By The Book Podcast Review

The Pitch:

Two friends live by the rules of self help books.

The Product:

By The Book is the podcast I never knew I needed and I am completely hooked. Described as ‘half reality show, half self-help podcast’ it really shouldn’t be something I am into, but I am INVESTED.

The magic is in the hosts, their differences, and their extremely wholesome friendship.

Jolenta Greenberg starts off episode 1 detailing just how much of a mess she feels she is, managing to frame this devastating self appraisal with charisma and a forthrightness that aspiring ‘community builders’ in the podcasting world should take note of. She needs help and is willing to point her energy at any fad, fancy, or passing fascination that will take her!

Kristen Meinzer, meanwhile, is there for moral support, at least at a surface level. She’s the voice of reason — both in suggesting that maybe Jolenta isn’t human garbage — but also as a blessed prophet of skepticism. Let’s just say she’ll take her self help salad with a pinch of salt. But, could she possibly learn a lesson about life — and herself — along the way?!

Ok, but seriously. Without Kristen I probably wouldn’t listen to this podcast. Hell, there might not even be a podcast. She brings a scientific Yin to Jolenta’s effervescent Yang.

The format might take a little getting used to, so let’s try and map it out. Each main episode introduces the book, and the principles that the hosts will be following for two weeks. This is then broken down in a summary of week 1 and week 2, and features ‘audio diaries’ of the week, usually including their husbands.

This is where things get even more interesting. By now we’ve heard a summary of the guide, plus an idea of what it can lead to in a week, and gotten FOUR perspectives of how it looks in action. No matter your personality type, you will likely be represented here. And suddenly you realise that this is a stealth reality show after all. I’m already invested in the hosts, and now I’m keeping mental tabs on Brad and Dean too?

Yes, yes I am. Because, if I haven’t mentioned it, allowing honesty and openness into your podcast is guaranteed to get an audience to care. And that…