Off the Shelves Podcast

Hide Your Books!

We’re back with another banned book — and it’s a big one. Chances are you first met this classic in high school or college: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. Published in 1953, this isn’t just a story about banning books — it’s about burning them. All of them. We dive into Bradbury’s fire-hot cautionary tale and explore themes about censorship.
And because it wouldn’t be an Off the Shelves episode without a little real life sprinkled in: Carey’s trying to crack the TikTok code after her egg post went viral, we’re fresh off a work trip to Denver, and Deb’s bringing some pro tips for Salt Lake City concert goers and what not to do when shopping for groceries online. Grab a cold drink and settle in for an unsettling episode.
What's for dinner: Bananas for every meal, jk
Pesto Pasta Salad
https://cookieandkate.com/pesto-pasta-salad-recipe/
Pressure Cooker Pot Roast
https://selfproclaimedfoodie.com/pressure-cooker-beef-stroganoff/
Products you need - we both got new perfume and you should too: 
Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia: https://www.gucci.com/us/en/pr/beauty/fragrances/fragrances-for-women/gucci-flora-gorgeous-gardenia-100ml-eau-de-parfum-p-667343999990099?srsltid=AfmBOooFw-35LiQ6tdab8AQRhMugTVc0SHtF6VAG39sIAyGYGGC7-0Qz
 
Diptyque Orphéon:
https://www.diptyqueparis.com/en_us/p/fragrances/eaux-de-parfum/orpheon-eau-de-parfum-75ml.html 
 

A Stetson, Moulin Rouge, and WWI

This week, we’re switching things up with a very different kind of book—one Carey picked entirely by its cover (and because BookTok wouldn’t shut up about it). We’re talking about John Green’s Everything Is Tuberculosis. Green educates the reader about a disease that still kills over a million people each year, despite there being a cure since the 1950s. Through the story of Henry, a young man who’s battled TB for years, he blends education with a call to action.
Of course, it’s not all serious—we’ve got updates on the great sourdough saga (are the babies still alive?), stories from Carey’s California birthday trip, and plenty more chaos along the way.
So grab your headphones, your coffee, and that sourdough starter—and let’s get into it.
What's for dinner?
Grilled Chicken & Chopped Veggie Salad with Sesame-Ginger Vinaigrette: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/grilled-chicken-and-chopped-veggie-salad-with-sesame-ginger-vinaigrette-2105595
Get the products we love: 
Mrs. Meyers Clean Day:  www.mrsmeyers.com
Maui Jim Sunnies: https://www.mauijim.com/US/en_US/shop/sunglasses/fashion/starfish

Magical but not a magician

This week, we’re stepping away from banned books and diving into a story that’s been sitting on Deb’s shelf for a longtime—a gift from Carey that finally got its moment. We’re talking about Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, her modern retelling of Dickens’ classic David Copperfield. This unforgettable novel follows Damon—aka Demon—a boy born into poverty who faces the harsh realities of foster care, child labor, drug addiction, and the opioid crisis. It’s a book that was both impossible to read and impossible to put down.
We’ll also chat about the chaos of summer break, the start of our sourdough adventures, a full-on kitchen disaster, and yes—Carey’s birthday celebration (plus a brand-new hobby we’re testing out).
What's for dinner: 
Spicy garlic noodle stirfry - MUST TRY ITS SO GOOD: https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-chili-garlic-noodles/
Taco Bowl FTW: https://simplyscratchmade.com/ground-turkey-taco-bowls/
What we're loving:
Carey's Nike Leggings: https://www.nike.com/t/swift-womens-high-waisted-7-8-running-leggings-with-pockets-6FGPQ6/HJ2252-233
Deb's quick dry polish: https://www.opi.com/collections/rapidry

Tell her to have a glass of wine and relax

This week on Off the Shelves, we get into the wild, frustrating, and hot conversation around menopause. Where’s the healthcare? Where’s the support? Why is it still so hard to get help in 2025? We read The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver—OBGYN, badass, and a woman on a mission to create the resources she and her patients never had.
As two women entering this next chapter of life, this book was equal parts eye-opening, maddening, and deeply validating. We wish we’d had it earlier... but we’ve got it now, and we’re talking all about it.
So—grab your protein, collagen, and fiber smoothie. Throw on your weighted vest, pop in those earbuds, and take your hot midlife girl walk while you listen to this one.
We are celebrating a major milestone—Carey’s graduation from Johns Hopkins with her MPH (yes, really—send her a belated congrats!). There’s also a little humble brag about our kids on their academic grind and a fun personality test reveal to round things out.
Let’s get into it.
What's for dinner:
Butternut squash and chicken situation: https://thenaturalnurturer.com/maple-dijon-chicken-and-butternut-squash-dinner/
Viral Hot Honey/Beef/cottage cheese bow: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/ground-beef-bowls/
What to buy/what do we love:
Stay hydrated: First Endurance, EFS Hydration mix https://firstendurance.com/products/efs-drink
Bag update - here's a dupe that less than half the cost and I love it! 
Quince https://www.quince.com/women/italian-handwoven-leather-mini-shoulder-bag?color=taupe&productPosition=1&searchQuery=purse%20&tracker=searchPage__search_section__search_results

Freedom of speech and all of its consequences

This week, we read Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams—a memoir that chronicles her years working for Mark Zuckerberg from 2011 to 2017. It’s an inside look at the disconnect between Facebook’s public image and what was really happening behind the scenes.
There’s a lot we want to say in this episode—so we’ll let the conversation speak for itself. Grab a beverage (maybe a strong one), because this book made us angry on more levels than we expected. Honestly, if you use social media, you should read this book and tell your friends, because Wynn-Williams is not allowed to promote it.
In other news: Carey is rewatching The Handmaid’s Tale and it’s feeling a little too real, and Debbie wonders—are there ever circumstances where a book should be banned?
Dinner Links:
Braised Mexican Beef (Nom Nom Paleo) https://nomnompaleo.com/post/22316250352/oven-braised-mexican-beef
Ginger Lime Chicken
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/ginger-lime-chicken-with-rice-noodles-8584928
Product Links:
ClareV Handbag
https://www.clarev.com/products/petit-moyen-bisque-woven-checker

What would Chelsea do

This week, we’re diving into Chelsea Handler’s newest book, I'll Have What She's Having—an unfiltered, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt look at her journey to becoming the woman she wants to be. It's about self-discovery, sisterhood, and showing up for the people you love.
One thing’s for sure: we both want to be Chelsea when we grow up.
Tune in as we chat about this gem of a book—and also end up talking about a semi-recent “space flight,” cozy PJs, and the eternal quest for the perfect bra.
Dinner Links:
https://whatsgabycooking.com/thai-chicken-coconut-curry/
Product Links:
PJ's https://skims.com/en-gb/products/soft-lounge-lace-cami-and-short-set-blue-garden-print
Best Bra https://shop.join-eby.com/

Does tolerance have a chance

This week, we read Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler—a powerful, thought-provoking novel and the first in her Earthseed series. It’s our second banned book selection, and we were surprised to learn it’s been restricted in some prisons and schools due to its “controversial” themes, including race, politics, religion, and violence.
We also loved and talk about this NPR interview where Butler was asked to imagine a world without racism—definitely worth a listen: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/03/1078020872/octavia-butler-imagines-a-world-without-racism
Plus, we chat about recent travels, fender benders, and a surprisingly strong affection for Delta Airlines.
 
 

Menopause is having its moment

In this episode, we talk about Miranda July’s award-winning, “wild, sexy, shocking” autofictional novel, All Fours. While this book isn’t banned, it’s been getting a lot of attention—and we had to find out why. We loved its unhinged glory.
All Fours explores relationships, marriage, midlife, identity, motherhood, and a surprising theme: menopause.
Listen in as we also dive into current fashion trends (yes, jorts!), car shopping, and campus tours.
 

Only the marketers survive

It’s our first full episode, and we’re so excited! Today, Carey and Deb discuss Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood’s 2003 dystopian novel that has been banned at the state level in public schools. But why? That’s what we set out to find.
Grab a coffee—or your favorite beverage—and listen in!
We’ll also dive into Carey’s obsession with pre-ordering books. How much has she spent? And will we read the second book in Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Introducing: Off the Shelves Podcast with Carey & Debbie

Off the Shelves is a new podcast with Carey Van Wagoner & Debbie Farka where we invite you in to our conversations about books, kids, careers, life, and anything that's on our minds.
In each episode, we will explore a recent read, catch up on daily events of life, share favorite things and tackle the age old dilemma of what's for dinner. We promise you'll laugh and learn with us. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join in, we're glad you're here. 
New episodes drop every two weeks on Tuesday.