S:6 E:55 | Discover the Top 15 Books to Add to Your 2025 To-Be-Read List from Books That Make You
Release Date: 12/29/2024
S:7 E:14 | Shelley Malicote Stutchman on Fighting Breast Cancer with Humor and Heart
Books That Make You Podcast
What happens when you're diagnosed with breast cancer at 67—just after building your dream home and planning your wedding? For Shelley Malicote Stutchman, you write about it with raw honesty, a whole lot of humor, and just enough sass to make people gasp. In this episode, Shelley joins us to talk about her memoir, Peek-a-Boob, a powerful yet hilarious account of her journey through breast cancer. A nurse, mental health advocate, and first-time author at 70, Shelley opens up about being diagnosed in 2022 and how she used Facebook posts to process her experiences and help others—ultimately...
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S:7 E:13 | Reader Nation Is the Book Event You Can't Miss, Joe Solari Explains
Books That Make You Podcast
What if your favorite authors weren't just names on book spines, but people you could meet in person? Joe Solari, managing director of Reader Nation and Writer Nation, shares why the upcoming Reader Nation event in Las Vegas is more than just a book signing. It's a real-world book community coming to life. Held at the Horseshoe and Paris Casinos, Reader Nation brings together over 300 authors, from legendary names like James Patterson to debut indie writers. It’s a rare chance for readers to get signed books, limited editions, and most importantly, personal conversations with the...
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S:7 E:12 | Life, Identity & Healing: Six to Carry the Casket Insights with Bill Hulseman
Books That Make You Podcast
What happens when your family identity, religious upbringing, and personal truth collide? In this compelling conversation, author Bill Hulseman shares the deeply personal stories that shaped his life and inspired his book six to carry the casket and one to say the mass: reflections on life, identity, and moving forward. Bill opens up about being the youngest of ten children, what it meant to grow up feeling ornamental in his family, and how he found his voice amid the chaos of family dynamics and personal struggle. He talks about the power of reflective practices, what it means to question the...
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S:7 E:11 | Love, Loss & Space Terror, The Dead Don’t Rest in Space, Requiem with John Palisano
Books That Make You Podcast
What happens when love, loss, and music collide in deep space? In this episode, Bram Stoker Award-winner and former Horror Writers Association president John Palisano joins us to talk about his latest book, Requiem. Set aboard a massive mortuary spacecraft called Eden, the novel blends gothic romance, cosmic horror, and speculative science fiction into one unforgettable journey. Eden isn't just a final resting place—it's a monument to memory, haunted by the preserved dead and a creeping entity named Animus. As musician Tessa tries to compose a new Requiem, she unwittingly opens a doorway for...
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S:7 E:10 | From Pitch Slapped to Publishing Pro: Juliet Clark’s Author Journey
Books That Make You Podcast
How do you go from writing revenge-fueled mystery novels to coaching authors through one of the most misunderstood parts of the publishing process—marketing? Juliet Clark, founder of Author Traffic School and Superbrand Publishing, shares her personal journey from publishing her own novels like Pitch Slapped and Dead by Dawn, to helping other authors find their footing in the often murky world of platform building. In this candid and practical conversation, Juliet breaks down why writing the book is just the beginning. She opens up about the frustrations of early self-publishing, how she...
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S:7 E:9 | Rediscover Your Creative Self in The Wild Why, Using Wonder, & Empathy with Laura Munson
Books That Make You Podcast
What if the secret to rediscovering your creativity, your empathy, and even your joy was something you were born with—but lost along the way? In this episode, bestselling author Laura Munson talks about her newest book, The Wild Why, and the journey back to wonder. From the forests of Montana to ancient stone circles in Ireland, Laura’s personal stories and teachings invite us to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our inner voice. She shares the truth behind our creative blocks and the myth that we’re "not creative"—stories we’ve absorbed over time but don’t have to believe. We...
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S:7 E:8 | Kelly O’Hearn on Channeling the Arcanum Series Through Tarot & Past Lives
Books That Make You Podcast
Author Kelly O’Hearn joins the show to explore her captivating Arcanum series—a saga that intertwines time, love, and soul contracts across lifetimes. With In the Temple Shadows and Whispers In The Forest, the first two books of the six-part series, Kelly invites readers into a richly woven tale inspired by her own past life regressions and channeled entirely through the language of tarot. In this episode, Kelly breaks down how tarot goes beyond fortune-telling and becomes a powerful tool for self-discovery. She shares how the Arcanum series grew from visions of her former lives, where she...
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S7 E7 | Inside Michele Kwasniewski’s Falling Star: The Dark Side of Hollywood
Books That Make You Podcast
What happens when the spotlight fades and the pressure takes over? In this episode, Michele Kwasniewski dives deep into her powerful YA novel, Falling Star, the final installment of the Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart trilogy. Drawing from over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Michele brings an unflinching look at the mental, emotional, and personal toll that fame can take—especially on young stars. Dani Truehart, once a teen pop sensation, is caught in the aftermath of a tragic decision. Fame, fortune, and pressure to perform have led her to a breaking point. As Michele...
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S:7 E:6 | Dr. Paul Corona on The Corona Protocol and Mind-Body Healing
Books That Make You Podcast
What if healing your mind and body didn’t have to take months? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Paul Corona, author of The Corona Protocol, to discuss his fast-acting, patient-centered approach to mental health. From anxiety and depression to addiction and PTSD, Dr. Corona reveals how his mind-body treatment method delivers real results — often in just weeks. We explore the controversial but effective use of off-label medications, his thoughts on men's mental health, and why early intervention matters more than ever. Dr. Corona also opens up about his transition from family...
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S:7 E:05 | The Magic of Awareness: Peter Gribble Talks The City of the Magicians
Books That Make You Podcast
What happens when a peaceful society faces a brutal threat it never saw coming? In this episode, we talk with fantasy author Peter Gribble, creator of “The City of the Magicians” series and author of book one, Threat. Drawing from his background in psychology, history, and education, Gribble explores what happens when complacency meets chaos—and how intellect, strategy, and even a little magic might be the keys to survival. Set in a richly imagined world, Threat follows characters like Lilia, who finds herself drawn into an underground movement while searching for her mother’s...
info_outlineReady to refresh your To-Be-Read list for 2025? In this episode of Books That Make You, we explore 15 remarkable titles that will inspire, captivate, and entertain in the coming year. Whether you're into gripping dystopias like Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping, heartfelt memoirs like Terence Ang’s The Boy and The Man, or thrilling mysteries like Sara Winokur’s Ivory Bones, there’s something here for everyone.
For fans of the fantastical, Crossroads of Awakening Memory by M.D. House promises an epic journey, while Octavia Butler’s timeless classic Parable of the Sower offers a thought-provoking look at a dystopian future. Dive into speculative fiction with Saving KC by Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais, or laugh and learn with the playful Snoodles in Space: Episode 2 by Steven Joseph.
From Stephen King’s chilling Never Flinch to Kaitlyn E. Kenealy’s transformative Healing is Messy AF, these books cover an incredible range of genres and themes. Don’t miss From the Potato to Star Trek and Beyond by Chester L. Richards for a behind-the-scenes memoir, or Kaleidoscope of Secrets by Sandy Clements for a suspenseful thriller.
What will you add to your list? Find your next favorite read today!