The fear of living in a way nobody around you understands; knowing when to stop preparing and just start; forging a path of self-employment, and finding the bravery to tailor your life to what you need. These are some of the facets of life we discuss in this episode, as Alicia presents the life lesson she learnt from reading Cait Flander’s book, Adventures in Opting Out: A Field Guide to Living an Intentional Life.

Your menstrual cycle is not the hell you think it is; how to live better by befriending your hormones; why being naturally inconsistent makes us human and badass; reminders that you are not a robot. By the end of this episode you will love your period, or you will be well on the way—the next step is to read the book we discuss this week, Period Power by Maisie Hill.

How beautifully self-centred humans can be; the fickle nature of memories; the power of personal choice; why your worries are the wrong ones, and how many stories unfold in one life. This episode will take you on a journey into your own past and future, where—or rather when—will you choose to visit? Join us as we discuss the life lessons found in the Japanese, time-travel novel with human connection at its heart, Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

From beyond the grave we meet Brás Cubas, the titular character in a book that has impacted the way today’s guest, João Ribeiro (aka @beardbetweenthelines), has lived his life. In a conversation from Sao Paolo to Scotland, we delve into the power of words as a tool for communicating ideas and preserving history. João, a renowned expert reader, also shares with us his tips on selecting a book to get you out of your reading slump.

How scary the world can feel when you're navigating it anew. Join us, as we glance into the world of an independent bookstore to see how its owner, & wider community, live their vivacious lives in Scotland’s National Book Town in The Diary of a Bookseller. We discuss how terrifying life's fullness can feel once you become aware of your own fragility; Portia's M.E. recovery; & how the lessons found in this book could help us all to step back into life post-pandemic. https://lifethroughbookspodcast.libsyn.

In the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, find out what delightfully bookish and feel-good treats this podcast has in store for you. We cover how gruelling yet marvellous life can be, what books has to do it with it, and crucially how both these things come together for this podcast!

Life Through Books will officially launch on the 31st of January with 2 episodes. Until then, come and say hello to Portia and Alicia over on Instagram at @peholdsworth and @aliciakayecoach.