Welcome to the episode hub for As the World Burns: where books meet the moment we’re living through. Each episode, Jamie and Mel take a book - sometimes a classic, sometimes a newer release - and put it in conversation with the world outside our windows. From politics and power to culture, history, and the systems shaping our daily lives, we’re asking what these books can help us understand right now.

This isn’t a traditional book club (though we do love a good tangent). It’s part discussion, part analysis, and part “did that really just happen?” We connect themes from each book to current events, unpack big ideas in a way that’s thoughtful but accessible, and occasionally try to make sense of a timeline that feels increasingly hard to explain.

Below, you’ll find all of our episodes along with detailed show notes for each one. We include key themes, discussion points, references to current events, and - perhaps most importantly - our recommendations for escaping what Mel likes to call The Pit of Despair. Whether you’re here to revisit an episode, find your next read, or go a little deeper into the conversation, you’re in the right place.

Because if the world is going to burn, we might as well understand it - and maybe even find a good book along the way.