If you're an FBI agent, police officer, or New York City neighborhood watch--you may want to avert your ears. For some reason, this season of Unseriously drew out all the illicit stories from our guests. It's not everyone, but there's a definite theme: crime. Hope you enjoy all this fun from Robin Preiss Glasser, Chris Ammen, Elizabeth Passarella, James Spann, and Jose Sarduy. See you in November for season 4!
This season of Unseriously kicks off with the man, the myth, the legend: James Spann. A 30+ year public servant keeping Alabama safe in severe weather, this is a different sort of interview for Alabama's favorite meme-able weatherman. James brings his passion for gas station food and throws down the culinary gauntlet for some of Birmingham's bougie to try and top that one gas station in Edwardsville off US 78. (Yes, you read that right.)
He talks about his dedication to VBS, wisely teaches us not to miss the Adamsville Walmart, and tells us what will make his protective heart "go Butler County on you real quick."
Basically, it's a priceless interview.
You can find James on any television within 150 miles of an Alabama state line during a weather emergency, but during clear skies look for him on the brand new Alabama Weather Network, his collaborative netcast Weather Brains, or on his home station, ABC33/40.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Swap your car for alternate side parking, pick up a Wendy's baked potato with chili, buckle up your thin patent leather belt and settle in for some nostalgic snickering with writer and funnywoman Elizabeth Passarella. Elizabeth and Holly will weigh the merits of nude nail polish, marvel at Anna Wintour's brilliance, and quote Almost Famous til they're sure everyone hears the train.
Oh, and Elizabeth will also give some wise words for writers or those who want to be.
Find Elizabeth on Instagram or behind the paywall at The New York Times or New York Magazine, and don't miss her two laugh til you cry memoirs, Good Apple and It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
The delightful Robin Preiss Glasser, illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series (among many, many other books), brings her joyful personality to Unseriously to talk about how she should win any Cher lookalike contest, hands down. In this episode, she and Holly will discuss disappointing her youngest fans by not actually BEING Fancy Nancy, their mutual love for ballet, and how some fans have taken their affection for Fancy Nancy to epic...permanent...body art proportions.
You can find Robin on Instagram, and be sure not to miss all the fun in honor of Nancy's 20th anniversary this year. The newest addition to the Fancy Nancy catalog from Robin and author Jane O'Connor, Besties for Eternity, is out now and be sure not to miss this episode of Unseriously, which did you know is a fancy way to say FUN?
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Since Joel Muddamalle wrote the book on humility, it's only right that his name should be misspelled on his new book, right?! (jk, they already fixed it...)
Join Holly as she interviews Dr. Joel Muddamalle on his penchant for a tick check, swaps stories of academic mishaps, and high fives his wife for reminding Coach Muddamalle that what he says on a sideline is inextricably linked to his witness. (psst...David Mackle: the refs can HEAR YOU.)
Find Joel on Instagram or on his Substack, Humble Theology.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Don't miss this episode of Unseriously with the dynamic duo of Jill Phillips and Andy Gullahorn-Phillips. They'll share their expertise on parenting with humor, excellent podcast recs, and the widely under-appreciated ancient Norse mythological "gjallarhorn." (Totally a thing--I looked it up.)
Andy and Jill will sweetly say their favorite things about each other, talk about the ongoing high five, and pretend they don't regularly discuss how much money David Mackle owes them.
Andy's brand new album Winning Streak is now available wherever you stream, as is Jill's extensive catalog. Mackles recommend the songs "All the Good Things," "Teenagers," and "Weird People" as excellent places to start, plus their Christmas album is a constant during our holidays.
Find Jill on Instagram, Andy on Instagram and Patreon, or at his web site, andygullahorn.com.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
HEY UNCLE JAMIE!
Karina Yan Glaser of the beloved Vanderbeekers series is on Unseriously to talk NYC sanitation department, plot holes, and the perfect Big Apple day. She'll tell Holly how Robert Caro's The Power Broker brought her and her husband together, how she accidentally became a marathoner, and about a new don't-miss show on Broadway.
Karina is the author of the brand new book The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli, and a super fun follow on Instagram. She's an author who really honors her fans with return mail, and the young fans living in your house can drop her a line at
PO Box 1017
New York, NY 10037.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
It's the Summer Bonus PG Episode!
*Fair Warning: Find Jose Sarduy's clean comedy specials with Dry Bar Comedy on YouTube here and here. Anywhere else is the wild, wild west...don't send me an email.
My Covid lockdown habit was Dry Bar with a side of Tiger King (what was yours?) and that's where I was first introduced to the one, the only JOOOOOEY SAAAATURDAY...er...Jose Sarduy. Since then he's managed to overturn the giggle box of my entire family and just about all of my friends, so it feels only right that he should be invited to Unseriously.
I'd watch the Dry Bar specials with grown-up ears only first just to make sure you're good with them, but if they clear your content filters I can't wait to hear what lines your family latches on to.
Ladies and gentlemen, Joey Saturday.
You can keep up with Jose on his web site (including finding upcoming shows) or on his Instagram or Facebook. Heads up (per Jose) that tour dates at theaters and cruise ships are generally PG but bar or comedy club appearances where he's workshopping new stuff...not necessarily so much.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Why would we ever believe Symphony brownies to be the brain trust of anyone other than the lovely Kate Strickler of the Naptime Kitchen?! Of course she created them in her basement kitchen where she also happens to mass manufacture Symphony candy bars - spread the word.
Kate's new book, I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen, And Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy, releases in August, 2025, and you can preorder here.
On this episode, Kate and Holly had such fun talking favorite sauces, favorite Instagram follows, and unfavorite family vacations. Ina and Ree will make appearances. (OKAY but only in shout-outs.) So will @raisingcades10, @the_car_mom, and @brunchwithbabs.
Recipes mentioned include:
Tate's Dulce de Leche Icebox Cake
Ree Drummond's Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies
And, of course, ICD. Recipe below!
Aunt Terri's Ice Cream Dessert, also known as ICD
you need:
1 family size roll Pillsbury Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie dough, baked as cookies (crunchy but not burned)
1 container Breyer's Natural Vanilla ice cream (the one with the visible vanilla beans)
1 jar Smuckers caramel topping
Set the ice cream on the counter to partly melt while you bake the cookies to crispy but not burned. Once cookies are baked, crumble about 2/3 into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Drizzle about 2/3 of the jar of caramel sauce over the cookies, then scoop the entire container of melty ice cream over the caramely cookies. Spread this out smooth. Top with the rest of the crumbled cookies and drizzle with the remainder of the caramel sauce. Freeze for several hours--overnight is best. Before serving, set on counter for 5 minutes.
Find Kate on Instagram, @naptimekitchen, Symphony bars at your favorite grocer, and the Strickler family anywhere other than Disneyworld.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
It's a summer bonus episode with Elizabeth Woodson! Elizabeth is a Bible teacher, founder of The Woodson Institute, and host of the podcasts Starting Place and Culture Matters. Her latest study, Live Free, A Study of Galatians is out now.
On this episode we'll talk church potlucks, sneaker fashion, that big ole slide at Trail Dust and - of course - discipleship.
Wikipedia and my 9th grade history teacher would like to remind us all that the Battle of Hastings in 1066 resulted in the Norman conquest of England and the establishment of a new ruling dynasty--the same one that continues to this day.
And I'd like to remind us all that we can find Elizabeth on Instagram, but note that her handle has changed since we recorded this episode. She's no longer @missjazzyliz but @elizabethwoodson. You won't want to miss her theological moments on the IG.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Yep, she's just as funny as you'd hope she'd be.
Join Holly for some humor and heart with singer/songwriter Taylor Leonhardt of her eponymous solo career, her duo act with Jess Ray called Mission House, and her all-star girl band Paper Horses with Leslie Jordan, Sandra McCracken, and Jess Ray.
Taylor and Holly will discuss the proper spelling of unconventional roasted meats, Taylor's skill level at Bubble Spinner, and Mandy Moore's hair.
Adele and Usher will both get shout-outs. Leigh Nash...we see you following us down the produce aisle.
Oh yeah, there will also be lots of hope for the dark places.
Find Taylor online or on Instagram, Mission house on their Instagram, and the correct spelling of CABANA in the introductory pages of the spelling bee handbook.
Happy summer! It's a Summer Bonus episode of Unseriously!
Up today it's Chris Ammen, founder and publisher of Kaleidoscope Kids Bibles. In this episode Holly airs some last name beef, learns about the candy bomb, and hears a story about Chris crossing the line with The Law--as only a pastor could do. (Facepalm.)
You can find Kaleidoscope on Instagram, and Chris' new book, Raising Disciples at Home: Nurturing Your Kids Into Faithful Followers of Jesus, from Harvest House Publishers.
Holly has written two volumes for Kaleidoscope--Bright Star: The Story of Esther, also available on Yoto, and the latest, Kingdom Come: Ezra & Nehemiah.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Unseriously is back! And it's one for the ear buds, parents. In this PG episode it isn't so much the silliness that toed the line toward a PG rating, but more so it's grown-up talk about getting rid of "the talk," spoiling a picture book that your kids might like to experience for themselves, and processing one of our favorite Bible teacher's theological educational experiences. Four of season 2's fabulous guests will make an appearance: Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson from Birds & Bees, Daniel Nayeri, and Amy Gannett of Tiny Theologians.
Hope you enjoy and will you tell a friend about Unseriously? When you spread the word it helps us book the guests you want to hear!
See you soon for summer bonus episodes!
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Join in the fun as Amy and Holly talk American Girl dolls, mistaken identities, and mishaps at the DMV. There will be black eyes.
You can find all things Amy and Tiny Theologians on Instagram @amycategannett and @tinytheologians, or online at https://www.tinytheologians.shop.
Additional resources mentioned:
Through the Wardrobe, How C.S. Lewis Created Narnia by Lina Maslow
Finding Narnia, The Story of C.S. Lewis and His Brother by Caroline McAlister and Jessica Lenan
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Fun Police: looking for a Persian man. Talks with his hands. Doesn't leave the house without Newbery medal. Enemies include Subway. Goes by the alias, "The Humble Rumble."
Holly would like to take this opportunity to apologize to Jon Foreman and also clarify that she was far away from him... like... at least 30 yards. It should also be noted that Daniel's Jon Foreman story would be equally creepy were it to take place in the modern era.
Everything Sad Is Untrue is on the list of books Holly recommends to anyone, at any time. Also don't miss The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams, and look for The Teacher of Nomad Land, coming soon. You can follow Daniel Nayeri on Instagram, Holly Mackle also on Instagram, and Jon Foreman at the Colonial Williamsburg Merchant's Square.
Also, The Internet would like you to not put mustard on burns.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright of the acoustic pop quartet Act of Congress, who have a Christmas catalog and a brand new collection of hymn arrangements. To listen to their music or book them at your venue or church, visit actofcongressmusic.com.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously on Instagram @hollymacklebooks.
Tara Sun joins Holly to reminisce on their days folding sweaters working retail, and compare notes on their favorite card game.
Tara and Holly reference the delightful Slugs & Bugs.
Tara is a writer, podcaster, and mom of two boys. She is the author of Surrender Your Story: Ditch the Myth of Control and Discover Freedom in Trusting God, a collaborator on Hey Friend: 31 Journaling Devotions on Friendship, and host of the Truth Talks with Tara podcast. You can find her on Instagram, @misstarasun.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright of the acoustic pop quartet Act of Congress. Adam and the members of this unique band have played together for nearly two decades both stateside and abroad, even collaborating with symphonies. To stay up to date on all things Act of Congress, make sure to follow them on Instagramand Facebook.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Warning: this episode is likely to make you hungry for cheese straws, pimento cheese, and rocking on the front porch swing with sweet tea in one hand and a lesser known Mark Twain novel in the other.
Find all things Sean Dietrich at seandietrich.com, or follow Sean on Instagram.
Brand new collections from Sean:
and
Tomato Sandwiches Are Eaten Over the Sink
In this romp of an episode, Sean and Holly reference many far corners of the postmodern world including:
Gary Larson's got NEW STUFF
old jazz standard: All the Things You Are
classic: Come Rain or Shine
Special thanks to Labcorp.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. Find them online or on Instagram, @cornerroommusic.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Amy Grimes is Thankful. Thankful she never saw a snake, thankful for the one See Wee doll, thankful for her Pop's foresight and insistence on responsible map distribution.
Pull out your binoculars and peer over the knoll at Chipmunk Hazzard to keep an eye out for a second episode from Amy coming soon. In that delight of an Unseriously Gets Serious episode, Amy will speak at length on craft, and you don't have to be a painter to appreciate her wisdom and creativity.
You can follow along with Amy on her website or Instagram, and find her newest release on preorder. Amy's book with Ann Voskamp, Your Brave Song, is available now.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. Find them online or on Instagram, @cornerroommusic.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
...but Holly isn't jealous or anything.
In this episode we'll have some fun with Mary Flo and Megan of Birds & Bees, the online course that gives parents the tools and confidence they need to talk to their young kids about sex. This is the G-rated episode--keep an eye out for a more full discussion with Birds & Bees content when the PG episode drops.
You can find all the real-deal Birds & Bees content on their website, or follow them on Instagram.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright of the acoustic pop quartet Act of Congress. Adam and the members of this unique band have played together for nearly two decades both stateside and abroad, even collaborating with symphonies. To stay up to date on all things Act of Congress, make sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.
Heads up, parents of little ones, this is one for the ear buds. It's all the delightful PG-rated content from four of season 1's guests: Portia Collins, Elizabeth Santelmann, Abbey Wedgeworth, and Katherine Wolf. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to rate Unseriously on your favorite podcasting platform. See you soon for season 2!
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of The Corner Room, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on Instagram.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously @hollymacklebooks.