Did You Miss the Unofficial Party for The Stacks Podcast?
There are some nights that remind you why community matters, and the unofficial annual party for The Stacks podcast was absolutely one of them.
Held at the beloved Reparations Club bookstore in Los Angeles, the evening was a joyful, packed-to-the-rafters celebration of all things books, culture, and connection. The gathering brought together authors, readers, and fans of The Stacks podcast to celebrate host Traci Thomas and the powerful space she’s built through honest, bold conversations about books and the people who write them. It is always so wonderful to witness the kind of connection that grows out of genuine love, real community, and mutual admiration.
From the moment guests started arriving, the energy was unmatched. Reparations Club has long been a place where Black stories and voices are centered, so it couldn’t have been a more fitting venue. You could feel the creativity and intention in the air — every guest, every conversation, every book in sight seemed to pulse with meaning.
It wasn’t just a celebration of a podcast. It was a celebration of what The Stacks has come to represent: curiosity, openness, intellect, joy, and a fearless commitment to storytelling. Traci, as always, was gracious, funny, and warm with her guests. She spent the night making time for hugs, photos, and chats with guests. She’s the kind of host who makes everyone feel like they belong, and her energy carried through the entire space.
Of course, no party is complete without drinks! Diamond of @litcocktails served up a menu of themed cocktails that had guests lining up for refills. Every drink was thoughtfully crafted, combining top-tier mixology with bookish flair. (Think cocktails that pair perfectly with your current read.) It was the perfect touch to make the night feel both elevated and creative.
Behind the scenes, none of this would have come together without the help of cMedia Collective Marketing Agency (@cmediacollective), who helped coordinate and support the event. Their attention to detail and behind-the-scenes hustle helped make everything run smoothly, so the focus could stay on connection and celebration.
What stood out most wasn’t just the guest list (though it was full of incredible authors and literary folks), it was the feeling in the room. People weren’t networking, they were connecting. Conversations turned into book recommendations, hugs turned into new friendships, and the entire night felt like a love letter to the book community that The Stacks has helped cultivate. All of the attending authors even grabbed their books from the shelves and left the store with signed copies!
Whether you’ve been listening to The Stacks since the beginning or you’re new to the podcast, the message was clear: this space is for you. For people who love to read, who love to question, who believe books can change the world- The Stacks is more than a podcast. It’s a gathering place.
If this was the “unofficial” annual party, we can’t wait to see what next year brings. Until then, we’ll be listening to The Stacks every Wednesday, raising a glass to Traci, and continuing the conversations that started on that magical night.
Some of the attending guests included: Traci Thomas, Zach Stafford, Franklin Leonard, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Joseph Earl Thomas, Carlis Shane Clark, Vella Lovell, Jasmine Guillory, Zan Romanoff, Sarah LaBrie, Celia Laskey, Diane Marie Brown, Perry Janes, Chelsea Rose Devantez, Akilah Green, Pemi, Carolina Ixta, Danez Smith, Sam Sanders, R. O. Kwon, Derrick Contreras, Martha Jones, Michael Waters, Sam Sax, John Hickey, & MacKenzie Green
