Books & Blooms

Val Howlett
  • 5.0 (3)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A non-serious podcast *loosely* about books and plants! Florist/garden enthusiast ValVal and graphic designer/illustrator LeeLee met when they were teens at nerd camp and have been nerding together ever since. In alternating “books” and “blooms” themed episodes, this queer friend duo reads books together, goofs about their lives, and laughs too much. Between Val’s plant stories and Lee’s fun facts, you’ll (probably) learn something. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 06/24/2025

    We Got Wet

    We are still a couple months in the past - early March 2025! Lee recaps the rest of her Cali vacation. Val is out of breath. How do you feel about baby showers? In the Books section, Lee and Val share their literary turnoffs.  SHOW NOTES:  You can find a pic of Lee in all her Disney ears and taped glasses glory here.  The story of the Alcatraz Indian Occupation is actually fascinating and complicated–and there was more than one phase of the occupation. You can read more about it here.  Yayoi Kusama and her poem “On Pumpkins”  Pikmin bloom app Email the pod: booksandbloomspod@gmail.com Follow LeeLee: https://www.instagram.com/leelee_draws_pictures Buy merch from LeeLee: https://www.redbubble.com/people/superstarling/shop Follow Books & Blooms: https://www.instagram.com/booksandblooms_phl Sound attribution credits:  Theme song: Snabba Ladda, Snappy beat, Cheerful feeling! by kjartan_abel – https://freesound.org/s/632406/ -- License: Attribution 4.0. Haiku segment intro: Strange wind chimes duo! — Debussy Bells, bamboo by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/686153/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Haiku background: bell-bowl G-ish.wav by Squidocto -- https://freesound.org/s/255762/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Books segment intro: Summer Surf (loop ver.1) by AudioCoffee -- https://freesound.org/s/711669/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m

  2. 06/09/2025

    Trees Aren't Real

    Lee’s in California, and regales Val and the audience with her travel tales. Somehow, from there, they dig into these deep questions. What makes a tree a tree? What would you do if you could change your sex every year? Also, they make a pact. For the Plants segment, it’s a tree episode! Val and Lee don’t know that much about trees though, so they keep it very short.  SHOW NOTES: Here’s a photo of the sculpture “Michael Jackson and Bubbles” by Jeff Koons.  The Museum of Jurassic Technology Here’s a pic of Laika, the first doggie in space.  If you, too, would like to puzzle through What Tree Is That?, here’s where you can order it.  Email the pod: booksandbloomspod@gmail.com Follow LeeLee: https://www.instagram.com/leelee_draws_pictures Buy merch from LeeLee: https://www.redbubble.com/people/superstarling/shop Follow Books & Blooms: https://www.instagram.com/booksandblooms_phl Theme song: Snabba Ladda, Snappy beat, Cheerful feeling! by kjartan_abel – https://freesound.org/s/632406/ -- License: Attribution 4.0. Haiku segment intro: Strange wind chimes duo! — Debussy Bells, bamboo by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/686153/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Haiku background: bell-bowl G-ish.wav by Squidocto -- https://freesound.org/s/255762/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Plant story intro: Golvuna by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/610679/ -- License: Attribution 4.0.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  3. 05/26/2025

    Every Ass Has Its Seat

    Welcome to Season 2!! We recorded this back in early February. Pregnant Val rates fast food chicken nuggets. Lee presents a haiku about Punxatawney Phil and a fun fact about Snoop Dogg. In the Books segment, our hosts have a conversation about what books have been “spoiled” for them by bad-acting authors, and discuss the question: Is it possible to hate an author and still love their book?  SHOW NOTES:  The suffrage episode we referenced is from Val’s old podcast, Research Hole, and lives here.  Punxataney Phil tiktok song: https://www.tiktok.com/@olivesongs11/video/7331570501954850090?lang=en Val’s favorite Philomena response: https://www.tiktok.com/@haleyannaaaa/video/7332695161522097450 Two other duets:  https://www.tiktok.com/@alexachalnick/video/7332979950129040670 https://www.tiktok.com/@iniebs/video/7332547908757146910 A video on mahi mahi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N5vC9NTxAU Email the pod: booksandbloomspod@gmail.com Follow LeeLee: https://www.instagram.com/leelee_draws_pictures Buy merch from LeeLee: https://www.redbubble.com/people/superstarling/shop Follow Books & Blooms: https://www.instagram.com/booksandblooms_phl Sound attribution credits:  Theme song: Snabba Ladda, Snappy beat, Cheerful feeling! by kjartan_abel – https://freesound.org/s/632406/ -- License: Attribution 4.0. Trivia segment intro: Electric Chimes.wav by zilverton -- https://freesound.org/s/201109/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Haiku segment intro: Strange wind chimes duo! — Debussy Bells, bamboo by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/686153/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Haiku background: bell-bowl G-ish.wav by Squidocto -- https://freesound.org/s/255762/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Books segment intro: Summer Surf (loop ver.1) by AudioCoffee -- https://freesound.org/s/711669/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m

  4. 05/24/2025

    Announcing Season 2!!

    We're starting another season! More nonsense to come. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 min

  5. 02/24/2025

    Nothing or Nothing

    Fresh off a cleaning jag, Lee comes in hot with lots of energy and a special segment about floral baby names. That's right, if you are having a baby sometime soon OR if you're just a names/name trends enthusiast, Lee has suggestions for you, plus some names she does NOT suggest. Also: Val has life news and Lee begins a woo-woo journey. In our Plants segment, Val tells a whole story about a 'blackberry bush' that was actually a gooseberry bush. Down with Meat Sweats!  SHOW NOTES; Foxgloves are, in fact, poisonous. Noel Fielding's instagram In case you, too, want to see the cover of The Untethered Soul: A Journey Beyond Yourself Lee's substack: https://leelucci.substack.com That Bojack Horseman episode Val referred to is actually called "Stupid Piece of Sh*t" Follow LeeLee: https://www.instagram.com/leelee_draws_pictures Buy merch from LeeLee: https://www.redbubble.com/people/superstarling/shop Follow Books & Blooms: https://www.instagram.com/booksandblooms_phl Buy from Books & Blooms: https://www.booksandblooms.shop/ Sound attribution credits:  Theme song: Snabba Ladda, Snappy beat, Cheerful feeling! by kjartan_abel – https://freesound.org/s/632406/ -- License: Attribution 4.0. Haiku segment intro: Strange wind chimes duo! — Debussy Bells, bamboo by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/686153/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Haiku background: bell-bowl G-ish.wav by Squidocto -- https://freesound.org/s/255762/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Plant story intro: Golvuna by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/610679/ -- License: Attribution 4.0.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m

  6. 02/10/2025

    Vampires All the Way Down

    Did you watch the new Nosferatu and wonder how it compares to the original, but didn’t have it in you to sit through a silent movie. The Books and Blooms podcast has you covered! Val watched the original Nosferatu. Lee watched the new movie. They compare and contrast. But first, life updates! Lee has seasonal affective disorder, but she’s finding joy where she can. Val has no heat.  Justice for Knock, but only in the original. SHOW NOTES:  One pioneer in treating childhood leukemia was Emil J. Freireich, who both discovered that his patients’ bleeding was caused by insufficient platelets and who believed in combining chemo drugs, despite opposition.  Here is a writeup and some wild pics of Trovants, i.e. Romanian bubbly rocks Nosferatu’s crazy mustache  Shadow of the Vampire, 2004 movie Tooth fairy horror movie - don’t be afraid of the dark Monster pics from Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m

  7. 02/03/2025

    Haunt Me!

    This quick lil ep of Books and Blooms may brighten your day! Lee has a haiku about her self-improvement kick! Val laments about Tinder! In our Plants segment, Val shares decorating tips: three design-forward houseplants that help to elevate a room. Plus: inept dance teachers, Lee's conflicting football feels, and haunted doll shenanigans. SHOW NOTES Volcano was a 1997 thriller about a volcano in L.A. Here is an article about the volcano under part of Yellowstone.  Yoga with Adriene See all the plants in Val’s houseplant show and tell here. (Plants mentioned: the friendship plant (pilea peperomioides), the snake plant (dracaena trifasciata), dried plants and flowers.) Email us: booksandbloomspod@gmail.com.  Follow LeeLee: https://www.instagram.com/leelee_draws_pictures Buy merch from LeeLee: https://www.redbubble.com/people/superstarling/shop Follow Books & Blooms: https://www.instagram.com/booksandblooms_phl Buy from Books & Blooms: https://www.booksandblooms.shop/ Sound attribution credits:  Theme song: Snabba Ladda, Snappy beat, Cheerful feeling! by kjartan_abel – https://freesound.org/s/632406/ -- License: Attribution 4.0. Haiku segment intro: Strange wind chimes duo! — Debussy Bells, bamboo by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/686153/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Haiku background: bell-bowl G-ish.wav by Squidocto -- https://freesound.org/s/255762/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Plant story intro: Golvuna by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/610679/ -- License: Attribution 4.0.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min

  8. 01/20/2025

    LUFYOJ

    It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a daughter in possession of no other options, will f**k your enemy’s child. That’s right, we have finished Wuthering Heights, and we wrap up our discussion on the book today! But first: ValVal has lots of theories! LeeLee has trivia about Garfield and another cartoon cat! They discuss the pros and cons of being high in an airport, when to reveal curse words to children, and the new movie Nosferatu.  SHOW NOTES: video from this years Pop Tarts bowl terrifying sun (mascot of the Fiesta Bowl) Pic of the LUFYOJ banner can be found here. Heathcliff the cat’s website is here. And Lee points us to this post.  The onset age of puberty/periods in women has varied over history. The average first period age in 1840 was 17, and that has gone down in the past 50 years.  This lecture contains some quotes of the terrible reviews Wuthering Heights received on publication.  But What If We're Wrong?: Thinking about the Present as If It Were the Past by Chuck Klosterman Do YOU think cats are either women or old men? Email us at booksandbloomspod@gmail.com.  Follow LeeLee: https://www.instagram.com/leelee_draws_pictures Buy merch from LeeLee: https://www.redbubble.com/people/superstarling/shop Follow Books & Blooms: https://www.instagram.com/booksandblooms_phl Sound attribution credits:  Theme song: Snabba Ladda, Snappy beat, Cheerful feeling! by kjartan_abel – https://freesound.org/s/632406/ -- License: Attribution 4.0. Trivia segment intro: Electric Chimes.wav by zilverton -- https://freesound.org/s/201109/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Haiku segment intro: Strange wind chimes duo! — Debussy Bells, bamboo by Philip_Goddard -- https://freesound.org/s/686153/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Haiku background: bell-bowl G-ish.wav by Squidocto -- https://freesound.org/s/255762/ -- License: Creative Commons 0.  Books segment intro: Summer Surf (loop ver.1) by AudioCoffee -- https://freesound.org/s/711669/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A non-serious podcast *loosely* about books and plants! Florist/garden enthusiast ValVal and graphic designer/illustrator LeeLee met when they were teens at nerd camp and have been nerding together ever since. In alternating “books” and “blooms” themed episodes, this queer friend duo reads books together, goofs about their lives, and laughs too much. Between Val’s plant stories and Lee’s fun facts, you’ll (probably) learn something. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Val Howlett
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Val Howlett
  • Show Website
    Books & Blooms