Off The Shelf with Morgann Book

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Joey Kidney to talk about turning 30, becoming a dad, and what it means to grow up in public. They get into Joey’s early days on YouTube, how creating content became an outlet during some of his hardest years, and why connection still matters more to him than numbers. Plus, Joey opens up about writing Just Remember, his evolving relationship with reading, and why people don’t want to be fixed - they just want to feel seen. Then, they answer listener questions on breakups, adult friendships, feeling behind in life, and figuring things out as you go.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:20 - Turning 30
2:30 - The Start of Joey’s Content Career
13:25 - Joey Has Questions For Morgann
15:30 - Joey’s Journey with Reading
20:30 - Joey’s Writing a New Book
24:30 - Writing Vows
28:55 - What Is Joey a Fan Of Right Now?
33:00 - Just Remember
41:11 - Joey Gives Advice
56:25 - What’s Next?

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook

Joey Kidney:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joeykidney/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joeykidney
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Joeykidney
Find his books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/joey-kidney/
Find his books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-remember-joey-kidney/1146888859

Off The Shelf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast

Hosted by: Morgann Book
Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston
Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston
Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi
Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Leanne Toshiko Simpson to talk about her novel Never Been Better and the deeply personal journey behind it. From living with bipolar disorder to navigating creativity, teaching, and storytelling, Leanne shares what it really looks like to build a life and career while managing mental health.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
2:15 - Teaching Creative Writing at U of T
6:00 - What Leanne Does Day to Day
10:25 - Being Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
11:55 - What Do Books Get Wrong About Mental Health?
17:22 - Favourite Mental Health Romances
21:25 - Never Been Better
32:10 - Writing The Ending of Never Been Better
34:55 - CBC Canada Reads
36:55 - What’s Next

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook

Leanne Toshiko Simpson:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leannetoshiko/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leannetoshikowrites
Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/leanne-toshiko-simpson/
Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-been-better-leanne-toshiko-simpson/1143604639
Pebbles and Company: https://www.pebblescompany.com/

Off The Shelf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast

Hosted by: Morgann Book
Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston
Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston
Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi
Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with content creator Simona Stallone to talk about all things BookTok, reading habits, and building a real-life book community. From overhyped books and underrated favourites to fanfiction, audiobook speeds, and “reading based on vibes,” they get honest about what they’re actually reaching for lately. Plus, Simona shares how Book Girls Toronto turned into a space where readers can show up, connect, and make friends through books.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
1:10 - 1 Year Anniversary of Off The Shelf
2:10 - Overhyped and Underhyped Booktok Books
7:05 - What Simona is Reading Right Now
13:10 - The Book Girls Toronto
24:35 - Rachel Reid Showing Up at Heated Rivalry Trivia
28:35 - 24 Hour Read-A-Thon
32:25 - Out of Shape Olympics

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook

Simona Stallone:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotherstallone/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theotherstallonedaily
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theotherstallone

Off The Shelf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast

Hosted by: Morgann Book
Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston
Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston
Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi
Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with BookTok creator Cassie to talk about her journey from posting her first TikTok to building a dedicated reading community online. They also dive into Cassie’s reader personality: her love of romantasy, favourite tropes like second-chance romance, and auto-buy authors including Abby Jimenez and Mariana Zapata. Plus, the two play Buy It, Borrow It or Skip It featuring viral BookTok titles like Fourth Wing, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Throne of Glass, and more.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:20 - Starting Out On TikTok
4:00 - Rapid Fire Reader Questions
5:30 - Buy It, Borrow It, or Skip It
36:50 - Read It, Watch It or Miss It
50:00 - What Are You Reading and Watching Next?

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook

CassiesBookTok:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiesbookss/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cassiesbooktok
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cassiesbooks

Off The Shelf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast

Hosted by: Morgann Book
Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston
Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston
Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi
Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with award-winning audiobook narrator Ray Porter, best known for narrating Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary. With more than 500 audiobooks under his belt, Ray shares how he approaches storytelling, creates distinct character voices, and what it was like bringing Project Hail Mary to life.
They also talk about the emotional impact of the book, the science behind the story, and the upcoming film adaptation starring Ryan Gosling.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Introduction
1:00 - Acting to Narrating Audiobooks
2:10 - Process From First Audiobook to Now
3:55 - How He Got Project Hail Mary
4:55 - Creating The Characters
8:05 - Hardest Thing to Narrate in PHM
10:00 - Do You Take Away The Same Thing as Readers?
11:35 - What to Listen to After Project Hail Mary
12:13 - Ryan Gosling

FOLLOW US:

Morgann Book
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook

Ray Porter
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.ray.porter/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therealrayporter

Off The Shelf
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast

Hosted by: Morgann Book
Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston
Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston
Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi
Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.