

The Fake Ass Book Club
Moni & Kat
The Book Club is Fake but the Talk is REAL! The F.A.B. Podcast serves cocktails while also serving up stories with a side dish of humor, a sprinkle of sarcasm, and an occasional expletive as garnish. Every hump day, tune in as Moni and Kat playfully and thoughtfully explore compelling books and topics as they relate to the human experience, filtered through the lens as black women in the midwest. Let each episode illustrate the power of storytelling and how it connects us all. This podcast is a reason for them to connect as friends, as individuals, and with their listeners. It’s like therapy you didn't know you needed...along with some laughs! You may come for the books but you'll stay for the vibes!!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 20, 2025 • 1h 2min
Moni & Kat review "Yellow Wife" by Sadequa Johnson
Welcome back!! !n this episode, our hosts review "Yellow Wife", Sadeqa Johnson’s powerful historical fiction novel inspired by the real horrors of Richmond Virginia's Devil’s Half Acre, and Lumpkin’s Jail. They explore the journey of Pheby Delores Brown, a young enslaved girl whose promised freedom is stolen when she’s taken to a notorious slave jail and forced into becoming the coerced “yellow wife” of its violent jailer. As they unpack the novel, they discuss themes of survival, motherhood, resilience, and the emotional weight of navigating cruelty while trying to protect your children. Moni and Kat also touch on the real history that shaped this fictional story and why these narratives still matter today. Cheers!🚨SPOILER ALERT!!🚨*Trigger Waring: This book contains graphic depictions of slavery, death of a child (twice), repeated SA, mental/emotional/physical abuse, torturing of the enslaved people (particularly in whippings/beatings), graphic depictions of imprisonment, harsh language. Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! You are the BEST!Moni: To all the medicine women and conjure women. Work your magic!Kat: To all the MAGA girlies out there who voted for TRUMP and against SNAP. Those eggs are looking super expensive now, huh?About the Author: Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times best-selling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the M.F.A. program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, VA with her husband and three teens. website: www.sadeqa.net Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sadeqasayshttps://linktr.ee/SadeqasaysAbout the Book: 278 pages, Hardcover, First published January 12, 2021 Audio book 9 hours 31 minutesOther notes: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-devils-half-acre-mary-lumpkin-enslaved-woman-left-her-mark-on-education/**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Nov 13, 2025 • 1h 18min
Moni and Kat review “Black is the New White" by Paul Mooney
🎤In this week's episode, the ladies review Paul Mooney’s book, "Black Is the New White", a memoir that’s equal parts comedy, truth, and cultural education. Mooney, known for his sharp tongue and unflinching honesty, embodies what our hosts like to call “pimp energy”, not in the literal sense, but in the way he was an impenetrable force who made his own rules and refused to let the world take advantage of him.The ladies love Mooney’s authentic voice, his raw comedic genius, and his refusal to dilute his truth for anyone. They explore his behind-the-scenes stories and deep freidnship with Richard Pryor, his work with Dave Chappelle, and Hollywood’s complicated relationship with Black talent. Expect laughs, insight, and plenty of bold commentary as they unpack how "Black Is the New White" still challenges audiences to think critically about race, art, and authenticity in America’s entertainment landscape. Cheers!!🥂Today's episode is brought to you by the letter N and the color Black.Trigger warning:*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: Paul Mooney and his comedy realnessKat: The wonderful hosts of Reel Poppy Cock Podcast, K.C., Ed, and Trevor Podcast (https://www.instagram.com/reelpoppycock) especially and a very special thanks to Emilee emilee@tru-connection.com for being a wonderful hostess, and for the flowers.2nd dedication to Zohran Mandani’s mom, Mira Nair, and all the fearless ones!Fortune article: https://fortune.com/2025/11/05/mira-nair-zohran-mamdani-mother-hollywood-career-director-movies-awards-mirabai-films/About the Author: Paul Mooney (comedian)Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Paul_Mooney_About the Book: 272 pages, 6 hour audio book https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Black-Is-the-New-White/Paul-Mooney/9781416587965NPR Article about the book:https://www.npr.org/2009/12/08/121208290/mooneys-memories-black-is-the-new-whiteSNL Word Association Skit/Written by Paul Mooney: https://www.youtube.com/SNL Richard Pryor/Chevy Chase**Stranger than Fiction: This week I found a story on a ridiculous black pastor, Jesse Peterson, explaining why he thinks July should be "white history month" and why Juneteenth should be canceled. Paul would have eaten this man alive!!!! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQayQ4LEdnr/?igsh=Y2Nub3VndGN3aHp5 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!!

Nov 6, 2025 • 1h 16min
Moni & Kat review "Nobody's Girl" by Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Up Next:Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice. 🚨Trigger Warning for SA, incest and violence, spoilers🚨 In this week’s episode we review Nobody’s Girl, the powerful and unsettling memoir by, Virginia Roberts Giuffre the woman who helped expose Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s global web of sexploitation. Through Giuffre’s own words, we explore her journey from a vulnerable teen caught in a system of abuse to a fierce advocate for justice and survivor empowerment. Hear our hosts unpack this heartbreaking yet inspirational story of survival and finding your voice. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our patrons we love and appreciate you! Moni: To sexual abuse survivors everywhere!! To Kentrell “Trell” Settles. A son. An athlete. Just 21 years old killed in Indianapolis in a senseless traffic incident.https://www.instagram.com/p/DQC-TBwgTB5/?igsh=MTE2dWZndjY0N3poeQ==Kat: To Nicole and Mckenzie Glover for speaking out and sharing their story of surviving SA in the Lawrence school district in Indianapolis. https://fox59.com/news/lawrence-township-principal-accused-of-sexual-assault-harassment-resigns/NOTES: About the Book:The book was ghostwritten with journalist Amy Wallace and publishedposthumously on October 21, 2025, by Alfred A. Knopf (a division of Penguin Random House).Pages: 400 audio book:13 hours 39 minutes https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/712958/nobodys-girl-by-virginia-roberts-giuffre/About the Author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Giuffre https://www.npr.org/2025/10/20/nx-s1-5514834/epstein-accuser-virginia-roberts-giuffre-nobodys-girl-memoirPaul Mooney on the Queen of England YouTube: Paul Mooney On The Queen**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 3min
Witch Way to Redemption: Moni and Kat do a Cosplay
In this spontaneous pre-Halloween freestyle episode, the hosts begin with a light catch up session before getting into their full cosplay costumes (Kat as Storm from the Marvel comic books, and Moni as Dionne Davenport from Clueless). They share memories of Halloween traditions growing up, their favorite Halloween memories, and how those childhood rituals shape how we feel about the holiday as adults. The conversation pivots to Kanye West’s “betrayal list,” which they use as a springboard to improvise their own betrayal list. This leads to a deeper discussion about what redemption really looks like after betrayal. The hosts playfully imagine creating a “redemption ritual” as a communal practice: whose job is it to decide what it takes to truly be redeemed after betraying your community? Tap in and hear what the ladies had to say. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.Dedication: To our Patrons!! WE LOVE YOU!Moni: To the fall and all its beauty! To https://www.instagram.com/colorsattheloft and https://www.instagram.com/officialmademanimprovfor making our weekend fun!!Kat: To the https://fristartmuseum.org Frist Art Museum in Nashville Tennessee. https://fristartmuseum.org/article/new-african-masquerade-press-release/Notes:Link for the Indigenous-artist MET takeover: Art Newspaper coverage artnews.comMoni's costume inspo: Emma by Jane Austen (The movie Cluless was based on this book) https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6969.EmmaKat's costume inspo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm/Marvel_ComicsIs the owner of Bucees racist??https://www.chron.com/politics/article/Bucees-Texas-Republicans-GOP-Arch-Aplin-donationhttps://www.sacurrent.com/news/south-texas-shoppers-Sue Bucees for 1 million Devil's Night History Detroit: https://www.detroithistorical.org/haunted-history-devils-nightNext week's book pick:"Nobody’s Girl" by Virginia Roberts Giuffre**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Oct 23, 2025 • 43min
Say My Name: Live from Polk Studios
Recorded live from Polk Studios in the Brightwood–Martindale neighborhood of Indianapolis, Moni and Kat showed up as ambassadors for IN Podcast, aka Podcasts and Platforms, for a special unscripted episode. In this free-flowing conversation, the duo celebrates local podcasters, community, and the art of authentic storytelling. The beautiful Polk Studios gave them a chance to simply show up and create with no producing, no pressure, just real talk. Moni and Kat dive into how both given names and social labels, like parent, friend, or professional, impact our sense of self. The ladies discuss how these identities can serve as both boundaries and blueprints for the lives we build. They also share the origins and meanings of their won names. It’s an open and curious episode that captures the spirit of podcasting, their friendship and the power of words. Cheers!! *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To the arts!Kat: To Chris Spangle and his family! Congrats on your new addition.**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

13 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 10min
Moni and Kat review:The Conjuring of America by Lindsey Stewart
Moni and Kat delve into the magical world of Black women's spiritual traditions and their profound impact on America's culture. They discuss the historical roots of conjure, from granny midwives to contemporary representations in Beyoncé’s art. The hosts explore mermaid lore and its significance, connecting the past with modern storytelling. They also emphasize the importance of honoring ancestors and everyday rituals in conjuring resilience. Through rich narratives, they celebrate Black joy and cultural reclamation in the face of adversity.

Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 4min
Between Hope and Headlines
In this week's episode of The Fake A$$ Book Club, hosts Moni and Kat skip the book review and slide into a conversation about surviving the heaviness of today’s world. From political tension and cultural shifts to the nonstop flood of heartbreaking headlines, they discuss the struggle to stay informed without being consumed by it. This is an episode for anyone trying to hold space for both heartbreak and hope. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Mon: To the hard working people out there trying to stay sane.Kat: To Peter Gordon, the formerly enslaved man whose historic image is being threatened by revisionist history **Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 11min
Moni & Kat review "Everyone is Lying to You" by Jo Piazza
In this episode, our hosts review Jo Piazza’s new thriller "Everyone Is Lying to You", a sharp look at friendship, betrayal, and the dark side of influencer culture. From the curated perfection of “tradwife” aesthetics to the unsettling overlap with alt-right messages and nostalgia, we ask: what’s the cost of glamorizing a past where women had little autonomy? Join them as they unpack the lies behind the content, the gap between online personas and real life, and why this story feels so timely. Cheers!*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you! Moni: To my Gigi she turned 90 she's an inspiration! To my daughter, she's my little ace Kat:To the Superman movie and the new season of Gen VBook Stats: Everyone Is Lying to You, Author: Jo Piazza Publication date: July 15, 2025 Broad Street Review+2PenguinRandomhouse.com+2 Page count: 336 pages (paperback) PenguinRandomhouse.com+2McNally Robinson+2 Audiobook length: ~ 9 hours 16 minutes of n Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System+3Audible+3Audible.com+3 Narrators: Rachel F. Hirsch, Sarah Reny, Vas Eli, Saskia Maarleveld Libro.fm+3Audible.com+3Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System+3 Publisher: Dutton / Penguin Random House Broad Street Review+2McNally Robinson+2 Notes:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Neeleman_(Ballerina_Farm) How Moni pictures Single dad Dan: Dancing Dan:Top Dancing Dan Compilation 2017 (W/Titles) Dan Pick a Pipe Peter Pan High Stepper, We Live Baby!Bible Verse about SA Source: Keffer Hirschauer LLP, Miranda Rights in Indiana: https://share.google/rb3ztJuksG6fPcBLeArticle Including Jo Piazz'a definition of TradWives: https://katiecouric.com/entertainment/what-is-a-tradwife/Article featuring Jo Piazza Trad Wives**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Sep 24, 2025 • 58min
Moni and Kat review "Unknown Caller: The High School Catfish"
Welcome the F.A.B. Podcast!! This week the hosts review Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, a true-crime documentary Released by Netflix August of 2025, details a real-life cyberbullying case in Beal City, Michigan, where a teenage couple was tormented by thousands of text messages from an anonymous sender and a plot twist that will leave your head spinning! Tap in to hear the ladies drag the culprit of this unthinkable betrayal! 🚨SPOLIER ALERT!🚨*Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To good dads!Kat: Happy Hispanic History Month! **Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!

Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 10min
Shots Fired
Welcome back to the show. No book this week, just headlines that can’t be ignored. The hosts break down the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the Evergreen High School tragedy, and the political assassinations in Minnesota. Whew, all this white on white violence has to stop! Then they dig into the Epstein files: what’s been revealed, what’s still sealed, and what it all says about power and privelige in America. *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To my Big Ma, I Love you! (Thanks for the video dad!)Kat: To the shows Futurama and FoundationAlso a dedication to the all victims of gun violence (&their families) and to the students killed and hurt in shooting at Evergreen High School, in Colorado. Matthew Silverstone: 18-year-old student, critically injured and hospitalized. People.comSecond Victim: An unidentified student, also critically injured. People.comNotes: Evolution of human breasts:https://www.discovermagazine.com/scientists-still-stumped-by-the-evolution-of-human-breasts-202Shinzo Abe assassination: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62089486Etsy Witches:https://www.newsweek.com/charlie-kirk-jezebel-paid-witches-curse-2128003Cardinal George Pell seggs abuse convictions overturned, dies at 81:https://www.npr.org/2023/01/10/1148264469/cardinal-george-pell-sex-abuse-conviction-overturned-deadSuspect in fatal stabbing of Ukranian refuee charged with Federal Crimehttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g7z8pk0j3o.amp Minnesota Legislators Murdered: Melissa and Mark Hortmanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_shootings_of_Minnesota_legislators300K Black Women lost jobs in 2025https://www.msnbc.com/300000-black-women-left-labor-force-3-months-s-not-coincidence-rcna219355Charlie Kirk Quotes:Guardian Article https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/11/charlie-kirk-quotes-beliefs?utm_source=chatgpt.com**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!


