BIPOC Reads

Meet Vanessa, the founder of Let's Get Lit, a digital book club. She is also the head of engagement for Cyber Collective, a community-centered research organization that educates to understand the ways data + privacy impact consumer.  We also talk about Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, a book celebrating female friendships!

Books and Resources mentioned in the Episode

• Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
• Let's Get Lit: https://www.instagram.com/letsgetlit.abc/
• Cyber Collective: https://www.instagram.com/cybercollectiveorg/

Meet Mel, the founder of the The Steam Box, a subscription box featuring romance books by women of color & LGBTQ+ authors paired with curated items that celebrate self love & embrace your sexuality. We also do a deep dive on one of Mel's favorite romance books, Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan!

Trigger warning: The novel discussed has  domestic violence and rape content. 

Books and Resources mentioned in the Episode

• Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan 
• The Steam Box 

On this episode Meda goes over her January reads, talks reading challenge, and does a deep dive on The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans. Grab some tea and get cozy, perhaps you will find your next listen after tuning in!

Books and Resources mentioned in the Episode

• Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
• Siri Who Am I? A Novel by Sam Tschida
• The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
• How to Be Fine by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer
• The Office of Historical Corrections: A Novella and Stories by Danielle Evans
• Read Harder Challenge

Meet Mariana, the founder of Lineas Del Sur, a community that is seeking to bring Latin American culture to all parts of the US. In this episode we talk about why supporting small publishing houses and independent writers is critical to keeping an ear close to the ground. We also talk about the Lineas Del Sur community and events hosted. Their next event will be on February 18, 2020 at 7pm EST. 

Books and Resources mentioned in the Episode

• Jorge Luis Borges (writer)
• Lineas Del Sur: @Lineas. Del.Sur  
• Christian Kent: @condeorloff   
• Sofia Almitory: @sofialmi/ 
• Paula Vazquez: @paula.vzqz  

Meet Matt, a lawyer and an avid book reader who shares how he made room for reading even during the busiest times of his life. We also talk about The Four Agreements, a book of Toltec wisdom that he has gifted many times over!

Books and Resources mentioned in the Episode

• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
• Dream Team by Jack McCallum

Meet Chris, a special education teacher and an avid reader who shares his favorite reads on #Bookstagram on his @mr_neuhaus_booked! In this episode we do a deep dive on Our Time Is Now by Stacey Abrams aka as The Queen of Georgia. What does voter suppression look like? What can we do differently to increase voter turnout, etc.

Are you a MOOD-based reader? We got you! On today's episode, your host Meda will go over some of her 2020 reads and help you find just the right read. We talk some light reads (Girl Gone Viral), some serious reads (A Promised Land) and reads to help you grow (Superlife. 

Books and Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai 
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett 
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia 
• Survival of the Thickest Michelle Buteau 
• A Promised Land by Barack Obama 
• Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman 
• The Undocumented Americans by Kala Cornejo Villavicencio 
• About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton 
• How I Built This by Guy Raz 
• Superlife by Darin Olien 

Meet Rosa, the co-founder of Rupa Health! We talk about about books to read as you think through your goals for the new year, great books for startup founders, and the best book to prioritize life!

Books and Resources Mentioned in the Episode

• I Can't Make This Up by Kevin Heart
• Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
• The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
• The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
• Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
• Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
• Essentialism by Greg McKeown
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Best Self Journals

Meet Lupita, also know as @Lupita.Reads on the IG world where she constantly highlights great works by underrepresented authors!  We talk about the importance of seeing one's self in the stories we read and the need to balance heavy reads with lighter ones such as Samantha Irby. 

1. Lupita's IG page: @lupita.reads

Books mentioned in this episode: 

1. The Distance Between Us by Reyna Grande 
2. So Far From God by Ana Castillo 
3. The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio 
4. Wow No Thank You by Samatha Irby 
5. Good Talk: A Memoir In Conversations by Mira Jacob 

Meet Tia, the creator of the growing book community, Perspective Book Club based out of Atlanta and expanding. We talk about her mission to create conversation centered around personal growth. Tia’s faith also guides her reading choices and she shares a few books that have guided how she thinks about romantic relationships.

1. Tia’s IG page: @missperspectiveee
2. Perspective Book Club IG page: @perspectivebookclub

Books mentioned in this episode: 

1. Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen 
2. The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell 
3. When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy
4. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman 
5. A Promised Land by Barack Obama 
6. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown