Gigi Howard 5/13/25 Gigi Howard 5/13/25

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers with Emily James

In A Psalm for the Wild-Built ,Becky Chambers invites readers into a serene, post-collapse world where a wandering tea monk named Dex crosses paths with a curious robot, sparking a journey of introspection and philosophical wonder. Together, they explore what it means to be content, connected, and truly alive in a world that has learned to live gently.

My guest this week is Emily James, a marketing strategist who moved to Richmond 15 years ago to attend VCU and forgot to leave after graduation. Growing up, she always had her nose in a book and rediscovered her love of reading as an adult thanks to the pandemic, motherhood, and the Libby app. When she's not lost in a good story, you can find her watching reality TV, playing tabletop games, or spending time with her family.

Gigi Howard 3/18/25 Gigi Howard 3/18/25

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler with Gretchen Gales

Hello, Libration Nation! 📚✨ This week, we’re diving into Parable of the Sower by the legendary Octavia Butler. If you haven’t read it yet, get ready—it’s a powerful, thought-provoking novel that feels more relevant than ever.

My guest this week is the lovely Gretchen Gales, a writer, teacher, editor, and occasional artist. Her first poetry chapbook Agora Alien Buddha Press, 2023) is available now. Gretchen's work has also appeared in Ms., HuffPost, Next Avenue, YourTango, Well + Good, and others. See more of her work at www.writinggales.com.

Our drink this week is a green tea highball, which pairs with the Earthseed, which if you have read the book you know is a major part of the story, and if you haven't read the book yet, now is your chance!

Now one last thing, if you love this podcast, do me a favor—take a moment to review, give us a star rating, and most importantly, tell two friends about Drinks in the Library this week. It makes a huge difference!

Green Tea Highball