Books Unbound - Podcast Rankings and reviews

The first word that comes to mind to describe this podcast is delightful. I love that the hosts read whatever they want, not just what’s popular, and their selections are always so surprising and unexpected. They talk about books like passionate English teachers (and this is coming from a passionate English teacher!). 👩🏽‍🏫 The way they update each other on their bookish lives is relatable and entertaining. They criticize gracefully, celebrate joyfully, and every episode feels like catching up with old friends who really get what it’s like to be a reader.

IG: @adriennecruzva

There is no other books podcast that compares. I don’t even share the reading taste of Ariel or Raeleen more than 50% but it doesn’t matter because this is absolutely delightful and I savor the episodes every week. Thank you guys!

I adore this podcast because Raeleen’s booktube channel was the original way that I got into book related content online as a young teen about 8 years ago. Right after I found Rae, I found Ariel, and I’ve been watching the videos, following and cheering them both on since then (even though Raeleen doesn’t make videos anymore). Ariel’s home restoration is also very cathartic for me and I look forward to new videos all the time.

However, I wanted to address the speaking balance between the two hosts on the show. Recently, it’s gotten a little better hopefully because of reviews from the past that pointed out that Raeleen doesn’t get to talk as much as Ariel does, but it is something that still needs to be addressed. I still find myself going back and listening to the Raeleen-heavy shows like her wedding episode, because I’m just interested to hear her talk more without interruptions I since want to hear her complete thoughts.

I held off reviewing for the past couple years, mostly because I’m not really the “public reviewer” or “public critiquing type.” However, one moment in the most recent episode (#197 with Claire Fenby) made me a little sad and very annoyed so I opted to step up.

At the beginning of the episode, Ariel said she was finally proud to have had all the “guests” to whose weddings she went last year on the show: Meghan’s, Claire’s, and Raeleen’s “in the adventures endgame of Ariel Bissett podcast episodes.”

But isn’t Raeleen a regular co-host since she’s on every week and contributes to the planning and creation of the show? Why is she a guest on the Ariel Bissett show if she’s actually a host every week on Books Unbound? It would have been nice to have a little acknowledgment towards her for being a co-host and maybe not just casually include her as a guest for headline convenience sake. It can actually be very hurtful and contribute to the potential awkwardness and tension created by the fact that Ariel does a lot of the talking most of the time.

I do really feel like the podcast gets dominated by Ariel and it frustrates me as a listener when I am an equal fan of both Ariel and Raeleen, and that I would love to hear from them both equally and consistently every week. There are a lot of “digressions” from Ariel that end up feeling very unnecessary since it cuts out more talking time from Raeleen. I can tell that she has a bit of a quieter personality but of course does not lack in confidence and I have respect for both of the hosts. As a friend, it might be polite to ask her more probing queries about her reading week without interrupting her of course, since Ariel is also great at asking good questions. I could also be nice to hear them switch off hosting every week to make it a bit more balanced. It’s exhausting to hear Ariel tell a really long story and then jump into leading the next segment as well. Sometimes, Raeleen doesn’t get to speak for 8-15 minutes at a time or longer.

i look forward to this podcast every week like my life depends on it lol. i’ve tuned in and out of other podcasts forever but this is one of the few that have ever stuck. they put so much effort and love into this show and im so appreciative!

I think that I’m finally done with this podcast. I absolutely adore both of the hosts, but this is not really a book podcast at this point. I’m sorry to say what everybody is thinking but it’s true!! I have watched both hosts for years but I don’t care that much about their personal lives! I don’t need such long rambles about their houses or the weather or just random stuff. A quick five minute “how’s life” is one thing but it’s so much more than that at this point. I think that there are so many other book podcasts that are for me and I wish that things would go back to books on this podcast but that doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon.