288: Booked & Unfiltered: Finding Connection Through Stories - The Power of Books and Laughter
Announcing My New Cohost For The Weekly Wednesday Booked & Unfiltered Series
Three times a week, My Simplified Life brings you conversations with authors and changemakers who inspire, challenge, and spark curiosity. Each episode is packed with life lessons, powerful storytelling, and insights that help us see the world—and ourselves—a little differently.
Welcome to the first Booked & Unfiltered Wednesday series episode! I’m over the moon that my cohost is Steph Hockersmith, aka Pie Lady Books!
I first learned about Steph Hockersmith (aka Pie Lady Books) years ago when I read Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky. In the book, Steph shared her story about how reading helped her through a really difficult time in her life when she was very sick. To thank the authors who unknowingly gave her comfort, she started turning their book covers into pies — yes, pies! Her talent quickly gained attention, landing her on The Today Show, GMA, HelloSunshine, and even putting her face-to-face with Oprah!
I was lucky enough to have Steph turn my book cover into a pie (dream moment!) and then interview her on my podcast for episode 224. Little did I know that interview would spark a friendship that now brings me so much joy.
Fast forward to today — Steph and I realized our unfiltered, laugh-out-loud conversations about books, motherhood, business, and life deserved a mic. So we decided… why not make it a weekly thing? And just like that, our new weekly podcast episode series was born. It’s raw, hilarious, thoughtful, and full of the kind of conversations you’d have with your best friend over coffee (or wine).
This week we dove into books but somehow covered so much more — like motherhood, the messiness of life, and everything in between. If you need a good laugh, a relatable chat, and some book recs, you won’t want to miss it!
What We're Talking About
Self-care is essential for balancing responsibilities.
Books can build empathy and understanding.
All books, regardless of genre, hold value.
Literature can be a powerful tool for change.
Encouraging children to read is vital.
Diverse literature helps everyone feel seen.
Reading can be both an escape and a source of knowledge.
Parenting comes with its own set of challenges and joys.
Conversations about books can lead to deeper connections.
