S2, E29: Amanda Warren on Bookish, Building Community & the Salt Lake Book Festival
The conversation starts with a blunt question that matters to anyone who feels busy but not fulfilled: what are we trading our time for, and are we getting anything real back? We dig into the idea of time as the most universal currency, then push it further into energy as the sharper metric. That shift reframes everything from doomscrolling to saying yes to plans, because the real issue is intention. If you want community, growth, or calm, you can’t keep spending your best hours on things that leave you flat. That mindset leads naturally into “A-B testing” your life by trying different groups, events, and routines until you find what actually fits.
From there, the episode moves into how people consume stories now and why audiobooks are winning. Podcast saturation, long commutes, and nonstop schedules make listening the default for many readers, but the bigger point is that reading is still thriving when the experience is designed well. That’s where Bookish SLC comes in: a Salt Lake City silent reading party that turns a room full of strangers into a shared, low-pressure community. Books give you instant conversation without small talk, because you can talk about characters, themes, or genre instead of your job title. It’s social connection for introverts, and it’s also a practical answer to the “how do I meet people after college” problem.
We also get honest about what it takes to run community in late-stage capitalism. Tickets cost money, and that reality can feel uncomfortable, but monetization is often what prevents organizer burnout and keeps events consistent. A small price can also filter for people who truly want to be there, improving the vibe and reducing chaos. Against the constant “literacy crisis” headline, we argue for a more optimistic view: indie bookstores opening, Gen Z choosing physical media, wired headphones returning, and screens getting questioned in schools. The analog lifestyle trend isn’t nostalgia, it’s a correction, and it’s building momentum across Utah reading culture, publishing trends, and local events.
The episode widens into personal growth, anxiety, and the fear of effort. Showing up alone, trying something new, risking embarrassment, and being a “bad beginner” are all part of the deal if you want a bigger life. We talk exposure therapy, naming your inner saboteur, and Internal Family Systems as tools for managing the loud voice in your head. Then we pivot back to books and taste: romantasy trends, why horror may surge again, and the joy of recommending what actually hooks people. Finally, we lay out what’s coming for the Salt Lake Book Festival, including kid-friendly programming, niche panels that meet people where they are, and community events like Read And Ride that pair public transit with reading time.
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