she loved as a kid… to mixed results. Some of the books felt even richer after 15 years and a few hundred life experiences, while some were wildly disappointing and — sometimes — offensive. With The SSR Podcast, Alli hopes to bring that sense of nostalgia straight to you.

No matter how much or how little you read as an adult, we’re willing to bet that you share a whole lot of literary experiences from childhood with the rest of the world, and we’re ready to prove that to you! In the meantime, we’ll probably have you laughing hysterically and/or extremely fired up about the extremely problematic details of these books that went totally over your head when you read them as an innocent babe.