Podcasts about Reading Rainbow

Dan, Manny, & Billy welcome Actor, Producer, and Musician Alisa Reyes to discuss how she went from being on Nickelodeon's All That, to evolving into a high-powered multi-hyphenate talent, and being the voice of LaCienega Boulevardez on the award-winning show The Proud Family.   “It is all about uplifting humanity during Mother Earth's ascension right now, and we just gotta ride this wave gracefully, and we all gotta just stay connected and keep uplifting the vibration of humanity [...] that's why we all do what we do.” -Alisa Reyes   This is a special episode of Nostalgia 101, because Alisa Reyes has been part of so many of the pop-culture moments in all our lives, so it was an honor to have her on the podcast to talk about her time on All That, Teen NBC's  One World, what it's like to keep evolving and transitioning so successfully in such an ever-changing industry, and her recent time on the award-winning show The Proud Family. We also got to hear about some of the fun things she's been able to do, like being on Celebrity Family Feud with  Soleil Moon Frye, Keke Palmer, Paula Jai Parker, and Kyla Pratt, to face Salt-N-Pepa and Kid 'n Play, producing documentaries like The Orange Years and Butterfly in the Sky, being on Reading Rainbow, and what it was like to be on one of the most unhinged soap operas ever, Passions. The guys also got to ask some fun Nostalgia Test Podcast pop-culture questions, and Alisa reveals that she watched a very random sitcom that floored Dan because he's never heard anyone, ANYONE, say they watched this show.   Email us (thenostalgiatest@gmail.com) your thoughts, opinions, and topics for our next Nostalgia Test! Suggest A Test & Be Our Guest! We're always looking for a fun new topic for The Nostalgia Test. Hit the link above, tell us what you'd like to see tested, and be our guest for that episode!     Alisa Reyes is a born and raised New Yorker who is Irish, Italian and Dominican and now resides in California. She is known for her role on Nickelodeon's "All That" as a series regular season (1-3) & season 11 where she played herself and multiple roles. Alisa is also a series regular on the Emmy & NAACP Award Winning Disney Plus cartoon "The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder" with new episodes airing now. Alisa plays the bossy, but oh so lovable "La Cienega Boulevardez". You can also check out Alisa as "Lacienega" on Disney's "Broken Karaoke" & "Theme Song Take Over". She has also starred in NBC's "One World" as the Cuban-born entrepreneur of the group. Peter Engel created the TNBC show. Alisa received the coveted Hollywood Young Star Award for her role of Marci Blake in "One World". Thinking you may recognize her from some other show? Well check out her credits on "Without A Trace" (CBS), "Strong Medicine" (LIFETIME), "NYPD Blue" (ABC), "ER" (NBC), as well as the controversial Trina on "Boston Public" (FOX) and "Six Feet Under" (HBO) and on the Emmy nominated PBS series "The American Family", portraying the younger Vangie. The list is endless, with lots more to come. Alisa was also on NBCs "Passions", where she joined the cast as the beautiful and exotic singer Sydney Valentine causing nothing but heartache for the lovelorn super couple Chad and Whitney, but also making her mark as a strong recording artist. She also was a recurring on CBS's "The Bold & the Beautiful" as the sassy Ginger. Check out Alisa's latest film "Sisters" written and directed by Jahmar Hill. She plays the role of Elise in this crime/thriller airing currently on BET and BET Plus. You can also see Alisa star in "Break Even" which is out now. The film is written by CJ Walley and directed by Shane Stanley. This will be Alisa's 4th project with Shane Stanley. Alisa plays Rosie in the film. "Break Even" is an action, adventure, love story you will not want to miss. Alisa also starred in films such as "Daze", "The Biz" and "FreezerBurn"to name a few. Along with other films such as "A Trip to the Dark Side" and "My Trip Back to the Dark Side" directed by Shane Stanely. Alisa is also in a film called "Heavenly Deposit" which is supported by The Dove Foundation as the role of Jenny. You can also make it a movie night and watch her movie "Players" she stars in with Freddie Rodriguez. Along with her latest documentary that she is producing alongside Scott Barber and Bill Parks starring as herself called "The Orange Years" about 80s & 90s Nickelodeon nostalgia which is out on Hulu and most platforms. You can also see Alisa in a documentary called "Butterfly in the Sky" which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix Alisa's latest music single " Back & Forth" featuring and produced by Linnie King Twigg and mixed & mastered by DJ EVIL DEE, along with her single "Sexy Hot" are now available on all media platforms through TuneCore, iTunes, Amazon Music, Spotify and more. Alisa prior to her solo music career was in a girls group called "3G's" signed with Hollywood Records. The group had a song on "The Princess Diaries Soundtrack" called "Second Chance".   Approximate Rundown 00:00 Back to School Intro 01:54 Meet Elisa Reyes 03:00 New York Roots 04:13 Elisa's Career Snapshot 05:50 All That Origins 08:39 Auditions and Set School 10:46 Mom's Support System 13:13 Parenting and Balance 16:03 From All That to One World 20:28 Big Roles and Industry Legends 22:17 Winning An Award for One World  24:22 Voice Acting and Self Tapes 31:17 Proud Family Reboot and Relevance 34:37 Celebrity Family Feud Stories 36:43 Blossom Hats Influence 38:47 Soap Opera Wildness 42:29 Reading Rainbow Memories 47:16 Nickelodeon Nostalgia Shift 49:02 Phones Algorithms Parenting 51:55 Social Media Cringe Culture 55:07 Cartoon Universe Picks 57:46 90s Fashion Comeback 59:38 TGIF Favorites Trauma TV 01:03:06 Kids Shows Vibes Wrap 01:05:10 Plugs Farewell Outro   Book The Nostalgia Test Podcast Bring The Nostalgia Test Podcast's high energy fun and comedy on your podcast, to host your themed parties & special events!  The Nostalgia Test Podcast will create an unforgettable Nostalgic experience for any occasion because we are the party! We bring it 100% of the time! Email us at thenostalgiatest@gmail.com or fill out the form at this link. LET'S GET NOSTALGIC!       Keep up with all things The Nostalgia Test Podcast on Instagram | Substack | Discord | TikTok | Bluesky | YouTube | Facebook   The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic. The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected

On this show:Rappers read the bible The End of Love & Hip-HopThe 7 year old hero Plus, don't miss The Love Report with this week's topic: Are you emotionally attatched or in love?FOLLOW, RATE, SUBSCRIBEIt's The Mid-Day Spark Up. Your weekly check-in where culture, conversation, and community collide. Hosted by Cristina Sev and co-hosted by DJ Franchise, this show brings real talk, good energy, and unfiltered perspectives.Week #197, from popular news, to local headlines, love, new music & then someStation: 101.1 FM WBRU 360 & the WBRU360 AppWhether you're listening in the car, at work, at home, or anywhere across the country, this is your reminder to pause, spark your mind, and stay connected.Tune in every Tuesday Live 12 PM to 1 PM from Providence, RI on 101.1 FM WBRU360Original Air Date: 05/05/2026Live Stream on The Website: https://www.wbru.com/ Download The WBRU app on an iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wbru/id1274238066 Download The WBRU app on an Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wbru&pcampaignid=web_shareFollow Cristina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristinasev_?igsh=enFkemc2MXAxOWx2 Follow DJ Franchise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djfranchise1?igsh=anptNXh6bTE3am9k Follow DJ Franchise on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@djfranchise1?_r=1&_t=ZP-931Qmux6s3D

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 18! Our guest today is the award-winning author and essayist Minh Lê. Whether writing picture books, middle grade graphic novels, or essays, his work often blends an engaging story with deeper lessons.  His latest picture book is Miles Ahead, the story of an adorable dog who helps his family welcome a new baby cousin. A lighthearted search ensues after their gift goes missing. It's a heart-warming and amusing picture book that showcases a family rethinking what a meaningful gift could be, and they just happen to be of asian descent. With detailed illustrations by Lynnor Bontigao, it's a story with lively dialogue, family memories, and a clever ending.  Minh Lê is also the author of many picture books, middle grade graphic novels, and essays. His work incudes Drawn Together (winner of the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature), Real to Me, The Blur, Lift (an Eisner Award nominee), The Perfect Seat, and Let Me Finish!, Green Lantern: Legacy, Green Lantern: Alliance, and Enlighten Me.  His essays have been published in The New York Times, The Horn Book, HuffPost, NPR, Book Riot, and Reading Rainbow. He currently serves on the Board of We Need Diverse Books and is on the faculty of the Hamline MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. In our conversation, we talk about how he develops ideas, his philosophy on guiding illustrators, the benefits of frequent collaboration, Thích Nhất Hạnh, and a lot more. To learn more about Minh, you can visit his MinhLeBooks.com, follow him on instagram @minhlebooks, buy Miles Ahead, or any of his other great stories.  If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

Emil Pinnock is an accomplished film director, producer, and writer who has been active in the film industry for over 20 years. Raised in Harlem, Emil launched his film career as a child on the PBS television program Reading Rainbow. His many major motion picture credits include Beloved (Oprah Winfrey) and Gridiron Gang  starring Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson. But the pivotal moment in Emil's life occurred in 2001, on his 19th birthday, when he and his friends were pulled over in Queens, New York, and wrongly arrested for possession of a firearm. This harrowing experience imprinted in this gentle, well-educated young man the dark underbelly of racial injustice ... and became the basis of his breakthrough, award-winning television series, "Up North."That project launched an illustrious career in television and film that continues to flourish to this day. Emil has been tapped to write an original story about The Negro Baseball Leagues (Blackball) produced by Abigail Disney's Level Forward; and the origin story of legendary entrepreneur Daymond John (Shark Tank, FUBU) Emil lives by the motto, "Each one teach one" and has dedicated much of his professional life to helping others. His non-profit, Unleashing Giants, has served thousands of kids from underrepresented communities across the nation, offering an 8-week film program on the film industry via hands-on training, mentorship, and global distribution. Emil also sits on the board of Represent Justice. At its core, Represent Justice uses the power of storytelling to engage audiences in reimagining the legal system … and creating real demand for change. Swan Dive featured the CEO of Represent Justice, Daniel Forkkio, in an extraordinary 2024 episode. Represent Justice just inked a major deal with Tubi, the streaming network with 100 million viewers. Emil was instrumental in securing the Tubi partnership which will feature five magnificent short films made by formerly-incarcerated people and produced by Represent Justice. Over the next few episodes, Swan Dive will feature these filmmakers and discover how they are surviving our system of injustice.  We are honored to kick off and celebrate these important voices with the magnificent voice of Emil Pinnock.Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu: Stuart@stuartsheldon.com

DEFENDANT: PBS Kids! EVIDENCE: A to Z Wineworks Chardonnay SCENE OF THE CRIME: A TV near you!  -- Hey friend — grab a glass and settle in! In this cozy episode of True Crimes Against Wine, Judge Topher and Judge Rachel pair a bright, stainless-steel A to Z Oregon Chardonnay with a nostalgic deep-dive into PBS Kids. Expect lots of nostalgic tangents (Lisa Frank stickers, slap bracelets, and wishbone adventures), a warm appreciation for Sesame Street, Arthur, Reading Rainbow and more, plus a fun celebrity pop-quiz about famous folks who popped up on kids' programming. We chat about the wine's fresh pineapple, pear, and apple notes, why it's a perfect picnic pick, and how A to Z Wineworks' women-led, sustainability-focused mission makes sipping feel extra great. Then we get delightfully nostalgic — from Mr. Rogers and Carmen Sandiego to Ghostwriter, Dragon Tales and the many ways PBS taught curiosity, empathy and real-world smarts. It's casual, silly, and heartfelt: think spirited wine tasting meets childhood memory lane. So open a bottle, slap on a bracelet, and come hang out with us for a chat about why PBS Kids still matters, why this Chardonnay punches above its $15 price tag, and why some shows (and stickers) are forever.

It's another edition of “What the actual fuck is going on?” LFG.   Our intrepid Feminist Buzzkills Lizz and Moji are back and bringing good news from Middle Earth — you know, Illinois and Wisconsin. They also go deep laying out how this week's attack on birth control, abortion, military rights, and voting rights are the latest ingredients in the larger toxic stew of oppression being cooked up by our enemies for 2027. COOL.   GUEST ROLL CALL: WE HAVE 2026 OSCAR NOMINEES IN THE HOUSE! From the documentary short “The Devil Is Busy,” Feminist Center For Reproductive Liberation Executive Director Kwajelyn Jackson and Head of Security Tracii Wesley talk about the film, and navigating all the challenges providing abortion care under a six week ban in Georgia. It's a lot, y'all, but they're dropping the knowledge you didn't know you needed.   PLUS! Author Kate Schatz is talking about being a teen feminist in the ‘90s, and how her own mom's experiences inspired her new book, “Where the Girls Were.” It's a heartbreaking and empowering story of unintended pregnancy, maternity homes, and resilience set in the late 1960s. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll immediately buy her book from an independent bookstore. It's the only way.    Times are heavy, but knowledge is power, y'all. We gotchu.    OPERATION SAVE ABORTION: You can still join the 10,000+ womb warriors fighting the patriarchy by clicking HERE for past Operation Save Abortion trainings, your toolkit, marching orders, and more.   HOSTS: Lizz Winstead IG: @LizzWinstead Bluesky: @LizzWinstead.bsky.social Moji Alawode-El IG: @Mojilocks Bluesky: @Mojilocks.bsky.social   SPECIAL GUESTS: Kwajelyn Jackson IG: @FeministCenter / @SuperKwa Bluesky: @superkwa.bsky.social  Tracii Wesley IG: @Tracy.wesley10 Kate Schatz IG: @K8shots   GUEST LINKS: WATCH: The Devil is Busy The Feminist Center for Reproductive Liberation Website  4/15: Volunteer Training at The Feminist Center  DONATE: The Feminist Center READ: Where the Girls Were Writing Wednesdays With Kate Schatz Link Kate Schatz Website SUBSCRIBE: Kate Schatz Substack  Kate Schatz Linktree   NEWS DUMP: Trump Considers Blocking Abortion Access for Unaccompanied Immigrant Minors in Federal Custody (Again) Liberal Chris Taylor Wins Election to Wisconsin Supreme Court New Illinois Abortion Access Bill Trump Admin Moves Title X Family Planning Program Away From Contraception, Toward Conception The US Right Has a Grand Plan to Remove the Vote From Women Women in the Military Put Their Lives on the Line. The Trump Administration Is Stripping Their Rights   EPISODE LINKS: Watch: Freaks (1932) 6 DEGREES: Even When Arsenio Hall's Show Was a Hit, ‘Everyone Wanted It to Be Something Else' Operation Save Abortion Expose Fake Clinics BUY AAF MERCH! EMAIL your abobo questions to The Feminist Buzzkills AAF's Abortion-Themed Rage Playlist   FOLLOW US: Listen to us ~ FBK Podcast Instagram ~ @AbortionFront Bluesky ~ @AbortionFront TikTok ~ @AbortionFront Facebook ~ @AbortionFront YouTube ~ @AbortionAccessFront TALK TO THE CHARLEY BOT FOR ABOBO OPTIONS & RESOURCES HERE! PATREON HERE! Support our work, get exclusive merch and more!  DONATE TO AAF HERE! ACTIVIST CALENDAR HERE! VOLUNTEER WITH US HERE! ADOPT-A-CLINIC HERE! GET ABOBO PILLS FROM PLAN C PILLS HERE! When BS is poppin', we pop off! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On a Friday Drive WD talks the Hornets and Charlotte FC, makes some bets on Dalton's Dollars, recaps yesterday's Masters action with Steven Beck, Morgan debuts a new segment, "The Fast Lane" talking all things NASCAR.

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Tonight on APEX Express, join the Powerleegirls Host Miko Lee speaks with children's book authors Lorraine Nam, Uma Krishnaswami and Maggie Tokuda-Hall about Library Joy in honor of National School Library Month! To Learn More Lorrraine Nam, illustrator and  author Michael Threet's book: I'm So Happy You're Here: A Celebration of Library Joy    Uma Krishnaswami Her books: Book Uncle Triology   Maggie Tokuda-Hall Her book: Love in the Library  Every Library Authors Against Book Bans   Show Transcript [00:00:00] Opening: Apex Express Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the Apex Express.   [00:00:35] Ayame Keane-Lee: Welcome to tonight's episode of Apex Express Celebrating Library Joy. I'm Ayame Keane-Lee the editor of tonight's show, and part of the PowerLeeGirls bringing you the introduction to tonight's show. Did you know that April is National School Library Month and in just 10 days from April 19th to 25th is National Library Week? The theme for this year's National Library Week is Find Your Joy with Honorary Chair Mychal Threets. The first of three interviews you'll hear my mom, Miko Lee have tonight is with Lorraine Nam the illustrator for the newly released children's book written by that very Mychal Threets called, “I'm So Happy You're Here”. You will then hear Miko speak with Uma Krishnaswami about her children's book “Book Uncle and Me,” and lastly with Maggie Tokuda-Hall about her children's book, “Love in the Library,” and the important work of Authors Against Book Bans. As a library kid and current library worker, I have experienced firsthand the transformative power of library access and the importance of inclusive and diverse storytelling. In and out of schools, libraries are vital to nurturing and uplifting the autonomy and sovereignty of children, which always has and continues to be a liberatory practice. We hope tonight's show will inspire you right into your local library to check out some of the great books mentioned here or to put them on hold. Let's listen in.    [00:02:06] Miko Lee: Welcome, Lorraine Nam, illustrator of amazing  children's books. Welcome to Apex Express.    [00:02:13] Lorraine Nam: I'm excited to be here.    [00:02:16] Miko Lee: I wanna start with a question I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?    [00:02:24] Lorraine Nam: Who are my people? I would say creative people. People who are interested in having an open mind, and looking at the bright side of things, the beautiful things, people who are curious. The type of legacy that I bring I think is just my parents who are creative and then bringing that, to this new generation.    [00:02:57] Miko Lee: Thank you for sharing. I am, I'm looking at your beautiful face, and behind you is this, find your joy and, and it's in lots of colors on this pink banner and in at the top we see opening up of a library door with Mychal Threets, who's the author of this book, “I'm So Happy You're Here: A Celebration of Library Joy.” I'm wondering if you can talk about your collaborative process with Mychal Threets.    [00:03:25] Lorraine Nam: The first impression that you have of writer and illustrator for a picture book is that they work really closely together, and that's actually not the case. We work pretty separately, but I was very excited. Mychal wrote the words to this book and they were looking for an illustrator and my agent called me and she asked me if I was interested. I was very excited about the project. I signed up for it and we worked pretty separately. We connected on Instagram, but he pretty much had no art notes, everything was pretty much whatever I was open to. Then we met for the first time and we got our very first copy of the book and we met in New York.    [00:04:10] Miko Lee: And what was that like?    [00:04:12] Lorraine Nam: Um, amazing. He is exactly who he is in his videos.    [00:04:18] Miko Lee: Can you share for our audience who he is and a little bit more about him, just in case folks don't know.   [00:04:24] Lorraine Nam: The book calls him a librarian ambassador. He describes himself as a reader, a lover of librarians or the number one fan of libraries. This is his first book and he's also the host of Reading Rainbow on PBS. We met at the New York Library, public Library for the first time, and he's just so nice, very kind. Honestly, it felt like we already knew each other just because we had been talking through the publisher about the book.   [00:05:02] Miko Lee: Thank you for sharing. It's so beautifully illustrated and you have a incredibly diverse,, amount of people in the book, both racially but also physically, and I really appreciate how you encapsulated that. I'm just wondering what inspired you to develop this specific imagery for this book?    [00:05:22] Lorraine Nam: Yeah, so one of the only stipulations in the art notes was that he wanted to have a diverse group of people attending the library. People of all ages of all color, all sizes, all disabilities. That seemed like a no brainer to me because I just know the message that he puts into the world. The only difficult part was narrowing down the cast. There's all these different types of people and just trying to figure out who to focus on. I wanted to make sure that you still see the same group of kids over and over. So it felt like you were following the along throughout the day, while still having lots of diversity and lots of different types of people.    [00:06:11] Miko Lee: Had you set what the cover was gonna be at the beginning or did that come after you had already finished the whole book?   [00:06:19] Lorraine Nam: Oh, that came much later. We pretty much had the art for the interior nailed down, and then we were working on concepts for the cover. I knew from Mychal's social media presence that maybe he didn't want to be the poster cover of the book. He wanted to be about the library goers and the people rather than himself. And so I was kind of towing that line of like obviously people wanna see him, it's his first book. They're such huge fans, and so like how much to put Mychal in and how much to showcase him, as well as showcase like all the other people who go to the library.   [00:07:02] Miko Lee: He definitely does have a joyous kind of ebullient vibe to him. I recommend for audience to check out his socials because he has this, you wanna listen to him. He's so inviting and I love the poster behind you because he is saying, like, “welcome, come into the library. This is my world.” And you also made him look so cute. Really looks like a cartoon version of him. So sweet. In your artistic process, I'm wondering what helps you define the style of art you utilize? I'm thinking about the paper cutouts that you did for a tale of two princes. What is it about the work that inspires you to select that type of style?   [00:07:43] Lorraine Nam: I actually had a very winding path to the style that I have today. So the style that I have today is very much layered. It's painted, a lot of it is painted. And then I cut it out and then I glue and collage different elements, and then I scan everything in and enhance certain aspects through Photoshop. But a lot of it started actually in wanting to make a physical book. So it was with book binding and then with book binding, because that's just a technique to produce a product, it was what goes in those pages and that's when I started doing cut paper. So just silhouetted, cut paper. And I was doing that for a long time, just cutting out rice paper to make silhouettes. I wanted to tell more of the story and depict people. So then I started making paper cut [laughs] sets. So I would build —almost like Legos— a whole set of paper buildings and paper people and paper objects that are three dimensional. And then I would photograph them. And then from there, I landed in this more 2D, but playing with still technique and texture and layers.    [00:09:10] Miko Lee: Wow, that's so interesting. Can you share a little bit more about your artistic process? Do you start at a certain time of day? Do you only work at night? Do you have a whole studio set up?   [00:09:20] Lorraine Nam: well, For the book projects because there's such a timeline to 'em and they're very specific. I'll do very loose sketches on Post-it notes. They're readily available and then you can stick two of them next to each other to make a full spread. I use these post-its, and then I would just fold them in half and use that as like very quick pencil drawings. And then if I had something that I liked, I would just go in and pen. But they were still very small. So it was more about looking at silhouettes and composition. And then I would print, it's a very old school technique, but I would print out all the text for the book and cut 'em out. And double sided tape and just stick them on to see where the text should be on the page and where it could fit. I would just do that manually until I had something that I liked a little bit more. Then I would start creating digital, like line drawings.    [00:10:21] Miko Lee: And are you lining this all up on a wall or putting it on the desk?   [00:10:26] Lorraine Nam: Um, so they're in like a notebook.    [00:10:29] Miko Lee: Oh, you put 'em in book format?    [00:10:31] Lorraine Nam: It's all the spread. So it should take about two pages basically. You should be able to look at it and look at it from like an eagle eye perspective of what the entire book will look like and what the flow will be like, and if there's closeups or this is like a far away saying, you get more of the like, setting of the library.   [00:10:52] Miko Lee: And with the font printed out really small so that it's on the bottom of that Post-it note.    [00:10:56] Lorraine Nam: Mm-hmm.    [00:10:57] Miko Lee: Wow, that is so fascinating. And what is it when you're eagle eye-ing, what are you looking for?    [00:11:04] Lorraine Nam: I'm pretending that I'm a kid looking at a book for the first time, with zero context and maybe zero reading level skill and just looking at the pictures and seeing if I can spot the same character and if there is a story that follows along, because this is a library book where it doesn't talk about specific people. I wanted to be able to follow each character in the book and see what their day was like in the library. So when they first came into the library, what they were doing during the day, what friends they made, and then maybe them leaving or, you know, a resolution of some kind, like their parents are checking out symbols at the library.    [00:11:52] Miko Lee: the concept of having the character go throughout the book. Was that in the instruction or was something that you created.   [00:11:59] Lorraine Nam: That was something that I wanted. Because I know looking at picture books, the pictures can also tell a story where, the words, it might not be in the words. So I wanted there to be more of a layered storytelling through image.    [00:12:18] Miko Lee: I appreciate that as a mom. I remember when my girls were little, they would always say, where is that rabbit on the page? Or where is that thing? And so being able to track a character all the way through, is quite delightful. It adds another dimension for the multiple readings. You mentioned before about how you didn't really meet Mychal, the author of the book until the very end, and I guess that's common as an illustrator and you've worked with so many different experts in their fields from, physicist Neil Degrasse Tyson to Skater Nathan Chen. How is their very different fields, how does that impact your art making?    [00:12:57] Lorraine Nam: It's actually the most fun. It's what drew me to illustration in the first place. I love being able to do like a deep dive and a specific subject that I wouldn't necessarily have gravitated towards and do that research. I actually do go to the library. I start the process at the library and I look at all the books about that particular topic, and then see what other people have done. And so working on the book for Neil deGrasse Tyson, it was so much fun looking at different how space is depicted the idea of galaxies and making that tangible and real for kids. And then for Nathan Chen, I was already a fan before I got the project, so it was very easy. But watching the videos, seeing all the different techniques and for his book it was more looking at sports books. Because he's such a unique person in his specific field in figure skating that there weren't very many books on figure skating and most are of a female portrayal. I was looking more at sports and how people show different types of movement, , and show like form. And the more technical aspects that are very, very, very specific and very critical to those things.    [00:14:32] Miko Lee: And how did that manifest into your book?    [00:14:35] Lorraine Nam: Um, a lot of drawings of like, the breakdown of his jumps and trying to figure out can a child do this jump [laughs]? And also doing a lot of research 'cause he's a very private person. His book is not about him, it's not a biography, but it's also loosely based off of him. You know, I have two other siblings. If I had a book based off of me, I want my siblings to be involved and represented in that as well. So I included his family, even though they're not a huge part of the book, his siblings are not like big characters. But they're still represented in there. So he can still be like, oh that's my family. This is based off of my story.   [00:15:32] Miko Lee: So when you're doing these approaches, like including Nathan's family or in the library book, making sure characters go all the way through, is that something you have to check in with the writer about, to see if they're okay? Or is that something that you just do and then you submit and you see if they like it?   [00:15:50] Lorraine Nam: That's something that I do, that I find joy in and see. Usually the first eyes on my sketches are the publisher and the art director. And I actually have no idea what, at what stage they really share the sketches, if it's like at a more finalized stage or if it's an early on one, but I usually just go with my own ideas and see what they think about it.    [00:16:20] Miko Lee: Wow. I didn't know that you could have that much say into it. That's lovely. You talked a little bit about using the library for research. Gosh, I imagine that Neil deGrasse Tyson, there's so much research on it, that must have been a deep dive. I'm wondering what the library meant to you as a child.    [00:16:38] Lorraine Nam: Yeah. I grew up as a big reader. The library for me it was a magical space that I wasn't really sure what it was. My parents, because they grew up in Korea and moved here to the States, there was a big language barrier between us and they're also very not talkative people. They just took us to this place one day and it was our local public library and it was right before closing and we were able to check out as many books as we wanted in whatever type of book that we wanted. I felt like that was magical, that there was no limit to it.    [00:17:19] Miko Lee: My last question is, what are you working on now?    [00:17:22] Lorraine Nam: I'm working on a few books, actually. I'm juggling a few, but they're all very fun and different. I'm doing a book about a boy dreaming of flying, being a pilot. So I think that will be a really fun imaginative book.    [00:17:43] Miko Lee: What is one of your books that you would've liked to read to your younger self?    [00:17:50] Lorraine Nam: Mm, I probably Wei Skates On, the book with Nathan Chen. ‘Cause his story is about overcoming obstacles and being disappointed. And just feeling frustrated and upset. And I feel like that's an important lesson even in adulthood. It's not really resolved through words. It's more of like the, everyone is there for him, his family is there for him, and they all just want him to enjoy what he's doing and to not care about winning or losing.    [00:18:33] Miko Lee: Lorraine Nam, thank you so much for chatting with us about your work and about the library as a magical place, appreciate talking with you.    [00:18:42] Lorraine Nam: Thank you so much. I had so much fun talking with you.   [00:18:45] Miko Lee: Welcome, amazing award-winning children's book author Uma Krishnaswami, I'm so happy to have you here on Apex Express.   [00:18:54] Uma Krishnaswami: Miko, it's my pleasure to be here.    [00:18:57] Miko Lee: I wanted to start with a question I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?    [00:19:05] Uma Krishnaswami: What a wonderful question. Who are my people? My people are children who are, my ideal readership is the eight to 12-year-old group. I write for children. I'm not particularly thinking about audience when I begin writing. But at some point I want my readership to feel validated, whether they recognize themselves as being in my stories or my stories are offering them a window into a world that they are not immediately familiar with. So I would say those are my people.    [00:19:45] Miko Lee: And what is the legacy that you carry with you?    [00:19:48] Uma Krishnaswami: I grew up in India. The year that I was born India had been independent for all of nine years. So I carry very much that colonial legacy. I also am an immigrant to two countries, early in my adulthood to the United States and about 12 years ago to Canada. So my legacy is one of moving and finding new roots, finding community. Those are the things that I try to carry forward in my stories. When I began writing, I lived in the US and I started writing when my son was born. So there I was with a little brown baby and I went looking for books that would represent him and I didn't find them. And I think that is what made me think in my early thirties that, real life people could write children's books because of course the books I had read as a child were all written by people from England and many of them were dead. I kind of thought you had to be dead and British to be a writer. So yeah, it's complicated, isn't it? All of that works into, what you think of as, as your legacy. Having done this for 30 plus years now.    [00:21:03] Miko Lee: And you've written so many beautiful books. Tell us about a little bit more about that first book.   [00:21:09] Uma Krishnaswami: So the very first book, it was called Stories of the Flood. I realized very quickly that I didn't really know what I was doing. I looked to folk tales and traditional tales as a way to teach me about story. My second book called The Broken Tusk Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha. That is the one that I consider as the book that taught me how to write. I had a wonderful editor [unintelligble] Thorpe at a small press in Connecticut, Linnet Books. She told me to lean into story and to see myself as a storyteller. In a way, every book I've written has taught me how to write.   [00:21:47] Miko Lee: Can you tell us about your favorite book as a kid?    [00:21:52] Uma Krishnaswami: My favorite book as a kid, it would have to be Winnie The Pooh.    [00:21:58] Miko Lee: And what was it about Winnie the Pooh that enamored you?    [00:22:01] Uma Krishnaswami: I came to it very early and aunt had traveled to England and she brought me my copy of winnie the Pooh in the House of Poo Corner. And I read them, sitting in very Indian gardens, sometimes up in trees. I spent lots of time up in trees and I took my own geography and placed it over the geography of the book. , So that for me, the a hundred acre wood had lime trees and banyan trees and possibly mango trees. It didn't occur to me, until much later when I read an Enid Blyton reader. I had my moment of disillusionment with Enid Blyton and that's when it really occurred to me that there was an us and a them in, in some of the storytelling I was consuming.   [00:22:49] Miko Lee: What age was that where you recognized that?    [00:22:51] Uma Krishnaswami: My post-colonial moment?    [00:22:53] Miko Lee: Yes.    [00:22:54] Uma Krishnaswami: I might have been a 11.    [00:22:56] Miko Lee: Oh, wow. And were you still living in India at that time?    [00:22:59] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah, yeah. 11 was a very formative year for me. My grandfather passed away, so it sort of brought mortality , into the framework for me. Also that was my year of disillusionment with Blyton. 'cause I read The , river of Adventure. And the villain in it had my name. He was called. Uma, Raya or Raya Uma or something like that. And yeah, I was just shocked. Just totally shocked. It was pure coincidence, I'm sure. She probably just, pulled the name out of the air and plunked it in. But. I began to notice that he was described as dark skinned and he was described as cunning. All this language that had slid right past me before began to be apparent. So, yeah,    [00:23:47] Miko Lee: I love that. That is so amazing. This name, like what? That's my name as the villain.    [00:23:53] Uma Krishnaswami: I'm the Bad Guy. No, I'm not.    [00:23:56] Miko Lee: And all of your books are such a wonderful clap back to that because you have a multitude of characters and so many different worlds. Initially reached out to you because I started reading book Uncle this trilogy of books that are so lovely. Can you first share a little bit about what the Book Uncle's Trilogy is about.    [00:24:16] Uma Krishnaswami: Okay, so it didn't start out as a trilogy. It didn't even start out as a book. It started out as a short story and then it didn't quite fit. It wasn't a picture book. It seemed to have more layers than that, so it kind of grew. But what started Book Uncle and Me was I was visiting my parents in India. At the time, and I was on this very busy urban street and there was this kid sitting on this on the, on the sidewalk. Um, it was kind of a broken brick sidewalk, and she was sitting cross-legged right in the middle and she was reading book and she was just oblivious to the crowd going around her and the. Buses on the road and there were, you know, random goats and dogs running around and she just was ignoring everything and she was absorbed in her book. And I remembered that I had been that kind of reader as a child. There was an election going on at the time as well, and I thought, I wonder what would happen if I put those two things together. And that is how Book Uncle came to be.    [00:25:14] Miko Lee: And then there was just, you wanted to live in those characters more, so you ended up writing additional books?    [00:25:20] Uma Krishnaswami: Hmm and that's a very good question. And actually no, I didn't, I thought I was done. I wrote Book Uncle and Me back in, I'm say 2009, 2010, something like that. I probably started it in 2010. Um, it got published originally in India in 2012, I believe. And then it was picked up by Ground Wood in Canada and published in Canada and the US so North American edition in 2016. And I thought, you know, I'm done. I'm writing other things. And then come the pandemic and we're all in lockdown. And like a lot of writers, I was doing, um, many, many, virtual. Presentations and programs. Um, and I did something through the North Vancouver Public Library and, there were kids zooming in from, you know, some from home, some from their bubbles, some from classrooms, whatever. And we were talking about book uncle and one of the kids, I think in third grade maybe, she said, Are you gonna write a sequel? And I am just joshing, right? I am. I said, yeah, should I? And they're all going, yeah, you should. And you should write three because you've got three characters you should give them each a [story]. And I'm like, all right guys i'll think about it. I absolutely will but not really taking it seriously. And then as often happens. the session ended and, you know, there we were all in lockdown going nowhere. And I thought maybe, maybe there's something there. Maybe I could return to that. And in a way I was kind of intrigued because I hadn't, had never thought about a trilogy and I was interested in how that would play out. Um, and it was kind of a writing challenge to myself, but honestly, once I started writing Birds on the Brain, which was book two it just kind of, I hesitate to say wrote itself 'cause I, that just seems, you know, so kind of woo woo. But, um, it did, it did. Uh, the, the kid came in and she took over and then a bird flew onto the rooftop and there I was on my way. So that's the story of, of how that that happened. In retrospect, I'm really sorry I didn't ask that child's name because I would've absolutely loved to have acknowledged her in the book. But thank you child from North Vancouver, whoever you are.    [00:27:40] Miko Lee: That is so amazing. That's by request, by audience request. You fulfilled this goal of a trilogy and and I I love that they even said, not just a sequel, but a trilogy.    [00:27:52] Uma Krishnaswami: Oh, they were. Yeah. They had it. I mean, they had, then they, they figured it out, which was really lovely.    [00:27:58] Miko Lee: And those, that trilogy is really geared, as you were saying to the second and third grade audience and I So many of your books are written around kids that can make a difference. What is it about that age that appeals to you and that motivation to show them how they can change the world?    [00:28:16] Uma Krishnaswami: I think they have this really, strong sense of what's fair. It's the age at which, you know, you start pushing back against what you see as small unfairnesses in your life. Parental restrictions quite often, or older siblings. You're pushing back. You're doing a little bit of finding who you are. And I think that uh, you begin to get a sense of awareness of the big world outside your small circle. And I think also one of the things that drives me, with writing to this age is that, I feel that it is so unfair that grownups, the adult world, has created so much injustice. And we just kind of expect the next generation to step up and step into it and, and do the best they can. and it just, it doesn't seem right not to at least give them the wherewithal to think about that. And they do, they have children have voices and their voices matter. As we found out with, the climate strikes. I mean it really was young people who brought those messages out into the world and forced us to think about them and talk about them. So, I think that we owe children that.    [00:29:34] Miko Lee: So which of your books would you want to read to the second or third grade Uma?   [00:29:43] Uma Krishnaswami: [Laughs] Maybe Book Uncle and Me. Because I think there's a lot of second and third grade Uma in that book. I was a compulsive reader like Yasmin. I would've absolutely read a book every day for the rest of my life if I'd had that many books available to me. I didn't. So I read the ones I had over and over again. I lived in an imaginary world, quite a bit of the time.   [00:30:06] Miko Lee: Speaking of having access to lots of books, I'm wondering what your relationship was like to libraries, both as a child and then now.    [00:30:15] Uma Krishnaswami: I'm a proud and inveterate library goer. I put holds on things. I go browse on shelves. I download eBooks and audio books. I always have a pending list. I'm very, very grateful for libraries and also for librarians whom many of whom I have come to know over my life and am immensely grateful for. I did not have access to libraries much as a child. We didn't have a public library system that was free and available and open to everybody. There were the kind of unofficial lending library types that I feature in Book Uncle and Me. There are sadly fewer of them now, but you still find them on street corners in India. I remember taking a book and giving one and then getting one back in return. That was, that was part of my life in some of the places we lived.   [00:31:07] Miko Lee: Did you know an actual book uncle?   [00:31:10] Uma Krishnaswami: I didn't actually pay much attention, to the people who handed those books out. I was much more, focused on the books I was getting. There are characters who I've seen who have run these things. I once had somebody email me and say, I'm a book uncle. This is what I do. So that was really nice.    [00:31:31] Miko Lee: That's sweet. I wanna roll back and talk a little bit more about your artistic process. I'm wondering if you, as a writer, as illustrator, you can sometimes be in your own world, and I'm wondering what your process is.   [00:31:43] Uma Krishnaswami: My place is right here. This is my office room, and I'm standing at a treadmill desk, and usually what I will do, is when I'm writing, I will turn that on very, very slowly. I usually start out at the idea stage with a notebook and a pen. I have fountain pens with very varied colors of ink, and I use those always to write my initial notes and questions about a new story idea. I don't go to the computer and the keyboard until the idea has started showing up quite a few times. In, perhaps in a few iterations, almost as if I'm actually pushing it away at first, you know, saying, don't scratch up my window until you are developed a little bit more. I'm not going to, indulge, the initial shallowness that usually the first idea is often not what it's gonna end up being. I question that, and sometimes this is gonna sound really crazy, but, if I write those questions many times over in different colored inks, the answers begin to break out in clumps. Once I've begun to think, okay, well maybe I, I know what I could do with this. That's when I open up a file.    [00:32:56] Miko Lee: Ooh share a little bit more about the different colored inks. How does that work?    [00:33:00] Uma Krishnaswami: Um, right over there, there's a whole row of inks, and right over here is a fountain pen, and I have several of them. I change the ink colors, and when I get stuck with something, it really does help to write those questions to myself, in a journal notebook. I have a terrible handwriting, so I used to really worry about when people gave me nice notebooks. Little empty notebooks with beautiful glossy pages. I used to think, God, my writing is so awful. I feel like I'm desecrating this beautiful book. I've gotten over that and it's actually really helpful to physically write that thought for me is very, very useful.   [00:33:39] Miko Lee: And when you see the different colors, is it like words that stand out to you, that you piece together? Yeah.    [00:33:44] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or sometimes I'll write something, in a paragraph, and then I'll break it up and write it in a lineated way, maybe in a different color. You just start seeing things differently when you try different ways of thinking about the same thing. It's all a trick to get the kind of managerial editorial mind out of the way. You need her later, but I don't need her when I'm trying to shape something.    [00:34:13] Miko Lee: The, for the creative process. Mm-hmm. The multiple colors just helps    [00:34:16] Uma Krishnaswami: Right.    [00:34:16] Miko Lee: Pull you into that.    [00:34:17] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah. It just loosens, it loosens my mind up so I don't feel so focused on the objective. I often tell myself, I think Linda Sue Park used to say this. You don't have to write a whole novel. You just write a scene. And so that's what I tell myself, I'm a sceneist. I'm not a novelist. I'm just a sceneist. I write one scene. And that's all I need to write. Then I will write another one and so forth.    [00:34:38] Miko Lee: And do you use sticky notes or something to keep those scenes separately or    [00:34:42] Uma Krishnaswami: just all kinds of things? I use sticky notes. I use little boards on which I draw plot lines, and then I write, notes to myself. I use the journal notebooks. I've started using Scrivener and I actually have found that helpful but not until I've got something, in enough shape to plug things in.   [00:35:01] Miko Lee: Oh, I love hearing about artistic process. That's so fascinating. I appreciate you and you're showing your beautiful pen and everything. It's so great.    [00:35:08] Uma Krishnaswami: It's messy, right? One of the things I've learned is to lean into the messiness and not try to organize things too fast, too early.    [00:35:16] Miko Lee: Mm-hmm. Giving yourself the time for the creative juices to flow.    [00:35:20] Uma Krishnaswami: Yeah. Yeah.    [00:35:21] Miko Lee: So my last question is, what are you working on now?    [00:35:25] Uma Krishnaswami: I've actually just got done with edits on a picture book, which is going to be called Mango Sun. And then I'm working on another picture book. That's just gone to my agent. It's got to do with wildlife rescue and conservation in the Himalayas. It's an Indian setting, but a very different setting from Mango Sun.   [00:35:44] Miko Lee: And most of the ideas from your books are just coming from your imagination or something you read or where are you pulling from to get your inspiration?    [00:35:52] Uma Krishnaswami: Everywhere. Absolutely everywhere. I have a picture book that came out of a trip that we took to Galapagos and will it ever take form? I don't know, it's about the rewilding of an island , and how when you bring one species back, the other one follows. Some of it's from my childhood. I have two picture books that came out of a memory of planting a mango seed and watching it grow.   [00:36:21] Miko Lee: Sounds lovely. Two of my favorite things, mango and Sun [laughs], appreciate you joining us and sharing about your artistic process and your amazing book. And I'll put a link to your website in our show notes. And thank you so much for joining us and talking to us about Book Uncle and your work.    [00:36:37] Uma Krishnaswami: Miko, thank you so much. It's really a delight.    [00:36:41] Miko Lee: Welcome, Maggie Tokuda Hall to Apex Express.   [00:36:45] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Thank you so much for having me.   [00:36:47] Miko Lee: I'm so happy to have you talking about, your wonderful book, love in the Library. But first I wanna, ask you a question I ask my guest, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?   [00:37:01] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Oh man. I feel like I have so many tribes that I identify with in different ways. , Gosh, who are my people? I mean, generally speaking, angry queer teenage girls very much my people. Tired Jewish aunties also my people. Exhausted Asian mothers also my people, [laughs] librarians and book people are my people. I, I, I don't know. I feel like I have so many people that I feel an affinity toward and an affection for, and kinship with.    [00:37:38] Miko Lee: I like you naming all of those because we're multifaceted people and there's many different things that make up who we are. Yeah. And what is the legacy that you carry with you from all these tribes you're a part of?   [00:37:50] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: From my mother, I carry a legacy of honoring the truth, like really believing that children are owed the truth and that part of being an adult is being courageous enough to tell it. but I also come from like a vibrant family of Jewish storytellers and I feel like I have that, that I carry with me as well.   [00:38:17] Miko Lee: Thank you. So you've written the book Love in the Library about Tamma, a woman who works at a library in the Minidoka concentration camp during World War ii.    [00:38:28] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Mm-hmm.    [00:38:28] Miko Lee: And she meets George and falls in love. Can you tell me about how you very first heard this true love story of your grandparents?   [00:38:40] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I can't actually, I don't remember the first time I heard this story. It is a story that I've just always known. like for me it's very much a fabric of how I came to understand the world and my place in it. Like sky is blue, grandma and grandpa met in a prison camp, you know, normal stuff. And so, um,    [00:39:00] Miko Lee: so it's just part of the family lore?   [00:39:03] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah. Like, it's not something my mother was ever shy about telling us. And I truly do not remember the first time she talked to me about it because I remember being very small and already feeling like I knew that story.    [00:39:15] Miko Lee: Okay. Then how did you decide to turn it into a children's book?    [00:39:19] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah, so, in 2017 when President Trump took office for the first time, in his very first executive order was to sign the travel or Muslim ban where he was banning people from Muslim majority countries from coming to the United States. It was clear immediately that he was gonna be using his time and power to enact a white supremacist agenda. I knew I needed to do all the things that we're supposed to do. Like I called my representatives and I wrote my postcards and I marched and I did all those things. But I really did try to audit what I had to offer, particularly children in that moment. That was unique to me. And I realized I had this beautiful story in my own family, not just about the cruelty of those sorts of policies, but also the resilience and power of the people who they target.    [00:40:05] Miko Lee: Ooh. Fired up the, that truth teller part of you just became ready to go.    [00:40:11] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah.    [00:40:11] Miko Lee: Um, speaking of the impact of politics and what's going on and how that relates to books, I know that in April, 2023, Scholastic wanted to include love in the library in a collection around AANHPI folks, but they wanted to edit your amazingly fierce author's note. Can you share with our audience what happened?   [00:40:34] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, first of all, thank you for calling it amazingly fierce. In my author's note, I talk about how what happened to my grandparents wasn't an isolated moment in American history and that it was racist, which I think is a, a reflection of a very basic understanding of that history. It, it's not, a creative extrapolation and. Scholastic offered to license the book, but my licensing offer came with a caveat, which was that I had to remove that entire paragraph. Um, and I had to remove the word racism from the text altogether. And so I decided to say no and say no publicly. And for about three months, my full-time job was talking about Scholastic, but also about our obligation to tell children, American history, honestly.   [00:41:19] Miko Lee: And they wanted you to get word of the word racist. Did they say why?    [00:41:24] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yes, they basically said, the language is too strong and we fear that some teachers won't bring it in for fear of this political climate, which is the nice way of saying like, we have to sell into places where book bans are happening and we think that this language is too incendiary for people who would ban books, which to me was always really, Unsatisfactory logic, because books about Japanese American incarceration are banned all the time and they don't use as strident of language as I use in that author's note. baseball saved us, gets banned. They called us, the enemy gets banned. This story is already considered dangerous by the people who would ban books, so they were trying to hold a center that just doesn't exist.   [00:42:04] Miko Lee: And so what did you end up doing?    [00:42:07] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I said no and said no publicly, just with like, sort of the hope of, sparking some intra community conversation among kid lit creators about what sort of edits are appropriate to offer people. I would, I still posit, that that's a completely inappropriate edit and that's about sanding down people of color's, history and perspective to cater to a white audience. And I was unwilling to do it. and Scholastic initially released like a very, incomplete apology. And then when they received a lot of pushback about that, they offered a much more full apology. They offered to meet with me and my publisher, the CEO of Scholastic and the head of their education divisions, which is the division that made me this offer. And then they also had me work with a restorative justice consultant, for like a year to try to figure out what they could do better. But what I said to them at the end of that time that I told them, I was extremely transparent that I would be talking about this publicly. So I don't feel bad saying exactly what I said to them here is, I think the exact same thing would've happened. It just would've happened more politely.    [00:43:17] Miko Lee: Wow.    [00:43:18] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I don't think that they actually reexamined what their role is as a publisher of Books for Children under Unconsolidated authoritarianism. They just figured out how to ask people to make racist edits more, more, uh, gently.    [00:43:33] Miko Lee: And you worked with them for one year with an RJ consultant.   [00:43:36] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, like, not every day, but we had, you know, meetings over the months. And she was a smart lady. Like I don't think that she, you know, did nothing. I think she was trying her best, but I think that, you know, big institutions are very slow to institute cultural change and that that on the one hand has to happen from the top down, but also can't happen from the top down.   [00:43:56] Miko Lee: Mm-hmm.    [00:43:56] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: And so I genuinely believe that there CEO was trying his hardest to, to make a meaningful change, but without them really stopping and examining and questioning what their own role in this moment is in a critical way. I don't think that they are going to be able to have answered what I would've required for them to, for me to then accept their licensing offer. ‘Cause they made it again.    [00:44:25] Miko Lee: So at the end of the one year long, they made the licensing offer to you again?    [00:44:29] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah. I think just to be kind, just as like a gesture of like, listen, we know we messed up. We'd love to license your book and I still said no because I don't think that they made meaningful enough change.   [00:44:40] Miko Lee: Hmm. Wow. I love this. What did you learn from this experience?    [00:44:47] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: That it is very unusual for people to blow the whistle within publishing, even when the examples are egregious.    [00:44:54] Miko Lee: Tell me about your connection with Authors Against Book Bans. Did that come out of this experience with Scholastic, or were you involved actively involved in this prior to that?    [00:45:05] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: No, it absolutely came as a result of my experience with Scholastic. Authors against Book Bans is an organization that I'm currently the president of. We're over 5,000 book creators across the country who are united under a single point of view, which is that the government shouldn't be allowed to tell us what to read. That's what we believe and that's what we fight for. And I got involved in founding the group along with specifically David Levithan, who's a really wonderful young adult and middle grade author, who had put together most of this group before I even came on board. Cause we realized that authors needed a central place to fight. There was no one organizing specifically us. And so Authors Against Book Bans was born out of necessity and, the dearth of a place that existed for us. Everyone would call on us to come speak, but it was extremely ad hoc. We weren't making any kind of unified movement, even though we all so passionately agree that, you know, book bans are anti-American and in violation of our First Amendment rights. And, you know, the freedom to read is a necessary freedom for a free and democratic society. and the reason I'd reached out to David initially was because I was hoping to put together something like Authors Against Book Bans, but just by myself, which is, maybe a testament more to my own personality [laughs] problems than anything else, but I was like, I'll just figure it out. And he was like, you know, I'm actually assembling a group that's trying to do this. Would you like to be a part of it? And that's how I came aboard. But I had gotten interested in it because as a result of the Scholastic fiasco, I was invited to give the keynote speech at the Idaho Library Association in 2023. I gave my little speech that I'd been giving a lot then, um, about how we have an obligation to tell American history honestly. And, people were like, the reaction was so emotional to it and so profound and like, I thought it was a good speech. I'm proud of the speech, but like it, something else was going on and I could feel it. And I started talking to the people who were there and when these librarians started telling me what they had gone through, just for making books like mine available to children, stalking, harassment, death threats. One of them had been followed home, like really frightening, scary things happening to them on like, in some cases a daily basis. I realized like I was gonna be a part of this fight. That was that. I wasn't gonna let them fight alone. And so, you know, in, in my advocacy work now, Idaho still holds like a very precious place in my heart because I think that it's a very forgotten state. When we think about places that need help, when we think about places that have been gerrymandered, when we think about places where there are so many good people who are disenfranchised and unable to affect meaningful change in their state level, governments. That have just been absolutely run roughshod over by Christian nationalists. We should be thinking about Idaho. They have, I think, like the highest neo-Nazi population in the United States. so it's a very direct line between my grandparents being incarcerated to the activism that I do now. And it wouldn't have happened without Scholastic's offensive offer.   [00:48:22] Miko Lee: I did not realize that librarians were personally being assaulted or attacked or followed. For books.    [00:48:29] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: You should watch, the librarian's documentary that's now streaming on PBS. Okay. Um, it's common across the country. Amanda Jones, who's an Authors Against Book Bans member no big deal, is a librarian in Louisiana that can't go grocery shopping in her own hometown anymore for fear for her own safety because she has taken a stand to like refuse to remove lgbtq plus books from her school library shelves. It's really dire. And I think people understand objectively that book bans are a problem in our country. I do not think that they understand how violent that this fight is. It's a really dark and hard time to be a librarian. So if you're a person who supports libraries, you should be thanking your librarians and letting them know one-on-one and in person face-to-face that you appreciate the work that they do, because there are people who are making their lives really difficult.    [00:49:25] Miko Lee: Can you talk about what the library meant to you as a child?   [00:49:30] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, honestly it was like a part-time babysitter. You're a kid, there's a library. Entertain yourself, you figure it out. I think the first time I really felt like a sense of belonging in the library was in middle school. We moved from LA to Northern California and I had to start a new school in seventh grade. I didn't really know anyone and it was embarrassing to not have people to eat lunch with and things like that. So I would eat lunch in the library. And the librarian was really kind about it. Like she never called attention to it. She never embarrassed me about it. She would let me sneakily eat in there, even though there was a very specific rule that you weren't allowed to eat in the library. she put, the Enchanted Forest Chronicles on an end cap once, and that's how I found them and ended up reading the entire series and that was really when I became a fantasy reader and you know, my debut novel was a fantasy novel. I still feel very much like a fantasy reader kind of at heart, and that started there. I mean, we never know when libraries are going to save a kid's life.    [00:50:39] Miko Lee: Can we go back to how you ended up writing this book about your grandparents' experience? Sure. And what was the first spark for you to say, I wanna turn this into something. It's a family lore, but I want more people to know about it.   [00:50:54] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: I mean, the Trump administration thing,    [00:50:56] Miko Lee: it was truly that. You said it was    [00:50:57] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yeah. Trump was it    [00:50:58] Miko Lee: Trump got elected. People should know this happened.    [00:51:00] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yes. What do you have to tell children in this moment If they're Muslim, they're scared, and if they're not, they need a way to understand what it means to feel afraid. Both of those things need to happen at the same time of like, you have to offer comfort to the children of the marginalized. You have to offer perspective to the children who have the privilege not to feel that fear. And so I have this story and what I love about this story is. I know that children are capable of holding the complexity of this story is both very romantic and very sweet, and also the circumstances it happened under were completely unfair. That's the kind of logic children are able to hold, and they should be given the opportunity to hold that kind of complexity because it'll serve them for the rest of their life because most of most situations we confront are complex.   [00:51:57] Miko Lee: And how were you able to eke out more details of that story? Did you do family interviews or was it more from your imagination?    [00:52:05] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: My mother is a journalist and she kept my grandmother's journals from the time she was in Minidoka. So some of it comes from my grandmother's journals. Some of it comes from working with my mother to make sure that it felt accurate, tonally and factually. ‘Cause she was not gonna let me publish a book that was nonsense. I always say it's Truman Capote true. ‘Cause the situation, the sensory details, all that stuff real, but the dialogue is made up. The dialogue is art. The dialogue is a way for children to understand how they might've been feeling. They never had succinct, quick conversations like this about their humanity and how they felt about each other. It was a long courting process, and so, you know. That part is made up for children,    [00:52:49] Miko Lee: but you, but you did include actual quotes from her journal too, right?    [00:52:53] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Yes. The book closes with her words, not mine.    [00:52:57] Miko Lee: Can you give us those final words?    [00:53:00] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: The miracle is in us as long as we believe in beauty, in change, in hope. Which are words she wrote while she was imprisoned in Minidoka.    [00:53:11] Miko Lee: And how does that resonate with you in the time of now?    [00:53:15] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: They are words that I desperately cling to in the hope that I can see them become manifest.    [00:53:23] Miko Lee: And what are you working on now?   [00:53:26] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Making Authors Against Book Bans as operational as possible.    [00:53:31] Miko Lee: And what does that look like?    [00:53:32] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: In late 2025, we became a nonprofit corporation. We have fiscal sponsorship under EveryLibrary, which is a really wonderful advocacy group that's a combination [501](c)3-(c)4, which means you can make tax deductible donations to them, but also they do overtly political work. And so now we can receive tax deductible, donations and continue to do the overtly political work that we do. We are an unapologetically political organization. We are more than happy to help get people elected who fight for the freedom to read, and we are delighted to show the door to people who would stand in our way of that freedom.   [00:54:09] Miko Lee: And how can people get more involved in your work?    [00:54:13] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: They could absolutely go to authorsagainstbookbans.com and make a donation. We need it [laughs]. We are one of the only organizations that receives donations that exists for the sole purpose of fighting book bans. Most every other group in our space have an angle that book bans affect them, and so they fight against them, but that's not their only purview. It is our only purview. So if it is something that you were interested in fighting, then you could make a donation to us. I would suggest signing up to be on the email list from EveryLibrary because they mobilize everybody, not just authors and book creators. And if you are a book creator, self-published, traditionally published, we don't care. Then you should sign up to be a member of Authors Against Book Bans and you'll get calls to action every Friday.   [00:55:07] Miko Lee: Thank you so much for sharing with us about your book and educating us about the work you're doing and appreciate hearing from you. Thank you for joining us.    [00:55:16] Maggie Tokuda-Hall: Thank you for having me.   [00:55:28] Miko Lee: Please check out our website, kpfa.org/program/apexexpress to find out more about our show and our guests tonight. We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating, and sharing your visions with the world because your voices are important. Apex Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preti Mangala-Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me Miko Lee, and edited by Ayame Keane-Lee. Have a great night..    The post APEX Express – 4.9.26 – Library Joy appeared first on KPFA.

Read transcriptLook,  We've seen a lot of comic-based video games in my time, but when a mafia hitman gets murder powers from an eldritch shadow monster so he can take vengeance on, well, everybody, you know we've entered elite storytelling territory. The Darkness isn't here to make you feel good about humanity. It's here to make you ask if you'd trade your soul for a pair of talking demon heads who love street lamps way too much. This week, we're diving into The Darkness on PS3 and Xbox 360, that moody, gritty, and surprisingly heartfelt adaptation of the classic Top Cow comic series. And joining us for the chaos? None other than Sarah of Mars. Yes, that Mars. Because let's be real: if you're dealing with an ancient, malevolent cosmic force, you might as well bring in someone from a planet that already knows about hostile takeovers of a planetary variety. So get comfy (preferably not in the subway tunnels of New York with a swarm of writhing demons), because we're unpacking love, loss, corruption, and whatever dark surprises the game decided to throw at us just for kicks. Oh, and if your shadow starts talking back… maybe turn off the console. Learn such things as: How long did it take Chris to realize that the British band wasn't going to show up? Which band do you associate Mike Patton with, and is it the same band that makes the most sense to match with this character? Do you have to follow the source material to get a game that really feels correct? And so much more! You can find Sarah on BlueSky @sarahofmars.bsky.social, on that old blog Now I Write, and sometimes as a guest on Super Deluxe GamesCast. If you want to be a guest on the show please check out the Be a A Guest on the Show page and let me know what you're interested in. If you want to help support the show check out the Play Comics Patreon page or head over to the Support page if you want to go another route. You can also check out the Play Comics Merch Store. Play Comics is part of the Gonna Geek Network, which is a wonderful collection of geeky podcasts. Be sure to check out the other shows on Gonna Geek if you need more of a nerd fix. You can find Play Comics @playcomics.bsky.social on Bluesky, @playcomicspodcast on Threads, @playcomics on YouTube, or the Play Comics website. If you want to hear Chris talk with Karrington Martin about the lessons we learned from children's media and how crazy it is that we're supposed to just forget about that now that we're adults, then Sugar, Spite, and Everything is Fine is probably something you should check out. A big thanks to Infinite Earths Guide and Gender Pop for the promos today. Intro/Outro Music by Backing Track, who really wants to hear a Mike Patton cover of Reading Rainbow. Support Play Comics by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/playcomics Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-89f00a for 40% off for 4 months, and support Play Comics.

Host Jason Blitman is joined by Kate Schatz who lives out her Reading Rainbow fantasy by sharing some of her favorite books. Kate then shares the personal story behind writing her debut novel, Where the Girls Were. Kate Schatz is a feminist author from California. She's the New York Times bestselling author of Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, with W. Kamau Bell, and the “Rad Women” book series (including Rad American Women A-Z, Rad Women Worldwide, and Rad American History A-Z). Her book of fiction, Rid of Me: A Story, was published as part of the cult-favorite 33 1/3 series.Sign up for the Gays Reading Book Club HERESUBSTACK! MERCH! WATCH! CONTACT! hello@gaysreading.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Jake's Happy Nostalgia Show, we're joined by children's author, writer, and television producer Marilyn Sadler!Marilyn has had the pleasure of writing and producing for children in multiple different fashions. She is a children's book author, best known for book series such as P.J. Funnybunny, Honey Bunny, and Alistair Grittle, which was featured on two episodes of the PBS literary series Reading Rainbow. She is also best known for writing the book that became a DCOM, Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century, and in children's television for co-creating the Playhouse Disney series Handy Manny.Connect with Marilyn!https://marilynsadler.net/Taping date: December 17, 2024Edited by: Drew Wellshttps://www.youtube.com/@drewsmediacorner399https://www.instagram.com/drews_media_1/Be sure to check out our website, where you can learn more about the podcast and find how to follow the Happy Nostalgia team!https://jakeshappynostalgiashow.weebly.com/Listen to the audio version wherever you find your podcasts!https://linktr.ee/JakesHappyNostalgiaShow

An update to a story from a few months ago: Reading Rainbow is SO back baby!Read more about the new show here ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Rod and Karen banter about a random Black person giving them compliments, being misled on social media, lying social media pages, and sugar-free ginger ale. Then they discuss Unc Tendernism starting his own food truck, Sony Orders 24 Episodes of ‘Reading Rainbow’ Reboot, Issa Rae, White People News, man spikes coffee with meth, pickle assault, a murder outside of a Food Lion and sword ratchetness. Podjam 3 Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/podjam3 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theblackguywhotips Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rodimusprime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SayDatAgain⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TBGWT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TheBlackGuyWhoTips⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theblackguywhotips@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theblackguywhotips.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Teepublic Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- https://the-black-guy-who-tips-podcast.dashery.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wishlist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PDD9JUQUNVY5?ref_=wl_share ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crowdcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – https://www.crowdcast.io/theblackguywhotips Voicemail: ‪(980) 500-9034Go Premium: https://www.theblackguywhotips.com/premium/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having fun isn't hard, when you've got a library card. That's a mantra Mychal Threets, or Mychal the Librarian, has practiced since childhood. He's a librarian and literacy advocate who brings his library love to life on TikTok and Instagram. Millions of views later, he was named the new host of the recently rebooted Reading Rainbow on PBS. Plus, Ontario musician Evan Redsky on the book that provided him with two years of inspiration.Books discussed on this week's show include:I'm So Happy You're Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, illustrated by Lorraine NamOne Native Life by Richard Wagamese

What's up, dudes? A LOST EPISODE has been found! The Christmas Cousins, Chad and Seth, are here (back in August of '24) to talk the 1986 special "Santabear's First Christmas!" This "Reading Rainbow"-like special is narrated by Kelly McGillis and composed by Michael Hedges. In fact, it's based on a book by Barbara Read and adapted by Thomas Roberts.When a young snowbear is separated from his parents, he's adopted by a young girl named Marie. Marie and her grandfather teach the bear to read, speak, and bake cookies. Unfortunately, the girl's grandfather falls ill, and the firewood runs low. The snowbear ventures out to collect firewood.Subsequently, he falls in a snow drift and is trapped. A moose rescues him and takes him to some beavers, but they are all out of wood. Luckily, Santa shows up, gives the bear a saw and a sled, and the bear delivers the wood to the girl. Santa Claus appoints the young bear as his helper in delivering toys to the animals in the forest, and he becomes known as Santabear. Oh, and he's reunited with his family.Friendly young girl? Check. Barbarian Santa? Yep. Unhygienic kitchen? Probably, if a bear is baking cookies. So grab your saw, cut down some firewood, and train a bear to listen to this episode on "Santabear's First Christmas!"Christmas CousinsFB: @ChristmasCousinsPodTwitter: @XmasCousinsPodIG: @christmascousinspodGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com! Later, dudes!

The Great Rosary Campaign is an ongoing prayer and penance campaign for the conversion and strengthening of both Catholic and non-Catholic leaders.As a "Trekkie" (lover of Star Trek), we will be devoting several Great Rosary Campaigns to praying for the conversion of all remaining Star Trek cast members to the Catholic Faith.THIS FIRST WEEK of the Great Rosary Campaign: Star Trek Edition, we are praying for the conversion of Levar Burton, the beloved actor who played Geordi La Forge, Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise-D in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and hosted "Reading Rainbow." Levar was raised Catholic, but later left the Church. Please join us in praying that he may "live long and prosper," and return to the Church.The SUGGESTED PENANCE this week is a 24 hour water fast, adjusted for your state in life.In these dark times, we must fight evil with the most powerful weapons we have. The Rosary is foremost among them. Join the Great Rosary Campaign today at: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com.Countless Saints and Popes have told us that the Rosary is incredibly powerful for three things in particular:Keeping the FaithMoral renovationConversions of non-CatholicsThe Great Rosary Campaign is also based on several biblical themes and principles.First, PRAY FOR OUR BRETHREN. “Pray for one another…” (Jas. 5:16). “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).Second, PRAY FOR OUR ENEMIES. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:43-44).Third, PRAY FOR ALL MEN, PARTICULARLY LEADERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITY. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, or kings and all who are in high positions…” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).Fourth, GOING INTO BATTLE WITH THE ARK. When the ancient Israelites came to Jericho, God didn't tell them to besiege the city. Instead, He told them to march around it with the Ark of the Covenant seven times, and on the seventh the walls would fall. We will now "march" in prayer for seven days with the New Ark of the Covenant, Our Lady, through the Rosary. We pray in hope that on the seventh day, a day especially devoted to Our Lady (Saturday), extraordinary graces of conversion will be given to those we are praying for.Fifth, EVANGELISM AND APOLOGETICS = LOVE + ARGUMENTS + PRAYER + PENANCE. Ultimately it is God who reveals Himself to a soul, and empowers them to say "yes" to Him by His grace. He chooses to use us, but He does not have to. We must remember that as we evangelize and defend the Faith, our arguments will be fruitless unless informed by love (charity), and reinforced by prayer and penance.Sixth, RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. “Do not return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing" (1 Pet. 3:9).Sign up to take part in the Great Rosary Campaign today: www.GreatRosaryCampaign.com

This week, we're joined by Mychal Threets, the world's most popular librarian, who talks about Library Joy and rebooting Reading Rainbow. Plus, panelists Tom Bodett, Josh Gondelman, and Tig Notaro prepare for the big game by eating gooLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Christian Nerd Podcast is back and heading back to the island. Scott starts the show by talking about his week, which was weird. He reviews Project Hail Mary in Reading Rainbow. Scott went back to the island and he talks about his adventures there in Turnt Up for Turnips. And in Jesus Time, he discusses our deepest desires and what gets in the way of bringing those to Jesus. Show Notes   Intro - 0:00 "Rabbi, I want to see." Reading Rainbow - 4:23   Turnt Up for Turnips - 11:16   Jesus Time - 13:46   Goodbye - 21:24 Be sure to check out The Christian Nerd Like The Christian Nerd on Facebook Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and leave a comment Or use our RSS Feed to subscribe: http://thechristiannerd.libsyn.com/rss Follow The Christian Nerd on Twitter Follow Scott on Twitter Support The Christian Nerd on Patreon Email Scott at Scott@TheChristianNerd.com to get added to The Octagon. Thanks to Nick for The Christian Nerd theme music.

Notes and Links to Timothy Welbeck's Work     Timothy Welbeck, Esq., is an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Africology and African American Studies, where he previously served as an Assistant Professor of Instruction. There he teaches an array of popular courses, including a course he developed entitled Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of the m.A.A.d city. More broadly, Timothy's scholarly work focuses on contemporary issues of racial identity in America, the intersection of racial classifications and the law in the American context, contemporary African American culture, and hip-hop as a microcosm of the Black experience. Timothy has also written several peer-reviewed journal articles including “We Have Come Into This House: The Black Church, Florida's Stop W.O.K.E., and the Fight to Teach Black History.” He also authored “Specter of Reform: The late Sen. Arlen Specter's Criminal Justice Reform, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, and its Role in Expanding the Modern Prison Industrial Complex,” explores the impact of the infamous 1994 Crime Bill in providing the infrastructure for mass incarceration within the United States. The research, funded by the Arlen Specter Center fellowship, examines how the federalization of criminal law, pursuant to the Commerce Clause, has led to expansive growth in federal law enforcement, imprisonment, and thus setting the foundation for the modern carceral state. Timothy's article “People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths to Rhythms: Hip-Hop's Continuation of the Enduring Tradition of African and African American Rhetorical Forms and Tropes,” examines hip-hop's continuation of centuries-old African cultural norms and aesthetic values. As an attorney, Timothy has long been an advocate for justice, using his legal expertise to defend society's most vulnerable individuals, including survivors of human trafficking, survivors of police brutality, and the indigent. He has also provided crisis management, guidance, and legal counsel to churches and nonprofit organizations across the globe. In that capacity, Timothy is the Chair of the Board of Directors for The Witness Foundation, and an Advisory Board member of For the Future Organization. Timothy has also served as the Civil Rights Attorney for the Philadelphia Chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), where he defended the constitutionally protected civil rights and liberties of those who experience discrimination and harassment based on their faith, race, ethnicity, and/or national origin, particularly members of the Muslim community within Pennsylvania.  As a hip-hop artist, he has released four full length recordings, shared the stage with national and international acts (Janelle Monáe, Jidenna, EPMD, Dead Prez, and Immortal Technique), won songwriting contests (Session 1 Grand Prize in 2010 John Lennon Songwriting Contest), garnered high compliments from hip-hop legends, industry taste-makers (Sway) and record executives (VP of A&R at Def Jam, Lenny S).  His latest work, entitled ‘Trane of Thought, is a live recorded hip-hop album that melds songs from his first two albums the musical style of John Coltrane. Timothy presently serves as the Pastor of Formation and a Teaching Elder at Epiphany Church of Wilmington, bringing over twenty years of ministry experience. He fosters spiritual growth through expositional and topical preaching, community engagement, trainings, workshops and spiritual counseling. In his role, he equips Epiphany members to live out their faith practically in their communities and prepare others to do the same. Timothy's work as an attorney and scholar has allowed him to contribute to various media outlets, such as: Axios, BBC Radio 4, CBS, CNN, The Huffington Post, NBC, The New York Times, NPR, The Philadelphia Inquirer, REVOLT TV, The Washington Post, VOX, and 900 WURD AM. He has lectured nationally and internationally at esteemed institutions like: Magdalen College of Oxford University, Georgetown University, Swarthmore College, and provided invited keynote addresses at major corporations like 1Hotels, Campbell Soup, and Merrill Lynch. As a contributing writer, Timothy has bylines in The Huffington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY, and RESPECT Magazine.  He earned his J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and his B.A. from Morehouse College, where he graduated cum laude and was awarded the Corella and Bertrand Bonner Scholarship. Timothy finds his greatest joy and fulfillment at home with his wife and three children.     Timothy Welbeck's Website Video: “Kendrick Lamar and the Morale of m.A.A.d City Hiphop Course | Prof. Timothy Welbeck Explains”   Video Conversation with Georgette from XXL: “Inside the Kendrick Lamar College Course Created to Study His Lyrics and Life” At about 2:50, Timothy highlights some “surreal moments” in his hip hop career and advocacy At about 4:20, Timothy responds to Pete's question about declining or rising advocacy in contemporary hip-hop  At about 6:30, Timothy reflects on the balance between a democratization of hip hop and old models of record company control At about 9:05, Timothy talks about his reading background, including a Tim Follett read (!) and other formative works At about 12:10, Timothy talks about being a “late bloomer” in his hip hop exposure At about 13:25, Timothy cites Nas, Lauryn Hill, Blackstar, Outkast, The Roots as some of his favorite rappers and groups At about 14:45, Timothy talks about friends The Remnant and how they helped him to “understand the power of [his] own voice” At about 15:30, Timothy responds to Pete's question about how he listen to music now that he has written about and taught classes so extensively about hip hop  At about 17:00, Timothy breaks down his process for listening to music that he will be writing/teaching about  At about 17:50, Timothy explains the different ways of ordering Kendrick Lamar's albums/mixtapes, and expands on the class' contours  At about 20:30, Timothy talks about the class on Kendrick Lamar's seeds, calling it "serendipitous"  At about 23:10, Timothy talks about the class structure, including the foundation established at the beginning of the class At about 26:30, Timothy talks about how he goes about establishing Compton as an entity in itself, while at the same time showing its similarities to other casualties of government neglect and racism  At about 28:25, Timothy talks about the "compelling" way in which Kendrick Lamar is both popularly respected and critically-acclaimed  At about 31:55, Pete and Tim discuss an early Kendrick Lamar concert At about 32:25, Pete and Tim reflect on Kendrick Lamar's love of Black culture and for important music legends, particularly the way in which he featured titans on To Pimp a Butterfly At about 34:30, Tim describes the great insights  At about 36:05, Marcus J. Moore's The Butterfly Effect and Cole Cuchna and his Dissect Podcast are shouted out by Timothy as experts on Kendrick and his work, and DJ Head as well and Curtis King are highlighted as close colleagues of Kendrick's At about 38:00, Timothy shares some of his favorite bars from Kendrick Lamar At about 41:15, Pete and Timothy fanboy over Kendrick's verse on “Nosetalgia” and Timothy gives kudos to Cole Cuchna's breakdown of the numerology of the verse At about 42:10, Timothy talks about a few songs that might be best representative of Kendrick Lamar's music        You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Jeff Pearlman, a recent guest, will be up at Chicago Review in the next week or so.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of children's literature on standout writers from the show, including Robert Jones, Jr. and Javier Zamora, as well as Pete's cherished relationship with Levar Burton, Reading Rainbow, and libraries.    Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 319 with Farah Ali, writer of the novel The River, The Town, and the short story collection People Want to Live. Her fiction has been anthologized in Best Small Fictions and the Pushcart Prize where it has also received special mention. She is the cofounder of Lakeer, a digital space for writing from Pakistan, and reviews editor at Wasafiri. Her novel Telegraphy is out on January 16, from CB editions, and the episode airs on Pub Day.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.  

The theme song to Reading Rainbow has been delighting kids (and nostalgic grown-ups) for over 40 years. But how did this instantly iconic track come to be? In this episode, composer Steve Horelick reveals the unlikely story of its creation, from its empowering lyrics, to its “fluttering butterfly” synth sound, to how Chaka Khan and a mystery drummer helped shape one of its later versions. Support the show and get ad-free episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠20k.org/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced by ⁠Defacto Sound⁠. Subscribe on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see our video series. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mystery.20k.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow Dallas on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our community on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reddit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Explore Steve Horelick's work on his website and YouTube channel. Visit expressvpn.com/20k to find out how you can get 4 extra months of protection. Get 3 months of free payroll at ⁠gusto.com/20k⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Notes and Links to Cole Cuchna's Work     Cole Cuchna graduated from California State University with a degree in music composition. Cuchna graduated in 2015, pursued a short solo career, then worked as a barista. But his desire to bridge the classical and pop worlds persisted. He remembered his love of writing essays and conducting deep research about music. That coincided with the growing popularity of podcasting, which had been around for a decade. It was the perfect medium, he felt, for long-form analysis of an audio art.    Cole is the host and creator of Dissect Podcast, a music podcast which debuted in 2016. The podcast is renowned for its in-depth analysis of contemporary music. Dissect was named "Best podcast of 2017" by Quartz, and the following year was named "Best podcast of 2018" by The New York Times. Additionally, both Time magazine and The Guardian listed Dissect as one of the top 50 podcasts of 2018. 2025 marks the 13th season of Dissect.  Listen to Dissect Podcast   Watch Dissect Podcast on Netflix   Dissect Podcast Homepage   Dissect Podcast Wikipedia   Review of Dissect Podcast   At about 2:55, Cole explains plans for Dissect Podcast on Netflix, coming soon! At about 4:40, Cole responds to Pete's question about his own love of hip hop and transformative and formative music for him  At about 6:50, Cole underscores the “shared community” of skating growing up that welcomed “rappers” and “rockers” At about 8:30, Robin Branson, who put Pete on to Dissect (thanks, Robin), asks Cole about his view of himself as an “educator” At about 12:35, the two discuss Cole's research process and ideas of knowing the artist and his/her art At about 15:45, Pete shares a profound quote from Cole about the essence of music and music fandom At about 16:15, Cole responds to Pete's question about how he listens to music differently (or not) since he has become  At about 17:20, Cole expands upon the genesis for the podcast, dealing with Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly and his daughter's birth At about 19:00, a discussion of possible future hip hop heads alludes to a classic video At about 20:00, Cole outlines his average research time and his early research in the early days of the podcast At about 20:45, Cole explains what skills he had already developed in college music composition, and what skills he has learned/used in doing the podcast At about 22:20, Cole responds to Pete's question about how he picks an album At about 25:00, Pete details some of the great “subtlety and nuance” on the podcast At about 26:45, Cole expands on one of the show's “inside jokes” At about 27:45, Pete brings up “syncopation” in Radiohead's work in asking Cole about he balances sonic and lyrical jargon with digestible information for people who are not necessarily students of music theory  At about 32:15, Cole responds to Pete's question about what it's like to work with experts on individual artists in crafting his seasons  At about 34:25, Cole and Pete discuss the “side projects” that Cole has done involving standout artists and songs At about 36:20, Cole reflects on contemporary artists and his willingness to stay open to new sounds and talents At about 40:20, Cole talks about cool and beneficial feedback from the artists profiled on the podcast At about 41:40, Cole responds to Pete asking about “surreal” moments he's experienced in doing the podcast and offshoot projects  At about 42:40, Manifesting for a future Cole interview with Kendrick! At about 43:20, Cole shouts out the rapper who has “sealed the deal” for him as the G.O.A.T. At about 44:25, When's Frank Ocean gonna drop?      You can now subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and leave a five-star review. You can also ask for the podcast by name using Alexa, and find the pod on Stitcher, Spotify, and on Amazon Music. Follow Pete on IG, where he is @chillsatwillpodcast, or on Twitter, where he is @chillsatwillpo1. You can watch other episodes on YouTube-watch and subscribe to The Chills at Will Podcast Channel. Please subscribe to both the YouTube Channel and the podcast while you're checking out this episode.       Pete is very excited to have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. His conversation with Jeff Pearlman, a recent guest, will be up at Chicago Review in the next week or so.     Sign up now for The Chills at Will Podcast Patreon: it can be found at patreon.com/chillsatwillpodcastpeterriehl      Check out the page that describes the benefits of a Patreon membership, including cool swag and bonus episodes. Thanks in advance for supporting Pete's one-man show, DIY podcast and extensive reading, research, editing, and promoting to keep this independent podcast pumping out high-quality content!    This month's Patreon bonus episode features an exploration of children's literature on standout writers from the show, including Robert Jones, Jr. and Javier Zamora, as well as Pete's cherished relationship with Levar Burton, Reading Rainbow, and libraries.    Pete has added a $1 a month tier for “Well-Wishers” and Cheerleaders of the Show.     This is a passion project, a DIY operation, and Pete would love for your help in promoting what he's convinced is a unique and spirited look at an often-ignored art form.    The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.     Please tune in for Episode 316 with Kiese Laymon, a Black southern writer from Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of Long Division, which won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for fiction, and the essay collection, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, named a notable book of 2021 by the New York Times critics. Laymon's bestselling memoir, Heavy: An American Memoir, won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose, the Barnes and Noble Discovery Award, the Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media, and was named one of the 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years by The New York Times.    The episode airs on January 6.    Please go to ceasefiretoday.org, and/or https://act.uscpr.org/a/letaidin to call your congresspeople and demand an end to the forced famine and destruction of Gaza and the Gazan people.

Hey kids. Thanks for tuning in. This week we open up a Neca Figure, Talk about Kill Bill The Whole Bloody Affair do a Reading Rainbow, talk to Derrick and TONS MORE!  It's a super fun episode like always. Make sure to tell a friend!!!

The way people approach children’s books in the U.S. has changed a lot over time. Philosopher John Locke helped popularize the idea that learning to read should be fun with his 1693 treatise Some Thoughts Concerning Education. Fast forward 300 years and television series continued Locke’s legacy. Today's adults might remember the joy of reading being touted to young people through shows like Arthur and Reading Rainbow. The subjects of books for young people continue to change as well. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin—Madison tracks diversity statistics on the books they receive. 2024 was the first time since they started tracking that over half of the books had “significant BIPOC Content.” That designation takes into account the characters, settings and topics of books. This hour, we’re talking to authors about representation in young people’s literature. GUESTS: Ainissa Ramirez: Award-winning scientist and science communicator. She has worked at Bell Laboratories. Her latest book is a picture book called Spark: Jim West’s Electrifying Adventures in Creating the Microphone. Angeline Boulley: bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter. Her new book is Sisters in the Wind. If you want to learn more about the Indian Child Welfare Act, you can listen to our interview with Matthew L.M. Fletcher. To hear more from Ainissa Ramirez, you can listen to our 2021 conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weekend Debrief, Dave and Wes discuss a question about King David's anointing. They also give an update to the book giveaway challenge, where two lucky people can win a copy of ⁠⁠Sacred Seasons⁠⁠ by guessing either Dave's or Wes's favorite holiday drink. Did anyone guess correctly this week? Listen to find out. They also talk about books they have been reading in their Reading Rainbow segment. Send Book Giveaway answers or questions to ⁠(971) 301-2414⁠ or ⁠⁠podcast@graceindallas.org⁠⁠. Reading Rainbow Recommendations: Advent: Darkness, Then Light by Christianity Today Wombat Divine: A Heartwarming Christmas Story by Mem Fox Tress of the Emerald Sea: A Cosmere Novel (Secret Projects) by Brandon Sanderson Missions Links: Missions Partner Highlight for December (Compassion First) - https://www.compassionfirst.org/ Christmas Gift Giving Link: https://graceindallas.churchcenter.com/giving/to/special-project Recommended Links: Spotify Podcast Link - https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/graceindallas Apple Podcast Link - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-church-dallas-oregon/id414919476 Podcast Sponsor: Silver Falls Coffee - ⁠https://silverfallscoffee.com Christian Online Bookstore: 10 of Those - https://us.10ofthose.com/

In this episode of Talking-ish, Raya's food poisoning incident, Coretta's parenting challenges, Britt's exhausting work event, and Anthony's community engagement with Toys for Tots. The conversation flows into viewer comments, cultural reflections, and the importance of community support, all wrapped in humor and camaraderie. In this conversation, the speakers delve into various themes surrounding ignorance, literacy, and the role of media in shaping public perception. They discuss the origins of Project 2025, the consequences of illiteracy, and the importance of reading. The conversation also touches on the slippery slope of modern journalism and the accountability of public figures like Diddy and 50 Cent. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the need for critical thinking and the impact of words in society. In this episode, the hosts delve into the controversial Diddy documentary, discussing its implications and the allegations surrounding Sean Combs. They explore the narrative changes brought by 50 Cent's involvement, the scrutiny of Diddy's relationships with artists, and the broader questions of accountability within the music industry. The conversation reflects on Diddy's complex legacy and the uncertain future he faces amidst ongoing allegationsBecome a Habitual Ish Talker and follow us on The App Formally Known As Twitter: twitter.com/TalkinIsh_PodJoin in on the conversation! E-Mail us at ⁠talkinishpod@gmail.com⁠Listen to the audio version: https://linktr.ee/TalkinIshPod00:00 - Introduction 02:41 - Weekly Wellness Check: Raya's Food Poisoning Incident05:30 - Coretta's Week: Surprises and Work Mishaps16:08 - Navigating PTO Policies and Work Culture19:42 - Food Safety and Meat Quality Concerns22:42 - Family Dynamics and Holiday Plans25:48 - Toys for Tots and Community Involvement29:20 - Personal Highlights and Collectibles30:41 - Weekend Adventures and Car Troubles32:41 - Viewer Comments and International Love33:39 - Cultural References and Humor38:07 - Political Perspectives from Lafayette42:28 - Ignorance and Literacy in the Spotlight52:37 - The Impact of AI on Black Communities53:31 - Financial Literacy and Its Importance56:38 - The Evolution of Reading Rainbow and Its New Host59:31 - Controversies Surrounding Reading Rainbow01:03:37 - The Dangers of Ignorance and Hate01:07:28 - The Legal Battle of Megan Thee Stallion01:13:02 - The Legal Implications of Revenge Porn01:14:26 - Defamation and Freedom of Speech01:16:38 - The Role of Media in Celebrity Trials01:18:47 - The Slippery Slope of Journalism01:21:15 - The Consequences of Words01:25:05 - The Importance of Press Freedom01:26:59 - Diddy and the Reckoning Documentary01:37:26 - The Dark Side of Fame01:39:45 - The Untouchable Diddy01:43:43 - The Legacy of Bad Boy Records01:46:37 - The Impact of Diddy's Upbringing01:51:29 - The Documentary's Revelations01:59:01 - Family Ties and Controversies02:02:04 - The Diddy Debate02:03:13 - Political Theories and Allegations02:07:51 - Record Label Dilemmas02:14:03 - Final Thoughts and Goodbye

For Patreon subscriber Kenny Zail!  LOVE TRIVIA WITH BUDDS? CHECK OUT THE MNEMONIC MEMORY PODCAST!  "Knowledge is rooted in memory—listen to The Mnemonic Memory Podcast today." http://www.themnemonictreepodcast.com/ Fact of the Day: Beloved PBS children's series Reading Rainbow, was originally pitched as an extension to another beloved PBS classic, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, under the title "Mister Rogers' Summer Vacation". Triple Connections: Departed, Martian, Rainmaker THE FIRST TRIVIA QUESTION STARTS AT 01:14 SUPPORT THE SHOW MONTHLY, LISTEN AD-FREE FOR JUST $1 A MONTH: www.Patreon.com/TriviaWithBudds INSTANT DOWNLOAD DIGITAL TRIVIA GAMES ON ETSY, GRAB ONE NOW!  GET A CUSTOM EPISODE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES:  Email ryanbudds@gmail.com Theme song by www.soundcloud.com/Frawsty Bed Music:  "EDM Detection Mode" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://TriviaWithBudds.com http://Facebook.com/TriviaWithBudds http://Instagram.com/ryanbudds Book a party, corporate event, or fundraiser anytime by emailing ryanbudds@gmail.com or use the contact form here: https://www.triviawithbudds.com/contact SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL MY AMAZING PATREON SUBSCRIBERS INCLUDING:   Mollie Dominic Vernon Heagy Brian Clough Sarah Nassar Nathalie Avelar Becky and Joe Heiman Natasha raina Waqas Ali leslie gerhardt Skilletbrew Bringeka Brooks Martin Yves Bouyssounouse Sam Diane White Youngblood Sarah Lemons Trophy Husband Trivia Rye Josloff Lynnette Keel Nathan Stenstrom Lillian Campbell Jerry Loven Ansley Bennett Gee Jamie Greig Jeremy Yoder Adam Jacoby rondell Adam Suzan Chelsea Walker Tiffany Poplin Bill Bavar Sarah Dan  Katelyn Turner Keiva Brannigan Keith Martin Sue First Steve Hoeker Jessica Allen Michael Anthony White Lauren Glassman Brian Williams Henry Wagner Brett Livaudais Linda Elswick Carter A. Fourqurean KC Khoury Tonya Charles  Justly Maya Brandon Lavin Kathy McHale Chuck Nealen Courtney French Nikki Long Mark Zarate Laura Palmer  JT Dean Bratton Kristy Erin Burgess Chris Arneson Trenton Sullivan Jen and Nic Michele Lindemann Ben Stitzel Michael Redman Timothy Heavner Jeff Foust Richard Lefdal Myles Bagby Jenna Leatherman Albert Thomas Kimberly Brown Tracy Oldaker Sara Zimmerman Madeleine Garvey Jenni Yetter JohnB Patrick Leahy Dillon Enderby James Brown Christy Shipley Alexander Calder Ricky Carney Paul McLaughlin Casey OConnor Willy Powell Robert Casey Rich Hyjack Matthew Frost Brian Salyer Greg Bristow Megan Donnelly Jim Fields Mo Martinez Luke Mckay Simon Time Feana Nevel

“The library is where I felt, I'm safe here. I have friends in Encyclopedia Brown, Junie B. Jones, Amelia Bedelia, Stanley Yelnats, and all these various characters. I think that's the beauty. That's the sanctuary, the sacredness of that physical space.” – Mychal ThreetsMychal Threets grew up among the stacks and, from a young age, experienced the magic and shelter of the library. Today, he is a librarian, a social media sensation, a mental health advocate, and the new host of the beloved show Reading Rainbow. In this episode, we take a trip to St. Louis, where my conversation with Mychal was recorded live on stage at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Conference. You'll hear all about how Mychal is stepping into his own rainbow-colored shoes while honoring LeVar Burton's legacy, how he turned pain into purpose, and the power of “library joy.” And wow, the joy among the librarians in that convention hall, including two standing ovations for Mychal, was palpable. This week, in place of a featured librarian, we hear a round of Q&A with Mychal and some of those librarians in the audience. Settle in for a conversation full of Mychal's signature warmth, heart, and honesty.***LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Mychal Threets Lays Out His Life in BooksMychal Threets InstagramMychal Threets TikTokReading Rainbow on YouTubeBeanstack resources to build your community's reading cultureJordan Lloyd BookeyHost and Production CreditsHost: Jordan Lloyd BookeyProducers: Mel Webb and Lower Street MediaScript Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jordan Lloyd Bookey

It's time to get official! This week we talk about a new Barry's Steamer, the Texas Renaissance Festival, Outer Worlds 2, Ball x Pit, Truth and Treason, Angel Films, the GeekShock Film Institute, The Vexing Menagerie, The Spark Devil, Halls of Torment, King Sorrow, Chairman Meow, Jungle Action comics, Marvel's Champions, Titan Comics Conan, Marvel Age of Revelation, JSA All In, Van Helsing, the Kelvin Universe ends, new Hollywood lows, Pokémon scalpers, The Mummy 4, Miss Piggy, Reading Rainbow, and Herbert West: Reanimator. So, count em down, it's time for a GeekShock!

At an early age Edward Andrès Dennis always knew he wanted to be an artist. His fondest memories are of his mother reading books to him and watching Reading Rainbow. Day and night Edward was creating something, a doodle, some craft or writing a story in hopes of one day creating a book for children like himself to read. Edward created art through his teenage to adult life working for some of the most prestigious companies. His favorite times have been spent as a Special Education teacher in inner city Phoenix. Edward currently lives between Los Angeles, California and Phoenix, Arizona where he works as a freelance artist. His 2 life goals are to inspire children that look like him and that his children's books have an impact on youth and how they view the world.​Edward has worked with brands such as Toyota USA, Yakima racks, Disney, Giant/Liv Cycling, Sesame Street, Shimano, Epic Rides, Corel, Anheuser-Busch, Western Union and Giordana cycling. He has been in publications like Mountain flyer: the mountain bike journal, ImagineFX, Bicycling Magazine,Backcountry magazine, Outside business journal, Pure Nintendo and Nintendo force, Trail builder Magazine. He has also worked on several video games such as Super Ubie Island, Up Up Ubie and currently Super Ubie Island 2.​Edward has been recognized by the Latino Film Institute as a LatinX in Animation Spark Grant Finalist with Netflix for 2023 and is pursuing the adaptation of his children's books into an animated film/series. Edward is currently Writing and Directing his debut short film.

This week on the pod, Amy is on the “struggle bus”. The highs are high and the lows are low. She's decided that she and her husband need a wife like Betty Draper in Mad Men. She also describes a terrible nightmare. Maya jumps in with her recurring nightmares. Amy's husband accidentally goes to a BDSM lounge. Animal Report: Rat Hole Update. We lost some greats this month—Diane Keaton, Ace Frehley, and D'Angelo. Maya confesses she never watched Annie Hall, and Amy admits she turned it off. The ladies have some very strong opinions about Woody Allen. In other news, Pete Davidson came to town for the  Paul McCartney show. Let's just admit that Ringo Starr is the lesser Beatle, but he's still a Beatle. Amy does her slot machine impression. Amy reviews Taylor Swift's new album, The Life of a Showgirl. Approved/Denied: Tyra Banks' “hot ice cream”, Reading Rainbow returns! Gen Z is bringing their parents to job interviews. 

In a news conference Wednesday, President Trump said he will be “strongly recommending” his administration look into sending troops to the city, which he called “a mess.” The comments come after Elon Musk and Mark Benioff said they'd like to see the National Guard in San Francisco. We discuss what may come next, but first we talk with the new host of “Reading Rainbow.” Almost 20 years since it went off air, the beloved kids' literacy show is back. The reboot is hosted by Mychal Threets who, until last year, was a librarian at the same Fairfield library he grew up frequenting. Guests: Mychal Threets, librarian and literacy advocate; new host of "Reading Rainbow" Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED; co-host, KQED's "Political Breakdown" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our team reveals their can't-miss ‘Jenna & Friends'-inspired Halloween costumes for this year. Also, Lili Reinhart stops by to discuss her new series ‘Hal & Harper,' which tells the story of two siblings who discover their father is having a baby with his girlfriend. Plus, meet social media's favorite librarian, Mychal Threets, who's bringing back the beloved childhood classic ‘Reading Rainbow.' And, Hannah Taylor shares a delicious recipe for chicken and dumplings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fall came in colder than an ex's heart, and Ryan and Joyhdae are officially over it. This week's episode starts with the great seasonal betrayal—one minute it's 80 degrees, the next you're waking up to 43 and questioning your life choices. From there, it's all downhill—or uphill, depending on how you feel about government shutdowns, Dolly Parton confusion, and Kamala Harris finally saying what we've all been thinking.Ryan and Joyhdae unpack a week that felt like America's group chat gone wrong. Kamala Harris dropped a perfectly timed “these motherfuckers are crazy,” and we've decided that's the energy we're carrying for the rest of the year. Meanwhile, the government still can't get its act together, Trump is threatening federal workers' paychecks, and somehow people are still trying to climb Mount Everest like it's a team-building exercise.If that's not enough chaos, Drake took another L—this time in court—proving Kendrick Lamar really ended the saga months ago. Dolly Parton's sister had everyone online planning candlelight vigils for no reason, Ayesha Curry reminded people that honesty about marriage is still too much for the internet, and Reading Rainbow is officially getting a reboot with Mychal the Librarian leading the way. Joyhdae also names her mother “El Chapo” and Ryan might have discovered family lies through an ancestry test, because of course he did.It's messy, it's real, it's deeply funny, and it's exactly what you need to get through another week in this ridiculous timeline.If you laughed, yelled, or side-eyed someone while listening, make sure to subscribe, hit like, and drop a comment telling us your favorite part of the episode. New episodes of Virgo Season Show drop every week—where common sense and chaos meet for therapy we can't bill insurance for.Connect With Us:• Email: Virgoseasonshow@gmail.com• Website: Virgoseasonshow.com• YouTube, TikTok & Instagram: @VirgoSeasonShow• Ryan: @OhBlackRyan• Joyhdae: @Joyhdae----CHAPTERS00:00 Intro00:05 It's a Cold World03:41 Vibe Check06:38 The Rundown08:16 AITA: Sibling Drama at Family Dinner16:59 Government Shutdown and Political Chaos21:55 Kamala Harris Speaks Out26:37 Letitia James' Indictment29:50 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce32:49 Stranded on Mount Everest36:22 Ancestry DNA Test38:33 Dolly Parton Health Scare41:10 Drake's Defamation Lawsuit Dismissed46:25 Reading Rainbow Returns with Mychal the Librarian51:40 Diddy Sentencing52:32 Tyrese's Dog Incident55:38 Ayesha Curry's Marriage vs Personal Ambitions01:04:06 Dad vs Auntie  Jokes01:06:20 Find Us On All The Things!01:08:06 One More For the Road...01:08:43 Outro

This week's episode features an engaging conversation where Joe opens up to Cody about his recent decision to finally cancel his Xbox GamePass subscription. After months of contemplating its value versus the time he actually spent gaming, Joe felt it was the right move to make. This cancellation prompts a deeper discussion about gaming habits and how they can shift over time, especially as other interests begin to take precedence. Following this, Joe shares his experience with the ReMarkable 2 tablet, which his brother recently purchased. He describes the unique features of the device, particularly its paper-like feel and the ease with which he can take notes and sketch ideas. Joe delves into how this tablet has influenced his productivity and creativity, making it an appealing option for anyone looking to enhance their digital note-taking experience.As the conversation progresses, Joe reveals that he has been contemplating a return to the world of comic books, but this time through digital formats. He reflects on his childhood nostalgia for flipping through the pages of comic books and how the digital landscape has evolved to offer a plethora of options for readers today. Joe mentions various platforms and apps that cater to comic book enthusiasts, making it easier than ever to access a vast array of titles and genres. This leads to an intriguing discussion about the differences between physical and digital comics, including the advantages of portability and searchability that digital versions provide.Transitioning from comics, Joe brings up some recent news regarding The Witcher series of books. He discusses how CD Projekt Red, the developers behind the popular Witcher video games, have taken creative liberties in expanding on storylines and characters that were not originally present in Andrzej Sapkowski's written works. This opens a dialogue about the balance between staying true to source material and the necessity of adapting narratives for different media. Joe shares specific examples of characters and plotlines that were fleshed out in the games, sparking a debate on whether these additions enhance or detract from the original story. Furthermore, Joe excitedly mentions a new addition to The Witcher universe: a prequel book by Andrzej Sapkowski that promises to explore untold tales and deepen the lore of the series.In response, Cody shares his thoughts on a book he has been immersed in lately, titled The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand. He expresses his admiration for the way the anthology captures the essence of King's storytelling while introducing new perspectives and narratives within the established universe. Cody reflects on how the collection not only pays homage to the original work but also expands on the themes of survival and human resilience in the face of apocalypse, making it a compelling read for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.As the episode draws to a close, the duo shifts gears to discuss the much-anticipated return of Reading Rainbow. Both Joe and Cody reminisce about how the show impacted their childhoods and instilled a love for reading. They explore the significance of such educational programs in today's digital age and the importance of fostering literacy among younger generations. Their conversation highlights the ways in which Reading Rainbow has evolved and adapted to modern platforms, ensuring that its mission to promote reading and learning continues to resonate with audiences today. This nostalgic yet forward-thinking discussion wraps up an episode filled with reflections on gaming, literature, and the enduring power of storytelling.Official Website: https://www.comesnaturallypodcast.comOfficial Merchandise: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/comes-naturally-podcast/iTunes: http://tinyurl.com/kqkgackFacebook: http://tinyurl.com/myovgm8Tumblr: http://tinyurl.com/m7a6mg9Twitter: @ComesNaturalPodYouTube: http://tiny.cc/5snxpy

Frank and Jonathan catch up after a busy con season and dig into the biggest geek stories they've missed. We react to the Mandalorian & Grogu trailer and its old-school adventure vibe, talk through why a Game of Thrones one-two punch in 2026 could work (and where House of the Dragon still needs to land), and break down the first real look at the Wolverine game from Insomniac. We also map out what the Peaky Blinders movie and sequel series might cover, debate the point of The Simpsons Movie 2, and line up a sharp October watchlist. Plus: Jordan Peele's Him hits digital with bonus content, and we're giving away copies today. Timestamps & Topics 00:00–02:24 • Catch-up and con season recap (Crocker Con, LA Comic Con, highlight video) 02:24–11:08 • Mandalorian & Grogu poster + trailer reactions, practical effects, scale, IMAX plans 11:08–19:12 • Game of Thrones 2026: House of the Dragon S3 expectations, big battles, “movie-episode” idea; A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms tone and Dorne 19:12–23:21 • The Simpsons Movie 2: why now, scope, and what would make it worth theaters 23:21–29:19 • Wolverine (Insomniac) gameplay: combat feel, Omega Red stakes, Mystique story tricks, scent-tracking 29:19–39:51 • Peaky Blinders: WWII film setup, Tommy vs. fascism, the 1953 sequel series and what shifts after the war 39:51–40:23 • What we're rewatching: Invincible 40:23–40:51 • Ad: Jordan Peele's Him now on digital + bonus content 40:49–40:51 • Giveaway: Free copies of Him dropping on our socials today 40:51–48:14 • October Watchlist: Solar Opposites, Hazbin Hotel, Star Wars: Visions, It: Welcome to Derry, The Witcher's final season 48:14–52:18 • Horror picks, Tron rewatch plans, final recs (Reading Rainbow with Mychol the Librarian) Key Takeaways Mandalorian & Grogu looks like classic adventure cinema with modern polish, and the scale finally feels “Star Wars movie” again. House of the Dragon S3 needs payoff right away; A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms works best if it stays grounded and character-driven. Wolverine aims for weighty, tactile combat; villains like Omega Red can raise stakes by limiting healing. Peaky Blinders is set up for a strong WWII film handoff to a 1953 sequel series that explores post-war power shifts. The Simpsons Movie 2 needs a big, timely hook to justify the leap back to theaters. October TV is stacked, and It: Welcome to Derry has room to dig into the town-wide effects of Pennywise. Memorable Quotes “There's something about a Star Wars movie where the budget is just whatever they wanted to do.” “Make the season climb, then drop a theater-only battle movie the very next weekend.” “Star Wars tech feels bolted together in the best way. You can almost hear the click of every panel.” “He operates perfectly in the gray area where politics can't see.” “The best horror makes you think about it long after the scare.” Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, follow and subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and share the show with a friend. Drop a review and tag your post with #GeekFreaks so we can shout you out next week. Links & Resources GeekFreaksPodcast.com — the source of all news discussed on our podcast Follow Us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeekfreakspodcast Threads: https://www.threads.net/@geekfreakspodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/geekfreakspod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geekfreakspodcast/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GeekFreakspodcast Listener Questions What did you think of the Mandalorian & Grogu trailer? Which October show are you most excited for? Send questions and topic requests for future episodes, and we'll feature them on the show. Apple Podcast tags: Geek Freaks, Geek Freaks Podcast, Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Simpsons Movie 2, Wolverine game, Insomniac Games, Peaky Blinders, Tommy Shelby, Invincible, It Welcome to Derry, Solar Opposites, Hazbin Hotel, Star Wars Visions, The Witcher, Tron Legacy, Reading Rainbow, Jordan Peele Him, October watchlist

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the opening of the portal to submit claims against the $1.5 Billion Anthropic settlement, Reading Rainbow's relaunch, One Battle After Another, and more of the week's book news. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Check out Zero to Well-Read! Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. Apply to write for Book Riot Authors can find out if they're eligible for a settlement from Anthropic Reading Rainbow is coming back with a new host Publishing has a gambling problem Florida district judge rejects first amendment argument in book banning base Kamala Harris's 107 Days on track to be best-selling memoir of the year 107 Days by Kamala Harris Midnight Timetable by Bora Chung Replaceable You by Mary Roach Enshittification by Cory Doctorow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The JBP kicks off its new episode discussing the ongoing beef from Cardi B and Nicki Minaj (21:05) before turning to the two diss records from JT aimed at Cardi (39:45). Joe asks the room if they believe in music bullying (1:19:35), Bryson Tiller releases Disc 1 of ‘Solace & The Vices' (2:06:53), and Leon Thomas has new music leading the cast to debate what other R&B artists he's making it tough for (2:14:25). Also, a debate on funeral attendance (2:31:05), Reading Rainbow is making a return (2:43:50), the MLB Playoffs (2:54:33), Diddy's sentencing (3:05:45), Part of the Show (3:21:10), and much more.   Become a Patron of The Joe Budden Podcast for additional bonus episodes and visual content for all things JBP! Join our Patreon here: www.patreon.com/joebudden 

Topics Include: The Mandalorian and Grogu, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Zootopia 2, In Your Dreams, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, The Astronaut, IT: Welcome To Derry, The Bride, The Carpenter's Son, and the return of Reading Rainbow.

Elon's worth drops, a little… Meta using Chatbot info for ads… Amazon launching it's own food brand... Walmart to remove synthetic dyes in it's brands… Automakers claim EV sales are up… Government freezes money earmarked for NYC… Who Died Today: Jane Goodall 91… Hunter S Thompson death being case reviewed... Email: ChewingTheFat@theblaze.com www.blazetv.com/jeffy $20 off annual plan right now ( limited time )... New movie / We Bury The Dead… Terminal List 2 wrapped filming… Football means series slow watching & family time… Reading Rainbow coming back on Saturday… Brian Boone joins the program / Uncle Johns Know It All Bathroom Reader… Uncle John's Know It All Bathroom Reader: Superior Trivia! Amazing Facts and Figures! (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Annual): Bathroom Readers' Institute: 9781667208480: Amazon.com: Books Bank Heist in 1878… Mars Family History… Joke of The Day… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Two Queens, Two Crowns, we get into Cardi B's big album debut and the messy back-and-forth with Nicki Minaj that lit up social media. We also celebrate Selena Gomez tying the knot with Benny Blanco (and unpack the side-eye from Justin Bieber's posts). Plus, we ponder the trending question: why do the pop charts feel so boring right now, even with big names dropping music? And for Black News, Erica brings us joy with the return of Reading Rainbow—with a new Black host carrying the torch.Subscribe for monthly bonus episodes:https://patreon.com/2Queens2CrownsJoin the conversation:TikTok -⁠@2queens2crowns⁠,⁠@iam_kjmiller⁠, @leta_bitchknow⁠YouTube -⁠2 Queens 2 Crowns⁠IG:⁠@kjmiller, ⁠⁠@letabknow References:Cardi's #1 album:https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/cardi-b-am-i-the-drama-numer-one-billboard-200-chart-1236077406/Cardi vs. Nicki:https://pagesix.com/2025/09/30/entertainment/cardi-b-nicki-minaj-trade-barbs-in-another-explosive-social-media-war-missed-me/Selena's Wedding:https://pagesix.com/2025/09/28/celebrity-news/benny-blanco-shares-behind-the-scenes-photos-of-lavish-wedding-to-disney-princess-selena-gomez/Selena's mom responds to rumors:https://www.eonline.com/news/1423103/selena-gomez-benny-blanco-married-mom-mandy-teefey-reactsSelena's Wedding Planners:https://pagesix.com/2025/09/28/celebrity-news/selena-gomez-and-benny-blanco-hire-same-wedding-planners-as-justin-and-hailey-bieber/Justin's carousel:https://pagesix.com/2025/09/28/celebrity-news/fans-troll-justin-bieber-over-cryptic-post-about-marriage-as-ex-selena-gomez-weds-benny-blanco/Sam Murphy's TikTok on pop music today:https://www.tiktok.com/@popsamcam/video/7555567238368087327?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7517361012459193886Reading Rainbow's return:https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/reading-rainbow-new-host-mychal-the-librarian-rcna234638

Topics discussed on today's show: National Hair Day, Coming Up in October, Stagecoach Performers, Birthdays, History Quiz, KFC's Recipe, Taliban Internet, Trump Tariffs, Selecting Kumari, Studio Session with Christian James Hand, Reading Rainbow, Calling in Sick, Stagecoach, Acting Sick, Sports News, Animal Carvers, Coming up in October, and Apologies.

AI actors spark a union backlash, Rick Moranis dusts off the helmet for Spaceballs 2, and Superman soars on Max while Kimmel breaks records despite affiliate drama. Plus, Reading Rainbow returns, Tubi gets Thanksgiving football, and Amazon shows off shiny new Fire TVs.This week on The FULL Experience: Yellowstone (509 - "Desire Is All You Need")Next week: Yellowstone (514 - "Life Is A Promise")Subscribe, get expanded show notes, and past episodes at http://Cordkillers.comSupport Cordkillers at http://Patreon.com/CordkillersYouTube: https://youtu.be/BCEslkXaMYU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Betty’s headache, a fitness influencer’s drama, Reading Rainbow is coming back, and which board game we’d like to live in for a year. You can join our Wally Show Poddies Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/WallyShowPoddies

A PBS classic is making its way back to the airwaves (e-waves?) as a YouTube show for a new generation.Read more about the new show and its host here ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Topics discussed on today's show: Chewing Gum, Smelling Farts, Thumb Sucking, Brands of Gum, Wood in Batter, Reading Rainbow, Protesting Sex Traffickers, Birthdays, History Quiz, Movie Tariffs, AI BF's and Parental Control, Maxwell and Supreme Court, McD's Monopoly, KFC Herbs & Spices, Famous Relatives, Fish Butts, and Apologies.

Reading Rainbow is coming back and it had the gang wondering about other shows we'd revive, people are doing more in their cars than just commuting, and sadly Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban filed for divorce so we talked to a divorce expert to find out just how long this might take. Catch up on everything you missed from today's show on The Morning Mix Podcast!Listen to The Morning Mix weekdays from 5:30am – 10:00am on 101.9fm The Mix in Chicago or with the free Mix App available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.Follow The Mix: The MixstagramGet the Free MIX App: Stream The MixSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good Morning and E News: Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban split after 19 years, Celebrity marriages that your forgot about, "Reading Rainbow" is back, and Is there a new sport Karen? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pete Davidson is predicting fans will turn on Walton Goggins, Reading Rainbow is coming back after 20 years and McDonalds is bringing back Monopoly.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

58 millions pounds of corn dogs are being recalled after people are finding little pieces of wood in their sausage. An AI actress is close to getting a representation from a talent agency. McDonald's monopoly is back! Reading Rainbow is making a come back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fred wants to know how you open a banana. Plus Fred and Kaelin get nostalgic when they find out the show Reading Rainbow is being rebooted!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.