We have five (yes, FIVE) new episodes, including a new book report format, and each one has a guest that I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with before. And they’re back because…well, they’re all that good! So, what can you expect in this drop?
While my bestie, Daynah, and I have all the television feminist critique you can handle, I decided to bring on Matt for a monthly show too for a good ole’ book report for this and future drops! So you get to check out what I’m watching and reading, but then also enjoy some catch-up conversations with Jen Robins, Kelsey Snelling, and Dr. Josh Levitt. We talk pivoting (we love a “find what works for you” story around here), the endless “wellness” grifiting, and just generally being kinder to ourselves (past, present, and future).
Now, to the episodes! This is my unofficial recommended listening order, but you do you:
Introducing our Monthly Book Report with Matt
We’re kicking off our first-ever book report episode—and yes, we’re calling it that on purpose. Because books have always been part of our whole life. I’m joined by my favorite reading partner: my husband, Matt. Together, we dive into stories that make us laugh, think, and ugly-cry in public.
We talk about what we’re reading (Margot’s Got Money Troubles and Atmosphere, spoiler-free, promise). We also chat about how books shape our worldview, challenge our biases, and sometimes leave us sobbing on a treadmill—or doing laundry while quietly falling apart.
Whether you read with your partner or solo, whether you love audiobooks or prefer paperbacks, this episode is an invitation to think differently about fiction—and how the right story at the right time can shift everything.
- 0:00 | Why We’re Talking About Books
- 1:15 | Fiction That Surprises and Stretches Us
- 4:30 | Letting Go of Judgment (Even the Quiet Kind)
- 6:45 | Systems, Safety, and How We Care for Others
- 8:30 | How and Why We Read (Audiobooks, Shared Credits & Book Clubs)
- 11:30 | An Author We Love (and Why She’s More Than “Chick Lit”)
- 13:00 | Space, Sexism, and Historical Power
- 17:00 | What Draws Us Into a Story (Even When It’s Not Our Thing)
- 19:15 | Identity, Safety, and Belonging
- 21:45 | Choosing Between Love and Purpose
- 23:30 | Emotional Payoff (Without Spoilers)
- 25:00 | When a Book Wrecks You—in the Best Way
- 27:00 | Crafting Characters That Actually Matter
- 30:00 | Layers of Family, Friendship, and Social Pressure
- 33:00 | Villains, Compassion, and Personal Growth
- 35:00 | What We’re Reading Now
- 41:00 | Our Love Story, Told in Audiobooks
- 43:00 | What’s Next on Our Reading List
References:
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- More by Taylor Jenkins Reid: Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto is Back, Daisy Jones & The Six
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
- The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
- Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
- The Martian by Andy Weir
- The Summer of Yes by Courney Walsh (Stacy DNF’d this book)
- Meant to Be series (various authors)
- Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (Book 1: The Eye of the World)
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
- Stacy’s Favorite Books: 2022, 2023, and 2024
What future book reports do you want to listen to?
Camp Shame: Tiger King, But Make It Fat Camp
The tenacious Kelsey Snelling is back to give us the inside scoop on the viral Camp Shame podcast. What started as a documentary project over a decade ago has become a genre-blending podcast that unpacks the rise and fall of Camp Shane, the infamous weight loss camp for kids, many epsiodes in which I’m featured!
Stacy and Kelsey go deep on what it means to tell the truth when shame is baked into the story. We talk about the creative shift from film to podcasting, the surprising reach of Camp Shame, and the vulnerability that surfaces when you share your story without being on camera.
Expect everything from behind-the-scenes chaos to family feuds, diet culture takedowns, and the emotional aftershocks that follow you well into adulthood. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s necessary.
If you’ve ever felt unseen in your experience with body image, shame, or being the “before” in someone else’s narrative—this one’s for you. And if you think this conversation doesn’t apply to you… you might be the exact person who needs to listen.
- 0:00 | Origin Story: From Documentary to Podcast
- 3:00 | Safety in Audio: Vulnerability Without the Visuals
- 6:00 | Unexpected Reach: Who’s Really Listening?
- 9:00 | Audience Response: Validation, Gaslighting, and Shared Truths
- 12:00 | Genre-Bending: True Crime Meets Diet Culture Meets Cult
- 15:00 | Behind the Gates: Camp Shane’s Real Impact
- 18:00 | The Ripple Effect: Trauma Beyond Camp Walls
- 21:00 | Sneaky Education: How Storytelling Sparks Awareness
- 24:00 | Trolls, Trolls Everywhere: Real-World Fatphobia
- 29:00 | You Don’t Know What Someone’s Going Through
- 34:00 | Call to Action + Listener Stories
References:
Snake Oil or Science
We’re back with science-based naturopathic doctor, Dr. Josh Levitt. No, it doesn’t have to be an oxymoron – he’s a myth-buster extraordinaire and this conversation is all about finding the truth in the mess of modern wellness. From essential oils and detoxes to gallbladder flushes and ear candles, we get into what’s actually helpful, what’s hype, and why so many people get caught in the middle.
Dr. Josh and I talk about the nuance that often gets lost in clickbait culture — how real healing usually lives in the gray space between conventional and natural medicine. He shares how his own journey (which involves a blister, a Swiss pharmacy, and a serious wake-up call) shaped his approach to integrative care. And we dig into why people fall for bad health advice, how to spot the red flags, and what you can do instead.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting health info or frustrated by medical systems that leave out the whole picture, this episode is for you.
- 00:00 | Meet Dr. Josh Levitt (Again)
- 02:30 | Medicine as a Bridge, Not a Binary
- 05:50 | The Problem with Extremes in Wellness
- 08:50 | Snake Oil: The Origin Story
- 12:05 | Essential Oils: Helpful or Hype?
- 17:15 | Buyer Beware: Scams, Grifters & the Gray Area
- 21:15 | Ear Candles: A Hot Mess (Literally)
- 26:00 | Gallbladder Flushes & Detox Culture
- 33:30 | Life After Gallbladder Surgery: What No One Tells You
- 39:15 | Why We’re Still So Sick
Find Dr. Levitt:
References:
Still Going Strong
Author, entrepreneur, mom, previous guest, and good friend Jennifer Robins built a wellness brand while her health was quietly wrecking her life. And no, just trying harder didn’t fix it.
In this episode, Jen gets real about what it’s like to share publicly while barely holding it together behind the scenes. We talk about chronic illness, medical gaslighting, the pressure to “stay on brand” when your body is screaming for help, and the full-body burnout that finally made her say: “I’m done.” And how she’s doing now, after it all.
It’s about deciding you’re not going to pretend anymore—online or off. If you’re tired of wellness content that feels like performance art, this one’s for you.
- 0:00 | When Tech Trouble Mirrors Life Transitions
- 4:30 | Scams, Social Loss, and the Quiet Grief of Losing a Digital Self
- 9:00 | Leaving the Internet Behind to Find Yourself
- 14:30 | The Problem with Platforms That Reward Pain
- 22:00 | Relearning Food, Health, and Forgiveness
- 34:30 | Childhood Trauma, Emotional Wiring & Reclaiming Peace
- 44:30 | Joy as Resistance: Madison’s Bracelets and the Gift of Delight
Find Jen:
References:
- The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk
- The Whole View, Season 3
- Madizen Beaded Jewelry
ADHD, Feminism, Kinship Adoption, and Your Netflix Queue
What happens when you start off talking about bad TV and end up unpacking the moment you left your PhD program to raise your sisters after your mom died? In this episode, Stacy and Daynah take the scenic route—from media criticism to the motherhood nobody plans for, plus body politics, feminist memes, and why gratitude (ugh, fine) actually works. There’s a dog named Manly, a shoutout to a very meaningful pile of office poop, and a whole lot of “this should be a book” energy.
It’s cozy chaos meets big clarity—just the way we like it.
- 0:00 | Homework, Hustle & What Sirens Didn’t Deliver
- 8:30 | The Scene That Hit Too Hard
- 10:00 | Losing the Life You Had for the Life That Needed You
- 18:00 | The Dog That Changed Everything
- 24:30 | What ‘Hacks’ Gets Right (and What It Misses)
- 35:00 | Cultural Criticism as Feminist Practice
- 50:00 | On Seasons, Survival, and Letting Things Be Simple
- 54:00 | Gratitude as Grounding: A Morning Practice That Stuck
- 58:00 | The Magic (Yes, That One)
What We’re Watching
- Sirens
- Hacks
- Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go
- Sneaky Links: Dating After Dark
- Poker Face
- Dept. Q
- Materialists
What We’re Reading
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
- The Magic by Rhonda Byrne
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Note: Stacy and her guests are not medical professionals. This podcast is for general educational purposes and NOT intended to diagnose, advise, or treat any physical or mental illness. We always recommend you consult a licensed service provider.
