HopLit

David

A beery book discussion for everyone! Hosts David Nilsen and Emily Swank discuss the world of books and reading with only one simple rule: No snobbery. 

  1. 12/03/2025

    A Christmas Carol & Holiday Horror

    The hosts of HopLit, David & Emily, are gearing up for the holiday season in this episode, where they talk about Christmas beer, holiday ghost stories, and most pointedly, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Listen to their hot takes on A Christmas Carol film adaptations, take reading recs from their recent reading or suggested holiday TBRs, and celebrate December literary birthdays in this very merry episode of HopLit.  HopLit is a beery book podcast for everyone, with no snobbery and no gatekeeping. We don't believe in guilty pleasures of either the liquid or literary varieties. Whatever you're reading and however you're reading it, and whatever you're drinking or if you're not drinking at all, this podcast is for you. HopLit is hosted by David Nilsen & Emily Swank. David Nilsen is a full-time beer writer and educator living near Dayton, Ohio. He's an Advanced Cicerone© and a member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and the British Guild of Beer Writers. He is a former public librarian and book critic. You can find him online at davidnilsenbeer.com and davidnilsenwriter.com and on Instagram and Bluesky @davidnilsenbeer. Emily Swank is an English teacher and the creator behind the Instagram account @thebeercanon. The Beer Canon works to pair books with craft beer, and has its own monthly brewery hopping book club. She's hosted bookish events with Columbus Brewing Company and Seventh Son Brewing, and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

    1h 37m
  2. 11/19/2025

    Trans Day of Remembrance

    The hosts of HopLit, David & Emily, strip down the episode to create space to remember the Trans lives lost as they commemorate Trans Day of Remembrance. In this episode, HopLit hosts still talk books and beer while acknowledging that promoting Trans communities and Trans voices and finding Trans-safe spaces and stories remain vital in protecting Transfolks. From Margaret Killjoy to Torrey Peters, David and Emily share impactful Trans voices and stories in the literary world.  HopLit is a beery book podcast for everyone, with no snobbery and no gatekeeping. We don't believe in guilty pleasures of either the liquid or literary varieties. Whatever you're reading and however you're reading it, and whatever you're drinking or if you're not drinking at all, this podcast is for you. HopLit is hosted by David Nilsen & Emily Swank. David Nilsen is a full-time beer writer and educator living near Dayton, Ohio. He's an Advanced Cicerone© and a member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and the British Guild of Beer Writers. He is a former public librarian and book critic. You can find him online at davidnilsenbeer.com and davidnilsenwriter.com and on Instagram and Bluesky @davidnilsenbeer. Emily Swank is an English teacher and the creator behind the Instagram account @thebeercanon. The Beer Canon works to pair books with craft beer, and has its own monthly brewery hopping book club. She's hosted bookish events with Columbus Brewing Company and Seventh Son Brewing, and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

    43 min
  3. 11/05/2025

    Native American Heritage Month

    The hosts of HopLit, David & Emily, celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November by sharing some of their favorite Indigenous authors. From David Heska Wanbli Weiden to Layli Long Soldier, HopLit raises a glass to American Indian fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.  In addition, Emily & David celebrate November literary birthdays while sharing their recent reading alongside upcoming beer & book events.  HopLit is a beery book podcast for everyone, with no snobbery and no gatekeeping. We don't believe in guilty pleasures of either the liquid or literary varieties. Whatever you're reading and however you're reading it, and whatever you're drinking or if you're not drinking at all, this podcast is for you. HopLit is hosted by David Nilsen & Emily Swank. David Nilsen is a full-time beer writer and educator living near Dayton, Ohio. He's an Advanced Cicerone© and a member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and the British Guild of Beer Writers. He is a former public librarian and book critic. You can find him online at davidnilsenbeer.com and davidnilsenwriter.com and on Instagram and Bluesky @davidnilsenbeer. Emily Swank is an English teacher and the creator behind the Instagram account @thebeercanon. The Beer Canon works to pair books with craft beer, and has its own monthly brewery hopping book club. She's hosted bookish events with Columbus Brewing Company and Seventh Son Brewing, and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

    1h 19m
  4. 10/15/2025

    Talking Books & Beer with Wandering Quills Bookshop

    HopLit hosts David & Emily sit down with the owners of Columbus, Ohio’s hottest new bookstore, Wandering Quills. WQB owners Anne and Kristen share the origin story of their mobile bookstore, highlight the importance of bookselling, and talk about books and beers with Emily & David. In addition, Emily & David share their recent reading and highlight upcoming beer & book events.  You can learn more about Wandering Quills on their website, where you can find event listings, shop their inventory, and get access to their social media channels. HopLit is a beery book podcast for everyone, with no snobbery and no gatekeeping. We don't believe in guilty pleasures of either the liquid or literary varieties. Whatever you're reading and however you're reading it, and whatever you're drinking or if you're not drinking at all, this podcast is for you. HopLit is hosted by David Nilsen & Emily Swank. David Nilsen is a full-time beer writer and educator living near Dayton, Ohio. He's an Advanced Cicerone© and a member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and the British Guild of Beer Writers. He is a former public librarian and book critic. You can find him online at davidnilsenbeer.com and davidnilsenwriter.com and on Instagram and Bluesky @davidnilsenbeer. Emily Swank is an English teacher and the creator behind the Instagram account @thebeercanon. The Beer Canon works to pair books with craft beer, and has its own monthly brewery hopping book club. She's hosted bookish events with Columbus Brewing Company and Seventh Son Brewing, and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

    1h 3m
  5. 10/11/2025

    Bonus: Banned Books Week with Sarah Detrick

    HopLit co-host Emily Swank sits down with guest Sarah Detrick, an educator and activist, who is currently researching book banning, censorship, and Right to Read legislation as part of a doctoral study. Listen in as Emily & Sarah talk about the long stemming history of censorship, how it’s playing out in our current political climate, and what we can do to protect librarians, teachers, writers, and publishers. HopLit is a beery book podcast for everyone, with no snobbery and no gatekeeping. We don't believe in guilty pleasures of either the liquid or literary varieties. Whatever you're reading and however you're reading it, and whatever you're drinking or if you're not drinking at all, this podcast is for you. HopLit is hosted by David Nilsen & Emily Swank. David Nilsen is a full-time beer writer and educator living near Dayton, Ohio. He's an Advanced Cicerone© and a member of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and the British Guild of Beer Writers. He is a former public librarian and book critic. You can find him online at davidnilsenbeer.com and davidnilsenwriter.com and on Instagram and Bluesky @davidnilsenbeer. Emily Swank is an English teacher and the creator behind the Instagram account @thebeercanon. The Beer Canon works to pair books with craft beer, and has its own monthly brewery hopping book club. She's hosted bookish events with Columbus Brewing Company and Seventh Son Brewing, and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

    27 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A beery book discussion for everyone! Hosts David Nilsen and Emily Swank discuss the world of books and reading with only one simple rule: No snobbery.