Looking for a signature scent? Bri Books has you covered. There's a lot of power in a signature scent--consider it the beauty counterpart to personal style. It can take a while to find a scent that resonates with you, so in honor of National Fragrance Day, I'm sharing my 10 top perfumes and fragrances for 2023 and beyond. These picks definitely deserve a spot on your signature scent wishlist. 

PRODUCTS MENTIONED

1. Clive Christian: 1872 Feminine, $595
2. fragrances.us/fragrances/replica-on-a-date/MM086.html"> REPLICA, Maison Margiela: On a Date, $125
3. Moodeaux: Worthy, $135 bundle
4. Robert Piguet: Fracas Eau de Parfum ($185), Casbah ($215)
5. Lush Cosmetics: Rose Jam Perfume ($22)
6. Lake and Skye: 11:11 ($98)
7. Boy Smells: Hinoki Fantome ($98)
8. chapter-sampler-set-4x2ml.html">Amouage: Escape Discovery Set ($46)
9. Frederic Malle: Portrait of a Lady by Dominique Ropion ($295)
10. Tocca Eau de Parfum: Florence ($80)

EPISODES MENTIONED

1. 5 Winter Skincare and Beauty Essentials (Clive Christian Art Deco Blonde Amber fragrance review at the 11:00 mark)

I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. 

What is your signature fragrance? Let me know on Instagram! 

Welcome to Bri Books! February is in the rearview, and we're entering what I like to call the ‘winter fake-out period.’ There’s no predicting if we’ll have a mild entree into spring or if the snow will come at last. In this episode, I want to share the beauty essentials that have gotten me through from holidays, to deep winter, to now. This winter, I focused my beauty routine on clean, restorative, hydrating, natural, moisturizing, and ‘fatty’ products--I simply wanted my skin to hibernate for the season, and these are the products that made it possible.

1. 2:20 - Soho Skin Travel dopp kit:  I reviewed it on a podcast episode about my summer travel-worthy skincare picks. I want to call out the lightweight serum. All winter long when I was traveling, this lightweight concentrate held my skin down, thanks to the super moisturizing niacinamide, pepetites and white bark extract.  

2. 3:40 - All things Charlotte Tilbury. In the winter, I reach for the Nudegasm face palette, Super Nudes lipstick, or the Matte Revolution lipsticks.  In the winter, my makeup typically consists of concealer, bronz-y pink makeup, lipgloss and mascara. The bronze shades in the Nudegasm face palette provides a dynamic range of colors. Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin foundation  in shade 15 is the perfect liquid medium coverage foundation you can pop on and not have to worry about a thing.

3. 6:00 - Merit Beauty Flush Balm in shade of soft berry- I always use it on the eyes, lips and cheeks. I also love the Shade Slick, which is a tinted lip oil that's infused with rosehip oil and shea butter. The hue I’ve been going for this winter is Cara Cara, a soft red orange. During the day I go for the shade Pink Beet, a cool pink shade for a little gloss on the lips. If i want to be sexy i go for Merit Beauty Shade Slick tinted lip oil in deep brown hue Falcon, which is close to my skin tone. 

4. 7:15 - Mara Beauty. If you’re new to the brand, the founder Alison McNamara has a fascinating background. In her past life, she was a TV host, producer, beauty journalist and editor. She even studied journalism and political science at the Sorbonne! There’s something called ‘portfolio career’ about Alison's story. The two products I used up this winter are Universal Face Oil, and Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil. After I wash my face and spray heritage rose water, I’ll put on the face oil. It’s important to me that my skin is protected. At night after I wash my face and have my pampering shower and bath, I’ll go in with Algae Retinol and Face Oil.

5. 11:00 - Clive Christian Art Deco Blonde Amber fragrance which was part of the Noble Collection. This is the scent that defined my winter. The scent is opulent and decadent with notes of smokey blonde tobacco. It feels embracing, cocooning and warm and nurturing of a scent while also being alluring, I couldn't recommend the Clive Christian fragrances enough! 

What products defined your winter? Let me know on Instagram! 

PRODUCTS MENTIONED

1. Brionna’s full review of Soho Skin products

2. SohoSkin products

3. Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm face palette, Super Nudes lipstick,  Matte Revolution lipsticks, Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin foundation  in shade 15

4. Merit Beauty Flush Balm in shade ‘Soft Berry’, Merit Shade Slick in color ‘Cara Cara’

5. Mara Beauty Universal Face Oil, Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil

6. Clive Christian Art Deco Blonde Amber fragrance

Brace yourselves: the 2022 Cyber Week beauty deals are coming. Here's my curated list of the best brands products to buy during Cyber Week 2022. These are the picks I've been loving (and lusting after) all year, and with up to 50% off full-price items, now's the time to pounce Last year, I recorded a Bri Books episode about what to buy during Sephora's annual December VIB sale, and wanted to share a Cyber Monday-ready curated list. Here's what I'd stock up on if I were you:

1. Caudalie - Cyber Week is here at Caudalie with up to 50% off select products.  I’d stock up on the vinoperfect-instant-brightening-solution-set.html"> Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Solution Set which comes with the Vinoperfect Essence, Vinoperfect Serum, and Vinoperfect Eye Cream.
2. Merit Beauty - Merit’s offering 20% off sitewide, free shipping over $40, free signature bag with every first-time purchase, and free returns.  I recommend the La Fete Holiday Essentials.
3. Bread Beauty Supply - 25% off site wide, free full-size Macadamia oil (for hair and body) with purchase. I recommend the deep-conditioning hair mask.
4. Fenty Beauty - 25% off sitewide, up to 60% off select products, free cross-body bag with $125 purchase, free 3-piece set with $100+ order. I recommend the Glossy Posse vol. 5 set of three full-size flip glosses.
5. posay.us/">La Roche Posay - 25% off all orders, free shipping on orders $65+, Up to 25% off order via newsletter. I recommend the posay.us/our-products/acne-oily-skin/acne-kit/effaclar-acne-treatment-system-883140035282.html"> Effaclar Acne Treatment System, a 3-step system with Gel Cleaner, Clarifying Solution, Effaclar Duo
6. Bloomeffects - 30% off sitewide through 11/27, + free cleansing jelly with order over $80, 35% off sitewide from 11/28-11/29. I recommend  the Royal Tulip Polish.
7. Augustinus Bader - Augustinus Bader is offering double points on all purchases this choliday season. I recommend the Winter Recovery Set, developed to deliver deep hydration and skin barrier protection. The kit comes with the Serum Nomad, the Eye Cream Nomad, the Rich Cream, and Lip Balm.

Share your Black Friday picks with me at @bribookspod on Instagram!

Welcome back to Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

 It’s July, and we are approaching high summer! I kicked off the season with a travel “bang”—a work trip to Johannesburg, South Africa for 9 days, during which I put my international skincare routine to the test. In this episode, I’m walking you through my 9 summer skincare essentials, AKA my summer skincare ‘empties.’ Listen to my recent episode about your 6 Travel Essentials for a Summer Holiday!

1. 1:40 - Paula’s Choice Omega + Complex Cleansing Balm (Sephora, Paula’s Choice) - This luxe cleansing balm melts away everything from sunscreen to makeup as the lather transforms from an opaque liquid into a soapy, oily balm. This  Paula's Choice cleanser got me through my travels in Johannesburg, and I love that it leaves my skin clean without feeling stripped. Trust me, when you’re traveling, this is the cleanser you’ll want by your side to help you wash the day away.
2. 3:45 - Farmacy Sweet Apple Meltaway Makeup Cleansing Balm  (Sephora, Farmacy) - I love to use this cleansing balm in the mornings while in the shower. It gently melts away makeup (especially eye makeup) and helps to remove excess oil from the skin. I like to use this on dry skin and slowly add water to build up the lather. 
3. 5:15 - Caudalie Beauty Elixir (Sephora, beauty-elixir-face-mist.html"> Caudalie)- Caudalie Beauty Elixir has been part of my holy grail travel kit for years, and it's a definitive summer travel essential. The 50 mL bottle of this stuff is perfect for travel, as it's below TSA carry-on liquid limits, and no inflight experience is complete without a super hydrating and luxe misting moment. 
4. I sometimes pair it with The Heritage Store rosewater, which is another year-round staple and summer travel favorite for infusing instant moisture into the skin.
5. 6:15 - Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Face Lifting Soft Cream (Sephora, firming-cashmere-moisturizer.html"> Caudalie) - I love traveling with the Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Soft Cream as my decadent, almost pillowy moisturizer of choice. Airplanes dry my skin out desperately, and I find my skin can get easily irritated if not moisturized properly. when I travel, I try to keep the Reservatrol Lift Soft Cream in my handbag. It's packed with ingredients like reservatrol and hyaluronic acid, which leave the skin feeling soft and deeply moisturized.
6. 8:00 - o-mile-face-oil-707830.html"> Saje Natural Wellness Calm-o-Mile Face Oil - This winner from Saje is formulated for people with sensitive skin. Blended with blue chamomile, evening primrose, and camellia. I always feel like I’m doing a face-plant into a meadow of medicinal flowers every time I apply this product, which is why I run out so quickly. I use it as the final step in my skincare routine when traveling. The blue chamomile reduces the appearance of dryness, and primrose is high in omega-6 fatty acids. When used as part of my nighttime treatment, Calm-o-Mile leaves my face feeling lush the next morning!
7. 9:30 - Pura d’Or Rosehip Seed Oil -  I use organic oils to moisturize my skin after bathing. I love to use Pura d’or Rosehip Seed Oil, as rosehip oil helps to rejuvenate dry skin and improve moisture. Rosehip seed oil restores PH balance to soothe skin and also helps with scalp health. If you want your skin to be moisturized but not oily-slick, Pura d'Or's rosehip seed oil is for you.
8. 11:05 - Lush Cosmetics Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner - This body conditioner is scented with argan oil, rose absolute, and cupachu butter. I add a dollop of Ro's Argan to a few drops of the reship seed oil, mix, and apply it to my skin after showering. 
9. 12:15 - Bonus: Lush Posh Chocolate body wash - This is the perfect pampering post-travel shower companion. How can you feel tired after showering and emerging smelling like chocolate?! This body wash is a great product to use when you’re back on your home turf following an adventurous travel season.
10. 13:37 - Bonus: The travel Dopp kit from Soho Skin - This Dopp kit comes with a cleanser, face cream, renewal serum, eye balm, lip cream, shaving gel, and more! It's definitely the travelers’ skincare essential, inspired by the global Soho House community. The products are exclusive to Soho House bedrooms around the world, but I got my hands on a kit and tried it on while on longhair flights between New York City and South Africa. The face cream, shaving gel, lip balm, and eye balm were the stand-out products, and the chic Dopp kit case is perfect for catching all of your skincare needs. 

When you travel, what are your essentials? is there a lip balm you can’t leave the zip code without? Show me on Instagram at Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Welcome back to Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Summer is in full swing, and travel is ON. IIn this episode, ’m sharing my key carry-on essentials-- matter your destination, these carry-on travel winners will be everything you need for road trips, staycations, long weekends, and more!

1. 1:13 - Calpak Packing Cubes 5-Piece Set - This 5-piece travel cube set is essential for staying organized and keeping track of your items during a trip. I use this set for shoe storage, important document storage, outfit storage, and so much more. I even use a separate cube for technology pieces—chargers, cords, external hard drives, etc. These travel packing cubes help you visualize where your items are, so you don’t have to go ripping through your bag in search of a small item.
2. 2:02 - james.com/products/minquiers-modern-authentic-breton-stripe-shirt-soft-cotton-men-fit-ecru-navy?sscid=71k6_o7938"> Saint James Breton Striped Shirt - The Minquiers striped shirt is lightweight, versatile, and embodies the ideal French vacay state of mind. I love this top because it’s a masculine fit in the waist and hips, but the full-length sleeves make it feel perfect for travel. It’s very chic and pairs perfectly with shorts, straight-leg denim, skirts, anything! It’s great to pack in your carry-on bag for whatever the days (and nights!) throw your way.
3. 3:00 - Cadence Capsules - The Cadence travel toiletry capsules are  100% TSA compliant, leak-proof and non-absorbent containers. They can hold everything from skincare to makeup, from medicine to accessories. These capsules let you bring your personal essentials on the go with you, effortlessly. They’re magnetic, meaning you can line them up and put them on a countertop. I use the Cadence capsules to store things like serums, vitamins, earrings, and critical medications whilst traveling.
4. 4:05 - farmacy-physical-edition-706460.html"> Saje Natural Wellness Pocket Farmacy Oil Blend Kit - This is a collection of 5 relieving oil roll-ons of the best-smelling scents including Peppermint Halo, Fortify, Gutzy, Stress Release, and Pain Release. When I’m traveling in TSA queues, it can be stressful. So I just apply a swipe of one of my Pocket Farmacy faves to my head and a swipe inside my face mask for an instant spa moment. I keep these oil blends in my carry-on at all times for my travels for an instant, natural relief.
5. 5:30 - Snacks! Bring your own snacks! Don’t get caught paying $9 for pretzels and $14 for a dry sandwich at the airport. Make sure you have snacks as part of your travel on essentials because hanger and planes don’t mix.
6. 6:00 - A book and a journal - Make sure you have at least one book or magazine in your carry-on at all times. Travel with a book you’ll actually WANT to read. 

Leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Links to Products Mentioned

1. Calpak Packing Cubes 5 Piece Set
2. james.com/products/minquiers-modern-authentic-breton-stripe-shirt-soft-cotton-men-fit-ecru-navy?sscid=71k6_o7938"> Saint James Breton Striped Shirt
3. Cadence Capsules
4. farmacy-physical-edition-706460.html"> Saje Natural Wellness Pocket Farmacy Oil Blend Kit

• Today’s episode features @abeautifulnestTV, talking all about the book “Garden Fresh Cooking” by Judith Benn Hurley, and it’ll leave you longing for summertime! We’re infusing harvest-time healthy foods into our everyday menus.
• 1:40 - About @abeautifulnestTV - Sandria’s YouTube channel focuses on building strong relationships, growing as a family, ecohing truth and knowledge and teaching folks to love unconditionally. “Our YouTube channel is a family lifestyle channel. We focus on faith, family, inspiration and life. We believe in making a house a home. I love making a house a home. I want to infuse love and beauty in everything i do. I try to make sure that comes across in our videos. 8:25 - Sandria on authenticity in her videos: “People need to be able to relate to the real life things.”
• 9:25 - Sandria’s Soil Story: “I come from a long line of gardeners and farmers.”
• 10:04 - Why Sandria set down roots in the Georgia country: “Where we moved and decided to purchase land was a decision we wanted to make for our children.”
• 10:25 - Sandria’s health story: “When it came to growing our own food, over the years, unfortunately, i’ve experienced a lot of death in my family.”
• 11:30 - How Sandria and her husband planned their garden
• 13:45 - Brionna’s grandmother story: “My dad’s mother is originally from Mississippi, and moved to St. Louis as a young woman. She always said she wanted her yard to look like the country. She grew tall beautiful sunflowers. She grew her own onions and garlic, tomatoes, potatoes. Of course, she went to the grocery store, but knowing that food was accessible and there’s a process by which food is created you can be part of the process, was buried deep in me.”
• 15:00 - Grandmothers inspire us to pass on traditions for generations.
• 16:10 - The crops Sandria didn’t expect to love, and the easiest for you to grow!
• 16:20 - Coolest crop: Dinosaur kale. Easiest/ beautiful: Okra. Low maintenance: Green beans.
• 19:47 - How Sandria’s cooking style has changed since growing her own food.
• 20:45 - Sandria: “When you start eating more whole food, you start figuring out and planning out menu based off what you grow.”
• 21:15 Sandria’s husband and son shed 40 lbs after taking on a plant-based diet. “Everyone in the house was like, ‘I feel so much better, I feel so good. It was an amazing transformation. I’ve seen a complete turnaround with the way I prepare food and how I plan our meals.”
• 22:12 - Sandria has been a meat-eater her entire life, and transitioning hasn’t been easy, but she and her family are feeling better.
• 23:55 - “When you transition from eat to a plant-based or vegan diet, it should be something you want to do.”
• 26:40 - Sandria on Rodale’s: I’ve been reading Rodale’s Organic Life for a long time, and I really enjoy it. I love that they have so many different topics for you to dig into--food, gardening, lifestyle. Everything's right there for you. It’s a great site. If you’re reading the recipe book, I know that’s amazing.”
• 27:25  - Sandria’s #BriBooks: “  Lemony Snicket” with her sons, “Better Homes and Gardens,” “Georgia Gardens.”
• 30:40 - Find Sandria  on YouTube @abeautifulnestTV, on Instagram @abeautifunlest, Facebook @ABeautifulNest, and Twitter @abeautifulnest.

• 0:45 - Saying goodbye (for now) to The Bri Garden’s 2018 season.
• 2:30 – How a newsletter from urban farming company Square Roots led to “The Garden in Every Sense and Season.”
• 3:20 – How book is divided: Each of the four seasons are represented, with each individual season’s different sensational gifts–sights, sounds, touches, tastes, scents– woven into a story that explores the ever-evolving garden
• 4:00 – Meet Sandria, creator behind the “ABeautifulNestTV” platform on YouTube, online, and on social media. Sandria shares her story of homesteading with her family in Georgia, and how her love for the soil runs through her veins.
• Listen to Sandria’s season 3 interview on Bri Books discussing “Garden Fresh Cooking”
• 7:30 – Sandria’s 2018 garden challenges
• 11:00 – Brionna recommends “The Market Gardener” by Jean-Martin Fortier
• 11:30 – In the book “The Garden in Every Sense and Season” mentioned, “Don’t twiddle your green thumbs in winter. Wintertime is a time for bring things inward.” How can we relish the joys of colder weather?
• 15::00 – How can we inject green and enjoying sensea and seasons into ur November December and beyond?
• 15:30 – Bringing the green inside! Overwintering plants (repotting and growing indoors), growing lettuce, succulents and aloe, indoors are great ways to keep the green inside, even after it all falls away outside. Using blooming branches—flowers that grow on a branch-- or cuttings from evergreen or fir trees can invite nature indoors.
• 18:30 – Sneak peak into Heirloom Acres Seed Store!
• 18:50 – The story behind Heirloom Acres Seed Store
• 23:00 – Fruit and Veggie Varieties 101 with Sandria
• 26:00 – Sandria on acres-seed-store.html"> Heirloom Acres Seed Store, blog, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube.
• 27:00 – Brionna’s story of mailing tomatoes to grandmother, aunt, mother. It was a sweet  family intergenerational moment that wouldn't have been possible without abeautifulnest.
• 29:30 – Sandria’s #BriBooks: “The Flower Workshop” by Ariella Chezar, “Easy Green Living” by Renee Loux,  “The Green Beauty Guide” by Julie Gabriel.

On today’s episode, we’re talking about falling in love with the garden this spring. Almost every day, Carla of p42.www.instagram.com/gardenplot.57/">@gardenplot.57 treats us to vibrant photos of her cut flower garden, homemade skincare products, and dozens of veggies she’s growing in her backyard garden in Cornwall, England.

In this episode, Carla gives tips on how to start (and maintain) a garden in a small space, and shares tips on DIY gardening projects we can do right now to get a jump on the season. Carla and I bonded over the amazing book “Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers: Designing Gorgeous Arrangements for Every Season” by Erin Benzakein, an amazing resource that’ll inspire you to step up your flower arranging (and flower growing) game. Carla also shares the secret to getting kids interested in gardening and how to lure them away from the X-Box and towards the garden box. 

Carla’s guide to gardening in a small space: 

1. Utilize your patio by planting pots with salad greens, herbs, and dwarf tomatoes. 
2. Go high! Make use of vertical space by creating vertical planters. Archways and trellises allow you to grow “up,” and make use of tiny amounts of space for things like beans, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes. 

More gardening resources recommended by Carla and Brionna:

1. Huw Richards YouTube channel and book, “Grow Food for Free”
2. Sandria of A Beautiful Nest
3. Misilla of Learn to Grow
4. Adam Yn Yr Ardd, a wildly talented Welsh gardener
5. Carla's blog
6. p42.www.instagram.com/gardenplot.57/">Carla's Instagram
7. TheBriGarden Instagram

If you’re new to Bri Books, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.

In today's episode, we're talking about all things organic gardening, and how to grow your own food with Misilla of 'Learn to Grow.'

Whether you're starting your own garden or you haven't given it much thought, after this episode you'll be yearning to get your hands on some seeds. Misilla is the host of 'Learn to Grow,' a channel on YouTube with over 114,000 subscribers. She's a crafty mom of 4 living and working in the Pacific Northwest. Her videos and social posts consist of garden how-to's, growing hacks,  healthy living ideas, science experiments, DIY projects, and gardening inspo. Misilla's family has been growing food and farming for generations. She's passionate about inspiring others to grow their own food, and she's passionate about getting kids involved in the garden. 

Follow Misilla on Instagram @learntogrow

Follow Misilla on YouTube at Learn to Grow

In this episode, I’m sharing my garden starter hacks, including a gardening method I created myself! This method has taken my gardening and succession planting to the next level when it comes to growing my own food. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.

I call this my "theBriGarden Breakfast Gardening Method." I created and coined it myself for @theBriGarden. It revolves around repurposing food waste to create a food bounty. Who would've thought breakfast is so ripe for gardening!?

3:45 - Hack #1: Reuse egg water! Hard-bouled eggs release a trace amount of calcium into the water, and calcium is a mineral all plants need. It’s a great idea to use hard-boiled egg water for your plants. Plants can benefit from calcium boost in hard-boiled egg water

4:15 - Hack #2: Eggshell planters! If you take your eggshells and break out the top, leaving ¾ of eggshell intact, that’s a great container for starting seeds. You can begin so many seeds in eggshells, which are rich in calcium. Using eggshells whole can help recycle your breakfast food scraps. 

5:00 - Hack #3: Eggshell fertilizer! Crushed eggshells are a great way to inject calcium into your garden and help deter slugs and garden pests. I created a fun TikTok of how to use eggshells in your garden.

5:40 - Hack #4: Coffee! Put your used coffee grounds in the soil to boost nitrogen in the soil and provide an acidity boost. It's the next best thing to organic fertilizer. Make sure you grind it up very fine so that the plants can receive the nutrients. 

6:30 - Hack #5: Sprinkle of cinnamon! Cinnamon helps to fight off bacteria and fungus that causes damping, a disease that waterlogs the stem of the plant and stalls out the seedlings before they can grow. Cinnamon helps to deter this disease, so add a tiny pinch to your potting soil to keep your seedlings growing strong.

7:30 - Hack #6: Egg cartons! Use egg cartons as seed starters to start seeds indoors on a regular basis. If a dozen eggs run out in 2 weeks in your house, that’s enough time to get another succession planting round going in that empty carton without having to buy any supplies. Fill the empty eggshells with soil, plant a seed inside it, and place the seeded eggshell the egg carton on a window sill. 

8:00 - Hack #7: Fruit boxes! Containers that your produce comes in is great to reuse as transplant containers. Before the seeds go into container gardens or into the ground, use these fruit boxes to help your plants mature is a great way to make your morning fruit snacking pay off.

8:55 - Hack #8: Coffee filters! Re-use coffee filters to line the bottoms of your pots and containers. Voila, leak-free gardening!

Want to see the garden in action? Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets for first-time growers.

Leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're sipping by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for garden tours, growing hacks, and gardening secrets.

4:00 - #2: Bath bombs from Lush Cosmetics, especially Rose Jam, which is perfect for sensitive skin. It includes rose oil, rose absolute, lemon oil, geranium oil, and shea butter. My second favorite bath bomb from Lush is the Lemon Crumble bubbleroon which has an uplifting citrus-y scent and is packed with fair-trade cocoa butter, Sicilian lemon oil, and a shea butter center that conditions and softens dry skin. 

7:00 - #3: The ‘Be Well’ set from Thirteen Lune comes with a candle, bath/body oil, and a luxe bath salt. I use the full set to create the ultimate pampering experience through this edit of products. As part of the set, you get a Satya + Sage meditation candle infused with amber and clove. It also comes with the Senteurs du’ Orient bath salts and the Elixa Bath + Body serum. The body serum leaves behind a luscious, dewy texture without feeling greasy on the skin. Thirteen Lune is an eCommerce destination designed to inspire the discovery of beauty brands created by Black and brown founders. They do a great job giving each brand a platform to engage a wider audience, and I adore the company so much.

9:40 - #4: Babo Botanicals 3-in-1 Eucalyptus Remedy bubble bath! I keep a family-size bottle of this stuff in my bathroom at all times. It does triple duty as a bubble bath, body wash, AND shampoo. Babo has a lot of fragrance-free products, which are perfect for children with sensitive skin. The eucalypics remedy helps to soothe and calm my skin. For everyday comfort, the Babo Botanicals Eucalyptus Remedy is something I can’t imagine going without.

11:25 - #5: Alaffia Everyday Shea Bubble Bath! It serves ups a creamy, moisturizing bath full of bubbles. Founded in 2003, Alaffia continues to redefine hte natural products industry through its values in beauty, empowerment, and equality. The brand boasts dozens of products from body washes to cleaners, lotions for babies, calming balms, everything. In 2018, Alaffia increased access to its products by adding 2,500 stores nationwide. I like to buy my Alaffia via the Allure Store in New York City. 

LINKS TO PRODUCTS AND EPISODES MENTIONED:

1. Bri Books episode: How to Create a Relaxation Routine at Home
2. stress-rosemary-water-mint-aromatherapy-mineral-bath-salt-916453.html"> Kneipp Goodbye Stress Rosemary and Mint Mineral Bath Salt
3. Lush Cosmetics Rose Jam bubbleroon
4. Lush Cosmetics Lemon Crumble bubbleroon
5. Thirteen Lune ‘Be Well’ Set
6. Babo Botanicals 3-in-1 Eucalyptus Remedy bubble bath
7. Alaffia Everyday Shea Bubble Bath 
8. The Allure Store in New York City 

Happy 2022 from Brionna at Bri Books! In this episode, I’ll be sharing a few uplifting tips that’ll help you upgrade your wellness routine this year. I want to use this episode to bring optimism and hope to you as you build out your wellness routine for the months and years to come. 

SHOW NOTES

2:15 - #1: Self-care activities! I take my self-care very seriously (here’s a link to an episode about how to create a relaxation routine!) Self-care isn’t limited to skincare masks and bubble baths. In my opinion, self-care activities include moments spent on things like daily prayer and meditation, journaling, massage, acupuncture, and other soothing practices--anything that helps to connect you to your internal self. 

3:40 - #2: Sleep care! Raise your hand if you’ve fallen asleep with your personal tech within reach at least once this week. As you know, this isn’t the best thing for our bodies--you don’t want to see bright lights right before bed. Creating (and sticking to!) A sleep care routine is a great way to upgrade your wellness practice. Removing as many stimuli as possible, as early in the night as possible, you’re able to maintain a sleep routine and sleep more soundly, increasing the likelihood of waking up refreshed. Another option: reading a lighthearted book before bed and building bedtime rituals like closing your window shades, lighting a bedside candle, brewing a cup of tea, or misting a pillow or your room with your favorite aromatherapy spray.

6:15 - #3: Build a consistent workout routine that boosts confidence! By reframing your workout practice with the intention of being confident, you’re more likely to be consistent with your progress. My favorite fitness queens are Yoga with Adrienne, Move with Nicole, and Body Fit by Amy

7:45 - These are the products I’ve been introducing into my wellness routine 

1. 7:55 -  Cheribundi, an all-natural tart cherry juice. Cherries are one of the most antioxidant-rich superfoods, and they’re scientifically proven to reduce muscle soreness, increase recovery, and reduce inflammation. I love to have my Cheribundi drinks after an exercise session to aid with muscle repair. I also pour a few ounces of Cheribundi into my protein shakes--the tart cherry adds sweetness and cuts down on me having sugar cravings in the early afternoon and diluting the cherry juice with water keeps my hydration interesting. Cheribundi goes a long way in keeping your body strong, taste buds satisfied, and workouts even more effective. 
2. 9:35 - SuperMush is a functional mushroom spray you spritz into your mouth and onto your tongue. In history, For thousands of years, people around the world ate fungi daily. Nowadays you’re lucky to find them in your salad. Mushrooms promote healthy gut flora and are vital in our health. Supermush spray is the most immediate and effective way to get a mushroom supplement into your system. I spray it on my tongue after breakfast or when I wake up. The brand is gorgeous---inspired by the culture and music of the 60s and 70s, each spray is a high potency, easy to use, and delicious. If you’re dipping your toe into the world of mushrooms, SuperMushis is a fantastic starting point so you can’t go wrong.
3. 12:00 - Goli Nutrition Apple Cider Vinegar and Ashwagandha gummies! I’ve been taking these gummies for a couple of weeks now. Apple cider vinegar is excellent for cellular function, and ashwagandha root is known to promote calmness and reduce stress. 

13:30 - #4: Creating a meal plan and hydration plan! I can’t tell you what to eat, but planning what to eat makes life a lot less stressful. I like to plan my meals for 2-3 days at a time so that at all times I know what I’m having for the next two lunches, dinners, and breakfasts. I’m able to shop at the farmer's market with these meals in mind. In terms of a hydration plan, I recommend you grab a 64 oz jug, 32 oz jug, or 16 oz glass jar, determine how much water you’ll drink each hour, up to 64 oz in the day. Finishing one glass of water after the next creates a feedback loop of completion and consistency, inspiring you to finish the next. 

15:30 - #5: Daily dance! Acupuncture and wellness practitioner Jessica Parks of 'Growing Space' recommended the practice of indulging in a carefree 3 minutes of dancing at least once a day. It's a fun way to inject joy and a playful attitude into the day as early as possible. You can find more about Jessica Parks here. 

How are you updating your routine in the new year? Share it with me on Instagram at @bribookspod. 

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

1. How to create relaxation routine
2. Yoga with Adrienne
3. Move with Nicole
4. Body Fit by Amy
5. Cheribundi
6. SuperMush
7. Goli Ashwaganda gummies
8. Acupuncture and wellness practitioner Jessica Parks of 'Growing Space' in Brooklyn, NY

Transitioning to Natural Hair: 9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Transitioning to Natural Hair

I’m recording this episode inspired by an article I wrote at Glamour.com about transitioning to natural hair. In this episode, I’m sharing the 9 things I wish I knew before transitioning to the natural hair world.

• 0:45 - My natural hair origin story
• 2:00 - Tip #1: Be patient and kind with yourself--and your hair, and make sure you’re in a good headspace before starting your hair routine. 
• 3:15 - Tip #2: You still need regular trims. “It's really important to cut your split ends on a regular basis, especially in the first few years,” says Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, the stylist behind Kerry Washington's immaculate curls.
• 4:15 - Tip #3: You don’t have to big chop if you don’t want to. It’s up to you which road you take, as long as you keep your new growth deeply moisturized. Remember, if you choose to transition your hair, your strands will essentially be two different textures. Opt for protein-rich and moisture-packed hair treatments.
• 5:05 - Tip #4: The right tools will make all the difference. Detangling brushes! Wide-tooth combs! Silk bonnets! You’re not imagining things—your bathroom counter space is shrinking. Arming yourself with the best tools possible at the onset will save you headaches (literally—good headbands are a must) down the line.
• 6:00 - Tip #5: Experiment with protective styles--carefully. Aim for your at-home protective styles to last a week and for professional-grade wig or braid installations to last about three months at most. “It can be tempting to play with your hairline while it’s in a protective style, so choose one where there’s flexibility at the crown and your edges," Sturdivant-Drew says.
• 7:25 - Tip #6: Try to limit heat styling as much as possible. If you do prefer to wear straight styles on your natural-hair journey—I mean, I get it; having two totally different textures in your hair isn't an easy transition!—you’ll need a flatiron that does as little heat damage as possible. I tried the Dyson Corale and can confirm the hype is real and well-deserved,
• 8:00 - Tip #7: Deep condition weekly. Natural hair requires a lot of extra TLC, and the best way to baby it is to give it lots (and lots) of moisture. To help your deep-conditioning mask work overtime, Sturdivant-Drew recommends putting it on roots to ends and sitting under a heating cap for at least 20 minutes. Doing this once a week will help moisturize, strengthen, and hydrate your curls
• 9:00 - Tip #8: Consider holding off on color until your transition is done. Sturdivant-Drew warns that keeping up a new hair color and a new natural-hair routine simultaneously can be expensive. “Maintaining color requires a whole other set of hair care and upkeep," she says. "You want to make sure you get to a good place with your natural hair before adding color.” 
• 9:45 - Tip #9: When in doubt, simplify. On the days when my hair journey feels like more of a slug than a full-blown adventure, I like to take a deep breath and go back to basics. Two universally flattering and fool-proof styles I swear by? A simple middle part paired with a low chignon or a ponytail hair extension clip-in.

Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I’m sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world’ after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com.

In this episode, we sit down with Amelia Duffy, a junior and Research Associate attending the School of Information at the University of Michigan School of Information. Amelia and Brionna chat about how to leverage interests and hobbies in order to build a portfolio career for yourself postgrad, and the power of having multiple interests when it comes to the working world. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com, and follow @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter.

SHOW NOTES

0:00-2:20 - Intro

2:45 - Meet Amelia Duffy, a junior at the School of Information at the University of Michigan, class of 2023. 

4:00 - Amelia walks us through her thought process surrounding selecting courses, and how she’s using her college courses to help her make a more informed decision about her career path. 

7:00 - “When you stop trying to force something on yourself, what you’re meant to do will come naturally.” - Brionna Jimerson 

8:20 - Brionna’s podcast recommendation, “Side Hustle Pro” podcast by Nicaila Matthews Okome, a University of Michigan Ross School of Business graduate who pivoted her entrepreneurial passions into a full-grown career. 

12:00 - On moving from company to company: “One of the things I’ve been trying to avoid is feeling pigeonholed into one space. It’s nice to hear about someone who has comfortably switched between roles and companies.”

13:00 - Brionna’s advice on how to switch jobs as a recent grad: “Once you’re on the boat, you can always change decks.” Find a company that has other business arms that interest you, where you can expand and grow into. Set up informational interviews with people who have the skillsets you’re trying to develop.”

20:30 - Amelia’s career advice: “You want to go into a career that goes on your strengths instead of one that just makes money, because 1.) You’ll enjoy it because it’ll come easier to you and 2.) You’ll constantly be trying to catch up because the career won’t ride on your strengths but will ride on the strengths of others. 

22:30 - What Amelia wishes she knew about the job search and wants undergraduates to know now: “You don’t need a big name company right out of college. You can grow so much more in other areas of companies. Not every single person in the US from the top college is competing for the same jobs. Take a step back. You have to understand you can grow in other places.”

26:00 - How to pursue interests and extracurriculars as part of your career DNA

29:00 - Brionna’s #BriBooks recommendations for Amelia: “Data Science from Scratch: The First Principles of Python” published by O’Reilly, and “Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence” by Vicky Robin and Joe Dominguez. 

SECRETS TO FINDING A JOB AS A RECENT GRAD

Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I’m sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world’ after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. In this episode, we sit down with Ameenah Rashid, an Associate Analyst at eCommerce startup Profitero, and Tufts class of 2021. Ameenah and Brionna chat about navigating post-grad life and how to make those first crucial career decisions after college. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com, and follow @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter. 

SHOW NOTES

2:45 - Meet Ameenah Rashid, 21, Associate Analyst at Profitero, an eCommerce startup in Boston. Here’s the story of how Ameenah navigated those first decisions post-college by leaning on her interdisciplinary interests. 

3:45 - How Ameenah spent almost the entirety of her senior year of college applying for jobs, ranging from analyst to finance to tech roles. Now that she has some stability, she’s ready to think about the next steps and play her cards more wisely. She’d been on the job search treadmill for a year, and now that she has a chance to stop, she’s working on being intentional about the next phase of her career. 

5:20 - On the importance of cultivating interests outside of work. “I’ve always been left-brained and right-brained in my professional interests and hobbies. Career-wise, I’ve done a lot of marketing because there are so many marketing positions. I’ve done marketing, strategy, social media, some consulting, digital work, and I currently work as an analyst. My current role as an analyst is more technical than any role I’ve had before, so I’m leaning into that side of things.”

6:30 - Why it’s important to focus on getting the skill sets you need in order to set yourself up for success, and how to mine your own life’s experiences for ways you can incorporate your own knowledge into your professional life. “In my undergrad life, I’m proud of exploring internships in a diverse range of industries--from engineering education to the Olympics to marketing the editorial--it’s taught me that it doesn't matter if you don’t know everything about the experience. You can pick things up on the fly. 

9:30 - The dangers of trying to put yourself into a ‘box’ professionally, and how to leverage your college activities as part of your job search process  

16:00 - How Ameenah is making the most of her first job post-college, and Ameenah's advice for soon-to-be graduates/ what she wishes she knew six months ago. . "The whole time I was applying for jobs I was irrationally stressed when in reality if I didn't have a job it'd be fine." 

18:00 - Brionna’s #Bribooks read: “Consumed” by Aja Barber

20:00 - Brionna’s #Bribooks recommendation for Ameenah: “Your Money Life: Your 20s” by Peter Dunn. 

It’s finally fall! Time to bring out your inner cozy girl and build your relaxation routine. In this episode, I’m sharing my relaxation rituals and tips on how to build a routine of your own, along with my go-to relaxation techniques for stress management.

What’s a Relaxation and Stress Management Routine?

Your relaxation routine is whatever you want it to be. Maybe it’s an hour per day spent in your own company or a weekend per month off the grid. Basically, whatever helps you turn off one part of your mind and dial into another, that’s the cornerstone of your relaxation practice. Here are 5 ways to build a relaxation routine all your own:

1. 2:25 - Be intentional and selfish about your energy and routine. Plan for it! Take a moment and look ahead on your calendar to set aside dedicated time to practice your relaxation routine. By being selfish with your energy and being intentional about taking your relaxation routine seriously, it’s easier to get back on the horse if you fall off.

2. 3:35 - Romanticize your own life and make a date with yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything intense, but get serious about blocking off time that says ‘Date Night with Me.’ During this time, do whatever you want! Romanticize your own life! Time spent in your own company is never time wasted.

3. 5:05 - The ultimate relaxation cheat code: Indulge the five senses. That means do something that honors your sense of touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. For my relaxation routine, I’ll choose an activity that honors each of those scents and dedicate a half hour to each one.

4. 9:19 - Focus on little luxurious moments. This concept was introduced to me by Lydia Elise Milen-Gordon, an outstanding creator and businesswoman I’ve been following for years. Recently, Lydia’s been delving more into internal happiness and how everyone’s definition of luxury is different. For me, luxury is going out into my garden in the mornings and seeing new tomatoes, planting seeds, hearing church bells, adding essential oil mist to my freshly-laundered clothes—those are my favorite luxurious moments. Empowering yourself with luxurious moments is crucial to a relaxation routine. Luxury is quality time, not quality things, and a relaxation routine that reflects that doesn’t cost a thing.

5. 11:50 - Create before you consume!! This is a doozy. When I focus on creating before I consume, I notice the anxiety I have around creating was a result of consuming. By creating before consuming you’re able to focus where you want your attention to go when you’re relaxing. It’s all about creating what you want to SEE in the world, before allowing yourself to be sucked in BY the world.

   What do you do to relax? Sho w me your relaxation routine on Instagram at @Bribookspod and tag me!

Today, I’m sharing my ultimate fall refresh essentials--everything you need to start the cozy season off right. Any change in the seasons and calendar is an opportunity to reset, reflect and refresh and get into the coziest, comfiest fall state of mind.

Let me know what your autumn refresh routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen!

1. 1:37 - #1: A notebook! Every autumn, I go to Paper Source and Barnes and Noble to scour the Leuchtturm1917 notebooks, which come in every hue under the sun. I love the bullet journaling approach (here’s an episode of Bri Books about how to start bullet journaling!) I’m starting your fall reset with a notebook because you have to know where you want to go to get to where you want to be. Having a designated place to dump thoughts, plans and problems alleviate mental clutter. (classic.html">Here’s a link to my favorite Leuchturn1917 notebook.)
2. 3:20 - #2: New tote bag! The CALPAK Haven laptop tote has taken the place of my everyday canvas bag. Inside the CALPAK tote is a removable laptop compartment. My favorite function? The slit in the back AKA the ‘luggage pass-through,’ so you can slip through your carry-on luggage handle. This is the bag that’ll define my fall ‘on-the-go' look. (Here’s a link)
3. 5:40 - #3: Bluetooth earbuds! The ones I've been using all summer and will use into winter are the 000928.html">Jaybird Vista 2 wireless sports earbuds. They're designed for athletes--think runners, rock-climbers--who need reliable earbuds with strong sound performance. They hold a charge for about 24 hours, and the case itself is a charging port. Here’s a 000928.html">link to where to grab the Jaybird Vista 2 wireless sports earbuds, a definitive fall essential that you’ll use year-round.
4. 8:20 - #4: Kitchen essentials! Namely the Balmuda kettle and toaster. When the temperatures cool down, I get excited to make hot beverages around the clock and roast vegetables 24/7. In this respect, the Balmuda kettle and toaster have become a non-negotiable. All of their products are designed with a minimalist aesthetic to be beautiful and functional. From the kettle's painted stainless steel to the ergonomic handle, using the Balmuda kettle is a downright pleasure. You can use the toaster for roasting veggies, warming bread, baking cookies, steaming fish, warming up leftovers, roasting veggies--basically anything. If it’s time for you to make an investment in your kitchen appliances as the cozy season creeps up, the Balmuda kettle and toaster deserve a spot on your list and kitchen counter. Here’s a link to purchase the Balmuda kettle and toaster. 
5. 12:15 - #5: Tea and cider! Now is the perfect time to add tea and cider to your beverage collection. You can make apple cider slushies, cocktails, etc. at home to give a seasonal refresh to your beverage collection. My favorite autumnal teas are Traditional Medicinals and TeaPigs. 
6. 15:00 - #6: Handcream! Two hand creams I’ve been loving: and-nail-cream.html">Caudalie Nail and Hand Repair and Avya Nourishing Hand Treatment. I’ve been using Caudalie Nail Repair for five years now, and I buy a new tube each autumn. Rich in shea butter, avocado butter, polyphenols, the touch is so hydrating. If you prefer a rich hand cream that doesn't leave a greasy film, this is the one. Here’s a and-nail-cream.html">link to purchase the and-nail-cream.html">Caudalie hand cream. Up next: the Avya Nourishing Hand Treatment. Avya nourishing hand treatment is rooted in ayurvedic medicine and has hyaluronic acid that helps hydrate and protects the dry chapped skin of your hands. The best part: the founder of Avya Skincare originally created the product as a face cream. Here’s a link to where to pick up the Avya hand treatment.
7. 17:23 - #7: Aromatherapy tools! When you think of autumn, certain scents come to mind: pumpkin, dried leaves, apples, rain, mulled cider. Take that exact same energy, bottle it up, and you have atomiser.html">Aromatherapy Associates’ atomizer diffuser. The atomizer is a waterless and portable diffuser, meaning you can carry it with you from room to room. atomiser.html">Aromatherapy Associates is one of my favorite British brands, well-known in the wellness space for their innovative approach to aromatherapy.  The diffuser disperses a microfine mist directly from the essential oil bottle. And  since there is no water, it is easy to move around without the need to clean between uses. The ‘Deep Relax’ essential oil blend and the ‘Breathe’ pure essential oil blend are my absolute favorites for everyday use. Don’t overlook the power of scent in creating a space that feels warm to you. Here’s a atomiser.html">link to where to purchase Aromatherapy Associates’ atomizer. 
8. 20:30: #8: A staycation! This autumn, hop on the highway and get out of dodge. Choose an easy location (no more than 150 miles away) and treat yourself to a long weekend trip. One of my favorites is going to the Catskills in New York state, especially the town of Kingston, New York. I find that the autumnal bliss I crave can be found 100 miles outside of New York City. Stone Ridge Orchard, a fantastic local orchard, grows everything from apples to pears in the autumn, and the pumpkin patches are plentiful. I highly recommend a trip to Kingston Wine Company in downtown Kingston, and a lazy afternoon spent popping into and out of vintage shops blows away the end-of-summer blues. Wherever you are in the country, find the hidden gems of your region or hometown to remind you that magic is all around--and you don’t have to pay thousands of dollars to be inspired and reinvigorated.

OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED AND PRODUCTS MENTIONED

1. Bri Books: How to Get Started Bullet-Journaling
2. Leuchtturm1917 notebooks
3. CALPAK Haven laptop tote
4. 000928.html">Jaybird Vista 2 wireless sports earbuds
5. Balmuda kettle and toaster
6. Traditional Medicinals and TeaPigs teas 
7.  and-nail-cream.html">Caudalie Nail and Hand Repair and Avya Nourishing Hand Treatment
8.  atomiser.html">Aromatherapy Associates’ atomizer diffuser
9. Staycation to the Catskills in New York state, especially the town of Kingston, New York

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I’m sharing the 7 best sunscreens for dark skin. It’s the dog days of summer: when temperatures start to soar around sunrise. I’m somewhat on the sunscreen beat, you could say, thanks to my writing about SPFs at Glamour.com. My stories include a review of Black Girl Sunscreen and ‘11 Women of Color on the Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin.’

• 1:30: The fact is, anyone, no matter skin tone, can get sunburned. Repeated unprotected sun exposure can cause skin damage, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. It’s no secret that historically the beauty industry hasn’t made slathering up with SPF an enjoyable experience--far too many formulations aren’t made to blend in on dark skin. I’m sharing with you my holy grail picks that don’t leave a greasy residue or ashy tone behind.
• 2:55: #1: Black Girl Sunscreen’s founder, Shontay Lundy, was having a beach day in Miami and had a hard time finding a sunscreen that didn’t leave residue on her skin. At that moment, BGSS was born as a solution for Black women looking to protect their skin. Since they’ve, they’ve expanded nationally to Target stores and secured a $1M investment recently. One of my favorite things about BGSS is that it absorbs quickly and is a great base for makeup. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to be able to sweat without worrying if sunscreen is leaving streaks down my face. BGSS is available at Target for $15.99. 
• 4:20 #2: posay.us/our-products/sun/body-sunscreen/anthelios-melt-in-milk-sunscreen-for-face-body-spf-100-3606000546103.html"> La Roche Posay SPF 100 Anthelios Face and Body sunscreen: This is a sunscreen I reach for whenever I’m on a beach or outdoors all day. At SPF 100, it’s great for children and adults with sun-sensitive skin. It melts right into the skin and is great if you need to be confident in your SPF protection if you’re hiking, walking, or at the beach. I recommend it for part of your year-round SPF collection. posay.us/our-products/sun/body-sunscreen/anthelios-melt-in-milk-sunscreen-for-face-body-spf-100-3606000546103.html"> La Roche Posay SPF 100 is available online for $25.00. 
• 5:36: #3: Peter Thomas Roth Max Matte SPF 45: This mattifying shine control sunscreen feels so luxurious. I love the weightless, sheer finish it gives. The texture feels like any other moisturizer, but with the protection of sunscreen. Pro tip: Use this SPF to create your dream tinted moisturizer: I recommend applying a few drops of liquid foundation into the SPF. Also, this sunscreen is phenomenal for the decolletage, and for building the habit of applying sunscreen to the neck, collar, top of the chest, and other areas that are prone to burning. Peter Thomas Roth Max Matte SPF 45 is available for $34 at Sephora.
• 7:25 #4: posay.us/our-products/sun/face-sunscreen/anthelios-aox-antioxidant-serum-with-spf-50-sunscreen-3606000403703.html"> La Roche Posay AOX SPF Serum: This has become my favorite SPF serum because it reminds me of the importance of wearing sunscreen year-round. During winter, when we don't have to worry about sweat, we have to stay vigilant about wearing sunscreen. It's lightweight enough to be worn alone, with a moisturizer, or under makeup.  posay.us/our-products/sun/face-sunscreen/anthelios-aox-antioxidant-serum-with-spf-50-sunscreen-3606000403703.html"> La Roche Posay AOX SPF Serum is available for $42.50.
• 8:20: #5: Bask Suncare SPF 30: This sunscreen feels good and does good at the same time. Bask Suncare partners with the Sun Protection Foundation to increase access to sunscreen. This reef-safe SPF is free of oxybenzone, parabens, sulfates, and irritants, and I feel the light vanilla and coconut scent gives a childhood memory of days and nights spent outside. Bask Suncare SPF 30 is available for $28 at Basksuncare.com
• 9:40 #6: Sol de Janerio Bum Bum Sol Oil SPF30: This super luxe feeling and smelling oil formula combines reef-safe SPF30 and skin smoothers like capucha butter and acai oil. It’s infused with Sol de Janeiro's iconic fragrance, and it’s one of the sunscreens I reach for if I’m having a long day in the sand or a sweaty day in NYC. After showering, I’ll throw this oil on my body and go about my day. The scent has peachy-tropical notes with hints of coconut vanilla. It truly smells like summer. Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Sol Oil SPF30 is available for $38.
• 11:20 #7: Farmacy Green Defense Mineral Sunscreen: This zinc oxide mineral sunscreen sits on the skin surface to reflect damaging UVA and UVB rays. This is a great SPF pick if you want to dip your toe into the world of mineral sunscreens. I put it on the areas that are underlooked and prone to burning, like the back of my legs, the inside of my arms, etc. It’s definitely the SPF I’ll be using this fall and winter to remind me that if the sun’s up, the sunscreen’s gotta go on. Farmacy Green Defense Mineral Sunscreen is available at Sephora for $36. 

ARTICLES MENTIONED

1. 11 Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin
2. Black Girl Sunscreen Review

SPF GRAPHICS/ INSTAGRAM POSTS

1. 6 Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin IG Reels 

3 Beach-Perfect Sunscreens for Your Next Beach Day

Welcome to Bri Books! Today we’re jumping into the best new makeup products to buy at Sephora! Listen to part one here, “The 6 Best New Skincare Products at Sephora.” 

• 1:25: #1: Merit Beauty, a luxury clean, minimalist beauty brand, just launched at Clean at Sephora! I was able to test out Merit products while at Glamour.com (here’s a link to my Glamour.com article reviewing the Merit Minimalist Makeup kit) Their seven-piece collection is a curated chorus of everyday products, including foundation sticks, eyebrow gel, mascara, lip slicks, cheek tint, a makeup brush, and highlighter. I think Merit’s products are perfect for what I call a ‘Zoom beat,’ and they’re perfect to just grab and apply during the summer months. My favorite shade slick in shade Sangria looks phenomenal on deep dark skin, along with the Day Glow highlighter! The Merit Beauty Day Glow highlighter is $30 at Sephora. 
• 4:40: #2: Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm Palette: Finally, a Charlotte Tilbury palette that works flawlessly on my deep brown skin! I’ve been waiting for this palette all summer--it’s a four-color quad with shades from soft champagne to luxe chocolate that give a luxe, marbled, old Hollywood glow. Launching at Sephora on August 26, this palette will become your go-to for all of your late summer, early fall, and even winter (!!!) beauty looks. Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm Palette is available on CharlotteTilbury.com and at Sephora.com on August 26. Bonus: The Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love lip and cheek tint in ‘Love Chain,’ gives the prettiest cherry glow and instantly brightens up my makeup look. Tinted Love is available at Sephora for $34. 
• 8:33: #3: Bite Beauty Changemaker Supercharged Micellear Foundation: I love that this foundation is water-lightweight, and gives perfect light to medium coverage. It’s perfect for the humid summer months when you can’t be bothered with a full face of makeup. I like to apply this foundation with a touch of sunscreen or moisturizer to create a tinted moisturizer that stands up to summer sweat. Bite Beauty Changemaker Supercharged Micellear Foundation is available at Sephora for $44.
• 10:15: #4: Fenty Skin Buff Ryder Exfoliating Body Scrub: Robyn Fenty has done it again! The Fenty Skin Buff Ryder Exfoliating Body Scrub is a gentle, tropical-inspired scrub packed with super-fine sand, sugar, and nourishing oils. I love to apply this scrub in the shower, rub it into my skin, and then let the water rinse the excess scrub away.  Fenty Skin Buff Ryder Exfoliating Body Scrub is available at Sephora for $32.
• 12:15: #5: Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash: Kosas understands that only focusing on the skin on your face does a disservice to the rest of your body. This daily exfoliating cleanser helps to unclog pores, visibly smooth the texture of the skin, and fight body skin blemishes. It’s gentle enough for everyday use and leaves my skin feeling brand-new.  Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash is available at Sephora for $18. 

Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen!

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I’m sharing with you the best new products at Sephora--this summer’s best new Sephora launches that are worth your time, energy, and coin. My intention is to inspire your fall beauty routine, so I’m breaking it down into the best skin care products at Sephora, the best makeup products at Sephora, and the best new body care products at Sephora. I’ve included links to all the products in the show notes and on bribookspod.com!

• 1:55: #1: Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: Originally released in 2018, the Rich Cream quickly attained unprecedented status among the skincare elite. I was able to review The Cream as part of a beauty story for Glamour.com. After that experience, I got the hype! For the 2021 update, Prof. Bader and his researchers returned to the lab to create a new version that focuses on cellular renewal. Since I've been using the original The Cream for a year, after trying out the updated formulation, I did notice a visible reduction in the pollution and clogged pores I had. I love to use The Cream as the highlight of my nighttime routine. It includes TFC8, which is known to reduce hyperpigmentation in the skin. The Rich Cream with TFC8 retails at $170 at Sephora, and you can pick up a half ounce bottle for $85 at Sephora.
• 4:45 #2: Saint Jane Hydrating Petal Cream: I've been quietly obsessing over Saint Jane all summer and spring, and the brand has finally launched in Sephora! The Hydrating Petal Cream is an all-day moisturizer with hibiscus peptides and floral essences (a cottagecore skincare dream) including antioxidant-rich magnolia and honeysuckle. Inspired by how  flower petals maintain luxurious hydration, the Saint Jane founder developed this incredible product that helps to reduce stress in the skin. The best part? It doubles as a post-sun treatment with soothing active ingredients that calm sun-sensitive skin. Saint Jane Hydrating Petal Cream is $68 at Sephora. 
• 8:00: #3: Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment: Another new to Sephora launch, this Tatcha treatment began as a personal formulation request from Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha, who dealt with eczema and flare-ups over the last year and wanted to create something to soothe her own skin. If you’re dealing with regular skin inflammation, the Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum is for you. I love how this product rebalances my skin at night and helps it regenerate itself while I sleep. After a long night (or early morning), I reach for this treatment to get rid of any irritation. It exceeded my expectations, and I think it’s a great pick for acne-prone skin. The Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment is available for $88 at Sephora.
• 10:30: Quick Break
• 10:50:  #4: Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Mask: This clay-based skin mask is great for combating oily skin in the summer months. It delivers a chill and purifies the skin, similar in effect to the Nordic cold cleanse tradition of jumping into chilly water. It’s perfect for skincare Sundays and hot summer days alike. Here’s a link to an Instagram Reels I created all about the Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge mask, which is available at Sephora for $38. 
• 13:30: #5: Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Night Acid: Packed with lemon enzyme, aloe juice, AHAs and PHAs, this night acid is the perfect one-and-done acid product for your skincare routine. It just launched in Sephora on July 26, inspired by Ole Henriksen’s spa heritage. This product feels custard-like, the lemony sugar scent is divine at the end of a long day. Dewtopia is the perfect balance of exfoliating and nourishing components. Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Night Acid is available at Sephora for $55. 
• 16:30: #6: Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel: This epic vitamin C-based peel is formulated with spirulina, a blue-green algae known for its antioxidant properties. I use it as a resurfacing peel to help reduce hyperpigmentation and was blown away at how gentle this peel is. If the words ‘peel’, ‘correcting,’ and ‘brightening’ conjure up thoughts of burning skin, fear not, this is by far the most gentle, non-irritating peel I’ve ever used. There’s a tingle--so you know it’s working--but it quickly vanishes. Pro tip: Pick up Algenist’s Vitamin C Brightening Serum for double protection. When used together, I saw results within a week, and members of my family who also tested the product reported noticing a more even complexion and skin texture after a week of regular use. Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel is available at Sephora for $85, and the Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Serum is $72. 

Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen! 

Products Mentioned at Sephora:

1. Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: $85 or $170
2.  Saint Jane Hydrating Petal Cream: $68
3. Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment: $88
4. Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Mask: $38 
5. Ole Henriksen Dewtopia 20% Night Acid: $55
6. Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel: $85
7.  Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Serum: $72

Articles Mentioned:

1. Glamour.com: Best Augustinus Bader Products Worth Your Money

MORE SKINCARE-FOCUSED BRI BOOKS EPISODES

1. What to Buy at Sephora During The VIB Sale
2. 5 Best Beauty and Skincare Books for Beginners
3. AM & PM Skincare Routine: Early Autumn Edition
4. Makeup Bag Highlights and Fenty Beauty Mascara Hot Take

What does 'luxury' mean, and how can you create a truly luxe home? In today's episode, we're sitting down with Dominique Brielle Fluker, who is a content strategist and storyteller by day, and most recently, founder of DBF Interiors. With DBF Interiors, Dominique brings her interior styling talents to modern professional women. Dominique believes luxury is truly experienced when one feels inspired to slow down, embrace a sense of ease, and enjoy life. In this episode, we get into the nitty-gritty of it: what it means to be an entrepreneur while keeping a 9-5, how to upgrade your space, how to make your home feel bigger, and how to create a ritualistic presence about your home. If you're looking for design inspo or ways to redesign your space, this is the episode for you. 

• 4:30 - Dominique's earliest design and decor memories from childhood
• 6:30 - How to cultivate a mindset of luxury 
• 9:00 - The story of DBF Interiors
• 13:00 - Two easy ways to upgrade your space 
• 21:00 - How to inject personality, sanctuary, and style into your home
• 24:00 - The secrets to a successful staycation

"It's about mindset, about having the agency to curate your own life, and having the time and mental clarity to really luxuriate in certain experiences." - DBF Interiors Dominique Fluker

Follow Dominique on Instagram, follow DBF Interiors on Instagram and online to interiors.com/">book a consultation, and keep up with one of Dominique's favorite decor blogs, 'ABlackGirlinWestElm.' 

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud! Please tell me what how you create a luxe home by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. 

Today we’re talking with wine and food creator/ enthusiast Sarita Chaves. If you’re all about your wine, spirits, and food, you need to meet Sarita. She’s a DC native with a love for food, wine and city living. Sarita’s the founder of the Swirl Suite podcast, a cohort of Black women who work in the wine and spirits industry. She created her blog ‘Vinemeup’ in 2013 after years of working at a local winery in Maryland and highlighting unique wines on social media. Currently, she cooks and creates wine pairings in her own kitchen which you can watch play out on her Instagram and on her Instagram Stories. 

In this episode, Sarita teaches us how to pair the wines with the seasons, shares her own history and journey through the wine industry, and reveals to us the striking similarities between winemaking and farming.

PS: The Vinemeup Activity Book is almost here! For those that desire to celebrate  Blacks in Wine in a most creative way. Whether you are a seasoned oenophile or someone who is still learning what makes a wine wonderful,  the VINEMEUP Activity Book is an entertaining and satisfying experience that compliments wine-sipping. Click here to sign up for updates about the book launch!

SHOW NOTES:

• 4:10 - Sarita’s wine career story
• 8:05 - What makes Maryland wine so special and the magic of Maryland soil: “I think Maryland wine is a Cinderella story.”
• 10:15 - The parallels between winemaking and farming: “Winemakers are studied farmers.” 
• 11:15 - How Sarita uses wine to elevate her homecooking and to freshen up her everyday meals: “After watching my mom, I started to cook with her, and when I lived on my own, it cranked up a bit. Cooking has always been my thing, but the wine took it up a notch. There are things I’ve experienced foodwise with wine that I've never experienced in my life. I’ve never sat on a hill atop a vineyard, eating duckbreast and drinking zinfandel until I became a wineblogger. That’s when I started to pay attention to chefs on TV--what they’re using, their techniques, etc.”
• 14:00 - How to travel the world through a bottle of wine: “Find a really good wine shop, and get to know someone who works there, and get on the email list! Follow them on Instagram! Join a wine club!” 
• 16:00 - Shoutout to our fave wine stores: Simple Syrup in Brooklyn, and Wardman Wines in DC (where wine author Julia Coney reigns!)
• 26:00 - How to transition your wine palette throughout the seasons
• 29:30 - The best wine to drink during each season
• 30:00 - 37:00 - Gardening talk: The best things to grow in each season!  

Follow the Swirl Suite on Instagram

On today's episode, we're talking all things International Women's Day, the best female-founded companies, and 10 amazing brands you need to know, shop and love from now on. Over 70% of the women and founders on this list are women of color. 

Celebrated on March 8 annually, International Women's Day is one of the most important days of the year to celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness about women's equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity, and fundraise for female-centered charities. I'll be sharing some fantastic brands and initiatives that are perfectly aligned with International Women's Day. 

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS. 

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify  Stitcher, and SoundCloud! Show me what you're reading by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

1.  Uoma Beauty, founded by Sharon Chuter
2. Cashe cashmere donates 10% of all purchases to the Nepal Youth Foundation. Their new 'Women of Nepal' docu-film, created via a partnership with multimedia journalist Rajneesh Bhandari on behalf of the Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF), showcases the intersection of livelihood and motherhood for two profound women.
3. Black Girl Sunscreen was designed to start the conversation around sun safety and education, and works to decrease the risk of melanoma within the Black community, one bottle of SPF at a time. 
4. K-Swiss Girl Scouts collection.  Each shoe takes details from its namesake and translates them to a reimagined take on the iconic Court 66, with textures that mimic the Girl Scout Cookies they represent.  Here's a to-build-community-partnerships-with-your-troop.html"> link to how you can build community partnerships with your local Girl Scout troop. 
5. The Lip Bar's story is a complete Cinderella story. The founder, Melissa Butler, was turned DOWN from Shark Tank! But that "rejection" just sharpened her direction, because now you can find TLB in Walmart and Target stores across the country! Here's my favorite new product from TLB, a 3-in-1 skin conditioner tinted moisturizer which comes in 8 glorious shades. 
6. Soon Skincare is a beauty brand started with the goal of bringing the excitement and innovation of Korean beauty to the entire world. The company is named after co-founder Lisa's grandmother and means 'smooth and pure' in Korean, which is at the crux of the entire line. I'm obsessed with the Vitamin C + E serum, and the Mermaid Marine collagen serum.
7. interiors.com/">DBF Interiors founder Dominique Fluker is an interior design service bringing interior styling to modern professionals. Dominique believes luxury is truly experienced when one slows down and embraces the fruits of her labor. Here's a link to book a consultation with Dominique. 
8. Dominique Broadway is an award-winning millennial personal finance expert and entreprenuer. Her personal journey to educate and assist women of color in reaching their financial goals began with working with the uber wealthy and realizing that money advice should be available to anyone who wants to learn it. Through her platform and The Wealth Transfer Investing course, she has changed the game and broadened so many people's understanding of what's possible when it comes to making money in the market. More than that, she's passionate about changing people's money mindset, which is crucial. 
9. Corey Paige is a designer who started her business in her dorm room at Tulane University. Nowadays, Corey is designing leggings, jogers, crewnecks, phone cases, face masks with her signature 'Millennial Lisa Frank' aesthetic of bright, cheerful colors. 
10. Bearaby is a weighted blanket comapny I've been loving for about two years. Bearaby believes that self-care should be joyful and deep, revitalizing rest should be natural. The blankets are all-natural, sustainable and made from recycled materials. The founder Kathrine Hamm was led to create the brand out of her on sleep struggles. It's a brand I can put my name (and money!) behind. 

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS. 

We're starting season 6 with Samio, a full-time blogger and content creator from Manchester, England. Samio is a 'style enthusiast' who focuses on quality over quantity in all things in life. Over the years, Samio has been able to develop her love of photography into a full-fledged blog, YouTube platform, and Instagram platform.

In this episode, Samio and I get into the nuts and bolts of living. She gives encouragement to people who are afraid to start something new, and we dig deep into why it's important that you're careful about how you think about and talk about yourself. Samio loves to delve deep into this topic on her YouTube channel, which feels like having a (virtual) chat with a close friend. Follow Samio's journey on Instagram, YouTube, and her blog! 

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify  Stitcher, and SoundCloud! Show me what you're reading by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

New season, who dis? Welcome to season 6 of Bri Books, the podcast that encourages, entertains and inspires by discussing ideas both on and off the page. I have SO much great content in store for you—buckle up! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify  Stitcher, and SoundCloud! Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram! Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, join the @bribookspod community on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS.

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS.

Brace yourselves: the beauty discounts are coming. Here's my curated list of the best products to buy from Sephora's 2020 Cyber Monday sale. These are the picks I've been loving (and lusting after) all year, and with up to 50% off full-price items, now's the time to pounce. Last year, I recorded a Bri Books episode about what to buy during Sephora's annual December VIB sale, and wanted to share a Cyber Monday-ready curated list. Here's what I'd stock up on if I were you:

1. Bread Beauty Supply creamy deep conditioner ($28)
2. Ilia Eye Heart Clean Beauty Kit ($45, limited edition but here's a similar Ilia Beauty set with even more goodies for $48)
3. Urban Decay Naked Honey eyeshadow palette (Was: $49; Now: $24.50)
4. Peter Thomas Roth Masking Minis 5-piece mask kit ($19)
5. Alien Eau de Parfum Mugler perfume (Was: $120; Now: $72)
6. Maison Margiela Replica perfume Deluxe Mini Coffret Set ($68)
7. Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream Trio ($15)
8. Dyson Corrale hair straightener ($499)

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS.

Get out of that takeout rut with these 5 essential cookbooks, just in time for the holidays. These cookbooks are filled with mouthwatering recipes and invaluable culinary tips that'll help you build confidence in the kitchen this holiday season.

5 Mouthwatering Cookbooks to Inspire Your Holiday Meals

1. Cooking for one (for yourself on a regular basis): “The Living Kitchen: Healing Recipes to Support Your Body During Cancer Treatment and Recovery” by Sarah Grossman and Tamara Green

2. Cooking for a crowd (two or more): “Cravings: Recipes for all the Food You Want to Eat” by Chrissy Teigen

3. Guest flex (for when it’s your turn to host): “Everyday Is Saturday: Recipes + Strategies for Easy Cooking, Every Day of the Week” by Sarah Copeland

4. Technique (how you present your food): “That Photo Makes Me Hungry: Photographic Food for Fun and Profit” by Andrew Scravini

5. What’s up next (new release) "Jubilee: Recipes From Two Centuries Of African American Cooking:” by Toni Tipton-Martin 

Pssst, check out my “How to Shop the Farmers Market” IGTV for more info about seasonal eating.

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your houseplant and garden questions and show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more cooking tips and culinary secrets.

Feeling nostalgic? Watch these black-and-white movies in your cozy socks with a cup of hot chocolate this holiday season.

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS.

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify  Stitcher, and SoundCloud! Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more movie recommendations.

4 Iconic Black & White Films to Watch Over Thanksgiving Break

1. Mildred Pierce, 1945

   1. ‘Mildred Pierce’ is a 1945 crime-drama film starring Joan Crawford in the Oscar-winning title role. The style in this movie is UNREAL, and I love that the Max Factor makeup creator worked exclusively with Joan Crawford on this film—such a cool piece of film and makeup history.

2. All About Eve, 1950

   1. ‘All About Eve’ stars Bette Davis. The director and screenplay creator is Joseph Mankiewicz. Bette plays a stage actress named Margot who is slowly but surely being edged out by her protegee, Eve. The monologues! The hairstyles! The shade!

3. A Raisin in the Sun, 1961

   1. ‘A Raising in the Sun’ is the film starring Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil and Diana Sands following the Younger clan in Chicago as they navigate their future as a family unit and as individuals. 'Based on the play by Lorraine Hansberry, the scoring in this film accents the theatric foundation of the story.

4. Madame Bovary, 1949

   1. Based on the controversial 1856 novel ‘Madame Bovary’ by French author Gustave Flaubert, the 1949 adaptation challenged public ‘morality’ and the Motion Picture Production Code fought to censor the film.

Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS. Valid until 11/21/2020.

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify  Stitcher, and SoundCloud! Please ask me your career and personal development questions and show me what you're reading by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more book recommendations.

This week's guest is Patricia Bright: businesswoman, YouTube queen and author of “Heart & Hustle: Use Your Passion, Build Your Brand, Achieve Your Dreams.” Patricia has earned over 2.9M YouTube subscribers, and just hit 1.2M on Instagram. I've followed Patricia Bright since the late 2000’s, and it’s such a treat to be able to celebrate the platform she’s created. Since recording, Patricia's expanded her empire with the launch of The Break channel on YouTube where she chronicles her investment property journey and dishes out invaluable personal finance tips. 

*This podcast episode was recorded in April 2019. Note on audio: You’ll hear the sound of me typing furiously in the background during the interview. I apologize!*

 0:00-4:30 – Meet Patricia Bright, the story behind Bri Books cold pitching Patricia and why Suzanne Jeffers’ “Feel the fear and do it anyway” is how Patricia lives her life.

 4:30 – In her book, Patricia discusses how being consistent is the challenge of our lives, and one we must rise to daily. Patricia shares her untold story, and why the big three--Brand, Business, and Beliefs--are crucial. With "Heart & Hustle," Patricia is teaching us to find our grinds, and identify our sweet spots where passions and unique skills find the perfect audience.

 8:20 – How Patricia applied for and earned an investment banking internship…even though she didn’t have the grades and failed the admittance test…and what the experience taught her about the nature of limitations

12:09 – Patricia on learning to be a stronger networker: “Networking should be active, and start on an honest point of interest.”

14:25 – Taking the sting out of networking, and learning to be comfortable having varied conversations with different types of people. 

14:45 – While Patricia was writing “Heart and Hustle,” she created one of her most successful YouTube series organically, the “I Spent” series wherein she shops online retailers, and brings her YouTube audience along as she tries on and reviews new purchases.

 15:25 – Patricia: “It’s important to find that sweet spot between your passion, ability and what’s practical.” it sounds like that’s the recipe.

18:00 – Patricia on the science of building an audience: Writing down and executing ideas, and planning content are key! These two concepts are transformative because it takes the in-the-moment pressure away. 

18:50 – Patricia’s #BriBooks current read: “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

19:45 – Patricia: “You realize that in life, you’ll have a big goal, but what matters are the steps you take towards it. If you can take those steps every day, you’ll most likely achieve that goal. Pick up ‘Atomic Habits’!

 20:07 – Let’s play “Patricia Taught Me,” a game where we quote from “Heart and Hustle” and Patricia expands on the ideas behind her words. 

24:20 – One of the most powerful quotes from the book: “ “When you're struggling or fearful about doing something you want to do, the temptation is real to look for an excuse. Don’t. Excuses are just ways to stop yourself from being as good as you want to be.” – Patricia Bright, “Heart and Hustle.”

25:50 – What’s making Patricia say “What a time to be alive”? “I’m excited about is the fact that knowledge and wisdom will be open for everyone. We’re in the generation of we all have the same knowledge, so let’s work. It’s important to me: for people to learn, have access to information. That’s where the passion lies.”

LINKS TO PATRICIA'S WORK:

Patricia Bright's blog, book, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube channels. 

Say hi! @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter.

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS. Valid until 11/21/2020.

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify  Stitcher, and SoundCloud! Please ask me your houseplant and garden questions and show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more wine buying tips and wine secrets. 

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS.

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your wine and food questions and show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more wine buying tips and wine secrets.

How many times have you gone into a wine shop, perused bottles and labels with glazed-over eyes, and left unfulfilled and over budget? Here are four categories I consider when planning what wine to bring to an event, serve to guests, or buy for myself: 

Brionna’s @BriBooksPod Wine Menu Tips 

1. Bubbles or no? (shoutout to Sarita of The Swirl Suite podcast for always encouraging bubbles to kick off the night)
2. Learn the rules, then break them. I choose wines based on my own flavor principle: the lighter the flesh, the lighter the wine. Hence white wine with fish and creamy pasta dishes, red wines with tomato dishes and red meats, and Rosé flows best with vegetables. From there, I forget everything I know and opt for a left-of-center pick such as Pinot Gris in place of a classic white wine or an orange wine in lieu of Rosé. 
3. Pick up a wildcard--perhaps a liquor--that you can use to create quick cocktails
4. Think about analogous and complementary flavors relative to the meal

Brionna’s @BriBooksPod Wine Menu Recommendations 

1. Bubbles recommendation: Vigneto Luciano Saetti Rosso Viola Lambrusco Salamino, 2018 ($20-$23), available at Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits in Brooklyn 
2. Meal pairing recommendation: Meinklang “Mulatschak” Weisser Pino Gris ($17-$20), available at Simple Syrup 
3. Easy, delicious red to compliment every dish recommendation: Adega de Penalva Idigena Branco, Dao ($13-$15), available at Simple Syrup 
4. Wildcard: Letherbee Charred Oak Absinthe Brun ($38-$40), available at Simple Syrup 

Show me what you're sipping on by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

I’ve curated the 5 best beauty books (say that five times fast!) that I relied on this year. They’re a great starting place for digging deeper into something we all practice—caring for our body’s biggest organ, our skin—and a bit of natural health. Hope this inspires you to investigate what you’re using and discover the ingredients you didn’t know you needed. Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen! 

1. french-beauty-solution.html">“The French Beauty Solution: Time-Tested Secrets to Look and Feel Beautiful Inside and Out” by Caudalie founder Mathilde Thomas (June 2015): Mathilde founded the skincare company Caudalie with her husband after taking inspiration from her family’s vineyard in Bordeaux. Not only is “The French Beauty Solution” filled with recipes, but it’s also filled with research about the composition of skin, how it changes over time, and how to care for it at every step of the way. I especially love chapter 5, “Your Skincare Ingredients,” where Mathilde teaches us how to decode skincare ingredient labels. french-beauty-solution.html">(Link to “The French Beauty Solution”) 

2. “Plant-Based Beauty: Your Essential Guide to Detoxing Your Beauty Routine” by Jess Arnaudin (Sept. 2019): Jess moved to upstate New York after working and studying on an active farm, where she cultivated a deep appreciation for plants. “Plant-Based Beauty” book breaks down operates from the understanding that nature is the master chemist. (Link to “Plant-Based Beauty) 

3. “Wild Beauty: Wisdom and Recipes for Natural Self-Care” by Jana Blankenship. It’s more of a science-based resource that I revisit before investing in any skincare or new products. (Link to “Wild Beauty”) 

4. “Seeking Slow: Reclaim Moments of Calm in Your Day” by Melanie Barnes focuses on injecting a sense of slowness, purpose, gratitude, and reflection into every single day. (Link to “Seeking Slow”)

5. “Recipes for Self-Love: How to Feel Good in a Patriarchal World” by Alison Rachel is a balm for your soul. The recipes aren’t for food, but for something more sustaining…YOUR well-being. (Link to “Recipes for Self-Love”)

This episode is proudly sponsored by briCandles, 100% natural soy candles hand-poured in Brooklyn. Bri Books listeners get 20% off their briCandles.com order with the code BRIBOOKS. Valid until 11/21/2020.

Fact: Autumn is lowkey the most delicious season. Don’t @ me. In this episode of “Bri Books,” we’re discussing 8 mouth-watering autumnal flavors that are in season right now. The best part: You can find these crops at your local farmers market (shoutout to GrowNYC Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, my personal home market) or grocery store. 

For a full breakdown of each ingredient and quick autumn recipes, watch ‘8 Delicous Autumnal Flavors’ IGTV on Bri Books Podcast, and follow Brionna Jimerson on Pinterest and Instagram.

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your houseplant and garden questions and show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more cooking tips and culinary secrets.

Bri Books 8 Autumnal Flavors:

1. Apples - Apples reach their peak in the autumn, with the flavor improving as the cooler weather settles in. There are hundreds of apple varieties, and they vary wildly based on your state. Now's the perfect time to explore roasting apples alongside veggies.
2. Carrots - Carrots are hearty, sweet, comforting, and pair perfectly with every meal. Slow-roasted rainbow carrots topped Kosterina dark chocolate balsamic vinegar ($19.95) creates an almost caramelized effect. You'll be shocked how quickly you devour these veggies! 
3. Turmeric - Turmeric is an ancient crop, well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It has a warm, nutty flavor that's synonymous with curries around the world. If you want to sneak turmeric into your diet, I'd recommend you start with Dona turmeric spice dust ($10), a blend of turmeric, allspice, pink peppercorn, black pepper, and lemongrass. I love to use the powder to top my gold lattes and tea brews, and adding a few teaspoons to cake batter will completely transform your baking.  
4. Ginger - Ginger is classically known as a warm, spicy root. Pro tip: Experiment with ginger-based marinades for your meats and ginger-infused bone broths for your winter soups and stews!
5. Chai - Chai is the perfect autumnal spice profile. The earthy, woody flavors of cardamom, pepper, and clove in the Dona masala chai dust ($10) instantly ground any dish. An interesting way to experiment with chai: Add a half teaspoon of chai spice to your salad dressings for a dynamic baby greens salad. 
6. Pears -  Pears deliver a subtle and delicate crunch and flavor compared to their sibling, apples. Now’s a great time to bake pears for a decadent dessert dish, or spiralize them to add to your salads and veggie roasts.
7. Cinnamon - We’ve been creeping around this spice all episode. Like with chia, cinnamon is a signature autumn flavor. Make your own fresh cinnamon powder by grinding cinnamon sticks in a coffee grinder. 
8. Squash - This year in my backyard garden, we grew butternut squash from scratch from seeds! Taste the goodness of delicata squash, honey-nut, acorn, and butternut squash this season gently roasted. (here’s a recent Bri Books episode about how to get started gardening.) If you like more butternut bisque experience, grab a butternut squash. To open a squash, simply slice off top and bottom, and then split the squash down the middle.

A few more Bri Books episodes about cooking, food and gardening:

1. 5 Restaurant-Worthy Meals You Can Make at Home
2. 8 Garden-Starting Hacks to Get You Growing
3. Cookbooks for Building Confidence in the Kitchen feat. Slice and Torte Podcast
4. The Garden in Every Sense and Season feat. @ABeautifulNestTV
5. 6 Wine Essentials & How to Shop for Wine
6. 6 Best Quarantine Cookbooks
7. What to Eat in the Dead of Winter
8. 5 Gardening Tips Every First-Time Gardener Needs to Know
9. How to Curate a Solo Wine Menu
10. Secrets to Dining at a New Restaurant 
11. 5 Most Delicious Cookbooks

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your houseplant and garden questions and show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more cooking tips and culinary secrets.

I'm sharing with you my 10 go-to movies for when you're in need of some fun background binge-watching. Whether you're having a gloomy day or need something uplifting to watch in the background, here are the laugh-out-loud-worthy movies you need to revisit the next time you're craving cinematic comfort.  

1. Devil Wears Prada 
2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off 
3. The Breakfast Club 
4. Moulin Rouge 
5. Matilda 
6. Coming to America 
7. 500 Days of Summer 
8. Harold and Maude 
9. Eve’s Bayou 
10. Atlantis: The Lost Empire

 If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Tell me your fave movie to rewatch when you're feeling blue by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more movie recommendations tips and TV show recaps.

Turn your nurturing and love inward with these houseplants that will keep your urban jungle growing in autumn/winter. If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your houseplant and garden questions and show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more houseplant maintenance tips and gardening secrets.

The Easiest Houseplants to Keep Alive This Winter (Grown in @TheBriGarden)

Want more gardening inspo? Gardener, soap-maker and creator of ABeautifulNestTV Sandria Kendrick and I chatted all about the book "The Garden in Every Sense and Season" by Tovah Martin (click here to listen on Apple Podcasts!)

5 Easy Houseplants for Your Winter Indoor Garden: @BriBooksPod x @TheBriGarden

1. Pilea peperomioides - The pilea peperoioides has circle-shaped leaves and prefers well-draining soil and partial light.
2. Indoor herb like basil or cilantro - I repotted and over-wintered the basil and cilantro growing in the garden. Choose an herb you love and plant it on your kitchen windowsill for an instant injection of freshness.
3. Small parlor palm - Preferring 55-70 degrees, moist soil and filtered sunlight, the small parlor palm adds density to any indoor garden. The mini-trees create a faux forest look.
4. Pothos - Pothos is arguably the easiest of all houseplants to grow and the most recognizable houseplant. It does well in rooms like offices, dorm rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens (yes, it even grows under fluorescent lighting). Pothos tend to vine, so I love to use them to take up area and create a living web of plants.
5. Philodendron - Philodendron plants like bright, indirect sunlight, and regular fertilization to grow into its best self.

If you’re new to the show, WELCOME! Leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your houseplant and garden questions and show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more houseplant maintenance tips and gardening secrets.

For even more houseplant content, follow Brionna Jimerson on Pinterest. If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts,Spotify and SoundCloud! 

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your food questions and show me what you're cooking by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more cooking tips and culinary secrets.

I’m sharing 5 restaurant-worthy meals you can make at home, plus 3 pre-dinner “rituals” to start right now. On those nights when you can’t be bothered to cook yet you’re craving comfort food, listen to this episode for instant inspiration. 

3 Pre-Dinner Rituals

3:45 - Ritual #1: Get in the vibe.

After you finish the workday, take a quick shower and get dressed in a fresh set of comfy clothes. Changing your outfit for dinner, especially if you’re working from home these days, signals to your brain that you’re entering the evening stage of your night. By taking a quick walk and changing clothes before dinner, I avoid that dreaded feeling of watching the hours tick by until bedtime.

4:45 - Ritual #2: Set your menu

When you're having breakfast, think about dinner. Do you need to pull the meat down and defrost? Do you need to find time to pop to a nearby store to buy ingredients? You don’t want to get to dinnertime and not have your dinner accouterments. That causes stress, anxiety, and makes it easier to pull the trigger on ordering takeout.

5:45 - Ritual #3: Take control of the playlist 

This is where the dinnertime vibe shines through. As you cook, listen to a playlist that reflects the origins of your meal. Personally, my dinnertime music vibe is upscale-hotel-bar-meets-kickback. Play music that gets you into a playful mood and helps you cook happy. Here’s a link to my Spotify profile, and one of my favorite dinner-making playlists: W Hotel Lobby Playlist.

5 Restaurant-Worthy Meals (full recipes can be found on @BriBooksPod Instagram Feed!) 

7:00 - Meal #1: Pizza - Here's the pizza recipe in IG Stories 

8:15 - Meal #2: Fajitas - Fajita stores well--especially if you cook the ingredients in bulk. Fajitas store well is delicious reheated, and are great for lunch or dinner. You can use whatever veggies you have in the fridge to up the nutrient factor of this indistructible meal.

9:00 - Meal #3: Cacio e pepe pasta with garlic butter - Here's my no-fail recipe for cacio e pepe! Garlic butter is the secret to a fantastic cacio e pepe pasta. Everytime we make this, it feels so restaurant quality. Using a high-quality noodle is crucial to a satisfying plate of pasta. Use a high-quality noodle to take the dish over the edge.

10:20 - Meal #4: Veggie soup or bone broth - Here's the 'Always On' soup recipe in IG Stories .Veggie soup’s quick, accessible, and no-fuss. Having broth on hand with a can of beans is a hearty wintertime meal. We love to do bone broth with lamb bones, etc. as a base for our soups. Punch up your soup with a handful of fresh greens and a half can of drained butter beans to give it a creamy consistency. 

12:10 - Meal #5: Burgers - Here's my go-to burger recipe, feel free to adapt it to whatever meat you're using.  Low-key gourmet burgers are easier to make than you think. Simply keep your favorite ground beef on hand, and make a half dozen burger patties to freeze in the freezer. Pull one down any time you’re craving meat, and voila, no more spending upwards of $30 on takeout burgers! You’re welcome!

For even more recipe content, follow me on Pinterest. If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts,Spotify andSoundCloud! Please ask me your food questions and show me what you're cooking by using#bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow@BriBooksPod on Instagram for more cooking tips and culinary secrets.

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your career and social media questions by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more career tips and social media secrets.

Welcome to a personal Q&A episode of Bri Books!

I asked over on @BriBooksPod Instagram how I can best serve you, and was hit with a few careers and social media questions. I hope you enjoy this minisode--and if you like the format, let me know by leaving a review of the show on Apple Podcasts

• 1:45: Question #1: What are the best tools for managing social media accounts on behalf of a brand?
• 1:50: Answer #1: Later App is an Instagram scheduling platform. I’ve used it on behalf of global media clients, eComm brands, and independent accounts.
  • #2: Tweetdeck, which I’d recommend for monitoring real-time events.
  • #3: Familiarize yourself with Dash Hudson, which is the industry standard for Instagram and Pinterest scheduling and optimization.
  • #4: Dig into Twitter Analytics immediately--every Twitter account has an accompanying analytics page (here’s a link.) Start tracking top-performing content themes over time, and identify your key metrics (impressions, engagements, video views, etc.)
  • #5: Both Facebook Insights and Instagram Insights are handy for diving into overall social media account performance trends.
  • Bonus #6: When it comes to building graphics, I trust Canva for producing brand-quality on-site, digital and social assets.  

• 4:00 - Question #2: How do you get into journalism from another industry?
• 4:05 - Answer #2: I recommend you identify 4-5 spaces where you have deep subject matter expertise. From there, build a back catalog of writing, guided by SEO and overall trends in search interest.
• 5:10 - Question #3: How do you add value to the social media space?
• 5:15 - Answer #3: When it comes to adding value to social media, I’d recommend you anticipate what’s next when it comes to your audience, and hone in on a clear call to action. Ask yourself, what emotion do you want to elicit? I also recommend you ask people their opinions on social via tools like Polls. People want to know that you care what they think, so ask thoughtful questions. 

Thank you for listening! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please ask me your career and social media questions by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for more career tips and social media secrets.

Time to stock your autumn skincare essentials! In this episode, I'm sharing my 7-step AM and PM skincare routines. These are the products I'm relying on to help me transition from sun-drenched summer days to chilly autumn nights. Tell me, what skincare hidden gem has stolen your heart this autumn? 💄

If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what autumn skincare you're loving by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @BriBooksPod on Instagram for top shelfie tours, DIY beauty hacks, and skincare secrets. 

AM ROUTINE

1. Foaming cleanser: paris.com/en-US/radiance-foaming-cream-152510.html"> Sisley Paris Radiance Foaming Cream makeup remover, $120 2. Toner: Witch hazel or Heritage Store rose water, $9 at Target 3. Serum: Earth to Skin Manuka Honey All-Over Serum, $9 at Walmart  4. Vitamin C: Estee Lauder Perfectionist Pro Vitamin C Serum, $110 5. Moisturizer: Caudalie Reservatrol Lift Soft Cream, lift-face-lifting-soft-cream.html"> $45.50 on sale right now! (as of October 6, 2020) 6. Oil: The Mara Beauty Universal Face Oil, $72 7. Sunscreen: Black Girl Sunscreen, $19 at Blackgirlsunscreen.com. PS, read my article all about BlackGirlSunscreen on Glamour.com

PM ROUTINE

1. Double cleanse: Caralista Unoil Double Cleanse Elixir, $65
2. Cleanser: Holifrog Shasta AHA Refining Acid Wash, $38
3. Dermarolling: Jenny Patinkin Rose on Rose Derma Roller, $75
4. Serum: Rodial Beauty CBD Sleep Drops Serum, $105
5. Oil: Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Evening Primrose Green Tea - Face Oil, $120

Thank you for listening! If you’re new to the show, share it with your group chat, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what autumn skincare you're loving by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter. Follow @theBriGarden on Instagram for top shelfie tours, DIY beauty hacks, and skincare secrets. 

I recently celebrated 100 episodes of this podcast, and while reflecting I realized there were 10 major life lessons I've discovered along the way. Please tell me what you'd like to hear by leaving a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud. Show me your latest read by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  

1. 3:00 - Lesson #1: You'd be surprised how much you can accomplish in a day
2. 4:30 - Lesson #2: Use momentum to propel yourself from moment to moment
3. 5:30 - Lesson #3: Success is in a hurry, so drive the speed limit
4. 6:00 - Lesson #4: You have everything you need to succeed, right now
5. 7:50 - Lesson #5: Find the fastest rabbits and run with them
6. 9:20 - Lesson #6: Be a fan! It costs you nothing to be kind
7. 10:30 - Lesson #7: Replace envy and jealousy with study 
8. 12:15 - Lesson #8: Write what you know
9. 13:30 - Lesson #9: If you can do it all day, you can do it right now
10. 14:30 - Lesson #10: Break it down and make it plain

Let’s talk about quarantine wine: How to shop for wine during quarantine, and the 6 wines and spirits you need to keep stocked at all times. If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me what you're sipping by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  

During COVID-19, my wine budget has definitely...ballooned. I’m learning more about natural wines via my favorite local wine shop Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits in Brooklyn, NY, my go-to for wine delivery and pickup. 

But first, I’m sharing 3 wine buying tips for how to buy wine during COVID-19.

4:20 - #1: Get to know your local wine and spirits community on Instagram. It’s one of the fastest ways to find out what’s new, hours of operation, and other vital information. Now more than ever, so many wine stores need to maintain that human connection—part of the magic of wine shopping is wandering the aisles and getting recommendations in real-time. That’s not always possible right now, so people who work in the liquor industry are turning to social media tools to get the word out about what’s happening, what’s new, and how customers can connect directly with the source. 

• 5:53 - #2: Pick a budget and do not budge it. Calculate the average price per bottle that you’re willing to pay. For me, I try to keep my purchases at $12-$15 a bottle. Setting a budget is crucial to keeping you from spending hundreds a month on wine.
• 8:00 - Tip #3: Thinking about meal prep when buying wine is a great way to make sure you’re buying wine that you’ll drink and that goes with what you're eating. 
• 9:30 - BREAK
• 9:45 - Let’s chat about the 6 wine essentials you need to have during quarantine! 
• 9:45 - #1: Bubbles. I'd recommend Lambrusco wine, an Italian style of sparkling red wine. The Lambrusco I’ve been drinking since the holidays is Vigneron Saetti Lambrusco Salamino 2019 ($22) from Vigneto Saetti Vineyards. The wine is imported by Bowler Wines. I pick it up and get delivery from Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits. 
• 12:40 - #2: Red wine. You can really take on flavors around the world with red wines. Pick a red wine that’s dependable, drinkable and can last a few days. A few grapes like montepulciano lasts long. I can get 2,3, 4, nights out of a bottle without having to worry about it getting sour. I recommend montepulciano grapes. I love Cirelli Montepulciano 2018 ($18). It comes to us from Azienda Argicola Cirelli run by Francesco and Michela Cirelli. this wine pairs with dinners that are slow-cooked. If you’re easing into your stews, soups and cornbreads, this wine is a wonderful choice. It’s imported by Zev Rovine Selections, and you can buy it from Simple Syrup here.
• 15:00 - #3: Rose wine. I want us to get into Cirelli “Wines of Anarchy” Rosato. This wine is part of Azienda Argicola Cirelli, and it’ll take you from summer to fall effortlessly. Imported by Zev Rovine Selections, think of this Rosato as the spunky younger cousin of your traditional rose. Rosato has a lot of rightness and pepperiness in it. 
• 17:15 - #4: Experimental white wine. I want us to dig into pinot gris, a white wine with a grey-blue fruity tint to it. The one I’ve been enjoying during quarantine is michel.com/">Michel Nartz Alsace pinot gris 2018 ($20).  Michel Nartz is a family winery established in the picturesque village of Dambach-la-Ville, in Alsace. Imported by 2.pdf"> Communal Brands, the entire winemaking process is now in the hands of Michel’s daughter Laurance Nartz. If in the NYC area, you can pick it up from Simple Syrup Wine & Spirits here. 
• 19:15: #5 - Select an old-time or new favorite! Whatever you remember tasting ocne but want to try again, this is where you have permission to say I love Mas Théo “Le P’tit Gaby” 2018 ($15) from Mas Theo vineyard in Rhone France, imported by T. Edwards. This wine has a bumpy, grippy finish--you’ll feel a bit of a hold on your tongue as the flavor develops/ unwraps on the palette. Pick it up from Simple Syrup Wine & Spirits here.
• 22:00 - #6: Liquor! Grab a spirit and mixer and make the party happen for yourself. I’m loving Letherbee Distillers Charred Oaks Absinthe Brun ($39.) It’s a white absinthe, it reminds me of Moulin Rouge just because there’s an otherworldly brightness and herbaceousness to it that you can't place. It’s aged for 6 months in a full sized charred oak cask. Grab it from Simple Syrup here. 

Happy 100th Episode of Bri Books: What's Next?!

It's so surreal to be bringing you episode 100 of Bri Books podcast. Whether you've been here since Day One or you're brand new, I'd love to hear your voice. Please tell me what you'd like to hear by leaving a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud. Show me your latest read by using #bribooks on Instagram, and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  

In this episode, I'm sharing the Bri Books origin story, changes to the Bri Books vision, and so much more. Thank you for giving me the honor of executive producing 100 episodes, I can't wait to give you the next 100.

• 4:00 - Reflections on 100 episodes of Bri Books
• 4:45 - What's changed the most about Bri Books and where I want us to go in the future
• 9:00 - How Bri Books has evolved over 100 episodes and the future of advertisers/ sponsors on Bri Books. 
• 13:00 - Bri Books podcast's origin story 
• 17:15 - What's in store for the future of Bri Books--but we need YOU! Leave a review of Bri Books with the name of a book, author, or subject you'd like to me cover, and I'll make it happen. 

In this episode, I’m teaching you how to bullet journal like a boss. My bullet journaling strategy is easily customizable to fit whatever you need to focus on. If you’ve been meaning to start journaling, now’s definitely the time. I’ll be sharing the steps you want to follow in order to turn any notebook into a bullet journal, and how to optimize your life using bullet journal strategies like daily and weekly logs. 

2:00 - What is a bullet journal? 

3:00 - How to create your bullet journal index

3:30 - How to set up your bullet journal categories and prepare yourself for success

5:20 - How your daily logs and weekly spreads will propel your goal-setting in your bullet journal 

7:15 - How to pull your bullet journal strategy together from the ground up. 

My preferred bullet-journal-10001570.html"> bullet journal is Leuchtturm1917 from Paper Source.

This episode was a WHIRLWIND! Let’s review "Insecure" season 4 finale: Lowkey Lost. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 0:30 - 22:30 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 10 recap

• 23:00 - Episode and character analysis (Andrew! Molly! Issa! Condola! Lawrence! Tiffany! WTF?!) 
• 25:50 - #OOTN: Molly's MONSE Resort 2019 statement coat
• 27:30 - Song of the night: "Fair Chance" by Thundercat feat. Ty Dolla $ign and Lil B
• 28:30 - My #BriBooks recommendation for Issa and Molly

Thank you so much for joining me for this recap series for "Insecure" season 4! 

Let’s review season 4 episode 9 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Trying. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 0:30 - 17:00 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 9 recap

• 17:15 - Song of the night: "The World We Created' by Giveon
• 18:00 - Episode and character analysis
• 19:00 - #OOTN: In this epsiode, every character rocked their signature lewks. Molly's lewks had Big Kahlana Barfield Brown Energy!
• 20:20 -  My #BriBooks recommendation for Issa and Molly:
  "Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close" (July 2020) by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, hosts of the "Call Your Girlfriend" podcast

Let’s review season 4 episode 8 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Happy. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 0:30 - 11:30 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 8 recap

• 11:45 - Episode and character analysis 

• 12:30 - My #BriBooks recommendation for Issa

• 13:45 - Song of the night: "Out Of Your League" by Blood Orange ft. Steve Lacy

• 15:30 - #OOTN: Issa's red lazer cut-out blazer, designed by LVMH Prize 2019 finalist and South African designer Thebe Magugu. Much love to "Insecure" costume designer Shiona Turini for expertly constructing Issa's vulnerable-yet-in-control look for the evening, from head to toe! 

Let’s review season 4 episode 7 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Trippin. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 0:30 - 11:30 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 7 recap

• 11:45 - Episode and character analysis (we’re looking at you, Molly!)

• 13:45 - #OOTN: Molly's Opening Ceremony cardigan sweater-dress and boots designed by MCM Global Creative Partner Misa Hylton

• 14:30 - My #BriBooks recommendation: "Drop the Ball: Achieving More By Doing Less" by Tiffany Dufu. Here’s the episode of Bri Books I recorded with Tiffany herself, all about the best takeaways and life lessons from her fantastic book.

• 18:10 - Song of the night: "Como Si Na" by Melli

EPISODES AND BOOKS MENTIONED

"Drop the Ball: Achieving More By Doing Less" by Tiffany Dufu. Here’s the episode of Bri Books I recorded with Tiffany herself, all about the best takeaways and life lessons from her fantastic book.

Let’s review season 4 episode 6 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Done. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 0:30 - 11:0 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 6 recap

• 11:30 - Episode and character analysis (we’re looking at you, Issa!)

• 13:10 - My #BriBooks recommendation: “What I Know For Sure” by Oprah Winfrey. Here’s an episode of Bri Books I recorded all about the best takeaways and life lessons from Winfrey’s collection of essays.

• 15:00 - Song of the night: “Paid in Full” by BOSCO

• 15:52 - #OOTN: Issa’s Telfar bag, by black fashion designer Telfar Clemens, a black fashion designer you need to know!

EPISODES MENTIONED

“7 Things Brionna Knows for Sure (a la Oprah Winfrey). Here’s an episode of Bri Books I recorded all about the best takeaways and life lessons from Winfrey’s collection of essays.

Let’s review season 4 episode 5 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Movin’ On. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 1:00 - 12:20 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 5 recap

• 12:30 - #OOTN: Issa’s vintage 'Waiting to Exhale' sweatshirt/ tee (vintage from eBay)

• 13:30 - Song of the night: “Wobble” by VIC

• 14:20 - My #BriBooks recommendation: “Codependency for Dummies” by Darlene Lancer, MFT. for Molly. This book was ‘prescribed’ to me by my therapist in 2015, and it completely revolutionized how I saw myself vis-a-vis friends and family members and helped me establish strong emotional boundaries that are still in place to this day. It 100% deserves a spot in your library.

Let’s review season 4 episode 4 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Losin’ It. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 1:00 - 6:20 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 4 recap
• 6:30 - The overarching theme of the episode: Every character is “Insecure” about their ability to juggle it all and keep their shit together
• 8:30 - My #BriBooks recommendation: “The Art of Showing Up” for Issa. Here’s an episode I recorded about the book, and why it deserves a spot in your library.
• 9:54 - “Temperature” by TeaaMarr
• 10:40 - #OOTN: margiela-cutout-details-wide-jeans-item-13120871.aspx?clickref=1100l8gvd2xj&utm_source=shopstylecollective123&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=PHUS&utm_term=USNetwork&pid=performancehorizon_int&c=shopstylecollective123&clickid=1100l8gvd2xj&af_siteid=1100l16995&af_sub_siteid=1011l270&af_cost_model=CPA&af_channel=affiliate&is_retargeting=true"> Molly’s Maison Margiela laser cut-out jeans ($660)

EPISODES MENTIONED

“5 Books to Add To Your TBR Pile in May,” featuring  “The Art of Showing Up”

What are you reading? Let me know by reviewing Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, joining the community on Instagram, and show me your book shelfie using #bribooks!

• Let’s review season 4 episode 3 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Thankful. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 
• 0:30 - 9:30 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 3 recap
• 10:00 - The overarching theme of the episode: Every character is “Insecure” about their investments
• 11:25 - My #BriBooks recommendation: “The Art of Making Memories” for Molly. Here’s an episode I recorded about the book, and why it deserves a spot in your library.
• 13:00 - Song of the week is “Case of the Ex” by Mya
• 14:15 - #OOTN: Molly’s asymmetric blazer from the brand Monse has a gorgeous cape effect: think Carmen SanDiego meets Olivia Pope ($3,793)

EPISODES MENTIONED

“5 Books to Add To Your TBR Pile in May,” featuring  “The Art of Making Memories”

• Let’s review season4 episode 2 of HBO’s “Insecure”: Lowkey Distant. Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers. We’ll discuss the episode’s overarching theme and recap the major moments. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for a main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 
• 1:30 - 10:50 - “Insecure” season 4 episode 2 recap
• 11:00 - The overarching theme of the episode: Every character is “Insecure” about their position
• 14:10 - My #BriBooks recommendation: Journals! Everyone needs to start journaling, STAT! Here’s my #bujo journal tutorial for the girls. 
• 15:00 - Song of the week is “Waste My Time” by Zaia
• 15:30 - #OOTN: Molly’s wearing an emerald kelly green sweetheart neckline velvet ruched bustier-style top from The Attico (via Luisaviaroma) is the DREAM!

Today’s episode is kicking off a series of recaps and reviews of “Insecure,” Issa Rae’s hit show on HBO. In these episodes, we’ll discuss the episode theme, do a recap of the major moments, and a deep dive into characters. At the end of each episode, I’m going to recommend a #BriBooks read for the main character, along with a song of the week and #OOTN--which fit on “Insecure” reigned supreme? 

• 1:40 - As they say on the "Black Girls Squee" podcast, “Spoiler alert: We spoil shit.”

• 2:08-10:22: “Insecure” season 4 episode 1 recap 

• 10:15 - The overarching theme of the episode: Every character is “Insecure” about their history

• 14:20 - My #BriBooks recommendation: I recommend Issa pick up “The Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter—And How to Make the Most of Them Now” by Meg Jay, PH.D. Here's an episode about “Bri Books” I recorded about the book, featuring actor and creator Cyndii Johnson. 

• 16:15 - Song of the week is “Cool Enough” by TeaMarrr. TeaMarr recently signed with Issa Rae’s music label “Raedio.” the song is about the feeling of being emotionally betrayed, although at time we betray ourselves. 

• 17:30 - #OOTN - Issa Rae in a vegan leather Nanusha wrap skirt and blazer set

OTHER EPISODES MENTIONED

• Yvonne Orji, the actor who portrays Molly on “Insecure,” was a speaker at the 2019 MTYRetreat in Cancun, Mexico where she dropped countless gems about remaining laser-focused while reaching for your future. Here’s an episode I recorded with “Swirl Suite” host Sarita Chaves about the retreat experience.

What have you been reading? Show me your TBR pile on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

You know you need a break from the screen, so Bri Books is here with 5 books worth adding to your ‘TBR’ (‘To Be Read’) pile. Last Sunday, I woke up on a mission: organize the Bri Books library’s several TBR piles that were inexplicably cropping up around my home. Here are the reads I’m diving back into (after finishing “The Mirror and the Light” by Hilary Mantel, of course.)

Pssst, Bri Books just published a podcast episode about historical fiction novels and TV shows you should watch.

1. “The Paris Hours” by Alex George (May 2020) - Told over the single day in 1927 Paris, this novel takes four ordinary people whose stories, told together, are as extraordinary as the city they inhabit. 

2. “Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown” by Anne Glenconner (March 2020) is an extraordinary memoir of royal secrets, legacy, and loss. Anne Glenconnor is a close member of the royal circle and was Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Margaret, as seen on Netflix’s “The Crown.” If you love the Royals and if Megxit gave you a buzz, you should pick up “Lady in Waiting.”

3. “Volcanoes and Wine: From Pompeii to Napa” by Charles Frankle (November 2019) takes us across the stunning and dangerous world of volcanic wines. It sounds like the perfect blend of geology, world history, and wine.

4. “The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There for Yourself and Your People” by Rachel Wilkerson Miller (May 2020) is the perfect companion piece to, well, our current reality. Could it BE any more on-the-nose?!

5. “The Art of Making Memories: How to Create and Remember Happy Moments” by Meik Wiking (October 2019) is a keepsake worth distilling into a future episode of Bri Books. I’ll definitely write down what I learn from this book and any insights into how we can all make deeper memories during these uncertain times.  

SUBSCRIBE TO BRI BOOKS ON APPLE PODCASTS

What have you been reading? Show me your TBR pile on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

Anyone else in the mood for comfort reading? In this episode, I'm revealing the two historical fiction series that’ll get you through the next phase of social distancing. What are you reading? Let me know by reviewing Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, joining the community on Instagram, and show me your TBR pile using #bribooks! SUBSCRIBE TO BRI BOOKS ON APPLE PODCASTS

Bri Books Best Historical Fiction Novels to Read During Quarantine (and What to Watch)

Historical literature, in a nutshell, is a piece of writing wherein the plot takes place in the past. What sets historical fiction apart is the detail the author takes to create a world that pays attention to the period being discussed. When it comes to historical fiction, you want to select an author who will ‘do right’ by the characters being created. Women write fantastic historical fiction. I’m certain former Bri Books guest Liana Rodriguez would agree! 

These two historical fiction novel series have visual counterparts (like an accompanying TV series). Welcome to the Bri Books Pod Multiplatform Book Club! 

Series #1: “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon

3:25 - The origin story of the “Outlander” historical fiction novel series by Diana Gabaldon and the novel's plot

Series #2: “Wolf Hall” Trilogy by Hilary Mantel

6:30 - “mantel.com/">Wolf Hall” series by Hilary Mantel is my all-time favorite historical fiction collection. The trilogy spans “Wolf Hall,” “Bring Up The Bodies,” and Mantel’s final installation “The Mirror and the Light.”  Reading “The Mirror and the Light” by Hilary Mantel feels like riding a roller coaster. The first novel, “Wolf Hall,” chronicles the rise of Thomas Cromwell and the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, the Archbishop; and the impact of Anne Boleyn. “Bring Up the Bodies” traces the beginnings (and end) of Anne Boleyn, and the ushering in of Jane Seymour, the third of King Henry’s queens. Oh, and a casual Protestant Reformation sweeping the nation, NBD. I highly recommend you read the entire “Wolf Hall" trilogy, and to accompany your reading, watch the 2015 BBC six-part mini-series “Wolf Hall,” which follows the plots of the first two novels. 

What have you been reading? Show me your TBR pile on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

I'm sharing the quarantine cookbooks and recipes that have been the most used and helpful to me during these first few weeks of the global pandemic. These are the titles that have been feeding my soul, my tummy, and aligning with my community. I’ve been buying a local CSA box from Local Roots NYC, while independently supporting my favorite Greenmarket farmers.  When I get my Local Roots CSA subscription box delivered, I go straight to the indexes of my favorite cookbooks to uncover any recipes I can create with my new produce finds. What have you been eating? Show me your meals on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter and check out more behind-the-scenes photos on bribookspod.com! 

Bri Books 6 Best Cookbooks for Nourishing Meals During Quarantine

• 3:00 - Book 1: “From the Oven to the Table: Simple Dishes that Look After Themselves” by Diana Henry. Thanks to the Local Roots CSA, I’ve been able to experiment more with cooking meats! This cookbook is full of tips on what to look for in your fresh produce and ingredients. The recipes are so simple, and they make you feel alive from the inside out.

• 6:30 - Book 2: “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman. I mentioned this book on the Bri Books episode “How to Build Confidence in the Kitchen” featuring Danielle and Sherrod of “Slice and Torte” Podcast. This cookbook is where I go for technique and ingredient-specific help. For example, I was in search of a chili recipe to make with my Local Roots ground beef, and found the perfect one in “How to Cook Everything” (pssst…here’s the recipe.)

• 8:20 - Book 3: “Every Day is Saturday: Recipes and Strategies for Easy Cooking Every Day of the Week” by Sarah Copeland. This cookbook is the ultimate comfort food companion. Every recipe tastes like you’re eating at your favorite neighborhood joint; these recipes are 100% restaurant-worthy quality. I love Sarah Copeland’s ‘catch-all’ take on easy, leftovers-based, nibbly Sunday night dinners. The meals in this cookbook call on ingredients you already have--especially the mains! The "Every Day Is Saturday" cookbook reminds me to be my own best chef. 

• 11:40 - Book 4: “Jubilee: Recipes for Two Centuries of African-American Cooking” by Toni Martin-Tipton. I mentioned this book on the “5 Most Delicious Cookbooks” episode of Bri Books. This book brings together the depth of African-American cuisine and techniques, and shines a loving light on the roots of American food. This cookbook is built on learning and sharing our knowledge, and I’m 100% committed.

• 13:00 - Book 5: “Vegetable Kingdom” by Bryant Terry. Terry is a James Beard Award-winning chef, educator and author of the iconic book “Afro-Vegan.” Terry’s renowned for his efforts to create a healthy and equitable food system. This cookbook is already inspiring the ways I take in the fresh flavors of spring.

• 14:50 - Book 6: “swoon.com/books/cookbeautiful/">Cook Beautiful” by Athena Calderone, which I discovered at Sezane, one of my favorite French brands. Athena is a creator of beauty, a stylist, a lifestylist, an interior expert and advocate, she breathes life/ texture creativity into rooms. In this cookbook, she reveals the secrets to preparing unforgettable meals. You can feel how Athena loves to create a sense of belonging and warmth in both food and in life. One of my favorite things about the book is that it’s broken into seasons--you can come back to different sections for inspiration! Athena was featured on Glamour.com as 1 of 11 female interior designers to support (and follow on Instagram). Athena Calderone’s entire ethos is that you don’t need a sprawling space and an endless supply of farm-fresh food to live well— just need a bit of tender care, attention to detail, and inspiration. But the farm-fresh food doesn’t hurt ;) (Hiii, Local Roots!)

What have you been eating? Show me your meals on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to our newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

Because your tastebuds don't have to perish and February dinners don't have to suck. In this episode of "Bri Books," we're discussing what’s in season (and delicious) during deep winter in places like New York, Boston, Atlanta, DC and St. Louis, and Los Angeles. 

Here's the food you can pick up at your local farmers market (shoutout to GrowNYC Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, my personal home market) or grocery store. 

For a full breakdown of each ingredient and 3 quick winter recipes, learn them on bribookspod.com. 

Bri Books Deep Winter Fruit and Veggie Seasonality List:

1.Apples

2. Beets

3. Cabbage

4. Onions

5. Parsnips

6. Turnips

7. Squash

8. Carrots

I call this my makeup bag highlight my “office beauty beat” 👩🏿‍💼featuring the star products currently in my rotation—including my take on the @fentybeauty “Full Frontal” mascara.

All links to the products are at https://bribookspod.com/home/fenty-mascara-review.

I’m curious, What’s in your “office beat” makeup routine? Let me know by reviewing Bri Books on Apple Podcast, and show me your office #OOTD and selfie using #bribooks!

1. @lauramercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $47 2. @tomfordbeauty Glow Stick, $55 3. @lorealmakeup Blush Please, $9.99 4. @fentybeauty Full Frontal Mascara, $24 5. @maybelline Brow Precise Brow pencil, $7.99 6. @ilmakiage Infinity Lip Cream, $22

In this episode, I’m sharing my first observations in 2020. Show me what you're working on by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

2:30 - #1: People think about you for three seconds...then they move on. 4:30 - #2: Just because you ‘can’ doesn’t mean you *have* to. 6:45 - #3: Reading and curiosity will last a lifetime. 9:20 - #4: You have food at home. Act like it. 12:00 - #5: Audit your time (and be realistic about it!) I'm inspired by tip to entrepreneur, influencer and investor @Patricia Bright who guest-starred on Bri Books season 5 episode 1 “Heart and Hustle."

Happy 2020! Thanks for joining me for briCember--we recorded 17 podcast episodes in 31days and crossed the 10,500+ downloads milestone!

Here’s what I know to be true in 2020 and beyond: 1." Travel while you have the light.” That means don’t let knowledge go wasted, and make the most of everything being illuminated. 2. “Don’t waste brainpower on perfect.” Don't waste your brain’s muscle on limiting beliefs about what we’re capable of creating! 3. “You get one body.” One. Take care of it accordingly!

Show me your goals by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

Feeling nostalgic? Watch these black-and-white movies in your cozy socks with a cup of hot chocolate. Here are the5 black-and-white movies from the first 100 years of cinema that you should experience this holiday season.

1. Mildred Pierce, 1945

   1. ‘Mildred Pierce’ is a 1945 crime-drama film starring Joan Crawford in the Oscar-winning title role. The style in this movie is UNREAL, and I love that the Max Factor makeup creator worked exclusively with Joan Crawford on this film—such a cool piece of film and makeup history.

2. All About Eve, 1950

   1. ‘All About Eve’ stars Bette Davis. The director and screenplay creator is Joseph Mankiewicz. Bette plays a stage actress named Margot who is slowly but surely being edged out by her protegee, Eve. The monologues! The hairstyles! The shade!

3. A Raisin in the Sun, 1961

   1. ‘A Raising in the Sun’ is the film starring Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Claudia McNeil and Diana Sands following the Younger clan in Chicago as they navigate their future as a family unit and as individuals. 'Based on the play by Lorraine Hansberry, the scoring in this film accents the theatric foundation of the story.

4. Madame Bovary, 1949

   1. Based on the controversial 1856 novel ‘Madame Bovary’ by French author Gustave Flaubert, the 1949 adaptation challenged public ‘morality’ and the Motion Picture Production Code fought to censor the film.

Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

Before you re-watch ‘The Office’ or ‘Scandal’ from the beginning for the 10th time, check out these Netflix hits before everybody else.

1. If you liked ‘The Crown,’ you’ll love ‘The Last Czars’ - Costume drama meets historical documentary in this 6-part show.

2. If you liked ‘Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat’, you’ll love ‘The Taco Chronicles’ - A Netflix original that profiles tacos and culinary culture around Mexico.

3. If you liked ‘Parasite,’ you’ll love ‘Burning’ - Investigate what it means to burn for acceptance with this mind-bending thriller-drama.

4. If you liked ‘You',’ you’ll love ‘Romance is a Bonus Book’ - I’ll admit, ‘Romance is a Bonus Book’ is a 180-degree change from ‘You,’ but once you’re thoroughly sketched out by Joe Goldberg, run to Dan-i for bubbly, sweet notions of unrequited love.

5. If you liked ‘Marriage Story,’ you’ll love ‘Take This Waltz’ - This film is cringe-y, sexy, and touches perfectly on the universal fear of commitment and unfulfillment.

Show me what you're watching by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your green thumb has to wither up and die. Turn your nurturing and love inward with these houseplants that will keep your urban jungle growing even in the depths of winter. If you want more gardening inspo, check out this episode recorded with gardener and creator ABeautifulNestTV all about the book “The Garden in Every Sense and Season” by Tovah Martin.

@BriBooksPod’s Houseplants in @TheBriGarden

1. Pilea peperomioides - The pilea peperoioides has circle-shaped leaves and prefers well-draining soil and partial light.

2. Indoor herb like basil or cilantro - I repotted and over-wintered the basil and cilantro growing in the garden. Choose an herb you love and plant it on your kitchen windowsill for an instant injection of freshness.

3. Small parlor palm - Preferring 55-70 degrees, moist soil and filtered sunlight, the small parlor palm adds density to any indoor garden. The mini-trees create a faux forest look.

4. Pothos - Pothos is arguably the easiest of all houseplants to grow and the most recognizable houseplant. It does well in rooms like offices, dorm rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens (yes, it even grows under fluorescent lighting). Pothos tend to vine, so I love to use them to take up area and create a living web of plants.

5. Philodendron - Philodendron plants like bright, indirect sunlight, and regular fertilization to grow into its best self.

   Show me what you're growing by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

How many times have you gone into a wine shop, perused bottles and labels with glazed-over eyes, and left unfulfilled and over budget? Here are four categories I consider when planning what wine to bring to an event, serve to guests, or buy for myself: 

Brionna’s @BriBooksPod Wine Menu Tips 

1. Bubbles or no? (shoutout to Sarita of The Swirl Suite podcast for always encouraging bubbles to kick off the night)
2. Learn the rules, then break them. I choose wines based on my own flavor principle: the lighter the flesh, the lighter the wine. Hence white wine with fish and creamy pasta dishes, red wines with tomato dishes and red meats, and Rosé flows best with vegetables. From there, I forget everything I know and opt for a left-of-center pick such as Pinot Gris in place of a classic white wine or an orange wine in lieu of Rosé. 
3. Pick up a wildcard--perhaps a liquor--that you can use to create quick cocktails
4. Think about analogous and complementary flavors relative to the meal

Brionna’s @BriBooksPod Wine Menu Recommendations 

1. Bubbles recommendation: Vigneto Luciano Saetti Rosso Viola Lambrusco Salamino, 2018 ($20-$23), available at Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits in Brooklyn 
2. Meal pairing recommendation: Meinklang “Mulatschak” Weisser Pino Gris ($17-$20), available at Simple Syrup 
3. Easy, delicious red to compliment every dish recommendation: Adega de Penalva Idigena Branco, Dao ($13-$15), available at Simple Syrup 
4. Wildcard: Letherbee Charred Oak Absinthe Brun ($38-$40), available at Simple Syrup 

Show me what you're sipping on by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

Want to plan a weekender getaway but don't know where to start? Here are the fool-proof steps I took to explore Ithaca, New York along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail in the Finger Lakes, NY region.

To accompany this episode, I’ve produced an IGTV video on @bribookspod and @brionnajay Instagram accounts sharing my recommendations for Ithaca, NY.

@BriBooksPod Tips for Planning the Perfect Weekend Getaway

1. Choose how far you’re willing to travel

2. Choose where you want to be vis-a-vis the ‘action’

3. Choose a destination with a unique natural history, culinary tradition, art scene, etc.

4. Bonus: Visit a museum and support local artists at a market while traveling

Where to visit in Ithaca, New York

RESTAURANTS:

• Just A Taste Wine Bar and Tapas

• Waffle Frolic

• Maxie’s Supper Club and Oyster Bar

EXPERIENCES

• Ithaca Farmers Market

• Fall Creek Gorge

• Wineries

  • Americana Winery

• The sunset over Cayuga Lake!

Show me your holiday photos by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

On today’s episode, I’m sharing my travel dream list for 2020 and beyond. As I reflect on 2019, I realize that international travel was (welcomely) replaced by domestic adventure this year. I left the country only once(to attend the Myleik Teele MTY Retreat in May, here’s a link to the podcast all about the retreat!). In the spirit of adventure, here's a peek at my personal worldwide bucket list. Show me yours by using #bribooks on Instagram, and @bribookspod on Instagram and @bribookspod on Twitter. 

1. Korea
2. Costa Rica
3. Puerto Rico 
4. Uruguay/ Chile/ Peru
5. Mexico
6. Senegal
7. Morocco 
8. Zanzibar 
9. Portugal
10. Bordeaux
11. Ghana 

Let's raise a glass to those restaurant trips that leave us wanting more. When dining out, these are the tips that’ll ensure you always have the best experience possible.

1. Sit at the bar, it's like being at the theater 
2. Research the menu and specials on the restaurant site and Instagram 
3. Read the menu, and ask questions
4. Go for the gold standard 
5. Pre-dine and pre-game your dinner

Two restaurants I mention in this episode: 

1. Endswell, a French-American Bistro in Brooklyn, New York
2. Lowerline, a Cajun restaurant and oyster bar in Brooklyn, New York

What are your restaurant hacks? Show me by using #bribooks on Instagram when you're out dining next time, and check out bribookspod.com and join the newsletter for more restaurant tips and recommendations. 

It's time for the Sephora VIB Sale--everyone gets $15 off $75 until 12/17, and VIB Insiders earn $20 of $75, and VIB Rouge members earn $25 off $75. Here's what I'd stock up on if I were you: 

MAKEUP

1. Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer natural skin perfector SPF 30 in shade Mocha, $47
2. Ilia limitless lash mascara, $28
3. Sephora cream lip stain 01 Rouge, $14
4. YSL Rouge Volupte shine lipstick, $38

SKINCARE

1. Caudalie Premier Cru Ultimate Anti-Aging Trio, $99

FRAGRANCE

1. Maison Margiela “Replica” (I recommend “Lipstick On,” “Whispers in the Library”), $126
2. Clean Reserve, “Solar Bloom” $98

GIFT SETS 

1. Clean Reserve giftset $48
2. Maison Margiela giftset $68

TRIAL SIZES 

1. Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Treatment, $24 

I’ve curated the 5 best beauty books (say that five times fast!) that I relied on this year. They’re a great starting place for digging deeper into something we all practice—caring for our body’s biggest organ, our skin—and a bit of natural health. Hope this inspires you to investigate what you’re using, and discover the ingredients you didn’t know you needed. Let me know what your skincare routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen! 

1. french-beauty-solution.html">“The French Beauty Solution: Time-Tested Secrets to Look and Feel Beautiful Inside and Out” by Caudalie founder Mathilde Thomas (June 2015): Mathilde founded the skincare company Caudalie with her husband after taking inspiration from her family’s vineyard in Bordeaux. Not only is “The French Beauty Solution” filled with recipes, but it’s also filled with research about the composition of skin, how it changes over time, and how to care for it at every step of the way. I especially love chapter 5, “Your Skincare Ingredients,” where Mathilde teaches us how to decode skincare ingredient labels. french-beauty-solution.html">(Link to “The French Beauty Solution”) 

2. “Plant-Based Beauty: Your Essential Guide to Detoxing Your Beauty Routine” by Jess Arnaudin (Sept. 2019): Jess moved to upstate New York after working and studying on an active farm, where she cultivated a deep appreciation for plants. “Plant-Based Beauty” book breaks down operates from the understanding that nature is the master chemist. (Link to “Plant-Based Beauty) 

3. “Wild Beauty: Wisdom and Recipes for Natural Self-Care” by Jana Blankenship. It’s more of a science-based resource that I revisit before investing in any skincare or new products. (Link to “Wild Beauty”) 

4. “Seeking Slow: Reclaim Moments of Calm in Your Day” by Melanie Barnes focuses on injecting a sense of slowness, purpose, gratitude, and reflection into every single day. (Link to “Seeking Slow”)

5. “Recipes for Self-Love: How to Feel Good in a Patriarchal World” by Alison Rachel is a balm for your soul. The recipes aren’t for food, but for something more sustaining…YOUR well-being. (Link to “Recipes for Self-Love”)

Here are the skin care products in my current rotation that I’m reaching for every day. 

AM skincare:

1. Cleanser:Body Shop Carrot Wash face cleanser, $10 (Body Shop) 
2. Toner: Heritage Stone Rose Water, $10 (Target) 
3. Essence/ Serum: Lumene Nordic C Glow Boost with Vitamin C Glow Boost Essence Serum, $25 (Target, boost-essence-30ml-80225.html"> Lumene)
4. Moisturizer: Caudalie Vinosource SOS Intense Moisturizing Cream, $42 (o-s-intense-moisturizing-cream.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAob3vBRAUEiwAIbs5ThxcUhxBYQ8YU2djKs7EUX5NypzpuwMbiCdNwLC3v1D6MOTd1AjBxxoCEcYQAvD_BwE">Caudalie, o-s-intense-moisturizing-cream.html"> Sephora) 
5. Sunscreen: Neutrogena Helioplex SPF 70, $7 (Target), $12 (Ulta)

PM skincare

1. Cleanser #1: Farm to Skin by Patricia Walker Organic Retinoid Oil Cleanser, $48 (Farm to Skin)
2. Cleanser #2: Body Shop Carrot Wash face cleanser, $10 (Body Shop)
3. Mask: Glamglow Super Mud, $59 (Sephora, Glam Glow) 
4. Mask #2: Caudalie Instant Detox, $39 (detox-mask.html">Caudalie, Sephora)
5. Rosehip oil, $14 (Whole Foods)
6. Sisley Paris Black Rose Precious Face Oil, $235 (paris.com/en-US/3473311320001.html">Sisley-Paris)

Brionna’s reviews on Glamour.com

1. Body Shop Carrot Wash face cleanser review
2. Sisley Paris Black Rose Precious Face Oil review 

Whether you're having a gloomy day or need something uplifting to watch in the background, here are the laugh-out-loud-worthy movies you need to revisit.

1. Devil Wears Prada 
2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off 
3. The Breakfast Club 
4. Moulin Rouge 
5. Matilda 
6. Coming to America 
7. 500 Days of Summer 
8. Harold and Maude 
9. Eve’s Bayou 
10. Atlantis: The Lost Empire 

I'm still smiling ear-to-ear after an evening spent shopping uber-chic French clothing brand Sézane's winter and holiday collections. I've loved attending readings, shopping experiences (and yoga!) at the Paris-based clothing brand's New York City's L’Appartement Sézane, and here's a look into the trends I spotted (and fell in love with) in Sézane's highly-curated winter and holiday collections. 

• The story of Sézane: The brand began in 2013 founded by Morgane Sealroy. Morgane started selling her vintage faves online and created "Les Composantes", then started filling in her vintage finds with pieces she designed herself. In 2017, Morgane founded DEMAIN to raise money for Pencils of Promise, La Voix de L'Enfant, Sports dans la Ville. 

Here are the vintage-inspired and retro-yet-ethereal trends I spotted from Sézane's exceptional Winter/Holiday 2019 collection. 

• • Season-agnostic silk and jacquard pieces were the stand-outs of the collection
  • Plum red, navy and gold were the eye-catching colors, along with tapered colorful trousers 
  • Jacquard trousers I tried on (Gustavo trousers, $190), jacquard blouse (Gabrielle blouse, $125) 
  • Tulle Misty Copeland-esque caramel tulle skirt I tried on (Masha skirt, $190) 
  • LBD meets rainbow (Doha dress, $190), so many gorgeous silky LBD pieces (Gabin dress, $200)
  • Victorian necklines (Maureen shirt, $125) and sleeves, pussy-bow dresses (Selena dress, $185), streamlined looks
  • High-neckline dresses (Eleanor dress, $150)

Go behind-the-scenes of my Sézane shopping adventure on @brionnajay Instagram Stories highlights, as well as the @bribookspod Instagram Stories highlights. Shop it up at Sézane site and obsess over the Sézane  feed on Instagram. 

I'm getting vulnerable AF for this episode of "Bri Books" briCember, and I'm sharing my personal journey with therapy--a 20-year-long relationship that's at the heart of my health. 

Resources: "Therapy for Black Girls" podcast and site for help finding a therapist, "Naptime is Sacred" podcast for fantastic storytelling by the ever-creative Fousia Abdullahi. 

Where does your therapy story begin? Tell me at @bribookspod on Instagram, Twitter, and bribookspod.com/newsletter. 

I'm revealing my “Pushing Past Procrastination” hacks:

• 2:00 - The 5 steps of recording “Bri Books,” procrastination-free 
• 4:45 - Pushing Past Procrastination Tip #1: Remember all the times you’ve done something from scratch, and it worked out. 
• 5:05 - Pushing Past Procrastination Tip #2: You're not creating for yourself, so don't let yourself get in the way.
• 6:25 - Pushing Past Procrastination Tip #3: Remember what it feels like to be on the other side.

Where are you procrastinating in your life? Tell me at @bribookspod on Instagram, Twitter, and bribookspod.com/newsletter. 

Today’s episode explores history, one drink at a time with Ashley Warren, co-host of The Kindred Spirit podcast. “the Kindred Spirit” covers everything from obscure cocktails (Monkey Gland, anyone?) to urban legends (who was the original Hot Toddy?) 

Primarily we dissect the cocktail book we’re both obsessed with, “Movers and Shakers: Women Making Waves in Spirits and Wine” by Hope Ewing

• 4:10 - Ashley’s “behind-the-bar” upbringing (her childhood house had a keg!) 
• 5:45 - #BriBook: “Movers and Shakers” by Hope Ewing, which dismantles the white, corporatized way that beer and drinking was packaged post-Prohibition. 
• 8:45 - How to get experimental? Play Bartender’s Choice and ask for a recommendation,  and always sit at the bar. “Sitting at the bar is a great way to not feel alone.” - Ashley Warren, “The Kindred Spirit” podcast
• 12:45: #BriBook: “The Please Don’t Tell Cocktail Book”, 1888 “Bartender’s Manual,” “Hoffer’s Brewing Guide,” vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1930-The-Savoy-Cocktail-Book"> “Savoy Cocktail Book,” “Imbibe,” “Drinking Like Ladies”
• 25:30 - How to get plugged into your local cocktail and spirits scene 

Follow @bribookspod on Instagram, Twitter, and bribookspod.com/newsletter

Bri Books Top 5 Cookbooks of 2019 

1. Cooking for one (for yourself on a regular basis): “The Living Kitchen: Healing Recipes to Support Your Body During Cancer Treatment and Recovery” by Sarah Grossman and Tamara Green

2. Cooking for a crowd (two or more): “Cravings: Recipes for all the Food You Want to Eat” by Chrissy Teigen

3. Guest flex (for when it’s your turn to host it’s delicious and looks good): “Everyday Is Saturday: Recipes + Strategies for Easy Cooking, Every Day of the Week” by Sarah Copeland

4. Technique (how you present your food): “That Photo Makes Me Hungry: Photographic Food for Fun and Profit” by Andrew Scravini

5. What’s up next (new release) "Jubilee: Recipes From Two Centuries Of African American Cooking:” by Toni Tipton-Martin 

Pssst, check out my “How to Shop the Farmers Market” IGTV for more info about seasonal eating.

Follow @bribookspod on Instagram, Twitter, and bribookspod.com/newsletter

Welcome to #BriCember--31 days of daily podcasts, for the rest of the decade.

I was inspired and encouraged by podcasters Amanda Miller Littlejohn ("Package your Genius" pod) and Emma Gunavardhana ("The Emma Guns Show") to challenge myself to daily episodes. Nothing's off-limits--leave a review of the podcast and tell me what you want us to discuss! We'll chat my best beauty lessons learned this year, how I spend my money, wine favorites, what’s in my cookbook collection, my AM and PM skincare beauty routines, how I deal with procrastination, falling in love with vintage shopping, my favorite creators and podcasts, a few of the books I've read in 2019, and even my own career story. 

You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter! The theme music is "One Way"  by Jenn Mundia, fall in love with her here: https://soundcloud.com/jennmundia

The Bri Books Summer 2019 Reading Experience is here! At the end of the episode, I share the curated list of books we'll be reading this summer as a Bri Books community. 

How can your bookshelf better reflect your values? Liana Rodriguez, a Bronx-based bibliophile, asked herself this question at the start of 2019. It led her to building her own personal library from scratch, full of narratives from diversified voices around the world instead of the cis-het White male writers of World Literature classes past.

While celebrating "Well Read Black Girl" book club founder Glory Edim's anthology, "Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Out Stories, Discovering Ourselves" at The wing.com/spaces/soho/">Wing Soho in conversation with Uli from Subway Book Review, I met Liana Rodriguez. In this episode, we go deep on Liana's bookshelf project, the importance of author's life experiences and who is doing the writing, book purging, and how to get back into reading after falling off. We finish the episode with a walking tour of Liana's library. 

#BRIBOOKS SUMMER 2019 READING EXPERIENCE

1. "The Wedding Date" by Jasmine Guillroy
2. "The Other Americans" by Laila Lalami
3. "Beasts Made of Night" by Tochi Onyebuchi

Liana's reading recommendation: "The Midst of Winter" by Isabel Allende

Follow Liana's reading journeys on Instagram. 

You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

Let’s talk cookbooks, featuring “Slice and Torte” podcast hosts Danielle and Sherrod--the cookbooks the ones that changed our lives, the ones that challenged our pallets, and the ones that never should’ve been printed.

Slice & Torte on Instagram, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and on their site! 

“Slice & Torte” podcast is a conversation about food as if it were pop culture. Two cooks from different perspectives, Danielle and Sherrod, love to “make food that’s simple and delicious, and warms the soul.”

0:30 - Danielle and Sherrod introduction: “By day,” Danielle is a Senior Analyst for a healthcare company and Sherrod is a UX Designer for a medical device company. “By night,” they cook too much, buy too many plates, and create “Slice and Torte”.

5:00 - How Sherrod and Danielle decided to share their passion for food through podcasting.

6:00 - How design, art and science merge to create the “Slice and Torte” podcast and platform.

7:55 - “When did you turn on the stove for the first time?” and early memories of cooking (including Danielle’s incredible story of cooking for her family...at age four.)

9:40 - How Sherrod’s great aunt set him on his path of loving food and community.

11:35 - The Four Cookbook #BriBooks

-Chrissy Teigen's “Cravings”

-”How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman

-“Rodale’s Garden Fresh Cooking”

-“Vintage Pies” by Ann Haney Collins

12:20 - Cookbooks for building confidence: “The Martha Stewart Cooking School,” “Cook with Jamie” by Jamie Oliver.

16:24 - What cooking has taught both Sherrod and Danielle about themselves.

17:30 - “Cooking is the highest form of magic. it’s the only way I know to stop time, to cure disease, to completely change a good day from a bad day. Understanding that at ones core is so fulfilling, because when you can do that, you can do things like change your outlook!” - Sherrod Faulk, “Slice & Torte” podcast

19:05 - “What I’ve learned is that there's only suggestions, there’s no rules. The kitchen is the one place where literally what I want goes. No one can tell me what to do. I can try whatever I want to try. For me, that’s very freeing and relaxing. And I’ve learned, there’s nothing I can’t make. Even if it doesn’t exist yet, I can make it and invent it. I’ve also learned, it’s OK to fail. But, that sense of failure is so freeing, and I don’t know many other places where you can feel good about failing other than the kitchen.” - Danielle Jones, “Slice & Torte” podcast

BREAK

21:00: #BriBooks Cookbook #1: “Rodale’s Garden Fresh Cooking” and eating with the seasons/ seasonality.

“Rodale’s Garden Fresh Cooking” my go-to for ingredient-based cooking. Each chapter focuses on a specific crop. Listen to “Bri Books all about “Rodale’s Garden Fresh Cooking,” featuring the incredible @ABeautifulNest.

24:10 - Seasonality 101 and eating with the seasons, and shoutout to farmers markets! @GrowNYC Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket warrior!

26:15 #Bribooks Cookbook #2: “Vintage Pies:Classic American Pies for Today's Home Baker” by Anne Collins. These aren’t your aunty’s sweet potato and pumpkin pies. Danielle gives her take on a few bizarre pies from America’s history, including Amber Pie, Boiled Cider Pie, Grape Pie...and Jefferson Davis Pie.

29:30 #Bribooks Cookbook #3: “Cravings” by Chrissy Teigen. One of the strengths of the book is that it felt like a quick trip to the grocery store could pull off all recipes--no specialty store required.

30:40: “No food is exclusionary in this world. everyone eats. these ingredients are available to everyone. It’s well worth it for people to get out of their comfort zones, go to grocery stores in neighborhoods you’ve never explored, talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to. Get out and explore.” - Sherrod

31:45 - Sherrod and Danielle on “Cravings” by Chrissy Teigen and how it’s a highly-social cookbook, great for people who entertain.

34:05 - #Bribooks Cookbook #4: “How to Cook Everything” by Mark Bittman

35:00 - Why we don’t understand cookbooks that don’t have photos?!

BREAK

37:45 - GAME TIME! Let’s play “Read It, Reading It, Wrote It,” inspired by “Slice & Torte’s “Love It, Hate It, Ate It segments!

“Read It” =  a book you feel like you read and it taught you something about uncovering passions, etc

“Reading It” = A book you’re reading or want to read next

“Wrote It” = The book that resonated with you so deeply, you feel you could’ve written it!

38:30 - Sherrod’s “Read It”: Martha Stewart’s book “Entertaining” cookbook taught him that cooking isn’t *just* cooking. “Cooking is a way to have fun, to have a party, to change people's’ lives, to get outside your own culture,  a way to take a trip around the world.”

39:50 - Danielle’s “Reading It”: “Birdbox” by Josh Malerman,  and “The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wilde” by Junot Diaz.

40:30 - Sherrod’s “Reading It”: “Mastering the Art of Japanese Homecooking” by Masaharu Morimoto

42:00 - Danielle’s “Wrote It”: “The Cooking Gene” by Michael Twitty and “Swindled: The Dark History of Food Fraud, from Poisoned Candy to Counterfeit Coffee” by Bee Wilson

43:20 - Brionna’s #bribooks: “Everyday is Saturday: Recipes and Strategies for Easy Cooking Every Day of the Week” by Sarah Copeland

44:10 - Danielle’s “Read It”: “Between Harlem & Heaven” by Alexander Smalls all about Afro-Asian-American cooking and history

45:00 - Sherrod’s “Wrote It”: “Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Practical Pantry” by Cathy Barrow, and “It’s All Easy: Super Delicious Recipes for a Home Cook”

Two weeks ago, the #MTYRetreat took place at Nizuc Resort and Spa in Cancun, Mexico. To say it was transformative...would be an understatement. I’ve enlisted @SwirlSuite Podcast co-host and producer Sarita Cheaves (@vinemeup) to help me unpack the magic behind CURLBOX founder Myleik Teele’s second annual retreat.

• 1:40 - In this episode, we’re going deep on our experiences at #MTYRetreat, the second annual retreat hosted by CURLBOX founder and CEO Myleik Teele. Myleik offers unfiltered advice on everything from business to parenthood on her “Myleik Teele’s podcast” platform.
• 2:42 - The #MTYRetreat was designed as “a curated getaway inspired by next-level luxury and the cultural experiences of Myleik.” The goal was the restore, transform and edify attendees. The MTYRetreat consisted of a 4-day, 3-night experience at Nizuc Resort and Spa, a  AAA 5 Diamond Award-winning resort, complete with masterclass workshops, fireside chats/ cocktails and conversations, and so much dancing.
• 3:18 - Sarita was a first-time MTYRetreat attendee, and I was coming back for second year. In this episode we’re sharing our favorite takeaways and moments from the retreat. We have so much gratitude for the CURLBOX team, Myleik, Karleen Roy and The Vanity Group for making magic.
• 5:40 - Sarita introduction: Sarita is a wine writer and producer of "Swirl Suite,” a podcast that's all about wine, liquor, spirits, beer, and life.
• 6:30 - Who is Myleik? Founder and CEO of CURLBOX, Myleik’s receipts print THEMSELVES! She’s an entrepreneur and PR extraordinare and she’s so intensely devoted to black women gathering our resources, talents, and ambitions.
• 8:15 - How Sarita discovered Myleik: via Side Hustle Pro podcast! Sarita heard Myleik on an episode, and immediately had to acquaint herself with Myleik’s work. Sarita says Myleik’s words are incredible: “Her words of encouragement are extremely firm and clear. There’s no fluff. I love everything about it.”
• 9:20 - Myleik wanted to teach us what she didn’t know. So, she hosted #MTYRetreat with support from her multi-hyphenate baddie brigade: Bestselling author Luvvie Ajayi, ministry leader Sarah Jakes Roberts, Blavity founder Morgan DeBaun, creator of Karma Bliss and author of “Crystal Bliss” Devi Brown, “Insecure” star Yvonne Orji, style and fashion journalist extraordinaire Kahlana Barfield-Brown, and founder of XONecole Necole Kane.
• 10:00 - Sarita describes her first moments at MTYRetreat, from the flight touching down at the airport to pulling up at the Nizuc Resort and Spa lobby: “We touched down and I walked into the lobby. The scene from the lobby, where you can spot the water, left me breathless. I stood there for a moment and took it in, like, “Wow I don’t know what I’m in for, but my life is about to change.”
• 11:30 - The first night of the retreat was a fun dinner-cocktail party, complete with a gorgeously set, long dining table. There was such ease in the room as attendees mingled. Brionna says, “I kept feeling like everyone was putting in the same energy. Everyone wanted to be there.
• 12:07 - Sarita on arriving at the #MTYRetreat late, and how her roommate helped her ease into the experience, and the incredible wall of personalized menus!
• 14:30 - On Saturday, we began with a Saturday Sunrise Service and a morning word by Sarah Jakes Roberts, a ministry leader and best-selling author. Jakes-Roberts lead a Sunrise Service, where all were welcome to participate, dress in white, walk to the edge of the ocean on the beach, and share a spiritual yet grounding moment.
• 15:30 - Sarita and Brionna describe the beauty of watching the sunrise surrounded by dozens of black women, all wearing white.
• 16:30 - Sailing on “The Retreat by Myleik” catamaran!
• 17:30 - The elation of enjoying poolside champagne with wine writer/ expert and consultant Julia Coney!!  
• 18:00 - There was a huge breadth of experiences and people present at the retreat. Not everyone needed to have a “side hustle” or have something “going on.” So much of the programming was directed toward pouring back into everyone who attended MTYRetreat. Seeing connections made in real-time, and watching the “accelerated collisions” was incredible. The moments of clarity and connection will keep reverberating. Nothing “ends” at the MTYRetreat--it’s where everything takes off.
• 20:00 - Sarita on connecting with #MTYRetreat attendees: “It felt nice to connect souls with people.”
• 20:35 - Sunday’s #MTYRetreat Masterclass series! To kick it off, Myleik invited at least a half dozen of the most interesting, multifaceted people in her world to offer insights. The first to masterclass speaker was Devi Brown, founder of lifestyle and wellness company Karma Bliss, and author of “Crystal Bliss.” Devi was so efervescent yet stabilizing. Her discussion on purpose:”Purpose is using your unique gifts, unique abilities to be of service to others.”
• 22:00 - Devi’s meditation according to Sarita: “We had to close our eyes, and respond to ourselves. She kept saying, “Who are you?” Not mom or wife--that’s who you are to others---who are YOU? Outside of a professional career or titles, who ARE you?! Devi also said, “You’re only you to yourself.” THINK ON THAT!
• 22:30 - Morgan DeBaun, founder of Blavity, offered a workshop about working smart. Why Sarita loved Morgan: “She took the emotion out of setting goals."
• 23:40 - Sarita on Morgan’s recommendation/ homework--separating CEO tasks from operating tasks.
• 24:45 - Yvonne Orji shut it DOWN with her energy, her story, and her vulnerability.
• 25:20 - Sarita discusses Yvonne’s story of success: “What resonate with me was that she (Yvonne) said she auditioned for “Insecure” for five times, because one person she was competing with was doing great, but they plateaued in the audition. However, as Yvonne kept coming back, she kept taking notes and getting better and better. The team said, ‘If she’s getting better just from notes, just imagine how great she’ll be with producers and a director.” WOW!
• 26:15 - Brionna’s favorite Yvonne quote: “I hate regret more than I hate fear.”
• 27:00 - How the level of courtesy at Nizuc Resort and Spa impacted us
• 28:50 - Much love to DJ and author Olivia Dope for keeping us dancing!
• 29:15 - Sarita’s MTYRetreat action item: Identifying CEO and operational tasks, a la Morgan deBaun.
• 30:40 - Brionna’s MTYRetreat action item: Be a good human, a la Yvonne Orji. Being considerate, compassionate and courteous are skills. Yes, you can be FAIR and NICE at the same time. Devi’s quote, “The lessons repeat as needed” HIT ME HARD!
• 32:15 - SO MUCH LOVE to Ms. Diana on the CURLBOX team, for being such a rockstar. Periodt.
• 33:05 - Final thoughts: MTYRetreat was worth it 100%! We’re still reaping the benefits, and will do so going forward. Sarita’s expectations were exceeded. She says, “I don’t know what I needed when I got there, but I certainly received it when I left.”

33:45 - Brionna’s #bribooks is from Sarita! “Lost in the City", a book of short stories about DC, by Edward P. Jones.

Welcome to season five of Bri Books!

 You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

We’re kicking off the season with Patricia Bright, businesswoman, YouTube queen and author of “Heart & Hustle: Use Your Passion, Build Your Brand, Achieve Your Dreams.” Patricia has earned over 2.7M YouTube subscribers, and just hit 1M on Instagram. I've followed Patricia Bright since the late 2000’s on YouTube and Longhaircareforum, and it’s such a treat to be able to celebrate the platform she’s created.

*Note on audio: You’ll hear a small sound of me typing furiously in the background during the interview. I apologize!

 0:00-4:30 – Meet Patricia Bright, the story behind Bri Books cold pitching Patricia and why Suzanne Jeffers’ “Feel the fear and do it anyway” is how Patricia lives her life.

 4:30 – In the book, Patricia discusses how being consistent is the challenge of our lives, and one we must rise to daily. Patricia shares her untold story, and why the big three--Brand, Business, and Beliefs--are crucial. With "Heart & Hustle," Patricia is teaching us to find our grinds, and identify our sweet spots where passions and unique skills find the perfect audience.

 8:20 – How Patricia applied for and earned an investment banking internship…even though she didn’t have the grades and failed the admittance test…and what the experience taught her about the nature of limitations

12:09 – Patricia on learning to be a stronger networker: “Networking should be active, and start on an honest point of interest.”

14:25 – Taking the sting out of networking, and learning to be comfortable having varied conversations with different types of people. 

14:45 – While Patricia was writing “Heart and Hustle,” she created one of her most successful YouTube series organically, the “I Spent” series wherein she shops online retailers, and brings her YouTube audience along as she tries on and reviews new purchases.

 15:25 – Patricia: “It’s important to find that sweet spot between your passion, ability and what’s practical.” it sounds like that’s the recipe.

18:00 – Patricia on the science of building an audience: Writing down and executing ideas, and planning content are key! These two concepts are transformative because it takes the in-the-moment pressure away. 

18:50 – Patricia’s #BriBooks current read: “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

19:45 – Patricia: “You realize that in life, you’ll have a big goal, but what matters are the steps you take towards it. If you can take those steps every day, you’ll most likely achieve that goal. Pick up ‘Atomic Habits’!

 20:07 – Let’s play “Patricia Taught Me,” a game where we quote from “Heart and Hustle” and Patricia expands on the ideas behind her words. 

24:20 – One of the most powerful quotes from the book: “ “When you're struggling or fearful about doing something you want to do, the temptation is real to look for an excuse. Don’t. Excuses are just ways to stop yourself from being as good as you want to be.” – Patricia Bright, “Heart and Hustle.”

25:50 – What’s making Patricia say “What a time to be alive”? “I’m excited about is the fact that knowledge and wisdom will be open for everyone. We’re in the generation of we all have the same knowledge, so let’s work. It’s important to me: for people to learn, have access to information. That’s where the passion lies.”

LINKS TO PATRICIA'S WORK:

Patricia Bright's blog, book, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube channels. 

Say hi! @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter.

Welcome back to Bri Books, the podcast that encourages, entertains and enlightens by engaging with the ideas on and off the pages. Season five starts April 16!! Send “Bri Books” to the booklovers in your life! @bribookspod, bribookspod.com/newsletter. Show me what you’re reading with #bribooks!

SHOW NOTES

0:53 - This season we’re doing things differently. We’re talking to more authors, more podcast hosts, and creatives. Before the season begins, I want to give you a taste of what to expect.

1:07 - We’ll be having conversations with first time author Cora Harrington, founder and Editor-in-Chief of “The Lingerie Addict” and author of new book “In Intimate Detail.” Later this season you’ll hear from Danielle and Sherrod of "Slice and Torte" podcast as we talk through our can’t-live-without cookbooks. We’ll be chatting with fashion writer Channing Hargrove about how she’s dedicated her career to loving on and celebrating black women. We’ll be having bibliophile Liana Rodriguez discuss what she does to build a more well-read and less overwhelmingly male and white library for herself. Then we chat with host of "The Kindred Spirit" podcast Ashley Warren to discuss women in wine and liquor from beginning of time to today.

2:24 - This season we’ll be using literature more to uncover our passions and manage things like managing side hustles, mentorship, career growth, fear of adulting, life challenges. Bri Books is a podcast that’s invested in delivering a sincere and inspiring conversation on books of cultural significance! 

Say hi! @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter. You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

Welcome to Bri Books Season four finale, where we're discussing “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. Thank you for a great season four! In this episode, we’re breaking down “Becoming,” and sharing a few #Becoming101 insights.

Much love to Well-Read Black Girl community and founder Glory Edim, for dedicating their December book club to “Becoming.” Joining the conversation via #WRBGChat was such a treat.

4:00 - “Becoming Me” and the crystalizing moments Michelle experienced as a child that solidified the foundation for who she would “become.”

6:00 - ‘Becoming Us” and the musings of Michelle on mid-career, marriage, motherhood and beyond

7:20 - “Becoming More,” and Michelle molding her FLOTUS platform to her values and priorities

9:00 - #Becoming101: Michelle is teaching us to “become” by dating, by iterating, and by being bougie

Bri Books will be back in early spring 2019! In the meantime, keep the pot boiling at @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter. You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

You asked. I'm delivering. In today’s episode,  we’re discussing the film adaptation of the Richard Ford novel “Wildlife”, as requested by YOU! Thank you for heeding the call on a recent “Bri Books Bites” asking which of my most recent reads you’d be most interested in chatting about. Thank you to @bethcorinnek, who commented TWICE on Instagram, requesting we dissect the novel and film. I think this episode will encourage you to pick up the novel from your local library or pop into a local theater to support the film.

• 3:00 - Recapping the novel “Wildlife” (more in this episode of “Bri Books”)
• 5:30 - Recapping the experience of watching film “Wildlife”

Both the film and novel communicated the unexpected vulnerability that accompanies blurred lines within a family. It’s that vulnerability--between spouses and between child and parent--that permeates both expressions of this incredible story. #BriBooks recommends “Wildlife” 100%

I’ve shared my bullet journal tips in an IGTV about setting up your bujo is live on @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter. You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

Today's "Bri Books" is holiday feast-ready. We're discussing "Gut: The Inside Story of Our Bodies Most Underrated Organ" by Giulia Enders. We're mere weeks away from 2019. From now to the end of 2018, our guts will be working overtime. Between work potlucks, family potlucks, holiday parties, our guts are working intensely. This books goes inside (no pun intended) the world of the gut, and I share my "gut checks" and learnings along the way. 

• 0:35 - Today's #BriBooks pick couldn't be more appropriate for end of the year as we wrap up 2018…with lots of food. Between now and the end of 2018, our guts will be working overtime. Between work potlucks, family gatherings and holiday parties, there's so much food and stress packed into the last few weeks of the year when our guts are working intensely.
• 3:00 – How Brionna discovered “Gut: The Inside Story of Our Bodies Most Underrated Organ" by Giuliana Enders” while working at ABC News, and general takeaways and first impressions after finishing “Gut”
• 5:00 - Gut Check #1: Giving our small intestines enough vitamins and minerals (by way of nutrient-rich and nutrient-dense food) is a major key to more small intestine success.
• 5:30 – Gut Check #2: Constipation results from a disconnect between the nerves in the nervous system and the muscles of the gut. The gut is ultimately a creature of habit, and if that habit is disrupted by holiday travel or holiday eats, constipation can arise. A great way to re-establish your gut’s equilibrium is to make sure you’re eating fiber and drinking fluids 2-3 days before holiday travel or before major meals.
• 7:45 – Gut Check #3: There’s a link between the gut and the brain. Emotions like fear and stress reduce smooth muscles in the gut, and make it so the stomach can't stretch adequately, and we feel nauseous or anxious after just a few bites. Let’s all work on connecting with our guts and your brains, remaining mindful of seasonal stress.

Bri Books is not intended as a substitute for medical or health advice, and shouldn't be treated as such. A great secondary research for your deep dive into the world of the gut: "Follow Your Gut: The Enormous Impact of Tiny Microbes" by Rob Knight

PS, I’ve shared my bullet journal tips in an IGTV about setting up your bujo is live on @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter. You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

PS, I’ve shared my bullet journal tips in an IGTV about setting up your bujo is live on @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter. You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

Hi, welcome back to Bri Books. On today’s episode I’ll be starting “Bri Books Bites.” I’ll be sharing four recent reads that I think may resonate with you.

• 0:22 - I want to apologize and acknowledge the Bri Books schedule’s been out of whack.
• 1:47 - In lieu of a full episode, I’m starting “Bri Books Bites,” a quick digest of a few of the titles I’ve recently devoured. And there will be a twist. I want you to choose which of the four titles we will feature on the podcast. I’ll tell you all the steps of how to vote.
• 2:30 - This Podcast was inspired by “Just The Right Book Podcast.”

• 4:10 - Book #1: “Wildlife” by Richard Ford. On October 19, the “Wildlife” film starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Williams. When Roxanne Coady mentioned it on “Just The Right Book Podcast,” I knew I, too, had to discuss this title. The book begins in 1960s rural Montana, and we are introduced to a family--mom Jeanette, dad Jerry, and 16-year-old son Joe. It’s wildfire season, but the flames burn through more than the neighboring forests--it burns through the family fabric. What’s left behind after the flames tear through their lives is...interesting. To discuss this book, visit @bribookspod on Instagram, and leave the comment “Wildlife” on the most recent photo.
• 6:05 - Book #2: “The Butcher’s Daughter” by Victoria Glendinning. In the mid-1500s, when King Henry the VIII and his right-hand-man Thomas Cromwell set about abolishing religious houses and monasteries in England, the priests and nuns who were part of the religious order were scattered to the winds. But what happened to the nuns? “The Butcher’s Daughter” sets out to answer the question through eyes of a young woman sent to live at Shaftesbury Abbey. Thanks fo her intellect and the fact that she could read, she was able to be an assistant to the Abbess of Shaftesbury. This plops here in the midst of a landscape of protest and reformation. If you want to discuss “The Butcher’s Daughter,”  visit @bribookspod on Instagram, and leave the comment “Butcher’s Daughter” on recent photo.
• 9:35 -Break!
• 9:53 - Book #3: “Travel As A Political Act” by Rick Steves. I picked this book up while working at ABC News. The author has spent most of his career reaching people how to travel. The book is about finding the lessons that accompany us through travel. For context, Steve’s wrote first edition at end of the Bush administration and the second edition post-Trump election. The book describes how travel as a political act, and is organized into regions and counties including Yugoslavia, Europe, Denmark, El Salvador, Turkey, Iran,Palestine, Israel.
• 11:15 I leaned into being part of global POV and putting global POV into action locally. To discuss this book, visit @bribookspod on Instagram, and leave the comment “Travel” on the most recent photo.
• 11:45 - Book #4: “Martha Stewart's Newlywed Kitchen: Recipes for Weeknight Dinners and Easy, Casual Gatherings.”Martha Stewart’s Newlywed Kitchen: Easy Weeknight Dinners.”  Even though I’m not engaged and I cook for one (or two), I love how this book is organized, and it doesn’t feel like a specialty cookbook. It feels like with forward thought, planning, creativity, flexibility, and grace could be fun. To discuss this book, visit @bribookspod on Instagram, and leave the comment “Newlywed” on the most recent photo.
• Thank you so much!

PS, I’ve shared my bullet journal tips in an IGTV about setting up your bujo is live on @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter. you can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter bribookspod.com/newesletter!

Today on Bri Books, we’re doing a deep dive into world of bullet journaling: What it is, what it solves, and how to get started.

• 1:00 - Bri Books on IGTV: Bullet Journaling 101!
• 2:00 - Define: Bullet journaling
• 2:30 - What seperates a bullet journal from a notebook you have on your shelf? I love Leuchtturm1917.
• 3:19 - The guiding principle behind bujo is you want the method to work for you. It’s about “tracking the past, organizing the present, and planning for the future.”  You don't want to spend so much time focusing on recording of the doing, that the doing doesn't get done.
• 5:08 - Step One: Index. It’s the Table of Contents of your bullet journal, where you write down page numbers and their corresponding sections.
• 5:30 - Step Two: Write a prayer, a grounding thought, a dream that’s on my mind, 3-5 simple joys in life. Write down three peaceful thoughts and joys you find. You can use those as anchors as you move through your bullet journal
• 6:28 - The prayer lately is John 15:5. Here’s a link. I find that it’s helpful to have something grounding and centering at the top of my journal, to put myself into perspective.
• 6:50 - Step Three: Categories. It’s never too early or too late to start creating categories. It’s a useful practice to keep different areas of life in check and balances.  Categories help me see if things are overloaded or underloaded, i’m able to give myself a gut check.
• 7:18 - Brionna’s story of setting categories and boundaries, and what it solved
• 10:00  Step Four: Logs and Calendar. There are tons of different types of logs--monthly logs, future logs (two or three months out), and a calendar-style log (current and next month)
• 11:08 - Logs are helpful for recording regular operations tasks you want to tick off. Gym sessions, grocery store, financial, books to read,  movies you wanna read, items to purchase next, phone calls that need to be made.
• 11:40 - Step Five: A Spread. A spread is a few pages devoted to a certain project or time period. For example, each week I create a 2-page spread, and write down what’s on my calendar along with a little checklist built on tasks pulled from the….CATEGORIES LIST! The daily and weekly spread keep me honest. It's’ where i break down large projects or tasks into daily chunks. It's’ where i cordon off parts of my day or week to different things. It's’ where i experiment and play on subway. Ifind daily and weekly spreads keep me helpful with everything else i set out with, and be flexible with my time by realizing the space i do have and the types of work i'm able to do throughout the week.

I’ll share the resources, and give you a sneak-peak into how I set up my bullet journal in the Bri Books Newsletter. A few of the resources I found useful: How to Bullet Journal video from official website, Lucy Moon’s 2018 Bullet Journal setup,  Lucy Pebbles Bullet Journal video! The IGTV about setting up your bujo is live on @bribookspod and bribookspod.com and bribookspod.com/newsletter. Thank you!

Hello! Welcome back to “Bri Books.” Today’s guest is style expert, hip hop head, and creator/host of “Poised n Polished” podcast, “the podcast dedicated to people with style like you.” She’s also a proud member of the Beyhive. In the spirit of innovation and new fall inspiration, this episode is all about the Beyonce edition of Vogue magazine. In this episode, we share our earliest fashion memories, the significance of the Beyonce edition of Vogue, our favorite fall/winter trends, fall/winter “Beautylutions,” and Esta’s tips on being a better packer ahead of holiday season travel. “Poised n Polished” podcast, Esta Fiesta manage.com/subscribe?u=f00d9560709c54fcb2fe47b5f&id=a78ada6d8c"> newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, blog

• 3:10 - A bit about Esta Fiesta’s work, how we met, and her work as host/ creator of “Poised n Polished”
• 5:05 - Esta introduces herself, in her own words
• 7:10 - This episode of Bri Books is a bit of a change--we’re discussing US Vogue September 2018 issue featuring Beyonce.
• 7:40 - Esta’s earliest fashion memory, and how her family’s focus on being “put together” influenced her approach to style
• 10:15 - Brionna’s earliest fashion memory, the show “Fashion Trance,” and how Brionna learned that fashion experimentation “should be fun.”
• 11:50 - Esta’s first September issue memory
• 13:30 - Brionna and Esta’s takes on the Beyonce edition of Vogue US
• 18:00 - Esta on Beyonce’s deep dive into the realities battling with self-esteem and societal pressures, even if you’re “Beyonce.” Remember, “I’m not too perfect to ever feel this worthless,” as Beyonce said in “Hold Up.”
• 19:15 - Brionna and Esta on A/W Trends: Granny chic is BACK (Gucci, Christian Dior), emerald green is the thing, and global patterns are taking over the world.
• 23:00 - Esta on A/W Trends: Tough, but gentle to the touch.
• 24:20 - Esta’s favorite autumn/winter activity: being in the fresh air! Esta’s autumn/winter style faves: Layers and coats and shoes, oh my!
• 25:20 - Brionna’s favorite autumn/winter activity: Roasting veggies! Brionna’s autumn/ winter style faves: Fashion shoes, and layering
• 29:00 - Esta’s “How to Pack” video, and her top tips for more smartly packing for holiday season
• 29:30 - At the end of every trip, Esta takes inventory of what wasn’t used on her trip--accessories, clothes, everything. She also uses a travel itinerary as backbone for packing
• 30:30 - Esta defines Beautylutions: A resolution, but beauty-focused. Beautylutions evolve over time and as goals are accomplished and shift. Her 2018 beautylution: Clearer skin!
• 31:00 - Esta’s Beautylution for fall: Finding the autumn version of her skincare must-have’s
• 32:40 - Brionna’s Beautylution for fall: Strong, healthy skincare habits (10 minute timer and all!)
• 33:30 - Esta’s #BriBooks: “Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America” by Ayana Byrd and, Lori Tharps
• 35:00 - Brionna’s #BriBooks: “Wildlife” by Richard Ford
• “Poised n Polished” podcast, Esta Fiesta manage.com/subscribe?u=f00d9560709c54fcb2fe47b5f&id=a78ada6d8c"> newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, blog

Welcome back to Bri Books! We’re back with part 2, the conclusion to our discussion about the book “Boss Bride” by Charreah K. Jackson.THANKS to everyone who let me know you’re reading or have read Boss Bride! Shoutout to @brownsugarhoney3, @itspaulana, @joimariewrites who are reading Boss Bride.

 Here’s part one of the Bri Books “Boss Bride” recap.

• 1:55 - Now that I’m done reading the book, I wanted to go deeper past top takeaways into what I really noticed about the book.
• 2:15 - Definition of “Boss Bride”
• 3:00 - With self help books, I always bookmark and swear I’ll come back to them. But "Boss Bride" did something different--it weaved together the experience-based stories and the learnings. It’s like memoir-meets-manual.
• 3:45 - On this epi, I'm sharing three deep, integral things I noticed about Boss Bride. The patterns and behaviors that I noticed that are integral to being a "Boss Bride."
• 4:30 - #1: Affirmations. In the book, Charreah dedicates part of a chapter to affirmations. She says, “The increase in activity I experience now is not an accident. All things that come through my door have been awaiting my arrival as well. I’m ready for an onslaught of responsibility, and in that I stay accountable to my spirit, self, health and wellbeing.”
• 5:45 - Affirmations aren’t about making something up out-of-the-blue. It’s about affirming a reality.
• 6:00 - Definition of affirm: To state as fact, assert strongly and publicly. Affirmation is the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed.”
• 6:30 - Having affirmations is about more than saying nice things to yourself. It’s about stating fact.
• 7:50 - I can’t wait to make my own affirmations and decide what I’m affirming. As they say on Tea with Queen and J podcast, ‘What are you affirming to be true and fact?’
• 8:30 - #2: Don’t let grass grow under your feet! Charreah stays busy at conferences, retreats, symposiums, events! It’s a beautiful thing to stay busy and out in the world.
• 9:00 - It reminds me of the Patricia Bright’s YouTube video from 2014, “Dealing with Loneliness.” She says, when you’re lonely, take up a new skill!
• 9:45 - #3: Release judgement on how things should look, and focus on goals, especially with relationships.
• 10:00 - Relationships are heavy and messy, because humans are heavy and messy. Charreah says, “Accepting the vulnerability and giving someone else the power to impact my life, is a process.”
• 10:30 - I read the book “The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions In the Midst of Endless Demands” by Lysa TerKeurst. It spoke about how relationships will always need work, so just jump in now and get to work fixing and building them.
• 12:00 - Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this part two breakdown of “Boss Bride,” thank you to @brownsugarhoney3, @itspaulana, @joimariewrites! I’ll be mailing my book to a friend :)
• 13:00 - You like this podcast? Share with friends!

Welcome to Bri Books! This episode is a book update, about Charreah K. Jackson's “Boss Bride: The Powerful Woman’s Playbook for Love and Success.” It’s so good, I wanted to record a status update. This episode, I share how I discovered Charreah and the book, and two of my favorite takeaways so far. You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter at bribookspod.com/newesletter.

• 2:30 - Brionna’s Charreah Story
• 5:00 - The definition of a “Boss Bride”
• 7:10 - Top Takeaway 1: “What is my comfort costing me?” Charreah says, “Trust yourself; “There’s a gap between what we’re called to do and what we feel we are capable of doing.”
• 10: 00 - Top Takeaway 2: Don’t wish away the alone time! Wishing away the alone time can be wishing away opportunities to grow unencumbered.

This section reminds me of 1 Corinthians 7:32, beginning with “ I want you to be free from anxieties.” I often equate singleness with anxiety, but living single can help free us of anxiety. There will come a time to be partnered, but when you’re free to think of yourself and how you relate to the world around you, you don’t want to wish that time away.

Welcome to Bri Books, today we’ll be discussing Franchesca Ramsey’s book, ‘Well That Escalated Quickly’ with Odochi (Ode) of The Five Fifths podcast. You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter at bribookspod.com/newesletter.

• 1:07 - What’s Five Fifths Podcast?
• 1:20 - The Three Fifths Compromise dates back to 1787, a compromise reached among State delegates. It decided how would slaves be counted as part of the population. In 1787, the US was trying to determine how a state's population would affect taxation and legislative representation. The “solution” was to count three out of every five slaves as a person, to give the south more electoral votes than if the slaves had been ignored, but fewer than if the slaves had been counted equally. It was in the interest of slave owners and landowners to three out of every five slaves as a person.
• 4:00 - “The Five Fifths podcast is basically showing that every person on this Earth is five-fifths, they’re all whole. Nobody’s humanity can be quantified.” - Ode
• 4:42 - Who is Franchesca Ramsey? In 2011, when “Shit Girls Say” took off on YouTube, Franchesca created her own iteration, “Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls.”
• 5:50 - How Ode’s predominately white private school experience  relates to Franchesca’s “Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls”
• 7:08 - What took us from fans of Francesca’s YouTube work, to being fans of her writing
• 7:45 - Ode: “Seeing her on her own platform, as a dark-skinned woman who looks like me, I felt like she was very relatable.”
• 10:30 - In the book, Francesca traces her YouTube success trajectory. I really loved that Franchesca dindt’ shy away from the reality that it takes a long time to accumulate traction. She’d made over a hundred videos BEFORE “Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls.” It’s not lost on Franchesca that the quality and caliber of work speaks for itself when the time comes.
• 13:20 - After “Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls,” Franchesca was offered a book deal. But she didn’t jump on that opportunity, because she was setting herself UP for greatness instead of jumping ON whatever came her way.
• 15:50 - Discussing the chapter “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? It’s Lena Dunham.”
• 20:15 - Discussion of “Call Out” culture versus “Calling In”
• 20:42 - According to EverydayFeminism.com, the goal of “Calling out” is publically pointing out that someone is being problematic or downright wrong. However, “calling in” aims to get someone to change their problematic behavior.”
• 21:50 - Ode on the problems of call-out culture. “The way that someone responds to a callout should determine how we respond to them. Once you learn something is offensive to a group of people, you have to change your language.”
• 22:40 - Our favorite “Self-Care” rituals and our “Activist Lent” a la Franchesca Ramsey
• 23:20 - Ode’s self-care is being around people with great energy, and going to therapy (shoutout to her therapist, whom she found on https://www.therapyforblackgirls.com)
• 24:40 - Ode’s “Activist Lent” is deep-dive reporting on deaths of black LGBTQ people
• 27:40 - Brionna’s self-care is mani-pedis at The Nail Boutique in Brooklyn. Shoutout to Mola’s Nail Boutique!
• 28:45 - Brionna’s “Activist Lent” is indulging in luxury YouTubers

Connect with Odochi: The Five Fifths Media Patreon, Instagram, Facebook, Spreaker 

You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter at bribookspod.com/newesletter.

Hi from Brionna! This isn't your regular Bri Books episode today--Join Junket NYC for Part 1 of the 3 part series: "Our Experiences in Foster Care." We begin with "Entering the System" through  the eyes of a foster child based on our collective experiences. Stay tuned at the end when we talk to our Junket roundtable for more of the real story. Subscribe to Junket's podcast on Apple podcasts here.

Junket NYC website and how to get involved: HERE

Junket NYC Instagram, Twitter

You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter at bribookspod.com/newesletter.

Hello from Bri @ Bri Books! Today's episode is a solo show. We still have 202 days left in 2018. Let's make it count by restoring margin and balance to our lives, shall we? Here are the ways I'm working to restore balance, and the podcasts hosted by women of color that are helping me along the way. 

You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks. Subscribe to newsletter at bribookspod.com/newesletter.

• 00:57 - As of June 12,2018, we’ll have 202 days left in 2018. That means as much as we have behind us, we have ahead of us and more.
• 1:10 - If you still get that cringing falling part feeling, don’t worry, it just means you’re human.
• 1:30 - Before we go further, thanks for being here. Subscribe to newsletter at bribookspod.com/newesletter.
• 1:35 - This episode is about restoring margin. What’s margin? According to Pastor Darryl Dash, margin is “a little reserve that you’re not using up. You’re not stretched to the limit. You’re not going from one meeting to the next with no space between. Margin is the space between my load and my limit.”
• 1:57 - The only reason I know about margin because we had a sermon at The Journey Church about restoring balance and allowing God to restore balance. The concept of margin came up.
• 2:16 - It struck a nerve because I acknowledge that I, like most of us, am on overload.
• 2:20 - Let’s break down margins, think a piece of paper. The standard 1” margin would be setting a margin around your life, saying “Everything outside of this isn’t available.”
• 2:40 - Sometimes I live on the 0.2” margin, and I'll let procrastination/ anxiety stop me.
• 3:06 - When it comes to restoring margin, I get a little excited. To that end, I'll be sharing the ways I've been trying to restore margin to my own life, and a few of the podcasts that have been with me along the way. I’m gonna chat about it with a few podcasts I've been enjoying and have been crucial in helping me notice patterns when I Don't have margin, and make those non-negotiable.
• 3:36 - Nobody has to tell you how busy you are. We have the lists--we know the XYZ, and somewhere we’re supposed to fit in the ‘YOU’.
• 3:48 - Margin is basically breathing room. The sermon spoke to me, and I realized I was running on my own steam instead of the Lord’s, and I wasn’t focusing where I was supposed to focus.
• 4:07 - For me, that meant instead of focusing on one aspect of a project, I’m weighing all 10 aspects equally at the same time and weight, which means I'm waffling and moaning about the idea of doing instead of getting down to it.
• 4:30 - One of the 2 places I've started creating margin is when it comes to taking care of myself. I find margin in my life when I Devote time to caring for myself.
• 4:42 - I've mentioned before on this podcast that when my anxiety is in full swing, the first thing I Attack is my body. Here I Am, i’d fall asleep after a day of work, evening of volunteering, and i’d forget to brush my teeth, fall asleep with the lights on, wake up in the middle of the night to do what I should've done hours ago, because I Didn't have margin in my life for taking care of myself.
• 5:15 - “The Naked Beauty” podcast  really got through to me. It’s a podcast hosted by Brooke DeVard, and it’s “an unfiltered talk about beauty trends, tips and products” hosted by Brooke Devard. What Takeaway is that the bare minimum is not allowed.
• 5:40 - what I've learned from podcast is that when things go wrong, we can’t make ourselves optional. But finding margin and making myself not an option but a requirement--for me, that means setting a timer, 20 minutes Ican take care of everything skincare and oral hygiene. Setting that timer and making it a non-negotiable has helped me to restore margin and take care of myself. Here’s a link to the podcast. I can give that to myself at least every day. Building that margin in and making it a non-negotiable has helped me restore a sense of balance to my own life.
• 6:40 - The other way I've restored margin is by giving myself a little bit of a break on my calendar. Does this sound like you?
• 6:50 - you have a regular commitment then there are the one-off engagements, and a host of appointments. And your life admin. Maybe you only have 3 prime hours in the evening and morning around a work or school schedule. So when my schedule’s out of whack and I'm too busy to recharge let alone do the work I'm supposed to do, I realize there’s a cliff for me. I find myself beyond my margin, limit and load when I'm not impeccable with my word.
• 7:35 - The “Side Hustle Pro” podcast episode hosted by Nicaila Matthews Okome featuring Charreah Jackson got me thinking about being impeccable with my word. “Side Hustle Pro” is a podcast that helps creative entrepreneurs grow their passions into money makers. Listening to the most recent episode featuring Charreah Jackson hustle pro restores the reality that we control our time and we control the projects we want to give energy to. Choosing one over the other doesn't mean you can’t accomplish both. It’s just a decision about where you choose to put your energy.
• 8:25 - What I love about the conversation featuring “Boss Bride” author Charreah Jackson is that it reminded me of the old adage Ilove--you can do everything, just not at the same time. Charreah understand sand has devoted her time to helping people understand what they can do, so they can do something else. I can’t wait to read Charreah’s book!
• 8:52 9 - those are the two ways I'm restoring margin: Establishing it taking care of myself, and in my calendar. Establishing these margins now while we still have 202 days left is so important to me. I feel like I've feel what it feels like to live outside of these margins, what it feels like to NOT make time for myself, so we’re not always going past our margins and loads.
• 9:50 - I've had a good time recording this episode. I can’t wait to read together for July, “Boss Bride: The Powerful Woman’s Playbook for Love and Success” by Charreah Jackson. If you’ve already read boss bride, tweet me with #bribooks
• 10:20 - I hope you’ve enjoyed this style of podcast. If you're’ into these deep dive episodes of Bri Books, let me know.
• 11:15 - tweet with #bribooks, and join bribookspod.com/newesletter. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN EPISODE

-Sermon on Restoring Balance from "The Journey Church"

-"The Naked Beauty" podcast hosted by Brooke DeVard

-"Side Hustle Pro" podcast hosted by Nicaila Matthews Okome

-“Boss Bride: The Powerful Woman’s Playbook for Love and Success” by Charreah Jackson

This episode features founder of @PodcastsInColor, Berry. Podcastsincolor is the largest directory for and by people of color. The founder, Berry, has recently launched her very OWN podcasts--”Podcasts In Color: The Podcast.” Wow.

You can follow along with the conversation on Instagram and Twitter using #BriBooks.

In this episode: We discuss Berry's top tips and trips for being more professional in your podcasting, a few of our podcast pet peeves, and more. Let's go! 

 Berry is a lover of podcasts, and always credits “The Read” for turning her own to podcasts. She decide to convert her love for the medium into helping others find connection via podcasts. 

Her hope is to one day work in the podcast industry. You can't ask for a better fan or advocate than Berry. She’s helped to create and curate the podcast community. She encourages people to use #podin and #podcastsincolor

Hello, and welcome to Bri Books podcast. This episode is the season 3 finale. In this episode, we’re going through the five most durable, most enduring moments of season 3. I hope you stick around to the end, where I’ll be sharing what’s next with the podcast. I’d love to know, what are the most durable moments of the season? Tweet me at @bribookspod and using #bribooks on Instagram and Twitter. I can’t wait to ideate with you via the newsletter.

• 1:38 – These moments from “Bri Books” are as fresh now as they were when I spoke with the guests. They’re the ones I said, “Mmph!” to while I edited, and the ones that made me smile ear-to-ear when I listened back and put the episodes into the world.
• 2:20 - #5: Ep. 3.2:“From NABJ Convention to First Job” feat. Shauna Beni, on becoming a student-learner during her first job post-college.
• 3:49 – #4: Ep. 3.4: Wesley Lowery discussing his book, “They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice Movement,” and humanizing the symbolism of the protest can be difficult, but Wesley’s book was one of the most enduring pieces of writing. Also, I can’t wait to read “When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir” by Patrisse Kahn-Cullors and Asha Bandele.
• 6:52 – #3: 3.4: “Focus” Feat. Paulana Lamonier. Paulana guest-curated an episode about the book “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence” by Daniel Goleman. The most durable part of this conversation occurred when we discussed how to cultivate the muscle of focus.
• 10:38 –#2: 3.13: “Top Reads for 2018” feat. Hiwote Getaneh. Hiwote suggested we all read the book “Designing Your Life,” to gain clarity on life and career choices.
• 13:15 – #1: 3.7: A conversation about the book “Drop The Ball” feat. Tiffany Dufu. What makes this moment the most durable is Tiffany’s insistence that how what matters is knowing the pressures you’re putting on yourself, and the ones you’re allowing others to put on you. Trust me, it was a deep conversation and you can listen here (season 3, episode 7).
• 16:40 – UPDATES!  Bri Books will be returning April 3, 2018 for season 4, on a biweekly schedule (every other Tuesday, a new episode will drop). But What about the week in between? Well, dear listener, you’re gonna want to be on the newsletter. Bribookspod.com/newsletter. I can’t wait to ideate with you via the newsletter.

17:22 – As we prepare the 4th season, there will be lots of fun projects coming up. I want to share more with you—behind-the-scenes exclusives with authors, sharing early career, and hear what you’re reading. Think of the newsletter as the literary component to this audio book club. It’ll be a fun format you’ll look forward to. Bribookspod.com/newsletter. Of course, I’m on Instagram and Twitter. Use #bribooks. Here’s to season four! As always, Bri Books lives at bribookspod.com, and we’d love to see what you’re reading. Tweet me at @bribookspod and using #bribooks on Instagram and Twitter.

This epi: “We’re Going to Need More Wine” by Gabrielle Union, featuring @SwirlSuite. CONGRATS to Gabrielle’s New York Times bestselling book!  

Meet Sarita (@vinemeup), Leslie (Vino301 Wine Concierge) and Glynis (Vino_Noire) of the Swirl Suite podcast! The Swirl Suite is “a glam squad of certified wine & spirit professionals who give the tea on what’s happening in the wine world.” Swirl Suite is on Apple Podcasts.

• 3:15 – The place Gabrielle Union holds in our hearts as an actress
• 7:20 – Swirl Suite co-hosts on what they say when prompted with dreaded and incredibly presumptive question, “Why don’t you have kids?”
• 10:19 – A recent series on The Longest Shortest Time podcast recently completed a series “It’s A Real Mother,” about the nuanced ways motherhood creeps into a woman’s earning power over course of her career and life.
• 12:07 – Discussion of chapter “Black Woman Blues,” and our own experiences with colorism and internalized racism across generations
• 14:17 – Brionna’s favorite chapter: “Open House.” “In the chapter, the point she’s making is that her mom exposed her at a younger age what it looks like to go somewhere you’ve never seen. These houses would be humongous and very expensive, but it’s the idea that ‘Your reality can be expanded 100-fold.”
• 5:05 – Sarita’s favorite chapter: “Mittens.” A run-in with prejudiced women on a Chicago sidewalk led Gabrielle to deconstruct the micro-aggression behind what about her could be perceived as “threatening.”
• 19:19 – Rapid-fire questions! #1: How do you handle holiday potlucks?  #2: Most memorable Christmas gift? #3: Least favorite Christmas song? #4: How many glasses of wine at the holiday party?
• 26:55 – What Swirl Suite is looking forward to in 2018?
• Glynis: Debt-free and a trip to Bali!
• Leslie: Planning upcoming vino301, and I’m figuring that out! Excited for that! In 2018, I’ll be efficient and organized.
• Sarita: I finished a production certification class, and I have a new gig! Producing another podcast behind-the-scenes! I offered my services, and they hired me!
• Brionna: I’m excited to put my energy behind the Bri Books podcast, and go full force with what really matters to me. I’m excited for that.

Thanks again for listening, and thank you to the Swirl Suite. Join the newsletter duh. Find Bri Books Podcast on Instagram and Twitter, Facebook, and show me what you’re reading using #bribooks.

The Swirl Suite is “a glam squad of certified wine & spirit professionals who give the tea on what’s happening in the wine world.” Swirl Suite is on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Twitter.

Hello from Brionna! Thank you for inviting me into your 2018. Today’s episode is a collaboration with Hiwote Getaneh, host and producer of "Depth & Candor" podcast. I discovered “Depth & Candor” via @podcastsincolor in 2017 and, after orbiting one another for months, we met at an event she was facilitating (ht @Vinterlude!)

 "Depth & Candor” is a pod “designed to help you live a fulfilling, impactful and vibrant life."

In this episode, we break down the books that we resonated with and were challenged by in 2017, and why they deserve a spot on your reading list this year.

8:00 - Our Top Reads For Your 2018

• Hiwote: “Homegoing” by Yaa Yahzi. “It makes you think of race and power in current political climate, but this made you think of it in a different way.”
• Brionna: “Cravings" by Chrissy Teigen is easily the most approachable cookbook I’ve ever read. I come form a dieting household--Melba toast crackers and Lean Cuisine was de rigueur. (Re)-learning flavors with Chrissy was the highlight of my 2017, and this book will be at my fingertips for the foreseeable future.

15:15 - Our #1 Career Books For Your 2018

• Hiwote: “Linchpin” by Seth Godin. “He focuses on how to add value to the world in a way that’s not corny, and despite your fears. “Linchpin” is about how to stand out in your career, become an expert, and how to share your work with the world. Doing that, despite whatever fear you have.”
• Brionna: “The Big Life,” by Ann Shoket. “Ann's work really shaped how we as millennial women came into ourselves. When Ann was Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen, she guided the magazine and audience through that time. She noticed as more women became career and entrepreneurship focused. She helped lead the brand. “The Big Life” helped me unpack what matters to me, so I’m not busy spinning my wheels worrying about a life I don’t even want.”

17:30 - Our #1 Fiction Books For Your 2018

• Hiwote: “The Thing Around Your Neck,” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. “Everyone knows “Americanah, “but this is an anthology. She tells people’s stories in both Nigeria and in the US. I made my mom read it, my aunts read it.”
• Brionna: “The Engagement Game,” by Joi-Marie McKenzie. “Her journey to get “that answer” unlocks a lot of questions she’s never asked of herself. The character shifts mindsets to get where she wants to be.”

25:40 - The Books We’d Recommend To Our Younger Selves

• Hiwote: “Designing Your Life,” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. “Their point is, your life can be successful in a million ways. Your only job is to choose the direction you want to go in, and go in that direction with no stress about the things you’re leaving behind. It’s a game changer, and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of switching careers or figuring out what direction to go in in life.”
• Brionna: “Drop the Ball,” by Tiffany Dufu. “What makes her so relatable to me is that she grew up thinking it was her job as the woman in the house to take care of everyone. The book is about her letting go of that need, how she had to learn to drop the ball. By dropping the ball, she created space for others to pick it up.

Find Hiwote and "Depth & Candor" podcast on Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud. Subscribe to her newsletter here. Instagram @hiwote_g.

Find "Bri Books Podcast" - Newsletter, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. 

This episode of Bri Books lifts back the curtain on how I PRODUCE/MAKE THIS PODCAST. The tools I use, how I organize show content, and all of my behind-the-scenes production processes.

Dedication: This episode is dedicated to Larry Long, father of former guest Lura. Larry uses oral history, music and art to strengthen communities and foster reconciliation--and he had questions about how to start a podcast! Who am I to stand in the way of intergenerational storytelling?!

 If you’re interested in going in-depth on how I create this podcast, I'm sharing all of my tips, secrets and resources! All in the Bri Books Podcast Newsletter.

• 2:15 - Define ‘batching” - Grouping similar tasks in order to decrease likelihood of procrastination and stress.
• 2:30 - Creating “Bri Books” requires I utilize six different batching processes. Each element must be completed and delivered in order to produce a finished product (pod). Remember, every batching process is DIFFERENT! Customize it to fit YOU!
• 3:10 - Batching #1: Reading Day
• 4:10 - Batching #2: Recording Day + Myleik Teele’s podcast wisdom on requesting time on someone’s calendar (part one, part two)
• 5:10 - Batching #3: Editing Day(s)
• • Edits A: Chop and clean audio
  • Edits B: Deep edit (identify transitions, log tape, storyboard episode)
  • Edits C: Final edits and killing my darlings  
• 5:30 - I’ll share my fave editing resources resources in the Bri Books Newsletter--join at bribookspod.com/newsletter.
• 7:30 - Batching #4: Editorial Day for writing (research, book notes, building social posts, building blog posts, building show notes)
• 8:12 - Batching #5: Launch Day (episode goes live, blog goes live, first social push, listen to the response--give the episode a moment to ‘breathe’)
• 8:40 - Batching  #6 - Analysis and Experimentation Day (devote time to ideation and monitoring content performance)
• 9:40 - A great resource to get productivity on 100% and self-judgement on 0%, check out Side Hustle Pro podcast and community (“How to start your own podcast with zero experience,” “How to push past overwhelm and get things done.”
• 10:05 -The tools used to create this podcast (more in newsletter, grab @ bribookspod.com/newsletter)
• 10:40 - Editing: Adobe Audition (via Creative Cloud, access to Photoshop and InDesign). Garageband and Audacity are also editing/ recording software options.
• 11:10 - Hosting service: Libsyn. Check out the Libsyn "The Feed" Podcast, all about podcasting!
• 11:54 - Web and social: Squarespace domain. I create most of my social assets via canva.com, and WordSwag. Tweetdeck for Twitter, Facebook for native posting, Later app for Instagram posting and curation.
• 12:50 - Microphone: Yeti from Blue Microphones
• Resources: Side Hustle Pro podcast and community; Transom.org

15:15 - How do you go about batching with your processes? Tell me at @bribookspod, always send a note to hi@bribookspod.com, and if you want a full digest infographic. bribookspod.com/newsletter.

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• What are you reading?! Show and tell using #bribooks

Today’s episode is a continuation of our conversation about Sarah Knight's “Get Your Shit Together,” and features guests Amanda Yepez and Lura Long, two fans of the book In this episode, it gets real. Here’s how we’re pulling it together…and what it looks like when our “shit” is in shambles.

 If you’re interested in my post-college story, I want to let you know I’m sharing all of my tips on the post-college job search, nailing informational interviews, and more on the Bri Books Podcast Newsletter.

• 1:34 – Meet Lura and Amanda, what they do for work, and what they love
• 2:50 - Where were Amanda and Lura in life when they each read “Get Your Shit Together?”  
• 5:00 – The Chipmunk Theory: How “Alvin and the Chipmunks” is a perfect analogy for our “Get Your Shit Together” styles (Spoiler: I’m Alvin, Lura’s Alvin/Theodore hybrid, and Amanda is Simon)
• 6:00 – Simon, Alvin, and Theodore.
• 11:05 – Amanda on the struggle of getting one’s own shit together in the workplace. Tl; dr: “Worry about yourself. Mind your business.”
• 13:59: How a VERY direct question from her therapist helped Amanda notice that her shit wasn’t together
• 14:32 – Lura on the cost of committing—when you decide you’re going to do something, you must also make decisions NOT to do something else.
• 14:43 – Lura’s journey to figure out what she must do to keep herself healthy in the midst of never-ending “to-do” lists
• 15:27 – Lura on the financial costs of prioritization
• 17:15 – GAME: ‘Get Your Sip Together
• 17:33 - #1: Take a sip if you’ve decided to invest instead of spend in the last month
• 17:40 – A shout out to 401(k)’s
• 18:30 - #2: Take a sip if you’ve controlled an impulse
• 20:10 – #3: Take a sip if you’ve decided to be selfish with me-time.
• 20:35 – Lura’s all about her alone time. What’s done in this magical hour?
• 21:30 – Amanda on how “me-time” can lead to splurging…gel manicures, anyone?
• 24:45 – Thank you to @bricandles for partnering on this episode of Bri Books podcast!
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• What are you reading?! Show and tell using #bribooks

Hello and welcome to Bri Books! In today’s episode, we’re talking about “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence” by Daniel Goleman. Meet Paulana Lamonier, a multimedia journalist who loves to tell compelling stories.

• 2:05 - How I discovered “Focus” in a bookshop in Taipei (here’s an epi I recorded about travels to Asia.)

• 2:45 - When I finished the book on the flight, I didn’t feel bad about myself. I didn’t feel like, “I suck at focusing and this book confirmed it.” It was more, here are tools and different ways to think of focus. Don’t think of it as a single moment—it’s a muscle. It takes practice. You have to build up the muscle of focusing.”
• 3:37 - Paulana’s main takeaways from “Focus”: The importance of self-awareness
• 4:04 - How P. Diddy and Beyonce epitomize focus as a driver of excellence. “Their success isn’t built on breaking anyone down, but on edifying, improving, getting better, and focusing.”
• 4:30 - What Paulana has learned about focus from studying culture makers and how Beyonce and Diddy have mastered marrying self-awareness and focus...and how we can, too.
• 5:55 - “When you break down focus, it’s determination. Hard work. Discipline. Like you mentioned earlier, focus is a muscle. Yes, you’ll keep exercising and doing it. When you’re sore or tired of doing something, the muscle is expanding and getting bigger. Soreness is weakness leaving the body. So, when you’re feeling like you’re focusing on something, there’s gonna be times when you’ll be tired, but you have to push through that.”
• 6:40 – Daniel Goleman on focus and practice: “When practice occurs while we are focusing elsewhere the brain doesn’t rewire the necessary circuitry for that routine. Those who browse online while working out will never reach the top ranks. Paying full attention seems to boost the mind’s processing speed, strengthens synaptic connections, and expands/ creates neural networks for what we are practicing.”
• 7:39 – Goleman says, “You don’t get benefits from mechanical repetition, but by adjusting execution over and over, tweaking the system by pushing and allowing for errors at first as you increase the limit.”
• 8:26 – Let’s discuss #ComplexPleaseHirePaulana. “Complex” isn’t just a magazine. It’s a media company that focuses on culture—news, pop culture, entertainment, tech. They’re all about the culture. They were looking for anchors.
• 9:45 - Paulana lets us inside the thought process that led her to create #ComplexPleaseHirePaulana--and what came next.
• 10:15 - I’d seen that “Complex” had retweeted a man who wanted to be an intern for Chance the Rapper. His name is Hopsey. He created a website called Chancehirehopsey.com.
• 11:00 -  I added a few gifs in there (I wanted website to show my creativity and abilities and what I can bring to the table) to show I’m multifaceted and can entertain people.
• 11:15 - I bought the domain—didn’t have much money left, I had $20 to my name —I went to work, and within a week’s time I got the website done. I put a link to tweet for friends to send out.
• 11:35 - Long story short I ended up not getting the job, I felt like it was to prove to myself that, whatever you do just go 100%. It got me in the doors and it got me the audition, but it is what it is. I know that what’s for me is for me.
• 11:50 – I love what you just said! It went beyond focus as an idea/ mental state, and into focus helping you create something tangible. I think everything you’re talking about is the hard work element. That focus is a DRIVER of excellence—it’s not the be-all-end-all, but it’s the fuel you have to put into your brain and body. You put in that fuel. You focused on a goal, went all out, and finished strong. You did everything that YOU could. But you produced something out of your focus.
• 12:45 – You put yourself out there, and you put your focus out there.
• 12:40 – Paulana, the last thing I want to talk to you about tonight is hard work. For two whom college and the college years are fairly close in the rearview—we were talking before that we were in school for 18 out of 22 years, there’s a reward system of hard work wired in our brains that says, “Do the hard work, get a good job, move onto the next level.” And once you enter the professional world…
• 13:15 – Let’s talk about how we learned to work hard, even if hard work doesn’t get us gold stars.
• 13:25 – With hard work, you’ve got to accept disappointments but not dwell in it. Say, I’m gonna deal with it, but make sure you move past it. As women, we dwell in rejection and beat ourselves up. That’s what happened to me with the Compel thing—I went so hard and did it publicly! I went all out, and the fact that they told me no was like a door that shut in my face publically.
• 14:14 – But this is where the discipline comes into play. Plan A didn’t work out, what for plan B, plan C, so the train is still going on and the dream is still happening.
• 14:30 – And another thing with the site, I wanted to people that even if complex didn’t hire me, I’m gonna get a job before the end of the year. God didn’t give me this idea and I didn’t create this website for me to stay broke. Someone’s got to acknowledge that. They may not do it this month, but it’s gonna happen.
• 15:00 – You’ve gotta be so good. That’s what determines who you are—after you get rejected. That shows who you are as an individual—how do you cope with rejection and loss? Are you going to let that situation change who you are as an individual? Are you going to develop it? What do you do? How will this work out, and this is what I’m gonna do to move forward.
• 15:39 – Paulana thanks for joining me in my studio/ bedroom on this Friday night! You could be anywhere, but you’ve spent the last hour with me.

Paulana’s #bribooks: “Living Well, Spending Less: 12 Secrets of the Good Life” by Ruth Soukup

Paulana on Twitter - @itspaulana

Paulana on Instagram - @itspaulana

ComplexPleaseHirePaulana.com

If you’re interested in my post-college story, I want to let you know I’m sharing all of my tips on the post-college job search, nailing informational interviews, and more on the Bri Books Podcast Newsletter.

@BriBooksPod - Instagram

@BriBooksPod - Twitter

What are you reading?! Show and tell using #bribooks