Now That We Think About It Podcast

Hi friends, happy Monday — Today, Allison and I talked to our friend, author and journalist Carrie Courogen, about our love for magazines. Carrie, with her fifteen-year editorial career at Condé Nast, shares with us the longing and the love for the art of magazines, but also adds to the conversation such an experienced insight of the editorial world that only someone who loves it like she does can...

Hi everyone — In this episode, Allison and I discuss the complicated and multi-faceted topic of AI. And this is me writing — Alice — not the AI software embedded in the system that we use to record this podcast. We decided on the topic after Allison realized AI had completely manufactured a quote from a previous guest on the podcast, Pete Mulvey, as well as fabricated two entire false careers for...

Hello friends! I’m so excited for this week’s podcast. We have Amy Allen Clark with us to talk about Summer Reading. You may know Amy as MomAdvice or as the host of the Book Gang Podcast (and if you don’t already know her, trust me, you’ll love her!). I first met Amy when she selected The People We Keep for the MomAdvice Book Club and she invited me on her podcast. I loved every minute of our conv...

This episode is sponsored by Little Leaf Design : Better Websites; Easier Process. Little Leaf was born out of a passion for design and the belief that every business deserves a beautiful, easy-to-use website. Ashley is more than just a web designer; She’s your dedicated partner and mentor as you embark on the journey of creating your site together. Her goal is to enhance your business through an...

This episode is sponsored by the Bookish Nomad. ( https://www.youtube.com/@Bookish_Nomad ) After 25 years as an Emmy-nominated Art Director and Production Designer on shows like Grace & Frankie, Amy Lee Wheeler found herself navigating a film industry stalled by runaway production. When a major home repair emptied her savings, she rented her house, packed her car, and drove across fifteen states t...

This episode is sponsored by Cassandra Dunn Editing Services . Cassandra has over 20 years of professional copy editing experience and an MFA in creative writing. She’s a traditionally published author , and she’s been specializing in developmental edits and book doctor services for 13 years. Her clients’ books have won awards and received starred Kirkus reviews. She works in all genres and she’s...

This episode is sponsored by Little Leaf Design : Better Websites; Easier Process. Little Leaf was born out of a passion for design and the belief that every business deserves a beautiful, easy-to-use website. Ashley is more than just a web designer; She’s your dedicated partner and mentor as you embark on the journey of creating your site together. Her goal is to enhance your business through an...

This episode is sponsored by Audiobrary , Julia Whelan’s audiobook platform, which is home to a beautifully curated collection of audiobooks (and our podcast)! You can buy or rent audiobooks on Audiobrary.com to listen on the Audiobrary app. Every Audiobrary production was written by humans, performed by humans, and edited by humans, and everyone involved is paid fairly for their work. So not only...

This episode is sponsored by the Bookish Nomad. ( https://www.youtube.com/@Bookish_Nomad ) After 25 years as an Emmy-nominated Art Director and Production Designer on shows like Grace & Frankie, Amy Lee Wheeler found herself navigating a film industry stalled by runaway production. When a major home repair emptied her savings, she rented her house, packed her car, and drove across fifteen states t...

This episode is sponsored by Cassandra Dunn Editing Services . Cassandra has over 20 years of professional copy editing experience and an MFA in creative writing. She’s a traditionally published author , and she’s been specializing in developmental edits and book doctor services for 13 years. Her clients’ books have won awards and received starred Kirkus reviews. She works in all genres and she’s...

This episode is sponsored by Audiobrary , Julia Whelan’s audiobook platform, which is home to a beautifully curated collection of audiobooks (and our podcast)! You can buy or rent audiobooks on Audiobrary.com to listen on the Audiobrary app. Every Audiobrary production was written by humans, performed by humans, and edited by humans, and the best part is that everyone involved is paid fairly for t...

This episode is sponsored by Renee Swindle, author of Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn , a beautiful book about a woman named Francine Stevenson, who gets more than she bargained for when she rescues a ten year old foster child named Davie from a pack of bullies attempting to steal his iPad. As Davie continues to show up on her doorstep, their unconventional friendship grows, and Francine lea...

Happy Monday, friends! In today’s episode, Allison and I talked about how, in today’s fast-paced world, many of us struggle to find time for hobbies that are purely for enjoyment. Why is it that we often define ourselves by our roles and responsibilities rather than our passions? So going back to our childhood passions, we talked about the importance of rediscovering fun and hobbies without the pr...

It’s an odd feeling to be described by someone else — to overhear someone talking about you when they don’t realize you’re in earshot, to be introduced at an event, or cc’d on an email connecting you to a friend’s friend when it goes beyond the basics of This is Allison, she writes books, and has two dogs. We think of ourselves a certain way, but that’s not necessarily how everyone else sees us. S...

This week we are joined by Allison’s Ithaca College friend, acclaimed actor Happy Anderson ( Mindhunter , The Bikeriders , Maggie Moore(s) ) for a timely and deeply vulnerable discussion about blame, empathy, and facing the uncomfortable truth that we may all be the villain in someone else’s story. Since Happy is known for portraying epic, complex bad guys—including serial killer Jerry Brudos on t...

Our conversation kicks off with our dear friend, actress Tessa Ferrer, who shares her transformative experiences in Nelson County, Virginia, where she feels a profound sense of belonging while tending to her land. This contrasts sharply with her life in Los Angeles, where she and Alice live, and where they can often feel like outsiders in our respective artistic communities. Tessa asks whether soc...

Hello friends! Allison here! I loved recording this episode with Alice. We both stumbled on the topic idea at almost the same time, and in the course of this episode confess that we both have some feelings about Spring that don’t necessarily match our expectations—which makes us wonder how you all feel about Spring. Do you love and embrace this season of springing ahead? Or does it feel like a bit...

In this candid and fun conversation, Allison and Alice explore the multifaceted nature of friendship through the eyes of an eight-year-old guest, Alice’s daughter, Catherine. They discuss the essential qualities of a good friend, the evolution of friendships as one grows older, and the importance of kindness, trust, and honesty in relationships. The conversation also touches on the challenges of c...

In this fun conversation, Alice, Emily, and Allison explore the often-overlooked topic of what people eat for lunch when they are alone. They share personal anecdotes about their lunch habits, dietary restrictions, and the pressures of social media that create unrealistic expectations around meals. The discussion highlights the importance of self-care in meal preparation, the joy of simple meals,...

Hi Friends! Allison here! We recorded this episode in November, and then kept pushing it aside to publish more timely episodes, but I think it's one of my favorite conversations. I'm so glad Alice came up with the idea of discussing nuance, the ways we turn to all-or-nothing thinking, and the vulnerability of holding incongruent truths. Please join me (Allison Larkin) and Alice Carbone-Tench for t...

Today, we are so happy to talk about the profound beauty and resilient spirit of poet laureate Andrea Gibson (and their wife megan falley ) captured in the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light , recently Oscar-nominated. Through personal stories of love, loss, community, and art, this episode reflects on how facing mortality can deepen our appreciation for life’s fleeting moments, and allow u...

Alice and Allison are thrilled to have friend of the pod, author, narrator, and founder of Audiobrary, Julia Whelan, back to talk about romance! They discuss the difference between romance in real life, romance in novels, and romance in the movies. Julia gives listeners a breathtakingly brilliant rundown of the historical context of romance novels, and explains how current events shape love storie...

In this episode, Alice, Allison, and Katie Clark Gray dive into the transformative history of the Lilith Fair ( Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery now available on Hulu ), exploring how women have built supportive systems, challenged societal norms, and reshaped cultural narratives from the 90s to today. They share personal stories, discuss the evolution of feminism, and envision a future of greater...

Hey there, book lovers! Allison here! In this episode, Alice and I are diving into our favorite topic—books! We chat about the joy of reading during the day (because who doesn't love a good book on a rainy Sunday?), and how audiobooks have become our multitasking best friends. We also reminisce about those comforting childhood series that bring back all the nostalgia. We ponder the role of poetry...

Alice and Allison engage in a heartfelt conversation about the challenges and nuances of asking for help, especially in the context of Alice's recent hip surgery. They explore the emotional complexities of receiving help, the societal pressures to appear self-sufficient, and the deepening of personal relationships through vulnerability. The discussion also touches on the broader implications of co...