Restorative Reading and Writing for Wellness

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m exploring the healing power of books clubs and why they are an underestimated tool in our quest to make life better through books and reading.

Come listen as I talk about the research-backed power of book clubs, how you can create (or join!) a book club with heart, the best kinds of books to promote group healing, the conversations your book club needs to discuss the next time it meets and the things we do outside the pages of a book that can literally change our lives. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/10/07/book-clubs-with-heart-how-group-reading-can-foster-collective-healing

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

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On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re exploring the newest addition to my restorative writing framework: affirmative writing. 

Come listen as I explore what affirmative writing is (writing that affirms and uplifts your mindset) and offer 5 ways to try affirmative writing in your notebook:

• Affirmations

• Gratitude

• Manifestation

• Joy

• Notes of Acknowledgement 

All you need is your notebook to start turning around a bad mood!

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/09/30/affirmative-writing-ideas-to-change-your-mood/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re exploring how to read our way to wellness in just 90 days. 

Come listen as I explore the idea behind a 90 day project, particularly at the end of the year, and why focusing on our reading life could make our actual life better. We’ll talk about the three feel-good steps you need to take and I’ll share how you can work with me along the way, too. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/09/23/reading-your-way-to-wellness-the-last-90-days/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, we’re diving into how and why your pencil pouch could be the key to changing your life. Really. =)

Today, we’ll explore the unexpected benefits of creating a restorative reading and writing pencil pouch: a little container to hold all the things you need to read and write with an open mind and heart. 

Come listen as I give you all the details on why you need one, how you choose one, the bookish goodies you should fill it with, where you should keep it and much more. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/09/16/e196-how-a-restorative-pencil-pouch-could-change-your-life/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m exploring all things restorative list-making. With only a sticky note, a pencil and 5 minutes, you can literally change your mood and physical well-being. 

Today, we’ll explore my new one word theme for September and why list-making is central to bringing it to life, why list-making is so restorative to the body, mind and spirit, how you can get started with your own listing practice and how to choose the list that’s right for you in this very moment. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/09/09/the-how-why-of-restorative-list-making/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I am talking with Jeannine Atkins about the power of writing to heal. 

Janine is the author of several books for young readers about courageous women and teaches writing for children and young adults. She's here today to talk about her newest release, KNOCKING ON WINDOWS, a memoir-in-verse about healing from trauma and finding her voice as a writer.

Today, we explore the pivotal role that reading and writing played in Jeanine’s life, the power of writing that comes off of the page, Jeannine’s advice for getting started on your own healing journey and the quiet courage it takes to tell your story.

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/09/02/when-writing-literary-letters-becomes-healing-with-jeannine-atkins/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m coming at you in real time as I expand my definition of restorative reading and bibliotherapy thanks to a recent session creating a book apothecary for a waiting reader. 

Today, I am talking about the idea of reading escape: using our reading life as a way to escape our own. We’ll talk about my initial knee-jerk reaction to it, why reading escape is actually a form of bibliotherapy, how you might escape your own life through books and why it might be just the thing you need to make your actual life better. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/08/26/why-reading-escape-is-a-form-of-bibliotherapy/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m answering the most asked question that I receive: How and where do I find books for my own bibliotherapy? 

Today, we are tackling that question and more. I’ll share a simple framework for choosing a book genre and title that is perfect for you and offer five different sources for finding the right book at the right time. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/08/19/how-where-to-find-books-for-self-bibliotherapy/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m talking about the six kinds of restorative writing that have the potential to make us feel better based on the season of life we are in and the kind of support we wish for in the moment. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/08/12/six-kinds-of-restorative-writing/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I’m talking about a practice that sets restorative reading apart from ‘regular’ reading and could potentially be the one thing that changes your life: the nudge notebook.

Come listen as I share a simple, yet powerful, definition of restorative reading, discuss the key elements that differentiate it from a ‘regular’ reading life and invite you to consider paying attention to, tracking and acting on the nudges you receive from the pages. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2025/08/05/how-journaling-deepens-reading-the-nudge-notebook/

Love this podcast and want more? Consider this your invitation to join my Get Lit(erate) Substack community! Each month, we take a deep dive into one bookish theme and work to bring it to life in our own lives. You’ll get bonus episodes, book calendars, live book club and notebook sessions, special events and much more. Learn more at www.getliterate.co. 

Get your own Get Lit(erate). notebook to take notes on the books you want to read and notebook ideas you want to try: https://amzn.to/44wELKN

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some Get Lit(erate). merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/ 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit