Bookish Talks with Lia – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to Bookish Talks with Lia! 🎙️ I'm your host, Lia Ross Reads. This is the very first episode of a podcast that's been in the works for over a year, and I’m thrilled (and a little nervous) to finally be here with you.

In this episode, I’m taking you on a journey through my personal story—how I came to know Christ, how my bookstagram community Lia Ross Reads began, and the heart behind starting this podcast.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure—don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more! 

Disclaimer: This is our first episode, so thanks for bearing with us as we iron out the sound quality and other details. We appreciate your patience and support as we get started!

Connect with Lia Ross Reads:

• Instagram: @liarossreads
• Facebook: Lia Ross Reads

Follow the Podcast:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Follow on Spotify

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by Dr. Natalie Brand, theologian, Bible teacher, and author of The Scuttlebutt Letters. Together, we explore why theology is crucial for every Christian woman, how understanding doctrine strengthens our faith, and how Natalie makes theology accessible, especially for women who feel intimidated by it.

Episode Highlights:

• Dr. Natalie Brand's Journey: From her personal life in the UK to how her passion for theology grew and led her to write empowering books for women.
• Why Theology for Women?: The importance of theology for every believer and how Natalie encourages women to engage deeply with doctrine.
• Overcoming Intimidation: Practical advice on overcoming the fear of studying theology and diving into theological discussions.
• Top 3 Christian Books: Natalie’s top three books that have shaped her theology and how readers can break out of routine Scripture reading.
• The Scuttlebutt Letters: A discussion on Natalie’s latest book, which creatively explores the power of the tongue using biblical wisdom and satire.

Connect with Natalie Brand:

Instagram: @nataliebrandauthor

Books Mentioned in this episode:

• Priscilla, Where Are You? A Call to Joyful Theology by Dr. Natalie Brand
• The Scuttlebutt Letters: Words to a Wild Tongue by Dr. Natalie Brand
• Crazy but True: Connected to Jesus for Life by Natalie Brand
• Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray
• The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
• On the Incarnation  by Saint Athanasius the Great
• Blessed: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Revelation by Nancy Guthrie
• Memorizing Scripture: The Basics, Blessings, and Benefits of Meditating on God's Word by Glenna Marshall
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 
• John Piper books
• Anne of Green Gables series

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠
• Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, we sit down with Oghosa Iyamu, the founder of Un.Scrambled—an online community dedicated to bringing clarity to life’s confusion through Scripture. Oghosa shares her journey as a Christian content creator and writer, providing valuable insights on living out your faith in practical ways, the challenges of creating content, and how to deepen your connection with God's Word.

Episode Highlights:

• Oghosa’s journey to launching Un.Scrambled and becoming a Christian content creator
• Challenges and rewards of creating theologically rich, engaging content
• Oghosa’s writing process and biggest influences
• Favorite Christian books that have impacted her faith
  

Connect with Oghosa:

• Instagram: ⁠@un.scrambled
• Oghosa’s (In)Courage article: I Am a Writer with Dyslexia and I Bear Witness to God’s Grace

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

-⁠⁠Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry by Paul David Tripp

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: ⁠@liarossreads⁠
• Instagram: ⁠@bookishtalkspodcast
  

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I sit down with Bailey T. Hurley, friendship coach and author of Together Is a Beautiful Place. We explore the beauty and challenge of building and maintaining godly friendships as Christian women. Bailey shares her insights on navigating friendship breakups, healing from past hurts, and how to foster deep, Christ-centered relationships even in the midst of busy seasons like motherhood. Whether you're looking to cultivate new friendships or strengthen existing ones, Bailey offers practical wisdom to help you live out godly friendships in a meaningful way.

Episode Highlights:

• Bailey's journey to becoming a friendship coach and author of Together Is a Beautiful Place
• The inspiration behind her book and why godly friendships are crucial for Christian women
• The biggest challenges Christian women face in forming and maintaining lasting friendships
• Practical tips for cultivating friendships during busy seasons like motherhood or grad school

• How to heal from friendship hurt and rebuild trust after being hurt by friends
• Recognizing when it’s time to gracefully end a friendship and how to handle it with compassion
• Balancing online and offline friendships while staying authentic in an age of social media

Connect with Bailey:

• Instagram: @bailey.t.hurley
• Website: baileythurley.com
• Order your copy of Together Is a Beautiful Place: Finding, Keeping, and Loving Our Friends

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

-⁠The Company We Keep: In Search of Biblical Friendship⁠ by Jonathan Holmes

-The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally and Sarah Clarkson

-Girls' Club: Cultivating Lasting Friendship in a Lonely World by Sally, Sarah & Joy Clarkson

*Disclaimer: We Should Get Together by Kat Vellos and Friendfluence by Carlin Flora are not Christian books. While they offer valuable insights on the topic of friendships, there may be ideas or language in these works that do not fully align with the values and beliefs upheld by Lia Ross Reads. As always, we encourage readers to approach these resources with discernment and hold them up to the truth of Scripture.

Connect with Lia:

• Bookstagram: @liarossreads
• Instagram: @bookishtalkspodcast

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, Lia Ross sits down with Jonathan Holmes, Founder and Executive Director of Fieldstone Counseling, to discuss how parents can help their children build a Christ-centered identity. Drawing from his experience in biblical counseling and insights from his new book, Grounded in Grace, Jonathan offers practical guidance on navigating the pressures teens face today.

Even if you don’t have children, this episode is still relevant, as Jonathan addresses the extremes of mental health within Christian culture and the importance of a balanced, biblical approach.
Episode Highlights:

• Jonathan’s journey into biblical counseling and its unique benefits.
• Guiding children to root their identity in Christ, not societal pressures.
• Addressing mental health extremes—spiritual avoidance vs. secular thinking—and the balance biblical counseling offers.
• Practical tools for reinforcing a Christ-centered identity and the church’s role in supporting families.

Connect with Jonathan: Follow Jonathan on Instagram: @akjonathanholmes

Order your copy of Jonathan’ Holmes’ new book Grounded in Grace: Helping Kids Build Their Identity in Christ

Amazon

New Growth Press 

*affiliate links

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

-The Company We Keep: In Search of Biblical Friendship by Jonathan Holmes

-Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age by Melissa Kruger 

-Holiness by Grace: Delighting in the Joy That Is Our Strength by Bryan Chapell

-Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change, Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp 

-Confessions by St. Augustine 

-Together Is a Beautiful Place: Finding, Keeping, and Loving Our Friends by Bailey T. Hurley

Looking for virtual biblical counseling?

Check out Fieldstone Counseling: https://fieldstonecounseling.org

What if your weakness wasn’t something to hide, but the very place God wants to show His strength? In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by Bible teacher and author Christine Hoover to talk about her new Bible study, More Than Enough: God’s Strength in Our Weakness in 2 Corinthians.

Christine shares how 2 Corinthians speaks directly to our struggles with inadequacy, and how God's power meets us right where we are. We talk about ministry life, cultural messages of self-sufficiency, and how spiritual maturity often begins with surrender. This conversation is full of encouragement, truth, and hope for anyone who has ever felt not enough.

So grab your coffee or tea and let’s get started!

In This Episode:

• Christine’s story of coming to Christ and becoming a Bible teacher
• Why 2 Corinthians is especially powerful for today’s believers
• What Scripture really says about weakness and why it matters
• How God's strength shows up in our everyday struggles
• Encouragement for those who feel inadequate or overwhelmed
• A simple practice Christine uses to stay rooted in God's Word
• What spiritual maturity looks like and how to grow in it
  

Resources and Links:
📖 More Than Enough Bible Study
To connect with Christine, visit christinehoover.net or follow her on Instagram @christinehoover98

Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: @liarossreads
Instagram: @bookishtalkspodcast

 Embracing God’s Strength in Our Weakness with Christine Hoover

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by S. D. Smith, author of The Green Ember Series—an adventure saga that’s captivated over a million readers. We talk about the heart behind his storytelling, the enduring impact of rabbits with swords, and his exciting new project: Green Ember: Helmer in the Dragon Tomb—a novel releasing alongside its very own video game!

Sam shares what makes this new story special, what it's like writing a beloved prequel, and how this project blends timeless themes with a fresh format. If you love meaningful stories that stir up courage, virtue, and imagination, this conversation is for you.

 Mentioned in this episode:

• The Green Ember Series by S. D. Smith
• Green Ember: Helmer in the Dragon Tomb (NEW prequel novel + game)
• Kickstarter campaign for the book & video game

Support the Kickstarter campaign through this link

Explore S. D. Smith’s books:
https://sdsmith.com/books

Connect with Sam

• Website: https://sdsmith.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sdsmithereens
• Story Warren: https://storywarren.com

Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: @liarossreads
Instagram: @bookishtalkspodcast

In this episode, I’m joined by Alicia Hamilton—an author and passionate college ministry leader with a heart for discipleship. Alicia’s work focuses on helping young adults deepen their faith in a pivotal season of life.

We’ll dive into her journey of writing, ministry, and discipleship, exploring how she balances creativity with spiritual growth. You’ll also hear about her devotional, Eternity in Our Hearts, and the incredible lessons she’s learned along the way.

Episode Highlights:

• How Alicia’s passion for writing and ministry began
• The role of discipleship in college ministry and why it matters
• The process of writing Eternity in Our Hearts and lessons from Ecclesiastes
• Staying spiritually refreshed while pouring into others

Connect with Alicia:
Instagram

Threads

Substack

Book link: Eternity in Our Hearts with Hosanna Revival

 Connect with Lia:Bookstagram: @liarossreadsInstagram: @bookishtalkspodcast

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by Holly Mackle—author, classical school librarian, and host of the Unseriously podcast. Holly wears many hats, and today, we’re diving into how she balances writing, podcasting, and working in a school library while creating meaningful content.

Whether you’re a fan of her books, interested in classical education, or curious about her new podcast, this conversation is for you. Holly shares her journey into writing, her passion for helping kids engage with literature, and the joys and challenges of launching a podcast.

We got a good laugh along the way, so grab your coffee or tea and join us for an insightful and fun conversation!

Connect with Holly Mackle:

• Unseriously Podcast
• Instagram: @hollymacklebooks

 Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: @liarossreads
Instagram: @bookishtalkspodcast