I always sort of felt like an imposter writer.

I felt like I wasn't really writing, you know, in the way that I had always envisioned, you know, which is a weird thing to say.

That's wild, yeah.

Yeah, because I've had a career writing, but I don't know, I feel like a real writer now having finished this.

Welcome to the Stacks, a podcast about books and the people who read them. I'm your host, Tracy

Thomas. And today I am joined by one of my favorite podcasters and now a debut author, Ira Madison

the Third. Ira is a writer, cultural critic, and co-host of the podcast Keep It, which is hilarious

if you've never listened. And now he's got a book of essays. It's called Pure Innocent Fun,

and it explores how pop culture shapes our identities and reflects the world around us.

Today, Ira talk about all the books that shaped him, plus we talk about nostalgia, audience, and writing about people from your real life.

Our book club pick for February is Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, and Ira will be back on Wednesday, February 26, to discuss the book with me.

So be sure you read along and tune in.

Quick reminder, everything we talk about on each episode of The Stacks can be found in the link in the show notes.

If you love this podcast and you want inside access to it, head to patreon.com slash the Stacks

and join the Stacks pack or check out my newsletter at tracy

thomas.substack.com. I could not make the show without the support of folks like you.

So check it out to get bonus content and to make sure this show happens every single week.

Now it's time for a quick shout out to some of our newest members of the stacks back.

Esther, Rachel Pelman Serapino, Corey Brown, Alicia,

Catherine Shirano, Sarah Taylor, Maureen St. Sire, Lindsay Scott, Shana Ayadokor,

Marcia McCullough, Emily Craben, Jackie, Brea Grant, Kristen M, and Denise Padroza. Thank you all so much and thank you to the

entire Stackspack. All right, now it's time for my conversation with Ira Madison the 3rd.

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