Off the Shelves Podcast

It's Carey's birthday, and we don't mention it at all because, well, we recorded this episode before our Fourth of July getaways and her big day. Leave her a comment or send us an email wishing her the very best today! This week we read How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University by Theo Baker, a memoir that explores wealth, power, and Silicon Valley's influence on Stanford...

This week we're covering the issues that really matter: why a thumbs-up emoji can start a fight, whether emojis have taken on entirely new personalities, and if we're all reading way too much into tiny clown faces. We also might have found our next hobby. And in a rare moment of common sense, Utah banned fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July. Considering the West is already on fire, we're calling...

We've officially been podcasting for one year, and neither of us has run out of opinions or books to read, so buckle in, because we're just getting started. This week, we're talking about Belle Burden's memoir Strangers, an intimate and thought-provoking look at marriage, betrayal, loss, self-discovery, and  privilege. This book will leaves you wondering how well you can ever truly know the people...

Jump into the chaos with us as we talk about the historic South Swell, World Cup soccer drama, the cocktails our 21-year-old selves swore were sophisticated, and more.  Grab your Diet Coke with vanilla Stoli, a rum and Coke, or whatever you're sipping this summer, and let's get into it.  

Add this book to your must-read list ASAP. The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali was brilliant. We loved this historical novel about friendship, love, revolution, and the fight for women's rights. Which feels especially relevant today, doesn't it? You know we've got the usual chatter about what's happening in our lives and the world around us. Grab a summer beverage, jump in, and let us know w...

According to a new report from PEN America, nonfiction book bans are on the rise, and nearly 4,000 books were pulled from American public school libraries during the 2024–2025 school year. We’ve also got an early product review of Mary Claire Haver’s supplements, and Carey may have found her new favorite beverage. PEN America report Cutest coloring book  

This week, we drop back into banned books with Stephen King’s Bag of Bones . To be clear, we probably never would have picked this one up if Utah hadn’t recently added it to its banned book list, so… thanks, Utah? Actually, no. Seriously. Stop banning books. Let's Shop: Gorjana Jewelry  Caffe Ibis Coffee Let's Eat: Steak and Shiitake Mushrooms Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken  

This week, we break down the real and slightly alarming cost of “doing all the right things” for perimenopause. Sexy Jesus makes an appearance, rising travel costs test our patience, and password resets might become our final straw. Grab a coffee and your supplements and let's get in to it.

It’s our 25th book, and we’re marking the occasion with The New Perimenopause by Mary Claire Haver, MD, which feels less like a book recommendation and more like required reading for women, especially those in their 30s wondering why everything suddenly feels… chaotic. We’re also talking about the massive week in sports for the gals, Kentucky Derby, and the woman who absolutely shattered expectati...

Utah is at it again and banning two more books, Carey finally found mahi mahi after a nine-month search, and Deb accidentally bought a book because apparently Amazon now accepts “looking at it” as consent to purchase. (To be fair, this one may not have been Amazon’s fault.) Also, spoiler alert: neither of us has watched Game of Thrones. Listen in to hear us figure that out.

This week, we’re talking about Know My Name by Chanel Miller. It’s not currently classified as a banned book, but given the topics it covers, you can see how it might end up on someone’s list. This memoir is authentic, raw, and takes a hard look at sexual assault, trauma, and the legal system. It’s a must-read. We’ve also got plenty of updates for you, including things giving us the ick, broken mu...

This week on Just This we have true crime podcasts, catfishing schemes, cookies that may or may not fix everything, and voter law changes that definitely won't. Grab a cookie and let’s get into it.  

Welcome to the episode that almost didn’t happen because… um… well, Deb is not a computer genius. Luckily, ChatGPT is, thanks Chatty. This week, we read our first thriller, and it was perfection: Tiffany Crum’s debut novel, This Story Might Save Your Life, a story about two podcasters, their friendship, a stalker, narcolepsy, and survival. And, of course, we’re sharing some yard woes, podcasts you...

Hey there! This week we’ve got music, shopping regrets, and a book that is asking more of us than we agreed to give. We’ll report back if we make it through.

This week we read A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, a book, a series, and  a full-blown cultural phenomenon with a very devoted following. The entire ACOTAR series is banned in Utah schools, so naturally we had to read it and see if we can figure out why and whether we agree. Our girls stop by and confirm they are, in fact, smarter than we are, and you know we’ve got a few product favo...

It’s our first movie review—do you have snacks? You know we do. This week, we hit the theater on opening night for the movie adaptation of Project Hail Mary. Have you read it… or seen it yet?

This week we wandered outside our usual reading lane and picked up Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Carey was fully in her element with the math and science, while Deb laughed out loud and cried a little, which feels both on brand and fitting for a book about saving humanity. We also get into the strange cultural badge of honor that is being busy, our complicated relationship with true crime podcas...

It's a dark and funny one this week folks. We need your opinions, do you line or do you hover, let us know! 

Remember that fangirl moment Carey had in New York? We’ve finally read the book by the author responsible for her joy: Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood. “A delicious read,” according to Deb. It’s not banned, but Atwood’s work frequently is, which makes this memoir a perfect fit for our show. We’re also sharing our zodiac signs and, frankly, we’re both a little stunned by the acc...

Hi hello. This week our girls make a surprise appearance and deliver some unexpected ASMR. The Winter Olympics wrapped and we have questions. Specifically about curling. Is it strategy? Is it cheating? Is it suspicious? We don’t know. But we have thoughts. Plus, we’re listing a few things that are deeply, annoyingly overrated. If you’re easily offended, maybe stretch first. Let’s go.

It’s a banned book week, and we’re discussing The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. It’s a quick read, haunting and eerily close to Plath’s own lived experience. Some call it a pseudobiography. We call it unforgettable. Please take care while listening. This episode includes discussion of mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can cal...

The game? Meh. The ads? Tragically mid. And as two marketers, we feel personally victimized by both. Carey proposes that we make Read a Book in the Bath Day a recognized holiday while Deb is fresh back from an impromptu trip to Florida. 

This week we’re reading one of Deb’s all time favorite books, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. It’s a late night recording session, so fair warning, one of us might not be firing on all cylinders. Carey gets harassed by agro political canvassers, Deb picks a fight with AI, and somehow we still manage to talk about literature. pour a drink, get comfortable, and let’s chat. Dinner? Sorry folks...

Come in, sit down and let's talk about TikTok’s new terms of service, Elizabeth Smart’s latest documentary, Botox and aging gracefully, and the very hungry energy demands of AI. A little culture, a little beauty, a little tech anxiety, we've got a lot to say.    

Welcome to our podcast where we actually talk about books. Shocking, we know. Our first banned book of 2026 is John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, and we’re not going to lie, it took some stamina to get through. Pour yourself a hot cup of coffee and join us. We’re also sharing what we’ve been influenced to buy, what’s for dinner, and plenty of our usual chit chat. Library Bill of Rights https://...