

Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre
Jolenta Greenberg
Comedian & pop culture critic Jolenta Greenberg has a theory: reality TV isn’t ruining culture - it is culture. Join her and a cast of sharp, funny guests as they dig into the details behind the drama and unpack why we can’t get enough of those iconic scenes and unforgettable characters. This is the place for highbrow conversations about “lowbrow” TV.All seasons By the Book & How to Be Fine are also in this feed. To hear back episodes, just scroll down!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 5, 2020 • 39min
Who Moved My Cheese?
Kristen and Jolenta live by the New York Times best-seller Who Moved My Cheese?: An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson. Will Jolenta learn to adapt to change in a healthier, happier way? Will Kristen make cheesy puns?
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
Come out to their book launch party, at The Strand bookstore in New York City on Friday, March 20 at 7 pm. Get tickets on The Strand website here.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
Better Help, online counseling that is accessible, affordable and convenient. Go to betterhelp.com/btb to get 10% off your first month.
Visit Hallmark.com/btb to shop a wide variety of cards. Use promo code BTB to get 20% off your card purchase.
Nationwide Pet Insurance, largest pet insurance provides in the United States. Visit www.petinsurance.com/PODCAST.
Bona, hardwood floor cleaner. Visit bona.com/bonaclean
Pretty Litter, revolutionary, lightweight litter that monitors your cat. Head to PrettyLitter.com and use promo code BYTHEBOOK for 20% off your first order.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 27, 2020 • 34min
Epilogue: Dance of Anger
The ladies reply to listener comments about The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner. Plus, Kristen and Jolenta talk to Trysh Travis, cultural historian in the Center for Women’s Studies at the University of Florida. Trysh puts the book into historical context and breaks down how this book sits within the feminist and psychology movements of the 1980s.
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
Come out to their book launch party, at The Strand bookstore in New York City on Friday, March 20 at 7 pm. Get tickets on The Strand website here.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
Visit Hallmark.com/btb to shop a wide variety of Valentine’s Day cards. Use promo code BTB to get 20% off your card purchase.
Rothy’s, everyday shoes for life on the go. Head to Rothys.com/btb to check out the styles.
The RealReal, authenticated luxury consignment. Get 20% off select items with the promo REAL at TheRealReal.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 20, 2020 • 48min
The Dance of Anger
Kristen and Jolenta continue their romp through self-help history. This week, they dance their way into the 1980s with Dr. Harriet Lerner's The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships. Will Jolenta learn how to face conflict in her relationship with Brad? Will Kristen and Dean actually have a fight?
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
Come out to their book launch party, at The Strand bookstore in New York City on Friday, March 20 at 7 pm. Get tickets on The Strand website here.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
Dave’s Killer Bread, America’s #1 organic bread. Visit DavesKillerBread.com.
Visit Hallmark.com/btb to shop a wide variety of Valentine’s Day cards. Use promo code BTB to get 20% off your card purchase.
Luden’s, iconic Wild Cherry Throat Drops. Use the promo code 15BTB on Amazon to get 15% off two 90-count bags of Luden's Wild Cherry Throat Drops.
Bona, hardwood floor cleaner. Vist bona.com/bonaclean
Squarespace, the all-in-one solution for anyone looking to create a beautiful website. Head to Squarespace.com/BYTHEBOOK for a free trial. And when you’re ready to launch, use the offer code BYTHEBOOK to save 10% off of your first purchase of a website or domain.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 13, 2020 • 38min
Epilogue: The Joy of Sex
Kristen is joined by special guest host and our By the Book producer Nora Ritchie to talk about listener reactions to The Joy of Sex: A Gourmet Guide to Lovemaking. Plus, Kristen and Jolenta talk to Trysh Travis, cultural and literary historian in the Center for Women’s Studies at the University of Florida. Trysh puts the book into historical context and breaks down the "woke hippie vibe" of the 1970s.
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
Better Help, online counseling that is accessible, affordable and convenient. Go to betterhelp.com/btb to get 10% off your first month.
Visit Hallmark.com/btb to shop a wide variety of Valentine’s Day cards. Use promo code BTB to get 20% off your card purchase.
Luden’s, iconic Wild Cherry Throat Drops. Use the promo code 15BTB on Amazon to get 15% off two 90-count bags of Luden's Wild Cherry Throat Drops.
Bona, hardwood floor cleaner. Visit bona.com/bonaclean
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 6, 2020 • 43min
The Joy of Sex
The ladies live by Alex Comfort’s The Joy of Sex: A Gourmet Guide to Lovemaking, an international bestseller since it was first published in 1972. Will the book improve their sex lives? Will Kristen buy a waterbed? Will Jolenta build a sex fort?
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
The RealReal, authenticated luxury consignment. Get 20% off select items with the promo REAL at TheRealReal.com.
Better Help, online counseling that is accessible, affordable and convenient. Go to betterhelp.com/btb to get 10% off your first month.
Visit Hallmark.com/btb to shop a wide variety of Valentine’s Day cards. Use promo code BTB to get 20% off your card purchase.
Impact, a weekly narrative podcast about the consequences that laws have on real people’s lives.
Luden’s, iconic Wild Cherry Throat Drops. Use the promo code 15BTB on Amazon to get 15% off two 90-count bags of Luden's Wild Cherry Throat Drops.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 30, 2020 • 31min
Epilogue: Phyllis Diller’s Housekeeping Hints
The ladies respond to listener voicemails and emails about Phyllis Diller’s Housekeeping Hints. Plus, Trysh Travis, cultural and literary historian in the Center for Women’s Studies at the University of Florida, puts the book into a feminist historical context. To learn more about Trysh’s research, head here.
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
The RealReal, authenticated luxury consignment. Get 20% off select items with the promo REAL at TheRealReal.com.
Candid, the clear alternative to braces. Head to CandidCo.com/bythebook and use code BYTHEBOOK at checkout to get $75 off.
Rothy’s, everyday shoes for life on the go. Head to Rothys.com/btb to check out the styles.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 23, 2020 • 41min
Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints
Kristen and Jolenta continue their jaunt through self-help history. This week, the ladies dig into the 1960s with Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints. Will Jolenta be the hostess with the leastess? Will Kristen succeed in the kitchen without setting foot in the kitchen?
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
Come out to their book launch party, at The Strand bookstore in New York City on Friday, March 20 at 7 pm. Get tickets on The Strand website here.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
Magic Spoon, a guilt-free cereal. Go to magicspoon.com/BTB and use promo code BTB at checkout to get free shipping.
The RealReal, authenticated luxury consignment. Get 20% off select items with the promo REAL at TheRealReal.com.
Visit Hallmark.com/btb to shop a wide variety of Valentine’s Day cards. Use promo code BTB to get 20% off your card purchase.
Pretty Litter, revolutionary, lightweight litter that monitors your cat. Head to PrettyLitter.com and use promo code BYTHEBOOK for 20% off your first order.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 16, 2020 • 28min
Epilogue: The Power of Positive Thinking
Kristen and Jolenta dive into listener feedback about The Power of Positive Thinking. Plus, they call up Trysh Travis, cultural and literary historian in the Center for Women’s Studies at the University of Florida. Trysh helps the ladies put the book into historical context by explaining the aspirations and anxieties of readers in the 1950s. To learn more about Trysh’s research, head here.
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
Come out to their book launch party, at The Strand bookstore in New York City on Friday, March 20 at 7 pm. Get tickets on The Strand website here.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
Better Help, online counseling that is accessible, affordable and convenient. Go to betterhelp.com/btb to get 10% off your first month.
Zola, the home of all things wedding. Sign up at ZOLA.com/btb today to get your FREE personalized paper samples. Then use code SAVE50 to get 50% off save the dates.
Squarespace, the all-in-one solution for anyone looking to create a beautiful website. Head to Squarespace.com/BYTHEBOOK for a free trial. And when you’re ready to launch, use the offer code BYTHEBOOK to save 10% off of your first purchase of a website or domain.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 9, 2020 • 50min
The Power of Positive Thinking
Kristen and Jolenta continue their journey of living by a classic self-help book from each decade. This week, they live by the international bestseller The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. Will Jolenta learn how to pray? Will Kristen learn to trust that things will work out?
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
Modcloth, fashion that celebrates all women. To get 15% off off your purchase of $100 or more, go to ModCloth.com and enter code BYTHEBOOK at checkout.
Better Help, online counseling that is accessible, affordable and convenient. Go to betterhelp.com/btb to get 10% off your first month.
Candid, the clear alternative to braces. Head to CandidCo.com/bythebook and use code BYTHEBOOK at checkout to get $75 off
Magic Spoon, a guilt-free cereal. Go to magicspoon.com/BTB and use promo code BTB at checkout to get free shipping.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 2, 2020 • 31min
Epilogue: On Being A Real Person
Kristen and Jolenta dive into listener feedback about The Power of Positive Thinking. Plus, they call up Trysh Travis, cultural and literary historian in the Center for Women’s Studies at the University of Florida. Trysh puts the book into historical context by sharing the aspirations and anxieties of readers in the 1950s. To learn more about Trysh’s research, head here.
Kristen and Jolenta's new book How to be Fine is currently available for pre-order.
You can subscribe to Jolenta and Kristen's new show, We Love You (And So Can You) on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
We love hearing from you! CALL us at 302-49B-OOKS. Email us at kristenandjolenta@gmail.com, or tweet us @jolentag, @kristenmeinzer, or @bythebookpod. And if you haven't already, please join our By The Book Facebook community! https://www.facebook.com/groups/116407428966900/?source_id=475465442806687
To get By the Book merch, head over to PodSwag.com:
https://www.podswag.com/collections/by-the-book
And a big thanks to this week's sponsors:
The RealReal, authenticated luxury consignment. Get 20% off with the promo REAL at TheRealReal.com.
Rothy’s, everyday shoes for life on the go. Head to Rothys.com/btb to check out the styles.
Better Help, online counseling that is accessible, affordable and convenient. Go to betterhelp.com/btb to get 10% off your first month.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices