Well-read & Unfiltered
Well-Read & Unfiltered is a weekly podcast about books, bookish trends, and book culture. The hosts discuss new releases, underrated gems, overhyped bestsellers, and online book communities such as BookTok and Bookstagram. Each episode includes conversational deep dives, themed book discussions, current reads, publishing news, and occasional book club episodes. Hosted by Aaron, K, and Casey from across the United States, the show emphasizes authentic conversations and building a community around interesting books.
Episodes
Whose History Are We Reading? | Honoring Indigenous Voices
Who tells the history we learn, and whose voices get left out?Today on Well-Read and Unfiltered, we’re honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a conversation about colonialism, displacement, belonging, and how reading can challenge the stories we grew up believing.We dive into The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, exploring generational trauma, revenge, and what happens when the real ho
Not Enough Orphans & Other Bookish Complaints | September Wrap-Up
We expected a four-course meal. Some books gave us soup (you'll need to listen to understand this joke). 😂 This week, we’re unpacking September’s biggest letdowns, surprise favorites, and full-blown reading obsessions with a passionate case for looking beyond Dungeon Crawler Carl. What was your best (or most disappointing) read of the month? 📚BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODESomewhere Beyond the Sea
Banned Books: Who Gets to Decide What We Read?
Who gets to decide what belongs on your bookshelf?This week on Well Read and Unfiltered, we’re talking banned books, the freedom to read, and where parental guidance crosses into policing everyone else’s shelves. From "1984" and "The Handmaid’s Tale" to ACOTAR, we unpack the stories that spark controversy, the value of uncomfortable reads, and why representation matters.Expect strong opinions, a f
Our Fantasy Favorites!
This week on "Well Read and Unfiltered", we’re sharing our fantasy favorites, the books that hooked us on the genre, and the fictional worlds we can’t stop thinking about. From epic series and dark standalones to unforgettable characters and magic systems, we’re getting into what makes a fantasy worth the commitment, and whether a little romance helps or hurts.Expect nostalgic favorites, unfiltere
Upcoming Releases We're Excited About for the Remainder of 2026!
We are looking ahead to the releases they’re most excited about for the rest of 2026, and your TBR is about to get longer!From unsettling horror and sweeping historical fiction to spicy holiday romances and highly anticipated fantasy, there’s something for every kind of reader.Along the way, we share our current reads, debate whether rereading can change your opinion of a book, and discuss the pre
From Page to Screen: The Best Adaptations
This week on "Well Read and Unfiltered", we debate the hits and misses of book-to-screen adaptations, from "Project Hail Mary" and "Off Campus" to "Jurassic Park" and "The Ruins". We unpack casting choices, changed endings, and what it takes to capture a story’s heart, then wrap up with a lightning round of adaptations they’re excited to watch or happy to skip. And all of this begs this question:
Our August 2026 Reading Recap!
August reading brought five-star surprises, major disappointments, and plenty of unfiltered opinions. We’re recapping the romances, fantasy epics, literary fiction, sci-fi, and horror that defined our month, then revealing the one book each of us recommends above all the rest. Pour yourself a drink, prepare to add to your TBR, and join the conversation! What was your best—or most disappointing—rea
Class is Back in Session: The Good, the Bad & "Billy Budd"
Class is back in session, and so is the assigned reading trauma!This week on Well-Read and Unfiltered, we revisit the books and plays we were required to read in high school: the ones we loved, the ones we faked our way through with SparkNotes, and the ones we’re still holding a grudge against.From 1984, Lord of the Flies, and Macbeth to Casey's and K's mutual disdain for, Billy Budd, we’re talkin
Books That Made Us Feel
Some books entertain us. Others absolutely wreck us. 📚💔This week on Well Read & Unfiltered, we’re talking about the books that made us feel: the ones that shattered our hearts, made us angry, left us speechless, or somehow became the stories we still think about years later.We ask ourselves (and the listeners!): Why do certain books affect us so deeply? And how much do our own experiences shap
Top 5 Books of 2026 (So Far!)
We're a little more than halfway through the year means one thing: it’s time to crown our favorite books of 2026...thus far!In this episode of Well Read & Unfiltered, we each share:Our Top 5 books of the yearOne honorable mentionOur biggest reading disappointmentsThe stories we still can’t stop thinking aboutFrom literary fiction and horror to fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and nonfiction, this epi
Our July 2026 Reading Recap!
July gave us everything: five-star classics, bizarre sci-fi, heartbreaking historical fiction, horror that left us speechless, and a few books that missed the mark!In this episode we’re sharing our biggest surprise reads, the books that didn’t quite live up to the hype, our favorite book of July, and the books we’re most excited to read next.What’s the best book you read in July? Let us know in th
Bookish Characters -The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Episode 4 is all about the characters that stay with us long after we finish a book.We dive into what makes a truly unforgettable character, debate whether flawed protagonists are better than perfect heroes, celebrate our favorite sidekicks (human and animal), and reveal the book characters we simply can’t stand. From Red Rising and Dungeon Crawler Carl to Project Hail Mary, The Sword of Kaigen, F
The Next Read Dilemma
This week on Well-Read & Unfiltered, we’re tackling one of the biggest questions every reader faces: How do you decide what to read next? From meticulously planned TBRs to chaotic mood reading, social media recommendations, book clubs, and the pressure of FOMO, we’re unpacking how our reading choices are shaped, and whether that’s a good thing.Are you a planner, a mood reader, or a full-on cha
Are Book Reviews Dead on Social Media?
Are book reviews dead on social media, or have they simply been forced to evolve?In this episode, we talk about how the Bookstagram algorithm favors pretty photos, quick reactions, and trope lists over thoughtful reviews. We also compare our different rating styles, discuss review burnout, and ask what really makes a book five stars.Listeners: Are book reviews dead on social media? Comment below,
Introducing Well-read & Unfiltered and Your Hosts: Aaron, K, Casey, and Hillary!
Welcome to Episode 1 of Well-Read & Unfiltered! In our debut episode, we're introducing ourselves through the books and experiences that shaped us as readers. We share how we found Bookstagram, our favorite and least favorite genres, our auto-buy authors, and the stories that continue to define our reading lives. Grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and join us for the very first unfilte
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