Category Archives: Podcasts

Podcast audio files

by | October 23, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 229 – Practical Magic

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Spooky season is here, so we were joined by Lily Sparks, author of the Teen Killers Club trilogy (including the latest book, Teen Killers at Large) and the upcoming The Merciless King of Moore High. We got witchy with the Owens women in Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. This episode will bring all the cats to the schoolyard!

Announcement: Join us in our Discord server on Monday, October 30th at 8:30pm Eastern Time for a live watch of the Practical Magic movie! (It’s currently streaming on Hulu.)

Content warning: Light mention of death of parents, domestic violence, and death of a boyfriend.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks.

Episode 122 – A Discovery Of Witches

Coming up next: The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes by Suzanne Collins.

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by | October 9, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 228 – Go Set A Watchman

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

We just wrapped up Banned Books Week in the USA, a time to celebrate our freedom to read and also to speak up about book challenges! We were joined by Jen and Dan, the hosts of the Banned Camp podcast, where they read banned books to investigate why they were banned. They previously read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, which is frequently banned and challenged. So together we read the controversial Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee, and you know what…maybe we’re challenging it. No, like, we’re not going to call for it to be removed from libraries or anything, just like…are you sure you want to read it? Listen to this episode on your next train ride to Maycomb.

Content warning: Discussion of racism (though we 100% guarantee we do not say the n-word aloud on the podcast, although it is in the text of the book itself), sexual assault, and death of a sibling.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Unite Against Book Bans

“How to Fight Book Bans and Challenges” by Kelly Jensen

“Banned Spotlight: To Kill a Mockingbird” by Betsy Gomez

“See where ‘Go Set a Watchman’ overlaps with ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ word-for-word” by Keith Collins and Nikhil Sonnad

Harper Lee: The controversy that still surrounds author’s ‘lost novel’ Go Set a Watchman by Andrew Buncombe

Coming up next: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman.

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by | September 25, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 227 – Crave

Crave by Tracy Wolff

It’s our 9th podiversary! We’ve run out of Stephenie Meyer books so we decided to have our OG guest Carrie return to check out a series whose marketing team would certainly love for us to think it was written by SMeyer: Crave by Tracy Wolff. Thanks to everyone for joining us for these past 9 years, and let’s all work on manifesting a new Twilight book for next year!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: 360+ Teen Slang, Emojis, & Hashtags Parents Need to Know 

Coming up next: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee.

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by | September 11, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 226 – Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

We’re topping off this year’s Flashback Summer with a pair of red–some would say auburn–braids. We were joined by Hannah and Marcelle, the cohosts of Witch, Please and Material Girls, to discuss Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Pour yourselves a cup of raspberry cordial and listen to this podcast on your train journey from the orphanage!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Anne of Green Gables Raspberry Cordial recipe by Tori Avey

The Real Reason ‘Anne With an E’ Was Canceled by Netflix Is Heartbreaking by Katie Bourque

Coming up next: Crave by Tracy Wolff.

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by | August 28, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 225 – The Secret at Solaire

Nancy Drew and the Secret at Solaire by Carolyn Keene

For Flashback Summer we decided to get away from it all with a visit to an exclusive desert spa. Unfortunately, the spa was plagued with black widow spiders, blackmailers, and other concerns. Fortunately, Kristin, the host of the Kristin Sleuth YouTube channel, was able to talk us through Nancy Drew #111: The Secret at Solaire by Carolyn Keene. This episode is not sponsored by Solaire moisturizer.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 55 – Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys

Kristin Sleuth on YouTube

Crime Pays, Botany Doesn’t on YouTube

It’s a Clue podcast

The Dream podcast

Sweet Valley High Diaries – 35’s Extended B-Story: Tofu-Glo

Coming up next: Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.

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by | August 14, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 224 – Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

 

Breaking Flashback Summer News: in the title of the book Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison, “Angus” refers to the cat! Renata was almost as excited about this fact as she was about convincing JJ, aka S. Jae-Jones, author of Guardians of Dawn: Zhara to return as a guest for this episode! Listen to this episode while shaving your eyebrows (or while you are homebound, waiting for your eyebrows to regrow).

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Time 100 Best YA Books Of All Time: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Coming up next: Nancy Drew and the Secret at Solaire by Carolyn Keene.

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by | July 31, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 223 – Anastasia Krupnik

Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry

For this Flashback Summer episode, the Bellwether Friends Anna & Alene joined Renata to discuss Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry. Sadly, Kait had to miss this one because she was busy shopping for her new poetry outfit, which would make Anastasia green with envy. Listen to this episode while you update the list of “loves” and “hates” in your notebook!

Kait’s Poetry Outfit:

Kait posing dramatically with her poetry outfit: a black dress, red beret, red cape, and sunglasses Kait's stack of poetry books Kait wearing her poetry outfit and contemplating poetry Kait totally lost in poetry

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Four Questions with Lois Lowry, Newbery Award-Winning Children’s Author” by Molly Parr

“Why Anastasia Krupnik Was Ahead of Her Time” by Grace Lapointe

Bellwether Friends #65 – Fastest and Furiousest

Coming up next: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison.

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by | July 17, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 222 – Trixie Belden

Trixie Belden #1: The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell

 

Were you looking for sound medical advice to treat snakebites and rabies? Well, we do not recommend consulting Trixie Belden #1: The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell for first aid training. However, we had a great time talking to returning guest Carrie about this Flashback Summer mystery novel.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: The Trixie Belden Series

WikiHow: How to Treat a Snake Bite

WikiHow: How to Spot Rabies in a Dog

Coming up next: Anastasia Krupnik by Lois Lowry.

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by | July 3, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 221 – Help! I’m Trapped In My Teacher’s Body

Help! I'm Trapped in My Teacher's Body by Todd Strasser

 

Help! We’re trapped in the bodies of millennial podcasters! Andrew and Craig from the Overdue podcast joined us to discuss the classic switcheroo tale Help! I’m Trapped In My Teacher’s Body by Todd Strasser. Listen to this episode while your coworker makes you breakfast!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: A Taste of Spongey: Help! I’m Trapped in the First Day of School

Overdue #590 – Super Mario Bros movie adaptation

Coming up next: The Secret of the Mansion (Trixie Belden #1) by Julie Campbell.

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by | June 20, 2023 · 12:01 pm

Episode 220 – Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret

 

It’s–hey, calm down, no, put down your pitchforks, we’re not calling Judy Blume a “worst” bestseller! Absolutely not, just, please, let me finish this intro–it’s Flashback Summer! The time when we chill out and revisit childhood favorites, even when they are iconic classics that absolutely do not match the name of our podcast. We were joined by writer and comedian Sarah Aswell (@seaswell),  also known as the Scary Mommy behind Scary Mommy Book Club, to discuss Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by the one and only Judy Blume. Listen to this episode while increasing your bust!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Judy Blume Shares How It Felt To Finally Watch ‘Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret’” by Sarah Aswell

“God to Margaret: Always with wings!” by Rebecca Traister

“Judy Blume Blasted An Article Linking Her To J.K. Rowling’s Anti-Trans Views As ‘Bullshit'” by David Mack

Judy Blume embraces renewed interest in her work from her Florida book store

Coming up next:  Help! I’m Trapped in my Teacher’s Body by Todd Strasser.

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