Reading Culture: Books, Reading, & Indie Bookstores Today w/ Arvin Ram, Owner of Townie Books

Reading Culture: Books, Reading, & Indie Bookstores Today w/ Arvin Ram, Owner of Townie Books

Author: BLISTER May 21, 2025 Duration: 1:06:40

Today Jonathan talks about books, book recommendations, the state of independent bookstores, the art of reading, and the craft of writing — and our guest is the perfect person to talk about it all. Arvin Ram is a writer, an avid reader, and the co-owner (along with his wife Danica) of the independent bookstore, Townie Books. Arvin is also the director of the Mountain Words Festival here in Crested Butte, and we also discuss the mix of mountain culture and book culture.

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TOPICS & TIMES:

News: Mountain Words Festival (00:47)

We Finally Get Arvin to Blister HQ (2:10)

Arvin's Background (3:50)

Running an Independent Bookstore Today (7:06)

Arvin’s Path to Opening a Bookstore (18:40)

Coffee, Tea, & Bookstores (26:55)

The War for Our Minds (32:55)

Fiction vs Nonfiction Sales Today? (40:11)

Favorite Authors? (41:44)

Arvin’s Own Writing (50:52)

Mountain Words Festival (58:42)

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There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone has dedicated their life to making something tangible, driven by obsession over details most of us overlook. CRAFTED, from BLISTER, is built on those conversations. Each episode moves beyond a simple product review to explore the entire ecosystem of creation, whether the subject is a meticulously roasted coffee, a complex whiskey, a precision timepiece, or a bold new wine. You'll hear directly from the individuals who define these fields-brewers, distillers, founders, and artisans who started their ventures not because it was easy, but because they couldn't imagine doing anything else. This podcast digs into the raw materials, the failed experiments, the business risks taken on a principle, and the quiet triumphs that happen long before a product reaches a shelf. It’s about the philosophy embedded in the process as much as the technical skill. Tuning in feels less like listening to an interview and more like pulling up a stool in a workshop or a tasting room, offering an intimate look at the patience, setbacks, and unwavering standards that transform a simple idea into a crafted object. The stories are specific, but the themes of creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit are universal, connecting anyone who appreciates the depth behind a well-made thing.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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