Partners in business *and* friendship (Issue #90)
Chatting women's empowerment in this Books With Your Besties Podcast takeover.
Before we jump in, I want to let you know about an incredibly important case that needs our attention and support. Currently, Toforest Johnson is sitting on death row in Alabama, fighting to prove his right to a new trial. I cover this story on this week’s episode of Truer Crime - here’s the description:
In 1995, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy William Hardy was shot behind a Birmingham hotel. At that moment, over ten witnesses placed Toforest Johnson at a nightclub across town. Despite this, Toforest has spent more than 26 years on death row for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. Today, many—including one of the jurors who originally convicted him— think the courts got it wrong. But how? With the support of investigative reporter Beth Shelburne, we explore the horrifying twists behind Toforest’s controversial conviction.
You can listen to the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or by searching “Truer Crime” wherever you get your podcasts. You can also check out the TikTok I made about the case below.
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Hi friends,
February is quickly turning into the month of Sincerely, Celisia takeovers, and I’m actually really excited about it! Today, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Emily Reeder and Ashley Desanno, two best friends whose work together is absolutely phenomenal. Together, they run The Creepy Book Club (a fabulous community for bookworms who also like a good scare) and co-host the Books With Your Besties podcast. Ashley also posts regularly on Instagram and TikTok, and I admire the ways she elegantly mixes relatable lifestyle content with more meaningful political engagement. When chatting about their takeover, Emily and Ashley immediately had a theme they wanted to build their issue around — women supporting women. And it really makes sense because of course two women best friends who’ve built multiple businesses together would have a lot to say on the topic.
So, without further ado, I introduce to you the Books with Your Besties Sincerely, Celisia Issue Takeover!!
Who are we? We are Emily and Ashley, best friends of 24 years who are now co-owners of a small business called The Creepy Book Club and podcast hosts on Books With Your Besties. We became soulmate friends while traveling the world together on Semester at Sea in 2001. Connecting instantly while sitting next to one another on a flight from San Francisco to Greece is something neither one of us will ever forget. We both now live in Oregon (although hundreds of miles apart) with our spouses, kids, and dogs (shout out to Otis and Junie).
We’ve held hands, figuratively and literally, through getting married, having children, changing careers, gaining and losing friends, bumps in the road with our own friendship, and losing parents and loved ones. Through it all we have come to realize a female friendship based on immense love, respect, honesty, and humor. Ashley is the secret ambivert while Emily is the life of the party. Emily is organized and professional, while Ashley lives her life in more of a “smash and grab” capacity. You can often find them nestled under a blanket, eating snacks and sharing a bottle of red wine while choosing to watch some horrifically dark true crime documentary or an old-school rom-com.
As best friends with two and a half decades of friendship under our belt, we feel somewhat qualified to chat about all things female empowerment and how we can authentically show up for one another as women. One of our favorite books ends with a woman quite literally being an alibi for another woman who murdered her abusive husband. We are so thankful for this takeover and are excited to share some of our recommendations.
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
Movie: Every F—ing Day of my Life
This 70-minute documentary follows Wendy Maldonado's fateful decision to protect her family from abuse at all costs, even her own freedom. Wendy, an Oregon mother of four, along with her oldest son Randy killed her husband Aaron in his bed using a hammer and hatchet in May 2005. The pair pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges and spent years in prison.
Book: Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
This heart-pounding thriller is sure to keep you up late, both desperate to keep reading and afraid to close your eyes.
Podcast: In Your Own Backyard
Once you have exhausted the Truer Crime and Books with your Besties episodes, check out In Your Own Backyard - a documentary podcast series investigating the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart.
Action items to support and care for the world around us.
Uplift women - take one action this week to uplift a woman in your community. Spread the word at work about a coworker doing a great job, check in on a neighbor, call a friend to give them positive affirmations, or comment on a social media post about a woman who is being brave/vulnerable or sharing something important to them.
Support a woman-owned business in your local community (bonus points if it’s also BIPOC or LGBTQ + owned). This could look like purchasing products/services from the business or just sharing the word about what they have to offer.
Take a look at what the National Organization for Women is up to and consider getting involved or donating. The NOW prioritizes securing equal rights for women, championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom, and other women’s health issues, opposing racism, fighting bigotry against the LGBTQIA community, and ending violence against women.
Things to try + share in the group chat.
Women’s safety devices are a must-have. Safely is a woman-owned company that aspires to change the face of safety for women by helping them be prepared for any situation. Use code bookclub20 for 20% off your order.
Our favorite mascara and a company that gives back!! Thrive gives back to partners who work with cancer patients, domestic violence victims, veterans, racial + social justice issues, LGBTQIA+, and many more.
She’s Wanderful is a women's travel community dedicated to helping women get out there and gain the confidence and support needed to travel solo while creating a supportive and inclusive ecosystem for women worldwide.
Sincerely,
Ashley and Emily
Last week, I wrote about our reaction to the first few weeks of the Trump presidency and how we can be strategic moving forward. Check it out below!
Have a great weekend!
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