We are back and coming in hot with “The Woman in me” by Britney Spears. This book was highly anticipated and named Best Book of the Year by Elle, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, NPR, Financial Times, Vanity Fair, and more. I know we were both itching to get our hands on it!

In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. “The Woman in Me” reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history. Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’ groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.

In this episode, we pair the book with Josef Ehmoser Zweigelt Rosé 2022 to capture Britney’s feminine and ever-changing spirit. This is one you don’t want to miss!

Remember episode five featuring “Leave the World Behind” by Rumaan Alam? Get ready for our take on the movie adaptation. Available on Netflix, this thriller is directed by Sam Esmail and is produced by the Obamas (you know how we love Michelle). Featuring film stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, Myha'la, and Kevin Bacon, this movie follows a family vacation on Long Island that is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout. As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world. Don’t miss our thoughts on the actors, revised storyline, and more!

Remember episode four featuring “Red, White, & Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston? Get ready for our take on the movie adaptation. Available on Amazon, this romantic comedy is directed by Matthew López and depicts a developing love affair between the son of the president of the United States (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and a British prince (Nicholas Galitzine). Clifton Collins Jr., Sarah Shahi, Rachel Hilson, Stephen Fry, and Uma Thurman appear in supporting roles. Don’t miss our thoughts on the actors, revised storyline, and more!

During our stay at Glen Hollow in the Finger Lakes, we met many knowledgeable and inspirational people in the wine scene. One afternoon, we took a moment to speak with Maiah Johnson Dunn, of New York Kitchen, and Adrian Prieto, of Hosmer Winery, to discuss the Finger Lakes wine scene, diversity and inclusion, and more.

This summer, we spent some time in upstate New York in the Finger Lakes. The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located directly south of Lake Ontario in an area called the Finger Lakes region in New York, in the United States.A pre-Prohibition wine region, the first vines were planted in Hammondsport, New York in 1829. By 1900, more than 50 wineries were established along the lakes. The Finger Lakes AVA was established in 1982 and boasts two sub-AVAs, the Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake AVAs, both established in 1988. Today, the region is home to almost 150 wineries and 11,000 acres of vineyards and produces about 54,600 tons of grapes.In addition to wine, the Finger Lakes boasts a strong history, including Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the women’s rights movement in America (and you know we’re all about that). We stayed at Glen Hollow and learned about all the local history and wine. Hosts Chris and Lisa were so gracious, and showed us all around the beautiful region. Tune in to learn more about what Glen Hollow, and the region, has to offer.

Our book choices often relate back to current events—whether it’s women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ equality, BIPOC empowerment, climate change, etc. So, we decided to create Popping Off the Page, special spin-off episodes that highlight the people who are trying to make the world a better place. On this episode, we interview Christina Davis from National Kidney Foundation. As you know, kidney health is near and dear to Maritza's heart, so we chat with Christina about the upcoming Authors Luncheon, a 35-year-old fundraiser uniting best-selling authors and tens of thousands of literary enthusiasts. Authors for this year's luncheon include Lee Child, Anita Gail Jones, Lauren Groff, Mac Barnett, and Shawn Harris.

In this episode, we unleash our female anger with “Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger” by Rebecca Traister. This book explores the transformative power of female anger and its ability to transcend into a political movement. Vanity Fair calls it “a hopeful, maddening compendium of righteous feminine anger, and the good it can do when wielded efficiently—and collectively.” We had the opportunity to record this episode in the Finger Lakes wine region (when we stayed at Glen Hollow) after having spent an afternoon in Seneca Falls, the birthplace of the women’s rights movement in America.With this female-empowered book, we wanted to focus on a badass female winemaker in the Finger Lakes. We were lucky enough to get a tour and tasting with Hosmer Winery’s Julia Hoyle (a POP first!). We chatted with her about her journey, the region, and more.