Hey Yall!

This month we sit with new beginnings and name the cost of fitting in, using Julissa Arce’s book to examine assimilation, representation, and cultural pride. Joy rises next to hard truths as we claim our names, challenge proximity to whiteness, and pick a read to start the new year strong.

• New jobs, creative projects, intentionality
• Emotional complexity and celebrating joy
• You Sound Like a White Girl overview and tone
• Who the book is for and why that matters
• Proximity to whiteness at work and in life
• Food, culture, and appropriation flashpoints
• Representation gaps and the checkbox problem
• Names, identity, and insisting on correct pronunciation
• Parenting and culturally rooted naming choices
• Next month’s pick: Think Like a Monk
• Recommendations across podcasts, YouTube, shows, books

We were doing a reread, but our first time talking about it on the pod, which is Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty. The book that started it all.

Celebrations are in order and to say we are feeling good is an understatement! This month we talk about lifting invisible weights, and use Feel Good Productivity to rethink how we work, rest, and connect. Practical tools, honest reframes, and lots of laughter help us trade burnout for momentum that feels good to keep

If you’re craving productivity that feels human, hopeful, and doable, this one’s for you. Listen, use the tools, and tell us the one experiment you’re trying this week. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

Author - @aliabdaal

Music by - Asher Ahmahd
Edited by - Donnie Moore @dddonniemooreee

Reach out
brownpeoplereading@gmail.com

Follow us
Instagram - @brownpeoplereading

This month we read and listened to the collection of stories by Issa Rae. We are both inspired by Issa's creativity and sense of community as she continues to build a beautiful ecosystem of creatives. Join us as we talk about what resonated with us and what it brought up.

Author - @issarae

Music by - Asher Ahmahd
Edited by - Donnie Moore @dddonniemooreee

Reach out
brownpeoplereading@gmail.com

Follow us
Instagram - @brownpeoplereading

Hey y’all! We got in our YA bag this month with I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang—and wow, it gave us everything we were looking for. Fun? Check. A little depth to dive into? Double check. This convo took us straight into the theme of pressures—family, identity, and all the weight that comes with figuring out who you really are. Come hang out with us as we unpack what this beautifully written book stirred up!

Author - @annliangwrites

Music by - Asher Ahmahd
Edited by - Donnie Moore @dddonniemooreee

Reach out
brownpeoplereading@gmail.com

Follow us
Instagram - @brownpeoplereading

This read was heavy, full stop. While it may have been hard to read the information is important to know. Trigger warning: Indo-Caribbeans the stories of abuse and SA are intense.

These are stories that are important to know and we definitely take the time to digest them here.

Author - Gaiutra Bahadur

Music by - Asher Ahmahd
Edited by - Donnie Moore @dddonniemooreee

Reach out
brownpeoplereading@gmail.com

Follow us
Instagram - @brownpeoplereading

This book came at the right time in our journey both together and individually. Sahil's book gave us room to reflect and re-evaluate, and we are here for the growth! Check out this episode to see what types of wealth we are cultivating this season and let us know what type of wealth you are currently nurturing!

Author - Sahil Bloom @sahilbloom

Music by - Asher Ahmahd
Edited by - Donnie Moore @dddonniemooreee

Reach out
brownpeoplereading@gmail.com

Follow us
Instagram - @brownpeoplereading

Y'all sometimes it takes a second to get it together, haha! We went a little rogue this month and we hope you take a moment to enjoy the ride!

Music by - Asher Ahmahd
Edited by - Donnie Moore @dddonniemooreee

Reach out
brownpeoplereading@gmail.com

Follow us
Instagram - @brownpeoplereading

This month, we’re talking all things astrology! And no—it’s not just about your Big 3. We get into the real stuff: the subtle layers of our birth charts, what we’ve been noticing in our lives, what’s showing up now, and where we feel like we’re headed. It’s a laid-back, honest convo about self-discovery, growth, and how astrology helps us make sense of it all.

Music by - Asher Ahmahd
Edited by - Donnie Moore @dddonniemooreee

Reach out
brownpeoplereading@gmail.com

Follow us
Instagram - @brownpeoplereading