Reads and Weeds

This episode and the next is my gift to the 2026 cast of PTD's Southern Rapture by Eric Coble, directed by Karrie Waarala. I was so lucky to land in this group of talented, generous, fun, hardworking creatives. During the run of the show and the afterparties, I interviewed the cast and Karrie about theater and books and scripts and whatever else came up. We yapped so much I split it into two episo...

My discussion with Jennifer Horne about 'Girl on Girl' would probably still be going on if there were no time constraints. Taking an academic look at the way females are presented, harassed, mocked, chased, shamed, and financially wrung out by the media for the last 40 years is an EYE OPENER. It is good to be aware. Have you read it? Were there any surprises. Chime in!

You can probably tell by the title that there is a LOT to unpack and FEEL in the reading of this one. We just jumped into it and talked for two hours, so I split it into two episodes. I just kept thinking 'NO WONDER'........(no wonder we feel like this....no wonder connecting is so hard....no wonder it is hard to know and say what you want). Tell me what it brings up for you. Next half coming out...

Just reintroducing myself to listeners all over.

Shelly and Claire recorded this one live at the Independent Comedy Club in Hamtramck Michigan during the Detroit Women of Comedy Festival. Thanks Brett. Thanks Erin from Love and Other Books for the recommendation. I would love to do a follow up on this one because there was soooooo much to unpack. I can't wait to hear what this read brought up for y'all.

In this episode, we are back with Ypsilanti's own Nathan Corliss with a live read through of his newest play 'The Cult of Dad'. No stranger to the podcast, playwright/actor/educator Nathan Corliss has debuted other original work on this show including a full reading of his play Three Sinners in 2021. What if Ted Mosby of How I Met your Mother was portrayed as delusional instead of a good guy tryin...

Shelly is with besties Linette DeSano and Hillary Youd at the kitchen table where so much of the fun of life happens to discuss 'Human History on Drugs' by Sam Kelly. History makes a lot more sense when you understand the drugs involved-for better or worse.

I recently attended a screening of this 2025 documentary about book banning efforts and the librarians on the front lines. I love books.....obviously. I love librarians. I have a bestie who is a librarian. Libraries are nurturing communities. Go watch this documentary. Host a party. Invite friends. Hug a librarian. They are fighting for your right to learn. Book banning seems so archaic and certai...

Happy New Year. Claire and Shelly catch up on books, rant about AI and give 2025 a TALKIN TO!!! We smoked Mafia Funeral. And something about butt breathing.

Michigan comedian Nicole Melynk and I talk about her favorite book series, how art imitates life, the current comedy scene, and winter. Right after this we recorded her podcast 'What's your favorite dinosaur?' so go listen to that also.

Author, editor and now PUBLISHER of Concentrate Media Patrick Dunn, is back with me to talk about White Noise, his second mini 'graphic nightmare'. Ever had trouble sleeping because you can't calm your mind? We get it. Listen to Patrick's podcast 'EHMON' (Every Horror Movie on Netflix) and grab one of these little books at https://graphicnightmares.art/

I talk with Steve about scripture, how we have come to understand it, and how cannabis shifts that perspective. It's a beautiful late summer day. I feel so lucky to have conversations like this and to learn with friends. Pure pleasure. I found my Bible. Shout out to our whole comedy scene.

I hope I didn't ruin Tommy's favorite book from childhood, but we had to get to the bottom of the messaging of 'Theodore Mouse Goes to Sea'. He's a cutie and has a bird friend. Cori's dogs were good the whole time.

Ken Wachsberger is back with Thumbs Up: Memoir of a Joyful Organizer, Ken’s stories of the joyful life he has built as a writer and activist. Initially motivated in the Nixon years as a pioneer of the antiwar underground press, Ken's passion for telling the stories no one else was telling shaped his next five decades. While building his family with his dear Emily and working every job from vegan c...

Claire and I were so honored and excited when Heather Jay reached out with an early draft of her new book and asked us for specific feedback. Oh boy! Honest specific feedback is so hard to get when your friends love you. Haha. Heather also wrote the screenplay for the upcoming movie so we talked about process, pace, reveals, characterization, and what you learn by studying LOTS of best sellers. My...

Lisa Green, first timer on the show(!) and Masters Degree recipient(!woohoo!)recommended this book of wonderful short stories in all different formats and it was such a great read at this moment when my mind was drifting towards way too serious. If you love the humor and weird of BoJack Horseman, you will devour these stories.

Somehow I got through decades without reading Huckleberry Finn. Thanks to Carl Merrick for suggesting it and hanging with me for the discussion. It is way too cold right now. Our country is changing rapidly and it's kinda scary. The Michigan comedy scene is thriving. AI is making customer service more and more terrible. And somehow, this book, originally published in 1884 about the adventures of a...

It is a strange but somehow peaceful time. We are in the 'holiday season', which is 'show season' for me. We are between the election and the inauguration. We decided to read a surprisingly silly Zingerman's SOP and revisit the piece I read for my dear friend's wedding. Jamie updates me on the news from a recent cannabis conference in Vegas. Come see me January 2nd at 50 First Jokes!!

My lovely friend Patrick Dunn wrote his first horror comic and it was just wonderful to hang out with him and talk about it. You see, he is a journalist by trade and this is a completely different set of skills, and he had been missing all the drawing he used to love to do and has re discovered that love. Of course we had great weed and snacks. We also hit on post election coping, problems specifi...

Shelly live at Entheofest 2024 in Ann Arbor on September 22, talking books with new friends, fellow psychonauts and bookworms. Thanks to Claire Forster for helping me with the table. Thanks to MIchigan Psychedelic Society, Decriminalize Nature, Great Lakes Expungement Network, and everyone that works so hard to make this lovely day happen every year. Thanks to Soencer from Detroit Psychedelic Soci...

Isn't it strange that we are all trying to figure out the bodies that we live in? Where do we turn when the physical 'fixes' we are trying aren't 'fixing' the issue? Thanks to integrative health practitioner Lacey Reedy for suggesting this book and for discussing it with me. Times are strange and it can be stressful and sometimes we hold stress in our bodies. This is a great book to start learning...

This episode was recorded live at the Independent Comedy Club in Hamtramck as part of the Detroit Women of Comedy Festival in May 2024. I was joined by Claire Forster whose 'lapsed academia' brain helped me digest alllll the vocabulary and concepts from Amanda Montell's third book. We had the friendliest most engaged audience and goodie bags with treats from MINT Cannabis and Linette Desano. It wa...

Thanks so much to Kseniya for sharing her research with us and congrats on the awards your writing received. This topic is close to the hearts of many of our listeners and we would love to hear your experiences. I was thinking of many of you while we were recording. I appreciate this amazing thoughtful research and also would love to hear your personal stories if you are willing to share. The Fede...

This show was recorded the day after a glorious Hash Bash weekend and I think you can hear that in my scratchy voice. We are back with fantasy author Scott Mooney to discuss the third and final book in the poisoned apple trilogy, 'The End of the Rose'. It was so good! I tore through it in a few days. Twists up until the last few pages. What will happen if the giant awakens? Where can I get a glass...

Shelly is joined by Jamie Lowell and Josey Scoggin to discuss all the fun leading up to Hash Bash 2024. The Treasure Hunt is on again! Maps available now- http://Givebutter.com/hashbashtreasurehunt Go have a blast wandering around Ann Arbor supporting Great Lakes Expungement Network.