Book Club with Julia and Victoria
202 episodes - English - Latest episode: 24 days ago - ★★★★ - 18 ratingsWelcome to Book Club With Julia and Victoria, the podcast for book friends!
If you just finished a book and HAVE to talk about it with someone, if you’re a casual reader looking for book recs, or if you’re the type of deep thinker who has formative memories of their high school English teacher, you’re in the right place.
We believe a good book can come from anywhere, so we read classics and recent releases, bestsellers and little-known gems. But ultimately, this podcast is for the books we just can’t shut up about.
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Episodes
021 Scary Close
February 14, 2020 21:35 - 53 minutes - 27.6 MBScary Close is a memoir by Donald Miller that covers one of the scariest topics in the world: Vulnerability. (No! Please! Anything by vulnerability! I’m too young to die!) Follow the compelling journey of a man (and his trusted sidekick, Lucy the labrador) as he learns to be his authentic self, create healthy boundaries, and show up for the most important relationships in his life. Then follow him on instagram for pictures of his dog.
Minisode 004 Enneagram & Life Update
January 25, 2020 03:15 - 23 minutes - 11.3 MBWe talk about the Enneagram a lot, possibly too much, in fact. But we’re on the air one more time talking about what we have learned since we released the Sacred Enneagram episode last fall. We discuss questions like, What are the limits of this tool, and How do we use it to find the next step in our journey toward wholeness? Also a list of our favorite meme accounts!
Minisode: Enneagram & Life Update
January 25, 2020 03:15 - 23 minutes - 11.3 MBWe talk about the Enneagram a lot, possibly too much, in fact. But we’re on the air one more time talking about what we have learned since we released the Sacred Enneagram episode last fall. We discuss questions like, What are the limits of this tool, and How do we use it to find the next step in our journey toward wholeness? Also a list of our favorite meme accounts!
020 The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
January 17, 2020 16:41 - 58 minutes - 28.2 MBJ&V have a lot of questions about daemons: How do they bathe? How are they born? Do they need to eat? What if a person’s daemon turns into an elephant and they can never go inside again? This week we’re having a blast talking about the incredible world of Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass and wishing we were witches. Join us for a wild ride as we journey to the far North with the iconic heroine Lyra Silvertongue, and then dive deep into the logistics of having a physical daemon. Mentioned...
020 The Golden Compass
January 17, 2020 16:41 - 58 minutes - 28.2 MBJ&V have a lot of questions about daemons: How do they bathe? How are they born? Do they need to eat? What if a person’s daemon turns into an elephant and they can never go inside again? This week we’re having a blast talking about the incredible world of Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass and wishing we were witches. Join us for a wild ride as we journey to the far North with the iconic heroine Lyra Silvertongue, and then dive deep into the logistics of having a physical daemon.
019 Mothers, Daughters & Body Image
January 10, 2020 05:32 - 52 minutes - 48 MBVictoria and her mom dive into an important discussion of how body image gets passed down through generations of women and what the pair of them did to break the cycle. Read the book, call your mom, and then join us for a lovely, deep discussion on body positivity.
019 Mothers, Daughters & Body Image by Hilary McBride, PhD
January 10, 2020 05:32 - 52 minutes - 48 MBVictoria and her mom dive into an important discussion of how body image gets passed down through generations of women and what the pair of them did to break the cycle. Read the book, call your mom, and then join us for a lovely, deep discussion on body positivity. Recommendations: Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn The Most Beautiful Thing I’ve Seen by Lisa Gungor
018 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
January 04, 2020 18:18 - 1 hour - 31 MBJulia and her brother Michael would have spent their Christmas holiday reading Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, re-watching the 1994 classic with Winona Ryder, getting up to see Greta Gerwig’s remake in theaters Christmas Day, and discussing all three at length at 2am anyway. So we thought, why not record their conversation for the podcast? Join us for something a little different as we spend time with our families and sing the praises for Florence Pugh’s Amy March. Happy New Year Everyone!...
018 Little Women
January 04, 2020 18:18 - 1 hour - 31 MBJulia and her brother Michael would have spent their Christmas holiday reading Little Women, re-watching the 1994 classic with Winona Ryder, getting up to see Greta Gerwig’s remake in theaters Christmas Day, and discussing all three at length at 2am anyway. So we thought, why not record their conversation for the podcast? Join us for something a little different as we spend time with our families and sing the praises for Florence Pugh’s Amy March. Happy New Year Everyone!
Minisode: The Stories of 2019
December 28, 2019 20:40 - 14 minutes - 7.34 MBHow have the books we read this year shaped us? And how did our daily lives color the books we read? Join us for some coffee and contemplation as we look back on 2019 - the adventures we traveled, the jobs we started, and the crazy decision we made to put recordings of our voices onto the internet for literally anyone to listen to. Books Mentioned in this Episode: The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile Neurotribes by Steve Silberman The Portrait of a Lady by Henry Jame...
017 The Best We Could Do
December 20, 2019 15:06 - 49 minutes - 23.6 MBIt’s not a comic, or a graphic novel; it’s a graphic memoir. And apparently, graphic memoirs can be truly incredible works of art with gripping stories, that also last about as long as a single installment of Lord of the Rings. So if you feel overwhelmed by the pressure of always trying to be a “good reader,” whatever that means, join us as we rest our burnt out souls and engage with this truly incredible, visual text about family and identity after the Vietnam War by Thi Bui.
017 The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
December 20, 2019 15:06 - 49 minutes - 23.6 MBIt’s not a comic, or a graphic novel; it’s a graphic memoir. And apparently, graphic memoirs can be truly incredible works of art with gripping stories, that also last about as long as a single installment of Lord of the Rings. So if you feel overwhelmed by the pressure of always trying to be a “good reader,” whatever that means, join us as we rest our burnt out souls and engage with this truly incredible, visual text about family and identity after the Vietnam War by Thi Bui. Random tidbit...
016 A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans
December 13, 2019 06:07 - 54 minutes - 26.2 MBWhy was prominent feminist author and advocate affectionately known as RHE doing truly wild things like sitting on her roof, camping on her front lawn during her period, and the most horrifying of them all, waking up before dawn? To dismantle the Christian patriarchy, obviously! Join us as we dig into the book that taught us small-town, religious girls how to be feminists. Mentioned In the Episode: Rachel Held Evans’ website and blog Other works by RHE “What Rachel Held Evans Meant to C...
016 A Year of Biblical Womanhood
December 13, 2019 06:07 - 54 minutes - 26.2 MBWhy was prominent feminist author and advocate affectionately known as RHE doing truly wild things like sitting on her roof, camping on her front lawn during her period, and the most horrifying of them all, waking up before dawn? To dismantle the Christian patriarchy, obviously! Join us as we dig into the book that taught us small-town, religious girls how to be feminists.
015 The Last Time as We Are
December 06, 2019 04:49 - 1 hour - 30.2 MBPoetry! Love! Education! Mattresses? The ex-planet Pluto? Julia is skeptical of one of Victoria’s favorite books of poetry by Taylor Mali, but they still find themselves in a deep conversation about the nature and purpose of poetry. So buckle up because it’s serious-poetry-nerd time!
015 The Last Time as We Are by Taylor Mali
December 06, 2019 04:49 - 1 hour - 30.2 MBPoetry! Love! Education! Mattresses? The ex-planet Pluto? Julia is skeptical of one of Victoria’s favorite books of poetry by Taylor Mali, but they still find themselves in a deep conversation about the nature and purpose of poetry. So buckle up because it’s serious-poetry-nerd time! Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: Article about Taylor Mali’s marriage to his second wife from New York Times The Whetting Stone by Taylor Mali Galway Kinnell The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot read by Je...
014 Antoni in the Kitchen
November 28, 2019 22:39 - 57 minutes - 27.7 MBWelcome to Cook Club! In honor of Thanksgiving, we're making recipes from the mind of corgi lover, Queer Eye star, and Prince of Avocado Antoni Porowski. Join us as we talk about veganism with our first returning guest Rebecca Gesme, eat some veggies, and remember how food and family have shaped our lives.
014 Antoni in the Kitchen by Antoni Porowski
November 28, 2019 22:39 - 57 minutes - 27.7 MBWelcome to Cook Club! In honor of Thanksgiving, we're making recipes from the mind of corgi lover, Queer Eye star, and Prince of Avocado Antoni Porowski. Join us as we talk about veganism with our first returning guest Rebecca Gesme, eat some veggies, and remember how food and family have shaped our lives. The Recipes We Made: Cauliflower Steaks with turmeric and crunchy almonds Tangy Beluga Lentils Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with ginger and lime
Minisode: The Books That Shaped Us
November 22, 2019 17:43 - 32 minutes - 15.7 MBJulia and her childhood best friend remember the books they read as kids, the fictional characters they had crushes on, their identities as book nerds, and the stories that made them into who they are today. Books Mentioned in the Episode: The Squires Tales series by Gerald Morris Harry Potter series by J K Rowling The Oracles of Fire series by Bryan Davis 1984 by George Orwell Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke Time Quintet by Madeleine L’Engle Haruki Murakami
Minisode: 003 The Books That Shaped Us
November 22, 2019 17:43 - 32 minutes - 15.7 MBJulia and her childhood best friend, Reidleigh, remember the books they read as kids, the fictional characters they had crushes on, their identities as book nerds, and the stories that made them into who they are today.
013 Her Body & Other Parties
November 15, 2019 17:19 - 54 minutes - 26.1 MBWe thought we understood what this book is about, and then we really, really didn’t. There are apocalyptic viruses and sci-fi-esque body-altering surgeries; people turning invisible and reading minds. There’s even SVU fan fiction. Prepare to be shook as we get into this truly remarkable, genre-bending, heart-wrenching book of short stories by rising author Carmen Maria Machado.
013 Her Body & Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
November 15, 2019 17:19 - 54 minutes - 26.1 MBWe thought we understood what this book is about, and then we really, really didn’t. There are apocalyptic viruses and sci-fi-esque body-altering surgeries; people turning invisible and reading minds. There’s even SVU fan fiction. Prepare to be shook as we get into this truly remarkable, genre-bending, heart-wrenching book of short stories by rising author Carmen Maria Machado. Mentioned in the Episode Jojo Rabbit (film) by Taika Waititi TV Show Development of Her Body and Other Parties ...
012 Funny Girl
November 09, 2019 03:23 - 42 minutes - 19.6 MBThis is one of those rare books that both tells profound truths and can be consumed in a single 24-hour period. This episode begins with Victoria claiming there is little to say about this book besides the fact that it is laugh-out-loud funny, and it ends on a serious discussion of the nature of high art versus low art, so clearly this book has range. Join us as we follow “Funny Girl” Sophie Straw and her band of misfits through the perils of making a television show in the 1960s.
012 Funny Girl by Nick Hornby
November 09, 2019 03:23 - 42 minutes - 19.6 MBNick Hornby’s Funny Girl is one of those rare books that both tells profound truths and can be consumed in a single 24-hour period. This episode begins with Victoria claiming there is little to say about this book besides the fact that it is laugh-out-loud funny, and it ends on a serious discussion of the nature of high art versus low art, so clearly this book has range. Join us as we follow “Funny Girl” Sophie Straw and her band of misfits through the perils of making a television show in t...
011 Dracula
November 01, 2019 01:40 - 49 minutes - 23.1 MBThis old wrinkly vampire is a far cry from the ageless, sparkly teen version we’ve come to know and… tolerate. But the history of these creatures is so much deeper than their empty veins. Read the book, or watch one of your favorite vampire flicks, and join us for a good, old-fashioned, Victorian-era spook.
011 Dracula by Bram Stoker
November 01, 2019 01:40 - 49 minutes - 23.1 MBThis old wrinkly vampire is a far cry from the ageless, sparkly teen version we’ve come to know and… tolerate. But the history of these creatures is so much deeper than their empty veins. Read the book, or watch one of your favorite vampire flicks, and join us for a good, old-fashioned, Victorian-era spook. Random Things From the Episode: Victorian Literature Fin De Siecle Darwinism Sexuality in Victorian England History of Vampires in Pop Culture 1992 Dracula film by Francis Ford Cop...
010 The Goldfinch
October 13, 2019 00:35 - 54 minutes - 26.6 MBOur multi-talented graphic designer, Gaby Febland, joins us for a delightful discussion on the meaning of art, book-to-film adaptation, and unreliable narrators in The Goldfinch. Watch the movie first, try to make a dent in this 900+ page novel, give up a few times, then join us for some quality banter about one of the most popular books of the last two years.
010 The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
October 13, 2019 00:35 - 54 minutes - 26.6 MBOur multi-talented graphic designer, Gaby Febland, joins us for a delightful discussion on the meaning of art, book-to-film adaptation, and unreliable narrators in The Goldfinch. Watch the movie first, try to make a dent in this 900+ page novel, give up a few times, then join us for some quality banter about one of the most popular books of the last two years. Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: Hamilton (soundtrack) Frida Kahlo - Viva la Vida, Watermelons Winged Victory of Samothr...
Minisode: 002 How We Got the English Alphabet
October 04, 2019 14:34 - 21 minutes - 10.2 MBWhy do we say “Ye Olde Taverne” when we’re trying to sound old and British? Why did an Irish poet create a competition to build a better alphabet on his deathbed? And what the hell is an ampersand? This week in Book Club: Minisodes, Victoria goes deep into the history of the English language and alphabet. It’s gonna be a wild ride, so let’s get into it!
Minisode: How We Got the English Alphabet
October 04, 2019 14:34 - 21 minutes - 10.2 MBWhy do we say “Ye Olde Taverne” when we’re trying to sound old and British? Why did an Irish poet create a competition to build a better alphabet on his deathbed? And what the hell is an ampersand? This week in Book Club: Minisodes, Victoria goes deep into the history of the English language and alphabet. It’s gonna be a wild ride, so let’s get into it! References: Old English Letters and Runes A History of the English Language 6th Edition by Albert C. Baugh and Thomas Cable
Minisode 002 - How We Got the English Alphabet
October 04, 2019 14:34 - 21 minutes - 10.2 MBWhy do we say “Ye Olde Taverne” when we’re trying to sound old and British? Why did an Irish poet create a competition to build a better alphabet on his deathbed? And what the hell is an ampersand? This week in Book Club: Minisodes, Victoria goes deep into the history of the English language and alphabet. It’s gonna be a wild ride, so let’s get into it!
009 Haroun & the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
September 27, 2019 04:33 - 51 minutes - 24.4 MBVictoria is a fervent believer in the importance of intelligent and inclusive children’s literature, and Julia likes to say wheee while she rides a robot bird into a magical land where stories are born. Join us as we laugh and cry and remember why we fell in love with books in the first place. Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: TimesTalks Interview with Salman Rushdie PEN International Books by E.B. White: The Trumpet of the Swan, Stuart Little, and Charlotte’s Web Books by Lauri...
009 Haroun & the Sea of Stories
September 27, 2019 04:33 - 51 minutes - 24.4 MBVictoria is a fervent believer in the importance of intelligent and inclusive children’s literature, and Julia likes to say wheee while she rides a robot bird into a magical land where stories are born. Join us as we laugh and cry and remember why we fell in love with books in the first place.
008 The Sacred Enneagram
September 20, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 34 MBA 3 and a 5 have a chat about what we have learned from Chris Heuertz’s The Sacred Enneagram and why we sometimes don’t understand each other’s intelligence centers. If that sounds like complete nonsense, we’ll try our best to explain.
008 The Sacred Enneagram by Chris Heuertz
September 20, 2019 06:30 - 1 hour - 34 MBA 3 and a 5 have a chat about what we have learned from Chris Heuertz’s The Sacred Enneagram and why we sometimes don’t understand each other’s intelligence centers. If that sounds like complete nonsense, we’ll try our best to explain. Recommendations for further listening & reading: The Liturgists: Enneagram Episode 27 Subtypes Episodes The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron & Suzanne Stabile Eclectic Energies: Free Enneagram Test Rhiso-Hudson Enneagram Institute
007 I'm So Fine: A List of Famous Men & What I Had On by Khadijah Queen
September 14, 2019 23:08 - 1 hour - 28.7 MBOur special guest and published poet Ola Faleti guides us through Queen’s seminal work about personal power and the male gaze, and we all learn new things. Buy the book! Support working poets! You’ll be glad to have this beauty on your shelf. This week’s guest: Ola Faleti’s website and poetry Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: Khadijah Queen’s website Review of I’m So Fine on Medium.com Famous Men: Zachary Quinto Aziz Ansari Master of None Stand-Up Special “Right Now” Samue...
007 I'm So Fine: A List of Famous Men & What I Had On
September 14, 2019 23:08 - 1 hour - 28.7 MBOur special guest and published poet Ola Faleti guides us through Queen’s seminal work about personal power and the male gaze, and we all learn new things. Buy the book! Support working poets! You’ll be glad to have this beauty on your shelf.
006 Educated
September 06, 2019 05:53 - 53 minutes - 25.6 MBVictoria is officially back from her travels and ready to learn new things! Julia and Victoria discuss the difficulty of balancing forgiveness and self-advocacy, ponder the validity of essential oils, and get schooled on the importance of education. Take back your power and join us as we dissect this important book.
006 Educated by Tara Westover
September 06, 2019 05:53 - 53 minutes - 25.6 MBVictoria is officially back from her travels and ready to learn new things! Julia and Victoria discuss the difficulty of balancing forgiveness and self-advocacy, ponder the validity of essential oils, and get schooled on the importance of education. Take back your power and join us as we dissect this important book. Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: “I guess I just haven’t learned that yet.” Instagram post from Shauna Niequist Y2K Recommendation for further reading: The Most Bea...
005 Emma and Persuasion
August 16, 2019 17:58 - 1 hour - 28.8 MBA lively discourse in which Miss Clausen exhibits her ‘encyclopedic knowledge of Jane Austen’ and Miss Bruick is amused. Have some tea, look at pictures of young Colin FIrth, journal in the third person about who has 10,000 a year, and then join the party for our discussion of Emma and Jane Austen.
005 Emma and Persuasion by Jane Austen
August 16, 2019 17:58 - 1 hour - 28.8 MBA lively discourse in which Miss Clausen exhibits her ‘encyclopedic knowledge of Jane Austen’ and Miss Bruick is amused. Have some tea, look at pictures of young Colin FIrth, journal in the third person about who has 10,000 a year, and then join the party for our discussion of Emma and Jane Austen. Some things we mentioned in the episode: Jane Austen’s Other Works Pride and Prejudice Mansfield Park Sense and Sensibility Northanger Abbey Jane Austen Society of North America The 12 Pu...
Minisode: The History of the Novel
August 10, 2019 04:26 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBWhen did we start separating stories into truth and fiction? And what does that have to do with women's liberation? This week, we're taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming to delve into one of Julia's favorite subjects: The History of the Novel. Get ready, it's Nerd Time! Random tidbits mentioned in this minisode: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe Nor...
Minisode: 001 The History of the Novel
August 10, 2019 04:26 - 25 minutes - 23 BytesRandom tidbits mentioned in this minisode: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf Join the party and read ahead for the next episode: Emma and Persuasion by Jane Austen Intro Music by cvffeeshxp
Minisode 001 : The History of the Novel
August 10, 2019 04:26 - 25 minutes - 23 BytesWhen did we start separating stories into truth and fiction? And what does that have to do with women's liberation? This week, we're taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming to delve into one of Julia's favorite subjects: The History of the Novel. Get ready, it's Nerd Time!
004 Feminist Essays
August 02, 2019 03:24 - 1 hour - 27 BytesAny men out there wanna ‘splain this podcast episode for us? Well too bad, because we brought in our mysterious third roommate and resident sustainability expert Rebecca to give us a hand with these two small but mighty feminist texts.
004 Feminist Essays by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Rebecca Solnit
August 02, 2019 03:24 - 1 hour - 27.5 MBAny men out there wanna ‘splain this podcast episode for us? Well too bad, because we brought in our mysterious third roommate and resident sustainability expert Rebecca to give us a hand with these two small but mighty feminist texts. Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Beyoncé - ***Flawless ft. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - YouTube Women in the Church - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (1985) CTCR Review of 2005 Task Force Guidelines for the...
003 Neurotribes
July 26, 2019 04:26 - 1 hour - 41 BytesA neurodivergent friend and a neurotypical friend walk into a podcast… and then discover too late how much important information is in this very long book. If the 500+ page-length scares you, feel free to listen to this ‘Spark Notes’ version. (Content Warning: ABA, shock therapy, eugenics)
003 Neurotribes by Steve Silberman
July 26, 2019 04:26 - 1 hour - 40.9 MBA neurodivergent friend and a neurotypical friend walk into a podcast… and then discover too late how much important information is in this very long book. If the 500+ page-length scares you, feel free to listen to this ‘Spark Notes’ version. (Content Warning: ABA, shock therapy, eugenics) Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: My Brilliant Friend and Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante “Abigail Echo-Hawk on the Art and Science of Decolonizing Data” | Crosscut.com Autistic Self Advo...
002 Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
July 19, 2019 02:53 - 56 minutes - 25.3 MBRead the novel. Cry. Question whether you have a soul. Watch the movie. Cry again. Then listen to the podcast. Random tidbits mentioned in this episode: Yo-Yo Ma performing Bach Cello Suites 1-6 presented by BBC Proms Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro: Never Let Me Go Featurette - Exploring the Story by FOX Searchlight BONUS: Tiny Desk Concert we love of Yo-Yo Ma jamming with his bluegrass crew Recommendation for further reading: Little Bee by Chris Cleave Atonement by Ian McEwan Smoke G...
002 Never Let Me Go
July 19, 2019 02:53 - 56 minutesRandom tidbits mentioned in this episode: Yo-Yo Ma performing Bach Cello Suites 1-6 presented by BBC Proms Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro: Never Let Me Go Featurette - Exploring the Story by FOX Searchlight BONUS: Tiny Desk Concert we love of Yo-Yo Ma jamming with his bluegrass crew Recommendation for further reading: Little Bee by Chris Cleave Atonement by Ian McEwan Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty Join the party and read ahead for the next episode: We Should All Be Femin...