Podcast Summary: The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna
Episode: Tears and Cheers
Release Date: July 21, 2025
1. Welcome and Recent Events
The episode opens with Jon Ryan and Sarah Colonna welcoming listeners to "The Book Lisp." Sarah humorously addresses her unofficial last name change, “Sarah Colon. Ryan” (00:23), highlighting the couple’s playful dynamic. They share their recent experience attending a live show in Salem, Oregon, expressing excitement about meeting listeners in person. Sarah mentions flying back from the event and briefly discusses upcoming live shows in Texas, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Tacoma, Spokane, and more (00:34 - 01:56). Jon reflects on the positive interactions during meet-and-greets, emphasizing the joy of connecting with their audience (01:56 - 02:11).
Notable Quote:
Sarah Colonna (02:21): "I did get a standing ovation after the show. It was really nice..."
2. Upcoming Shows and Personal Highlights
The hosts delve into their touring experiences, recounting memorable shows in various cities like Enumclaw, Everett, and Montana (02:21 - 03:08). Sarah praises Tacoma Comedy Club as her favorite spot, appreciating the opportunity to perform in new locations and engage with different communities (03:08 - 04:10). They share anecdotes about traveling, including a fun moment when they played country music on their way back home (04:10 - 04:32).
3. Patreon Promotion and Community Engagement
Sarah shifts the conversation to promoting their Patreon page, highlighting exclusive content available to subscribers. She mentions monthly short stories, bonus content, and dramatic readings of bonus chapters from their current book, "Meet Me at the Lake" by Carly Fortune (04:45 - 06:25). Jon adds that Patreon supports their editors and production team, while Sarah encourages listeners to join their Facebook group to discuss books and share reading experiences (06:25 - 07:17).
Notable Quote:
Sarah Colonna (06:25): "It's only $5 a month. It's a great way to support us while we pay our editors..."
4. Book Discussion: "Meet Me at the Lake"
Without delving into spoilers, Jon and Sarah begin discussing themes from "Meet Me at the Lake," focusing on loss, family responsibilities, and personal struggles. Jon relates the protagonist Fern's experience of losing her mother and taking over her life to his own feelings about his father's passing (08:58 - 10:58).
Notable Quote:
John Ryan (09:39): "It's like going to a place where you're always seeing that person and just kind of how hard that is."
5. Personal Stories and Emotional Reflections
The hosts open up about their personal experiences with loss and the impact on their sense of home. Sarah shares the anniversary of her stepfather's passing, reflecting on coping mechanisms and the importance of taking time to grieve (10:53 - 13:24). Jon recounts his father's battle with cancer and the emotional moment when his father attended one of his NFL games, highlighting the deep personal connection and gratitude for shared milestones (14:00 - 18:51).
Notable Quotes:
Sarah Colonna (11:06): "You never know how you're going to feel about all that stuff until it happens."
John Ryan (17:35): "Happy birthday, Bob Ryan."
6. Reflections on Home and Family Traditions
Jon and Sarah discuss the concept of "home," exploring how their careers and personal lives have shaped their definitions of home. Jon describes his journey from a consistent childhood home to finding a sense of home through his relationship with Sarah, regardless of location (28:32 - 30:39). Sarah shares her own experiences moving from Arkansas to California, adjusting to new family dynamics, and the emotional significance of holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas (32:21 - 40:13).
Notable Quote:
Sarah Colonna (39:22): "Home is wherever you want it to be. That's a good way to..."
7. Holiday Traditions and Changes
The conversation turns to holiday traditions, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sarah reflects on how moving and career demands transformed her holiday experiences, initially feeling disconnected but eventually embracing new traditions with Jon (33:44 - 38:57). Jon shares his own evolution of celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas while balancing his NFL career, highlighting the importance of family and adapting to change (38:01 - 37:42).
Notable Quote:
John Ryan (36:31): "I've really come to love Thanksgiving since I moved to the USA."
8. Conclusion and Future Episodes
As the episode wraps up, Jon and Sarah reiterate their gratitude to listeners and encourage support through Patreon, ratings, reviews, and subscriptions. They tease upcoming content, including the full book review of "Meet Me at the Lake," short stories like "Death Row" by Freda McFadden, and exclusive bonus chapters. The hosts acknowledge the emotional depth of the episode, blending heartfelt stories with their usual humor and warmth.
Notable Quote:
Sarah Colonna (43:02): "This was a little bit of a different episode. Maybe not knee slappers, maybe some tears happens, but whatever."
Key Themes and Insights
- Loss and Grief: Both hosts share personal stories about losing loved ones, highlighting the profound impact of grief on their lives and careers.
- Family and Responsibility: The discussion revolves around taking on family responsibilities after a loss, paralleling the book's protagonist.
- Home and Belonging: Exploring what constitutes "home," they emphasize that home is where love and relationships are, not just a physical place.
- Balancing Career and Personal Life: Jon's NFL career and its demands illustrate the challenges of maintaining personal connections amidst professional commitments.
- Community Engagement: Through live shows, Patreon, and social media, Jon and Sarah emphasize the importance of building and nurturing their listener community.
Upcoming Topics
- Next Episode: Full book review of "Meet Me at the Lake" by Carly Fortune.
- Future Content: Introduction of short stories and dramatic readings on Patreon, including "Death Row" by Freda McFadden.
Join Jon and Sarah on Patreon for exclusive content and to support their work: [Patreon Link]
Connect with the Book List community on Facebook: [Facebook Group Link]
Follow their adventures and updates on Instagram: [Instagram Links]
Thank you for tuning into "The Book Lisp with Jon Ryan & Sarah Colonna." Stay tuned for more engaging discussions, heartfelt stories, and literary insights in future episodes!