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Book Gang

Book Gang

Written by: Amy Allen Clark
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About this listen
 Are you looking for your next book recommendation? This book podcast celebrates debuts, backlist, and under-the-radar book selections. Expand your book stack with these recommendations and look at the book industry behind the scenes with Amy Allen Clark (MomAdvice.com). She shares the microphone with her favorite writers and bookstagrammers to help you have your best reading year ever. Art
Episodes
  • Uncovering the Sister I Never Knew: My Mother’s Daughter

    Uncovering the Sister I Never Knew: My Mother’s Daughter
    Nov 13 2026
    Tracy Clark-Flory joins Book Gang to discuss My Mother’s Daughter, a moving memoir of family secrets, adoption, and the ripple effects of the Baby Scoop Era.In this week’s episode, Tracy Clark-Flory shares the personal and journalistic journey that began with a DNA test and a long-lost sister, and led her to excavate her mother’s experience as a pregnant college student sent away in the 1960s.As Tracy traces her mother’s story through fractured records, institutional gaps, and her own memories, she weaves in a powerful critique of race, privilege, and reproductive politics in America.What unfolds is not just the reclamation of a lost family history, but a nuanced meditation on how daughters inherit and navigate a world of contradictions—and what it means to finally break the cycle of silence.In this week’s thought-provoking conversation, we discuss:📚 Uncovering Hidden Histories: Tracy shares the life-changing moment a DNA test connected her to a sister she never knew—and how that revelation cracked open her family’s secret past, forcing her to rethink everything she believed about her mother, herself, and the legacy of silence.📚 Power, Shame, and the Cost of Secrecy: We examine the devastating effects of the baby scoop era, the quiet violence of institutional betrayal, and how race, privilege, and stigma shaped not only Tracy’s life, but the fate of countless women forced to hide their pregnancies—and their pain.📚 Memoir as Resistance and Healing: Tracy reveals the art and challenge of writing a memoir that braids investigative journalism with raw personal narrative—showing how confronting family secrets, questioning inherited shame, and telling the truth can become acts of radical healing and self-acceptance.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features 21 Nonfiction November Books To Read Now—my most anticipated new releases and a handful of backlist gems to inspire your reading month. Patrons receive a printable list and a spoiler-filled chat with Tracy Clark-Flory, where we dig deeper into her memoir and the art of self-reinvention.Meet Tracy Clark-FloryTracy Clark-Flory is a journalist, essayist, and author. Her memoir My Mother’s Daughter earned starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus, was an Amazon Editors’ Best Book of 2026, and was one of Publishers Weekly’s most-anticipated memoirs. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, The Cut, Elle, Esquire, The Guardian, Jezebel, Wired, and more. She writes a weekly newsletter and co-hosts Dire Straights, a feminist podcast critiquing heterosexual love, sex, politics, and culture. My Mother’s Daughter is available in bookstores now.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)November Book Club Episode: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos by Holly KennedyNovember Book Club Spoiler Episode: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos SPOILER SECTIONFREE BONUS BOOK LIST:21 Nonfiction November Books To Read NowThe Nonfiction November Challenge You Need: Meet the FounderMy Mother’s Daughter by Tracy Clark-Flory(Podcast Episode)Want Me by Tracy Clark-FloryModern Love PodcastWhere the Girls Were by Kate SchatzKate Schatz - A Mother’s Haunting Story Brought to Life Podcast episodeThe Girls We Sent Away by Meagan ChurchSaints for All Occasions by J. Courtney SullivanSunlight Finds You by Laura MoriartyDani ShapiroThe Girls Who Went Away by Ann FesslerRickie SolingerSurviving the White Gaze by Rebecca CarrollTracy’s SubstackDire Straights PodcastBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Tracy Clark-Flory on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • November Book Club: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos by Holly Kennedy (Reader's Choice Selection)

    November Book Club: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos by Holly Kennedy (Reader's Choice Selection)
    Nov 6 2026
    Author Holly Kennedy joins Book Gang to celebrate our November Book Club pick, The Sideways Life of Denny Voss, and its journey to critical acclaim.In this episode, we celebrate The Sideways Life of Denny Voss—our November Book Club pick and a Giller Prize long-listed novel—with returning guest Holly Kennedy.Holly first joined us to share the inspiration behind Denny’s unforgettable voice and story. Now, she’s back to reflect on the novel’s continued success, new accolades, and the quirks of her creative life. Dive into this fun round of writer habits, reading life confessions, and quickfire questions designed to help listeners get to know Holly beyond the page.In this spoiler-free catch-up, we discuss:📚 Literary Recognition & Global Reach: Holly reflects on the honor of being long-listed for the Giller Prize—Canada’s most prestigious literary award—and what it means to see Denny Voss find new readers at home and abroad, including a recent rights sale in Japan and a nibble from the film world.📚 Writing Life, Rituals & Creative Surprises: Holly shares her unique writing habits, from morning coffee and water-inspired creativity to the role of music and a “dump zone” for ideas. We also chat about her process for writing dialogue and how she captures the heart of a story.📚 The Joys & Challenges of Reader Connection: From winning an Earphones Award for the audiobook to receiving heartfelt (and sometimes surprising!) notes from fans, Holly opens up about the rewards and unexpected moments that come with sharing Denny’s story—and how she’s finding excitement for her next book, The Story of Audie Barr.Meet Holly KennedyBorn and raised in Canada, Holly Kennedy currently lives near the Rocky Mountains in Alberta with her family and their Newfoundland dog, Wallace. She is the author of four novels, and her books have been translated into multiple languages. When she’s not writing, you’ll typically find her reading, spending time with family, or indulging her not-so-secret obsession: watching true crime TV shows like Dateline.Mentioned in this episode:Gratitude to Our Show Patrons: This week's episode is open to all listeners thanks to generous donations made through Buy Me a Coffee and your community memberships. If you'd like to keep the conversation going, you're invited to join our Patreon Book Club chat on November 19th at 8 PM ET, where we'll dive deeper into spoilers, themes, and reader reactions. Membership is $5 a month, or you can prepay for the year and save 10%SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)November Book Club Episode: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos by Holly KennedyNovember Book Club Spoiler Episode: The Sideways Life of Denny Vos SPOILER SECTIONEverand Audiobook Option for The Sideways Life of Denny VosKindle+ Membership: The Sidways Life of Denny Vos (FREE TRIAL OPTION)The Sideways Life of Denny Voss by Holly Kennedy (INDIE BOOKSTORE OPTION)BONUS BOOK LIST: 51 Funny Books to Read Now (DOWNLOAD THE LIST NOW)NEW BONUS: November FULLY BOOKED Podcast & 26-Page NewsletterThe Giller PrizeAndrew EidenShower notepadNicola Yoon Discusses Her Provocative DebutKauai Writers ConferenceAmerican Dirt by Jeanine CumminsMemoirs of a Geisha by Arthur GoldenLong Bright River by Liz MooreHeft by Liz MooreThe God of the Woods by Liz MooreThe Unseen World by Liz MooreRoom by Emma DonoghueA Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanEleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanBroken Country by Clare Leslie HallShow Don’t Tell by Curtis SittenfeldMillions of Cats by Wanda GágTheo of Golden by Allen LeviThe Goldfinch by Donna TarttThe Secret History by Donna TarttWolf Hall by Hilary MantelLullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’NeillIcebreaker by Hannah GraceMcNally Robinson BookstoreThe Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa BandThe Tin Box by Holly KennedyBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Holly Kennedy on Instagram or her WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Don’t Buy What I’m Selling: The Truth About Ads, Body Image, and Becoming Visible with Lu Chekowsky

    Don’t Buy What I’m Selling: The Truth About Ads, Body Image, and Becoming Visible with Lu Chekowsky
    Oct 30 2026
    Lu Chekowsky reveals how decades in advertising and personal challenges inspired her powerful memoir, Don’t Buy What I’m Selling.This week on Book Gang, Emmy-winning ad creative Lu Chekowsky joins us to talk about her bold memoir, Don’t Buy What I’m Selling. You may not recognize her name, but you’ve definitely felt her influence.Lu pulls back the curtain on the world of advertising, sharing a journey that stretches from childhood poems about Levi’s to being part of a viral Michael Jordan campaign. Along the way, she confronts the invisible labor, personal costs, and body-image battles behind the scenes of an industry built on selling aspirational bodies that didn't look like hers. I promise, you’ll never see an ad the same way again.In this week’s juicy episode, we discuss:📚 Auditioning to Tell Her Own Story: Lu shares the surprising reality of having to "audition" to narrate her own memoir—and how voicing her story in the audiobook studio brought new power and intimacy to her journey, with a surprising starter job that not only helped with this job, but empowered her in the world of advertising.📚 The Power and Pressure of Image: We explore Lu’s experience with body image, self-worth, and media culture, and how the memoir confronts the messages we absorb (and perpetuate) about beauty, acceptance, and enough-ness.📚 Escaping the Sell: What Happens When You Break Up With Advertising? Lu shares the wild, sometimes surreal reality of life behind the world’s most influential campaigns, and what it truly costs to make a living selling other people’s dreams—plus what’s left of your own when you walk away.FREE BONUS BOOK LIST: This week’s bonus book list features 21 Nonfiction November Books To Read Now—my most anticipated new releases and a handful of backlist gems to inspire your reading month. Patrons receive a printable list and a spoiler-filled chat with Lu Chekowsky, where we dig deeper into their memoir and the art of self-reinvention.Meet Lu ChekowskyLu Chekowsky [she/they] is a writer and Emmy Award–winning creative director, and the author of Don’t Buy What I’m Selling: On Breaking Up With Advertising and Finally Learning to Love My Whole, Fat Self (Little, Brown, 2026).Lu’s career has spanned creative leadership roles at Facebook, Comedy Central, MTV, and Wieden+Kennedy, shaping campaigns for everything from The Daily Show and Broad City to Nike and Delta. Their essays and poetry have appeared in The Rumpus, Pigeon Pages, Autofocus, Ad Age, and Muse by Clios. A 2023 NYSCA/NYFA Fellow in nonfiction, Lu lives in the Hudson Valley.Mentioned in this episode:SUPPORT OUR SHOW: Join the Book Gang- patreon.com/momadviceSUPPORT OUR SHOW: Make a One-Time Donation in ANY AMOUNT- buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast2026 MomAdvice Book Club Books (All 12 Selections)October Book Club Episode: One Yellow Eye by Leigh RadfordFREE BONUS BOOK LIST:21 Nonfiction November Books To Read NowThe Nonfiction November Challenge You Need: Meet the Founder (Podcast Episode)Don’t Buy What I’m Selling by Lu ChekowskyReturns & Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker501 Blues: A Look Back at the Levi’s Ad CampaignNike’s Walt Stack adHow Sex Work Prepared Me for a Career in AdvertisingWoodworking by Emily St. JamesBookshop.org pays a 10% commission on every sale and matches it with 10% to support independent bookstores.Connect With Us:Join the Book Gang PatreonConnect with Lu Chekowsky on Instagram or Their WebsiteConnect with Amy on Instagram, TikTok, or MomAdviceGet My Happy List NewsletterGet the Daily Kindle Deals Newsletter
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    50 mins
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