Who we are
Well, hello there! We’re Jamie and Mel - two old friends and avid readers trying to make sense of the world through books.
As the World Burns grew out of the realization that the books we love aren’t just stories or ideas - they’re lenses for understanding the moment we’re living through. And lately… that moment has felt like it could use some explaining. We read, we connect the dots, and we talk it through, so you don’t have to do it alone.
We are also big believers of the concept of the Power of Power from Below and that ordinary people (like us!) can use their voices to bring about change. The world is a scary place right now, and those who are in power are failing us. The system is not working as it should, and sitting back and doing nothing was not something felt good about. While we may be just two in the sea of millions of voices, we are fortunate to have the right to speak out and hold our leaders accountable without fear of repercussions. There are so many people globally who do not have this right, and we do not want to take our privilege for granted.
So please join us as we talk about all kinds of books, how they relate to the world today and how we can learn lessons from them. If we spark some interesting discussion and lively debate along the way, great. If what we talk about gives someone else the courage to make their own voices heard, amazing. This is our contribution, and we invite you to participate.
Meet the Team
Jamie
Jamie reads with a purpose - and a lot of questions. She’s the one pulling on threads, spotting patterns, and asking how we got here in the first place. If there’s a historical parallel or a deeper layer to uncover, she’s already halfway there.
She brings thoughtful analysis, dry wit, and the kind of questions that make you rethink what you thought you understood.
Mel
Mel reads widely and reacts in real time - which usually means connecting a passage in a book to something in the news and immediately needing to talk about it. She’s especially interested in the systems and structures shaping our world, and why so many of them feel… familiar.
She brings big-picture thinking, sharp observations, and just enough snark to keep things from getting too heavy.
Hillary
Hillary is the reason this podcast actually exists in a listenable format. As producer, she’s equal parts behind-the-scenes architect and gentle chaos manager: making sure ideas turn into episodes, audio turns into something you’d voluntarily listen to, and everything more or less runs on time.
She has a sharp ear for what works, what doesn’t, and what absolutely needs to be cut (no matter how much Jamie and Mel want to keep it). She brings structure to the chaos, clarity to the conversation, and just enough “we’re not keeping all of that” energy to keep things moving.