At The Bottom: A Podcast

Author Eden Royce joined us for a special book club discussion of her book, Psychopomp & Circumstance, in November 2025.

Annastasia gives more information about The Bottom's two book clubs. See what's on deck next for Bottom Book Club and Banned Book Club!Bottom Book Club Selection: O, Sinners by Nicole Cuffy Banned Book Club Selection: This Is Kind Of An Epic Love Story by Kacen Callender

Annastasia is joined in the studio by author and pilot captain, Carole Hopson. Her book, A Pair of Wings, is all about the life and legacy of Bessie Coleman. Proceeds from her book sales go directly to the Jet Black Foundation, which has the goal of sending 100 Black women to flight school by 2035.

Annastasia, along with the whole Director team, reflect on five years of The Bottom and where we want to go next. Laugh, cry, and dream with us through this episode.Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin - Founding DirectorKalil White - Operations DirectorTy Murray - Art DirectorAnnastasia Williams - Bookshop Director and Podcast Host

Annastasia sits down with debut author, Ashley Jordan, in the studio to discuss her book Once Upon A Time in Dollywood.This title was selected as part of our Book It Subscription. Want to join Book It to get a specially curated book once a month? Sign up here. Plans start at $20. Pick up from our shop or have it shipped anywhere in the US.

Karmen Lee joins us in the podcast studio with her pal, Meka James, to discuss her book The Relationship Mechanic and The Secret Crush Book Club.

Annastasia sits down with Meka James (and her pal Karmen Lee) to discuss her new sapphic romance, Love and Sportsball.

Tiny Bookshop Concerts at The Bottom are a series of live performances showcasing local talent in an intimately empowering environment. In this episode, Ty Murray details how the concert series came about and the work it takes to bring it together. The episode culminates with a performance by multi-talented artist and local musician W. James Taylor. W. James Taylor was born in April of 1949 and grew up in the Austin Homes and Lonsdale Homes areas of Knoxville as one of eleven children. Art and music are in his blood, and he says they are things he could “just always do.” Today, he uses those gifts to enrich the lives of others. He plays music in senior living facilities and for events, helps non-profits and arts organizations with graphic design needs, and uses his Geneva Galleries space to support emerging artists. Tiny Bookshop Concert Series is sponsored in part by community supporters TN Arts Commission and Sadie Pearl Records!

Annastasia and UT professor, Shaneda Destine, have a chat with Brea Baker about her book Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership.

In this episode, Annastasia sits down with romance author, Jamie Wesley, to discuss her new book A Legend in the Baking. It's got everything...handsome football players, second-chance romance, and cupcakes! Purchase the book from our online store here.

Ty Murray, Director of Art and Communications at The Bottom, pops on the podcast to discuss our time at Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival.

In this episode, The Bottom's Bookshop Director and your podcast host, Annastasia, showcases eerie, suspenseful, and timely reads by Black authors for the Halloween season for a special virtual event we hosted called Spooky Stories. You'll come away with a ton of recommendations for your TBR list. See the slides from the event here. Find something you like? Purchase your books in store at The Bottom our on Bookshop.org.

Rae Garringer (they/them), creator of Country Queers, joins us on the podcast for a great discussion on their oral history project that's evolved from a blog to a podcast to now a book. Follow Country Queers on Instagram @CountryQueers and at countryqueers.com. Find this book at The Bottom and through our bookshop.org online store.

Annastasia sits down with mystery author, Valerie Burns, to discuss the newly released, next book in the Baker Street Mystery series, A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death. Find Valerie's books in our bookshop and on bookshop.org. 

This summer, The Bottom hosted a special reading group to discuss the book South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of America by Imani Perry. Our fearless reading group leader, Dr. Rob Bland, joins us on the podcast today to give a sneak peak of what we learned and discussed. 

Our special guest this week is Founding Director of The Bottom, Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin. We'll be talking about the books we've been loving this year.

In this episode, Annastasia sits down with Sarah Carmon, a longtime instructor of the Sew It Sell It program. Sew It Sell It was created 6 years ago by our Founding Director, Dr. Enkeshi El-Amin, and is a still running today teaching youth how to sew and create their own micro-business. Annastasia also recaps July 2024 at The Bottom and gives a preview of what's ahead in August. At The Bottom: A Podcast is produced, mixed, and hosted by Annastasia Williams.

Listen in on a special conversation with indie author, Hailey Robinson on her book Malashia's Magical Twists. Purchase a copy of Hailey's book from The Bottom or online here.

In this episode we will talk about our Write It Out program with licensed therapist and workshop leader, Phil Tucker. Annastasia will also preview our June 2024 events to look forward to. To sign up for events at The Bottom, click here. Check out Phil's practice, Shade Tree Therapy here. Interested in the books we talked about? Find them here: Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson

Our featured artist for the month of May is our very own, Kalil White! In this episode you will hear all about Kalil's creative process and her exhibition, An Ode to Black Women. Catch Kalil's work At The Bottom through the end of May 2024.

Learn more about The Bottom and our leadership team in our very first episode! We'll tell you what to look forward to in May from our organization. Read our staff bios here. RSVP for our events here.

Coming soon! Subscribe now to be the first to know when new episodes drop. Learn more about The Bottom on our website. RSVP for our events here.