According to a recent study in the research journal iScience, the number of Americans who read for pleasure has significantly dropped over the past two decades — from 2003 to 2023, there was a roughly 40% decline.

This study alarmed plenty of people, including Stephanie Marudas, a Mt. Airy resident and journalist-turned-podcaster. Marudas said reading has always been a part of her life. Even though she struggled with reading as a child, she stuck with the hobby and is grateful for the profound impact it has on her life.

“I try to make it a goal to sit down and read every day for pleasure, whether I’m tired or not,” Marudas said. “It’s a way of learning about the world.”

Marudas’ love of books was a deciding factor in starting a podcast all about reading, called “Among Books.” Recorded in person at Hilltop Books in Chestnut Hill, the show features local guests discussing all things reading-related. In an era of declining reading rates, Marudas is excited to introduce her “passion project” to a wide audience and demonstrate that books are still as important as ever.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, there will be a podcast party at Hilltop Books (84 Bethlehem Pike), where attendees can enjoy refreshments and an opportunity to meet the podcast’s guests.

Producing podcasts

After a prolific career in public media — including stints at WYPR in Baltimore and WHYY in Philadelphia — Marudas founded Kouvenda Media, a podcast production company, in 2015. She was inspired to start a long-form audio company after noticing the medium explode in popularity in the early 2010s and after receiving many audio-based assignments herself.

At Kouvenda — which is Greek for “chat, talk; conversation” — Marudas has worked with a range of clients, such as Woodmere and Morris Arboretum. She also teamed up with reporter Emily Previti on “Obscured,” a podcast about issues that don’t receive much media attention, such as stories from survivors of law enforcement trauma. During that project, Marudas had an event at Hilltop Books and met the bookstore’s manager, Amy Wilson. Choosing the space again for the recordings of “Among Books” was a no-brainer.

In the spring of 2024, “I was thinking, is there a local, community-building project that I could work on through podcasting? I like to read. I like to be around books. I like talking to people in person. Is there a podcast where you could get to know somebody through what they read and find out about the books that had an impact on how they think, live, and act in the world?” Marudas said. “The idea would be to sit in a very cozy space. [Hilltop Books] came to mind. … It’d be a bit light-hearted, then we could get reflective, then just a little back and forth and everything in between.”

Reading rules

Marudas came to Wilson with the idea of recording her podcast in Hilltop Books in the fall of 2024. According to Wilson, the podcast’s mission aligned with the store’s goals.

“Having in-person events is a way that [Hilltop Books] can be a community hub,” Wilson said. “The people that Stephanie was talking about bringing in were all local people that have some recognition in the community, so being able to share those stories a little more widely seemed like that could be a benefit for everyone.”

Marudas chose guests with strong community ties for six episodes recorded in the spring and summer. Episodes began releasing weekly on Sept. 19, and so far have featured Lauren Cristella (CEO of the Committee of 70, a nonpartisan government watchdog group), state Sen. Art Haywood (a Democrat serving parts of Montgomery and Philadelphia counties), and the mother-daughter duo Marlene and Nadine Patterson (producers who operate the film production company Harmony Image Productions). Upcoming episodes will feature conversations with an actor, a local media professional, and a school librarian.

In each episode, Marudas and her guest have an informal discussion about reading and how books have influenced their lives. Wilson said she appreciates the podcast’s approach.

“It isn’t just people talking about books they like,” Wilson said. Marudas, she said, talks “to people about how their work intersects with uplifting reading, the right to read, and access to information and what it means for our communities as a whole. So, it isn’t listing a book and saying you like it; it feels a bit more relaxed, but also more productive.”

A book bash

Marudas said 2025 is a unique time to be a book-lover — reading for pleasure is declining, technology is growing, books are being banned, and local bookstores are facing stiff competition from online stores such as Amazon. Among all these changing trends, she is hopeful that “Among Books” offers audiences an opportunity to slow down and enjoy a thoughtful conversation. Marudas was intentional in all the details of the show — down to the live recording.

“The number one criteria was it has to be face to face. We all went through the pandemic and spent a lot of time on Zoom. … Nothing replaces being across from somebody,” Marudas said. “When you listen to this podcast, you know that we’re in person. We did a good job editing, but we had dogs barking, buses going by, sirens, phones ringing, but that’s life.”

Marudas also said that she hopes the podcast displays her admiration for reading — a pastime she believes has “immeasurable benefits to individuals and society at large.”

Learn more and listen to “Among Books” at kouvendamedia.com.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.