Kris and Mads

Latest Episodes:

🚨 ULTIMATE FANTASY & SCI-FI SHOWDOWN! (feat. 2 to Ramble) | LOTR/Dune/Red Rising/Sword of Kaigen ⚔️ Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

🚨 WARNING! This one includes SPOILERS 🚨 Who reigns supreme in the world of epic stories? We teamed up with Rich and Austin from 2 to Ramble to defend our top picks – Lord of the Rings, Red Rising, Dune, and The Sword of Kaigen. From legendary characters to mind-blowing worlds, things got heated as we battled over which tale truly deserves the crown. Who won? Hit play to find out – and let us know if we got it right! 👀🔥

Check out @2ToRamble and the episode we did with them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A4AtPj97jk&t=89s

You can join our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/KrisandMadsSisterhood

And Check us out around the web: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads

Olivie Blake: The Truth Behind The Atlas Six, Never Feeling Safe, and Getting Weird With Girl Dinner Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with New York Times Bestselling author Olivie Blake, the mastermind behind The Atlas Six, Masters of Death, Alone With You in the Ether, and more. We discuss everything from her transition from indie to traditional publishing, her signature writing style, and the complex psychology woven into her characters. She shares her thoughts on the power of storytelling, why she loves writing about messy yet hopeful characters, and gives us an exclusive sneak peek at her upcoming books: Gifted and Talented (April 2025) and Girl Dinner (October 2025). Plus, find out two truths and a lie about Olivie! Find Olivie online: https://www.olivieblake.com/ Join our patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/KrisandMadsSisterhood Follow us on IG https://instagram.com/krisandmads Follow us on TikTok https://tiktok.com/@kris.and.mads Email: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com Everything else here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Olivie Blake: New York Times Bestselling Author 01:05 – Two Truths and a Lie: Fun Facts About Olivie Blake 03:19 – What Makes a Perfect Book? Olivie Blake's 5-Star Reads 06:14 – From Indie Publishing to Traditional Publishing: Olivie Blake’s Journey 09:16 – How Olivie Blake Developed Her Signature Writing Style 13:12 – Creative Story Structures in Olivie Blake’s Books 17:07 – Exploring Power and Nihilism in The Atlas Six with Olivie Blake 21:13 – Art and Illustration in Olivie Blake's Brand 24:29 – Behind the Scenes of Audiobook Production for Januaries 31:28 – Writing as an Art Form: Olivie Blake on Creative Liberation 35:40 – Vulnerability and Mental Health in Alone With You in the Ether 44:34 – Why Success Doesn’t Make Olivie Blake Feel Safe—Choosing to Be Brave 51:04 – What’s Next for Olivie Blake: Gifted and Talented (April 2025) and Girl Dinner (October 2025) #OlivieBlake#TheAtlasSix#MastersOfDeath#AloneWithYouInTheEther#OneForMyEnemy#DarkAcademiaBooks#FantasyAuthor#BestsellingAuthor#BookTube#BookishContent#AuthorInterview#PodcastEpisode#BookClubPodcast#WritingPodcast#BookishChat#AuthorChat#WritingTips#IndieAuthorToTradPub#PsychologicalFiction#FantasyBooks#RomanticFantasy#DarkAcademiaVibes#CreativeWritingTips#StorytellingSecrets#YouTubePodcast#BookTubeCommunity#TrendingBooks#ReadersOfYouTube#2025BookReleases

Book Recs & TBR Chaos! 🤯 Our Top Picks with Smitty (LIVE Q&A!) Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Looking for your next favorite book? 📚 Join us and fellow content creator @Smitty1423 as we recommend 9 incredible books and dive into our top secret priority TBR lists! From epic fantasy and sci-fi adventures to thought-provoking reads, this episode has something for everyone. Plus, don’t miss the Q&A we did with our live audience at the end of the episode where share even more bookish insights, including cosmere reading orders, audiobook tips, horror recs, and more! 🔥 Let us know which of these you're adding to your TBR! Smitty's links: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinopapi23 Our links: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads Creators Mentioned: Sloan: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsmesloaner Margaret: https://www.tiktok.com/@mm.stormblessed Kiara: @Kiarasbookobsession Austin and Richard: @2ToRamble Ed and Will: @thebrothersgwynne Allie: https://www.tiktok.com/@allisonsaplusreads Gina: @geenahreads Indiana Bookstore Mentioned: https://www.instagram.com/sunboundbooks/ Beverage Mentioned: @OLIPOP All Other Books Mentioned: Strange the Dreamer Duology by Laini Taylor Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown The Gael Song Trilogy by Shauna Lawless Scythe by Neal Shusterman Wool by Hugh Howey Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo Anathema by Keri Lake The Strength of the Few by James Islington The Lord of Demons by Evan Winter Shadows Upon Time by Christopher Ruocchio A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon and Travis Deverell The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan Ascension by Nicholas Binge Daughters of the Empire by Janny Wurts & Raymond E. Feist Jade War by Fonda Lee Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb The Bound and the Broken Series by Ryan Cahill The Way of Eden by Philip Chase The Red Rising Series by Pierce Brown Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Recursion by Blake Crouch Wayward Pines Trilogy by Blake Crouch Vicious by V.E. Schwab Smitty's Soft DNFs: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie Brandon Sanderson Stuff Mentioned: Coppermind: https://coppermind.net Mistborn Era 2 by Brandon Sanderson Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson Elantris by Brandon Sanderson Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson White Sand by Brandon Sanderson Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson Skyward by Brandon Sanderson Audiobook Recs: Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter Red Rising by Pierce Brown Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 11/22/63 by Stephen King The Shining by Stephen King Horror Books Mentioned: Between Two Fires Lost Gods The Willows The Fisherman #BookRecommendations #FantasyBooks #SciFiReads #TBRList #PodcastEpisode #LiveQA #BookTube #ContentCreators

Our Intentional Reading Goals for 2025: Reading Less and Enjoying More Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we’re sharing our mindful reading goals for 2025 and why we’re embracing a slower, more intentional approach to our TBRs. Maddie is setting a 100-book reading limit to focus on quality over quantity, while Kristen is incorporating cozy fantasy, nostalgic rereads, and expanding her home library. From rating systems to physical TBRs, we’re breaking down how we plan to read more thoughtfully, track our progress, and enjoy the journey. Plus, we’re diving into the impact of audiobooks vs. physical books, finding our own influences, and prioritizing movies and TV. Tune in for all the details and get inspired to set your own 2025 reading goals! Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Kicking Off Our 2025 Reading Goals 06:23 - Kristen’s Plan: Reading Fewer Series & Focusing on Standalones 10:02 - Maddie’s Rating System Overhaul 15:01 - Why Maddie Is Setting a 100-Book Limit for 2025 16:54 - Kristen’s Cozy Fantasy Picks and Slow Reading Rituals 17:35 - Tracking Our Reading in 2025: Reviews, Journals, etc 19:39 - Kristen’s Reading Journal: Keeping Track of Progress 22:08 - Nostalgia Reads & Rereads: Kristen’s 2025 Priority 22:55 - Maddie’s Focus on Classics: A New Direction for 2025 25:00 - The Four Series Maddie Plans to Tackle in 2025 27:03 - Maddie’s Physical TBR Goal: Under 10 Books 28:20 - Kristen’s Shift to Standalones & Building a Home Library 30:55 - Prioritizing Romance: Kristen’s 2025 Genre Spotlight 34:18 - Diversifying Recommendations: Plan for Variety 38:20 - Being Your Own Tastemaker: Avoiding Reading FOMO 39:25 - Our New Twist: Giving Each Other 3 Passes for the Year 42:27 - Choosing Physical Books Over Audiobooks in 2025 45:47 - Audiobooks vs. Physical Books: Balancing Time & Value 48:13 - Making Time for More Movies & TV in 2025 Join our Patreon: patreon.com/KrisandMadsSisterhood Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads Biz inquiries: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com

Kidnapped at 11?! Michael Kist’s Wild Story & Content Creation Secrets Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

What do you get when you mix a shocking (and oddly funny) kidnapping story with insights on becoming a full-time content creator? This episode with Michael Kist! 🎉 Join us as Michael hilariously recounts being literally kidnapped at 11 years old (yes, really) and how his love for books, history, and fantasy shaped his path to success. Whether you’re a fan of epic reads, deep dives into creative careers, or just love hearing creators overshare, this episode has it all! 🎙️ What We Cover: Timestamps 00:00 Intro 15:19 📚 How Childhood Stories Inspire Reading & Content Creation 21:07 ⚠️ The Weird, Wild Risks of Being a Creator 24:53 🔥 Juggling Passion, Burnout, and Everything in Between 27:51 🎯 Why Success Isn’t Just About the Views 32:44 📏 From Short-Form to Long-Form Content: The Big Transition 37:39 💬 Handling Critics & Keeping Fans Happy (or Not) 42:06 🤝 Engaging with Communities Like a Pro 49:12 💡 Negotiation 101: Knowing Your Worth as a Creator 56:00 🌟 What’s Next? Michael’s Personal & Professional Aspirations If you’re into books, reading, history, or fantasy—or want to master the art of content creation—this episode is a must-listen. 📖 Love storytelling? Michael drops gems on how his love for epic tales influences his creative process. 🎥 Thinking of going full-time? Hear tips on navigating audience expectations, burnout, and the ever-evolving creator economy. 🛠️ Bonus laughs included. Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and the most unexpected kidnapping story ever.

You can find Michael's content here: @KistReadsBooks and around the web: https://linktr.ee/michaelkist biz inquiries: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com Patreon, Tiktok, Instagram, merch, and more here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads

How We Read 100+ Books a Year: Our Secret Tips, Tools & TBR Hacks! Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

📚 Are you wondering how we manage to read so many books every month? In this episode, we spill all our secrets! From our favorite reading spots to how we build our TBRs, track our reading progress, and decide between physical books, audiobooks, and Kindle, we cover it all. 📖✨

Plus: 🤔 How We read so many books 🎧 Why we love (or hate) different reading formats 🛋️ The best places to read and set the mood ✍🏻 How we build our TBR lists 📚 Where we buy our books, including special editions 📲 The apps and tools we swear by for tracking our reads 👩‍💻 How we engage with authors and make reading a social experience 🛍️ Bookish merch we can't get enough of! If you're looking to up your reading game, discover new tools, or simply get some bookish inspo, this episode is for you! Hit play, and let's chat all things books! 🎙️💬

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more bookish content!

Biz inquiries: contact.kris.and.mads@gmail.com

Patreon, Tiktok, Instagram, merch, and more here: https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads

Sources: Reading Stats https://today.yougov.com/entertainmen...

Saving Highlights from Kindle on Goodreads https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/comme...

Ambiance Videos • 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 | 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐀... • Countdown to Cozy Nights | Christmas ... • 🍁 Cozy Autumn Coffee Shop Ambience wi...

Maddie's Fav Chocolate https://www.drbronner.com/products/pe...

UK Editions https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/home

#booktube #ReadingHabits #TBRTips #BookLovers #HowToReadMore #BookCommunity #SpecialEditions #Audiobooks #ReadingApps

AI Speculative Fiction | Interview with John Fennec Debut Author of Artificial Artifacts Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

This is a show about stories for storytellers and story lovers, hosted by sisters Kristen and Maddie, lifelong readers and recent booktokers with a 100k+ following.

In this interview, John Fennec chats to us about his speculative sci-fi debut Artificial Artifacts. We discuss how the short story format shows how AI can affect multiple points of view, the ways humanity is obsessed with what is real, and how outsourcing to AI for convenience can be a slippery slope to outsourcing our human experience. We chat about Fennec's upcoming project that explores simulation theory, and the reason why he writes and explores these themes! We are obsessed with Artificial Artifacts. Fennec is a polished story-teller with such a creative outlook on the application and integration of technology and culture. We hope you pick up Artificial Artifacts and enjoy it as much as we did!

You can order Artificial Artifacts on Amazon (It is also available on Kindle Unlimited): https://a.co/d/cNCWWRd You can connect with John Fennec around the web: linktr.ee/johnfennec ⁠⁠ You can find Kris and Mads on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Join the Patreon or book club on Fable, and keep up with what we're reading on Goodreads. Everything is linked here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads⁠⁠⁠

Gareth Brown Interview | Author of the Book of Doors Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

This is a show about stories for storytellers and story lovers, hosted by sisters Kristen and Maddie, lifelong readers and recent booktokers with a 100k+ following.

In this interview, Gareth Brown chats to us about his international bestseller The Book of Doors. We discuss how the book can't really be put in a genre box, how Brown's reading across genres influences his style, and how being a debut author is misleading since he's been writing since he was a teen. We chat about the publishing process and how Brown might be sitting on a fantastic time-travel novel that is yet-to-be published! We are eagerly anticipating Brown's next release in 2025. Brown has the ability to blend genres, and deliver break-neck pacing and keep us hooked on every page. We hope you pick up The Book of Doors and enjoy it as much as we did!

You can order The Book of Doors on Amazon: ⁠https://a.co/d/al9mAtD⁠ You can connect with Gareth Brown around the web: ⁠https://www.garethbrownbooks.com/⁠ You can find Kris and Mads on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Join the Patreon or book club on Fable, and keep up with what we're reading on Goodreads. Everything is linked here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads⁠⁠

BONUS EPISODE | Our Bookish Trip to Ireland!!! (the whole story) Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

This is a show about stories for storytellers and story lovers, hosted by sisters Kristen and Maddie, lifelong readers and recent booktokers with a 100k+ following.

In this special episode, we are sharing our experience going to Ireland with our booktok followers.

Our next trip is in Italy in April 2025! Booking for the trip will launch Oct. 22, at 8 pm EST. You can check out the itinerary and sign up to be notified when booking is open here: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/italy/italy-with-maddie-fisher-apr-2025 We went to Ireland with 32 strangers who follow us on Booktok. It was the trip of a lifetime. We met kindred spirits and made core memories in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. We can't express what these women mean to us. We can't explain how it fated it felt. What we can say is THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts to every woman who took a leap of faith to do something crazy for the plot. Every risk had massive payoff, and we feel so full of love and optimism for everything to come. This was an experience that proved everything we want to be true about finding best friends as adults, and the world being a lot smaller than we think. Cheers to 2025 and all the new memories and friendships to come! You can find Kristen and Maddie on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Join their book club on Fable, and keep up with what they're reading on Goodreads. Everything is linked here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads⁠

John Gwynne Interview | Meeting One of Our Favorite Authors! Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

This is a show about stories for storytellers and story lovers, hosted by sisters Kristen and Maddie, lifelong readers and recent booktokers with a 100k+ following.

In this interview, John Gwynne chats about his trilogy The Bloodsworn Saga, which is recently complete with its third installment The Fury of the Gods. We discuss how Norse mythology plays a role, and how research is a huge part of his writing process. Most importantly, we discussed how loss and grief have altered John's life, his work, and the way he writes grief in Fury of the Gods. We were so honored that John took the time to speak with us so openly. We hope you all pick up The Bloodsworn Saga and that it makes you feel as deeply as it did us.

You can order The Fury of the Gods on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7rIOxW4 You can connect with John Gwynne around the web: linktr.ee/johnhgwynne You can find Kristen and Maddie on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Join their book club on Fable, and keep up with what they're reading on Goodreads. Everything is linked here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/kris.and.mads⁠

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