Category Archives: Podcasts

Podcast audio files

by | July 13, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 293 – Changes for Kirsten

Changes for Kirsten by Janet Beeler Shaw

Are you melting in the summer heat wave? Well, why don’t you join us for a Flashback Summer trip back to the winter of 1864? Bundle up in your best furs, because we read Changes for Kirsten by Janet Beeler Shaw. We were joined by Mary Mahoney (@MimiMahoney), co-author of Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can’t Quit American Girl, former co-host of the Dolls of our Lives podcast, and current host of the Landline podcast. Whatever you do, do not let a baby raccoon into your house while listening to this episode.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode #76 – American Girl

Childhood Nostalgia: A Collection of Pleasant Company and American Girl Catalogues

Minnesota Historical Society MNopedia

Coming up next: Kristy’s Great Idea (Baby-Sitters Club #1) by Ann M. Martin.

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by | June 29, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 292 – The Celery Stalks at Midnight

The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe.

 

Flashback Summer is getting mildly spooky! We read The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe with Sara Farizan, author of several books of varying spookiness levels including the upcoming The Last Resort: Ghost Light. While listening to your episode, please keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t get into any chocolate!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode #126 – Bunnicula

Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine on Chocolate Toxicity

James Howe on Wikipedia

Mark Davis and James Howe wedding announcement

Coming up next: Changes for Kirsten by Janet Beeler Shaw.

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by | June 15, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 291 – Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern)

Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey

Flashback Summer continues as we journey 400 Turns into the past with Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. Paul from the That Aged Well podcast joined us to discuss the oft-requested Dragonriders of Pern series. Listen to this episode while you weave a beautiful tapestry of flamethrowers.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Mahna Mahna

Coming up next: The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe.

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by | June 1, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 290 – Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

 

Flashback Summer is kicking off with a Code Green: LEPrecon alert! We read Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer with our returning guest Mackenzi Lee, author of of many books including Teela: Daughter of Eternos. If this book is Die Hard with fairies, then this episode is technically a Christmas special.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Artemis Fowl on Wikipedia

Coming up next: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey.

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by | May 18, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 289 – Adult Braces

Adult Braces by Lindy West

 

The whole internet has been talking about Adult Braces by Lindy West, so we decided to join the conversation. And who better to join us than Friend of the Show Margaret H. Willison (@MrsFridayNext)? You can find Margaret at Culture Study and you can find us in Key West, petting Ernest Hemingway’s polydactyl cats. Listen now to find out our legally binding ruling on whether or not Lindy West needs a divorce!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Love Letters: Meredith & Margaret on Lindy West’s Adult Braces

“Lindy West’s How-Not-To Guide to Polyamory” by Scaachi Koul

AMA: Nonmonogamy Edition from Lindy West’s Substack

The Lindy West Deep Dive from Ashley Ray’s Substack

“Big Love” from Jennifer Weiner’s Substack

Ijeoma Oluo on Threads

Coming up next: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

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by | May 4, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 288 – Shadows of the Empire

Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry

 

May the 4th be with you! (If you’re listening to this on the day it comes out! If not: may the Force be with you.) In honor of this faux Star Wars holiday, we read Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry. We were joined by writer and Star Wars enthusiast Nanci Schwartz to discuss this story that’s more than a video game and less than a movie. Many Bothans died to bring you this episode.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 173 – The Courtship of Princess Leia

The Birth of Cheesoid

Gungans and Daddies: All That Jizz

Coming up next: Adult Braces by Lindy West.

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by | April 20, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 287 – The Vampire Lestat

The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice

We’re crawling out of our coffins and we’re doing just fine. We were joined by Rebecca Mahoney, author of Thrall, to discuss The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice. Please do not play this episode in the presence of Akasha, Queen of the Damned–the audio waves will only agitate her.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Thrall Book Launch event at Porter Square Books on April 24th

Episode 125 – Interview With the Vampire

Savage Garden on Wikipedia

Lestat the Musical

Coming up next: Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry.

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by | April 6, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 286 – Remain

Remain by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan

 

Two of the greatest minds of our generation, Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan, have joined forces to give the world this extremely mid book: Remain. Fortunately, we were joined by the delightful Annie Cardi, author of Winter White, for a walk to remember through Cape Cod, led by a beautiful ghost whose purpose on earth is to teach an entitled man how to do basic chores. Listen to this episode while you research property law.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 25 – True Believer

Episode 70 – The Notebook

Tate Donovan on IMDB

Rocky on Wikipedia

Coming up next: The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice.

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by | March 23, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 285 – Heated Rivalry

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

 

We conclude our arbitrary celebration of Canada Month with a playoff episode that went into overtime. Yes: we read Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. We needed two guests to handle a title of this magnitude, so we were joined by fangirl in STEM Sarah and authentic Canadian/Canadien Kathleen Gros, author and artist of several books including Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of). Listen to this episode while driving to the cottage!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Canadian Heritage Minutes

“Heated Rivalry Is Chess” by Rebecca Alter

“Weapons’ Hot Dog Scene Is Actually a Heartfelt Tribute to Zach Cregger’s Late Friend” by Tai Gooden

“Those Tuna Melts in Heated Rivalry are So Gay” by John Birdsall

Important Heated Rivalry Fan Art

Coming up next: Remain by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan.

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by | March 9, 2026 · 12:01 pm

Episode 284 – Bear

Bear by Marian Engel

This March, Worst Bestsellers is celebrating our neighbor to the north with our first ever Canada Month. We’re kicking it off by talking to Canadian treasure Ann Foster (host of Vulgar History, author of Rebel of the Regency:  The Scandalous Saga of Caroline of Brunswick, Britain’s Queen Without a Crown) about another Canadian treasure: Bear by Marian Engel. This book walked so that shifter romances could gallop. Listen to this episode while you’re alone in the woods.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Canada’s Most Controversial Novel” by Emily Zarevich.

Kanata Classics

Coming up next: Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid.

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