Shelf Absorbed Podcast

Radical Honesty in The Authenticity Project

This week, we’re diving into The Authenticity Project, a story about what happens when people finally start telling the truth about their lives. Cecylia is joined by two friends, Kat and Jasmine, who’ve shared a 15-year friendship that’s seen it all: growth, distance, joy, hard conversations, and the kind of support that only comes when someone has known you for that long and still shows up. We talk about what it really means to be honest in your friendships, not the curated kind. The kind that requires trust, time, and sometimes, taking a deep breath and saying the thing anyway. We reflect on how we’ve learned to stay ourselves in our relationships, even as life and priorities shift, and what it takes to keep a friendship steady without forcing it to stay the same. And yes, we get into The Authenticity Project itself from the way each character grapples with their hidden truth to our very divided opinions on Hazard. If you’ve ever struggled with being real, felt grateful for a friend who saw you clearly, or just love a good book debate, this one’s for you. Featured Guests: Kat and Jasmine Featured Book: The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley

We Who Have Never Known Peace After This Book

In this episode, Cecylia sits down with Cheyanne Neuenschwander to process potentially the most devastating read of 2025 so far??? Cheyanne brings forward themes surrounding sense of self, romantic love, humanity, morality, and connection in relation to Jacqueline Harpman's novel I Who Have Never Known Men". Together, we unravel the quiet intensity of this dystopian novel, which follows thirty-nine women and one girl trapped underground entirely cut off from history, society, and even the memory of men.Together, we dive into the loneliness and resilience at the heart of this story: what it means to form an identity in isolation, how the absence of history shapes a person, and the quiet hope that lives alongside uncertainty. It’s a conversation that’s raw, reflective, and occasionally irreverent... because sometimes you have to laugh through the existential spiral. Episode Dedication: If you’ve ever felt like you were asking questions no one had answers to, this episode is for you. Featured Guest: Cheyanne Neuenschwander Featured Book: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

Mommy Issues with Nightbitch

In this season three premiere, Cecylia sits down with Holly, the first guest of this season, to discuss the harder parts of becoming a mom, how to find your way back to yourself, and validate that if every moment isn't soft lullabies and organic fabric onesies it doesn't mean you're a bad mom. In the second half of this episode, we sink our teeth into Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder. This feral, furious exploration of postpartum rage, maternal sacrifice, and identity loss exposes the wild animal that lives inside every mother. We talk postpartum rage, the metaphors we found within the novel, how shitty this lady's husband is, and how embracing the monstrous might just be the most motherly thing of all. Episode Dedication: To any mom that has ever questioned herself, screamed into a pillow, cried in the grocery store, or stared into the mirror wondering where she went. We're in awe of your ability to remain feral, curious, and still full of magic... This one’s for you. Guest Featured: Holly Browder Book Featured: Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder Episode Resources: - Postpartum International - 988 Suicide Hotline - La Leche League

The Road to Onyx Storm

Calling all dragon riders! Are you ready for Onyx Storm?! In this episode, we provided a general, overall summary of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame and chit chat about underlying themes of grief and friendship, potential theories, why Cecylia loves Jack Barlowe, the quadrant Alexandra would be in, and what is next for the Empyrean Series. Unlike our traditional episode format, this episode is FULL of spoilers as we talk about the books in their entirety. This is the refresher to reference before jumping into Onyx Storm next week.  Featured Books: Fourth Wing and Iron Flame Author: Rebecca Yarros

When Fear Takes Form: Unpacking Phantasma

Fear—what draws us to it, and how do we face it? In this episode, we dive into the theme of fear through the lens of Kaylie Smith's Phantasma. The first half is spoiler-free and focuses on the universal experience of fear, the importance of therapy in overcoming it, and society's enduring love affair with the horror genre. Why are we so fascinated by what scares us? Our first guest of season 2, Chrissy Stevenson, sits down and explores this with us. Chrissy is a bookish content creator, horror genre fanatic, a proud pet parent, and an audiobook narrator. In the second half (spoiler alert!), we unravel the book’s deeper layers. From its representation of OCD and mental health, the dynamic between sisters, to the haunting power of getting laid, the discussion sparked this month covers a lot of ground. And, of course, we’ll swoon over Phantasma's phantom book boyfriend—because even in the scariest of scenes, there’s always room for a little romance. Featured Book: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith Featured Guest: Chrissy Stevenson Chrissy's bookstagram and narration handles: @sugar.n.smut and @daisymorgan_narrates Chrissy's Bookish Etsy Shop: @morallygreydesigns