The Bibliotherapists

• The Bibliotherapists Ep #10: Emma Gannon on the pressures of success, the power of self-help and that tricky 2nd novel

  Welcome to our 10th and final episode of season one of The Bibliotherapists, a podcast hosted on and celebrating the people of Substack.And we are closing out in style 🥳🥳🥳 with a conversation with one of the platform’s big success stories and biggest evangelists, Emma Gannon.Emma, 35, is a bestselling and award-winning author of seven books: including The Multi-Hyphen Method, The Success Myth, and A Year of Nothing.On Substack she publishes the super successful The Hyphen by Emma Gannon and her new novel, TABLE FOR ONE, will be published this April.Joining us hot from hosting a creative retreat with our very own Tanya Lynch, in this conversation Emma provides a candid glimpse into the vulnerabilities, challenges and wins of a life as a professional writer.Her reflections on creativity, storytelling, and the power of books will inspire aspiring writers, Substackers and readers out there.Emma also shares insights into her creative process, particularly the challenges of her second novel, Table for One, a heartfelt exploration of independence and self-discovery that she’s super proud of, but took her to some dark places in the writing.IN THIS EPISODE:* Why Emma loves the fresh page vibe of a new year.* Navigating the pressures of success, and the internal struggle of fulfilling a two-book deal ("The first book was for me. The second one came with the pressure of owing someone something, which I hated.").* The power (and complexity) of solitude.* The power of intergenerational friendship and learning from our elders.* Books as sanctuary and emotional anchors (and reading to reduce our stress levels).* How self-help got her through burnout.* The importance of aunties.* he story of her new novel, Table for One (Emma describes it as an exploration of intergenerational friendship and the beauty of learning to be solo as a woman).* Why she’ll never loan you a book.SHOW NOTES:In this episode Emma references a brilliant mix of fiction and non, including several books she used to support her recovery from burnout (and several featuring dogs)…The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina KeeganPause, Rest, Be: Stillness Practices for Courage in Times of Change by Octavia F. Raheem > Lost Dog by Kate SpicerReasons to be Hopeful by the School of Life The Art of Rest: How to Find Respite in the Modern Age by Claudia Hammond Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron The Salt Path by Raynor Winn Table for One by Emma GannonPlease share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now…Toni (& Tanya)💛PS We'll be back with a SECOND series of this podcast in summer 2025shelfhelpclub.substack.com/tanyalynch.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shelfhelpclub.substack.com/subscribe

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• The Bibliotherapists Ep #9: Women Are Mad - Jen & Salima on reading for feeling & healing

  This week’s podcast episode is a brilliant double date, with Tanya and Toni joined by Salima Saxton and Jennifer Cox aka the founders of the feminist mental health platform, Women Are Mad.Salima and Jen have been best friends since they met at Cambridge University, bonding over both being state school kids who didn’t quite fit. Today, Salima is a relationship dynamics coach and Jen is a Kleinian psychotherapist, and through Women Are Mad (WAM) they are on a mission to make feelings fashionable.They say: “WAM is on a mission to help women recognise, articulate and communicate the best toolkit they have: their emotions.” (womenaremad.org)This is a feisty and fabulous conversation featuring two friends with very different book shelves and reading histories, but a mutual love of stories and words as healing tools.Psychotherapist Jen is also the author of ‘the best self-help book of 2024’ (The Times/The Sunday Times), Women are Angry 👏👏👏 (are we sensing a theme here?!), and it was great to talk bibliotherapy with a real life therapist.Interestingly, for a bookish podcast, there is quite a lot of chat about not reading, and swapping around our reading habits for other things as our mental and emotional health requires it.Both women are dealing with pretty raw nervous systems right now, Jen after birthing her book baby, and Salima currently grieving the death of a father with whom she had a sad and complicated relationship.And the big takeaway from this conversation for us is that life IS complicated.And sometimes hard. And heartbreaking. But also gorgeous. And hilarious.And that the right books at the right time can absolutely help with all of it, but that we also need to know how to read ourselves.IN THIS EPISODE:* The profound role stories play in healing - how we can learn so much about ourselves AND find comfort in other people’s journeys.* The connection between words and emotions, and the unfurling of self-discovery through literature.* The importance of finding humour in the imperfections of family life.* Why we're angrier than we think and how to let it out (death to the ‘good girl’ archetype!).* How all genres of books can have healing properties from Jilly Cooper to Margaret Atwood.* Why we should all stop using the word ‘but’.* The importance of sitting with feelings and learning to process them, whether through retreats, journaling, or personal reflection.SHOW NOTES:In this episode Salima and Jen reference a super eclectix mix of books and writers, from Sigmund Freud to William Shakespeare. Ready your Wish List… !* A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett* The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood* Happy Go Lucky by David Sedaris* I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy* The White Hotel by D M Thomas* Love Me! by Marianne Power* Dream Story by Arthur Schnitzler* Women are Angry by Jennifer Cox* Anne of Greengables by Lucy Maud Montgomery* The Merchant of Venice by William ShakespearePlease share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now…Toni (& Tanya)💛PS: Next up - our 10th and final episode of this season featuring best-selling author and Substack queen, Emma Gannon .shelfhelpclub.substack.com/ tanyalynch.substack.com/ womenaremad.org This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shelfhelpclub.substack.com/subscribe

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• The Bibliotherapists Ep #8: Tamu Thomas - OUT with toxic productivity and IN with gentle unfolding for 2025

  Tamu Thomas, is a transformational and embodiment coach, workshop facilitator, podcaster and somatic movement practitioner. Tamu helps over-functioning, over-working, high-achieving women to establish boundaries, find their purpose AND make good money.Toni interviewed Tamu about her first book, Women Who Work Too Much: Break Free from Toxic Productivity and Find Your Joy, in April last year, and we think Tamu’s book - and this conversation - is the perfect antidote for ‘new year new you’ overwhelm.Tamu’s specialist subject is toxic productivity. She’s also an advocate for eschewing toxic positivity and in this conversation we discuss how to create a brilliant and joyous life without either.“I want people to know it’s okay to pause, to rest, to live with ease and joy,” says Tamu.Hell yeah to that as a manifesto for 2025!IN THIS EPISODE:* Prioritising joy and ease: Shifting the focus from hustle culture to living well.* Books as tools for transformation: The significance of specific books in Tamu’s personal and professional growth and self-love.* The joy of sharing words: And using Substack as a platform to authentically connect with others.* Making peace with what is: Tamu opens up about the process of accepting - and embodying - her late diagnosis ADHD, and adapting to perimenopausal energy levels.* Supporting women in midlife: Shifting the narrative around aging and productivity and wellbeing for women.* Writing as therapy and connection: The process of writing a book as an emotional and self-expressive journey.* Celebrating our 'flow' years: Emphasising the beauty of midlife as a time of reflection and self-discovery.* The importance of alignment: Living in alignment with one's true self and values.* Self-awareness and growth: The transformative power of observing emotions and patterns.SHOW NOTES:In this episode Tamu references and recommends so many great books, including several on somatic healing and embodiment:* Women Who Work Too Much by Tamu Thomas* Bodyfulness by Christine Cauldwell* My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem* The Somatic Psychotherapy Toolbox by Manuela Mischke-Reeds* The Shadow Effect: Illuminating the Hidden Power of Your True Self by Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson and Debbie Ford* A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson* The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor* The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief by Francis Weller* The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield* Life Visioning: A Transformative Process for Activating Your Unique Gifts and Highest Potential by Michael Bernard Beckwith* Mind Magic: The Neuroscience of Manifestation and How It Changes Everything by James R Doty* Women Living Deliciously by Florence Given* Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins* Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb DanaWe can’t wait for you to listen.Please share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now.And follow us on Substack for more author interviews, book recommendations and general word nerdiness:https://shelfhelpclub.substack.com/https://tanyalynch.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shelfhelpclub.substack.com/subscribe

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• The Bibliotherapists Ep #7: Anne Boyd - What happens when you quit your life aged 50?

  Our seventh episode of the podcast is actually the first one we recorded. And I (TJ) secretly think that scoring an interview with this guest was my co-host Tanya’s main motivation for embarking on this whole podcast journey.Listen to the interview and you’ll hear her girlcrushing hard on the author, professor, and Substack’s poster girl for midlife adventures, Anne Boyd.SHOW NOTES:In this episode Anne references and recommends lots of books by inspiring female writers, including:The Outrun by Amy LiptrotMy Favourite Mistake by Marian KeyesThe Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia CameronThe Second Sex by Simone De BeauvoirExpectation Hangover: Free Yourself from Your Past, Change Your Present and Get What You Really Want by Christine HasslerAfter You'd Gone by Maggie O'FarrellBig Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear by Elizabeth GilbertLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottWe can’t wait for you to listen.Please share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now…Toni (& Tanya)xxPS: Up next week, toxic productivity expert and author, Tamu Thomas This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shelfhelpclub.substack.com/subscribe

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• The Bibliotherapists Ep #6: Laura Pashby - An author's guide to the best writing guides

  Our sixth episode of the pod is definitely one for our writers friends out here.Whether you’re a published author or have just started posting on Substack, today’s guest, the writer, photographer, book seller and fog lover, Laura Pashby has SO MANY gems to inspire and support your writing.Laura’s new book, Chasing Fog, is out now, and in this conversation she reveals how she manages her time between writing, researching, marketing and selling books, creating a hit Substack AND looking after herself and her family.Honestly, we know it’s not, but she makes it sound easy.And we love her tips on her favourite Apps to capture ideas fresh from a wild swim and the power of writer’s hours to stay organised and accountable.SHOW NOTES:In this episode Laura references and recommends many different books, including several (heavily underlined) writing guides;* Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir by Beth Kephart* Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lammott* The Situation and the Story: The Art of Personal Narrative by Vivian Gornick* To Show and to Tell: The Craft of Literary Nonfiction (An Essential Guide for Writers) by Philip Lopate* The Prophet by Khalil Gibran* Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley* Wellness by Nathan Hill* Set Me On Fire: A Poem For Every Feeling by Ella RisbridgerWe can’t wait for you to listen.Please share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now…Toni (& Tanya)xxPS: Up next week, audacious woman Anne Boyd…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shelfhelpclub.substack.com/subscribe

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