We're kicking off our first-ever book report episode—and yes, we’re calling it that on purpose. Because books have always been part of our whole life. I’m joined by my favorite reading partner: my husband, Matt. Together, we dive into stories that make us laugh, think, and ugly-cry in public.

We talk about what we’re reading (Margot's Got Money Troubles and Atmosphere, spoiler-free, promise). We also chat about how books shape our worldview, challenge our biases, and sometimes leave us sobbing on a treadmill—or doing laundry while quietly falling apart.

Whether you read with your partner or solo, whether you love audiobooks or prefer paperbacks, this episode is an invitation to think differently about fiction—and how the right story at the right time can shift everything.

0:00 | Why We’re Talking About Books
1:15 | Fiction That Surprises and Stretches Us
4:30 | Letting Go of Judgment (Even the Quiet Kind)
6:45 | Systems, Safety, and How We Care for Others
8:30 | How and Why We Read (Audiobooks, Shared Credits & Book Clubs)
11:30 | An Author We Love (and Why She’s More Than “Chick Lit”)
13:00 | Space, Sexism, and Historical Power
17:00 | What Draws Us Into a Story (Even When It’s Not Our Thing)
19:15 | Identity, Safety, and Belonging
21:45 | Choosing Between Love and Purpose
23:30 | Emotional Payoff (Without Spoilers)
25:00 | When a Book Wrecks You—in the Best Way
27:00 | Crafting Characters That Actually Matter
30:00 | Layers of Family, Friendship, and Social Pressure
33:00 | Villains, Compassion, and Personal Growth
35:00 | What We’re Reading Now
41:00 | Our Love Story, Told in Audiobooks
43:00 | What’s Next on Our Reading List

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Introducing our Monthly Book Report, Atmosphere by TJR