Unseriously

Maybe you've heard her before, but have you ever heard her like this?? Join the fun as our favorite Karen kicks up those fancy shoes and puts the cool back in "Karen." She may be one of this country's most notoriously well-read, but did you know Dr. Karen Swallow Prior also gave that envelope to that guy? We'll hear about her days in organized crime, plus the devolution of one of her dog's nicknames, her feelings on the mockumentary Best In Show, and how she's in her Neil Diamond era. Brace yourself as she and Holly discuss both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings...when the villagers come for Karen and Holly with torches, it'll be because of this episode. Maybe their kind friend Chris Davis will save them...or maybe not because he's so embarrassed by how much they talk about him here.
Karen is the author of many books including one of Holly's five-star reads from 2026, You Have a Calling, recommended for anyone discerning God's path for their life. You can find her on Instagram, @karenswallowprior, or on her Substack, The Priory, where you can actively support her work by becoming a paid subscriber.
Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Unseriously's on 2-week summer break it's another replay with yet another of our favorite Kates: why would we ever believe Symphony brownies to be the brain trust of anyone other than the lovely Kate Strickler of the Naptime Kitchen?! Of course she created them in her basement kitchen where she also happens to mass manufacture Symphony candy bars - spread the word.

Kate's new book, I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen, And Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy, released in August, 2025, and is now a NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!!

On this episode, Kate and Holly had such fun talking favorite sauces, favorite Instagram follows, and unfavorite family vacations. Ina and Ree will make appearances. (OKAY but only in shout-outs.) So will @raisingcades10, @the_car_mom, and @brunchwithbabs.

Recipes mentioned include:
Tate's Dulce de Leche Icebox Cake
Ree Drummond's Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies
Symphony Brownies
No Churn Ice Cream
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
And, of course, ICD. Recipe below!

Aunt Terri's Ice Cream Dessert, also known as ICD
you need:
1 family size roll Pillsbury Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie dough, baked as cookies (crunchy but not burned)
1 container Breyer's Natural Vanilla ice cream (the one with the visible vanilla beans)
1 jar Smuckers caramel topping

Set the ice cream on the counter to partly melt while you bake the cookies to crispy but not burned. Once cookies are baked, crumble about 2/3 into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Drizzle about 2/3 of the jar of caramel sauce over the cookies, then scoop the entire container of melty ice cream over the caramely cookies. Spread this out smooth. Top with the rest of the crumbled cookies and drizzle with the remainder of the caramel sauce. Freeze for several hours--overnight is best. Before serving, set on counter for 5 minutes.

Find Kate on Instagram, @naptimekitchen, Symphony bars at your favorite grocer, and the Strickler family anywhere other than Disneyworld.

Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Surprise! It's a mini-episode all about that book list from Instagram called Books I'd Hand to You in the Summertime. You can find the list here. Today I'll highlight four titles from that list, plus a fifth from the honorable mentions. All titles are linked below--hope you enjoy and happy reading!
This Book Made Me Think of You, Libby Page
Sea Wife, Amity Gaige (note I reference the WRONG Emma M. Lion volume in this portion--I meant to say book 8! Ack--don't send the villagers for me--I only wish I had early access to 9!)
Strangers, Belle Burden
The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros

Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's an Unseriously replay with our very own carnival queen, two-time Newbery medalist Kate DiCamillo, who joins Holly for a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming interview covering everything from Epcot Center to shredded wheat to inciting kids to troll Chris Van Dusen. There may be a quote-off.
If you're friends with Holly in real life, she would like it noted that she arrived earlier than Kate to the interview, a fact which has now become one of the proudest moments of her life.
The name you'll be shouting at this interview is BEN STEIN. Don't miss Sophie Blackall's Farmhouse for anyone in your life, not just littles, Amanda Cleary Eastep's Instagram is @book_leaves, and this is a Katherine Applegate book. Here's the Beverly Cleary nonfiction picture book they discuss.
Read a Kate DiCamillo. Hug your people. Write back.
Kate's magnificent title Because of Winn-Dixie celebrates 25 years in print this year, plus she's got a new addition to The Norendy Tales called Lost Evangeline, with Sophie Blackall illustrating.
This is Holly's favorite Kate DiCamillo title, perfect to tuck into a stocking this year.
Hope you're enjoying these replays of two of our favorite Kates while the pod is on break--next week it's Kate Strickler of the Naptime Kitchen--see you back July 6th for all new episodes!
Music for Unseriously was composed by Adam Wright of ⁠The Corner Room⁠, a ministry that sets Scripture to music as a tool for meditation and memorization. His latest Christmas project, ⁠Light Has Shone⁠, is a beautiful journey through five Advent passages that point us to Jesus, the true light of the world. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen to music.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If that jokes makes zero sense...no worries, because we will tap back to it at least 4 times during the course of this fun episode with Sarah Walton and Kristen Wetherell, co-authors of the new book, Jesus Will Meet You There. Kristen and Sarah will entertain Holly with their unconquerable Chicago accent, tell her all about their worst non-metaphorical messes, and teach us all how to updone the downtown. They'll compare notes on being concert grannies, getting eyebrow tats, and how all the writing pals seem to be married to husbands who bear striking resemblances to NFL quarterbacks. (The QB Holly is looking for during this episode is AARON RODGERS--sorry to shout it at you but at least she didn't do it during the show.) These 3 will evoke Bette Midler and at some point be sure to ask you if you've washed your hands. As the silliness winds down, they'll dive into the heart behind Kristen and Sarah's newest book, Jesus Will Meet You There.
You can find the preorder bonus materials here, find Kristen online here and on Instagram here, and find Sarah on her Substack, as well as on Instagram here.

Music for Unseriously was composed and produced by Adam Wright, founder of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Corner Room⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a ministry that sets the Bible to music as a tool for memorization and meditation. You can follow The Corner Room on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
Find podcast news, behind the scenes, and all things Unseriously ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hollymacklebooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.