Long Story Short

This week Skye & Amanda are joined by their Historian Homie and host of the That Wasn’t in My Textbook podcast, Toya aka Toya From Harlem. The two get to know more about Toya as a fellow avid reader and learn the inspiration behind her podcast that uncovers the things that we didn’t learn in textbooks at school. 

The ladies have a book talk about one of their latest reads, Black Girl, Call Home, a poetry collection by Jasmine Mans. The three sing Mans' praises and share some of their favorite moments from her love letter to the wandering Black girl. They then discuss their individual definitions of home, in the physical, mental and emotional sense. 

Toya shares her experience with making the decision to relocate from Harlem to LA and how the move, along with the pandemic have impacted her vision of home. Skye expresses the importance and need for her to be in close proximity to loved ones. And Amanda shares how a recent visit to her old neighborhood changed her perspective on where home really resides. 

They finish by running through some of the songs that instantly make them feel at home.

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

• Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans 
• How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community by Mia Songbird
• Fucking History: 52 Lessons You Should Have Learned in School by The Captain
• Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever by John McWhorter

Check out Toya From Harlem on Instagram @toyafromharlem , listen to the That Wasn’t in My Textbook podcast and purchase her enamel bookmarks. 

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores:
Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Long Story Short Audience Survey: To make Long Story Short the best podcast it can be, we would love to learn more about you, our loyal listeners. Please help us by taking this brief survey.

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

On this week’s episode Skye & Amanda talk boundaries. The two rave about their recent read, Set Boundaries, Find Peace by therapist, Nedra Glover Tawwab. Tawwab is an expert in relationship building and cultivating healthy boundaries with ourselves and others. 

The ladies share Tawwab’s definition of a boundary, signs you’re in need of healthier boundaries, the 3 levels of boundaries and the 2 steps to take to set new boundaries. They discuss the reasons why people tend to struggle with expressing their needs to others in an assertive way and share their personal experiences with lacking boundaries in several areas of life. From romantic relationships to family to friends to social media, here what steps they each have and are taking to protect their peace and honor themselves. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

Follow Nedra on Instagram at @nedratawwab 

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores: 

Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership.

Long Story Short Audience Survey: To make Long Story Short the best podcast it can be, we would love to learn more about you, our loyal listeners. Please help us by taking this brief survey.

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

This week Skye & Amanda read Women, Food, and Desire by Alexandra Jamieson and begin a conversation around their individual relationships with food and how much of it is tied to something much deeper than what’s on their plate. The two talk about their cravings patterns and how much willpower they feel that they have around giving into them. Jamieson’s point around the fact that we inherit eating habits in the household lead to discussion around what their food behavior was like growing up and what comfort foods and desires from childhood have maintained themselves as adults. 

The ladies discuss their personal views and experiences with dieting and detoxing and share what they really truly want their relationship with food to look and feel like. The ladies walk away with one common goal going forward; to take a deeper dive into the connection between their unmet needs and the foods that they lean on. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

Women, Food, and Desire: Embrace Your Cravings, Make Peace with Food, Reclaim Your Body by Alexandra Jamieson

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Amanda’s Black Women Mental Health Podcast List

Therapy for Black Girls - IG @therapyforblackgirls 
Black Girls Heal - IG @blackgirlsheal
Black Girl in Om - IG @blackgirlinom
Balanced Black Girl - IG @balancedblackgirlpodcast
Minding My Black Business - IG @drjanaetaylor 
Hey Girl Podcast - IG @theheygirlpodcast
Between Sessions 

Check out this episode’s Book EP for Amanda’s food playlist.

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores: 

Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:

Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

The ladies are back with another TV x book hybrid episode! This week they’re giving book recommendations to the five couples on the latest season of Married at First Sight. Skye & Amanda explain the premise of the show’s experiment and each give their overall thoughts. Hear the two discuss whether or not they would sign themselves up for a modern day arranged marriage and Skye’s idea for a less committed version of the show. 

Find out what books each host would suggest for a wife struggling with an emotionally abusive partner, a relationship that lacks intimacy, a couple fighting over pets and a husband who doesn’t do well with change. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

The Whole 30 Fast & Easy Cookbook by Melissa Hartwig Urban 
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
The Human Voice by Anne Karpf
The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women Valerie Young
Psychology Today: How to Optimize Your Relationship: The 70/70 Compromise
All About Love by bell hooks
The Assertiveness Guide for Women by Julie de Azevedo Hanks
Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
Think Again by Adam Grant
Low Stress Handling Restraint and Behavior Modification of Dogs & Cats by Sophia Yin
Communion: The Female Search for Love by bell hooks
Girl Run: The No-Fail Method for Breaking Narcissist Relationship Ties (Life After the Narc)
Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Fin Lit Kids 
Check out Fin Lit Kids & their Money Box on Instagram at: @finlitkidsbox

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores:
Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

So often you’ll hear Skye & Amanda say “it stems from childhood” and this week they take a look at what that really means. The two read The Drama of the Gifted Child by Alice Miller and discuss the effects that repressed childhood emotions and memories can have on us as adults. 

The ladies break down Miller’s definition of “gifted” and find out that it's less about intelligence or talent, and more about being highly sensitive to others needs. Listen in to find out who was initially hesitant to read this book and who was excited to dig in. Learn about how each of the ladies connect with the idea of being the gifted child and some of the steps they see necessary to resolve childhood trauma as a way to break generational cycles. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop*

• The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Beauty 2 The Streetz 
Check out Beauty 2 The Streetz on Instagram at: @beauty2thestreetz

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores:
Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership.

Long Story Short Audience Survey: To make Long Story Short the best podcast it can be, we would love to learn more about you, our loyal listeners. Please help us by taking this brief survey.

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

April is Financial Literacy month, so this week Skye & Amanda are talking dollars! The two read You’re a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero and take a deep dive into their personal relationships with money. They discuss what their childhood thoughts were on money based on what they saw and heard in the household and they each consider all of the ways that it has impacted how they’ve viewed money as adults. 

Listen in to hear about each of the ladies’ past and current fears around money, how much they have operated from a scarcity mindset over the years and what they are now doing to process their emotions around finances and move forward in abundance. Learn about Sincero’s “cocktail of creation” and how it can help you change the way you go about reaching financial freedom. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

• You’re a Badass at Making Money: Master the Money Mindset by Jen Sincero

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Phoenix Community Garden

Check out Phoenix Community Garden on Instagram at: @phoenix_bklyn

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores:
Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Long Story Short Audience Survey: To make Long Story Short the best podcast it can be, we would love to learn more about you, our loyal listeners. Please help us by taking this brief survey.

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

This week Skye and Amanda have fun reading Black Sun Signs: An African-American Guide to the Zodiac by Thelma Belfour and discussing their overall thoughts on astrology. The two go into Belfour’s definition of the sun sign, which element each sign falls under and who are known to be most compatible. 

From the positive and negative personalities trait to dating and sexual behavior to how they grocery shop, listen in to hear Skye & Amanda each agree and disagree with Belfour about what she finds to be commonalities of their sun signs, Gemini & Leo. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

• Black Sun Signs: An African-American Guide to the Zodiac by Thelma Belfour

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Black Trans Femme in the Arts
Check out Black Trans Femme in the Arts on Instagram at: @btfacollective

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores:
Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

*trigger warning - this episode mentions suicide* 

This week Skye & Amanda read Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Women’s Guide to Understanding & Overcoming Anxiety, Panic and Fear by Dr Angela Barnett and have a discussion around their personal experiences with anxiety. 

Listen in to hear Dr. Barnett’s definitions of anxiety and fear and learn the main psychological, environmental and biological reasons why Black women experience anxiety. The two also dive into the 5 types of anxiety and reflect on how they relate to each. Amanda shares her experience with anxiety after a devastating loss and how she struggles in social settings. Skye talks about her one debilitating panic attack and how anxiety shows up for her in the workplace. They also get into specific phobias that have caused them anxiety. 

The talk ends with the ladies running through some of the techniques and tips that Dr Barnett shares as options to soothe your nerves when anxiety tries to get the best of you. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

• Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic and Fear by Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: SoYouWantToTalkAbout
Check out So You Want to Talk About on Instagram at: @soyouwanttotalkabout

Head to Long Story Short’s Instagram page to enter their libro.fm audiobook giveaway. 

Check out this episode’s Book EP for Amanda’s sound therapy/binaural beats playlist.

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores: 

Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

This week the ladies are talking sex! Skye & Amanda discuss their recent read, Stolen Women: Reclaiming Our Sexuality, Taking Back Our Lives by Dr. Gail Elizabeth Wyatt and give their thoughts around what ended up being an insightful history lesson on the myths and stereotypes that surround the sexuality of Black women, dating back to pre-slavery. 

The two open up about their early years - when and how they learned about sex, whether or not sex was discussed in their households or at school and how much of their first sexual experiences lived up to any expectations they might’ve had based on media and peers. The ladies reflect on whether or not their views on body image as teens still impact how they see themselves now. Amanda talks about the adjustments she’s had to make to accept body changes and Skye discusses the assumptions that were made about her because of how her body developed and how that impacts her now. 

Listen in to what the ladies are saying is just an introduction to a soon to be continued topic around sexual liberation and coming into their sexuality presently. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

• Stolen Women: Reclaiming Our Sexuality, Taking Back Our Lives by Dr. Gail Elizabeth Wyatt 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Buy from a Black Woman 

Check out We Buy Black on Instagram at: @buyfromablackwoman
Check out this episode’s Book EP for Amanda’s sex playlist.   

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores:
Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Long Story Short Audience Survey: To make Long Story Short the best podcast it can be, we would love to learn more about you, our loyal listeners. Please help us by taking this brief survey.

Long Story Short Hotline: (646) 543-6232

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.

On this week’s episode, Skye & Amanda are joined by Dunni and Taleah, the hosts of Beauty Needs Me, a podcast centered around a holistic 360 view on beauty that includes the mind, body and soul. Dunni and Taleah open up about their experience working together on the podcast and what they’ve learned about themselves and each other through the process. 

Long Story Short wouldn’t be complete without some book talk. Listen in to learn about what type of reader each of the guests are, what books have changed their lives, everyone’s love for audiobooks and find out who needs some convincing around joining a book club. 

The four touch on the topic of beauty as it pertains to book to screen adaptations. Hear the ladies varying thoughts around when and how Hollywood should be held accountable for casting actors as they are described in books. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to our Bookshop.org shop* 

• Attached : The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find - and Keep - Love by Amir Levine M.D., and Rachel S.F. Heller, MA 
• Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson  
• A Promised Land by Barack Obama
• The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey
• The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed and Happiness by Morgan Housel
• The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
• Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois Frankel
• The Conversation by Hill Harper
• The Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 
• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Kindred by Octavia Butler

Check out Beauty Needs Me on Instagram @beautyneedsme. You can also keep up with Dunni and Taleah at @theedunnio and @taleahgriffin.

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores: 

Libro.FM - get two audiobooks for the price of one when you use the code LSSPODCAST when signing up for your first month of membership. 

Follow us online:
Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod
Twitter: @LSSpodcast
Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod
Email: [email protected]

*Purchasing books through Bookshop.org earns Long Story Short a small commission.