What Ya Reading?

Sometimes a book makes you feel seen. In today's episode, Jay is sitting down with her friend Leah to talk about The Garden Within by Anita Phillips; a book that connects nature, science, and spirituality. Tune in to hear them chat about their main takeaways from the book and how it made them both feel seen. They also talk about the concept of being the "strong woman" and the pressure to continue...

In today's episode, Jay is chatting with a friend and fellow book club member Rissa about reading from BIPOC narratives and how it has impacted their worldview. Tune in to hear them chat about how they've had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable when reading certain stories. They also talk about how they lean on books to expose them to different narratives and how Rissia uses books to teach...

Finding the time to read in busy seasons can be difficult. We can't always plan for the busy moments but as we learn about our reading style we can find ways to adapt to those seasons. This week on the podcast, your host Jay is joined by fellow bookworm Brittany, to chat about making reading adjustments during life's busy chapters. They talk about how they identified their reading preferences and...

Kennedy Ryan is known for crafting captivating and empowering romances with strong female leads. In this episode, Jay is joined by fellow Bookstagrammer, Tristen, for a deep dive into what makes Ryan's books so irresistible. Tune in to hear them chat about their favorite books from her catalog and how they admire her female characters who overcome challenges to claim their happily ever afters. The...

Atomic Habits by James Clear has been one of the most influential personal development books over the last few years. And for good reason! In today's episode, Jay is chatting with Penelope, a fellow reader and online business owner, about how transformative this book has been for both of them. They discuss the concept of habit stacking and the importance of building small habits to achieve larger...

In today's episode, you'll be listening to a buddy-read discussion of The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray. Tune in to hear Jay and the other book club members chat about their thoughts on this book and the impression it left on them. *Some of the contents discussed in this episode could be considered a spoiler.    What we talked about :  Our first impressions of...

Time management is a skill that we could all improve on. In today's episode, Jay and her guest Erica dive into the world of productivity and the books that can help us create more effective practices. Tune in as they chat about the reads that can support our goals of mastering our time, prioritizing  tasks, and carving out space for self-care. This episode is especially for those who are multi-pas...

In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to share some reading suggestions. Tune in to hear recommendations from a variety of genres, including romance, historical fiction, thriller, horror, fantasy, and non-fiction. I also share some recommendations from a few of my bookish friends.    Books mentioned in this episode: Anything by author Kennedy Ryan This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan Anything by a...

African mythology has always been a major influence on literature. In today's episode, Jay sits down with fellow book club member Taylore to talk about some of their favorite books that draw upon African Mythology and Folklore. Tune in to hear them chat about the books they believe embody the theme of Black Girl Magic and their thoughts on seeing African Mythology represented more in mainstream bo...

On today's episode, Jay sits down with MJ, a multi-passionate influencer and online creator. They talk about The Big Lea p by Gay Hendrix, which focuses on conquering hidden fears and taking life to the next level. Tune in to hear them chat about how this book helped them explore the concept of self-sabotage with the hopes of overcoming it.   What we talked about :  Being a multi-passionate person...

Living a more sustainable lifestyle may not sound very attainable, especially for a book lover. Our book collections bring us joy. But maybe there is a way that we can be more sustainable when adding to our collections. Today, I'm sitting down with my friend Tyler to chat about what sustainability may look like for a book lover. We also discuss overconsumption, how it may apply to the book industr...

When I sat down to record Episode 7 with Shanell, we had no idea that the conversation would take us in so many different directions. While the main content can be found in the original episode, I also wanted to share some of the other things we talked about.   This conversation is what happens when I sit down with girlfriends to chat about a book and then up talking about life. This bonus content...

We all have creative dreams. But sometimes we struggle taking action on those ideas. In today's episode, I sat down with my guest Shanell to explore the mindset shifts that she learned from Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. She reveals how this book helped her in her life, her business, and on her creative journey. We also talked about other books that ignite creativity and spark our imagination whe...

2024 is gearing up to be an amzing reading year. At least, that's what it feels like.   In today's episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to a special guest: my little sister! We sat down over the holidays to chat about our general reflections on our 2023 reads and unveil our goals for 2024.   Tune in to hear us discuss our thoughts on bookish trends on social media and the adjustments we're eager...

Reading to support our mental health journey is important. But, it can be difficult to find helpful and relatable options. Our guest Arienne works closely with mental health professionals and is here to share her thoughts about the evolving nature of "self help" books. Tune in to hear about what we look for in supportive mental health materials and the reads that have helped us on our self-explora...

In today's episode, you'll listen to a buddy read discussion on Biting the Hand by Julia Lee. In this memoir, Julia shares her experience growing up Asian in a black-and-white America. Tune in to hear Jay and the other book club members chat about their thoughts on this book and the impression it left on them. *Some of the contents discussed in this episode could be considered a spoiler.   What we...

In today's episode, Jay sits down with her book bestie Brittany to chat about their winter reading. Tune in to hear the books they'd recommend to other readers and what they have on their TBR list this winter and holiday season.   What we talked about :  Introducing you to one of my book besties. What we look for in our winter reading. The struggle of finding good holiday books. Winter books we su...

It's the first episode of the podcast! Today Jay is sitting down for a solo episode to chat about her top tips for increasing your reading volume. If you are looking to get back into the habit of reading, or if you want to improve your reading journey, tune in to hear Jay discuss the five things that have helped her read more books each year.   What I talked about :  My reading background. Buildin...

Description :  Welcome to What Ya Reading? , a new podcast where I'll connect with fellow book enthusiasts to chat about our latest reads, the topics that fuel our book obsession, and all the things that keep us glued to those pages. What Ya Reading? premiers on Monday, December 4, 2023, with new episodes releasing weekly. Connect with Jay:  Follow Jay on Instagram @bookswithjaybraggs Join us on t...