Kris and Mads

Kristen and Maddie
  • 5.0 (31)
  • BOOKS
Kris and Mads

This is a show about stories for storytellers and story lovers, hosted by sisters Kristen and Maddie, lifelong readers and recent booktokers with a 100k+ following. We're here for unfiltered, unhinged conversations with fellow content creators and storytellers, and we will feature the occasional rant or rave about the stories that are ripping our hearts out and putting them back together again, or maybe making us pee our pants, so long as they are telling us the truth about what it is to be human. Welcome to the Sisterhood!

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Exposing Ourselves: Shadow Work with Existential Kink’s Carolyn Elliott

    Are you ready to break free from repeating patterns and uncover the hidden desires shaping your life? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Carolyn Elliott, author of Existential Kink, to explore the transformative practice of shadow work. If you're a reader who loves self-help books, personal development, and discovering new tools for growth, this interview is for you. Carolyn shares how embracing the unconscious parts of ourselves—yes, even the uncomfortable ones—can lead to profound breakthroughs in relationships, finances, and creativity. Whether you're stuck in a cycle you can't escape or just looking for your next must-read book, Existential Kink offers a fresh, fun, and empowering approach to leveling up your life. Tune in to hear how this book became essential in our journey and why it might just be the missing piece in yours! You can find out more about Carolyn's work and her book Existential Kink here: https://carolynlovewell.com/ Let’s connect! Join our Patreon read-and-watch club: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhood Have a business inquiry? Email us: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com TikTok:   / kris.and.mads   Instagam:   / krisandmads   All our other links are here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads To check out our brother C.Ray's music which we use in all our episodes, you can find him here:    / @seerayhardly   Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:47 Two Truths and a Lie 04:42 What is Existential Kink? - Shadow Work and Radical Acceptance 11:36 Why Change if you already have everything you want? 14:44 Maddie’s kink 18:05 The knight and the lady - conscious and unconscious love story 21:42 Aligning the subconscious and conscious selves 23:58 What about collective kinks of society? Feeling like a victim. 26:27 Kristen’s kink - and what our favorite romance tropes teach us about our unconscious selves 30:18 What about global patterns of pain and violence? Can shadow work have an impact? 36:14 Maddie’s thoughts on impacting the collective experience 38:53 Is magic real? #ShadowWork #ExistentialKink #CarolynElliott #PersonalGrowth #SelfHelpBooks #BreakTheCycle #InnerWork #BookLovers #TBRList #MindsetShift #UnconsciousDesires #SpiritualAwakening #TransformYourLife #BookClubReads #EmpowermentJourney #SelfDiscovery #HealingJourney #GrowthMindset #NewBookRecommendations #OvercomingPatterns #BookClub #Reading #Books

    45 min

  2. JAN 29

    The Best & Worst Book Club Reads of 2024 | What We Loved, Hated, & Wish We Hadn’t Read

    ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Find Our Other Links and Resources⁠ Email: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com 📚 We read 12 books with our book club in 2024 – and let’s just say, some were incredible, some were just okay, and a few we seriously regretted! In this episode, we rank our book club picks, sharing which books sparked deep discussions (including our deep thoughts on death and life’s meaning) and which ones fell flat. If you're looking for the best books to read with your book club (or want to avoid the duds), this episode is for you!👀 Books we discuss: All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver Powerless by Lauren Roberts Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings Normal People by Sally Rooney Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom Wool by Hugh Howey The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie The Book of Doors by Garreth Brown Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Listen to find out which ones were hits and misses! ✅ Perfect for: Finding must-read book club books Choosing books that spark discussion Avoiding book club books that don’t work Hearing honest book reviews from fellow readers ✨ What was YOUR favorite (or least favorite) book club read this year? Drop it in the comments! Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 03:31 The members of our book club 05:47 All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks 09:33 Butcher and Blackbird by Brynn Weaver 12:42 Powerless by Lauren Roberts 16:05 Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings 20:27 Normal People by Sally Rooney 24:31 Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom 33:05 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 37:19 Wool by Hugh Howey 40:52 The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne 47:20 And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 49:48 The Book of Doors by Garreth Brown 52:28 Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Other Books Mentioned: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Beautiful World Where Are You by Sally Rooney The Faithful and the Fallen Series by John Gwynne The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

    1 hr

  3. JAN 21

    Romantasy Deep Dive From Tolkien & Austen to ACOTAR

    It’s Onyx Storm release day, and we’re diving into the world of romantasy! In this episode, we explore the irresistible magic of fantasy romance: why it resonates with millennials, how it blends Tolkien’s epic world-building with Austen’s swoon-worthy romance, and what makes the genre thrive (and sometimes fail). From closed-door YA to spicy, explicit favorites like Zodiac Academy, we share our top recommendations and air our biggest gripes about modern romantasy—like bloated page counts and rushed writing. Plus, we reflect on the genre’s fairytale origins, debate the perfect balance of spice and story, and talk about what makes a romantic fantasy truly unforgettable. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the genre, this episode has something for every romantasy reader. Business inquiries: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com Patreon: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhood All our links: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast   / 41424.beauty   A Bio of Charles Perrault (author of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles... Origins of Cinderella https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella Dragonriders of Pern series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragonr... Grace Draven (monster romantasy author) https://gracedraven.com/home Mercedes Lackey Bio and Heralds of Valdemar Series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercede...  / valdemar-heralds-of-valdemar   The Mists of Avalon Series by Marion Zimmer Bradley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mis... FANTASY ROMANCE RECS Introductory Fantasy Romance: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (Beauty and the Beast retelling with a deadly trials component, less than three spice scenes) OR Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros (military school fantasy featuring spice and dragons) Favorite Long Romantasy Series: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (the first three books are young adult, and then the series becomes adult, no explicit spice) Gothic Romantic Fantasy: Belladonna Series by Adalyn Grace (no explicit spice) Spicy Fantasy Romance: The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (vampire romance, includes a deadly trials plot, less than three spice scenes) Pining Romantic Fantasy: Letters of Enchantment duology by Rebecca Ross (World War 1 vibes, closed-door spice) Upper Young Adult Fantasy Romance: Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black (coming of age focus, with romantic subplot, enemies to lovers yearning, but not explicit spice) Upper Young Adult Romantasy: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (more a love story, no explicit spice) Spicy Romance: Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti Fantasy Romance About Adults That Feels REAL: A River Enchanted and A Fire Endless (Isles of Cadence Duology) By Rebecca Ross Dark Romantic Fantasy: Manacled by Senlinyu (Harry Potter fanfiction featuring Draco and Hermione with spice) Fantasy With Subplot Romance: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang (no spice, check trigger warnings for this military fantasy) Masters of Death by Olivie Blake (Male/Male romance that ACHES) Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb (High fantasy with subplot character romances with VERY minor spice implied not explicit) SCI-FI STORIES WE LOVE • Red Rising by Pierce Brown • Silo by Hugh Howey (show on apple tv) • The 100 by Kass Morgan (show on Netflix) • The Expanse by James S. A. Corey (show on Amazon Prime)

    44 min

  4. JAN 14

    18 Must-Read Books! | Our Top Books from 2022, 2023 and 2024 | Feat. Booktok's Best Babes

    Get ready for an epic sci-fi/fantasy book chat! 📚 Kristen and I are joined by 4 incredible BookTok creators who traveled to Indiana for an unforgettable weekend. Together, we’re sharing our ultimate favorite books of 2022, 2023, and 2024—18 top-tier recommendations you don’t want to miss. PLUS, we’re predicting our favorite books of 2025! This episode is packed with amazing recs, tons of laughs, and the magic of friendship through books. Don’t miss this special collab with our favorite creators! Follow Allie here Tiktok Instagram Follow Gina here Tiktok Instagram Follow Mikah here Tiktok Instagram Follow Margaret here Tiktok Instagram Busines inquiries: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com You can find us around the web here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads BOOKS MENTIONED A Court of Mist and Fury (Book #2 in A Court of Thorns and Roses series) By Sarah J. Maas Love In A Time Of The Zombie Apocalypse By rizzlewrites (Available for download on A03: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28137807) The Fifth Season By N.K. Jemisin Circe By Madeline Miller Jade Legacy (Book #3 in The Green Bone Saga) By Fonda Lee Queen of Shadows (Book #5 in Throne of Glass series) By Sarah J. Maas Manacled By Senlinyu (No longer available on A03, releasing as a traditionally published novel titled Alchemized in 2025) Tress of the Emerald Sea By Brandon Sanderson The Will of the Many By James Islington A River Enchanted By Rebecca Ross The Lost Queen By Signe Pike Assassin's Fate (Book #16 in The Realm of the Elderlings) By Robin Hobb Lightbringer (Book #6 in The Red Rising Saga) By Pierce Brown Blood Over Bright Haven By M.L. Wang A Dowry of Blood By S.T. Gibson The Spear Cuts Through Water By Simon Jimenez The Liar's Knot (Book #2 in The Rook and Rose trilogy) By M.A. Carrick Speaking Bones (Book #4 in the Dandelion Dynasty) By Ken Liu The Sword of Kaigen By M.L. Wang Red God (anticipated release) By Pierce Brown Strength of the Few (anticipated release) By James Islington Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom By Leigh Bardugo Dark Age (Book #5 in The Red Rising series) By Pierce Brown The Blade Itself By Joe Abercrombie Deep End (anticipated release) By Ali Hazelwood The Knight and the Moth (anticipated release) By Rachel Gillig Alchemized (anticipated release) By Senlinyu Rose and Chains (anticipated release) By Julie Soto The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy (anticipated release) By Brigitte Knightley Rebel Witch (anticipated release) By Kristin Cicerelli Reign and Ruin By J.D. Evans Ship of Magic By Robin Hobb Farseer Trilogy By Robin Hobb Wheel of Time series By Robert Jordan Malazan By Steven Erikson Wars of Light and Shadow series By Janny Wurts The Expanse By James S.A. Corey

    49 min

  5. JAN 9

    Our Ultimate 2025 TBRs: Must-Reads, Viral Picks & the Books We Swore We’d Never Touch!

    Join us for another episode as we build our epic 2025 TBR lists! From Maddie tackling The Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire (yes, really) to Kristen’s cozy fantasy era with The House on the Cerulean Sea and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, we’re sharing all the books we can’t wait to dive into. Plus, we dish on viral sensations like Quicksilver and Flawless, classics we’re finally picking up (Six of Crows, anyone?), and our most anticipated new releases from Olivie Blake and Rachel Gillig. Expect tangents about sparkling water, Percy Pig candies, and series dilemmas (Zodiac Academy, we’re looking at you), and help us out by recommending personal development books and adventure reads! Whether you're here for TBR inspo, bookish banter, or a good laugh, this episode has it all. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Welcome to our 2025 TBR-building adventure! 01:57 - Maddie’s loose approach to her 2025 reading list 03:44 - Kristen’s commitment: Reading to her own taste in 2025 07:00 - Allowing our TBRs to be interrupted: Why flexibility matters 10:55 - Kristen’s first priority: The Wolf Den Trilogy by Elodie Harper (thanks,  @thebrothersgwynne  ) 14:23 - Maddie’s first priority: Starting The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan 16:14 - Kristen’s Zodiac Academy dilemma: Where to begin with this sprawling series? 18:29 - Maddie’s love for The Expanse series by James S. A. Corey 21:50 - Kristen enters her Regency Romance era with Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 23:49 - Maddie takes on a series she swore she’d never read: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin 26:42 - Kristen’s cozy fantasy picks: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune, Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne 28:08 - Maddie’s epic dive into The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington 28:34 - Kristen’s long-overdue read: When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker 29:55 - Maddie’s most anticipated 2025 releases: Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake & The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig 30:23 - Kristen’s continuation of her Olivie Blake journey with One for My Enemy 31:08 - Kristen’s YA excitement: The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare 32:55 - Audience callout: We need your personal development book recs! 34:45 - Kristen’s viral book picks: Quicksilver by Callie Hart & Flawless by Elsie Silver 36:56 - Adventure movie vibes: We need book recs that capture that magic! 38:47 - Did we set reading goals this year? Reflections and plans. 39:25 - Kristen’s physical TBR priorities: The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson, Fairytale by Stephen King, Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek, Anathema by Keri Lake, The Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo, and Piranesi by Suzanna Clarke 40:27 - Maddie’s physical TBR priorities: Michael J. Sullivan books, Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, The Neopolitan Quartet by Elena Ferrante, Upgrade and The Wayward Pines trilogy by Blake Crouch 41:46 - Outro: Wrapping up our TBR extravaganza! OTHER MENTIONS Books: Slow Productivity by Cal Newport The Lost Queen by Signe Pike (shoutout to M.K. for the rec https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=mkreads26&t=1736434626358 ) Ice Planet Barbarians By Ruby Dixon Zodiac Academy by Suzanne Valenti and Caroline Peckham Lord of the Rings By J.R.R. Tolkien Harry Potter By J.K. Rowling Realm of the Elderlings By Robin Hobb Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig Januaries, Masters of Death, and Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake Belladonna by Adalyn Grace Twilight by Stephanie Meyers The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Dopamine Nation By Anna Lembke The Untethered Soul By Michael Allen Signer Films: Hustlers Star Trek the Next Generation Star Wars Pirates of the Caribbean film Ever After Podcasts:  @TheDiaryOfACEO   @2ToRamble  (Thx for the equipment list) Snacks:  @WaterlooSparklingWater  in Summer Berry Percy Pig Naughty and Nice Piglets candies from Beth G!

    44 min

  6. JAN 1

    March Madness But With Books – Our #1 Book of 2024 REVEALED!!!

    We each brought our top 12 books of the year (one from each month) and threw them into a head-to-head bracket battle to find the ultimate book of 2024. From emotional rollercoasters to epic fantasy, no genre is safe in this showdown. Which book will survive the final cut? Grab your TBR and join us to see which monthly favorites made it to the top! You can join the MF Family on Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/KrisandMadsSisterhood Biz Inquiries an be sent here: contact.kris.amd.mads@gmail.com All our other links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads All books and authors mentioned will be in the timestamps below! Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro – Welcome to the Book Bracket Showdown! 00:32 – How Our Book Bracket Works – Choosing Between Our Favorite Books of Each Month in 2024 03:15 – Kristen’s Matchup: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey 🆚 A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 04:54 – Maddie’s Matchup: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang 🆚 Ruin by John Gwynne 08:28 – Kristen’s Matchup: The Grace Year by Kim Liggett 🆚 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 11:41 – Maddie’s Matchup: Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson 🆚 Artificial Wisdom by Thomas Weaver 15:58 – Kristen’s Matchup: The Will of the Many by James Islington 🆚 Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor 20:18 – Maddie’s Matchup: The Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie 🆚 The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez 24:27 – Kristen’s Showdown: The Sword of Kaigen By M.L. Wang 🆚 Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill 27:47 – Maddie’s Showdown: Of War and Ruin by Ryan Cahill 🆚 The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb 31:03 – Kristen’s Matchup: Wisteria by Adalyn Grace 🆚 Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang 35:05 – Maddie’s Matchup: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb 🆚 Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb – Hobb Showdown! 39:17 – Kristen’s Matchup: The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna Lawless 🆚 Savage Fae by Caroline Peckham & Suzanne Valenti 44:19 – Maddie’s Matchup: The Land of the Living and the Dead by Shauna Lawless 🆚 Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson 46:32 – Round 2 – Narrowing It Down to Our Top 3! 51:55 – Final Showdown – Only Two Books Left! 52:31 – The WINNER – Our Best Book of 2024 Is…

    56 min

  7. 12/23/2024

    🚨 ULTIMATE FANTASY & SCI-FI SHOWDOWN! (feat. 2 to Ramble) | LOTR/Dune/Red Rising/Sword of Kaigen ⚔️

    🚨 WARNING! This one includes SPOILERS 🚨 Who reigns supreme in the world of epic stories? We teamed up with Rich and Austin from 2 to Ramble to defend our top picks – Lord of the Rings, Red Rising, Dune, and The Sword of Kaigen. From legendary characters to mind-blowing worlds, things got heated as we battled over which tale truly deserves the crown. Who won? Hit play to find out – and let us know if we got it right! 👀🔥 Check out  @2ToRamble  and the episode we did with them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A4AtPj97jk&t=89s You can join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/KrisandMadsSisterhood And Check us out around the web: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads

    1h 5m

  8. 12/18/2024

    Olivie Blake: The Truth Behind The Atlas Six, Never Feeling Safe, and Getting Weird With Girl Dinner

    In this episode, we sit down with New York Times Bestselling author Olivie Blake, the mastermind behind The Atlas Six, Masters of Death, Alone With You in the Ether, and more. We discuss everything from her transition from indie to traditional publishing, her signature writing style, and the complex psychology woven into her characters. She shares her thoughts on the power of storytelling, why she loves writing about messy yet hopeful characters, and gives us an exclusive sneak peek at her upcoming books: Gifted and Talented (April 2025) and Girl Dinner (October 2025). Plus, find out two truths and a lie about Olivie! Find Olivie online: https://www.olivieblake.com/ Join our patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/KrisandMadsSisterhood Follow us on IG https://instagram.com/krisandmads Follow us on TikTok https://tiktok.com/@kris.and.mads Email: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com Everything else here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Olivie Blake: New York Times Bestselling Author 01:05 – Two Truths and a Lie: Fun Facts About Olivie Blake 03:19 – What Makes a Perfect Book? Olivie Blake's 5-Star Reads 06:14 – From Indie Publishing to Traditional Publishing: Olivie Blake’s Journey 09:16 – How Olivie Blake Developed Her Signature Writing Style 13:12 – Creative Story Structures in Olivie Blake’s Books 17:07 – Exploring Power and Nihilism in The Atlas Six with Olivie Blake 21:13 – Art and Illustration in Olivie Blake's Brand 24:29 – Behind the Scenes of Audiobook Production for Januaries 31:28 – Writing as an Art Form: Olivie Blake on Creative Liberation 35:40 – Vulnerability and Mental Health in Alone With You in the Ether 44:34 – Why Success Doesn’t Make Olivie Blake Feel Safe—Choosing to Be Brave 51:04 – What’s Next for Olivie Blake: Gifted and Talented (April 2025) and Girl Dinner (October 2025) #OlivieBlake#TheAtlasSix#MastersOfDeath#AloneWithYouInTheEther#OneForMyEnemy#DarkAcademiaBooks#FantasyAuthor#BestsellingAuthor#BookTube#BookishContent#AuthorInterview#PodcastEpisode#BookClubPodcast#WritingPodcast#BookishChat#AuthorChat#WritingTips#IndieAuthorToTradPub#PsychologicalFiction#FantasyBooks#RomanticFantasy#DarkAcademiaVibes#CreativeWritingTips#StorytellingSecrets#YouTubePodcast#BookTubeCommunity#TrendingBooks#ReadersOfYouTube#2025BookReleases

    56 min
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5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

This is a show about stories for storytellers and story lovers, hosted by sisters Kristen and Maddie, lifelong readers and recent booktokers with a 100k+ following. We're here for unfiltered, unhinged conversations with fellow content creators and storytellers, and we will feature the occasional rant or rave about the stories that are ripping our hearts out and putting them back together again, or maybe making us pee our pants, so long as they are telling us the truth about what it is to be human. Welcome to the Sisterhood!

Information

  • Creator
    Kristen and Maddie
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kristen and Maddie
  • Show Website
    Kris and Mads

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