Bookish Flights: Books, Author Interviews & Must-Read Recommendations

Kara Infante
  • 5.0 (88)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Bookish Flights is the place to talk books and reading. This podcast focuses on connection, storytelling and the transformative power of books. Each episode invites guests to share the three books that have influenced them, unlocking their wisdom and how it changed their lives. Books are a bridge that connects us, a remedy for loneliness, and the best conversational currency to be the most interesting person in the room! Rooted in the belief that stories shape who we are, this podcast brings people together through a shared love of literature. Perfect for book lovers, Bookish Flights inspires listeners to discover the books that can shape their own lives. You will love this show If you have ever asked: What are the best fiction and non-fiction books to read?Which books should I add to my reading list?How can I find more time to read?What are the best books for exploring new genres?What books are perfect for my kids?What is the publishing journey like for authors?What books do my favorite authors love to read?Discover book recommendations across a wide range of genres, including historical fiction, romantasy, rom-coms, mysteries, thrillers and personal development. Check out the website www.bookishflights.com to see book club picks and the wide range of book flights. 

  1. Jumping Between Genres: Making Reading Work in a Busy Life with Sami Young (E189)

    6D AGO

    Jumping Between Genres: Making Reading Work in a Busy Life with Sami Young (E189)

    Send us a text In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Sami Young - a mom, wife, PE teacher, and avid reader who is perpetually caught between just one more chapter and not knowing what to read next. She’s a proud millennial with a TBR list taller than my houseplants, and you might remember her from Episode 63, when she joined me alongside her son, Jarek. Episode Highlights: How Sami keeps a book with her everywhere she goes, even when reading time is short.What her real-life reading routine looks like right now and why nighttime has become her go-to.Easing into audiobooks by co-reading with a print copy.Why she likes to switch genres between books instead of reading the same kind back-to-back.Reflecting on reading aloud to her son when he was younger and how that shaped his love of reading.What it’s like to be a family of re-readers (and why their bookshelves are always full).Savoring quiet reading moments - like sitting in the sunshine with a book and wishing it could last forever. Show Notes Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Alan Gratz books (book recs in Ep. 6 with Lilianna)Six of Crows by Leigh BardugoHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingWhere the Crawdads Sing by Delia OwensThe Four Winds by Kristin HannahPrisoner of War by Michael P. SpradlinThe Other Woman by Sandie JonesBook Flight The House Across the Lake by Riley SagerPeople We Meet on Vacation by Emily HenryThe Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    43 min
  2. The Niche Between: Teaching, Writing Lower YA, & a Debut Novel with Connie Richardson (E188)

    12/22/2025

    The Niche Between: Teaching, Writing Lower YA, & a Debut Novel with Connie Richardson (E188)

    Send us a text In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Connie Richardson. Connie is the debut author of Rapid City Summer. She teaches middle school English and Language Arts in the Chicago suburbs. She has published articles, short stories, and blog posts for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Scribbler. Additionally, Connie is a former graduate and current mentor in author Mary Adkin’s MFA-alternate program, The Book Incubator. When she is not teaching or writing, she enjoys fly-fishing out west, running, coaching cross-country and track & field, and cooking for her family and friends.  This episode with Connie is so much fun, and her energy and passion for reading shine through the entire conversation. We talk about big life moments, the joy of finally seeing a debut novel out in the world, and what it means to fall in love with stories that open doors to new experiences.  Episode Highlights: Writing for the space between middle grade and YA, which Connie calls lower YA.Her work as an ELA teacher and her school’s participation in a One Book, One School program that brings authors directly to studentsHow Rapid City Summer is set in South Dakota and centers around the niche topic of fly fishingWhy Connie loves writing and reading niche topics that readers may never experience firsthandA book flight featuring middle grade and YA novels that readers of all ages can connect toConnect with Connie: InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode: The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay CurrieSlider by Peter HautmanSunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne CollinsAlone by Megan FreemanCarrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins ReidHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingIt’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny HanBook Flight The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny HanThe Canyon’s Edge by Dusti BowlingThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    44 min
  3. Putting Yourself Back on the List: Midlife, Motherhood, & Reclaiming Your Purpose with Shari Biery (E187)

    12/17/2025

    Putting Yourself Back on the List: Midlife, Motherhood, & Reclaiming Your Purpose with Shari Biery (E187)

    Send us a text In today’s episode, I am chatting with Shari Biery, NBC-HWC. Shari is a leading credentialed Purpose and Well-Being coach for midlife women empowering them to reclaim their identities and live with purpose and wellness after years of prioritizing everyone but themselves. Drawing from her two decades as a military spouse supporting her physician husband and as a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, Shari is the creator of the signature C.A.L.M. Method, author of the It’s YOUR Turn Bestselling book, and nationally recognized speaker and coach.  Are you a doer? An overachiever? A woman who’s put herself on the back burner? Ever looked in the mirror and hardly recognized who you’ve become? This episode is for you. We dive into motherhood, peri-menopause, your body’s intuition, learning to listen more deeply, and what it looks like to finally put your needs first. I wish I had this episode years ago — and I think you will too. Shari has a new offering to find - What’s Your Spark Type? Take the short quiz and discover what your body and life are asking for in this season of your life. Episode Highlights: How Shari’s two decades as a military spouse shaped her purpose and perspective.Why so many midlife women lose their sense of identity — and how to reclaim it.Listening to your body’s intuition and reconnecting with your inner compass.The importance of self-prioritization without guilt.The rise of loneliness — and why community and connection matter more than ever.Connect with Shari: InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode: The Moment of Lift by Melinda GatesResisting Happiness by Matthew KellyThe American Woman by Zarna GargBook Flight Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia NagoskiThe New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire HaverIt’s YOUR Turn by Shari Biery✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    53 min
  4. Victorian Whimsy & Wonder: Angela Bell on Imagination, Faith, and Quirky Characters (E186)

    12/12/2025

    Victorian Whimsy & Wonder: Angela Bell on Imagination, Faith, and Quirky Characters (E186)

    Send us a text Today, I’m chatting with Angela Bell. Angela is a 21st century lady with 19th century sensibilities who resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. She describes her historical romances as “a cuppa Victorian whimsy,” & today we’re discussing her delightful novel A Lady’s Guide to Marvel and Misadventure, which she describes as Around the World in 180 Days meets The Nutcracker Ballet. We also chat about her upcoming novel, now available for preorder - A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile, pitched as Little Women meets Inspector Gadget. Angela’s love of whimsy, quirky characters, & heartfelt storytelling shines through every page. Connect w/ Angela: InstagramFacebookWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned in the episode: Jen Turano booksThe Curious Inheritance of Blakely House by Joanna Davidson PolitanoHeather Kaufmann booksMelissa Tagg booksThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisWormwood Abbey by Christina BaehrThe Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley ClarkThe Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara BrunsvoldOf Silver and Secrets by Michelle GriepThe Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo WrightBook Flight Positively Penelope by Pepper BashamIlluminary by Chawna SchroederThe Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson PolitanoAd: Jacqui Lents, featuring The Daphne Project: A fresh start, a budding romance, & a small-town mystery.  ✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    37 min
  5. Writing California’s Past: Ginny Kubitz Moyer on WWII, San Francisco and The Nutcracker (E185)

    12/10/2025

    Writing California’s Past: Ginny Kubitz Moyer on WWII, San Francisco and The Nutcracker (E185)

    Send us a text In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Ginny Kubitz Moyer. Ginny is a California native with a lifelong passion for local history. A graduate of Pomona College and Stanford University, she taught high school English for 26 years and has written both fiction and nonfiction. Her love for California and its rich tapestry of stories inspired her debut novel The Seeing Garden, which won Silver in the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Her second novel, A Golden Life, continues her celebration of her home state’s unique history. Ginny is also the author of the nonfiction books Taste and See: Experiencing the Goodness of God with Our Five Senses and Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. An avid weekend gardener, Ginny lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two sons, and one adorably stubborn rescue dog. Episode Highlights: How 25+ years of teaching English shaped Ginny’s writing voice and storytelling process.Why all her books are rooted in California history and the moment she first dreamed up The World at Home.A glimpse into San Francisco life during WWII and the type of historical fiction she loves to craft.Her evolution from nonfiction to fiction and why the shift felt meaningful.How Ignatian Spirituality guides her reflections, using the daily questions “Where did I find life today?” and “What drained me?” Connect with Ginny: InstagramFacebookWebsitePurchase Ginny’s books Show Notes Some links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show. Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareRebecca by Daphne du MaurierAll the Beauty in the World by Patrick BingleyBook Flight The Highland Witch (Corrag) by Susan FletcherThe Promise by Ann WeisgarberJane Eyre by Charlotte BronteDessert Pairing The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    41 min
  6. “Tangles” & the Hidden History of Hanford Nuclear Site with Kay Smith-Blum (E184)

    12/03/2025

    “Tangles” & the Hidden History of Hanford Nuclear Site with Kay Smith-Blum (E184)

    Send us a text In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Kay Smith-Blum. Kay is a former fashionista and Seattle School Board President, spends her days debunking the tropes of the mid-20th-century history. An odd dream and the recent upheaval over leaking radioactive waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear site compelled her to write Tangles. Smith-Blum, a sunrise writer, has lived in Seattle for four decades. She works out her writer’s block in her sons’ gardens and the nearest lap pool. Key Highlights: The extensive 8.5-month research process behind Tangles, including oral testimonies, archival histories, and peer-reviewed scientific research.The fascinating but troubling history of the Hanford Nuclear Plant, where workers were told their jobs were top secret and essential to the war effort.How officials repeatedly raised the “safe” level of radioactive waste in the water supply to downplay risks to surrounding communities.The long-term dangers and ethical concerns surrounding nuclear waste disposal.Her book flight includes dual-timeline historical fiction.Connect with Kay Smith-Blum: FacebookInstagramWebsiteBooks and authors mentioned: Leon Uris booksTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Lincoln Highway by Amor TowlesThe Witch Elm by Tana FrenchHappy-Go-Lucky by David SedarisAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidBook Flight Keeping Faith by Jodi PicoultThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins ReidHorse by Geraldine Brooks✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    45 min
  7. Proof That Your TBR Might Actually Help You Live Longer (E183)

    12/01/2025

    Proof That Your TBR Might Actually Help You Live Longer (E183)

    Send us a text In this solo episode, Kara explores the fascinating research behind how daily reading may support a longer, healthier life. She breaks down the landmark Yale study showing that people who read books for just 30 minutes a day lived an average of 23 months longer than non-readers, examines why book-length reading provides unique cognitive benefits, and discusses what current science says about print books versus audiobooks. Listeners will walk away with a deeper understanding of how reading strengthens the brain, builds cognitive reserve, and may contribute to healthy aging - plus practical ideas for fitting more reading into everyday life. Episode Highlights: • Reading books for just 30 minutes a day was linked to 23 extra months of life, on average. • Frequent reading is associated with reduced cognitive decline across multiple long-term studies. • Print or visual reading tends to support stronger comprehension and memory - key components of brain reserve. • Audiobooks activate many of the same language and emotional brain networks, though the depth of processing may differ. • Regardless of format, regular engagement with stories supports cognitive health. Resources Mentioned: Episode 116: Do Audiobooks Count as Reading?Bavishi, Slade & Levy (2016). A Chapter a Day: Association of Book Reading With Longevity. Published in Social Science & Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014Pan, Liu, Zhang, Chen & Chen (2021). Reading Activity Prevents Long-Term Decline in Cognitive Function in Older People. Published in BMC Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02357-yBaranowska-Łyda, Białek & Gortych-Michalak (2019). The Impact of Presentation Mode on Reading Comprehension: Text vs. Audio. Published in Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00636Michael, Keller, Carpenter & Just (2001). fMRI Investigation of Sentence Comprehension by Eye and by Ear. Published in NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1006/nimg.2000.0662✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    9 min
  8. Finding Home in Fiction: Arlon Jay Staggs on Magical Realism & Southern Storytelling (E182)

    11/25/2025

    Finding Home in Fiction: Arlon Jay Staggs on Magical Realism & Southern Storytelling (E182)

    Send us a text In today’s episode, I am chatting with Arlon Jay Staggs. Arlon is a native of Florence, Alabama, and a Southern storyteller with deep roots, a sharp sense of humor, and a heart for connection. His novel Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits is his debut work of fiction. He holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside, a JD from the Mississippi College School of Law, and is an adjunct English professor at Northwest Florida State College. Arlon divides his time between Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and San Diego, California. Episode Highlights: The challenges and joys of weaving magical realism into contemporary Southern fiction.Arlon’s favorite character to write and why that character surprised him.What he discovered about himself while writing Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits.The theme of “coming home” and how this novel became a love letter to the South.How sports can function as a powerful (and underused!) literary device.His transition into teaching English at the college level and how it differs from his MFA program.Why, as an author, reading for pure pleasure now feels like a double-edged sword. Connect with Arlon: InstagramWebsite Books and authors mentioned in the episode: Jesmyn Ward booksDouble Fault by Lionel ShriverThe Compound Effect by Darren HardyThe Power of Now by Eckhart TolleHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieUntamed by Will HarlanSouthern by Design by Grace Helena WalzBook Flight The Art of Fielding by Chad HarbachThe Motion of the Body through Space - Lionel ShriverThe Resisters by Gish Jen✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster. Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmap Support the show Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening! Instagram Facebook Website

    41 min
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5
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About

Bookish Flights is the place to talk books and reading. This podcast focuses on connection, storytelling and the transformative power of books. Each episode invites guests to share the three books that have influenced them, unlocking their wisdom and how it changed their lives. Books are a bridge that connects us, a remedy for loneliness, and the best conversational currency to be the most interesting person in the room! Rooted in the belief that stories shape who we are, this podcast brings people together through a shared love of literature. Perfect for book lovers, Bookish Flights inspires listeners to discover the books that can shape their own lives. You will love this show If you have ever asked: What are the best fiction and non-fiction books to read?Which books should I add to my reading list?How can I find more time to read?What are the best books for exploring new genres?What books are perfect for my kids?What is the publishing journey like for authors?What books do my favorite authors love to read?Discover book recommendations across a wide range of genres, including historical fiction, romantasy, rom-coms, mysteries, thrillers and personal development. Check out the website www.bookishflights.com to see book club picks and the wide range of book flights. 

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