Category Archives: Podcasts

Podcast audio files

Episode 244 – Stonewords

Stonewords by Pam Conrad

We were digging through some boxes in our totally not-haunted attic and found Stonewords by Pam Conrad. It seemed like a chill Flashback Summer vibe, so we had our friend KL join us to discuss it. Be careful not to play this episode around your secret ghost friend–they might get jealous!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Pam Conrad’s obituary.

Coming up next: Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce.

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Episode 243 – No Coins Please

No Coins, Please by Gordon Korman

 

Flashback summer, eh? Ann Foster of Vulgar History joined us to read No Coins, Please, an early work by the venerable Canadian author Gordon Korman. Listen to this episode while driving cross-country with a van full of chaotic tweens!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: About Gordon Korman

Coming up next: Stonewords by Pam Conrad.

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Episode 242 – The Discovery

The Discovery (Animorphs #20) by K.A. ApplegateThe Threat (Animorphs #21) by K.A. ApplegateThe Solution (Animorphs #22) by K.A. Applegate

It’s Morphin’ Time! We’re kicking off Flashback Summer Animal Style. We returned to the world of the Animorphs by reading the three books in the iconic David Saga–The Discovery (#20), The Threat (#21) and The Solution (#22), all by K.A. Applegate. We were joined by Moniquill Blackgoose, author of To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. Listen to this episode while driving to the mall to pick up a Cinnabon and/or fight a lion!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 52 – Animorphs #1

Coming up next: No Coins Please by Gordon Korman.

 

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Episode 241 – Open Book

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

We continue Celebrity Memoir May with another wronged woman of the early 00s, Ms. Jessica Simpson. Annie Cardi, author of Red, joined us in righteous indignation on behalf of our favorite former Newlywed after reading her memoir Open Book. Listen to this episode while practicing your Dukes of Hazzard-style stunt driving.

Content warnings: Child sexual abuse, substance abuse, publicly being a woman in the early 00s.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Wait a Sec…Jessica Simpson’s Beloved ‘Cottage’ from Her Memoir Is Literally a Mansion (and J-Law Lives There Now!)” by Dara Katz

“Jessica Simpson is Selling Her Beverly Hills Home” by Maria Salova

“Jessica Simpson and Daughter Maxwell Poke Fun at Her Chicken of the Sea Mishap in New Ad for the Brand (Exclusive)” by Nicholas Rice

“John Mayer’s Dating History: Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston, Katy Perry and More”

“Jessica Simpson’s billion-dollar brand went bankrupt after she sold it — here’s why she ‘drained everything to buy it back’” by Jade Scipioni

“Jessica Simpson talks about being the target of fat jokes for wearing ‘mom jeans’: It ‘broke my heart'” by Suzy Byrne

Coming up next: The Discovery (Animorphs #20) by K. A. Applegate.

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Episode 240 – Troublemaker

Troublemaker by Leah Remini

 

Unlike Scientology, Celebrity Memoir May is inescapable. Known Suppressive Person, librarian, and author Angie Manfredi (@MissKubelik) joined us to discuss Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini. Join us as we swear oaths of fealty to the Queen of Queens!

Content warning: Verbal abuse, icky parenting, escaping a cult.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “A Strange Chapter in ‘Wog”s Hateful History”

The Underground Bunker

“Exclusive: Shelly Miscavige and The Missing Scientologists: How The LAPD Made Scientology’s Problem Go Away” by Yashar Ali

Leah Remini’s “Roar” dance on Dancing with the Stars

“An Interview with the One and Only Michelle Visage” by Michael Podell

“Michelle Visage says Leah Remini got her into Scientology, but she quit over church’s anti-gay views” by Joey Nolfi

“Another Celeb Just Fueled Rumors of Jennifer Lopez & Leah Remini’s Feud” by Maggie Clancy

Coming up next: Open Book by Jessica Simpson.

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Episode 239 – Ice Planet Barbarians

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

 

Horny dragons were fun, but we’ve moved on. Onto another planet, actually. Lily Sparks, author of The Merciless King of Moore High, joined us to discuss Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon. Upload this episode directly to your alien translator earpiece to listen to it in any language!

Content warning: Dubious consent and mentions of sexual assault.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “How sexy blue aliens invaded Amazon’s bestseller lists” by AJ Willingham

About the Motorcycle Clubs

Coming up next: Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini.

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Episode 238 – Fourth Wing


Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Y’all horny for some dragons? We forged a soul bond with comedian, writer, and Scary Mommy Sarah Aswell by reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros together. Listen to this episode while pondering ways to legally murder your classmates!

Content warning: Here there be dragons. Also, dead parents.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “How Rebecca Yarros Packed Dragons, Magic and Steamy Sex Into a Blockbuster Fantasy” by Alexandra Alter

“Q&A: Rebecca Yarros on Chronic Illness Representation in Fourth Wing” by Riyana Straetker

NPR Weekend Edition: “Veronica Roth’s ‘Carve The Mark’ Is A Fantasy Inspired By Chronic Pain”

Coming up next: Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon.

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Episode 237 – This Present Darkness

This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti

 

The devil made us read This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. Fortunately, we were #blessed to be joined by Izzy Wasserstein, author of These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart, who helped safely guide us through this Christian thriller. Listen to this episode while waiting for a cool angel to pick you up on her motorcycle.

Content warning: False accusations of sexual assault, Christian fundamentalism, murder/suicide/demon attack.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: This Present Darkness” on Wikipedia

The long history and slow death of a word once used to describe everyone and everything from Egypt to China as well as rugs” by Yanan Wang

“15 times The X-Files’ Dana Scully was the best character on TV” by Sarah Crocker

Coming up next: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

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Episode 236 – Icebreaker

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

Ice, ice, baby! Annie Cardi, author of Red, returned to the podcast to discuss the sexy skater Booktok sensation Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Join us as we skate back to college and dirty talk our way into the Olympics!

Content warning: Disordered eating, gaslighting, emotional abuse.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Who Is Hannah Grace? And Why Won’t She Show Her Face?” by Elisabeth Egan

Coming up next: This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti.

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Episode 235 – Sanctuary

Sanctuary by Nora Roberts

 

Nora Roberts Month continues! Heidi and Emily from Romancing the Shelf podcast returned and took us back to the 90s with the vintage romantic thriller Sanctuary. Sadly, this book has zero plates of casual pasta but it does have at least 3.5 romantic couples and almost as many murders. Listen to this episode on one of your three computers!

Content warning: Murder, sexual assault, questionable mental health care.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Romancing the Shelf – Sanctuary

“Nora Roberts: The woman who rewrote the rules of romantic fiction” by Carole Cadwalladr

Coming up next: Icebreaker by Hannah Grace.

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