We talk about books, but mostly, the people who wrote them.
Madeline tells Lesley about the mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie and her incredible life! We're drinking Satan's Whiskers! But not the recipe from her book. Light profianty occurs.
Lesley tells Madeline about the father or high fantasy literature, author of Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien. We're drinking Shire Tree cocktails! It's 3 parts vodka, 1 part apple juice, 1 part elderberry liqueur, and one part lemon juice all shaken and served in a glass of your choice.
Madeline tells Lesley about playwright and poet, August Wilson! We are drinking "Hope for August" cocktails. What's in the exactly? You'll have to listen to find out.
It's a holiday special episode! Lesley tells Madeline about the history of Christmas Carols from the Roman Empire to the early 20th century! Enjoy with some mulled wine and feel free to do some cartwheels next time you sing carols. This episode is free from swearing, if you feel comfortable sharing it with some of the youngers.
Lesley tells Madeline about Zora Neale Hurston! Author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and extraordinary anthropologist! Trigger Warning: We talk about sexual assault in this episode.
A special Halloween bonus episode! Madeline tells Lesley about the author who wrote Dracula and not much else! We're drinking peanut butter pumpkin martinis: One part peanut butter whiskey and two parts pumpkin spice cream liqueur, shaken and poured into a martini glass.
Lesley tells Madeline about the original young adult author, Judy Blume! We're drinking Are You There God, It's Me Margaritas! The recipe can be found in the book with the same name.
Madeline tells Lesley about genius author Sylvia Plath! Trigger warning: we do discuss suicide and depression. Our cocktail is The Pink Lady with a raspberry twist! 1.5oz Gin, 1oz. cream, egg white, raspberry compote. Cheers!
Lesley tells Madeline about Los Angeles laureate of lowlife, Charles Bukowski! If you haven't heard of him before you are in for a treat. We're drinking whiskey lemonades with a splash of Grand Marnier and sparkling water.
Madeline tells Lesley about the writer of the Jungle Books, and world traveller, Rudyard Kipling! He's the perfect story for those us of itching for some travel and having a little work burn out. So listen and enjoy a wonderful Dirty Mango Lassi recipe by the amazing Hari Ghotra: https://www.harighotra.co.uk/dirty-mango-lassi-recipe
Lesley tells Madeline about screenwriter and journalist Nora Ephron! We talk about falling in love with yourself, being able to laugh at yourself, and wanting we could throw amazing dinner parties like Nora. We're doing a twist on a Manhattan called, I'll Have What She's Having cocktail-- 1.5 oz whiskey, a dash of orange bitters, a splash of dry vermouth and triple sec, topped with brownie bites as a garnish, because why not?
Madeline tells Lesley about Upton Sinclair! The writer of The Jungle and Oil! (which There Will Be Blood is based off). We're making Bloody Marys because, it's a little too fitting.
Lesley tells Madeline about Lolita author and entomologist, Vladimir Nabokov! We're drinking LedroNabokov cocktails! Which is 3 oz. vodka, .75oz blackberry brandy and .75oz St. Germain all shaken together before served.
Madeline tells Lesley about the romantic and Romantic poet John Keats! We're drinking the original, Ode to a Cocktail, a perfect springtime tea-based beverage.
Lesley tells Madeline about early 1900s French author and actress Colette! She lived a badass life that you've maybe never heard of, but will wish you knew. The cocktail we're drinking is 1 part Empress 1908 gin (chilled), and a splash of lemoncello, topped with sparkling water (if you wish) and garnished with flower petals.
Madeline tells Lesley about the whale of a life of Herman Melville. So sit back on your boat, grab that whale burger, and a Moby Drink cocktail (created by Tim Federle) and enjoy!
Lesley finishes up the story of Ayn Rand to Madeline, talking about Atlas Shrugged, her Objectivist beliefs, and her Collective group. The drink is still The Shrugged Off, although we personally took a break from that.
Lesley tells Madeline about Ayn Rand's childhood and her early days in Hollywood. We're drinking a Shrugged Off Cocktail which is vodka, rosemary, lemon juice and St. Germain. This is the first in a two part series.
Madeline tells Lesley about French playwright Moliere! We're drinking Kir Royal with a "fuck it"-- which is a glass of Champagne, a tablespoon of raspberry liqueur, and a splash and apple brandy.
Lesley tells Madeline about famed satirist Jonathan Swift! We're making a Flat White with coffee: 1 part coffee, 1 part Baileys, and 1 part vodka, shaken in a glass.
Madeline tells Lesley about the author of Little Woman and others. We're enjoying a twist on the Bishop's Cocktail, which is 3 parts rum, 1 part red wine and 1 part cranberry cocktail. Enjoy!
Live Show Recording! Lesley tells Madeline about the man who created the Peter Pan mythology, JM Barrie! We're enjoying A Honey Bee Cocktail which is 1 part scotch whiskey, 1 part Bailey's, and a squeeze of honey stirred together.
Madeline tells Lesley about famous chef and memoir author Anthony Bourdain! We're drinking a flight (since we are coving a famous connoisseur of delicious things. Act 1: traditional Negroni. Act 2 traditional Manhattan. Act 3 Burmese cocktail.
Lesley tells Madeline about the most famous talk show host, Oprah Winfrey! We're drinking her favorite, pomegranate martinis!
Madeline tells Lesley about the strange and creepy life of Edgar Allen Poe. We discuss his death while drinking Raven cocktails.
Lesley tells Madeline about the writer of The Haunting of Hill House and the short story The Lottery, Shirley Jackson! We're drinking Shirley Jackson negronis!
Madeline Tells Lesley about Daphane du Maurier, the writer of Rebecca and other stories known as movies by Alfred Hitchcock. We're drinking a new made up cocktail we're calling "Daphane Fleewoods"... maybe.
Lesley tells Madeline all about the demon dog of literature, crime novelist James Ellroy! We're drinking Black Dahlia cocktails created by the Gallery Bar in Los Angeles. Sources include: JamesEllroy.net which lead to several interviewsBritannica profile written by David CalhounNew York Times interview “James Ellroy on his life in crime, his imaginary dog and the need to provoke” by David Marchese Countless YouTube interviews with James EllroyAnd of course, his own autobiographies, My Dark Places and The Hilliker Curse
Madeline tells Lesley about author of In Cold Blood and Breakfast At Tiffany's, Truman Capote. We're drinking... well, you decide! What should we call this strange mixer?
Lesley tells Madeline about poet Pablo Neruda, his work, his involvement in Communism, and if he was possibly murdered by the government! We're drinking Pablo Pisco Punch!
Madeline tells Lesley about the playwright (Pygmalion/My Fair Lady, Mrs. Warren’s Profession) while drinking whiskey sours.
Lesley tells Madeline the history of Lenny Bruce! The grandfather of modern standup comedy. We talk about how we can count him as an author, the artistic merit of his comedy and obscenity trials. Lenny Bruce's appearance on Hugh Hefner's show:https://youtu.be/dh09K-4R69ILenny's infamous arrest joke: https://open.spotify.com/track/1HX4qhS4gmcLaXZkM9dAvt?si=2_uEn6eYRIOp3utVruEYtg
Madeline tells Lesley the history of Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, BFG and James and the Giant Peach! We're drinking chocolate martinis and learning abut his crazy pranks and adult fiction!
Norman Mailer, you're drunk! Lesley tells Madeline about the writer of The Naked and the Dead and is strangely violent and influential life. Here is a clip of his feud with Gore Vidal and that reference on this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8m9vDRe8fw
Madeline tells Lesley the story of ACD, the man who wrote Sherlock Holmes! We enjoy a drink that may or may not have a copyright on it (weird) so we're not mentioning it here!
Lesley tells Madeline about really bizarre history of Mary Shelley while drinking Appletinis. Although she's known for writing Frankenstein, we talk about The Last Man and it's bizarre parallels to the current day pandemic.
Madeline tells Lesley about Ernest Hemingway! We make "Old Man and the Sea Breezes" and talk about A Movable Feast and F. Scott Fritzgerald's penis.
Lesley and Madeline discuss satirist Dorothy Parker! She's known for being extremely witty, and for drinking, so of course she's a great subject for our second episode, get ready to learn about a woman who lived through WWI, the Spanish Flu, the roaring '20s, Great Depression, WWII and the House of Un-American Activities Committee.Also, here's other options for Dorothy Parker themed cocktails https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/9-inventive-gin-cocktails-inspired-by-the-legendary-dorothy-parker/
Madeline and Lesley talk about Oscar Wilde! His lover, his super awesome mom, and of course his writings. Plus, Black Velvet martinis! And the uncensored version of Picture of Dorian Gray!
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