The Bibliotherapists Ep #19: Poorna Bell on Midlife Rage, Romance Novels and Radical Boundaries
Friday, March 6, 2026 • Duration 53:56
Hello everybody,
We’re back!
Series Three of The Bibliotherapists podcast opened STRONG with a brilliant bookish conversation with Poorna Bell, journalist, author, and creator of Substack publication As I Was Saying.
Poorna joined us live on Substack to talk about her new book, She Wanted More, a bold exploration of what happens when women stop waiting for permission and start asking for more from life, work and themselves.
“I want you to have a stronger voice within your own life and not feel guilty about advocating for your own choices.”
We spoke about:
* Why fiction is her true form of bibliotherapy
* The catharsis of writing about grief after losing her husband
* Why she refuses to finish books she doesn’t love
* The “reward” women are promised for good behaviour — and why it never arrives
* How she protects her time, energy and calendar in midlife
We also explored how her relationship with ambition, validation and boundaries has shifted in her 40s (and the curse of plan-cancelling friends).
The Bibliotherapists is hosted by Toni Jones, founder of The Shelf Help Club, and Tanya Lynch, therapeutic journaling coach and founder of Ease Retreats.
Each week, we speak to a writer or creative about:
* The books that shaped them
* How reading supports their wellbeing
* Their writing practice and reading habits
* How they use Substack as part of their creative ecosystem
We believe words heal. And we love asking other word nerds questions that get beneath the surface (as well as taking a tour through their book shelves).
** New episodes recorded live on Substack every week across March and April. Subscribe for all areas access at The Bibliotherapists.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebibliotherapists.substack.com
The Bibliotherapists S2 Ep #8: Matt Trinetti on the power of writing in community
Friday, August 29, 2025 • Duration 47:34
Welcome to the second series of The Bibliotherapists, and our FINAL episode, featuring MATT TRINETTI,a community builder, publisher, TED talker and the cofounder of London Writers’ Salon & Writers' Hour - aka the friendliest corner on the internet for writers.
A must-listen for aspiring writers and people considering a new adventure.
-
🎧 5 takeaways from our conversation with Matt
1. Writing as a Tool for Self-Discovery
Matt shares how journaling and writing helped him process grief, burnout, and career confusion, ultimately leading to personal breakthroughs.
“We all have something to say. The act of saying it is what changes us.”
2. Permission to Call Yourself a Writer
He encourages everyone to drop the imposter syndrome and claim their creative identity simply by showing up.
3. Community is Everything
The success of the London Writers’ Salon proves that while writing is often a solitary act, writing in community transforms the experience.
4. The Myth of Motivation
You don’t need to feel inspired to write; consistency, ritual and accountability matter more than fleeting passion.
“When you show up consistently to your writing, you show up more honestly in your life.”
5. Everyone Has a Story Worth Telling
Matt urges listeners to honour their unique perspectives, reminding us that “your story could be the light someone else needs.”
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Bibliotherapists Ep #9: Women Are Mad - Jen & Salima on reading for feeling & healing
Friday, January 17, 2025 • Duration 44:19
This week’s podcast episode is a brilliant double date, with Tanya and Toni joined by Salima Saxton and Jennifer Cox aka the founders of the feminist mental health platform, Women Are Mad.
Salima and Jen have been best friends since they met at Cambridge University, bonding over both being state school kids who didn’t quite fit. Today, Salima is a relationship dynamics coach and Jen is a Kleinian psychotherapist, and through Women Are Mad (WAM) they are on a mission to make feelings fashionable.
They say: “WAM is on a mission to help women recognise, articulate and communicate the best toolkit they have: their emotions.” (womenaremad.org)
This is a feisty and fabulous conversation featuring two friends with very different book shelves and reading histories, but a mutual love of stories and words as healing tools.
Psychotherapist Jen is also the author of ‘the best self-help book of 2024’ (The Times/The Sunday Times), Women are Angry👏👏👏 (are we sensing a theme here?!), and it was great to talk bibliotherapy with a real life therapist.
Interestingly, for a bookish podcast, there is quite a lot of chat about not reading, and swapping around our reading habits for other things as our mental and emotional health requires it.
Both women are dealing with pretty raw nervous systems right now, Jen after birthing her book baby, and Salima currently grieving the death of a father with whom she had a sad and complicated relationship.
And the big takeaway from this conversation for us is that life IS complicated.
And sometimes hard. And heartbreaking. But also gorgeous. And hilarious.
And that the right books at the right time can absolutely help with all of it, but that we also need to know how to read .
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Bibliotherapists Ep #8: Tamu Thomas - OUT with toxic productivity and IN with gentle unfolding for 2025
Friday, January 3, 2025 • Duration 45:06
Tamu Thomas, is a transformational and embodiment coach, workshop facilitator, podcaster and somatic movement practitioner. Tamu helps over-functioning, over-working, high-achieving women to establish boundaries, find their purpose AND make good money.
Toni interviewed Tamu about her first book, Women Who Work Too Much: Break Free from Toxic Productivity and Find Your Joy, in April last year, and we think Tamu’s book - and this conversation - is the perfect antidote for ‘new year new you’ overwhelm.
Tamu’s specialist subject is toxic productivity. She’s also an advocate for eschewing toxic positivity and in this conversation we discuss how to create a brilliant and joyous life without either.
“I want people to know it’s okay to pause, to rest, to live with ease and joy,” says Tamu.
Hell yeah to that as a manifesto for 2025!
IN THIS EPISODE:
* Prioritising joy and ease: Shifting the focus from hustle culture to living well.
* Books as tools for transformation: The significance of specific books in Tamu’s personal and professional growth and self-love.
* The joy of sharing words: And using Substack as a platform to authentically connect with others.
* Making peace with what is: Tamu opens up about the process of accepting - and embodying - her late diagnosis ADHD, and adapting to perimenopausal energy levels.
* Supporting women in midlife: Shifting the narrative around aging and productivity and wellbeing for women.
* Writing as therapy and connection: The process of writing a book as an emotional and self-expressive journey.
* Emphasising the beauty of midlife as a time of reflection and self-discovery.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Bibliotherapists Ep #7: Anne Boyd - What happens when you quit your life aged 50?
Friday, December 27, 2024 • Duration 48:22
Our seventh episode of the podcast is actually the first one we recorded. And I (TJ) secretly think that scoring an interview with this guest was my co-host Tanya’s main motivation for embarking on this whole podcast journey.
Listen to the interview and you’ll hear her girlcrushing hard on the author, professor, and Substack’s poster girl for midlife adventures, Anne Boyd.
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode Anne references and recommends lots of books by inspiring female writers, including:
Please share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now…
Toni (& Tanya)
xx
PS: Up next week, toxic productivity expert and author, Tamu Thomas
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Bibliotherapists Ep #6: Laura Pashby - An author's guide to the best writing guides
Friday, December 20, 2024 • Duration 41:31
Our sixth episode of the pod is definitely one for our writers friends out here.
Whether you’re a published author or have just started posting on Substack, today’s guest, the writer, photographer, book seller and fog lover, Laura Pashby has SO MANY gems to inspire and support your writing.
Laura’s new book, Chasing Fog, is out now, and in this conversation she reveals how she manages her time between writing, researching, marketing and selling books, creating a hit Substack AND looking after herself and her family.
Honestly, we know it’s not, but she makes it sound easy.
And we love her tips on her favourite Apps to capture ideas fresh from a wild swim and the power of writer’s hours to stay organised and accountable.
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode Laura references and recommends many different books, including several (heavily underlined) writing guides;
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Bibliotherapists Ep #5: Lucy Pearson - How to read 100 books before breakfast
Friday, December 13, 2024 • Duration 45:49
It’s time for the fifth episode of our chart-topping new podcast, and we're SO glad we’re sharing this episode ahead of the Christmas holidays, because you’re going to need some serious down time to make any kind of dent in this guest’s EPIC reading list.
Professional reader and writer Lucy Pearson lives and works between Bondi (Australia) and London (UK), curating libraries and book collections for hotels, homes and airbnbs, as well as working as a freelance travel journalist and book blogging at her Substack, The Literary Edit.
Lucy takes reading seriously. So seriously that she has a tattoo dedicated to her favourite author (Hanya Yanagihara), and is regularly up with the Sydney sunrise at 5am to complete her latest reading challenge.
But she also just loves books. And words. In any format.
And as you’ll hear in our interview, she loves to inspire others to read too, having created possibly the world’s most brilliant job in which, as a roving Bibliotherapist, she’s able to combine her love of reading, writing and travel to light up the world’s bookshelves
IN THIS EPISODE (LUCY’S TIPS FOR READING MORE):
* Always give a new book at least one hour at the start.
* Leave your phone in another room and have a notebook handy to scribble down anything you’re desperate to google/share/screenshot etc as you read (you can do that after reading, instead of getting lost in the scroll when you really want to be lost in a book).
* Schedule it in your diary and set aside intentional, undistracted time for reading, treating it as a well-being ritual akin to yoga or journaling.
* Replace the mindset of "I don’t have time" with "It’s not a priority" to remind yourself what truly matters in life.
* Use whatever format works for you. Audible if you’re on the move, Kindle when you’re travelling. " she says.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Bibliotherapists Ep #4: Claire Venus - Investing in my Self is key to Substack success
Friday, December 6, 2024 • Duration 46:31
It’s time for a new episode of The Bibliotherapists, and today’s conversation is a really rather special one, because it features Claire Venus, a huge inspiration to our hosts Tanya and Toni, and the reason this podcast exists.
It’s also a total celebration of taking the time to get to know ourselves and what makes us happy on the inside, in order to be able to best serve and ultimately create success on the outside.
As you’ll hear in this episode, our guest is a shining (sparkling!) example of a ‘multi-hypen’; someone who has successfully combined her love of many things, including; creativity, writing, mentoring, educating, slow living, learning and all things Substack, to create a job - and a life - that she loves, and that inspires thousands of others to work and live in joyful ways that don’t require selling or burning out.
This episode is a love letter to bibliophiles and creatives alike, celebrating the transformative power of words and stories.
Find out more about Claire and her Substack programmes and membership > HERE.
IN THIS EPISODE:
There is - of course - a lot of Substack chat, but there’s also lots of value for anyone looking to work in a more sustainable and joyous way.
We discussed:
* The importance of finding your own pace; creating, consuming, and living at a sustainable rhythm.
* Substack as a digital sanctuary for thoughtful writing and community building (vs the frenetic pace of traditional social media).
* Claire’s love for books as grounding, sensory experiences—from the smell of secondhand bookstores to the joy of discovering books during travel.
* How books have helped her navigate personal challenges (The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle helping her answer some philosophical questions in her 20s, and Beth Kempton's Kokoro provided comfort during a time of grief).
* The transformative - and hugely challenging - experience of co-authoring, self-publishing and promoting with Russell Nohelty (out next week!).
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
The Bibliotherapists Ep #3: Beth Kempton - The older you are, the more you have to say as a writer
Friday, November 29, 2024 • Duration 57:44
We're so excited to introduce you to our third podcast episode, and our very first celebrity guest, the wonderful Beth Kempton.
Today’s episode is a joyous and juicy conversation featuring personal stories and odes to poetry, piles of book recommendations and - of course - a lot of Substack love.
Beth has written SIX non-fiction books, including several bestsellers and several focused on her love affair with Japan.
She is also an award-winning entrepreneur and writing mentor who spends her time supporting people to do what they love and make a career out of their creativity, through her writing workshops and programmes as well as her wonderful community on Substack, SoulCircle.
IN THIS EPISODE:
* LOTS of book recommendations, including two that had a profound impact on shaping Beth’s personal and professional life
* The healing power of (any kind of) poetry
* The business of books and writing (and Substack)
* How Beth’s changing relationship with herself has been reflected in her books
* How writing self-help is the best way to understand our Self
* The power of retreats and finding places to be able to tell our stories
* Why journalling is a balm for the soul
* The perfect book-shaped gifts, including a poetry book to support anyone grieving
In this episode Beth references and recommends lots of books, including:
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Ep #2: Meet The Bibliotherapists Part 2 (Tanya interviews Toni)
Friday, November 22, 2024 • Duration 36:17
The Bibliotherapists, is a new podcast from Substackers and community builders Tanya Lynch (EASE Retreats) and Toni Jones (The Shelf Help Club) exploring the healing power of words.
You can read all about how our story began in Episode #1 and our first post (in which host Toni interviews host Tanya).
And in this episode we continue the intros, with Tanya interviewing Toni, and we learn all about how and why, aged 40 Toni created the world’s first self-help book club and the pivotal books that have supported her personal and professional growth since.
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode Toni references and recommends 8 books, including:
This podcast is a love letter to reading and writing and storytelling.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
-
The Bibliotherapists is a podcast celebrating the healing power of words, hosted on - and featuring writers and creatives from - the Substack platform.
* Set yourself a reading challenge. Lucy loves a list, crediting the discovery of Rebecca (by Daphne du Maurier) and subsequently the rest of BBC’s Top 100 Books list with changing the trajectory of her life as a hungover and lost double English graduate in her 20s. She’s currently on a mission to complete the New York Times Top 100 Books of the 21st Century before her 40th birthday (February 2026). She says that working to a list like this - and shouting about it - gives her accountability and motivation and also means she reads all kinds of different books she wouldn’t otherwise make the time for.
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode Lucy references and recommends at least 20 different books, including;
Please share with the people you love, let us know what you think, and - of course - what you are reading right now…
Toni (& Tanya)
xx
--------
ABOUT THE BIBLIOTHERAPISTS:
The Bibliotherapists, is a new podcast from Substackers and community builders Tanya Lynch (EASE Retreats) and Toni Jones (The Shelf Help Club) exploring the healing power of words.
(You can read all about how our story began in Episode #1 and Episode #2 - in which Tanya and I interview each other).
This podcast is a love letter to reading and writing and storytelling and this weekly digital retreat features conversations with some of our favourite Substack writers and authors, sharing about the the books that have shaped their lives and their relationships with themselves, the books they wish everyone would read, how they use reading and writing to support their mental health, and the books they are reading right now.
* Why self-care is a non-negotiable for Claire, how this enhances her creativity and ability to hold space for others.
* Claire’s commitment to personal growth: including her personal goal of writing a book annually for ten years, and how Substack has been a critical platform for her evolution, offering a supportive and inspiring community.
* Navigating Growth and Sustainability: How running a thriving Substack community (with over 12,000 subscribers) has taught Claire to balance growth with sustainability, ensuring she avoids burnout while continuing to deliver value, and love what she does.
-----------
SHOW NOTES:
In this episode Claire references and recommends lots of lovely books, including:
The Bibliotherapists, is a new podcast from Substackers and community builders Tanya Lynch (EASE Retreats) and Toni Jones (The Shelf Help Club) exploring the healing power of words.
It's a love letter to reading and writing and storytelling and this weekly digital retreat features conversations with some of our favourite Substack writers and authors, sharing about the the books that have shaped their lives and their relationships with themselves, the books they wish everyone would read, how they use reading and writing to support their mental health, and the books they are reading right now.
You’ll be able to listen to these podcast episodes on all the usual outlets but we’ll only be sharing the video recordings on Substack
The Bibliotherapists, is a new podcast from Substackers and community builders Tanya Lynch (EASE Retreats) and Toni Jones (The Shelf Help Club) exploring the healing power of words.
It's a love letter to reading and writing and storytelling and this weekly digital retreat features conversations with some of our favourite Substack writers and authors, sharing about the the books that have shaped their lives and their relationships with themselves, the books they wish everyone would read, how they use reading and writing to support their mental health, and the books they are reading right now.
You’ll be able to listen to these podcast episodes on all the usual outlets but we’ll only be sharing the video recordings on Substack
This weekly digital retreat features conversations with some of our favourite Substack writers and authors, sharing about the the books that have shaped their lives and their relationships with themselves, the books they wish everyone would read, how they use reading and writing to support their mental health, and the books they are reading right now.
Discover shows related to The Bibliotherapists, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
