This week I'm joined by fellow BookTok creator Supportive Dad Reads for a wide-ranging conversation about reading, community, and breaking genre expectations. We dive into his journey back to novels after years of exclusively reading comics and graphic novels, and explore his reading journey that spans all the way back to his teenage years. As two content creators and girl dads, we discuss what drew us to BookTok, the genuine community we've found through creating content, and how both our reading lives and online presence have evolved. We get real about being newer to romance and spicy genres. How they're completely different than what we expected, and why people who judge these genres often do so from a place of insecurity. This conversation covers everything from parenting to content creation, reading habits to genre exploration, with plenty of laughs and honest reflection along the way. Perfect for anyone curious about romance, interested in the BookTok creator experience, or just wants to hear two dads geek out about books.

Links

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

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

This week's solo episode tackles something we all struggle with: screen time and phone addiction. After recognizing how much of my life was being consumed by scrolling, I'm making intentional changes to reclaim my time and attention. I dive into the negative impacts of excessive screen time and share the analog shifts I'm implementing . From physical journals and a commonplace notebook I carry everywhere, to switching from Google Calendar to a physical planner. We talk about the benefits of reading physical books (for vocabulary and comprehension), and I share changes I'm working toward like printing physical photos instead of keeping them trapped on devices, potentially getting an iPod to separate music from my phone, and going unplugged during family time like dinners and movie nights. I also get real about how algorithms are designed to keep us scrolling, not for our benefit, but for the companies profiting from our attention. If you've been feeling overwhelmed by screen time or curious about adding more analog elements to your life, this conversation might be the wake-up call you need.

Mid-fall check-in time! In this solo episode, I'm updating you on my fall reading (spoiler: IT by Stephen King took over my life), explaining my TBR jar system, sharing photography updates including my new lens and fall projects, and discussing horror movies with a request for your B-level horror recommendations. A cozy autumn chat covering books, photography, and spooky season vibes!

This week I was joined by my BookTok mutual Abe, a creator who takes seasonal reading seriously. Abe spent his entire summer curating the perfect fall reading list ! Yes, reading autumn books in the heat so you don't have to guess what to pick up this season! We discuss the art of intentional reading and how Abe creates the perfect atmosphere with scented candles, flavored coffees, and all the cozy touches that make reading even more immersive. Whether you're looking for fall book recommendations, want tips on setting the mood for seasonal reading, or just love the idea of being more intentional about your reading experience, this conversation delivers all the cozy autumn vibes. Perfect timing as we head into spooky season!

Abe's Links

https://www.tiktok.com/@italianwitchbooks?lang=en

https://www.instagram.com/italianwitchbooks?igsh=MTZibTRkbjM4MTk0Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ItalianWitchco

This week I was joined by Bloodfirejeff, a fellow BookTok creator who's also a touring musician in multiple bands. We dove deep into Jeff's reading journey, his longtime passion for fantasy, and his current complicated relationship with romantasy. But this conversation goes far beyond books, we explored the art of content creation, what it means to be a multi-faceted creative, and even geeked out about gear and videography techniques. Jeff also shared insights about his music career, touring life, and how he balances being both a musician and BookTok creator. Whether you're interested in fantasy books, curious about the creative process across different mediums, or love hearing from people who refuse to be put in just one box, this conversation offers fascinating insights into living a truly creative life. Perfect for anyone juggling multiple creative passions or wondering how different art forms can influence each other.

Jeff's Socials

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

https://www.instagram.com/hammerheartbooks/?hl=en

This week I was joined by Sean (aka Grainshift_), a photography-focused TikTok creator who's become one of my favorite follows this year. We dove into our surprisingly similar photography journeys and how we both got started, plus explored how social media has transformed the art of photography. Sean shared insights that really made me think differently about art and creativity. Whether you're into photography, interested in the intersection of art and social media, or just love hearing passionate creators discuss their craft, this conversation offers plenty to consider about creativity in the digital age.

Sean's Socials

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

https://www.instagram.com/grainshift_/

This week I'm joined by Claude Kelly, one of my BookTok mutuals and an incredibly successful songwriter in the music industry! We dive into how BookTok has positively transformed our reading lives and explore our shared passion for slice of life books. Those beautiful, everyday moments that make stories feel so real and relatable. Claude shares fascinating insights about finding slice of life elements woven throughout different genres, from fantasy to contemporary fiction and even Horror.

What makes this conversation even more interesting is learning about Claude's intentional choice to keep his music career separate when he started on TikTok. He was simply looking for a space to geek out about fantasy and sci-fi books and build genuine connections within the bookish community. We talk about the importance of finding your tribe, the authentic community that BookTok can provide, and why sometimes the quiet, slice of life moments in books hit us harder than any big plot twist. Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven stories, BookTok community discussions, or is curious about how creative professionals find inspiration across different mediums.

Claudes Links

https://www.tiktok.com/@santaclaude7

https://www.instagram.com/claudekelly/

This week I sit down with watch content creator and industry professional Connor, aka 10 Past 10, for an in-depth conversation about watch collecting, the luxury watch market, and content creation. As someone who works in a jewelry store selling both watches and jewelry, Connor brings unique insider perspective to our discussion about how he discovered his passion for watches and built his current collection.We dive deep into grail watches, those dream timepieces we're all chasing, And share our personal wish lists. But the real highlight is our fascinating analysis of Rolex's strategic transformation over the past 15 years, examining how they deliberately positioned themselves as the ultimate luxury watch brand and what that means for collectors today.Whether you're a seasoned watch collector, curious about getting into watches, interested in luxury brand strategy, or follow watch content on TikTok, this episode delivers insider insights you won't find elsewhere. Connor's dual perspective as both content creator and industry professional makes for compelling conversation about the current state of the watch world and where it's headed.Perfect for watch enthusiasts, luxury brand fans, and anyone curious about how industries evolve and brands build prestige.Connors Socials

Connors Socials

https://www.tiktok.com/@10_past_10

https://www.instagram.com/10_past_10watches/

This week I'm switching things up with my first Q&A solo episode! I asked for questions on TikTok and got some great responses covering all my different interests and hobbies. From books to watches, photography to unexpected topics. I had a blast answering everything you threw at me. Some questions were easy, others really made me think and reflect on my passions in new ways. If you've been curious about any of my hobbies or wanted to get to know the person behind the podcast a bit better, this episode gives you exactly that. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions! This was such a fun format and I loved getting to dive into all these different topics!

My Socials

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

https://www.instagram.com/booksandbeyond_thatguyjae/

It's solo episode time! I'm using this opportunity to wrap up what was honestly a pretty uneventful summer and share my massive excitement for the upcoming fall season. While summer was quiet, I am absolutely living for what's ahead, cool weather, changing leaves, and all the cozy fall vibes. I dive into my fall photography project ideas and get really excited talking about my seasonal reading plans. While I'm usually a mood reader who picks up whatever calls to me regardless of season, spooky season is the one exception to that rule! This fall I'm planning to dive deep into horror and thriller reads, and this year I'm adding dark academia to the mix for the first time. If you're someone who gets as hyped about fall as I do, or if you're looking for some spooky reading inspiration, this episode is pure autumn anticipation energy. Consider this your official fall hype session!