Ren Reads Too Much Podcast

About Ren Reads Too Much Podcast

A podcast for readers who feel a little too much about books…and don't ever want that problem to ever go away. I’m Ren, and I talk about the stories that stick with us, the characters we can’t move on from, and why the books we love are usually telling us something about ourselves. Expect short, honest episodes about reading, identity, comfort re-reads, emotional damage, and the occasional spiral over fictional characters. If you’ve ever reread a book instead of moving on, you’re in the right place, and you are amongst bookish friends. renreadstoomuch.substack.com (https://renreadstoomuch.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Ren Reads Too Much

Category

fiction · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Mar 2026

Latest episode

29 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

26 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Oct 2026

   The Surprising Connection Between Cults, Community, and Choosing Joy

   This week’s episode is a wild ride! I’ve been bouncing between books about cults, propaganda, childhood trauma, capitalism, and why it’s so damn hard to build a society where everyone’s needs are met…all in time for Election Day here in the US! I keep coming back to the idea of how so much of what cults offer folks is a sense of connection, belonging, and structure. A place where they feel understood. Honestly, why do we find that weird?! Especially in a society where so many of us have been taught to ignore our own needs and blame ourselves for the systemic issues that cause us to struggle. Is it any wonder we look to authoritarian “leadership” when we start to feel like the current systems and communities aren’t exactly looking out for us? As a neurodivergent person who feels a deep need to understand why things are the way they are, figuring out why people are drawn to certain ideas, communities, and belief systems is a lot more useful than just deciding they are idiots. Or worse. And reading outside our usual bubbles is a great way to practice that skill, even if we don’t always agree with what we find. And then we have Heated Rivalry (and Yaga!), which some folks are joking about the fandom for them both being a cult. Yet, there is a difference between being manipulated into a hierarchical structure that extracts your labor for profit and abuses the marginalized, and watching a bunch of silly boys fall in love in every universe, or a coven of witches do some interesting things with chickens…no matter how many times you rewatch them! As for me, I am deep in my fandom era, and trying to understand the world around me better. Both things are in service of my ultimate purpose: to make the world a better place for not only myself, but you, too! 📚 Books Mentioned Some of these may be affiliate links, which just means I get a tiny kickback for fueling your reading habit. * Star Shipped (https://link.amazon/B0jeSJ6HL) by Cat Sebastian * The Minor Fall, The Major Lift (https://archiveofourown.org/works/83202531/chapters/219131501) by shadow_lillies on AO3 * True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News (https://link.amazon/B0j79YCQv) by Cindy L. Otis * The Culting of America: What Makes a Cult and Why We Love Them (https://link.amazon/B0iCjpXNo) by Daniella Mestyanek Young * Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress—and How to Bring It Back (https://link.amazon/B03vQKVGP) by Marc J. Dunkelman * The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self (https://link.amazon/B0g044VaT) by Alice Miller * Utopia for Realists: How We Can Build the Ideal World (https://link.amazon/B04b4gQEn)by Rutger Bregman * Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America (https://link.amazon/B06ndp0SQ)by Jane Borden * Uncultured: A Memoir (https://link.amazon/B01JiZnIn) by Daniella Mestyanek Young * 🎧 Episode 22: Ren Reads Too Much Podcast: (https://renreadstoomuch.substack.com/p/why-nothing-works-drama-of-the-gifted)Why Nothing Works, Drama of the Gifted Child, and Choosing Joy Anyway (https://renreadstoomuch.substack.com/p/why-nothing-works-drama-of-the-gifted) 💬 Let’s Chat I’d love to know: what stories or communities have given you a sense of connection or comfort in times when everything else felt like a little too much…and most importantly, if you are in the US, are you voting next week?! 👕 Like the shirt? Get yours here! (https://ren-reads-too-much-pop-up.printify.me/) Get full access to Ren Reads Too Much at renreadstoomuch.substack.com/subscribe (https://renreadstoomuch.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

2. 

   22 Oct 2026

   Embracing the -Ber Months with Cozy Stories and Self-Care Reads

   Full disclosure, I recorded this a few weeks ago, and I’m just now getting the chance to post it! So if it seems like I’m all “Hooray! Fall is finally here in the middle (end?) of October, know that I’m the weird one, not you! But now that we are firmly in the -ber months, all I want is cozy, not creepy. This week, I leaned into fall vibes with a mix of fanfic, plays, and a few go-to comfort re-reads. Sensitive nervous system energy is high right now for me, and I’m not above admitting that sometimes even “spooky season” means drawing the line at what feels good for my brain. A loving reminder that you don’t have to prove anything to anyone with your reading choices! As always, turning to old favorites is a major barometer for how I’m doing emotionally. If I’m craving a return to the Twilight series, it’s usually because I’m not at my best, and that’s okay. Rereading isn’t a reading rut: it’s a self-check-in. Fall is when I most want to nest, eat imaginary apple cider donuts (damn you, gluten!!!), and just find joy wherever it decides to show up. Cozy reads, a bit of gentle self-care, and books that make space for imperfection were exactly what I needed. 📚 Books Mentioned Some of these may be affiliate links, which just means I get a tiny kickback for fueling your reading habit. * The Twilight Saga (https://link.amazon/B02O9pcBW) by Stephenie Meyer * Yaga (https://link.amazon/B08rvMMoz) by Kat Sandler * The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (https://link.amazon/A02pfL32g) by Laurie Gilmore * Role Model (https://link.amazon/B07ERo5M6) by Rachel Reid * Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck (https://link.amazon/B0fOuTYWg) by Michaela Coyle **Click here to join us inside The Joyful Reader Society (https://www.skool.com/the-joyful-reader-society-5574/about) to talk about this one on October 27, 2026!! * The PLAN: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius (https://link.amazon/B0hG49eYc) by Kendra Adachi * influential men (https://archiveofourown.org/works/78051321/chapters/204540791) (https://archiveofourown.org/works/78051321/chapters/204540791)by lyric_ghost on AO3 * Always Watching (https://archiveofourown.org/works/82278436/chapters/216548051) (https://archiveofourown.org/works/82278436/chapters/216548051)by shadow_lillies on AO3 * we go on walks (https://archiveofourown.org/works/78108231/chapters/204704461)by tootwonnewts on AO3 💬 Let’s Chat When I recorded this, I was thinking a lot about community and how we might carve out a little quieter space to talk books without all the online chaos. One of the reasons it took me so long to get this up and posted was because I built that space for us! The Joyful Reader Society is now live on Skool! (https://www.skool.com/the-joyful-reader-society-5574/about) 👈 Click the link to read with us! You can join us as a founding member for just $5/month from now until November 1, 2026, then it goes up to $11/month. You’ll get access to our three monthly book chats (we do a fiction and nonfiction book chat each month, as well as our Silent Reading Book Club). Please note that paid members here on Substack also get access to the monthly Silent Reading Book Club! While we’re waiting for our next Book Chat, remember that you never need to justify loving what you love! So let’s talk: what’s one book or story you always turn to when the world gets loud and you need comfort? Get full access to Ren Reads Too Much at renreadstoomuch.substack.com/subscribe (https://renreadstoomuch.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

3. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Reading for Joy: Yaga, Community, and Unconventional Self-Care

   It’s officially cardigan season, and I am fully leaning into the cozy vibes. But this week, my reading life has been a mix of comfort and challenge. While I’ve snuggled up with some heartwarming fanfiction to counterbalance the heavier nonfiction titles I’ve been working through, I’ve also been reflecting on how necessary that balance really is for me, especially when life feels a little too full. That tension between needing soft landing spots and wanting (needing?) to tackle the harder stuff has shown up lately in my self-care, too. Sometimes the best thing I can do is let myself slow down and process whether that means walking with the dog, putting my legs up the wall, or just logging off entirely from the comments section (highly recommend, honestly). And as always, reading has been the most reliable reset button…even the uncomfortable, thought-provoking books have their place. This week, I dove back into Yaga by Kat Sandler, and without any spoilers, I’ll just say: endings that surprise me are a rare, rare treat. Reading a play was a fun detour from my usual reads. I’m really looking forward to seeing the story play out in its new TV adaptation, even as I am wistful that I’m unlikely to see a stage production of the play anytime soon. And, of course, I’m most excited to talk about it all with you inside The Joyful Reader Society! 👉 Lock in your founding member rate of $5/month or $50/year when you join us here before November 1, 2026! (https://www.skool.com/the-joyful-reader-society-5574/about) 📚 Books Mentioned Some of these may be affiliate links, which just means I get a tiny kickback for fueling your reading habit. * Yaga (https://link.amazon/B0auwsplI)by Kat Sandler * Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be (https://link.amazon/B04uP439h) by Robyn Koslowitz PhD * Existential Kink: Unmask Your Shadow and Embrace Your Power; A Method for Getting What You Want by Getting Off on What You Don’t (https://link.amazon/B034olYOQ)by Carolyn Elliott PhD * Map Contact (https://archiveofourown.org/works/86092386/chapters/227642406) by Regolith (metonym) on AO3 * Somebody To Love (https://archiveofourown.org/works/85592371/chapters/226141876) by shadow_lilies on AO3 💬 Let’s Chat Whether your version of self-care is a new book, a reread, or just carving out time to rest, I hope you’re finding what you need this week. How do you balance comfort reading with books that challenge you a little more, especially when everything else feels overwhelming? 👕 Like the shirt? Get yours here! (https://ren-reads-too-much-pop-up.printify.me/) Get full access to Ren Reads Too Much at renreadstoomuch.substack.com/subscribe (https://renreadstoomuch.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)

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Spotify

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