Libraries Get It Right While We Get It Wrong
Feminist Book Club: The Podcast
Release Date: 07/29/2025
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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: ...
info_outlineIn 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. This episode is packed with insights, book recommendations, questions about equity, and a deep dive into what public libraries really offer their communities.
Doing It All Wrong with Rax King (29:53)
Rax King, author of Sloppy Or: Doing It All Wrong, joins Ashley to discuss what it means to do it all wrong. They also discuss themes including privilege, power, and recovery. A great point of note is when Rax discussed what pop culture does well about bad behavior.
Books/Resources Mentioned:
Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao
A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
The Last Session by Jasmine Walls
Queen of Tiles by Hanna Alkaf
The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold
A Deathly Compendium of Poisonous Plants by Rebecca E. Hirsch
American Royals by Katharine McGee
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Recommended Reading by Paul Coccia
A Self-Defense Study Guide for Transwomen & Gender Non-Conforming/Nonbinary AMAB Folks by Transfighters
Our Voice of Fire by Brandi Morin
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle
If I had Only Told Her by Laura Nowlin
Adventures in the Northwoods by Lois Walfrid Johnson
Sloppy Or Doing It All Wrong by Rax King
References
Seminole County Public Library Homepage
Orange County Summer Teen Recommendations
Glades County Public Library Homepage
Suffolk County Public Library Homepage
Boston Public Library Summer Reading List for Grades 9-12
Berkshire County Library Homepage
Dixon Public Library Reading List
Chicago Public Library Homepage
Chicago Public Library Reading List (fiction)
Chicago Public Library Reading List (non-fiction)
Madison County Public Library Homepage
Madison County Public Library Reading List
Louisville Free Public Library Homepage
Louisville Free Public Library Reading List
Multnomah County Public Library Homepage
Multnomah County Public Library – As My Librarian
Josephine Community Library District
Milwaukee County Public Library Homepage
Sawyer County – Sherman and Ruth Weiss Community Library Homepage
Support and follow our hosts and guest!
Follow Jordy: Instagram // TikTok
Follow Shoshana: Storygraph // Instagram // Bluesky
Follow Mariquita: Instagram // Threads
Follow Ashley: Instagram
Follow Rax King: Instagram
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.