The Read Well Podcast

In this episode, I talk about a simple motto that changed the way I read: Read slowly, take notes, apply the ideas. Most of us rush through books hoping the next one will fix what the last one didn’t. But real learning happens when we slow down and wrestle with one book at a time. I’ll share how I use pauses between books to reflect, and why action—not speed—is what makes a reader grow. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper (Join my Book Club Here): https://community.thereadwellpodcast.com/deep-reading-community?el=podcast

Nietzsche once said, “Live dangerously.” But what did he mean by that? In this episode, I explore the heart of that idea—why safety can dull the human spirit, and how risk is tied to becoming who you are. I’ll share my own struggle with this concept and recommend a book that might help you take the next step toward a more honest, courageous life. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper: https://community.thereadwellpodcast.com/deep-reading-community?el=podcast

I’m behind in my reading. Does that ever happen to you? Let’s chat about why it happens, how it messes with the brain, and how to get back on track without all the reader’s guilt and drama. In this episode, I share: Why we get behind as readers How it weighs on us mentally Tips for getting back on track A book recommendation I also take a moment in the middle to talk about some of the coffee that I sell at my bookstore. I love this stuff, as it fuels my reading day. This Episode’s Sponsor: Edgewater Bookstore Coffee The Deep Read (dark roast great for espresso) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/the-deep-read Anthology (Medium roast great for french press and pour-over) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/anthology Prose (Light roast from Ethiopia) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/prose Plot Twist (Light roast that changes monthly) - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe/products/plot-twist Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions 👋📚Take Your Reading Deeper: https://community.thereadwellpodcast.com/deep-reading-community

In this episode, I close out my series on Emerson’s journals by looking at what his essay Self-Reliance can teach us about keeping a thoughtful record of our lives. I also share a book recommendation—Agnes Callard’s Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life—and give a quick update on my bookstore and the growing Edgewater community. 👋📚 Join our book club at https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/ Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 👋📚Help us open the bookstore by donating a few bucks at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edgewaterbookstore/join-me-in-making-edgewater-bookstore-a-real-location

In this episode I explain how John Locke created a system for indexing journals that looks clever at first but quickly becomes a burden. I also share why Ralph Waldo Emerson abandoned the method and point you to his essay Self-Reliance. The larger point is simple: if a journaling system is too complicated, you won’t use it. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 👋📚Help us open the bookstore by donating a few bucks at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edgewaterbookstore/join-me-in-making-edgewater-bookstore-a-real-location

Ralph Waldo Emerson didn’t just write in his journals—he returned to them again and again. In this episode, I’ll share how that practice helped him refine his thinking and why it can help us too. I’ll also recommend a short book on ethics that makes philosophy clear and useful, and give you a quick update on the progress of Edgewater Bookstore. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 👋📚Help us open the bookstore by donating a few bucks at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edgewaterbookstore/join-me-in-making-edgewater-bookstore-a-real-location

In this episode, I begin a six-part series on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s journaling habits. Emerson didn’t see his journals as a place to record daily events—he saw them as a savings bank for ideas. I’ll explain what that means and why changing how you view your journal is the first step toward making it a tool for thinking. I’ll also share a book recommendation that can help you choose the right kind of notebook for this practice. 🔥Want to help open the bookstore?  Here's the link for our Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edgewaterbookstore/join-me-in-making-edgewater-bookstore-a-real-location Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 👋📚Help us open the bookstore by donating a few bucks at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/edgewaterbookstore/join-me-in-making-edgewater-bookstore-a-real-location

I sat down with J.D. Barker to talk about how he walked away from a career in corporate compliance and built a life as a full-time thriller writer. We cover his novels Dracul and Something I Keep Upstairs, the stories behind them, and how they connect to the wider tradition of suspense writing. J.D. also shares his own approach to reading so that every book—whether fiction or nonfiction—becomes a masterclass in storytelling. Visit J.D. Barker’s website at: https://jdbarker.com Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

Philosophy isn’t written like a story or a textbook—it unfolds in a completely different way. In this episode, I’ll walk you through how I approach reading philosophy without going insane. I’ll share practical tips that have helped me stay grounded, even in the densest chapters. I’ll also recommend a short book that every creative person should read (Art & Fear), and I’ll point you to a channel I think you’ll enjoy: Prose & Petticoats. 📺 Visit Emmelie at Prose & Petticoats: https://www.youtube.com/@ProseAndPetticoats 📺 Watch my favorite video by Prose & Petticoats: https://youtu.be/At5uNTO1Ggg?si=gb7sXdwsTSUlIFj1 Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

I used to read a book and forget it days later. Then I realized the problem wasn’t my memory—it was how I was approaching the text. In this episode, I’ll explain why remembering is a choice, not a talent. I’ll show you how treating ideas like people you want to know will make them stick. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

In this week's episode, I’m sharing why The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy is one of the most powerful things I’ve ever read. It’s only 53 pages, but it forced me to rethink how I’m living, what I’m chasing, and whether I’m being honest with myself. We’ll break down what this book is really about (spoiler: it’s not just death), how it gets under your skin, and why it might be the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. 💡 In this video, you'll learn: What makes The Death of Ivan Ilych a manual for living authentically How Tolstoy captures the lies we tell ourselves Why I bought 100 copies of this book and created a course around it 📚 Want to read this with me? This November, I’m teaching a 30-day live course on The Death of Ivan Ilych. 🎉🔗 Link to reserve your seat: https://pages.thereadwellpodcast.com/products/30-day-deep-reading-course We’ll read slowly together, take deep notes, and build a personal system for lifelong learning. It’s part reading group, part note-taking workshop, and part life reset. 📦 What’s Included in the Course: A physical copy of the book A custom Edgewater reading journal A handcrafted bookmark 14 live reading sessions + 4 instructional workshops Full access to recordings for 1 year And a chance to support the launch of Edgewater Bookstore Only 500 seats available. 🎉🔗 Link to reserve your seat: https://pages.thereadwellpodcast.com/products/30-day-deep-reading-course Let’s read slowly, take notes, and apply the ideas -- together. -Eddy Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

This is episode 100 of The Read Well Podcast, and to mark the moment, I’m sharing the 11 books we’ll be reading together from June 2025 to June 2026 in season 3 of the Book Club. If you’re someone who wants to read more deeply, especially when it comes to philosophy and big ideas, I think you’ll want to see what’s on the list. I’ll also explain how to join us for book club—whether you want to talk, listen, or just read alongside a community. Join the Book Club Here: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/ Get Your Books Here: https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/book-club-season-3-reads Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

I read to spend time with people—fictional or not—that make me think, make me laugh, or just feel like good company. In this episode, I talk about why Less by Andrew Sean Greer worked for me, why Artemis by Andy Weir didn’t, and why I give every novel exactly 50 pages to win me over. This isn’t about snobbery—it’s about using your time wisely. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

Philosophy can feel like a foreign language at first. I used to struggle with it too—until I found the right books. In this episode, I walk through 9 books that helped me go from confused to curious, and eventually confident. If you’ve ever wanted to read philosophy but didn’t know where to begin, these titles will help you build that muscle. This isn’t about sounding smart—it’s about learning to think clearly. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

In this episode, I sit down with Binnie Kirshenbaum to talk about her new novel, Counting Backwards—a story about love, aging, and the slow disappearance of memory. We talk about how books can help us wrestle with what it means to be human, and how reading deeply—without rushing—can be one of the most powerful ways to stay present in our own lives. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

Writing a novel is a long road, and no one knows that better than Piers Torday, Andrea Stewart, and L.R. Lam. In this live interview, they share what writing looks like on a daily basis, how they help new writers at The Novelry, and how reading with a writer’s mind can change the way you experience books. I think you’ll find their insight helpful whether you’re working on a manuscript or just trying to understand your favorite novels more deeply. Interested in writing your own novel? Check out The Novelry at: https://www.thenovelry.com Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

I’ve started writing a novel—and it’s been draining in a way I didn’t expect. In this episode, I talk about the strange fatigue that comes with creative work and how I’ve learned to notice when I’m running low. I share what helps me recharge, including the kinds of books I turn to when I need my mind to come back to life. ☕️ Speaking of coffee, check out my life of incredible flavors at: https://edgewaterbookstore.com/collections/cafe  Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

I tried to improve my handwriting because I couldn’t read my own notes. What I didn’t expect was that it would change how I read books. In this episode, I talk about how slowing down my writing helped me slow down my reading, how physical tension shows up in both, and how emotional baggage can get in the way of both writing and reading. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

Reading isn’t enough. People love to say that books make you smarter, but that’s only true if you do something with what you read. In this episode, I’ll talk about how to read for knowledge in a way that actually improves your life. I’ll also share some key decisions I’ve made as a reader to sharpen my understanding, including lessons from my study of Macbeth. Interested in joining us for book club?  Visit: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/ Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/

In this episode, I talk about why classic literature is still worth reading, even in our busy lives. These books have lasted the test of time for a reason. They offer rich insights into the human experience, and I’ll show you how reading a novel like Jane Eyre can help you see life from new perspectives. You’ll find that classic literature is not just for scholars—it’s for anyone who wants to understand themselves and the world better. Send Me a Text Message with Your Questions IMPORTANT LINKS: 🛍️ - Visit my Bookstore Online - https://edgewaterbookstore.com/ 📝 - Join my Newsletter Letter for weekly tips on reading deeply - https://www.thereadwellpodcast.com/newsletter 📚 - Join The Read Well Book Club: https://thereadwellpodcast.com/book-club/