8: Lauren Hough

8: Lauren Hough

Author: Jennifer Taub & Politicon LLC January 15, 2023 Duration: 1:05:35
Lauren Hough is the author of the New York Times bestseller, LEAVING ISN’T THE HARDEST THING, a collection of essays about growing up in the abusive Children of God cult, coming out in the military, and piecing a life together, as Roxane Gay put it, “on the margins as a working class woman and what it’s like to grow into the person you are might to be.”

Jen caught up with Lauren before she headed out on the road with her dog, Woody to research her next book MONSTER OF A LAND. Though she pressed, Jen was not able to get Lauren to spill the details on what is (or is not happening) with the screenplay about her memoir LEAVING ISN’T THE HARDEST THING. However, they did get into other personal topics from social media mobs to drug use to their in-person meeting in 2021 (after covid vaccinations) and a stuffed animal known as lamby.

The audiobook of LEAVING is narrated in part by actor Cate Blanchett, who is also reportedly the owner of the film rights.

Contact Booked Up:

You can email Jen & the Booked Up team at: BOOKEDUP@POLITICON.COM or by writing to: 

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Get More from Lauren Hough
Twitter | Website | LEAVING ISN’T THE HARDEST THING


Get More from Jen Taub:
Twitter | Website | Author of BIG DIRTY MONEY 



For anyone who’s ever finished a great book and immediately wanted to dissect it with a smart friend, Booked Up with Jen Taub is that conversation. Hosted by author and legal commentator Jennifer Taub, this podcast digs into the ideas, arguments, and narratives shaping our world, all through the lens of what we’re reading. It’s less a formal book review and more a lively, critical exploration. Episodes weave together themes from politics, culture, and current events, treating books as vital source material for understanding the bigger picture. You’ll hear Taub’s insightful commentary and analysis, often drawing connections between an author’s work and the real-world issues it illuminates. The discussion feels urgent and relevant, whether tackling a new release or a classic with renewed significance. Listening to this podcast is like joining a book club where the conversation is always sharp, informed, and unafraid to challenge conventional wisdom. It’s for readers, thinkers, and anyone curious about the power of stories to explain our complicated present.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

Booked Up with Jen Taub
Podcast Episodes
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Duration: 1:13:16
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7: INVASION by Luke Harding [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Nearly a year into Russia’s Febuary 2022 invasion of Ukraine, journalist and author Luke Harding reflects on the people he met in the war zone while researching for his new book INVASION: THE INSIDE STORY OF RUSSIA’S BLO…
6: The Unfolding by A. M. Homes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:46
A.M Homes is an award-winning nonfiction author, novelist, short-storry writer, playwright, and librettist. This is the first time she and Jen speak together, having been introduced virtually by a mutual friend. In this…
5: Book Club: The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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3: Michael Cohen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:47
Michael Cohen was the personal lawyer and fixer for Donald J. Trump for more than a decade. He is now a top-selling author and host of the popular Mea Culpa podcast which, as of our Booked Up interview, had 65 million do…
2: Dahlia Lithwick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:05
Dahlia Lithwick –– senior editor at Slate and author of the instant New York Times bestseller, LADY JUSTICE –– joined Jen for the inaugural episode of Booked Up. Fresh off her book tour, Dahlia shared her writing secrets…
1: Booked Up with Jen Taub - Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:02
Jen’s guests include writers of current bestsellers and beloved backlist books. Conversations cover love, money, politics, early dreams, writing habits, reading tastes, procrastination techniques, self-doubt, and news of…