Cover to Credits

This episode we look at the first adaptation of a Jack Reacher story with the film... Jack Reacher! Starring Tom Cruise and adapted from the Lee Child novel, One Shot. We get to discuss so many things this episode, like Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise's height, and what an asshole Tom Cruise is in this film! We also talk about our beloved hometown Pittsburgh, Russian conspiracies a lot about boat shoes!

This episode we get to discuss the only adaptation in Quentin Tarantino's filmography, Jackie Brown, based on the novel Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard! This story of crime and likable anti-heroes feels typical for Tarantino, so it's surprising how faithful it is to the source material, but we still have plenty to discuss, including genre influences, fantastic performances and THE MALL!

This episode we look at the new adaptation of The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan on Disney Plus, created by Rick Riordan himself and Jonathan E. Steinberg. This beloved series explores Greek mythology in a string of wacky hi jinks with the goal of uncovering a massive conspiracy among the Gods. We discuss the humor of the novel, the impeccable casting of the show and some pretty fantastic choreography and visual effects.

This episode we discuss the long awaited adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon, written by David Grann and directed by Martin Scorsese! This story depicts the real life horrors faced by the Osage tribe in the 1920's when they were murdered for their oil money. The book reads like a detective mystery (at points) and yet the movie took a different approach, putting the relationship between Ernest and Mollie at the center. But how do these two versions compare? And which did we prefer? Hit 'Play' to find out!

This episode we look at the classic Alice Walker novel and Steven Spielberg film The Color Purple. The story of Celie and her struggles as a black women in the early 1900's is full of hardships, but there's also plenty of humor and triumph as well, leading us into discussions on everything from intersectional feminism and queer representation, to Kitchen Nightmares and celebrity feuds.

This episode we look at a popular, contemporary romance novel, Red, White & Royal Blue, and the recent Amazon film adaptation directed by Matthew Lopez. We're discussing classic rom-com tropes, a bi-sexual crisis, and asking the big questions, like "Do the members of the Royal Family know how to ride a bike?"

This episode we discuss a coming of age story that is as tender as it is bloody, Let the Right One In, written by John Ajvide Lindqvist with the film adaptation directed by Tomas Alfredson. We discuss this story's themes of violence, some amazing special effects (with one notable exception) and "the blood at home."

This episode we discuss the classic Judy Blume novel, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. and the 2023 film adaptation directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. This story perfectly highlights the trials and tribulations of puberty, family, and the mysterious pursuit of God, all while delivering amazing comedy and beautiful moments between friends and family.

This episode we look at a popular book from the early 2000's, The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri, and the film adaptation directed by Mira Nair. This story examines what it means to be caught between two homes and two cultures, and how the experiences of second generation immigrants can differ from their parents. But don't worry, we also keep it light and discuss awkward sexual tensions, crazy ex girlfriends, and unconvincing age differences between parents and children.

In this episode we enter the world of The Circle, a semi-dystopian tale of social media, technology and privacy, written by Dave Eggers with the film directed by James Ponsoldt. We discuss the overwhelming sense of anxiety brought on by office culture, the changing landscape of satire, and putting microchips in the bones of children!

This episode, we celebrate our new dog, Arwen, by discussing a pig (that behaves like a dog) in the classic film Babe, directed by Chris Noonan, and based on the book by Dick King-Smith. We discuss how this film innovated new special effects techniques, the darker aspects of the story, and exactly why Christmas means carnage!

We return to the world of The Hunger Games this episode for the prequel novel and film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, written by Suzanne Collins and directed by Francis Lawrence. This story answers so many questions we had about the world of Panem, like "Who invented the Hunger Games?" "Do birds have remotes?" and "What if President Snow but with abs?"

This episode we discuss the hilarious, tragic, and occasionally grim adventures (if you know you know) of a small Alabama town in Fried Green Tomatoes, directed by Jon Avnet and based on the novel by Fannie Flagg. This episode has us talking about queer and black representation, suggestive food fights and the several(?) twists and the end of the film.

We close out this October with a horror classic, The Thing, directed by John Carpenter in 1982, and based on the novella, Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell. We're talking big hats, dog Oscars, confusing blood tests, monsters that are committed performers, and of course, our thoughts on that ending!

We're kicking off October with a horror classic of the early 2000's, The Ring, directed by Gore Verbinski and based on the novel by Koji Suzuki. This film adaptation (although not the first) brings chills and scares aplenty, while the novel managed to horrify us in ways we weren't expecting. This episode we delve into antiquated technology, questionable friendships and Smallpox?

This episode we look at the classic novel by Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre, and its 2011 film adaptation by Cary Joji Fukunaga. This story of gothic romance is one of Adina's favorites and gave us so much to discuss, including the "hideously ugly" leads, the ridiculous pranks of Mr. Rochester and the interesting dom/sub undertones of the Jane's relationships!

The story of Charlie and Nick continues this episode as we discuss Season 2 of the Netflix series Heartstopper, based on the graphic novel by Alice Oseman! This season was broken up by a beautiful trip to Paris and featured plenty of romantic tension, acts of kindness, and extreme emotional growth, especially by a certain wacky-haired individual! Let the Pride Tide wash us all away!

This episode we discuss the acclaimed novel The Giver, written by Lois Lowry, and the 2014 film adaptation directed by Phillip Noyce. This unique book asks what makes life worth living and what are we willing to sacrifice for comfort and stability, and the film asks "what if Meryl Streep were a hologram?" You can imagine we have a lot to discuss this episode, from grown men sledding, to bathing the elderly, and even BMX motocross jumps.... maybe it would just make more sense for you to listen.

This episode we discuss Nimona, the web-comic turned graphic novel by N.D. Stevenson, and the 2023 film adaptation directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane. We discuss the queer themes of both versions, compare the art and animation styles, and ask ourselves why sharks on legs are so damn funny.

This episode, we're discussing the classic film The Princess Bride (Inconceivable!), directed by Rob Reiner in 1987 and the novel that inspired it, written by William Goldman. We discuss the humor and hijinks of each version, including the deep and fictional mythology of the novel, as well as the amazing cast, our favorite lines, and we even try to count the number of times characters are knocked unconscious (which is quite a lot!)