Mythmakers and Memoirs: The Power of Telling Your Own Story

Join Andrea and Elizabeth as they explore the remarkable friendship between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, including their Oxford writing groups, shared faith, as documented in the graphic novel biography The Mythmakers by John Hendrix. They discuss how belief, war, and literary community shaped The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, then pivot to memoirs and the power of telling your own story, highlighting reads like I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, Educated by Tara Westover, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, while debating why some celebrity memoirs resonate more than others. 00:53 Exploring Tolkien and Lewis's Friendship02:36 The Mythmakers Graphic Novel10:07 Celebrity Memoirs and Their Impact13:35 Memoirs of Overcoming Trauma19:18 Trevor Noah is Wonderful23:56 Celebrities in Real Life26:25 Lord of Maps!Books mentioned in this episode: The Mythmakers by John HendrixThe Hobbit  by J.R.R. TolkienThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisKatabasis by R.F. Kuang Open Book by Jessica SimpsonI’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdyEducated by Tara WestoverThe Glass Castle by Jeannette WallsFriends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew PerrySpare by Prince HarryBorn a Crime by Trevor NoahInto the Uncut Grass by Trevor NoahMemorial Days by Geraldine BrooksLord of Maps StampsBring your fantasy world to life with Lord of Maps stamps, designed for creating detailed, Middle-earth-inspired maps for tabletop gaming, journaling, or creative writing. For a limited time, use promo code GALAXIES for 10% off your order at https://lordofmaps.com/  Trevor Noah: Born a Crime 10-Year Anniversary and Tour DatesTrevor Noah’s bestselling memoir Born a Crime, which explores his childhood growing up during apartheid in South Africa, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a special re-release. Trevor Noah is also touring this year. https://www.trevornoah.com/ Jennette McCurdy Memoir Adaptation (Apple TV+)Jennette McCurdy’s bestselling memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died is being adapted into a 10-episode Apple TV+ series. Jennifer Aniston is set to star as McCurdy’s mother and will executive produce alongside McCurdy.  https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65360818/ Emerald City Comic Con 2026 Lord of the Rings Fan MeetupJoin us at Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle, March 5–8, for a Lord of the Rings fan meetup celebrating the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. We’ll be gathering on Thursday, March 5 to connect with fellow fantasy readers, Tolkien fans, and cosplay enthusiasts. https://www.emeraldcitycomiccon.com/en-us/experiences/meetups/meetup-info.html?gtID=923374&panel-name=Lord-of-the-Rings-Fan-Meetup Galaxies and Goddesses Bookshop.org StorefrontBrowse and shop all the books mentioned in this episode through our Bookshop.org storefront. Every purchase supports Galaxies and Goddesses while also helping sustain independent bookstores across the United States. https://bookshop.org/shop/galaxiesandgoddesses