Unabridged Podcast

Welcome to Unabridged! Ashley and Jen (shown left to right in the photo) talk books, share recommendations, and celebrate all things bookish. On our blog (see our posts below!) we share bookish faves, pub day shout-outs, show notes, and book reviews.

Want to get more involved? Check out our 2023 reading challenge, join our buddy reads or book club on Instagram, or sign up on Patreon!

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Jan 12, 2020
3 min

Nonfiction Focus: Memoirs on Audio Read by the Author

Selected Reviews Saeed Jones’s How We Fight for Our Lives - Saeed Jones's memoir How We Fight for Our Lives is brilliant and brutal. The story centers on Jones life as a young, black, gay man growing up in the American South and on his relationship with his single mother. Listening to Jones (who narrates the audiobook--I listened on Scribd) describe the ways that he defined his identity within and against Southern culture is fascinating and moving. Though he makes many delibe

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Jan 6, 2020
2 min

(More than) Just the Facts: Favorite Nonfiction

Dave Cullen's Parkland: Birth of a Movement - I was so moved by Dave Cullen's Parkland. As he did in Columbine, he takes on the events of a tragic school shooting. In this case, though, he focuses solely on what happens after that day, with an exploration of the March for Our Lives movement led by Parkland's survivors. The book is both sad and hopeful. I must admit that I was simultaneously looking forward to this book and absolutely dreading it: events like this one bring ab

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Dec 23, 2019
2 min

Nonfiction Focus: Celebrity Memoirs

Selected Reviews Ali Wong’s Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life - I was about two minutes in to listening to Ali Wong's Dear Girls (I listened on Scribd) when I realized this would be an earbuds-in production. Raunchy and real, Wong's memoir goes full on with words that I hope my boys don't say. I loved it!!!! Wong is writing here to her daughters, sharing her life experience and advice for her girls as they grow. She addresses every

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Nov 27, 2019
2 min

101: Human Trafficking Awareness with RuthAnn Deveney, Dressember Advocate - Fresh-Squeezed Freedom

The three of us had an amazing conversation with Ruth Ann Deveney about ways that everyone can combat human trafficking every day. We discuss Dressember (find Ashley and Sara on social media to support their Dressember campaigns) and about how to talk to kids of all ages (both in and out of the classroom) about human trafficking and how to make a difference. We also share an array of book recommendations for all ages, including Girl Rising by Tanya Lee Stone, Tell Me by Joan

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Nov 25, 2019
1 min

Nonfiction Books to Change Your Life

A Couple of Quick Looks Angela Duckworth's Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - I thoroughly enjoyed Duckworth's book. Though I'd listened to her TED Talk and heard her interviewed several times on the Freakonomics podcast, this expansion of her theories and discoveries is thought-provoking. Chip Heath and Dan Heath's The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact - This was just great. I really enjoyed the Heath brothers' perspectives and th

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Sep 18, 2019
1 min

91: Book and Song Pairings - I'm Going to Go for It

We took on a new challenge for this episode, offering our ideas for songs that pair beautifully with books. While none of us would call this our wheelhouse (I don't think!), we loved hearing the others' ideas for songs that resonate, for books that somehow connect in a meaningfully way to the feeling or story of the song. We would LOVE to hear your ideas for perfect book-and-song pairings. Visit us on social media to share your ideas! Book and Song Pairings Ashley’s Picks D

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Sep 4, 2019
1 min

89: Elizabeth Acevedo's WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH - On Her Side

We're thrilled to discuss Elizabeth Acevedo's sophomore novel, With the Fire on High. Protagonist Emoni is a high school student, a mother, a granddaughter, and an amazingly inspired chef in training. Listen in for our discussion of the ways that Acevedo counters our expectations for this character. We offer pairings and recommendations for the ways that teachers can use this book in their classrooms. After you listen, join us on social media throughout September to participa

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Aug 28, 2019
2 min

88: Autumn TBR Lists - Shopping in My Kindle Closet

We'll let you guess just which one of us went shopping in her Kindle closet . . . and then cheated to share an extra book (or two . . . or three!) on this episode. Well, actually, we ALL cheated because we have SO many books coming out this fall that we're eagerly anticipating. As a sneak peek, we're including Peter Heller’s Celine, Rainbow Rowell’s Wayward Son, and Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys. Take a listen to our TBR lists, and then let us know what books you look f

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Aug 24, 2019
3 min

Busy Philipps's This Will Only Hurt a Little - Sara's Review

Over the last few years, I have so begun to appreciate the art of the celebrity memoir. I have consumed the memoirs of Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kevin Hart, and Tiffany Haddish. What I have come to realize with this particular genre is if you can listen to the audio of these books and they are read by the author, you must choose that medium. It adds a whole other element to the enjoyment of the book. I have loved Busy Philipps for a long ti me. Although, I wasn’t an early adopte

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Aug 14, 2019
1 min

86: Our Favorite Audiobooks - (Don't) Come to Me, Animal Friends

In this episode, we are revisiting our love for audiobooks! Some favorites include Fredrick Backman’s Beartown, Michelle Obama’s Becoming, and Lydia Kang’s A Beautiful Poison. Each of us has evolved as an audiobook listener, and we talk about that process, the types of books that work best for us on audio, how we're stretching ourselves . . . and Sara's deep, deep love for puppy dog kisses (no sarcasm there at all!). What are some of your new favorite audiobooks? Visit us on

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Jul 17, 2019
1 min

82: Our Anticipated Reads of 2019 Update - Intentionally Weird

Back in January, we shared the books that we planned (or hoped?) to read this year. Now, it's time to share our progress. Have we read all of them? Nope. But we've made a valiant effort. (Or at least an effort.) What was on your TBR list for 2019? How are you doing? We'd love to hear about your successes and failures, the books you've loved and the ones that have disappointed you, over on social media. Check us out on Facebook and everywhere else @unabridgedpod. Books We've

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Jul 3, 2019
1 min

80: Top Book Club Pick from Season 2 - Tara Westover's EDUCATED

This is a re-release of our most popular book club pick from Season 2, Tara Westover's Educated. Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page. #shownotes #unabridgedpodbookclub #memoir #nonfiction #feminism #socialissues Want to support Unabridged? Check out our Merch Store! Become a patron on Patreon. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us

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Jun 22, 2019
1 min

Bonus Episode - Collins Center Tips for Promoting Healthy Relationships

In this Unabridged bonus episode, Ashley interviews Jess Balac from the Collins Center in Harrisonburg, VA, who works with local preschool and elementary school kids to teach sexuality education and to promote healthy attitudes toward bodies and relationships. Books Mentioned Robie Harris's It's NOT the Stork!: A Book about Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families, and Friends (for ages 4 and up) Robie Harris's It's So Amazing: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Fami

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Jun 19, 2019
1 min

78: Laurie Halse Anderson Highlight - It Is Okay to Fight

For our last Unabridged Highlight episode of season 2, we're discussing the influence of one of our favorite YA authors, Laurie Halse Anderson. After seeing her at the Virginia Festival of the Book and reading her new memoir in verse Shout, we were inspired to consider her place in YA literature. It's the 20th anniversary of her seminal work Speak, and the new edition features some excellent resources and an afterword by Jason Reynolds, another Unabridged favorite. We were al

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Jun 5, 2019
2 min

76: Bryan Stevenson's JUST MERCY - A Must Read for All Human Beings

In this #unabridgedbookclub episode, we discuss Bryan Stevenson's nonfiction book Just Mercy. Stevenson discusses his work as an attorney with prisoners on death row and with individuals who were sentenced to life in prison when they were children. During our discussion, we strive to cover the plethora of issues raised by the book, including mass incarceration, the way we deal with mental disabilities and mental illness, the death penalty, and the role of poverty in the crim

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Apr 17, 2019
1 min

69: VA Festival of the Book (Jason Reynolds, Laurie Halse Anderson, & More!) - Loving Every Minute

In this Unabridged podcast episode, we focus on our field trip to the Virginia Festival of the Book, held in Charlottesville, VA, from March 20-24. We offer our impressions of four sessions, including a dream conversation between Jason Reynolds and Laurie Halse Anderson and a serendipitous afternoon when we got to see the April Book Club Book authors Beth Macy (with Chris McGreal) and Jarrett Krosoczka in back-to-back sessions. You can find out more information about the annu

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Apr 10, 2019
2 min

68: Cookbooks and Books about Food - I Love to Eat!

In this short Unabridged podcast episode, we share some of our favorite cookbooks and books about food. Each of us talks about how much cooking she does in her home (spoiler alert: one of us just doesn't cook). We also take on how working toward minimalism impacts our cookbook collections. Our choices range from memoir to investigative nonfiction to the plain old cookboook. We'd love to hear about your food-related recommendations on social media! Our Recommendations Ashley M

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Apr 3, 2019
2 min

67: Beth Macy's DOPESICK and Jarrett Krosoczka's HEY KIDDO - Obviously, We Read Both

In this Unabridged podcast episode, we talk about two books that look at drug addiction and its impact on families. Beth Macy's nonfiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America shows the bleak situation of the opioid crisis in America by focusing on the situation within three communities along I-81, the "Heroin Highway" in Virginia. Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction

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Feb 20, 2019
1 min

61: Ibi Zoboi's PRIDE and AMERICAN STREET - Cherishing Culture

In this Unabridged Podcast episode, we discuss Ibi Zoboi's YA Lit books, Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix and American Street. Pride summary: In this modern day remix of Pride and Prejudice, Zuri Benitez seeks to find herself as she moves toward college. When the wealthy Darcy family moves into her neighborhood of Bushwick, Zuri finds herself arguing for the merits of her home and struggling against the change that is threatening her path and her family. American Street

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Feb 6, 2019
1 min

59: The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer - Our Fascinating Discussion

In this Unabridged podcast episode, we're discussing our February Book Club book, The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer, which centers on issues related to feminism. This novel focuses first on college student Greer Kadetsky who meets her mentor, Faith Frank, when Frank speaks at Greer’s college. Their initial meeting leads to a productive and ultimately contentious relationship focused on advocacy for feminism. Along the way, a rich cast of secondary characters, including G

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