Loading summary
A
This is an Iheart podcast. Guaranteed human A new car is kind of like a new book. It takes you places you never thought you could go. What will you drive into the next chapter of your life? It's fun to dream about your next car, but when you're done dreaming, you need to head to cars.com Cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you find your dream car. Their advanced search filters allow you to explore 2 million new and used cars so that you can find the the perfect car. Start your search with cars.com where to next Right now I'm super excited for my upcoming trip to Atlanta. I'm taking my mom to celebrate her birthday. She's never been and I'm going to take her to eat all the best food, see the best jazz music, and I'm going to have to sneak in a museum or two. If you're planning any upcoming trips, you could be hosting your home on Airbnb. And now with the Co Host Network, you could hire a local co host to handle everything like managing reservations, guest communication, and even styling your space. Find a co host@airbnb.com host the autograph journey Credit card from Wells Fargo is built for travel. You can earn rewards wherever you book your favorite hotel site your go to airline and more. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. Whether it's a big vacation or a quick getaway from booking your stay to that first meal when you arrive, you you're turning your trips into rewards with the Autograph Journey card from Wells Fargo. Learn more at Wells Fargo.com autographjourney Terms apply. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort, and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at the fabric of our lives.com hi, this is Danielle Roubaix and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. Today's episode is brought to you by Cars.com now, you've heard me say that a great book is like a great pair of shoes. It can take you somewhere you never expected. But honestly, it's also like that new car feeling full of possibility, a little thrilling and totally transformative. Cars have a way of showing up right alongside the new chapters in our lives. A new job, a new home, a growing family, a fresh start. That's why this mini series is all about navigating change and the tools we lean on when life shifts gears. Because finding the right car isn't just about the car. It's about what comes next. Luckily, Cars.com takes the second guessing out of car shopping. In this episode, I'm sitting down with Cindy Pham, one of the defining voices in the YouTube book community. Having gone from reader to reviewer to now author, Cindy is no stranger to life transitions. We sit down and discuss this current chapter in her life and the books that have helped her navigate change. So buckle up and let's hit the road. Welcome, Cindy. Thanks for talking with me today. As a writer, you obviously think in stories. So if your life were a book, what chapter are you living in at the moment?
B
Oh, this is kind of hard. I think I'm in the middle slump. I don't know where things are going and I don't know if I'm going to have a happy ending or not, but I'm kind of just chugging through and hoping for the best.
A
You know what's cool, Cindy? Even unhappy endings somehow end up being happy endings in life.
B
I hope so. That's such an optimistic way of describing that. Yeah, we'll see if I agree with that.
A
Okay, we'll check back in. You've recently made the jump from reader and then reviewer to writer. What's something that surprised you about that transition?
B
I think what surprised me is because all of this is so public facing and it puts me and like my face and my personality as the forefront of it. What surprises me is that I am now cognizant more than ever of finding time outside of the capitalistic framework of the book. Like the book to publishing pipeline or the content pipeline. I think that we try to create content out of everything or make a product out of everything. And what I'm trying to remind myself now that I feel like I wasn't thinking about before as I was writing the book, but now that I'm marketing it and publishing it is staying true to my values of the kind of art that I want to make and just the kind of life and person that I want to be that is not dependent on external factors or the consumption of of other people.
A
With me, you might be in the middle of your Saturn return, Cindy.
B
Oh really? What does that mean?
A
How old are you?
B
31?
A
Yep. You could be in it about 27 to 33. Google it after. I know you're not an astrology person, but Google it after we get off. It's a really big transition period for women usually.
B
Oh, okay.
A
Okay. Cindy, what's a book you'd press into someone's hands who's on the edge of a new beginning?
B
I think one book that comes to mind is how to Keep House While Drowning. It's by Casey Davis and I would pick that for that specific prompt you have because I think that it's such a compassionate and shame free approach to, yes, cleaning and organizing for, you know, your house. But I think like on the broader scale of things, it just reminds you to be kind to yourself whether you're dealing with mental health issues or chronic illness or difficult life circumstances. I think that it's more than just like a self help book for cleaning. It's more about practicing kindness for yourself and not seeing the ways that you kind of let yourself down as moral failings. And I think any reminder to be gentle to yourself, whether that's by chores or by anything else, is a good step in the right direction when you are transitioning in any part of your life.
A
Giving you a TikTok mini clap there, that was wonderful. Thanks for talking about this exciting new chapter with me, Cindy. Before we wrap, I keep thinking about this idea of life chapters when we step into a new phase. Whether it's moving somewhere new, starting a different job, or growing your family, there's often a mix of excitement and uncertainty. And those transitions usually come with real decisions about what you need for the road ahead, including practical things like finding a car that actually fits your life now, not the life you had a few years ago. That's where something like cars.com can be really helpful when you're navigating change, and it's a trusted tool for confident decisions, combining unbiased expert research, easy search and filtering for must have features, and clear financing insights so you know what you can afford and feel good about your choice. In a way, it's similar to what books do for us, helping us see new possibilities and feel a little bit more prepared for wherever the story goes next. From Start to finish, Cars.com has everything you need to choose the right car confidently. Bookmarked is a production of Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and me, Danielle Robay, production by Acast Creative Studios. Our producers are Maddie Foley, Brittany Martinez and Sarah Schlied. Our editor is Carmen Borca Carrillo. Our production assistant is Avery Loftus. Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutter are executive producers for Acast Creative Studios. Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are executive producers for hello Sunshine. Olga Kaminwa, Kristen Perla, Ashley Rapoport and Sarah Kernerman are associate producers for Reese's Book Club and Ali Perry is executive producer for iHeart Podcasts. A new car is kind of like a new book. It takes you places you never thought you could go. What will you drive into the next chapter of your life? It's fun to dream about your next car, but when you're done dreaming, you need to head to cars.com Cars.com has the tools and expert advice to help you find your dream car. Their advanced search filters allow you to explore 2 million new and used cars so that you can find the perfect car. Start your search with cars.com where to next today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com the autograph journey credit card from Wells Fargo is built for travel. You can earn rewards wherever you book your favorite hotel site your go to airline and more. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. Whether it's a big vacation or a quick getaway. From booking your stay to that first meal when you arrive, you're turning your trips into rewards with the Autograph Journey card from Wells Fargo. Learn more@wells fargo.com AutographJourney terms apply if
C
you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
A
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
BONUS: Driving Out of the Middle Slump with Cindy Pham
Host: Danielle Robay
Guest: Cindy Pham (YouTuber, Reviewer & Author)
Release Date: May 28, 2026
This bonus episode, hosted by Danielle Robay, features an insightful and honest conversation with Cindy Pham—a prominent voice in the YouTube book community who has transitioned from reader and reviewer to published author. The central theme revolves around navigating life’s “middle slump,” embracing transitions, and staying true to oneself during periods of change. Cindy offers reflective takes on identity, the creative process, mental health, and the pressures that come with public-facing creativity.
Timestamp: [03:48]
“I think I’m in the middle slump. I don’t know where things are going and I don’t know if I’m going to have a happy ending or not, but I’m kind of just chugging through and hoping for the best.”
(Cindy Pham, 03:48)
Timestamp: [04:12]
“What surprises me is that I am now cognizant more than ever of finding time outside of the capitalistic framework of the book—to publishing pipeline or the content pipeline... What I’m trying to remind myself...is staying true to my values of the kind of art that I want to make and just the kind of life and person that I want to be that is not dependent on external factors or the consumption of other people.”
(Cindy Pham, 04:22)
Timestamp: [05:29]
“It’s a really big transition period for women, usually.”
(Danielle Robay, 05:38)
Timestamp: [05:53]
“I think...it’s such a compassionate and shame-free approach to...cleaning and organizing...but on the broader scale...it just reminds you to be kind to yourself whether you’re dealing with mental health issues or chronic illness or difficult life circumstances...any reminder to be gentle to yourself...is a good step in the right direction when you are transitioning in any part of your life.”
(Cindy Pham, 05:58)
Timestamp: [06:58]
On the uncertainty of change:
“I don’t know where things are going, and I don’t know if I’m going to have a happy ending or not, but I’m kind of just chugging through and hoping for the best.”
(Cindy, 03:50)
On resisting external pressures:
“We try to create content out of everything or make a product out of everything...For me, it’s about staying true to my values...that is not dependent on external factors or the consumption of other people.”
(Cindy, 04:25)
On kindness in transition:
“Any reminder to be gentle to yourself, whether that’s by chores or by anything else, is a good step in the right direction when you are transitioning in any part of your life.”
(Cindy, 06:45)
The tone is warm, open, and encouraging, mixing vulnerability with optimism. Both host and guest create a safe space to discuss anxieties and hopes during life's messier middle chapters, with literary wisdom and real-life insight. The overall message encourages gentleness with oneself during change, the importance of authenticity over performance, and the comfort books (and yes, the right car!) can provide as we move through new phases of life.
For listeners navigating their own transitions, Cindy and Danielle offer both practical advice and emotional support—making this episode an inspiring audio companion for anyone in their own “middle slump.”