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It Was A Book First

It Was A Book First

22 episodes · Explicit

It Was A Book First is a weekly podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Hosted by culture reporters and former colleagues Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg, IWABF dissects the TV and film adaptations everyone is talking about, what you'll be reading and watching next, and the business behind what actually makes it off the page.

Episodes

  1. 'You Can See Everything' Will Make You Question Everything

    · 1 h 17 min · Episode 21 · Explicit

    In this special bonus episode, Sophie and Rudi discuss “You Can See Everything,” Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s mind-bending new documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes that follows her and fiancee…

  2. 'East of Eden' Is a Great Adaptation of the Great American Novel (with Roxana Hadadi and Thomas Floyd)

    · 1 h 31 min · Episode 20 · Explicit

    This week, Vulture TV critic Roxana Hadadi and Washington Post editor Thomas Floyd join Sophie and Rudi to discuss “East of Eden,” Netflix’s limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic 1952 novel. The…

  3. 'Other Mommy' Is the Worst Book Adaptation of 2026 (with Alison Sivitz)

    · 55 min · Episode 19 · Explicit

    This week, Alison Sivitz, also known as Bald Ann Dowd, joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss “Other Mommy,” a new Jessica Chastain horror movie based on Josh Malerman’s 2024 novel “Incidents Around the House.” The film,…

  4. Why Colleen Hoover's 'Verity' Needed a Campier Adaptation

    · 1 h 13 min · Episode 18 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss “Verity,” a new film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s twisty psychological thriller that stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett. The Amazon MGM movie, which opened at…

  5. 'The Love Hypothesis' Fails the Rom-Com Chemistry Test (with Linda Holmes)

    · 1 h 28 min · Episode 17 · Explicit

    This week, NPR pop culture correspondent Linda Holmes joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss “The Love Hypothesis,” Prime Video’s new streaming adaptation of Ali Hazelwood’s 2021 novel of the same name. The fake dating…

  6. Fall’s Most Anticipated Book-to-Screen Adaptations

    · 1 h 09 min · Episode 16 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi look ahead to the book-to-screen adaptations they’re most anticipating watching this fall. From horror stories to new takes on Jane Austen, they picked 11 adaptations they can't wait to cover…

  7. 'Practical Magic 2' Is a Cursed Adaptation of 'The Book of Magic'

    · 1 h 14 min · Episode 15 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss "Practical Magic 2,” the sequel to the witchy 1998 book-to-screen adaptation “Practical Magic,” starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The new film is an adaptation of writer…

  8. 'Coyote vs. Acme' Is Looney Tunes for People Who Read The New Yorker

    · 52 min · Episode 14 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss a movie that almost didn’t exist: “Coyote vs. Acme,” a hybrid live action and cartoon Looney Tunes reboot that’s based on Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker piece of the same name. The…

  9. Even the Stars of 'The Dog Stars' Can't Save Ridley Scott's Adaptation

    · 1 h 06 min · Episode 13 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss “The Dog Stars,” director Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Peter Heller’s 2012 novel of the same name. Set in a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by a flu pandemic that wiped out most of…

  10. 'Tony' Rewrites Anthony Bourdain's 'Kitchen Confidential' (with Tim Carman)

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 12 · Explicit

    This week, Washington Post food reporter Tim Carman joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss “Tony,” A24’s loose adaptation of Anthony Bourdain’s breakout 2000 memoir “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary…

  11. How Hollywood Costume Designer Whitney Anne Adams Styles Book Adaptations

    · 1 h 09 min · Episode 11 · Explicit

    This week, costume designer Whitney Anne Adams joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss how she approaches book-to-screen adaptations. Whitney, who hosts the “Tales From a Costume Designer” podcast, worked on Baz Luhrman’s…

  12. Oscar-Nominated Writer Samy Burch on Adapting Lost 19th Century Novella 'Late Fame'

    · 45 min · Episode 10 · Explicit

    This week, screenwriter Samy Burch joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss her new film “Late Fame,” based on Austrian novelist Arthur Schnitzler’s 1895 novella of the same name. Directed by Kent Jones, the movie stars Willem…

  13. We Watched Apple TV's 'Cape Fear' So You Don’t Have To (with Vulture's Roxana Hadadi)

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 9 · Explicit

    This week, Vulture TV Critic Roxana Hadadi joins Rudi and Sophie to discuss Apple TV’s “Cape Fear,” a streaming adaptation of John D. MacDonald’s 1957 novel “The Executioners” that’s also based on a pair of “Cape Fear”…

  14. Two Classics Professors on Why Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Works (with Kyle Gervais and Il-Kweon Sir)

    · 1 h 04 min · Episode 8 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi take a deep dive into Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” with Classics professors Kyle Gervais and Il-Kweon Sir from Western University in London,…

  15. 'The Odyssey' Is an Epic Adaptation Worthy of Homer’s Poem

    · 1 h 35 min · Episode 7 · Explicit

    This week, It Was an Epic Poem First! Sophie and Rudi discuss one of the most anticipated adaptations of the year: “The Odyssey,” director Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s epic poem. The blockbuster adaptation of…

  16. What the Emmys Tell Us About Book-to-Streaming Adaptations (with Gary Goldstein)

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 6 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi look at the streaming adaptation landscape through the lens of this year’s Emmy nominations, BookTok's role in the rise of streaming adaptations, and the process behind adapting a book with…

  17. 'The Sheep Detectives' Is 'Three Bags Full' of Quirky Fun

    · 58 min · Episode 5 · Explicit

    This week, Sophie and Rudi discuss one of 2026’s most surprising hits: “The Sheep Detectives,” Amazon MGM’s adaptation of Leonie Swann’s German murder mystery novel “Three Bags Full.” The family-friendly comedy, about…

  18. 'Off Campus': The Art of Adapting 'The Deal'

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 4 · Explicit

    On the fourth episode of It Was A Book First, the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss “Off Campus,” Amazon Prime Video’s series adaptation of Elle Kennedy’s…

  19. 'The Testaments' and 'Backrooms' Explore Different Kinds of Horrors

    · 55 min · Episode 3 · Explicit

    On the third episode of It Was A Book First, the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss "The Testaments," Hulu’s series adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 2019…

  20. 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' Gets the Book (Mostly) Right

    · 58 min · Episode 2 · Explicit

    On the second episode of It Was A Book First, the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss "Margo's Got Money Troubles," Apple TV's series adaptation of the 2024…

  21. 'Project Hail Mary' Is the Biggest Adaptation of 2026 … So Far

    · 1 h 24 min · Episode 1 · Explicit

    Welcome to the first episode of It Was A Book First, a new podcast about book-to-screen adaptations. Today, hosts Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg discuss one of the biggest and most successful adaptations of 2026,…

  22. Teaser: 'It Was A Book First'

    · 1:41 · Trailer

    Welcome to It Was A Book First, a new podcast about the book-to-screen adaptations everyone is talking about. Each week, culture reporters Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg will discuss a new book-to-screen…

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