Books and Beyond Ep 55

If you've found this podcast recently through my Shorts, social media, or just stumbled across it - welcome! With so many new viewers joining over the past few months, I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself and share the story behind Books & Beyond. In this solo episode, I open up about my injury history, how CRPS changed my life in 2017, and the years of isolation that followed as I lost connection to my passions and social life. I explain how content creation became not just a hobby, but a lifeline, and how this podcast was born from a simple goal: talk to passionate people about what they love, and maybe reignite some passion within myself along the way. I reflect on how it's been going, what I've personally gained from these conversations, and what I'm looking forward to as the podcast continues growing. Whether you've been here since episode one or just discovered the show, this episode gives you the full context of who I am, why I do this, and what Books & Beyond is really about. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Books and Beyond Ep 54

This week I'm joined by fellow BookToker Nicki Kupps, who has built an engaged following of 70k+ in just two years. We dive into Nicki's reading journey, what inspired her to start creating content back in 2024, and how she's grown her BookTok presence. But we also explore her newest venture, content coaching services for creators looking to level up their platforms. Nicki shares insights about the BookTok algorithm, what's working in 2026, common mistakes creators make, and practical advice for anyone trying to grow their bookish content. Whether you're a struggling creator looking for guidance, curious about content coaching, or just want to hear from someone who's successfully built a BookTok following, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on the creator journey. If you're interested in Nicki's coaching services or want to connect with her, check out her links in the description!

https://beacons.ai/nickikupps

https://www.tiktok.com/@nickikuppsreads

https://www.instagram.com/nickikuppsreads/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571381674046

5 Books by Black Authors for Black History Month - Ep 53

In this episode of Books and Beyond, host ThatGuyJae celebrates Black History Month by recommending five books across different genres by Black authors. He shares insights on each book, discussing themes, personal reflections, and the importance of diverse reading. The conversation emphasizes the significance of supporting BIPOC authors and exploring various narratives to foster understanding and connection.

This week I'm joined by my friend Andy, an active WatchTok creator and fellow book lover, for a conversation that truly lives up to the "Beyond" in Books & Beyond. We kick things off talking watches, sharing our watches of the day, discussing the positive evolution of the online watch community, and geeking out over grail pieces we'd love to add to our collections. The conversation naturally flows into books, where we compare our favorite 2025 reads and dive into which books we'd love to see adapted to film or TV. This episode perfectly captures what this podcast is all about - exploring different passions, finding community online, and discovering how interests like watches and books can coexist and enrich each other. Whether you're into watches, books, both, or just enjoy hearing people talk passionately about their interests, this wide-ranging conversation has something for you.

Andy's Socials

https://www.tiktok.com/@the.watch.chronic

https://www.instagram.com/andys_watches/

This week I'm joined by my BookTok friend Melly for a conversation that goes beyond just books, we're talking about the future of independent bookselling and why it matters more than ever. Melly shares her reading journey and her exciting new venture: Casa Luna Books. Currently 18 years into her Navy career, Melly is planning to open a brick-and-mortar bookstore after retirement, but she's getting started now with an online bookstore to learn the ropes of the bookselling industry. We dive deep into why independent bookstores are so crucial, how they advocate for free speech, serve diverse communities, and provide spaces that corporate chains simply don't. We also tackle the ongoing banned books crisis and discuss why accessible books for all readers, regardless of background or identity, isn't just important, it's essential. Whether you're a bookstore lover, curious about indie bookselling, or passionate about book accessibility and fighting censorship, this conversation offers meaningful insight into why supporting independent bookstores matters in 2026. Check out Casa Luna Books and support Melly's journey into bookselling!

Melly's Links:

https://www.tiktok.com/@casa.luna.books

https://www.tiktok.com/@soulfulvidadaily

https://casa-luna-books.myshopify.com/

https://www.instagram.com/casalunabooks/

Sam Boyd Reads returns to Books & Beyond for episode 50! Sam and I are kicking off 2026 by discussing our reading and content creation goals for the new year. We dive into our more laid-back approach to reading this year. Moving away from number focused goals and really leaning into reading what we want to read. I share my main 2026 reading goal: finally finishing more series instead of leaving them incomplete on my shelves! Beyond books, we get real about social media goals, our plans to grow on different platforms, navigating TikTok's ever changing landscape, and what we're hoping to achieve as content creators in the year ahead. Whether you're setting your own 2026 reading goals or curious about the realities of being a BookTok creator, this conversation offers honest insights and relatable takes on balancing what we love with what we're trying to build. Here's to a great reading year ahead!

Sam's Socials

https://www.tiktok.com/@samboydreads

https://www.instagram.com/samboydreads/

https://www.youtube.com/@SamBoydReads

What better way to close out the year than with a reading wrap-up? I'm joined once again by Supportive Dad Reads for a fun year-end conversation about our 2025 reading journeys. We start by reflecting on how our reading years went overall, then dive into our top 3 reads across four different genres (fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and other). We compare picks, explain why certain books made our lists, geek out over shared favorites, and discuss our takes on some titles. Whether you're building your 2026 TBR or just love hearing people talk about books they're passionate about, this conversation delivers. Here's to a fantastic reading year and many more to come!

Supportive Dad's Socials

https://www.tiktok.com/@supportivedadreads

https://www.instagram.com/supportivedadreads/

This week in a post Christmas solo episode, I'm mourning the death of the mass market paperback. After being tagged by a mutual on TikTok about this news, I did some research and confirmed the sad truth. After December 2025, mass market paperbacks will be mostly gone from publishing. In this episode, I dive into why this devastating news hits me so personally as a reader, especially since many of my first adult books were mass markets. Beyond my own nostalgia, I discuss the broader concerns about how this will negatively impact the publishing industry, debut and midlist authors who often launched in this format, used bookstores that rely on mass market inventory, libraries that stock affordable editions, and readers who depend on cheap books as reading becomes increasingly expensive. Join me in saying goodbye to the beloved, pocket-sized, dog eared mass market paperback. The most accessible format for readers everywhere!

It's the holiday season and you want to buy something special for the book lover in your life, but here's the truth: giving someone a book is actually pretty risky unless you know their reading taste inside and out AND what's already on their bookshelf. In this quick holiday episode, I'm sharing a practical gift guide with better alternatives to blindly buying books. I cover special editions of their favorite titles (a safe option if you know what they love), bookish merchandise and accessories, reading lights and cozy reading essentials, e-readers and Kindle accessories, and other thoughtful gifts that any reader would genuinely appreciate. Whether you're shopping for the book lover in your life or looking to share ideas with family about what YOU want this season, this guide takes the guesswork out of bookish gift-giving and helps you find something they'll actually use and love.

Episode 46

One year of podcasting! In this anniversary episode, I'm reflecting on what I've really learned over 40+ episodes. I dive into the challenges, promotion struggles, technical learning curves, starting with zero editing experience. I also celebrate the wins, especially how podcasting has helped me work through social anxiety and led to incredible conversations. I also look ahead to year two and share how I hope to keep growing both technically and personally. An honest retrospective on what the first year of podcasting actually looks like for a small creator.