The List #5: All the best things I've read on Substack lately
Plus, an exciting bonus series coming to Ready or Not, a podcast, a zine, and a list within a list
These list pieces seem to come around so quick. Blink and it’s another week and I really thought I had nothing to put into this rec list.
Turns out, I was wrong. And because I’m tired and time poor, let’s get straight into it: a list that has something for everyone, and even, a list within a list.
A list within a list: Some brilliant podcast recs from an upcoming special guest
Charley aka Book Smut has put together an incredible list of her favourite episodes from her favourite podcasts below. I adored the Desert Island Discs episode, and grateful to have an episode from Ready or Not mentioned too.
Both linked below!
What I’m reading next
And speaking of Book Smut…. MY LORD I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS!
If you listen to Witching Hour on Ready or Not, you’ll know I love absolutely everything about my co-host Loz, except for her lack of enthusiasm to engage in book and show chat with me.
And so, I’m so stoked to welcome you to the Low Battery Book Club — a special three-part monthly book club with low batteries but very high opinions.
That’s where Charley comes in: former Ready or Not guest, mum of two and the creator of Book Smut. Every month we’ll bring you the highs and lows of what we’ve been consuming — books, TV, films, articles, whatever’s been clogging our brains.
And we’ll also explore the answers to a range of high brow and low brow questions, like, do literary awards mean anything? What are the best books to get you back in the mood when your libido’s not firing but your mum rage is? And why do Australian books always get the worst covers?
We’ll also deep dive a book each episode, and our first pick is Loved One by Aisha Muharrar (find out more about the book below).
The first episode is dropping on Saturday 4th October, so if you want to follow along with our low battery book club, start reading the book with your eyes or ears now. And subscribe to Ready or Not wherever you get your podcasts to be the first to hear this special series.
About the book:
When Julia’s first-love-turned-best-friend Gabe, a musician with a cultish following, dies unexpectedly at age twenty-nine, Julia launches herself into an intercontinental quest to recover the possessions he left with friends and acquaintances across the world. Along the way she encounters Elizabeth, Gabe’s effortlessly perfect and endlessly cool ex-girlfriend. Now Julia can’t stop talking to, thinking about, and googling Elizabeth. As the two women struggle to reconcile their respective claims on Gabe’s memory, can they find their way from rivalry to friendship?
With the episode — and all the spoilers — dropping October 4th, we recommending reading along now, be that with your ears or your eyes.
The Podcast: Under the Influencer (with Lee from America) from the Be There in Five podcast
Kate Kennedy’s episode with Lee from America was deeply fascinating! I don’t recall Lee from America at all, but I know the exact point in time that this wellness influencing infiltrated Instagram.
Smoothie bowls! Oil pulling! Chia seeds! Yoga! (tbh, I was part of that one).
This episode covers one influencer’s experience with orthorexia, the smoothie bowls she would photograph but not eat, and the wild journey she went on as she entered and then exited the wellness influencing world. Afterwards, I immediately binged her book. A departure from my usual type of book but I could not, not find out more about her story. Literary mastery? No. A wild and captivating story? Absolutely.
The Zine: Milking It by Isabella Kottek
80 pages of the highs, lows and weird in between bloops of the newborn stage. Navigating early parenthood is wild and this zine depicts the ride so beautifully. Some pages reallllly tickled me and I was so grateful to receive a copy from Isabella.
The Substack Pieces
Three pieces that I ADORED reading recently, for your reading pleasure.
Stop saving for later, read them NOW!
You must refill the hot tub after your parties
A letter to Joan Rivers from her daughter/landlord. This is an iconic piece of writing. Just trust me when I say you should read it.
Let’s talk about AI and storytelling
A brilliant conversation between Will Storr and Emma Gannon.
Climb Cringe Mountain or Stay Stuck Forever
This piece was so encouraging that I spoke about it on Witching Hour today (episode linked below). In this piece, DJ Mad Bad Ting talks about moving through the cringe of trying, when it comes to your career, craft, or business. Filled to the brim with brilliant tips and questions, I found the piece interesting and affirming.
Here’s both our pod episode on the topic, and the Substack piece itself.
