Books and Beyond With ThatGuyJae

This week I was joined by Sean (aka Grainshift_), a photography-focused TikTok creator who's become one of my favorite follows this year. We dove into our surprisingly similar photography journeys and how we both got started, plus explored how social media has transformed the art of photography. Sean shared insights that really made me think differently about art and creativity. Whether you&#3...

This week I'm joined by Claude Kelly, one of my BookTok mutuals and an incredibly successful songwriter in the music industry! We dive into how BookTok has positively transformed our reading lives and explore our shared passion for slice of life books. Those beautiful, everyday moments that make stories feel so real and relatable. Claude shares fascinating insights about finding slice of life...

This week I sit down with watch content creator and industry professional Connor, aka 10 Past 10, for an in-depth conversation about watch collecting, the luxury watch market, and content creation. As someone who works in a jewelry store selling both watches and jewelry, Connor brings unique insider perspective to our discussion about how he discovered his passion for watches and built his current...

This week I'm switching things up with my first Q&A solo episode! I asked for questions on TikTok and got some great responses covering all my different interests and hobbies. From books to watches, photography to unexpected topics. I had a blast answering everything you threw at me. Some questions were easy, others really made me think and reflect on my passions in new ways. If you've...

It's solo episode time! I'm using this opportunity to wrap up what was honestly a pretty uneventful summer and share my massive excitement for the upcoming fall season. While summer was quiet, I am absolutely living for what's ahead, cool weather, changing leaves, and all the cozy fall vibes. I dive into my fall photography project ideas and get really excited talking about my seasonal reading pla...

This week I'm joined by New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Ruth Cardello! This was such a fun conversation diving into Ruth's impressive writing career that spans over a decade. We explore her origins in self-publishing back in 2011 and her journey into traditional publishing, getting the inside scoop on both sides of the industry. Ruth shares candidly about the change...

This week I'm joined by fellow TikToker C.Dotcentral! She's a BookToker, anime fan, history enthusiast, and so much more. Her content focuses on reading diversely, both in terms of authors and genres. Bringing variety and representation to her book recommendations. We dive into our reading journeys, swap bookish stories, and get into the nitty-gritty of content creation, how we both got st...

This week I'm joined by my BookTok friend Lauren, aka LaurenReadsHistory! Lauren is a fantastic content creator who focuses primarily on nonfiction books, especially history titles, bringing educational content to BookTok in her own unique way. We dive into both her content creation journey and her broader reading journey, exploring how she carved out her niche in the history book space. We al...

This week I'm joined by Zoe Yohn, a fellow BookToker, podcaster, and writer! Zoe hosts the Broken Spine Social Club podcast, and we dive into her reading journey and how she's built her own corner of the book community. We discover our shared passion for journaling and discuss the intentional move toward a more analog way of living in our increasingly digital world. Whether you're interested in he...

This week I'm joined by fellow BookToker, podcaster, and debut author Evan Leikam! Evan hosts the Book Reviews Kill podcast and has built a successful BookTok presence, but this year he added 'published author' to his resume with his debut novel Anji Kills a King . We dive into our current reads, discuss the art of DNFing, and explore Evan's writing journey. Plus, you'll hear t...

This week on Books and Beyond, I'm joined by BookTok and Bookstagram creator Sam Boyd! We dive into our reading journeys and how Sam originally started creating content in the makeup niche before finding her way to BookTok. Sam shares her recent shift into 'BookTok bro' type books and we geek out about her current obsession with Dungeon Crawler Carl. Including the story behind her rece...

Author Dartanyan Johnson joins me for an honest conversation about the indie author life. We share our reading journeys, explore how he got started writing, and discuss his current releases and future book plans. Dartanyan opens up about the reality of independent publishing, juggling writing with marketing, promotion, and all the business side that comes with being your own publisher. A candid lo...

In this solo episode, I reflect on the importance of sticking with our passions and hobbies, even when life gets in the way. Using my own photography journey as an example, something I started 20 years ago in high school but never fully committed to. I explore what could have been if I'd stayed consistent, and why it's never too late to get back to the things we love. Whether you've ab...

In this deeply personal solo episode of 'Books and Beyond with ThatGuyJae,' I take time to reflect on an incredible year of growth and discovery. After six months of podcasting and a full year of content creation, I share the unexpected ways this journey has transformed me, particularly how creating content has become a form of exposure therapy for my social anxiety. I open up about the re...

This week on 'Books and Beyond with ThatGuyJae,' I'm joined by Des, a fellow TikTok creator who specializes in watch content. In this horological deep dive, Des and I share our personal journeys into the world of timepieces - from our first watch purchases to developing our appreciation for craftsmanship and design. We explore what draws us to different watches, discuss the rich histor...

After another brief hiatus due to illness, ThatGuyJae returns to 'Books and Beyond' with a fascinating guest who brings a completely different perspective to the show. This week, I'm joined by Kasey, a TikTok creator in the animal and reptile niche who balances her demanding role as an ER veterinary technician at an overnight animal hospital with her passion for reptile keeping. Kasey...

This week on 'Books and Beyond with ThatGuyJae,' I'm joined by the insightful CJ of CJtalksbooks, whose thoughtful reviews and recommendations have captured audiences across Instagram and TikTok. CJ shares his current reading obsessions and the upcoming adaptations he's most anticipating. We dive into his fascinating content creation evolution, from his beginnings as a movie review...

This week on 'Books and Beyond with ThatGuyJae' I welcome my cousin Jacob, an exceptional wildlife photographer based in Alaska. Jacob takes us behind his breathtaking Instagram feed, sharing stories of capturing bald eagles, grizzly bears, and other majestic Alaskan wildlife. We explore his photography journey, dive into his camera gear, and discuss his post-processing techniques that bri...

This week on 'Books and Beyond with ThatGuyJae,' I sit down with author Maurice Africh to explore the sky pirate-filled world of his sci-fi novel 'Cellos Gate.' Maurice shares his unique writing process, how he crafts believable sci-fi elements within his world-building, and his deep connection to nerdy culture and literature. We dive into the challenges and rewards of self-publish...

I'm Back! COVID, Birthdays, and Rekindling Old Passions After a two-week absence due to COVID, ThatGuyJae returns with updates on his recovery, birthday celebrations, and exciting new developments. In this heartfelt solo episode, Jae shares how his BookTok community came together to help fund his return to photography, his plans for greater social media consistency, and his upcoming journey in...

In this episode of Books and Beyond with ThatGuyJae, I sit down with Shaylin Gandhi, who formerly practiced medicine before becoming a published romance and romantasy author. We explore her fascinating journey from medicine to creative writing and uncover the inspirations behind her captivating love stories. Shaylin shares insights into the traditional publishing process, revealing both the challe...

In this episode of Books and Beyond, I welcome author Jeff Pantanella, whose journey spans from formal art school training to creating video game backgrounds and now crafting expansive fantasy worlds. We explore how his deep-rooted artistic background shapes his approach to world building and storytelling. Jeff shares how years spent in non-creative professions ultimately rekindled his creative sp...

In this episode of Books and Beyond, I sit down with author Marshall J. Moore to explore the mind behind two captivating trilogies. We dive into his writing process, the worlds he's created, and how he maintains his creative schedule. But Marshall's talents extend beyond the page - we also discuss his role as a Muay Thai instructor and his newfound passion for painting Warhammer 40K miniatures. Jo...

Join me for a casual hangout with fellow TikToker Andy as we explore our shared passion for timepieces. We discuss our journeys into watch collecting, the merits of homage watches, and reveal some of our favorite time pieces. The conversation naturally flows into our reading habits, BookTok recommendations, and even watch spotting in films. Whether you're a watch enthusiast, book lover, or film bu...

A Year of BookTok: Overcoming Anxiety and Finding Community It’s been one year since I posted my first BookTok video showing my face, and a lot has changed since then. In this episode, I reflect on why I started creating content during a difficult time, how BookTok became an unexpected source of community, and the ways content creation has helped (and challenged) my confidence. I also open up abou...