The Keen Minds Podcast

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A Blacklist podcast launched in Season 4, focusing in on character analysis and theories for the episodes as they pertain to the Keens and those around them.

Keen Minds Podcast


    • Jul 20, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 18m AVG DURATION
    • 154 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Keen Minds Podcast

    #154: The Final Episode(s)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 133:50


    Welcome to the 154th and final edition of the Keen Minds Podcast. Liz and Tom may be gone (and mostly forgotten by the finale), but Tessa and Jen are here to share thoughts and responses to both the episodes and the big question that we were told was the premise of the whole show: Who is Raymond Reddington. Quick warning: This episode will not be as PG as it usually is. If you have kids in the room, you may want to opt for headsets. We love you all and it's been a wild ride.

    #153: Covering episodes 10.18-20

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 68:11


    Welcome to the 153rd edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! We will have one more episode after this one to cover the finale. As Red has been saying, everything has an ending.

    #152: Covering episodes 10.15-17

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 65:02


    Welcome to the 152nd edition of the Keen Mind Podcast! This is the back half of the episode posted last week that covers 10.15, 10.16, and 10.17 of NBC's The Blacklist.

    #151: 10.10-10.14

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 71:28


    Welcome to the 151st edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! We sat down and recorded 10.10 through 10.17, but it's a super long episode, so we're splitting it it into two. This is the first half, but because the conversation covered all eight episodes, you may hear a bit from later episodes as well. In this episode we cover continuity, emotional touchstones, and more!

    #150: The Trollfarmer Pt2 & 3

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2023 65:23


    Welcome to the 150th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! In his episode we cover the Trollfarmer parts 2 and 3, including some nice twists and turns, a little character analysis, and callbacks to previous episodes.

    #149 10.07: The Freelancer Pt 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 16:43


    Welcome to the 149th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast. Apologies for the short episode. We did record commentary for episodes 5-7, but decided that there was very little constructive in our commentary for episodes 5&6.

    #148: 10.02 The Whaler; 10.03 The Four Guns; 10.04 The Heyna

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 55:18


    Welcome to the 148th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! In this episode Tessa and Jen cover season 10's episodes 2-4 with interesting plot twists, some familiar faces, and even revisiting an old theory.

    #147 10.01 The Night Owl

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 46:19


    Welcome back to the Keen Minds Podcast. Tessa and Jen kick off the first episode of the final season discussing new characters and where we go from here.

    #146 9.22 Marvin Gerard Conclusion Pt 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2022 68:08


    Welcome to the season finale episode of the Keen Minds Podcast. In this episode Tessa and Jen jump into character motivations and where this last episode took us mythology-wise. We'll see everyone in January!

    #145 9.21 Marvin Gerard Conclusion Pt 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2022 62:02


    Welcome to the 145th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! It this episode, Tessa and Jen discuss trust, loyalty, and exactly what went wrong between Red and Marvin.

    #144 9.20 Caelum Bank

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 69:06


    Welcome to the 144th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! With new information, Tessa and Jen reassess where we're at and give opinions on how we see those pieces of the puzzle connect previous seasons to where we are. We discuss the much anticipated reveal of Liz's killer, parallels, and lessons learned and even lessons missed. Let us know your thoughts! Did you see it coming?

    bank caelum
    #143 9.19 (The Bear Mask)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2022 60:27


    Welcome to the 143rd edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! In this episode Tessa and Jen jump into the trippy adventure that was Aram working through his fears, weigh in on some theories, and gush (okay, Jen gushed) over our brief Saram moment and what that means for Aram's growth and self reflection.

    #142 9.15 (Andrew Kennison), 9.16 (Helen Maghi), & 9.17 (El Conejo), 9.18 (Laszlo Jancowics)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2022 104:10


    Welcome to the 142nd edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen are back to jump into the last four episodes covering shifting theories, newish characters, and all the slightly skewed parallels that the Blacklist has to offer.

    #141 9.13 Genuine Modes Inc & 9.14 Eva Mason

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2022 77:00


    We have a double episode this week covering the 13th and 14th episodes! In this edition we jump into parallels drawn with previous episodes and a few new theories of our own and one very interesting take Tessa found on Reddit.

    #140 9.12 The Chairman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2022 72:13


    Welcome to the 140th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! In this episode Tessa and Jen discuss how the Blacklist uses subtle callbacks to draw connections between what's happened now to what has happened in seasons' past, Ressler's reaction to Liz's body being exhumed, and how the bunny may link to the person(s) blackmailing Cooper.

    #139 9.10 Arcane Wireless / 9.11 The Conglomerate

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2022 73:38


    Welcome to the 139th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen jump into the last two character-driven episodes of The Blacklist to cover character motivation, parallels, and both new and old theories. Spoiler alert: Tessa *may* have finally gotten Jen on board with one of hers.

    #138 9.09 Boukam Baptiste

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 66:27


    Welcome to another edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tess and Jen jump into an episode they both enjoyed to talk parallels, character growth, and if Tessa's main theory held up with this episode.

    #137 9.08 Dr. Razmik Maier

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2022 64:49


    Welcome to the 137th edition of the podcast! In this week's episode, Tessa and Jen take a look at the main storylines running through 9.08 as well as contemplate a couple of running theories for the season on whole.

    #136: 9.07 Between Awake and Asleep

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2022 55:51


    Welcome to the 136th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! In this episode Tessa and Jen weigh in on the Ressler-centered episode and take a deeper dive into his journey after Liz's death.

    #136 9.07: Dr Roberta Sand, PhD

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 56:22


    #136 9.07: Dr Roberta Sand, PhD by Keen Minds Podcast

    #134 9.05 Benjamin T Okara

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2021 63:21


    In this week's edition of the Keen Mind's podcast Tess and Jen discuss Dembe's loyalties, the trustworthiness of the Xiu sisters, and what could have been behind Charlene's strange reaction.

    okara xiu
    #133 9.04 The Avenging Angel

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 53:55


    Welcome to the 133rd edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! In this episode, Tessa and Jen discuss the multiple parallels drawn with previous Blacklisters, a new theory having to do with Cooper's missing memories (and bullet), and just how far we trust the sisters and their hold on Red.

    avenging angel
    #132 9.02 The Skinner (Conclusion) & 9.03 The SPK

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2021 71:17


    Welcome to the 132nd edition of the Keen Minds Podcast where Tessa and Jen tackle the last two episodes, the power dynamics at play, and what those mean for the Task Force and Red. And watch out, Tessa has a new potential theory that Jen may actually be thinking about hopping on board with. ;)

    #131 9.01 The Skinner

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2021 104:40


    Welcome to the 131st edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen kickstart the season with a very opinionated (and lengthy) podcast discussing the mythology of the show and what we think it means (or doesn't mean) now, the character of Red, and more.

    #130 8.22 Konets

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2021 116:20


    Thanks for tuning in to our 130th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast. This is an emotional one with a lot of questions and fewer answers than either of your hosts prefer. In this one we attempted to track how we got to the ending we did in the S8 finale of The Blacklist and what that means overall. It's a long one, but please stay through till the end for a message to our audience from both Tessa and Jen.

    #128 - 8.21 Nachalo (part 1 of 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 71:52


    ** edit 6/21 ** Sorry everyone! There was an error from editing. that's been updated now and I'm reposting to social media for those that would like this version. Welcome to the 128th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! This was a detailed one with all the twists and turns - some which tracked with mythology and some that didn't - and the podcast episode was over two hours of recording time, so we're splitting it in half this week. Keep your eyes open for the second half coming soon!

    #129 8.21 Nachalo (part 2 of 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2021 63:37


    There was just too much to cover in one podcast episode, so here's Part Two of the Keen Minds Podcast covering Nachalo.!

    #127 8.20 Godwin Page

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 89:42


    Welcome to the 127th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen jump into pieces of mythology revealed (and not), Liz's reactions, and of course, the fantastic Edna Brimley!

    #126 8.19 Balthazar "Bino" Baker

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2021 76:28


    Welcome to the 126th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast where Tessa and Jen dive into characters taking responsibility, differences/similarities in Red and Liz's approaches to the criminal world, and a few theories to help us make sense of where we might be going as we near the end of S8.

    #125 8.18: The Protean

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2021 64:11


    Welcome to the 125th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! This week Tessa and Jen jump in this week with parallels, loyalties, and Jennifer Reddington.

    protean
    #124 The Blacklist 8.16 & 8.17

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 76:32


    Welcome to the 124th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! In this episode Tessa and Jen jump into where the characters are, the parallels drawn, and just what we think Ivan may have whispered to Townsend.

    #123 The Blacklist 8.15: The Russian Knot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2021 45:52


    Welcome to the 123rd edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen jump into an exciting heist episode full of interesting choices, Cold War callbacks, and memories of Glen.

    #122 Blacklist 8.14: Misere

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2021 77:58


    Welcome to the 122nd edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! It was a wild episode in which Tessa and Jen discussed Kate Kaplan's appearance (and what that could mean), yet another less-than-trustworthy nanny in the Blacklist, and how we felt about seeing Liz after three long months without her.

    #121 - The Blacklist 8.13: Anne

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 60:02


    Welcome to the 121st edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen dive into a very Red-heavy episode to discuss Red's growing relationship with Anne, the multitude of parallels, and even next week's teaser!

    #120 - The Blacklist 8.12: Rakitin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 72:11


    Welcome to the 120th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tess and Jen jump into a discussion about Rakitin, loyalties, the the Rostova Effect.

    #119 - The Blacklist 8.11 Captain Kidd

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2021 82:10


    Welcome to the 119th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen jump into a conversation about responsibilities, Cooper's supposed change in sides, Red and Rakitin, and more! Apologies if the audio is a little off today. I believe one of our mics might have gone a little wonky.

    #118 Specialty Episode: You Ask, We Answer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2021 91:31


    Tessa and Jen answer questions sent in by you, our fantastic listeners!

    8.10 Dr Laken Perillos

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 86:12


    Tessa and Jen jump discuss a very interesting Blacklister, parallels being drawn, and conflicting opinions on Red's Rubicon speech in our 117th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast.

    8.10 Dr Laken Perillos

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 86:12


    Tessa and Jen jump discuss a very interesting Blacklister, parallels being drawn, and conflicting opinions on Red's Rubicon speech in our 117th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast.

    8.09 The Cyranoid

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2021 77:03


    Welcome to the 116th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! This week we cover the long awaited Neville Townsend, why we think Megan hasn't been seen on the episodes lately, and Cynthia Panabaker's golden moments. We hope you enjoy!

    8.08 Ogden Greeley

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2021 59:48


    It was another parallel-filled episode. This week we dive into some interesting questions raised as the Task Force chases their Blacklister, Cooper's almost-appointment to Senator, and a theory or two on what next week's preview might mean.

    8.07 Chemical Mary

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2021 66:10


    Tessa and Jen jump into an episode that, while missing a physical sighting of Liz for the third straight week, left us with plenty of mythology to dive into and a few crazy theories.

    8.06 The Wellstone Agency

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 62:56


    Welcome to the 113th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tess and Jen jump into a fantastic blacklister this week, Glen's funeral, Aram's undercover work, and Park's story. Please forgive some of the audio quality at the end. We were having some technical difficulties because of weather.

    8.05 The Fribourg Confidence

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2021 65:08


    Tessa and Jen jump into an episode full of parallels, callbacks, and Liz's continuing motives.

    8.04 Elizabeth Keen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2021 67:34


    Tessa and Jen take a look at our #1 Blacklister with some very different opinions about the episode.

    elizabeth keen
    #110: 16 Ounces

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 82:58


    Tessa and Jen dive into the explosive 3rd episode of The Blacklist's 8th season: 16 Ounces just after our deep dive on Liz's character: is she a good person or is she not? We evaluate her choices, try to track back the reasons, and do our best to find a few paths that she could take moving forward. It's a wild ride.

    #109: Is Liz a Good Person?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 81:20


    Tessa and Jen discuss the good, the bad, and the grey of the Blacklist. Specifically, can Liz be considered a good person and did she start out there?

    8.02 Katarina Rostova: Conclusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 81:18


    Check out the 108th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast where Tessa and Jen dive into the wild second episode of the eighth season! We cover the pieces of mythology we found, theories on where the Townsend organization may fit into all of this, and more!

    8.01 Roanoke

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020 88:09


    Welcome to the 107th edition of the Keen Minds Podcast! Tessa and Jen jump into the S8 premier episode as we discuss Liz's motives, Katarina, and if we think Red is really N13.

    #106: Down the Rabbit Hole - The Hargraves

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020 103:09


    Welcome to another addition of our hiatus series: Down the Rabbit Hole! This time Tessa and Jen jump into a discussion on Scottie and Howard Hargrave, who they are and how they got to where they were in Redemption, and how we believe that they connect with the overarching mythology of the show.

    #105 - Down the Rabbit Hole: Who is Katarina Rostova?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2020 84:11


    Welcome to the 105th episode of the Keen Minds Podcast and the 2nd edition of a series we're calling 'Down the Rabbit Hole'. Tessa and Jen jump into thoughts and theories about Katarina Rostova. Is the woman we've met really the Katarina we've seen through Lotte's portrayal and, if she isn't, have we met her before? We hope you're having a safe and fun summer hiatus wherever you are. Enjoy!

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