For the fiftieth episode of Life of Plenty, Lisa and Ashley host two incredible guests, Calvin Crosby of The King's English and Brain Food Books, along with Ann Kjellberg of Book Post.   Together they discuss the books that shaped their lives, ranging from comic books and Beverly Cleary's Ramona series, to Peter Pan, Ginger Pye in their childhoods all the way to Salmon Rushdie, Toni Morrison, and Michael Cunningham's books later on. Ann discusses what led her to writing the Book Post, and Calvin talks about his journey in the bookselling and book awards world.    Then they talk about what reading means to them: Infinite possibilities and life, itself.

On this episode of the Life of Plenty Podcast, Lisa goes solo to provide a breakdown of Putnam County's community read, The Anxious Generation, showing why it's such an important read. If you've been considering joining in with the community in reading and studying the book, this is an insightful guide that breaks down why too much cell phone use is having a negative impact on teens, and what we, as a community, can do about it. 

In this episode of Life of Plenty, Ashley and Lisa talk with educator Ryan Dalton and leader of the community-wide deep dive into The Anxious Generation. Together Plenty has partnered with Ryan and Restoring Childhood Putnam County to study the research on the long term effects of social media and cell phones on today's kids. But they're also questioning what we, as a community, can do to change it. 

In this latest episode of Life of Plenty, Lisa and Ashley discuss the upcoming community read of The Anxious Generation, spurred on by Ryan Dalton of Restoring Childhood in Putnam County. They discuss the adverse effects prolonged cell phone addiction has had on children’s lives since cell phones became increasingly poplular — along with the negative effects it has on our own.  Lisa and Ashley also look at the possibility of coming together as a community to tackle the issue, and how we can spend time away from technology and reconnect with our families and each other. Join us for the episode, and then join us for our community read of a book that could have a really positive impact on the way we live.

On this episode of Life of Plenty, Ashley is in the studio with none other than her husband, Tony Michael. Tony is a therapist and a professor at Tennessee Tech and dives into attachment theory and the benefits of reading with children.They discuss how just ten minutes a day can help form bonds, provide an emotional boost, and increase vocabulary, while providing structure — and why that matters.

On the latest episode of Life of Plenty podcast, Ashley and Lisa dive into the benefits of writing and how writing is an important aspect of book culture. They discuss how we are all writers, and the importance of writing by hand, along with the writing tools available at Plenty.

On this episode of Life of Plenty podcast, Lisa and Ashley talk about Independent Bookstore Day, happening April 26th, this Saturday! 

Life of Plenty host Lisa Uhrik talks with Jodi Pitts on her reading journey, from The Babysitter’s Club, the dictionary, and how reading Charlotte’s Web led her to steal a pig that would become a pet. Jodi also discusses reading multiple books at once, her favorite reads, and what she’d take on a trip to a deserted island.

In this episode of the Life of Plenty Podcast, Lisa and Ashley discuss meaningful books with Heather Babcock, formerly of Whirlwind Book Bar in Oklahoma. When Whirlwind closed, inventory and chairs from the store made their way to Plenty, so the store has lived on here in Cookeville. Heather shared some of the books that have impacted her, starting Nikki Erlick’s The Measure, a novel that asks if it was possible, would you want to know exactly how long you had to live? That question of time became more personal after she received a stage four cancer diagnosis. Other books discussed include The Harry Potter series, The Little Prince, The Little Liar, A Man Called Ove, and Radical Acts of Love, all of which have held meaning to Heather during different aspects of her life.

Lisa and Ashley sit down and chat with Tracey Hackett, the Book Pharmacist. Tracey talks about learning to read despite being diagnosed with dyslexia, and how she grew fond of books at an early age.   Then she discusses how during the pandemic, she obtained a certificate in bibliotherapy, the art of matching someone with a book prescribed to their situation, thus becoming the Book Pharmacist. Together they discuss finding hope and healing in books, and how it's not always self-help books that we need to read to learn something about ourselves.

This Life of Plenty episode features a special guest, Ashley's daughter, Wren! A voracious reader, Wren talks about books she remembers from earlier in her childhood, all the way back to board books and Dr. Seuss, to what she's reading now. (The Keeper of Lost Cities series.)    Lisa, Ashley, and Wren discuss traveling through reading, and how books can help you connect with what you're learning in school, like how Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series makes mythology come alive.    Wren also talks about rereading books and series that she loves, and starting off the day right with a good book.

On this episode of A Life of Plenty podcast, Lisa and Ashley do a deeper dive into The Pursuit of Happiness by Jeffrey Rosen, and talk about the fact that America was founded on virtues. Lisa briefly discusses her own book, America Becoming, and then they look forward to Jeffrey Rosen's upcoming appearance here in Cookeville. 

Plenty volunteer, Sara Kruszka, joins Ashley Michael on this episode of The Life of Plenty Podcast. She talks about books that shaped her, including Home for a Bunny that she couldn't remember the name of. And then discusses wanting to live in the woods like Laura Ingalls Wilder, be a detective like Nancy Drew, and the various book clubs she's a part of. Her and Ashley also talk about a Goodreads alternative that's so much more fun to use, Storygraph. 

On this episode of Life of Plenty, Lisa and Ashley do a deep dive into David Brooks' How to Know a Person. They discuss how important it is to be present in each others lives, and how to be a deep listener in order to really know someone. And inversely, Brooks describes how not to get to know a person.    This was the first staff-wide Plenty Bookshop read, because Lisa and Ashley believe in the importance of the book that much. 

On today's episode of Life and Plenty, Ashley and Lisa talk to Dr. Kathryn Wisinger about her reading ritual, and the books that got her into reading. She mentions favorites characters from childhood like Laura Ingalls Wilder and Harriet the Spy. More recent favorite authors include Amor Towles and Carlos Ruiz Zafón. And she also talks about her love of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and how the young adult novel is good for all ages teen and above.   

In this Life of Plenty episode, Lisa Uhrik sits down with Angie Wells, who talks about her lifelong love of reading, which she credits partly to the excitement of the Scholastic Book Fairs she attended in elementary school. From the devastating Where the Red Fern Grows to time traveling with Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction, Angie discusses books she’s loved.  Angie is a member of the advisory board for Plenty Downtown Bookshop, a nonprofit bookstore in Cookeville, Tennessee.

This episode of Life of Plenty Podcast welcomes back Ashley Michael as she and Lisa Uhrik host Chris McMichael, author of an 800+ page book focusing on botany and the Bible. This book, which Chris considers a calling, took him years to write and research and dives deep into the remarkable symbology of the plants found in the Bible.

On this Life of Plenty podcast, Lisa Uhrik is joined by radio host Emily Paton of the The Emily Paton Show and The Forgotten Song project. Emily talks about some of her favorite books, falling asleep to Harry Potter, reading in Braille, and how audiobooks are easier to comprehend. She also discusses how a good narrator can really make an audiobook.

On this episode of Life of Plenty, Lisa Uhrik and special guest Laura Clemons debate who loves books more. A writer and lifelong reader, Laura talks about the books and authors she loves.  She raves about southern writers Silas House, Ann Patchett, Monic Ductan, and Barbara Kingsolver and discusses why a book of poetry would help her get through being stuck on a deserted island. Laura talks about the 28-page rule and how reading has granted her sanity and the ability to understand the people around her, contributing to her life of plenty.

This episode may have been made for the holidays, but the books that Lisa recommends make amazing gifts year-round. Join her as she brainstorms gifts that can go to all sorts of people in your life, depending on their interests. Books make the best gifts with the ability to speak to the recipient’s soul. Find your book to gift at Plenty Downtown Bookshop in Cookeville, Tennessee.