Welcome to Half-Read, a book-inspired women’s conversation podcast about relationships, identity, friendship, motherhood, reinvention, and cocktails! Books spark the conversation and the cocktails set the tone. Each week we take a book, pull a theme, mix a cocktail, and explore what it means to change, unravel, grow and re-grow. It's honest, warm, sometimes funny, but always real – like sitting with your best friends who say the truth out loud. Pour a drink, open a chapter (or don't) and join us as we figure it out one conversation at a time. The No-Book Book Club!
Hosted by: Meg, Leia, & Lisa
Invisible mental load, fairness, & reclaiming your time | Fair Play Full Plate
In this episode of Half Read, we pull a theme from “Fair Play” which opens up a very real conversation about the invisible mental load, fairness, and the hundred little things that keep a family running. We talk default parenting, resentment, partnership, and why being noticed can sometimes matter as much as being helped.
Theme: Invisible mental load, fairness, & time
Cocktail: The Full Plate Fizz
16 Sept 2026
AI, power, tech, & the future we may not be ready for | The Coming Pour
In this episode of Half Read, we pull a theme from “The Coming Wave” and it launches us into a conversation about AI, power, tech, and how fast the future is moving with our very first guest, TJ. We talk technology, parenting, work, privacy, creativity, and what it means to raise kids in a world where intelligence may no longer be the thing that sets humans apart.
Theme: AI, Power, Tech, & The Future
Cocktail: The Tidal Wave TJ-Collins
2 Sept 2026
Boundaries, peace, & protecting your emotional energy | Let Them Sip
In this episode of Half Read, we pull a theme from “The Let Them Theory” and take some advice from Mel Robbins. We explore the messy reality of protecting our peace. From job loss and self-worth to parenting middle schoolers and caring what people think, we ask where “let them” ends and “let me” begins.
Theme: Boundaries, Peace, & Emotional Energy
Cocktail: Leia’s T&T Let the Rum Punch
19 Aug 2026
Goals, purpose and the courage to follow the signs | The Alche-Mist
In this episode of Half Read, we pull a theme from “The Alchemist” and explore goals, purpose, fate, and whether the destination matters as much as the journey. From career ambition to motherhood to midlife reinvention, we ask what it takes to stop looking ahead long enough to notice where we are.
Theme: Goals, Purpose, & Journey
Cocktail: Santiago’s Mojito
13 May 2026
The Half Read Rewind | Season 1 Epilogue
Season 1 Episode 11 of Half Read. Season 1 is officially wrapped, but before we turn the page and close the chapter we never read, we thought it would be fun to look back at the books, drinks, and mainly the conversations and of course the unexpected moments that shaped our first season. In this epilogue, we talk about what surprised us about our adventure to start a podcast and what Season 1 became once the conversations started to move. We will also discuss what to expect for Season 2.
Cocktail: Lemon Creamy Margarita
Theme: S1 Rewind / Epilogue
22 Apr 2026
Survival, Grit, & Glamour | Gone with the Wine
Season 1, Episode 10 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell and explore survival, grit, and glamour. How do we navigate chaos; motherhood, career shifts, relationships, identity, while still trying to hold onto a sense of beauty, pride, and self? We talk about what we cling to, what life forces us to release, and how we rebuild with fire, ambition, and just a touch of elegance (because survival can be both messy and glamorous). All paired with this week’s cocktail: red or white wine, your choice. (elegant, graceful, resilient)
Theme: Survival, grit & glamour
Cocktail: Red or white wine (your choice)
8 Apr 2026
Memory, Love, & Lasting Commitment | The No-Julep
Season 1, Episode 9 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks and explore memory, love, and lasting commitment. How do we sustain relationships over decades, especially when faced with change, illness, or fading memory? And what does devotion look like when life forces us to love someone through their evolution their disappearance? All paired with this week’s cocktail: The No Julep, a classic mint julep (romantic, southern, timeless)
Theme: Memory, love & lasting commitment
Cocktail: The No-Julep: Classic Mint Julep
25 Mar 2026
Power, Fantasy, & Blurred Lines | Fifty Shades of Slay
Season 1, Episode 8 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James and explore power, fantasy, and the blurred lines between empowerment and cliché. How do we own our ambition, embrace desire, and redefine success and sexuality on our own terms? And what does it look like to feel powerful without performing power? All paired with this week’s cocktail: The Silver Tie Spritz — (sleek, elevated, sexy, approachable)
Theme: Power, fantasy & blurred lines
Cocktail: Fifty Shades of Slay: The Silver Tie Spritz
Season 1, Episode 7 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and explore passion, conflict, and generational divides. What happens when love, work, identity, or big life choices clash with family expectations, culture, or tradition? And how do we navigate loyalty, independence, and the desire to be fully seen? All paired with this week’s cocktail: Rosé-o & Juliet — a sparkling rosé with strawberries (romantic, bright, sparkling)
Theme: Passion, conflict, & generational divides
Cocktail: Rosé-o & Juliet
25 Feb 2026
Memory, Trauma, & Healing | Be Loved Mule
Season 1, Episode 6 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Beloved by Toni Morrison and explore memory, trauma, and healing. How do the experiences we carry — spoken or unspoken — shape who we become? And what does it take to truly let go, forgive, or finally move forward? All paired with this week’s cocktail: the Be Loved Mule — a Moscow Mule with. blackberries (sweet, sharp, layered)
Theme: Memory, trauma, & healing
Cocktail: Be Loved Mule: Moscow Mule with blackberries
11 Feb 2026
First Impressions & False Assumptions | Pride & Prosecco
Season 1, Episode 5 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen and explore first impressions and assumptions. How often do our snap judgments — in love, work, parenting, friendships, or first encounters — shape outcomes? And can we unlearn them? We talk about how our assumptions can blind us, mislead us, or hold us back, and how seeing someone clearly often starts with seeing ourselves more honestly. All paired with this week’s cocktail: Pride & Prosecco — a Prosecco spritz with a twist of lemon.(witty, refined, effervescent)
Theme: First impressions & assumptions
Cocktail: Prosecco Spritz with a twist of lemon
28 Jan 2026
Voice, Resilience, & Sisterhood | The Purple Haze
Season 1, Episode 4 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from The Color Purple by Alice Walker and explore voice, resilience, and sisterhood. How do women empower each other to find their voices, reclaim their stories, and rise through the hardest chapters of their lives? All paired with this week’s cocktail: The Purple Haze — vodka with crème de Violette and lemonade (bold, vibrant, unapologetic)
Theme: Voice, resilience, & sisterhood
Cocktail: Vodka with Crème de Violette and lemonade
14 Jan 2026
Reinvention & Self-Discovery | Eat, Pray, Love on the Rocks
Season 1, Episode 3 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and explore reinvention and self-discovery — especially what it takes to start over in your 40s. How do you make decisions without a map, embrace risk, and step into a whole new world, whether it’s travel, career, or even launching a podcast? We talk balance, boundaries, and breakthroughs while juggling all the roles we carry — mom, boss, employee, friend, sibling, daughter. All paired with this week’s cocktail: Eat, Pray, Love on the Rocks — a coconut margarita with lime (fresh, adventurous, bold).
Theme: Reinvention & self-discovery
Cocktail: Coconut Margarita with a fresh lime
Season 1, Episode 2 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and explore creation and responsibility — in relationships, aging, parenting, and even modern-day AI. When we create something, where does our responsibility begin and end? And when things spin out of control, how do we try to regain it… or do we? All paired with this week’s cocktail: the Franken-Wine — a red wine sangria with a dark berry base (moody, rich, and conversation-worthy)
Theme: Creation & Responsibility
Cocktail: Red Wine Sangria with a dark berry base
17 Dec 2025
Healing Through Adventure | Wild Spritz
Season 1, Episode 1 of Half Read. In this episode, we pull a theme from Wild by Cheryl Strayed and explore what it means to heal through adventure. How do we rebuild after loss or upheaval? And what can throwing ourselves into the unknown teach us about resilience, confidence, and starting new chapters in midlife? All paired with this week’s cocktail: the Wild Spritz — an Aperol spritz with a sprig of rosemary (bright, earthy, untamed)
Theme: Healing through adventure
Cocktail: Aperol Spritz with a sprig of rosemary
10 Dec 2025
Intro to Half Read: Books, Cocktails, Real Talk
Welcome to Half Read! In this intro episode, we share what the show is all about — why we created it, how it works, and what you can expect each week. We don’t recap the books; we pull one theme from each title and explore how it shows up in real life, relationships, motherhood, careers, identity, and all the beautifully messy parts of being human. Cocktails included.
3 Dec 2025
Half Read – Trailer
Welcome to Half Read — the podcast where the book is just the starting point. Each episode, we pull one big theme from a well-known title and explore how it shows up in real life, relationships, womanhood, and everything in between. Come for the conversation, stay for the cocktails and you’ve got your new favorite girls-night-in podcast.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
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