Classic sci-fi novels such as “Dune,” long-running television programs including “Criminal Minds” and spooky video games — all are among the discussion points when Klaudia Gorgon, Sara Shahein and Tessa Werden get together in Palos Hills.
“These are absolutely the kind of conversations we have,” Gorgon said with a laugh. “We get into very spirited, lively discussions about what we’re reading, what we’re watching. We talk about media all the time.”
Now, the trio is hitting the record button on their conversations, to let the world in on those insights via Green Hills Public Library District’s first podcast, “Checked Out.” All three hosts are staff members at the library.
“It just seems like a way to get our engaging conversations out into the world,” Gorgon said.
The podcast launched in early October and its second episode, “How Do You Like Your Horror?,” was released just before the end of the month to play into the Halloween vibes. The plan going forward is to issue one episode monthly, featuring discussions of books, film, television, music and video games designed to appeal to everyone from teens to older adults.
“I think a big part of it is really connecting with our patrons and our community — even patrons that are not part of our library — giving them a podcast where we’re talking about books and media that they can relate to, especially coming from younger voices who have access to this material because we are so blessed with this job,” said Shahein, 24, an adult services associate and the podcast’s “resident romance reader.”
Gorgon, Shahein and Werden all are co-hosts on the podcast while rotating other responsibilities, such as editing and writing descriptions. While the discussions might come natural to the trio, making a podcast is a little more involved than simply adding a microphone to their conversations.
“It’s a little more nuanced,” Shahein said. “We take a look at topics ahead of time and just get our bearings together a little bit.”
Some of the prep work they do involves creating a list of materials they plan to discuss so the hosts have something to reference for names and authors. That list is also linked in the episode description and connects to Green Hills’ online catalog, so people can check out some of those materials.
But while the hosts try to highlight the local collection, they also realize that library sharing systems, access to online platforms and ebook availability mean they aren’t beholden to the library’s physical presence.
“We don’t necessarily restrict it,” said Werden, 25, a Youth Services associate and the podcast’s go-to fantasy and horror reader. “We like to be all-encompassing, so even if it’s something that isn’t necessarily accessible through our library, we won’t rule it out as something to talk about.”
They also don’t like to stifle their conversations with a strict ticking clock. But Gorgon, 25, a Youth Services librarian and the podcast’s “new science fiction fan” and “classic literature enthusiast,” said the aim is to make each episode roughly 45 minutes.
“We don’t really set a timer for ourselves,” Gorgon said. “We just talk about the topics we want to talk about. Once we feel like we’ve ended it, then we can edit it down to a good time.”
Gorgon said the idea of a podcast actually started as something of “a joke” between the three of them but has turned into a fully fledged concept.
“We just kind of ran with it, started creating ideas for it and brought it up to our manager, who really loved the idea,” Gorgon said.
A couple of months later, “Checked Out” became a reality, with Green Hills citing in a media release the rising popularity of podcasts and the opportunity the show creates to connect with the community while supporting lifelong learning.
Now, everyone is privy to the media discussions Gorgon, Shahein and Werden are having — or at least 45 minutes of those conversations each month.
“When we did the first episode, it was kind of in a bubble, where we were doing it and it didn’t feel real that we were going to put it out into the world for people to hear,” Werden said. “Now it’s a little more nerve-wracking. When we recorded the second episode, we were kind of like, what do we do now?”
But the trio is continuing to figure it out and get more comfortable with the idea as they go.
“I think we’re hitting our stride with it,” Werden said. “Recording is getting easier.”
In addition to discussing various media, pop culture and library happenings, “Checked Out” plans to invite other staff members on the show as guests. And the library has encouraged listeners to email ghpl@greenhillslibrary.org with feedback or topic suggestions for future episodes. But the hosts are trying not to get too far ahead of themselves as to how the show may evolve over time.
“I think for now we’re just settling into being podcast hosts and getting used to creating this podcast and putting these episodes out before we’ll branch out,” Shahein said.
“Checked Out” is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube, as well as the library’s website, greenhillslibrary.org. No subscription or library card is required to listen.
Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
