After reading Your Next Level Life by Karen Arrington with their book club, Skye and Amanda break down the first chapter, Identify Your Superpowers. The ladies have a candid discussion about what they believe their own priceless gifts to be and what parts of their journey might’ve led them to holding back on admitting what they are good at. As close friends, the two share their thoughts on how they’ve witnessed eachother’s superpowers show through. Find out who struggled with this chapter and who has created a plan to incorporate their gifts into their future community work and career moves.

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: People Get Ready Books

Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America by Karen Arrington 

Strengthsfinder 2.0 from Gallup by Tom Rath

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Black Girls Code

Check out Black Girls Code on Instagram at: @blackgirlscode

Scholarships are available by emailing your request via [email protected]

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Perfunctory 

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In this week’s episode, Skye and Amanda sit down to discuss their love for magazines. The two talk about some of the recent articles that they have read in the newly released September issues. Follow the ladies down memory lane, as they reminisce about which publications they grew up reading. Learn about Skye’s time working in the magazine industry and which cover she wished to grace. And hear Amanda stan over her favorite music artist and tell us whose posters she had on her walls.

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Rose Café

Straight From The Source: An Expose from the Former Editor in Chief of the Hip-Hop Bible Kimberly Osorio

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

Check out HealHaus Instagram at: @healhaus

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Divaricate

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After reading More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth, Skye and Amanda sit down to discuss their biggest takeaways from this awe inspiring memoir-manifesto.  The two discuss the multiple gems that were dropped and lessons learned around creating space for themselves in their personal and professional lives. Hear about Elaine's groundbreaking, yet humbling journey to success and love, and learn why she has easily become Skye & Amanda’s friend in their heads. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery

More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: #1000BlackGirlBooks

Check Marley Dias out on Instagram at: 

@iammarleydias

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Miasma

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In this week's episode, Skye and Amanda profess their love for New York summers and explain why they are unmatched. They discuss what parts of summer B.C. (Before COVID) they miss the most. From summer camps and first jobs, to water fights and chop cheese sandwiches, the ladies share their fondest summertime memories from their childhoods growing up in East Harlem and the Bronx.

Summer wouldn't be complete without a beach read. Learn about their criterias for a good summer read and get a few book recommendations to end your summer off right. 

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Mahogany Books

Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson 

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson 

The Perfect Find by Tia Williams

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Feed Black Futures 

Check them out on Instagram at: @feedblackfutures

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Risible

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In this week's episode, Skye and Amanda discuss their thoughts on Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman. After reading about the stages that Sow and Friendman’s decade long relationship has experienced, the ladies do their own self check-ins and evaluate how they show up as friends. The two reflect on the importance of friendship, how they commit to nurturing these bonds and resolving conflict, if at all. Learn about which of them is struggling with speaking up in a strained friendship and which was able to rekindle things with their homegirl after a friend breakup.

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, Philadelphia, PA

Big Friendship: How we Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective)

Check them out on Instagram at:
@_beamorg

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Noctambulate 

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After reviewing The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, Skye and Amanda sit down to dig deeper into the themes within the critically acclaimed novel. The two discuss their views on colorism and light skin privilege and the impacts of unhealed family trauma and kept secrets. They open up about their own experiences with racial identity by recounting the stories that they were told growing up and explaining how they further educate themselves and continue to celebrate their Blackness.

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Cafe con Libros, Brooklyn NY

The Vanishing Half by Birt Bennett

This week’s ‘Bout That Action! highlight is: Playground Coffee Shop
Check them out on Instagram at:
@playgroundcoffeeshop
@playgroundannex

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

Word of the Week: Incipient

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While surviving a pandemic and at the height of the current revolution against racial injustice, Skye & Amanda sat down to discuss the importance of self care as a form of resistance, what self care really means to them and how it is incorporated into their everyday lives. From sleep and walks, to setting clear boundaries with others and their experiences with therapy, the two share some of their favorite necessary forms of self care, ones they are continuing to work on and tips of how to intentionally pour into yourselves.

This week’s books are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: Harriett's Book Shop

• From Coping to Thriving: How to Turn Self-care into a Way of Life by Hannah Braime
• What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter

Book EP: Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Long Story Short’s Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

WORD OF THE WEEK: Opsimath 

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In this week’s episode, Skye and Amanda discuss their shared love for television and film and go through some page to screen adaptations. They let you know what’s worth watching, when to stick to the book and which ones gave us the best soundtracks. Learn about which of the ladies is a part of the Harry Potter gang and which of them stays in their YA bag.

This week’s books are linked to the Black Owned Bookstore: The Lit Bar

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

True to the Game by Terri Woods

Goldfinch by Donna Tart

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillian

Room by Emma Donahue

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo 

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Perfect Find by Tia Williams

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Book EP: 

Be sure to stream the songs mentioned in this week’s Book EP playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/rz5hp2nppkhd82xmhhoo2euqc?si=olIngYNWSTmbhGqnyK6zgg

WORD OF THE WEEK: Infinitesimal

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In their very first episode, Skye and Amanda talk about their relationship with books and experience of being in a book club together. From stories of credit card scamming to learning how to manage your ego, the ladies take you on a walk through their bookshelves as they answer some (not so) rapid-fire bookish questions.

Books mentioned in this week’s episode are linked below to Black Owned Bookstore: Loyalty Bookstore 

Lakewood by Megan Gidding

Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson

Swiped by Shawna King

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

The Healing Power of Essential Oils by Eric Zielinski

The Gifts of Imperfection:  by Brene Brown

Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Are You My Mother? By P.D Eastman

The Snowy Day by Erza Jack Keats

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Welcome to Long Story Short Podcast! 

Join Skye and Amanda as they open up the conversation around reading, their personal lives, and everything in between!

Subscribe now and folllow the show @longstoryshortpod on Instagram and @lsspodcast on Twitter.