Hey well read baddies! Today we have a very special recap episode where we'll be talking all about our experience at the Inaugural Black Romance Book Festival! You'll also get the chance to hear some Q&A from some of the authors that were there (boy did they give us plenty of recs for our TBR- list on our bookshop)!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Tickets for next years festival go on sale August 15th and y'all this is about to be like trying to get tickets to see Beyonce so make sure your alarms are ready!!

Substack- https://substack.com/@shewellread

Bookshop Storefront- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well read baddies! No new episode this week; HOWEVER, please make sure to go cast your vote for what book we'll be reading for season 6 of the podcast! Remember, it's all up to YOU! The deadline to vote is May 31st (stay tuned for the inevitable extension lol ;) ) so make sure to go make your choice and share with a friend! Also, if you're heading to the Black Romance Book Festival, come see us!! All of the details for our panels and meet and greets can be found on our IG and in the festivals app.

Book vote link- https://forms.gle/wzRAUTxeFBwZWbrr9

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Hey well read baddies! This week, we're joined by fashion designer, influencer, and Birmingham’s own Olivia Anthony—founder of LIV Streetwear and co-creator of A Vibe Called Black, the all-Black, all-bold cultural celebration returning June 18. Recorded on Met Gala night, we dive into the theme of Black Dandyism and talk about how the Black community continues to set the tone, even when the mainstream fumbles the message. We also chat about Liv’s journey from styling on ASU's campus to making fashion history, the legacy of streetwear, and why showing up is deeper than what you wear.

Books + Resources Mentioned:

🎟️ Grab your tickets to A Vibe Called Black: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-vibe-called-black-2025-tickets-1246139058469

Substack- https://substack.com/@shewellread

Bookshop Storefront- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well read baddies! It’s just the two of us this week, and we’re talking all things life lately. From the highs and lows of Coachella Weekend 1 (Megan! Gaga! Bernie??) to health journeys, spring cleaning, and shifting career vibes—we’re in our late twenties and feeling every minute of it. We’re also pulling back the curtain on what’s next for She Well Read. Spoiler: season 6 drops in August, and the book vote is coming soon. Plus, we’re reflecting on how much this show—and we—have grown since we hit record for the first time.

Books + Resources Mentioned:

Air New Voices Amplify- https://airmedia.org/announcing-airs-2025-new-voices-amplify-fellows

Substack- https://substack.com/@shewellread

Bookshop Storefront- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well read baddies! In this minisode, we’re joined by Abigail Franks and Mareshah Malcom—the dynamic duo behind Climate Justice Y’all—for a conversation that flips the script on environmentalism as we know it.

Together, we explore the real meaning of climate justice, how systemic inequality fuels the crisis, and why Southern communities are not just surviving but leading the charge. From eco-villages and resilience hubs to the role of storytelling and Southern identity, Abby and Mareshah remind us that climate work isn’t just policy—it’s people, power, and radical care.

Whether you're just starting your climate journey or looking for new ways to stay hopeful, this is the minisode for you.

01:47 Church Announcements

5:53 Coffee Break

20:14 Get into the Guest

Connect with the pod- https://climatejusticeyall.com/

Books + Resources Mentioned:

Braiding Sweetgrass – Robin Wall Kimmerer

Emergent Strategy – Adrienne Maree Brown

Loving Corrections – Loretta J. Ross

📲 Follow these climate leaders:

@blackgirlenvironmentalist @browngirl_green @hiphopcaucus

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well read baddies! She’s baaaaack! Dating and relationship expert, podcast host, and author Damona Hoffman returns for another #Black365 ep and for a much-needed update on love in the year 2025. A year after the release of her book F the Fairytale, Damona reflects on how dating has evolved—from the rise of AI-generated profiles and text traps, to the real reason we’re all scared of awkward pauses. We’re talking about learned dating skills, how to change your mindset for better matches, and why this is still actually the best time in history to be single (yes, even now). Plus, Damona spills on what wasn’t in the book—and what she’d add in a future chapter. Whether you’re in your pre-date era or just sick of the apps, this one’s for the baddies rewriting their own fairytales.

02:22 Church Announcements

9:35 Coffee Break

21:55 Get into the Guest

Connect with Damona- https://damonahoffman.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Books and recs- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

Damona's previous ep- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/she-well-read/id1506524661?i=1000648721870

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well-read baddies! This week, we’re back with another #Black365 minisode and we sit down with bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez to talk about her new novel Happy Land, inspired by the real-life Kingdom of the Happy Land—a self-sufficient Black community founded by formerly enslaved people in 1873. With little recorded history on this lost American kingdom, Dolen’s research brings this untold story to life. We discussthe real history behind Happy Land and why it disappeared, the power of historical fiction in reclaiming Black narratives, and how economic independence has always been a form of resistance. If you love historical fiction, hidden history, or powerful storytelling, this episode is for you!

02:01 Church Announcements

4:36 Coffee Break

35:33 Get into the Guest

Connect with Dolen- https://dolenperkinsvaldez.com/

Books mentioned and recs- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well-read baddies! This week, we’re back with another #Black365 minisode and are joined by Tembe Denton Hurst (@tembae)—writer, author, and biscuit connoisseur. She’s the brilliant mind behind Homebodies, a novel that perfectly captures the burnout, disillusionment, and existential mess that comes with being a young Black woman just trying to make it. We dive into the realities of losing yourself in your career, what happens when the “work twice as hard” rulebook stops working, and why home isn’t just a place—it’s context. Plus, we get the inside scoop on her next book, which she describes as Love Jones meets Sex and the City. Say less.

02:15 Introduction and Shout Out Corner

12:32 Coffee Break

44:13 Get into the Guest

Connect with Tembe- https://tembedentonhurst.com/

News Resources- https://www.thenewsworthy.com/; https://substack.com/@lisaremillard; https://substack.com/@meidastouch; IG Handles @bhamprogressive @kimberlynicolefoster @morningbrew @thereclaimed; https://www.vox.com/pages/logoff-newsletter-trump-administration-updates

Books mentioned and recs- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well-read baddies! This week we're back with another #Black365 minisode and are joined by Cecily (@CecilyAlexa)—singer, songwriter, and one of the 13,000 members of the recording academy. The Washington, DC native has a rich, soothing sound rooted in mid-century Soul and Jazz. Often drawing comparisons to Minnie Riperton and Amel Larrieux, her music is imbued with a unique sensuality that informs not only her vocal approach, but also her self-reflecting lyrics. Cecily has been heralded for her poetic writing style. Grounded in an easy vulnerability, her lyrics speak of deep lessons around self-acceptance, freedom, community and love. We dive into her creative process, how All About Love by Bell Hooks shaped her latest project, and why music is basically a spell (so choose your bops wisely).

01:52 Introduction and Shout Out Corner

3:42 Coffee Break

31:03 Get into the Guest

Books mentioned and recs- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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Hey well read baddies! Welcome to another #Black365 minisode. Today, we sit down with Kristina Forest, the bestselling author of The Neighbor Favor, The Partner Plot, and her newest release, The Love Lyric—the final book in the Greene Sisters series. Kristina shares insights into writing heartfelt romance, balancing escapism with realistic storytelling, and how BookTok has transformed the publishing industry. She also opens up about the friendships that inspired the Greene Sisters series (shoutout to a Threads follower for this great question!). And of course, we couldn’t wrap this episode without discussing Beyoncé’s mysterious pending announcement at the time of recording… and today’s update? It’s a tour! 👑🚀

Don’t miss this fun and insightful chat! 🎧 Listen now and let us know: Which Kristina Forest book is your fave? Drop us a message on IG, Threads, or Bookum Book Club!

01:50 Introduction and Shout Out Corner

13:00 Coffee Break

38:34 Get into the Guest

Follow Kristina and her work- https://www.kristinaforest.com/

Books mentioned and recs- https://bookshop.org/shop/shewellread

We can’t wait to hear from you! :) Please send any questions or comments about this episode to [email protected] or use the form at the bottom of the SWR Podcast page: https://www.shewellread.com/contact OR leave us a Voice Note at https://www.speakpipe.com/shewellread‬

Follow SHE WELL READ!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewellread/

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeDCLdTX/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shewellread

More links including discount codes: https://bio.site/shewellread

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