S4 EP186: Rachelle Bergstein, Lifestyle Writer and Author of The Genius of Judy: How Judy Blume Rewrote Childhood for All of Us

Author: Dianne Burckhardt
Published: Wed 03 Sep 2025
Episode Link: https://www.burckhardtbooks.com/podcast

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.

Rachelle's Website

Substack: Banner Year

Rachelle on Instagram

Rachelle on Bookshop.org

Rachelle on Amazon

Rachelle on X

Support the show

Support Us: FREE options. Learn more, Click here!

BurckhardtBooks.com: