I read almost 30 books this fall, so I’m breaking this book roundup into two episodes - make sure to come back on Thursday for the second installment! There are some super good books (and some not so good duds), so get out your TBR list and let’s talk about it.

Christmas is upon us! And for some of us, we feel that very literally - it is UPON US. So in this episode, let’s discuss how we can enjoy the festive season in a calming and comfortable way. As Kathleen Kelly famously said, “It will all shake out. Meanwhile, I’m putting up more twinkle lights.” Also, Rooms to Go Christmas movies.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow! Let’s talk about all the fun (and maybe not so fun) traditions that make Thanksgiving really feel like Thanksgiving. Also, robotic dogs from 2001.

This week, we’re continuing our series Aging Like Fine Grape juice, and I got to talk to my friend, Layne Abbott. Layne is one of my favorite people, our first bona fide millennial, and she’s the Worship Coordinator at the Huntsville, AL campus of Church of the Highlands. I love this conversation. It’s a little bit of a longer episode, but I really want you to hear what she has to say. A lot of it is lighthearted and fun, just like Layne, but we had a frank discussion about what it is like to lose a parent, and I’m so thankful she was willing to be so open and honest about that experience. If you’ve gone through something similar or if you are going through it now, no matter what age you are, I think you will glean so much wisdom and comfort from what she has to say.

The holidays are here…but so is holiday anxiety. This week, we’re going to talk about practical ways to manage stress and maintain our sanity. Also, The Last of the Mohicans.

Today is Halloween! I know I said last week would be our last Halloween episode, but I just couldn’t help myself. Halloween in the 80s and early 90s was a completely different type of weird. Nicotine inspired candy? Check. Unsupervised minors wielding chainsaws (this actually happened!)? Check. Me dressing up as a gender conflicted samurai? Also, and I have no real explanation for this one, check. So, yes. It was weird. But it was a fun kind of weird and we need to discuss it.

We are wrapping up our month of Halloween themed episodes with a list of the spookiest books I’ve ever read. These stories are perfect for curling up in front of your fireplace (or your YouTube tv fireplace) during a stormy night, and giving yourself a good old fashioned scare. If you dare [insert ominous “bwah ha ha ha” laugh here].

Most kids’ movies are happy and joyful and just good, innocent fun - but if you were a kid in the 80s and 90s, a lot of them were also TERRIFYING. Do you still shudder when someone mentions The Wheelers? Did a cartoon about people turning into blocky puppets give you nightmares? Were you traumatized by Jim Henson creatures? Well, have we got a show for you! This episode also features a special guest appearance by my sister, Holly Jo Flora, another victim of spooky 80s children’s films. Let’s discuss it all!

October is here! And it’s the month of all things spooky and I LOVE IT. Now, you know I only get scared by truly creepy movies - not gross ones or super violent zombie flicks - so this list is made up of only the most chilling pieces of cinema I’ve ever seen. That’s right. As Vincent Price so eloquently put it in the 80s, I have been “sent to terrorize y’all’s neighborhood.” So let’s talk about it (with all the lights on!).

Everyone I know (including me) is a little stressed right now. School is back in session, football teams are battling it out, and Taylor Swift might be dating Travis Kelce. We need a break! So let’s revisit one of my favorite topics: Glimmers. Glimmers are the opposite of triggers, and if we can find a few to focus on every day, it can help us find little moments of joy. So let’s talk about them! Also, confusing a supplement for a hallucinogen.