In this emotional season finale of Read & Roast, Jimmy, Curtis, and Shira dive into Chapter 11 of Echoes of Fate—“Between Life and Legacy”—and find themselves navigating some of the heaviest, most life-affirming moments in Assim’s story.

As Assim nears the edge of life, the chapter becomes a powerful reflection on mortality, meaning, and memory. The hosts explore the mental and physical toll of living on borrowed time, the surreal rhythms of hospital life, and the razor-thin line between resilience and resignation. They also discuss the psychological impact of medical environments, the absurdities of health inequity, and the odd comfort of hospital beeping—until it drives you mad.

But it’s not all existential dread—true to form, the gang somehow ends up discussing TV remotes that don’t work, emotional family stories (including the infamous cul-de-sac ankle incident), and a donkey-powered dental extraction gone wrong.

If you’ve ever wondered what really matters when everything else is stripped away, this episode hits hard—and stays with you long after it ends.

Get Your Very Own Copy of Echoes of Fate ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read along!

Let us know what book we should read for Season 2 in the comments below!

In this episode of Read & Roast, Jimmy, Curtis, and Shira unpack Chapter 10 of Echoes of Fate—and somehow end up talking about everything from luxury donkeys to ghost actors. No, seriously.

As Assim recovers in a Polish hospital, he finds a rare moment of peace—hooked up to heart monitors, surrounded by loved ones, and finally getting some sleep. But just when things start to calm down, his memories take us back to Darfur, where TVs didn’t work but were still proudly displayed like status symbols, and where watching Bruce Lee powered by a car battery was the event of the decade.

The gang cracks up over childhood movie confusion (why is the guy who died last night in this movie too?!), the hype over a majestic donkey breed, and the culture shock that comes from living between wildly different worlds. It’s a story about growing up, shifting dreams, and finding joy in the little things—even when life feels heavy.

Get Your Very Own Copy of Echoes of Fate ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read along!

In this calming yet deeply contemplative episode of Read & Roast, Jimmy, Curtis, and Shira dive into Chapter 9 of Echoes of Fate, where the contrast between luxury and mortality takes center stage. Titled The Fake Color, this chapter unpacks the strange peace Assim finds in a pristine, private hospital room—a space so serene, it feels more like a high-end resort than a place to battle heart failure.

The hosts explore the chapter’s rich themes: the aesthetics of healing spaces, the unexpected joy of simplicity, and the strange human ability to find comfort even while facing death. Assim reflects on his minimalist lifestyle, his aversion to celebrations, and the bittersweet tranquility of modern solitude. A wild detour into Norway’s humane prison system sparks a surprising conversation about what true freedom really feels like.

Get Your Very Own Copy of Echoes of Fate ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ to read along!