Synopsis
Bad books and good advice from two questionably young adults. Join 30-something YA enthusiasts Grace Atwood and Becca Freeman every other week for a book club featuring a young adult title that they promise you won't be able to put down. In between, they'll share their best tips for "adulting" helping you do everything from finding the right career to the perfect face serum.
Episodes
-
August 2025 Three Things
13/08/2025 Duration: 01h23minIt’s time for the most August 2025 Three Things to Ever Three Things. From AI to face shapewear to Labubus, and more, there’s so much to discuss! Let’s get into it. Olivia’s Things DNF-ing Skims Face Shapewear Labubus Becca’s Things The articles “I Teach Creative Writing. This Is What A.I. Is Doing to Students” by Meghan O’Rourke [gift link] and ”The Force-Feeding of AI on an Unwilling Public” by Ted Gioia Mind Meld Game The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Obsessions Becca - Freakier Friday Olivia - Sorry, Baby What we read this week Becca - The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett This Month’s Book Club Pick - The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Wayfair - Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Caraway Home - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP for an additional
-
Chelsea Bieker on Comparison & Competition in Publishing
07/08/2025 Duration: 26minAs a bonus to our episode discussing comparison and competition, we invited Chelsea Bieker to continue the conversation, and how comparison and competition manifest for her, specifically within her publishing career and the strategies she’s learned to quiet these emotions. Read more from Chelsea in her newsletter Make Up Your Life, fountainpractice.com, and her latest book Madwoman is out now! This Month’s Book Club Pick - The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more! Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia’s Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia’s Newsletter! Order Becca’s Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca’s Newsletter! Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.
-
Chatting About Comparison & Competition
06/08/2025 Duration: 01h17minWe’ve been trying to make an episode about comparison and competition (an Olivia Muenter favorite topic!) happen for a while, and it’s finally here! We’re discussing our personal histories with comparison and competition and how it manifests in our personal and professional lives. We’re even diving into whether we ever compare ourselves to each other. We’re talking about if we define ourselves as competitive people, topics that bring up jealousy, how comparison and competition manifests in our author lives, and even within the podcast. Obsessions B: Hues and Cues O: eBay (vintage hats, weird jewelry, old books) What we read this week O: Greenwich by Kate Broad B: This Month’s Book Club Pick - The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Cozy Earth - Go to cozyearth.com and use my code BOP for 40% off! Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping and three 365-da
-
Atmosphere Book Club
30/07/2025 Duration: 01h12minIt’s book club day! We’re so excited to talk about our listener-selected book club pick, Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. There’s a lot to cover in this story set during the 1980s space race. We discuss our feelings about the main characters, the aspects of the book we gravitated towards, our favorite space songs, and more! Obsessions: Becca - Ruby lobster roll off watercolor painting Olivia - Alexander Skarsgard interview circuit Reading: Olivia - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown Becca - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Loved One by Aisha Muharrar (out 8/12) This Month’s Book Club Pick - The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Cozy Earth - go to cozyearth.com and use code BOP for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more. Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and
-
Desert Island Picks - Part 2
23/07/2025 Duration: 01h03minOur last desert island episode was so popular, we hopped a quick trip back to the island for part 2. This time we’re talking all things clothing and travel. Jeans Becca - Frame Le Slim Palazzo Olivia - Gap Ultra Soft Barrel Leg Jeans Bra Becca & Olivia - Skims T-Shirt Bra Underwear Becca - Skims fits everybody thong Olivia - CUUP high waisted Shoe Becca - Onitsuka Tigre Mexico 66 Olivia - EVA Birkenstocks Obsessions Becca - BBQ Brawl What we read this week Becca - Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert, Happy All The Time by Laurie Colwin Olivia - Travel Essential Becca - Dagne Dover Duffel Bag Olvia - Bose Quiet Comfort Noise Cancelling Headphones This Month’s Book Club Pick - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Avaline Wine - head to drinkavaline.com/badonpaper and use code BADONPAPER to get 15% off your order. Ritual - Get 25% off your first month at
-
Navessa Allen on writing Spicy Romance
16/07/2025 Duration: 01h06minWe are so excited to have Navessa Allen on the pod to talk about all things spicy romance! We hear about how she got started writing romance, how she handles taboo topics, what it’s like having viral success, and her experience as self-published author who began working for a traditional publishing house. Her books Lights Out and Caught Up are out now. Obsessions Becca - Watercolor set & workbook Olivia - The Truman Show What we read this week Olivia - Set Piece by Lana Schwartz Becca - Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson This Month’s Book Club Pick - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns. Caraway - Visit Carawayhome.com/BOP for an additional 10% off your next purchase. Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more! Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order
-
Desert Island Picks
09/07/2025 Duration: 01h06minThis week, we’re going to be sharing our desert island picks for categories from entertainment, to food, clothing, beauty, and more! Shoutout to Hillary Kerr’s newsletter for the episode inspo! Some of our picks Books to read for the rest of time: Becca - The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer The Wedding People by Alison Espach Olivia - Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, The God of The Woods by Liz Moore Books we like to recommend: B: TIOY Olivia - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir Jeans Becca - Frame Le Slim Palazzo Olivia: Gap Ultra Soft Barrel Leg Jeans Shoes Becca - Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Olivia - EVA Birkenstocks Body Lotion: Becca - UBeauty Super Body Hydrator Olivia - Necessaire Body Serum Complexion Makeup: Becca - Armani luminous silk Olivia - It Cosmetics CC Cream Obsessions Olivia - DISSH Becca - Quince Organic Airy Gazue Blanket What we read this week Becca - Heart the Lover by Lily King (out 10/7); Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle Olivia - Tilt by Emma Pattee, Migrations b
-
July 2025 Three Things
02/07/2025 Duration: 01h12minIt’s time for July Three Things! Tune in for a game, fantasy dinner parties, writing process dives, best books of the year (so far), Materialists thoughts, and more! Becca’s Things Materialists Hallmark Movie Game Dream Summer Dinner Party Olivia’s Things Materialists Favorite Reads in 2025 so far (Becca’s includes One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall, Heart the Lover by Lily King. Olivia’s includes Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Allison Espach) Writing Process Evolutions Obsessions Becca - Old Navy tank tops Olivia - Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Allison Espach What we read this week Becca - These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (out 7/8); Fun For the Whole Family by Jennifer E. Smith Olivia - The Bombshell by Darrow Farr, Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Allison Espach, It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan, Dear Writer by Maggie Smith This Month’s Book Club Pick - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (h
-
All the Other Mothers Hate Me Book Club
25/06/2025 Duration: 50minWe’re excited to dive into our June Book Club Pick: June Book Club Pick - All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman. We had a great time reading this hilarious and Scaredy Cat approved mystery, and can’t wait to hear what you think! Watch the full interview with Sarah Harman Olivia mentioned here. Obsessions Becca - Milk Duds Olivia - Vitality Leggings/Shorts (Bonus: Olivia’s High is Yoga With Adrienne’s Yoga for Writers Video) This Month’s Book Club Pick - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Wayfair - Head to wayfair.com right now to shop a huge outdoor selection. Sunny Side Up - Grab your copy of Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino wherever books are sold. Quince - Go to Quince.com/bop for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more! Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia’s Book, Such a Bad I
-
2025 Reading Preview Part 2
18/06/2025 Duration: 01h17minIt’s time for Part 2 of our 2025 reading preview! We invited some friends of the pod to chat about the books they’re most excited to pick up this year! Lauren Puckett-Pope’s Picks - Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (Out August 26), Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab Kristen L. Berry’s Picks - Greenwich by Kate Broad (Out July 22), It's Different This Time by Joss Richard (Out September 30). Her Novel, We Don’t Talk about Carol is out now! Morgan Pager’s Picks - My Train Leaves at Three by Natalie Guerrero (Out July 15), Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria. Her Book The Art of Vanishing is out July 1! Clémence Michallon’s Picks - El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott, Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson. Her Book Our Last Resort is out July 8! Nnenna Odeluga’s Picks - Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen, The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (Out September 16) Becca’s Picks - Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh, The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (Out September 2) Olivia’s Picks - What Ki
-
2025 Mid-Year Goals Check In
11/06/2025 Duration: 01h24minIt’s time to check in on our 2025 Goals! Are we on track with our writing goals? Did Becca reduce her screen time? Did Olivia manage to give up Jarlic? Keep listening to find out! Obsessions Olivia - Bose Ultra Open Headphones Becca - Stick Season (Her Version) by Deeps What we read this week Becca - Hazel Says No by Jessica Berger Gross (out 6/17), The Knight and The Moth by Rachel Gillig, Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood Olivia - Slanting Toward the Sea by Lidija Hilje This Month’s Book Club Pick - All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Quince - Go to Quince.com/BOP for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Wayfair - Head to Wayfair.com to shop a huge outdoor selection. Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more! Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia’s Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia’s Newsl
-
June 2025 Three Things
04/06/2025 Duration: 01h16minIt’s time for our June Three Things! But first, vote for our July Book Club Pick in our Facebook Group! Stay tuned for discussions about TJR getting the star treatment in Time magazine, the state of indie podcasting, a book battle mini-game, and more! Becca’s Things Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Time Profile The efficacy of learning languages via Duolingo Podcast Longevity Olivia’s Things Hailey Bieber Selling Rhode for 1 Billion Dollars Becca’s Favorite Books Battle: Fourth Wing vs First Lie Wins, You, Again vs The Bodyguard, The Rachel Incident vs The Wedding People, All My Rage and The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, The Celebrants vs The Husbands Our Readers’ Choice Book Club Obsessions Becca - Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless Bra Olivia - Coco Mellors What we read this week Olivia - Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors Becca - Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee This Month’s Book Club Pick - All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-4
-
Katie Kitamura on Writing Audition
29/05/2025 Duration: 30minWe had the pleasure of recording a bonus episode with Katie Kitamura, the author of our May Book Club Pick, Audition! We ask her about the book’s inspiration, the writing process of such an experimental novel, what’s ~actually~ going on in the plot, and the origins of the scenes that have stuck with us the most. This Month’s Book Club Pick - All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more! Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order Olivia’s Book, Such a Bad Influence! Subscribe to Olivia’s Newsletter! Order Becca’s Book, The Christmas Orphans Club! Subscribe to Becca’s Newsletter! Follow us on Instagram @badonpaperpodcast. Follow Olivia on Instagram @oliviamuenter and Becca @beccamfreeman.
-
Audition Book Club
28/05/2025 Duration: 01h15minWe’re SO excited to discuss Audition by Katie Kitamura! While this book may be hard to recap (uh, what actually happened??), we can’t wait to dive into theories and themes. We share our feelings about the ambiguous plot and discuss the theme of performance throughout the book. We also explore overlaps with two other past pieces of favorite content. And get ready, we’ll have a bonus episode out tomorrow with Katie Kitamura herself to get a behind-the-scenes look on the process of writing this book. Obsessions Becca - U Beauty tinted moisturizer Olivia - Katie Kitamura (stay tuned for our bonus episode tomorrow!) What we read this week Becca - It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan Olivia - The Road To Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett This Month’s Book Club Pick - All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Cozy Earth - Use code BOP for 40% off best-selling sheets
-
Writing Young Adult Fiction with Jessica Goodman
21/05/2025 Duration: 01h08minThis week, we're chatting about the ins and outs of writing Young Adult Fiction with Jessica Goodman! We talk with her about getting started in the genre, the challenges of writing YA, how she gets inspiration for her books, and more! Read more from Jessica in The Meadowbrook Murders, The Counselors, The Legacies, They’ll Never Catch Us, and They Wish They Were Us. Obsessions Olivia - Ocean Vuong’s Interviews Becca - Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Sneakers What we read this week Becca - Silver Elite by Dani Francis Olivia - All The Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman This Month’s Book Club Pick - Audition by Katie Kitamura (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Better Help - Visit BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER to get 10% off your first month. Master Class - Save at least 15% off at MasterClass.com/BOP Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs & more! Buy our Merch! Join our Geneva! Order O
-
Our Summer Backlist Reading
14/05/2025 Duration: 01h11minWhether you’re a library reader, a used bookstore connoisseur, or just buy books faster than you read ‘em, this episode is for you! We’re chatting about the backlist books (AKA books released over 1 year ago) on our TBR. Olivia’s List Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin (2020) Seawife by Amity Gaige (2020) Godshot by Chelsea Bieker (2020) The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (2018) Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (1993) Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998) Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (2020) Ghosts by Dolly Alderton (2020) Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (2019) Becca’s List Greenlights by Matthew McConaghey (2020) Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiney (2021) Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (2020) Bel Canto by Ann Patchett (2001) The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005) Happy All The Time by Laurie Colwin (1978) Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin (1956) American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (2008) Summer of ‘69 by Elin Hilderbrand (2019) or Summer People (200
-
May 2025 Three Things
07/05/2025 Duration: 01h17minIt’s Three Things time! We’re covering topics from Olivia’s family parasocial obsession, spin-off books, sleep routines, party snacks, and more! Olivia’s Things Standout Book Covers of 2025 The Today Show Hosts’ Impact on Boomers What snacks would you be excited to find at a party? Becca’s Things What book characters do you want to read a spinoff about? Glennon Doyle’s week on Substack Sleep Routines Obsessions Becca - Forever 31 Olivia - Four Seasons What we read this week Olivia - Ravishing by Eshani Surya, The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean Becca - The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager This Month’s Book Club Pick - Audition by Katie Kitamura (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Nuuly - Take $28 off your first month at nuuly.com with code BOP Cozy Earth - Head to cozyearth.com and use code BOP for 40% off best-selling sheets, pajamas, and more. Join our Facebook group for amazing book
-
Wild Dark Shore Book Club
30/04/2025 Duration: 57minSo excited to talk about our April Book Club Pick, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy! We went into this book without much context and loved experiencing this literary mystery. We discuss what genre this book falls in, our feelings on climate fiction, the real-life inspirations behind this books, and of course the many twists and turns of the mystery plotline. Obsessions Becca - Wegmans Cannoli chips and dip Olivia - Daffodils What we read this week Becca - Anatomy of A Breakthrough by Adam Alter, Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy This Month’s Book Club Pick - Audition by Katie Kitamura (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Cozy Earth - Go to cozyearth.com and use code BOPBOGO Wayfair - This summer, get outside with Wayfair at wayfair.com Master Class - Our listeners get a discount of at least 15% off any annual membership at masterclass.com/bop Join our Facebook group for amazing book recs
-
April Catch Up
23/04/2025 Duration: 01h14minWe thought it was time for a good ol’ catch-up! We have much to cover, including (but not limited to) writing updates, new journaling habits, career developments, travel plans, spring hobbies, and MORE! Highly recommend reading What is Glitter by Caity Weaver in the New York Times Obsessions Becca - Soeos White Peach Candy Olivia - He Wasn’t Man Enough by Toni Braxton What we read this week Olivia - This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead, The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Elsewhere by Alexis Schaitkin, The Dream Hotel by Laila Lailami Becca - Quicksilver by Callie Hart This Month’s Book Club Pick - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (have thoughts about this book you want to share? Call in at 843-405-3157 or email us a voice memo at badonpaperpodcast@gmail.com) Sponsors Quince - go to quince.com/bop to get free shipping and 365-day returns Better Help - Visit BetterHelp.com/BADONPAPER today to get 10% off your first month Wayfair - Get renovating with Wayfair at Wayfair.com Join our
-
Life After Rejection (Spoiler: It’s Pretty Good!)
16/04/2025 Duration: 01h28minThis week, we're talking about rejection, failure, and how two guests dealt with them! First, we’re talking to New York Times best-selling author Andrea Bartz about navigating rejection on submission, and the daily rejections entailed in living a creative life. Then, we’re talking to Azora Zoe Paknad about shuttering her business and going back to the corporate world. You can read more from Andrea in her newsletter, Get It Write, and her books The Spare Room, We Were Never Here, The Herd, and The Lost Night. Her latest novel, The Last Ferry Out, is out May 20. Read more from Azora in her newsletter, First Rodeo. You may also remember our episode from 2020 about starting her eco-friendly e-commerce marketplace, Goldune. Obsessions Olivia - Butter Pecan Iced Coffee at Dunkin Becca - The audiobook Anatomy of a Breakthrough by Adam Alter What we read this week Becca - Audition by Katie Kitamura, Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee Olivia - Old Money by Kelsey Miller (Out September 30!) This Month’s Book Cl