To our dearest bookworms, listeners, members, and fans,
The time has come to conclude the chapter of Book Club with Julia and Victoria. When Julia and I sat down earlier this summer to reflect on the show, we both came to the realization that we had accomplished even our loftiest podcasting goals and that we were ready to explore something new – but not before we gave Book Club a proper farewell.
The Podcasting Story We Never Expected
Just over six years ago, I came rushing in the door after work and bombarded Julia in the kitchen with the idea: “What if we made a podcast about books together?!” She was obviously game, and had the foresight to know that both of us needed to act on this plan immediately and not let it just be a dream. That night we planned the first ten episodes, texted my brother to compose intro music, emailed a friend to design a logo, and set the date to record our first episode.
The first few dozen episodes were hit and miss in quality (which is why we archived them for only Buy Me a Coffee supporters to access!), but we had a blast. Every six months when we paused to plan the next season of the show, we would enthusiastically answer “YES” to the question, “Are we still enjoying making this podcast?” So we somehow ended up podcasting for SIX whole years and making this into a part of our careers!
Creating Book Club with Julia & Victoria taught us so much. From editing and mixing audio to crafting episodes that tread the careful line between two friends having a conversation and your favorite professor’s lectures. The show ensured that our creative buckets were filled outside of our 9-5 jobs and that our relationship as roommates and later cross-continental friends stayed strong.
In the past few months, both Julia and I left our jobs to pursue our career dreams. We are working on client podcasts together (such as Roadmap for Change: Trauma Recovery & Juvenile Justice), and building up a slate of clients that we provide marketing strategy and storytelling support for. Instead of grinding as solo freelancers, we get to collaborate with some of our favorite people and build the flexible schedules that work for us.
We also have a list of creative projects and podcast concepts that we are ready to explore with more energy. Y’all will be some of the first to know when we launch the next endeavor!
What will happen to the podcast episodes?
Public Episodes
We are incredibly proud of the ~200 episodes (including special series, minisodes, bonus interviews, and members-only film club videos) we created. In the coming weeks, we will be migrating our show to a free RSS platform and shutting down our website. However, episodes published from April 2021 to present will continue to be available on all the podcast players like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Members-Only Content
Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC) memberships will end effective August 26, 2025. All members-only content, including the archive of episodes pre-April 2021, will continue to be available on BMAC to anyone who has supported the show in the past or who would like to throw $1 our way to gain access. We’re keeping the very low pay wall to honor those who previously paid to access the content.
A Final Farewell Episode: The Jane Austen You Don't Think About
To close out the show, we are releasing one final episode today discussing Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. You’ll hear all your favorite segments and in-depth book discussions along with our reflections on what the show has meant to us.
We thought it only fitting to end the show discussing the book that cemented our friendship when we were two highschoolers sitting under a shady tree at lunch.
Stay in Touch
Thank you for listening and cheering us on. Please feel free to continue reaching out to [email protected] or @bookclubwithjv with all the books you just can’t shut up about. We might not be recording our conversations anymore, but you better believe we’re still screaming about plot twists and ALL CAPS demanding the other read the book we just finished. And we’d love to gush about books with you over email or IG DMs.
Peace, love, and satisfying book endings,
Victoria (and Julia)