Podcasts about church ladies

In Episode 218, Sarah chats with Enneagram author, speaker, and podcaster Sarajane Case about Reading Through the Enneagram. After a brief introduction to the Enneagram and how it differs from other personality systems, they dive into how Enneagram types show up in our reading lives — from guessing an author's type to rethinking our own habits as readers. Sarajane walks through the nine types, shares a book recommendation for each, and offers her own personal picks. Note: This episode was republished due to an Apple Podcasts feed glitch that prevented it from appearing for some subscribers. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Books by Sarajane Case: The Honest Enneagram and The Enneagram Letters A brief introduction to the Enneagram — and how it differs from other personality systems Sarajane's personal approach to working with the Enneagram A quick overview of the nine Enneagram types How each Enneagram type might approach reading Whether (and how) we can discern an author's Enneagram type through their work (and the Enneagram types most and least likely to be authors themselves) Practical tips for using your type to improve your reading life Reading Through the Enneagram [29:51]  Type 1: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:08] Type 2: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:50]   Type 3: In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:27] Type 4: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:42]  Type 5: Fourth Wing (Empyrean, 1) by Rebecca Yarros (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:56]  Type 6: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:32]  Type 7: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:56]  Type 8: Crook Manifesto (The Harlem Trilogy, 2) by Colson Whitehead (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:20]  Type 9: Severance by Ling Ma (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:16]  Other Books Mentioned The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, 1) by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [32:08]  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) [33:49]  The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (2019) [34:57]  Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022) [35:23]  Sarajane's Book Recommendations [36:37]  Two OLD Books She Loves The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:50]  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [38:08]  Two NEW Books She Loves Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:09]  A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:14]  Other Books Mentioned Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019) [42:05]  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) [42:16]  Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2021) [42:28]  Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) [42:37]  The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (2022) [43:28]  One Book She DIDN'T Love Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (1987) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:14]  Other Books Mentioned South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami (1992) [44:20]  1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (2009) [44:49]  One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Theodora's Tea Shop by Christy Anne Jones (July 28, 2026 — no US release date set yet) | Link to Blackwell's for US Orders [45:52]  Other Links Truity | Enneagram Personality Test

In Episode 218, Sarah chats with Enneagram author, speaker, and podcaster Sarajane Case about Reading Through the Enneagram. After a brief introduction to the Enneagram and how it differs from other personality systems, they dive into how Enneagram types show up in our reading lives — from guessing an author's type to rethinking our own habits as readers. Sarajane walks through the nine types, shares a book recommendation for each, and offers her own personal picks. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights Books by Sarajane Case: The Honest Enneagram and The Enneagram Letters A brief introduction to the Enneagram — and how it differs from other personality systems Sarajane's personal approach to working with the Enneagram A quick overview of the nine Enneagram types How each Enneagram type might approach reading Whether (and how) we can discern an author's Enneagram type through their work (and the Enneagram types most and least likely to be authors themselves) Practical tips for using your type to improve your reading life Reading Through the Enneagram [29:51]  Type 1: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [30:08] Type 2: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:50]   Type 3: In Five Years by Rebecca Serle (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:27] Type 4: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:42]  Type 5: Fourth Wing (Empyrean, 1) by Rebecca Yarros (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:56]  Type 6: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:32]  Type 7: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:56]  Type 8: Crook Manifesto (The Harlem Trilogy, 2) by Colson Whitehead (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:20]  Type 9: Severance by Ling Ma (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:16]  Other Books Mentioned The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, 1) by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [32:08]  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) [33:49]  The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez (2019) [34:57]  Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022) [35:23]  Sarajane's Book Recommendations [36:37]  Two OLD Books She Loves The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:50]  Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (1847) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [38:08]  Two NEW Books She Loves Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:09]  A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [43:14]  Other Books Mentioned Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019) [42:05]  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) [42:16]  Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2021) [42:28]  Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) [42:37]  The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (2022) [43:28]  One Book She DIDN'T Love Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (1987) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:14]  Other Books Mentioned South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami (1992) [44:20]  1Q84 by Haruki Murakami (2009) [44:49]  One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About Theodora's Tea Shop by Christy Anne Jones (July 28, 2026 — no US release date set yet) | Link to Blackwell's for US Orders [45:52]  Other Links Truity | Enneagram Personality Test

In this heartfelt conversation, four women (Leighann, Wendy, Beverly, and Rachel) sharing their personal stories explore how vulnerability and openness can transform church environments and foster authentic relationships. Discover insights on healing, grace, and the power of shared experiences in deepening faith and unity. Key Topics The importance of sharing personal testimonies to create safe and authentic spaces in church How vulnerability breaks down barriers and silences judgment Recognizing that not all struggles are due to sin; some are life circumstances The impact of church culture on women's mental and emotional health Strategies for extending grace, love, and acceptance within the faith community The role of humility and leadership in cultivating a Spirit-led church environment Challenges of church hurt, gossip, criticism, and how to overcome them How discipleship and spiritual growth are continuous processes that require intentional effort Practical ways women can foster connection and support in everyday life

In this heartfelt and honest conversation, Leighann sits down with Wendy P. to talk about real life—faith that's been tested, wounds that don't heal overnight, and the quiet ways God shows up when everything feels fragile. Wendy shares her story with humility and wisdom, reminding us that healing is often a process, not a moment—and that God's presence is steady even when circumstances are not. This episode is for anyone who has wrestled with disappointment, walked through loss, questioned their faith, or wondered if God is still working behind the scenes. It's raw, hope-filled, and deeply encouraging. What You'll Hear in This Episode Wendy's personal journey and the experiences that shaped her faith What it looks like to trust God when prayers aren't answered the way you hoped How grief, disappointment, and waiting can deepen—not destroy—your relationship with God The difference between surface-level faith and surrendered faith Finding peace in seasons that feel unresolved Why healing is often layered and ongoing Encouragement for anyone who feels stuck, weary, or unsure of their next step Key Themes Faith in the middle of uncertainty God's presence during seasons of pain Letting go of control and expectations Learning to sit with God instead of rushing outcomes Hope that grows quietly over time Encouragement Takeaway If you're in a season where answers feel delayed and clarity feels far away, this conversation is a reminder that God is still near. You don't have to have everything figured out to be faithful—and you're not behind because you're still healing. Suggested Listener Reflection Where am I struggling to trust God right now? What expectations might I need to release? How have I seen God's faithfulness in small, quiet ways—even recently?

In this episode of the Church Ladies Uncensored series, Leighann McCoy shares a heartfelt conversation with Beverly Williams, a retired public health nurse manager and volunteer at the Middle Tennessee Pregnancy Center. Beverly opens up about her past, including a secret abortion when it was illegal, and how she found redemption and peace through faith. The discussion highlights the importance of sharing personal stories for healing and encourages listeners to create supportive church environments. Beverly's journey from secrecy to advocacy serves as an inspiring testament to God's faithfulness and transformative power.Church Ladies Uncensored, Beverly Williams, redemption, faith, healing, abortion, church support, personal stories, God's faithfulness, transformative powerHealing begins in sharing the truth.God's faithfulness is unwavering.Personal stories can inspire and heal others.Churches should be safe spaces for sharing.Redemption is possible through faith.Supportive communities foster healing.Secrets can be transformed into testimonies.God uses our past for His glory.Sharing stories can break down judgment.Faith can lead to personal transformation.KeywordsTakeaways

On this next episode of Church Ladies Uncensored we meet Amanda Adamson. In this heartfelt episode, Amanda Adamson shares her powerful story of overcoming severe domestic abuse, finding God amid the chaos, and experiencing profound healing through His grace. Her testimony offers hope and encouragement for women facing similar struggles, emphasizing the importance of faith, community, and vulnerability.In this episode, we discuss:Amanda's early marriage at age 20 and recognizing toxic relationship patternsHer experiences with physical, verbal, and financial abuse over many yearsHow her Christian faith sustained her despite cultural and church-related misconceptions about divorceThe supernatural encounter with God during a season of prayer and Bible reading that transformed her perspectiveThe importance of community, church support, and safe relationships in healingChallenging cultural and religious misconceptions about marriage, divorce, and forgivenessPractical ways to support and listen to others sharing their storiesThe role of testimony in fostering authenticity and deeper faith connections

On this next episode of Church Ladies Uncensored we meet Amanda Adamson. In this heartfelt episode, Amanda Adamson shares her powerful story of overcoming severe domestic abuse, finding God amid the chaos, and experiencing profound healing through His grace. Her testimony offers hope and encouragement for women facing similar struggles, emphasizing the importance of faith, community, and vulnerability. In this episode, we discuss: Amanda's early marriage at age 20 and recognizing toxic relationship patterns Her experiences with physical, verbal, and financial abuse over many years How her Christian faith sustained her despite cultural and church-related misconceptions about divorce The supernatural encounter with God during a season of prayer and Bible reading that transformed her perspective The importance of community, church support, and safe relationships in healing Challenging cultural and religious misconceptions about marriage, divorce, and forgiveness Practical ways to support and listen to others sharing their stories The role of testimony in fostering authenticity and deeper faith connections

In this episode of the Church Ladies Uncensored series, Leighann McCoy shares a heartfelt conversation with Beverly Williams, a retired public health nurse manager and volunteer at the Middle Tennessee Pregnancy Center. Beverly opens up about her past, including a secret abortion when it was illegal, and how she found redemption and peace through faith. The discussion highlights the importance of sharing personal stories for healing and encourages listeners to create supportive church environments. Beverly's journey from secrecy to advocacy serves as an inspiring testament to God's faithfulness and transformative power. Keywords Church Ladies Uncensored, Beverly Williams, redemption, faith, healing, abortion, church support, personal stories, God's faithfulness, transformative power Takeaways Healing begins in sharing the truth. God's faithfulness is unwavering. Personal stories can inspire and heal others. Churches should be safe spaces for sharing. Redemption is possible through faith. Supportive communities foster healing. Secrets can be transformed into testimonies. God uses our past for His glory. Sharing stories can break down judgment. Faith can lead to personal transformation.

In this episode of the Leighann McCoy podcast, part of the Church Ladies Uncensored series, Leighann McCoy and her guest Rachel Menard discuss the transformative power of prayer and spiritual warfare. Rachel shares her personal journey of overcoming addiction, abuse, and mental health challenges through faith, leading to her ministry, A Heart Refined. The conversation highlights the importance of vulnerability, forgiveness, and community within the church, encouraging listeners to embrace their stories and support one another in faith.KeywordsLeighann McCoy, Church Ladies Uncensored, prayer, spiritual warfare, Rachel Menard, A Heart Refined, addiction, abuse, mental health, faith, vulnerability, forgiveness, community, churchTakeawaysPrayer transforms lives and breaks strongholds.Sharing personal stories can lead to healing.Vulnerability is key to spiritual growth.Forgiveness is essential for personal peace.Community support strengthens faith.God's love is vast and personal.Mental health challenges can be overcome with faith.The church should be a place of acceptance and healing.Accountability within the church is important.Embracing one's story can inspire others. Rachel Menard's Ministry https://www.aheartrefined.com/ 

In this episode of the Leighann McCoy podcast, part of the Church Ladies Uncensored series, Leighann McCoy and her guest Rachel Menard discuss the transformative power of prayer and spiritual warfare. Rachel shares her personal journey of overcoming addiction, abuse, and mental health challenges through faith, leading to her ministry, A Heart Refined. The conversation highlights the importance of vulnerability, forgiveness, and community within the church, encouraging listeners to embrace their stories and support one another in faith. Keywords Leighann McCoy, Church Ladies Uncensored, prayer, spiritual warfare, Rachel Menard, A Heart Refined, addiction, abuse, mental health, faith, vulnerability, forgiveness, community, church Takeaways Prayer transforms lives and breaks strongholds. Sharing personal stories can lead to healing. Vulnerability is key to spiritual growth. Forgiveness is essential for personal peace. Community support strengthens faith. God's love is vast and personal. Mental health challenges can be overcome with faith. The church should be a place of acceptance and healing. Accountability within the church is important. Embracing one's story can inspire others. Rachel Menard's Ministry https://www.aheartrefined.com/

In this episode of the Leighann McCoy podcast, Leighann introduces the new series "Church Ladies Uncensored," focusing on the power of truth and authenticity in spiritual journeys. The series aims to create a safe space for women to share their stories of struggle and triumph, emphasizing the importance of genuine relationships and the healing power of truth. Leighann discusses the challenges faced by women in the church, the need for transparency, and the role of faith in overcoming personal battles. The episode also highlights upcoming interviews with women who have faced significant challenges and found strength through their faith.Prayer transforms lives and leads to victory.Authenticity in relationships is crucial for spiritual growth.Truth sets us free and fosters healing.Women in the church face unique challenges.Sharing personal stories creates a safe community.Faith helps overcome personal battles.Transparency is key to genuine relationships.The series aims to empower women through shared experiences.Upcoming interviews will feature stories of resilience.The church should be a safe space for truth and healing.

In this episode of the Leighann McCoy podcast, Leighann introduces the new series "Church Ladies Uncensored," focusing on the power of truth and authenticity in spiritual journeys. The series aims to create a safe space for women to share their stories of struggle and triumph, emphasizing the importance of genuine relationships and the healing power of truth. Leighann discusses the challenges faced by women in the church, the need for transparency, and the role of faith in overcoming personal battles. The episode also highlights upcoming interviews with women who have faced significant challenges and found strength through their faith. Keywords Leighann McCoy, Church Ladies Uncensored, spiritual warfare, prayer, truth, authenticity, healing, faith, women's stories, church community Takeaways Prayer transforms lives and leads to victory. Authenticity in relationships is crucial for spiritual growth. Truth sets us free and fosters healing. Women in the church face unique challenges. Sharing personal stories creates a safe community. Faith helps overcome personal battles. Transparency is key to genuine relationships. The series aims to empower women through shared experiences. Upcoming interviews will feature stories of resilience. The church should be a safe space for truth and healing.

The Author Events Series presents Tre Johnson in conversation with Reckon True Stories: Podcast hosts Kiese Laymon and Deesha Philyaw This event will be a live taping of the Reckon True Stories podcast. Black genius sits at the heart of the American story. In his probing essay collection, Black Genius, cultural critic Tre Johnson examines how Black American culture has, against all odds, been the lifeblood of American ingenuity. At times using his own personal and professional stories,  Johnson surveys Black cities, communities, and schools with an ever-watchful eye of what transpires around Black mobility. With a passion for complex storytelling and pulling from both pop culture and American history, Johnson weaves past and present making his case for the genius of innovation. As he examined his findings, Johnson couldn't help but wonder about the brilliance of the every day. Specifically, the creativity of the 90's graffiti-style airbrush tee, his aunties packed weekend bus trips to Atlantic city, and the razor-tongued, socially-sharp, profanity-laced monologues of comedian Dick Gregory. Again and again, he asks us to ponder-are these not obvious examples of genius? Chatty yet profound, Black Genius subverts expectations from the very first page with a blend of reportage, historical data, and pop culture as Johnson dives into his own family history seeking big answers to complex questions. Johnson's signature wit and curiosity turns history into an amusing sequence of events.  Tre Johnson was born in Trenton, NJ and now finds himself in Philadelphia, where he writes with a focus on race, culture and politics. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Vox, The New York Times, Slate, Vanity Fair, The Grio, and other outlets. He has appeared to provide media commentary on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon; CBS Morning Show; PBS NewsHour, NPR's Morning Edition, and other programs. In addition to writing, Tre is a career educator, beginning working both inside and outside in the classroom as a teacher and eventually as a leader in the sector.  Reckon True Stories is a celebration of new and classic nonfiction – the essays, journalism, and memoirs that inspire us, that change the world, and help us connect with each other. Join hosts and acclaimed authors Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) and Kiese Laymon (Heavy, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, Long Division) for in-depth discussions about the stories we tell and how they impact our culture. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation when you register for this event to ensure that this series continues to inspire Philadelphians. Books will be available for purchase at the library on event night! All tickets are non-refundable. (recorded 12/4/2025)

Send us a textHi, this week I'm chatting with Amy Joyce and Gayle Weiswasser, co-owners of Wonderland Books in Bethesda, Maryland.What turns a bookstore into a place where people feel part of a community? We asked Wonderland Books co-owners Amy Joyce and Gail Weiswasser, whose Bethesda shop blends sharp curation, joyful whimsy, and real community care—right down to a wall of Polaroids featuring every visiting dog.We trace their unlikely routes into bookselling—Amy from nearly three decades at the Washington Post and Gail from law and corporate communications—and how those skills power everything from lease negotiations to handselling, newsletters, and event strategy. They open up about curating beyond their own tastes by leaning on staff with different genre passions, why a quarter of the store is devoted to children's books, and how representation in kids' publishing shapes what young readers reach for on the shelf.Community is the through line. Hear how a creative Indiegogo campaign funded shelves and inventory while transforming donors into co-creators who curated displays, joined after-hours previews, and saw their book clubs' names on the wall. We dig into school partnerships that put author-visit titles in students' hands, hospital library donations made from damaged returns, and dog adoption events that turn the kids' section into a gentle reading nook—even for a blind pup named Rex.We also get practical about social media that works without a budget: staff-forward videos, playful trends, and a voice that feels human. Amy and Gail share what's selling now—from dystopian classics to big-hearted novels—and offer thoughtful recommendations that build empathy, including Demon Copperhead, Nickel and Dimed, Nomadland, and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. The philosophy is simple: welcome warmly, never hover, and let curiosity lead. If you love bookstores that feel like a sanctuary and a spark, this conversation will make you want to visit, linger, and read.If this resonated, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share it with a friend who loves indie bookstores.www.thebookshoppodcast.comWonderland BooksDemon Copperhead, Barbara KingsolverNomadland, Jessica BruderBuckeye, Patrick RyanSome Great Nowhere, Ann PackerThe Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiren DesaiThe Road to Tender Hearts, Annie HartnettNickel and Dimed, Barbara EhrenreichThe Secret Lives of Church Ladies, Deesha PhilyawMandy Jackson-Beverly - Lunch With An Author Literary SeriesSupport the showThe Bookshop PodcastMandy Jackson-BeverlySocial Media Links

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Welcome to the Fall 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!   Today, Catherine and Sarah share 14 of their most anticipated books releasing from mid-August through December.   This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcement One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through either our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both for just $7/mo) is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available and sign up here for Patreon and here for Substack! Highlights A lightning round of some big releases coming this fall that we're not featuring in today's preview. Odd fall pickings meant they both chose to feature 7 books each. Catherine's choices are a grab bag mix: academia, mysteries, a love story, and a snarky lighter read. Of Sarah's seven books, there are 3 debut authors and 1 repeat author — and 2 sports books! Some of Sarah's picks slide her right from sad girl summer into sad girl fall.  Sarah has already read and rated one of her picks — and it was a success! Plus, their #1 picks for fall. Big Fall Releases Wreck by Catherine Newman (October 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:15] King Sorrow by Joe Hill (October 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:22] Son of the Morning by Akwaeke Emezi (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:25] What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:29] Palaver by Bryan Washington (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:32] Replaceable You by Mary Roach (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:35] Circle of Days by Ken Follett (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:51] People Like Us by Jason Mott (August 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:14] The Black Wolf by Louise Penny (October 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:33]  All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (September 9) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:38]  Queen Esther by John Irving (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:46]  Hot Wax by M. L. Rio (September 9) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:02]  Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:51]  Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:55]  Other Books Mentioned Sandwich by Catherine Newman (2024) [1:18]  The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (1989) [2:06]  Hell of a Book by Jason Mott (2021) [2:20]  If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (2017) [3:06]  The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (2019) [4:04]  Fall 2025 Book Preview [7:26] August Sarah's Picks Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (August 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:09] We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:09] Catherine's Pick Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:19] Other Books Mentioned God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (2021) [9:49] Search by Michelle Huneven (2022) [9:58]   The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020) [10:08] Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González (2022) [10:12]   Inferno by Dante (c. 1321) [11:36]   Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [13:30]  Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [13:32] Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel (2024) [14:57]  The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) [14:59]  Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) [15:53]  The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) [15:54]  Good For a Girl by Lauren Fleshman (2023) [16:20]  The Longest Race by Kara Goucher (2023) [16:22]  September Sarah's Picks Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:17] Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:31] The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:23] Underspin by E. Y. Zhao (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:14] Catherine's Picks The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:08]  Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent (US release: September 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:07] Other Books Mentioned Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022) [18:15]  Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (2023) [20:05]  Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (2025) [20:38]  The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (2019) [24:46]  Younger by Pamela Redmond Satran (2005) [26:10] (The book upon which the television series is based.) Writers & Lovers by Lily King (2020) [26:12]  The Turner House by Angela Flournoy (2015) [29:49]  Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel (2024) [38:49]  October Catherine's Picks Workhorse by Caroline Palmer (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:25] The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:14] November Sarah's Pick Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31] Catherine's Pick Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (November 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:02] Other Books Mentioned The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [43:57]  December Catherine's Pick The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini (US release: December 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:19] Other Books Mentioned The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini (2024) [47:22] 

This week, Sharifah talks about a couple of books she loves that are both collections — one nonfiction and one fiction. Subscribe to All the Books! using RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and never miss a book. Sign up for the weekly New Books! newsletter for even more new book news. A new year means a new Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons. To get recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. All Access subscribers get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. You can become an All Access member starting at $6 per month or $60 per year to get unlimited access to all members-only content in 20+ newsletters, community features, and the warm fuzzies of knowing you are supporting independent media. To join, visit bookriot.com/readharder. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Books Discussed The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with author, Deesha Philyaw, her short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, which was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award.

In the premiere episode of Reckon True Stories, co-hosts and acclaimed authors Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) and Kiese Laymon (Heavy, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, Long Division) come together to kick off a season where nonfiction takes the spotlight. They talk about their own journeys to writing nonfiction, the distinctions they make between their essay writing and fiction writing, as well as how they came to collaborate and work together in the publishing industry.  Deesha and Kiese discuss writing on their own terms, revising their own ideas of what an essay is “supposed” to do or look like, and putting themselves back into the writing, while also exploring what makes for a compelling essay — calling for the writer to not lose the storytelling aspect in their nonfiction work. Reading List: Authors, Stories, and Books Mentioned Robert Jones Jr. The Fire This Time (Jesmyn Ward) Becoming (Michelle Obama) Damon Young Emma Carmichael “The Girl Is Mine” (Deesha Philyaw, Literary Mama 2004) Co-Parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce  Song of Solomon (Toni Morrison) “The Charge of the Light Brigade” (Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poetry Foundation) “Annabel Lee” (Edgar Allan Poe, Poetry Foundation) Yusef Komunyakaa  How to Sit (Tyrese Coleman) “Water Come Back To You: On Trying To Write About Love” (Deesha Philyaw, Split Lip Mag 2021) “Whiting” (Deesha Philyaw, Short Reads 2023) “The 13 Guys You'll Meet On A Dating App” (Deesha Philyaw, Medium 2019) “If He Hollers Let Him Go” (Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah, The Believer 2013) “The Case for Reparations” (Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic 2014) “I Called Out American Dirt's Racism. I Won't Be Silenced.” (Myriam Gurba, Vox 2020) Creep: Accusations and Confessions (Myriam Gurba) “On No Longer Being A Hysterical Woman” (Nafissa Thompson-Spires, The Paris Review 2020) Oldster (Sari Botton) “Feral” (Staci Greason, Oldster 2023) Memoir Monday Electric Literature More from Deesha Philyaw and Kiese Laymon:  The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw) Heavy (Kiese Laymon) Long Division (Kiese Laymon) How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America: Essays (Kiese Laymon) Ursa Short Fiction podcast Produced by Ursa Story Company in partnership with Reckon.  Hosted by Deesha Philyaw & Kiese Laymon Show Producers: Dawnie Walton & Mark Armstrong Associate Producer: Marina Leigh Episode Editor: Kelly Araja Reckon Editor In Chief: R.L. Nave Reckon Deputy Editor: Michelle Zenarosa Audience Director: Katie Johnston Creative Strategist: Abbey Crain Sr. Social Producer: Sid Espinosa

This week on SouthBound, host Tommy Tomlinson talks to Deesha Philyaw, author of “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” and Kiese Laymon, author of books including “Heavy” and “Long Division.” They're teaming up for a new podcast on nonfiction writing, and they have lots of thoughts about it.

Reckon and Ursa Story Company are proud to present Reckon True Stories, a new podcast hosted by acclaimed authors Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) and Kiese Laymon (Heavy, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, Long Division), all about the stories we tell and how they impact our culture.  Guests for Season One include writers Roxane Gay, Imani Perry, Alexander Chee, Minda Honey, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Samantha Irby.  Reckon True Stories is a celebration of new and classic nonfiction – the essays, journalism, and memoirs that inspire us, that change the world, and help us connect with each other.

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. This week we're talking about linked short story collections. What are linked short stories, though? These are stories that are collected and somehow linked to each other. That link can be very explicit or very subtle. They can be linked by one character who threads her/his way throughout every one or who is only mentioned marginally. They can be linked by several characters. They can be linked by the setting–if they are set in a certain town or state or country. But they can also be linked by theme or symbol or a common experience of characters. They could all be about a shared experience, like parenthood or death or love. Or a combination of these things. Books Mentioned in This Episode: 1- Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar 2- We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby 3- Good Taste by Caroline Scott 4- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - a 5 star read recommended by fellow book lover Anastacia @ms_a_m_c 5- The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer 6- The Decameron by Giovanni Boccacio 7- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 8- The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien 9- Dubliners by James Joyce 10- Dear Chrysanthemums: A Novel in Stories by Fiona Sze-Lorrain 11- The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 12- Birth Canal by Dias Novita Wuri 13- There, There by Tommy Orange 14- Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange 15- What Makes You Think You're Supposed to Feel Better by Jody Hobbs Hessler 16- The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw 17- A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan 18- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 19- Music of the Swamp by Lewis Nordan 20- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 21- Crooked Hallelujah by Kelly Jo Ford 22- Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta 23- Gwen and Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher 24- Throne of Glass (series) by Sarah J. Maas 25- The Bone People by Keri Hulme 26- The Extinction of Irina Rey by Jennifer Croft Podcasts mentioned-- Ologies with Alie Ward - www.alieward.com/ologies/oikologyencore NPR's Book of the Day - www.npr.org/2024/03/14/11969793…-rey-jennifer-croft Movies mentioned-- 1- Oppenheimer (2023) 2- Spaceman (2024, Netflix)

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. This week we're talking about linked short story collections. What are linked short stories, though? These are stories that are collected and somehow linked to each other. That link can be very explicit or very subtle. They can be linked by one character who threads her/his way throughout every one or who is only mentioned marginally. They can be linked by several characters. They can be linked by the setting–if they are set in a certain town or state or country. But they can also be linked by theme or symbol or a common experience of characters. They could all be about a shared experience, like parenthood or death or love. Or a combination of these things. Books Mentioned in This Episode: 1- Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar 2- We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby 3- Good Taste by Caroline Scott 4- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 5- The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer 6- The Decameron by Giovanni Boccacio 7- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 8- The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien 9- Dubliners by James Joyce 10- Dear Chrysanthemums: A Novel in Stories by Fiona Sze-Lorrain 11- The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 12- Birth Canal by Dias Novita Wuri 13- There, There by Tommy Orange 14- Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange 15- What Makes You Think You're Supposed to Feel Better by Jody Hobbs Hessler 16- The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw 17- A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan 18- Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 19- Music of the Swamp by Lewis Nordan 20- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 21- Crooked Hallelujah by Kelly Jo Ford 22- Fried Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta 23- Gwen and Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher 24- Throne of Glass (series) by Sarah J. Maas 25- The Bone People by Keri Hulme 26- The Extinction of Irina Rey by Jennifer Croft Podcasts mentioned-- Ologies with Alie Ward - https://www.alieward.com/ologies/oikologyencore NPR's Book of the Day - https://www.npr.org/2024/03/14/1196979329/nprs-book-of-the-day-the-extinction-of-irena-rey-jennifer-croft Movies mentioned-- Oppenheimer (2023) Spaceman (2024, Netflix)

Brea and Mallory discuss the best ways to organize your books, do an in depth review of Storygraph, and recommend experimental novels. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreSponsor -Moshwww.moshlife.com/GLASSESLinks -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupAmazon Wish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Slack channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!www.maximumfun.org/joinBooks Mentioned - I Can See Your Lies by Izzy LeeThe Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha PhilyawInterior Chinatown by Charles YuOn Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Purity Culture is largely embedded within White social and political systems intended to dominate and control bodies through a hyper-moralistic, anti-sex landscape.   However, in this last week of Black History month, it's imperative that we talk about the ways that Purity Culture has impacted Black communities.   To help us, we are sharing our interview with Deesha Philyaw (@deeshaphilyaw), author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, about how the values of Purity Culture have infiltrated Black churches and informed sexual relationships and expectations within the Black community. We talk about: Purity Culture within Cultural Contexts Values  How Sexual Misinformation Informs the Writing Process The Lack of Conversation  Divorce within the Church Fiction and Sexual Health  Suffering in Silence  “Daddy Issues''  Grief  Working Through Self-Hate Through Fiction  Sexism within Black Churches  Check out Episode 59: Banned Books: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, with Deesha Philyaw on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please give us a five star review as well!   Show notes and transcript are found on the Sexvangelicals website.

Marie-Helene Bertino's Beautyland gives insight into the human experience through the eyes of a young woman (who may or may not be an extraterrestrial) and reflects the joys and heartaches of life in way that will resonate with all readers. Bertino joins us to talk about her unforgettable character, looking at the world from an outsider's perspective, the mysticism of a fax machine and more.    Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky starts with a childhood game ending in the unimaginable and sets off on a journey of grief, acceptance and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Oshetsky joins us to talk about the inception of the novel, the themes of healing and connection, and writing in the natural world.   Listen in as these authors speak separately with guest host, Jenna Seery.    This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Jenna Seery and mixed by Harry Liang.            Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).    Featured Books (Episode): Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky Parakeet by Marie-Helene Bertino The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawn Walton Milk Blood Heat by Dantiel W. Moniz Chouette by Claire Oshetsky The Discomfort of Evening by Lucas Rijneveld The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes 

Tuesday is the new Monday this week! lol Don't give me a hard time NYE was a long night.This week, Gervonta Davis and the gentrification of Baltimore, Black people are losing recipes so we solve that with a Spades game featuring Napoleon Emill, Who is actually in Wu-Tang, Juelz Santa is never dropping, We throwing the first official church & brunch, and save money, sneak your liquor in!! Follow the show on IG and Tik Tok @thesimeongoodsonshowSIMEONGOODSON.COM

It's the last week of 2023, so that means that Hannah and Laura are sharing some of their favorite books, TV shows, and movies of the year! Thank you to OWWR listeners for making 2023 great! They will see you in 2024: The Year of the Dresden!!Apologies for some audio quality issues on Hannah's end.Media Mentions: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha WellsThe Green Bone saga by Fonda LeeA Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky ChambersA Prayer for the Crown Shy by Becky ChambersCity of Bones by Martha WellsFiction Fans podcastBefore I Let Go by Kennedy RyanThe Bear---HuluTaskmaster---YouTubeEarthlings by Sayaka MurataConvenience Store Woman by Sayaka MurataA Day of Fallen Night by Samantha ShannonThe Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha ShannonThe First Binding by R.R. VirdiStory Darlings podcastAndor---Disney+Rogue One---Disney+Goodbye to the Sun by Jonathan NevairGirl, Woman, Other by Bernardine EvaristoThe Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha PhilyawSmall Miracles by Olivia AtwaterThe Part About The Dragon Was (Mostly) True by Sean GibsonTeen Beach Movie---Disney+The Mandalorian---Disney+YellowJackets---Paramount+Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome ShirahamaCamp by L.C. RosenHeartstopper---NetflixUndone---Amazon Prime VideoSeverance---AppleTVStellar Instinct by Jonathan NevairDune by Frank HerbertOur Flag Means Death---HBOmaxWhat We Do In The Shadows---HuluBetween the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi CoatesWitch King by Martha WellsHow Not To Drown In A Glass of Water by Angie CruzUpload---Amazon Prime VideoNever Have I Ever---NetflixThe Bound and the Broken series by Ryan CahillOf Blood and Fire by Ryan CahillThe Fall by Ryan CahillEragon by Christopher PaoliniSpiderman: Across the Spiderverse---NetflixJury Duty---FreeVeeBarbie---HBOmaxThis Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max GladstoneShark Heart by Emily HabeckChildren of Time by Adrian TchaikovskyThe Fifth Season by N.K. JemisinThe Obelisk Gate by N.K. JemisinPsych---PeacockMonk---PeacockUgly Betty---NetflixAhsoka---Disney+Star Wars: Rebels---Disney+The Necessity of Rain by Sarah ChornMonstress by Marjorie Liu and Sana TakedaUntethered Sky by Fonda LeeMiss Percy's Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby OlsonThe Fall Is All There Is by C.M. CaplanThe Assassin of Grins and Secrets by K.E. AndrewsViviana Valentine Goes Up the River by Emily EdwardsBookshops & Bonedust by Travis BaldreeLegends & Lattes by Travis BaldreeAmong Thieves by M.J. KuhnThick As Thieves by M.J. KuhnLegendborn by Tracy DeonnThe Dresden Files by Jim ButcherBefore We Go BlogSFINCS competitionBe sure to follow OWWR Pod!www.owwrpod.com Twitter: @OwwrPodBlueSky: @OwwrPodTikTok: @OwwrPodInstagram: @owwrpodThreads: @OwwrPodHive: @owwrpodSend us an email at: owwrpod@gmail.comCheck out OWWR Patreon: patreon.com/owwrpodOr join OWWR Discord! We'd love to chat with you!You can follow Hannah at:Instagram: @brews.and.booksThreads: @brews.and.booksTikTok: @brews.and.booksYou can follow Laura at:Instagram: @goodbooksgreatgoatsTwitter: @myyypodBlueSky: @myyypodHive: @myyypod

Deesha Philyaw is a writer whose debut short story collection, "The Secret Lives of Church Ladies," was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award. Her works touch on themes of race, sex, gender and pop culture. Philyaw shares her Brief But Spectacular take on Black women, sex and the Black church. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Deesha Philyaw is a writer whose debut short story collection, "The Secret Lives of Church Ladies," was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award. Her works touch on themes of race, sex, gender and pop culture. Philyaw shares her Brief But Spectacular take on Black women, sex and the Black church. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

We are all the way LIVE…But Make it Books! Join Niccara, Brandon, and Deesha Philyaw, author of a Finalist for the National Book Award for The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, as they discuss how the church fashions young Black women, the importance of intergenerational representation, Deesha's writing process, and share light discourse about Greenleaf. This episode marks our first live event and we hope you can join us at the next one!   Books Discussed: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw   Special Thanks: Baltimore Center Stage Hopscotch Bottle Shop Love More Bmore Naomi Rivers, author of THIS: A Simple, Complex Love Story Sacred Touch Xander and Olive Jewelry   Follow us on Instagram: @butmakeitbookspod  Get any books discussed here: www.charmcitybooks.com   Thank you for listening and sharing!

Get ready for your TBR pile to actually topple over as we discuss a truly abundant season of publishing and books. The fall publishing calendar has a lot of hype-worthy titles, and in today's episode you'll hear our pared down lists (it was a struggle!) of excellent fall fiction due to hit shelves soon. This includes big books from BIG authors, intriguing titles from small indie presses, and a smattering of assorted fiction and non-fiction we think you'll love. Plus, each title we preview in today's episode is perfectly paired with a backlist book for your consideration, giving us the option to explore additional titles while we wait for our library holds and pre-orders to come in. If you love the work of public scholarship and the mission of Novel Pairings, we'd love for you to take a moment and share a review of the show over on Apple Podcasts. These reviews greatly help our shows visibility, and mean that other readers and lifelong learners have the opportunity to join our community. Novel Pairings also offers bonus content, classes, and a virtual book club through Patreon and we'd love to have you join. Tiers start at just $5 a month, and a 10% discount on annual subscriptions is available. Head over to patreon.com/novelpairings to sign up today!    Books Mentioned:    The Fraud by Zadie Smith Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff  Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, American captivity narratives Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward Jubilee by Margaret Walker America Fantastica by Tim O'Brien In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O'Brien Absolution by Alice McDermott The Mountains Sing by Ngyuen Phan Que Mai Peach Pit: Sixteen Stories of Unsavory Women, edited by Molly Llewellyn & Kristel Buckely, ft. Deesha Philyaw, Lauren Groff, & more (Dzanc Books)  The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Company by Shannon Sanders  The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller (Verso)  Rebecca and Jane Eyre North Woods by Daniel Mason  Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Every Duke Has His Day by Suzanne Enoch  Bringing Up Baby (1938) When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin People Collide by Isle McElroy  Orlando by Virginia Woolf Starling House by Alix E. Harrow  Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia One Woman Show by Christine Coulson  From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler The New Naturals by Gabriel Bump  This Other Eden by Paul Harding Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Women Who Challenged a Nation by Tiya Miles  End of the Rope: Mountains, Marriage, and Motherhood by Jan Redford The Loneliness Files by Athena Dixon  Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino  

Jes and Sarah are taking us back to middle school this month! They're talking about some of their favorite books from when they were in middle school and giving you some readalikes for those books today!   Show Notes   Middle School Books and Readalikes   Weetzie Bat, by Francesca Lia Block One Last Stop, by Casey McQuiston Stray City, by Chelsey Johnson   Shadow Children series, by Margaret Peterson Haddix How Beautiful We Were, by Imbolo Mbue War Girls, by Tochi Onyebuchi   Fear Street series, by R.L. Stine My Heart is a Chainsaw, by Stephen Graham Jones Camp Damascus, by Chuck Tingle   Island series, by Gordon Korman Into the Jungle, by Erica Ferencik The River, by Peter Heller   The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney Dear Child, by Romy Hausmann A Girl Named Anna, by Lizzy Barber   From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E.L. Konigsburg Where'd You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by C. Alan Bradley   What We're Reading The Wallflower Wager, by Tessa Dare Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon, by Melissa L. Sevigny How Can I Help You, by Laura Sims Thornhedge, by T. Kingfisher The Forest Brims Over, by Maru Ayase; translated by Haydn Trowell   First Dibs A Bold Return to Giving a Damn: One Farm, Six Generations, and the Future of Food, by Will Harris Say You'll Be Mine, by Naina Kumar   Best Bets Fight Night, by Miriam Toews The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, by Deesha Philyaw

Luke has just finished a Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich, and the McBabies are pretty noisy in the kitchen! (It's happy sounds, Neighbor Carl. Don't worry.) Some kids need company when they're doing chores, as a reminder to stay focused. But...not Silas. Now, let's talk about Luke's trouble-making ways on social media. He posted a John MacArthur quote: "I couldn't care less what a nonbeliever wants in a church service." Cue the offended Church Ladies. Some of these women aren't busy enough at home, and so they have nothing to "nurse" except a grudge. "I thought you were supposed to be LOVING...isn't that what CHRiST would do?!" Wow, that sounds like something a Wolf would say. "Um...Wolves are only religious people. The Bible never refers to unbelievers as wolves." Yeah, that's ALSO something a Wolf would say. Later: Luke wasn't done offending the Fairer Sex. He said somet things about education to a woman who didn't think he had the right college degree for that sort of truth. Contact the Comedian (and send your hate mail to Luke) by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com. Thanks for listening to our podcast on the Fight Laugh Feast Network!

Luke has just finished a Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich, and the McBabies are pretty noisy in the kitchen! (It's happy sounds, Neighbor Carl. Don't worry.) Some kids need company when they're doing chores, as a reminder to stay focused. But...not Silas. Now, let's talk about Luke's trouble-making ways on social media. He posted a John MacArthur quote: "I couldn't care less what a nonbeliever wants in a church service." Cue the offended Church Ladies. Some of these women aren't busy enough at home, and so they have nothing to "nurse" except a grudge. "I thought you were supposed to be LOVING...isn't that what CHRiST would do?!" Wow, that sounds like something a Wolf would say. "Um...Wolves are only religious people. The Bible never refers to unbelievers as wolves." Yeah, that's ALSO something a Wolf would say. Later: Luke wasn't done offending the Fairer Sex. He said somet things about education to a woman who didn't think he had the right college degree for that sort of truth. Contact the Comedian (and send your hate mail to Luke) by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com. Thanks for listening to our podcast on the Fight Laugh Feast Network!

EPISODE 1655: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Deesha Philyaw, author of THE SECRET LIVGES OF CHURCH LADIES, about Black Twitter, the influencer economy and the loneliness of online existence Deesha Philyaw's debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the 2020/2021 Story Prize, and the 2020 LA Times Book Prize: The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies focuses on Black women, sex, and the Black church, and is being adapted for television by HBO Max with Tessa Thompson executive producing. Deesha is also a Kimbilio Fiction Fellow and the 2022-2023 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE 1655: In this KEEN ON show,  Andrew talks to Deesha Philyaw, author of THE SECRET LIVGES OF CHURCH LADIES, about Black Twitter, the influencer economy and the loneliness of online existenceDeesha Philyaw's debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the 2020/2021 Story Prize, and the 2020 LA Times Book Prize: The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies focuses on Black women, sex, and the Black church, and is being adapted for television by HBO Max with Tessa Thompson executive producing. Deesha is also a Kimbilio Fiction Fellow and the 2022-2023 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.

Las Madres follows a group of mothers and daughters between Puerto Rico and the U.S. as they face challenges of health, natural disaster and family secrets with rich, warm prose and characters. Esmeralda Santiago joins us to talk about her personal connection to her characters, the challenge of writing real events, representing Puerto Rican history and culture and more. Elizabeth Acevedo's Family Lore brings the secrets of a generational saga and the surprises of magical realism together in her adult debut. Acevedo joins us to talk about writing prose and poetry, the importance of silence and power, the danger women face in the world and more. We end this episode with TBR Topoff book recommendations from Mary and Marc.     Listen in as these authors speak separately with Miwa Messer, host of Poured Over. This episode of Poured Over was hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang.         Featured Books (Episode): Las Madres by Esmeralda Santiago Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo Conquistadora by Esmeralda Santiago When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago Almost a Woman by Esmeralda Santiago The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez Blessing the Boats by Lucille Clifton Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw Afterlife by Julia Alvarez   Featured Books (TBR Topoff): Lotería by Mario Alberto Zambrano The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani 

In this Behind the Scenes episode, Sarah and I discuss Bookshop.org and its impact on the book world, her role there and what it entails, how Bookshop.org partners with independent bookstores and supports them, what surprises her the most about her job, what is coming next for Bookshop.org, and much more. Sarah's recommended reads are: Outline by Rachel Cusk The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philya Check out my Summer Reading Guide for 2023 and my Houston Life segment. Join my Patreon group to support the podcast.  Other ways to support the podcast can be found here.     Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton introduce “Enough!”, a short story by Jamil Jan Kochai, from his collection The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories. Kochai's story discusses intergenerational trauma, violences of both war and refuge, and rage as we follow Rangeena, a mother reflecting on her family and own past. The story is performed by Suehyla El-Attar Young, and it's excerpted from the audiobook of The Haunting of Hajji Hotak, produced by Penguin Random House Audio. Our thanks to them for sharing this story with Ursa's listeners. Jamil Jan Kochai's writing is lyrical, his images surreal, and because of the cyclical narrative, the repetition, and obsession with themes of rambling, the story leaves us breathless.  “Enough!” interrogates the ways in which we suffocate, the ways we're haunted, and the ways we survive. “Enough rambling, enough advice, enough pills, enough nightmares, enough lung damage, enough ghosts, enough beautiful dying boys, enough bomb smoke, enough burning apple trees, enough staring white neighbors, enough heavy breathing…” Come back next week for our conversation with Jamil Jan Kochai. Help Us Fund Future Seasons and Shows Ursa Short Fiction is supported by our listeners. Share this podcast with a friend—or become a Member to help fund production: https://ursastory.com/join/ Reading List The Haunting of Hajji Hotak, by Jamil Jan Kochai (Penguin Books) The Haunting of Hajji Hotak audiobook (Penguin Random House Audio) More stories and essays by Jamil Jan Kochai About the Author  Jamil Jan Kochai is the author of The Haunting of Hajji Hotak and Other Stories, winner of the 2023 Aspen Words Literary Prize and a finalist for 2022 National Book Award. His debut novel 99 Nights in Logar was a finalist for the Pen/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel. His short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Ploughshares, Zoetrope, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and The Best American Short Stories. His essays have been published at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. Kochai was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and a Truman Capote Fellow at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Currently, he is a Hodder Fellow at Princeton University.  More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw) The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton) *** Episode editor: Kelly Araja Associate producer: Marina Leigh Audio excerpted courtesy Penguin Random House Audio from THE HAUNTING OF HAJJI HOTAK by Jamil Jan Kochai, excerpt read by Suehyla El-Attar Young. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://ursastory.com/join

Welcome back to the Fake Ass Book Club!! Kat's dreams of having a guest instead of JUST Moni came true as the ladies welcomed a friend of the show Byron, aka @Brotha2daknight. Inspired by Father's Day, the ladies wanted a chance to highlight the importance of a father's role and show love to all the dads doing the thankless (yet important) work of raising their families. They discussed the influence their fathers had on their lives and their views on life and love… along with the challenges & rewards they've experienced as parents. Find out their thoughts on Robert DiNero and Al Pacino becoming new father's at 79 and 83 years young. Tune in for another FAB episode full of laughs!! Cheers!**Trigger Warning**: Episodes contain adult content & language. This show is for adults 18 and up and open minded individuals. We are not professionals or educators...just friends having candid conversations. Remember the club is fake but the talk is REAL!Dedication: To all the fathers (especially the black ones) for raising their families!! It's important to change the narrative around black fathers and highlight positive ones.Kat's art show: XMP “Mo White Tees”Notes:Robert DiNero becomes a father at 79: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/robert-de-niro-reveals-dad-79-99196875Al Pacino: https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/31/entertainment/al-pacino-baby-scli-intl/index.htmlDeesha Philyaw, author of “Secret Lives of Church Ladies” mentioned on this episode: https://deeshaphilyaw.com‘Stranger than Fiction: Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here:

Deesha and Dawnie sit down with Sidik Fofana, author of the acclaimed collection Stories from the Tenants Downstairs, published in 2022. Fofana discusses his journey getting into NYU, being a public school teacher, taking the long road to publishing his debut collection, and finding inspiration in the daily world around him. Fofana talks about creating voice and authentic characters, and he asks the hard question: in the chaos of life, how do we hold onto dreams? Ursa Short Fiction is 100% independent and supported by our listeners. Become a Member today to help us keep going: ursastory.com/join Reading List: Authors, Stories, and Books Mentioned Stories from the Tenants Downstairs audiobook (Scribner / Simon & Schuster Audio) “Tumble,” audio short story by Sidik Fofana (Ursa Short Fiction)  Lorrie Moore The Rabbit Hutch (Tess Gunty) Toni Cade Bambara Push (Sapphire) The Madonnas of Echo Park (Brando Skyhorse) Stuart Dybek The Women of Brewster Place (Gloria Naylor) About the Author Sidik Fofana is a New York City public school teacher, was a 2018 fellow at the Center for Fiction, and was named a “Writer to Watch” by Publishers Weekly. He is the author of the 2022 collection STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS, in which he introduces readers to the residents of Banneker Homes, a low-income residential building in Harlem, where a looming rent increase affects everyone in different ways. Tenants young and old who weave in and out of each other's lives. Sidik earned his MFA from New York University. And he lives with his wife and son in New York City.  More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw) The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton) *** Episode editor: Kelly Araja Associate producer: Marina Leigh Producer: Mark Armstrong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://ursastory.com/join

Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton introduce “Tumble,” an audio short story by Sidik Fofana about two women, Neisha and Kya, and a childhood fight with long-term consequences.  The story is performed by Jade Wheeler, and it's one of eight linked stories from Fofana's 2022 debut collection, STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS. This audiobook excerpt comes to us from Scribner / Simon & Schuster Audio—our thanks to them for sharing it with Ursa Short Fiction listeners.  As Philyaw noted in her recommendation of “Tumble” in Electric Lit: “What happens to a dream deferred thanks to the cruel betrayal of a former childhood friend? What do justice, empathy, and forgiveness look like within a community when traumatized, violated people turn around to traumatize and violate those closest to them?”  Listen to the story, then come back next week for our conversation with Sidik Fofana. Support our show by becoming an Ursa Member: https://ursastory.com/join/ Reading List “Tumble” (Electric Lit, recommended by Deesha Philyaw) STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio) About the Author  Sidik Fofana is a New York City public school teacher, was a 2018 fellow at the Center for Fiction, and was named a “Writer to Watch” by Publishers Weekly. He is the author of the 2022 collection STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS, in which he introduces readers to the residents of Banneker Homes, a low-income residential building in Harlem, where a looming rent increase affects everyone in different ways. Tenants young and old who weave in and out of each other's lives. Sidik earned his MFA from New York University. And he lives with his wife and son in New York City.  More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw) The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton) *** Episode editor: Kelly Araja Associate producer: Marina Leigh Music: “Fifth Avenue,” by Phury Audio excerpt courtesy of Simon & Schuster Audio from “Tumble” found in STORIES FROM THE TENANTS DOWNSTAIRS by Sidik Fofana, read by Jade Wheeler. Audiobook also read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Nile Bullock, Sidik Fofana, Dominic Hoffman, DePre Owens, André Santana and Bahni Turpin. Copyright © 2022 by Sidik Fofana. Used with permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://ursastory.com/join

On how we heal; trusting that you know what you need to heal, to thrive, to rest and to rewrite your story. 4:00 Journaling journey; Writing to heal, writing to get clear, writing to get kind and writing to get to know myself. 7:00 Giving young people the tools to to grow in emotional awareness. Healing by example. 9:00 Starting from scratch; Peach cobbler story – The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw 12:10 Some people just are who they are and can't necessarily show up as we expect them to; Allow the adversity in your life to show you just how much you are learning. 15:00 Beginning to journal about trauma and baby steps to get started; It's never easy, but it's always worth it. 18:55 Writing about people in a potentially negative way with grace; Holding grudges keeping us from being free; Blaming our younger selves for the actions of our parents. 23:10 Pain Can Feel Like…, Healing Can Feel Like…, Both Can Feel Like…; Reclaiming your power 26:00 Finding therapy sessions, prayers, meditations, etc. not enough to sustain the healing work, and needing more support; Learning to trust I know what I need; Faith without works is dead. 29:00 Our healing is an act of community service. It is not just for us, but for everyone we come in contact with. The healed version of me recognizes the unhealed version of you. 31:15 Rewriting your narrative: Taking ownership over who you are and what you want to be; Making space for joy. 34:00 Nurturing your inner child. Pain that relates to pain from the past. Beginning to think new thoughts of joy and thriving. I am releasing to receive and I am open to what is for me. 37:00 Compassion and connection are essential to this work. Practicing and exercising our compassion, grace, joy, etc. 39:20 Healing is an active process; Choosing to walk away from titles as a reclamation of self. Writing the book I want to write, not the book people want to see from me. 43:05 Hospicing Modernity: Facing Humanity's Wrongs and the Implications for Social Activism by Vanessa Machada de Oliveira 45:10 Things that bring me joy help me heal. We know that physically in our bodies there are endorphins and other things signaled when we laugh and smile. Writing came into her life by way of therapy and the exploration of healing through journaling and mindfulness. The intention behind Alex's work is to build community & healing practices through literature & language. Alex teaches workshops, courses, and retreats to assist others in finding their voices and create clarity in their lives & relationships.  alexelle.com

Welcome back to the Fake Ass Book Club!! This week the ladies take a peak into THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES by Deesha Philyaw. The nine short stories in this book feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions.With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be, and as free as they deserve to be. Be a fly on the wall as Moni and Kat disect thier favorite stories and give their insight on black women's sexuallity as it relates to church and other aspects of life. This episode is juciy so sit back and enjoy the ride! Trigger Warning: This episode contain spoliers, adult content & language. Please be advised this show is for open minded adults 18 and up. We are not professionals, or educators...just friends having candid conversations. Enjoy! **Dedication: To our patrons!! Muah!! Moni: my baby momma's Kat: Little Miss Flint @littleflint Show Notes: ** About the Book *:"The nine stories in THE SECRET LIVES OF CHURCH LADIES feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions.With their secret longings, new love, and forbidden affairs, these church ladies are as seductive as they want to be, as vulnerable as they need to be, as unfaithful and unrepentant as they care to be, and as free as they deserve to be." https://deeshaphilyaw.com **About the Author:* "Deesha Philyaw's debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the 2020/2021 Story Prize, and the 2020 LA Times Book Prize: The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. The Secret Lives of Church Ladies focuses on Black women, sex, and the Black church, and is being adapted for television by HBO Max with Tessa Thompson executive producing. Deesha is also a Kimbilio Fiction Fellow and the 2022-2023 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi." https://deeshaphilyaw.com *Stranger than Fiction: * Author Maggie Tokuda Hall asked to remove instances of racisim from her children's book. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/06/books/scholastic-book-racism-maggie-tokuda-hall.html?campaignid=190&emc=editufn20230511&instanceid=92303&nl=from-the-times®iid=198492839&segmentid=132677&te=1&user_id=c1fd9e778f0d4756dc801e086794067c F.A.B. Rating: Moni: Kat: *Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here

"Each time I wrote a story that belonged in this book… It held some pain. It held some love. It held some hope, some longing..."  Eloghosa Osunde's debut novel Vagabonds! is an inventive, mythic whirlwind through the city of Lagos, Nigeria. Told through interconnected short stories, this raw, painful, and ultimately hopeful work sheds light on an often-unseen world and its diverse inhabitants. Osunde talks with us about the significance and spark of inspiration behind the title, writing a novel in an uncommon format, the feelings she wants to leave her readers with and more with Poured Over guest host, Jenna Seery.    Featured Books (Episode):  Vagabonds! By Eloghosa Osunde  The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy  The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi   A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James    Featured Books (TBR Topoff):   Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi  The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw    Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).

Hosts Cassandra Cardenes and Erika Curry are back to discuss this week's trashiest stories. A podcast for garbage people by garbage people. New episodes every Monday. The number one source for #trashynews Let's get social instagram.com/trashytrashypod and twitter.com/trashytrashypod And now on TikTok! Find us at www.trashytrashypodcast.com MERCH STORE! https://trashytrashypodcast.threadless.com Starting Feb 27th - use LIKE10 for 20% off all things in the merchandise store! Sign up to support this podcast here: https://anchor.fm/trashytrashy/support This week's stories: https://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/1730430/masked-sex-toy-thieves-gold-vibrators-spain https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/police-northwest-indiana-woman-accused-of-pulling-mans-penis-in-violent-manner https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/altoona-home-invader-kidnapped-man-claimed-im-batman-police-report/ https://toofab.com/2023/02/14/man-dressed-as-sheep-attempts-daring-prison-escape https://www.10tv.com/article/news/crime/impd-arrests-man-rob-bank-tv-remote/531-a55ca4e8-31a0-4d46-bdf5-74076456a144 https://news.sky.com/story/pet-fish-spend-cash-and-expose-nintendo-switch-owners-credit-card-during-pokemon-live-stream-12793603 https://www.buzzfeed.com/pernellquilon/trashiest-weddings-people-attended Dumpster Fire of the Week: https://twitter.com/pop_arena/status/1620115734717415426 https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/01/23/what-was-it-about-animorphs --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/trashytrashy/support

“All things short fiction” Claude, David and Torie go a mile wide and an inch deep. They cover COB housekeeping, listener emails, and career advice from David. COB faves Dawnie Walton (“The Final Revival of Opal and Nev”) and Deesha Philyaw (“Secret Lives of Church Ladies”) zoom in. In addition to writing, publishing, and teaching, they've launched “Ursa”, a podcast dedicated to all things short fiction and underrepresented writers. Take a listen; it's really good!

This week, Glory Edim of Well-Read Black Girl fame joins us to talk about Deesha Philyaw's inaugural short story collection. We also chat with Glory about her work with WRBG and some of her favorite interviews. You can find more from Glory and Well-Read Black Girl at their website or on their podcast.  Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis. Advertise on Overdue See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.