The Blk Powerhouse Podcast
Welcome to The Blk Powerhouse Podcast, where we explore the publishing industry through the lens of Black voices. Whether you’re a writer, author, publisher, bookseller, librarian, or book influencer, this podcast is for anyone navigating the world of books—from the page to the bookshelf and beyond. We’ll tackle everything from how to break into the industry, to building lasting careers, to making meaningful connections in an ever-evolving field—and, most importantly, how we, as Black people in this space, can work together to create the equitable changes we need to see.
The Blk Powerhouse Podcast
The Patreon for Books? How Bookum Is Changing Publishing
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend Kyle Colley, Co-Founder & CEO of Bookum — a social reading app and virtual book club platform connecting authors, readers, and book influencers all in one place.
We discuss how bestselling authors like S.A. Cosby, Cebo Campbell, and Wallo have used the platform to host live conversations and connect directly with readers. This episode dives into why book influencers, bookstores, book club hosts, authors, and publishing professionals should be paying attention to platforms like Bookum.
In this episode you'll learn:
- How book influencers and content creators monetize their audience on the app
- The opportunity for bookstores to use the platform and earn revenue
- How to host virtual book clubs directly on the app, and build community without needing Zoom, email newsletters, and multiple sign-up platforms.
- Why readers enjoy discussing books on Bookum over other social media platforms
- Strategies on how to build a business in the publishing industry
If you work anywhere in the book ecosystem, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.