Badass Books and Besties

54: Creating Cozy Escapes: Mallory Thomas on Love, Books, and Balancing Motherhood

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/fan_mail/new] Dive into "Badass Books and Besties" as Brianna interviews romance writer Mallory Thomas in an inspiring, heartfelt episode. Mallory shares her journey from content creator and mother to published author, revealing how real-life moments pushed her to trade screen time for storytelling and reconnect with her passion for soft, swoon-worthy love stories. This episode covers her writing process, balancing family and creativity, overcoming challenges, and her unique Where Is Your Somewhere Project, where readers track her book’s global reach. Plus, get a sneak peek into her upcoming fiction and nonfiction releases, including "Somewhere Along the Line" and "Bottle Service." If you love cozy reads, author insights, and uplifting conversations about carving out space for yourself, tune in for book vibes that leave you warmer and more hopeful than your social feed. If you'd love to follow or keep in touch with Mallory, you can find her here:  o  Website [https://mallorythomas.com/] o  Instagram: Mallory Writes [https://www.instagram.com/mallorythomas_writes] o  TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mallorythomas_writes] o  Where is Your Somewhere?  [https://whereisyoursomewhere.com/] o  Instagram: The Formula Mom [https://www.instagram.com/theformulamom/] o  The Formula Mom Website [https://milk-drunk.com/category/the-formula-mom/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/support] Looking for your next great read? Download my free guide — 10 Books Every Badass Woman Should Read — a curated list of empowering books that inspire growth, confidence, and connection. Grab it ⁠⁠⁠here [https://subscribepage.io/10-badass-books]⁠⁠⁠! If you love conversations like this and want to read and reflect alongside other book-loving women, you’re invited to join Badass Book Besties [https://www.badassbookbesties.com/] — my book club community where we read together, meet live, and have real, honest discussions about books and life.  And if you’re craving deeper support — whether that’s clarity, confidence, creative momentum, or building a life that actually feels like yours — I also offer one-on-one coaching for dreamers and writers. You can learn more about working with me at Badass Books and Besties Coaching Packages [https://badassbooksandbesties.com/coaching/]. Thanks for being here, bestie. I’m so glad you’re listening.

53: Understanding The Secret: How Your Thoughts, Beliefs, and Gratitude Shape the Life You Create

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/fan_mail/new] The Secret by Rhonda Byrne [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9781582701707] has become one of the most widely discussed personal development books in the world, introducing millions of readers to the idea that our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence the experiences we create in our lives. At its core, the book explores the Law of Attraction and invites readers to consider how awareness of our inner world can shape the direction of our outer lives. This episode explores the central concepts presented in the book, including the role of dominant thoughts, emotional awareness, gratitude, visualization, and the creative process of Ask, Believe, and Receive. Rather than treating these ideas as quick formulas for success, the conversation focuses on how they can be applied thoughtfully and realistically in everyday life. The discussion examines how our beliefs about money, relationships, health, and identity influence the way we move through the world, and how shifting our focus toward possibility and intention can open new pathways for growth. Listeners will also explore practical ways to apply these ideas, including developing awareness of thought patterns, recognizing feelings as feedback, practicing gratitude in advance, and allowing space for the next step to unfold without needing to control every outcome. These reflections invite a deeper look at how mindset, attention, and emotional patterns influence personal transformation. Books like The Secret [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9781582701707] can become powerful tools for reflection when they are explored slowly and intentionally. Engaging with these ideas in conversation, questioning them, and applying them to real life creates opportunities for meaningful growth. This episode offers a thoughtful exploration of the book’s teachings and invites listeners to consider how greater awareness, self-trust, and intentional focus can support the life they are ready to create. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/support] Looking for your next great read? Download my free guide — 10 Books Every Badass Woman Should Read — a curated list of empowering books that inspire growth, confidence, and connection. Grab it ⁠⁠⁠here [https://subscribepage.io/10-badass-books]⁠⁠⁠! If you love conversations like this and want to read and reflect alongside other book-loving women, you’re invited to join Badass Book Besties [https://www.badassbookbesties.com/] — my book club community where we read together, meet live, and have real, honest discussions about books and life.  And if you’re craving deeper support — whether that’s clarity, confidence, creative momentum, or building a life that actually feels like yours — I also offer one-on-one coaching for dreamers and writers. You can learn more about working with me at Badass Books and Besties Coaching Packages [https://badassbooksandbesties.com/coaching/]. Thanks for being here, bestie. I’m so glad you’re listening.

52: How to Build a Writing Habit That Actually Works in Real Life

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Brianna shares a thoughtful and realistic approach to building a writing habit that fits into real life, even when things feel busy, overwhelming, or unpredictable. Drawing from a recent writing group session, she talks about why so many writers struggle with consistency, why motivation alone is rarely enough, and how small, flexible routines can make writing feel possible again. You’ll learn how to design a writing habit that works with your energy, schedule, and responsibilities instead of against them, as well as how to let go of perfectionism and build forgiveness into your creative process. If you’ve ever felt discouraged about “falling off” your writing routine or unsure how to stay connected to your creativity, this episode offers encouragement, practical guidance, and a gentle reminder that slow and steady progress truly counts. Plus, learn how to join Brianna’s free book club for more connection, conversation, and support around books, writing, and creative life. Join us in the Badass Book Besties Community [https://www.badassbookbesties.com/home] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/support] Looking for your next great read? Download my free guide — 10 Books Every Badass Woman Should Read — a curated list of empowering books that inspire growth, confidence, and connection. Grab it ⁠⁠⁠here [https://subscribepage.io/10-badass-books]⁠⁠⁠! If you love conversations like this and want to read and reflect alongside other book-loving women, you’re invited to join Badass Book Besties [https://www.badassbookbesties.com/] — my book club community where we read together, meet live, and have real, honest discussions about books and life.  And if you’re craving deeper support — whether that’s clarity, confidence, creative momentum, or building a life that actually feels like yours — I also offer one-on-one coaching for dreamers and writers. You can learn more about working with me at Badass Books and Besties Coaching Packages [https://badassbooksandbesties.com/coaching/]. Thanks for being here, bestie. I’m so glad you’re listening.

51: The Books That Shaped My 2025 and the Ones I Always Recommend

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/fan_mail/new] In this deeply personal episode of Badass Books and Besties, Brianna shares the five books that shaped her 2025 and explains why this year of reading meant more to her than any other. After a year marked by grief, growth, and major life transitions, she reflects on how reading supported her emotionally, creatively, and personally during one of the most meaningful seasons of her life. These are not just favorite books, but the stories that helped her process loss, understand relationships more deeply, and reflect on the woman she is becoming. In this episode, Brianna talks about: * Why 2025 was such a meaningful reading year * What kind of books she found herself craving during a season of grief and transition * How reading became a form of emotional support and healing * The five books that stayed with her long after she finished them Featured books include: * Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9781250217394] * Radium Girls by Kate Moore [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9781492650959] * The Origins of You by Vienna Pharaon [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9780593539910] * Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9780735220690] * The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9781982153939] Brianna also shares why she created her free guide, 10 Badass Books Every Woman Should Read [https://subscribepage.io/10-badass-books]. This was created specifically for women who want to read with more intention and choose books that truly change how they think about their lives, their relationships, and themselves. If you are a woman who loves reading, is navigating grief or personal growth, or simply wants better book recommendations, this episode is for you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/support] Looking for your next great read? Download my free guide — 10 Books Every Badass Woman Should Read — a curated list of empowering books that inspire growth, confidence, and connection. Grab it ⁠⁠⁠here [https://subscribepage.io/10-badass-books]⁠⁠⁠! If you love conversations like this and want to read and reflect alongside other book-loving women, you’re invited to join Badass Book Besties [https://www.badassbookbesties.com/] — my book club community where we read together, meet live, and have real, honest discussions about books and life.  And if you’re craving deeper support — whether that’s clarity, confidence, creative momentum, or building a life that actually feels like yours — I also offer one-on-one coaching for dreamers and writers. You can learn more about working with me at Badass Books and Besties Coaching Packages [https://badassbooksandbesties.com/coaching/]. Thanks for being here, bestie. I’m so glad you’re listening.

50: Untamed by Glennon Doyle — Book Club Session 2: Purpose, Productivity, and Being Enough

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Badass Books & Besties, we’re diving deep into Book Club Session 2 of Untamed by Glennon Doyle [https://bookshop.org/a/15312/9781984801258]—and this conversation is honest, layered, and anything but surface-level. Pulled straight from one of our live Badass Book Besties discussions, this episode captures real women reacting in real time to Untamed: what resonated, what challenged us, and what didn’t sit right. We talk openly about purpose, the pressure to be endlessly productive, and the complicated question of what it actually means to feel “enough”—especially as women navigating work, relationships, expectations, and identity. This isn’t a polished book review or a highlight reel of quotes. It’s a candid book club conversation where we explore: * How productivity and hustle culture get tied to worthiness * Why rest can feel like failure—and why that’s so hard to unlearn * The idea that heartbreak and anger might point us toward purpose * Contradictions in Untamed that sparked debate and frustration * Confidence, imposter syndrome, and why women downplay themselves * What “being untamed” really looks like in real life—not just on the page If you listened to Session 1 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/49-untamed-by-glennon-doyle-book-club-session-1-freedom/id1654244843?i=1000744972192], this episode builds on that foundation and goes deeper into the messy middle of the book—where inspiration, discomfort, and disagreement all collide. And if you’re new here, you’ll quickly learn this is a space where you don’t have to pretend a book worked for you just because it’s popular. Whether Untamed empowered you, irritated you, or left you conflicted, this conversation invites you to think more deeply about your own relationship with purpose, productivity, and self-worth. 🎧 Press play, pour a drink, and join us for one of our most thought-provoking book club conversations yet. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2526098/support] Looking for your next great read? Download my free guide — 10 Books Every Badass Woman Should Read — a curated list of empowering books that inspire growth, confidence, and connection. Grab it ⁠⁠⁠here [https://subscribepage.io/10-badass-books]⁠⁠⁠! If you love conversations like this and want to read and reflect alongside other book-loving women, you’re invited to join Badass Book Besties [https://www.badassbookbesties.com/] — my book club community where we read together, meet live, and have real, honest discussions about books and life.  And if you’re craving deeper support — whether that’s clarity, confidence, creative momentum, or building a life that actually feels like yours — I also offer one-on-one coaching for dreamers and writers. You can learn more about working with me at Badass Books and Besties Coaching Packages [https://badassbooksandbesties.com/coaching/]. Thanks for being here, bestie. I’m so glad you’re listening.