Behind the Scenes: How Unreadable, the Library's Podcast, is Made

“Hello and welcome to Unreadable, the official Forsyth County Public Library podcast for news, upcoming programs, and recommendations. I’m your host, Ross Gericke, the branch manager at Hampton Park.”

Regular listeners to the library’s podcast will likely be familiar with this opening and Ross’s voice. But, have you ever wondered how Unreadable is made? 

History

The podcast was started in 2018, and for a long time, it was a one-man-show. Ross recorded, edited, and released the podcast for the library. 

Early episodes covered The Great American Read, Ghost Hunting, and library resources. Listenership started pretty strong, and this trend continued into 2019. Episodes in 2019 included staff recommendations, interviews with authors Martha Hall Kelly and Jeff Shaara, as well as an interview with professor Dr. Larry J. Young, and an audio drama adapted by Sharon Fork Library’s Alicia Cavitt.

However, it was in 2020, as you can imagine, that the podcast saw a huge spike in listeners. In addition to episodes about library resources and reading challenges, the podcast became an important avenue for disseminating information about virtual programming and reopenings. The episode from April 2020 about virtual programming remains one of our most downloaded episodes of all time.

As lockdowns relaxed and people returned to work and school, 2021 saw a dip in listeners, despite having some of the library’s most beloved episodes, including “A Ride on the Bookmobile” and “The Life Cycle of a Book,” both of which provided behind the scenes looks at the inner workings of the library. In 2022, the podcast took a short hiatus in order to give host and editor Ross a much needed break, and towards the end of the year, a podcast team was formed to help Ross produce the podcast. Despite this break, the podcast’s listenership continued to grow.

In 2023 and 2024, Unreadable saw continued growth. Episodes highlighted programs like the Summer of Jane Austen, Stokerfest, Diwali celebrations, and ghost hunting in the library. Authors Chitra Divakaruni, Lisa Wingate, and Benjamin Herold were all interviewed by Ross during this time, too. 

It is only this past year, 2025, that the Library saw downloads that surpassed its 2020 numbers. Episode highlights from 2025 include an interview with Shelby Van Pelt for Forsyth Reads Together and the Dedication of Denmark Library. As of July 2026, the podcast has 78 episodes!

Most Downloaded Episodes as of July 1, 2026

1. Color Our World: Your Summer Reading 2025 Guide
2. Summer is Back in 2022!
3. Adventure Awaits, Your 2024 Summer Reading Preview
4. Virtual Programming and Services (2020)
5. Forsyth Reads Together with Shelby Van Pelt (2025)
6. Summer Reading in 2020
7. Winter Reading Challenge 2025
8. Census 2020
9. Ghost Hunting at the Library (2025)
10. Winter Reading Challenge 2024

You may have noticed a few trends with our most downloaded episodes. Our Summer Reading episodes are our most popular! This is not surprising since they cover the Summer Reading theme, prizes and grand prizes, and popular events.

The Process

So, what does it look like to make a podcast? 

Well, for starters, this is what Ross sees:

And this is what the editor sees: 

But, let’s start from the beginning. For Unreadable, podcast episodes fall into a few categories: reading challenges, author interviews, book recommendations, and peeks behind the scenes. Many episodes are connected to events and feature interviews with presenters or library staff.

Usually, the podcast team meets a few times a year and maps out what episodes we’d like to do. As the team is made up of staff from different branches, we often ask if there are any library events that would be interesting to talk about or to talk to their presenters. One episode staple is an interview with the Forsyth Reads Together author, who visits Forsyth County for an author talk. This used to be a once-a-year event, but it has become so popular in our community, we started offering multiple events a year beginning in 2025.  

For author interviews, FCPL's Programming Manager Sarah Brubaker often helps coordinate scheduling the interviews. She is also a frequent guest on the podcast for our reading challenge episodes. 

After an interview is scheduled, Ross will read the author’s or presenter’s book and prepare a list of questions. For other episodes, like “Ghost Hunting at the Library,” Ross had a more hands-on interview, where he recorded the active ghost hunt and interviewed the ghost hunter in-person afterwards.

After an interview, the files are then given to the editor (me!). I edit the audio, adjusting the sound levels and removing any pre- and post- interview chat. I try to keep the audio as intact as possible, so that listeners can enjoy the natural flow and rapport. Occasionally I clip out flubs or retakes of questions.

Once I have edited the audio, adding Ross’s introduction and outro, I listen to the episode multiple times to make sure the timing is right for the opening music, the transitions are smooth, and there are no weird audio anomalies. I listen MANY times, not only to edit but also to create a transcript. Google Meet generates a transcript, but it often needs a lot of editing.

After an episode is done, it goes back to Ross for approval. Then I export the audio and upload it to our podcast hosting website. There I add a description of the episode as well as any links to events. 

The transcript becomes a blog post, so that anyone wishing to access the audio and text-form of the podcast can. 

Finally, we coordinate with the Communications Department to create graphics, proofread the podcast show notes and blog posts, and promote the episode on social media and the Library's website.

Then at last, dear listener, you find it and enjoy it!

Brittany
Circulation Supervisor
Hampton Park Library

The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus

If you are looking for a story with a multi-genre feel, you might enjoy The Sea Child by Linda Wilgus. There is action, adventure, romance, and intrigue—all with a strong female protagonist, a heart-warming rogue, and a hint of magical realism. 

The setting is nineteenth century England and begins with all the intrigue swirling around the newly returned young widow Isabel to the small town she grew up in. She can’t seem to shake her past as she settles into her new life living on the outskirts of town. 

As Isabel starts to get acquainted with people in the town she learns of the unrest in the area and the opposing sides that soon try to draw her in. Unintentionally, she is soon stuck in the middle of the unrest and must choose a side. 

This seaside town and its inhabitants allow Isabel to find a new freedom being herself. But in the process, she must face the mysteries tied to her past. With some sea-faring adventures and budding friendships this is a warm-hearted and adventurous read. 

Arlene Melton

Information Services Supervisor

Cumming Library

The Man of the Revolution

Just after midnight on April 18, 1775, a rider galloped up to a parsonage to deliver a message—“The regulars are coming”—and issue a warning. General Gage of the British army had ordered troops to march on Lexington and Concord and arrest two of the most incendiary patriots in the colony of Massachusetts: Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The following morning saw the Battle of Lexington and Concord fought, setting the American Revolution into motion. Thanks to that midnight rider, Paul Revere, and his warning that April night, Adams and Hancock were able to escape the British troops. 

In The Revolutionary Samuel Adams, author Stacy Schiff takes readers back to this moment in time and beyond. Her subject is Samuel Adams, the second cousin of John Adams. Thomas Jefferson called Samuel 'the earliest, most active, and persevering man of the Revolution.' When John traveled to France to request funds for the war, the French greeted him with a hero's welcome until they found out that 'the famous Adams' was his cousin, Samuel.

Schiff does a thorough job of describing colonial life and the tensions that built with increasing ferocity until war broke out in 1775. Samuel Adams was in the thick of it, writing anonymous letters to various Boston newspapers, taking part in committees, and seizing any opportunity to lambast the British - all with the goal of liberty in mind. A signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was one of the first to identify liberty from Great Britain as an objective for the American colonies. He was truly the man of the Revolution.

Two hundred and fifty years have passed since Samuel Adams signed the Declaration of Independence. Though we cannot stand in the room with the Continental Congress or take part in committees to establish the American colonies as separate from Britain, we can celebrate America’s milestone anniversary through the Georgia Reads for America 250 Challenge. Read about Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and others who made their mark on American history. 

Melissa Gunter

Outreach Specialist