What Is the Currently Reading Podcast?

Currently Reading is a weekly book podcast hosted by best friends Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb. Since 2018, we've published more than 400 ad-free, spoiler-free episodes about the books we're actually reading: honest recommendations, backlist favorites, and deep dives into the reading life. New episodes arrive every Monday.

The New York Times named Currently Reading one of the best podcasts for book lovers in December 2025, describing the show this way: "Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb are best friends, and each week they deliver an episode devoted to the pleasure of reading." That's the whole idea. Light on the chit-chat, heavy on the book talk.

Who Hosts Currently Reading?

Currently Reading is hosted by Meredith Monday Schwartz, a Texas CEO who reads to recharge and lives for mysteries and thrillers, and Kaytee Cobb, a homeschooling mom of four in Arizona who reads more than 200 books a year. They're real-life best friends, and listeners tell us you can hear it.

Between the two of us, we cover an enormous range of the reading landscape, and where our tastes end, our rotating regulars pick up the thread.

Mary Heim, a licensed mental health therapist, joins Meredith for reading-life therapy conversations. Roxanna Kassam Kara brings backlist gems and international fiction. Elizabeth Barnhill, the adult book buyer of Fabled Bookshop in Waco, Texas, co-hosts our mystery and thriller deep dives.

Two main hosts plus a bench of trusted readers means you're never getting just one perspective on your next book.

What Happens in Every Episode?

Every Currently Reading episode follows the same reliable structure: a bookish moment of the week, three current reads from each host, a deep dive into one reading-life topic, and a quick bookish closing segment called Before We Go. Episodes run about an hour and release every Monday at 5:00 a.m. Central.

Our current reads are the heart of the show. We each bring three books and tell you the truth about them, the good and the bad, so you can decide whether a book belongs on your nightstand. Deep dive topics range from the best books to read when you're sick, to how to do a bookshelf purge, to how to raise children who love reading. The main feed also includes Popcorn in the Pages, a mini-series where we review movie adaptations of classic books. And everything, always, is spoiler-free.

Is Currently Reading Really Ad-Free?

Yes. Currently Reading is 100% ad-free and always has been. The show is funded entirely by listeners through Patreon, where over 3,000 paid members support the show and unlock a bonus catalog of more than 250 episodes. No sponsors, no ad reads, no interruptions.

That model isn't just about a pleasant listening experience, though it certainly delivers one. Being 100% community-supported means we answer to our listeners, not to advertisers, and it keeps our recommendations unbiased. Our Patreon community, the Bookish Friends ($5/month) and Super Friends ($10/month), gets exclusive shows including the Indie Press List (monthly curated recommendations straight from independent bookstores), All Things Murderful (mysteries and thrillers), Love and Chili Peppers, which focuses on romance, and quarterly publishing industry insights.

One more thing we're proud of: 100% of Indie Press List book sales go directly to our partner bookstores. We don't take a cut of anything.

What Makes Currently Reading Different From Other Book Podcasts?

Currently Reading is built around one idea: Reader Know Thyself. Instead of declaring a book universally great, we help you figure out whether it's great for you. Add a strict spoiler-free policy, real backlist love, and a completely ad-free model, and you get a book podcast in a lane of its own.

Most book podcasts answer the question "what should I read?" We think the better question is "what kind of reader are you?" When you know your own preferences, dealbreakers, and reading identity, every book choice gets easier and your reading life gets more satisfying. That philosophy shapes how we review: honest but fair, with enough specifics about genre, tone, and pacing that you can self-select. We prepare thoroughly and respect your time. We champion older backlist titles alongside new releases, because a great book doesn't expire. And we support the whole book ecosystem, from independent bookstores to the librarians and authors who keep it running.

How Popular Is Currently Reading?

Currently Reading draws more than a million downloads a year and holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Apple Podcasts across more than 1,800 reviews. The New York Times named it one of the best podcasts for book lovers, and Feedspot ranks it #5 among US book podcasts for 2026.

Behind those numbers is a community we'd put up against any show in podcasting: more than 4,600 members on Patreon, a 2,700+ member Facebook community where bookish friends swap recommendations daily, and 42,000 followers on Instagram. The show has published continuously since 2018, and Season 9 begins August 3, 2026.

Where Can You Listen to Currently Reading?

Currently Reading is available everywhere you get podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify (audio and video), and YouTube. New episodes release every Monday at 5:00 a.m. Central. Show notes with every book we mention live right here at currentlyreadingpodcast.com.

Quick Questions About Currently Reading

When do new Currently Reading episodes come out?

New episodes of Currently Reading release every Monday at 5:00 a.m. Central time. The show runs in seasons, and Season 9 begins August 3, 2026. Bonus episodes for Patreon members are released throughout each month on a separate schedule.

How many episodes of Currently Reading are there?

There are more than 400 episodes on the main Currently Reading feed, published weekly since 2018. Patreon members get access to a separate bonus catalog of more than 250 additional episodes, including the Indie Press List and All Things Murderful.

Is Currently Reading spoiler-free?

Yes, always. Currently Reading has a strict spoiler-free policy on every episode. The hosts describe each book's genre, tone, and pacing in enough detail for you to decide whether to read it, without ever ruining the experience. Content warnings are included when relevant.

What genres does Currently Reading cover?

All of them. Meredith's wheelhouse is mysteries and thrillers, and Kaytee reads contemporary fiction across every format. Rotating co-hosts add romance, fantasy, science fiction, international fiction, and nonfiction, so the show covers the whole reading landscape every season.

Can I watch Currently Reading on video?

Yes. Currently Reading is available as a video podcast on both YouTube and Spotify, and as audio on every major podcast app. Audio and video versions release simultaneously every Monday morning.

How do I support Currently Reading?

Currently Reading is 100% listener-supported through Patreon. Bookish Friends ($5/month) get the full bonus catalog of 250+ episodes plus the community. Super Friends ($10/month) add extended Indie Press List recommendations. There are no ads, so Patreon keeps the show running.