Mentioned in Podcasts

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Every book John Waters recommended on podcasts

Guest on Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, The Book Review · 3 books · 2 episodes across 2 podcasts

Across 2 podcasts. Every show John Waters appears on, in one place — not just one.

John Waters has discussed various literary works, screenplays, and historical writing influences across his podcast appearances. While speaking on Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, Waters mentioned his published screenplay books and discussed how bad reviews were historically used on their packaging, specifically noting that the Criterion collection was releasing Desperate Living in 4K. During the same conversation, he touched upon the Beat generation and Allen Ginsberg's poem Howl. Furthermore, in an interview on The Book Review, Waters talked about the books that deeply interested and influenced him when he was young, highlighting Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet alongside works by William Burroughs, Edward Albee, and Tennessee Williams.

Books recommended by John Waters

Who said what is determined automatically. In hand-checked samples, at least 6% of mentions were credited to the wrong speaker — sometimes an interviewer’s line recorded as the guest’s, sometimes the reverse. Every entry below quotes the words and links to the episode, so you can check it.

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  1. Desperate living

    West Hampstead Housing Association. · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “when my screenplay books came out. But we did publish on the back. The only quote was from the New York Times for Desperate Living, which Criterion is putting out in 4K very soon.”
    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang "Penis Envy" (w/ John Waters) 2026-05-13 Listen at 4:31
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  2. Howl

    Allen Ginsberg · Discussed · 1 episode

    Howl by Allen Ginsberg is a seminal Beat generation poem that critiques modern industrial society, materialism, and conformity.

    Discussed
    “Padora in Harrisburg is a beatnick and reads Howls and Alan Ginsburg was mad and I had he was pissed.”
    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang "Penis Envy" (w/ John Waters) 2026-05-13 Listen at 20:40
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

  3. Our Lady of the Flowers

    Jean Genet · Discussed · 1 episode

    Discussed
    “I was much more interested in Reading Our Lady of the flowers I read William Burrows Edward Alby certainly Tennessee Williams”
    The Book Review John Waters Talks About His First Novel 2022-05-13 Listen at 12:13
    Where to get it
    AmazonListen on Audible

Books John Waters wrote

Every book by John Waters mentioned on podcasts →

Appearances

EpisodePodcastDateBooks
"Penis Envy" (w/ John Waters)Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang2026-05-132
John Waters Talks About His First NovelThe Book Review2022-05-131
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
Plugged Role Models
“I L them I I wrote my five favorite novels I wrote about in which book was that it was either I think Ro Role Models”
The Book Review John Waters Talks About His First Novel 2022-05-13 Listen at 15:28
Passing French Braid
“she gave an interview to People magazine for the very first time this year with her new book French Braid and she talks about our friendship”
The Book Review John Waters Talks About His First Novel 2022-05-13 Listen at 18:19