A Word on Words

WNPT - Nashville PBS
  • 5.0 (4)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Nashville PBS’s Emmy Award-winning A Word on Words features accessible interviews with authors and poets about their latest books. Launched in 2015 the series was designed to be accessible and engaging for a new generation of readers. Join our A Word on Words hosts for more discussions with writers about their work, their process and what they are reading for inspiration.

  1. Strong Inside- Andrew Maraniss

    06/12/2025

    Strong Inside- Andrew Maraniss

    Author Andrew Maraniss speaks on the life and experiences of civil rights trailblazer Perry Wallace. Maraniss recounts Wallace's journey as the first basketball player to desegregate the SEC while playing for Vanderbilt University in STRONG INSIDE: PERRY WALLACE AND THE COLLISION OF RACE AND SPORTS IN THE SOUTH.

    24 min
  2. The Shadowed Land - Signe Pike

    06/09/2025

    The Shadowed Land - Signe Pike

    Author Signe Pike sits down with J.T. Ellison to discuss the newest entry in her 'The Lost Queen' series, 'The Shadowed Land.' Pike delves into the inspiration she drew from the often overlooked pre-Christian traditions of Scotland.

    20 min
  3. When Southern Women Cook - Bolling & Tipton-Martin

    06/05/2025

    When Southern Women Cook - Bolling & Tipton-Martin

    WHEN SOUTHERN WOMEN COOK is a first-of-its-kind cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen. This book features 300+ recipes and stories of the women who shaped Southern cuisine. Led by Toni Tipton-Martin and Morgan Bolling, it honors generations of cooks whose creativity and resilience define the diverse soul of Southern cooking.

    25 min
  4. Ghost Dogs - Andre Dubus III

    06/02/2025

    Ghost Dogs - Andre Dubus III

    Andre Dubus III navigates adulthood with diverse experiences: from chasing a drug lord in Mexico to confronting privilege in New York City. In GHOST DOGS, Dubus's book of essays, he reflects on personal growth, struggles with masculinity, and the power dynamics of gun ownership.

    23 min
  5. Playworld - Adam Ross

    05/19/2025

    Playworld - Adam Ross

    Griffin Hurt is struggling—between his role on The Nuclear Family, the pressures of Boyd Prep, and his wrestling coach’s demands, he’s on the brink. Instead of confiding in his family’s shrink, he turns to Naomi Shah, 22 years his senior. Playworld is a gripping tale of youth, miseducation, and excess, capturing 1980s Manhattan as Griffin navigates the blurred lines of adolescence and adulthood.

    21 min
  6. A Talent for Murder - Peter Swanson

    05/15/2025

    A Talent for Murder - Peter Swanson

    Martha, a librarian, marries Alan, a charming salesman often away for work. When she discovers a suspicious bloodstain on his shirt from a conference, Martha investigates Alan's travels, uncovering five unsolved murders. Unsure if Alan is a killer or if it's coincidence, she seeks advice from her friend Lily. Lily uncovers truths, leading to a twisty and clever exploration of deception and danger.

    19 min
  7. Skin & Bones - Renée Watson

    05/12/2025

    Skin & Bones - Renée Watson

    Lena Baker's life feels stable—until a wedding day confession upends everything. She struggles to teach her daughter self-love while questioning everything she knows about relationships, friendship, and motherhood. As she fights to preserve Oregon’s overlooked Black history, she navigates well-meaning but ignorant colleagues. Skin & Bones is a powerful story of heartbreak, identity, & healing

    25 min
  8. Night Watch - Jayne Anne Phillips

    05/08/2025

    Night Watch - Jayne Anne Phillips

    In 1874, haunted by war & loss, 12-year-old ConaLee and her silent mother, Eliza, journey to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Far from their mountain home, they navigate a world shaped by trauma, race, and resilience. Posing as her mother’s maid, ConaLee meets some unforgettable characters while Eliza begins her recovery. NIGHT WATCH is a tale of survival, identity, and hope in the wake of war.

    16 min
See All (40)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Nashville PBS’s Emmy Award-winning A Word on Words features accessible interviews with authors and poets about their latest books. Launched in 2015 the series was designed to be accessible and engaging for a new generation of readers. Join our A Word on Words hosts for more discussions with writers about their work, their process and what they are reading for inspiration.

Information

  • Creator
    WNPT - Nashville PBS
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 WNPT - Nashville PBS
  • Show Website
    A Word on Words