I am a big fan of Renee Rosen and her historical fiction novels that revolve around strong, glamorous women—Estée Lauder, Helen Gurley Brown, Alva Vanderbilt, Mrs. Marshall Fields. In this podcast episode, we discuss her latest book, LET’S CALL HER BARBIE. The woman behind the story? Ruth Handler, who co-founded the Mattel Toy Company with her husband, Elliott.

Renee and I discuss LET’S CALL HER BARBIE, the Mickey Mouse Club, Mattel Toys, the Sears Toy catalog, and Barbie conventions. We swoon over the Barbie wardrobe, her dress designers and dressmakers.

Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl

The Social Graces

Park Avenue Summer

Windy City Blues

What the Lady Wants

Dollface

White Collar Girl

Yoga with Kassandra

Remember Pan Am Airlines? 

Bestselling author Fiona Davis

A dermatologist recommends inexpensive skincare products

Is Botox for you? 

An author who writes some of my favorite books

A neuropsychologist discusses Alzheimer’s

Read the next new thing! Join me as Adele Myers, author of THE TOBACCO WIVES, and I discuss her wonderful historical fiction novel, the tobacco industry, the magnates and doctors who covered up the dangers of smoking, and much more. And, of course, she describes her next new thing!

We talk about her next book, Adele's Asheville, NC recommendations, and her inspiration for THE TOBACCO WIVES.

To view visuals from the 1940s, including cigarette advertising that helped inform the novel, please visit Adele's website.

Follow Adele on Instagram 

Elizabeth Parman and her later-in-life debut

Camille Di Maio and Come Fly With Me

Tracey Lange and her excellent novels

Bestselling novelist Fiona Davis

Read the next new thing! Join me as Lynda Cohen Loigman, a historical fiction author, discusses her books, writing journey, Club Calvi, and more. And, of course, she describes her next new thing!

Maybe Happy Ending Broadway show

Bigelow's Pharmacy

New York International Antiquarian Book Fair

Club Calvi

The Wartime Sisters

The Two-Family House

The Matchmaker's Gift

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern

Follow Lynda on Instagram @lloigman

Elizabeth Parman and her later-in-life debut

Camille Di Maio and Come Fly With Me

Tracey Lange and her wonderful novels

Bestselling novelist Fiona Davis

Read the next new thing! Join me as Elizabeth Parman, a Southern fiction author, discusses her books, writing journey, Eleanor Roosevelt, and more. And, of course, she describes her next new thing!

Topics we reference:

The Empress of Cooke County

Bees in June

Elizabeth's appearance at Parnassus Bookstore

Follow Elizabeth on Instagram @elizabethbassparman

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Bestselling author Fiona Davis

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Anne Byrn's cookbooks

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In this episode, Camille Di Maio joins me on the Who I Met Today podcast. Camille is an accomplished author, realtor, wife, mom, and traveller. We talk about her most recent historical fiction novel, which I absolutely loved. I enjoyed learning about "stewardess" requirements for those who wished to fly with Pan American Airlines in the sixties. We also discuss her "celebrity" meetings, homeschooling, unfinished projects, her next book, and what she had to give up to pursue her dream. And, as always, Camille shares her next new thing!

Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego

Fairhope, Alabama

Come Fly With Me

Until We Meet

The Memory of Us

Before the Rain Falls

Parade of Wishes

The First Emma

The Beautiful Strangers

The Way of Beauty

A woman who traded her pen for a circular saw

Bestselling author Fiona Davis

A dermatologist recommends inexpensive skincare products

A professional bull rider

Anne Byrn's cookbooks

A neuropsychologist discusses Alzheimer's

Read the next new thing! In this episode, I chat with New York Times bestselling author Tracey Lange. We discuss her three great books, her writing journey, the surreal phone call she received, and, of course, her fun new thing.

Bend, Oregon

Tracey's Spotify Playlist

We Are the Brennans 

The Connelleys of County Down 

What Happened to the McCrays 

A backup vocalist for a country music superstar

Bestselling author Fiona Davis

A dermatologist recommends inexpensive skincare products

Trying to determine what's next

Anne Byrn's cookbooks

A neuropsychologist discusses Alzheimer's

When I lived in Houston, I watched the NBC news and thought Roseann Rogers had the greatest job in the world. She was known as the Buzz Lady and reported on all the new things—restaurants, events, exhibits—the fun stuff going on around Houston. Fast forward three years ago—I’m living in Nashville, and I get a phone call. Hi Pam, my name is Roseann Rogers, and I just moved here. A mutual friend gave me your contact info. Roseann is still the best at finding great events—and now Nashville things to do—and I thought she’d be perfect for coming up with holiday gift ideas.

The wonderful heavy-duty shopping bags that stand up, stay open, and fold flat

The beautiful watercolor workbook and paints 

Lekue Microwave popcorn popper

Prepared Hero Fire Blanket 

Pam's book

Stephen Joseph Kids Classic rolling luggage

Magnatiles 

Aura digital picture frame

Italian acrylic wine glasses

White's Mercantile in Nashville

Chocolate nuggets by Haute and Cool

Thermopen instant-read thermometer

Millennials vs Boomers trivia game

Plastic wrap and parchment paper dispensers

Frank Billingsley

Stocking Stuffers They'll Appreciate

Stocking Stuffers for Cooks

In this podcast episode, I chat with Bill Nolan, a supervisor at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. This iconic Thanksgiving cooking tradition opens for business today—for the 44th year in a row. Bill and the other turkey experts are standing by and ready to answer whatever problems or questions home chefs may have during this busy turkey-cooking season.

Bill and I discuss the Talk-Line's history, Bill's background and role, and how a food expert might snag one of these coveted positions. He talks about the Butterball kitchens in Naperville, IL, how the Talk-Line employees train, and a couple of his most memorable phone calls. And, a new thing I must try, how to cook "from a frozen turkey!"

The Turkey Talk-Line is open during November and December to answer your turkey questions. Call 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text 844-877-3456 to chat with the turkey experts. Visit the Butterball website for turkey cooking information, how-to videos, or to submit a turkey question.

A woman who traded her pen for a circular saw

Bestselling author Fiona Davis

A dermatologist recommends inexpensive skincare products

A professional bull rider

Anne Byrn's cookbooks

A neuropsychologist discusses Alzheimer's

In this episode, professional bull rider Cody Teel describes what it's like to sit atop a 2000-pound bucking, snorting, spinning bull who is not at all happy to have a human on its back.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Nashville Stampede

Professional Bull Riders 

Empire of the Summer Moon

Neighborlily

Emily Lex

A woman who traded her pen for a circular saw

Bestselling author Fiona Davis

A dermatologist recommends inexpensive skincare products

A physician explains strokes

A pickleball enthusiast

A neuropsychologist discusses Alzheimer's

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, and this episode's guest knows a thing or two about that horrific disease. Dr. Katherine Gifford is an assistant professor in The Department of Neurology at VUMC. Her research focuses on disorders of aging, dementia, and developing tools for early detection of cognitive impairment. She also sees patients within the Cognitive and Behavioral Clinic at VUMC. Additionally, Dr. Gifford is the neuropsychologist in the Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center, where she treats patients 12 and older who have sustained a sports-related concussion. AND—she is the consulting neuropsychologist for the NFL Tenn Titans, the NHL Nashville Predators, the MLS Nashville Soccer Club, and Vanderbilt Athletics.

Dr. Gifford defines dementia, Alzheimer's, and normal brain aging. She discusses those behaviors that are a part of normal aging and those that are problematic or abnormal. She explains what causes Alzheimer's, the disease's progression, and protective and preventative behaviors we can incorporate into our lives. Unfortunately, this terrifying disease affects every single one of us in some way. Why do some get it and others don't?

Comedian Nate Bargatze

A woman who traded her pen for a circular saw

Bestselling author Fiona Davis

A dermatologist recommends inexpensive skincare products

A physician explains strokes

A pickleball enthusiast

George Strait's backup vocalist