"Call Your Girlfriend" for nerds. Two long-time, long-distance friends chat about books, movies, and tv shows they liked—or didn't.
We wrap up our recap/analysis of the simply amazing Broken Earth Trilogy in this episode. If you recall, we reviewed book 1 of the trilogy in Season 1 of our show. If you already listened to that episode, you might just want to skip ahead to around 18 minutes, where we get into books 2 and 3. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We're not into superheroes, and we're not apologizing for that. But we did like Wandavision! If you want a take on the show that's not just a black hole of convoluted Marvel nonsense, listen in. At about 48 minutes, we somehow arrive at a discussion of Disney, the total artwork, utopia, and capitalism. If want to learn more, here's a chapter from a book about Disney and the total artwork (PDF). Or if podcasts are more your speed, here's one on Disney's utopian ambitions. And, if your curiosity's piqued by our convo about philanthropy and the social improvement fantasies of the ultrarich, you might find season 2 of Vox's Future Perfect a stimulating listen. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. (It was Agatha all along!) CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
Sex, drugs, and... chess??? Why yes, it's The Queen's Gambit. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. Also, this was recorded in February 2021, so... we say some not timely things. Sue us. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We're really into German tv, apparently. This time, we try to explain the extremely complex but very rewarding Babylon Berlin. Based on a series of mystery books, the show goes well beyond the source material in ways that are really satisfying. There's 3 seasons on Netflix, but we just get into the first two. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. But this show is so complicated, we're really doing you a favor. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
More Harry Potter! In this episode, we dive into the second book in the series, exploring, among other topics, the nonsense that is the (still wholly lovable) character of Dobby, hence this episode's nickname: "Probs with Dobbs." We do want to state up front that we do not agree with the transphobic statements of J.K. Rowling or support her in any way. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. But lol if you don't know what happens in Harry Potter at this point. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We're not really that into horror. We'd like to be, but we're fraidy cats. But we were brave and watched Netflix's The Haunting of Bly Manor. And it was so worth it! DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We love this mind-blowing German sci-fi show even though it also kinda hurts our heads. If you're a Dark fan, join us as we try to untie the knot of interdimensional time travel that is this crazy show. If you're not a Dark fan, you're wrong, and you need to leave now and go watch the show because none of this will make any sense and also we spoil all the plot twists and endings. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We like books. We like ladies in politics. What has both? Curtis Sittenfeld's Rodham. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
Look, we're noobs, ok? A week-by-week Westworld Season 3 recap was perhaps too ambitious. In this episode, we cut to the chase. TLDR (or listen, as the case may be): Season 3 was great. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We read books too! This week we review two recent reads: one fiction and one nonfiction. In the fiction corner is N.K. Jemisin's genius The Fifth Season. And in the nonfiction corner is Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
Whatever your excuse, if you're only just now getting around to watching Westworld Season 3, join us for a recap and analysis of episodes 2 and 3. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We like Westworld! And there's a new season! Or there was in March 2020 when we recorded this. It's been a year. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers not just for this particular episode of Westworld but for the series as a whole. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
Our shared nerdery for the wizarding world is part of what inspired us to do this podcast! In this episode, we take a deep dive into the first book of the series to try understand what makes it so great and also why are there so many freaking knuts in a sickle?? DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. But lol if you don't know what happens at this point. NOTES: The Hogwarts sorting quiz we mention in this episode, and which we consider definitive, can be found in this 2017 TIME article. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
Do you love the movie Arrival? Because we do! We nerd about this beautiful film, compare it to the short story on which it is based, and delve into a little of the psychology, ethics, and metaphysics of it all. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. NOTES: We bring up the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, so if you're curious about it and want to read a good explanation of the hypothesis in relation to Arrival, check out this Smithsonian article. CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson
We talk about one of our favorite shows: Russian Doll, created by the amazing Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, and Amy Poehler. Also, we chat about why more tv should be written by women and the woes of life in the peak tv era. DISCLAIMER: There ARE spoilers. If you don't want Russian Doll spoiled, don't listen. Also, this is our very first baby podcast episode and the audio is... not great. We're sorry! We're learning! Thank you for being our guinea pigs. NOTES: We briefly discuss a distinction between science fiction and fantasy attributed to Mike Mearls in this article by Andrew Ervin on LitHub. We couldn't remember where we'd read this while recording, so we're putting the reference here! CREDITS: Music - "Spilled Milk" by Scott Kubie and Jon Peterson