Your Words Against Mine

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A competitive reading podcast between two siblings. Over the course of 2022, Thomas Dempsey and Elizabeth Conner will assign each other various reading challenges, all the while vying to see who can read the most words overall.

Thomas Dempsey & Elizabeth Conner


    • Jan 1, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 78 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Your Words Against Mine

    What's the Score on Season Four? (S4E1 - 1/1/24)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 64:05


    May old podcast formats be forgot! We're back after a brief hiatus with a new vision for YWAM going forward. We hope you'll enjoy this return to our roots as much as we enjoyed recording it. As always, we've got reading updates to share, as well as some book-haul chronicles and a bit of general media deliberating for the more reading averse of our listeners. Thank you all for seeing us through to another year of podcasting. We'll do our best to make this our best year yet.

    Short Stories, Short Podcast (S3E23 - 11/12/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2023 28:10


    Life, uhhh... finds a way... to delay our recording this podcast. We're back now, however briefly, to discuss Samanta Schweblin's NBA winning short story collection Seven Empty Houses, as well as lay out our plans for the rest of this year's reading! We're entering the final stretch!

    On Plagues Past (S3E22 - 10/28/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2023 35:55


    This week's episode concerns discussions of mass illness; if that sounds too heavy, just be glad we didn't go with our first plan. Join us as we go over Veronique Tadjo's In the Company of Men, as well as our own recent reading achievements and some programing changes for the near future.

    The Season of the Witch (S3E21 - 10/10/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 42:58


    Cooler weather, a new job, and a school year in full swing shouldn't cause us to lose sight of the spookiness of the Halloween season! We got a bit more of that than we bargained for with this week's reading challenge, Thomas Olde Heuvelt's Hex.

    Rhymes with "Poofy" (S3E20 - 9/26/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 41:22


    Read up, me hearties! This week we're going in depth on Eiichiro Oda's pirate adventure phenomenon One Piece. And yes, one of your hosts has a new job, but he just wants you to know that he still loves this podcast very much.

    Over Stuffed (S3E19 - 9/11/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 36:06


    There's plenty of stuff going on in your hosts lives right now, not to mention our scheduled discussion of Shruti Swamy's acclaimed short story collection 'A House is a Body.' Any of that would have sustained an episode on its own. And yet, something tells me this will go down as "the one about the pillow romance."

    A World without Books (S3E18 - 8/31/23) [fixed]

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 37:53


    As hurricane winds assail the southeast, Elizabeth and Thomas have shouldered once again through illness and technical difficulties to bring you a discussion of Miya Kazuki's hit light novel, Ascendance of a Bookworm.

    A Scandinavious Episode (S3E17 - 8/15/23) [fixed]

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 40:27


    YWAM heads to Sweden for a discussion of Let the Right One In, John Lindqvist's hit vampire novel and film. We too will be staying out of the sunlight during this oppressive heat-wave, opting instead to catch up on our respective fantasy romance and pirate series.

    Woolfing Down Some Serial (S3E16 - 7/31/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 41:41


    Work is rearing it's head back into the lives of your hosts, with a return of students for one and some interesting prospects for the other. Meanwhile, on the reading front, Virginia Woolf's modernist classic Mrs. Dalloway poses some surprising challenges.

    To Be Continued... (S3E15 - 7/18/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023 53:58


    The heat is on, in a very real sense, with the latter half of 2023 getting underway. The two hosts had themselves some vacation goings-on to get into, before diving into all the books they have, and have not, finished.

    Carl (S3E14 - 7/4/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2023 60:51


    The dew point is rising, and life has some curve balls for your hosts, but the books get read regardless. This week we discuss Hank Green's debut novel, 'An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.' Come for the giant robots, stay for the nuanced yet entertaining ruminations on fame and power in the internet age.

    Summering at 'Wolf Hall' (S3E13 - 6/21/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 36:21


    On the first day of Summer, your podcast brings to thee: a contrived premise for an overdue episode. Would like to say the wait was worth it for an in-depth discussion of Hilary Mantel's award winning novel 'Wolf Hall,' but nope! Instead you'll have to make due with more general ruminations on the historical fiction genre, some recommendations in the manga and sci-fi romance categories, and an eager anticipation for the summer's full potential now that we're almost finished with education seminars / blockbuster videogames.

    Quit Your Podcast! (S3E12 - 6/6/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2023 40:50


    Summertime is upon us! This week sees your hosts beating the heat with Ian F Martin's comprehensive journalistic chronicle of Tokyo's various music scenes in Quit Your Band!

    This is How You Lose the Reading Contest (S3E11 - 5/23/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 44:06


    YWAM has always been a war against time: time enough to read. All too appropriate that we should have to compete with end-of-year work and hit videogames to get in a discussion about the recent viral sensation, Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone's 'This is How You Lose the Time War.'

    I Can't Get No Adaptation (S3E10 - 5/8/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2023 49:02


    In light of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces' notorious unadaptability, this week's conversation winds its way around to other literary adaptations, from Bridgerton to Nimona. IRL, the last couple weeks have been particularly hectic for her, but Elizabeth powered through with a triumphant return to the world of genre romances.

    "No Self-Editing Here!" (S3E9 - 4/24/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 48:31


    Samanta Schweblin's phantasmagoric debut novel Fever Dream has your hosts asking a lot of questions, some of which they (re: Thomas) may feel a little embarrassed to have on record. Meanwhile, the competition hits a surprise milestone!

    Banned Book Club (S3E8 - 4/9/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2023 43:52


    Today's episode about Jason Reynold's acclaimed young adult novel Long Way Down provides us with a jumping off point for a broader discussion on the topic of banned books.

    "When were Zeppelins a Thing?" (S3E7 - 3/27/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2023 49:27


    Looks like that bonus episode was just what we needed to kick this reading competition back into high gear. Both hosts rebound nicely this week with stronger book and word totals, as well as a burgeoning interest in the history of airships.

    Bonus Episode - Rated N.C. 2023! (S3B1 - 3/23/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 43:37


    Here's a special episode that even managed to surprise us a few times. Thomas and Elizabeth make their way through North Carolina, from Carrboro to Durham, hitting up every bookstore in their path! Will we ever financially recover from this latest book haul? Well that's kind of up to you, if you think about it.

    Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow Never Dies (S3E6 - 3/14/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 43:15


    When it comes to interrupting our recording schedule, life - uh... finds a way. And speaking of movie references, the intervening weeks have afforded both your hosts rare opportunities to get back out to theaters. Enjoy the movie talk as we build up steam to discuss Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

    You Can Take the Girl Out of the Lab... (S3E5 - 2/26/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 50:23


    As seasonal illness continues to weigh on our competitors, we look to nature for answers in this week's reading challenge, Hope Jahren's vibrant autobiography 'Lab Girl.'

    girl hope jahren
    Don't Knock Rupert Grint (S3E4 - 2/12/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2023 53:19


    This week, YWAM is tackling The Cabin at the End of the World, the basis for the new M Night Shyamalan film! You'll also hear about our recent trip to Columbia, and thrill to a surprising upset in the reading challenge totals.

    The Themis Seminars (S3E3 - 1/29/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2023 45:06


    The first reading challenge of 2023 takes us through Sylvain Neuvel's The Themis Files, a sci-fi series whose iron giants are anything but gentle. Before that, we share our pursuits of various accreditations by way of online and i.r.l. seminars.

    seminars themis sylvain neuvel
    Quick Turnarounds in Indie Publishing (S3E2 - 1/15/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2023 49:09


    The race for wordcount is officially underway in 2023! Elizabeth is back from the Kindle Unlimited mines with a fresh crop of romance series, and Thomas has his first reading challenge of the year to issue, as well as some books you'll just have to wait until next episode to hear about.

    Third Season's the Charm (S3E1 - 1/1/23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 58:03


    The curtain closes on another season of Your Words Against Mine. Elizabeth and Thomas recall their favorite reads of 2022, share holiday stories, and finally reveal whose wordcount came out on top. Furthermore, with the new year dawning, your hosts are setting their next round of goals even higher! Join in the fun with a fresh new seasons of YWAM!

    Taking Stock of 2022 (S2E26 - 12/25/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2022 48:54


    A Merry Christmas and Happy Final episode of 2022! As our hosts prepare for next year's big new framing device, visions of cataloguing software dancing in their heads, we'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who tuned in. We hope we've been of some comfort to you, and we welcome you to join us again in season 3!

    Sparrows and Cocktails (S2E25 - 12/10/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2022 41:57


    With 2022 winding down, there has been a lot of house keeping to take care of. Nevertheless, if there's two things you can always count on, it's reading and podcasting (way better than those other two things.)

    We Now Pause for Cornbread (S2E24 - 11/24/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 36:38


    Happy Thanksgiving from Your Words Against Mine. This year, we're grateful to be recording in the same room again, and to both be on the exact same page when it comes to the latest reading challenge.

    One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest (S2E23 - 11/10/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 50:37


    The end is in sight for this season of YWAM, but your hosts still have a lot of reading to go if they want to meet their goals. Life, as it will, throws some curveballs into the mix, but we're back again to talk Josh Malerman's Bird Box follow-up, Inspection.

    Lucky Number Mickey7 (S2E22 - 10/26/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 42:29


    Plans for the week ahead lead off a relatively laid back episode, where we discuss Edward Ashton's thrilling and existential sci-fi adventure.

    Luckiest Girl Alive (S2E21 - 10/12/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 50:06


    Fresh off a long overdue vacation, Elizabeth & Thomas get into a reasonably (and necessarily) spoiler-lite discussion of Jessica Knoll's bestseller and its recent Netflix adaptation.

    Where There's Smoke, There's 'Pale Fire' (S2E20 - 9/28/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 51:40


    Nabakov's beguiling and audacious 1962 novel makes for a surprisingly complementary topic to accompany an extended discussion of social media trends and celebrity drama. Add to that an impending storm and a long overdue vacation, and you'll hardly notice how little we actually read this week!

    smoke nabakov
    Podcasting on the Rocks (S2E19 - 9/14/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 50:38


    Whatever the multiple technical difficulties and interruptions would have you to believe, this episode was produced entirely sober. You might need something to take the edge off all the talk of tiktok rabbit holes, sexy dragon-folk, and cephalopod paintball.

    "Gothic" or Go Home (S2E18 - 8/31/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 36:21


    YWAM looks to the future with travel plans, career moves, and reading challenges. Right now, though, the question remains: how haunted is too haunted for a haunted house story?

    The Most Visual Medium (S2E17 - 8/17/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 54:01


    The world does not stop for podcasting, as this week's discussion of non-reading events makes clear. With a potential spin-off podcast in the works, where will we find the time for reading at all? But let's not get all defeatist! There's always room for books!

    You Murakami on my Cell Phone (S2E16 - 8/4/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 45:32


    A highly, HIGHLY contentious episode of YWAM sees our hosts nearly coming to blows and having to walk back some truly hurtful claims. Granted, drama is pretty relative, so take all that with a grain of salt. Regardless, we've got the sci-fi romance and magical-realist ennui that you crave, so don't touch that dial!

    Manacles and Chainsaws (S2E15 - 7/21/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 56:38


    Fanfiction and manga are back with a vengeance in this dual reading challenge episode! A decidedly modern take on the Harry Potter universe is paired with a world literally overrun by demons. Nothing relatable about that at all!

    Gideondependence Day (S2E14 - 7/5/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2022 49:59


    This 4th of July, Tamsyn Muir's deliciously dark work of fantasy sci-fi has got your hosts seeing fireworks! With half the year left ahead of us, the show still has a long way to go, both in ambition and literal trips to be taken. Stick with us for more talk of romance, mystery, e-reading metrics, and cats.

    'Cemetery Boys' Summer (S2E13 - 6/21/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2022 49:33


    Season Two hits the halfway mark with this discussion of Aiden Thomas' coming-of-age (& undeath) tale, along with some talk about baseball, Top Gun, manga, and more!

    One Hundred Years of Fan Fiction (S2E12 - 6/6/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 46:00


    With Summer break under way, this year's reading competition just will not stop piling on the surprises. Join your hosts for a discussion of a classic of Colombian literature, some good old-fashioned mysteries, and a full-on dive into the world of other people's IP.

    A Lowcountry Podcast (S2E11 - 5/23/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 42:34


    Your hosts are still recuperating from last week's shop-a-thon, so enjoy this low-key episode about Covid, roof maintenance, vet visits, and the quirks and issues with southern romantic fiction.

    Bonus Episode - Riding "The Broken Spine" (S2B1 - 5/16/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 43:04


    On a long anticipated episode, Thomas and Elizabeth hit the road to Atlanta for an all-out book shop-a-thon. Join your hosts as they struggle to beat the heat, grapple with world-class arthouse cinema, and come out the other side with their sanities (and wallets) intact. Get ready to journey along "The Broken Spine!"

    Defund the Chicken Police (S2E10 - 5/9/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2022 59:11


    Elizabeth & Thomas hit the hard streets of Clawville in this episode's visual novel-based reading challenge. There's also talk of phones, cats, moms, and some big plans for the near future!

    The Joy Luck Book Club (S2E9 - 4/26/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 64:04


    After cabin retreats, bird attacks, and some good old fashioned spring cleaning, we return with a new episode discussing Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club. This tees us up surprisingly well for further discussions of an impending Mother's Day episode, as well as a recent hit Kung Fu film!

    Head Out on the Lincoln Highway (S2E8 - 4/10/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2022 40:02


    Summer may be a ways off yet, but we're in the road-trip spirit on YWAM this week, discussing Amor Towles latest novel as well as television adaptations, engrossing puzzle games, and more!

    'Your Ad Could Go Here' (S2E7 - 3/27/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2022 56:18


    This week we're discussing Ukrainian author Oksana Zabuzhko's 2014 short-story collection. Rounding things out is a healthy side of video game talk and musings about the declining relevance of an Oscars telecast in the internet age.

    Reading Comprehension with Aubrey and Maturin (S2E6 - 3/13/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2022 62:12


    Our hosts reminisce on their school days while discussing Patrick O'Brian's acclaimed historical fiction series. There's also romantic space dragons, because come on, you know what show this is by now.

    Elden Ring & Shuffling (S2E5 - 2/27/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2022 48:48


    While big game launches loom over more mundane affairs, there's still the great new work from acclaimed novelist Colson Whitehead to keep our heads in the page, not to mention sprawling sci-fi romances and Hungarian lit-fic.

    Into the Metaverse (S2E4 - 2/13/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 49:29


    This week we jack into the metaverse for a discussion of Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. Other books discussed include Kira Jane Buxton's Feral Creatures and the Maze of Shadows series by Kathryn Ann Kingsley.

    An Otherworld Bites the Dust (S2E3 - 1/31/22)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 53:18


    As the winds of winter abate, your hosts take a dive into virtual reality fiction with Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller's young adult sci-fi novel. There's also some health updates and a fearsome serial killer series begging for an adaptation.

    The YWAM Winter Special (S2E2 - 1/15/2022)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2022 54:24


    Winter is finally rearing its head in the south, as talk turns to romantic ice giants and videogame journalism. Plus, with a new year comes new numbers, as Elizabeth and Thomas start to compare their current reading stats with last year's. A whole new reading race is under way!

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