Traci Thomas
Traci Thomas is the creator and host of The Stacks, a podcast about books and the way they shape culture. The show asks the questions that provoke meaningful, poignant, and often hilarious conversations. Traci also hosts a live literary series with LAist called One for the Books, is a monthly contributor for NPR's Here & Now, and she writes a monthly column on shereads.com.
Created in 2018, The Stacks has over 3 million downloads, and has been featured in Elle Magazine, Oprah Magazine, Buzzfeed, and more. The show is currently on the road, touring five cities across the U.S. Join Traci and guests for a night of bookish conversations, pop culture hot takes, unlimited reading recommendations, and of course a little snack discourse.
Where did your idea for “The Stacks” originally begin?
I got the idea after reading Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson. I loved the book and wanted to talk about it the moment I finished it, but no one I knew had read it or really remembered the events. I went to see if there were any podcasts on the book, and there were only two - one was a pretentious conversation about the book, the other was a law podcast discussing the legal implications of the events. I thought, hmmm, I would love to hear a podcast about books that was talking about books in the way I want to talk about them. Fast forward five years, and here we are!
Since starting the podcast in 2018, you've had the chance to interview incredible guests, such as Stacey Abrams, Ari Shapiro, and Angelina Jolie. How has it felt growing your network, and gathering interest from such notable figures? When did you start to feel like the podcast was growing? What kept you going when things felt challenging?
It is always a huge honor to get a "big name" guest on the podcast, but for me, authors and book people are my celebrities and the center of the show. That's not to say I didn't freak out when Desus and Mero said they would do the podcast, but I never forget that this is a show about books for the people who love them. So that means I also freak out when I have my favorite authors on, or Pulitzer winners, or even debut authors whose work I find exciting. The truth is, I suffer from impostor syndrome a lot and can't believe it when anyone agrees to come talk to me about books. I know that sounds crazy and fake humble, but it is the truth.
The show has had a few moments of growth, the largest being when white people discovered racism in the summer of 2020. I had a huge influx of listeners and supporters (many who have since moved on from caring about Black people) which helped the show chart and get the attention of folks who maybe never would have heard of me. It’s really tricky and uncomfortable to admit that your success came directly from someone else getting murdered. I still struggle with that truth. I think I always will.
What keeps me going when things feel challenging? Knowing that I've committed to putting out a new episode every week. I just keep going. Sometimes I hate an episode, but I know there will be a new one next week. It's like in football, they always say the quarterback has to have a short memory, because you have to get back out there and do it again. I think I take that kind of mentality to heart.
Is this your first live tour of The Stacks? How has it been going? Does performing in front of an audience affect you or the show in ways you didn't expect?
This is my very first tour. It has been the best. Even when I set out to do the tour, I didn't have any idea how emotional it would be for me to see listeners in person. I have been doing this for five years and even though I see the number of downloads each week, it doesn't feel like real people. Seeing actual humans who love the show all sitting in a room? Sheesh. That is affirming and empowering and humbling, and all the things all at once times a million. Grateful doesn't even begin to cover it.
I LOVE LIVE. I love being in a room with an audience and getting real-time feedback. The tour isn't a live recording of the show, it is a live show that we record. Which means we don't do the podcast how I do it at home over Google Meet. We do a show that centers the in-person audience and if that doesn't translate to the podcast episode, so be it. I believe firmly that if you are asking people to show up in person, and pay money to do a thing, you must deliver something that can only be had in that room with those people.
Beyond The Stacks, what are you looking to do next? What do you think your next venture will be? Are you planning on publishing your own book, at some point?
I don't know what is next for me. A nap, I hope. I have a few ideas I want to test out and get up and running, so we'll see on that. I have no plans to publish a book. I am reader, not a writer. I am also a mom, friend, wife, and family member to a lot of people who I have not been able to spend as much time with since I've been on tour and doing everything else I do, so I would also really like to spend time with my people.
What are some other podcasts, shows, or events you're really looking forward to seeing or listening to again soon? Anything you would recommend we check out?
I love podcasts. I have been listening to them since 2010. Here are some of my weekly go-tos: Vibe Check, 2 Black Girls 1 Rose, Glamorous Trash with Chelsea Devantez, Higher Learning, Into It with Sam Sanders, Bachelor Party, Nerdette…
As far as what I'm watching? I'm a sports girlie, and it is baseball playoffs season, the NBA is about to pick back up, and the NFL is in full swing. I'm basically watching sports every day and trying to squeeze in a little Golden Bachelor. But it is hard to watch stuff since I also have a ton of reading to do! To that end, I'll say this, thank you for not asking me for a book recommendation, I think this is the first interview I've done since I started the show where I didn't get asked for one. Refreshing!