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Pride Picks and Ambitious Women

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Release Date: 06/17/2025

Intro to Romance Books for Non-Romance Readers show art Intro to Romance Books for Non-Romance Readers

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

The romance genre is what keeps the book industry afloat, but where do you start if you’re not typically a romance reader? Join Renee, Mhairie, and Shoshana for a quick introduction to some of the terms used in the romance genre, plus recommendations for folks who don’t typically read romance. This episode is perfect for readers new to romance, confused by romance, or long-time romance readers looking for some fresh recommendations! Books mentioned:     Resources mentioned: (Brooklyn...

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Feral and Hysterical: In conversation with Mother Horror show art Feral and Hysterical: In conversation with Mother Horror

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

The ‘ber months are here, so that means we’re reading horror. You know we read horror all year round, but we brought in the expert - Mother Horror herself! Tune in to hear Mhairie chat about horror books, women in horror, becoming an accidental author, and good old fashioned vibes reading.   Books mentioned: - Sadie Hartmann  - Peter Straub - Sadie Hartmann - V. E. Schwab - John Boyne - Elizabeth Macneal () - Monique Asher () - Trevor Noah (Audiobook is an Audible exclusive so we won’t link it, screw you Amazon!) - Silvia Moreno-Garcia () - Stephen...

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Man’s Best Friend? Thoughts on Sabrina Carpenter show art Man’s Best Friend? Thoughts on Sabrina Carpenter

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

In this episode, Mhairie, Ashley, and Nox dive into the bold and provocative album art for Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend. The conversation explores the layered imagery, the cultural reception, and how it intersects with themes of power, desire, and kink. From feminist critique to playful banter, the hosts unpack how art can spark dialogue around pleasure, performance, and pushing boundaries.   Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Ashley: //   Follow Mhairie: // Follow Nox: // //       This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on...

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Girl on Girl, Part II: Desire, Consent, & the Marketplace of Pleasure show art Girl on Girl, Part II: Desire, Consent, & the Marketplace of Pleasure

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Join hosts Ashley, Mhairie, and Mariquita as they return for the much-anticipated follow-up to their deep dive into Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert. In this episode, the conversation moves beyond pop culture’s impact on women and digs into the murky intersection of porn, commodification, and the market’s influence on sexual agency. Prepare for a thoughtful and candid exploration of what it means to possess—and reclaim—real agency in a world that often packages sex and desire as products.   Books Mentioned:    Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Ashley: //...

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Affirming Masculinity with Jacob Tobia show art Affirming Masculinity with Jacob Tobia

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Ashley sits down with Jacob Tobia to discuss their book Before They Were Men. Together, they explore why Jacob avoids the phrase “toxic masculinity,” what healthier models of masculinity could look like, and how the different places Jacob has lived have shaped their views on gender and gender nonconformity.   Books Mentioned:  by Jacob Tobia   Support and follow our guest and host! Follow Jacob: Follow Ashley: //         This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.   Original music by Learn...

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Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves show art Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Mariquita, Mhairie, and Ashley dive into , unpacking its most thought-provoking themes. In Part I, they explore how reality TV and social media have shaped generational beauty standards, question the pitfalls of so-called “empowerment” movements, and discuss how media literacy can equip the next generation to be both powerful and protected.   Books Mentioned:    Support and follow our hosts! Follow Mariquita: // Follow Mhairie: //   Follow Ashley: //           This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of...

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The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza show art The Hollow Half by Sarah Aziza

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Looking for your next beloved memoir? Rah and Ashley dive into by Sarah Aziza—a lyrical, layered exploration of queerness, family, conflict, and the passage of time. They unpack how Aziza weaves these themes into a deeply personal yet universally resonant narrative, and why savoring the book slowly made all the difference. Content Warnings: disordered eating, sexual assault, self-harm, social justice conflict    Books Mentioned:  by Roza Nozari by Lamya H by Samra Habib by Rashid Khalidi by Omar El Akkad     Support and follow our hosts and guest! Follow...

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Nostalgic Summers and Prophetic Dystopia show art Nostalgic Summers and Prophetic Dystopia

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Our feminisms contain multitudes. First, Jordy shares some books and tv shows to ingest if you don’t want to watch The Summer I Turned Pretty on Amazon but still want the sweet nostalgic summer vibes. Then, Kenesma chats with Idrys Creed about her forthcoming book 14 Flags, a dystopian novel inspired by current events in the spirit of Octavia Butler.     The Summer I Turned Pretty, minus the Bezos (0:22) Join Jordy for a jam-packed episode of book and TV show recommendations that give The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes without supporting Amazon. If you’re craving summer swoons,...

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Libraries Get It Right While We Get It Wrong show art Libraries Get It Right While We Get It Wrong

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

In today’s two-part episode, you’ll hear some of our contributors take a deep dive into a smattering of library systems across the United States. It’s fascinating to compare and contrast different regions, especially in light of funding threats. Libraries certainly do it right. Then hear from a woman who did it all wrong–Rax King–as she discusses her new book Sloppy.     Libraries Across America (0:22) Join Jordy, Shoshana, and Mariquita as they explore the contrasts between funding and accessibility to teen summer reading lists in urban and rural libraries across the U.S....

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Favorite Books of 2025 So Far (Mariquita and Kenesma's version) show art Favorite Books of 2025 So Far (Mariquita and Kenesma's version)

Feminist Book Club: The Podcast

Mariquita and Kenesma dive into their top 5 favorite books of 2025 (so far—with six months of reading still ahead!). In this spoiler-free conversation, they highlight memorable quotes, unpack recurring themes, and explore what makes each of these reads so unforgettable. From powerful storytelling to characters that linger long after the last page, this chat is a celebration of books that moved, challenged, and inspired them. Whether you're looking for your next great read or just love hearing people geek out about books, this episode is for you.     Books/Resources Mentioned: ...

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More Episodes

We have a double header for you today! First, you’ll hear some of our team’s favorite LGBTQIA+ books from the last few years with diverse recommendations from all different genres. Then, get inspired through an interview with Amber Oliver, author of When the Music Hits, as she shares personal insights on ambition and how she wrote ambition into her novel. 

 

Queerly Beloved (0:22)

Join FBC contributors Jordy, Shoshana, and Nox as they celebrate Pride Month with a lively conversation about their favorite queer books. From joyful romances to powerful memoirs and boundary-pushing fiction, it's a heartfelt and fun chat filled with recommendations and love for queer storytelling. 

 

The Notes and Roots of Ambition (9:55)

Ashley sits down with Amber Oliver, author of When the Music Hits, to talk about the challenges of being an ambitious woman. Amber shares her personal experience being an ambitious Black woman in the publishing industry and how she wrote ambition into her debut novel.

 

 

Books/Resources Mentioned and Recommended: 

The Glass Scientist by S. H. Cotugno  

Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell 

The Fiancee Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur 

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander 

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee 

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey 

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker 

Out on the Ice by Kelly Farmer 

Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack Illustrated by Stevie Lewis (picture book) 

A Costume for Charly by C.K. Malone Illustrated by Alejandra Barajas (picture book) 

A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns by Tristan Jimerson and Archie Bongiovanni 

Edge of Glory by Rachel Spangler 

Game Changer by Rachel Reid 

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow 

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske 

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas 

Venom and Vow by Anna-Marie McLemore and Elliot McLemore 

XOXY: A Memoir by Kimberly M. Zieselman 

The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith 

Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa 

This Poison Heart duology by Kalynn Bayron 

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron 

Falling Back in Love with Being Human by Kai Cheng Thom 

The Guncle by Steven Rowley 

The Witches of Thistle Grove series by Lana Harper 

When the Music Hits by Amber Oliver

 

 

 

Support and follow our hosts and guest!

Follow Amber Oliver: Instagram

Follow Ashley: Instagram

Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok

Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky 

Follow Nox: Instagram // TikTok // Threads

 

 

Check out our online community here! 

 

This episode was edited and produced by Renee Powers on the ancestral land of the Dakota people.

 

Original music by Amarissa

 

Learn more about Feminist Book Club on our website, sign up for our emails, shop our Bookshop.org recommendations, and follow us on Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest.