S4 EP186: Rachelle Bergstein on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt
- Dianne Burckhardt
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
Exploring Banned Books, Bold Stories, and Judy Blume’s Legacy with Author Rachelle Bergstein
Bleeped words: S3x, S3xuality (Twice)
Hello My Happy People,
Judy Blume transformed how young readers understood themselves and the world around them. In this episode of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt – Book Talk Podcast, bestselling author and cultural writer Rachelle Bergstein joins me to talk about her book, The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us. Her book explores Blume’s life, groundbreaking novels, and enduring influence.
Rachelle traces Blume’s journey from suburban New Jersey mother to one of the most celebrated—and censored—authors in America. By telling stories of ordinary kids with honesty and humor, Blume challenged taboos around growing up, sparking conversations about identity, feminism, and free expression that still matter today.
We discuss Rochelle's career and inspirations and how they led her to writing about Judy Blume and her cultural legacy and how Rachelle’s own work as an author and editor has been shaped by the trail Judy Blume blazed.
Inspired by Judy Blume’s longtime fight against book bans, Rachelle is following the current politically charged book banning crisis on her Substack, Banner Year. Rachelle lives with her husband and son in Brooklyn, USA.
Enjoy,
Dianne
Listen to the Latest Episode Now
^ Just click the purple microphone ^
Rachelle Bergstein Reel
Season 4
A Dose of Reality Episodes
Every Wednesday
August 6th - September 24th
August 2025
6th - S4 EP 182: Now Streaming
Risa August, Author of The Unpaved Road: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor
13th - S4 EP 183: Now Streaming
Alison Beder Solway, Author of The Miles We Run: Lessons from te Arena of Resilience
20th - S4 EP 184: Now Streaming
Marcia Peck, Musician and Author of Water Music: A Cape Cod Story
25th - S3 EP 185: Now Streaming
Qin Sun Stubis, Author of Once Our Lives: Life, Death and Love in the Middle Kingdom
September 2025
3rd - S4 EP 186: Now Streaming
Rachelle Bergstein, Author of The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us
10th - S4 EP 187:
Jason Brick, Author of There I was...When Nothing Happened: True Tales of Real Self Defense From Professionals in the Field
17th - S4 EP 188:
Joan Slonczewski, Microbiologist and Author of Minds in Transit
24th - S4 EP 189:
Derrick M. Jackson, Military Thriller Author of Shadow One (Based on a True Story)
Support Book Banter Productions
Do you enjoy Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt - Book Talk Podcast and Book Banter Magazine? You can make sure we can stay in business. All you have to do buy a copy of Book Banter Magazine or just buy us a coffee below. I do not make any profits from Book Banter Productions. I do not charge authors for exposure. Up to this point, this has just been a very expensive hobby, but that will have to change if we are to continue.
If you want to help keep us going , you can just click the link below and buy us a coffee or click the Book Banter Magazine ad below that to buy yourself a digital copy of Book Banter Magazine. Every magazine and coffee helps us to keep going!
Thank you!
Podcast Links
Listen to our podcast, Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt - Book Talk Podcast, every Wednesday. Check your favorite podcast provider for listings.
Listen to Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt on These Featured Podcast Providers:
> You can even just ask Siri or Alexa to play Book
Banter with Dianne Burckhardt - Book Talk
Podcast and hear the latest episode!
> You can also search on Amazon in any country for Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt -
Book Talk Podcast and it will find it for you.
Burckhardt Books Pages:
Members Only Page (Join FREE and get access to exclusive content, lots of freebies, and more are coming)
Comments