One (no, two) Extraordinary Bookish Podcasts, and a Peek into So Much More

Stephanie Affinito has created a multi-faceted bookish community with many things for readers and listeners to enjoy

Hi friends,

Welcome to One Extraordinary Bookish Podcast, where I talk with my favorite “bookish” podcast creators to learn more about them and what makes their podcasts so good. If you’ve been here for a while, you know of my love of podcasts; if not, you can find those episodes on the home page. Today’s bookish podcast creator has two extraordinary bookish podcasts, and I can’t wait for you to meet her and learn all about her passion for reading.

Today’s guest is Stephanie Affinito, creator of a bookish community, “A Lit Life.” She says she’s a “book-loving, notebook-hoarding, literacy educator on a mission to change lives one book and one notebook at a time.” Her community includes two podcasts, Get Lit(erate). and Kidlit Love, a Patreon community, weekly newsletters, bibliotherapy, snail-mail recommendations, and much more. While the original focus of the Q&A was both of her podcasts, I couldn’t help but introduce readers and listeners to other facets of her bookish life. I’ve enjoyed getting to know her and listening to her podcasts, and I know you will, too. Here’s my conversation with Stephanie:

GG: Why did you create “A Lit Life,” and why is reading so important to you?

SA: My deep love of reading and writing started with Grover. The first time I read The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone, I was in awe of the connection I could have with a book. The characters could see and talk to me, and I could influence what happened next. Since then, I’ve approached books with the expectation that we would have a connection and each book would become a treasured experience.

I was an avid reader and writer throughout my childhood, but I truly came to understand the power of books and writing when I became quite ill as a teenager. I was out of school and bedridden for years, in and out of doctors’ offices and hospitals, and reading and writing were the only things that I could manage. Books became my friends, kept me dreaming of the outside world, and showed me what was possible once I was well. Writing allowed me to spill what was on my mind and heart onto the page to free myself from some of the negative emotions I was having and make space for better ones. I felt better when I was reading and writing.

One particular book I read literally saved my life. It connected me with an idea, a way of living, and a doctor who helped me become well, and since then, I’ve looked at books as tools for wellness. Little did I know I would need to rely on them years later to heal me again.

When my illness returned in my forties, I did the only thing I could think of that made me feel better: read and write. But this time, armed with a lifetime of experience and education, I went deep into WHY it worked, how it could help others heal, and how I could harness its power to make life feel better. This is my work today. I explore the power of reading and writing to improve life and feel compelled to share this important message with others.

For years, I’ve been on a journey to a better life—a life full of health and wellness, without pain, filled with intention, and bathed with joy. I’ve tried functional nutrition, acupuncture, reiki, and meditation. I’ve taken classes, attended workshops, and spent thousands on health practitioners. But I have found the single most impactful practice that has changed my life has been accessible all along and doesn’t cost a penny: restorative reading and writing.

It is my hope to share this important message with others: We can read, write, and learn our way to a life we love full of health, wellness, and creativity on our own terms. My podcasts, courses, and coaching arm others with information and show them how to do just that.

GG: I’ve enjoyed listening to both of your podcasts. What are they about, and what can listeners hope to learn from each?

SA: I have two podcasts that are the highlight of my week.

Get Lit(erate). is a weekly podcast exploring the power of reading and writing. I talk about all things books, reading, notebooks, and writing mixed in with mindful practices and creativity to improve life. From book-themed episodes to coaching sessions and author conversations, we explore how to grow a restorative reading and writing practice as a tool for personal development, creativity, and wellness. This podcast is for you if you believe a life well-read and well-written is a life well-lived.

KidLit Love celebrates all things children's literature for the adult reading to their inner child and connects young readers in their lives with books. Each week, I host a new conversation with a children's literature author to learn about their backstory, writing journey, books, and hopes for readers. This podcast is for you if you love reading children's literature, are an educator or librarian looking for books to share with students, or are a caregiver finding new titles to share with loved ones.

The books we read matter, and as we grow, each book changes our impression of ourselves and the world around us. But just because we grow older doesn’t mean we have to leave the powerful literature of childhood behind—quite the opposite. While adult fiction novels can delight, inform, and entertain grown-ups, children’s literature should have a special place in every adult reader’s life.

GG: You've had some great guests on your podcasts—authors, illustrators, other bookish content creators, and more. What are you looking for when you book guests to your shows, and what makes you want to feature a specific guest? Do you have a dream guest that eludes you?

SA: On the Get Lit(erate). podcast, I am so fortunate to connect and have conversations with so many people who also believe reading and writing can make life better. When I look for guests to come onto the podcast, I’m looking for conversations to showcase precisely how we can do just that. That might be through an author conversation about a life-changing book, a chat about notebooking with a fellow journal-lover, or a discussion about bringing more creativity into our lives through words and other media. I want to talk with people who also believe there is incredible potential in daily reading and writing and people who can teach me how to grow my own practice, too.

I’m so grateful for the conversations I’ve had on the podcast, and many of those guests have become bookish and notebookish friends. If I could name a dream guest to come onto the show and chat about all things reading and writing to make life better, I’d have to say it would be Rachel Hollis. She’s been a source of reading, writing, and living inspiration for a while, and I think we could talk for hours on this topic.

GG: You indicated in a podcast episode that you don't like to use "therapy" terms such as “book therapist” and “bibliotherapist.” You use bookology and bookologist instead; what are the reasons behind this? You also mentioned that those terms are "registered in the USA.” What does that mean?

SA: The term bibliotherapy has been around for hundreds of years, and many understand it as using books and reading inside a therapeutic practice. I previously used the term to describe my work, but I realized that many people thought I was a trained therapist and were reaching out for formal therapy accompanied by books, something I could not provide.

However, I can provide information, guidance, support, book and notebook recommendations, and tips and tricks to make life better through reading and writing as a coach.

As I tried to describe this new work that I was doing, I realized I needed new terms to describe this emerging field and the work I do. After much thought and reflection, I termed my work bookology: the study of books and reading, notebooks and writing mixed with mindfulness and creativity to create lives we love. If I am leading the way in bookology, then I must be a bookologist, someone with the specialized knowledge and experience needed to create bookish and notebookish experiences for others to engage in and learn from.

I truly believe that my work is starting a restorative reading and writing movement to improve life. These terms capture what I do and get people curious about it. I registered them with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, so it’s official.

GG: What are the components of your platform, and how do they all connect?

SA: My work is tied together through one common theme: reading and writing can improve life. My Get Lit(erate). and KidLit Love podcasts provide a weekly opportunity to connect with others about the power of books and writing.

For listeners who want more, I have a Patreon community with additional bonus content: monthly bibliotherapy book calendars, First Chapter Fridays posts for adults, notebooking ideas, bonus episodes, book clubs, live events, and more.

I also offer a course on the power of restorative reading: a particular kind of reading that soothes the body, sparks the mind, and connects readers in meaningful communities to improve life. It’s a self-paced journey with opportunities for live connection and coaching calls, virtual restorative reading sessions, and more.

Finally, I also offer personalized coaching services for those who would like further guidance on how to design a life full of reading and writing to help them grow through whatever they're going through in this season of life. We meet live and talk about intentions, and I offer concrete strategies to harness the power of reading and writing in your life and create a personalized book and notebook apothecary for them, too.

The methods might differ, but the purpose remains the same: to help others find the transformative power of reading and writing to create a life they love.

GG: What's the research behind reading, writing, and wellness?

SA: There is abundant research on the physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of reading and writing. When we read, our heart rate decreases, our muscles relax, and our breathing slows. Over time, reading can boost memory, alleviate depression, and even spark empathy. When we write, these benefits also include a better immune response, decreased cognitive decline as we age, and better stress responses.

And the best part?

These benefits start with just 6 minutes of reading and a couple of 15-20 minute writing sessions. They intensify over time, and it has been shown that 30 minutes of reading has the same effect on our parasympathetic nervous system as 30 minutes of yoga. Really!

Reading and writing matter to our wellness. They are not just habits to indulge in but essential rituals for self-care and wellness.

GG: What's restorative reading, and how does it differ from 'regular' reading?

SA: Typically defined as something that is restorative and serves to restore us to consciousness, vigor, or health, such as restorative movement, yoga, meditation, art, and/or creativity.

Restorative reading is a particular kind of reading that soothes the body, awakens the mind, and sparks inspired action to improve life.

There are three key elements/actions to a restorative reading practice:

1. Turn your reading habits into reading rituals that integrate benefits from other wellness practices, such as yoga and aromatherapy.

2. Create a personal book apothecary.

3. Harness the power of reading and writing by taking inspired action in your actual life.

It’s important to note that any kind of reading can bring physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits no matter where you are or what you’re reading, but restorative reading challenges us to read in 30-minute sessions and pays close attention to the reading experience, the books we are reading, and the ways we are lifting the lessons off of the page into our own lives.

GG: You mentioned a “personal book apothecary.” Tell us more.

SA: A personal book apothecary is a collection of carefully chosen books to help you grow through what you go through in this particular season of life. After intentional reflection using my BE-DO-FEEL framework, we can curate a collection of books and notebook prompts to help you live into the version of yourself you want to create through reading and writing. Books and notebooks are tools to help us grow through what we go through, and a book apothecary ensures you are reading books that are right for you in this current season.

GG: Do you have a framework for building a literate life?

SA: In my work as an educator, I’ve created a 3-part framework to help others grow a literate life they love:

• Habits: the choices we make to cultivate our reading and writing lives and make them a priority.

• Hearts: the practices and dispositions that readers and writers embody to bring joy to reading and writing and to fuel their practices.

• Communities: the ways we connect with others to celebrate reading and writing. 

If we hope to boost our literate lives, we must first carve out the time and develop the daily habits needed to do so. Once those habits are firmly in place, we can better honor our literate hearts, reading and writing about what matters most to each of us, and ultimately connect with communities of connected readers and writers working to do the same.

You can learn more about this framework and my work with schools, teachers, and students in Leading Literate Lives with Heinemann Publishers.

GG: How do you use notebooking to make life better?

SA: I see five straightforward ways that notebooking can make life better in my work with others:

1. Productive: writing to help you get organized, get things done, and take control of your life.

2. Reflective: writing to help you think thoughtfully and deeply about who you are and where you want to go.

3. Responsive: writing to respond to various prompts, media, and world events as a way to explore, process, and grow.

4. Creative: writing to have fun, play, and explore in your notebook.

5. Commemorative: writing to preserve memories, track gratitude, and document a life well-lived.

Depending on our circumstances, who we are as people, and how our personalities work, one form of writing might appeal more than another, but with experimentation, we can explore how notebooking can support our intentions and purposes over time.

GG: I’ve enjoyed reading your weekly newsletters. What can readers expect in each weekly newsletter?

SA: If you want to harness the power of reading and writing in your life, my newsletter is for you! Each week, I share a little bit of literate love with the world: little nuggets of what I’ve been reading, writing, learning, and loving in hopes that it inspires your literate life, too.

I also share the most recent Get Lit(erate). and KidLit Love podcast episodes and give you a sneak peek into my bonus Patreon episodes.

I also love sneaking in giveaways, printable notebook pages, and invitations to live events!

Think of it as a weekly way to remind yourself that reading and writing matter to you, and there’s someone there with quick tips, book recommendations, and fun ideas to show you how to harness its power.

GG: What is a "snail mail" book recommendation, and how do readers receive one?

SA: This is one of my most treasured projects!

I adore helping people grow through what they go through using the power of books and reading, and notebooks and writing. I offer personalized snail mail book postcards to give people a taste of what I do and bring a little literate love to their mailbox.

These FREE postcards are delivered to your physical mailbox with a book recommendation that I think you’ll love. All you have to do is click on this link, fill out a quick Google form with your preferences, and then keep checking your snail mailbox for some book love.

I’ve just started keeping track of where I send these postcards, and we are officially international!

GG: If readers want to listen to the three best episodes of each podcast, which are those episodes, and why should they listen to them?

SA: I decided to go straight to my listeners to see which episodes are their all-time favorites over the life of each podcast. Here they are!

Get Lit(erate).

E105: The Write Habit with Dr. Nicole Janz. Listen to “explore how to create a writing life you’ll love and how a planner can help you do it.”

E85: The Pleasure & Power of Planning with Sarah Hart Unger. Listen to “All things planning and planning adjacent: how and why to plan, different planners, routines and rituals, and even the best pens, too.”

E35: Three Gilmore Girls Books with Jules of The Literary Lifestyle. Listen to “an in-depth discussion on all things Gilmore Girls and the 500+ books that have been read, mentioned, or seen on The Gilmore Girls.”

Trailing close behind is my episode on journaling for mental help and all things morning pages.

KidLit Love

E21: John Schu Louder Than Hunger. Listen to the “fiercest, most passionate book advocate sharing book love for years as an educator, librarian, Scholastic Book Ambassador, and now as a writer himself.”

E15: Marissa Quinn: Happy Hands. Listen to “an author about her debut book that reminds us to stay true to who we are and celebrates the power of friendship.”

E14: Lizzy Rockwell: It is Time: The Life of a Caterpillar. Listen to “a picture book author tell how she got started in book illustration, why she leans into writing non-fiction books, and you’ll come away with a sense of curiosity and wonder and the desire to explore further.”

These are the current favorites….but Kate DiCamillo and James Ponti are coming up soon, and I bet they’ll be at the top of the list, too!

This has been so fun, Gayla—thank you for sharing A Lit Life with your readers!

Stephanie, it was so much fun getting to know more about your podcasts and all things A Lit Life. In preparation for this Q&A, I listened to several of your podcast episodes while walking. I found myself frantically pausing the podcast and opening the Notes app to jot down things I wanted to remember and try out in my own reading life. I enjoy seeing both podcasts bringing more bookish goodness into my reading and listening life each week. You can learn more about Stephanie and follow her on her Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Threads | Patreon. She also just started a newsletter on Substack. Sign up below for weekly bookish goodness and much more!

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Thank you, readers and podcast listeners, for being here. When I began conversing about the Q&A with Stephanie, I focused only on the two podcasts. The more questions I asked, the more I realized how much more A Lit Life was beyond the podcasts and how everything fits together so well. The bookish community on Substack is a great place to be—welcome to Substack, Stephanie!

Have a great reading and listening week and happy reading!