Category Archives: Podcasts

Podcast audio files

by renata | September 13, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 180 – The Dark Knight Returns

We’ve read a lot of popular books over the years, but this episode might be the one most likely to make men on the internet yell at us. Oh well! We’ve already read The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley and there’s no turning back now. Phillip Mottaz, author of The Murderous Haircut of the Mayor of Bel Air, joined us at the local dump to discuss this extremely influential–perhaps too influential–Batman graphic novel.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Squirrel Girl on Dump Teens

Bruno on the Batman Wiki

“What was the conflict between Green Arrow and Superman that lead him to lose his hand?” on Quora

“Frank Miller: ‘I wasn’t thinking clearly when I said those things'” by Sam Thielman

Coming up next: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer.

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as Batman, Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Lynn Varley, podcast, The Dark Knight Returns.

by renata | August 30, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 179 – Slayer

Flashback Summer is over, and yet we’re still talking about a TV show that ended almost 20 years ago. We were joined by Buffy enthusiast Talia to discuss Slayer by Kiersten White, a YA book set in the world of a TV show that ended before today’s teens were born. It’s a publishing choice that confuses us, but hey–the book itself is pretty good! Listen to this episode to get your blood pumping before vampire fight club.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Gwendolyn Post on the Buffy Wiki

Merrick on the Buffy Wiki

“Kiersten White answers all your burning ‘Slayer’ questions” by Karen Rought

Coming up next: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, and Lynn Varley.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kiersten White, podcast, Slayer

by renata | August 16, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 178 – Halloween Rain

Flashback Summer has moved past our time with the Baby-Sitters Club to revisit another enterprising teen girl, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We read a vintage Buffy tie-in novel, Halloween Rain by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder, with our guest THE Meredith Goldstein, the Boston Globe’s Love Letters columnist and author of books like Things That Grow and Can’t Help Myself. This book may contradict established Buffy canon, but at least it also has some very dated pop culture references in it! Play this episode over the sound system at the Bronze.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Sunnydale Mall on the Buffyverse wiki

Slayerfest 98 podcast

“Mandolin Rain” by Bruce Hornsby

“Nightmare Before Christmas‘ Sally Gets to Shine in a New YA Novel From Shea Ernshaw” by James Whitbrook

Coming up next: Slayer by Kiersten White.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Christopher Golden, Flashback Summer, Halloween Rain, Nancy Holder, podcast

by renata | August 2, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 177 – Baby-Sitters Beware

The Baby-Sitters Club’s worst nightmare was a dream come true for us, as Courtney Summers, best-bestselling author of books like The Project and Sadie, joined us to discuss The Baby-Sitters Club Super Mystery #2: Baby-Sitters Beware by Ann M. Martin. Courtney identified this title as a formative book for her, and you simply can’t argue with the results that have come from this foundation. Listen to this in the station wagon on your way to Shadow Lake!

Readers advisory: Here.

Number of stars: Ten **********

Footnotes: Nola Thacker on the BSC Wiki

Michelle Kwan Presents Skating Dreams series

Coming up next: Halloween Rain (Buffy the Vampire Slayer series) by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as ann m. martin, baby-sitters club, Baby-Sitters Club Mysteries, Flashback Summer, Nola Thacker

by renata | July 19, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 176 – Karen’s Plane Trip

This Flashback Summer episode found Kait & Renata home alone, no cool teen baby-sitter nor responsible adult around to monitor their bedtime. Things got a little loopy. You’ve been warned. We read several books from the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series: Karen’s Plane Trip, Karen’s Witch, Karen’s Ghost, and Karen’s Kittykat Club, all “by” Ann M. Martin. We made zero jokes about “Karens,” because Karen Brewer transcends that cliche and would only ask to talk to your manager if she thought your manager might know a good scary story. Listen to this episode to briefly distract yourself from the horrors of climate change!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Life Lessons We Learned from Baby-Sitters Little Sister

Coming up next: The Baby-Sitters Club Super Mystery #2: Baby-Sitters Beware by Ann M. Martin.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as ann m. martin, baby-sitters club, Baby-Sitters Little Sister, Flashback Summer, Karen's Ghost, Karen's Kittykat Club, Karen's Plane Trip, Karen's Witch

by renata | July 5, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 175 – Claudia and Mean Janine

We read Baby-Sitters Club #7, Claudia and Mean Janine and Baby-Sitters Club #40, Claudia and the Middle School Mystery, both by Ann M. Martin. We were thrilled to spend more time with the coolest kid in Stoneybrook, and especially thrilled to discuss her with Susan Tan, author of the Cilla Lee-Jenkins books. Listen to this episode while hiding junk food and Nancy Drew novels around your bedroom!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “‘The Claudia Kishi Club’ is a love letter to the beloved ‘Baby-Sitters Club’ character” by Yi-Jin Yu

“Claudia and the Baby-Sitters Club Books We Really Needed”

“An Ode to Claudia Kishi, the Coolest Kid in ‘The Baby-Sitters Club'” by Bettina Makalinta

“Seventh-Grade Style Icon Claudia Kishi’s Baby-Sitters Club Outfits, Ranked” by Maggie Fremont

Coming up next: Karen’s Plane Trip by Ann M. Martin.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as ann m. martin, baby-sitters club, Flashback Summer, podcast

by renata | June 21, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 174 – Baby-sitters’ Summer Vacation!

We’re putting the “summer” in Flashback Summer by going to camp with our friends, the Baby-Sitters Club (and also our friend literary agent Amy Stern). We read Baby-Sitters Club Super Special #2: Baby-sitters’ Summer Vacation and Baby-Sitters Club Friends Forever Super Special #1: Everything Changes, both by Ann M. Martin. We loved revisiting these books, but we’re not sure we’d send any children to visit Camp Mohawk. Listen to this episode while researching the summer camp accreditation process!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “How The Baby-Sitters Club Made Social Justice Fun for Tweens” by Ashley Fetters

“These 19 Institutions Are the Best Summer Camps in the Country” by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Coming up next: Claudia and Mean Janine by Ann M. Martin.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as ann m. martin, baby-sitters club, Flashback Summer

by renata | June 7, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 173 – The Courtship Of Princess Leia

We’re kicking off Flashback Summer by going to a galaxy far, far away and a long time ago. We read the non-canonical Star Wars Legends novel The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton with Star Wars Enthusiast Zayne. If you’re a Star Wars fan of a certain vintage, you might be grimacing with recognition here. If you haven’t heard of this book, you might be thinking it would be nice to see Han and Leia’s courtship and marriage. Unfortunately: it isn’t. It isn’t nice at all. If you ask your 3PO unit nicely, perhaps they will play this episode over their speakers for you.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Star Wars Legends

“Who Gets To Be ‘Hapa’?” by Akemi Johnson

Coming up next: Baby-Sitters Club Super Special #2: Baby-sitters’ Summer Vacation! by Ann M. Martin.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as Dave Wolverton, Flashback Summer, podcast, Star Wars, Star Wars Legends, The Courtship of Princess Leia

by renata | May 24, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 172 – No Walls And The Recurring Dream

We wanted to bring some girl power to Celebrity Memoir May, so returning guest Sophi joined us to read No Walls And The Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco. If you”re thinking that that title is a little wordy and incoherent, you have a good idea of what the book is like. Listen to hear three long-time Ani DiFranco fans learn that you should never meet your heroes, or read their memoirs.

Content warning: This book contains descriptions of child neglect and sexual assault.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Ani DiFranco Is ‘Remarkably Unapologetic’ About Slave Plantation Retreat” by

Ani DiFranco Is Tired of Talking About Herself (So Here She Goes Again) by Rich Juzwiak

Women’s Festival Must Choose Between Indigo Girls and the Transgender Ban

New PSA Examines Experiences of Transgender Survivors with a Message that RAINN is Here for Everyone

‘The Rock’ buys a scoop of Portland ice cream — Dwayne Johnson takes a stake in Salt & Straw by Mike Rogoway

Coming up next: The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Filed under Podcasts

Tagged as Ani DiFranco, No Walls And The Recurring Dream, podcast

by renata | May 10, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 171 – Greenlights

Alright, alright, alright! Even though time is a flat circle, we’re celebrating Celebrity Memoir May and we’re starting the party with Matthew McConaughey’s book Greenlights. The most surprising part about this book was how much we sincerely enjoyed it. The second most surprising part about this book was all the wet dreams. Seriously, this book was wild and we hope that you will listen to it!

Content warning: This book contains descriptions of child abuse.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Matthew McConaughey Made His Debut on an Old Unsolved Mysteries Episode” by Adrianna Freedman

“Matthew McConaughey may be a viable candidate for Texas governor” by Robert T. Garrett and Gromer Jeffers Jr.

The just keep livin foundation

Matthew McConaughey Peace Corps PSA

Matthew McConaughey & Camila Alves at Carnaval (this is NOT the photo Renata describes in the podcast but I cannot find it online!!! use your imagination to get the rest)

Coming up next: No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)