Restorative Reading and Writing for Wellness

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re diving into how to create a summer bookshelf designed to create the best you and the best summer season yet. Here’s the reality: we have around 90 days to make the most of our summer and if we approach those 90 days with intention, we could literally reinvent ourselves in a single season by surrounding ourselves with the perfect books to spark...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m guiding you through a gentle restorative reading and writing session for when things need to change in your life or you simply want them to. Here’s a quick overview of how the guided sessions work: * First, we begin with a bit of grounding and a few breaths to settle us. * Then, I share a powerful short reading to orient our focus...

While reading may be a solitary act, it doesn’t mean that we are alone. Books and reading can not only become the catalyst for restoration and inspired action in your own life, it can spark community and connection with others too. In today’s episode, I explore how to create a restorative summer reading circle with friends: a gathering that prioritizes connection and conversation over completion a...

I am a creature of habit and often prisoner to my default personality to get things done check things off the list and move onto the next thing. This hustle mentality is as natural as breathing is to me and I have to fight to slow down and smell the roses. I know I am not alone. That’s why today’s episode invites you to consider reading and writing slooooowly all summer long: less pages read, but...

So many of us look forward to the summer season of reading and writing: longer days that could equate to longer stretches of reading, bright skies and patches of sunshine that invite writing in nature and the pace of the season that makes everything feel a bit less rushed and a bit more to enjoy. But sometimes, the summer reading season can become hijacked by goals: reading a certain number of boo...

Welcome to a new season of the podcast! I’ve been podcasting since 2022 and have never divided my episodes into calendar seasons, but am feeling called to now. So much of our lives revolves around seasons: seasons of life, seasons of parenting, seasons of work and seasons of the calendar. It makes sense to create seasons of the podcast, too. This summer, I’m renewing my commitment to my own restor...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m chatting with Abby to help her build a book apothecary for the season ahead. Join me as I talk all things books with a listener and build a book apothecary that will serve, soothe and nudge. Abby is a literacy educator who is content in her life, but also feels a bit of unrest. She wants to build a book apothecary focused on four k...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m guiding you through a gentle restorative reading and writing session for when you need a bit of hope. It’s ideal for when things feel hard, for when life seems overwhelming and for when you’d like to brighten your outlook for the future. Here’s a quick overview of how the guided sessions work: * First, we begin with a bit of ground...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m sharing all the details on my personal book apothecary for May 2026. Each month, I choose a one-word theme to guide my intentions and create a book apothecary to help me breathe that word into existence through reading, writing and learning. This month, my chosen one word theme is: HOPE. It was sparked by an email from Omega with a...

I recently (and very quietly!) celebrated an important milestone on the Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness podcast: I reached the 225 episode milestone! It truly seems like yesterday when I nervously hit record and uploaded a very real, raw episode into the world and it’s been a wonderful journey of learning ever since. Recently, I’ve started posting some of these backlist episodes in my c...

If you didn’t know this already, this podcast is truly a week-by-week sharing of my own reading and writing life, what I’m learning and how I’m growing in my own restorative practice. I talk about the books I’m actually reading, the things I’m actually writing and the ways I’m furthering my own knowledge in this little niche that I love so much. This week is no exception. I stumbled upon a key pie...

The most treasured part of my day is the early morning. I brew a cup of coffee, light a candle and sink into a beautiful restorative reading and writing practice themed around something I need or want in my life. It’s magical and I thought I’d start sharing snippets of it with you here on the podcast. So… On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m guiding you through my fir...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m exploring the how and why behind harnessing the power of picture books as portable life coaches. Come listen as I share what a life coach is and why a picture book fits the bill, why picture books are powerful coaching tools for adults, how we might use them to make life better and the three that I love recommending to everyone no...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m sharing all the details on my personal book apothecary for April 2026. Each month, I choose a one-word theme to guide my intentions and create a book apothecary to help me breathe that word into existence through reading, writing and learning. This month, my chosen one word theme is: RELEASE. If you follow the astrological calendar...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m chatting with Dawn to help her build a book apothecary for the season ahead. Join me as I talk all things books with a listener and build a book apothecary that will serve, soothe and nudge. Dawn is a retired educator who is looking for more grace, more kindness and more peace in this season of her life. She’s been a longtime membe...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m revealing the newest addition to my restorative writing framework and inviting you to create a personal correspondence kit.  Come listen as I quickly review what restorative writing is and the seven different kinds of writing you might explore. Then, we’ll dive deeper into the newest addition to my framework: connective writing...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m chatting with Nikki Russell, the illustrator behind the NY Times Best-selling series DORK DIARIES, about her innovative journaling notebook: the planary. Come listen as we explore exactly what a planary is, the way that Nikki approaches her own planary stack, the notebookish bling and tools that make a planary the perfect tool...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m launching a new segment of the podcast: Build Your Book Apothecary! Join me as I talk all things books with a listener and build a book apothecary that will serve, soothe and nudge. Come listen as I build a book apothecary with Amy! Amy’s looking to feel more at ease in her life as she figures out how to welcome retirement and...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m diving deep into the recent craze of creating a personal curriculum for yourself in the new year and why you should create a book apothecary instead.  Come listen as I talk about the science and current popularity behind creating personal curriculums, the alternative wellness, creativity and expansion that a book apothecary pro...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m sharing my favorite books to soothe the mind after a session of expressive writing on the page.  Come listen as I talk about what expressive journaling is and share a specific form of it called JournalSpeak from Nicole Sachs. We’ll explore what it is, how it works and the books I recommend for soothing your nervous system once...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m sharing the science-based research behind the magical potential of reading to help us manifest ANYTHING that we want in our lives from wellness and creativity to personal and professional accomplishments. Come listen as I talk about the inspiration for today’s episode, detail the exact science you need to know about to harness...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m revealing a new category in my restorative writing framework and I’m offering a simple, yet powerful, tool for deciding exactly which kind of journaling you need next. Come listen as I talk about the reason why I created the restorative writing framework and decision three, the two questions you need to ask yourself to get star...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m walking you through a simple self-reflection tool to find out EXACTLY what your reading life needs next and the simple strategies to get there. Come listen as I talk about the quick and easy assessment tool to help you decide exactly what your reading life needs and offer nine recommendations to help you get there. We’ll go dee...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m sharing three ways you can winterize your reading and writing life for wellness. Come listen as I talk about why reading and writing look a bit different in winter than in any other season, three ways you can make your reading and writing life warmer, cozier and more wintery and the science behind why all of this matters anyway...

On this episode of Restorative Reading & Writing for Wellness, I’m exploring the science behind why we should theme our reading lives around intentional one-word themes, curiosities or questions and how we can do it joyfully. Come listen as I share the science behind the practice, offer concrete ideas on how to theme your reading life (and how not to!), how to create a TBR stack and book apoth...