Poorly Explained

Follow Poorly Explained
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Two idiots. One podcast. An endless supply of books. Whats a person to do? Join us, Rebekah Price and Elliott Roberts on our reading adventures as we explain books, summarize plot lines, and do horrible impressions of characters. What can we say? When life gives you literature, explain it poorly.

Poorly Explained


    • Aug 4, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 73 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Poorly Explained with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Poorly Explained

    Terry Brooks: The Sword of Shannara Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 33:56


    Ready to dive into that Shannussy? Then join us tonussy for The Swussy of Shanussy! ...I mean Part 2 of Terry Brooks novel, The Sword of Shannara!!

    Terry Brooks: The Sword of Shannara Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 30:02


    Welcome to Sword of the Rings, home of Bauron and Gnome Gnurses! Introducing Terry Brooks': The Sword of Shannara Part 1!

    Louis Sachar: Holes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2022 24:27


    This podcast is full of holes...looking to be filled.... With wholesome feelings you pervert don't be gross!

    Arthur C. Clarke: 2001: A Space Odyssey

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2022 29:00


    Love God, Kill God, Be God? Its a scifi book about aliens, so which one of these will it be? Join us to find out with Arthur C. Clarke's famous novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey!

    J.M. Barrie: Peter Pan

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2022 24:46


    Bek needs to wash their brain out with soap! Join us for what Bek thought was going to be a wholesome books, but turned into a mass murder full of racism as we roast J.M. Barrie's children's story: Peter Pan!

    Drew Magary: The Hike

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 37:05


    Crab? Crab. We love Crab. Join us for Drew Magary's whiplash novel, The Hike!

    Zen Cho: The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 32:23


    A pretty simp and an emotionally stunted clay man with their bald follower of god? What else can two idiots ask for?? Enjoy Zen Cho's novella: The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water!!!

    Kathryn Lasky: Guardians of Ga'Hoole

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 38:57


    Guess whose (hoo)turn it is to do the episode...again? The good egg of the batch, Elliott comes soaring in to bring you Kathryn Lasky's Guardians of Ga'Hoole!. Sorry for the puns, Bek's feeling a bit peckish!

    Dan Simmons: Hyperion Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 51:41


    We're off to see the Shrike! The wonderful Shrike of Hyperion! Because Because Because we hate everything he does! Join us for the second part of Dan Simmons classic Sci Fi novel, Hyperion!

    Dan Simmons: Hyperion Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2022 36:05


    Elliott's currently favorite book? An entire chapter dedicated to doing the naughty? You enjoying us talk about a sci-fi book with amazing art? Its more likely than you think! Join us for Dan Simmons classic sci-fi novel, Hyperion!

    hyperion dan simmons dan simmons hyperion
    Frank Herbert: Dune Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2021 42:45


    Who was going to tell Bek that Dune is nothing like Tremors, or were they supposed to find out by reading themselves? Join us for the first half of Dune (which is nothing like tremors) by the illustrious Frank Herbert!

    Nghi Vo: The Empress of Salt and Fortune

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2021 34:01


    Suprise! Not the track you thought, but the one you deserve ;) Enjoy the book Bek found by accident, but enjoyed way more thanthey should have! Presenting Nghi Vo's LGBTQ+ novel: The Empress of Salt and Fortune!

    Sheridan Le Fanu: Carmilla

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2021 22:40


    Continuing the theme with the gay vampire, we have THE Lesbian Queen Vampire herself, Carmilla! And she does not disappoint! Listen as Bek simps over the two lesbians learning to love and murder in Sheridan Le Fanu's vampire book (which Bram Stoker's Dracula was based off of), Carmilla!

    S. T. Gibson: A Dowry Of Blood

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2021 39:52


    News flash! Vampires have always been gay! Enjoy the reoccurring guest star read uncomfy sex scenes in their best Count Chocula voice with S. T. Gibson's queer vampire book, A Dowry Of Blood!

    James Patterson: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 29:44


    Were back with the teen novels! And this time there's birds, but who remembers that when we have a early 2000's makeover to talk about! Join us as we flash back to how much we either loved or would have loved this book as middle schoolers with James Patterson's young adult novel, Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment!!

    Elise Kova: A Deal With the Elf King

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 25:12


    Twilight with elves instead of vampires? Its more likely than you think! Join us talk about a girl and her magic wolf! Oh and I guess there's some elves also.... Presenting Elise Kova's A Deal With the Elf King!

    Andy Weir: The Martian

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2021 24:53


    This guy really hates potatoes. JOIN US FOR THE POTATO FILLED BOOK The Martian, by beloved author Andy Weir!

    William Goldman: The Princess Bride

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 20:05


    If only this book had Billy Crystal narrating. Instead we get Elliott's impression of Buttercup. JOIN US! For the classic fantasy comedy novel by William Goldman, The Princess Bride!!!

    Christopher Paolini: Eragon

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 42:00


    Dragons? Oh my my! Join us as we enjoy the first half of the book, the large jelly bean, the nega-dilf, and the one random tidbit about religious lore, then roast the rest in Christopher Paolini's famous first book in the Inheritance series: Eragon!

    Annie Proulx: Brokeback Mountain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 20:59


    We only have three words to say about this book... Guns goin' off. Join us for the game changing book about the gay mens (they exist), Annie Proulx's novella: Brokeback Mountain!

    J. R. R. Tolkien: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 38:28


    We have been around for 50 episodes! Wow! Join us for the big celebration for J. R. R. Tolkien's (or Jolkien Rolkien Rolkien Tolkien as Elliott says)ground breaking fantasy novel, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring!

    Sayaka Murata: Convenience Store Woman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 21:43


    We live in a society! And sometimes all we want in that society is to be a convivence store woman! Join us as we talk about housing incels, and being honest to yourself in Sayaka Murata's stand out novel, Convenience Store Woman!!

    Max Brooks: World War Z

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 25:09


    Yay Zombies! But wait, this isn't anything like the movie? Wait! Its BETTER! Join us as Bek talks about Paul Redeker (more like freaks out, lets be honest), and Elliott hum (as one does), in Max Brooks FANTASTIC novel (and audio book) Minecraft: The Mountain...just kidding! Zombies here we come! Welcome to World War Z!

    Koushun Takami: Battle Royale

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 34:13


    What can we say? This book is better than Hunger Games in our opinion plus, it has a cheese cult classic movie to go along with it! Join us for Koushun Takami's best seller in Japan: Battle Royale!!!

    H. G. Wells: Time Machine

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 28:42


    Time Travel? Children that aren't children?! Giant crabs?!? Futurama?!?! That sure is a lot in a very short episode! Please enjoy H. G. Wells: Time Machine!

    Carl Sagan: Contact

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 26:58


    Alien and science talk galore! We understand neither, but hey, its okay cause the Earth isn't part of the galactic federation! Join us for Carl Sagan's novel: Contact!!

    Neil Gaiman: Stardust

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 28:10


    Bek finally got to do their favorite novel! Not only that, but Elliott gets to listen to them simp about Michelle Pfeiffer...whoops! Anyway, join us as we talk about the sweet boi Tristran and his star lady dom! Introducing Neil Gaiman's novel: Stardust!!

    Anthony Burgess: A Clockwork Orange

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2021 18:32


    A Time Fruit? A Watch Tangerine? A Sundial Clementine? Either way, this book was shorter than expected, written in a not-English English and contained mass amounts of ULTRA-VIOLENCE (so trigger warnings for those who do not know about this book...like Bek...). Presenting Anthony Burgess (least favorite novel he has written): A Clockwork Orange!

    Isaac Asimov: I, Robot

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 46:00


    We have a guest this episode! Please enjoy Kaylee read one quote then give up and let Bekah do it instead while she contemplates the lack of robotic boobs! What can we say, we can help but explain it poorly! Introducing Isaac Asimov's novel that the movie is nothing like: I, Robot (and please know...Will Smith is not in it).

    Marlon James: Black Leopard, Red Wolf

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 38:05


    Happy Black History Month! Pleas enjoy the gay, the mispronunciation, and the entire time of Bekah loving Mossi! Presenting Marlon James's Black Leopard, Red Wolf!

    Fannie Flagg: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2021 35:58


    Bekah finally got to read her gay book. She is very happy, but not as happy as Ruth finally getting to be gay with her butch lover. Join us as we jump around different time frames, mimic the southern accent poorly, and generally simp over the gays in Fannie Flagg's novel: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café!

    Jules Verne: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 42:16


    Elliott spins a tale of a sexy Captain Nemo and Bekah is still waiting for Dory to show up....Join Us as we dive deep underwater where its not always better where its wetter in Jules Verne's famous Novel: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!

    John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 38:21


    Of Shrews and Dudes is what this boils down to as we cry over deaths, talk about meat hair, and get confused by all the "C" names in the famous novel by John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men!

    William Golding: Lord of the Flies

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2020 30:47


    Elliott's voices are so good this episode! Maybe its the fact that its the first time we are recording in four weeks, maybe its because we keep calling it Loord of the Floos.... Join us as we read the classic novel by William Golding: Lord of the Flies!

    Poorly Explained Covid Announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2020 0:38


    Bekah has Covid! Sorry!

    C.S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 33:24


    Is Aslan God? Are the main kids really the children of Adam of Steve? Can lions clap? The world may never know.... Join us considering furry Aslan in C.S. Lewis's novel: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    Philip Pullman: The Golden Compass

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 37:58


    Sir, this is my emotional support bear dad. especially since real dad turned out to be weird. Join us as we hate fictional parents in Philip Pullman's novel and first in the series: The Golden Compass (or The Northern Lights)! You decide!

    Robert Louis Stevenson: Treasure Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 32:06


    The only reason the people who survive in this book survived is because of the smol soft boi, Jim Hawkins! Join us as we explain (with minimal accidental calling of Treasure Planet) Robert Louis Stevenson's novel: Treasure Island!

    Ann Leckie: Ancillary Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 39:19


    Mama Mia! Here we go again with another Hugo Award winning novel and ignoring character names! Presenting Ann Leckie's multiple award winning novel, Ancillary Justice!

    Amish Tripathi: The Immortals of Meluha

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2020 24:45


    Want a short episode to listen to in your bath? The enjoy Bekah cutting out 80% of the dialogue and world building as we talk about Sati and her simp, Shiva! Presenting Amish Tripathi's The Immortals of Meluha!!

    Rick Riordan: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 43:44


    Percy Jackson and the Adults Letting 12 Year-olds Literally go to Hell. That is what this book is about right? Join Elliott and Rebekah as they bring back Batman, talking about cousins dating, and irresponsible adults in Rick Riordan's hit young adult novel: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief!

    Neil Gaiman: Norse Mythology

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 43:14


    God of War taught us how to pronounce these names, but lets be honest, when have we pronounced something correct? Join us in not being able to say Jormungand and talk about how much of a himbo Thor is in Neil Gaiman's series of short stories: Norse Mythology!

    Madeline Miller: The Song of Achilles

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2020 88:57


    Elliott is back at it with some gay bois to fill your need! We ignore names, create head cannons, and (badly) do some Batman impressions! Please enjoy Madeline Miller's The Song of Achilles!

    N. K. Jeminsin: The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth Part 3/3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2020 60:23


    We have made it through our first series and golly gosh gee! Was it a ride! Tune in here for Elliott getting lost in the time line because he forgets Hoa's perspective is in the past! He's almost as confused as our listeners!! Presenting the finale to the Broken Earth Trilogy: N. K. Jeminsin's The Stone Sky!

    N. K. Jemisin: The Obelisk Gate (The Broken Earth Part 2/3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 55:46


    A FIRST IN POORLY EXPLAINED HISTORY! Listen as Elliott and Rebekah get more and more shook as we read the sequel to the Fifth Season and second book in the Broken Earth Series. Presenting N. K. Jemisin's Hugo Award winning book: The Obelisk Gate!!

    N. K. Jemisin: The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth Part 1/3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2020 57:23


    This book was so amazing and so liked by Rebekah and Elliott (who only had Rebekah's poor explanation as a basis) that they both decided to actually finish the whole series! Maybe then Rebekah will be able to remember to say the main character's name correctly for once! Presenting another book by a black author in support of Black Lives Matter: N. K. Jemisin's FANTASTIC novel, The Fifth Season!

    Poorly Explained Episode 26: The Song of Solomon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 44:41


    Elliott and Rebekah are back! And showing their support of the Black Lives Matter movement by reading a book by a black author! So join them in the mass amount of feels and realizing how NOT religious both of them are as they continuously pronounce "Pilate" wrong! Presenting: Toni Morrison's AMAZING novel, The Song of Solomon!

    Poorly Explained Episode 25: Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2020 42:44


    Who would have thought Frankenstein was actually supposed to be hot? And who would have though Elliott would have a spot on impression of Squidward? And who would have though those two occurrences would have became so intertwined during the horrible explanation of Mary Shelly's classic novel: Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus!

    Poorly Explained Episode 24: Dracula

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2020 45:44


    Nothing says vampire like *insert bad Dracula impression her* "Blah Blah Blah!" Elliott and Rebekah tried their hardest with this book, but there is just something about Dracula's peculiarly sharp teeth that got to them. Maybe its the scariness...maybe it is the fact they cant pronounce peculiarly. Join us as we horribly break down the classic novel, Bram Stoker's Dracula!

    Interview With A Vampire

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 50:19


    Just like Dopinder, you are our young Kirsten Dunst to smooth, handsome-faced Brad Pitt, and we are here to give you more...MORE VAMPIRES THAT IS. Enjoy Elliott and Rebekah freak out over the book which is finally embracing the gays in an amazing non-sucky (ha ha) way! Presenting Anne Rice's Novel: Interview With A Vampire!

    Poorly Explained Episode 22: Twilight

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 56:41


    About three things Elliott and Rebekah were absolutely positive. First, this book is a wild take on vampires. Second, there was a part of Rebekah-and she didn’t know how potent that part might be-that still thinks Twilight is entertaining. And third, Elliott unconditionally and irrevocably hated every moment of this episode with a fiery passion. Presenting our horrible take on Stephanie Meyer's best selling novel: Twilight!

    Claim Poorly Explained

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel