Out on a Tangent

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Join Sam and the Youth Services team on a journey through teen literature, fandoms, and more! Sometimes they'll stay on topic, but usually, they'll go out on a tangent.

Youth Services


    • Apr 14, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 91 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Out on a Tangent with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Out on a Tangent

    Episode 91: Historical Hoaxes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 21:53


    Becca talks about some historical hoaxes from the days before the internet.Voting for the Flume and Isinglass awards can be done here: https://flumeisinglass.wordpress.com/Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 90: Women's History Month- Influential Female Authors

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 31:20


    Becca and Cathy talk about some influential female authors and a bit about Doctor Who.

    Episode 89: Weird Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 46:56


    World Wildlife Day was this past week so Becca and Kylie talk about some weird animals, "proper" animal names, and some collective animal nouns.Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 88: Appalachian Mountains- Geology and Folklore

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 22:29


    Becca dives into some of the interesting history of the Appalachian Mountains and the unique folklore from the area.Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 87: Retellings of Shakespeare

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 33:17


    Becca and Leah talk about teen movies inspired by Shakespeare and some books in the collection that retell his plays.

    Episode 86: King Tut and His Curse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 13:16


    Becca talks about King Tutankhamun and his supposed curse. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @merrimacklibnh

    Episode 85: The Chronicles of Narnia and How to Read Them

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 26:48


    Happy New Year! Becca and Cathy debate the order of how to read the Chronicles of Narnia! Visit us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 84: The Nutcracker

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 23:51


    Miss Becca talks about the stories behind The Nutcracker Ballet as well as some fun facts about the ballet and some movies.

    Episode 82: Dinosaur Facts

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 22:08


    Becca brings you some dino facts for Dinovember!!! Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter @merrimacklibnh

    Episode 81: Werewolves Around the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 28:47


    Becca and Cathy talk about werewolves from around the world and a little bit about Twilight. Find us on our socials: Facebook@ Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 80: Vampires Around World

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 44:00


    Becca and Leah talk vampires and extra stuff. Trigger Warning for talk of death, blood, and some other scary stuff. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram @merrimacklibnh

    Episode 79: Pokémon based on Yokai

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 38:30


    Becca and Alyssa talk about Pokémon that are based on Japanese Yokai, and just more fun about Pokémon. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @ Merrimacklibnh

    pok yokai japanese yokai
    Episode 78: Ghost Ships

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 39:38


    Becca and Jenny talk about some spooky ghost ships. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 77: Spies

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 59:31


    Becca and Leah talk historical spies, James Bond, and animal spies as well as some extras. Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Instagram, and Twitter: @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 77: Adventure Stories

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2024 33:41


    Becca and Cathy talk about the origins of the adventure genre and play a version of First In Line with classic adventure stories. Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @ Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 76: Real Life Adventurers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 19:25


    Becca talks about some real life adventurers from the past. Find us on our socials: Facebook@ Merrimack Public Library; Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 75: Lost Cities and Wonderous Places

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 21:45


    Becca talks about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Find us on our socials- Facebook: @Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok: @merrimacklibnh

    Episode 74: Bluey!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 35:04


    Becca and Dina talk about the wonderful show Bluey! Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh

    Episode 73: Summer Reading and Adventurers!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 45:28


    Becca and Leah kick off summer reading with some talk about adventurers in media! Find us on our socials: Facebook:@Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok: @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 72: Coming Out- How Libraries Can Help Teens

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 35:23


    Becca and Dina discuss resources for LGBTQIA+ teens and families as well as some books in the collection. Some resources discussed: Suicide and Crisis Line-988 NAMI's Text Crisis Line- text 741741 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) LGBTQIA Resources- https://www.naminh.org/lgbtqia/ NAMI resource line- 1-800-242-6264 PFLAGNH-https://www.pflagnh.org/ Book Lists- queerbooksforteens.com, ALA's Rainbow Book List- https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/ Find us on our socials- Facebook-Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok- @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 71: Bucket List Books

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 19:43


    Becca goes over some staff picks for must read books for teens and tweens. Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 70: Flume and Isinglass Awards 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 11:10


    Becca goes over the Flume and Isinglass Award nominees for 2024. Voting ends on April 30th. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 69: Great Stone Face Book Award 2023-2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 15:39


    Becca talks about the nominees for this years Great Stone Face book awards and how you can vote on your favorites. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 68: Dealing with Stress

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 39:07


    Join Becca and Jenny as they do a listener request all about dealing with stress. Find us on our socials: Facebook@ Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 67: Fairytales and Folklore

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 20:07


    Becca and Cathy talk about the differences between fairy tales and folklore and a little history behind them as well. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Instagram, and X (Twitter) @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 66: Black History Month

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 36:11


    Join Becca and Cathy as they talk about some Black Authors and stories this month! Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 65: Lunar New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 26:10


    Dina and Becca talk about Lunar New Year and the Chinese Zodiac. Find us on our socials: Facebook: @Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter (X), and Tiktok: @merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 64: YA Dystopian Novels

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 43:20


    Becca and Cathy talk Young Adult Dystopian novels. Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Twitter (X), Instagram, and Tiktok @ Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    dystopian novels
    Episode 63: One Star Review Guess Who

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 11:05


    Becca does a round of one star review guess who. Find us on: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 62: Holiday Foods

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2023 46:16


    Join Becca and Michelle for a look at some holiday food history. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok @MerrimackLibNH --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 61: Winter and Holiday Cryptids

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2023 44:15


    Becca and Michelle talk about Winter and Holiday monsters. Content warning: we talk about death. Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 60: Thanksgiving Foods

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2023 43:37


    Becca and Michelle talk about some Thanksgiving staples and where they come from and why we eat them. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @ Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 59: Dinovember!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 38:24


    Dina joins Becca as she raves about dinosaurs! Also Becca Quizzes Dina about some famous dinosaurs. Becca's favorite dinosaur is a stegosaurus. What's yours? Follow along on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok @ Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    dinovember
    Episode 58: Ghosts!!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2023 43:49


    Becca and Jenny talk about some local ghosts and haunted locations as well as a quiz about some famous ghosts in pop culture. Trigger Warning: there are mentions of suicide in this podcast. Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; and Instagram, Tiktok, and Twitter @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 57: Inanimate Horror

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 29:11


    Becca and Jenny talk about inanimate objects in horror media. What's your favorite? Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Tiktok, Twitter, and Instagram @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 56: History of Puppetry Part 2- Pop Culture Puppets

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 51:18


    Becca and Michelle talk about puppets in pop culture and Becca even gets quizzed. Find us on our socials: Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @ Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 55: History of Puppetry part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2023 33:06


    Becca and Michelle talk about the intriguing history of puppets and what they are around the world. Tell us your favorite puppet on: Facebook @MerrimackPublicLibrary; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 54: Graphic Novels are REAL reading.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 21:05


    Becca and Cathy talk about why graphic novels are important and useful for readers. Come check out our socials to continue the conversation. We're on Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, X (Twitter), and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh; and our website: www.merrimacklibrary.org --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 53: Nimona

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 31:21


    Dina and Becca talk about both the graphic novel and the movie of Nimona. Spoiler Warning!! We do talk about some of the main differences and there will be spoilers!! Tell us what you think about either the graphic novel, the movie, or both over on our socials! Find us: www.merrimacklibrary.org; Facebook @ MerrimackPublicLibrary; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Episode 52: First In Line

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 40:28


    Becca quizzes Jenny on the first line of books. Can you figure out which books they are? Fine us on our socials: Facebook @MerrimackPublicLibrary; and our Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Summerween 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2023 22:11


    Michelle and Becca talk about some New Hampshire cryptids and spooky stuff for a little mid-summer Halloween vibes. Find us on our Facebook @MerrimackPublicLibrary; and on our Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Summer Camp

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 21:47


    Becca and Cathy talk about summer camps in books, movies, and their own experiences with camps! Find us on our socials: Facebook @Merrimack Public Library; Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @Merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Summer Reading 2023: All Together Now

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 27:17


    Becca and Jenny talk about the summer reading program and events happening this year and how you can join in! All Together Now!! Find us on our socials: Facebook @MerrimackPublicLibrary and on Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok @ merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Let's Go Mario

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2023 29:54


    Mario Trivia with Jenny and Becca @merrimacklibnh on twitter, tiktok, and instagram Merrimack Public Library on facebook www.merrimacklibrary.org --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Disney: Live Action vs. Animation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2023 37:30


    Becca and Jenny discuss whether they like or dislike the live action remakes of some Disney movies or whether the animation is better. Which ones do they feel did well, failed, or whether a remake should have been done at all. Find us on Facebook @ Merrimack Library and on Tiktok, Twitter and Instagram @merrimacklibnh --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Superheroes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 36:33


    Becca and Cathy talk their favorite superheroes and how they consume super hero related media. Becca quizzes Cathy on her super hero knowledge. Find us at- merrimacklibnh on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok; and at Merrimack Public Library on Facebook. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Dungeons and Dragons

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2023 24:39


    Becca and Cathy talk Dungeons and Dragons monsters inspired by the new movie. Find us on our socials: Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram @merrimacklibnh Facebook @ Merrimack Public Library --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    What makes a villain with Jenny and Stefanie!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 42:56


    Today we dive into villains. Something we could spend hours on. Who are your favorite villains? Who chills you to your core? Who do you love to hate? Who do you hate to love? Let us know! Learn what makes a good villain here Here and here were lists we referenced in making this! What do you want to hear about next? Let us know! Twitter: @merrimacklibnh TikTok: @Merrimacklibnh Instagram: @Merrimacklibnh Facebook: Merrimack Public Library --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Real and Fakery Pocahontas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 32:10


    Focusing more on Pocahontas 2 and what Disney STILL got wrong. Here are some fast Pocahontas facts. https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/the-true-story-behind-disneys-pocahontas https://ictnews.org/archive/true-story-pocahontas-historical-myths-versus-sad-reality https://historicjamestowne.org/history/pocahontas/ https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/pocahontas --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/youth-services/message

    Fact and Fakery in the movie "Anastasia"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2022 23:44


    Do you love Fox's 1997 movie Anastasia? Do you hate it? "Journey to the Past" to find out what the movie got right, what the movie got wrong, and what got left out entirely. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/youth-services/message

    Sampling Flume and Isinglass with Jenny

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 23:21


    Jenny takes you through some books on the long list for 2024 books! There is only ONE WEEK LEFT to nominate your books for the 2024 shortlist for the two NH Teen Book Awards! New Hampshire teens in grades 7-12, teachers, and librarians can nominate books they are (or they know teens are) enjoying. Fiction and Non-fiction titles are accepted. Nominated books must have been published no earlier than September 2021 to be eligible for the 2024 award. If the book you'd like to nominate is part of a series, it must be able to stand alone, meaning the reader doesn't need to have read other books in the series to understand what is going on. To nominate a title, please fill out the form below. Currently, nominated titles will be considered for the 2024 Flume and Isinglass Awards. Nominations will be accepted through December 9, 2022. Isinglass books are books for students in 7th and 8th grade. Flume Books are for 9th-12th grade. You can find where to nominate by using the link HERE Or follow the address below: https://forms.gle/HKQgFVp18HqLoogX6 To see current nominations or to give your input on books currently nominated: Click here! Or visit https://flumeisinglass.wordpress.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/youth-services/message

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