The BookSmarts Podcast, with Joshua Tallent

Joshua Tallent
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Get smarter about your books! The BookSmarts podcast features discussions about the publishing industry and interviews with industry experts, deep thinkers, and doers, bringing you insights that will help you sell more books. Joshua Tallent is an acclaimed teacher and guide on the role of data in publishing, and a vocal advocate for high quality book metadata. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys playing complex board games, playing Minecraft, and fiddling with his 3D printer.

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 68: Publishing Workflows & Trends with Westchester Publishing Services

    Tyler Carey has worked in publishing and technology for over 20 years, with a background including work at Wolters-Kluwer and Harris Connect. His roles have included account management, sales, marketing, product development, social media management, and technology consulting. He is an experienced conference speaker, often presenting on the impact of technology on different industries, sharing strategies to adapt emerging technologies into more traditional organizations. In 2017, Tyler was promoted to Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing the company’s sales, marketing, and business development efforts as well as the growing staff supporting those initiatives. On this episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Tyler discusses the ever-growing complexities of managing publishing workflows in a fast-paced, digital world. He provides a deep dive into the recent influx of industry regulations like ADA Title II, the push to get trend-driven books to market more quickly, and the universal challenge of inbox and time management. The conversation also explores practical tools for organizing the chaos—from Gen AI assistants to analog bullet journals—and the importance of community, mentorship, and mental health resources to combat stress in the publishing industry. To learn more about Westchester Publishing Services and how they help publishers with their editorial and production workflows, visit westchesterpublishingservices.com. You can also connect with Tyler on LinkedIn or catch him in person at upcoming industry events like the IPG Autumn Conference.

  2. Jul 20

    Episode 67: Merchandising Insights from Books-A-Million’s Kathy Gagliano

    Kathy Gagliano is the Executive Vice President of Merchandising at Books-A-Million, America’s second-largest book retailer. Bringing a wealth of experience from major retailers like Parisian, Inc., Federated Department Stores, and Saks, Inc., Kathy joined Books-A-Million in 2007. Today, she helps guide the vision and strategy for the beloved company that started as a humble 1917 street corner newsstand in Florence, Alabama, and has since expanded into over 220 stores across 32 states. On this week’s episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Kathy sits down to discuss the evolving landscape of physical book retail. We dive into how Books-A-Million is adapting to a rapidly changing consumer demographic and welcoming the massive wave of younger readers fueled by BookTok. Kathy also shares her insights on viewing the bookstore as a real-time cultural barometer and reveals the heart behind their localized, "shop-in-a-shop" community hubs. Finally, we explore the company's current expansion into new markets and offer fantastic, tactical advice on how publishers can better partner with physical retailers to capture today's readers. To learn more about Books-A-Million and follow along with their continued growth, visit booksamillion.com. You can also reach out to Kathy directly at gaglianok@booksamillion.com.

  3. Jun 1

    Episode 66: Technological Advancement at University Presses

    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.org Jana 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

  4. May 11

    Episode 65: The Indie Voice: Advocacy and Community with IBPA’s Andrea Fleck-Nisbet

    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. Apr 20

    Episode 64: The Benefits of Independent Distribution with Joe Biel

    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, U****k 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.

  6. Mar 16

    Episode 63: Nurturing Christian Publishers at ECPA with Jeff Crosby

    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.

  7. Feb 17

    Episode 62: Publishers Without Borders Director Discusses London Book Fair

    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.

  8. Jan 20

    Episode 61: The Role of Fixed-Layout EPUBs in Publishing with Ken Jones

    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.

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Get smarter about your books! The BookSmarts podcast features discussions about the publishing industry and interviews with industry experts, deep thinkers, and doers, bringing you insights that will help you sell more books. Joshua Tallent is an acclaimed teacher and guide on the role of data in publishing, and a vocal advocate for high quality book metadata. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys playing complex board games, playing Minecraft, and fiddling with his 3D printer.

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