Traci Thomas
Traci Thomas is the creator and host of The Stacks, a weekly book podcast.
How would you describe The Stacks in 10 words or less?
A podcast about books and the people who read them.
What’s the origin story of The Stacks?
I had recently gotten back into reading after moving to LA and wanted a place to talk about all the books I was reading, that were decidedly not “book club books”, in a fun and casual way. I couldn’t find what I was looking for, and so I thought, like a total egomaniac, that I should just make it. I started googling things like “where do you load a podcast on the internet?” and “how do you edit things in Garageband?” and the rest is history.
How is The Stacks different now than it was when it started?
In a very literal sense, the show format has changed. I used to have one guest do two episodes, part one was a conversation with them about their tastes in books. Part two was a book club conversation. Then after six months I added bi-monthly episodes of “The Short Stacks” which were author interviews (they were supposed to be shorter but they never were). Which meant we had 6 episodes a month. In 2019 I found out I was pregnant with twins, and new that I couldn’t run an indie podcast alone and be a mom of newborn twins, so I consolidated everything. Now we have one guest do the first week of the month and the last week (that’s still book club) and then the Wednesdays in between are basically just The Short Stacks without the name.
How have you changed as a person and podcaster since it started?
I started the show in April 2018, could you imagine if I hadn’t. I had twins. I mean we all went through 2020 which was not nothing for any of us. I have gotten better at self-promotion, which I still don’t love, like wouldn’t it be great to have a 24/7 PR machine doing everything for you? But that’s not in the cards (or budget). So I have had to learn how to not only make the show, but also yell about it into the void in the hopes to get folks to listen. To be honest, I am proud of that too, because I think the relentless self promotion is where a lot of people quit.
Have your reading tastes changed since you started reading? How would you describe your taste in books now?
Broadly, no. I still love the intense nonfiction books I have always loved. Investigative journalism, massive organizational failings. Cults. Scandals. However, I read more widely now, and I have built up the skills to read a romance novel and understand why it does or doesn’t work, even if that genre isn’t my favorite. I am much more likely to try something new now than I was before the show.
Sorry for the lame question but I’m a podcast marketer…how have you grown your show over the years? What has worked?
I started this show on a whim in 2018, I had no clue what I was doing. So, I started an Instagram before ever recording an episode. I just wanted to connect with other readings. That community has held me down ever since. My first episode got something like 300 downloads in the first week, which I was (and still am) so proud of. Like at least 250 strangers tuned into this little book podcast, simply because I ahd connected with them on social media.
That taught me that I could build an audience by being in conversation with my listeners. I followed that lead. To this day, I still reply to every DM and comment on IG. But I also comment on people’s content all the time. I am interested in connecting and building networks together, not just putting my voice into the world.
Also, and I hadn’t thought about this until you just asked, but I had worked at Lululemon years ago, and at the time they prided themselves on not advertising and just letting their shopping bags and clothes do the talking for them. I feel like I bought into the idea that building something through quality and word of mouth was possible and enough. Which is why I am always genuinely blown away when I find out a stranger listens to the show.
I have to imagine that is not the kind of answer a marketer ever wants to hear, because it is essentially just showing up and talking to people. In a more concrete way though, I have a show that requires guests every week so that lends itself to cross promotion and being introduced to new listeners all the time.
What is something your listeners do not know about you?
I don’t post my kids faces on social media, so most of my listeners do not know what The Mini Stacks actually look like.
Which book is on your night stand right now?
I am finishing up Bad Company by Megan Greenwell and God Help the Child by Toni Morrison. I also started Square Waves by Alexandra Romanoff.
If I opened up your podcast listening app, which show would I see? (And what is the app?)
I am an Apple Podcast girlie.
Higher Learning with Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay
Vibe Check
The Sam Sanders Show (I am a big Sam Sanders fan)
What Now? with Trevor Noah
Glamorous Trash
The NYT Book Review
2 Black Girls 1 Rose
Thanks, Traci!