The ladies are starting off Women’s History month with another bell hooks read, Sisters of the Yam. The two give their thoughts on hooks’ views and approach to managing the emotional health of Black women, as we face being at the intersection of racism, sexism and capitalism. They then dive into a deeper conversation around one major aspect of life that hooks believes Black women should focus on during their self-recovery journey, that being their relationship with work. 

Listen in as Skye & Amanda open up about their individual experiences and beliefs around the importance of work. The two discuss whether or not they’ve ever imagined a life where they wouldn’t have to work. What retirement might look like for them. How the women in their lives’ work dynamics impact the way they see work. The ways that a scarcity mindset can impact Black women, causing us to take on more than we should at times. How important passion and purpose are to their career paths and why witnessing the success of Black owned businesses is important to them. 

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

Sisters of the Yam by bell hooks 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: The Birthing Place

Check out We Buy Black on Instagram at: @birthingplacebx

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

Tune into Skye & Amanda’s appearance as guests on the Beauty Needs Me podcast. 

Word of the Week: Felicitous

Support Long Story Short and Local Bookstores: 

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

After weeks of dissecting love and its many layers, Skye & Amanda decide to have some fun by putting themselves into the shoes of characters from some of their favorite fictional reads. The two discuss The Perfect Find by Tia Williams and give their thoughts on work romance and whether or not they would be open to dating someone 18 years their senior or junior. They chat about Luster by Raven Leilani and break down why they would each have a difficult time being in an open marriage. They finish with An American Marriage by Tayari Jones and ask each other, would you stay by your spouse’s side while they do a 12 year bid for a crime they didn’t commit? Find out who is a ride or die and who is a ride… no die! The ladies also talk about men and women just being friends and whether or not it’s possible for someone to maintain a friendship with an ex. 

Listen in and join the ladies by asking yourself… what would you do?? 

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

• The Perfect Find by Tia Williams 
• Luster by Raven Leilani 
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: We Buy Black
Check out We Buy Black on Instagram at: @webuyblack

Purchase their Make The Switch Box to try your hand at 6 Black owned home essential items.

Check out Reel, the Black owned toilet and paper towel subscription service that was mentioned.

Check out this episode’s Book EP for Amanda’s soundtrack song to each book discussed.

Word of the Week: Gadabout

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.

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

This week Skye & Amanda read Attached. by Amir Levine, a psychiatrist & neuroscientist and Rachel Heller, a psychologist, who together define the three main attachment styles that show up in adult relationships - Anxious, Avoidant and Secure. The ladies break down how the theory on attachment styles came to be, how to identify your style based on both your childhood and adult behaviors and what learning your style might explain about the way you and your partner perceive and respond to intimacy in a romantic relationship.

Listen in as the hosts relate over their experiences with having an Anxious attachment style. Hear what steps Skye is taking to show up more secure in her future relationships and Amanda’s thoughts on how her attachment style has changed over time.   

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 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlights are the below podcasts:
Black History in Two Minutes , check out their Instagram page at: @blackhistoryintwominutes
Black History Moments , check out their Instagram page at: @blackhistorymoments
That Wasn’t in My Textbook, check out their Instagram page at: @thatwasntinmytextbook 

Check out Amanda’s Attached playlist.  

Word of the Week: Quisquous

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.

Follow us online:

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

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

The love talk continues! Following their read of All About Love by bell hooks, Skye & Amanda read Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient African Teachings in the Ways of Relationships by Sobonfu Some, a book detailing the author’s West African village and the impact that their beliefs and traditions have on the relationship dynamics of its people. The two discuss Some’s definition of both spirit and intimacy and their connection to one another.

Listen in to hear the ladies’ thoughts on the importance of community in regards to their relationships - romantic, family and friendship and where they each draw the line on letting others get involved. Amanda admits how private she is about her relationships, why she doesn’t often ask for advice and her desire for more couple friends.  Skye shares why it’s so important for her to know her partner’s friends and what community support means to her when it comes to building a future family of her own.

In hopes of incorporating more spirituality into their relationships, they also discuss rituals and how open they are to adding it to their romantic connections.

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

• The Spirit of Intimacy: Ancient African Teachings in the Ways of Relationships by Sobonfu Some

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Ericka Hart & Ebony Donnely
Check out their “Black People Tell Black History” series on Instagram at: @ihartericka
Watch the Hidden Treasure of Black American Sign Language on Youtube.

Check out this playlist of some of Amanda’s favorite love songs.
Word of the Week: Gelid

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.

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 dig deep into the definition of love. The two discuss how reading All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks transformed their views on love no longer just being a feeling, but being wrapped in action. Listen in to hear about the ingredients of love based on hook’s ideology and how the portrayal of love during childhood can impact how it shows up in our adult lives. The ladies give their thoughts on Valentine’s Day as a holiday and what “finding love” really means. 

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

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: #HappyPeriod 

Check out #HappyPeriod on Instagram at: @wearehappyperiod

And share their period guide & workbook with the youth in your life. 

Check out this playlist of some of Amanda’s favorite love songs. 

Word of the Week: Billet-doux

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. 

This week the ladies are just shooting the shit - no segments, just vibes. The two do a wellness and accountability check in to see how each is feeling this week and where they each are with their habits and routines after their last three episode reads. Listen in as they discuss their experience joining the Well Read Black Girl Friendship Summit. Plenty of TV talk happens, as the ladies give their thoughts on Bling Empire and One Night in Miami. It wouldn’t be right if they didn’t take time to discuss books. Hear the book to screen adaptations and new book releases that they are most looking forward to. 

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

•  Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
• Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L Browne
• The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw
• Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi
• Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
• The Afrominimalist's Guide to Living with Less by Christine Platt
• Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Dr Nedra Glover Tawwab

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. 

After their discussion on the power of tiny habits, Skye & Amanda wanted to take a further look into another method that many accomplished people attribute to their success, that being, manifestation. This week the two read Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life by Shakti Gawain and talked through the technique of using your imagination to create what you want in your life.

Listen in to learn the most effective ways to creatively and intentionally form an image of your desires and how to manifest it into a reality. Hear the ladies give their honest opinions and experiences (both before and after reading the book) with affirmations and vision boards; two forms of creative visualization. 

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

Creative Visualization: Use the Power of Your Imagination to Create What You Want in Your Life by Shakti Gawain 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Building Black Bedstuy
Check out Buying Black Bedstuy on Instagram at: @buildingblackbedstuy

  Check out the creative visualization playlist Amanda mentioned that is filled with affirmation music and guided meditations, all by Black & POC creatives.    

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.

Follow us online:

Instagram: @LongStoryShortPod

Twitter: @LSSpodcast

Facebook: @LongStoryShortPod

Email: [email protected]

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

Skye & Amanda are back like they never left! With the new year here, resolutions are often a topic of conversation. The ladies decided to shift their mindset away from goals and focus more on the systems they have in place to keep up with the positive changes they are looking to make in their lives. This week the two have read Atomic Habits by James Clear, a jam packed self improvement book where Clear (a world leading expert of habits) teaches readers about the power of mastering tiny changes that will ultimately lead to remarkable results. 

Listen in to learn about why the tiny habits matter, why it is hard for some people to stick to healthy habits even when they know it's good for them and the 4 step process of building a habit and changing behaviors that don’t serve us. Hear what thoughts, revelations and next steps Skye & Amanda are both taking after reading Atomic Habits and what they’re holding each other accountable to when it comes to building new and better routines this year. 

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

• Atomic Habits by James Clear 

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Wellemental
Check out Wellemental on Instagram at: @bewellemental 

Check out the instrumental playlist that Amanda is using to help with her productivity. 

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. 

During a time when many of us are reflecting on all that we have accomplished and setting new goals for ourselves, Amanda and Skye decided to use their final book talk of the year to discuss something that many of us face when it comes to our success, Imposter Syndrome. 

After reading The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It by Dr Valerie Young, the ladies reflect on what they’ve discovered about their internal dialogue around their achievements and their competence. Listen in to learn the true definition of Imposter Syndrome, the reasons why many of us experience it and what it might look like in our day to day lives. Skye & Amanda break down Dr Young’s list of the 5 competence styles of Imposter Syndrome and open up about which ones they each relate to. Find out the ways that we can reframe our thinking around how we view ourselves and go into 2021 ready to celebrate our wins - both big and small. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to Independent Bookstore: Books are Magic

• The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the IMPOSTER SYNDROME and How to Thrive in Spite of it by Valerie Young

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Elston Bell Jr. (of Speak Our Language Podcast) and his initiative, Black Boys Lit 

Check out Black Boys Lit on Instagram at: @black.boys.lit

  Check out the Podcast in Color (ran by Berry) Imposter Syndrome 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. 

Follow us online:

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

Skye and Amanda’s decision to experiment and read The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness lent itself to a bigger conversation around the impact that language and relatability can have, as it pertains to influence.

Listen in as the ladies break down some of the  "Gucci-isms" and explain their thoughts on this book in comparison to what they expected and other self-help or motivational books they have read. While this might not have been the star on their bookshelf, they agree on why they won’t be totally writing this book off just yet and the importance of motivation coming from all different walks of life. Learn about what each host looks for when it comes to other people’s ability to influence and inspire them, and who they would love to write a self-help book next. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to Independent Bookstore: Greenlight Bookstore
The Gucci Mane Guide to Greatness by Gucci Mane

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Health in Her Hue
Check out The Health in Her Hue on Instagram at: @healthinherhue

Faves of Skye & Amanda:

HeyFranHey of The Friend Zone Podcast 

Myleik Teele of The MyTaughtYou Podcast and owner of Curlbox 

Support Long Story Short and Local Book Stores: 

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]