This week on Off the Shelves, we get into the wild, frustrating, and hot conversation around menopause. Where’s the healthcare? Where’s the support? Why is it still so hard to get help in 2025? We read The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver—OBGYN, badass, and a woman on a mission to create the resources she and her patients never had.

As two women entering this next chapter of life, this book was equal parts eye-opening, maddening, and deeply validating. We wish we’d had it earlier... but we’ve got it now, and we’re talking all about it.

So—grab your protein, collagen, and fiber smoothie. Throw on your weighted vest, pop in those earbuds, and take your hot midlife girl walk while you listen to this one.

We are celebrating a major milestone—Carey’s graduation from Johns Hopkins with her MPH (yes, really—send her a belated congrats!). There’s also a little humble brag about our kids on their academic grind and a fun personality test reveal to round things out.

Let’s get into it.

What's for dinner:

Butternut squash and chicken situation: https://thenaturalnurturer.com/maple-dijon-chicken-and-butternut-squash-dinner/

Viral Hot Honey/Beef/cottage cheese bow: https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/ground-beef-bowls/

What to buy/what do we love:

Stay hydrated: First Endurance, EFS Hydration mix https://firstendurance.com/products/efs-drink

Bag update - here's a dupe that less than half the cost and I love it!

Quince https://www.quince.com/women/italian-handwoven-leather-mini-shoulder-bag?color=taupe&productPosition=1&searchQuery=purse%20&tracker=searchPage__search_section__search_results

This week, we read Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams—a memoir that chronicles her years working for Mark Zuckerberg from 2011 to 2017. It’s an inside look at the disconnect between Facebook’s public image and what was really happening behind the scenes.

There’s a lot we want to say in this episode—so we’ll let the conversation speak for itself. Grab a beverage (maybe a strong one), because this book made us angry on more levels than we expected. Honestly, if you use social media, you should read this book and tell your friends, because Wynn-Williams is not allowed to promote it.

In other news: Carey is rewatching The Handmaid’s Tale and it’s feeling a little too real, and Debbie wonders—are there ever circumstances where a book should be banned?

Dinner Links:

Braised Mexican Beef (Nom Nom Paleo) https://nomnompaleo.com/post/22316250352/oven-braised-mexican-beef

Ginger Lime Chicken

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/ginger-lime-chicken-with-rice-noodles-8584928

Product Links:

ClareV Handbag

https://www.clarev.com/products/petit-moyen-bisque-woven-checker

This week, we’re diving into Chelsea Handler’s newest book, I'll Have What She's Having—an unfiltered, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt look at her journey to becoming the woman she wants to be. It's about self-discovery, sisterhood, and showing up for the people you love.

One thing’s for sure: we both want to be Chelsea when we grow up.

Tune in as we chat about this gem of a book—and also end up talking about a semi-recent “space flight,” cozy PJs, and the eternal quest for the perfect bra.

Dinner Links:

https://whatsgabycooking.com/thai-chicken-coconut-curry/

Product Links:

PJ's https://skims.com/en-gb/products/soft-lounge-lace-cami-and-short-set-blue-garden-print

Best Bra https://shop.join-eby.com/

This week, we read Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler—a powerful, thought-provoking novel and the first in her Earthseed series. It’s our second banned book selection, and we were surprised to learn it’s been restricted in some prisons and schools due to its “controversial” themes, including race, politics, religion, and violence.

We also loved and talk about this NPR interview where Butler was asked to imagine a world without racism—definitely worth a listen: https://www.npr.org/2022/02/03/1078020872/octavia-butler-imagines-a-world-without-racism

Plus, we chat about recent travels, fender benders, and a surprisingly strong affection for Delta Airlines.

In this episode, we talk about Miranda July’s award-winning, “wild, sexy, shocking” autofictional novel, All Fours. While this book isn’t banned, it’s been getting a lot of attention—and we had to find out why. We loved its unhinged glory.

All Fours explores relationships, marriage, midlife, identity, motherhood, and a surprising theme: menopause.

Listen in as we also dive into current fashion trends (yes, jorts!), car shopping, and campus tours.

It’s our first full episode, and we’re so excited! Today, Carey and Deb discuss Oryx and Crake, Margaret Atwood’s 2003 dystopian novel that has been banned at the state level in public schools. But why? That’s what we set out to find.

Grab a coffee—or your favorite beverage—and listen in!

We’ll also dive into Carey’s obsession with pre-ordering books. How much has she spent? And will we read the second book in Atwood’s MaddAddam trilogy? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Off the Shelves is a new podcast with Carey Van Wagoner & Debbie Farka where we invite you in to our conversations about books, kids, careers, life, and anything that's on our minds.

In each episode, we will explore a recent read, catch up on daily events of life, share favorite things and tackle the age old dilemma of what's for dinner. We promise you'll laugh and learn with us. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join in, we're glad you're here.

New episodes drop every two weeks on Tuesday.