Who knew a direct translation trench warfare WWI memoir could be so fascinating? Certainly anyone who knows anything about WWI, including my friend Salv. In this episode, we chat about the complicated Ernst Junger and his seminal WWI masterpiece “Storm of Steel”, including what the trenches were really like, what heroism is, and asking ourselves: how do we write about warfare?

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“Girl Dinner” gets a whole new meaning in Jean M. Auel’s 1980 “Clan of the Cave Bear”, where my lil’ sister Moselle and I serve up tasty morsels such as what makes a GOOD villain, Mary-Sue-isms, and a Neanderthal delicacy: ptarmigan stuffed with its own eggs.

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EPISODE 12: Less Than Zero with My Cousin Friend, Jona

My cousin-friend (and former pod co-host!) Jona and I dive into the wild world of Brett Easton Ellis to discuss his debut novel, Less Than Zero. A fascinating and disturbing look at the world of the 1980's LA elite, Less Than Zero is equal parts literary masterpiece and chaos-riddled teen drama -- which, obviously, we adore. And it wouldn't be Jona & I without some armchair psychoanalysis.

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Time travel, fantasy, and humor combine when my former boss (and friend) Cathal and I sit down to fish for a brand sponsorship from Mythology Whiskey. Oh yeah, we also discuss Terry Pratchett’s powerhouse fantasy-cop satire, “Night Watch”, the 29th installment of the beloved Discworld series. We chat moral v. legal justice, the role of parody in genre, and of course, Supermacs.

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It’s me and me alone this week to give you my H1 Reading Review! On a mission for more Moshfegh, I review Lauren Groff’s “Matrix”, Rachel Yoder’s “Nightbitch”, and Mona Awad’s “All’s Well”, in addition to giving my listeners some QT with me. Let’s chat all things reading, writing, and more in my first (but not last!) solo episode!!

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EPISODE 9: Childhood’s End with My Cousin Ben

My cousin Ben and I chat about one of the greatest sci-fi classics of our time: Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke. In addition to discussing what the end of days and The Wild Thornberrys have in common, Ben and I take a look at the beauty of sci-fi (and Clarke, specifically) to open up the box when it comes to big concept thinking, the connections between Clarke and a potential faux moon landing, and deep sea diving.

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EPISODE 8: Harry Potter AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE with My Oldest friend Kelly, Pt 2

I’m back with my oldest pal Kelly to finish up our chat on Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. Last week, we tackled JK Rowling. This week, cancel culture, the cottage industry supporting Pottermania on their terms, and where exactly the Iron Curtain falls in the Wizarding World (because Hermione does not seem jazzed about a Bulgarian summer getaway with Krum.)

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EPISODE 7 PT 1: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with My Oldest friend, Kelly

What do crying at Sidney High School Prom 2010 and JK Rowling have in common? My oldest friend Kelly Whipple makes me feel better about both of them! Today is just one helping of a fun convo on all things Pottermania - from JK Rowling’s fall from grace to #justiceforsnape, we start what we can’t finish in Part 1 of Episode 7: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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