The Women Books & More’s Podcast

Bestselling author Rob Hart joins Irene Rawlings on Women, Books & More to discuss his new thriller, Three Hitmen and a Baby, the latest novel in his Assassins Anonymous series. We talk about humor, suspense, memorable characters and the experiences that have shaped his writing. And…yes, the book is every bit as entertaining as the title suggests. Here’s the story: three former assassins—now t...

Summer is the perfect time to slow down, settle into a favorite chair, and lose yourself in a great book. In this episode of Women, Books & More, Irene Rawlings shares her favorite new novels for Summer 2026—from sweeping historical fiction and compelling family sagas to irresistible romance, unforgettable women, and page-turning mysteries. Featured authors include Liane Moriarty, Ann Patchett...

In this episode of Women, Books and More, host Irene Rawlings speaks with whitewater river guide and author Bridget Crocker about her memoir The River’s Daughter. Bridget shares stories from her life spent guiding on rivers around the world and reflects on how a life in extreme whitewater rafting shaped her understanding of fear, survival, trauma, and healing. We talk about what it’s like to grow...

On this episode of Women, Books & More, bestselling novelist Ellen Baker joins us to talk about her new novel, Summerland Cove, a moving work of contemporary women’s fiction set on the coast of Maine. Known for writing emotionally layered stories about family relationships, identity, memory, and belonging, Ellen Baker creates vivid settings that feel deeply connected to the characters themselv...

New York Times bestselling author Lisa See joins Irene Rawlings to discuss her latest novel, Daughters of the Sun and Moon, set in 1870s Los Angeles and inspired by the lives of three Chinese immigrant women who must carve out a living for themselves in a rough frontier town where violence was commonplace and anti-Chinese sentiment ran high. Drawing on her Chinese American heritage and a lifelong...

On this episode of Women, Books & More, host Irene Rawlings welcomes renowned travel expert Pauline Frommer, co-president of Frommer's and daughter of legendary travel pioneer Arthur Frommer, creator of the iconic Europe on $5 a Day travel guides. Pauline shares stories from her childhood travels with her father and offers practical advice for today’s travelers—from carry-on packing strategies...

Women, Books & More sits down with author Robert Edsel, whose groundbreaking research brought the true story of the Monuments Men to a global audience—and ultimately to the screen in George Clooney’s acclaimed film The Monuments Men, featuring an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville, and Cate Blanchett. The film The Monuments Men introduce...

This week, bestselling thriller author Douglas Preston joins us with his daughter—and new writing partner—Aletheia Preston to discuss Paradox, the gripping second novel in their Extinction series. In Paradox, a reclusive man is found dead under grisly and suspicious circumstances in the Colorado wilderness. CBI Agent Cash and Eagle County Sheriff Colcord investigate a trail of bizarre killings, my...

From marionberry pie and cioppino to funeral potatoes, lobster stew, and Spam musubi, this episode is a delicious road trip across America. Host Irene Rawlings talks with food journalist and editor Missy Frederick about EATERLAND: Recipes and Stories from Across the United States, the new cookbook celebrating iconic dishes, local restaurants, and the diverse food cultures that define American cuis...

When women get sick, the challenges often go far beyond the illness itself—from delayed diagnoses to insurance battles. So how do you navigate a system stacked against you? In this episode of Women, Books & More, Irene Rawlings talks with healthcare advocate and former benefits attorney Rebecca Bloom, author of When Women Get Sick. With over 25 years of experience, Rebecca shares practical adv...

Today on Women, Books & More, we’re joined by Adrian Miller—James Beard Award–winning food writer, historian, certified barbecue judge, and self-described Soul Food Scholar. In his latest book, Cooking to the President’s Taste: Asian Chefs in White House History, Adrian uncovers a little-known chapter of American history, exploring the influence of Asian chefs on presidential cuisine and what...

In this episode of Women, Books & More, host Irene Rawlings sits down with author Claire Swinarski to discuss her new novel, The Supper Club Saints. Swinarski shares the story behind the book: When Cass Simon leaves a cult-like “Mommune” and returns to her small Wisconsin hometown, she hopes for a fresh start—but instead must navigate family tensions, motherhood, and the complexities of sister...

In this episode of Women, Books & More, Irene Rawlings speaks with bestselling author Alice Henderson about her latest eco-thriller, Storm Warning, part of the acclaimed Alex Carter series. Known for weaving endangered species, conservation science, and high-stakes suspense, Henderson takes readers into some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. Our conversation explores Storm Warning, as we...

There’s something so enduring about Jacques Pépin—a sense that good cooking, like a good story, only deepens with time. Now in his 90s, he remains a guiding presence in kitchens everywhere, reminding us that food is not just technique, but generosity, memory, and joy. In this episode of Women, Books & More, we return to a conversation recorded on the eve of his 90th birthday. Pépin reflects on...

In this episode of Women, Books & More, we are joined by Mads Ostergaard of Visit Denmark to explore what makes Denmark one of Europe’s most inviting travel destinations. From Danish wellness to a cycling culture (“wheelness”) that shapes everyday life, discover how to experience Denmark like a local. We also dive into the country’s celebrated food scene, including its many Michelin Guide-reco...

In this episode, we speak with acclaimed journalist and author Elaine Sciolino about her book Adventures in the Louvre. From the mystery of the Mona Lisa to hidden galleries and insider tips for avoiding the crowds, Sciolino shares her deep love of Paris, the Louvre, and the stories behind its treasures. Elaine Sciolino is author of several books, including Adventures in the Louvre (now in paperba...

A conversation about refuge, dreams, desert skies, and finding grace in uncertain times. In this episode of Women, Books & More, we talk with acclaimed author and environmentalist Terry Tempest Williams, the New York Times bestselling writer of more than seventeen books, including the modern classic Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place. Our conversation begins with Refuge and its u...

Award-winning Irish storyteller Maria Gillen joins Women, Books & More from Cork, Ireland, to share the magic and cultural power of Irish storytelling. A fourth-generation storyteller, Maria explores the enduring legends of St. Patrick and St. Brigid (Ireland’s matron saint) and why storytelling remains central to Irish identity. Maria also co-hosts the podcast From Cork to New York with autho...

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, we look beyond the Founding Fathers to the formidable woman who helped shape a nation from behind the scenes — Abigail Adams. Often remembered for urging her husband to “remember the ladies,” Abigail Adams was far more than a presidential spouse. She was an early advocate for women’s rights, a critic of slavery, a manager of family finances an...

Can travel actually help you live longer? What if the secret to longevity isn’t just what you eat or how often you exercise but where you go? In this episode, we explore the growing movement of wellness travel, slow travel, solo travel and the transformative power of journeys, especially for women over 50. We’re joined by Carolyn Ray, CEO and Editor of JourneyWoman, a global resource founded in 19...

Once upon a Monday, before clothes dryers hummed behind closed doors, the world of women paused for laundry day. A rope stretched across a backyard became a stage for white sheets lifting like sails, overalls drying in the noonday sun, aprons whispering in the breeze. Whether it was truly a simpler time or simply feels that way in memory, the clothesline has come to symbolize a gentler pace. Neigh...

THE HARD LINE—the 15th in this best-selling series—starts with a blown safe house in Tunis. Then…the Gray Man barely escapes from an ambush in the jungles of Nicaragua. Now key members of the U.S. counterintelligence community are being assassinated—one by one—in their own neighborhoods. With the feds compromised, it’s up to the Gray Man and his team to stop the hit squads.  But eliminating profes...

Darla Worden is the Editor-in-Chief of Mountain Living magazine and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine. She joins us to talk about Cockeyed Happy, her book about Ernest Hemingway’s summers in Wyoming with his second wife, Pauline. This story is not well known. I mean…we can picture Hemingway in Paris. Fishing in Key West. Drinking rum at his favorite bar (The Floridita) in Havana. But…Wyomin...

Many of us have read and enjoyed The Paris Wife, a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway’s marriage to the first of his four wives, Hadley Richardson. It was a New York Times bestseller. Now, Paula has written Skylark, another Paris-based book—two parallel stories, one taking place in 1664 and the other in 1940s Nazi-occupied Paris. It is an uplifting book about the strength and resistance of...

The American West is a geographical location—thick forests of pine and aspen, snowy mountains, alpine lakes, and sweeping vistas. But there is also the almost-mythical version of the American West—a vision of wide-open spaces where the “call of the wild” has resonated for centuries. This passion for living in the west is as strong ever. Chase Reynolds Ewald (writer) and Audrey Hall (photographer)...