In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, join Andrea and Elizabeth as they recap Andrea’s recent experience at WorldCon 2025 in Seattle. They delve into the Hugo Awards, explaining their significance and highlighting the 2025 winners in categories like Best Novel, Best Novella, and Best Series. The episode also covers what makes a book a sci-fi or fantasy classic, mentioning influential books from the hosts' reading journeys. From Frank Herbert’s Dune to J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, some classics live on and inspire the next generation. The episode concludes with an announcement for their next book pick, The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin.

00:00 Worldcon, Hugos, & Classics

03:35 Hugo Awards Mini FAQ

05:23 2025 Hugo Award Winner Highlights

09:02 Previous Hugo Award Winning Novels

14:18 Other Notable Awards

17:00 How Would You Define a Classic?

19:02 Sci-Fi Classics Being Film Adaptations

26:00 Back to Defining Classics

28:58 Next Month's Book Pick

Previous WorldCon Locations

https://www.worldcon.org/worldcon-history/

WorldCon 2026, August 27-31st, at the Anaheim Convention Center (LACon V)

https://www.lacon.org/about/

2025 Hugo Award Winners:

https://locusmag.com/2025/08/hugo-lodestar-and-astounding-awards-winners-2/

Previous Hugo Award Winners By Year:

https://www.sfadb.com/Hugo_Awards_Winners_By_Category

Lateral Episode: When Brad Pitt Caused a Walk Out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHIbBMowOkc

Org Chart 30 Rock: Sheinhardt Wig Company, the fictional parent company of NBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G03R3fvLIhI

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth delve into Sangu Mandanna's cozy fantasy novel The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. They explore how main character Mika Moon connects to their lunar theme for the year, the heartwarming found family at the center of the story, and how trust takes time to build. They touch upon the 'twee' aesthetic of the book, comparing it to other similar novels and discussing British cultural influences. They also share some moments that didn’t quite work for them, just enough to impact their overall rating. Additionally, the hosts share their favorite teas and offer a special discount code for Plum Deluxe Tea to enhance the cozy reading experience.

00:00 Secret Society of Irregular Witches

06:56 Being Nice Versus Being Kind

12:36 British Vocabulary Lessons

17:27 Similarities to Other Books

19:36 Tea Love

24:45 Cozy Fantasy Square for Book Bingo?

29:00 Where We Got Lost on the Way to Nowhere House

31:25 Our Ratings

33:48 Concluding Remarks

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Favorite Teas:

https://www.barrystea.ie/

https://www.shop.tipuschai.com/

https://www.plumdeluxe.com/ 

Promo code in the episode for Plum Deluxe Tea is for first order during the month of August 2025, does not combine with other codes.

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, hosts Andrea and Elizabeth dive into the sub-genre of Dark Academia, discussing its key elements.. They talk about essential Dark Academia characteristics such as elite academic settings, gothic elements, and intellectual pursuits, citing examples like ‘The Secret History’ by Donna Tartt and TV shows like ‘Wednesday’. The hosts discuss the allure of magical schools, secret societies, and libraries. They touch upon various books like Rebecca Yarros' ‘Onyx Storm’, Naomi Novik's ‘A Deadly Education ', and R.F. Kuang’s upcoming release ‘Katabasis.’ They also delve into the allure of libraries, their dreams of personal libraries, and a few of their favorite libraries IRL.  

00:00 Introduction to Dark Academia

00:45 Defining Dark Academia

04:02 Tropes and Personal Preferences

06:14 Dark Academia on Netflix

08:22 Naomi Novik's Scholomance Series

12:33 More Dragons

13:38 Book Bingo Dark Academia Square and TBR

15:18 Elizabeth’s Current Librarian Recommendation

18:37 Pirate Academy: A Dark Academia Twist

19:43 Pirates and Dragons in Tress of the Emerald Sea

21:19 Libraries: The Heart of Dark Academia

23:03 Dream Libraries

27:40 RF Kuang's Dark Academia Books: Katabasis & Babel

30:22 Closing Remarks

Books Mentioned:

The Secret History & The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik 

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

Paper Towns by John Green

 The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides. 

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson

 The Library Book by Susan Orlean 

Katabasis & Bable by R.F. Kuang

Other fun things:

https://www.instagram.com/1000libraries/

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into John Scalzi's book When The Moon Hits Your Eye, exploring its whimsical premise of the moon turning to cheese and the ensuing effects on Earth. They discuss the book's blend of absurdity, philosophical musings, and scientific implications. The conversation also touches on favorite plotlines, perhaps a few too many characters to follow, and the book's overall impact. They debate the book's categorization within genres like sci-fi and satire, and conclude with mixed reviews, ranging from three to four stars. Tune in next time for a discussion on Dark Academia.

00:00 When the Moon Hits Your Eye

00:51 Quick Book Recap and Synopsis

09:03 Spoiler Alert

14:23 A Very American Point of View

16:38 Talking Cats, Dinosaurs, or Dragons?

19:28 The Caseusian Hoax

20:52 What kind of cheese did you imagine?

22:49 Reading Large Print Books

24:34 Does this count as science fiction?

32:33 Would this be a good book club book?

35:03 Ratings

36:27 Who would you recommend read this book?

37:48 Conclusion

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, hosts Andrea and Elizabeth discuss their annual reading goals, methods for setting those goals, and tracking their progress. They talk about various book tracking systems such as Goodreads, StoryGraph, and physical journals. They share their personal experiences and preferences in reading habits. Book club assignments, mood reading, and the impact of life circumstances on reading frequency are covered, alongside a quick review of the New York Times Best 100 Books of the 21st Century lists. They also check in their the Galaxies and Goddesses Summer Book Bingo progress. Additionally, listen closely for a promo code on the bookish merchandise at https://www.book-sisters.com. Tune in next time for a discussion on 'When the Moon Hits Your Eye' by John Scalzi.

00:00 Reading Goals

00:56 Setting Reading Goals for the Year

06:05 How do you decide what to read next?

08:24 Elizabeth's Current Read: Say Nothing

10:43 Andrea's Book Tracking Methods

13:17 Elizabeth's Book Tracking Systems

15:39 Galaxies and Goddesses Summer Book Bingo

17:18 Fantasy Semantics : Warlocks Versus Wizards

18:41 Other Recent Summer Reads

25:17 Conclusion

Listen in for a special discount code to help plan your reading journey with The Book Sisters:  https://www.book-sisters.com/

Other fun resources:

The New York Times Book Review Best Books of the 21st Century

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/best-books-21st-century.html

 The New York Times Book Review Best Books of the 21st Century - Reader’s Choice

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/books/reader-best-books-21st-century.html 

In this week's episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth delve into their first sci-fi book pick “The Moonday Letters” by Emmi Itäranta. They share their thoughts on the book, highlighting its unique blend of science fiction, ecological themes, and mystical elements. The story, written in an epistolary format, follows Lumi's quest to find her missing spouse, Sol, across space in the year 2168. The hosts discuss the book's melancholic beauty, realistic world-building, and the interplay between science and mysticism. They also touch on similar book recommendations and their personal ratings.

Other books mentioned in this episode: 

Origin by Dan Brown

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

00:00 Galaxies & Goddesses Episode Intro

02:32 Themes and Structure of the Book

04:45 Defining a Thriller?

09:50 The Anthropocene Epoch

12:59 Digging the Details

16:13 Mythology References

19:19 Life on Earth vs. Mars: A Tale of Inequality

23:59 Mysticism and Science: A Delicate Balance

29:33 Final Thoughts and Ratings

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth celebrate Pride Month, emphasizing the importance of visibility and support for queer stories as allies. They discuss the origins of Pride Month, highlighting the 1969 Stonewall riots and their impact on LGBTQ+ rights movements. The conversation transitions to LGBTQ+ books, with the hosts sharing recommendations and discussing various stories that feature queer characters and relationships. The episode concludes with details about various pride parades across the United States and an invitation for listeners to tune into their June book pick for their next episode The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta. 

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K Le Guin

Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, Wendy Xu (Illustrator)

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

On our TBR

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marsk

The Moonday Letters by Emmi Itäranta

00:00 Introduction and Pride Month Acknowledgment

01:32 History of Pride Month and Stonewall Riots

06:02 Queer Representation in Literature

16:36 Normalizing Queer Relationships

18:33 "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides

23:30 Books on on TBR

26:26 Parades!

Let’s Connect…

Email us at galaxiesandgoddesses@gmail

Podcast IG: @galaxiesandgoddesses

In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, hosts Elizabeth and Andrea explore their seasonal reading habits and discuss nostalgic summer reading programs that foster a love for books. They share childhood memories of reading on backyard patios, discuss the impact of reading programs such as Pizza Hut’s and local library initiatives, and emphasize the charm and community of independent bookstores. The episode wraps up with the announcement of their own summer book bingo challenge and encourages listeners to join in on the fun!

Books Mentioned in this episode:

(Books We’ve Found in Little Free Libraries)

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

The Plot Against America by Phillip Roth

The Human Stain by Phillip Roth

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

(A Book that Andrea Owns Two Copies) 

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

(A Book that Elizabeth bought on Independent Bookstore Day)

James by Percival Everett

Bingo Programs:

Little Free Library Book Bingo

https://littlefreelibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/lfl-bingo-card-2025.pdf

University of Maryland: Terp Summer Challenge

https://alumni.umd.edu/events/marquee/terp-summer-reading-challenge

Ohio State Summer Reading Challenge

​​https://www.osu.edu/alumni/reading-bingo-challenges 

Seattle Public Library Summer Bingo

https://www.spl.org/programs-and-services/authors-and-books/book-bingo

Kids Reading Programs:

PIzza Hut Summer Reading Program

https://www.bookitprogram.com/

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

https://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025-BN-Kids-Summer-Reading-Journal.pdf 

Connect with us on Instagram @galaxiesandgoddesses

00:00 Welcome to Galaxies and Goddesses

00:34 Episode Overview

00:46 Seasonal Reading Habits

02:27 Outdoor Reading Spaces 

04:38 Nostalgic Backyard Patios

06:36 Exploring Little Free Libraries

17:49 Excitement for Alexander Skarsgard's New Show

18:12 New Orleans Bookstore Adventure

21:29 Independent Bookstore Day Marathon

30:46 Summer Reading Programs and Conclusion

Join hosts Andrea and Elizabeth in this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses as they discuss Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan. They explore the book's setting, plot, and connections to Chinese mythology, and offer their thoughts on whether it leans more towards young adult or adult fiction. They also share personal reflections and library anecdotes, and touch on themes like dragons in fantasy worlds and the inclusion of meditation. The episode concludes with their ratings and invites listeners to their next episode about favorite summer reading activities. Tune in for an engaging and informative book discussion!

Other books mentioned in this episode:

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

00:00 Welcome to Galaxies and Goddesses

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:31 Book Discussion: Daughter of the Moon Goddess

02:08 Themes and World-Building

04:41 Character Analysis and Final Thoughts

18:27 Telepathic Dragons and Mythical Creatures

20:07 Exploring Chinese Mythology

24:02 Meditation and Mindfulness

33:03 Book Ratings and Final Thoughts

Join hosts Andrea and Elizabeth as they dive into what’s next on their TBR shelf of their favorite sci-fi and fantasy series, along with a few stand alone novels. They share personal anecdotes and detailed insights about why these books captivate them. They also touch upon upcoming releases by authors like Rachel Gillig and R.F. Kuang. Additionally, the hosts discuss Independent Bookstore Day and their plans to celebrate, including how to find out more about local bookstore events.

Fantasy books on our TBR

Kingdom of Ash  (Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J Maas

The Blackbird Oracle (All Souls #5) by Deborah Harkness

Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower #5) by Stephen King

Written in My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander #8) by Diana Gabaldon

Oathbound (The Legendborn Cycle #3) by Tracy Deonn

Sci-Fi books on our TBR

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (upcoming on Apple TV+)

Project Hail Mail by Andy Weir (film in production)

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

I,Robot by Isaac Asimov

The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin

Authors with new releases

Rachel Gillig with The Knight and the Moth, May 20, 2025

R.F. Kuang with Katabasis, August 26, 2025

Independent Bookstore Day 

Indiebound Map and other resources: https://www.indiebound.org/independent-bookstore-day/map

Trevor Noah’s Podcast, “What Now? With Trevor Noah”

https://open.spotify.com/show/122imavATqSE7eCyXIcqZL 

The Book Larder, Seattle

https://booklarder.com/products/seattle-independent-bookstore-day-2025 

Parnassus’ Books, Nashville

https://parnassusbooks.net/event/independent-bookstore-day-2025