Podcast appearances and mentions of becky chambers

As a keen reader - teetering on the obsessive actually, I read upwards of 600 books a year - I've had to get very good at choosing which books to focus on. I want to lock-on to the right ones fast + ditch the wrong ones for me faster. AI has changed how I do that. In this solo show I share exactly how I use it to get better recommendations, decide whether to abandon a book + extract the good bits from a dull one without suffering through 19 hours of dry-as-dust prose with no pay-off. Ask me how I know that last one... Plus, how to use it when there are topics you just can't face right now. More useful than it sounds in these turbulent times Look for more solo shows where I share ideas you can use immediately. Books discussed in this episode: Becky Chambers' entire oeuvre Most of Alan Hollinghurst's books Books - Brett Easton Ellis Midnight and Blue - Ian Rankin ==== If you'd like my help with your Business go to www.lizscully.com/endlessClients ==== And don't forget to get your reading list of the 10 essential reads for every successful biz owner - these are the books Liz recommends almost on the daily to her strategy + Mastermind clients. This isn't your usual list of biz books, these answer the challenges you've actually got coming up right now. Helpful, quick to read and very timely. Click here lizscully.com/reading to get your book list

Welcome back to Science Faction, where this week we cover everything from Disney trips and dying handheld consoles to exploding rockets, prestige television, and one of the most unsettling science fiction stories ever written. Steven is preparing for an upcoming Disney adventure and is especially excited to introduce his nephew to Galaxy's Edge. The kid's current obsessions are droids and starships, which means Disney has essentially engineered an entire section of the park specifically to drain Steven's wallet. Devon wrestles with the chaos that comes with family trips, navigating in-law logistics and the impossible task of fitting too many events into a single day. He also takes a moment to recommend comedian Josh Adam Meyers, whose visit to Devon's hometown left quite an impression. Meanwhile, Ben says goodbye to his foster kittens, affectionately known as "the captains," and reflects on their departure. To distract himself from the sadness, he gives us a fascinating history lesson on the WonderSwan, Bandai's handheld gaming system that briefly challenged Nintendo's dominance in Japan. In Future or Now, Ben dives into the recent failure of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket and why industry experts view the incident as potentially catastrophic for the company. Beyond the loss of a vehicle, concerns center around damage to launch infrastructure and the enormous delays that can follow major launch pad failures. We also spend time discussing For All Mankind, with Ben currently watching the first season alongside his child while also keeping up with the latest season. The conversation turns to the show's increasingly tense alternate-history storytelling, particularly its depiction of Star City. Ben also highlights Becky Chambers' upcoming novella, As You Wake, Break the Shell, which immediately caught the attention of science fiction fans. Devon joins the For All Mankind discussion and branches out into several other shows. We talk about the gleeful brutality of The Boys and the unusual premise of Widow's Bay on Apple TV+, which Devon describes as feeling like Parks and Recreation collided headfirst with a Stephen King novel. Steven mostly enjoys the ride this week, contributing commentary while the conversation bounces between exploding rockets, television recommendations, and speculative fiction. For Book Club, we begin by announcing next week's story, The Stars Look Away From This Vessel by Dave Ring. The story opens with a wonderfully strange description of how to draw a spaceship, setting the tone for what promises to be a memorable piece of science fiction. This week's discussion focuses on The Things by Peter Watts, a modern classic that retells the events of John Carpenter's The Thing from the perspective of the alien itself. The story radically reframes the film's events, transforming what appeared to be a horrifying monster into something far more complicated and tragic. We discuss the unforgettable line, "I am being Blair. I escape out the back as the world comes in through the front," and examine how Watts uses the alien's perspective to challenge assumptions about identity, communication, and survival. Naturally, comparisons to The Thing (1982) dominate the discussion, while we mostly leave the 2011 prequel out in the cold where it belongs. Thanks for listening to another episode of Science Faction! If you'd like even more content, including bonus episodes, exclusive posts, Discord access, AI-generated artwork, and direct interaction with the hosts, be sure to check out our Patreon. You can also subscribe on YouTube, leave us a review wherever you listen, and join us next week as we discuss The Stars Look Away From This Vessel.

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - Monk & Robot 6; Solid Maple Turntable, where we will be going over chapters three and four of Becky Chambers' A Prayer for the Crown Shy. Please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord!  https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V Thing of the Week: City Council of Darkness

We’re sad to say goodbye to dragon month, but happy to send it off with a book club chat about Moniquill Blackgoose’s incredible first installment of the Nampeshiweisit series, To Shape a Dragon's Breath. This book follows the journey of Anequs, who bonds with a dragon hatchling and becomes the first Nampeshiweisit of her people in generations. However, the laws of the Anglish colonisers require her to receive formal training in dragon riding, or face the death of her dragon or even herself. Anequs leaves her home to enrol in a dragon academy. However, it’s far from smooth flying and she faces condescension, suspicion, and outright hostility from the Anglish there. Join us as we chat all about magic dragon schools, the importance of oral storytelling and indigenous knowledges, and the ways that fantasy holds up a mirror to the devastating past and present of living in a settler colony. Be warned: This is a book club episode, so we will be getting into spoilers! MENTIONS

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - Monk & Robot 5; Plaid Throw Pillow, where we will be going over chapters one and two of Becky Chambers' A Prayer for the Crown Shy. Please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord!  https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V Thing of the Week: Widow's Bay

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - Monk & Robot 4; Discarded Rainbow Lambchop Cat Toy, where we will be going over chapters seven and eight of Becky Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild Built. Please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord!  https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V Thing of the Week: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

Our website - www.perksofbeingabooklover.com. Instagram - @perksofbeingabookloverpod Facebook - Perks of Being a Book Lover. To send us a message go to our website and click the Contact button.   You can find Aaron Starmer at www.aaronstarmer.com or on IG @aaron_starmer.   This week on the podcast we welcome middle grade and young adult novelist Aaron Starmer whose most recent book, You Are Now Old Enough to Hear This, is a quirky middle grade novel about a Toe Beast and a girl who travels with a pack of dogs and a boy named Roman who learns some family secrets.  That sounds like a lot so we are glad Aaron joins us to explain it all in a much more succinct way than we ever could. And his 2025 YA novel Night Swimming just came out in paperback this week. And our book recommendation segment of the show is about aliens because what pairs better with a quirky novel than some extraterrestrials? We have Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning titles, a book about alien garbage, a wacky buddy road trip adventure, literary fiction about a girl who doesn't feel human, and a philosophical first contact story starring the Catholic Church.   Books Mentioned in this Episode:   1- You Are Old Enough To Hear This by Aaron Starmer 2- Night Swimming by Aaron Starmer  3- The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly  4- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman 5- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir  6- The Humans by Matt Haig  7- The Riverman by Aaron Starmer 8- The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler  9- Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues by Jonathan Kennedy 10- The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager  11- A 5 Star Read by Fellow Book Lover Tess @books_andthebeach - Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers  12- The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers  13- The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell  14- Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky  15- Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino  16- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card  17- The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis  Media Mentioned in this Episode: 1- Whitehall Book Club - https://www.historicwhitehall.org/whitehall-book-club 2- Resident Alien - (2021-2025, Netflix) 3- Project Hail Mary (2026)      

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Roxanna are discussing: Bookish Moments: Whiny men in books and reading to our kids Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: books we rated fairly low, but have stuck with us over time. Before We Go: our new segment featuring bookish friend posts and a sleeper hit from Roxanna Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). . . .   :10 - Bite Size Intro 1:50 - We encourage you to spend your dollars at indie bookstores this Saturday, April 25th for Independent Bookstore Day! 4:26 - Bookish Moments of the Week 4:49 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 5:47 - The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett 7:35 - Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney 10:00 - Current Reads 10:08 - Good People by Patmeena Sabit (Roxanna) 12:21 - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 18:58 - Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid (Kaytee) 24:01 - One Woman Show by Christine Coulson (Roxanna) 28:12 - Sarah's Bookshelves Live 28:34 - Meet the Neighbors by Brandon Keim (Kaytee)  31:56 - An Immense World by Ed Yong 32:11 - Fuzz by Mary Roach 33:34 - Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke (Roxanna) 37:01 - Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman 38:15 - Fierce Fairytales by Nikita Gill (Kaytee) 40:23 - The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace 40:31 - Love in Color by Bolu Babalola 41:48 - Deep Dive: Lower Rated Books That Stuck With Us 42:57 - Wine Witch On Fire by Natalie MacLean 48:27 - Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain 50:08 - Save Me The Plums by Ruth Reichl 50:10 - Blood Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton 50:46 - Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain 51:51 - To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers 55:29 - Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey 56:44 - How To Kill A Guy In Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson 57:10 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 57:13 - A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas 57:42 - Dawn by Octavia Butler 57:48 - Kindred by Octavia Butler 1:01:24 - You by Caroline Kepnes 1:04:56 - Before We Go Kaytee highlights a bookish friend post 1:05:12 - Currently Reading Patreon (gets you access to our Discord!) 1:05:31 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Roxanna brings a sleeper hit 1:06:25 - Food that Really Schmecks by Edna Stabler   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. April's IPL is brought to us from a new to us bookstore, Two Friends Books in Bentonville, Arkansas Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads | Substack | Youtube The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Aprílové počasí? Dnes vám doporučím knihu do všeho, co vás v dubnu může potkat. Pokud mi chcete sdělit vaše tipy na čtení nebo cokoliv jiného, najdete mě na instagramu jako @les.slov :)Zmíněné knihy:-         Straka na šibenici – Daniel Petr-         Království Elmet – Fiona Mozley -         Zadrž hvězdy – Katie Khan-         S pokorou a nadějí – Becky Chambers -         Probudím se na Šibuji – Anna Cima-         Třináct měsíců – David Mitchell-         Pojídačka hříchů – Megan Campisi-         Čarodějův učeň – Otfried Preussler -         Lvářka – Tereza Janišová-         Kudy ke hvězdám – Jenn Bennett-         Soběstačný – Zuzana Dostálová -         Osiřelec – Mira Marcinów-         Uvnitř mé hlavy – Francesca Zappia -         Dopisy na konec světa – Ava Dellaira -         Kočka a město – Nick Bradley -         Spánek, Podivná knihovna, Útok na pekárnu,Birthday girl – Haruki Murakami-         Běh o život – Stephen King -         Načmáranec – Serge Lehman-         Smrt v ledu – Amy McCulloch-         Chata v horách – Ruth Ware-         Příběh Arthura Truluva – Elizabeth Berg -         Pollyanna – Eleanor H. Porter

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - Monk & Robot 3; Orange Phase 90 Script Pedal, where we will be going over chapters five and six of Becky Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild Built. Please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord!  https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V Thing of the Week: Project Hail Mary

Resenha do livro  “A closed and common orbit” (tradução livre: “Uma órbita fechada e comum”), de Becky Chambers. O texto escrito está nesse link.Prepare-se para ter uma aula de autoconhecimento, identidade, superação, diversidade e mais um monte de coisas interessantes que usa a ficção científica como pano de fundo.Essa obra é continuação de “The long way to a small angry planet” que recomendo ouvir antes para entender o contexto. Basta clicar nesse link.Um dos melhores livros que li esse ano. Vou procurar o terceiro volume da série. Recomendo com muitas estrelinhas.Você pode comprar o primeiro volume clicando aqui.“A closed and common orbit” saiu em português como “A vida compartilhada em uma admirável órbita fechada” e você pode comprar o seu exemplar clicando aqui.

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - Monk & Robot 2; Emerald Green Guitar Pick, where we will be going over chapters three and four of Becky Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild Built. Please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord!  https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V Thing of the Week: Playing Guitar With Friends

As protagonist Ryland Grace fights to save Earth - and possibly the universe - in Project Hail Mary, author Andy Weir discusses the science behind his sci-fi story and what it's like to see it adapted for the big screen. From a diversity of aliens thriving in extreme environments, to our sun's shortening lifespan, to the conundrum of keeping astronauts alive during intergalactic missions, we consider the possibility of science fiction becoming future reality. A NASA astrobiologist who consulted on the book weighs in on how Earthly creatures have inspired some of our favorite science fiction aliens. Plus, science fiction author Becky Chambers discusses how she balances science fact with fiction in her work. Guests: Andy Weir – science fiction writer, author of Project Hail Mary, The Martian, and Artemis Andy Fraknoi – professor of astronomy at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco Becky Chambers – science fiction writer, author of To Be Taught if Fortunate, the Wayfinders series, and the Monk and Robot novellas Shawn Domagal-Goldman – NASA acting director, astrophysics division  Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As protagonist Ryland Grace fights to save Earth - and possibly the universe - in Project Hail Mary, author Andy Weir discusses the science behind his sci-fi story and what it's like to see it adapted for the big screen. From a diversity of aliens thriving in extreme environments, to our sun's shortening lifespan, to the conundrum of keeping astronauts alive during intergalactic missions, we consider the possibility of science fiction becoming future reality. A NASA astrobiologist who consulted on the book weighs in on how Earthly creatures have inspired some of our favorite science fiction aliens. Plus, science fiction author Becky Chambers discusses how she balances science fact with fiction in her work. Guests: Andy Weir – science fiction writer, author of Project Hail Mary, The Martian, and Artemis Andy Fraknoi – professor of astronomy at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco Becky Chambers – science fiction writer, author of To Be Taught if Fortunate, the Wayfinders series, and the Monk and Robot novellas Shawn Domagal-Goldman – NASA acting director, astrophysics division  Big Picture Science is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on Big Picture Science. You can get early access to ad-free versions of every episode by joining us on Patreon. Thanks for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - Monk & Robot 1; It Has Begin, where we will be going over the first two chapters of Becky Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild Built. Please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord!  https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V Thing of the Week: Hades II

Usually when robots gain sentience in fiction, they rise up and slay or otherwise subjugate their human creators, but this week's book dares to imagine what might happen if they stood up, looked around, said "thanks but no thanks," and left. It also ponders the meaning of existence, just for good measure.Head to MarleySpoon.com/offer/OVERDUE for up to 25 FREE meals! Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.Follow @overduepod on Instagram and BlueskyAdvertise on OverdueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Willkommen im Sprawl. Und willkommen zu Otherland On air. Normalerweise sprechen wir in Sprawl Radio über Klassiker der Science Fiction Literatur. In dieser Folge stellen wir zum sechsten Mal die jährlichen Top Seller des Otherland Buchladens in Berlin vor und blicken auf unser Literaturjahr zurück. Die Top Liste wird wie immer präsentiert von Wolf aus dem Otherland.Ihr mögt unseren Podcast und möchtet uns finanziell unterstützen? Wir freuen uns über kleine oder große Beträge über Paypal: paypal.me/sprawlradio oder an sprawlradio@gmx.de.Schreibt uns eine E-Mail an sprawlradio@gmx.deUNSER DISCORD: LINKLetterboxd: Kim_chi und gamurgaDie Literaturtipps kamen von Wolf aus dem Otherland Buchladen in Berlin.service@otherland-berlin.deBestseller im Otherland 20251. Nils Westerboer, Lyneham (2025)2. Noam Chomsky, On Anarchism (2005)3. Nils Westerboer, Athos 2643 (2022)4. Becky Chambers, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (2015)5. Becky Chambers, Monk and Robot: A Psalm for the Wild-Built and a Prayer for the Crown-Shy (2025)6. Alain Damasio, Die Horde im Gegenwind (2018)7. Isabella Hermann, Zukunft ohne Angst // Wie Anti-Dystopien neue Perspektiven eröffnen (2023)8. Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower (1993)9. Ray Nayler, The Mountain in the Sea (2022)10. Martha Wells, Tagebuch eines Killerbots (2017)Bestes Buch (Wolf)Nils Westerboer, Lyneham (2025)Tiki Mira, Denial of Service (2025)Andymonaden. 12 Geschichten aus dem Andymon-Universum (2025)Christopher Buehlmann, Daughter's War (2024) Alain Damasio, Die Flüchtigen (2019)Bester Film (Wolf)2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025)Directed by Mstyslav ChernovBeste SF-Filme 2025 (Stephan)28 Years Later (Danny Boyle)The Fin (Park Sye-young)Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos)

This week Shan, Robin, Stacy, Shannon, and Kristin are sharing their first few 2026 reads. Titles mentioned include:Audrey Faye, Indigo (For The Love Of Purple #1)George M. Johnson, Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I'd KnownDeidra Duncan, Until I DieSaundra Mitchell, This Side Of Gone (Vinnie Taylor #1)Jim Butcher, Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1)Lucky Hart, Make The Play (Kings Of Heart #2)Richard Osman, We Solve Murders (We Solve Murders #1)Finley Fenn, The Artist And The Orc (Orc Sworn #10)Jess Everlee, A Rulebook For Restless Rogues (Lucky Lovers Of London #2)Victoria Wilder, Bourbon & Lies (Bourbon Boys #1)Becky Chambers, A Psalm For The Wild-Built (Monk And Robot #1)John Sandford, Holy Ghost (Virgil Flowers #11)Rebecca Ross, Divine Rivals (Letters Of Enchantment #1)Amy K. Green, Haven't Killed In YearsKathleen E. Woodiwiss, The Flame And The Flower (Birmingham #1)You can always contact the Book Bistro team by searching @BookBistroPodcast on facebook, or visiting:https://www.facebook.com/BookBistroPodcast/You can also send an email to:TheBookBistroPodcast@gmail.comFor more information on the podcast and the team behind it, please visit:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/book-bistro

For Day 20 of the Coode Street Advent Calendar, Gary and Jonathan talk to Hugo Award winning author of the Wayfarer series, Becky Chambers, about what Becky's been reading and would recommend, holiday reading and viewing traditions, publication of the Monk and Robot, and a brand new novel that should be out in 2026.. As always, our thanks to Becky for making time to talk to us. We hope you enjoy the episode.

Brownie taste test time! (12:30 to skip). If anyone is trying to find good gift ideas for us, can we suggest a Leviathan Bone sword? Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Next week we’ll be starting The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Special thanks to VOLO for the intro and outro music.The post The Tainted Cup: Part Two first appeared on Don't call it a book club..

Whether you like ripping page turners, incredible characters, books that make you laugh out loud, exploring unforgettable new worlds, or literary books that will make you see the world in a new way, there's a great intro to scifi out there for everyone!Join the Hugonauts book club on discord to tell us about your favorite time travel booksOr you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer videoIf you want to jump around, here are the timestamps for all the books we talked about: 00:00 Intro 00:38 Incredible Characters - Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold 3:07 A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers 4:04 Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 4:52 Unforgettable Worlds - The Expanse by James S.A. Corey 6:58 Hyperion by Dan Simmons 8:24 House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds 9:20 Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky 10:56 The Forever War by Joe Haldeman 12:22 Funny SF - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams 13:36 Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson 14:50 Old Man's War by John Scalzi 16:01 Page turners - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 17:43 Dark Matter or Recursion by Blake Crouch 18:52 All Systems Red by Martha Wells 20:01 Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 21:35 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 22:34 Literary SciFi - The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin 24:55 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 26:26 The Road by Cormac McCarthy 27:49 Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut 28:40 Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein

On this episode of Currently Reading, Meredith and Kaytee are discussing: Bookish Moments: a poem a day + excitement over release days Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: we discuss your top books from 2019-2024 and draw the giveaway winner The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). .  .  .  1:59 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 2:07 - The Poetry Foundation's Poem of the Day 2:27 - A Rebellion of Care by David Gate 3:55 - The Black Wolf by Louise Penny 4:34 - The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny 6:02 - Our Current Reads 6:08 - The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (Kaytee) 8:21- A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 9:03 - The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds by Jennifer Moorman (Meredith) 10:11 - Words Matter Bookshop 10:40 - The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman 14:17 - The Bookshop by Evan Friss (Kaytee) 15:12 - Parnassus Books 17:29 - Exile in Bookville 17:58 - Books - A Manifesto: Or, How to Build A Library by Ian Patterson (Meredith, Goldsboro link)  20:16 - Goldsboro Books UK 24:16 - The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler  26:03 - I Leave It Up To You by Jinwoo Chong (Kaytee) 29:05 - Flux by Jinwoo Chong (amazon link) 29:34 - The Wasp Trap by Michael Edwards (Meredith) 32:45 - The Guest List by Lucy Foley 33:09 - Listeners' Top Ranked Books 35:11 - Giveaway Post to see other listeners' best books! (reminder - giveaway is CLOSED) 42:17 - Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 42:32 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 42:43 - The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green 42:56 - Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 43:06 - Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 43:07 - Still Life by Louise Penny 43:59 - Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 44:03 - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 44:08 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 44:16 - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 44:18 - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Giveaway Winner Christie's Reads 47:25 - Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen 47:27 - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 47:30 - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman 47:33 - Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 47:35 - The Anxious Generation by Johnathan Haidt 47:39 - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 48:17 - Meet Us At The Fountain 48:22 - I wish to tell you about the gold star item I found for reading and sleep. (Kaytee) 48:32 - Stolen Focus by Johann Hari 48:47 - Bloom 51:30 - I wish for you to try more specific ASMR rooms or listening to playlists for books. (Meredith) 51:34 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 51:37 - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 51:38 - Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. November's's IPL is brought to us from Content Bookstore in Northfield, Minnesota. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

In this episode, Becky Chambers, holistic health practitioner, author, and expert on whole body vibration therapy, explores how physical vibration can awaken your body's innate ability to heal. Becky shares her remarkable journey from chronic illness to vibrant health through vibration therapy — and reveals how this simple yet powerful practice can improve bone density, boost mood, balance the gut, support lymphatic flow, and even enhance spiritual alignment.Laura and Becky also dive into the energetic side of vibration — how it connects with your chakras, emotional flow, and life force energy. Discover how vibration can help you detox, strengthen your body, and raise your frequency — naturally.Learn more about Becky's work at bcvibranthealth.comBio:Becky Chambers is a natural health practitioner, a leading expert on Whole Body Vibration (WBV), and the founder of Vibrant Health.  Becky has written six books about Whole Body Vibration, including the best-selling book on the subject since its release over a decade ago. Released in 2024, the 2nd edition of Whole Body Vibration: The Future of Good Health includes exciting new research, benefits, and the latest advances in vibration platform technology. Becky has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts, a master's in education from Lesley College, and a graduate degree in natural health from Clayton College of Natural Health.Laura is a Celebrity Psychic who has been featured by Buzzfeed, The Weakest Link, Beast Games, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, the CW, Motherboard by Vice Magazine and the #1” Ron Burgundy Podcast” with Will Ferrell. Laura Powers is a clairvoyant, psychic medium, writer, actress, producer, writer, and speaker who helps other receive guidance and communicate with loved ones. Laura travels nationally and internationally for clients, events, television appearances, and speaking engagements. She is also the author of 7 books on the psychic realm and 1 book on podcasting. Laura also works as a psychic, entertainer, and creative entrepreneur.For more information about Laura and her work, you can go to her website www.healingpowers.net or find her on X @thatlaurapowers, on Facebook at @realhealingpowers and @mllelaura, and on Instagram, TikTok and Insight Timer @laurapowers44.

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Roxanna are discussing: Bookish Moments: back to buddy reading and book bundles Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: books that surprised you all the way through The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site). .  .  .  .  1:46 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 1:55 - Katabasis by R.F. Kuang 2:19 - Babel by R.F. Kuang 2:41 - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 6:38 - Our Current Reads 9:54 - The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion Vol.1 by Beth Brower (Roxanna) 9:04 - Libby 9:29 - 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff 14:15 - The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery 14:41 - Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer (Kaytee) 17:19 - Lord of the Flies by William Golding 19:37 - Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (Roxanna) 25:00 - Hollowpox by Jessica Townsend 27:41 - Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong (Kaytee) 31:09 - The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman (Roxanna) 33:05 - Type Books Canada 34:45 - Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune 33:47 - A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 36:19 - Audre & Bash are Just Friends by Tia Williams (Kaytee) 36:30 - Libro.fm  36:38 - Seven Days in June by Tia Williams 39:24 - The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang 40:52 - Books that Zigged When You Thought They'd Zag 41:45 - The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman 45:03 - Piranesi by Susanna Clark 45:19 - Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki 46:02 - The Unseen World by Liz Moore 46:43 - Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross 46:47 - Fabled Bookshop 48:05 - Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe 49:15 - I Keep My Worries In My Teeth by Anna Cox 49:23 - Commonplace Books 50:51 - Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson 50:53 - Parnassus Books 50:55 - Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill 50:58 - The Novel Neighbor 51:00 - Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots 51:03 - An Unlikely Story 51:07 - Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 51:33 - The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday by Saad Z. Hossain 52:10 - Wicked Nix by Lena Coakley 53:38 - Meet Us At The Fountain 53:45 - I wish to press The Ghoul of Windydown Vale by Jake Burt. (Roxanna) 53:54 - The Ghoul of Windydown Vale by Jake Burt 56:06 - I wish Libby would bring back “Deliver Later”. (Kaytee)   Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. October's IPL takes us back to one of our anchor stores, The Novel Neighbor in St. Louis, Missouri. Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!

Luke and Juliane revisit The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers and discuss why writing a cozy story is incompatible with writing a traditionally good science fiction novel. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke […]

In this episode of Wrecked by Art, I tell the story of how a single sentence in a novel led me to sharks, burnout, and the most exhilarating chapter I wrote in my memoir, Art Is About Being Whole. This story is about creative trust, synchronicity, and the magic that only shows up when you're deep in the work.You'll hear about: A quote from Remarkably Bright Creatures that cracked me openThe Jaws poster painting and why it became the perfect metaphor for my burnoutHow your subconscious is always gathering the pieces you needThe deep connection between creative process and life itselfAnd why you don't get clarity by forcing it—you get it by staying present in the fogMentioned in this episode: (the book links below are affiliate links)Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van PeltThe Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (more on that in a future episode)The Jaws movie poster (art by Roger Kastel)Big Magic by Elizabeth GilbertYou Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith✨ If you're working on your own big creative project and want support—coaching, collaboration, or creative midwifery—reach out. I help people through the messy middle. A new program is coming in September.

Join the conversation as we delve into the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy writing, where Millennials are making their mark! From epic fantasy quests to dystopian futures, this new generation of writers is bringing fresh perspectives and ideas to the table. In this episode, we'll explore how Millennials are attempting a take-over of SFF writing, what's driving this trend, and what it means for the future of the genre. Whether you're a fan of authors like Tamsyn Muir, V.E. Schwab, or Becky Chambers, or you're just curious about the next big thing in SFF, this episode is for you!#FantasyForTheAges #Fantasy #SFF #FantasyFiction #SciFi #ScienceFiction #BestFantasy #BestSciFi #BookRecommendations #TBR #ReadingRecommendations #booktube #booktuberWays to connect with us:Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.socialFollow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages Follow us on Mastodon: @FantasyForTheAges@nerdculture.de Email us: FantasyForTheAges@gmail.com Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheagesJim's Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4 ————————————————————————————Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:https://elements.envato.com/

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Perfect is the Enemy of the Good, where we will be going over pages 360 through the end of Becky Chambers' cozy road-trip sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. Here is the link to the Isaiah Berlin essay Will Referenced For Apple Podcast listeners, please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V   Recommended Thing of the Week: The Interdependency Trilogy by John Scalzi

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Legality Is Not Morality, where we will be going over pages 312 through 360 of Becky Chambers' cozy road-trip sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. For Apple Podcast listeners, please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V   Recommended Thing of the Week: Neva OST

We keep hearing about the supply chain lately... but what is it? And how do all these shipping containers moving around the world shape our lives? We talk to Alexis Madrigal, author of the brand new book The Pacific Circuit, about how trade with Asia has changed Oakland. Plus we talk about how science fiction deals with the idea of the supply chain, and what can go wrong with it.

Real Life Ben Ben's been quietly communing with the universe—and possibly with time travelers—through a book of accidental poetry called Adieu, Plane Snake. These are poems born from Wordle guesses, wrangled into a strangely beautiful collection. The result feels like overhearing wisdom whispered from another dimension... or from your roommate's weird dreams. Ben recommends reading it with an open mind and maybe a cup of tea. Or a flux capacitor. Devon Devon had to Dad some emails this week—calmly but firmly correcting errors from people who apparently do not know how email works. He also saw Elio, Pixar's newest mid-tier offering. While it didn't break any new ground for him, the cloning subplot raised a few existential eyebrows, and might be intense for younger kids. It's fine. Just... Pixar-fine. Steven Steven survived another summer birthday party. For those keeping score at home, that's a fairy-themed, girls-only pizza party in the park, followed by public swim chaos. Summer birthdays always mean competing with vacation season, but the magic of fairy dust and chlorine carried the day. He also dove into The Alters on Gamepass—a sci-fi survival game where the only way to make it through is to clone alternate versions of yourself. Each “Alter” has its own personality and baggage, forcing the player to confront wildly different versions of who they could've been. Existential dread with excellent lighting and resource management. Future or Now Ben There's never enough Becky Chambers. Ben wrapped up The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, the final book in the Wayfarers series. It's tender, slow, and full of aliens being thoughtful toward each other. No war, no chosen one. Just beings trying to communicate and grow. Want to nerd out even more? Check out the Wayfarers wiki's list of species and marvel at Chambers' world-building, where no one species gets to be “the default.” Steven Meanwhile, Steven's still trippin'—on science. A new study published in June strengthens the case that humans were in North America at least 23,000 years ago. How? Fossilized footprints in ancient lakebeds at White Sands, New Mexico. Radiocarbon-dated mud backs up earlier studies, making this the third independent line of evidence. It's a big deal—and a good reminder that science is often slow, muddy, and surprising. Devon This week, Devon is Future-or-Now neutral. Book Club We're taking next week off—so catch up on chapters if you're behind, or just sit outside and let your brain breathe. It deserves it. This week we read Chapters 7 (“The Wild”) and 8 (“The Summer Bear”) of A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. (Audible listeners, that's Chapters 9 and 10.) We're deep in tea monk territory now. Dex continues their journey into the unknown and meets challenges that aren't dragons or monsters, but doubts and unspoken expectations. It's a gentle reminder that even in utopia, people still struggle with meaning and self-worth. It's deeply human—even when the characters aren't. See You on Patreon If you're already supporting us there—thank you. We've got bonus episodes, Discord chats, and weird side quests waiting. This week we're sharing a sneak peek at our next theme episode and some alternate podcast titles we almost used. If you're not on board yet, come say hi. It's like a summer birthday party, but with less sunburn and more sci-fi.

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; When You're Here, You're Family, where we will be going over pages 246 through 312 of Becky Chambers' cozy road-trip sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. For Apple Podcast listeners, please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V   Recommended Thing of the Week: Cloudward Ho!

Real Life This week, real life got weird, itchy, nostalgic, and just slightly chaotic. Ben celebrated a birthday by dragging his family through a hike in tick-infested grass. Friendly reminder: Don't go into the long grass. We've seen Jurassic Park, we know how this ends. Devon may or may not be living in Foreverware straight out of Eerie, Indiana. Start checking those Tupperware lids, folks. Steven escaped a house overrun with cousins the only way he knows how: board game store therapy. Here's what we're playing: Burnout Paradise Remastered is only $5 on Steam right now and it still rules. Devon showed us how to pull off some in-game stunts. Sadly, not applicable to real life. Steven got cozy with Harmonies, a gorgeous little nature-builder where you balance habitats and critters. Ben brought in Infinite Board Game (Piecepack)—a modular system that spawned classics like Worm Derby and 9 Ball. Steven also shouted out Tak (playable with Piecepack!) and unboxed his shiny new copy of Slugblaster. Future or Now We talk a lot about the future, but this week, the past clawed its way back into the conversation. Ben shared a killer quote from Ray Bradbury: “I'm warning you now, so you don't have to pay a psychiatrist 20 years from now…” It came from a great piece of writing advice for screenwriters, poets, novelists—anyone with a keyboard. TLDR: read other stuff, write other stuff. Don't get boxed in. Read the whole post here. Devon brought space horror to the table: a NASA satellite that's been dead for 57 years just pinged Earth out of nowhere.  Read more Steven dove into the fungal unknown: scientists have turned Aspergillus flavus—yes, the tomb fungus found in places like King Tut's burial site—into a potential treatment for leukemia. Cursed no more. Science article here Book Club We're still steeped in the gentle robot comfort of Becky Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild-Built. This week, we covered: Audible Chapters 6–8 Book Chapters 4–6: An Object, and an Animal Remnants Grass Hen with Wilted Greens and Caramelized Onion (legit sounds delicious) Next week: Book Chapters 7 & 8 (The Wild, The Summer Bear) Audible Chapters 9–10 Bonus recommendation: Devon says you should read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, if you want philosophy, talking apes, and big “what's-wrong-with-the-world” energy.

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Mind the Ketlings, where we will be going over pages 191 through 246 of Becky Chambers' cozy road-trip sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. For Apple Podcast listeners, please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V   Recommended Thing of the Week: Murderbot

This week, Steven, Ben, and Devon record remotely to avoid the usual chaos (rat wrestling included). From blacksmithing birthday gifts to questioning the ethics of breakfast, it's a classic episode full of heart, guilt, and sci-fi coziness. Real Life Devon's work trip was mostly pointless, thanks to the other party being wildly unprepared. Meanwhile, Steven got new windows installed and watched Captain America: Brave New World in the middle of it all — his verdict: “fine,” which seems to be Marvel's current default. He and Ben discuss Harrison Ford stepping in as Thunderbolt Ross, the return of The Leader and Red Hulk, and whether Marvel's third-act fight addiction is dragging it all down. On the home front, Steven had an “intense Thursday” filled with gymnastics class, BBQs, and blacksmithing five custom hooks for his mom's birthday. Ben went to the beach and made a solid case for awe — like ocean waves — as a cure for modern burnout. Oh, and Yellowcard is releasing a new album with Travis Barker on drums. Yes, really. Future or Now Devon read Animal Liberation Now and now feels like a hypocrite for still eating meat. The book's argument: if animals can suffer, they deserve rights. Cue a deep dive into factory farming, animal testing, calorie efficiency, and whether “ethical meat” should be a rare luxury rather than a daily default. They talk about cows, chickens, and baby monkeys; the morality of milk and butter; and why our modern food system depends on people looking the other way. Steven questions how to get enough protein on a vegan diet, and Devon admits it's complicated — especially for anyone without time, money, or access. If nothing else, they agree that learning to treat animals better might teach us how to treat each other better, too. Book Club: A Psalm for the Wild-Built The gang begins Becky Chambers's cozy sci-fi novella, where humans and robots live separately but peacefully. Dex, a non-binary monk, ditches the city to become a tea monk — traveling the countryside offering comfort in the form of warm drinks and conversation. Their first attempt fails, so they go all in: building a hydroponic tea garden and trying again. The story is full of sustainability, small joys, and gentle spirituality. The hosts love the “cozy punk” vibe and Ben's especially struck by the god of small comforts' advice: find the strength to do both. Next chapter brings a two-year time jump — and (hopefully) a robot. Thanks for listening and supporting the show — and for sticking with us through windows, waffles, and weird philosophical spirals. – S, B & D

Real Life Things kicked off with stories from Friday night's bonfire, where the nature of reality was hotly debated between toasted marshmallows. That conversation somehow spiraled into a serious (and slightly absurd) discussion about Noodles and Soba—Ben's son's pet rats—and the potential benefits of getting female rats fixed. Apparently, doing so can add about a year to their lifespan by preventing reproductive cancers, but the surgery's cost is a tough sell when you're in what Ben called “debt paydown mode.” Devon floated the idea of unscrupulous “rat hustlers” faking the procedure, which—frankly—feels like a dark Netflix documentary waiting to happen. From there, it was a short hop to a conversation about whether rats lay eggs (they don't), Jurassic Park's “life finds a way,” and then straight into tearing apart Gremlins logic. What even is “midnight,” anyway? Local time? Greenwich Mean? Galactic zenith? And why are we trusting a kid instead of the old shopkeeper? Gremlins may now officially live in the “science fantasy/biological fiction” corner of the canon. Saturday brought gaming with their friend Greg. They played Relic Blade, where Devon managed to escort a yak to safety despite Steven's attempts at sabotage. Greg used a clever trick involving a D20 and gravity to determine movement direction, which frankly should be in the rulebook. They also played Marvel Dice Throne, where Devon's Wolverine got obliterated almost immediately thanks to poor positioning and cruel dice. Then came Living Well, a minimalist dice game with retro 70s-style art and some satisfying ability upgrades. Plans to play Arcs got shelved after a medical emergency—Nicole was hit hard by the heat and ended up needing CPR at the hospital (despite having a pulse and breathing, which… yeah, it was a weird night). She's recovering now. Future or Now TV-wise, the gang wrapped up Season 4 of Love, Death & Robots—with highlights including a talking cat, an occult bomber mission, and gang warfare against colossal babies. Over on Amazon Prime, they watched the Secret Level take on Pac-Man, which was surprisingly grim and humanoid-heavy. Ben and his son also dove into Scott Pilgrim territory, rewatching the movie and starting Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, which quickly turns into a clever alternate universe story that's fun, stylish, and charming enough to inspire a trip through the graphic novels. Ben gave a thumbs-up to the newest season of Black Mirror, calling one episode a bit conceptually broken but championing another as a "new Callister." Book Club In Book Club, the crew dug into “Liking What You See: A Documentary” by Ted Chiang, from Stories of Your Life and Others. Framed as a mockumentary, the story centers on Caliagnosia—a reversible condition that disables facial beauty perception. The ethical and social ramifications are explored through interviews and propaganda, making the story feel eerily real. It raises questions about freedom, superficiality, advertising, and the influence of unseen tech on our minds. Tamara's personal journey through switching Cali off and on again added a human element to the philosophical questions. Everyone agreed: it was a banger of a story. Next up for Book Club: the first three chapters of A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. Get reading!

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Everyone Has A Bad Day Now And Again, where we will be going over pages 125 to 190 of Becky Chambers' cozy road-trip sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. For Apple Podcast listeners, please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V   Recommended Thing of the Week: Monk and Robot

As always, no spoilers until the end when we do our plot explainer and discussion.Join the Hugonauts book club on discord!Or you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer videoSimilar books we recommend: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas AdamsThe Murderbot Diaries by Martha WellsMonk and Robot series by Becky Chambers

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Road Trip Time!, where we will be going over pages 67 to 125 of Becky Chambers' cozy road-trip sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. For Apple Podcast listeners, please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V   Recommended Thing of the Week: The Pitt

In A Psalm for the Wild-Built ,Becky Chambers invites readers into a serene, post-collapse world where a wandering tea monk named Dex crosses paths with a curious robot, sparking a journey of introspection and philosophical wonder. Together, they explore what it means to be content, connected, and truly alive in a world that has learned to live gently. My guest this week is Emily James, a marketing strategist who moved to Richmond 15 years ago to attend VCU and forgot to leave after graduation. Growing up, she always had her nose in a book and rediscovered her love of reading as an adult thanks to the pandemic, motherhood, and the Libby app. When she's not lost in a good story, you can find her watching reality TV, playing tabletop games, or spending time with her family. Our protagonist, Dex, is a tea monk who makes teas personalized for whoever they are helping, so our drink this week is tea—whatever your favorite version may be. Pour a mug, relax, and take a break listening to this amazing episode! In this Episode The Libby App The Aurelian Cycle by Rosaria Munda This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar Hoopla The Enneagram SolarpunkBooks by Becky Chambers

This month, picked books for each other to read! Peter read Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick, a fantasy novel with colonialism and classism themes, praising its characters and magic system but noting some minor issues. Caty discussed Along the Razor's Edge by Rob J. Hayes, a fantasy series about a feisty, flawed protagonist and a unique magic system that focuses on dangerous sources of power. Rachel provided feedback on Unrelenting by Jessi Honard & Marie Parks, an urban fantasy mystery, finding it a fun and engaging read. Dan reviewed The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe, a complex, experimental science fiction novel, highlighting its unique narrative structure and setting. Finally, Nick shared his positive experience with A Psalm For the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, a novella exploring themes of societal harmony, self-discovery, and contentment. Please consider supporting us below: Dan Eavenson: Check out The World of Juno, and read his book Dave Woke Up! Peter Schaefer: Check out Peter's games here, and see his newest TTRPG, The Well! Caty: Visit Griffin's Roost Books and Treasure to purchase new and used books and more! For More TMT Shenanigans: toomanythoughtsmedia.com Twitter: @TMT_Media, @ArgentRabe, @ShoelessPete, @ShimmyBook, @SinisterInfant E-mail: toomanythoughtsmedia@gmail.com

Welcome to Tales from the Waystone; Summer Reading Program - The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; Start of the Road, where we will be going over the first 67 pages of Becky Chambers' cozy road-trip sci-fi novel The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet. For Apple Podcast listeners, please consider rating the show and leaving us a review! It'll help us be seen by more people! We have a Patreon! Patreon.com/waystonepod! Also!!! Join our Discord to get our recipe for cinnamon rolls: https://discord.gg/ebDBWfrU9V   Recommended Thing of the Week: Everybody's Live with John Mulaney

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses topics of sexual assault and non-consent (from a red-flag book don't worry). Please check the content warnings on these books before reading them so you are aware of other things included that we didn't explicitly discuss. Maggie brings the cozy Sci-fi series that you can shove right up your—A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, while Jillian brings the Brandon Sanderson book she was super *mysterious* about, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.The girlypops come back to the craft room to discuss how awkward workplace relationships are, Maggie figures out she MIGHT be a communist, how they identify heavily with Trixie and Katya, and a small and no-big-deal announcement is made.Leave us a review! Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @apodcastofsmutanddragonsMaggie: @themargaretlibraryJillian: @jillian.reads.smut (instagram)@jilliankiechlinart (tiktok)Business inquiries and/or say hi: apodcastofsmutanddragons@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Betches dive deep into this beautiful novella. We discuss the gentle exploration of purpose, connection, and what it means to be alive through the eyes of a tea monk and a curious robot. Get ready for a dose of quiet contemplation and maybe a craving for a good cup of tea. Follow us on Instagram for previews of next week's episode and more bookish content! @books_n_betchesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mike & Jess B Davies of the Femme On Collective joins Mike to talk about smutty romantasy, abroad weddings and getting out of a “reading rut”! In more detail, the duo's conversation starts with Jess' involvement in the Femme On Collective, before delving into their love of reading and processing hard times & grief. They then discuss “Romantasy”, including ACOTAR & Fourth Wing and Jess “Being In Her Thirsties” with her podcasts Literature For Life (Femme On) and The Romantasy Coven and reading ruts. Towards the end, Jess asks Mike about his Vegas wedding with Megan and they discuss the benefits of abroad weddings! This is the perfect conversation for any avid readers, or people who want to get back into reading, and anyone interested by non-traditional weddings! Instagram: @Jess_BDavies (www.instagram.com/jess_bdavies) - Jess' “Bang Average Blog”: https://bangaverageblog.substack.com Femme On: http://femmeon.show & @FemmeOnCollective (Instagram) Romantasy Coven: https://romantasycoven.transistor.fm & @TheRomantasyCoven (Instagram) Jess' podcast appearances: ADHD Cast: https://pod.fo/e/226f22 (March) & https://pod.fo/e/232403 (April) Where I'm From: Jess (81): youtube.com/watch?v=4YlnEVTRpHg & Mike (80): youtube.com/watch?v=kl-E9a-6XIo&t=670s Books mentioned; A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J. Maas, Fourth Wing (Empyrean series) by Rebecca Yarros, Still Life by Sarah Winman, Shrill by Lindy West, Life Of An MP by Jess Phillips, One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig and A Psalm Of The Wind-Built by Becky Chambers. Mike also mentions Babel by R.F. Kuang and his conversation about God with Tonya & BZ in ep 188 of GCC: https://pod.fo/e/16bf58 Jess also mentions the podcast Tell Me Something Messy by Brandon Kyle Goodman. If you want to support the show, get bonus content every week and get early access to episodes, support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/GenuineChitChat  The last episode of GCC was a double movie review special, the week prior was a talk about Canada and summer camp with Alex and the week before was another addition to the Clone Wars Legacy Project! Mike appeared on Spider-Dan & The Secret Bores for their top 5 small cast movies, listen here: https://pod.fo/e/289237  Mike also appeared on Spider-Dan's pod with Megan, talking Princess Diana in Spencer: https://pod.fo/e/2916c6  Find all of Mike's social media & other links at https://linktr.ee/GenuineChitChat Please review/rate, subscribe and share – it helps the show out an incredible amount! Intro by Tony (A.R.) Farina: www.arfarina.com and outro by BZ The Voice www.bzthevoice.com

Hey there folks - this week, we're chatting with one of PJ and my close friends, Neil! This last year, Neil picked up Stormlight Archive, and has come up to the precipice of the end... and so we wanted to discuss his journey, and his predictions before he hits the end of SLA! Next week, we continue our brief pause on The Heroes, with our next episode featuring the Monk and Robot by Becky Chambers duology, as well as an interview with Joel Daniel Philips about his art for the Devils, coming to you soon. See you then! Beyond that, please be sure to follow us or subscribe on your podcatcher of choice, and leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever. It goes a long way to helping the podcast grow. You can also check out our Patreon at Patreon.com/Wordsandwhiskey Check it out! Another way you could help us out? Refer us to your friends. We love a good referral, don't we folks? Send us ANY questions to our twitter account, Instagram, or to our email. See you next week! Link: https://wordsandwhiskey.show/episode/242-short-pour-neils-trip-through-rhythm-of-war

Abu and Obssa complete their read-through of A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. They explore the balance between work and rest, and unpack the philosophy of post-humanism. Join our Patreon for bonus content and helpful reading materials Join our Discord to keep the conversation going Subscribe on YouTube to watch the video version of this episode Check our Season 2 Schedule to keep up with the reading assignments Email us your thoughts and questions: scifibookclubpod@loreparty.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people read books to escape. Others turn to them for instruction. As the new year looms, our correspondents – and listeners – consider which titles can help forecast what's coming next. Picks include “Rainbows End” by Vernor Vinge, “Nuclear War” by Annie Jacobsen, “Not the End of the World” by Hannah Richie and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey. This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:“Rainbow's End, A Deepness in the Sky and A Fire upon the Deep” by Vernor Vinge“Ageless” by Andrew Steele“War” by Bob Woodward“Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jackobson“1984” by George Orwell“On Freedom and On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers“Qualityland” from Marc-Uwe Kling“Ministry of the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson“Severance” by Ling Ma“Land of Milk and Money” by C Pam Zhang“The Broken Earth Trilogy” by NK Jemisin“Not the End of the World" by Hannah Ritchie“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey“The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers“Ancillary Justice” (The Imperial Rasch Series) by Ann Leckie“The Battle of Dorking” by Sir George Chesney“War of the Worlds" by HG WellsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some people read books to escape. Others turn to them for instruction. As the new year looms, our correspondents – and listeners – consider which titles can help forecast what's coming next. Picks include “Rainbows End” by Vernor Vinge, “Nuclear War” by Annie Jacobsen, “Not the End of the World” by Hannah Richie and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey. This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show:“Rainbow's End, A Deepness in the Sky and A Fire upon the Deep” by Vernor Vinge“Ageless” by Andrew Steele“War” by Bob Woodward“Nuclear War: A Scenario” by Annie Jackobson“1984” by George Orwell“On Freedom and On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder“A Psalm for the Wild-Built” by Becky Chambers“Qualityland” from Marc-Uwe Kling“Ministry of the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson“Severance” by Ling Ma“Land of Milk and Money” by C Pam Zhang“The Broken Earth Trilogy” by NK Jemisin“Not the End of the World" by Hannah Ritchie“Orbital” by Samantha Harvey“The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” by Carson McCullers“Ancillary Justice” (The Imperial Rasch Series) by Ann Leckie“The Battle of Dorking” by Sir George Chesney“War of the Worlds" by HG WellsListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. 

On this episode of Currently Reading, Kaytee and Roxanna are discussing: Bookish Moments: meeting bookish friends IRL and getting fun bookish mail Current Reads: all the great, interesting, and/or terrible stuff we've been reading lately Deep Dive: fall books that aren't spooky, scary or academia The Fountain: we visit our perfect fountain to make wishes about our reading lives Show notes are time-stamped below for your convenience. Read the transcript of the episode (this link only works on the main site) .  .  .  .  1:57 - Our Bookish Moments of the Week 3:25 - Queen Books 7:21 - Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston 7:26 - Blackwell's UK 7:46 - The Swifts: A Gallery of Rogues by Beth Lincoln 7:50 - The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln 8:04 - Silverborn by Jessica Townsend 8:21 - Heir by Sabaa Tahir 8:26 - Libro.fm 8:33 - Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir 9:06 - City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty 10:00 - Our Current Reads 10:12 - Fellowship Point by Alice Eliott Dark (Roxanna) 15:07 - Lillian Boxfish Takes A Walk by Kathleen Rooney 16:11 - The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (Kaytee) 21:14 - The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman (Roxanna) 22:49 - Where'd You Go, Bernadette? By Maria Semple 24:42 - The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean (Kaytee) 24:50 - Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean 27:47 - Cold Blood Liar by Karen Rose 29:25 - Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis (Roxanna) 31:02 - Lord of the Flies by William Golding 31:03 - Animal Farm by George Orwell 34:14 - A Short Walk Through A Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke (Kaytee) 34:20 - Commonplace Books 36:09 - The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab 36:49 - Currently Reading Patreon 38:55 - The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo 40:17 - Fall Books That Are Not Spooky 41:24 - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 42:58 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 43:28 - September by Rosamunde Pilcher 44:10 - Still Life by Louise Penny 44:54 - First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen (Amazon link) 45:08 - Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 45:38 - Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout 46:06 - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 46:08 - The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory 46:12 - Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett 46:30 - Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon 47:22 - The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith 48:03 - The Song Collector by Natasha Solomons (Amazon link) 48:31 - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 49:07 - Search by Michelle Huneven 49:45 - House Lessons by Erica Bauermeister 50:19 - The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal 50:33 - Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal 50:40 - Go as a River by Shelley Read 50:56 - Stardust by Neil Gaiman 51:02 - The Princess Bride by William Goldman 51:57 - Shady Hollow by Juneau Black 52:05 - Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett 52:31 - The Guide by Peter Heller 52:41 - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 53:20 - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 53:36 - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstein 54:14 - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier 55:41 - Meet Us At The Fountain 57:15 - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 57:22 - I wish you would consider re-reading books that bring you joy. (Roxanna) 58:03 - I wish to always have an “in case of emergency” book. (Kaytee) 58:17 - The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst 58:57 - Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree 58:58 - A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers 59:00 - Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy Support Us: Become a Bookish Friend | Grab Some Merch Shop Bookshop dot org | Shop Amazon Bookish Friends Receive: The Indie Press List with a curated list of five books hand sold by the indie of the month. October's IPL comes to us from our anchor store, The Novel Neighbor! Love and Chili Peppers with Kaytee and Rebekah - romance lovers get their due with this special episode focused entirely on the best selling genre fiction in the business.  All Things Murderful with Meredith and Elizabeth - special content for the scary-lovers, brought to you with the behind-the-scenes insights of an independent bookseller From the Editor's Desk with Kaytee and Bunmi Ishola - a quarterly peek behind the curtain at the publishing industry The Bookish Friends Facebook Group - where you can build community with bookish friends from around the globe as well as our hosts Connect With Us: The Show: Instagram | Website | Email | Threads The Hosts and Regulars: Meredith | Kaytee | Mary | Roxanna Production and Editing: Megan Phouthavong Evans Affiliate Disclosure: All affiliate links go to Bookshop unless otherwise noted. Shopping here helps keep the lights on and benefits indie bookstores. Thanks for your support!