Life of Plenty

On this episode of the Life of Plenty podcast, Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael discuss the sharp decline in reading amongst families across the United States. They discuss what family reading can do for children's growth as well as the multitude of benefits it can bring to families as a whole. Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

On this episode of the Life of Plenty podcast, hosts Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael discuss the world of children's books, and how finding a good book for your child can make all the difference in their life. They also talk about self-care literature, and how it can make an instant impact on your every day life! Listen To The Life of Plenty Podcast Today!

On this episode of the Life of Plenty podcast, Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael interview one another about the books they've been reading all of 2025! They give suggestions and go into depth on the fun and exciting world of reading! Listen To The Life of Plenty Podcast Today!

In this episode of Life of Plenty, Lettie Collier joins hosts Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Micheals to share her lifelong love of reading. She talks about growing up speaking Spanish, learning to read in English, and falling in love with books like Little House on the Prairie, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Judy Blume. Lettie shares how she’s fostered a reading culture in her home with her sons and discusses her book club, the Literary Libation Society. She also highlights her current favorite authors—including Joan Didion, Jane Austen, and V.C. Andrews—and offers recommendations for deep, thoughtful readers. Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

Ashley Michael sits down with Cigi England to talk about her journey to Tennessee, her passion for books, and her growing impact on the Cookeville community. Cigi reflects on how her love of reading has guided her entrepreneurial path. The two discuss the creation of The Exceptional Bean—a non-profit coffee shop built entirely through local support to employ individuals with special needs—and the boutique and antique offerings Cigi has cultivated. They also dive into the books that inspire their work, including Shopkeeping by Peter Miller and We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons. Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

Two very special guests join The Life Of Plenty podcast! Ann Kjellberg is a co-founder of The New York Times Book Review, award winning journalist, and writer/editor. Calvin Crosby, an independent bookstore and nonprofit founder for work with indigenous people from Utah, while also starting the California Independent Bookstore Association. Both guests join the show to discuss how they're related to the world of books, where their love for books came from, and all of the exciting and special things they've been able to accomplish in their illustrious careers! Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

Host Lisa Uhrik gives special cliff notes on The Anxious Generation by Ryan Dalton. This book is more than just a book, as it is really a community wide effort helping to bring light to the rewiring of the young generations' brains. Listen as Lisa gives insightful details, notes, and more on The Anxious Generation! Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

During this episode, listen in as Ashley Michael and Lisa Uhrik sit down with Ryan Dalton, to talk about some of his favorite reads, the work that he does for literature in our area, where he teaches, and more! Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

During this episode, our hosts Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael talk all about their mission at Plenty Bookshop and good ideas around our region. They support nonprofits through book sales. Hear about a book relating to childhood mental illness, and how Lisa/Ashley are excited about this. Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

During this episode, our host Ashley Michael sits down with her husband, Tony Michael, to talk about the science of play therapy, along with many other forms. Also hear about how it relates to reading books, and how that can be therapeutic as well.

During this episode, our hosts Ashley and Lisa talk about how writing can improve our day to day lives and overall health. All of our grand ideas come from historic writing, often times from philosophers. Hear also about penmanship and turning writing into an art with fountain pens and specific notebooks/journals. Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

During this episode, our hosts Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael talk about Independent Book Store Day that is coming up on the last Saturday in April. Hear about what makes this day special to them, things they enjoy hearing from book lovers who visit their store, stories similar to their own, and more! Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

Our host Lisa Uhrik visits with the founder of Magnolia Marketing, Jodi Pitts! They talk all about how she came to love books, her favorite reads, favorite artists, recent things that she has read, and more! Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

Hosts Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down with Emily Liner who is the founder of a nonprofit bookshop in Mississippi called Friendly City Books. Hear about what inspires Emily as a leader and book enjoyer, how her book store was named, what led her to open a store, and more! Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

During this episode of The Life Of Plenty, co hosts Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down with Marissa Fike who is a clinical mental health counselor, a book and tea enthusiast, former English teacher, and author! They talk all about how books, tea, and mental health are all related. Listen To The Life Of Plenty Podcast Today!

Clarissa Murphy is the manager of Parkside Bookshop in Boston, MA. Like many booksellers, she started very young. She then became a sales rep for books, she coordinated a trolley tour for books, and has experience with all other book industries throughout the area. Listen to the Life of Plenty podcast today!

Jason is one of the nation's top experts in creating bookstores. From his home in the Northeast, his artistic career spans television, publishing and especially professional photography. What a treat to welcome him to Cookeville and to hear what books have shaped Jason on his journey so far. Listen to The Life Of Plenty today!

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down with Riley Forssell who is the bestselling stationary creator for The Plenty Bookshop. She casts flowers in resin to create ornaments, cards, displays, and more. Hear all about her work as well as updates on The Plenty Bookshop and Cookeville! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down to discuss finding a wonderful gift idea in new and used books. They also talk about Plenty book nooks, adding new (unused) books to them, what makes them the best gifts, and more! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down with Ali Olsen, who helps on the board of The Plenty Bookshop. They talk all about how books have impacted Ali, her favorite picks, upcoming events, and more! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down with Heather Badcock who was the owner of a bookshop in Oklahoma. They talk all about how the fixtures from this bookshop were transferred to Plenty bookshop here in Cookeville, as well as other topics! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael talk about a book named Bowling Alone - as well as German markets, the nutcracker, and more! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down with Dr. Ketherine Hermann-Turner who is a professor at Tennessee Tech University. They talk all about how she teaches Doctorate students how to be counselors, how to teach, her books that she has read and enjoy, and more. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael discuss the history of the American Bookstore. They also talk about what has been happening in their book store, the best new additions, and more! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley discuss the magic that comes from wordless books, and how they tell stories that books with words cannot. They also talk all about their upcoming move of the bookshop! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley discuss the best books to read out loud! Couples that read to each other, kids and parents, and more! They also talk about young adult novels and how you can gauge your exposure to mature reads. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley discuss the best beach, travel, and Summer reads. These are books that you can get away into and dive deep. More light books but also deeper ones, like fun romance books. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley discuss what makes a local book store feel different than a big box store. Plenty Bookshop is very intentional of this, and now you can hear the behind the scenes of the design. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley visit with Sara Kruszka, and they analyze the best selling books at Plenty Bookshop over the past year. Also, the best sellers so far this month and for the summer. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley discuss how to pick a book for a book club, what makes a great pick, dynamics of a club, and more. Later on, hear books that Lisa and Ashley would enjoy reading in community, and talking to others about. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley discuss the gifts of books- Mother's and Father's day are coming up and a book is the perfect gift. Something special that can relate to a parent in a way nothing else can. Each person is different, and this episode uncovers how to best pick a book for someone. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley visit with Sammantha Steele, who has been working with Plenty Bookshop since the beginning. She discusses her journey from hating to loving books, how there is a book for every person, and more. Also learn about genre reading, and exercises for going outside of a genre! New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty - Do you want to do something easy and powerful to help children who have been traumatized, adults in depression or recovery, or teens engaged in horse work for healing? There's a book that helps. Lisa and Ashley explore the way books can help in a variety of spaces that we don't normally think about. How can the cause nearest to your hear be impacted by books? New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty - Lisa and Ashley sit down as we begin Independent Bookstore Month. Ashley gives some of her gratifying experiences after almost a year at Plenty's current location, one of the shop's best sellers from last year that Lisa was able to elevate by gifting it and telling others, and a statistic that reading for just six minutes a day reduces anxiety or depression. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty - Lisa goes solo to talk about the community benefits of a bookshop during Independent Bookstore Month and clarifies how Amazon works - and doesn't work - for small town bookshops.  New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley talk about all of the book clubs one can join at Plenty Downtown Book Shop. The wide range begins with the "Bring A Book" Book Club where members can bring any book of their choosing, books that are on the horizon for the non-fiction genre, & author events that are coming to Plenty that you will not want to miss. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley visit with Tracey Hackett, a woman of many roles from a community member to on the staff of Plenty Bookshop.  She discusses what was the book that she loved that got her into reading, where she has found hope and healing through different books, & some of the books that are on Tracey's "must read" list. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty Lisa and Ashley sit down with a relative close to Ashley, her daughter and a vivacious reader Wren Michael. She talks about some of the early books that she remembers reading as a kid, what are some of the books that she is reading right now and when she likes to read them,   New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa and Ashley are excited about the author event with Jeff Rosen March 8 and explore his newly released book, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Founding Fathers and Defined America.   They also talk about other books that can provide insights for our growth including one by Lisa Uhrik, America Becoming, and the Plenty of Growth book club's picks for focus this year.  New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Ashley Michael talks with local reader and book club member Sara Kruszka. Sara talks about what her first favorite book was and the first book she remembers, the different book clubs she is apart of, and what she has read lately that would be some of her favorites. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael join one another today and break down David Brooks' "How To Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen". They touch on learning on how to connect with others deeper even if you already know them, being curious about others in the way where you don't stop the person's story, and the big five personality traits that form a person's identity. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael talk with Kathryn Wisinger, a board member for Plenty Bookshop in Cookeville & the director of Putnam County's Library system. Kathryn highlights what the library has coming up in 2024, some books that she would choose to have on her all-time bookshelf, and what the best way she believes is to help people connect with books. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

Lisa Uhrik talks with Angie Wells, a board member for Plenty On Spring Bookshop in downtown Cookeville. Angie talks about falling in love with reading around the second or third grade, the different authors she likes to read from when she wants a "light" read, and being a collector of cookbooks and enjoying getting to read those. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael sit down with author Chris McMichael after an author event earlier this week. They touch on Chris talks about what his focus was when he did not like writing in high school, how his friend reacted to the discovery of a unique resin and its relationship to Jesus Christ and a type of wood, and if he has read anything that sparked his interest to get him from point A to point B. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik talks with Emily Paton who shares a deep love and connection with books while being blind for most of her life. Emily discusses what turned her towards audio books instead of reading in Braille. what she liked about the book Full Tilt by Neal Schusterman, and if reading ever gives her the urge to get into writing more often.  New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik is joined by a local writer in the Upper Cumberland, Laura Clemons. Laura talks about what makes her a writer from non-fiction to writing press releases, how Barbara Kingsolver's latest book Demon Copperhead was transformative, and what is on her bookstand right now that she is reading. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik goes solo to talk about books she's gifting to spark a brainstorm for others. Lisa begins with discussing some of the non-fiction books she's gifting this year, some classics she is giving for people like her daughter-in-law that loves to decorate, and getting her littles back interested in books for children. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael are joined by Lisa Garcia of Cleanse Wellness Spa in Cookeville. They touch on if there are any books on the topic of what Lisa does with colon hydrotherapy, books always having a place in her life since she was a child, and ways she helps her grandchildren engage with books different from her children. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael talk about how you can give someone a gift that means so much by giving a book. They talk about gifting a book to someone that holds a lot of meaning, noticing the stories people have and encouraging them to share them in different ways, & the initiative of gifting new books to both children and adults. New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1

This week on Life of Plenty – Lisa Uhrik and Ashley Michael break down the difference of gifts versus presents. They touch on how Ashley's family began gifting books, Lisa's take on just being introduced to Frog And Toad, and Stephen Covey's book "Living Life in Crescendo" knowing that we are here for purpose.  New Life of Plenty episodes come out every other Saturday on News Talk 94-1