Life of Plenty

044 Independent Bookstore Day 2025

On this episode of Life of Plenty podcast, Lisa and Ashley talk about Independent Bookstore Day, happening April 26th, this Saturday! 

013 Angie Wells - Plenty Board Member and Enthusiastic Reader

In this Life of Plenty episode, Lisa Uhrik sits down with Angie Wells, who talks about her lifelong love of reading, which she credits partly to the excitement of the Scholastic Book Fairs she attended in elementary school. From the devastating Where the Red Fern Grows to time traveling with Philippa Gregory's historical fiction, Angie discusses books she's loved. 
Angie is a member of the advisory board for Plenty Downtown Bookshop, a nonprofit bookstore in Cookeville, Tennessee. 

012 Chris McMichael - Author of Redemptive Botany of the Bible

This episode of Life of Plenty Podcast welcomes back Ashley Michael as she and Lisa Uhrik host Chris McMichael, author of an 800+ page book focusing on botany and the Bible. This book, which Chris considers a calling, took him years to write and research and dives deep into the remarkable symbology of the plants found in the Bible. 

011 Emily Paton Talks Audiobooks

On this Life of Plenty podcast, Lisa Uhrik is joined by radio host Emily Paton of the The Emily Paton Show and The Forgotten Song project. Emily talks about some of her favorite books, falling asleep to Harry Potter, reading in Braille, and how audiobooks are easier to comprehend. She also discusses how a good narrator can really make an audiobook.
 
Check out Libro.fm to listen to audiobooks and support the Life of Plenty podcast.
 

010 Lifelong Reader Laura Clemons

On this episode of Life of Plenty, Lisa Uhrik and special guest Laura Clemons debate who loves books more. A writer and lifelong reader, Laura talks about the books and authors she loves. She raves about southern writers Silas House, Ann Patchett, Monic Ductan, and Barbara Kingsolver and discusses why a book of poetry would help her get through being stuck on a deserted island. Laura talks about the 28-page rule and how reading has granted her sanity and the ability to understand the people around her, contributing to her life of plenty. 

009 Gifting Brainstorm

This episode may have been made for the holidays, but the books that Lisa recommends make amazing gifts year-round. Join her as she brainstorms gifts that can go to all sorts of people in your life, depending on their interests.
Books make the best gifts with the ability to speak to the recipient's soul. Find your book to gift at Plenty Downtown Bookshop in Cookeville, Tennessee. 

008 Make Time for Reading with Lisa Garcia

Lisa Garcia, the Colon Queen, joins Ashley and Lisa to talk about the importance of detoxing not just the body but the mind. Lisa mentions some of her favorite books including the classics, Where the Wild Things Are and Where the Sidewalk Ends. Then they talk about raising kids, and her best advice for parents who want to raise their kids as readers: Make time for reading.

007 Meaningful Gifts Year Round

The holidays may be over, but as Lisa and Ashley point out, books make meaningful gifts year-round. From gifting a well-loved book to a family member to finding the right book for someone you might not know well, like for corporate gifting, or a child's teacher or friend, Lisa and Ashley discuss how to choose the perfect book.
 
And you can also visit Plenty Downtown Bookshop in Cookeville's historic westside where our booksellers are eager to help you find the right book, no matter who you are buying for.

006 Start a Book Gifting Tradition

In this episode of the Life of Plenty podcast, Ashley talks about her book gifting traditions, and she and Lisa discuss why books make the best gifts. They then discuss books that make fantastic gifts, from Frog and Toad to cookbooks and some of their favorites. 

005 Bookseller Extraordinaire Eliza Eldridge

Plenty Bookseller and Social Media Coordiantor Eliza Eldridge stops by the Life of Plenty Podcast to discuss books that have had an impact on her, as well as working as a bookseller to connect people with books that they will love. (Which she shines at!)She also talks with Ashley and Lisa about running monthlong write-ins and how Plenty supports writers.