How to Go Softly into 2026: Your Goal-Setting Guide
Bri Books
Ready to set your goals for 2026 and go softly into the new year? In this episode of Bri Books, we're breaking down how to. create foundational goals, mindset, and changes in your thinking, to help you start 2026 on a strong (yet soft) note. Here's how to enter your soft era and how to execute your winter arc. I’m talking about how to go softly into the end of the year. This is a Winter Reset episode focused on gentleness, language shifts, and reassessing your life without urgency or self-judgment. We’re talking about how to go softly into the end of the year. We explore what it means to: ...
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Grieving the Holidays After Loss: Reflections on Christmas, Memory, and Making New Traditions
Bri Books
Merry Christmas! Today's episode of Bri Books 'BriCember' is an honest and loving reflection on the holiday season, grief, and where we meet in the middle. In this episode, we reflect on the experiences of people who are sitting with parental loss (or any loss TBH) during the holiday season. I'll be sharing my own reflections on my holiday memories with my mother, the feeling of an invisible missing 'seat at the table' that we may notice during this time of year, the power of reliving and remaking traditions, grieving the holidays and fantasies that never were, and the glimmer of light that's...
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Madeira Wine: How It’s Made & Three Bottles Worth Knowing
Bri Books
Episode Summary: Madeira wine is fortified, heat-aged, and famously long-lived. In this episode of Bri Books, we break down how Madeira is made, why it tastes the way it does, and explore tasting notes from three standout producers: Justino’s, Henriques & Henriques, and D’Oliveiras. Subscribe to Bri Books on and . In This Episode: What Madeira wine is and how it’s made Why heat and oxidation are intentional Tasting notes from three Madeira producers How to drink and pair Madeira wine Producers Discussed: Subscribe to Bri Books on and .
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The Magical World of Swiss Wine: Best Swiss Wines to Try
Bri Books
Welcome back to Bri Books 'BriCember' as we explore Switzerland’s secretive yet spectacular wine scene. From the herbaceous Chasselas grape to elegant Pinot Noir blends, discover the best , top wine regions, and NYC hotspots like for tasting Swiss wine. In this episode: Why 98% of Swiss wine stays in the country The six major Swiss wine regions: Geneva, Three Lakes, German Switzerland, Ticino, Vaud, Valais Spotlight on the Chasselas grape and why it pairs perfectly with raclette and fondue Swiss wines worth tasting: My NYC favorite: L, home of Swiss wine flights and...
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Orange Wine 101: What It Is, How It Tastes, and the Orange Wine Bottles to Know
Bri Books
Welcome back to ! In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of orange wine, one of the oldest and most misunderstood wine styles in the world. Discover what orange wine really is, how it’s made, how it tastes, and why Austrian and Georgian producers excel at this method. I also share highlights from the , including some of my favorite importers and bottles: : : and Plus, we explore standout Austrian orange wines: Learn practical tips on how to taste, serve, and enjoy orange wine, and why it’s so food-friendly. Whether you’re new to orange wine...
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Austrian Wines 101: Blaufränkisch, Burgenland & the Hills of Steiermark
Bri Books
Welcome back to Wine Week on Bri Books: BriCember! In this episode, we dive into Austrian wine — one of Europe’s most exciting and under-discussed wine regions. From Burgenland’s signature red grape Blaufränkisch to the steep hillside vineyards of Steiermark, this episode explores what makes Austrian wine so distinctive, sustainable, and food-friendly. I shares firsthand experiences from a Wein Burgenland seminar, break down key regions, and highlight my favorite Austrian red and orange wines to know right now. We cover: Why Austria is one of Europe’s best-kept wine secrets ...
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How to Build a Wine Menu + Do an At-Home Wine Tasting
Bri Books
Welcome back to Bri Books! When you’re hosting, choosing wine can feel daunting. Whether it’s a dinner party, work event, last-minute gathering, or impromptu holiday shenanigans, here’s the simple framework I rely on that never fails. In this episode, we’ll cover: The three-bottle wine buying formula (red, white, wildcard) How to taste wine at home: My 4 Pillars of Place: Temperature, Terrain, Soil, and Touch How to build a wine list for parties or dinner How to Build a Wine Menu: Bri’s 3-Bottle Formula To avoid overwhelm at the wine shop, use this formula: One white wine ...
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What Makes a Wine “Good”? Understanding the Four Pillars of Place
Bri Books
Welcome back to Bri Books BriCember, and welcome to Wine Week! I'll be breaking down the age-old question: "What makes wine good?," and sharing my 'four pillars of place' to help you start to build your good wine vocabulary. 0:39: Breaking down 'good wine.' REmember, wine is an agricultural product. Let's set the stage for practical, place-based approach to wine. 1:12: Why 'terroir' matters + the 'pillars of place.' 1:51: Pillar 1: Soil type. Soil determines minerality, texture, and structural feel. 2:31: Pillar 2: Climate. Climate influences fruit ripeness, acidity, and...
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Welcome to BriCember: Where I've Been
Bri Books
Welcome back to Bri Books podcast! If this is your first time, WELCOME! And if you’re a return listener from the last 6 (!!!!!!) years, welcome back. Bri Books is now also on YouTube: watch here. Today is November 30th, marking not just the beginning of Advent season, but the beginning of BriCember! What is BriCember? BriCember is a personal project wherein I challenge myself to produce and publish a podcast episode a day in the month of December. Not only is December my birth month, it’s also the perfect time of the year to catch up on where you’ve been and where you’re going....
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Mother's Day, Year Two: A Reflection on Grief and Growth
Bri Books
Welcome to Bri Books, and Happy Mother's Day to the matriarchs out there. I'm excited to share this episode because I want to honor my own mother, I have so much gratitude and humility for my mother, her story and her life. I spent Mother's Day Weekend, the second since my mother's death, at a retreat in Morristown, NJ hosted by . The retreat was centered on the hart of christ, and it came down to: God is made to endure your suffering. He specializes in broken hearts. that’s where He shines. One poignant point that struck me during the retreat, was then when I’m rebellious in my...
info_outlineIn this episode, I’m sharing my garden starter hacks, including a gardening method I created myself! This method has taken my gardening and succession planting to the next level when it comes to growing my own food. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.
I call this my "theBriGarden Breakfast Gardening Method." I created and coined it myself for @theBriGarden. It revolves around repurposing food waste to create a food bounty. Who would've thought breakfast is so ripe for gardening!?
3:45 - Hack #1: Reuse egg water! Hard-bouled eggs release a trace amount of calcium into the water, and calcium is a mineral all plants need. It’s a great idea to use hard-boiled egg water for your plants. Plants can benefit from calcium boost in hard-boiled egg water
4:15 - Hack #2: Eggshell planters! If you take your eggshells and break out the top, leaving ¾ of eggshell intact, that’s a great container for starting seeds. You can begin so many seeds in eggshells, which are rich in calcium. Using eggshells whole can help recycle your breakfast food scraps.
5:00 - Hack #3: Eggshell fertilizer! Crushed eggshells are a great way to inject calcium into your garden and help deter slugs and garden pests. I created a fun TikTok of how to use eggshells in your garden.
5:40 - Hack #4: Coffee! Put your used coffee grounds in the soil to boost nitrogen in the soil and provide an acidity boost. It's the next best thing to organic fertilizer. Make sure you grind it up very fine so that the plants can receive the nutrients.
6:30 - Hack #5: Sprinkle of cinnamon! Cinnamon helps to fight off bacteria and fungus that causes damping, a disease that waterlogs the stem of the plant and stalls out the seedlings before they can grow. Cinnamon helps to deter this disease, so add a tiny pinch to your potting soil to keep your seedlings growing strong.
7:30 - Hack #6: Egg cartons! Use egg cartons as seed starters to start seeds indoors on a regular basis. If a dozen eggs run out in 2 weeks in your house, that’s enough time to get another succession planting round going in that empty carton without having to buy any supplies. Fill the empty eggshells with soil, plant a seed inside it, and place the seeded eggshell the egg carton on a window sill.
8:00 - Hack #7: Fruit boxes! Containers that your produce comes in is great to reuse as transplant containers. Before the seeds go into container gardens or into the ground, use these fruit boxes to help your plants mature is a great way to make your morning fruit snacking pay off.
8:55 - Hack #8: Coffee filters! Re-use coffee filters to line the bottoms of your pots and containers. Voila, leak-free gardening!
Want to see the garden in action? Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets for first-time growers.
Leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're sipping by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.