Episode 2: Carleen Madigan

Tune in as Storey acquisitions editor Carleen Madigan speaks with author Will Sutherland about his book, Skoolie! In this episode of Kindling, author Will Sutherland talks about how he first started converting school buses into mobile living spaces, and how his book, Skoolie! can teach anyone to do it. If you can build Ikea furniture, Will says, you can build a skoolie.

Tune in as Storey project editor Mia Lumsden speaks with author Rachel Corry about The Sandalmaking Workshop. In this episode of Kindling, author and shoemaker, Rachel Corry, explains what (literally!) sparked her interest in making sandals, how the lack of easy-to-follow instruction inspired her to write The Sandalmaking Workshop, and how accessible the craft is to everyone—she’s even taught it to an 11-year-old!

Tune in as Storey publicity and marketing campaign director Alee Moncy speaks with author Phyllis Good about No Recipe? No Problem! 

In this episode, best-selling cookbook author Phyllis Good explains that she wrote No Recipe? No Problem! as a guide for her younger self—sharing how she went from meticulously following a recipe to freestyling with confidence in the kitchen, and how you can too. Plus, she offers grocery store shopping strategies and reveals the staple ingredients she keeps in her pantry and fridge. 

Tune in as Storey creative director Alethea Morrison speaks with author Ann Hobbie and illustrator Olga Baumert about their collaboration on Monarch Butterflies. 

In this episode, Hobbie and Baumert share their experience working with a remarkable team of women to bring Monarch Butterflies to life, from the initial outline to finished illustrations and everything in between. Plus, they talk about conservation efforts and the fact that when kids learn to care for an individual creature, like the Monarch butterfly, they start to notice other insects and other things growing in the garden, and start to care about them, too.

Tune in as Storey creative director Alethea Morrison speaks with Kristi Nelson about her book, Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted. 

In this episode, Nelson shares how cancer was a big breakthrough experience for her in terms of orienting toward a more grateful life. She offers thoughts on how to awaken a sense of possibility in moments of uncertainty, and first-hand tips for navigating anxiety. 

Tune in as Storey's Acquiring Editor, Deb Burns, speaks with Meg Thacher about her book, Sky Gazing: A Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses, and Constellations.

In this episode, Thacher shares her passion for astronomy from how she got started (spoiler alert, an inspiring professor made all the difference!) to what it was like to write her first book, the beautifully illustrated Sky Gazing. She goes on to explain that astronomy acts as a "gateway science" for kids who are fascinated by mysterious black holes and the unimaginable size of the sun.

Storey publicity & marketing campaign director Alee Moncy speaks with Catherine Newman about her book, How to be a Person, 65 Hugely Useful, Super-Important Skills to Learn Before You're Grown Up.

In this episode, Newman explains how a trip to the library—where she came up empty-handed—inspired her to write How to be a Person, 65 Hugely Useful, Super-Important Skills to Learn Before You're Grown Up for her daughter. Plus she offers insights on how the book inspires kids of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers, to roll up their sleeves and get to work on becoming a better person.

Storey acquiring editor Carleen Madigan speaks with Chris Hobbs about his book, Christopher Hobbs's Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide. Hobbs explains that his fascination with mushrooms had its roots in his upbringing as a lay naturalist and how a gut-wrenching, rebellious run-in with “eating all kinds of junk and candy and hamburgers and soda” led him to discover the healing power of mushrooms. Plus, Hobbs shares how mentors shaped his lifelong love of mushrooms and reveals which mushrooms he has in his kitchen right now.

Storey’s publisher, Deborah Balmuth speaks with best-selling author Maia Toll about how she got into herbalism, and her Wild Wisdom series including The Illustrated Bestiary, The Illustrated Crystallary, and The Illustrated Herbiary. 

Dean of The Pie Academy Ken Haedrich (Maple Cookbook, Harvest Baker, Pie Academy) delves into the world of baking with Storey art director Carolyn Eckert, touching on the importance of community and providing solutions for some of the most common pie-making conundrums.