Lit with Lara Ashley | Podcast on RSS.com

Lit with Lara Ashley

Lit with Lara Ashley

by Lara Ashley

Season 1

Reset Your Life Through Books — Routines, Money, and Becoming Her

In this August reset episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley shares a curated list of self-help and personal growth books designed to help you get back into your routine, realign your mindset, and step into the version of yourself you’ve been envisioning. From building confidence and discipline with You Are a Badass to gaining control of your finances with Rich AF, this episode explores practical ways books can support real-life transformation. Lara also highlights Make Your Bed for structure and consistency, The Year of Dating Myself for reconnecting with yourself, and All the Cool Girls Get Fired for navigating career shifts and unexpected transitions. This episode is about more than productivity; it’s about becoming intentional, building habits that support your life, and creating a routine that feels aligned with who you’re becoming. Lara also invites listeners to be part of the Lit with Lara Ashley community by sharing their favorite self-help and reset reads on Instagram (@litwithlarashleyyyyy), which will be featured in an upcoming Community Library episode in September. If you’re ready to reset, refocus, and step into your next chapter, this episode is for you. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s get into it. This episode was lit. ✨

Summer Travel Reads — Books That Feel Like a Vacation

In this summer-inspired episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley shares a curated list of books that will transport you, whether you’re boarding a flight or just dreaming of your next getaway. From the emotional, reflective journey of One Italian Summer to the fun, chemistry-filled energy of Just for the Summer, this episode explores stories that feel like travel, escape, and summer in book form. Lara Ashley also shares why One Italian Summer resonates personally, reflecting on her own mother-daughter trips, including a special visit to Italy, and how books can connect us to memory, place, and emotion in unexpected ways. Plus, she highlights immersive reads like Babel and shares exciting July releases on her radar, including Augusta Pine Does Not Exist and Free Girls. To close, Lara Ashley builds out a Community Library of travel-inspired reads that capture romance, adventure, and self-discovery. Whether you’re heading to the beach, traveling abroad, or staying close to home, this episode is your guide to reading your way through summer. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let these stories take you somewhere new. This episode was lit. ✨

Juneteenth, Love, and Legacy — My Great-Grandmother’s Story

In this deeply personal Juneteenth episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley reflects on the meaning of Juneteenth through the lens of her great-grandmother’s life. While Juneteenth marks the delayed announcement of freedom for enslaved Black Americans, this episode explores what freedom looked like in the generations that followed, and how systems of labor, control, and survival continued to shape everyday life. Lara shares the story of her great-grandmother, who worked in a strawberry field under harsh conditions, earning little pay while living in an environment that reflected the complexities of post-emancipation life. Through this reflection, she connects history to lived experience, highlighting resilience, endurance, and the quiet strength of Black women. This episode also weaves in Lara’Ashley's current writing journey, as she begins to tell a loosely inspired romance story rooted in her family’s legacy, honoring not just what her great-grandmother endured, but how she lived, loved, and built a life within those realities. This conversation is about more than history. It’s about memory, legacy, and the stories we carry forward. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and sit with this moment of reflection. This episode was lit. ✨

Why I Decided to Write — Love, Legacy, and My Grandmother’s Story

In this deeply personal episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley steps into a new chapter; not just as a reader, but as a writer. Inspired by the life and love story of her grandmother, Lara shares why she decided to begin writing a loosely based romance novel rooted in memory, legacy, and emotional truth. She reflects on the process of turning personal history into storytelling, the vulnerability that comes with it, and the desire to honor a story that deserves to be felt, not just remembered. Lara also opens up about joining a writers’ group in Raleigh, North Carolina, what she hopes to learn from being in community with other writers, and the reality of starting something without having it all figured out. This episode is about more than writing. It’s about healing, growth, and answering the quiet call to create. If you’ve ever felt pulled to tell a story, this conversation is for you. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and join Lara as she shares the beginning of her writing journey. This episode was lit. ✨

Burnout, Rest, and Reclaiming Yourself

In this Mental Health Awareness Month episode, Lara Ashley reflects on burnout: what it looks like today, how it affects us emotionally and physically, and how we begin to recover. Through personal reflection and insights from Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, this episode explores the importance of rest, boundaries, and redefining productivity. Lara also shares accessible mental health resources and a Community Library of books focused on healing and self-care. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected. This episode is for you. This episode was lit. ✨

BookCon — What to Expect, Who to See, and Why It Matters for Readers

In this special episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley takes you inside the world of BookCon, one of the most exciting events in the book community where readers, authors, and publishers come together. Whether you’re planning to attend or just curious about what happens behind the scenes, this episode breaks down everything you need to know: from author panels and book signings to navigating the event like a pro and making the most of your experience. Lara shares what she’s most excited about, how to prepare, and why events like BookCon are so important for building connection in a space that’s often experienced alone. You’ll also hear insights pulled from the official FAQs, tips for first-time attendees, and ways to engage with the community, even if you’re not there in person. If you’ve ever wanted to step deeper into the book world, this episode is your guide. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s talk BookCon. This episode was lit. ✨

The Academy — Secrets, Identity, and Who We Become in New Spaces

Spring is a season of becoming, and in this episode of Lit with Lara Ashley, Lara Ashley dives into The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham, a story filled with secrets, shifting friendships, and the quiet pressure to belong. Set in an elite boarding school, The Academy explores what it means to enter new spaces and navigate identity, ambition, and social dynamics while trying to stay true to yourself. Lara reflects on the characters we root for, the ones we side-eye, and the universal experience of figuring out who we are when everything around us is new. In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, this episode also highlights author Axie Oh and the importance of supporting culturally rich, emotionally grounded storytelling. Plus, Lara shares a curated Community Library featuring dark academia and elite school reads like Babel, Ace of Spades, and The Secret History. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and join the conversation on identity, belonging, and becoming. This episode was lit. ✨

Spring Cleaning My Home Library

It’s time for a different kind of spring cleaning. In this cozy, reflective episode, Lara Ashley takes you inside her home library, shelf by shelf: sharing the stories behind her collection, what she’s loving, what she needs to read next, and where she’s learning to slow down. From a romance shelf that’s almost full (and a reminder to read before buying more), to banned books, graphic novels like Lore Olympus, and nostalgic favorites like Harry Potter and Amari and the Night Brothers, this episode is a personal walk through a reader’s life. Lara also shares her love for cozy fantasy (Legends & Lattes), thrillers, holiday reads, and the books that have shaped her, including memoirs like The Truths We Hold and her own unpublished novel, which holds a special place on her shelf. This episode is about more than organizing books; it’s about reflecting on identity, growth, and the stories we choose to keep close. If you’ve ever looked at your bookshelf and seen a version of yourself staring back, this one’s for you. Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and come spring clean with me. This episode was lit. ✨

Michelle Obama’s The Look — Fashion, Power, and Why She’s Still That Girl

In honor of Women’s History Month, Lara Ashley explores The Look by Michelle Obama; a powerful reflection on fashion, identity, and the cultural weight of being seen. This episode goes beyond style and into symbolism. Lara discusses how Michelle Obama used fashion intentionally during her time as First Lady and beyond: elevating emerging designers, redefining political image, and navigating public scrutiny with grace and confidence. From the unforgettable purple Sergio Hudson inauguration look, to the soft elegance of her first inaugural gown, to the bold Balenciaga boots that reintroduced her to the world post–White House, this conversation highlights how clothing became language. Also, how Michelle Obama remains an icon and cultural architect long after her official role ended. The episode also reflects on leadership, Black womanhood in public spaces, and the politics of presentation, closing with a curated Community Library of companion reads including Becoming, The Hill We Climb, and The Beautiful Ones. Grab your favorite drink and settle in for a thoughtful conversation on power, legacy, and being unapologetically visible. This episode was lit. ✨

Park Avenue — Power, Ambition, and the Masks We Wear

Released on Fat Tuesday, this Mardi Gras–inspired episode of Lit with Lara Ashley dives into Park Avenue. A novel about wealth, ambition, romance, and the quiet cost of success. In this episode, Lara Ashley reflects on power and performance, the masks we wear in our careers and relationships, and what it means to pursue ambition without losing ourselves. Using the spirit of Mardi Gras as a lens, she explores themes of indulgence, legacy, reinvention, and the tension between image and authenticity. Lara also highlights a New Orleans–rooted author whose work deepens the conversation around power and inheritance, and closes the episode with a curated Community Library for readers drawn to stories of glamour, ambition, and identity. Pour a drink, settle in, and enjoy a thoughtful Fat Tuesday read that lingers long after the celebration ends. This episode was lit

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