Now That We Think About It Podcast

This episode is sponsored by the Bookish Nomad. (https://www.youtube.com/@Bookish_Nomad) After 25 years as an Emmy-nominated Art Director and Production Designer on shows like Grace & Frankie, Amy Lee Wheeler found herself navigating a film industry stalled by runaway production. When a major home repair emptied her savings, she rented her house, packed her car, and drove across fifteen states to reconnect with friends and family she hadn’t seen in over a decade, including her godmother and mother, both battling dementia. Bookish Nomad is the vlog she made along the way. It’s unpolished and personal, but posting what she learned about the people she meant to stay close to felt worth talking about. Follow along on YouTube, or find her writing at DeRailed on Substack.

In today’s fast-paced world, the fashion industry often feels like a tangled web of choices, trends, and ethical dilemmas. Why are we buying so much, and what happens to our clothes after we wear them? On today’s episode Allison and I talked to my old friend, stylist Sophie Strauss, who advocates for a sustainable and inclusive approach to style. We’ll explore how to reclaim our purchasing power, make informed decisions about our wardrobes, and how to return to the idea of a world pre-social media, pre-overconsumption, pre-constant photography of ourselves, pre-influencers — a time when we were not brands, when we were just humans who loved style and clothes.

One of the best parts of doing this podcast is hearing from you! We love to know what you think about the topics we discuss on this podcast. If anything in this episode or the book resonates with you, please email us at [email protected] to send a written or a voice message, and we may discuss it in a future episode!

We hope you enjoy this conversation!

xoAlice & Allison

Thanks again to the Bookish Nomad for sponsoring this episode. If you have a book coming out, a Substack essay or a newsletter, an album, a creative project, or a small business you’d like to promote and are interested in sponsoring an episode of Now That We Think About It, please email us at [email protected] for more information.

Links

Sophie Strauss Styling

Follow Sophie on Instagram

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

*affiliate links

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

This episode is sponsored by Cassandra Dunn Editing Services. Cassandra has over 20 years of professional copy editing experience and an MFA in creative writing. She’s a traditionally published author, and she’s been specializing in developmental edits and book doctor services for 13 years. Her clients’ books have won awards and received starred Kirkus reviews. She works in all genres and she’s here to help you make your project the best that it can be. So if you have something you’ve been working on, or even if you have something that’s just starting and you want to know if you’re on the right track, you can send Cassandra an email and start the conversation about how to take your writing to the next level.

What a lovely thing it is to have a friend who will remind you to celebrate your good moments! I was dealing with a pretty big loss last week, but Alice made sure we took some time to talk about Home of the American Circus for this episode, in light of the paperback edition coming out on Tuesday, May 5th. It was a joy and an honor to get to dive into a deep and thoughtful conversation about this book with my dear friend Alice.

We talk about some of the inspiration for the book, the evolution of friendships and what it feels like to revisit relationships with childhood friends, the unreliable narratives around what we consider to be historical fact, and how fiction has the power to make us feel less alone.

One of the best parts of doing this podcast is hearing from you! We love to know what you think about the topics we discuss on this podcast. If anything in this episode or the book resonates with you, please email us at [email protected] to send a written or a voice message, and we may discuss it in a future episode!

We hope you enjoy this conversation!

xoAllison & Alice

Thanks for reading! This podcast is public so please share with a friend!

Thanks again to Cassandra Dunn Editing Services for sponsoring this episode. If you have a book coming out, a Substack essay or a newsletter, an album, a creative project, or a small business you’d like to promote and are interested in sponsoring an episode of Now That We Think About It, please email us at [email protected] for more information.

Books mentioned in this episode*

Home of the American Circus

The People We Keep

The Art of Adapting

Homecoming

Dicey’s Song

The Ordinary Princess

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

*affiliate links

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

This episode is sponsored by Audiobrary, Julia Whelan’s audiobook platform, which is home to a beautifully curated collection of audiobooks (and our podcast)! You can buy or rent audiobooks on Audiobrary.com to listen on the Audiobrary app. Every Audiobrary production was written by humans, performed by humans, and edited by humans, and the best part is that everyone involved is paid fairly for their work. So not only do you get great stories, well told, and brilliantly performed, but you can feel good about supporting Audiobrary.

This week Alice and I showed up dressed in nearly identical denim shirts to talk about intuition. We’d had intuition on a running list of topics we keep, but when we celebrated our one year podcast anniversary on Instagram Live, Susan suggested Intuition as a topic as well, so we bumped it to the top of the list. Every time I edit an episode, I think, “Well, this one has to be my favorite,” and Episode 51 is no exception. It’s a strangely moving thing to take inventory of the ways we have been taught to ignore our inner voice, and the process of coming back to listening to her.

Both Alice and I have a sense that our younger selves were more easily in touch with that deep sense of knowing that we call intuition. These days, I think of my intuition as my younger self, a slightly feral outdoorsy girl, as I was in the photo below. I imagine that intuition-based sense of knowing as that that kid whispering her needs and opinions in my ear.

Alice said she’d also seen a photo of herself recently where she felt like she could see that inner sense of self shining clearly. And I got a little choked up when she sent it over to include in this post: Young Alice, so beautifully present in herself.

Do you hold a specific image of your inner voice or intuition? We’d love to see the photos of you that capture your connection to self. And we’d love to know if there are times when you have a clear sense of intuition, but choose to go against it anyway. Are there times when you’ve made choices purely on intuition when there was no other information to back you up?

After this conversation, I feel newly committed to following my inner voice when I’m conflicted. I want to spend more time tapping into that deep knowing whenever I can. We’d love to know your takeaways from this episode. Please leave us a comment or send an email or voice message to [email protected]. It’s always a joy to hear what you think about what we think about our topics.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

xoAllie & Alice

Thanks again to Audiobrary.com for sponsoring this episode. If you have a book coming out, a Substack essay or a newsletter, an album or a creative project, or a small business you’d like to promote, and you are interested in sponsoring an episode of Now That We Think About It, please email us at [email protected] for more information.

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

This episode is sponsored by Renee Swindle, author of Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn, a beautiful book about a woman named Francine Stevenson, who gets more than she bargained for when she rescues a ten year old foster child named Davie from a pack of bullies attempting to steal his iPad. As Davie continues to show up on her doorstep, their unconventional friendship grows, and Francine learns that Davie’s foster mother is her high school crush, Jeanette. Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn by Renee Swindle is a novel about finding yourself and finding your true chosen family. Look for this novel wherever books are sold, or even better, ask your local bookstore to order a copy for you.

In this episode, number 50!!! Allison and I welcome Catherine’s Kindergarten teachers, and hosts of the beautiful podcast Big Little Lessons, Kristine Annunziata and Jenny Goodenough about the influence of screens on children’s development, parental modeling, and mindful use of technology. We explore how technology shapes our brain, social connections, and daily routines, offering practical and valuable insights for parents, educators, and caregivers.

We talked about the changing landscape of screen technology from the 90s to today, about what children miss out on when immersed in screens, and the importance of boredom and real-world engagement. Kristine and Jenny also share stories of their early teaching experiences, and how the integration of technology has evolved.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or adult navigating the digital world, the insights shared here aim to foster healthier relationships with technology and nurture the natural curiosity and creativity inherent in childhood.

Resources & Links:

* Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn by Renée Swindle — Explore a novel about found family and self-discovery amidst life’s chaos.

* Big Little Lessons Podcast — A heartfelt conversation on early childhood, education, and technology.

* Arthur Brooks: The Meaning of Your Life, Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness — Insight into boredom, purpose, and mental health.

* The Default Mode Network Explained — Understand how boredom fuels creativity and well-being.

Thanks again to Renee Swindle, Author of Francine’s Spectacular Crash and Burn for sponsoring this episode. If you have a book coming out, a Substack essay or a newsletter, an album or a creative project you’d like to promote, and you are interested in sponsoring an episode of Now That We Think About It, please email us at

[email protected] for more information.

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

Happy Monday, friends!

In today’s episode, Allison and I talked about how, in today’s fast-paced world, many of us struggle to find time for hobbies that are purely for enjoyment. Why is it that we often define ourselves by our roles and responsibilities rather than our passions? So going back to our childhood passions, we talked about the importance of rediscovering fun and hobbies without the pressure of productivity.

“Who are we beyond our titles?”

Join us for an honest conversation about the pressures to work hard, the shame around leisure, and the importance of doing things just for fun.

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

*affiliate links

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

It’s an odd feeling to be described by someone else — to overhear someone talking about you when they don’t realize you’re in earshot, to be introduced at an event, or cc’d on an email connecting you to a friend’s friend when it goes beyond the basics of This is Allison, she writes books, and has two dogs. We think of ourselves a certain way, but that’s not necessarily how everyone else sees us. Sometimes, things we don’t like about ourselves are things the people who love us find most endearing. Sometimes when we’re being described, we realize how misunderstood we are. It can be beautiful, affirming, awkward, or heartbreaking to catch a glimpse of yourself through someone else’s eyes—especially when it’s made public. And if someone else’s idea of you permeates your social realm, how do you reclaim the parts of yourself that you never intended to share? That’s the question at the heart of Cherry Baby, the new book from Rainbow Rowell, and the inspiration for this week’s episode of Now That We Think About It.

In the novel (which we absolutely loved!), Cherry’s husband Tom, has been writing and illustrating a comic strip since before he even met Cherry. And after their real-life relationship began, he added her to the strip as his main character’s love interest, Baby. No one was reading his comic strip at the start, and then suddenly, everyone was. Years later, Tom is off in Hollywood working on the film version of his comic. Baby (who is clearly a caricature of Cherry) is a meme. She’s everywhere. Cherry gets recognized as a character from a cartoon. The book brilliantly explores what it means to move through the world when someone else’s impression of who you are precedes you.

So, as writers, Rainbow, Alice, and I are all keenly interested in the question of what parts of our lives are fair to write about when other people intersect with our stories. But we realized that in the age of social media, everyone has to wrestle with this question. Is it okay to share a photo of a group of friends without asking every single person in the photo if they approve? Is it okay to film a stranger at the grocery store? Is it fair to tell an embarrassing story that isn’t just about you?

And as technology changes, the rules change too, right? (Right?) Are we always changing our manners at the appropriate pace?

Rainbow talks about the ways social media has warped what was once reasonable:

“I think the internet changes and breaks all of our established rules. Everything that was sort of reasonable before the internet is not reasonable now…And I think…that especially people our age…we got these rules for civilized life and a lot of them just don’t work anymore.”

I have adored and admired Rainbow since way, way back when we were debut novelists trying to figure out how to navigate publishing. She’s staggeringly brilliant and kind, and she taught me so much about writing and the importance of preserving the authenticity of our work. I loved the chance to have this conversation with Rainbow and Alice so much. I know you will also love Episode 48 - Now That We Think About What’s Ours To Tell. It’s about consent, empathy, and the messy way our lives intersect with art, how easy it is to give away pieces of yourself without realizing it, and how even when we try to protect ourselves, other people can include pieces our lives in their stories.

We talk about the lines we draw between ourselves and the world, our private lives and public personas, and how sometimes hiding under the cover of fiction is the safest way to be completely vulnerable and honest.

Let us know what you think about this episode and what your rules are for sharing stories, photos, or videos that involve the people you love (or maybe don’t even like). Has someone ever shared images or impressions of you that made you uncomfortable? Have you shared too much about someone else? Email us at [email protected], and we may share your story in a future episode (make sure to let us know if you would like to remain anonymous).

XOAllison & Alice

Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Links

Rainbow Rowell

Follow Rainbow on Instagram

Cherry Baby pre-order bag charm giveaway

Books mentioned in this episode:*

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

She Hulk by Rainbow Rowell

Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The People We Keep by Allison Larkin

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

*affiliate links

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

This week we are joined by Allison’s Ithaca College friend, acclaimed actor Happy Anderson (Mindhunter, The Bikeriders, Maggie Moore(s)) for a timely and deeply vulnerable discussion about blame, empathy, and facing the uncomfortable truth that we may all be the villain in someone else’s story.

Since Happy is known for portraying epic, complex bad guys—including serial killer Jerry Brudos on two different TV shows—he brings a rare level of psychological insight to the conversation, which expands beyond performance, to examine our human urge to look for villains we can assign blame to when we don’t want to accept personal responsibility.

You’ll also learn where Happy’s name came from, find out what Alice thinks she and Happy have in common, and hear about Allison’s truly weird trick for combatting social anxiety at college parties.

We hope you’ll tune in to listen to this episode and then email us at [email protected] to let us know what you think about villains. Have you ever been the villain of someone else’s story? Has someone been the villain of yours when they may not have intended harm? Do you find yourself looking for a villain to justify your own behavior?

We love to hear from you and we’re planning another email episode soon, so please send along your thoughts and feelings! (If you’d like to remain anonymous, make sure to let us know so we don’t use your name on the air!)

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support sharing our episodes and leaving reviews of our show!

xoAlice & Allison

P.S. - As a head’s up if you have little ears in the car with you, there’s a few four letter words in this episode.

Thanks for listening! This podcast is public so feel free to share it.

Links

Happy Anderson

Follow Happy on Instagram

Go see Happy in Brigadoon at the Pasadena Playhouse (May 13th-June 14th)

Keep an eye out for Lear Rex in movie theaters soon!

Books mentioned in this episode:

Equus by Peter Shaffer*

The Girl Who Baptized Herself by Meggan Watterson*

Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin*

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts

*affiliate link

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

Our conversation kicks off with our dear friend, actress Tessa Ferrer, who shares her transformative experiences in Nelson County, Virginia, where she feels a profound sense of belonging while tending to her land. This contrasts sharply with her life in Los Angeles, where she and Alice live, and where they can often feel like outsiders in our respective artistic communities.

Tessa asks whether social status affects our sense of belonging, a question that allowed us to truly look into our personal experience for an honest answer.

Allison reflects on her childhood in a small town, where she often felt like an observer rather than a participant. She highlights how attending the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts helped her connect with other “misfit kids,” providing a sanctuary of belonging during her formative years. This perspective resonates with many listeners who may have experienced similar feelings of isolation in their youth.

We also touch on the idea that belonging is not about fitting in everywhere but rather finding your unique community. Tessa shares her experiences in spaces like 12-step programs, where judgment can exist, yet she still finds a sense of belonging.

This raises an important question: can we belong in spaces where criticism is present?

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

Follow us Alice Carbone Tench & Allison Larkin

If you love this podcast, please leave us a review and tell your friends about it and listen here: Apple Podcasts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

Hello friends!

Allison here! I loved recording this episode with Alice. We both stumbled on the topic idea at almost the same time, and in the course of this episode confess that we both have some feelings about Spring that don’t necessarily match our expectations—which makes us wonder how you all feel about Spring. Do you love and embrace this season of springing ahead? Or does it feel like a bit much all at once? Do you have sensory overload memories of Spring? Do you have joyful ones? (Email us at [email protected] to let us know).

We also talk about the soul-nourishing act of starting seedlings, favorite Spring foods, and the awkward Easter outfits of childhood. I think we both walked away from this conversation with an eye toward enjoying the parts of Spring we truly love, and we hope you will too. What are you looking forward to in this march (pardon the pun) toward longer days? We love getting messages from you about your thoughts. And we really appreciate your reviews and help spreading the word about our show!

Thanks so much for listening! We hope you enjoy this episode!

xo Allison & Alice

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com

In this candid and fun conversation, Allison and Alice explore the multifaceted nature of friendship through the eyes of an eight-year-old guest, Alice’s daughter, Catherine. They discuss the essential qualities of a good friend, the evolution of friendships as one grows older, and the importance of kindness, trust, and honesty in relationships. The conversation also touches on the challenges of childhood, the role of support systems, and the impact of cultural differences in communication. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the excitement and complexities of growing up and forming meaningful connections.

Links

Follow Alice Carbone Tench and Allison Larkin

Support the show by using our affiliate links!

Force of Nature, Planet Friendly, Toxic-free Cleaning*

Our Bookshop Store*

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nowthatwethinkaboutit.substack.com