Off the Shelves Podcast

It's a dark and funny one this week folks. We need your opinions, do you line or do you hover, let us know! 

Remember that fangirl moment Carey had in New York? We’ve finally read the book by the author responsible for her joy: Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood. “A delicious read,” according to Deb.

It’s not banned, but Atwood’s work frequently is, which makes this memoir a perfect fit for our show. We’re also sharing our zodiac signs and, frankly, we’re both a little stunned by the accuracy.

Run, don’t walk, to listen to this one, and go grab a copy of this memoir. You won’t be disappointed.

What to Eat: 

Pulled Pork

Viral Costco Chicken Recipe

Products we Love:

Alastin tinted sunscreen

https://alastin.com/products/hydratint-sunscreen-spf-36

The Morning Brew email newsletter

www.morningbrew.com 

Hi hello. This week our girls make a surprise appearance and deliver some unexpected ASMR.

The Winter Olympics wrapped and we have questions. Specifically about curling. Is it strategy? Is it cheating? Is it suspicious? We don’t know. But we have thoughts.

Plus, we’re listing a few things that are deeply, annoyingly overrated. If you’re easily offended, maybe stretch first. Let’s go.

It’s a banned book week, and we’re discussing The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. It’s a quick read, haunting and eerily close to Plath’s own lived experience. Some call it a pseudobiography. We call it unforgettable.

Please take care while listening. This episode includes discussion of mental health and suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, any time. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Products: 

Scrub Daddy/Mommy  https://amzn.to/4arlgYR 

New Greek Chicken bowl recipe. https://foolproofliving.com/greek-yogurt-chicken-marinade/ 

Curry chicken and rice https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/coconut-chicken-curry/

The game? Meh.

Carey proposes that we make Read a Book in the Bath Day a recognized holiday while Deb is fresh back from an impromptu trip to Florida. 

This week we’re reading one of Deb’s all time favorite books, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. It’s a late night recording session, so fair warning, one of us might not be firing on all cylinders. Carey gets harassed by agro political canvassers, Deb picks a fight with AI, and somehow we still manage to talk about literature. pour a drink, get comfortable, and let’s chat.

Dinner? Sorry folks you're on your own this week because we're having takeout!

In-n-Out for Carey

Greek for Deb

Products:

I am loving my OSEA https://oseamalibu.com/products/anti-aging-body-balm

EarthBreeze Laundry Sheets: www.earthbreeze.com 

Come in, sit down and let's talk about TikTok’s new terms of service, Elizabeth Smart’s latest documentary, Botox and aging gracefully, and the very hungry energy demands of AI. A little culture, a little beauty, a little tech anxiety, we've got a lot to say.

Welcome to our podcast where we actually talk about books. Shocking, we know. Our first banned book of 2026 is John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, and we’re not going to lie, it took some stamina to get through. Pour yourself a hot cup of coffee and join us. We’re also sharing what we’ve been influenced to buy, what’s for dinner, and plenty of our usual chit chat.

Library Bill of Rights https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

What's for Dinner

Crunch Wrap: https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/homemade-crunchwrap-supreme/

Homemade Pizza dough: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/homemade-pizza-crust-recipe/

Things we love

Young Living Hand Soap

https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/product/lushious-lemon-foaming-hand-soap

Lip Gloss

https://www.sephora.com/product/glowy-lip-balm-P443563?skuId=2895126&icid2=products%20grid:p443563:product

It’s 2026 and we’re back with our first JT episode of the year. We’re easing into January with some new year goals, more TV talk, a fun story from Carey’s past, and a little post-holiday blues chat. Just the kind of catch up we needed.

Did you miss us? We’re back. Kicking off the new year with Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, a deliciously unsettling, backwards murder mystery where you already know who did it… just not why, or whether they’ll actually get away with it.

As always, we’ve got you covered with dinner ideas, a post-holiday catch-up, and a very long detour into television. Is Off the Shelves becoming a streaming series podcast? Probably not. But never say never.

Products we love:

Sephora-Perfume Sampler

https://www.sephora.com/product/h25-winter-voc-P518123?

Tri-tip, mashed, and broccoli salad

https://foodieandwine.com/oven-baked-tri-tip/

https://healthylittlepeach.com/broccoli-salad-recipe/