Audiobooks narrated by Melanie Carey

After Purity: Race, Sex, and Religion in White Christian America

"An intersectional analysis of evangelical purity culture's influence on gender, sexuality, race, and national identity in the United States. With a foreword by Linda Kay Klein, author of Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement that Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free. In After Purity, purity scholar Sara Moslener conducts a nuanced investigation of purity culture in white evangelical Christianity, revealing its profound impact on gender, sexuality, race, and national identity in the United States. Moslener shares exclusive stories of participants from her research on the After Purity Project to discuss how purity culture affected women-particularly white women-who grew up in the evangelical church. These stories depict how white supremacy has a hand in constructing idealized "traditional" or "biblical" views of family, white racial identity, sexuality, gender expression, and religion, and how our physical bodies are situated within systems of power and oppression. With a blend of history, current research, and sustained analysis, Moslener explores how white evangelicalism has become so politically powerful, why gender and sexuality are positioned at the center of debate, and how those debates aim to obscure deeper histories of white evangelical racism. She describes the full disturbing effect of the "True Love Waits" movement and how purity teachings displaced all other forms of religious education in evangelicalism. From her interviewees in the After Purity Project, she shares stories of oppressive personal piety, sexual repression, disembodiment, self-hatred, mandatory hetero-normativity, and the many layers of obligation and shame in sexuality before reaching adulthood and navigating their way out of the church. Moslener also describes her own story of being a teen advocate for purity culture to becoming a researcher, scholar, and advocate for people harmed by purity. After Purity provides a window into the world of white evangelicalism and how its leaders and political allies have manufactured socio-sexual panic to justify the elimination of sexual and religious diversity that thrive in a flourishing democracy."

Sara Moslener (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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Break Up with Narcissism: How to Break Free And Stay Free

"Reclaim your life from the relentless cycle of narcissistic abuse with this clear, actionable four-step plan. There is no winning with a narcissistic partner-and no one should have to play their game to survive. In Break Up with Narcissism, Dr. Alina Kastner, clinical psychologist and expert in narcissistic relationships, delivers the ultimate guide to freeing yourself from narcissistic abuse. For anyone who feels trapped, hopeless, or broken in their relationship, this book offers a lifeline. With empathy and expert insight, Dr. Kastner exposes the damaging myths that promise change if you "just try harder" and replaces them with an accessible four-step framework: - Recognize the abuse dynamic - Protect your emotional health - Break free - Heal Blending professional guidance with the compassionate tone of a nurturing friend, Break Up with Narcissism is the empowering roadmap to rediscovering your strength, your worth, and the joy of being fully yourself again. This is your beginning-and your breakthrough."

Alina Kastner (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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Mother of Methadone: A Doctor's Quest, a Forgotten History, and a Modern-Day Crisis

""An important chronicle of how stigma, inertia, and ignorance hamper our mental health system-a vital read for understanding both the history and the future of addiction care at a pivotal moment for our nation's health."-Carl Erik Fisher, MD, author of The Urge: Our Story of Addiction Brings together the stories of two doctors battling the opioid epidemic half a century apart to reveal the origins of today's public health crisis Dr. Melody Glenn was a burned-out emergency physician who had grown to resent the large population of opioid dependent patients passing through her ER. While working at a methadone clinic, she realized how effective harm reduction treatments could be and set out to discover why they weren't used more broadly. That's when she found Dr. Marie Nyswander. In the 1960's, Nyswander defied the DEA and medical establishment to co-develop methadone maintenance as a treatment for heroin addiction. According to some addiction specialists, its discovery could be considered as monumental as the discovery of penicillin. Yet, it still carries a stigma today. Deftly weaving together interviews, media coverage, and historical documents, Glenn recovers Nyswander's important legacy and reveals how the forces of racism, fearmongering politicians, and misinformation colluded to set us back decades in our understandings of opioids. With Nyswander as her guide, Glenn also shares her journey through addiction medicine as she confronts her own personal and philosophical quandaries around bias, ambition, and saviorism in the medical field. As the US continues to struggle with opioid and fentanyl use in communities, Mother of Methadone is a powerful reminder of the ways biases have prevented doctors from saving countless lives."

Melody Glenn (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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The Motivated Speaker

"Master the mindsets and practices of the world's best public speakers A team of veteran communication and speaking coaches delivers a groundbreaking new framework to becoming a great communicator. Thanks to the authors' decades of experience, readers will discover the six essential threshold concepts needed to give talks like the best TED speakers and Fortune 500 leaders. Their practical and accessible approach will help you establish powerful habits in your speaking practice. You'll understand what's preventing you from being influential and persuasive, and build a new foundation toward being a highly effective communicator. This trailblazing book goes beyond cliches like “overcome your fear” and obvious advice like “don't read your speech.” It dives deep into the transformative, integrative, and challenging ideas that will enable you to level up your speaking. Included here are: Deep explanations of what it takes to become an effective communicator Insights into the dispositions, behaviors, and skills that great speakers consistently demonstrate and how to develop them in yourself Expert guidance on how to use the latest technologies to augment your public speaking development A comprehensive framework for learning public speaking, The Motivated Speaker is the perfect resource for working professionals and leaders who want to learn to speak persuasively, confidently, clearly, and compellingly."

Acacia Duncan, Blythe Coons, Ruth Milligan (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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The Hidden Legacy of World War II

"Carol Schultz Vento recounts the post-World War II years of her famous father 'Dutch' Schultz. 'Carol Schultz Vento's testimonial and others like it do not diminish the wartime generation's accomplishments but suggest that the price they paid was far higher, the toll extracted from them and their families far greater, and their struggles far more protracted than the glossy tributes to the 'Greatest Generation' would have us believe. It in is the end a cautionary tale, reminding us that if as a last resort we send soldiers into harm's way, we should be under no illusions about war's colossal human costs, remembering that even in the most brilliant triumphs there is heartbreak and that the suffering does not stop when the shooting does.' Thomas Childers Daughters, fathers and war - three words seldom used together. In 'The Hidden Legacy of World War II: A Daughter's Journey', Carol Schultz Vento weaves life with her paratrooper father into the larger narrative of World War II and the homecoming of the Greatest Generation. The book describes the seldom told story of how the war trauma of World War II impacted one family. This personal story is combined with the author's thorough research and investigation of the reality for those World War II veterans who could not forget the horrors of war. This nonfiction work fills in the missing pieces of the commonly accepted societal view of World War II veterans as stoic and unwavering, a true but incomplete portrait of that generation of warrior. About the author: Carol Schultz Vento is a former Political Science professor and attorney. She is a graduate of Temple University and Rutgers University School of Law. She is the daughter of 82nd Airborne World War II veteran Arthur 'Dutch' Schultz. Carol is a native of Philadelphia and lives in Palmyra, New Jersey."

Carol Schultz Vento (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Ghost Downstairs: A Cozy Ghost Love Story

"Love is scary—but so are those haunting Lina's new job in this cozy, romantic ghost story. In a Seattle sorority in 1936, two university students lost their lives. Seventy years later, the house has become an assisted-living facility, and Lina Zuendel moves in to work as a nurse, but soon discovers the house does not easily let go of its past. Items move on their own, unseen hands shove her, lights go out by themselves, and sounds echo from empty rooms. She tries to ignore the unsettling events and focus on her growing attraction to Ren Schultz, a quiet young man who works in the kitchen. He seems to have a deep understanding of the house's strange quirks, but he's unwilling to share his secrets. Gradually, Lina learns the spirit world is closer than she ever believed, and that the man she's falling in love with is not what he seems."

Molly Ringle (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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Learn Faster, Perform Better

"Practicing is an essential part of every musician's life, but we are rarely taught how to practice in the most effective and efficient way. Many of us find ourselves frustrated when we sound good in the practice room only to embarrass ourselves on stage or in front of our teachers. We feel overwhelmed by the amount of music we have to learn, unsure how to balance everything. Playing from memory can feel terrifying and an insurmountable challenge, and overcoming bad habits can seem impossible at times. Molly Gebrian applies the science of learning and memory to practicing and performing, giving musicians the tools to learn music more effectively and experience greater confidence on stage. Researchers working in the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience have discovered many important principles about how the brain learns new information, retains this information both short- and long-term, and how to make this learning reliable in high-pressure situations like performances. Musicians often choose practice strategies that don't align well with the optimal ways in which the brain learns, leading to frustration while practicing and inconsistency in performance. The author offers a practical guide, using accessible language for non-scientists and non-academics, to help musicians get more out of their practicing by applying this research. Gebrian starts with general principles of learning and how the brain works, and then progresses through increasingly specific topics. Throughout the book, the science behind the various topics is explained in layman's terms, accompanied by practical, actionable advice that can be implemented immediately, to give musicians of all levels better tools while practicing and greater confidence on stage."

Molly Gebrian (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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The Living Medicine: The remarkable history of a life-saving cure and how it will rescue us when ant

"The fascinating and dramatic story of a forgotten, life-saving cure to conquer deadly bacterial infections - bacteriophages - and the remarkable scientists behind them When antibiotics started to fail the race to save humanity from deadly antibiotic resistant infections began. Science journalist Lina Zeldovich reveals the remarkable history of bacteriophages or 'phages', through the colourful lives of the British, French, Soviet and American scientists who discovered, developed and are now reviving this unique living medicine for seemingly incurable diseases. Starting with the original discovery of bacteriophages, or 'phages', in 1917, Zeldovich reveals how they were all but forgotten as antibiotics rose to medical stardom in the West and Stalin purged leading scientists behind them in the former Soviet Union. It was only when patients started dying from antibiotic resistant infections that those scientists who fled the former Soviet Union realised their unique knowledge of phages presented a safe and effective solution for the future of humanity. Today new work has begun to develop this cure to safeguard our future. Eye-opening, gripping and impeccably researched, The Living Medicine is a remarkable portrayal of how curiosity, bravery and collaboration seeded one of the most important scientific discoveries of our time."

Lina Zeldovich (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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Letters of Two Brides

"Two girls emerge from a convent in order to marry and assume their places in post-Revolutionary French society. Louise is ruled by passion, Renée by pragmatism, and the intimate details of their trials and triumphs are revealed through their correspondence. Letters of Two Brides follows two strong women across the years as they navigate love, friendship, faith, and the conflicting expectations for women in society."

Honoré De Balzac, R. S. Scott (Author), André Santana, Melanie Carey, Stacey Lind (Narrator)

Audiobook

Bitter House

"Vera Bitter is dead, but her secrets have yet to be buried. After the tragic death of Bridget’s parents, her grandmother took her in. Vera Bitter raised her from behind a closed door—cold and uncaring from the moment she arrived at Bitter House. After Bridget’s high school graduation, Vera kicked her out without so much as a goodbye, and Bridget never heard from her again. Which is why, when she receives word of Vera’s passing and discovers she’s inherited the family manor, she’s immediately filled with dread. Those worries are amplified when she arrives at Bitter House after years away to find an enigmatic piece of her past waiting for her. Growing up, there was only one person Bridget distrusted more than her grandmother, and that was Cole Warner—the son of Vera’s house manager and the bane of her childhood existence. Now, he’s her new housemate. Owning the house she was once forced to leave with a man she’s always despised forces Bridget to confront feelings and questions she’s been running from since the day she was driven away from Bitter House. Then the first letter arrives. And with it, a world of secrets, darkness, and deception is unlocked. Years ago, Bridget tried and failed to find sanctuary inside the shadowy halls of Bitter House, and as she struggles to imagine a future there now, she discovers a terrifying truth: behind the iron gate and stone walls of the old estate, nothing is quite what it seems. Bitter House has secrets and, if she can’t decide whom to trust, danger lies in wait. From million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin comes a bone-chilling, compulsively page-turning, and achingly addictive thriller set within the walls of a mysterious old manor with a sinister secret."

Kiersten Modglin (Author), Lauren Ezzo, Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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Zero to Rich:Secrets to Becoming a Millionaire by 30

"An invigorating and fresh take on building a bright financial future Celebrated personal finance blogger Fiona Smith delivers an energizing new approach to achieving financial security and independence without living like a monk. You'll discover how to improve your emotional, social, intellectual, and―most importantly―financial wellbeing as you implement the straightforward lessons taught by the author. From clarifying your money goals to paying off high-interest debt, you'll get step-by-step guidance on how to achieve your most critical money milestones. The book provides personal anecdotes, illuminating stories from real people, informational graphics, and engaging end-of-chapter challenges and exercises to help you get started on your new path to financial freedom. You'll also find: Easy-to-follow advice on how to start investing, including the use of tax-advantaged accounts and 401k plans Strategies for maximizing your earnings, like negotiating your salary and building a business or side hustle Techniques for improving your financial security right now, including budgeting and insurance planning An essential financial self-improvement resource for anyone interested in building a brighter future for themselves, their family, and the people they love, Zero to Rich is packed with the expert personal finance knowledge you'll wish you learned in grade school."

Fiona Smith (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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From Intention to Impact

"How business leaders can move their DEI efforts from intention to impact through strategy and culture change. In the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, corporate America has doubled down on its public intentions to be more inclusive and equitable. Yet beyond the pledges it is difficult to see which system changes make a real difference. In From Intention to Impact, Malia Lazu draws on her background as a community organizer, her corporate career as a bank president, and now her experience as a leading DEI consultant to explain what has been holding organizations back and what they need to do better. First and foremost, she recognizes that truly moving from intention to impact means targeting and changing the traditions and culture that normalize whiteness. From Intention to Impact shows what organizations, leaders, and people at all levels must do to create more inclusive environments that honor and value diversity. Lazu shares a seven-stage guide through this process as well as a 3L model of listening, learning, and loving that readers can use from the initial excitement of doing "something" to the frustration when the inevitable pushback comes, and finally to the determination to do the hard work despite the challenges-on corporate and political fronts. Most compelling, From Intention to Impactshows that, while commitment from the top is paramount, for DEI to be most effective, it needs to be decentralized-among managers, within teams, and across the organization. A crucial read for anyone looking to future-proof their company, From Intention to Impact goes beyond the "feel good" PR-centric actions to showcase the real DEI work that must be done to create true and lasting systemic change."

Malia C. Lazu (Author), Melanie Carey (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Melanie Carey