Kat Johnson
Most anticipated listens of 2024
Articles & Interviews
11 works of environmental nonfiction to hear this Earth Day
This provocative collection of climate- and planet-conscious audio blends scientific research, natural reverence, and captivating storytelling to fuel action and hope.
Amanda Montell explains why everyone is guilty of "Magical Overthinking"
The bestselling author and podcast host’s latest listen is as entertaining as it is informative about the cognitive biases lurking behind today’s zeitgeistiest delusions.
With “Wandering Stars,” Tommy Orange delivers a stunning follow-up to his breakout debut
The dazzling sequel to “There There” plumbs Native American history and the contemporary echoes of trauma in an epic, multigenerational novel that sings in audio.
Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath on why we're thinking about memory all wrong
The punk-rock-loving professor and leading memory researcher shares the radical and reassuring truth about "Why We Remember."
On the irrational appeal of believing in Bigfoot
The hirsute king of cryptids has captured our imaginations for generations. Maybe, argues the self-professed skeptic and author of "The Secret History of Bigfoot," that's not such a bad thing.
How fiction became the new true crime
Endlessly fascinating, true crime also has a toxic side. A new breed of novel is helping us process our obsession, with audio at the forefront.
Zadie Smith on the pride and pleasure of narrating "The Fraud"
The author worked with a voice coach to master the novel's dazzling array of accents, with one possible exception: “I'm sorry Scotland, but it could have been a lot worse.”
From the Buffyverse and beyond, these are the best listens for "Slayers" fans
Into every generation, new fans are born. Depriving them of more great listens would be worse than a stake to the heart.
"The List" is about the all-too-real perils of living our lives online
Debut novelist Yomi Adegoke leaned into thriller vibes to craft her chilling tale about the repercussions of anonymous accusations on the internet.
"The Secret History" was always about the aesthetics
Donna Tartt’s debut novel caused a sensation upon release in 1992, then did it again for a new generation obsessed with its dark, spellbinding world.
Understanding Tupac through the lens of "An Amerikan Family"
The Shakurs, and particularly matriarch Afeni Shakur, were a potent force in shaping Black liberation and the future of hip-hop.
Leon Neyfakh on the enduring enigma of New York's notorious subway vigilante
"Fear is a powerful, elemental force that lives in all of us."