Drinks in the Library

Gigi Howard

Drinks in the library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they are required! Each episode librarian Gigi Howard interviews a guest about their favorite book and we pair it with a drink for you to make at home or share with your next book club meet-up!

  1. Aug 11

    Animal Farm by George Orwell with Katy Hearne-Church

    George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satirical allegorical novel about a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner in hopes of creating a society based on equality and freedom. As the pigs gradually take control, the animals discover that their revolution has replaced one form of oppression with another. Through its dark humor and memorable characters, the novel explores power, corruption, propaganda, and the dangers of political tyranny. My guest this week is the amazing Katy Hearne-Church from Queens Podcast! What do you get when you take two childhood friends with a passion for unexplored history and a whole lotta booze? Queens Podcast! Katy and Nathan share exciting stories of women in history. Katy and Nathan believe that the female perspective and roles are just as deserving of their time in the spotlight! Because history is more than the stories of dudes on a battlefield. Each queen is paired with a drink recipe that will totally get you in the mood to hear the fun, dramatic, juicy, and underrepresented stories of some seriously interesting ladies. Find them and listen wherever you find your podcasts! Moscow Mule Ingredients 2 oz vodka1/2 oz fresh lime juice4 oz ginger beerLime wedge, for garnishIceDirections Fill a copper mug or glass with ice.Add vodka and lime juice.Top with ginger beer.• 4. Stir gently and garnish with a lime wedge. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

    Animal Farm by George Orwell with Katy Hearne-Church
  2. Jul 28

    The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor with Erin Palmer

    The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor is a folk horror and mystery novel about Reverend Jack Brooks and her teenage daughter, Flo, who move to a remote English village seeking a fresh start. The village of Chapel Croft carries a dark history of past martyrdoms, missing teenagers, and the recent suicide of the previous vicar. As Jack investigates these intertwined tragedies, Flo begins seeing frightening apparitions of burning girls linked to the town's buried secrets. Erin Palmer hosts a podcast called Did You Read The Book? Along with her friends, Erin dissects movie adaptations—from cinematic masterpieces to films that apparently treated the source material like a La Croix tastes; fruit flavors screaming in another room. She celebrates the rare times Hollywood gets it right, lovingly roasts the times it absolutely doesn't, and argues over whether cutting your favorite character was "necessary" or just a personal attack. Expect hot takes, behind-the-scenes trivia, and unapologetic opinions dripping with sarcasm. So grab your popcorn, dust off that novel you've been meaning to reread, and join Erin and her guests as they compare the book, the movie, and the creative decisions that keep therapists employed. Smoked Rosemary Bourbon Sour Cocktail Ingredients  2 ounces Bourbon 3 ounces lemonade Dash bitters Rosemary sprig Directions Carefully light rosemary on fire, letting burn until some of the leaves are ash. Place into a glass.Combine bourbon, lemonade, and bitters in a shaker half-filled with ice and shake well.Strain into glass over the smoked rosemary. First ever Patreon-only episode is now live! Find me on Patreon.com/Drinksinthelibrary to listen to Bill’s fifth episode of the pod and hear us discuss how much we did not enjoy the drink pairing - a Dirty Shirley Thank you for being a part of Libration Nation! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

    The Burning Girls by CJ Tudor with Erin Palmer
  3. Jul 21

    The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson with Adriana from Bring Me Books

    The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical narrative that chronicles the Great Migration, the decades-long exodus of nearly six million Black Americans fleeing the oppressive Jim Crow South for Northern and Western cities. Wilkerson captures the immense scale of this demographic shift through intimate, intertwined biographies of three individuals—Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster—who relocated during different eras and to different destinations. Their personal journeys of hardship, perseverance, and triumph serve as a microcosm for the millions who reshaped American culture, politics, and urban life. My guest this week is Adriana from Bring Me Books! Adriana is the creator behind Bring Me Books, a literary platform dedicated to amplifying Black literature, nonfiction, and stories that challenge the way we think. She has built a community of more than 45,000 readers who believe that books are more than entertainment, they’re tools for liberation, critical thinking, and meaningful conversation.  As the founder of Truth Club, her signature nonfiction book recommendation series, Adriana curates thought-provoking recommendations that encourage readers to think more critically about history, culture, politics, identity, and the world around them. She has interviewed acclaimed authors and entertainers, been featured in Fox 2 News, Sirius XM Radio and partnered with major publishers and literary organizations that center Black voices, history, and culture.  Known for her signature blend of humor, honesty, and intellectual curiosity, Adriana has become a trusted voice in the book community, helping readers discover works that educate, challenge, and inspire. Sun Tea Ingredients 4–6 tea bags (black tea, green tea, or your favorite herbal tea)1 gallon cold waterLemon slices, fresh mint, or fruit (optional, for serving)IceSweetener, such as sugar or honey (optional)Directions Place the tea bags in a clean 1-gallon glass jar or pitcher and fill with cold water.Cover the container and set it in a sunny spot outdoors for 2–4 hours, depending on how strong you like your tea. Avoid steeping longer than 4 hours.Remove the tea bags. Refrigerate the tea until thoroughly chilled.Serve over ice with lemon, mint, or fresh fruit if desired. Sweeten to taste, stirring well until dissolved.Note: Be very careful when brewing Sun Tea. For food safety, use clean equipment and refrigerate the tea promptly after brewing. Discard any tea that becomes cloudy, slimy, or develops an off smell. First ever Patreon-only episode is now live! Find me on Patreon.com/Drinksinthelibrary to listen to Bill’s fifth episode of the pod and hear us discuss how much we did not enjoy this week’s drink - a Dirty Shirley! Thank you for being a part of Libration Nation! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

    The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson with Adriana from Bring Me Books
  4. Jul 7

    The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien with Salaam Bhatti

    To support Drinks in the Library and listen to ad-free episode and additional bonus content, subscribe on Patreon The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien is a timeless adventure novel, tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. Can a simple hobbit resist the corrupting power of the One Ring and succeed where great warriors have failed? My guest this week is Salaam Bhatti, a public-interest lawyer, husband, and father of two boys, and is running as a Democrat for Congress to fight for families across Virginia’s 1st District. Salaam is a child of immigrants who came to America to pursue the American dream. While at the Virginia Poverty Law Center, he led bipartisan efforts to expand SNAP food assistance for 25,000+ families, helped secure free school meals for tens of thousands of children, and increased cash assistance for families by historic amounts. You can find out more about him at salaamforva.com Evenstar Elixer Ingredients 2 oz tart cherry juice1 oz white grape juice½ oz fresh lemon juice½ oz rosemary simple syrup (or honey syrup for a warmer flavor)2–3 oz sparkling waterIce Directions Fill a glass with ice.Add the tart cherry juice, white grape juice, lemon juice, and rosemary syrup.Stir well.Top with sparkling water.• 5. Garnish with the rosemary sprig and cherries. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

    The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien with Salaam Bhatti
  5. Jun 30

    Starter Villain by John Scalzi with Allie Speakmon

    Charlie's life is going nowhere fast. A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all he wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan. Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie. This is the wildly fun and fast moving plot from the book Starter Villain by John Scalzi which I discuss with this week’s guest, Allie Speakmon! Allie is a book reviewer and content creator based in the New Braunfels, Texas area. She runs @speakingof.books across Instagram, TikTok, and her website speakingof.org where she reviews mysteries, thrillers, romantasy, and contemporary fiction with honest takes and a full glass of wine. She's a project manager by day, a mom of 3 under 4 including twins, and a self-proclaimed Type C reader who reads by vibes and ignores her TBR pile. She's been in the bookstagram community for 9 years, reads 100+ books a year, and recently founded The Quarterly Bookclub in New Braunfels for busy women who love books but think monthly is too much commitment. Villain Spritz Ingredients 1½ oz vodka¾ oz elderflower liqueur½ oz honey syrup¾ oz fresh lemon juice4–5 fresh blackberries, muddledProsecco or club soda, to topMint sprig and fresh blackberriesDirections Add the blackberries to a cocktail shaker and muddle gently.Add the vodka, elderflower liqueur honey syrup, lemon juice, and ice.Shake well until chilled.Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice and strain the cocktail over the ice.Top with a splash of Prosecco. • 6. Garnish with a sprig of mint and a few fresh blackberries. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/drinks-in-the-library/donations

    Starter Villain by John Scalzi with Allie Speakmon
4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Drinks in the library, the only library where drinks aren’t just allowed, they are required! Each episode librarian Gigi Howard interviews a guest about their favorite book and we pair it with a drink for you to make at home or share with your next book club meet-up!

You Might Also Like