Chapter 1.10 – Blessed Be the Pod

Summary

Alicia and Sarah talk about the fourth season of The Handmaid’s Tale, the first season of which is based on the book by the same title. They discuss gender, feminism, anti-heroes, revenge, and everything in-between. Praise be.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.9 – The Robot Slipper

Summary

Alicia and Sarah talk through the young adult novel Cinder, a dystopian sci-fi retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale. They discuss the Cinderella trope, dystopias, pandemics, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic literature in the 21st century.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Editor’s note: There were technical difficulties during the taping of this episode. We apologize for the sound issues at the beginning and the end of the episode.

Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.8 – The Complicated Family Narrative

Summary

Alicia and Sarah express their love for the NBC drama This Is Us and the complicated family narrative that it has always presented. They discuss the role of family and how it shapes us, the potential power of a delineated storyline, and the way the series has reshaped the concept of love story to show that love is ultimately a choice.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.7 – Thinking Through Monsters, Sci-Fi, and History

Summary

Alicia and Sarah talk through the first season of HBO’s Lovecraft Country, based on the book by the same title. They discuss the role of problematic literature and H.P. Lovecraft’s undeniable influence on 20th-century sci-fi and horror fiction, racism in literature and the complicated history underneath, the effort to reclaim that history and the way the narrative is told, and the symbolism of magic in the racial power dynamic.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.6 – News as a Story

Summary

Alicia and Sarah talk about the new film The News of the World, based on the book by the same title. They discuss the importance of truth versus sensationalism, the role of language and communication, the messiness of westward expansion and the complicated nature of that part of America’s story, and redemption and healing.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.5 – The Lit Think Princess

Summary

Alicia and Sarah talk about one of their favorite classic films from the 1980s: The Princess Bride. They discuss the characters, the relationships, the role of the frame story, and the themes of revenge, identity, and love.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.4 – A Musical Imagination

Summary

Alicia and Sarah discuss their love for musical theatre and the joy that two seasons of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist has brought into their lives. In addition to taking a position on the “Team Simon” or “Team Max” debate, they also discuss the themes of grief, healing, and imagination. 

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Theme music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.3 – Eyes on Wanda

Summary

Alicia and Sarah discuss their love for all things Marvel and the Disney Plus television show, WandaVision, discussing the role of storytelling and character development to explore the theme of grief throughout the nine-episode long first season.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Theme music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.2 – An Ode to Dead Poets

Summary

Alicia and Sarah talk about one of their favorite English teacher movies: Dead Poets Society. They discuss the reasons for that love, the ways they have used it in the classroom, and the unrealistic expectations that the movie sets for English teachers.

At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they’ve been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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Chapter 1.1 – The Beginning

Summary

In their first podcast episode, Alicia Drier and Sarah Styf talk about their teaching careers, their friendship, and their hopes for the podcast. Listen in to learn more about the women behind the mics and the way their English brains see everything they read, watch, and listen to.

Bonus? They reveal the things that they should love as English teachers, but honestly don’t.

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

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