Book Interrupted

The Wild Woman with Sarah Diop Podcast:

Tamu Thomas Website – www.livethreesixty.com

Tamu Thomas Instagram – @tamu.thomas

Book Interrupted Shop for all titles: www.bookinterrupted.com/shop

Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas

Burnout by Emily & Amelia Nagoski

Awaken Your Wild Woman by Sarah Diop

Authors Spotlight with Keven Albers

Book Interrupted — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Keven Albers and his book “Helcyon: The Ashen Knight.”

We explore a story that is far more than a traditional fantasy, it’s a profound exploration of grief, memory, and the stories we inherit.

Thirteen-year-old Bobby Porter is pulled into the unfinished fantasy novel left behind by his recently deceased father. He lands in Helcyon, an ash-choked world ruled by an immortal tyrant, where he partners with Zenobia, a fierce young warrior on her own quest. As Bobby navigates cursed lands and grief-soaked legends, he uncovers unsettling truths: this world may be a map of his father's own trauma, and the story itself is now demanding something from him.

Join us for a deep dive into a novel that masterfully blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, written for readers from pre-teen to their deathbed.

Subscribe to our podcast for more author interviews and book discussions.

Discussion Points:

The compelling storyline of Helcyon: The Ashen Knight.
Why this is not a traditional fantasy novel—it’s a layered exploration of psychological and emotional themes.
The role of nostalgia for the past and processing legacy.
The blurring of fantasy versus reality and how the book uses the portal fantasy trope to examine trauma.
Keven’s journey from screenplay to novel and how it shaped the book's cinematic feel.
An exciting sneak peek into the second book of the trilogy.
Discussing the wide age group appeal—why this book resonates with both young readers and adults.

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Helcyon: The Ashen Knight by Keven Albers

Keven Albers Website

The Neverending Story Book

The Neverending Story Movie

Legend Movie

Dungeons & Dragons

The End of an Era: Our Final Book Interrupted Episode

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:55:00 +0000

It’s our very last episode of Book Interrupted and we’re sending this chapter off with laughter, nostalgia, and a few surprises. After five years, five seasons, countless books, endless tangents, and more inappropriate jokes than we can count, we’re wrapping up the podcast that brought us together, kept us sane through Covid, and built a beautiful community of book lovers.

In this final conversation, we look back on our journey, share behind-the-scenes stories, and reflect on how far we’ve all come since the very first episode. We introduce Jessica, our amazing graphic designer. We talk about our infamous “sex, nudity, and dicks = more downloads” statistic. We revisit our favourite (and least favourite… or downright hated) books, relive scams, fandoms, and obsessions…and of course, we circle back to The Hunger Games and Twilight because obviously.

Plus: how Ashley went from superfan to full-time host, the story behind our “Stumble Forward” tank top, a message from Lia, Virginia and Squiggy, and Sarah’s heartfelt thank-you surprise.

This episode is messy, honest, funny, and full of love…exactly how Book Interrupted was meant to be.

Discussion Points

Announcing the final episode of Book Interrupted
Introducing Jessica Oddi, our brilliant graphic designer
The “Stumble Forward” tank top + our Swag Shop
How Ashley went from listener superfan to regular host
Returning (again) to The Hunger Games and Twilight
Lia’s doppelgänger and the bizarre scammer threat
Messages from Lia, Virginia & Squiggy
Our podcast stats: book picks, videos, downloads & most-played episodes
Why the most popular episodes involved sex, nudity, and dicks
The never-ending search for our next book obsession
Living through Covid while running a podcast
Members share their favourite and least favourite (or most hated!) books
Reflecting on how far we’ve come in 5 years
Sarah’s special thank-you surprise to the group and listeners

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Jessica Oddi - Graphic Designer

Stumble Forward Tank Top

Book Interrupted Swag Shop

All Book Interrupted Books Available on our Shop Page

Plus: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

The Forth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Wings of Fire by Tui T Sutherland

Shrek

Sapiens for Kids (Unstoppable Us) by Yuval Noah Harari

Baba Yaga’s Assistant (Children’s Book)

Kyle and Jay’s Podcast

Jennifer Lawrence

Awaken Your Wild Woman: A Guided Journey to Reclaim Your Intuition, Creativity, and Sovereign Soul by Sarah Diop

SarahDiop.com

The Wild Woman with Sarah Diop

Instagram @Sarah.Wild.Woman

Facebook Sarah Diop - Wild Woman

Sarah’s Surprise Video -without music

Authors Spotlight with Sean Christopher D'Amico

Book Interrupted — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight ontoSean D’Amico and his book “Asset Recovery: Decoding the Holy Bible to Awaken Christ's Consciousness by Way of Kundalini Yoga”.

In this profound Authors Spotlight, we sit down with Sean D'Amico, author of 'Asset Recovery: Decoding the Holy Bible to Awaken Christ's Consciousness by Way of Kundalini Yoga.' We dive deep into the world of Esoteric Christianity, exploring how the practices of Kundalini Yoga can unlock the hidden symbolism of the Bible. This conversation is a journey into spiritual transformation, discussing the Kundalini awakening process and how it connects to sacred geometry, quantum physics, astrology and more. If you're interested in Gnostic teachings, the chakra system, and a metaphysical Bible study, this episode is for you.

Discussion Points:

From atheism to Kundalini Yoga
Literal verses symbolic meaning in the bible
Sacred geometry, quantum physics, and light
Scriptures and symbolism
Spirituality within religion
Morning mediation and yoga

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Asset Recovery: Decoding the Holy Bible to Awaken Christ's Consciousness by Way of Kundalini Yoga

Living Energies: Viktor Scahuberger's Brilliant Work with Natural Energy Explained

Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins

Documentary - The Keepers

https://seanchristopherdamico.com/

https://www.instagram.com/figleafyogi/

https://www.youtube.com/@figleafyogi

https://www.tiktok.com/@figleafyogi

https://x.com/seancdamico

ikyta.org/teacher-profile/?teacher_id=6466

https://seanchristopherdamico.wordpress.com/

Nobody Cries at Bingo Episode

Book Interrupted — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 09:55:00 +0000

In this episode of Book Interrupted, the club welcomes Kara back with her book pick Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont. The group dives into Dumont’s sharp humor and unique storytelling style, reflecting on how each member connected with the book in their own way.

The conversation takes a nostalgic turn as the women share what it was like growing up as Generation X’ers a time before constant connectivity and digital tracking. They explore how media, advertising, and technology have evolved since childhood, and how those changes shape who we are today. Finally, the group reveals who among them might just be the black sheep of their families.

Discussion Points

Dawn Dumont’s comedy and storytelling style
Dawn’s background as a playwright
CBC Radio and the power of audio storytelling
The meaning behind the book’s title
Growing up as Gen X’ers
Being the black sheep in the family
Living in an age of constant advertising and surveillance
Final thoughts: Do they recommend the book?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont

Authors Spotlight with Montie Carol Montgomery

Book Interrupted — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Montie Carol Montgomery and her book Two Squirrels and a Girl.

Born to wealth that the Civil War ravaged, held captive by renegade Comanche, and rejected by family and friends, Mary Elizabeth (“Libby”) Haley ran away from home at the age of 14. Libby learned to navigate the dangerous and volatile Old West and made a name for herself as Squirrel Tooth Alice. Given her moniker because of a gap in her front teeth and her passion for raising ground squirrels as pets, Libby made the best of a difficult situation. She created a successful business, ultimately allowing her to build and run her own establishment.

A study in grit and grace, this is a story of a woman who chose not only to survive but to thrive in a world that did not recognize women as equals to men. Libby is an inspiration for women who followed.

Discussion Points:

Two Squirrels and an Girl storyline
The Wild West
Researching woman in history
Narcissistic personality disorder
Family history and stories

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Two Squirrels and a Girl by Montie Carol Montgomery

Montie Carol Montgomery’s website

It’s Not You by Romani Durvasula

Music for the Book Two Squirrels and a Girl

The Deep Episode

Book Interrupted — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 09:55:00 +0000

In this episode of Book Interrupted, the club dives into The Deep by Rivers Solomon, our Fan Book Pick for this season with Rian joining us, a longtime listener since season one. Together we swim into the depths of this powerful novella, a story born from music and transformed into haunting mermaid mythology.

Rian shares how the book reached her during a traumatic time in her family’s life, and why its themes spoke to her so deeply. The rest of the group weighs in: Lindsay listens to the audiobook on another road trip but finds it strangely disjointed, Ashley draws comparisons to The Giver while Lindsay connects it to Women Who Run with the Wolves, Meredith reflects on fables without happy endings and the egos of Monkey Kings, and Sarah resists the pull of consumerism…though Lindsay wonders if she may have gone too far with her tea towels.

Discussion Points:

The book was born from music
Books that come to you at the right time
A feminine story told through a masculine audiobook narration
The Giver comparison
How not having a history can leave a void
Consumerism
The Monkey King, egos, and Aesop’s fables
Wine and food colourings
Folklore, myths, and Women Who Run with the Wolves storytelling
Do they recommend the book?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Clipping The Deep

Authors Spotlight with Penelope Holt

Book Interrupted — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Penelope Holt and her book The Angel Scroll.

One ancient prophecy, two heartbroken lovers, and a worldwide scavenger hunt for three miraculous paintings.

After her husband’s death, New York artist Claire Lucas has baffling dreams and waking visions as she channels an enigmatic and healing painting of a holy man in India at the deathbed of a young woman. When widowed antiquarian Richard Markson announces that Claire’s canvas is one third of three paintings prophesied by the Angel Scroll, a recently discovered Dead Sea parchment, she is pulled into an international scavenger hunt to find the stolen scroll and the paintings it predicts.

As she pursues the paintings with Richard across historic and holy sites in America, Israel, and Europe, Claire encounters a series of remarkable teachers. A Buddhist, a Benedictine monk, and a professor of early goddess worship all provide rich explanations for the artist’s compelling and perplexing psychic experiences. But it is not until the three paintings are finally assembled that Claire deciphers their inspirational message for the modern world.

Discussion Points:

The Angel Scroll storyline
Greif
1999 Angel Scroll discovery
Movie script
Audio book narration
Menopause

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Angel Scroll by Penelope Holt

Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield

Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Polly wants a Lover by Penelope Holt

We Rip the World Apart Episode

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:55:00 +0000

In this episode of Book Interrupted, the club dives into We Rip the World Apart by Canadian author Charlene Carr—Lindsay’s pick for the season.

This powerful novel tackles systemic racism, police brutality, and generational trauma, topics that hit painfully close to home for one member and her family. While everyone agrees it’s a beautifully written book, it’s also an emotionally heavy read.

The group explores the symbolism of masks in the story and how they mirror real-life relationships. Sarah and Ashley share personal connections to the narratives, and the club debates the book’s conclusion, was it truly a happy ending?

The conversation also expands beyond the novel, touching on North America’s discomfort with discussing death and how consumerism shapes our mourning rituals in unhealthy ways.

Off The Shelf Episode 26 - Who Am I? Game

Book Interrupted — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:55:00 +0000

In this episode of Off The Shelf, we play the Who Am I? Game. Ashely and Sarah team up against Meredith and Lindsay. We limit the game to characters in the fourth and fifth seasons books.

Sarah and Ashley seem to be dominating, Meredith doesn’t want to be super competitive and Lindsay takes her guesses to a hilarious place, that remains joke for the entire game. Plus, who is William exactly?

Discussion Points:

Who Am I? Game
Sunrise on the Reaping
Summer reads
2025 Fan Book Pick

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Lucille Ball and Betty White on Game show - Password Plus

All books mentioned on Book Interrupted: www.bookinterrupted.com/shop

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr
The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Miss Chief Eagle Testickle by Kent Monkman and Gisele Gordon
The Deep by Rivers Solomon

Solutions and Other Problems Episode

Book Interrupted — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 09:55:00 +0000

In this episode of Book Interrupted, the book club dives into Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh—Meredith’s pick and the group’s second graphic novel read.

From laugh-out-loud moments to head-scratching confusion, the members share their mixed reactions to Brosh’s unique blend of awkward comedy and heartfelt storytelling. Did it hit the mark, or just feel... weird? One member couldn’t even finish the book—can you guess who?

The conversation also explores personal stories that mirror the book’s themes, as the group reflects on how they connected (or didn’t) with the tales within its pages. Ashley gushes over the expressive artwork, especially the characters’ faces and emotions, while several members are newly inspired to explore more graphic novels—an unexpected twist, especially after their lukewarm response to their first graphic novel pick.

Discussion Points:

How heavy and big the book is
Librarians pick from Meredith local branch
The mystery poop story
Sarah’s dog on a diet
The neighbour Richard story
The amazing artwork in this graphic novel
Hammering guy and grocery store guy stories
Sharing the stories with family
Laughing out loud
Drugs, loneliness, death and tragedy
The stories were weird
Awkward comedy throughout, is that a good thing or bad
Speed reading and graphic novels
Ashely wasn’t stuck in a bucket, but close
Embracing the relatable weirdness
Do they recommend the book

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

The Office show

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr

Authors Spotlight with Lucian Lazar

Book Interrupted — Sat, 24 May 2025 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Lucian Lazar and his book “The Framework: Motivationless Exercise”.

The Framework I: Motivationless Exercise is a transformative guide that embarks on demystifying the elusive nature of motivation in the pursuit of fitness and personal growth. Through a compelling blend of personal anecdotes, insightful strategies, and a refreshing sprinkle of humor, this book offers readers a novel approach to cultivating a consistent exercise habit without the reliance on motivation. Drawing from the author's eclectic experiences and a deep dive into various domains—from AI and game development to health and nutrition—The Framework I serves as both a mirror reflecting the author's curious journey through life and a beacon for those seeking to instill a sense of discipline in their fitness routines and beyond.

Rooted in the philosophy that consistency trumps intensity, the book challenges conventional wisdom, encouraging readers to adopt a daily habit of movement, no matter how small. It explores the psychological underpinnings of habit formation, the importance of a tailored approach to exercise, and the power of perseverance through demotivational insights. With chapters that range from "Life Happens" to candid explorations of failure and success, The Framework I is not just a fitness manual but a life manual for navigating the unpredictability of motivation with grace, wit, and determination.

Whether you're a seasoned gym-goer or someone struggling to make exercise a regular part of your life, The Framework I promises to be a companion in your journey towards achieving not just your fitness goals, but a balanced and fulfilling life. So, ditch the waiting game on motivation and step into a world where every small step counts towards a grander vision of health, wellness, and personal achievement.

Discussion Points:

The Framework
Creating Habits
Why this method works long-term
The story behind the framework and book

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Framework: Motivationless Exercise

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Off The Shelf Episode 25 - Fantasy Draft Pick

Book Interrupted — Tue, 20 May 2025 09:55:00 +0000

Hold on to your bookmarks — Book Interrupted is going Off The Shelf!

In this episode of Off The Shelf, we play Ashley’s suggested game: Fantasy Draft Pick, with a twist! The catch? You can only choose characters or authors from books we've read on Book Interrupted.

Can you guess which author Lindsay never wants on her team? Or which character Ashley always wants (and probably always will)? During the final round, things get real — you'll discover who the members secretly love, hate, and even lust after.

Who would you pick for your Fantasy Draft?

Discussion Points:

Fantasy Draft Pick Game
Draft Picks for being stranded on a desert island
Draft Picks for a zombie apocalypse
Draft Pick for the “Amazing Race”
Picks for marry-fuck-kill
Library reading challenge

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

All books mentioned on Book Interrupted: www.bookinterrupted.com/shop

World War Z

Freaky Friday

The Women Episode

Book Interrupted — Thu, 01 May 2025 09:55:00 +0000

In this episode of Book Interrupted, the club dives into The Women by Kristin Hannah—Virginia’s long-awaited book pick and her exciting return to the podcast.

What happens when a group of women with almost no knowledge of the Vietnam War is handed a novel that brings it vividly to life? The result is a powerful, emotional journey none of them expected. Kristin Hannah’s gripping portrayal not only left them more informed but deeply moved.

The discussion delves into Frankie’s complex love life, her heartbreaks, and the relentless trauma she faces both during and after the war. Ultimately, the group agrees: the heart of this novel lies in the powerful female friendships that carry the story and its characters through even the darkest moments.

It’s an emotional ride—so much so that more than one member was brought to tears by the end. Yes, Sarah cried... but so did someone you'd never expect! Who was it? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Discussion Points:

Main Character Syndrome
Frankie's love life
Books about war
The amount of hardship the author put Frankie through
The lack of acknowledgment for the nurses of the Vietnam war
Mothers little helpers
Expressing your emotions and PTSD
Vietnamese representation
Military archives of Canada
Gravitating towards lighthearted books during challenging times globally
The importance of women friendships
Could the ending have been happier?
Do they recommend the book

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingslover

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr

The Vampire Diaries

Military Archives Canada

Shonda Rhimes Screenwriting course

G...

Authors Spotlight with Kathleen Shields

Book Interrupted — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Kathleen J. Shields and her book “How to Write, Market and Sell Children's Books: A Comprehensive Guide” by Kathleen J. Shields.

Are you an aspiring children's book author eager to see your stories in print? Discover the ultimate guide that takes you from idea to successful publication. "How to Write, Market and Sell Children's Books" is your comprehensive companion through every stage of the publishing journey. Packed with 460 pages of invaluable insights accumulated over 24 years in the industry, this book leaves no stone unturned.

Inside, you'll uncover expert editing techniques, strategies for choosing the right publisher or navigating the indie path, and tips for finding talented illustrators to bring your stories to life. Learn the art of effective marketing, securing reviews, and gaining visibility in a competitive market. Plus, delve into the realities of publishing that few books dare to explore.

Unlike basic guides that merely scratch the surface, this book is designed to empower you with everything you need in one comprehensive volume. No need to juggle multiple resources or waste time searching for scattered advice. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your approach, "How to Write, Market and Sell Children's Books" is your definitive roadmap to becoming a successful children's book author.

When I first tiptoed into the book publishing industry I was as green as a four-leaf clover.

I discovered writers’ workshops charge hopeful authors hundreds of dollars with the promise of turning their book into a bestseller but the information was often unhelpful. The information was too broad and didn’t address the unique needs of children’s literature, which prompted me to write my own book. This is what prompted me to write my own book. What began as a simple guide on grammar and market trends grew into a comprehensive 460-page resource covering every aspect of becoming a successful children’s author.

In fact, it was said in the end that this is the “perfect roadmap” offering “critical information” and “powerful insight” into the industry.

Discussion Points:

The business of writing children books
Kathleen’s upcoming books
Kathleen’s current books
The benefits of a niche market
Turtles and Dogs
Encouraging writers to write

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

“How to Write, Market and Sell Children's Books: A Comprehensive Guide” by Kathleen J. Shields.

Positive Vibes by Preston Mitchum Jr.

Kathleen J Shields Many Books

Off The Shelf Episode - Which Witch Are You? Quiz

Book Interrupted — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:38:00 +0000

Hold on to your bookmarks — Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf!

Inspired by Sarah’s latest book pick, The Change by Kirsten Miller, the members dive into the magical world of witchy archetypes by taking a quiz to discover which character they most align with.

Astrological signs are revealed, existential questions are raised — do we relate because it's written in the stars, or because someone told us we should? One member isn’t having it when it comes to labels, and Ashley throws a curveball by suggesting a more serious twist for the next Off The Shelf. Will the group go for it?

✨ Take the quiz along with us [here]!

Discussion Points:

Which Witch Are You? Quiz
Astrological Signs
Stress and what Virginia just discovered really worked for her
Fighting for injustice in different ways
Filling your battery in different ways
Betrayals
How roles change depending on connection
Revealing your wished for super power shines a light on each members desires
Quiz results

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Which Witch Are You? Quiz

The Change Episode

Book Interrupted — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:55:00 +0000

In this episode, join the woman as they dive into The Change by Kirsten Miller—Sarah’s latest book pick. Discover which character Sarah aspires to embody in the future and which one Ashley relates to most. Their conversation explores powerful themes like human trafficking, women’s empowerment, and the realities of aging and perimenopause. Plus, Meredith breaks down why this book is "like a RomCom… but with murder," while Lindsay makes it clear she’s not here to discuss bodily fluids. And of course, they tackle the big question: Is it really so wrong to let bees do your dirty work?

Discussion Points:

I want to be Harriett when I grow up!
The book felt satisfying
Lindsay didn’t finish and why?
Meredith explains why the book is like a RomCom
Ashley feels heard
Not all men are evil and not all women are good
Human trafficking
Ashley shares a scary story
Revenge -how sweet it feels
Is it really that evil, if you outsource justice to nature?
Wearing your grey hair
Flipping perimenopause as a powerful experience
The value of aging- isn’t that the goal?
Do they recommend the book

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love

Hot Flash Video

Lola Episode

Book Interrupted — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 10:55:00 +0000

During this episode we dive into Ashley’s book pick: Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love. Ashley picks another hard to find book which pushes Lindsay to listen to her first audio book. Find out how she liked it! Sarah is shocked but the brutality in this crime fiction while the others feel completely desensitised. They discuss what it means to be a strong female character without falling into masculine traits for validation. Plus, is there no escape from the patriarchy even in fiction?

Discussion Points:

How the authors TV writing reflected in the book
The brutality in the book and how desensitised most members are to it
Lindsay’s first audio book
Being a women
Proving yourself as a women in power
What is a true representation of a feminist protagonist
How race, culture and social economic status influenced the main character
Is the ending realistic?
Is it okay for a book to be just entertaining
Someone didn’t read the book, you'll never guess who!
Spotify audio books
Do they recommend the book

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love

The Memoir of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle by Kent Monkman and Gisèle Gordon

The Hunger Games

Spotify Audio Books

Authors Spotlight with Cale Lewis

Book Interrupted — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 08:33:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Cale Lewis and his book “Red Pill in the Universal Matrix: How Owls, Synchronicities, UFOs, and Matrix Glitches Turned a Skeptic into a Simulation Believer”.

For most of his life, the author believed only in the cold, hard facts of science, dismissing anything supernatural as mere fantasy. But everything changed when strange synchronicities, inexplicable UFO sightings, and the eerie presence of owls began to disrupt his reality.

In this deeply personal journey, follow the transformation of a once-staunch atheist into a believer in the Simulation Theory — the idea that Earth is not what it seems. As the author decodes hidden messages from the universe, you'll experience UFO’s, supernatural events, and mystical signs that all point to one startling conclusion: we may all be living in a virtual reality.

With warmth, humour, and gripping authenticity, Red Pill in the Universal Matrix invites you to question the very nature of your existence. Are these experiences random, or is something greater at play? Get ready to open your mind and discover what happens when the boundaries of science and spirituality blur.

***During the interview Sarah calls the author Cal, but his name is Cale.***

Discussion Points:

Why we should read his book
Atheist into a believer
Synchronicity
Support from his father in the form of an owl
Orbs, UFO’s and other UAP’s in the sky
Being a safe place for others to share their experiences with the supernatural
Artificial Intelligence
Explosions of light

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Red Pill in the Universal Matrix by Cale Lewis

Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs by Luis Elizondo

Off The Shelf Episode 23 - Perimenopause & Hair (Good, Bad and DIY)

Book Interrupted — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:55:00 +0000

Hold on to your bookmarks! Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. In this episode we glimpse behind the scenes to see how the women are navigating perimenopause, periods, and getting older. What are they doing, experiencing and enduring? Plus, what’s going on with their hair?

Discussion Points:

Period Underwear
Urinary incontinence and kegel exercises
Menopausal flood and cysts
Good, bad and DIY hair cuts
Perimenopausal drugs -HRT
Perimenopausal symptoms
Doctors and women’s health
Sweating from heat, anxiety and hormones
Estrogen doses and extreme perimenopausal symptoms
Turning 50
The BFG and Lessons in Chemistry

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle Episode

Book Interrupted — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 10:55:00 +0000

Book Interrupted is back for season 5! We start the season with Kim’s book pick “The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island” by Kent Monkman and Gisèle Gordon.The women discuss the book and all agree its completely unique and don’t know how to describe it to others. They discuss the pros and cons of the audio book vs the physical book. There is a lot to unfold in this book from Cree, culture, history, gender, shame, greed, art, sex, more sex and even more sex.

Discussion Points:

Kent Monkman’s Art
Audio book verses physical book
Learning Cree
Real History
Explaining the book to others
LGTBQ+ or indigenous culture
Gender, sex and settler shame
Having more then you need
The Hunger Games and Twilight -would it be an episode without these?
Truth and reconciliation commitment
Do they recommend the book

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Memoir of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle by Kent Monkman and Gisèle Gordon

Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Authors Spotlight with Lukas Klessig

Book Interrupted — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Lukas Klessig and his book “Words With My Father: A Bipolar Journey Through Turbulent Times”.

Words With My Father offers a gripping portrait of the evolution of a young man's mental illness and how it manifested into a dramatic and often dangerous existence through the turbulence of the Civil Rights, Peace and Conservation movements.

Lowell Klessig's posthumously-released story, infused with reflections by his son Lukas, provides an intimate window into one man's life in flux with bipolar disorder. As the author narrates a postwar upbringing and describes the manic-depressive travails of developing his identity, he offers us a view into the turmoil of the times - and of his mind.

Through mania- and danger-filled months fighting for Civil Rights, protesting the Vietnam War and furthering the Conservation Movement, we see the purpose that sustained him. Through darkened panes, we witness the isolation and malaise of depressive winters that nearly took his life. This masterful chronicle allows us to peer into a restless and kinetic existence in one moment and a chasm of fatigue and hopelessness on the next page.

It's an account that will change your perspective. It's a bipolar journey that you won't ever forget.

Discussion Points:

Why we should read their book
A different kind a mental health memoir
How the book is presented
Lukas’s fathers last wish
Past stigma about mental health
Civil rights movement
Vietnam war and environmental activism
Reach out to Lukas at lukas@wordswithmyfather.com

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Words With My Father: A Bipolar Journey Through Turbulent Times by Lukas Klessig and Lowell Klessig

Lukas’s website: Words With My Father

Audio Book

Off The Shelf Episode 22 - Twilight Interrupted

Book Interrupted — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:55:00 +0000

Hold on to your bookmarks! Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. We’ve never picked Twilight by Stephanie Meyer as a book pick, but it doesn’t mean Book Interrupted hasn’t discussed it! Sarah is clearly obsessed and it doesn’t take much for the conversations to veer towards Twilight at any given time. Is Kim right, should we rename the podcast Twilight Interrupted?

Discussion Points:

How Sarah’s obsession with Twilight started
Explaining to Meredith Twilight
Twilight book verse the movie
What happens when you become a vampire
Opps, don’t bring up Twilight around Sarah
Meredith’s book picks aren’t for everyone
Lia’s guilt about cutting a book years later
Romance book pick, but it’s not Twilight
Twilight needs to be a book pick on Book Interrupted
Puppies and baby vampires
Sarah’s consumed everything available for Twilight

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Sapiens for Kids - Unstoppable Us

Twilight

Pride and Prejudice

The Hunger Games

Sapiens

Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin Of The Earth by William Bryant Logan

Fifty Shades of Gray by EL James

The Handmaid Tale by Margaret Atwood

Lia’s Sapiens Book Cutting

Season Four Recap

Book Interrupted — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 10:55:00 +0000

Sarah, Meredith, and Lindsay get together to recap Season Four. Why so few members? Many interruptions happened all at once. The women discuss this season and what books, movies or both they liked or disliked. Meredith can’t stop plugging the importance of using your local library and Sarah brings up Twilight again!. Let’s be honest – Would it even be an episode of Book Interrupted without some kind of twilight discussion? We discuss must see TV and Horror movies and the new segment Author’s Spotlight. Season Four where we attempted to watch movies and books has gone and the Book Interrupted Club is excited to start talking about Season Five and the theme: For Women, By Women, About Women!

Discussion Points:

Lack of Members that interrupted the Recap
What books with liked most
What books we like least
What movies we liked most
What movies we like least
Twilight and Harry Potter
Support your local library
Horror Movies
DINKS
Great TV series
Season 5 Photos
Season 5 Books and theme
Happy Birthday Ashely’s Dad

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Eat Prey Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanna Collins

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

The Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Season 5 Book Interrupted Photos

The Memoirs of Miss Chief Eagle Testickle: A True and Exact Accounting of the History of Turtle Island
by Kent Monkman and Gisèle Gordon

Lola by Melissa Schooner Love

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr

Nobody cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Jurassic Park

The Substance Horror Movie

Vinyl Cafe Radio Show

Shrinking - Apple TV

Ted Lasso

Going the Wrong Way by Chris Donaldson

Dead Rock Stars by Kyle Wiltshire and Jay Watson

Holiday Episode

Book Interrupted — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Join Lindsay, Meredith and Sarah for our first Holiday Episode. We discuss Christmas movies, holiday songs, and the few holiday books we know. We sing, reminisce, complain and debate if a famous Christmas song is flirty or threatening.

Discussion Points:

Favourite holiday songs and annoying ones
Christmas movies we love
Hallmark Christmas movies
The Christmas Vest and Ugly Christmas Cat dress
Baby it’s Cold Outside; Lacking consent or just flirty?
The Grinch (1,2,& 3) and Jim Carey’s Grinch coping techniques
Christmas Books
The Vinyl Cafe - A Canadian treasure
Litte t - Christmas stories
Christmas stress and consumerism in gift giving
Elf on the Shelf
Christmas movie recommendations

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

All I Want for Christmas is you

Blue Christmas

Jingle Bell Rock

Jingle Bells

Bing Crosby White Christmas

White Christmas

It’s a Wonderful Life

Santa Baby

Baby, its Cold Outside

Love Hard- Baby It’s Cold Outside Scene

Jim Carey on Graham Norton talking about the Grinch

The Christmas Pig by JK Rowling

The Nightmare before Christmas

A Visit from Saint Nicholas

The Vinyl Cafe Christmas Book

The Vinyl Cafe Christmas CD

Saw

The Night before Christmas

Off The Shelf -Little T Trauma Episode

Lee Valley Tree Stand

Authors Spotlight with Carew Papritz

Book Interrupted — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Carew Papritz and his novel “The Legacy Letters: his wife, his children, his final gift.”

Winner of 5 national awards including the Mom's Choice Award, The Legacy Letters reveals to us the rediscovered private letters from a dying father to his children and his wife.

His words of wisdom, interwoven between deeply personal stories and poignantly-told memories, ultimately become the practical, moral, and spiritual guidebook for his children he'd never live to see, and for his wife, his redemptive act of love. "Live Life to the Fullest" becomes the father's passionate plea to his family and to all of us desiring to live the same way.

Woman's World Magazine writes, "This inspirational classic is the perfect comfort book for people hungry to find meaning in their lives." Combining the best elements of such inspirational bestsellers as Tuesdays with Morrie, The Last Lecture, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, author Carew Papritz creates a timeless work that The Huffington Post calls, "A Must-Read Book of Wisdom for Life...exquisite, intimate, passionate, humorous, and genuine..."

Discussion Points:

Why we should read their book
Award winning
Reading challenge to customers
Readers reactions
Passages from the book
Fiction but accepted as non-fiction
Extended addition in the works
Early mid-life Crisis
Becoming a cowboy and philosopher
Travel

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Legacy Letters: his wife, his children, his final gift book

Carew Papritz

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L James

Off The Shelf Episode 21- Clothing Optional

Book Interrupted — Sat, 16 Nov 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Hold on to your bookmarks! Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. We take a glimpse behind the scenes while the Book Interrupted women discuss clothing or lack of and get a sneak peek into Season 5’s theme. Can Sarah finally choose Twilight? And will we do another Hunger Games?

Discussion Points:

Overalls
Public nudity
Mesh
Going commando
Sneak peek into Season five’s theme

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Sapiens for Kids - Unstoppable Us

Gone Girl Book

Gone Girl Movie

The Glass Castle Book

The Glass Castle Movie

Marco Polo App

The Hating Game Episode

Book Interrupted — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Join Lindsay, Kim, Meredith, Ashley and Sarah as they discuss our first romance novel “The Hating Game” by Sally Thorne. The women go from hot elevator scenes to pick up artists and murderous incels. They reflect on the ‘bad guy’ storyline in books, movies and their own lives. Would adding a little crime to this romance spiced things up for the members, maybe?

Everyone shares whether they would recommend the book and/or the movie and which one they enjoyed more, except Kim because she forgot to watch the movie again (haha)!

This book was made into a movie in 2021 and stars Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Damon Daunno, Kathryn Boswell and Sakina Jaffrey.

Discussion Points:

Trying a book from the romance genre because we’ve never before
The hate to love storyline
The actors chosen to play the characters
Hot and steamy books
The differences in the movie
Dating the “bad” boy
Other RomComs with a guess that actor game
Twilight and The Hunger Games
Pick up Artist’s and Incel’s
Staying true to the audience
Romance and fantasy romance
Adding a A storyline to the romance
Great reviews and pondering over demographics
Do they recommend the book and/or movie

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Hunger Games 4 Book Box Set

Twilight By Stephanie Meyer

Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Brown Sisters by Talia Hibbert

The Game by Neil Strauss

The Pick up Artist by Neil Strauss

The Forth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Can you Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

Twilight Film

Fifty Shades of Grey Film

CanPrev Mood and Memory

Authors Spotlight with Chris Donaldson

Book Interrupted — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 12:30:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Chris Donaldson and his novel “Going the Wrong Way”.

Driven by a desire to break free from his mediocre, middle-class existence and escape the Belfast (IRA) “Troubles” of the 70’s, Chris Donaldson strikes out on his café racing Moto Guzzi on a cross-country road trip of self-discovery.

But when the Iranian revolution stops the planned motorcycle trip to Australia, he switches gears and begins a 33-country, 50,000-mile odyssey across Europe, Asia, and the Americas including 10,000 miles on an ocean-going racing yacht.

As Chris leaves the “Belfast Troubles” behind, he creates his own trouble. Along the way, there are formidable roadblocks: trigger-happy soldiers with AK-47s in war-torn Africa, getting bogged in the Sahara Desert, waves the size of Everest that threaten to sweep him overboard, hepatitis E in South America, and PTSD when he gets home.

A ‘coming of age’ road trip like no other...

Going the Wrong Wayis raw in its exposure, thoughtful in its deliberations, and revealing about the regimes and cultures it passes through. What an amazing adventure in the days before Google maps, mobile phones and social media. Chris encounters a near-death experience around almost every corner, and a cast of characters that will change his life forever. All told in an honest style with the best of Belfast humour.

This is not just a solo travel memoir. It's a story about finding oneself in the midst of chaos, and about the transformative power of travel. As Chris navigates the challenges and joys of the open road, he learns important lessons about perseverance, friendship, and the importance of following your dreams.

Discussion Points:

Why we should read their book
1300 5 star reviews
Wrote the book 40 years later
Changing direction
Driving through the Sahara desert on a road bike
Did he make it to Australia?
Driving off his map
Maps, phone calls and boarders
Life lessons learned along the way
Reality tv verses real adventures
How technology has changed everything

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Going the Wrong Way by Chris Donaldson Book

Chris Donaldson Website

Going the Wrong Way by Chris Donaldson Audio Book

Top Gear

Long Way Down by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman

Off The Shelf Episode 20 - Never Have I Ever

Book Interrupted — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Hold on to your bookmarks! The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. During this episode we play Never Have I Ever. The Book Interrupted women discuss bad dates, pranks, false names, alibis and a new form of wine tasting.

Discussion Points:

Never Have I Ever:
- Never have I ever pranked someone
- Never have I ever laughed so hard I peed my pants as an adult
- Never have I ever wanted to be on a reality TV show
- Never have I ever used a false name
- Never have I ever been the alibi for a lying friend
- Never have I ever thrown a drink at someone

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Lessons in Chemistry Episode

Book Interrupted — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Virginia, Sarah and Kim discuss Bonnie Garmus’s debut novel Lessons in Chemistry. The women discuss the book, characters, and compare the novel to the limited series on Apple TV. They speak about the storytelling in the book vs the tv show, but most importantly how inspirational the character of Elizabeth Zott is. They reflect on the feminist themes in the book and how critics and writers may have lost the essence of the messaging. They even get into the chemistry of cooking, talking dogs and the many benefits of having a pencil handy.

This book was made into a TV Mini-Series in 2023 and stars Brie Larson, Lewis Pullman, Aja Naomi King, Kevin Sussman, Stephanie Koenig and Patrick Walker.

Discussion Points:

Elizabeth Zott was inspirational and true to herself, always
The many changes they made in the limited series on Apple TV
Directors and Screenwriters for the limited series
The talking dog
Feminism in the 1960’s and now
Losing yourself after marriage
Chemistry of cooking
The theme of the pencil
The knife, poison mushrooms and not needing to be saved
Done Better, the low budget remake
Women supporting women
Do they recommend the book and/or movie

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Lessons in Chemistry Limited Series on Apple TV

The Beach by Alex Garland’s Book

The Beach - Video Game Scene

Next Level Chef

Alton Brown Chef

Li Ziqi Cooking

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann Book

Killers of the Flower Moon Film

Game of Thrones Series

Shawshank Redemption Film

The Green Mile Film

Would you Rather- Feminist - 17 REAL-LIFE WOULD-YOU-RATHERS I, A WOMAN, HAVE HAD TO ASK MYSELF

Authors Spotlight with Jay Watson and Kyle Wiltshire

Book Interrupted — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Jay Watson and Kyle Wiltshire and their novel “The Dead Rock Stars”.

What if famous rock stars from the past, those who died young, in sudden and tragic ways, actually faked their deaths to become secret agents? Welcome to the world of The Dead Rock Stars, the heroes we never knew we had.

The Dead Rock Stars is a tale about Cole Denton, a young tech genius who discovers the secret world of rock star secret agents. He is tasked with saving the world from an unknown threat—one that’s closer to home than either Elvis Presley or the team can imagine. But can they beat the clock before it strikes midnight on December 31, 1999?

In a twisting and nostalgic story, The Dead Rock Stars is an alternate history, placed squarely in the realm of real-world events, that happened without anyone knowing. Brimming with pop culture references for music lovers of every generation, the novel’s fast and hilarious plot will keep readers guessing at every turn.

Discussion Points:

Why we should read their book
The 27 club rock stars
How the idea came about
Harry Potter
Popcorn fun, a movie on paper
Manifesting a screenplay
Spotify music soundtrack for the book
Generation X Pop culture references
Greatest book of all time
Best sorbet you’ll ever read

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Dead Rock Stars website -for your signed copy

The Dead Rock Stars book

Weezer Buddy Holly Music Video

Happy Days

Spotify The Dead Rock Stars Music Playlist

Off The Shelf Episode 19 - Heat, Hair & Stinky Fruit

Book Interrupted — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Discussion Points:

Heat waves
Sweat in all the best places
Styling hair
Hearing the sound of your own voice
Karma Brown interview reflection
Hair in the Humidity
How to cool off in the heat
Colouring your hair
Stinky fruit

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Karma Brown Podcast Episode

Karma Brown Interview Video Episode

The BFG Episode

Book Interrupted — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Kara, Sarah and Kim discuss Roald Dahl’s childhood classic The BFG - Big Friendly Giant. The women discuss the book, characters, and compare the novel to the feature film. They also explore what it is that makes the books from our youth stick with us through the years and complete a ‘Which Roald Dahl character are you?’ Quiz. Will one of the Book Interrupted crew end up getting the BFG? You’ll have to listen to find out.

This book was made into a movie in 2016 and stars Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Bill Hader, Penelope Wilton and Jermaine Clement.

Discussion Points:

Books from out childhood
Orphan archetype
Are my parents aliens?
Is my mother micro-dosing mushrooms?
Reading the book out loud
Our children’s reaction to the film
Generation X childhood films
Technology gaslighting
Buzzfeed Quiz “What Roald Dahl character are you?”
Do they recommend the book and/or movie

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Only Murders in this building series

The BFG Film

Cocoon film

Matilda film

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Wall-e Film

Emperor’s New Grove Film

King Fu Panda Film

The Witches Film

The Witches by Roald Dahl

Annie Film

Pete’s Dragon Film

The Last Unicorn Film

The NeverEnding Story Film

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

The Twits by Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Holes by Louis Sachar

Game of Thrones Series

True Detective Series

Which Roald Dahl Character are you? BuzzFeed Quiz

Summer Break Notification

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Book Interrupted is taking the summer off again. We'll be back September 1st, 2024 with Kara's Book Pick: The BFG by Roald Dahl.

Have a great summer!

Author's Spotlight with Charles McCormack

Book Interrupted — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Charles McCormack and his book “Healing of a Psychotherapist: A Journey of Rebellion, Reflection, and Redemption”.

"Healing of a Psychotherapist: A Journey of Rebellion, Reflection, and Redemption" is a genre-defying memoir, unveiling the profound evolution of an award-winning psychotherapist's odyssey, offering a transformative literary experience to all who embark on this unforgettable journey.

Amidst a world inundated with dry self-help literature, this memoir provides a fresh and insightful perspective on the complexities of life. Rather than dull prescriptions telling the reader what to do, the author puts the reader in his mind and takes them on a remarkable personal journey of vulnerability and introspection as they see the world through his eyes.

"Healing of a Psychotherapist" is an exceptional narrative that transcends the ordinary, leaving an indelible impact on the heart and mind that lingers far after the last page is turned.

Discussion Points:

The hero’s journey
Second addition
Award winning
Military Family
Embracing Happiness
Healing relationship with his father
Trauma auto-pilot
Found his calling in the dessert

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Healing of a Psychotherapist by Charles McCormack

The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell

The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda

Off The Shelf Episode 18 - Would you rather?

Book Interrupted — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Hold on to your bookmarks! The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. During this episode we play ‘Would you rather?’ Book Interrupted women discuss marrying your enemy, gas medication, lack of privacy and women’s preference of bears.

Discussion Points:

Would you rather:
- Be trapped in a romantic comedy with your enemies or trapped a a horror movie with your friends?
- Live in a future where people take everything too seriously or a future where people don’t take anything seriously?
- Live in a world where there is no crime or no privacy?
- Have bad gas or always have really dry mouth?
- If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

Silence of the Lambs

Idiocracy movie

1984 by George Orwell

Big Brother tv show

Lessons in Chemistry

If you were alone in the woods, would you rather encounter a bear or a man?

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Episode

Book Interrupted — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Join Lia, Meredith, Lindsay, Sarah, Kim and Ashley (for a few minutes anyway) as they discuss The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The girls learn (thanks to Lindsay) that this book was ten years in the making! Everyone agrees that this is an interesting read about a very important topic. The conversation veers off now and then to cousin love and whether zombies like to watch movies. There is plenty of discussion around ethics in science and medicine and whether there can be trust when there is money to be made. Everyone shares whether they would recommend the book and/or the movie and which one they enjoyed more, except Kim because she forgot to watch the movie!

This book was made into a movie in 2017 and stars Oprah Winfrey, Rose Byrne, Renee Elise Goldsberry, and Sylvia Grace Crim.

Discussion Points:

Audiobooks in a radio play format
Language directly quoted to represent culture
90 minute movie praise
Lacks family settlement with Biotech company
Rebecca Sloot BBC interview and Lacks family update
Oprah in the film
Medical and scientific ethics
Zombies
Johns Hopkins acknowledgement statement
Marrying cousins
Racism in medicine
History of cancer treatment
Different book covers
Fan book submissions
Do they recommend the book and/or movie

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Johns Hopkins acknowledgement statement

Henrietta Lacks

Rebecca Skloot BBC interview

Lacks Family Settlement with Biotech Company

Oprah Winfrey

The Immortal Life of Henriette Lacks Movie

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

What the Robin Knows by Jon Young

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Seeing Red by Kirsten Karchmer

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Twilight By Stephanie Meyer

Authors Spotlight with JV Hilliard

Book Interrupted — Mon, 27 May 2024 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto JV (Joe) Hilliard and his book “The Last Keeper: Book One of the Warminster Series”.

A young boy’s prophetic visions.

Blind at birth, Daemus Alaric is blessed with the gift of prophetic Sight. Now, as a Keeper of the Forbidden, he must use his powers of the Sight to foil the plans of a fallen Keeper, Graytorris the Mad.

An elven Princess with a horrifying secret.

Princess Addilyn Elspeth travels from Eldwal, the magically hidden home of the Vermilion elves, to begin her life as a diplomat to the human capital of Castleshire. During her journey, she stumbles upon a mystical creature foretelling ill tidings.

A terrifying force of evil.

Daemus’ recurring nightmare vision threatens to catapult him into a terrifying struggle that will leave the fate of the Keepers—and the realm—hanging in the balance. Daemus and Princess Addilyn must set out to face the menace that threatens their very existence.

Will the entire realm fall to its knees?

The Last Keeper is the first book in The Warminster Series. With gripping, epic action and heart-pounding adventure, you’ll love this new adventure series.

Discussion Points:

The hero’s journey and the Warminster world
Last book in the series (4th) coming out May 2024
Spin offs and origin stories
Video game and graphic novels coming soon
Dark fantasy, not everyone survives
Satisfying reader and fans desires for more
Why is the bad guy bad?
Humbled by fan art
Open to movie and screenplay offers

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Last Keeper by JV Hilliard

JV Hilliard Website

Off The Shelf Episode 17 - Time Management

Book Interrupted — Tue, 21 May 2024 09:55:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! During this episode we take a glimpse behind the scenes while the Book Interrupted women discuss time management, procrastination, lack of sleep, sake, Karma Brown and laundry.

Discussion Points:

Time Management
Sabotage and procrastination
Cosmetic extremes for halloween costumes
Sake
Lack of sleep and its effects
Karma Brown episode excitement and her book The 4% Fix
Sound levels and background noise
Laundry

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The New Earth by Eckhart Tole : Naming your Pain Body (Sally and Blanche)

Karma Brown Book Interrupted Episode

The Fifth Element : Leeloo halloween costume

The Master Cleanse

Vega

Ki Restaurant and Bottle Shop

Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell

What the Robin Knows by Jon Young

Sleep Chronotypes

Come Away with Me by Karma Brown

Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown

A Long Way Home Episode

Book Interrupted — Wed, 01 May 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Join Meredith, Lindsay, Ashley, Sarah and Kim as they discuss Saroo Brierley’s A Long Way Home. The girls learn (thanks to Lindsay’s research) that this book was actually written by a ghost writer and they are kind of relieved because no one really enjoyed the writing. Everyone really loves the story, but they all agree the writing wasn’t the best. Lindsay again helps with this issue by adding that this book was written in 3 months!

The girls discuss accents in different countries and how one can pick up the speaking style and mannerisms of the place they visit. There is interesting conversation around the landscape of the brain and how both it and the landscape of an environment may change over time. Meredith wraps up the experience of the story nicely by pointing out that even though a terrible thing happens in this story, many different people along the way help – There are good people in this world, there is good in the world. The girls also share thoughts and opinions on international adoptions. And, of course, everyone offers up whether they would recommend the book and/or the movie and which one they enjoyed more.

This book was made into a movie in 2016 called Lion and stars Dev Patel, Sunny Pawar, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara.

Discussion Points:

Using a ghost writer and how that works
Accents and mannerisms in different countries
The landscape of the brain and environment
There are good people in the world
The amazing story
Trauma, hope and genetics
A couple surprises from Meredith
International adoptions
Do they recommend the book and/or movie

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Lion (Movie)

The Impossible (Movie)

Big Brother TV Show

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Movie

International Adoption

Authors Spotlight with Christine Skarbek

Book Interrupted — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Christine Skarbek and her book “Confronting Power and Chaos: The Uncharted Kaleidoscope of My Life”

What’s in a name?

Her trailblazer of a distant cousin forged a solitary, singular path during and after WWII. Unassuming and somewhat clueless, Christine eventually finds she has to do pretty much the same. A teen fully expecting her Midwestern life would be drab and ho-hum, she meets in Germany an elderly man who offered her a ride – and insight into a legacy she was going to rely on throughout her entire life.

Discussion Points:

Christine Skarbek her namesake during World War 2
Struggling with divorce and children health concerns
Writing a screenplay and pitching it to Hollywood
The recession creating a new path and opportunity in Poland
Finding strength from her role model
Guns in America

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Confronting Power and Chaos: The Uncharted Kaleidoscope of My Life by Christine Skarbek

Off The Shelf Episode 16 - Horses and Ducks

Book Interrupted — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 09:55:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! During this episode we take a glimpse behind the scenes while the Book Interrupted women discuss being a work horse, embodying the character of a slutty horse, kicking horses, dinosaur ducks, duck armies and diarrhoea.

Discussion Points:

Being a work horse
Embodying the character of a slutty horse
Centaur portrait
Hashtags
Would you rather?
Dinosaur ducks
Diarrhoea
Horror duckling story
Duck army

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication by Marshal B. Rosenberg

Pretty Women

Killers of the Flower Moon Episode

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 09:55:00 +0000

On this episode of Book Interrupted Kim’s book pick, Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann is discussed. Topics include problematic depictions of Indigenous people, the correct pronunciation of “Osage”, colonialism, and how many white people were involved in the making of the movie. Everyone agrees that the movie was too long, but there are differing opinions on enjoyment.

This book was made into a movie in 2023 and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro and Lily Gladstone.

Discussion Points:

The fact base writing style of the book
Book vs movie
There were additional killers that weren’t prosecuted
Stereotypes of Indigenous people in film
Victim blaming
Colonialism
White man created both the movie and the book
The exploitation of the Osage
Radio show at the end with Jack White

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

(Movie) Killers of the Flower Moon

The Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King

(Book) Killers of the Flower Moon

Colonialism

Osage

Jack White album Lazaretto Album

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

STEM Talk Podcast with Dr. Peter Pirolli

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by: Suzanne Collins

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Authors Spotlight with Dr. Kerry Forrestal MD

Book Interrupted — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 09:55:00 +0000

During this mini episode we turn the Authors Spotlight onto Dr. Kerry Forrestal MD/MBA and his book “Crushing Cancer: A Patient’s Complete Guide to Managing a Cancer Diagnosis”.

2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States this year. Managing a cancer diagnosis is not only managing the disease, it’s also taking care of your finances and workplace, making sure you are legally protected, and that you can manage all the complications and emergencies that arise.

This book will tell you what to do from Day One, Hour One of your diagnosis.

Discussion Points:

Financial Issues
Cancer Scams
Interpersonal dynamics
New era of cancer care
What to do on day one

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Crushing Cancer: A Patient’s Complete Guide to Managing a Cancer Diagnosis by Dr. Kerry Forrestal MD/MBA

www.crushingcancerthebook.com

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Off The Shelf Episode 15 - Lets talk about Pets

Book Interrupted — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 09:55:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! During this episode we take a glimpse behind the scenes while the Book Interrupted women discuss puppies, being the pack leader, misguided pet names and medications gone wrong.

Discussion Points:

Introducing Meredith’s puppy
Mixing pet breeds
Puppies sharp teeth
Becoming a pack leader
Forest fires
Lost dogs
Misguided pet names
Medications gone wrong

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Cesar Milan 3 Books Collection Set (How to Raise the Perfect Dog, Cesar's Way: Everyday Guide to Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems & Be the Pack Leader)

Twilight Breaking Dawn (Baby Vampires)

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Episode

Book Interrupted — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 10:55:00 +0000

On this episode of Book Interrupted the crew discuss Ashley’s book pick: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. Topics include mirror images, stupid names, what’s in a name, would you eat someone, strategies for the Hunger Games and the creation of Hunger Games the series where fans could watch all 75 Hunger Games! Lindsay is back for this one and of course, the team shares whether they would recommend the book and/or the movie.

This book was made into a movie in 2023 and stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis.

Discussion Points:

Difficult names in the book
The audio book with spoke songs
Audio books pros and cons
How did we like the adaptation of the book
Who is the songbird and who is the snake?
Crushes on Coriolanus Snow or Tom Blyth
Each members strategy for this Hunger Games
Are there future Hunger games expected?
Twilight, again??
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Soundtrack
Are books being adapted into movies too long?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Hunger Games 4 Book Box Set

Coriolanus Snow actor Tom Blyth

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by: Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Film

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

Finding Me by Viola Davis

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Coriolanus by William Shakespeare - wiki summary

Oh My Darling Clementine

Hoopla

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Soundtrack

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption

The Shawshank Redemption Film

Off The Shelf Episode 14 - Pasta Quiz

Book Interrupted — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:55:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! During this episode the Book Interrupted members take the Quiz.co What Pasta am I? quiz. Find out what Lia’s disappointing results were and which pasta is the members actual favourite?

Discussion Points:

Quiz.co What Pasta am I? Quiz
Quiz Results

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Quiz.co What Pasta am I? Quiz

Book Interrupted YouTube Channel

Eat Pray Love Episode

Book Interrupted — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Join the Book Interrupted Club as they discuss Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love. The conversation begins with Lia, Meredith, Sarah and Kim sharing how they read the book (actual book vs audiobook) and whether the book ‘aged’ well. Ashley joins in late and the fun really gets going! The girls consider whether how old you are affects your enjoyment of the book. Recommendations (or not) are shared and everyone chooses the one word that represents their town and the one place they would visit if money was no issue. Bonus: there’s a sneak peek convo about the next book on our reading list.

Discussion Points:

Eat Pray Love By Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat Pray Love Movie
Audio books
Library Apps: Libby, Hoopla
Audible
Altruism vs Selfishness
White Fragility, Me too and Black Lives Matter
Dan Donohue
Bali
Learning Italian
Personal Bubbles
Red Lobster
Glennon Doyle
The Ballad of Sondbirds and Snakes by: Suzanne Collins
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snacks Movie

Links to get connected:

Book Interrupted

Book Interrupted Facebook Book Club Group

Season Three Recap

Book Interrupted — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Sarah, Meredith, Kim and Lia get together to recap Season Three during this episode of Book Interrupted. The conversation starts with a challenge: Can the Book Interrupted Crew even remember what books were part of Season Three?

In addition to talking about Season Three, the girls talk about Season Four, Five and Six! Many ideas are thrown out about what the themes of coming seasons should be. And the women share their predictions around which Season Four book they think they’ll like the most (and least). Of course, Sarah brings up Twilight for a change. Let’s be honest – Would it even be an episode of Book Interrupted without some kind of twilight discussion? And as usual, there are some sexual innuendos and inappropriate interpretations that crack the crew up. Season Three has come and gone and the Book Interrupted Club is excited to start talking about Season Four: Books that have been made into movies!

The Giver by Lois Lowrey

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Eat Prey Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanna Collins

Dirt by William Bryant Logan

Salt by Mark Kurlansky

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

Taylor Lautner

The Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Look Both Ways by Linwood Barclay

Look Both Ways Film

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Big Film

13 Going on 30

10 Things I Hate About You

To All The Boys I Loved Before

The Goldfinch by Donna Tart

Season 1 Book Interrupted Photos

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 10:55:00 +0000

Sarah, Meredith and Kim hold the final discussion on Kim’s Season Three book pick: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The girls discuss the complexity of being human and how multifaceted people and relationships are. As usual, the conversation veers off topic and the group considers the origins of the middle finger. Returning to the book, the discussion covers friendship, trials and tribulations, the moral of the story (or lack there of), hope and what exactly does “absolutely true” really mean? Finally, the girls share whether they would recommend the book or not.

This book is critically acclaimed and has appeared on the annual list of frequently challenged books since 2008. It became the most frequently challenged book from 2010 – 2019. Most of the controversy is based in how the book describes alcoholism, poverty, bullying, violence, and sexuality.

Discussion Topics:

Character Stereotypes and the binary of good and evil
The history of the middle finger
Friends, matching and Malcolm Gladwell
1999 & Y2K
Winning & Losing

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Book Interrupted

Book Interrupted YouTube Channel

Book Interrupted Facebook Book Club Group

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The history of the middle finger

Friends, matching and Malcolm Gladwell

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian - Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:55:00 +0000

In this episode Sarah, Meredith, Kim, and Ashley discuss their first impressions of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part time Indian by Sherman Alexis. As usual, the conversation veers off topic as the girls joke about murder mystery memoirs and traveling with cats. Other topics discussed include implicit bias, oppression, colonialism, racism, and micro aggressions.

Discussion Points:

Murder mysteries
Memoirs
Adapting to unspoken rules
Traveling with Cats
Micro-aggressions
Racism
Oppression
Colonialism
Stereotypes
Reservations
Implicit bias

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon

Scream

Book Interrupted was Interrupted

Book Interrupted — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:29:00 +0000

Off The Shelf Episode 13 -Behind the Scenes

Book Interrupted — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:30:00 +0000

Discussion Points:

Fasting
The Fasting Mimicking Diet
Is it Cake?
Would you prefer Chicken Wings or Cake?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Fasting Mimicking Program by Dr. Valter Longo

Is it Cake?

Berbere Ethiopian Spice

The Giver Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted ladies continue their discussion of “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. This novel has been banned for violence, sexual references, infanticide, euthanasia and suicide. Each member gives their final thoughts about the book and then continue in a group discussion. The women discuss the other books in the series, desire, the correct use of language, the lack of colour, infanticide and finally, do they recommend the book?

This book is on the American Library Association's most frequently challenged and banned books list from 1990 to 2009.

Discussion Points:

The other books in the four book series
The purpose of the pills
Cliffhangers and open endings
Desire, love and storytelling
Being comfortable and doing hard things
Reading the book in school
The correct use of language
The lack of colour
Infanticide and being released
Parallels between the novel and colonization
What job would you choose within this dystopian world?
What was the author trying to say with the ending?
Do you recommend the book?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Giver Film

Joe Dirt

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Burnout by Emily and Amelia Nagoski

Untamed by Glenn Doyle

Fun Home by Alice Bechdel

1984 by George Orwell

Son by Lois Lowry

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

WALL-E

The Truman Show

Jersey Shore References: Smushing & Gym, Tan, Laundry

The Giver Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 07:01:00 +0000

Kara and Virginia join the other Book Interrupted ladies for the banned book “The Giver” by Lois Lowry. This novel has been banned for violence, sexual references, infanticide, euthanasia and suicide. The Book Interrupted members give their first impressions of the book and continue in the group discussion. The women discuss utopia vs dystopia, family sharing time, sameness, the excuse of safety, free childhoods and ‘observers’ choosing vocations.

This book is on the American Library Association's most frequently challenged and banned books list from 1990 to 2009.

Discussion Points:

How the book reveals the “world” slowly
The fear of spoilers
Is it a utopia or a dystopia
Family sharing time
Control and sameness
Kids are capable of more
The excuse of safety
Restricted vs free childhoods
Observers deciding on an individuals vocation

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Giver Film

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

My Life in France by Julia Child

Hunt Gather Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

The Matrix

Under the Tuscan Sun

Chocolat

What Florida Doesn’t Want You to Know About Its Book Bans by Jodi Picoult

Off The Shelf Episode 12 -The Hunger Games Quiz

Book Interrupted — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 09:30:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! During this episode the Book Interrupted members take the Buzzfeed “The Hunger Games Character Quiz: Which character are you?”. Find out what Lia’s disappointing results were, which member got Katniss Everdeen and which question had the members wondering if the creator of the quiz read the books?

Discussion Points:

Buzzfeed “The Hunger Game Character Quiz: Which character are you?”
Quiz Results

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Buzzfeed: The Hunger Games Character Quiz: Which character are you?

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Hunger Games Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted ladies continue their discussion of “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. This novel has been banned for sexuality, insensitivity, offensive language, occult/satanic references, violence, religious viewpoint, and being anti-family. The Book Interrupted members give their final thoughts about the book and continue in the group discussion. The women discuss The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, turning books into movies, dangers of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ask the questions: can you have luxury without suffering and is ‘world peace’ possible? Finally, do they recommend the book?

There are 348 cases involving banning this book and its trilogy in 2010 alone.

Discussion Points:

New movie coming out: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Turning a book into a movie with accuracy
Reading for the journey verses the destination
Can you have luxury without suffering?
Interconnectedness and globalization
Can you have peace and luxury at the same time?
Defining happiness
Dangers of AI
Being entertained by violence
Do they recommend the book?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

A Million Little Pieces

‘Underdevelopment’in Africa- What’s the Real Story? -YouTube

Underdevelopment’in Africa- What’s the Real Story? -Instagram Clip

AOC You don’t make a billion, you take a billion

The Godfather of AI warning and interview with Connor Leahy

I,Robot

The Terminator

Holo Eye

The Hunger Games Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 May 2023 09:30:00 +0000

Lia is back! She joins the other Book Interrupted ladies for her banned book suggestion: “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. This novel has been banned for anti-family, insensitivity, offensive language, occult/satanic, violence, religious viewpoint, and sexuality. The Book Interrupted members give their first impressions of the book and continue in the group discussion. The women discuss watching the movies before reading the book, why sexuality is part of the banning, how each of them would fair as a tribute and parallels between this dystopian world and our current society.

This book has 348 cases involving banning its trilogy in 2010 alone.

Discussion Points:

How watching the movie before reading the book feels wrong
Reading a book for the second time
How this book reads like an action movie
How the games change the connection within communities
Parallels between current society and this dystopian world
Why sexuality may have been included in the banning
How would each member do if they were a tribute
The extreme wealth of celebrities and the MET Gala
Reading books in different languages
Is this book predicting the future?
The casting of the movie and the members love of Jennifer Lawrence
A surprise guest appearance

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

When Dad Killed Mom Book Interrupted Music Playlist

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

MET Gala 2023 Doja Cat

MET Gala 2023 Kylie Jenner

Duolingo App

Holes by Louis Sachar

Off The Shelf Episode 11 - Tarot Card Readings

Book Interrupted — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 09:30:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! During this episode the Book Interrupted members get a tarot card reading by Kim. Listen as Kim explains the interpretations associated with the cards picked and the Greek mythology behind them. The cards reveal love, shame, money, celebration and sacrifice.

Discussion Points:

Tarot card readings and Greek mythology
The story of the pentacles
Letting go of shame
New beginnings and love
Spending, money and self-worth
Celebration and stability
Voluntary sacrifice and putting your oxygen mask on first
Boundaries

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

When Dad Killed Mom - Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 08:30:00 +0000

During this final episode of Julius Lester’s book ‘When Dad Killed Mom’ the Book Interrupted women discuss the loss of a parent, fairness arguments, good stress, validating creepy feelings and reveal their love life book predictions. They end the episode with their individual final book reports.

This juvenile/young adult novel has been banned for sexual content and genital references.

Discussion Points:

Behaviours after loss
Different points of view
The loss of a parent
Love life book predictions
Brazilian waxing
Tarot card advice
Body battery
Good stress
When Dad Killed Mom Music Playlist choices
Fairness arguments
Dad’s origin story
Negotiating part of grief
Validating creepy feelings
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Courageous Creatures (I Survived True Stories #4) by Lauren Tarshis

When Dad Killed Mom Book Interrupted Music Playlist

American Idol -Somebody I Used to Know

When Dad Killed Mom Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 09:29:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted ladies are joined by Ashley for our first fan book of our banned book season. Ashely’s book pick is “When Dad Killed Mom” by Julius Lester. This novel has been banned for sexual content and genital references. The Book Interrupted members give their first impressions of the book and continue in the group discussion. The women discuss how this book is a fiction, two perspectives, murder, saunas, hair porosity, vagina acceptance and phallic symbols.

Discussion Points:

This is a fiction not a memoir
Two perspective and alternative point of view books
Hard to get books
The topic of murder
Teenage argumentative behaviour
Sauna’s, hot tubs, and water spas
Climate and temperature preferences
Hair porosity and mold
Vagina acceptance and differences
Phallic symbols and dick drawings

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

Google Book: When Dad Killed Mom

Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live

My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult

FoundMyFitness Podcast: #073 Sauna Benefits Deep Dive

Off The Shelf - Episode 10 -Valentines Day Behind the Scenes

Book Interrupted — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:30:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! During this episode we take a glimpse behind the scenes while the Book Interrupted women discuss Valentines Day, hickeys, merkins, and the British naked dating show: Naked Attraction. Do individual body parts matter in choosing a partner? Do you like hickeys?

Discussion Points:

Naked Attraction -British naked dating show
Genitals
Do individual body parts matter in choosing a partner?
Kissing your own beloved body parts
Merkins
Hickeys
Valentines Day

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Naked Attraction

The Handmaids Tale - Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:33:00 +0000

Forms of freedom, cliffhangers, Team Edward, telomeres, intimacy, the relationship between power and empathy, banshees, and historical notes. The Book Interrupted women finish their discussion on The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and then share their final book reports.

Atwood’s dystopian novel has been banned for being sexually explicit, violently graphic, and morally corrupt.

Discussion Points:

First edition book covers
The freedom to choose and the freedom from choice
Cliffhangers in books and tv shows
How time and perspective can change your memory of a story
Twilight, vampire love and banshees
Telomeres and chromosomes
Is intimacy an intrinsic need?
Does power make you less empathetic?
What makes a person?
Is passion a choice?
The Testaments and suggestions for a third novel
Historical notes are part of the novel
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaids Tale - Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women kick-off Seasons Three: The Banned Book Season with “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. Atwood’s dystopian novel has been banned for being sexually explicit, violently graphic, and morally corrupt. The Book Interrupted members give their first impressions of the book, and continue in the group discussion while joined by Lindsay. The women discuss the parallels between the book and current reality, women’s rights, fertility, gift giving, penis imagery, and the end of the world.

Discussion Points:

Fiction based on reality
The importance of a name, and women changing or keeping theirs after marriage
What’s in the name Offred?
Superfans reading deeply into books
Cyndi Lauper’s response to overturning of Roe v. Wade
Everyday toxins, and fertility of both men and women
Abstaining from having children for environmental reason
Pollution, capitalism, consumption, and gift giving
Penis metaphors or just your dirty mind
Pooping during labour and loss of modesty

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing MasterClass

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Cyndi Lauper Talks About Women's Rights

Season Two Recap

Book Interrupted — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Re-reading, recycling, finishing, audio, and our books. Welcome to our recap of Book Interrupted Season Two! What are the members’ favourite moments? What authors do we want on the podcast? And we wouldn’t be Book Interrupted if we didn’t go off on at least a couple tangents!

Discussion Points:

What do we remember from season two? What were the books from Season One versus Season Two?
What is the funniest/most uncomfortable/favourite moment/episode?
What books didn’t you finish?
What was the best and worst audio book?
What was your favourite and least favourite book from this season?
Playlists and photos for the website (www.bookinterrupted.com)
Do you re-read books?
Have you ever recycled a book?
If you could have another author on the podcast, who would it be?
Sneak peek at Season Three

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

They Called Me Number One by Bev Sellers
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Off The Shelf - Episode 9 with Kirsten Karchmer

Book Interrupted — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Another follow up interview with inspiring Kirsten Karchmer, author of “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” What has she been up to since we last spoke to her?

Discussion Points:

Fertility in the world and changing issues surrounding fertility
Skinny jeans
Puberty
Plastics/BPA affecting fertility
Periods
Men and love languages
Sex toys and the history of the vibrator
Raising children with honesty

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

KirstenKarchmer.com

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

5 Love Languages

Masters of Sex

Baroness Von Sketch Show - Pap Exam Skit 6:45

They Called Me Number One -Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Ducks, names, insults, mom stories, fake news, and residential schools. Concluding their series on “They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School” by Bev Sellars, the women discuss follow-ups and fan responses during the book cycle.

Discussion Points:

Voicemails
Ducks
Children swearing and “insulting” hand gestures
Truth and Reconciliation summary
Mom stories
Australian residential schools
Making the “other” scary
Names - What name could you have had? What name would you prefer? Remembering people’s names on the first meeting.
Being late
Other fan feedback and followups

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Edited and Abridged

Willow

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Australia's Dark Secret: The Inhumane Treatment of Indigenous Peoples

They Called Me Number One -Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Reconciliation, the climate crisis, and Bev Sellars’ life. The Book Interrupted women finish their discussion on “They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School” by Bev Sellars, then share their final book reports.

Discussion Points:

Reconciliation
Climate crisis
Would they recommend the book?
Bev Sellars’ life and accomplishments
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

They Called Me Number One -Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Rotten food, freezing temperatures, seven generations, truth, healing and reconciliation. The women continue their chat inspired by “They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School” by Bev Sellars.

Discussion Points:

Did they finish the book?
The Orange Shirt story
The structure and storytelling style of the book
Painting the whole picture
Rotten food and below freezing temperatures
The lasting impacts of residential schools survivors
Epigenetic markers based on trauma, cultural genocide - it takes seven generations to heal
Good starter book
Truth, healing and reconciliation - the long road and why are things not getting done?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad, Brock Nicol

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action

They Called Me Number One -Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Orange Shirt Day, the loss of language, land and climate change. The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading “They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School” by Bev Sellars and finish with a group discussion.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Truth and Reconciliation Day/Orange Shirt Day - September 30th
Evolving language and the loss of languages
Climate change
Owning land

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild

Hidden Brain - Watch Your Mouth

University of Alberta Indigenous Canada

Native Land Digital Twitter

Native Land Digital

They Called Me Number One -Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Being uncomfortable, banned books, allyship, and socks. The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School” by Bev Sellars.

Discussion Points:

Banned books
Making people and yourself uncomfortable and anti-racism work
Indian Hospitals and forced sterilizations of Indigenous women
The Pope’s apology
Reconciliation and allyship
Changing unconscious biases
Do you like wearing socks?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:m

History of the Sitcom

“Indigenous women still forced, coerced into sterilization: Senate report” - Global News

They Called Me Number One -Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Residential schools, shaming, dehumanization, and children’s rights. The Book Interrupted women continue Season Two with “They Called Me Number One” by Bev Sellars. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “They Called Me Number One”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Learning about residential schools in the current school system
The structure of the book
The impact of the book after you read it
Other books by Indigenous Canadian authors
Lack of medical care and other events that occurred in residential schools
Why did Kim choose this book?
Inability to have family visits, shaming, and abuse
Children’s rights
Dehumanization and corporal punishment

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

Book Interrupted Swag Shop

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

IndigenEYEZ

Off The Shelf - Episode 8 - Are you Stressed? Quiz & Angry Feminist Quiz

Book Interrupted — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women answer quizzes, inspired by the book “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski. This episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks!

Discussion Points:

Are you stressed?
Is your feminism angry enough?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Stress Quiz: https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/stress-test#fa-qs

Burnout Quiz https://www.oprah.com/inspiration/burnout-quiz-assessment-test-fried-book_1

Is my Feminism Angry Enough Quiz: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2018/04/quiz-is-my-feminism-angry-enough

Burnout Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Being inside yourself, crank calls, reassessing your life, stress leave, miscarriages, and bookmarks. Concluding their series on “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, the women discuss follow-ups and fan responses during the book cycle. Special guest Virginia, the fan who chose The Midnight Library, joins in.

Discussion Points:

The music in the audio book version
Catch up with Virginia and her book recommendations
Prank-playing and crank calls
Work sheets in the book
Taking time to finding awareness and clarity
Is it career limiting if you take time off for stress?
Miscarriages
Fan responses to playlists and social media posts
What do you do to save your page in a book you’re reading?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny! By Tony Robbins

Be Better At Listening - Pomplamoose (Studio Session Version)

Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer

Burnout Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000

Moby Dick, the Human Giver Syndrome, the timing of books in our lives, underwear, and do we recommend the book? The Book Interrupted women finish their discussion on “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, then share their final book reports.

Discussion Points:

Practical aspects of the book
The Human Giver Syndrome
Who is this book written for?
Do we recommend this book?
Do books mean something different to us at different times in our lives?
Do you always wear underwear?
Final Book Reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Burnout Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 09:30:00 +0000

BMI, judging other women, grocery store conversations, and human libraries. The women continue their chat inspired by “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski.

Discussion Points:

The Bikini Industrial Complex and the BMI (Body Mass Index)
Do you judge other women and yourself about they way they/you look?
Obesity and healthiness
Should people be commenting on how children look?
Does anyone need to wear makeup - especially children?
Categorizing people and commenting on their body
Talking to strangers
The importance of connection

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Jax - I wrote a song called Victoria’s Secret and I always wanted to be part of a Flash Mob

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

Bucharest Herald: “Experiment on Romanian orphans: They have lower volumes of gray matter”

Burnout Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Kissing, speaking up, shutting up, the mad woman in the attic, and “the patriarchy (ugh)”. The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski and finish with a group discussion.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Kissing for six seconds to complete a stress cycle
How do you react when you hear other people have stress?
Speaking up versus shutting up
Who is this book aimed at?
The patriarchy - does the writing undermine the intended message?
Active rest
Using this book for stress in the corporate world
The madwoman in the attic

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Burnout Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Giving, boundaries, burnout, social connection and finding “the middle of the Oreo”. The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski.

Discussion Points:

Human Giver Syndrome and accepting and asking for help
Sense of and setting boundaries
Choosing your battles and avoiding conflicts
Saying “yes”
Are you usually early, on time, or late?
TLDR sections and personal stories in the book
Do you feel burnt out?
The need for social connection
Work burnout
Ups and downs and finding the “middle of the Oreo”
The importance of exercise to combat burnout

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny by Kate Manne

15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, Kaley Warner Klemp

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Burnout Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Moustache hairs, humour, the patriarchy, and audio books. The Book Interrupted women continue Season Two with “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “Burnout”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Using your body to work through stress
Humour in self help
The patriarchy, how it relates to wellness, and expected roles and behaviour of women
Worksheets in the book
“Science is not an exact science”
Authors reading their own audio books - is it a good thing?
Preconceived notions of books

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski

Brené Brown Unlocking Us podcast with Emily and Amelia Nagoski

Operation Angus by Terry Fallis

The Onion

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Off The Shelf - Episode 7 -The Word Definition Game

Book Interrupted — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Inspired by the advanced words from “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel, the Book Interrupted women play a game. Which definition is real, and which ones are fake? This episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks!

Discussion Points:

Humectant
Crepuscular
Rococo
Bathetic

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Gone Fishing

Book Interrupted — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Tune in next week for our regular scheduled Off The Shelf Episode.

Fun Home Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Nice ghosts, chin hairs, companion book, the Mandela Effect, and interruptions while reading. Concluding their series on “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel, the women discuss follow-ups and fan responses during the book cycle.

Discussion Points:

Why was this book chosen?
Kim’s follow-up of what she thought - feeling left out of the book
Having a companion book to Fun Home
Talking about menopause
Plucking your chin hairs
Podcast awards
Most people are nice
Pronouncing words
Interruptions while reading
The Mandela Effect

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Fun Home Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Periods, sex scenes, references, and recommendations. The Book Interrupted women finish their discussion on “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel, then share their final book reports. Do they recommend the book?

Discussion Points:

Period references and period underwear
Writing to the author
Do you recommend the book?
Were there any books that were referenced that you want to read?
How did you feel about the sex scenes?
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Blossom

Fun Home Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Life choices, raising children, household organization, solipsism, and more. The women continue their chat inspired by “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel. Are you a person who has too many mugs or just enough?

Discussion Points:

Reading a graphic novel like reading poetry
Literary references and complicated vocabulary in Fun Home
Philosophy of solipsism
Making life choices that make yourself happy
The nuclear family and adult creative pursuits
Raising children with a village versus a small family
The advantages to having multi-aged play groups
Child, bag, and other trackers
Having homes for household objects so you don’t lose things
Having too many mugs

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Solipsistic

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff

The Tile App

Fun Home Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Journaling, “To Do” lists, discovering parents are real people, and of course, the book. The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel and finish with a group discussion.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Did you finish the book?
Connecting or not connecting to the book
The structure of the book
Discovering your parents are people and are flawed
Do you journal?
What’s your relationship with “to do” lists?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The High Performance Planner

Fun Home Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Funerals, death, cadavers, goo bags, and Weekend at Bernies. The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel.

Discussion Points:

Fun Home = Funeral home
Drawings of cadavers
What do you want to happen to your body after you are dead? Would you donate your body?
Death and funerals in different places and time periods
80s and 90s movies and television
Other writings by Alison Bechdel and the musical based on the book
Tarot card readings

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

BodyWorlds

Weekend at Bernie’s

Fun Home Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Boobs, booze, banned books, and the Bechdel Test (and graphic novels, literary references, and talking about the weather). The Book Interrupted women continue Season Two with “Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic” by Alison Bechdel. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “Fun Home”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Fun Home in the “book club bag” at the library
What’s the process of Bechdel creating her graphic novels?
Fun Home has been banned in schools and libraries in the USA
The graphic images in the book
The layout - how is it reading a graphic novel? Using a different mindset.
Literary references
Boobs and booze and banned books
The Bechdel Test - women in film
Small talk - talking about the weather
Pink eye

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Off The Shelf Episode 6 with Karma Brown

Book Interrupted — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Author Karma Brown of “The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life”, joins the Book Interrupted women and fan Lindsay for a chat about finding the time for yourself, raising children, rhubarb baking, and Roe v. Wade. This episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks!

Discussion Points:

The 4% Fix conversational style
Finding the hour for yourself - when can you find your time? And what do you use your time for?
Raising children at different ages
Difference in time management for adults with kids versus without
How did the pandemic affect your personal time/projects?
Procrastibaking
Roe v. Wade
How to help - show up and get involved

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

How Did Roe Fall? Before a Decisive Ruling, a Powerful Red Wave, NY Times, by Kate Zernike

Smitten Kitchen

V For Vendetta

Karma Brown Instagram

The Midnight Library Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Limbo in limbo; vintage shopping; and full belly laughs. Concluding their series on “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig, the women discuss follow-ups and fan responses during the book cycle.

Discussion Points:

Have you ever lost a friend over their recommendation of books?
Do you want to stay in the never-ending “library” like Hugo?
Limboing in limbo
Having sex in all the different lives - would you do it a lot?
Similar themes on the screen
Saving clothing that you love, even if it’s caught on fire, and the vintage shop movement
Seeing Red in the library
Revisiting bird calls and bird stories
Full belly laughs
Here’s my coffee cup and here’s what I’m reading - Insta challenge
Next book cycle Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Book Interrupted Playlists

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Crash (2004)

Crash (1996)

Two Truths and a Lie - Book Interrupted episode

styledemocracy.com-Courage My Love

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

What The Robin Knows Fan Episode - Bird Call Challenge

La Vie en Rose

The Midnight Playlist

The Midnight Library Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women finish their discussion on “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig, then share their final book reports. Do they recommend the book?

Discussion Points:

Do they recommend the book?
Short chapters
What time do you go to bed?
Good for a book club
Parallel universes
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Everything Everywhere All at Once

Off The Shelf: Two Truths and a Lie

The Midnight Library Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women and Virginia continue the group discussion about “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. They discuss kindness & relationships, whether suicide is courageous or not, wine-book pairings, and then imagine their own midnight libraries.

Discussion Points:

Kindness, hard lessons, the impact of relationships
Suicide – is it brave or not?
Pairing wine with books!
The members name their libraries and their alternate lives
Meredith’s Midnight Used Book Store
Lindsay’s Midnight Wine Cellar & Jancis Robinson
Sarah’s Midnight Bakery & her boss Margaret
Kim’s Midnight Boardgame Café or improv game & her grade 11 law teacher
Lia’s Midnight Hotel with different beds & Brutus the dog
Virginia’s Midnight Record Store
Kara’s Midnight Green Room & Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Amusement parks, too much adrenaline, and colliding with birds

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Jancis Robinson - Wine Critic

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Women Who Run With The Wolves

Seinfeld Gene’s Picks

The Midnight Library Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women and Virginia share their personal thoughts at the halfway mark of reading “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig, then continue in the group discussion. The women discuss depression, the unpredictable outcomes of choices, and fiction versus reality. What roles do philosophy, perspective, & mindset have in regret? How does the language of mental health change the conversation?

Discussion Points:

Philosophy, perspective, and mindset
Choices change life in unpredictable ways
Connecting with the main character, or not
Depression
Micro dosing
Fiction versus real life
Language change for the good

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Everything Everywhere All At Once Official Trailer

Matt Haig

Quantum Leap TV Show Opening Credits

The Midnight Library Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women and Virginia continue the conversation about “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. They discuss acceptance instead of regret, abortion, right choices with bad feelings, and the happiest life yet.

Discussion Points:

Living without regret –decisions make us
Unpacking feelings about abortion
Making the right choice sometimes feels bad
Dog-killing babies
Time travel movies starring Rachel McAdams
The stairway to happiness
Kids giving themselves haircuts

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

About Time Official Trailer

Time Traveler’s Wife Official Trailer

The Midnight Library Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 30 May 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women welcome Virginia and kickoff the first fan book choice of Season 2: “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. The women individually give their first impressions of the book, and continue in the group chat. They discuss fate, soulmates, parallel universes, purgatory, Gene’s Picks from Seinfeld, and (of course) regret.

Discussion Points:

Book Interrupted welcomes Virginia to the fan book cycle
Devouring the book – the right way and wrong way
Gene’s Picks – finding your Gene or your Elaine for books or beliefs
Fate, soulmates, parallel universes, and purgatory
Bad things can be good things
Poetry, philosophy, and book coming into life at the right time
Bird interruption aka Jon Young is a sneaky guy

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

Matt Haig

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts by Brené Brown

Lean in: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

Leading Change by John Kotter

Seinfeld Gene’s Picks

Another Earth - Official Trailer

Spiderman: No Way Home - Official Trailer

Off The Shelf Episode 5 - Two Truths and a Lie

Book Interrupted — Mon, 23 May 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off the Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! The

Book Interrupted women play Two Truths and a Lie. Can you guess which one is a lie?

Discussion Points:

The unlikely accidents that left scars on Lindsay’s hands
The embarrassing things that happened to Lia while she was working on a tattoo
Meredith’s bat blood potion, university professor romance, and sea turtle encounter
Kara’s drunken brother-in-law stories, and a close encounter with a deer
The famous people Kim has met
Sarah’s accident-prone stories that are better than lies

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Behind Her Eyes on Netflix

Jordan Knight from The New Kids On The Block

Topher Grace from That '70s Show

Lance Bass from NSYNC

Toe Touches / Russians

What the Robin Knows Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 16 May 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Concluding their series on “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World” by Jon Young, the women discuss follow-ups and fan responses during the book cycle. Naked in the forest, multiple penises, doing it birdie style, self-esteem & mirrors, and Bird Call Challenge.

Discussion Points:

Squiggy’s Stumble Forward T-shirt
Twitter reactions & realizing Twitter account names aren’t always their real name
Topic Tuesday quote: “Every living being has a purpose”
More on naturists, naturalists, and nudists
Multiple penises (or is it peni?)
Self-esteem, self-consciousness, and mirrors.
Doing it birdie style
These are the birds in our neighbourhood
Book Interrupted members answer the Bird Call Challenge
Do you read one book at a time or multiple books?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Bird Songs

A Fed Bear Is A Dead Bear

The Kids in the Hall -- Chicken Lady

What the Robin Knows Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 09 May 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women finish their discussion on “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World” by Jon Young, then share their final book reports. Do they recommend the book?

Discussion Points:

The last chapter
Listening to the birds
Exercises and techniques learned from the book
Mindful meditation, nature, and forest bathing
Forest bathing and wine tasting
Thinking about your senses
Do we recommend the book?
The Challenge - listen to a bird and replicate their song
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

What the Robin Knows Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 02 May 2022 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their discussion on “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World” by Jon Young, exploring topics of balance, individuality in animals, bird calls, and learning from nature.

Discussion Points:

Did you like the book?
Can being out in nature create a balance?
Time management
Connecting our book cycles together - what parallels do you see?
Putting a sail on a canoe
What did you take away from the book?
Animals are individuals and listen to each other
Learning from nature and paying attention, being part of the ecosystem not apart from it
Learning the bird behaviour and calls

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

What the Robin Knows Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World” by Jon Young. They continued on to the group discussion, exploring whether energy and emotions are contagious across species, birds calls, pet versus city versus country birds, if they liked reading the book, and much more.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
How did the members like reading the book?
Individual types of birds and their calls - can you distinguish them?
From Collision to Connection chapter
Energy and emotions are contagious - can the birds sense your emotions?
Pet birds
City park birds versus country birds

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

What the Robin Knows Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World” by Jon Young, exploring topics of bird language, multitasking, interconnectedness, naturalists versus naturists, and so much more. The episode ends with a new challenge: can you master/mimic a bird call and spell it?

Discussion Points:

Technical aspect of the book
Learning bird language and what it means
Is it in our DNA to connect us to other animals, sounds, etc?
Multitasking - is it good for you?
Interconnectedness of everything
Jon Young’s learning from Indigenous groups throughout the world
Categorizing bird sounds and how other animals listen to them
Naturist versus naturalist - which one is naked?
Bird call challenge - can you master/mimic a bird call and spell it?
The recordings of the bird calls - did you listen to them?
Pop culture tangents

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Vinyl Cafe

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

What the Robin Knows Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue Season Two with “What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World” by Jon Young. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “What the Robin Knows”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of sit spots, Scouts, bird watching and putting random found things in your mouth, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of the book.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals - what are the first impressions of the book?
Do you have a sit spot/magic spot?
Were you ever a Scout, Brownie, or Girl Guide?
Animal and bird watching
Do you put random found things in your mouth?
What animals and birds do you see close to your home?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Your Parenting Mojo

How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature by Scott D. Sampson

The Life of Birds by David Attenborough

Off The Shelf Episode 4 with Kirsten Karchmer

Book Interrupted — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Follow up interview with inspiring Kirsten Karchmer, author of “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” How has she been over the past year and what are her current projects? How can we change the messaging around periods and puberty?

Discussion Points:

Tik Tok
Parents in Texas can now be prosecuted for child abuse if they give their transgendered child medication
Supporting future menstruators as they begin puberty
Turning Red animated film - normalizing talking about periods and puberty and changing the messaging
If men could menstruate
Dating as a strong women
Merkins
Finding self worth and value in ourselves
Genital smell and why it happens
Painting a bigger picture of your life to set bigger goals
Fear of not fitting in and uncertainty - our society of conformity
Taking the path of love, not the path of fear

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

KirstenKarchmer.com

If Men Could Menstruate by Gloria Steinem

Turning Red

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr Joe Dispenza

Talking to Strangers Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Concluding their series on “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know” by Malcolm Gladwell, the women discuss follow-ups and fan responses during the book cycle.

Discussion Points:

Squiggy’s Stumble Forward t-shirt
Mere’s mullet
Twitter responses and Kim’s attempt to connect with Oprah
Book Interrupted playlists
International Women’s Day - Breaking the Bias
Our next fan book: The Midnight Library
Kim’s tarot card interruptions and Celestial Saturdays
Joy Harjo quote: “silence is the white light of sound”
Children asking parents stories of when they were younger
Other podcasts to listen to on similar topics

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

Book Interrupted Teespring Shop

Tony Scruggs The Empathy Guy

Book Interrupted Talking to Strangers Playlist
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Masterclass - Joy Harjo Teaches Poetic Thinking

Hidden Brain Mind Reading 2.0

Malcolm Gladwell debates Adam Grant

Super Soul Sunday

Hidden Brain Podcast: Mind Reading 2.0

Meredith Lady Lamp Instagram Reel

Talking to Strangers Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The women finish their chat and share their final book reports inspired by “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know” by Malcolm Gladwell. Kim brings to the group a few concerns she has with the book, then they finish with whether they recommend it.

Discussion Points:

Suicide - is the information in the book is out of date?
Coupling - do events only happen because of specific circumstances/context?
Sylvia Plath
Are poets more likely to commit suicide?
Crime statistics and race - did Gladwell miss something?
Do you recommend the book?
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Talking to Strangers Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know” by Malcolm Gladwell. “Friends”, TV, The Stanley Milgram Experiment, authoritative figures, body language, and attractiveness - how do all these things influence our perceptions of strangers and our interactions with them?

Discussion Points:

Error in the Friends section - it’s Monica not Rachel!
Does your face show emotion the way that other people expect you to react?
How has TV affected how we interpret emotion on strangers’ faces?
Does anyone else’s nose tingle when other people touch their nose?
Experiments to see how people react to shocking situations
The Stanley Milgram Experiment
Do you listen to authority figures, even against your own judgment?
Body language and attractiveness - how much do they impact our perceptions of others?
Buying music online

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

My Weekend Was the Plot of Mrs. Doubtfire | No Laugh Newsroom - CollegeHumor

Encanto

Vivo

Talking to Strangers Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know” by Malcolm Gladwell. So many things to talk about with this book in the group chat: default to truth, relationships, oppression, the Holy Fool and more.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
The illusion of asymmetric insight - do you think you know more about someone else than they do about you?
The Holy Fool
Do you default to truth?
Relationships and red flags - do you see the truth when there are signs that they are lying?
Data versus interactions - how much does personal interaction change the way you interpret data?
How does race and gender oppression affect sentencing and assessment of situations?
Was this book upsetting to you?
Group enhancements - do you follow the group?
Love and marriage

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Talking to Strangers Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know” by Malcolm Gladwell, exploring topics of biases, first impressions, empty sorrys, shoulds versus coulds, rules, sisters, mothers, sense of self and Legends of the Fall.

Discussion Points:

Have you met a stranger and had a bias, but when talking to them you found out they were the opposite?
Actions versus words - an empty sorry means nothing/following through on your words
First impressions
Shoulds versus coulds - do you live your life because you “should” do things?
Rules - do you like to follow them?
Can you be friends with your sister’s friends?
Are you the hardest on yourself?
How did becoming a mother change your sense of self?
Target marketing and are our phones listening all the time?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon

5 Love Languages

Legends of the Fall

Snowden

Talking to Strangers Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue Season Two with “Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know” by Malcolm Gladwell. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “Talking to Strangers”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of Gladwell’s other books and podcasts, basketball, making an expert, and predicting divorce, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of the book.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals - what are the first impressions of the book?
What is Talking to Strangers about?
What do you think of other Malcolm Gladwell Books and his podcast, Revisionist History?
Underhand versus overhand free throw shots in basketball
Do 10,000 hours of practice make an expert?
Can you predict divorce by Dr. John Gottman’s The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse: criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

“This One Thing is the Biggest Predictor of Divorce” - The Gottman Institute

Off The Shelf Episode 3 -Little "t" Traumas

Book Interrupted — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! The Book Interrupted women talk about “little t” traumas in their lives and bonus tarot card readings from Kim. What happened to them and what will happen to them?

Discussion Points:

Sarah’s wax on the eyeballs story
Meredith’s Great Dane dog stories
Lindsay’s falling Christmas tree story
Kim’s bike accident and maxi pad arms story
Lia’s curdled chocolate milk and public vomiting story
Kara’s acne drawing story
What do you think about the tarot card readings for the members - Page of Pentacles, Justice, Two of Cups, Three of Pentacles, High Priestess, Nine of Wands?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

What Happened to you? Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Concluding their series on “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry, the women discuss follow-ups and fan responses during the book cycle, Ikea furniture, Britney, Uncle Buck, the dangers of eating magnets, dog-earring pages of books, giant bookshelves, merkins, and all the pop culture references.

Discussion Points:

Follow up from the Cyndi Lauper challenge
Pop culture documentaries - Britney, Pink
Meet the members of Book Interrupted
Putting Ikea furniture together - do you like doing it?
New feedback on Seeing Red - getting your period again at 50 years old
Fluctuating estrogen levels as women get older - eat more or less meat?
Our Book Interrupted blog: Manuscript Mondays, Topic Tuesdays, Word Wednesdays, Thought Thursdays, Facts Fridays, Silly Saturdays, mixed Sundays
Eating random things including brick walls, Lego, and magnets
Do you dog-ear pages of books, or what do you use as a bookmark?
Do you lend or give away your books?
Reading books and understanding the language written a long time ago
Are books better than their movie versions?
Merkins - pubic wigs

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
Cyndi Lauper She’s So Unusual Album

Framing Britney Spears

Britney vs. Spears - Netflix

P!nk: All I Know So Far - Amazon

The Handmaid’s Tale

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Liv Fit Freedom

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunther

The Hormone Reset Diet: The Ultimate Guide to Heal Your Metabolism, Balance Your Hormones, and Lose up to 5 Pounds in 7 Days by Sara Gottfried M.D.

Uncle Buck

The Great Outdoors

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

What Happened to you? Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The women finish their chat and share their final book reports inspired by “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry. Do they recommend the book?

Discussion Points:

Would we recommend the book?
Does the book keep getting worse? Is there a happy ending?
Being able to not finish a book to take care of oneself.
Being an entrepreneur
Final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
Rocketman

What Happened to you? Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0000

Spiderman, déjà vu, synesthesia, Cyndi Lauper, A Million Little Pieces, apologies, community, asking for help, and making friends as an adult. Lots of tangents this week! The women continue their chat inspired by “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry.

Discussion Points:

Déjà vu - is it mindfulness, something we don’t understand about time, a sign from the universe, or something else?
Synesthesia - are your senses linked?
The new Spiderman movie and do you like movie previews?
Restrictions in different parts of Canada
Controversy about A Million Little Pieces, author James Frey and Oprah Winfrey, Cancel Culture, and apologies
Cyndi Lauper - do you like her music?
The importance of community in raising children, making new friends as an adult, and asking for help can be difficult

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
Spider-Man: No Way Home

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

Oprah Confronts James Frey

Oprah and James Frey Clear the Air

What Happened to you? Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry. Lots of trigger warnings - this was a hard one to read for some of the members. Were you impacted emotionally, intellectually or both? And where is the hope in this book?

Discussion Points:

This is a hard book to read. Trigger warning.
Link between biological and psychological health
Déjà vu - what is it?
The importance of social relationships with depth
Coping mechanisms
Implicit bias from when we are children
The impact on children in their first few months of their life
Where is the hope? Was the book told without empathy?
Learning about others who had past trauma
Did this book impact you emotionally or intellectually or both?
Trauma on a spectrum
Missing the protective factors and talk of risk factors

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry
From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

What Happened to you? Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry, exploring topics of triggers, choice, deep breathing, filling your bucket, and the impact the first few years of a child’s life have on their adulthood.

Discussion Points:

What triggers you now, that could relate to your childhood?
Taking a breath between reacting and responding
Deep breathing to take you out of fight or flight
Children lashing out to find their autonomy
Is there such a thing as too much choice?
The structure of the book - diagrams, aesthetics, style
Losing your bookmark
Filling your bucket and how that is affected by your childhood
Teaching by example
The impact in the first few years of a child’s life, versus when older
Postpartum depression and after-birth care

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Game of Thrones Series by George R. R. Martin

The Da Vinci Code: Special Illustrated Edition by Dan Brown

What Happened to you? Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women begin Season Two with “What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “What Happened to You”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of their childhoods, emotional regulation, and trauma, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of the book.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals - what are the first impressions of the book?
What happened to you, not what is wrong with you
How do you regulate your emotions?
What happened to us in our childhoods that made us who we are now
The conversational format of the book - did you like it?
How can this book help the friends and family of those who’ve experienced trauma?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

Dr. Gabor Maté’s The Wisdom of Trauma

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd

The Onion

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Off The Shelf Episode 2 -Bestie, Boink, Battle or Barf?

Book Interrupted — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 09:30:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! The Book Interrupted women continue their new segment filled with lots of silliness, fun and laughs. Who would you Bestie, Boink, Battle, or Barf? And did the women complete their Meditation Challenge?

Discussion Points:

Bestie Boink Battle Barf Quiz Show
Meditation Challenge - did the women continue with it?
Confined spaces - do you like them?
Near death experiences

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Surviving Death - Netflix Documentary Series

Season One Recap Part 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 09:30:00 +0000

Welcome to part two of our recap of Book Interrupted Season One! Listen to what the members think were the funniest, most surprising and most embarrassing moments. What did they learn about each other? And a teaser for next season’s books!

Discussion Points:

If you had to pick one other author from last season to come on the show, who would you choose?
What was one positive surprise you got as a result of doing the podcast?
What were the funniest moments?
What were the most embarrassing moments?
What was your favourite and least favourite books?
What did we learn about other members?
Which members like deadlines, and which hand things in early?
Which book are you looking forward to most in the new season?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

They Called Me Number One by Bev Sellers
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski

Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James

How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale by Jenna Jameson, Neil Strauss

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

Season One Recap Part 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:30:00 +0000

Welcome to part one of our recap of Book Interrupted Season One! What are the members’ favourite moments? Who likes the smell of their own farts? And who held back and didn’t say all they wanted to?

Discussion Points:

What is your favourite moment or quote?
Farts
Kirsten Karchmer and Squiggy coming on the podcast
Was there anything you wish you’d said recording, but you held back during the season?
What was the hardest part about this season for you?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

Lily Singh video doing hair

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell

Off The Shelf Episode 1 - Enneagram Quiz Show

Book Interrupted — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 09:30:00 +0000

The following episode of Book Interrupted is Off The Shelf. Hold on to your bookmarks! The Book Interrupted women begin their new segment filled with lots of silliness, fun and laughs.

Discussion Points:

Enneagram Quiz Show
Behind the scenes - inside look before and after the podcast

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The Enneagram Institute

The 4% Fix Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:30:00 +0000

Concluding their series on “The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life” by Karma Brown, the women and their fan Lindsay discuss fan responses, mermaids, librarians, secret languages, the rat race, being famous, swag and a whole lot of laughing.

Discussion Points:

Fan response to our blog answers
Mermaids
What’s worth getting out of bed for?
The rat race - do we really want to be in it? How do we find balance between work and the rest of our lives? What’s the relationship to those living near the poverty line?
The impact of social media on our feelings of missing out
Glamorizing over-working salary employees
Making a supportive work environment
Librarians and libraries
Our Book Interrupted swag
Would you want to be famous?
Secret codes and languages made up as children

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Rascally Raccoon Meets Playful Dog - Meredith’s claymation

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

The Book Interrupted Swag Shop

All Welcome Here Rural BIPOC Association

The 4% Fix Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 10:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women, and their fan Lindsay, finish their discussion on “The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life” by Karma Brown. Do we recommend the book? What are our final thoughts?

Discussion Points:

Do we recommend The 4% Fix?
The final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

The 4% Fix Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women, and their fan Lindsay, continue their discussion on “The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life” by Karma Brown. Which sleep archetype are you: Lion, Bear, Wolf or Dolphin? What is misophonia? And how do you use the tools from the book?

Discussion Points:

Letter writing/ getting letters in the mail
How different cultures raise children
Lions, Bears, Wolves, and Dolphins sleep archetypes - which one are you?
Finding a mysterious noise
Misophonia
Are you an auditory, visual, scent or taste person? Which sense can drive you mad?
How can you put The 4% Fix ideas into a different schedule?
Focused Four List - using it to be able to focus on different aspects of your life

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff

The 4% Fix Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 09:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women, and their fan Lindsay, share their personal journals while reading “The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life” by Karma Brown, then continue the group discussion. How important is sleep? And what brings your balance?

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Would you recommend this book?
Getting up earlier - can it help you find your own time?
Using the 4% Fix
Baby stepping to success and making a new habit
Backing up self help with research
The importance of sleep
PHAG - Petite Hairless Agreeable Goal
What brings the balance?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

Tony Robbins

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

The 4% Fix Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women, and their fan Lindsay, continue their conversation on their second fan book choice: “The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life” by Karma Brown. What gets you out of bed in the morning? How do you organize your life? And how do you find your ‘me time’?

Discussion Points:

What would get you out of bed in the morning?
Zombies
How do you accomplish your creative projects?
Finding your ‘me time’ and organizing your life
Women sharing the load
Household dynamics and chore lists
Focused Four Lists
The link between menopause, sleeping and anxiety
Challenge: how can you put the 4% Fix ideals into your routine?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Home Under Clutter - Fan Lindsay’s blog
Rascally Raccoon Meets Playful Dog - Meredith’s claymation

Saje Natural Wellness

The 4% Fix Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women, and their fan Lindsay, begin their first conversation on their Series 8 and second fan book choice: “The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life” by Karma Brown. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “The 4% Fix”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of time management, oxygen masks, sleep cycles and what’s worth getting out of bed for, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of Karma Brown.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals - what are the first impressions of the book?
How do you manage your time?
The effect the COVID pandemic had on our sense of time
Put your own oxygen mask on first
What is worth getting out of bed for?
What time of the day can you find your extra hour?
Sleep cycles

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life by Karma Brown

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

By The Book Podcast

University of Alberta Indigenous Canada

MasterClass

The Talk

From the Ashes Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:30:00 +0000

Concluding their series on “From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way” by Jesse Thistle, the women discuss fan responses, cruises, Covid dreams, swag, the greed disease, language, and bare feet.

Discussion Points:

Nomination for the Podcast Awards
Comments from fans
Cruises - would you go on one now since the pandemic?
Covid dreams and Covid test requirements
Feedback from Jesse Thistle
Inviting authors on the show
Book Interrupted swag
Apply to be a fan and choose a book for next season’s fan choice!
Buying, consuming and the greed disease
Trying to use language to describe a deeper meaning
How many books do you read at the same time?
Is life better in bare feet?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey

Lia’s artwork for From the Ashes

Down the Rabbit Hole

Indigenous Resilience: Healing Trauma Through Tradition and Resistance

The Wisdom of Trauma

Buffy Sainte-Marie

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World by Iain McGilchrist

University of Alberta Indigenous Canada

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

How to Change Everything: A Young Human’s Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other by Naomi Klein

Choose a book for next year’s season and be a fan on the podcast!

From the Ashes Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their discussion on “From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way” by Jesse Thistle. Through the symbolism of Jesse Thistle’s injuries, they dive into topics of fate, coincidences, faith, lessons, and self-soothing. They finish with their final book reports. Do they recommend the book? Listen and find out

Discussion Points:

The symbolism of Jesse Thistle’s injuries
Coincidences, fate, faith and magic
Learning lessons and making different choices
Self-soothing - what do you do?
Other stories from the book
Book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

Yoqi

Higher Awareness

Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Alice Munro

Canada Reads spotlight: From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle

'My ancestors are with you': Jesse Thistle and George Canyon on Canada Reads 2020

From the Ashes Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women discuss “From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way” by Jesse Thistle, specific stories within the book, and topics of humanity, kindness, struggles, and support systems.

Discussion Points:

Jesse Thistle’s rise “from the ashes”
The importance of a support system
Being willing to accept help
Writing stories to help with healing
The poetry in the book
Relearning how to take care of himself
Giving humanity to people other people discount
Small acts of kindness and sharing what you have
Writing in a diary

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

Alice Munro

From the Ashes Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 06:01:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading “From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way” by Jesse Thistle. Afterwards, they continue the discussion and touch on topics of residential schools in Canada, Indigenous history, education and how to stop being part of the problem and be part of the solution.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
Accolades for From The Ashes
Residential schools and the way Indigenous people are treated in Canada
Educating ourselves about Indigenous history

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

CBC Canada Reads

University Of Alberta Indigenous Canada

From the Ashes Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on: “From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way” by Jesse Thistle. They talk about examples from the book and delve into topics of writing styles, storytelling and homelessness in the communities where they live.

Discussion Points:

Good bad binary
Interconnectedness and empathy
Jesse Thistle’s writing and storytelling style
Showing and not telling - letting the reader discover the lesson themselves
Homelessness, shelters and the loss of home
Lack of mental health support
Discrimination when applying to rent a house or apartment
Learning to speak about difficult topics

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

The Skin We're in: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole

Nice White Parents

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Nomadland

White Squirrel Brigade

The city with no homeless on its streets, BBC

Built for Zero Canada

From the Ashes Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women begin their first conversation on their Series 7 book choice: “From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way” by Jesse Thistle. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “From the Ashes”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of reconciliation, appropriation, the Indigenous experience, community and interconnectedness, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of Jesse Thistle

Discussion Points:

Reconciliation and being an ally
How books can come to you at the right time
Spirit animals and appropriation
Community and interconnection
Responsibility and Rights
Individualistic versus collective
We’re all interconnected and related

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

From the Ashes: My Story of Being Métis, Homeless, and Finding My Way by Jesse Thistle

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

IndigenEYEZ

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

Sapiens Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Concluding their series on “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari, the women discuss fan responses, preppers, Disney princesses, horror, life insurance, and a whole lot of zombies.

Discussion Points:

Responses to fan comments on social media
Lia’s caricatures of the group members
Shut up statements - “I’m just being honest”
Goosebumps and Fear Street books
Zombies and the Zombie Apocalypse
Preppers and go bags
Life insurance
Suicide is a mental health issue
Disney Princesses
Long term relationships

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Nonviolent Communication Artwork by Lia Macbean - caricatures of the members

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Goosebumps

Fear Street

The Walking Dead

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

28 Days Later

Shaun of the Dead

Michael Jackson’s Thriller

Artist Imagines What Would Happen If Disney Princesses Visited A Psychotherapist by Maria Guadarrama

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

Sapiens Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Did the women finish reading “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari? They wrap up their discussion on the book and share their final book reports. Topics include: doctor Google, cyborgs, conspiracy theories, critical thinking, journalism, admitting they don’t know everything, and how our search for “likes” and “stars” influence our public behaviour.

Discussion Points:

Did everyone finish reading Sapiens?
Fake it until you make it—has the internet taken away our ability to admit we don’t know something?
Using doctor Google versus relying on experts
Trusting people who admit they are wrong
Lack of funding for journalism and how can we find news sources we trust?
Is critical thinking a good thing?
Conspiracy theories
Are scientific studies biased?
Cyborgs and you
Searching for “likes” and “stars” and how it influences our behaviour
Targeted advertisements from our cell phones listening to us

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Black Mirror

The Matrix

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

Inside Out by Demi Moore

Sapiens Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Happiness is the feature topic of discussion in this episode of Book Interrupted. Continuing the chats on “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari, the women talk about their own search for happiness in their lives and the struggles they’ve had along the way. Peppered in are superheroes, I Dream of Jeannie, the pronunciation of the letter “Z” and whether Kim could be a lizard person in disguise.

Discussion Points:

The importance of our ancestors
Happiness does not depend on objective conditions, but rather depends on the correlation between objective conditions and subjective expectations
Depression
Happiness isn’t the destination, it’s the journey
Finding contentment just with self and being
Would we recommend the book?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

“A” You’re Adorable by Sharon, Lois & Bram

Sapiens Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 06:30:00 +0000

In this episode of Book Interrupted, the women continue their discussion on “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari and share their personal journals while reading the book. Among other topics, they chat about: the word ‘natural’ and body modifications; the extinction of big animals; gossip and stories; sociopaths; and the transition of power from family and community to the market and state.

Discussion Points:

Personal journals
There is no ‘natural’ way of life
Shut up statements, like “I’m just being honest”, or “it’s natural”
Body modifications, botox, tattoos, and getting breast implants in honour of your grandparents
Human rights as a human construct
The human flood - the extinctions of big animals
The importance of stories and their ability to slowly change the world
Local gossip versus fake news
Sociopaths
Giving power to the market and states, instead of your family and community
Individualistic societies

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Whole Brain Living: The Anatomy of Choice and the Four Characters That Drive Our Life by Jill Bolte Taylor

We Are Lady Parts

Sapiens Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 06:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women discuss “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari, storytelling, keepsakes, empathy, and the separatism between nature and man. Lia finishes the episode and shocks the other members by cutting her Sapiens book in half for ease of carrying and reading.

Discussion Points:

Our ability to tell stories unifies us: corporations, money, human rights, government
The collection of data
Re-reading books
Good luck charms/keepsakes - do you give power to your personal objects?
Why we gorge food
Having empathy for people you haven’t met
The separatism between nature and man
Looking at the global community
Cutting large books in half for ease of transport

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

Sapiens Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 06:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women begin their first conversation on their Series 6 book choice: “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “Sapiens”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of cooperation, tacky gifts, book cutting, collectivism in an individualist culture, and raising children not to be a-holes, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of Yuval Harari.

Discussion Points:

The writing style/storytelling
Can you walk and read at the same time?
Cutting big books in half to make them easier to carry around
The tackiest gifts ever
Cooperation amongst large groups of people - how the human race is different than other animals
Raising children not to be a-holes, teaching them to share
Community versus individualism - collectivism in an individualist culture
How every action and behaviour has a ripple effect

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

The Joe Rogan Experience

Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast

Litsy

Yuval Noah Harari: What explains the rise of humans? | TED Talk

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

Nonviolent Communication Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:30:00 +0000

The six women discuss feedback they received from Book Interrupted Series 5 on “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall B. Rosenberg, as well as previous series. Amongst chats about the importance of stories, trying to use nonviolent communication in real life, and the stigma of being a stay-at-home parent, they set a new BI challenge: eat something decadent in public and report back.

Discussion Points:

Fan feedback and comments
Is eating a big bag of chips in public brazen?
Enjoying the journey of life
Book Interrupted challenge: eat something decadent in public
Societal pre-conditioning - the stigma of stay-at-home parents and the unemployed
The importance of stories
Trying to use nonviolent communication in real life

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin DiAngelo

Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm by Robin DiAngelo

Desmond Cole

Ice Cream At Work | Baroness von Sketch Show

Nonviolent Communication Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 06:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women discuss “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall B. Rosenberg; how they express anger; gratitude; and dancing it out. They finish the episode by sharing their final book reports. Would they recommend this book?

Discussion Points:

Anger and how we express it/why we scream
Emotions as a wakeup call, giving you feedback
The importance of stopping and breathing
Dancing it out! “Never walk when you can dance.”
How to be thankful in a specific manner
Final book reports - what do we think of the book?
Changing mindset from “I have to” to “I choose to”
Change comes through doing
The difficulties of using NVC with children

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Nonviolent Communication Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 06:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women discuss “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall B. Rosenberg; tools to communicate and empathize; and the limitations of NVC, including potential ways it can be used in bad faith. After a debate about whether they should empathize with people they think are doing hateful or abusive things, they finish with each naming their primary need/s.

Discussion Points:

The many ways to communicate, understanding the person, and sharing our needs
Using NVC to communicate between parents and children
How to not feel responsible for other people’s feelings, but still help people fulfill their needs
How people who show love by doing can create a codependency
The limitations of NVC: the importance of choosing who you use NVC with, do both people need to know these skills for this to work, and how NVC can be used in bad faith to manipulate others
Should you empathize with people you think are doing hateful or abusive things?
What are your primary needs?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity By Kim Scott

Nonviolent Communication Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 08:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women share their personal journals while reading: “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall B. Rosenberg. Then, continuing the group discussion, they reflect on how they respond to conflict, empathy during the pandemic, how they communicate their different needs, and learning to listen.

Discussion Points:

What are our needs?
How do we respond to anger, conflict and negative feedback?
Dealing with changes in our lives and how we share that knowledge with others
Learning to listen, empathy and the tools of how to connect
How nonviolent communication is effective for use in conflicts and big emotions, but does not work for emergencies and everyday conversations
The different ways people deal with problems - trying to figure out individual needs

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Nonviolent Communication Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women continue their conversation on “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall B. Rosenberg. By debating their different communication styles, ranging from keeping it all inside to having no secrets at all, they share what they need to connect. Can they learn how best to speak to each other, despite their differences?

Discussion Points:

Reevaluating our communication styles
Naming our feelings
Telling people you appreciate them
Name calling and why we lash out in rage
Marshall B. Rosenberg and his puppets
How to communicate your needs and understand other people’s needs
The differences between people who share all and those who don’t
Communicating with our body language
How to be more blunt
Emotional Intelligence and taking time to figure out our feelings

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman

Nonviolent Communication Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women begin their first conversation on their Series 5 book choice: “Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall B. Rosenberg. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “Nonviolent Communication”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of feelings, needs, conflict and personal narrative, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of Marshall B. Rosenberg.

Discussion Points:

Figuring out your feelings and needs
How to listen
How can people-pleasers balance their own needs with the want for peace?
The role personal narrative can play in our reactions to situations
The four components of NVC: observations, feelings, needs and requests
How can conflict hinder communication?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

Your Parenting Mojo

The Enneagram Institute

White Fragility Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The six women discuss feedback and the public versus private comments they received from Book Interrupted Series 4, Episodes 1 through 5, on “White Fragility” by Robin Diangelo.

Discussion Points:

Why don’t people speak up on social media about White Fragility?
Practicing talking about racism, speaking up, being vulnerable, stumbling forward
Cancel culture, accountability culture, apologies, and showing how you made amends
How to pick your battles/set your own boundaries
Things white people say to POC and fetishizing POC
Self awareness, change, mindfulness and bringing down our white people blinders

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

@the_brown_squiggy

Beastie Boys Story

Real Things White People Have Said to Me - Lilly Singh

Good Hair

Down the Rabbit Hole

White Fragility Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Fan Squiggy and the six women continue the discussion on ideas from “White Fragility” by Robin Diangelo, concluding with their final book reports. How can they learn to speak up, fight against white solidarity, and just keep stumbling forward? Would they recommend this book to other readers?

Discussion Points:

Activism and the POCnic in Prince Edward County, Ontario
Racist words behind closed doors
White Solidarity/“white silence is violence”/learning to speak up
Tone policing and white fragility

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

@the_brown_squiggy

Teacher goes on racist rant, not realizing Zoom was on, mother of Black child says

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B. Rosenberg

White Fragility Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 31 May 2021 04:30:00 +0000

Fan Squiggy and the six women discuss ideas from “White Fragility” by Robin Diangelo. How do we talk to children about racism? Can we get to equality together? What is the role of the bystander? Why has it taken so long to have many shades of ‘nude’ crayons and undergarments? Plus, seeing Sharon Osborne’s white fragility play out on tv!

Discussion Points:

Racism in Canada
Other books and resources on antiracism
White Fragility in action on television
Apologizing versus making amends
The nice guy/‘friend zone’
The intersectionality of feminism, antiracism, trans and gay rights, fatphobia
Speaking up/the role of the bystander
Old movies and media influence
How to talk to children about racism
Different shades of skin colour, crayons, underwear, ‘nude’
Getting it out of the “uncomfortable is rude” realm/ revisiting ‘manners’
Body positivity

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole

‘The Skin I’m In: I’ve been interrogated by police more than 50 times—all because I’m black’ by Desmond Cole in Toronto Life

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

'The Talk': Sheryl Underwood, Sharon Osbourne Discuss Racism

Oprah with Meghan and Harry

Piers Morgan Walks Off Set During Meghan Markle Debate

That ’70s Show

The Big Bang Theory

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

Bystander effect

The Stanford Prison Experiment

Milgram experiment

Ghostbusters

knix.ca

Crayola Colors of the World Skin Tone Crayons

What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon

Aubrey Gordon (@yrfatfriend)

MsLindsayM of Lindsay’s Loves (@mslindsaym)

White Fragility Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 24 May 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women and their fan Squiggy share their personal journals while reading: “White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism” by Robin Diangelo. Then, continuing the group discussion, they reflect on how the good/bad binary, white women tears, individualism, colonization, rationalization, and their own behaviours contribute towards racism in our society.

Discussion Points:

Making a safe space to talk about racism - getting through the uncomfortable and awkwardness and opening the conversation
Reflecting on our own past and present racist behaviours
Why is it so hard for white people to talk about racism?
The good/bad binary
White women tears
Individualism
“People of colour” is an offensive term in some parts of the world
The role of colonization in creating racism
White Fragility as a gateway book - start here and learn more after

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown - Brené with Austin Channing Brown on I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness

White Fragility Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 17 May 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women, and their fan Squiggy, continue the discussion on their first fan book choice: “White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism” by Robin Diangelo. Referencing the book and their lives they dive into topics of racism in the education system, politics, and small town Ontario; the controversy of the author being white; the importance of the arts; and how they can keep stumbling forward.

Discussion Points:

Education - how can we make change to include more teachers of colour and more diverse experiences and history?
Being the only person of colour in a room
Familiarity bias and diversity quotas in hiring
Keeping sex education limited, keeps men in power
Educational system overhaul
Residential schools and using school as a weapon
More diverse representation in politics
How to educate your children about racism
Step forward, don’t step back
Let’s make it better for all the children
The importance of the arts and how they’ve been affected by the pandemic
Learning through films, tv, theatre, books
Controversy of the author being a white woman
Being a good ancestor
Everyone is qualified to talk about antiracism, keep stumbling forward

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

Hip-Hop Evolution on Netflix

Policing Black Lives: State Violence in Canada from Slavery to the Present by Robyn Maynard

Period. End of Sentence. (The Pad Project.)

Boyz n the Hood

Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad

Layla F. Saad Good Ancestor podcast, episode 11: Robin DiAngelo on White Fragility

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown - Brené with Ibram X. Kendi on How to Be an Antiracist

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Nice Racism: How Progressive White People Perpetuate Racial Harm by Robin Diangelo

Your Parenting Mojo - Episode 87: Talking with children about race, with Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum

CNN “Study: White and black children biased toward lighter skin”

White Fragility Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 10 May 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women, and their fan Squiggy, begin their first conversation on their Series 4 and first fan book choice: “White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism” by Robin Diangelo. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “White Fragility”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of white privilege, history, and how to begin antiracism work, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of Robin Diangelo.

Discussion Points:

White privilege
Micro aggressions
How to start talking about race and take the first steps in antiracism work
How the history that is told to us is through a white perspective
Making noise can make change
White centering
Racism does exist and we’re all a part of it

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism by Robin Diangelo

Miriam Makeba Interview 1969

Brené Brown podcasts

Home appraisals: Hidden camera investigation reveals race could affect value (CBC Marketplace)

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

Seeing Red -Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 03 May 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The six women discuss feedback and comments they received from Book Interrupted Series 3, Episodes 1 through 5, on “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” by Kirsten Karchmer.

Discussion Points:

What was it like for previous generations of women and their periods?
First period experiences - “am I dying?"
Menstrual education for children and men
Are males curious about periods?
Tampons with applicators, versus without applicators, versus reusable applicators
Menstrual cups and period underwear - how do they work?
Period boxer briefs for trans men and boys
Pads worn by women after giving birth
Social media posts normalizing periods
Internet trolls - should you engage?
Tampons as costumes
Lack of understanding around menopause
What is perimenopause versus menopause?
Update of Brazen Cramp and PMS herbs
Performance art inspired by periods and vaginas

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

My Balanced Life. Finding inner balance through individual, corporate, and community wellness programs.

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Period. End of Sentence. (The Pad Project.)

Knix Period Underwear

Dear Kate Period Underwear

Aisle Period Boxer Brief

Diva Cup

Down the Rabbit Hole

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunther

Book Interrupted Pinterest

Laurie Anderson

Carolee Schneemann Meat Joy

Carolee Schneemann Fresh Blood

Seeing Red -BONUS Connecting with Kirsten Karchmer

Book Interrupted — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:45:00 +0000

In this bonus episode, the Book Interrupted six women ask questions and chat with Kirsten Karchmer, author of “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.”

Discussion Points:

Perimenopause - how can we tell if there is something wrong or are the symptoms linked to perimenopause? Is it like reverse puberty? How important is sleep during this time?
PCOS - how is it different for every person?
Dietary advice, including how to make congee, drinking bone broth and taking spirulina
Hormone replacement therapy and PMDD
Can belly fat be linked to perimenopause and menopause?
How can we reinforce our satisfaction by saying it out loud?
How can you cope mentally with chronic pain or disability?
Food sensitivity tests and endometriosis
Human rights issue surrounding periods and menstrual equity
Menstrual cups
Talking to girls about their periods

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

My Balanced Life. Finding inner balance through individual, corporate, and community wellness programs.

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

KirstenKarchmer.com

Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Dr Joe Dispenza

Everlywell

period.org

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Conceivable.com

Seeing Red -Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted six women continue discussions inspired by reading “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” by Kirsten Karchmer. In this episode they touch on topics of painful periods, men living in women’s bodies for a month, sexual and menstrual education, period underwear, perimenopause, and naturopaths versus doctors. They finish the episode by sharing whether they each recommend the book.

Discussion Points:

Changing our mindsets that pain with periods is not normal, even if it is common
It might be common, but it’s not normal - how can we use this in other parts of our lives?
Would there be equality if women were in power?
What would happen if men had to live in a women’s body and mind for a month?
Should doctors be required to take a mandatory class specific on women’s biology?
Why do we segregate sex ed?
How do we educate children about menstruation - both girls and boys?
Period underwear - do they work and how do we clean them?
What are the symptoms of perimenopause? PCOS?
Bloodwork ranges - the difference between doctors and naturopaths?
Would we recommend this book?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

My Balanced Life. Finding inner balance through individual, corporate, and community wellness programs.

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

What's up with her? | 22 Minutes

The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht

Epic theatre and Brecht

I Am Not an Easy Man | Netflix

The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Dr Jennifer Gunther

Amy Schumer

Seeing Red -Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted six women discuss their lives, inspired by reading “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” by Kirsten Karchmer. In this episode they touch on topics of periods, mental health, medical research, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, cutting back caffeine, drinking more water, and the lack of access to period products in some areas of the world.

Discussion Points:

Why is medical research and fitness research only done on white males and how does that affect women and people of colour?
How to use movement as a form of regulating hormones
The importance of drinking water, sleep, eating healthy
Seed cycling - did it work?
What are the advantages of cutting back caffeine?
How does our mental state affect our bodies and the pain we feel?
Cry and show your emotion and don’t apologize for it
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and anxiety
How can you adjust your life to reflect your cycle?
Menstrual health is a matter of human rights
There are many people in the world who don’t have access to period products
How do we end the stigma associated with menstruation?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

My Balanced Life. Finding inner balance through individual, corporate, and community wellness programs.

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Period. End of Sentence. (The Pad Project.)

World Pulse

Seeing Red -Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted six women share their thoughts while reading “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” by Kirsten Karchmer, followed by group discussions on their experiences with perimenopause, urinary incontinence, cysts and menstrual cups. Just because something is common, does not mean that it’s normal.

Discussion Points:

The history of the period
What is the ideal period?
Seed cycling
How can you use your period as a diagnostic tool?
Perimenopause and menopause
Just because something is common, does not mean that it’s normal.
Does period underwear work?
How do hormone fluctuations affect our bodies?
Urinary incontinence
How does it feel when a cyst bursts?
The benefits of using a menstrual cup

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Win a pair of Knix Period Underwear!

My Balanced Life. Finding inner balance through individual, corporate, and community wellness programs.

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Dr Jennifer Gunther

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunther

Diva Cup

Seeing Red -Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted six women continue their conversation inspired by “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” by Kirsten Karchmer. Exploring issues of education, Goddess mythology, and being comfortable talking about menstruation, they chat about their own personal period experiences and how to teach their children about their bodies.

Discussion Points:

The history of periods and how men treated women during their menstrual cycles
What could we do to prepare for our periods?
Why are sex education classes separated into gender? Why can’t it be part of a regular curriculum?
Menstrual cycles are not shameful, just part of biology
Let’s talk about our periods openly
Goddess mythology and early civilizations’ understanding of the connection between the lunar cycle and the women’s cycle
How has modern religion taken ancient female symbolism and changed it to masculine?
How can we teach our children about menstruation?
Being comfortable talking about discharge, mucus plug
Why do we use words like “the bloody show” to describe natural parts of childbirth?
The anatomy of the clitoris
Dorsal and ventral anatomy and labeling of the penis
How hard it is for parents to watch their children grow up
Do you wear special clothes during your period?
How eating disorders can affect menstruation in the short and long term
Our first period experiences

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Win a pair of Knix Period Underwear!

My Balanced Life. Finding inner balance through individual, corporate, and community wellness programs.

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Strange Things by Anne Amos and Illustrated by Lia MacBean

The Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image by Jules Cashford and Anne Baring

The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Dr Jennifer Gunther

Seeing Red -Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 04:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women begin their first conversation on their Series 3 book choice: “Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period.” by Kirsten Karchmer. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read “Seeing Red”, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of endometriosis, holistic medicine, period education, birth control pills, doctors, drugs and boobs, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of Kirsten Karchmer. “Just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s normal”

Discussion Points:

Endometriosis awareness
The importance of drinking more water
How can our periods be used as a diagnosis tool?
Talking about periods should be normal
More education and research is needed about female health, periods and menopause
Seed cycling - how does it work and can it help?
Holistic and Chinese medicine - how the body is all connected
Why do doctors prescribe the birth control pill when they don’t know what’s wrong?
How hormones affect our mental health
Family doctors and specialists need more information about female health
Why are women often not included in drug trials?
Just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s normal
How all our periods are different
How can women’s cycles sync up?
How breast reductions can help quality of life

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Win a pair of Knix Period Underwear!

Seeing Red: The One Book Every Woman Needs to Read. Period. by Kirsten Karchmer

Strange Things by Anne Amos and Illustrated by Lia MacBean

Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler

The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Dr Jennifer Gunther

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunther

Menstrual Musings- Kim’s Period Rap

Untamed -Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The six women discuss feedback and comments they’ve received from Book Interrupted Series 2, Episodes 1 through 5, on “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle.

Discussion Points:

Remarks, feedback and comments from our fans
Response to Lise’s video
Is Glennon Doyle selfish or is she trying to help?
Is Untamed a memoir or self help or is it both?
How does popularity/fame/power affect people?
Are the lessons in Untamed packaged too neatly? Is there a salesman/guru vibe?
What faces do you make under your mask?
Why do women’s and girl’s products need to be pink and delicate with butterflies?
Strict definitions of gender roles and how does that affect children?
Does DreamWorks represent racial and gender stereotypes?
Talking and sharing about overcoming drug abuse and eating disorders
Why are women always taught to be in competition with other women?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Strange Things by Anne Amos and Illustrated by Lia MacBean

Together Rising

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - Glennon Doyle

This Hour Has 22 Minutes - What's up with her?

In Living Colour - Jim Carrey as Fire Marshall Bill (Boat safety)

In Living Colour Intro (with Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, etc) Season 3, Episode 1

Baroness Von Sketch - Women’s Products

Untamed -Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The women finish their discussions on “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, ultimately weighing in on whether they would recommend the book. They delve into topics of religion, spirituality, God, memoir versus self-help, personalities, and the nonprofit Together Rising.

Discussion Points:

Can we separate religion, God and spirituality? How do these affect our lives?
Would we recommend the book?
Should Glennon have told us more memoir over the lessons?
The children who were taken from their parents at the border
Abby’s personality versus Glennon’s
The six final book reports

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - Glennon Doyle

Together Rising

Wolf Pack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game by Abby Wambach

Strange Things by Anne Amos and Illustrated by Lia MacBean

Untamed -Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The women reflect on last episode’s discussion about tone policing and their reactions both during and after the conversation. Afterwards, diving into the stories and lessons they read in “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, they debate listening to their inside truth versus asking for outside advice, whether those opinions come from love or fear, and if there is one roadmap that everyone can follow.

Discussion Points:

Upcoming contest for fans to win a waterproof Amazon Kindle Oasis
Tone shaming/policing
Apologizing and making mistakes
Can behaviours, choices, feelings all be traced back to the simplicity of love and fear?
The breaking of the parent-child role
Following your truest path, not always the easiest, and trusting your own knowing
‘Me culture’ versus listening to your elders
Be aware of the fuel behind the advice
The problems with reducing the unit to just one person instead of the community
Being secure in yourself versus being susceptible to outside influences
Should we ask for many opinions, or not at all until we know our own opinion?
Letting other people’s fear and issues into your bubble
Can there be a roadmap for how to live your life?
Does Glennon Doyle present herself as a guru?

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Win a Kindle Oasis!

Strange Things by Anne Amos and Illustrated by Lia MacBean

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Miguel Ruiz

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard - Glennon Doyle

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Untamed -Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The women share their personal journals while reading the first part of “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle. In the group discussion, they dive into the topics of white privilege, antiracism work and needing representation of different perspectives, ending in a heated debate about tone policing. The discussion will be continued in next week’s episode.

Discussion Points:

Upcoming contest for fans to win a waterproof Amazon Kindle Oasis
The women share their personal journals while reading Untamed
How Glennon made her book both easy to read and dealt with difficult issues
Can you live your beautiful life and not have to burn everything?
Sensitivity and the balance of emotions in life
Becoming untamed/wild is a lifelong journey
Stop living a “should” life and start living a “could” life
God versus church
Untamed, Glennon Doyle and white privilege
White saviorism
Desktop activist, white exceptionalism
White supremacism
The need for fan engagement and representation of different perspectives
Doing the work of antiracism and being open to correction
Tone policing

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Win a Kindle Oasis!

The Seattle Times. “Is Glennon Doyle’s new memoir ‘Untamed’ inspirational or heavy-handed?” by Sarah Neilson

The Cut. “Glennon Doyle Is Coming to Get the White Women” by Ann Friedman

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad

Jimmy Kimmel Live “Mean Tweets”

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall B Rosenberg.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Untamed -Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:30:00 +0000

Continuing the discussion on “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle, the women discuss how words can change culture; the unfortunate value placed on women’s appearances; gender and relationship roles; consumer susceptibility to trends; cancel culture; and, of course, the book.

Discussion Points:

Upcoming contest for fans to win a waterproof Amazon Kindle Oasis
The problem with the words “be a good girl”. How words can change our culture.
How Adele was affected by reading Untamed and how the media misconstrued her words
Why is it always about what women look like? How does this affect the next generation of daughters?
Gender roles in society and conformity
Defining roles in a relationship
Emotional support for men - is there enough out there?
Glennon Doyle’s first two books - how has she changed since then?
Is there a way to determine the ‘right way’?
Consumers’ susceptibility to the next big self help trend
People change—allowing people to make mistakes
Cancel culture

Resources:

Win a Kindle Oasis!

Untamed -Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The Book Interrupted women begin their first conversation on their Series 2 book choice: Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Each member expresses individually how they feel either before reading or beginning to read Untamed, then they continue the discussion into a group chat. Through the topics of selfishness, sexuality, gender, societal conditioning, bravery, raising children, feeling your feelings and doing hard things, they talk about their lives, inspired by the words of Glennon Doyle.

Discussion Points:

Upcoming contest for fans to win a waterproof Amazon Kindle Oasis
The high sales numbers and popularity of Untamed
Should there be a balance when discussing putting yourself first?
Examining preconceived notions of sexuality and gender. Loving the person and not the gender.
Societal preconditioning about wanting to want our own home and hit particular life goals. What’s true to us? Are we born into a society or role that is being marketed to us?
The story of the therapist, when Glennon Doyle said she’d fallen in love with a woman and the therapist told her to give her husband a blow job. Is a blow job less intimate? The societal idea that there is no other option than staying in a marriage. Follow your truth.
Feel your feelings. Surviving. It’s hard and we can do hard things. Children’s books on doing hard things. Can we undo the conditioning, and teach something different to the next generation?
Teaching children about bravery and different kinds of bravery; saying no is also brave.
The paradox that women should be genuine, but also conform.
Sitting on Santa’s lap at the mall is confusing; don’t let strangers touch your body, except this stranger.

Resources:

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

MarieTV

Schitt’s Creek wine clip

I Can Do Hard Things: Mindful Affirmations for Kids by Gabi Garcia

It’s You I Like by Mister Rogers

Women Who Run with the Wolves Episode 6

Book Interrupted — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 05:32:00 +0000

The six women discuss feedback they’ve received from episode one through five based on their discussions of “Women Who Run with the Wolves” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. They also call themselves out on times they were insensitive and speak about their privilege. Between laughing at their own mothers’ responses to the podcast, debating suggestions of the male version of “Women Who Run with the Wolves”, diving deep into the self help industry and trying to answer whether we need to fix ourselves, they are honest about their views and their lives. They ultimately discover how important storytelling is in all environments.

Discussion Points:

Kim reflecting on the group’s Coyote Dick conversation and possible insensitivity/the importance of coyote as the trickster in indigenous cultures in storytelling
Storytelling as a valid form of education
Acknowledging the group’s privilege in regards to discussion of the Ugly Duckling - not everyone can pick their group
The book interrupted members’ mothers’ and mother-in-laws’ support and feedback
Meredith’s Down The Rabbit Hole blog every Sunday and responses to it
Lindsay’s feedback about episode three and not being a mom in a group of mothers
Suggestions of male versions of Women Who Run with the Wolves and discussion on whether it fits: “The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Women, Work, and Sexual Desire” by David Deida; “I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression” by Terrence Real; “The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” by Miguel Ruiz
How Kim should write Coles Notes of spiritual self-help books that annoy her
Response to a fan feedback of “the topic is basically like fixing yourself which implies that you are broken”
The self help industry - do you need to fix yourself or not? Is ignorance bliss?
Is the podcast and club only for women? Is Women Who Run with the Wolves only for women?
Other feedback
Kara’s boss’ way she applies storytelling (and particularly “Women Who Run with the Wolves”) in a corporate environment

Resources:

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés PhD

Down the Rabbit Hole blog

The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Women, Work, and Sexual Desire by David Deida

I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression by Terrence Real

The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Miguel Ruiz

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

Johann Hari

Women Who Run with the Wolves -Episode 5

Book Interrupted — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 05:30:00 +0000

The group of women that make up “Book Interrupted”, in today’s episode round-up their in-depth analysis of the book - Women who Run with the Wolves. Sarah and Kara share some of the specific details around a few of the stories that resonated with each of them. Kim and Lia, note that while they enjoyed parts of the book, they most definitely did not enjoy the overall experience of reading it - so much so that they would likely never make the effort to finish it - and today they explain in a bit more detail why not.

These ladies are all very honest and definitely not shy, which means that this episode is once again packed with laughs and some risqué comments.

Discussion Points:

Share favorite stories from the book
Comparing strategies for reading the book
Not being in the right place to read the book
Ugly Duckling story and it’s meaning
Kara shares her love for the book and the changes the book inspired

Bluebeard story - trusting your instincts
Society’s expectations around gender distract from the content of the book
Book Report and recommendations - The group shares final thoughts on Women who Run with the Wolves

Resources:

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

Untamed Book by Glennon Doyle

Carl Jung

Joseph Campbell

Women Who Run with the Wolves -Episode 4

Book Interrupted — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 05:30:00 +0000

This episode is, once again, entertaining, brutally honest and insightful as this group of ladies continues their discussion on the book “Women who Run with the Wolves”. In this episode, they go into some specifics on why the book had a big impact on some of the members and why others struggled to get through the first few chapters.

Sarah and Kara share the stories in the book that they each found most meaningful and note elements of their personal history and personality that more than likely is what drove them to enjoy the book so much. In contrast, the other four members explain why the book did not quite grip them in the same way.

Discussion Points:

Meredith describes her method of reading this book
Sarah and Kara share why they liked the repetition in the book
Lindsay shares her thoughts
General Wolf Rules for Life
The ugly duckling
Sarah shares her favourite part of the book
Naming your ego/emotions/state of mind to cultivate mindfulness
Kara Shares her favourite part of the book
Acceptance and commitment therapy
Trusting your intuition

Resources:

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés PhD.

Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B Rosenburg

Women Who Run with the Wolves -Episode 3

Book Interrupted — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 05:30:00 +0000

In this episode, this group of women talk about their feelings and frustrations around raising children in our modern society. They point specifically to instances where they felt judged and pressure to conform to societal norms when it came to parenting.

In this day and age - where judgement and outside opinions on parenting are rife - the moms in the group vent their frustration with this status quo. The women share their thoughts on how we should be supporting each other instead of judging each other in order to pass that “way of thinking” along to the next generation. They each point out a specific short story from the book that held personal meaning for them and this just highlights the fact that this book potentially has a message that can speak to anyone.

Discussion Points:

Instincts vs Society’s expectations
Raising Children while being judged by society
Instincts around raising children
Children’s instincts
Parent’s being judged
Making decisions that will allow your child to be themselves
Women supporting other women raising their children
Should judgement affect how you raise your children?
Parents feelings about their kids often go back to their own past experiences
Book for men on the male stereotype and vulnerability
Members’ Personal Journals

Resources:

Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés PhD.

The New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Women Who Run with the Wolves -Episode 2

Book Interrupted — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 05:50:00 +0000

Continuing on from the previous episode, this group of six women delve deeper into the book “Women who Run with the Wolves”. They discuss their personal views and whether they think the book is a valid observation of the female psyche. Interestingly, they all agree that regardless of who you are, the book is sure to invoke deep thought about society’s expectation of women. They guide listeners on parts of the book that resonated with each of them as well as things about the book they didn’t enjoy.

Discussion Points:

The importance of the timing of reading this book
Author’s writing make getting into the book difficult
The audiobook version is more palatable
Critique of the book’s over analyzation of meaning and symbolism
How music relates to the book
Kelly Lee Owens Album - Innersong
Thoughts on Music
Fiona Apple’s Album
The “cage” of being categorized by society
A perspective on society’s expectations of men

Resources:

Women Who Run with the Wolves

Book Interrupted on Spotify

Pitchfork Article - Kelly Lee Owens

Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters

Women Who Run with the Wolves -Episode 1

Book Interrupted — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 04:48:00 +0000

Listen to these six women discuss, rant, cry and laugh about each of their individual experiences while beginning the classic book “Women Who Run with the Wolves”. Through storytelling, this book dives into the wild woman archetype and how it can be restored. Currently considered a staple in most bookstores this book brings out strong opinions in its readers.

Whether they love the book or hate it, these six women make a point to encourage each other to share their honest opinions. And boy are they honest… On the fence about reading “Women Who Run with Wolves”? This episode may be exactly what you need to help make that decision.

Discussion Points:

Sarah’s review :-)
Lindsay’s review :(
Lia’s Review :-|
Meredith’s review :-|
Kara’s Review :-)
Kim’s review :-|
Group discussion on combined thoughts on the book
Freedom getting affected by the roles you take on
Women’s roles and society’s expectations
Conforming vs Non-Conforming
Magical Experience of reading this book (and not reading it)

Resources: