justin a. reynolds always knew he wanted to be a writer, he even created his own book jacket when he was a kid. Fast forward and justin is an accomplished author whose debut novel, Opposite of Always, was a 2019 best seller. His most recent novel, House Party, is a novel in stories, written by ten different authors. In this episode, justin and Annamarie talk about wrangling authors, making the move with Marvel, and the best cereals of our childhood.

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As a journalist, Ruchira Gupta stumbled upon a disturbing story: girls were disappearing from villages and being sold into prostitution in the city. Determined, Ruchira set about dismantling sex trafficking across her home country of India and around the world. She testified before Indian Parliament and lobbied the United Nations. She kept asking questions, kept sitting down with families, and kept fighting. Ruchira started with a single story and now leads a global movement. In this episode, Annmarie and Ruchira talk about her nonprofit Apne Aap, her debut novel I KICK AND I FLY, and what it would take to create a world where no child is ever bought or sold again.

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Virginia Sole-Smith’s latest book, Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture, investigates how the “war on childhood obesity” has caused kids of all ages to absorb a daily onslaught of body shame from peers, school, diet culture, and parents themselves — and her book offers research-based strategies to help. In this episode, Annmarie and Virginia talk about how to navigate anti-fat bias in schools, doctor’s offices, and around our dinner tables and how to learn to love the way our bodies come in all shapes and sizes.

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Uzma Jalaluddin is having a banner year. She has two books coming out in 2023: Much Ado About Nada and Three Holidays and a Wedding (coauthored with Marissa Stapley). She wrote her first play, The Rishta, which was performed in Montreal this past spring. And her second novel, Hana Khan Carries On, is currently in development for film with Mindy Kaling. In this episode, Uzma and Annmarie talk about writing, rom-coms, and representation, and how important it is to read widely and wisely to learn the multitudes contained in one another’s stories. 

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Laura Cathcart Robbins is the co-host of The Only One in the Room podcast and the best-selling author of the memoir Stash: My Life In Hiding. Laura had everything going for her: a beautiful home, great kids, a Hollywood marriage, but she still found herself trapped inside self-doubt, secrecy, and addiction. In this episode, Laura and Annmarie talk about Laura’s journey through addiction to sobriety and how she found her way back to her most authentic and vulnerable self.

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Nic Stone is a writer and storyteller who has published thirteen books, including DEAR MARTIN, DEAR JUSTYCE, and ODD ONE OUT. Her latest title, CHAOS THEORY, follows two teens learning about mental health challenges, addiction, and the notion that everyone is worthy of love. In this episode, Nic and Annmarie talk about neurodivergence, antiracist teaching, and how to build a connection with absolutely anybody you sit next to on an airplane.

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Maggie Smith is a poet, writer, editor, and teacher who has published several books, including KEEP MOVING, GOLDENROD, and YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL. In 2016, Maggie’s poem “Good Bones” went viral. To date, it’s been translated into nearly a dozen languages, interpreted by a dance troupe in India, set to music by multiple composers, and read at Lincoln Center by Meryl Streep. Public Radio International called it “the official poem of 2016.” In this episode, Annmarie and Maggie talk about love and divorce, Gen X and mixtapes, and what it’s like to settle into yourself again after coming through a storm.

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Tyler Merritt is a Nashville-based actor, comedian, vocalist, and creator of The Tyler Merritt Project. His viral video Before You Call The Cops has been viewed by over 100 million people worldwide. He is also the author of two books: I Take My Coffee Black and A Door Made Just for Me. In this episode, Annmarie and Tyler talk about their shared love of musical theater and how to choose love over hate in a world that too often encourages the opposite.

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 Julie Carrick Dalton’s most recent novel, THE LAST BEEKEEPER, has been described as “a meditation on the fragile beauty of nature and the power of hope and resilience.” In this episode, Julie and Annmarie talk about the cuteness of bees, the blessings of loving and supportive parents, and how to open our eyes more fully to the beauty of the natural world.

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Sara Read’s debut novel is JOHANNA PORTER IS NOT SORRY, a “snarky, sexy, book-club-ready novel” about a painter turned soccer mom turned art thief. In this episode, Annmarie and Sara talk about mom guilt, flute-making, and how to reclaim a part of ourselves that has laid dormant for too long.

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