Books & Blooms

We are still a couple months in the past - early March 2025! Lee recaps the rest of her Cali vacation. Val is out of breath. How do you feel about baby showers? In the Books section, Lee and Val share their literary turnoffs.  SHOW NOTES:  You can find a pic of Lee in all her Disney ears and taped glasses glory here .  The story of the Alcatraz Indian Occupation is actually fascinat...

Lee’s in California, and regales Val and the audience with her travel tales. Somehow, from there, they dig into these deep questions. What makes a tree a tree? What would you do if you could change your sex every year? Also, they make a pact. For the Plants segment, it’s a tree episode! Val and Lee don’t know that much about trees though, so they keep it very short.  SHOW NOTES: Here’s a phot...

Welcome to Season 2!! We recorded this back in early February. Pregnant Val rates fast food chicken nuggets. Lee presents a haiku about Punxatawney Phil and a fun fact about Snoop Dogg. In the Books segment, our hosts have a conversation about what books have been “spoiled” for them by bad-acting authors, and discuss the question: Is it possible to hate an author and still love their book?  S...

We're starting another season! More nonsense to come. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh off a cleaning jag, Lee comes in hot with lots of energy and a special segment about floral baby names. That's right, if you are having a baby sometime soon OR if you're just a names/name trends enthusiast, Lee has suggestions for you, plus some names she does NOT suggest. Also: Val has life news and Lee begins a woo-woo journey. In our Plants segment, Val tells a whole story about a 'b...

Did you watch the new Nosferatu and wonder how it compares to the original, but didn’t have it in you to sit through a silent movie. The Books and Blooms podcast has you covered! Val watched the original Nosferatu. Lee watched the new movie. They compare and contrast. But first, life updates! Lee has seasonal affective disorder, but she’s finding joy where she can. Val has no heat.  Justice f...

This quick lil ep of Books and Blooms may brighten your day! Lee has a haiku about her self-improvement kick! Val laments about Tinder! In our Plants segment, Val shares decorating tips: three design-forward houseplants that help to elevate a room. Plus: inept dance teachers, Lee's conflicting football feels, and haunted doll shenanigans. SHOW NOTES Volcano was a 1997 thriller about a volcano...

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a daughter in possession of no other options, will fuck your enemy’s child. That’s right, we have finished Wuthering Heights , and we wrap up our discussion on the book today! But first: ValVal has lots of theories! LeeLee has trivia about Garfield and another cartoon cat! They discuss the pros and cons of being high in an airport, when to reveal curse...

They’re here. Get your sword. Is it a sillier than usual episode? Maybe! Val and Lee discuss an important would you rather regarding turtle shells. Lee suggests a sequel idea for Home Alone, and then the two of them wind up recounting the entire plot of Home Alone. Val waxes poetic about the brilliant picture book I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. In our Plants segment, Val provides tips about ho...

Two friends wearing orange hoodies spend a Friday night do their best to wuther the heights, i.e. talk about the first half of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte . This is the backwards episode because they do that first, THEN they shoot the shit and discuss miscellaneous things like: plains verses mountains, super smellers, and what settings are perfect for horror movies. If you, too, enjoy Wuther...

Warning: if you are highly suggestible about potential illness the way LeeLee and ValVal are, take note! Our dynamic but sometimes fearful duo discuss what fingernail ridges could be a sign of, and also listeria. This episode also includes: Lee’s take on the first ten pages of Wuthering Heights, plus trivia about the word of the year, whale fins, and the arugula plant. You weirdo, Nature! SHOW NOT...

Just in time for Christmas, we give you Thanksgiving updates! Lee did Bodypump with her dad, Val sat for an anxious dog, and more. ValVal and LeeLee share how they like to leave a gathering, and explore the question: how do you prepare your friends to leave your gathering when you want them to? In our Books segment, we talk cozy reads, and somehow that leads to us deciding to read Wuthering Height...

It’s also a Plants ep! Lee explains deadheading and updates us on her peace lily's progress. Val shares their thoughts on fake plants, and later, tells a plant story about the importance of greenery. CONTENT WARNING: For some reason, Val and Lee also decide to share gross/medical stories, mostly about poop. But it’s only gross from 36:14 to 42:36 and Val pops in to warn you right before.  Oth...

A cold snap started and Val and Lee are not handling it well, judging by their haikus. LeeLee gives us trivia about where the word Triscuit comes from and requests a mapping system for the life cycle of her clothing. Both Val and Lee ponder the pros and cons of having snakes as pets and lose their shit over the very idea of a fresh cookie. Plus, it’s a Books episode! Lee and Val share their though...

This is the episode where Lee and Val have just found Donald Trump was elected. But even on the darkest days, The Yoke of Capitalism is unavoidable. LeeLee and ValVal buy treats they don’t need, consider buying even more treats, and talk about Christmas lists / gift giving. Brace yourselves for the car mats story. Val’s plant story is about the tradescantia (which they keep incorrectly pronouncing...

It’s the episode directly after Halloween! LeeLee and ValVal recap the highlights of their candy-giving. Also, Lee went to a haunted house and met a clown with an evocative name and lots of layers. In the Books segment, Val and Lee discuss their recent and current reads. Plus, they choose the next podcast book! SHOW NOTES:  The porn star who shot his Tesla is named Dante Colle. You can’t take...

ValVal and LeeLee hate cleaning. LeeLee got a roomba, but the results weren't great. There’s a lot of trivia in this ep! Does the Philly pretzel really belong to Central PA? Do you know the full “no one likes us” Eagles chant? What ingredient was originally in 7Up? What Vice Presidential candidates can you name from 2000 on? Listen to find out! Also, Lee tells Val about the J.D. Vance couch fuckin...

As part of our nostalgia books series, Lee and I have an important discussion about The Babysitters Club. But first! We give you a highlights reel of Lee’s Taskmaster-themed 40th birthday. From the babysitters, we learn that Lee does not like script fonts, and socialism pushes its own agenda.  SHOW NOTES:  Google Belgian malinois to get a sense of Nico’s energy.  Revenge bedtime pro...

In this special ep, ValVal and LeeLee are together! Talking into one mic! They discuss many topics, including: the pitfalls of naming your daughter Belladonna, health food stores, #BlazerLife, Lee’s fascination with pimple popping and earwax, and whether one dress can be as big news as the swan and meat dresses were. Also, Lee went to a hobbit party. Val’s plant story stars a cashier at a witchy s...

Welcome to book club with Val and Lee! But first, dog talk! But before that, haikus about the Vice Presidential Debate! We absolutely loved All the Names They Used for God by Anjali Sachdeva and we had fun talking about her stories. If you also read the book and have any takes you want to share, email us at booksandbloomspod@gmail.com .  SHOW NOTES:  The Penn State Mascot: The Nittany Li...

Let’s talk about pants, baby. In a new segment called “The Yoke of Capitalism,” Lee waxes poetic about the benefits of skinny jeans, muses about shorter-leg shorts, and wonders what to do with a coffee-stained shirt. Val, a conspiracy theorist about Big Seltzer, shares some dahlia facts and a story about a garden lady named Mary. Lee shares the plan for her 40th birthday. (Hint: It’s inspired by t...

Lee brings her trivia A game by sharing the lore of Colonel Sanders as well as the real names of many cartoon mascots and characters. Val discusses the benefits of Rita’s, being a creature of habit, and adderall. Which childhood book series harmed us more: Sweet Valley or Goosebumps? We weigh in on this and other important questions in our Books segment. Cool baby name of the week: Esme.  SHO...

Are you the anchor or the kite? Lee and Val recover from their days by venting a little, arguing about cold plunges, and telling dog stories. They read debate-themed haikus and somehow wind up discussing the American Girl series for awhile. Val tells a story about an early fall flower: the zinnia, which is also the baby name of the week! Lee had to buy a new water heater. RIP her back.  SHOW...

Have you put off a medical appointment for several years? Do you want to learn some manatee facts? Either way, you’ll love our new segment “Calming Manatee.” ValVal and LeeLe complain about the hypocrisy of a particular type of children’s theater and about the way people treat retail workers. Book-wise, Lee shares her cozy fantasy recs and Val introduces the first podcast read: All the Names They...

Welcome to the Books and Blooms podcast! It’s real loose. LeeLee and ValVal do a little art talk and share their feelings on long-haired dogs, furries, and dog rescue email lists. ValVal shares a Plant Story about a single red rose and a very busy Valentine’s Day. Never say we didn’t do nothing for no one!  Episode 1 Show Notes:  Jeff Koons: https://jeffkoons.com Sad Abe Lincoln: ht...