The Book Pile

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Want to learn about books without actual books? Ever wish non-fiction could be shorter, funnier, and less accurate? Check out The Book Pile, a podcast where comedians tell you about books so you never have to read. (Now including fiction!) Kellen does standup. Dave writes ads. Together they highlight lessons from the world’s best books, unhampered by things like “expertise" or “sponsors."

Kellen Erskine and David Vance


    • Apr 25, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 228 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Book Pile podcast is an absolute delight for book lovers and comedy enthusiasts alike. Hosted by Kellen Erskine and Dave Vance, this podcast brings a unique blend of witty humor and intelligent book discussions to the forefront. I stumbled upon this podcast after listening to Kellen on another show, and I am so glad I did. The chemistry between these two hosts is undeniable, making each episode entertaining from start to finish. I find myself eagerly awaiting the release of new episodes and tuning in whenever I need a good laugh.

    One of the best aspects of The Book Pile podcast is the range of books they cover. While they do tend to focus on YA fantasy and non-fiction, as mentioned in one of the reviews, it would be interesting to hear their take on other genres such as literary classics or more adult fiction. Their choices are always thoughtfully selected, providing listeners with a diverse selection of books to explore. Additionally, their ability to combine comedy with insightful analysis sets this podcast apart from others in the genre. They strike a perfect balance between describing a book enough to pique interest while leaving room for readers to discover the story themselves.

    As for any potential drawbacks, it seems that some listeners may desire a broader range of book genres covered by the hosts. While their focus on YA fantasy and non-fiction works well for many listeners, there may be those who are looking for discussions on different types of literature. However, this is simply a matter of personal preference and doesn't detract from the overall quality of the podcast.

    In conclusion, The Book Pile podcast is an absolute gem for anyone who loves books and comedy. Kellen Erskine's standup background brings an element of improvisation and quick wit to each episode, while Dave Vance's expertise as a writer shines through in his insightful commentary. Together, they create a dynamic duo that consistently delivers laughs and thought-provoking discussions about literature. Whether you're a bookworm looking for book recommendations or someone who appreciates intelligent humor, this podcast is a must-listen.



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    Latest episodes from The Book Pile

    Permission to Feel, by Marc Brackett

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 33:35


    SUMMARY: If you like James Bond, Hunger Games, Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings, you will LOVE this spy thriller! We know the cover looks like a therapy book, but it's not! It has action and comedy and romance, not therapy that is good for you. Come listen to this gripping caper, which is not a therapy book. You don't have to worry about your feelings in this fun popcorn book. It's not a therapy book. Hit play.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!APR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan.

    Chesterton's Gateway, by Ethan Nicolle WITH GUEST Ethan Nicolle!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2025 33:52


    Have you heard of GK Chesterton? (No he's not that cheese-puff cat).WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!APR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile

    A SECOND LOOK AT: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 30:33


    SUMMARY: This episode has everything you could hope for. Conspiracy theories. Hermione exoneration. And a rat who turns out to be a murderer. (Who knew Harry Potter was a sequel to 1300s Europe?) (It's funny because the most devastating event imaginable happened many years ago.) (Your subconscious sense of humor deems the past to be intrinsically less worthy of empathy.) We hope you enjoy!WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!MAR 28 Bakersfield, CAAPR 2-4 St Pete, Clearwater, & Delray Beach, FLAPR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan.

    Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 27:31


    SUMMARY: Fight Club is a story with one of the most famous twist endings in book and movie history (they find out violence is good...) But before it was a hit movie, did you know it was also a disgusting book? Join Kellen and Dave as they complain about this well-written book they both kind of hate.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!MAR 16 New Bremen, OHMAR 20 PittsburghMAR 28 Bakersfield, CAAPR 2-4 St Pete, Clearwater, & Delray Beach, FLAPR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan.

    The Body, by Bill Bryson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 24:32


    SUMMARY: (A Dave and Kellen episode!) This book is full of incredible trivia about the human body, beautifully and hilariously written. For instance, did you know that every one of your organs is being played by a tiny little Phantom of the Opera? When your stomach is rumbling, that's him telling Christine to “Sing, angel!” If you release gas as you sleep, that's simply the music of the night! Fun.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!MAR 16 New Bremen, OHMAR 20 PittsburghMAR 28 Bakersfield, CAPR 2-4 St Pete, Clearwater, & Delray Beach, FLAPR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: Excellent Advice for Living, by Kevin Kelly

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 30:50


    SUMMARY: Enjoy a digitally-remastered edit of one of our favorite episodes, where the author shares exactly what the book is called. Plus, Dave tells a story about being accidentally cool at a wedding, and Dave disagrees with a brilliant plan that Kellen has for safe combat with burglars...WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!MAR 16 New Bremen, OHMAR 20 PittsburghMAR 28 Bakersfield, CAPR 4 Delray Beach, FLAPR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 33:51


    SUMMARY: What if Pride and Prejudice were spooky? What if Mr. Darcy were less handsome, but also more abominable? What if instead of four sisters, Lizzie had no parents and a best friend who dies of tuberculosis? If you love Jane Austen, you'll love this book, assuming you can get on board with some stuff. Today's novel is the incomparable Jane Eyre. Though I guess it can be comparable to Pride and Prejudice.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!MAR 16 New Bremen, OHMAR 20 PittsburghMAR 28 Bakersfield, CAAPR 4 Delray Beach, FLAPR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 26:16


    SUMMARY: The typical human lifespan is in the neighborhood of 4,000 weeks. That is an extremely precious, finite, and dwindling amount of life. It gives all of us urgent reason to (while we still can) take advantage of the Taco Bell 5 Dollar Taco Discovery Box deal. How would you live differently if you knew this was your last day to spend time with loved ones, work on a passion project, or eat a Doritos Locos Taco with a medium fountain drink (including the Baja Blast)?On this episode hear Dave's beautiful cigarette analogy, plus Kellen wishes that we had more inventions but fewer expectations...WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ON TOUR!FEB 1 MilwaukeeFEB 7-8 Youngstown, OHMAR 16 New Bremen, OHMAR 20 PittsburghMAR 28 Bakersfield, CAAPR 4 Delray Beach, FLAPR 25-26 IndianaMAY 9-10 DallasMAY 17 St Charles, ILFor tickets go to KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    How to Read 100 Books This Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 16:00


    SUMMARY: Whether you want to read 100 books this year, or even just 87, Kellen has some tips for how to succeed--and he's strategically waited 3 weeks into January so that he could get a head start before you.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL "NEGATIVE COMMENTS" ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237s-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance (who will be back next week): his videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Everybody Lies, by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 24:55


    SUMMARY: To celebrate this book about dishonesty, we're gonna test how well you know Kellen and Dave with a game of two truths and a lie. You ready? See if you know us well enough to pass the quiz.1. Statement 2 is false.2. Statement 3 is true.3. Statement 1 is false.Alright, we'll see which of you are superfans!WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL "NEGATIVE COMMENTS" ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237s-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Our Favorite Books of 2024!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 38:11


    SUMMARY: Our best books this year had everything: Murder! Therapy! Lyndon B. Johnson! The three elements of good literature. Come join us as we review our favorite books of the year. Happy New Year, and thanks for listening to The Book Pile! We really appreciate it. See you in 2025!WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237s-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpBuy any of the books (the BEST books!) mentioned in this episode and support the podcast at the same time! Just click below! In no order, they are:A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towleshttps://amzn.to/3DOeiAcPermission to Feel,   Marc Brackett Ph.D.https://amzn.to/49YI0i2Here One Moment, Liane Moriartyhttps://amzn.to/4gPRAGVWhat Alice Forgot, Liane Moriartyhttps://amzn.to/40eKo13Dead Men Scare Me Stupid, John Swartzwelderhttps://amzn.to/40fOIx9Mexican Gothic, Silvia Moreno-Garciahttps://amzn.to/40dlK0xThe Body, Bill Bryson Tchaikovskyhttps://amzn.to/3Pga9rqA Short History of Nearly Everything, Bill Brysonhttps://amzn.to/3BSwZlVThe Years of Lyndon Johnson (book 1 of 4), Robert Carohttps://amzn.to/3BSA1GP Children of Time, Adrian Tchaikovsky https://amzn.to/3DLBLSBThe Very Persistent Gappers of Frip, George Saunders https://amzn.to/3PfNIT44000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, Oliver Burkemanhttps://amzn.to/3VZ9pusThe Great Mental Models (book 1 of 4)https://amzn.to/41QsfI7  Raising Emotionally Strong Boys, David Thomashttps://amzn.to/40cY24MAdult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, Lindsay C. Gibson PsyDhttps://amzn.to/3DyRkx3Bea Wolf, Zach Wienersmithhttps://amzn.to/4gBW1opSlaughterhouse-Five the Graphic Novel, Kurt Vonnegut & Ryan Northhttps://amzn.to/4gBQPkmEichmann in Jerusalem, Hannah Arendt https://amzn.to/3VWGUO4The Creative Act: A Way of Being, Rick Rubinhttps://amzn.to/49V2VCJThe Nutshell Technique, Jill Chamberlainhttps://amzn.to/40hcpoNZen in the Art of Writing, Ray Bradburyhttps://amzn.to/3VZa0wcLive From New Yorkhttps://amzn.to/3VZe8wcTo Hold Up The Sky, Cixin Luihttps://amzn.to/4iYk9mLQuiet, Susan Cainhttps://amzn.to/3Pif1MLThe Elephant in the Brainhttps://amzn.to/3DBgwTHWhen Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithihttps://amzn.to/4a12SVPA Heart that Works, Rob Delaneyhttps://amzn.to/3Wo9BUzTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he

    Re-Issue: A Christmas Carol (with an EVEN NEWER introduction for 2024!)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 21:48


    Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (#114)  that we dug up from 2022 (now with an even newer intro full of public-domain Christmas music!) Listen to Dave whisper laugh! Hear Kellen disagree with Dave's habit of walking out of movies! Notice how Kellen tries to defend himself against what appears to be a an unequal luggage-packing relationship with his wife...JOIN OUR PATREON to get in free to any of Kellen's comedy shows in 2025!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Dave's graphic novel escape room: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers, and check out any or all of these fun British narrators!Tim Curry:https://amzn.to/41NI823Patrick Stewart:https://amzn.to/3VNQfYjHugh Grant:https://amzn.to/41NIqWH

    Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 29:04


    SUMMARY: We live in a society inundated by endless sources of entertainment and cheap dopamine. In today's book, Anna Lembke discusses how we can respond to such dangers, like, for instance, a pool table. Friend, either you're closing your eyes to a situation you do not wish to acknowledge, or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated by the presence of a pool table in your community.Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right hereI say, trouble right here in River CityWhy, sure, I'm a billiard playerCertainly mighty proud I sayI'm always mighty proud to say itI consider that the hours I spendWith a cue in my hand are goldenHelp you cultivate horse senseAnd a cool hеad and a keen eyeJ'evеr take and try to findAn iron-clad leave for yourselfFrom a three-rail billiard shot?But just as I sayIt takes judgment, brains, and maturity to scoreIn a balkline gameI say that any boob can takeAnd shove a ball in a pocketAnd I call that slothThe first big step on the roadTo the depths of deg-ra-day--I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoonThen beer from a bottle!An' the next thing ya knowYour son is playin' for moneyIn a pinch-back suitAnd list'nin to some big out-a-town jasperHearin' him tell about horse-race gamblin'Not a wholesome trottin' race, no!But a race where they set down right on the horse!Like to see some stuck-up jockey boySettin' on Dan Patch? Make your blood boil?Well, I should sayNow, friends, lemme tell you what I meanYa got one, two, three, four, five, six pockets in a tablePockets that mark the diff'renceBetween a gentlemen and a bumWith a capital "B,"And that rhymes with "P" and that stands for pool!WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237s-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Kellen Crams to Get His 100 Books Read by The End of The Year!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 22:51


    SUMMARY: Kellen is behind on his reading, and he needs your help! (Sounds like a Saturday morning PBS cartoon...). Kellen gives a rundown of most of the books he's read so far this year; also he has an idea for a very classy author name; and at around the 15-minute mark he quits recording for a full day to recover from starting to lose his voice in real time (and--if you catch when it happens--it sounds like a miracle), and through the magic of editing, he picks it up right where he left off and you don't have to hear his vocal chords slowly die after that.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237s-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

    A 2nd LOOK AT: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 39:22


    SUMMARY: It's been 3 years so we gave this book "another go" as they say in non-American English speaking countries, like Wizard Land.  Today we cover the second Harry Potter, which managed to improve on the original, and is also – no offense – the only book you could get rid of without changing anything important. Don't be mad, but if the series just went straight from Sorcerer's Stone to Prisoner of Azkaban, you basically wouldn't know any better. You'd just have to be like, “By the way, Hagrid has a new job, and here's Ron's sister.” Look, don't shoot the messenger.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN DES MOINES THIS WEEK, Dec 6-7! For tickets go to:KellenErskine.com-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 24:04


    SUMMARY: When you hear a story, do you lose interest after like 5 minutes? Then you will LOVE short stories, a new thing we invented. Today's book is a short story collection by Ray Bradbury, who realized that anything counts as sci-fi if you take a normal story and just put it on Mars. Plus, Kellen has planned out a very unexpected last day on Earth, and Dave uncovers a deceptive photograph.WATCH KELLEN'S NEW COMEDY SPECIAL ON YOUTUBE!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpBt0W1zrDU&t=1237sKELLEN ERSKINE IS IN ALASKA THIS WEEK Nov 26 - 29! Go to KellenErskine.com for tickets-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dpTHE HOSTS!-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    THE ROAST OF: The Spy Who Loved Me, by Ian Fleming

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 25:09


    SUMMARY: This is a James Bond book without James Bond, a love story without love, and a spy story without spying. The only person who's unaware of all this is the author, Ian Fleming, AKA the only person feminists beg to please write fewer female characters. KELLEN ERSKINE IS IN CHICAGO THIS WEEK Nov 22-23! Go to KellenErskine.com for tickets-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    The Best Christmas Pageant Ever WITH GUEST Dallas Jenkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 33:30


    SUMMARY: An Americana small-town Christmas pageant gets hijacked by kids from the other side of the tracks, but it all works out (or this would be a very different genre). Kellen is joined by Dallas Jenkins who directed and co-wrote the movie (currently IN THEATERS and at 90% on Rottentomatoes!)KELLEN ERSKINE IS PERFORMING IN CARLSBAD (close to San Diego) THIS WEEK! Nov 16th! Go to KellenErskine.com for tickets-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-If you want to read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book!https://amzn.to/40KmkDK-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-Dallas Jenkins is the creator/writer/director of the worldwide phenomenon of a TV showThe Chosen. He is also other things, but if we listed them all his paragraph would be longer than Kellen's.

    Yes Please, by Amy Poehler

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 31:43


    SUMMARY: Dave and Kellen take another dive into the great Amy Poehler's (SNL, Baby Momma, Parks and Recreation) memoir. Also Dave is terrible at comforting people and Kellen rants about actors' award speeches.KELLEN ERSKINE IS IN PROVO & SALT LAKE CITY THIS WEEK! Nov 7th (Provo) then 8-9 (SLC) go to KellenErskine.com for tickets-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-If you want to read Yes Please and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book!https://amzn.to/4e9O0oM-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    A 2nd LOOK AT: Range, by David Epstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 27:06


    SUMMARY: Do you ever make a books podcast, and start with your favorite books? But unfortunately, your first episodes are also when you're the worst at podcasting? So years later you revisit those books to do a better job? That's what this is! Today we cover a book about cultivating interests in a lot of different fields. It's great.-If you want to read Range and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book!https://amzn.to/3Yi0V3i-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    11/22/63 by Stephen King, OUR 200th EPISODE!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 30:51


    SUMMARY: The events from the date of today's book title are part of a long-running joke on the podcast, so we thought it would be funny to cover this novel for our 200th episode...-If you want to read 11/22/63 and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book!https://amzn.to/47GoS7j-Get two free tickets to any of Kellen's live shows in 2024-2025 by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 24:56


    SUMMARY: Enjoy this throwback episode from September 2022 when we covered the oldest book on the podcast thus far (though the book with the oldest people is probably still Twilight...). Learn the value of surprise as Kellen startles Dave in real time, and bask in Dave's glory as he recounts winning at board games and also possibly saving someone's life (but he's still a nerd because of the board games...). -If you want to read or listen to The Art of War and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book!https://amzn.to/4gFuBi7-Listen to the audio album of Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"! Available by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-OR watch Kellen's new comedy special here! Use promo code KELLENERSKINEhttps://www.drybarcomedy.com/kellenerskine-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    THE LIVE ROAST OF Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday, by Alan Dean Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 25:23


    SUMMARY: Today we cover a Transformers book that is “more than meets the eye." Unless your eye looked at the book and was like, “It seems bad,” in which case, yeah, it's pretty much what met your eye. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this live episode! And thank you to the Autobots for protecting Earth. Next time please do it in a more interesting way.-If you want to read Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! (But we actually don't highly recommend this book...)https://amzn.to/3MEEoXU-Listen to the audio album of Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"! Available by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin, with GUEST Zoltan Kaszas!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 39:24


    Zoltan Kaszas joins the podcast to discuss unshaven music guru Rick Rubin's  humble and surprisingly deep book about making art (the "surprisingly" is just based shallowly on Rick Rubin's looks).-Listen to the audio album of Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"! Available by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPileSee us LIVE in Los Angeles (adjacent...) on Sep 6th! Tickets here!https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kellen-erskine-stand-up-comedy-the-book-pile-podcast-tickets-952036465697?aff=WebsiteTo buy The Creative Act  (or listen to it for free as a first time subscriber!) AND support the podcast, click here!https://amzn.to/4cOu3Dm-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-Zoltan Kaszas (from his website): "I filmed a Dry Bar Comedy Special “Cat Jokes” in 2017 that went viral and helped build me an audience of crazy cat lovers. Then I bombed on America's Got Talent and vowed to one day burn down NBC. I followed that up with my latest hour “Modern Male” which I posted on YouTube at the start of the pandemic because the record company I had been working with wasn't responding to my emails about it's release. It currently has 3.1 million views…  Oh and the record company promptly got back to me."

    Re-Issue: THE ROAST OF The Da Vinci Code

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 32:19


    What's better than uncovering the mysteries of history? MAKING UP history so that it fits into a clue-based adventure!-Listen to the audio album of Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"! Available by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPileOR WATCH his new special here for free with promo code KELLENERSKINEhttps://www.drybarcomedy.com/kellenerskineSee The Book Pile LIVE in Los Angeles (adjacent...) on Sep 6th! Tickets here! (OR Join the Patreon and get in for free!)https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kellen-erskine-stand-up-comedy-the-book-pile-podcast-tickets-952036465697?aff=Website-Listen to next week's book before we talk about it!The Creative Act, by Rick Rubinhttps://amzn.to/3WZ9vlv-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    THE ROAST OF: The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 37:47


    Look. It's just possibly the worst book we've ever read. This is the maddest you'll ever hear us.-Listen to the audio album of Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"! Available by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPileSee us LIVE in Los Angeles (adjacent...) on Sep 6th! Tickets here!https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kellen-erskine-stand-up-comedy-the-book-pile-podcast-tickets-952036465697?aff=Website-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: Enlightenment Now + NEWS about Kellen's newest comedy special!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 27:25


    -Listen to the audio album of Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"! Available by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPileSUMMARY: The world is probably a better place than it ever has been to live in. Don't believe that? Are you calling Steven Pinker's 700 page book a liar?-If you want to read Enlightenment Now and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/3YGrYFU-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 30:32


    -Listen to the audio album of Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"! Available by joining The Book Pile's Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPileSUMMARY: Look, we know. The internet has made an ABUNDANCE of Cthulhu content. You have Cthulhus out the wazoo. How could a podcast about Cthulhus possibly satisfy you, or add something new to the Cthulhu conversation? Look, please just listen to this Cthulhu episode. We worked really hard on it. Plus Kellen had a nightmare about an animals you'll never forget, and Dave retells this book from a different character's perspective...-If you want to read The Call of Cthulhu and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/3MhCn3L-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 200 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: Goodnight Moon with guest Chad Daniels

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 33:23


    With a new intro where we announce a live episode recording in Los Angeles (on 9/6/24)!With a new, smoother overall edit to our conversation, today we revisit an episode from 2022 where we break down Goodnight Moon with Chad Daniels who just released his first Netflix stand-up special Empty Nester.They boys talk about how it's hard to have a "good night" when your child is kicking you in your own bed; Kellen has a pitch for a fun demonic toy; Dave brings up the weird, dark backstory behind the author; and Chad brings up a dark salsa commercial from the 90's (do you know the one?)-JOIN OUR PATREON for bonus episodes and the audio from Kellen's new 30-minute comedy special "Negative Comments"!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-If you want to read Goodnight Moon and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/3ylAzDk-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 150 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World, by Matt Parker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 15:22


    Math is boring unless it ends in a disaster, right? Maybe? Well it doesn't matter how YOU feel about it, bad things happen and math is always to blame.This book proves it (even if it's not what the author intended).*JOIN OUR PATREON for bonus episodes and full audio of KELLEN'S NEW HALF-HOUR COMEDY SPECIAL!!! Listen to "Negative Comments" now!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*If you want to read/listen to Humble Pi and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/4cUrRLkClick here if you want to prepare for a near-future episode when we cover The Call of Cthulu by H.P. Lovecraft!https://amzn.to/46k004I *Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

    The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 27:11


    Have you considered letting the pressure off yourself to be someone you're not in order to feel truer belonging and inner peace? Brown encourages authenticity (*unless you're a big dumb jerk, then you should pretend to be a smart nice person) in a world that pushes unattainable expectations.*Kellen added this part-JOIN OUR PATREON for bonus episodes and exclusive clips of Kellen's stand up!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile-If you want to read/listen to The Gifts of Imperfection and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/3WdLaIr-Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp-Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 150 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com-David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Indistractable by Nir Eyal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 13:15


    Want to be more productive? Want to eliminate wasteful distractions from your day? Want to read the word "Indistractable" dozens and dozens and dozens of times? Then you're going to indistractably love this indistractable book called, Indistractable!*JOIN OUR PATREON for bonus episodes and exclusive clips of Kellen's stand up!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*If you want to read/listen to Indistractable and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/3XW7EQE*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

    The Devil's Candy by Julie Salamon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 34:28


    Wrong way: read books about making good movies.Right way: read books about making a bad movie, and then don't do that.This book tells the story of a historic box office flop, Bonfire of the Vanities. (It is historic in the sense that someone wrote a book about it.) Hear us make fun of the people who made it! Even though they seem very talented!*JOIN OUR PATREON for bonus episodes and exclusive clips of Kellen's stand up!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*If you want to read/listen to The Devil's Candy and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/45LA6GK*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Swan Song, by Robert R. McCammon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 22:24


    A magic girl (barely), a sociopath boy who thinks he's a knight, a strong guy who got fired from wrestling, and a bad guy with a mouth where his ear should be but only sometimes, I know this sounds made up . . . and it is, it's all made up in this book. Also there's an apocalypse, but that was probably obvious.*JOIN OUR PATREON for bonus episodes and exclusive clips of Kellen's stand up!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*If you want to read/listen to Swan Song and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/3xdTVd7*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 30:20


    Okay, we know there are many political controversies surrounding Elon Musk. But if you can, just try to clear your mind and approach this episode without prejudice. Wait, don't clear your mind that much! That was all your memories! Quick, sweetie, tell me what year it is! Do you know who the president is?! Try to remember, please! PLEASE!!*JOIN OUR PATREON for bonus episodes and exclusive clips of Kellen's stand up!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*If you want to read/listen to Elon Musk and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/3KFHIRC*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024 36:17


    Interestingly, this is also the title of the world's saddest and shortest autobiography.Also on this episode, Kellen and Dave pitch a much better sequel to Jurassic Park.*JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*If you want to read/listen to Catching Fire and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/3VjtZGc*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: The Return of the King

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 28:15


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (originally episode #92)  that we dug up and polished from July of 2022! Dave brings up Sauron's oversight on Mt. Doom; Kellen thinks Frodo fell short; Dave first asks the question "What would you do if there were no consequences?" then promptly makes fun of Kellen's answer and never answers it himself (so clearly he would have failed the Fellowship).*If you want to read/listen to The Return of the King  AND support the podcast at the same time, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/3V7BDDe*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 26:40


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Picture a bird. Pretty cool, right? Now open your eyes. There's another bird by that bird. I bet you feel so racist.Anyway, Bird by Bird is a beautifully written, witty, unpretentious book about writing. *If you want to read/listen to this Bird by Bird and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/4akxRei*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: The Big Short

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 22:24


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (originally episode #84)  that we dug up and polished from May of 2022!The Big Short is a little nostalgic jaunt back into the greatest financial collapse of our lifetimes. Also on this episode, the duo discuss air fryers, hot tubs, and nuclear-bomb insurance (in that order of priority). *If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast at the same time, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/4b7hZwQ*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 33:30


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Look, we're going to level with you. If we describe this episode's book right here, you'll leave. The description sounds boring. Your feeble attention span has been weakened by the internet age. So just trust us and try this one. Some parts are about love. Is that enough of a dopamine hit for you? You sad sack of TikTok-addled chemicals?*If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/3Uoi6gi*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: The Inner Game of Tennis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 26:37


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (episode #99)  that we dug up and polished from 2022!The Inner Game of Tennis describes an innovative approach to better, easier mastery of tennis and other activities. Plus, Kellen tries to never praise his kids, and Dave gets better at sports by focusing REALLY hard on relaxing, and yelling at himself when he doesn't do it right.*If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast at the same time, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! https://amzn.to/4aOE5Em*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    A 2nd LOOK AT: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 36:57


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*We look at the first Harry Potter book again now that Kellen has read it a second time and Dave has continuously been listening to it since he was born. Also, we are trying to violate Harry Potter copyright as much as possible in the hopes Rowling will angrily tweet about us and send her massive audience to our podcast. So check out our 17-hour YouTube video where Kellen recreates all 8 movies by doing that trick where your belly button is a mouth and your nipples are eyes.*If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers! Free on Kindle to Amazon Prime members!https://amzn.to/3vIeGwR*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Favorite Poems with CHAD DANIELS!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 37:22


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODEShttps://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Kellen and comedian Chad Daniels talk about each others favorite poems. Also, Chad recalls an incredible moment during a Foo Fighters concert; and both of them admit to some of the things that they purchase for themselves as adults because they never got them when they were kids.*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

    The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 27:44


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to submit the name of your favorite poem for us to discuss on a very-near-future episode with Chad Daniels!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*The Three-Body Problem proves that you can take a mathematical equation and turn it into a thrilling, murder-filled story. Much like another book, And Then There Were None. Join us as we discuss science and whether or not you are smart! Plus, Dave talks more about Lord of the Rings than the actual book and Kellen hunts for the elusive real-life hoverboard..*If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/4cxwXxr*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Re-Issue: Lateral Thinking, by Edward de Bono

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 20:53


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EPISODES and to submit the name of your favorite poem for us to discuss on a very-near-future episode with Chad Daniels!https://www.patreon.com/TheBookPile*Rediscover Lateral Thinking, a book ahead of its time as far as developing the human mind but not ahead of its time in terms of entertainment value...  Also rediscover this gem of a Book Pile episode (episode #99)  that we dug up and polished from 2022 (now with a new intro!).*If you want to read/listen to this book and support the podcast in a fun way, click here to buy the book! Free on Audible to first-time subscribers!https://amzn.to/3VD9gxs*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    THE ROAST OF Star Wars: The Force Awakens (the novelization of the movie), by Alan Dean Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 30:07


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*The king returns. Alan Dean is back, and he's more Alan Dean than ever. Break out the thesauruses as we do a live roast of his novelization of The Force Awakens. Plus, Kellen teaches you some vocab words and Dave has a guessing game.*To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE!https://amzn.to/3IJIhsx*Dave's book / game The Starlings is here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMBBLGXN?ref=myi_title_dp*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind's Eye, by Alan Dean Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 17:55


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE!https://amzn.to/43ejtlH*This book (for reals) was George Lucas's plan B just in case Star Wars: A New Hope bombed. The idea was to use the story of this novel as a template for a very cheap follow-up movie in case A New Hope didn't make him enough money to produce Empire Strikes Back. So thank you to everyone in 1977 who bought so many movie tickets that this novel--entrusted to Alan Dean Foster--is not what we had to experience as a sequel. For those of you newer to the  podcast, Kellen and Dave roasted the strangely verbose Alan Dead Foster's novelization of the movie Transformers, and that episode was their most downloaded episode of 2023 (you should try it, it's episode #124).*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*

    Excellent Advice for Living, by Kevin Kelly

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 31:31


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE!https://amzn.to/3P5Gy4c*Nothing could summarize this book better than this Amazon review we found: “This book provides many useful hints that will have you agreeing.” Indeed, we were agreeing! Join us as we go through many nuggets of sound advice. Plus, Dave has career advice for young listeners and Kellen wants to tell you about his cutlery.*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    The Body: A Guide for Occupants, by Bill Bryson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 15:49


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE for The Bodyhttps://amzn.to/49pRTV1*Have you ever laughed while reading a book about the human anatomy (and not just with giggles and pointing)? Bill Bryson writes in an almost magical style about the wonders of what we do and do not understand about our insides.*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

    Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 33:20


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*To buy the book and support the podcast, click HERE for Watchmenhttps://amzn.to/3uCrELW*“Who watches the watchmen?” That is the central question of this book, asked over and over. And yet they never answer it! So what was the point of asking?! It's like when Christopher Nolan forgot to show if the top stops spinning. Just basic storytelling mistakes. Plus, Kellen discusses his love of 1990s calendars and Dave explains anti-heroes. (They're like heroes, on opposite day!)*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com*David Vance's videos have garnered over 1 billion views. He has written viral ads for companies like Squatty Potty, Chatbooks, and Lumē, and sketches for the comedy show Studio C. His work has received two Webby Awards, and appeared on Conan. He currently works as a writer on the sitcom Freelancers.

    The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss with GUEST HOST Dave Nihill!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 35:10


    JOIN OUR PATREON FOR BoNuS EpiSoDEs!https://patreon.com/TheBookPile*To buy the books and support the podcast, click HERE for The 4-Hour Workweek!https://amzn.to/3uFGSj7*We would've written an intro to this episode, but we didn't have time now that I guess we're only working 4 hours a week...*Kellen Erskine has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's America's Got Talent, and the Amazon Original Series Inside Jokes. He has garnered over 100 million views with his clips on Dry Bar Comedy. In 2018 he was selected to perform on the “New Faces” showcase at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He currently tours the country www.KellenErskine.com

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