Shelf Made Stories
Christina Nicholson
Hear how people are turning bookish passions into thriving businesses on Shelf Made Stories.
Listen each week to hear from people behind bookstores, book buses, book trucks, subscription box curators, and paid book clubs. We're talking to the trailblazers turning pages into profits and stories into thriving communities.
From cozy corner shops to wheels-on-fire bookmobiles, we uncover the tales behind the shelves (and steering wheels!).
Whether you're a book lover, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just here for a good story, expect laughs, bibliophile tips, and a whole lot of bookish banter.
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Top 10 Shelf Made Stories Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Shelf Made Stories episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Shelf Made Stories for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Shelf Made Stories episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
4 Ways This Book Blogger Makes Money
Shelf Made Stories
04/01/25 • 28 min
Jules Buonocore reaches 800,000 monthly readers and has built multiple revenue streams through her book blog, The Literary Lifestyle.
In this episode, she reveals her journey from attorney to book influencer, her battle with Google's algorithm changes, and the surprising way she's monetizing trending book series like Fourth Wing and ACOTAR.
She also shares behind-the-scenes details of her Rory Gilmore Book Club and practical tips for turning reading passion into profit.
Visit The Literary Lifestyle: https://theliterarylifestyle.com/
Get social with Jules:
She Quit Corporate to Open a Dark Academia Bookstore
Shelf Made Stories
03/25/25 • 22 min
Amanda Badeau left her corporate job to pursue her childhood dream of opening a bookstore.
We chat with Amanda about trading her corporate ops director role for the green-walled, castle-like atmosphere of "The Archive" – her dark academia bookstore in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
Amanda gets real about the ups and downs of making this childhood dream happen: the unexpected costs, permit headaches, and why selecting books is way more stressful than she imagined.
While pink romance bookshops are having their moment, Amanda spotted a gap for something different and jumped in with both feet.
She shares how a chance conversation at dinner led to finding her perfect space, her unique approach to hiring staff, and all the creative ways she's planning to make this bookstore profitable.
Visit the Archive at 700 S Shelmore Blvd Unit 103, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Follow The Archive on Instagram at @thearchivechs.
She Opened an Instagram-Worthy Bookstore in 25 Days
Shelf Made Stories
03/18/25 • 17 min
When everyone said bookstores couldn't survive, Jenny Kelley did the impossible - opening Bookish Boutique in just 25 days!
With pink couches, a wine bar, and custom "Smut University" merch, this Panama City store is defying the odds.
How is she thriving where major chains have failed?
Tune in to discover the secrets behind her success and why readers are flocking to this bookish paradise one year later!
Want 40 book recommendations for every vibe? Click here.
Watch this on YouTube at @ShelfMadeStories
Follow along on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay
Connect with Jenny Kelley from Bookish Boutique:
How This Bookstagrammer Makes Six Figures Without Brand Deals
Shelf Made Stories
03/12/25 • 18 min
When publishers wouldn't pay for her bookish content on Instagram (free books don't pay bills!), Hayley Solano got creative and built a literary empire that goes far beyond monthly discussions.
After growing her #bookstagram to 40,000 followers, Hayley launched The Enchanted Book Club. She took her love of books and turned it into this vibe where classic book lovers can connect, no matter how busy life gets.
For fifteen bucks a month (or $150 if you go annually), you get access to this bookish world... and she has 800 members!
Want 40 book recommendations for every vibe? Click here.
Watch this on YouTube at @ShelfMadeStories
Follow along on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay
Connect with Hayley here:
- Website: enchantedbookclub.com
- Instagram @hayleysolano
This Bookstore Makes Money Even If No One Buys Books
Shelf Made Stories
03/11/25 • 21 min
Have you ever dreamed of opening your own bookstore?
Pull up a chair as Amy Hall takes us behind the shelves of Hudson Valley Books for Humanity. She's getting real about the ups, downs, and creative hustle it takes to make an indie bookstore work today.
From turning her book-loving dream into a thriving community hub to finding smart ways to keep the lights on (spoiler: it's not just about selling books), Amy's sharing all the tea on building a bookstore that stands out from the crowd.
Want 40 book recommendations for every vibe? Click here.
Watch this on YouTube at @ShelfMadeStories
Follow along on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay
Catch up with Amy & Hudson Valley Books for Humanity:
- Website: hvbooksforhumanity.com
- Instagram: @hudsonvalleybooksforhumanity
- Facebook: /HVBooksforHumanity
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amyhall914
How a Photo of Your Books Could Fund Your Next Vacation
Shelf Made Stories
03/11/25 • 19 min
Want to turn your overflowing bookshelves into a business? Join us for a chat with Renee Powers, Director of Partnerships and Publicity at PangoBooks, where book lovers are becoming entrepreneurs from their living rooms.
She's spilling the details on how readers are transforming their personal libraries into profitable ventures, building community through books, and reshaping the way we think about secondhand book sales.
Plus, she shares how PangoBooks got started and how the company makes money with its small but mighty team.
Click here to get $5 of PangoBucks!
Want 40 book recommendations for every vibe? Click here.
Watch this on YouTube at @ShelfMadeStories
Follow along on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay
Connect with PangoBooks:
- Website: pangobooks.com
- Instagram: @pangobooks
- TikTok: @pangobooks
- Facebook: /pangobooks
- YouTube: @pangobooks
Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/renee-powers-578052185
The New York Times Made His Reading Parties Explode
Shelf Made Stories
04/08/25 • 19 min
Four friends in their 20s realized none of them were reading books like they used to.
So, Ben Bradbury hosted a casual gathering on their rooftop, invited some friends, put together a playlist, and everyone just... read books together. Then they chatted about what they were reading before calling it a night.
But it caught on. Ben and three of his friends formalized things a bit, named it “Reading Rhythms,” planned more get-togethers, expanded their invite list, and started sharing it on Instagram.
As these reading parties continued, they garnered attention in places like the New York Times, and this hobby quickly became a worldwide business.
In this episode, Ben walks us through what a reading party is and how you can bring one to your city.
Connect with Reading Rhythms:
- Website: readingrhythms.co
- Instagram: instagram.com/reading_rhythms
- Ben on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benbradbury
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FAQ
How many episodes does Shelf Made Stories have?
Shelf Made Stories currently has 7 episodes available.
What topics does Shelf Made Stories cover?
The podcast is about Bookish, Entrepreneurship, Podcasts, Books, Booktok, Arts and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Shelf Made Stories?
The episode title '4 Ways This Book Blogger Makes Money' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Shelf Made Stories?
The average episode length on Shelf Made Stories is 21 minutes.
How often are episodes of Shelf Made Stories released?
Episodes of Shelf Made Stories are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Shelf Made Stories?
The first episode of Shelf Made Stories was released on Mar 11, 2025.
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