Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Death LITERALLY happens to everything, so why is it still so awkward? Casey (she/her/hers) hops on to discuss some of the books that have helped her prepare for her OWN grief around death. She mentions her Father's recent passing, the necessity of death rituals and challenging the taboo, google being trash, and reads an excerpt from "The Buried Soul: How Humans Invented Death" by Timothy Taylor. ...

Shoshana, Nox, and Jordy, all avid audiobook listeners, chat about the Annual Audies, the National Audiobook Awards. In this spoiler-free conversation, they share some of their opinions about the winning titles, the capitalism of it all, and the financial challenges to winning big in the audiobook industry.    Books and Resources Mentioned: Audiobooks: Libro. FM 2026 Audie Award Finalists Playlist...

What makes a beach read? Not a beach, in our opinion. Tune in because your summer reading list is here, and not a single book requires sand between your toes. Renee's on the podcast to share five feminist reads so engrossing you will forget you are on vacation.    Books mentioned: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang   Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry The Best Little Motel in Texas by Lyla Lane  Love Y...

Last week, our team shared that we've all been *Going Through It* and are using books as a coping tool. This week, we wanted to spread the love! Join Renee, Nox, Jordy, Mariquita, and UyenThi for some recommendations of books that just make us feel a little less shitty.   Books mentioned: Table for Five - Izzy Bromley Arsenic & Adobo - Mia P. Manansala The Kamagawa Food Detectives - Hisashi Kashiw...

Join Renee, Nox, Jordy, Mariquita, and UyenThi in a discussion about how they're using books to cope with the state of the world and their own personal crises. You'll hear some of our favorite genres for these times (and they are all wildly different!). Next week, stay tuned for some specific book recommendations!     Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Renee: Instagram // The StoryGraph...

MINI POD! Casey is back with another Non-Fiction Nook segment. In order to dive deeper into her current hyperfixation of medieval life and the women who existed in it, Casey shares the non-fiction books that helped illuminate medieval feminism. She also discusses Medieval Times dinner and the personification of virtues!  Books mentioned: Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women...

Mariquita welcomes Sarah Knickerbocker, the host behind Eugene, Oregon's Horrible Bingo, as they discuss shifting the lens on horror to find the threads of feminism, examine how the genre uniquely showcases women's stories, and to untangle why horror fans are so frequently wonderfully queer. For an extra bonus and to exponentially grow your TBR, check the show notes for more books recommended by S...

CW: Child death, Miscarriage, Infertility, Blood, Grief, Death of Parent, Dementia    Marlena and Mariquita discuss Mother is Watching , the horror debut by Karma Brown. In this spoiler-free conversation, they explore how the novel uses horror to amplify everyday anxieties around motherhood, bodily autonomy, and identity. Together, they unpack the emotional stakes at the heart of the story, examin...

Casey Ballard, long time lover of feminist retellings of classic stories, interviews B.K. O'Connor about her new novel, Eve , a retelling of John Milton's Paradise Lost, that expands on the notion that eternity spent in ignorance is no life to live. Casey and Becky discuss Eve as an intellectual feminist, the bridging of cultures, and why people should still read the classics.  .   Books and resou...

Nox and Shoshana talk about Reality Check, the recent documentary series that revisits America's Next Top Model. They share their experiences watching the show growing up, reflect on the broader reality TV culture of the time, and discuss how these portrayals of women's bodies shaped their perspectives. Along the way, they unpack the complicated mix of nostalgia, criticism, and cultural impact tie...

Black History Month may be over, but our joy of reading Black literature has no expiration date! In this episode, Renee shares a new-to-her cozy mystery series featuring a Black single mom investigating mysteries around her daughter's school. Then Casey is back with her Non-Fiction Nook segment, this time highlighting books of Black resistance     Books mentioned: It's Elementary by Elise Bryant T...

Looking for a book club pick that is certain to conjure up good conversation? In this episode, Renee and Mariquita discuss You'll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya . Described as a sapphic thriller akin to Killing Eve, our podcasters are completely divided on this one. Tune into an almost spoiler-free discussion (the spoiler is clearly identified ahead of time!) and let us know if you pick it up for yo...

Marlena is joined by Dr. Kenesma D. John to talk about her novel Hair Diaries: My Hair Evolution , a reflective and visually rich exploration of hair, identity, and Black girlhood. In this spoiler-free conversation, they discuss what inspired John to use hair as the lens for the story, the blend of autobiography and fiction, and her choice to tell Charisma's journey through reflections and illustr...

MINI POD! In this quick episode, Casey talks about three non-fiction books which have been helpful in her resistance, and maybe helpful to yours! Covering police abolition, disability justice, and eloquent ways to textually fight back when cornered by a hate-spewing Christian Nationalist. Books mentioned: We Do This 'Til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice by Mariame Kaba...

Have you seen the trend of "going analogue" taking over social media lately? From ditching smartphones to rediscovering film cameras, paper planners, and offline hobbies, it's popping up everywhere—and it's clearly striking a nerve. Mhairie and Nox wanted to dig into this shift a little more deeply to understand what "going analogue" really means, where it came from, and why so many people are dra...

MINI POD! In this quick episode, Jordy shares why she loves The Glass Scientists trilogy by S. H. Cotugno, a gothic graphic novel series where so-called monsters challenge the rigid systems built to control them. Through mad science, queer selfhood, and breathtaking art, this episode explores who gets labeled dangerous, who gets erased, and what happens when marginalized people refuse to stay hidd...

Our contributors teamed up to tell one another about their favorite books of the year. Renee and Nox round out this podcast series with their cozy, feel-good favorites. If you need a book that's like a warm hug (and who doesn't right now?), tune in!     Book and resources mentioned: Tartufo by Kira Jane Buxton The Baby Dragon Cafe by AT Qureshi Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis What Happened to Be...

MINI POD! Jordy and Renee discuss their creative obsession: junk journaling! They chat about the origins of the junk journal and how they adapt this creative activity to suit their needs. This is a two-part series. See more spreads and the video of this conversation in our Mighty Network community !   Resources mentioned: Jessica Swift 's online retreats Skillshare Buy Nothing PangoBooks Art Scrap...

Our contributors have teamed up to tell one another about their favorite books of the year over the next couple of weeks! Casey and UyenThi come together to discuss their top 5 reads of 2025. From memoirs, to romance, to translated fiction, to dark academia, these are the stories we read in 2025 that we feel need to be on everyone's TBR.    Book and resources mentioned: James by Percival Everett T...

As access to abortion is being increasingly restricted, trustworthy resources for abortion care and loving someone through an abortion can be difficult to find. Becca Rea-Tucker has written the go-to manual for just that. Whether you're considering an abortion for yourself or know someone who might need support, The Abortion Companion should be on every feminist's bookshelf.    *Join us for a comm...

Our contributors have teamed up to tell one another about their favorite books of the year over the next couple of weeks! In this episode, Mariquita and Jordy reflect on their favorite books of 2025, celebrating stories that lingered long after the final page. From fierce heroines and sharp social commentary to swoony romance and dark intrigue, they unpack the reads that made them feel, think, and...

Our contributors have teamed up to tell one another about their favorite books of the year over the next couple of weeks! First up, Shoshana and Mhairie share a spoiler free gush session of their favorite books of 2025. This conversation includes books from every genre and format, a sure bet to please these long winter nights. Take care of yourself, friends, be sure to check the content warnings b...

New to fanfic? Not sure where to start or whether you even should? We got you! In this episode, Jordy, Mhairie, and Shoshana explore the world of fanfiction, its fandom roots, its role in uplifting marginalized voices, and why it remains a powerful feminist space. They also dig into the ethical complications of engaging with fanworks inspired by harmful or problematic creators. Together, they unpa...

MINI POD! Jordy dives into two books: A Beautiful and Terrible Murder and Dream by the Shadows. Both books follow women who refuse to be silenced by corrupt institutions. From Oxford's secretive halls to a dream-haunted kingdom, these stories are full of clever rebellion, dark intrigue, and empowered women.   Books mentioned: A Beautiful and Terrible Murder by Claire M. Andrews Dream by the Shadow...

Mariquita, Jordy, and Nox get together to explain the controversies around Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, weigh in on whether they think the uproar is valid (spoiler: they do!), and provide their opinions on just how romantic literature's first romance book really is. CW: intimate partner violence, child abuse, animal abuse, sexual assault, generational trauma, maternal mortali...