Social media sensation Olivia Ponton is turning a new page with her highly anticipated podcast, “Booked and Busy,” launching on October 27, 2025. This book-themed endeavor promises fans a deeper look into Ponton’s passionate literary world, challenging preconceived notions and fostering a vibrant community around shared reading experiences.
Known for her dynamic presence across TikTok and Instagram, where she boasts over 10 million followers, Olivia Ponton has built a reputation as a successful model and influencer. Her career highlights include appearances on global runways, modeling for prestigious brands like Victoria’s Secret, and gracing the pages of Sports Illustrated in 2022. Beyond the glamour, Ponton has consistently showcased her multifaceted personality, recently even making a cameo in the movie “It Ends With Us.”
Now, Ponton is embarking on a new media endeavor that promises to reveal an even deeper, often unseen side of her life: a love for books. People exclusively revealed that her new podcast, “Booked and Busy,” is set to launch on October 27, 2025, offering a unique blend of book club and personal insight.
The Unexpected Genesis of a Reader
For many, Ponton’s journey into avid reading might seem surprising. She candidly admits that the pressure of reading in her youth initially steered her away from it. However, a moment of chaos in 2021, amidst her rapidly ascending career, led her to find solace in an unexpected place: a novel.
“In this industry, it’s very hectic,” Ponton shared with People. “You’re traveling 24/7, on your phone, and I kind of just picked up a book randomly, and that was the beginning of this little love story that I have with books.” She recalls devouring a nearly 600-page book in just three days, a testament to her newfound passion for immersing herself in worlds beyond her own.
Building a Community, One Book at a Time
“Booked and Busy” isn’t just a podcast; it’s conceived as a relaxed book club designed to foster community. Ponton’s goal is to create a space for deep dives into books loved by her audience, without the rigid deadlines often associated with traditional book clubs.
Her approach to selecting books for the podcast is refreshingly democratic, drawing heavily from where she already excels: social media. By sifting through #BookTok and the comments on her own “book haul” posts, Ponton ensures the lineup genuinely resonates with her readers. The first featured read for “Booked and Busy” will be Rebecca Yarros’s “Fourth Wing,” signaling a commitment to popular fiction.
The choice to focus on fiction is deliberate. Ponton challenges the notion that fiction is less intellectual, arguing that “there is so much to learn through fiction and through storytelling and the lessons that you can learn within yourself or within the characters.”
Challenging Perceptions and Embracing Authenticity
Beyond building a community, “Booked and Busy” is a platform for Ponton to present a more authentic self, a side that doesn’t always translate online. She reveals that her avid reading habit existed for years before she began sharing it with her followers, only doing so after her team and friends encouraged her.
For the initial episodes, Ponton plans to go solo, a strategic decision to allow her unfiltered personality to shine through. “I think people know me as this kind of blonde model,” she explains, addressing common stereotypes. She is open about having ADHD and sometimes getting tongue-tied or using the wrong words, acknowledging that these traits can sometimes lead people to unfairly label her as “not intellectual.”
Ponton is transparent with her audience about her educational background, sharing that she wasn’t an English major and didn’t attend college. However, she clarifies, “That doesn’t make me not super passionate about this.” She emphasizes her dedication to thorough research, even delving into “every conspiracy theory that is possible for these books” for the podcast.
A Space for Genuine Connection and Disagreement
The podcast aims to be more than just book reviews. It’s about fostering genuine interaction and a safe space for diverse opinions. Ponton expressed her desire to “curate a space where people can give their opinions, and we may have different opinions about the book, and that’s okay.” Her vision includes a community where members are able to “agree to disagree on certain topics.”
This commitment to authenticity and community extends to experimenting with different formats on YouTube and audio platforms to enhance fan engagement. For Ponton, this endeavor is deeply personal, with the busy influencer stating that the podcast is “healing her soul.”
Olivia Ponton: Beyond the Spotlight
While “Booked and Busy” marks a significant new direction, it joins a diverse portfolio of ventures for Olivia Ponton. Her modeling career continues to thrive, having been represented by Wilhelmina Models NYC since early 2020. She has also openly discussed personal topics such as body image, sexuality (coming out as pansexual), wellness practices, and mental health on other platforms like The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast, further demonstrating her commitment to transparency and empowering her audience.
Her new podcast represents an exciting chapter, offering fans a unique opportunity to connect with her on a deeper, more intellectual level, solidifying her role as an influencer who truly engages with and inspires her community.
