Category Archives: Podcasts

Podcast audio files

by | November 4, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 136 – The Initiation (The Secret Circle)

It must be the season of the witch, since we read The Initiation, the first book in L. J. Smith’s Secret Circle series. The new school year in New Salem marks the start of some beautiful friendships whose homoerotic subtext is only barely concealed beneath a thin layer of herbs. Plus also, some valuable lessons about urban planning!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Forever Young Adult: Recap of The Secret Circle Pilot

Candy Pairing:  Kait says a caramel apple, Katie says saltwater taffy, Renata says feverfew.

Coming up next: The Mister by E. L. James.

 

* 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.)

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by | October 21, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 135 – Dark Angel

Dark Angel by V. C. Andrews

 

We revisited the world of V. C. Andrews and read Dark Angel, the second book in the Casteel family saga with V. C. Andrews apologist Arielle. It’s a grim story of a girl who escapes her impoverished hometown but can’t get away from the fact that men are trash everywhere. Keep your wits about you if you listen to this episode in a hedge maze!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 108 – My Sweet Audrina

Episode 17 – Flowers in the Attic

Guest Post: Flowers In the Attic (The Appeal Thereof)

The True Story of How V.C. Andrews’ Casteel Family Saga Came to Be by Amanda Garrity

Comedy Bang! Bang! – This Is Your Boy Troy

Candy Pairing:  Arielle says blackstrap molasses, Kait says circus peanuts, Renata says spiked punch.

Coming up next: The Initiation (Secret Circle series) by L. J. Smith.

 

* 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.)

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by | October 7, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 134 – The Rock Says

The Rock Says... by The Rock and Joe Leyden

 

As listeners to the podcast may know, we’re big fans of Dwayne Johnson, but slightly less knowledgable about his pro wrestling alter ego, The Rock. So we invited Tres Dean, author of For Your Consideration: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to read the 2000 memoir The Rock Says… by The Rock and Joe Leyden. We learned a lot about both Dwayne Johnson and The Rock. Arguably, more than we wanted to know? Put your MP3 player in your fanny pack to listen to this episode on the go!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Gennifer Flowers Interviews The Rock

“Meet the Woman Who Built Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Media Empire” by Colleen Leahey McKeegan

“The Wrestler and the Cornflake Girl: Ring legend Mick Foley explains how Tori Amos changed his life” by Mick Foley

Wrestlesplania podcast

I Don’t Even Own A Television #140 –  No Regrets by Ace Frehley and Joe Leyden

Candy Pairing:  Kait says WWE Superstars Ice Cream bars, Renata says margarita Jelly Bellies.

Coming up next: Dark Angel by V. C. Andrews.

 

* 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.)

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by | September 23, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 133 – The Host

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

 

Unlike vampires, we keep aging, so this is our 5th podcastversary! Tragically, we’ve completed our run on the Twilight saga, but the show must go on. We brought back returning guest Caroline to discuss Stephenie Meyer’s awkward alien follow-up to the Twilight saga, The Host. Bad news: it’s not as entertaining as Twilight. Good news: she never followed through on making this a trilogy. As you listen to this episode, please join us in using The Secret to compel Stephenie Meyer to write another vampire book for next year!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Remembering The Host, a Scifi Book That Barely Wanted to be Scifi by Beth Elderkin

Stephenie Meyer Hopes The Host Will Be A Trilogy, Is That A Good Thing? by Kelly West

Candy Pairing:  Carrie says Blow Pops, Kait says a giant lollipop, Renata says giant gummy worms.

Coming up next: The Rock Says… by The Rock and Joe Leyden.

 

* 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.)

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by | September 9, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 132 – Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth, a dystopian society controlled by Buzzfeed quizzes, has been one of most frequently-requested episodes. In an effort to bring peace to the five factions, we invited Annie, author of The Chance You Won’t Return and cohost of the Crossover Appeal podcast to read this flash-in-the-pan dystopian novel with us. Listen to this episode on your next trip to Chicago–just make sure to be careful when jumping off the El train!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: GoodReads Interview with Veronica Roth

Official Divergent Faction Quiz

Bean cleaned: Workers quickly remove graffiti from Chicago’s beloved sculpture

Candy Pairing:  Annie says Pop Rocks and Coke, Kait says chocolate with a razor blade in it, Renata says abandoned chocolate.

Coming up next: The Host 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.)

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by | August 26, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 131 – Dora and the Lost City of Gold

Dora and the Lost City of Gold movie novelization by Steve Behling

 

Hola! We read the Dora and the Lost City of Gold movie novelization by Steve Behling so you don’t have to! We were joined by librarian extraordinaire and Dora the Explorer watcher Kristi, who helped us avoid getting stuck in the quicksand of this self-aware novel that briefly took Twitter by storm. Strap on your backpack and listen to this episode as you hack your way through the jungle!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: The Dora the Explorer movie sounds absolutely bonkers

Candy Pairing:  Kait says movie theater popcorn, Kristi says last year’s Halloween candy, Renata says pan dulce.

Coming up next: Divergent by Veronica Roth.

 

* 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.)

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by | August 12, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 130 – Dealing With Dragons

Dealing With Dragons by Patricia Wrede

As Flashback Summer draws to a close for another year, our friend Kelsey joined us to return to a feminist favorite: Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede. The three of us all loved this book as tweens and were thrilled to report that it holds up. Listen to this episode while cleaning your dragon’s cave.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: The Problem of the Improper Princess by Catherine Nichols

Candy Pairing:  Kait says mini Twix bars, Kelsey says cherries jubilee, Renata says lemon drops.

Coming up next: Dora and the Lost City of Gold junior novel by Steve Behling.

 

* 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.)

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by | July 29, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 129 – Rotten Romans (Horrible Histories series)

The Rotten Romans by Terry Deary and Martin Brown

For this installment of Flashback Summer, we flashed way back to ancient Rome. We read The Rotten Romans from the Horrible Histories series by Terry Deary & Martin Brown with returning guest, librarian Laura. It’s a whimsically British look at history with some cartoons that remain inscrutable, even to the eyes of adult Americans with history degrees. This podcast is only available in English, because Latin is a dead language (RIP).

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Ancient Roman Readers Advisory sent by listener Lydia

Ecce Romani memes

Our Fake History podcast

Sawbones podcast

Candy Pairing:  Kait says Fig Newtons, Laura says chocolate, Renata says no thank you.

Coming up next: Dealing With Dragons by Patricia Wrede.

 

* 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.)

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by | July 15, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 128 – Pickle Puss (Polk Street School)

Pickle Puss by Patricia Reilly Giff

Flashback Summer continues with a trip to the Polk Street School, where the kids aren’t alright. Becca joined us to read Pickle Puss by Patricia Reilly Giff, an early chapter book about how not to run a summer reading program or care for a pet. Listen to this episode on your way to deceive your local librarian!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Endangered Series: The Kids of Polk Street School.

Candy Pairing:  Becca says melted Hershey’s kisses, Kait says sugar free hard candy, Renata says Scandinavian Swimmers.

Coming up next: Rotten Romans (Horrible Histories series) by Terry Deary & Martin Brown.

 

* 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.)

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by | July 1, 2019 · 12:01 pm

Episode 127 – Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

 

The next stop on our Flashback Summer vacation is the 30th floor of an elementary school. Literary agent Amy joined us to read Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar. Everyone should listen to this episode, unless you’re secretly a dead rat in a raincoat. Dead rats are not allowed. Everyone else, join us on Apple podcasts before Mrs. Gorf turns you into an apple!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “The Absurd Joy of ‘Sideways Stories From Wayside School'” by Adrienne LaFrance

Louis Sachar’s FAQs

Ghost Quartet

Candy Pairing:  Amy says candy apples, Kait says Sky Bars, Renata says dinosaur egg oatmeal.

Coming up next: Pickle Puss (Polk Street School Kids series) by Patricia Reilly Giff.

 

* 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

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