Read The Damn Book

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews author Jacqueline Friedland about her new novel, Counting Backwards . The conversation delves into the book's themes of women's rights, immigration, and the historical context of reproductive rights in America. Jacqueline shares her personal journey from being an attorney to becoming a novelist, highlighting the importance of...

This is the inaugural book club meeting of Books That Build which was livestreamed. Michelle is joined by Sami Sage who discusses her journey as a co-founder of Betches Media, co-author of  Democracy In Retrograde and the importance of making news accessible to younger audiences. Sami emphasizes the connection between politics and culture, and how civic engagement can serve as a form of self-care....

In this engaging conversation, Lisa Montanaro shares her journey from a legal career to becoming a novelist with her debut book, Everything We Thought Was True . The discussion delves into the themes of family dynamics, emotional trauma, and the importance of empathy in storytelling. Lisa reflects on her personal experiences that inspired her characters and the emotional truths woven throughout he...

In this engaging conversation, Michelle Glogovac and Angela Brown reconnect to discuss Angela's latest novel, Some Other Time . They explore the themes of the book, including the Butterfly Effect, the complexities of motherhood, and the importance of identity beyond being a parent. Angela shares her writing process and the challenges of creating relatable characters, while also reflecting on the s...

In this engaging conversation, Michelle Glogovac speaks with authors Jen Besser and Shana Feste about their journey in creating the scripted podcast and book series Dirty Diana and Diana in Love . They discuss the importance of open conversations around female desire, the challenges of portraying flawed characters, and the vulnerability involved in creative expression. The authors share insights i...

In this episode, Michelle Glogovac speaks with Dr. Jessi Gold about the importance of mental health conversations, the stigma surrounding them, and the role of empathy in understanding emotional struggles. They discuss the challenges of burnout in healthcare, the significance of self-disclosure in therapy, and the impact of societal issues on mental well-being. Dr. Gold shares insights from her me...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Becky Ellis about her memoir, Little Avalanches , which explores the generational impact of war through her own childhood experiences and her father's combat experiences in World War II. The conversation delves into the challenges of understanding and sharing war stories, the importance of empathy, and the need for op...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Brian Cuban, who shares his profound journey through addiction, recovery, and the impact of family support. Brian discusses his struggles with alcohol and cocaine, his experiences in law school, and the turning point that led him to seek help. He emphasizes the importance of sharing stories and resources for those facing simi...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews author Sash Bischoff about her debut novel, Sweet Fury . The conversation explores the book's themes, including the influence of F. Scott Fitzgerald, the complexities of the Me Too movement, and the dynamics of feminism. Sash shares her journey from theater to writing, the process of crafting suspenseful twists, and her exper...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews authors Azul Terronez and Steve Vannoy about their book Gone Missing , the first in a historical fiction series. The conversation delves into the personal stories that inspired the book, the importance of empathy in storytelling, and the rich history of the Appalachian community depicted in their work. The authors share their...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Susan Liu, author of The Manicurist Daughter . They explore Susan's journey of uncovering her mother's story, the importance of intergenerational healing, and the challenges of self-discovery and motherhood. Susan shares her experiences as a storyteller and performer, discussing her one-woman show and the emotional rollercoa...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Sahil Bloom, author of The 5 Types of Wealth . They explore the concept of wealth beyond just financial means, discussing the importance of social connections, mental health, physical well-being, and personal growth. Sahil shares his journey of redefining success, emphasizing the significance of tiny daily actions and invest...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews author Gemma Tizzard about her historical fiction novel, Grace Of The Empire State . The conversation explores the extensive research Gemma conducted on the construction of the Empire State Building during the Great Depression, the portrayal of strong women in her story, and the balance between her writing career and day job....

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac welcomes Julie Krafchick and Yue Xu, the hosts of the Datable Podcast and authors of the book How to Be Datable . They discuss their journey in the dating world, the challenges of modern dating, and the importance of authenticity and confidence in relationships. The conversation also covers their writing process for the book, success st...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Traci Thomas, creator and host of The Stacks podcast. They discuss Traci's journey into the world of books and podcasting, her reading habits, and the importance of advocating for literature in prisons. Traci shares insights on parenting and reading with children, as well as navigating classic literature's impact on modern re...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Stephanie Kiser, author of Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant . They discuss Stephanie's journey from a struggling writer to a nanny for some of New York's wealthiest families, exploring themes of inequality, parenting philosophies, and the impact of education and student debt. Stephanie shares her personal growth through...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Cindy Muchnick, author of The Parent Compass , about the importance of fostering independence in children from an early age. They discuss the impact of the college admissions scandal on parenting styles, the necessity of early parenting strategies, and the challenges parents face in allowing their children to take responsibi...

In this episode of the My Simplified Life podcast, host Michelle Glogovac welcomes back Louis L. Reed to discuss his new children's book, Deuce's First Step . The conversation explores the impact of parental incarceration on children, the inspiration behind the book, and the importance of empathy and understanding in addressing the needs of these children. Louis shares his personal experiences and...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Victor Shi, a young political activist and former delegate. They discuss Victor's early involvement in politics, his experiences in various campaigns, most recently on the Harris Walz campaign, and the importance of community engagement. Victor shares insights on the role of young people in politics, the impact of podcasting,...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Amy Wilson about the complexities of people pleasing, particularly among women. They explore the societal pressures that lead to this behavior, the impact of social media, and the importance of setting boundaries. Amy shares insights from her new book, Happy to Help , discussing her journey as a people pleaser and how...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac interviews Lauren Ling Brown, author of the debut novel Society of Lies . They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the importance of representation in literature, and the personal struggles Lauren faced while writing. The conversation delves into themes of trauma, abuse, and the significance of empathy in storytelling, highlighting...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with Nikkya Hargrove, author of the memoir Mama and owner of the new bookstore, Obodo Seredipity Books in Stratford, Connecticut. Nikkya shares her journey of writing her book, the themes of community, forgiveness, and motherhood, and the challenges of being a queer black woman. She discusses the importance of storytelling and cr...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Leslie Rasmussen about her book, The Stories We Cannot Tell , which addresses the often-taboo subjects of miscarriage, infertility and a woman's right to choose. They discuss the importance of sharing personal stories to foster connection and support among women. Leslie shares her journey from TV writing to novel writ...

In this episode, Michelle Glogovac interviews Courtney Lund O'Neil, author of Postmortem , which explores the chilling story of John Wayne Gacy through the lens of Courtney's mother, who was the last person to see one of Gacy's victims. The conversation delves into the impact of trauma on families, the societal fascination with criminals, and the importance of telling stories from different perspe...

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac speaks with author Zelly Ruskin about her debut novel, Not Yours to Keep , which explores themes of adoption and infertility. Zelly shares her journey from social worker to author, the emotional realities of adoption, and how societal perspectives on adoption have evolved. The conversation also touches on the impact of politics and ment...