Advice from the Cheerbrarian

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Advice from the Cheerbrarian Pep talks in your ear holes (for your mind, body, and soul)
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[EPISODE 23] The Power of No - Say NO to Immediately RespondingToday is the final episode of our Power of No series wher...
13/08/2024

[EPISODE 23] The Power of No - Say NO to Immediately Responding

Today is the final episode of our Power of No series wherein I’m encouraging us to say NO THANK YOU to things that don’t serve us, and today we are talking about immediately responding. Today’s world is spinning faster and faster and it’s easy to get caught in a Pavlovian response cycle - Outlook ping RESPOND. Text received RESPOND. But is immediately responding really helping you, or actually slowing you down?

Plus, we are excited to share another co-hosted episode (welcome Zoe!) so Zoe is here to score her own response rates (the good, the bad, the needs some work) and give her own spin to the weekly stack o’ pancakes.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Unsolicited Advice - Take a pause and think about how quickly you respond, and if it’s necessary. In your personal life and work, experiment with changing your rate of response rate. Give it an extra five minutes or (gasp) an hour. Does anything negative come of it? Does anyone really even notice? Have conversations at work and at home about communication expectations so that you ensure you aren’t holding yourself to expectations that no one else is holding you too.

Want to see our receipts? Check out Oliver Burkeman’s “4000 Weeks” book and see this article from Cosmo and this article from Karbon HQ (linked directly in show notes on Podcasting platforms, or DM for links!)

Recommended by Zoe - Rules of Civility Amor Towles

Recommended for Zoe: Straight Man by Richard Russo and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Unrequired Reading - From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Koningsburg

[EPISODE 22] The Power of No - Say NO to Guilty Pleasures!Today is part 2 of our Power of No series wherein I’m encourag...
06/08/2024

[EPISODE 22] The Power of No - Say NO to Guilty Pleasures!

Today is part 2 of our Power of No series wherein I’m encouraging us to say NO THANK YOU to things that don’t serve us, and today we are talking about guilty pleasures.

Don’t worry, I’m not telling you to give up reality TV or beach books or eating peanut butter from the jar or any other of life’s simple pleasures. I’m here to tell you the fun should stay, but that guilt has got to go!

IN THIS EPISODE:

Unsolicited Advice - Kick the phrase “guilty pleasures” to the curb and be satisfied to like what you like. Ignore that voice telling you otherwise (I’m talking to you, Societal Sally). Want to read more about it? See ⁠article from The New Yorker⁠ titled “Against Guilty Pleasures” referenced in the episode.

Unrequired Reading - Saga (Volume 1) by Brian K. Vaughan and Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

[EPISODE 21] The Power of No - Say NO to Apologizing!WE ARE BACK BABY. It’s been a few weeks and we are SO EXCITED to se...
30/07/2024

[EPISODE 21] The Power of No - Say NO to Apologizing!

WE ARE BACK BABY. It’s been a few weeks and we are SO EXCITED to see you. Is that a new haircut?! You look great!

Today we are debuting a “live with a studio audience” format wherein I’ll be sharing advice with a real human, instead of just talking to myself (Say hi to Lea! “Hi Lea!). This week we are excited to dig into why you should say NO to apologizing... or at least say it only when you mean it, and say it with a reframe.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Unsolicited Advice - Step One - Step back and ask yourself if apologizing is even justified. Step Two - Once you determine an apology is warranted, instead of the tired “I’m sorry,” try a reframe with “thank you for x” to lead with gratitude and be clearer on your intentions.

The Books
Recommended by Lea - Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Recommended for Lea -⁠ The Fifth Season⁠ by N.K. Jemisin
Unrequired Reading - ⁠Romantic Comedy⁠ by Curtis Sittenfeld

[EPISODE 20] Celebrating milestones is important, and today we are going to do that here on the pod: it’s our 20th episo...
09/07/2024

[EPISODE 20] Celebrating milestones is important, and today we are going to do that here on the pod: it’s our 20th episode (insert trumpet fanfare, with a gong finale) and we are going to look back at how far we’ve come.

We are excited to go down this memory lane with you! Come for the highlight real (and of course, much mouth air horn) and stay for announcements about the future of the pod (Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere!)

Comment LINK for a link to this episode.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Unsolicited Advice - Top 5 moments of the first 20 episodes, as selected by listeners and the host. Funny bits, vulnerable reflection, and good advice abound

Unrequired Reading - Recaps of my favorite recommendations: The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure by William Goldman, My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor, Whose Mind is it Anyway by Lisa and Franco Esile and Wellness by Nathan Hill

[NEW EPISODE] In Episode 16 I kicked off the start of summer with a special episode, wherein I recommended great books t...
02/07/2024

[NEW EPISODE] In Episode 16 I kicked off the start of summer with a special episode, wherein I recommended great books to read for FIVE vacation destinations. But not everyone will be going on a vacation this summer, so if you want something to read for when you’re closer to home, then this part 2 is for you!

We have five awesome books for different summer moods that will give you a vacation from your life…from the comfort of wherever you are.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Unsolicited Advice - Time travel to the relaxation of the summers of youth by burying yourself in a good book.

Unrequired Reading - The Q***r Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian, Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher, The Stand by Stephen King, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) by Alan Bradley, and Life Moves Fast Pretty Fast: The Lessons We Learned from 80s Movies by Hadley Freeman

[NEW EPISODE] This week on the pod we are shocked SHOCKED to realize we are officially halfway through 2024 (!!!) And wh...
25/06/2024

[NEW EPISODE] This week on the pod we are shocked SHOCKED to realize we are officially halfway through 2024 (!!!) And what perfect time to take a peak back at those New Year’s Resolutions and see how it’s going…come for the accountability buddy, stay for the reminder to be kind to yourself.

Note: however you’re doing with goals you set is just fine, thankyouverymuch. Cut yourself some slack.

Also, I wish I could just read you this week’s book front to back, but I’ll have to settle for sharing with you my favorite tidbits. Amy Poehler delivers some A+++ advice, and I’ll give you my top highlights after reading it 4 times (!)

Comment LINK for a link to this episode.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Unsolicited Advice - Dust off those New Year’s Resolutions: give yourself some props for how far you have come, and recalibrate if you must, so that you can finish out 2024 strong, with a nod toward those goals you set back in January, when 2024 was but a dream.

Unrequired Reading - Yes Please by Amy Poehler

This week on the pod we are shocked SHOCKED I SAY to realize we are officially halfway through 2024 (!!!) And what perfe...
24/06/2024

This week on the pod we are shocked SHOCKED I SAY to realize we are officially halfway through 2024 (!!!) And what perfect time to take a peak back at those new year’s resolutions and see how it’s going…come for the accountability buddy, stay for the reminder to be kind to yourself. Note: however you’re doing with goals you set is just fine, thankyouverymuch

Sneak Peak of Unrequired Reading - Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I wish I could just read you her book front to back, but I’ll have to settle for sharing with you my favorite pancake-y tidbits. Poehler delivers some A+++ advice!

[NEW EPISODE] In part 2 of the happiness series, we dive back into the quest for happiness, but this time time from a ne...
18/06/2024

[NEW EPISODE] In part 2 of the happiness series, we dive back into the quest for happiness, but this time time from a new vantage point, by staring unhappiness square in the eye and asking it, what’s its deal?? Seriously.

We will question whether happiness is really better then being unhappy (or just has better publicists) and find out what we can learn from putting on our unhappy pants and sitting with negative feelings.

Comment LINK for a link to this episode.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Unsolicited Advice - Put on your unhappy pants and let negative emotions run around in the yard. Bonus content: noodle on the advice from the proudly unhappy, How to Live Unhappily Ever After essay by Augusten Buroughs and How to Be Unhappy comic by Matthew Inman (aka The Oatmeal)

Unrequired Reading - Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin

This week on the pod I’m excited to deliver the Part Two in my Happiness series wherein the “stack o’ pancakes” is that ...
17/06/2024

This week on the pod I’m excited to deliver the Part Two in my Happiness series wherein the “stack o’ pancakes” is that maybe it’s possible to be perfectly unhappy. (And also you should watch the Netflix documentary on “We are the world.” I swear it’ll all make sense).

To make a long story short (too late) I’m also stoked to share an essay by and a smart and thoughtful comic by Matthew Inman of

Sneak Peak of Unrequired Reading - Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin

To the 453 people who have said AHH READ THE NEW  BOOK IM DOING IT YALL. I loooooved The Great Alone so I am excited for...
15/06/2024

To the 453 people who have said AHH READ THE NEW BOOK IM DOING IT YALL. I loooooved The Great Alone so I am excited for this literary journey. Thanks for telling me to buy it ASAP.

Nothing can soothe the soul like a library and this particular one also makes me time travel. Quick trip to  at both my ...
11/06/2024

Nothing can soothe the soul like a library and this particular one also makes me time travel. Quick trip to at both my alma mater and former place of employment and I’m 20 30 and 41 all at the same time. Weeeeird. Loved meeting the thoughtful new (to me) library’s director Patrick Morgan and talking books and library programming

[NEW EPISODE] This week we are celebrating the start of summer with a special episode, wherein I recommend great books t...
04/06/2024

[NEW EPISODE] This week we are celebrating the start of summer with a special episode, wherein I recommend great books to read for FIVE vacation destinations (which somehow turns into SEVEN books cuz deciding between books is haaaaard). Scroll to see pics of all the books!

If you’ve been puzzling over what to bring in your suitcase don’t worry, I’ve got you covered, and then some!!

Comment LINK for a link to listen!

IN THIS EPISODE:

Unsolicited Advice - Find time to read this summer. Set an easy-to-achieve reading goal and let ME celebrate it by sending you snail mail. (And stickers!)

Unrequired Reading - Malibu Rising by , House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, Empire Falls by Richard Russo, The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

This week the “stack o’ pancakes” is that summer is HERE and I have a special Summer Reading episode planned, wherein I ...
03/06/2024

This week the “stack o’ pancakes” is that summer is HERE and I have a special Summer Reading episode planned, wherein I recommend great books to read for FIVE vacation destinations (which somehow turns into SEVEN books cuz y’all, deciding between books is hard).

If you’ve been puzzling over what to bring in your suitcase don’t worry, I’ve got you!!

Sneak Peak of Unrequired Reading - SO MANY BOOKS. Malibu Rising. The House in the Ceruelean Sea. The Color of Magic. Empire Falls. AND MORE.

[NEW EPISODE] I’m lazy.” “I wish I was more motivated.” We’ve all been there, languishing in the hope that we could do m...
28/05/2024

[NEW EPISODE] I’m lazy.” “I wish I was more motivated.” We’ve all been there, languishing in the hope that we could do more, be better, and achieve higher if only we could find the motivation. But y’all, motivation is a whack concept.

Instead of looking around corners and under your doormat for that missing motivation, we will go deep into understanding how building habits, a more sustainable and logical practice, can be the key to unlocking forward momentum.

For a direct link to listen, comment LINK. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

Unsolicited Advice - Give up looking for motivation and labeling yourself as lazy. Instead, focus on creating and maintaining habits that tap into your energy cycles and are sustainable in your daily life.

Unrequired Reading - Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt, the first book in the Tillerman Cycle YA series

Stacks is back to tell you about this week’s episode! (Also👏👏👏 to listener  for giving my adorable oancake bussy their n...
27/05/2024

Stacks is back to tell you about this week’s episode! (Also👏👏👏 to listener for giving my adorable oancake bussy their name. Now I just need some tiny seasonally appropriate hats… to complete the lewk)

This week on the pod, I explain why you should take the word lazy out of your vocabulary and stop looking for motivation in all the wrong places. Because y’all, motivation is a whack concept. Instead, we will talk about how tapping into habits can give you the progress you’ve been searching for.

Sneak Peak of Unrequired Reading - Cynthia Voight’s Award Winning YA classic series, The Tillerman Cycle (Book 1 - Homecoming)

(ALSO. If you know where I can get a paperback of Solitary Blue to match this series I’ll be your best friend and buy you an ice cream. Because the mismatch has driven me bananas for years.)

Spent a lovely rainy afternoon with the .il enjoying shepherd’s pie and being delightfully destroyed by Oliver Burkeman’...
26/05/2024

Spent a lovely rainy afternoon with the .il enjoying shepherd’s pie and being delightfully destroyed by Oliver Burkeman’s “4000 Weeks: Time Management Mortals.” It has enough food for thought it might be the subject of two podcasts. (Afternoon made merrier by cute book earrings from and my Nancy Drew sweatshirt from )

25/05/2024

Itsy Bitsy Book Review!
Title: In the Woods
Author: Tana French

If you ask me for a book rec out of the blue, I will likely enthusiastically shout at you about Tana French and her Dublin Murder Squad series (this is the first). It really puts the thrill on thriller. (Warning: Do not pick up unless you are ready to ignore your family and responsibilities).

If you are itching to hear me rave about it even more, check out my pod episode this week where I talk about it (and hear my tips on how to try to read more). BOOKZ RULE.

Sidebar: Though I have been a rabid fan for over a decade, I was absolutely shook to learn that she is American (though a longtime resident of Dublin). Because in the series she really makes Dublin come alive!

Question: What’s your favorite mystery?

I launched the podcast segment “I DO mean to brag” to give personal cheer for accomplishments big and small. Why? Becaus...
23/05/2024

I launched the podcast segment “I DO mean to brag” to give personal cheer for accomplishments big and small. Why? Because it’s good to be proud of yourself, but it’s also hard! So let me do it for you!

WAHOOOOOO for this and last week's brags which go out to Pam (for finally trying stand-up) and Jennifer (for advocating for the wrongly imprisoned)

Tune in to the full episode(s) to hear more about what they did and why I think they RULE. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥳🥳🥳

And DM me to get a brag for yourself or someone else who deserves it!

[NEW EPISODE] “I wish I read more.” It’s a common refrain. We cannot give you the gift of time (bummer sauce)but what we...
21/05/2024

[NEW EPISODE] “I wish I read more.” It’s a common refrain. We cannot give you the gift of time (bummer sauce)but what we can do is give you some tips that might make it easier to get more reading in your life.

Plus, we share some new ideas for episode segments (Reading Attache and Solicited Advice) and would LOVE your feedback! Tell us what you think!

For a direct link to listen, comment LINK. 

IN THIS EPISODE:
6 Tips to Try to read more books in any format (audio, or original recipe). Check out the ⁠bingo card from Pop Sugar.⁠ Also referenced in this section, ⁠4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals ⁠by Oliver Burkeman

Unrequired Reading - ⁠In the Woods⁠ by Tana French, first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series

i DO mean to Brag - Jennifer for advocating for the wrongfully convicted

Season Two is coming in hot with what might be my favorite series of ALL TIME. All time. Did I just say that? About book...
20/05/2024

Season Two is coming in hot with what might be my favorite series of ALL TIME. All time. Did I just say that? About books? SHOTS FIRED. It’s tough to pick favorites but I’m doing it so I can help YOU figure out how to read more!

Sneak Peek of Unrequired Reading - Tana French’s deliciously thrilling Dublin Murder Squad

Tired of your lying brain shouting at you? Finding it a challenge to move ahead on your goals? Therapy might help with t...
14/05/2024

Tired of your lying brain shouting at you? Finding it a challenge to move ahead on your goals? Therapy might help with these quandaries, but only if you find a therapist who really gets you. And who has the time?!

Finding a therapist can seem like a confusing task in futility...(some might say a Sisyphean endeavor) but no more!

For a direct link to listen, comment LINK.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Unsolicited Advice - 3 Steps to take to find your “mean” therapist and how therapy helped to get this podcast out in the world

Unrequired Reading - Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb

i DO Mean to Brag - Pam (Stand-Up Brag)

Introducing my own lil stack of pancakes. 😍😍😍😍😍😍 I can’t believe I have a catchphrase and a pod mascot! 🥹 Biiiig thanks ...
13/05/2024

Introducing my own lil stack of pancakes. 😍😍😍😍😍😍 I can’t believe I have a catchphrase and a pod mascot! 🥹

Biiiig thanks to listener for gifting it to me and making my absolute freaking DAY with this adorable delight.

Q: What should I name them?? Gimme your best names!

Also, sneak peak of Unrequired Reading. This week on the pod I’ll be taking about Laurie Gottlieb’s amazing book “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.”

Last week we talked about the climb toward happiness and this week we will talk about the fall, “Happiness Falls” that i...
07/05/2024

Last week we talked about the climb toward happiness and this week we will talk about the fall, “Happiness Falls” that is, the acclaimed novel by NYT Bestselling author . And we are shocked to say we actually got to talk WITH Angie Kim about her book! (!!!!!)

And if that wasn’t enough, Angie shares three Unrequired Reading recommendations, all books that she frequently read while writing her book, “voicey books” with great characters. 

Scroll to see the books Angie recommended! To get a direct link to listen to this episode, comment LINK.

IN THIS EPISODE:

A Conversation with Angie Kim - Topics include her fascinating career pivots, the inspiration for the novel “Happiness Falls,” her writing process with the quest for “one good sentence,” and managing your happiness baseline.

Unrequired Reading (from Angie Kim) - Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Chemistry by Weike Wang, and Swampland! By Karen Russell

!

Well hi there! So glad you’re here! Dropping this post to share who I am and what I’m about. Thanks for stopping by!    ...
03/05/2024

Well hi there! So glad you’re here! Dropping this post to share who I am and what I’m about. Thanks for stopping by!

I launched a podcast segment “I DO mean to brag” where I give personal cheer for accomplishments big and small. Why? Bec...
02/05/2024

I launched a podcast segment “I DO mean to brag” where I give personal cheer for accomplishments big and small. Why? Because it’s good to be proud of yourself. But it’s also hard! So imma do it for you each week on the pod!

WAHOOOOOO for this week’s brags which go out to (for spreading awareness for AAC) and (for adjusting her run goals)

Tune in to the full episode to hear more about what they did and why they RULE. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥳🥳🥳

And DM me to get a brag for yourself or someone else who deserves it!

Tomorrow (Tuesday) on the pod I talk about one of these books that I purchased (from ) on independent bookstore day. And...
29/04/2024

Tomorrow (Tuesday) on the pod I talk about one of these books that I purchased (from ) on independent bookstore day. And then the NEXT WEEK I’ll speak with the author of said book (saaay whaaaaat?!) if you need me, I’ll be over here flailing with excited Kermit arms.

Behold a frantic round-up of photos from my first (and definitely not last) Independent Book Store Day! Whereupon I met ...
28/04/2024

Behold a frantic round-up of photos from my first (and definitely not last) Independent Book Store Day! Whereupon I met new book club pals, rode in a limo, chatted up my little pod, and visited 15 bookstores in one day. Teen Ashlie wouldn’t even know how to process such a fun time. (Scroll to see my full haul and the teeniest tiniest Room of One’s Own earrings!!)

Behold a frantic round-up of photos from my first (and definitely not last) Independent Book Store Day! Whereupon I met ...
28/04/2024

Behold a frantic round-up of photos from my first (and definitely not last) Independent Book Store Day! Whereupon I met new book club pals, rode in a limo, chatted up my little pod, and visited 15 bookstores in one day. Teen Ashlie wouldn’t even know how to process such a fun time. (Scroll to see my full haul and the teeniest tiniest Room of One’s Own earrings!!)

We did it! 15 bookstores in one day! All it took was one limo, a strict timeline, and determination. Met so many great p...
27/04/2024

We did it! 15 bookstores in one day! All it took was one limo, a strict timeline, and determination. Met so many great people both people working at bookstores and fellow shoppers: book people are the best people. Thanks Chicago for a great day!

What a fun crew to spend the day with going to 15 bookstores for independent bookstore day!! Thanks  for organizing, and...
27/04/2024

What a fun crew to spend the day with going to 15 bookstores for independent bookstore day!! Thanks for organizing, and to Dan for keeping us on track.

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