856: ASK RACH "My family is gossiping about me all over town!"

Jun 30, 2025

Rachel dives into the emotional toll of family gossip, encouraging listeners to focus on self-worth and inner peace. She provides tips for breaking the cycle of screen addiction by curating uplifting content. Additionally, Rachel shares her favorite fiction books, celebrating strong heroines and personal growth. With a nod to healthier living choices, she emphasizes the joy of mindful media consumption. This blend of humor and heartfelt advice inspires listeners to embrace positivity and pursue joy amid negativity.

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ADVICE

Rise Above Family Gossip

Don't waste energy on toxic family gossip; focus on your own life and character instead.
Build a life so strong that the lies can't touch your true reputation.

ADVICE

Handle Gossip Strategically

Confront toxic relatives only if you believe it will stop the rumors.
If confronting won't help, avoid feeding the drama and conserve your energy.

INSIGHT

Focus On Integrity and Legacy

Focus on your personal integrity rather than trying to understand why others spread lies.
How you respond sets an example for your children and changes generational cycles.

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The Hating Game

Sally Thorne

Sally Thorne's 'The Hating Game' centers on Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, two executive assistants who work for a publishing company and are forced to share an office after a merger. Their intense dislike for each other manifests in a series of hilarious and competitive antics. As they vie for the same promotion, their carefully constructed animosity begins to unravel, revealing deeper feelings. The novel explores the fine line between love and hate, filled with witty banter and charming characters.

The flight of Gemma Hardy

Margot Livesey

Grave Mercy

Robin LaFevers

You take it from here

Pamela Ribon

A spear of summer grass

Deanna Raybourn

The winter sea

Susanna Kearsley

Slammed

Colleen Hoover

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken moves to Michigan with her mother and younger brother. She meets Will Cooper, a 21-year-old with a passion for slam poetry, and they form a deep emotional connection. However, their relationship is halted by a shocking discovery: Will is Layken's poetry teacher. The book explores their struggle to balance their feelings and the forces that keep them apart, set against the backdrop of slam poetry and personal growth.

The Thursday Murder Club

Richard Osman

The Thursday Murder Club follows four friends—Joyce, Elizabeth, Ibrahim, and Ron—living in the Coopers Chase retirement village. They meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes. When a local developer, Ian Ventham, is found dead, the club becomes involved in their first live case. As more bodies are discovered, the group works with the police, particularly PC Donna de Freitas and DCI Chris Hudson, to solve the murders. The novel blends humor, wit, and suspense, highlighting the unique skills and backgrounds of the elderly sleuths, including Joyce's nursing experience, Elizabeth's mysterious past, Ibrahim's psychiatric expertise, and Ron's trade union leadership. The story is told through a mix of Joyce's diary entries and third-person narratives, reflecting Osman's television production style[2][3][5].

The discovery of witches

Matthew Hopkins

The Discovery of Witches is a historical text written by Matthew Hopkins, detailing his methods and justifications for identifying and prosecuting witches. The book focuses on the practices and beliefs surrounding witchcraft, including the use of physical examinations to find marks of witchcraft, such as 'teats' on the body, and other techniques like swimming tests to determine a person's alleged affinity to magic. Hopkins defends his controversial methods against accusations of cruelty and incompetence, recounting specific cases and highlighting the societal fears and misconceptions about witchcraft during that period[1][3][4].

Party Girl

Anna David

Outlander

Diana Gabaldon

Published in 1991, 'Outlander' is the first novel in the 'Outlander' series by Diana Gabaldon. The story follows Claire Randall, a former combat nurse during WWII, who on a second honeymoon in Scotland with her husband Frank, touches an ancient stone and is transported back in time to 1743. There, she encounters the dashing Jamie Fraser and becomes embroiled in the lives of the Scottish Clan MacKenzie. As Claire navigates her new surroundings, she must balance her loyalty to her husband in the 20th century with her growing feelings for Jamie. The novel blends elements of historical fiction, romance, adventure, and fantasy, and has been praised for its detailed historical settings and compelling characters.