Babes in Bookland: Your Women's Memoir Podcast

What does it take to reclaim a woman's story when history itself was written by people who had every reason to erase her?That's the question at the center of our conversation with Ariel Lawhon, bestselling author of The Frozen River and her newest novel, The Pirate Queen, about the real life Irish chieftain Grace O'Malley. We talk about why Grace doesn't appear anywhere in official Irish history, and how the only record of her survives in the snide, grudging English state papers written by the empire that feared her. Ariel explains that she's drawn again and again to subversive women because women have always had to be subversive, and because for most of history, only the literate got remembered, which meant most women simply didn't. From Nancy Wake to Martha Ballard to Grace herself, she talks about borrowing personality and instinct from the women in her own life to fill in the gaps history left behind, sometimes literally turning a character into her own mother.We get into her process too, how she became a devoted plotter out of necessity after having four sons in five years and learning to write in stolen thirty minute increments, and how she still treats a deadline with the gravity of its original meaning, a line you did not want to cross on a battlefield. There's a genuinely magical detour into the children's book she read in an abandoned two room schoolhouse in New Mexico decades later and found sitting in a pile on the floor, the exact copy, waiting for her. And we spend real time on the moment in The Frozen River that readers talk about most, when Martha Ballard delivers her own kind of justice, and what it means that women are so often expected to pull their punches in fiction the way men never are. Ariel and I talk about intuition, the knowing, and trusting it, sometimes because it's the thing that keeps you alive.Share this conversation with the woman in your life who needs a reminder that the world has always underestimated women like Grace O'Malley, but Grace still soared.“Because men will never respect you if you try to be like them.” Gráinne lifts her head and meets her mother’s gaze. “Then how will they respect me?” “They won’t,” Maeve says with a shrug. Then she takes her daughter’s face in her hands and brings it close. Until their noses touch and their breath mingles. “Not unless you make them.”-excerpt from THE PIRATE QUEEN by Ariel LawhonConnect with Ariel Lawhon:@Ariel.lawhonBooks Referenced:THE PIRATE QUEEN by Ariel LawhonTHE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel LawhonCODE NAME HÉLÈNE by Ariel LawhonFLIGHT OF DREAMS by Ariel LawhonWAIT FOR ME, WATCH FOR ME, EULA BEE by Patricia BeattyCHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. LewisTHE HOBBIT by J.R.R. TolkenLORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. TolkenWATERSHIP DOWN by Richard AdamsBARRIERS TO ENTRY by Ariel Lawhon (short story)Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchon PatreonSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SubstackThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it cost to love a place and a faith that shaped you, even after they've hurt you?This week I sit down with Emilee Hackney, author of the New York Times bestselling memoir All That's Unseen, to talk about growing up in Tazewell, Virginia, and the long, winding path that took her from a Pentecostal church pew to Harvard Yard to a bestseller list.We talk about the church she grew up in from age five, the engagement she entered as a teenager, and the slow, painful process of questioning beliefs she'd never been taught to question until she left home for Harvard. Emilee is remarkably generous about her younger self throughout our conversation, and that same compassion runs through every page of her book. We get into the isolation she felt as an Appalachian student surrounded by people who saw her as, in her words, an exotic creature from a shameful corner of the country, and how spite became an unlikely motivator for her education.Of course... politics come up too. Emilee doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable truths in her research, from Trump's proposed defunding of the Appalachian Regional Commission to his rollback of coal dust health protections, even as she pushed back against easy judgments of the people who voted for him anyway. We talk about fear as a political currency, about algorithms that feed conservatism to anyone who engages with Appalachian content, and about the quiet apathy Emilee believes both parties have shown her home region for generations.We end with hope, opossums, and the strange, permanent tension of loving a place you can never quite be happy in or without. This is a memoir about reckoning with faith, class, and identity, and Emilee brought every bit of that nuance into our conversation.Share this conversation with anyone who grew up somewhere they had complicated feelings about leaving."A personal essay, as it turned out, was about more than the people and places I knew. It was about how those people and places affected me: how I saw them, how I interpreted them, how I understood them in my greater understanding of the world." - Emilee Hackney's memoir ALL THAT'S UNSEENConnect with Emilee Hackney:@emileehackneyBooks Referenced:ALL THAT'S UNSEEN by Emilee HackneySTOLEN PRIDE by Arlie Russell HochschildSupport the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchon PatreonSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SubstackThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the woman we've been taught to hate for six centuries was just doing what it took to survive in a world that gave her almost no options?That's the question Rachel Hochhauser sat with long before she ever sat down to write, and it's the question that turns into her debut novel, Lady Tremaine, the instant New York Times bestseller and Reese's Book Club pick that reimagines Cinderella's stepmother as a woman worth understanding rather than a woman worth fearing.Rachel and I talk about how the idea found her at the hardest possible time, scrolling her phone in a hospital while her husband recovered from emergency brain surgery, suddenly a single parent overnight, when an image of Lady Tremaine stopped her cold. She walks me through the years she spent away from fiction after her first manuscript didn't sell, the puzzle company she built in that gap called Piecework, and what it meant to come back to her desk and have it feel, in her words, like coming home to herself. We get into her research process, including a deep dive into falconry that started with a pandemic hotel workshop and turned into Lucy, the peregrine falcon who becomes one of the book's most vivid characters. And we talk about Ellen, her version of Cinderella, and why Rachel chose to make her one of the more complicated, less immediately likable Cinderellas in the canon, and why that complication is the point.We also get into the line Rachel calls her favorite in the entire book, the one she was writing toward long before she knew how she'd get there, and what it means that the book ends up being a message from a mother to her daughters instead of a fairy tale ending at all.Share this conversation with the friend who still has strong feelings about Ever After.“Goodness is always contextual.”― Rachel Hochhauser, LADY TREMAINEConnect with Rachel Hochhauser:@hochhauserBooks Referenced:LADY TREMAINE by Rachel HochhauserSupport the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchon PatreonSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SubstackThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if recovery was never meant to be a finish line?Mallary Tenore Tarpley spent over twenty years writing and rewriting the story that became Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery, and what she landed on upends how we're taught to think about healing. She calls it the middle place: the space between acutely sick and fully recovered where most people actually live, and where almost no one gives them permission to stay.Mallary story starts at eight years old, when her mother died of metastatic breast cancer. In the wreckage of that loss, an idea took root that if she could keep her body the same size it was when her mother was alive, she could stop time and stay close to her. That thought, formed by a grieving child in a health class learning about good foods and bad foods, spiraled into anorexia and five hospitalizations at Boston Children's, followed by seventeen months in residential treatment. It is a reminder that eating disorders are rarely about vanity. They're about control, grief, and a body trying to speak what a person cannot yet say out loud.We talk about why Mallary built her memoir as reported journalism as much as personal narrative, weaving in the voices of 700 survey respondents and 175 interview subjects specifically because she didn't want her story, as a thin, white, middle class woman, to stand in as the only face of this disease. We get into what it was like reading her own childhood journals, calorie counts and self-loathing tucked inside Winnie the Pooh covers, and the moment she caught herself slipping back into old behaviors just from transcribing them. We talk about the staggering gap in medical training, the history of women being excluded from clinical trials, and how diet culture, GLP-1 drugs, and AI beauty filters are reshaping an old danger into something that feels newly urgent. And we talk about what it means to write an ending that refuses a tidy bow, because pretending to be fully healed would have made her, in her words, an unreliable narrator.If you've ever felt like you were failing at recovery because you weren't finished with it, this conversation is for you.Share this conversation with someone who needs permission to be in progress instead of fixed.The National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline is 866-662-1235, open 9:00am–7:00pm EST Monday–Friday. It's not a 24/7 crisis line — for after-hours support, they direct people to 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or text "NEDA" to 741-741Connect with Mallary Tenore Tarpley:https://www.mallarytenoretarpley.com/@mallarytenoretarpleyBooks Referenced:SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating-Disorder Recovery by Mallary Tenore TarpleyArticles Referenced:We Keep Arguing About Ariana Grande's Body. We're Missing the Bigger StoryWhen I Lost My Sense of Taste to Covid, My Anorexia Stepped In (gifted)Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchon PatreonSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SubstackThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is a sobriety memoir still honest if the author was relapsing while she wrote it? That's the question Suz and I couldn't shake after reading and listening to Jodi Sweetin's "UnSweetined", and it's why we brought this one back as a bonus episode.We dug into Jodie's story from Full House's beloved Stephanie Tanner to the meth addiction she hid for years, and we couldn't agree on much except this: the book is fascinating, fast paced, and also strangely hard to trust. Jodie wrote most of "UnSweetined" while she was actively using, only getting sober once she became a mother, and we talked about what that means for a memoir that's marketed as a redemption story. We got into the newer audiobook forward Jodie recorded sixteen years after the book's original release, where she updates listeners on two more marriages, another child, and a version of sobriety she never quite defines for us.We also spent time in the good stuff, the Full House trivia we didn't know and the way the cast really did seem to love each other. But we kept circling back to the same tension. Jodie is disarmingly honest about her own manipulation and dishonesty, and yet there's a lack of accountability running underneath all of it, a scapegoating that never quite resolves. We talked about what we expect from addiction memoirs, whether humor can be armor, and whether a book like this would exist at all if she weren't famous.Share this conversation with someone who grew up watching Full House, or with anyone who's ever wondered what a redemption arc actually requires."I still don't know what it was that I was so unhappy about. To some people it probably looked like I had it all. If I had to sit and list what was bothering me at the time, I don't think I could have done it. All I knew was that I didn't want to be me." - Jodie SweetinThank you for supporting the show!xx, Alex Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a book gives you everything you want on the surface and still leaves you wanting more underneath?I'm back with a mini review of Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About, the debut memoir from Isabel Klee, the writer and content creator behind the dog-rescue account @simonsits. The book chronicles Isabel's twenties in New York City: a string of complicated boyfriends, a tight community of women figuring life out alongside her, and a parade of foster dogs she helped rehabilitate and rehome, including her first true love, a rescued pup named Simon.I dig into what worked and what didn't, and along the way, I share my own dog story, adopting my scrappy one-eared rescue terrier during my first stretch of living alone, and make the case for solo living as one of the most underrated things you can do for yourself in your twenties, lease restrictions and all.Share this conversation with someone who has a rescue dog story of their own.Please rate and review the show and share this conversation with someone who grew up in the church and is still working out which parts of their faith are actually theirs."Love and patience could heal a broken dog, but, most of the time, it wasn't going to heal a broken man." - Isabel KleeConnect with Isabel Klee:@simonsits on instagramBooks Referenced:Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About by Isabel KleeSupport the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchon PatreonSubscribe on AppleSubscribe on SubstackThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod xx, Alex Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can you reclaim your truth and your power?We’re diving into Horse Barbie, Geena Rocero’s radiant and illuminating memoir that shows her journey from a one-room home in Manila, Philippians, to trans pageants, from the perfume counter at Macy’s to New York fashion sets, and from private, suffocating, fear to a TED Talk that reframed transness as power. Along the way, we discuss her father’s complicated love, her mother’s unwavering belief and reflect on what can spark when the people who matter most tell you there’s nothing wrong with you. Geena’s story and memoir widens from personal to political: pre-colonial history without gendered pronouns, the costs of documentation that doesn’t match your face, and the power of her viral TED Talk to turn shame into strength. We sit with the big questions: Why is femininity seen as a threat? How do entertainment and policy diverge? What changes when a community moves from visibility to rights? By the end, Horse Barbie reads like a manual for courage. It shows how story becomes strategy and how one woman’s voice can help many step out of the shadows.If you care about trans rights, immigration, pageant culture, modeling, or the way love can change a life, this conversation brings nuance, warmth, and a clear takeaway: policy matters, family matters, and stories move hearts faster than arguments ever will. If the conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a hopeful, human lens on trans life and advocacy.For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 24 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchBuy Horse BarbieOther Links:Evan Hurst substackThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me.Special thanks to my dear friend, Jaime! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod Timestamps!00:21: Intro Buy Geena Rocero's Memoir Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One good choice can re-route an entire life, but only if you trust yourself enough to make it. I sit down with memoirist Cassidy Gard to talk about the real story behind her healing memoir, "Cosmic Goodness: Surrendering the Shadows to Live in the Light." We also get delightfully specific about book cover decisions, permissions, and why the right quote can set the emotional tone for a chapter. From there, we go deeper into the heart of her message: “cosmic goodness,” a grounded kind of spirituality she defines as "courage meeting clarity." Whether you love the woo or you hate it, the point is still practical and universal-- Your life changes when your daily decisions match the life you say you want. Cassidy shares the exercises that helped her shift her inner world, including conscious sobriety, writing-based practices for anger, and a commitment to alignment that keeps her open to the right conversations and opportunities. We also talk about the hard truths that shaped her. Growing up poor with an alcoholic father, shame that settles into the nervous system, imposter syndrome, and the surprising moments that made her feel seen. Motherhood brings another layer, including postpartum anxiety, postpartum rage, and the long road to forgiving yourself after a terrifying accident. The conversation ends with a nuanced take on separating art from artist and how we can outgrow what once carried us. If you care about memoir, intuition, healing, spiritual growth, postpartum mental health, and rebuilding a life with intention, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Purchase "Cosmic Goodness"Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A glossy, star-studded book launch. A memoir that rockets past 100,000 copies. Then a wave of silence from major reviewers, an investigative report, and a scientific debate that refuses to stay theoretical. We’re talking about Amy Griffin’s The Tell and the chaos that followed its triumphant debut, where celebrity endorsement meets the most contested questions in trauma psychology. My friend, Colette, joins the show as a licensed marriage and family therapist to share her thoughts on it all!Subscribe for the full conversation, share this with a friend who loves book-world drama with real stakes, and leave a review with your take: where do you draw the line between personal healing and public truth?Purchase the episode individually hereSubscribe on Apple Podcasts for all bonus contentXx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible to see joy in life's hardest moments?I sit down with memoirist Alexandra to talk about her memoir, Seeing Joy: A Story of Life, Death, and What Comes Next. We dig into how Alexandra’s story began as a caregiving blog in 2006, written first for friends and family and then embraced by strangers who recognized their own fear and tenderness in her honesty. She shares what it took to transform that real-time writing into a publishable memoir, including years of rejection from traditional publishing and the creative breakthroughs that came from adding family letters and her mother’s own unpublished manuscript. If you’ve ever wondered how memoir gets made, this is the unglamorous, deeply human version. Then we go to the heart of it: hospice care at home, the emotional calculus of choosing home over a nursing facility, and the unexpected moments of grace that arrive alongside the mess. Alexandra describes her mother’s vivid “visitors” near the end of life and what hospice workers call “visioning,” plus how that shifted her mother from fearing death as “the end” to finding a kind of peace. If you’re searching for a clearer way to talk about dying with dignity and still make room for joy, this one stays with you. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s caring for someone, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What part of end-of-life caregiving do you wish people were more honest about?Purchase Alexandra Grabbe's "Seeing Joy"Purchase Alexandra's father's memoir "Émigré"Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Quinn has a rare talent. She can drop you into another time period so completely that you forget you’re reading, then hit you with a detail that makes you realize how much of women’s history has been ignored, softened, or simply left out. In our first Friday Fiction episode, I sit down with the New York Times bestselling author behind her newest release, The Astral Library, The Briar Club,  The Alice Network, The Rose Code, and my personal favorite, The Diamond Eye to talk about where that power comes from and what it costs to do it well.We start with the origin story that shaped everything, a librarian mom who became her first reader and a dad who quietly modeled what real partnership looks like. From there, we get honest about the vulnerability of sharing drafts, the weird confidence a writer has to carry, and why deadlines can be a gift. Kate also walks through the creative leap into magical realism with The Astral Library, plus the nerves of releasing something new when readers expect a certain kind of historical fiction.We also dig into research ethics and critical thinking, from spotting propaganda in memoirs to reading for bias and noticing what a source refuses to say. If you love libraries, hate book bans, write fiction, or just want a smarter way to read history, this conversation is for you!!Subscribe for more author interviews, share this with a reader who loves historical fiction, and leave a rating and review so more book people can find Babes in Bookland.Thank you! Xx, AlexPurchase Kate Quinn's novelsConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some stories don’t just break the silence, they explain how silence gets built in the first place.This week, I’m joined by author Andrea Leeb to talk about her memoir Such a Pretty Picture, an account of surviving childhood sexual abuse, living with complex trauma and CPTSD, and finding a path back to yourself that isn’t linear or tidy but is real.Andrea shares the early moments that shaped her life, the confusing mix of fear, love, and self-blame, and the way adults can miss obvious warning signs when a family looks “pretty” from the outside. We also get into the effects of trauma: freezing, shame, self-harm, complicated sexuality, relationships that can’t hold intimacy, and the exhausting pressure to perform normal.Andrea details her turning point-- a breakdown that finally makes help non-negotiable, and what treatment, therapy, and community can unlock over time. We end with a conversation about forgiveness, closure, and agency, including Andrea’s work supporting survivors through organizations like RAINN and the UCLA Rape Treatment Center, plus concrete resource reminders for anyone who needs a first step.If this conversation resonates, share it with someone you trust, subscribe for more author interviews, and leave a review so more survivors and supporters can find it. What would it mean to you to be fully believed?Purchase Andrea Leeb's "Such a Pretty Picture"Resources:National - RAINN.org/ 1-800-656-4673 Helping Hands - Commission for Women (Los Angeles area) UCLA Rape Treatment Center / 424-259-7208 HAWC.org - Houston area/ 713-528-7273 Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline - 888-293-2080 Thank you for being here, Xx AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you selfish?“Selfish” is supposed to be the insult that ends the conversation, especially for women who were raised to be helpful, agreeable, and endlessly available. We sit down with author Kerry Docherty to pull that word apart and rebuild it into something sharper and more useful: self-awareness, honest boundaries, and the courage to admit what you want before you burn out trying to be “good.” Her memoir, Selfish, becomes the jumping-off point for a raw talk about what it costs to keep giving yourself away and why telling the truth can be both selfish and deeply generous.We dig into the trap of likability and the ways girls learn early to smooth everything over, including their own anger and ambition. Kerry reflects on privilege and what she has learned from people who have had to live more openly because the world already judges them. We also get practical about modern “self-care,” from doomscrolling dopamine to the quieter work of choosing what actually makes you feel alive, plus what it looks like to model emotional language and bodily autonomy for your kids.If this conversation makes you uncomfortable, we think that is the point. Subscribe for more author interviews, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the one boundary you are ready to set next.Purchase Selfish by Kerry DochertySupport the show:On PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchSubscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackThank you for listening! Xx, AlexFollow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod Timestamps!Here are chapter timestamps for the Kerry Docherty episode, in your voice:00:01 Welcome and intro to Kerry Docherty and Selfish00:37 Pub day nerves and why Selfish had to come out into the world now03:32 Landing on the title, from The Lazy Wife to The Selfish Wife to Selfish05:19 The double meaning of "self ish" and who Kerry is still becoming06:26 Kerry's editor telling her she needed to be more likable, and why that felt like a compliment08:46 Unpacking the pressure to be likable and who gets to be free of it11:58 Teaching her daughter not to shrink to fit13:14 The two wolves story and turning the lights on in the dark basement15:20 What's actually so wrong with being selfish? Reframing it as choosing what makes you feel alive16:36 Setting boundaries with parents and the real cost of protecting yourself17:53 Watching her mom move to India to become a yoga teacher, and what that shift revealed19:26 Modeling selfishness for her kids by naming her own emotions out loud21:10 The lie of selflessness as the path to a perfect life22:00 Filling your own cup while the laundry piles up, and letting go of the shame math25:36 Founding Faherty with her husband Alex and brother-in-law Mike, and the psychic who called it27:20 Couples therapy over salary negotiations and the strain of family business29:39 Meeting Bo at Coachella and the years-long emotional entanglement that followed31:38 Longing, fantasy, and the unawakened artist Bo mirrored back to her32:00 Did she ever consider leaving Alex? On survival mechanisms and always keeping an escape route33:04 Reframing marriage from a contract for life to choosing each other every day34:45 Selfishness and privilege, and why the white wellness industry got self-care wrong36:04 The self is not an individual, community as the real antidote to loneliness37:41 Early feedback on the book and what "brave" really means38:31 Alex reading the book, and the intimacy that came from being fully seen41:36 How Kerry stays hopeful42:16 Her emotional support bad habit (dead things on the beach)43:47 Where to find Kerry and how to buy the book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brandy Norwood’s memoir, Phases, is the kind of celebrity memoir that makes you grateful for the music and furious about the machine behind it. My friend Kate and I revisit Brandy’s cultural landmarks like Moesha, Cinderella, and “The Boy Is Mine,” then zoom out to the bigger question: what happens when an industry profits from a “good girl” image and leaves no room for a young Black woman to be human, messy, or still becoming. A big thread is the tension between what Brandy says and what she seems to avoid saying. We talk about how Phases feels careful, as if certain bridges still cannot be burned, even decades later. But we also highlight the memoir’s strongest emotional material, especially around identity and image. When the memoir does go deep, it hits hard. The takeaway is not that Phases answers everything, but that it opens the door to better questions about artistry, survival, and what reclaiming your narrative really costs.Purchase Phases by BrandySupport the show:On PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchSubscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackThank you for listening!xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She graduates near the top of her veterinary class and still couldn't get hired... because she’s a woman! That’s where our conversation with memoirist Linda Rhodes begins and it only gets more vivid, entertaining, and frustrating from there.Linda and I talk about her book Breaking the Barnyard Barrier: A Woman Veterinarian Paves the Way and the reality of becoming a large animal veterinarian in rural Utah when sexism isn’t subtle, it’s stated out loud in job interviews. Linda takes us through the early spark that pulled her into farm work, to the gatekeeping she faced getting into vet school, to the pressure of being “the test case” for whether women can do the job. Along the way, we sit with the unglamorous truth of dairy cow medicine: freezing nights, no hospital nearby, no backup, and decisions that carry real consequences for animals and farmers.We also go deep on the memoir writing process. Linda shares why her mother’s death pushed her to write, how she learned to stop writing like a scientist and start writing like a storyteller, and how she chose what grief to put on the page and what to keep private. From there, the story widens into career reinvention, women in leadership, animal health pharmaceuticals, entrepreneurship, and what it looks like to build a family-friendly workplace that actually works.If you care about women in STEM, gender bias at work, memoir, veterinary medicine, or the kind of resilience that’s earned day after day, this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with the moment that hit you hardest.Purchase Linda Rhode's "Breaking the Barnyard Barrier"Support the show:On PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchSubscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackOther links:Feather in Her Cap AwardThank you for listening!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is life destiny or choice?"Drink from the Nile" is a phrase in Egypt that promises if you drink from the Nile river, you’re destined to return. Katya Dunko's memoir, named for this phrase, is her refusal to let destiny be controlled by generational trauma. She broke the chain.We talk about the real story behind her jaw-dropping book: growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine, being stowed away on a train as a child, surviving a decade of opioid addiction, and later fleeing an abusive marriage in Egypt with her daughter. Katya doesn’t frame herself as flawless or “inspiring” in a neat way. She names the shame, the people-pleasing, the desperate search for love, and the terrifying moments where her safety is on the line. If you care about women’s memoir, addiction recovery stories, trauma healing, and what it takes to rebuild after emotional abuse, this conversation goes there with honesty and heart.We also get practical about the craft and the aftermath: what it’s like to spend seven years writing a trauma memoir, why she chose a pen name, how self-publishing forced her to learn everything from editing to marketing, and why narrative therapy helped her reframe her past into resilience instead of ruin. The biggest takeaway is simple and hard: pain spreads unless someone breaks the chain.Listen, then share this with a friend who needs a reminder that a clean slate is possible. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what “real strength” means to you now.Purchase Katya Dunko's "I Drank From the Nile"Support the show:On PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchSubscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackThank you for listening!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod Timestamps!0:00 Introduction & about "I Drank from the Nile"2:30 Why write a memoir instead of a novel?5:30 Did writing it surprise you?9:00 How did you mother yourself through writing this?11:00 What does "I drank from the Nile" mean?13:30 Why did you self-publish?17:30 Can you set up your childhood for us?22:00 How did you get from Ukraine to Alaska?25:00 What were you internalizing about your own worth as a child?29:30 Did anyone ever notice what was happening at home?32:00 How did your mother first introduce you to opioids?36:00 Why couldn't you stop for a decade?40:00 What does the physical need for opioids actually feel like?42:30 What made you decide to quit cold turkey?46:00 Was there any mental health support available in Egypt?48:30 Did you actually process the pain when you got sober?53:00 Do you still have a relationship with your mother?56:30 What did these men make you feel about yourself?01:00:00 Who was Lucas and why did he matter so much?01:05:00 Why Egypt of all places?01:09:00 How quickly did you realize Egypt was dangerous?01:13:00 Who was Rami and how bad did it get?01:17:00 How did you meet Amir?01:21:30 Did Amir ever actually want to go to America?01:26:00 How did you escape Egypt with your daughter?01:32:00 Was it Sophie who finally gave you the strength?01:36:00 How have you capitalized on your clean slate?01:40:00 What is narrative therapy and how did it help?01:43:30 How do you stay hopeful?01:45:30 What book has changed your life?01:47:00 Next week: Linda Rhodes' memoir Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you break free of one legacy to cement your own? We’re back with a bite-sized Babes in Bookland mini review of Liza Minnelli’s memoir “Kid, Wait Till You Hear This,” and it’s equal parts warm, jaw-dropping, and quietly devastating. I went in expecting old Hollywood stories and iconic name-drops. I got those... but I didn’t expect a brutally honest look at what fame can cost a family behind closed doors.I talk about Liza Minnelli the performer and cultural force: an EGOT-winning star of stage and screen, a voice people instantly recognize, and a public figure who showed up as an advocate during the AIDS crisis when many stayed silent. But the heart of her memoir is the private Liza, the daughter trying to survive a mother’s addiction and mental health storms while other adults fail to step in. Her pages on caretaking as a child, living with dread, and trying to “protect” a parent will hit especially hard if you’re an adult child of an addict or you’ve carried responsibilities that were never yours.Liza’s account of her own substance use disorder and recovery, including rehab at the Betty Ford Center and the long road to real sobriety, is the most powerful part of the story and one of the most human celebrity memoir moments I’ve read. If you’re looking for a memoir podcast that blends pop culture with real conversations about addiction recovery, denial, resilience, and choosing life, this one’s for you.Subscribe for more women’s memoir reviews, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more readers can find the show. What’s one “yes” you need to tell yourself today?SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service), or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you.Purchase Liza Minnelli's "Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!"Support the show:On PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchSubscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackXx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Ayana Lage joins the show to talk about Missing Me, her memoir of postpartum psychosis and the long road back. We talk about perfectionism as a coping strategy, anxiety as a lifelong undercurrent, and the exhausting need to be seen as “good” while feeling like you’re failing inside. Ayana shares how she turned hospital journals and medical records into a tightly crafted, nonlinear memoir, how she handled the fear of reviews, and what it means to tell the truth when your story includes your partner and your parents. We also get honest about how faith can comfort you and still leave you carrying guilt when mental health doesn’t improve, and why therapy and medication are not character flaws.Then we widen the lens to the realities that raise the stakes: Black maternal health disparities, being dismissed in medical settings, and why support like a doula can matter. We clarify what postpartum psychosis can look like, why it’s different from postpartum depression or postpartum OCD, and how stigma harms mothers, babies, and families when people don’t know the signs. Ayana closes with the aftermath: releasing shame, planning a second pregnancy with care, making feeding choices without guilt, and finding joy in the mundane.Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review if it helps you see postpartum mental health with more clarity and compassion.Purchase Missing Me by Ayana LageSupport the show:On PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchSubscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackThank you for listening!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A memoir can feel like a mirror you didn’t ask for. We opened Christina Applegate’s and found an unvarnished account of survival: a child actor who worked to live, a dancer who prayed with her body, an artist who hid behind “Christina Applegate” until truth demanded center stage.  We dig into the fault lines: body image and shame running alongside career highs; Sweet Charity on Broadway as a masterclass in grit after a brutal injury; pay inequity countered by quiet solidarity; and more. Her reflections on breast cancer and MS aren’t wrapped in “warrior” clichés.  If you’ve ever performed strength because the world is allergic to pain, her confession will help you feel seen.We also sit with research tying childhood trauma to MS risk, not as final verdict but as a challenge to take our histories seriously. By the end, she rejects the persona and claims the name her people use—Kiki—then asks a question that lingers: Who are you?Hit play for a thoughtful, unsentimental conversation about truth, trauma, dance, illness, craft, and the fragile alchemy of happiness-with-sadness. If this moved you, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review telling us the line you can’t stop thinking about.Purchase Christina Applegate's "You with the Sad Eyes"Support the show:On PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchSubscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackThank you for listening!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you know Demi Moore? Think again. My friend, Mackenzie, and I peel back the tabloid myths to trace a far more gripping arc: a child who found safety in hospital routines because home was chaos, a teenager forced to protect herself when the adults failed, and an artist who spent years equating value with a number on the scale while breaking box‑office ceilings and cultural taboos. Guided by Demi’s memoir Inside Out, we connect the dots between early trauma, addiction, codependence, and the relentless body scrutiny of Hollywood—and how those patterns transform when you finally choose yourself.If this moved you, tap follow, share with a friend who loves smart memoir deep dives, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show. Your support helps us bring you more conversations that go beyond the headlines.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merch Subscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackLink to this episode’s book: Demi Moore's "Inside Out"Other links:What is Kabbalah?Demi Moore's Vanity Fair cover & articleXx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever picked up a buzzy memoir and felt the heart was missing beneath the hype? I sit down with Ryley from the Little Miss Podcast to unpack Elyse Myers’ debut: the charming illustrations, a few resonant lines on anxiety and connection, and the recurring moments where the story stops just shy of reckoning. We wanted the hinge points—the cause, the cost, the change—and too often found stylized vignettes that try to entertain when they should have revealed.From there, we widen the lens to the ecosystem that made this book possible. How has influencer culture reshaped our expectations for honesty, and our tolerance for ambiguity? We talk body image in the age of filters, the resurgence of pro-anorexia aesthetics dressed up as wellness, and a more sustainable posture of body neutrality and body awe. We get practical about family language, food without moral labels, and how to model healthier self-talk at home.We also dig into parasocial bonds and why they feel so real, the consumerism treadmill that turns every feed into a storefront, and the ethics of featuring children online without meaningful consent or protection. Then comes the big question: Do creators owe a public stance when harm is plain to see? We don’t need comedians to become journalists, but acknowledging suffering, pointing to credible resources, and choosing empathy over silence matters—especially when your platform can direct attention toward help.If you’re curious about what makes memoirs feel true, how to read past the gloss of virality, and where to draw firmer boundaries with the content you consume, this conversation is your map. Hit play, then tell us: what do you expect from a life story—and from the people you follow? Subscribe, share with a friend who loves book talk, and leave a review with your favorite memoir recommendations.This Bonus episode is available for free this month! Thank you for supporting the show <3Connect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to move shame back where it belongs? We dive into Gisele Pelicot’s A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides—a memoir that confronts sexual violence, courtroom language, and public accountability while fiercely protecting the survivor’s right to joy. I trace Pellicot’s path from the shocking discovery of years of drugging and assault to the rare choice of an open hearing and the powerful moment when all fifty-one perpetrators were found guilty. Along the way, we sit with hard questions: how do institutions perpetuate harm through euphemisms, how can families process conflicting truths, and what does healing look like when love and betrayal share the same house?Support the show: On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merch Subscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackLink to this episode’s book:A Hymn to Life by Gisele PelicotIf you care about survivor justice and the cultural work of shifting blame off victims, this conversation is for you! Press play, reflect with us, and share your thoughts. If the episode moved you, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it on to someone who needs to hear it.Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you hold two truths at once?  I sit down with author and sociologist Deborah J. Cohan to explore her memoir, Welcome to Wherever We Are, a clear-eyed look at psychological abuse, loyalty, and the quiet heroics of caregiving. From the first moments, Deborah names what so many experience but struggle to articulate—gaslighting, threats, verbal assaults, and financial control—and shows how a child’s devotion to her father can coexist with a fierce need for boundaries.As we trace the book’s path through a pandemic launch, Deborah explains why a sociological lens makes memoir more than confession. She connects the dots between family dynamics, gendered expectations, healthcare systems, and the invisible labor that daughters and partners shoulder. Her years counseling violent men at Emerge, the nation’s oldest batterer intervention program, sharpen her insights: behavior can change, accountability matters, and empathy does not erase harm. That background also deepens her own reckoning with a brilliant, creative, and often wounding father.Rather than preaching forgiveness, Deborah argues for something braver: ambivalence. Holding two truths—love and injury—without flattening either. We talk about staying present at the end of a complicated life, advocating from a distance, and confronting the limits of what one caregiver can do under debt, time pressure, and grief. Along the way we surface practical takeaways for anyone navigating eldercare, emotional abuse, or family estrangement: document patterns, set sustainable boundaries, recruit support, and learn the language that makes the unseen visible.We close with the fuel that keeps Deborah moving—art, nature, movement, laughter—and a glimpse at her next project on her mother and creativity. If you’re searching for thoughtful conversation on caregiving, gaslighting, domestic violence education, and healing family patterns, this one offers tools and tenderness in equal measure. If the conversation resonates, tap follow, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a little more language for their story.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merch Subscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackLink to this episode’s book:Welcome to Wherever We Are by Deborah J. Cohan Other links: The Complete U by Deborah J. Cohan DeborahJCohan.comThis episode is produced, recorded, and edited by me.  Xx, Alex@babesinbooklandpodConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the high you’re chasing isn’t love at all, but the thrill of uncertainty? On pub day, we sit down with author Amanda McCracken to unpack limerence (the obsessive, anxious fixation that can masquerade as romance) and how naming the pattern helped her trade fantasy for reciprocity. We connect the dots between anxious-avoidant dynamics, social media ambiguity, and the dopamine hit of anticipation that keeps us hooked on “what if.” Amanda shares how purity culture shaped her choices, why “safe” once felt boring, and how a later-in-life ADHD diagnosis helped things click. If you’ve ever been caught up in breadcrumbing, ghosting, or the mental movie of an idealized other, this episode offers a clear path forward. You’ll learn how to spot limerence, interrupt the rumination loop, and build self-compassion so you can trust your choices and choose people who choose you back. Plus, Amanda shares more about her podcast The Longing Lab. Listen, share with a friend who’s ready for healthier love, and if this resonated, subscribe and leave a review to help others find the show.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merch Subscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackIf you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback!Link to this episode’s book:When Longing Becomes Your Lover by Amanda McCrackenOther links:The Longing Lab PodcastThe Peace BoatThis episode is produced, recorded, and edited by me. Special thanks to my new friend, Amanda.  Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you living your most authentic life?Mortality has a way of cutting through noise. My friend, Cara, and I open season three with Alua Arthur’s memoir Briefly Perfectly Human and ask how getting real about death can help us live with more honesty, tenderness, and courage today. Cara shares first-hand insights from death doula training, and together we map the terrain so many of us avoid: grief that won’t be rushed, hard choices families face, and the practical steps that turn love into action at the end of life. If these questions (the same ones many contemplate on their death beds) stir something in you: Who did I love? How did I love? Was I loved?... you’re in the right place! Listen, reflect, and then tell someone you trust what matters to you. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merch Subscribe to the Babes in Bookland SubstackLink to this episode’s book:Briefly, Perfectly, Human by Alua ArthurOther episodes to check out:AUTHOR CHAT: Brittany Penner's "Children Like Us"Cara's other episode: Anna Dorn's "Bad Lawyer" Other resources:Hospice nurse Barbara Karnes’ booklets For people who want to learn how to become a death doula:Going with Grace – Alua’s company! NEDA (National End-of-Life Doula Alliance) For people looking to get their end of life paperwork in order:Compassion & Choices GYST  A good article about different eco-friendly ways to dispose of body.  https://curious.earth/blog/sustainable-green-burials/Books for children about death/dying:Everywhere, Still , Maybe Tomorrow,  The Rabbit Listened , All About Grief  Special thanks to my dear friend, Cara. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How far could you go if you believed in yourself?Katherine Johnson’s memoir My Remarkable Journey is more than a space-age origin story; it is a study in how confidence, education, and community can shape history. Early on, the memoir reads like a love letter to learning. Katherine’s parents, one generation removed from slavery, push her toward college with sacrifices and a father’s mantra etched in memory: “You’re as good as anyone, but no better.” The book also shows how mentors matter. She highlights the teachers who saw a research mathematician before she did, a one-student class in analytic geometry of space, and a culture of high expectations that asked Black students to be twice as good. It’s inspiring and sobering. Proof that talent needs access, and access is a policy choice. We talk about “painful progress,” how proximity humanizes, and why respectful, fact-based dialogue changes minds more reliably than outrage. Through grief—losing her first husband—Katherine keeps moving, anchoring herself in work and family. Her moon-shot math resembles a life philosophy: aim where the future will be, not where the present stands.   If this conversation moved you, follow and subscribe, share it with a friend who loves memoirs or space history, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your support helps us bring more voices, more stories, and more fuel for your TBR.We’ll see you in February 2026 for more author chats, book club conversations, and a new episode type: bite sized babes—where I review memoirs and offer my favorite takeaways!Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchIf you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback!Link to this episode’s book:My Remarkable JourneyOther links: A Brief History of Black Hospitals in America  Transcripts and chapter markers are available through apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Kate! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ready for a holiday watch that actually holds up? We close the year with Jackie and Danielle from No More Late Fees and dig into why Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday still hits. It's a rom-com where self-respect is the twist, friendship is the anchor, and charisma beats swagger every time. We trade Blockbuster memories for sharp analysis then get into what really matters: characters that feel real and show major growth.Is Iris and Arthur’s bond the film’s best relationship? When he tells her to stop acting like the best friend and be the leading lady, it sets the standard for us all! We unpack the hard pivot from pining to gumption, the realism of saying no to Jasper, and the quiet win of choosing yourself. On the other side, we explore why Jack Black’s Miles works as a romantic lead: attention as attraction, care as chemistry, and a story that never turns his looks into a punchline. Jude Law’s Graham gets dimension through grief, daughters, and unexpected softness. He's proof that charm can coexist with responsibility.We also tackle the messy, modern bits: the ethics of one-night stands versus real safety, smarter dating questions to avoid duplicity, and whether long-distance romance can survive airports and time zones. Along the way, we share fun trivia and reflections.If The Holiday is your seasonal ritual--or you’re rom-com curious--you’ll leave with new trivia, fresh angles, and, hopefully, a little extra courage to be the lead in your own story. If you loved this, subscribe, share with a rom-com friend, and leave a review telling us your rating: buy it, five-day, two-day, or same-day return?Want more movie fun? https://nomorelatefeespodcast.com/Wishing you love, peace, and memorable moments this holiday season!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does love need words? I sit down with anthropologist and author, Danilyn Rutherford, to explore Beautiful Mystery, her memoir about raising Millie, a luminous daughter who communicates beyond speech, and the radical shift that happens when language stops being the measure of a life. We trace her craft journey and discuss how Danilyn brings an anthropologist’s eye to family life, reckoning with the field’s history around eugenics and capacity while arguing for a social definition of personhood: we are human because we hold one another up. We are human, simply, because we are. That lens reframes speech therapy from “fixing” to curiosity. The result is a powerful invitation to meet people where they are and to see communication as more than words.  The conversation also moves through sudden loss-- Danilyn’s husband Craig died when their children were six and three-- and the quiet, practical ways grief reshapes a home. From there we widen the lens to advocacy: why caregiver wages, Medicaid access, and immigrant labor are the backbone of a functioning care system; how austerity and border crackdowns make families more fragile; and why investing in communication access is a justice issue.   Press play for an intimate conversation about parenting, grief, ethics, and the politics of care. If the episode resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more women’s memoirs, and leave a review with the moment that shifted your view of communication.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchIf you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback!Link to this episode’s book:Beautiful MysteryOther links: https://communicationfirst.org/ https://nod.org/ Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg Beautiful Lives by Stephen UnwinThe Question of Unworthy Life by Dagmar Herzog  Transcripts are available through apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode Connect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you honor the ones you love?Our guest, author and maker Ashley Russell, brings her grandmother, Wanda’s, kitchen back to life with a cozy, retro-modern cookbook that feels like a hug and reads like a memoir. We dig into how a granddaughter turned a private archive into a public heirloom, complete with tattoo-style illustrations, candid photos, and DIY food shots that celebrate mess and memory over perfection. Ashley walks us through gathering 300 recipes and shaping a tight, test-driven collection that honors regional roots and lived history. We get the stories behind “top secret” favorites, the delightfully divisive WTF chapter, and why dishes like liver and onions or milk toast still matter. You’ll hear how the book’s cardstock pages invite cocoa smudges and notes in the margins, how a decade-by-decade photo collage reveals a family in motion, and how a Spotify playlist ties together the songs Wanda loved—from mid-century standards to a modern country croon she played late in life. This conversation is also a master class in creative resilience: funding through community, trusting pivots, and defining a clear North Star (your point of view!). Ashley shares how a tattoo flash became food Kewpies, why she shot the food herself, and how staying vulnerable and afraid might be the key to the best art. We explore cooking as care, a feminist choice, and a small act of rebellion against disposable culture. Our hands are busy, phones are down, hearts are open. If you’ve ever wanted to preserve your family’s flavors or make art that feels true, you’ll find practical tips and a lot of courage here. Subscribe for more story-rich conversations about books, craft, and the rituals that keep us human. If this episode stirred a memory, share it with someone you love and leave a review so others can find the show. Your kitchen table might be the start of the next great family archive.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchIf you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback!Link to this episode’s book:What’s Cooking Good LookingOther links:Sad Puppy TattoosTranscripts are available through apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me.Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my new friend, Ashley! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to keep becoming? We dive into Michelle Obama’s memoir with a candid, hopeful conversation about where identity starts, how it stretches, and why purpose, not pageantry, changes lives. Becoming is more than a political memoir; it’s a field guide for growth when the ground shifts under your feet. From a tight-knit South Side home to Princeton lecture halls and the relentless spotlight of the White House, we follow the real work behind “Becoming”: respecting kids as full people, naming systemic barriers without losing heart, and finding tools for reflection that actually fit your life. We talk about confidence as a practice, not a trait, and the power of saying yes to yourself when the room says no. You’ll hear how Michelle reframed the First Lady role around substance and how those choices challenged corporate norms while building common ground. We also get real about the invisible labor of women, the racialized scrutiny that followed her every outfit and sentence, and the line that still echoes: grief and resilience live together.  If news fatigue has dimmed your hope, this episode offers practical ways to protect it: curate your inputs, seek help when you need it, and anchor to community. We share simple habits: quiet walks, gratitude notes, honest check-ins that keep optimism alive without ignoring pain. It’s a warm, grounded tour through the memoir’s biggest lessons on leadership, partnership, and civic action, designed for anyone asking how to stay human and useful when progress stalls.  Come for the stories; leave with a sturdier stance. If this conversation resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchIf you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback!Link to this episode’s book:Michelle Obama’s “Becoming”Transcripts are available through apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Jaime!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If belonging feels like love, purpose, and family… how do you tell when it’s actually something darker?In this episode, we sit with the hard truths behind Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir Dinner for Vampires. Through the quiet metaphor of a “meal” that slowly turns devouring, Joy reveals how a search for purpose and belonging can be manipulated by those who feed on vulnerability. We explore the slow erosion of identity, the psychological grip of coercive groups, and the courage it takes to push back from a table that was never nourishing you. This conversation looks beyond the headlines and asks what it really means to reclaim your voice after years spent in the shadows.We talk cult dynamics 101: us-versus-them thinking, leaders without oversight, and the chilling rule Joy names so clearly: “in a cult, safety means agreement." Still, this isn’t a story about losing faith; it’s about reclaiming it.If you want a gripping, clear-eyed look at coercive control, Hollywood pressure, and the courage it takes to walk away, press play. Then join the conversation: subscribe, share this with a friend who loves memoirs and media. If you like what you hear, please leave a review!If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 15 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchBuy Dinner For VampiresOther Links: Watch A Biltmore Christmas Which Disney Princess Are You? Psalty’s Salvation Celebration Variety- One Tree Hill Cast, Crew Detail Assault, Harassment Claims Against Mark Schwahn Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Technical editing done by Brianna Picone. Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Priscilla! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can you reclaim your truth and your power?We’re diving into Horse Barbie, Geena Rocero’s radiant and illuminating memoir that shows her journey from a one-room home in Manila, Philippians, to trans pageants, from the perfume counter at Macy’s to New York fashion sets, and from private, suffocating, fear to a TED Talk that reframed transness as power. Along the way, we discuss her father’s complicated love, her mother’s unwavering belief and reflect on what can spark when the people who matter most tell you there’s nothing wrong with you. Geena’s story and memoir widens from personal to political: pre-colonial history without gendered pronouns, the costs of documentation that doesn’t match your face, and the power of her viral TED Talk to turn shame into strength. We sit with the big questions: Why is femininity seen as a threat? How do entertainment and policy diverge? What changes when a community moves from visibility to rights? By the end, Horse Barbie reads like a manual for courage. It shows how story becomes strategy and how one woman’s voice can help many step out of the shadows.If you care about trans rights, immigration, pageant culture, modeling, or the way love can change a life, this conversation brings nuance, warmth, and a clear takeaway: policy matters, family matters, and stories move hearts faster than arguments ever will. If the conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a hopeful, human lens on trans life and advocacy.If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 24 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchBuy Horse BarbieOther Links:Evan Hurst substack Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Jaime! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if home isn’t a place you find, but a place you build step by step? I sit down with author and family physician, Brittany Penner, to unpack Children Like Us: A Métis Woman's Memoir of Family, Identity and Walking Herself Home, her powerful Métis memoir about identity, adoption, and the radical work of healing. From being carried out of the hospital by a social worker to navigating a white Mennonite upbringing, Brittany traces how the Sixties Scoop shaped her beginnings and how lineage still insists on being seen-- in faces, gestures, and the stories that refuse to disappear.Brittany shares the artistic leap that changed everything: throwing away a 100,000-word draft(!!!) and rebuilding the book through photographs and VHS tapes. We talk about using images to verify memory, honor body knowledge, and write with precision without losing lyric grace. She opens up about medicine too and reveals how tending to her own pain transformed how she advocates for Indigenous women in clinical settings, why believing someone can be the most clinical act of all, and how she protects joy in her creative life so it doesn’t calcify under the weight of systems.At the heart of this conversation is a simple practice with a profound arc: walking herself home. After a separation that reawakened old losses, Brittany found steadiness in daily walks, watching seasons turn as grief softened. We explore found family, kinship that ignores the word “half,” and the way motherhood reframes generational trauma with tenderness and resolve. If you’re wrestling with where you belong, how to write your truth, or how to hold hope when hope feels heavy, this episode offers a map that is honest and quietly brave.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick review. Your words help others find these conversations :) And if you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchBuy Brittany Penner's "Children Like Us"Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know.   This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my new friend, Brittany! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a treat! This month's Bonus Episode: What Lies Beneath is available for all! No subscription required :)PLEASE if you have not watched the movie, do that first and then listen to this episode!My friend, Priscilla, stops in for a deep dive into why this psychological thriller still stings: Michelle Pfeiffer’s nerve and nuance, Harrison Ford’s brilliant portrayal, and Robert Zemeckis’s love letter to Hitchcock that uses mirrors, windows, and water to make the ordinary feel unsafe.We unpack the film’s design from the ground up, including a Nantucket-style lake house built to glow in daylight and brood at dusk, multiple bathroom sets engineered for those impossible angles, and CGI used with restraint: steam that writes, reflections that betray, a ghost that returns for one exquisite moment of justice. The camera starts at eye level and sinks lower as dread rises, and Alan Silvestri’s score threads anxiety through every door creak and bathtub ripple. It’s meticulous craft serving a clean, propulsive plot: seance to possession, repressed memory to reveal, paralytic serum to bathtub suffocation, bridge crash to lakebed truth.At the heart is a theme that still resonates-- how a woman’s intuition gets minimized when her evidence looks like superstition. Claire’s haunted house becomes a map of gaslighting—neighbors who might be violent, a husband who “cares,” a past smudged by trauma. Step by step, the film tests what we believe and why, until the lake gives up what the living tried to hide. Whether you think the marketing blunted the twist or simply reframed the suspense, the story’s spine holds: nothing stays buried forever.If you loved the breakdown, check out our Bonus Episodes (available on Patreon or Apple Podcasts) for more smart deep dives! Connect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the phrases you hear in a workout could actually carry you through the hardest chapters of your life? My friend Suz and I sat down with Emma Lovewell’s memoir, "Live Learn Love Well", and followed the thread from the bike to real-world resilience: family roots on Martha’s Vineyard, the ache of divorce, the shock of loss, and the steady return to self through movement, mindfulness, and self-respect. We talk about why “progress, not perfection” is more than a punchy motto—it’s a practical way to live when goals get heavy and life gets loud. You’ll hear how Emma’s early exposure to meditation and her mother’s fearless body comfort set the tone for emotional tools that actually work. We also dig into gardening as a life practice: patience, compost as “valuable trash,” and the deep peace of tending something you can control when everything else feels uncertain.  Her care your identity shines through every page as Emma aims to help us all discover our Voice. She shares what it meant to feel caught between cultures as a half Chinese woman, and how a trip to Taiwan reframed belonging as a bridge rather than a gap. Suz and I reflect on forgiving without forgetting and learning to shout out your wins—big and small—so opportunities can find you. If you need a reset that blends therapy-backed tools with sweat-tested wisdom, this conversation meets you where you are and walks beside you, one honest rep at a time. If this resonated, follow and subscribe, share with a friend who loves Peloton or a good memoir, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more curious listeners find the show and build their own best days.If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 7 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchBuy “Live Learn Love Well”Suz and I’s favorite mantras: Tunde’s “It’s a great day to have a great day!”“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only option” Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know.  This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Suz!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A crowded waiting room where no one speaks. That image frames my conversation with author Amy Gallo Ryan, whose memoir You May Feel a Bit of Pressure captures the invisible weight of infertility. Its medical routines, social silences, and the way hope can both carry and cut. We dig into why she wrote the book she couldn’t find, how ten years of drafting and revising turned chaos into story, and what it means to share the truth when the truth isn’t tidy.Amy walks us through the physical and emotional toll of treatment (which includes Clomid, IUI, and IVF) and the quieter ruptures few people see: friendships painfully pushed away, a life controlled by injection routines and months of hope lost to blood work results, and a body that starts to feel separate from the self. We talk about identity, shame, and the primal pull to parent that defies tidy logic. We also pull back the curtain on publishing: querying too early, near‑misses, parting with an agent, and ultimately finding the right indie press. If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs to feel seen, and leave a review telling us what moment stayed with you. It helps others find the stories that help them feel less alone.Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchBuy Amy's memoir Transcripts are available through apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and edited by me.Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my new friend, Amy. Your book is beautiful and so are you!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it feel like when your voice is taken from you? In Britney Spears' groundbreaking memoir "The Woman in Me," we finally hear directly from the pop icon herself after years of silence enforced by a suffocating conservatorship.Reading this memoir alongside my good friend Lizzie was a profound experience. Britney's story isn't just celebrity gossip; it's a stark warning about how easily a woman's autonomy can be stripped away under the guise of "protection." While she was creating chart-topping albums and performing sold-out Vegas residencies, her father controlled every aspect of her life, even pocketing more of her earnings than she received herself!!!The book reframes moments we thought we understood through a completely different lens. That head-shaving incident? A desperate act of rebellion from a mother who'd been blocked from seeing her children. Those "erratic" public appearances? Often the result of being drugged without her consent. Throughout it all, Britney clung to performing as her sanctuary (she writes, "When I sing, I own who I am") even as that gift was weaponized against her.What struck me most was Britney's resilience and grace. Despite everything she endured, from the cruel public scrutiny of her body as a teenager to having her children used as leverage against her, she never completely lost her sense of self or her capacity for joy. Her journey from "passive, people-pleasing girl to strong, confident woman" offers inspiration to anyone who has felt silenced.This memoir serves as both personal catharsis and cultural reckoning. How do we treat women in the spotlight? Why do we place impossible expectations on them? And how did we allow a system to imprison someone in plain sight for thirteen years? Britney's powerful declaration that "You have to speak the thing that you're feeling, even if it scares you" isn't just her healing manifesto, it's a call to all of us to examine how we participate in a culture that both elevates and destroys the women we claim to admire.Join us for this deeply moving conversation about freedom, voice, and the courage to reclaim your narrative against all odds. Share your thoughts with us on Instagram @babesinbooklandpod—we'd love to hear which parts of Britney's story resonated most with you.If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 10 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:Buy us a bookBuy cute merchBuy “The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Lizzie! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a woman refuses to remain nameless? Chanel Miller's extraordinary memoir "Know My Name" transforms her painful journey from sexual assault victim to powerful advocate with unflinching honesty and surprising grace. In this deeply moving discussion, my friend, Becca, and I explore how Chanel reclaimed her identity after being known only as "Emily Doe" in the highly publicized Stanford sexual assault case. Beyond the headlines that focused on her attacker's swimming career, we discover the full impact of trauma on her life. Chanel takes us from the immediate aftermath in a hospital room to the years-long battle through a legal system that so often fails survivors. The conversation delves into the impossible standards placed on victims: the expectation to be the "perfect victim," the scrutiny of every life choice, and the burden of proving their own worth against a society eager to protect perpetrators. We examine how Chanel's victim impact statement, which reached millions when published anonymously, created a watershed moment in how we discuss sexual assault. We reflect on Chanel's ultimate message of hope and resilience. Despite the trauma she endured, she reminds us that "from grief, confidence has grown" and "from anger, stemmed purpose." Her story isn't simply about survival-– it's about transformation, both personal and societal. For parents wondering how to protect their children in an often-dangerous world, for anyone who has experienced trauma, or for those seeking to understand the true cost of sexual violence, this episode offers a profound meditation on justice, healing, and the revolutionary power of speaking truth.This week's episode is available for free in its entirety. Have you read “Know My Name"? Share your thoughts with us! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy “Know My Name” by Chanel MillerOther links:"What Were You Wearing?" art installation"What Was I Wearing?" Poem by Mary Simmerling "The She Made Him Do It Theory of Everything" by Rebecca SolnitRAINN Sexual Violence StatisticsRAINN (National Sexual Assault Hotline) 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know.  This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me.Technical editing by Brianna Picone Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Becca! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when we confront the ways we've perpetuated stereotypes?Kaila Yu joins me to discuss her raw, unflinching journey from pin up girl and import model to memoirist.Kaila's memoir "Fetishized" emerged from the aftermath of the Atlanta spa shootings, forcing her to reckon with her own relationship with Asian fetishization. With remarkable candor, she reveals how she initially welcomed the attention that came with being an "exotic" Asian American woman after feeling invisible during her youth. "Getting older and discovering there are people who like us, it's like a compliment at first," she explains, before describing how this validation ultimately became a trap.Her memoir weaves in fascinating historical context, exposing how military occupation and media stereotypes created the dual images of Asian women as both submissive geishas and dangerous dragon ladies. And Kaila doesn't shy away from difficult subjects, including her experiences with substance abuse, cosmetic surgery, and sexual assault. Her reflections on changing her name from Elaine to Kyla reveal a poignant attempt to escape feelings of inadequacy—creating a character she thought the world would find more valuable than her authentic self.What makes this discussion particularly powerful is Kaila's willingness to examine her own complicity in these systems before finding a path toward healing. Through therapy and self-reflection, she's learned to embrace her authentic identity while using her experiences to educate others and articulating how fetishization disguises objectification as appreciation.Have you considered how stereotypes might be shaping your own perceptions? Listen to this episode for an enlightening conversation that will challenge assumptions and expand your understanding of how race, gender, and media intersect in today's world.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchHave you read “Fetishized"? Share your thoughts with us! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy "Fetishized" by Kaila Yu Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and edited by me.  Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to Kaila and Lisa! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What defines beauty, and who decides if we're worthy of love? In this deeply personal conversation about Alison Landa's memoir "Bearded Lady," my friend, Misty, and I explore the profound struggle of living with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), condition that causes excessive body hair growth, and the lifelong journey toward self-acceptance.Allison's story begins in childhood when her mother, rather than filling a prescription that could help manage her condition, simply teaches her to shave. This moment sets the stage for years of struggle with both her physical appearance and her self-worth. Through bullying, failed treatments, and romantic disappointments, Allison questions whether she'll ever find acceptance... from others or herself.As we unpack this powerful memoir, we weave in their own experiences with body image, parenting, and the search for self-acceptance. Misty, pregnant during recording, shares candid reflections about her changing body and her fears about motherhood while I talk about my own experience with bullying due to body hair. We hope our conversation creates a safe space to discuss the vulnerability we all face in our bodies.The episode culminates with Allison's discovery that wanting to change something about yourself isn't always about conforming to society's standards—sometimes it's simply about honoring your own desires. Her eventual finding of love with someone who accepts her completely while supporting her choices provides a beautiful resolution to her journey.This conversation will resonate with anyone who has ever felt defined by something they wish to change about themselves, or who has questioned where the line between self-acceptance and self-improvement truly lies. Join us for this thoughtful exploration of the burden—and beauty—of being human.Subscribe now to hear more thought-provoking discussions about books that explore women's diverse experiences and the courage to live authentically.For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 43 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchHave you read “Bearded Lady"? Share your thoughts with us! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy “Bearded Lady” by Allison Landa Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Technical editing by Brianna Picone Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Misty! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do our pets make us better people?My friend, Priscilla, and I think so! We chat about this idea and more as we discuss Dr. Amy Attas’ memoir "Pets and the City: True Tales of a Manhattan House Call Veterinarian."When Dr. Amy Attas found herself unexpectedly fired from a prestigious Manhattan veterinary clinic, she did something revolutionary—she launched the city's first full-time veterinary house call practice. What began as a professional setback blossomed into a groundbreaking career that has touched the lives of over 14,000 pets and their devoted owners.  Through her memoir, Dr. Amy opens the door to the intimate world of in-home veterinary care, where examining rooms are luxury penthouses, celebrity apartments, and modest walk-ups alike. With compassion and wit, she recounts unforgettable encounters with clients ranging from Joan Rivers (who became both patient and cherished friend) to Billy Joel and even Cher, whose impromptu plane examination led to an unexpected naked consultation. Beyond the glitz, Dr. Amy masterfully captures the profound emotional landscape of caring for beloved animals in their own territories. The heart of this memoir lies in the sacred human-animal bond that transcends social status and circumstance. Dr. Amy doesn't shy away from difficult topics, like the ethical dilemmas when owners refuse life-saving treatments, the heartbreaking decisions around end-of-life care, and the remarkable resilience of animals with disabilities. Her stories remind us that our pets see us at our most authentic selves, bearing witness to our vulnerabilities while offering unconditional love in return. Through her own journey of pet loss and renewal, she offers gentle wisdom about grief and the courage to love again. Whether you're a devoted pet parent, considering adoption, or simply fascinated by the extraordinary connections between humans and animals, these true tales from Manhattan's pioneering house call veterinarian will transform how you understand the furry companions who make our worlds infinitely richer. Dr. Amy's remarkable journey proves that sometimes the most healing medicine comes with four paws, a wagging tail, and the ability to make any apartment feel like home. Subscribe now to hear more thought-provoking discussions about books that explore women's diverse experiences and the courage to live authentically.For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 23 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:Buy us a book Buy cute merchHave you read “Pets and the City"? Share your thoughts with us! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy “Pets and the City” by Dr. Amy Attas Other links: volunteer.org https://www.wcs.org/96-elephantsHeather’s Custom Pets This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Technical editing by Brianna PiconeTheme song by Devon Kennedy Special thanks to my dear frConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when you choose a life without children in a world that expects motherhood? Maria Coffey's memoir "Instead: Navigating Adventures of a Childfree Life" explores this question through her extraordinary journey from near-death experiences to global adventures. My friend, Jaime, and I discuss her inspiring conviction to live her life on her own terms. Through vivid storytelling, we travel alongside Maria from her 1950s Catholic upbringing to her daring escape from traditional expectations. Her near-drowning experience at 21 became a pivotal moment, giving her clarity about life's fragility and the courage to chase her dreams despite her mother's disapproval. "I had to make my own life," Maria declares, words that become her north star as she builds an adventurous existence with her husband. What makes this memoir extraordinary isn't just Maria's global kayaking expeditions or her successful travel business, but how she finds meaningful connections with children despite her choice not to have her own. Her relationships with Bok in Vietnam and Agnes in Kenya reveal that motherhood comes in many forms and our opportunities to have a positive effect on another are endless.  "Instead" challenges us to consider what makes a fulfilling life and reminds us that our choices don't require justification, even when they break tradition. Have you ever felt pressured to follow someone else's dream for your life? Maria's story might just give you the courage to follow your own. Subscribe now to hear more thought-provoking discussions about books that explore women's diverse experiences and the courage to live authentically.For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 8 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show:Buy us a book Buy cute merchHave you read “Instead"? Share your thoughts with us! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy “Instead” By Maria Coffey Learn more about SOS Children’s Villages Transcripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Technical editing by Brianna Picone Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Jaime. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What shapes who we become? Is it the milestones we achieve, the people we love, or the pain we endure?Sarah Gormley's "The Order of Things: A Memoir of Chasing Joy" offers no simple answers, but instead invites us into the beautiful messiness of one woman's journey toward self-acceptance and self-love. When Sarah returns to her family farm to care for her dying mother, she's at a crossroads. She’s burnt out from a corporate career that never fulfilled her and haunted by a relentless inner voice telling her she's worthless despite her external success. What unfolds is far from the typical grief memoir. Between caring for her mother as she dies, Sarah unexpectedly falls in love with her brother's childhood friend, Camillus, and begins dismantling the protective walls she's built around herself. The book's non-linear format mirrors life's unpredictable nature. It jumps between Sarah's childhood memories, therapy sessions with the insightful (and amazing!!) David, raw moments at her mother's bedside, and all the ways Sarah's life is still expanding. We witness her unraveling the origins of her perfectionism and my friend, Colleen, and I discuss our own personal parallels to Sarah’s journey. We chat about our core beliefs, finding and accepting love, and more.Through grief, love, and persistent self-examination, Sarah eventually learns to silence her inner critic and open herself to joy—not because she's earned it through achievement, but because she finally recognizes she deserves it simply by existing. Ready to reconsider your own timeline and the voices you've allowed to define your worth? Dive into this transformative memoir that reminds us all that the most meaningful journeys rarely follow the order we expect.Content advisory: we do discuss Sarah's eating disorder.For the extended discussion of this episode (an additional 32 min), subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Patreon.Support the show: Buy us a book Buy cute merchHave you read “The Order of Things"? Share your thoughts with us! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy “The Order of Things” by Sarah Gormley https://sarahgormleygallery.com/Support two wonderful organizations aimed to help women:kherut.orgtostan.orgLearn more about Richard RohrTranscripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know.  This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me.Technical editing by Brianna Picone Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Colleen. You are our happy monster. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the fairy tale turns out to be a gilded cage? In part two this raw and revealing exploration, we continue our conversation about Crystal Hefner's memoir "Only Say Good Things" alongside Holly Madison's "Down the Rabbit Hole" to uncover the dark reality behind the Playboy Mansion's glamorous façade. The conversation peels back layers of manipulation, control, and psychological erosion that defined life for Hugh Hefner's girlfriends. Despite the surface-level luxuries—weekly allowances, on-demand meals, and leisure time—both women describe a suffocating environment of strict curfews, surveillance, and emotional abuse. "It was an invisible trap framed by the language of choice," Crystal writes, capturing how even their apparent freedom was an illusion. Brett and I thoughtfully explore the complexity of these women's experiences, wrestling with challenging questions: Why didn't they just leave? What kept them returning? How do we reconcile their agency with the manipulation they faced? Through this nuanced discussion, we try to understand how gradually these women lost their sense of identity and worth outside the mansion's walls—to the point where both became suicidal and required medication for depression. Crystal's journey—escaping, returning, marrying Hefner, and finally finding herself after his death—ultimately offers hope. "I used to only say good things, but now I say whatever I want," she concludes, reclaiming her voice after years of silence. Her story reminds us that true freedom isn't about material luxury but about maintaining your identity, even in the most golden of cages. Join us for this powerful conversation about power dynamics, self-worth, and the courage it takes to finally tell your truth.Subscribe now to hear the full episode and support women's stories being told in their own words.Listener discretion advised: this episode includes adult language and discussion about sexual abuse and traumaSupport the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merch If you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback! If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Link to this episodes books:Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly MadisonThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me.Technical editing by Brianna PiconTheme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Brett!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crystal Hefner's memoir "Only Say Good Things" takes us behind the glittering façade of the Playboy Mansion into a world of manipulation, trauma, and ultimately, self-discovery. Brett joins me to unpack this raw, unflinching account that exposes the dark reality of Hugh Hefner's empire and the psychological toll it took on the women within it.Our conversation doesn't shy away from difficult truths. We explore how Crystal's early trauma—losing her father at age 12 and experiencing multiple sexual assaults—created patterns that made her vulnerable to manipulation. "I wanted a mother, but she wanted a new man," Crystal writes about her mother's response to grief, setting the stage for a lifetime of seeking validation from men. Her journey from a self-destructive 22-year-old to Hugh Hefner's girlfriend and eventually his wife reveals how easily vulnerable young women were pulled into this predatory environment.What makes this discussion particularly compelling is how it compares Crystal's experiences with those of Holly Madison from "Down the Rabbit Hole." The similarities are striking: both women entered believing they had power in the relationship, only to discover they were being systematically broken down and controlled. We examine how Hefner created a competitive environment among his girlfriends, using their insecurities to maintain control while presenting a sanitized version of his life to the public through shows like "The Girls Next Door."The memoir challenges us to question broader cultural issues around sexual exploitation, consent, and the way society often blames victims rather than confronting predatory behavior. In part one, as Brett and I discuss Crystal's early years up until that fateful night she attended the Halloween party at the  mansion when her life changed forever.Join us for this thought-provoking two-part conversation that goes beyond celebrity gossip to examine the psychological impact of exploitation and the long, complex path to reclaiming one's identity and worth. This is more than just a memoir review—it's a window into how trauma shapes our choices and how even the most broken paths can eventually lead to healing.Listener discretion advised: this episode includes adult language and discussion about sexual abuse and traumaSupport the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merch If you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback! If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Link to this episode’s books:Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner Down the Rabbit Hole by Holly MadisonThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Technical editing by Brianna PiconeTheme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Brett!Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the shame you've carried your entire life isn't yours to bear?In this unflinchingly honest memoir, Melissa Petro invites us on her journey from girlhood to empowered womanhood, challenging us to examine the roots of our own shame along the way.Growing up with a mother who overshared inappropriate details and a father who maintained separate lives, Melissa absorbed confusing messages about her worth from an early age. As she navigated adolescence and sexual awakening, she found herself internalizing the message that her pleasure and needs were secondary to men's. These early experiences laid the groundwork for a complicated relationship with shame that would follow her into adulthood.When financial necessity led Melissa to work in strip clubs during college, she discovered an unexpected sense of power and autonomy, yet simultaneously battled societal judgment and her own conflicting feelings. This inner turmoil intensified years later when, after establishing herself as a dedicated elementary school teacher, she wrote an article about her past sex work experience. The resulting media firestorm and forced resignation became a crucible that ultimately strengthened her resolve to live authentically.Through meticulous research and deeply personal storytelling, Melissa illuminates how shame functions as a control mechanism, particularly for women. She unpacks the impossible, often contradictory standards society imposes: be sexy but not too sexy, be assertive but not aggressive, be a perfect mother while maintaining your career and identity. By naming these paradoxical expectations, she helps us recognize the external forces that trigger our own feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness.The true power of this memoir lies in Melissa's practical guidance for building shame resilience. Rather than fighting shame—which only creates internal war—she advocates for accepting and understanding our feelings while developing critical awareness of shame's external sources. Her emphasis on storytelling as healing reminds us that shame thrives in isolation and silence but dissolves in community and connection.My friend, NA, and I discuss the reflections that we had during and after reading Melissa's powerful memoir, including our own shame triggers, our efforts to stop the "shame cycle" and how to build shame resilience. The best way? Sharing our stories and our shames. Whether you're grappling with body image issues, sexual history, motherhood challenges, or any other source of shame, Melissa's compassionate wisdom offers a path toward self-forgiveness and authentic living. Ready to unburden yourself from shame that was never yours to carry? Have you read “Shame on You"? Share your thoughts with us! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy “Shame on You” by Melissa Petro Melissa's article: Thoughts From a Former Craigslist Sex Worker https://www.melissa-petro.com/articlesSupport the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchTranscripts Connect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a life valuable? When Heather Lanier's daughter was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS)-- a rare condition affecting just 1 in 50,000 births-- she was forced to confront just how deeply our society ranks human worth based on "normalcy". My cousin, Kimmy, joins me to share her parallel journey raising a daughter with septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and how it mirrors Heather’s powerful and moving memoir. Join us as we dive into the raw reality of hearing doctors casually deliver life-altering diagnoses before switching to weekend plans, the crushing weight of being asked if you took drugs during pregnancy when your baby isn't "perfect," and the constant battle for resources that should be basic rights. Kimmy's experience moving from a small town to access better services for her daughter highlights the geographical lottery of disability support in America. The conversation takes a powerful turn toward current politics when Kimmy articulates how budget cuts and attacks on diversity initiatives directly threaten children like hers. "80% of the visually impaired community is unemployed because we've been lacking in our support and inclusion," she reveals, challenging the notion that eliminating DEI somehow benefits society.  Both mothers reject the idea that their daughters exist to teach others gratitude or perspective. Instead, they celebrate their children's determination, joy, and inherent worth. In her memoir, Heather writes, "I had to die to some version of myself, the desperate, clinging, distraught version who wanted what her child was not." Whether you're a parent navigating special needs, someone curious about disability perspectives, or simply seeking to expand your understanding of human diversity, this episode offers profound insights that will transform how you see value, ability, and the unexpected paths that sometimes lead to our greatest growth. This episode will make you question what you've been conditioned to value and why—and whether we're creating a world that truly welcomes everyone.Have you read “Raising a Rare Girl"? Share your thoughts with us! We'd love to hear which parts of Heather and Kimmy's journeys resonated most with you! Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy “Raising a Rare Girl” by Heather LanierTranscripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and edited by me.Theme song by Devin Kennedy Special thanks to my dear friend, Kimmy. I’ve always been in awe of your strength and determination. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you shine light on the dark parts of your life?Jessica Simpson's memoir, Open Book, is a raw, unfiltered truth from a woman who spent years living her life in the public eye while hiding her deepest struggles. In this heartfelt conversation, my friend, Lizzie, and I unpack Jessica's journey from a pastor's daughter with childhood trauma to pop princess to billion-dollar business mogul. Plus, we explore the profound impact these experiences (plus childhood trauma) had on her identity and relationships.Jessica's memoir reveals devastating childhood experiences including sexual abuse that went unaddressed by her parents, creating patterns that would follow her throughout life. We examine how the entertainment industry shaped her from age 17, when Columbia Records executive, Tommy Mottola, demanded she lose fifteen pounds – beginning a twenty-year battle with diet pills and body image. The discussion turns to her relationships, particularly her marriage to Nick Lachey and the reality show "Newlyweds" that transformed them into "actors in their own lives," and her emotionally manipulative relationship with John Mayer.What makes Jessica's story so compelling isn't just her celebrity status, but her remarkable self-awareness about her struggles with addiction, body image, and seeking validation. Her journey toward sobriety and self-acceptance resonates whether you've followed her career or not. We chat about the incredible fashion empire Jessica built that focused on her commitment to serving women of all body types... even as the media scrutinized her own physical appearance.This episode celebrates Jessica's resilience and hard-won wisdom. Her powerful realization that "we need to own our weakness, our hurt, our pain and say it out loud" serves as inspiration for anyone working to overcome their past. Have you read Open Book? Share your thoughts with us! We'd love to hear which parts of Jessica's journey resonated most with you. Connect with us @babesinbooklandpod or email [email protected] you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Buy Open Book by Jessica SimpsonTranscripts are available through Apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me.Theme song by Devin Kennedy.Special thanks to my dear friend, Lizzie. You always provide a safe space for me to bare all. Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the system you joined to fight injustice turns out to be part of the problem? Anna Dorn's memoir "Bad Lawyer" takes readers on a journey through the disillusionment that awaits idealistic young lawyers who enter the profession wanting to make a difference. My friend, Cara (a retired lawyer!) and I discuss how to stay hopeful and find the positives in a "bad" criminal justice system.Though she refers to law as a "hideous heirloom" passed down from her father and grandfather, Anna aims to be one of the "good lawyers" defending vulnerable populations rather than corporations. Because she was able to attend law school fully paid for, she writes she can avoid the "golden handcuffs" shackling so many other well-intentioned lawyers.Anna's memoir shines brightest when exposing the stark realities of America's criminal justice system. Through her work with juvenile offenders and marginalized communities, Dorn reveals how the system serves to "enforce social stratification" rather than deliver justice. She unflinchingly describes a world where most of her clients share identical backgrounds—abuse, poverty, racial disadvantage, and mental illness—trapped in a cycle that offers no real path to rehabilitation.Anna's powerful and honest self-assessment as a "bad lawyer" who couldn't embrace the system's rigid rules speaks to anyone who's questioned their career path. Her journey reminds us that true fulfillment often lies beyond the expectations others set for us, and that sometimes the most meaningful way to fight injustice is to tell its story.Listener discretion advised: this episode includes adult languageSupport the show:On Patreon Buy us a book Buy cute merchShow Links:Enneagram Test Death Penalty Statistics Countries with Death Penalty The Danish Prison System The States Project Five Calls If you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback! If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Link to this episode’s book:Bad Lawyer by Anna DornTranscripts are available through apple’s podcast appThis episode is produced, recorded, and its content edited by me. Technical editing by Brianna PTheme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, Cara. My article sharing angel! Xx, AlexConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can you grow toward the light?When geobiologist Hope Jahren picks up a seed, she sees what most of us miss – not just a potential plant, but a living testament to survival against impossible odds. In Lab Girl, Jahren's extraordinary memoir, these botanical insights become profound metaphors for human resilience, determination, and growth. Join my friend, Page, and I as we dig into this moving memoir. Opening the laboratory doors wide, Jahren invites us into the challenging world of scientific research, where curiosity fuels discovery but funding dictates survival. "Ask a science professor what she worries about," she writes with candid honesty, "She'll look you in the eye and say one word: money." Through her experiences, we witness the precarious balancing act of pursuing knowledge in a system that often undervalues curiosity-driven research. What truly elevates this memoir is Hope's unique ability to weave together scientific exploration with deeply personal narrative. Her friendship with lab partner, Bill, transcends conventional relationships, forming an unbreakable bond forged through shared passion and mutual understanding. Meanwhile, her raw accounts of navigating academia as a woman, managing bipolar disorder, and embracing unexpected motherhood reveal a scientist whose humanity is as remarkable as her intellect. Throughout the book, Hope's botanical chapters serve as poetic interludes, illuminating connections between plant biology and human experience. When she observes that "people are like plants, they grow toward the light," or that trees are "both impossible and inevitable," she offers wisdom that resonates far beyond laboratory walls. Each scientific observation becomes a meditation on persistence, adaptation, and finding one's place in the world. Plant a tree after reading Lab Girl, as Hope suggests. Watch it grow and consider its perspective. In doing so, you might discover what she learned through years of scientific inquiry and personal growth – that understanding the natural world helps us better understand ourselves, and that even the most remarkable lives begin as seeds, waiting for their chance to flourish.P.S. Make sure you listen for the secret question you can answer to be entered to win a money tree! Enter by DMing me @babesinbooklandpod !!!!Listener discretion advised: this episode includes adult languageSupport the showOn PatreonBuy us a bookBuy cute merchIf you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email [email protected]. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback! If you leave a kind review, I might read it at top of show!Link to this episode’s book:Lab Girl by Hope JahrenTranscripts are available through apple’s podcast app—they may not be perfect, but relying on them allows me to dedicate more time to the show! If you’re interested in being a transcript angel, let me know. This episode is produced, recorded, and edited by me.Theme song by Devin KennedySpecial thanks to my dear friend, PaConnect with us and suggest a great memoir!Follow us on instagram! @babesinbooklandpod  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.