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BookSmarts Podcast
The BookSmarts Podcast is hosted by Joshua Tallent. Joshua is an acclaimed teacher and guide on the role of data in publishing, and a vocal advocate for high quality book metadata. He serves as the Director of Sales and Education at Firebrand Technologies (www.firebrandtech.com), where his focus is on helping publishers of all sizes learn about, and find solutions to, their workflow and metadata problems.
Joshua can often be found researching odd metadata issues, creating training videos and documentation about Firebrand services, and speaking at conferences about the latest innovations and advances in publishing data and workflow management.
In his spare...
All Episodes
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Episode 68: Navigating Trends, Regulations, and Workflows with Westchester Publishing Services
Tyler Carey has worked in publishing and technology for over 20 years, with a background including work at Wolters-Kluwer and Harris Connect. His roles have included account management, sales, marketing, product development, social media management, and technology consulting. He is an experienced conference speaker, often presenting on the impact of technology on different industries, sharing strategies to adapt emerging technologies into more traditional organizations. In 2017, Tyler was promoted to Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing the company’s sales, marketing, and business development efforts as well as the growing staff supporting those initiatives. On this week’s episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Tyler discusses the ever-growing complexities of managing publishing workflows in a fast-paced, digital world. He provides a deep dive into the recent influx of industry regulations like ADA Title II, the push to get trend-driven books to market more quickly, and the universal challenge of inbox and time management. The conversation also explores practical tools for organizing the chaos—from Gen AI assistants to analog bullet journals—and the importance of community, mentorship, and mental health resources to combat stress in the publishing industry. To learn more about Westchester Publishing Services and how they help publishers with their editorial and production workflows, visit westchesterpublishingservices.com. You can also connect with Tyler on LinkedIn or catch him in person at upcoming industry events like the IPG Autumn Conference..png)
Episode 67: Merchandising Insights from Books-A-Million’s Kathy Gagliano
Kathy Gagliano is the Executive Vice President of Merchandising at Books-A-Million, America’s second-largest book retailer. Bringing a wealth of experience from major retailers like Parisian, Inc., Federated Department Stores, and Saks, Inc., Kathy joined Books-A-Million in 2007. Today, she helps guide the vision and strategy for the beloved company that started as a humble 1917 street corner newsstand in Florence, Alabama, and has since expanded into over 220 stores across 32 states. On this week’s episode of the BookSmarts Podcast, Kathy sits down to discuss the evolving landscape of physical book retail. We dive into how Books-A-Million is adapting to a rapidly changing consumer demographic and welcoming the massive wave of younger readers fueled by BookTok. Kathy also shares her insights on viewing the bookstore as a real-time cultural barometer and reveals the heart behind their localized, "shop-in-a-shop" community hubs. Finally, we explore the company's current expansion into new markets and offer fantastic, tactical advice on how publishers can better partner with physical retailers to capture today's readers. To learn more about Books-A-Million and follow along with their continued growth, visit booksamillion.com. You can also reach out to Kathy directly at gaglianok@booksamillion.com..png)
Episode 66: Technological Advancement at University Presses
For university presses of all sizes, technology adoption is a constant necessity—yet the process can feel daunting, confusing, and even disruptive. Jana Faust (University of Nebraska Press) and Rachel Lee (UCANR) join the podcast to share their insights on technology adoption and change management. Rachel Lee is Director of Publishing at University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (https://ucanr.edu), where she leads a dedicated team that publishes California Agriculture journal, books, and open access publications showcasing ANR's research and extension work. Outside the office, she enjoys trail running, biking, and exploring new destinations. anrpublications.org Jana Faust is the Manager of Digital Assets and IT at the University of Nebraska Press, where she leads initiatives in publishing technology. She manages projects ranging from ebook remediation to ensure compliance with the European Accessibility Act, to system implementations that improve transparency and efficiency across departments. In her spare time, Jana likes to read, knit, and crochet. nebraskapress.unl.edu-1.png)
Episode 50: Rebecca Burgoyne on Lean Six Sigma for Knowledge Work
Rebecca Burgoyne is the Executive Director of Business Systems Integrations for the United Methodist Publishing House. She joins the BookSmarts Podcast discuss what Lean Six Sigma is and why book publishers should be incorporating this type of knowledge work, along with the importance of understanding workflows, reducing waste, and more! Rebecca discussed Lean Six Sigma for Knowledge Work at the 2024 Publishing Innovation Forum. To learn more, feel free to reach out to her on LinkedIn or Twitter. You can also look into articles she’s written on medium, including Lean Six Sigma for Knowledge Work!