Actor and writer Olive Lorraine joins me to discuss a perfect misanthropist’s heaven: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë from 1847. Summary: Lockwood, the new tenant of Thrushcross Grange on the bleak Yorkshire moors, is forced to seek shelter one night at Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord. There he discovers the history of the tempestuous…

This might be the most I've ever laughed in an episode? Slay. Adriene Vento joins me to discuss several entries into the Mercy Watson series written by Kate DiCamillo and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. We cover Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride (book 2) and Mercy Watson Fights Crime (book 3), a series about a pig who loves toast and the people who love…

Rishi Mahesh joins me to discuss Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture from 2008. Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Randy Pausch delivered a "last lecture" of life lessons for his young children in the months preceding his death due to pancreatic cancer. I'm really eager to hear thoughts on this episode! Follow Rishi Follow Erin Support the podc…

John Paul Sarni of Stampede Ventures and the Page and Screen podcast joins me to discuss Michael Crichton's 1990 staple: Jurassic Park! Listen to Page and Screen! Support the podcast! Follow Erin!

Sometimes mosquitos get in the pancakes and you have to eat them anyway. Writer Emily Schmidt walks me through one of the most popular and traumatizing series of the late 90s/early 00s: Dear America and in particular its Oregon Trail diary Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie from 1997 by Kristiana Gregory. Summary: After the death of her 2 sisters…

I wouldn't have predicted that I would ever say the phrase "acquiescence mushrooms," but here we are. Bailey Benningfield joins me to discuss Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted. And yes we discuss the movie, don't you know my passion for Anne Hathaway? Synopsis: At her birth, Ella of Frell was the unfortunate recipient of a foolish fairy's gift - …

What's this? A bonus episode? This week Jess Woodworth returns to discuss a seasonal staple that I had never seen before: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS from 1993. The film tells the story of Jack Skellington, the King of "Halloween Town", who stumbles upon "Christmas Town" and schemes to take over the holiday. It was directed by Henry Selick and w…

It's a picture book - with lore. Delaney Circe joins me to discuss Chris Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick from 1984. In an encounter between a children's book editor named Peter Wenders and an author and illustrator named Harris Burdick – who says he has 14 stories that he has written – Burdick brings one picture from each story with …

Shelby Copple joins me to discuss a book about lovin books: INKHEART by Cornelia Funke. The story follows bookish twelve-year-old Meggie, who learns that her bookbinder father Mortimer or 'Mo' has a special gift: he can bring fictional characters to life. Read Shelby's newsletter! Support the podcast! Follow Erin!…

Get your freak on theater kids, we're doing Shakespeare. Kylie Brakeman joins me to discuss William Shakespeare's immortal classic: Macbeth. Listen to Kylie's podcast Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists! Support the show! Follow Erin!

Kevin T Porter joins me to discuss the second book in Louis Sachar's Wayside series: Wayside School is Falling Down! Our original Wayside episode with Jenny Cavallero! Listen to Kevin's podcast Good Christian Fun! Support the podcast! I'll send you MAIL!! Follow Erin!

Natalie Ortega (Wicked!!!) joins me to discuss Scott Westerfeld's 2005 library staple: UGLIES. Also, a movie of this 19 year old book is coming to Netflix in a few weeks. That's called serendipity, baby. Uglies is a 2005 science fiction novel by Scott Westerfeld. It is set in a future post scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is considered an…

Grace Bahler joins me to discuss the first book in Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You from 2006! The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school—that is, if every school teaches advanced martial arts in PE, chemistry always consists of learning about th…

Jess Woodworth joins me to discuss Newbery Medal winner The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (one of only 6 authors to win 2 Newberys!) The main plot follows the adventures of a mouse named Despereaux Tilling, as he sets out on his quest to rescue a beautiful human princess from the rats. (Wikipedia) Support the podcast! Follow Jess! Follow Eri…

Chelsea Pope joins me to discuss Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey! Trigger warnings for discussions of mental health, institutionalization, suicide, and more. The book is narrated by Chief Bromden, a gigantic half-Native American patient at a psychiatric hospital, who presents himself as deaf, mute, and docile. Bromden's tal…

It's another dealer's choice episode! Returning guests Hua Chen and Ashley Westover join me to discuss a book I hated in high school (I was wrong! I know!) Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE! Book summary: While the arrival of wealthy gentlemen sends her marriage-minded mother into a frenzy, willful and opinionated Elizabeth Bennet matches wits with…

I didn't mean to have the American Revolution episode come out on July 3rd, but! I'll take any serendipity I can get. Another Dealer's Choice episode - professor Carly O'Brien returns to discuss Esther Forbes' 1943 Newberry winning novel Johnny Tremain. Book summary: Johnny, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up with Otis, Hancock, and John …

Don't look now, it's the Gruffalo! Book summary: Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake . . . and a hungry Gruffalo! (Storygraph) Support the podcast! Follow Hayley Follow me!

I'm launching a series called DEALER'S CHOICE where I pick the book!! So I picked my middle school backpack staple, my entry into adulthood, the book that made me say "teenhood? i'm here!" it's Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn! The novel is told from the alternating perspectives of Nick, the only straight member …

ITS EPISODE 30! Don't bring back jelly sandals unless you're cosplaying the Big Lebowski!

Original guest Georgia Shenk joins me to discuss Meg Cabot's AIRHEAD - a book about modeling, full body transplants, and a chinchilla named Anna Nicole Smith.

Flop Soup's Justin Crosby joins me to discuss Lemony Snicket's first Unfortunate Event: The Bad Beginning! Why is Erin's audio so bad? We don't know but hopefully she'll figure it out. Or else!

Sarah Dessen has LANDED. Cassandra Kyriazis of Flop Soup joins me to discuss Sarah Dessen's novel LOCK AND KEY, 2008s jewelry, and the power of having 2-3 friends. Flop Soup: https://www.flopsoup.com/ Substack: https://goodlinksbycassandra.substack.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CassandraKy

MERMAIDS, ARE YOU READY? Zannah Schorer joins me for episode 26 to discuss Liz Kessler's tale of a girl probing the mysteries of her absent father, the weird lighthouse operator, and why her legs are becoming a tail!

ITS EPISODE 25!!! And one of the best books in American literature in my opinion. Corryn Diemer joins us to read Louis Sachar's 1998 classic - its both twinkling fairytale and sweaty gritty story about the juvenile penal system. And of course, the movie. Follow Corryn! Support the show! Follow Erin!

"It becomes this really fun conversation where the kids are learning and exploring alongside you. Because so many of us are still learning about these topics and unlearning every day.” In this episode, hear from Shelby Kretz, founder of Coralus Venture Little Justice Leaders. Shelby joins Coralus Development Guide Loren Walsh to discuss her journey…

Grab your gear, we're looking for dragons. Ashley Westover joins me to discuss Dugald Steer's interactive DRAGONOLOGY and his OLOGIES series! Support the podcast! Follow Ashley's podcast QueerPG! Follow Erin!

"Jim Crow would create, for the Black community, access to water issues so people could not easily and readily access pools and water spaces that were safe and clean. That resulted in families who didn't get that skill set to pass it to generations. And it then created this fear, which then led to drowning." In this episode, hear from Trish Miller,…

Its a Required Reading first - childhood friend Hua Chen joins Erin to discuss a book they read together in Mr Swift's 10th grade English class: THE GRAPES OF WRATH, a book which both love, but could not remember. Spoiler: it's really good!

This week writer and artist Emily Caulfield joins me to discuss Sydney Taylor's ALL OF A KIND FAMILY! I can't believe we recorded the whole episode and I forgot to ask what a Whatnot is!

Trigger warnings abound but its a goodie all the same - Zoë Dennis joins me to discuss Sylvia Plath's 1963 novel The Bell Jar! The Bell Jar is the story of 19-year-old Esther Greenwood, the breakdown she experiences, and the beginnings of her recovery. The year is 1953 and Esther Greenwood, having finished college for the academic year, has won a o…

ITS OUR TWENTIETH EPISODE!!!! A classic among classics, book one of the His Dark Materials series, The Golden Compass

"People are very aware of our obligations around reducing our emissions. But chemical pollution is an equal priority. Climate change, biodiversity loss and chemical pollution are elevated to the same level in terms of a triple sanitary crisis." In this episode, hear from Kate Bromfield, founder of Coralus Venture HazEL. Kate joins Coralus Developme…

ITS THE BODY EPISODE, MOM AND DAD DON"T LISTEN. Dive in to Valorie Lee Schaefer's THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU from American Girl Magazine in 1998.

In this episode, hear from Stacey Mareroa-Roberts, founder of Coralus Venture Ignite Your Gift. Stacey joins Coralus Development Guide MJ Ryan to discuss Stacey’s journey so far, her background studying law and how it led to her founding Ignite Your Gift, and her company’s advisory, coaching, and mentoring practices grounded in Maori principles and…

We're going to the dump and making a swimming pool! Madeline Douglass joins us to talk Gertrude Chandler Warren's 1942 THE BOXCAR CHILDREN! Mystery grandfathers abound!

In this episode, hear from Awhina Murupaenga, founder of Coralus Venture Whatu Creative. Awhina joins Coralus Development Guide MJ Ryan to discuss Awhina’s focus on sharing Maori storytelling and visual languages through traditional art, and her upbringing as part of the Kōhanga Reo movement of Māori immersion education style. They also discuss: St…

TW: This episode contains mentions of self-harm, violence, and bullying. In this episode, hear from Rachel Downie, founder of Coralus Venture Stymie. Rachel joins Coralus Activator Connie Henson to discuss Rachel's entrepreneurial journey, which stemmed from her background as an educator for 30 years. The tool that Rachel developed, Stymie, has gro…

In this episode, hear from Elisha Watson, founder of Coralus Venture Nisa, in a conversation with Development Guide MJ Ryan. Nisa was founded by Elisha in 2017, and up until July 2023, Nisa had provided employment to 29 women from refugee and migrant backgrounds. In December 2022, Elisha put Nisa up for sale and in June 2023, they announced they we…

Grab the tissues, it's everyone's favorite heartbreaking dog book: Wilson Rawls' WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS

It's 2009 and you are in a Hot Topic. You are wearing glitter and a henley with a cami underneath. Your best friend is no longer speaking to you because she is team Jacob. This week, April Consalo joins me to discuss the horny 00s global phenomenon classic TWILIGHT

"It's been a really interesting opportunity to dovetail 30 years of working in gender-based violence, to being now in a position to utilize technology in a way to create safer spaces." TW: This episode contains mentions of gender-based violence and sexual violence. In this episode, hear from Mary Lobson, founder of Coralus Venture REES. Mary joins …

We take a little break to talk about the best books I read this year!

“We wanted to be able to create a sense of a peace of mind. That's one of the things I'm always talking to people about. When you're tired of being tired, you just want a peace of mind.” In this episode, hear from LaTesha McIntosh-Smith, founder of Coralus Venture A Peace of Mind Counseling Services. LaTesha joins Development Guide Loren Walsh to d…

Its a little bit different this week! Krista Moy joins me to discuss the first spark of her acting career: Tennessee Williams' A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Trigger warnings abound, take care and happy birthday! Follow Krista! Support the show! Follow Erin!

"As a designer, those are the responsibilities that you need to take on board. We've got a world where we've only got finite resources. We can't just keep on making more and more and more, it's just costing the planet far too much." In this episode, hear from Liz Mitchell, founder of Coralus Venture The Wool Revolution. Liz joins Development Guide …

NEVER CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU WHEN YOU GO INTO A WARDROBE!! Support the podcast! Follow Max! Follow Erin!

WE HAD MORE THINGS TO SAY!

"Wrapping paper is single use packaging. It's pretty single use packaging, but it is single use packaging. I want to keep that tradition. I love giving gifts. I love Christmas, I want all the trimmings. I just want to do it better." In this episode, hear from Emma Conyngham, founder of Coralus Venture Waste Free Celebrations. Emma joins Development…

New favorite episode alert??? Poet and production designer Katie Wilkerson joins me to discuss their adolescent favorite, JD Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.